Abe blinked as Bullseye threw the pair of chopsticks and lifted his arm in an attempt to block the thrown projectiles. One clanged off his armor plating and he foolishly shifted his arm just in time to see the second utensil piece the cybernetic visor across his left eye and embed itself in the face mask, the sharpened tip stuck in his cornea. Not wasting any time Bullseye charged throwing a hail of nuts, bolts and washers at Iridium, the majority ricocheting off the suit, the sound of them striking metal temporarily stunning the pilot as he leapt up and clung onto the shoulders. Clumsily the pilot moved to brush him off but Bullseye was already on the move springing off and releasing a hail of shurikens, the barbed tips embedding in the Iridium armour's control surfaces and stalling the suit.
"It's over." Bullseye sneered as he removed a broken flag post laying on the roof and spinning it around like a baton, "I'll go for the kid next, gut him open and use his entrails to kill the solider girl before stabbing Myers with his own boomerangs." Abe snarled and opened fire with everything he had at his disposal emptying his supply of micro flechettes and anti riot grenades in seconds and overheating the batteries powering his shoulder mounted laser system. Bullseye simply smiled and weaved and dodged through the hail of enemy fire before vaulting onto an air conditioning unit and shot a wicked smile as he looked across the now cluttered roof, his gaze fixing on an undetonated grenade. Springing over to the explosive he flicked the bomb into his hand and tossed it into the air testing its weight as Abe watched helplessly, his HUD displaying that system cool down would be complete in fifty seconds.
"And you loose." Bullseye announced getting ready to make the pitch. Before he could release the grenade a quick burst of gunfire sounded causing the bomb to explode as the remaining Thunderbolts sprinted towards him. Looking down at his hand Bullseye howled in anger, the blast had taken out his hand just above the wrist leaving a charred stump in its place. Angrily he turned to look at his new targets and saw that Smokescreen was the only one with a gun and was the main target. With a well aimed kick he sent a mixture of dropped fixings and flechettes at Juno, the target taking a dart to the leg before ducking behind a piece of machinery. Ducking down Bullseye picked up three more darts before feeling a pain in his neck and seeing his body standing over him as his head rolled across the floor.
"He's a zombie right?" Boomerang asked Abe, "It's okay to kill him."
"Even if he wasn't I'm sure that they would let you off." Abe wheezed as Bullseye's body picked up the head and threw it at Boomerang. Cursing Myers hit the floor as the head flew past heading for Chris, the young mutant throwing his hands up to protect himself, his palms burning as the skull got closer. Spinning around Boomerang threw a Shatterang at the head, the projectile striking the skull and detonating sending it spinning off course and flying over the edge of the building to the street below.
"Die Jenkins." Bullseye snarled as his body sprung to life, grabbed the flag pole and ran towards Iridium. Abe heard the words and a soft chime signifying that his suit was operational again and drew back a fist before slamming it into the undead assassin's chest.
"This is for Mel and everyone else you killed." Abe hissed through gritted teeth, "Next time somebody tries to resurrect you there won't be enough to finish the job." he added as he activated his gauntlet Taser, sparks of electricity arching through Bullseye's body until it incinerated into a cloud of blue smoke, the flagpole and the strand of Melissa's hair falling to the floor. Abe reached up and removed the chopstick, pain biting at his face as he inspected the utensil. He had been lucky; the cybernetic layer had protected him enough to result in a simple scratch of the cornea rather then the impaling of an eye. Tinting the remains of the lens he bent down and picked up the piece of hair as the others walked over, each one avoiding the char mark that had been Bullseye.
"We have to find her." Chris stated.
"No." Abe croaked, "Bullseye doesn't lie about killing somebody and Melissa wouldn't have let him take this if she was alive." he added twirling the hair around the chopstick that had been in his eye. "We have five hours before our contact arrives, we will relocate get some sleep and then head for the airport." he announced blankly, dropping the chopstick and walking away. Following in his wake Juno turned to look at the dropped projectile, bending down to pick it up she looked up at the cloud covered sky, "Prove him wrong." she whispered before slotting the hair in her tactical hard case and sprinting after the others.
The smell of bacon and eggs wafted around the sleeping figure causing her to stir in her bed before she opened her eyes. Rubbing her forehead she looked out the window to see sunlight cresting over the eastern edge of the city. Surprised she reached down to her chest to find two cauterized scars across her chest the only physical evidence of what had occurred last night. Taking a deep breath in she started to cough and splutter, the sheer force of the choking causing dark rings to cloud the edge of her vision.
"Melissa calm down." a commanding voice ordered. Taking another deep breath Melissa closed her eyes and focused before slowing her breathing. Struggling she managed to sit up in bed to see Diana dressed in a purple T-Shirt and chinos standing in the doorway clutching a tray with a full English breakfast served up on the plates. "You need to breathe slowly and deliberately." Diana ordered as she put the tray down and handed Melissa a glass of water. "You barley survived last night, if not for my intervention you would have expired shortly after midnight."
"What happened?" Melissa wheezed as she placed the glass back on the tray.
"I followed an acoustic signal to you're location and arrived just as you're assailant left. Seeing the damage done I anesthetized you and inserted a layer of synthetic lung tissue over the damaged areas, activated the growth accelerators attached to them and removed the knives before cauterizing the entry wounds. After that I brought you here and put you in bed while remotely monitoring you from the other room, you almost expired again just before three but luckily I was able to stabilize you."
Melissa coughed and picked up the fork, ravenously tucking into the food as Diana picked up the coffee she had made, taking a sip as gold vapour emitted from her nostrils, the gas gleaming in the morning sunlight and sending sparks running across the surface. "How did you survive?" Melissa asked Diana between bites of some fried bread.
"You're assumption is incorrect." Diana replied, "I was reactivated and was then sent to shadow you and offer assistance if you were in danger. I can't tell you who but he assures me that he is a friend and an ally against FACT."
"Somebody else knows about them?" Melissa asked, "How did he find out?"
"A cyber terrorist attack," Diana replied, "We discovered that the individuals who represent FACT, Stephanie King, Robert Umbridge and Lance Lane, fabricated their records something that caught my friends eye and peaked his curiosity. For now worry about eating breakfast and finalizing your escape vector, the plane that is arriving from Chicago may not be a viable option since forces from the Raft are occupying a space close to the rendezvous point."
"Then help us get to the plane." Melissa pleaded. Diana shook her head and smiled, "You're costume is on the chair, I modified it to channel sonic energy to an emitter to reduce pulmo-vascular stress. The cell wall should be healed in a few months, when it has go and see a doctor and get the synthetic material removed." Diana ordered, "It might cause health problems." she added before walking out of the door. Struggling to get up Melissa followed her out but there was no sign of Diana save for a whirlpool of golden mist in the middle of the kitchen.
Abe watched as the plain clothes security agent from Volkner Industries sealed the crate containing his Iridium armor. Even though freedom, in the form of a Gulfstream Jet, lay half a kilometre down the runway Abe felt exposed. Melissa's death was making him paranoid and he had been worried from the moment he had to surrender his suit. Turning to face the others he saw that their faces mirrored how he felt. Their contact Seth Volkner was a former criminal just like them and while he had stayed on the straight and narrow it was possible that he might sell them out to save himself. Abe shook his head, Volkner had been a long term supporter of the Thunderbolts and owed the team a debt after he, Songbird, Speed Demon and Radioactive Man had rescued the business man from a vengeful reunion with the Serpent Society.
"Juno is that sensor pack online yet?" Abe eventually said breaking the silence that had settled over the private terminal building.
"It's running." Juno replied, "As soon as we step out we are invisible to electronic surveillance."
"This is our final steps to freedom then." Abe told the others, "I know that we are not the perfect fit, that we have problems with each other but you have all proved you're worth multiple times. As soon as we land you have a choice; stay with the Thunderbolts or run, either way I'll be proud of you."
"Let's just cross the tarmac first." Boomerang added sounding more downbeat then Abe had ever heard Myers sound. "500 meters is a long trek when every beam of sunlight feels like a sniper dot on your neck." Abe nodded and wrapped his hands round the Tech 9, his only defence save his team when outside of his armor. Pushing the door open he started walking towards the plane, the others following him. After a hundred meters he heard the hanger doors on his left creak open and saw a group of people walk out, groaning he recognized them all and kept walking.
"Well looks like Bullseye was a failure." Moonstone announced.
"As Avengers we did the right thing." Walker replied, "The cost to bring that monster back cost too much; twenty civilians are dead because of him."
"Did he actually kill any of the targets?" Dr Covington asked eyeing Ai Apaec as he flexed his muscles menacingly.
"Only Songbird." Karla told her, "I find it amazing that she lasted so long I mean Screaming Mimi was pathetic." Abe stopped; the Dark Avengers hadn't seen them yet and wouldn't intercept them until they were on the plane. Engaging the four super humans was a foolish move but as Karla mentioned Melissa his blood had begun to boil. Cocking his Tech he gestured for the others to continue to the plane before turning towards Karla and her teammates. Silently he stalked up slipping the pistol behind his back and faked a smile as they noticed him.
"Moonstone right." he said cheerfully, "I am a big fan." he added as Karla looked shocked before smiling, "Can you sign something for me?"
"We don't have time for this." Walker told Karla.
"Who do I make it our too?" Karla asked as Abe reached for his pistol.
"Melissa Gold." Abe snarled drawing the gun and firing a pair of shots before being smacked in the face by US Agent. Staggering he saw Karla blast him with a photon blast before slamming her foot into his chest.
"Well Abe this isn't good." Karla purred, "No armor and no precious Thunderbolts to save you."
"I beg to differ." Boomerang yelled as he charged the group followed by Chris and Juno, "Hold on boss the cavalry is coming." he added as Abe slammed his elbow into Karla's knee causing her to hover backwards and let him up. Dodging a follow up blow from US Agent he rolled out of range just as the air bubbled around him, the ambient heat setting Ai Apaec on fire and sending the Spider God into a frenzy, his body morphing into his monstrous true form.
"Boomer you can have this one." Chris whimpered as Moonstone opened fire on him, his body draining the energy out of her Photon Blasts and causing the tarmac at his feet to ignite, dirty great bubbles emerging from the flames that burst on contact releasing sticky strands of tar over the combatants. Angrily Karla dove on Chris screeching like a banshee before slamming a glowing fist into the young man's chin and sending him skidding across the asphalt before landing herself. Scrabbling backwards Chris rested his hands on the tar and ripped two massive semi melted chunks from the runway before throwing them at Karla, his boiling projectiles phasing through her as she went intangible.
"That actually hurt." Karla hissed, "You have potential all you need to do is release it."
"Melissa warned me about you." Chris yelled back, "She told me that you tempt people and then you take control of them until they are nothing but broken shells. She told me about Blackout, Jolt and Penance so you can forget it."
"But my greatest success isn't here." Karla purred her hands glowing menacingly, "I shaped Melissa and she failed. Soon you will see that." she added as she punched Chris in the face, the blow cracking his jaw. Picking him up she threw him against a shuttle bus, the metal chassis melting due to the impact as the passengers onboard started to scream. "Now unleash your power, prove that you are worthy of it."
Walker surveyed Jenkins's cavalry and quickly zeroed in on Juno as she slapped Covington round the face with a riot control baton. With a horse below he charged at her, shield out thrust before knocking her down onto the floor. With a swift kick he knocked her weapon aside before he stepped on her hands, effectively containing her. Looking down he remembered how easily he had thrown his ethics away in the past and how nobody would miss the woman squirming on the floor. Raising his shield he positioned it over her neck, its recently sharpened edge glinting in the dawn as he got ready for the execution.
"This is for the American people." he told her as he closed his eyes.
"And this is just for me." Juno snarled as she kneed him in the groin, the blow softened by the armoured codpiece he wore bust still enough to make his eyes water. Stepping back he saw Juno spring to her feet and throw a pair of grenades onto the floor, the explosives detonating into a mass of glue that wrapped round his feet and arms before sending him plummeting to the floor. Across from them Boomerang was slicing through the webs Apaec shot at him while dodging the fang swipes from the massive abomination. Picking up Walker's shield Juno whistled causing both Apaec and Boomer to turn and look at her. Flinging the shield she heard something behind her snap and felt US Agent's boot impact with her spin, the blow knocking her onto all fours as he got to his feet. Flipping over she had enough time to see Walker throw a punch, his fist cracking a rib and causing her to grunt in pain.
"Never turn you're back on a marine." Walker snarled removing a knife and clutching it as he slammed his boot down on Juno's neck causing her to choke and splutter, "You went and made it personal bitch, for that it might take a while to kill you."
Boomerang jetted up with his boots and caught the shield, spinning round just in timer to face Apaec as he scurried forward slashing with his claws. Even though the blow was blocked the impact was enough to cause Myers to stagger backwards and as he tried to recover a jet of webbing snaked underneath his guard and clogged his left foot sending him falling back to the ground. Getting to his feet he flashed Apaec a daring smile before throwing the shield as the deity's torso, the impact causing Apaec to hiss in anger before attempting to grab the projectile as it snaked back towards Boomer.
"Wonder if the real Spider Man looks like you under his mask?" Boomer asked Apaec, "If so I might do him a favour and donate some money to his plastic surgery fund." he added as he removed a Cryorang. Apaec replied with a blood curling screech and sprung the twenty feet between them in a single bound knocking Boomer down and slashing at the shield in an attempt to remove it and deliver a killer blow. Struggling Myers reached down to his belt and cursed, he was out of weaponry and his arms were beginning to give out due to the weight and aggressiveness of Apaec's attack, in a few seconds he would be overwhelmed and then it would all be over.
Abe fired a few shots at the Witch as she spat venom at him, the toxic spray burning his skin as she avoided the majority of the projectiles, the few that hit not even causing bruises on her exposed flesh. Throwing the weapon away Abe raised his fists and ran at her delivering a blow to the woman's thorax that caused her to screech, the sound making his ears bleed as the young woman picked him up and threw him, his back cracking as he landed on the tarmac. Advancing towards him Covington elongated her fingers and snickered before slashing at him. Wincing Abe suddenly realized that he hadn't felt the blow and looked up to see the Witch encased in pink energy, screaming as she tried to escape. Getting to his feet he saw Melissa hovering over the airport like a pink guardian angel, somehow he couldn't believe it but he didn't care. With a whoop of triumph he punched the air as she landed delicately, her face more beautiful then he had ever seen it before.
"You are an angel you know that right?" he told her as she wrapped her arms around him.
"More like a Revenant." Melissa replied, "Diana patched me up and told me to get here. Looks like she was right about FACT being here." With a low hum she summoned up a sonic scimitar and handed it to him, "Let's do more then survive." she told him, "Let's win this and get out of here." Abe nodded before catching a glimpse of Apaec, with a roar he sprinted towards the Decapitator and slashed through the god's front leg, the attack causing the monster to scream in pain and back up allowing Boomerang to crawl out.
"Good to see the boss back boss." he stated as Melissa fired a wave of sonic daggers at Karla, diverting the photon beams she was firing at Chris else where. "Go help Juno I got the freak." he announced turning to face the limping Apaec. Abe smiled and ran as Apaec spat a web line at Boomer who intercepted with the shield, desperately straining to keep hold. With a cheeky salute Myers wrenched down and released the shield, the tension on the web causing the projectile to spring up before smashing into Apaec's face, the edge smashing his fangs and slicing his cheek open. Staggering the faux Spiderman glowered at Myers with all his eyes before collapsing onto the floor, his humanoid torso bent over the spider face in a sign of defeat.
"If only the real one was so easy." Myers sighed before picking up the dropped Cryorang and scanning the area for his next target. Across the tarmac Melissa and Karla were dog fighting, trading blasts of photonic energy and showers of sonic daggers, each of the combatants evading the others attacks. Despite looking evenly matched Melissa was beginning to tire and would soon be easy prey for her former teammate.
"I heard that Bullseye gutted you Gold." Karla screamed as Melissa dropped to the ground wheezing from the fatigue, "Looks like he was a worse assassin then I thought if he couldn't take down an out of shape bitch like you."
"Lung surgery." Melissa wheezed, "Need a break." Karla rolled her eyes and landed before kicking Melissa in the face, the blow breaking her nose and sending her sprawling onto the tarmac.
"You can rest when you're dead." Karla purred, "It won't take too long I promise." she added as she bent down. Retaliating Melissa lashed out and Karla caught her hand snapping her wrist before picking her up and slamming her face first into the runway. "Don't even try you won't succeed."
"You forgot about me." Chris roared as he incinerated the air, a stream of fire flying towards Karla as she went intangible, the heat wave passing through her harmlessly. Laughing she tried to revert back to her solid state before looking around in horror as her body stayed intangible. Getting to her feet Melissa walked through Karla and looked back at her, Chris's attack had effected her powers somehow, not that she cared Karla had got what she deserved. Looking down the runway she began to limp towards the plane, Chris supporting her over the shoulder as Abe and Juno continued to wrestle with Walker.
"Criminal scum." US Agent snapped, "I am an Avenger you can't contend with me."
"Oh shut up." Abe replied slashing with his scimitar, the former marine dodging the blow as Juno picked up his shield and charged slamming the item into his hand before falling back. Abe looked at her before turning tail as well, Walker in hot pursuit before ducking behind a baggage trolley. Seconds later the flashbangs attached to the Dark Avenger's shield detonated in a shower of light and sound causing Walker to charge into the trolley falling through the baggage and collapsing into a heap of bags and suitcases.
"Nice one." Abe commented as Juno gave Walker a swift kick to keep him down.
"Behind you." she screamed and Abe turned to see the Witch looming above him claws extended ready to make the kill. Shuffling back Abe had enough time to see something fly in from the left and stab into Covington's leg before exploding in a shower of Freon particles that trapped the young woman in a tomb of ice. "Look at that." Boomerang commented, "The Scarlet Witch on Ice. Anybody had a camera so we can document how great we are."
"Maybe next time." Abe told him as Volkner Industries Personnel rushed up to help Chris and Melissa to the plane. "I for one am tired of the Deep South so let's get out of here." he told the others as he turned his back on the defeated Avengers.
Epilogue (s)
Diana emerged in a puff of golden smoke in the submerged base deep in the heart of the Everglades. While a number of her bosses operatives could be present only the one responsible for her resurrection was waiting for her. Smiling she walked up to his desk and hovered above him until he looked up and acknowledged her.
"Baron Zemo the Thunderbolts are safe." she announced as Zemo removed his mask, his scarred face glistening in the lights scattered around the chamber.
"Good the fools out there may want the Thunderbolts dead but I share their concerns on these FACT operatives. They have an agenda that must be uncovered, while my Masters of Evil distract all from my plans you and I will uncover their secrets." Zemo told her. "Now go I need to study the information before we follow our former teammates to Chicago, if I am right then they will be in great danger."
Umbridge watched as EMTs carried the Dark Avengers to the Quinn Jet sitting on the tarmac. Part of him wanted to pursue the Gulfstream and exact revenge but he knew that these feelings were the hot blooded mammalian part of the brain trying to break free. Like his comrades he used the cold reptilian side far more just as his ancestors had done for centuries. "We failed today." he told the others as they arrived, "The Thunderbolts escaped."
"If you hadn't let you're Avengers expose my operative we would have succeeded." Lane snapped, "Now all he is a malignant spirit that can't touch anything, can't kill, in other words he is useless."
"There is an upside." King piped up, "The technology works and when the time comes we can bring our dead back to avenge themselves by destroying their killers. And while you were one upping each other I contacted our Silent Partner, he is currently heading to Chicago to set up shop. We are far from beaten my brothers, our time is coming and the humans will burn for rejecting us."
Melissa sat with her head in her hands as Chris and Abe sat on the other side of the table. The Gulfstream that picked them up was high end and fancy, or had been Juno and Myers had already cleared out the bar and were currently engaged in strip travel scrabble in the other compartment.
"Are you sure?" Chris asked, "It defiantly was Diana."
"Yes and No, it was her but she was different, I'm guessing that the damage from her sacrifice isn't a spanner and duct tape job to fix."
(Revenant sacrificed herself to trap the Scorpion Goddess - Curse of the Scorpion Tree - Part IV)
"Then who reactivated her?" Abe asked, "The truck with her body and the remains of Jimenez and his god's orbs was hijacked. Is it possible that they are the same person?" Melissa shrugged and looked out the window at the clouds before turning back to the others.
"Whatever the case finding them is the new prerogative, we need more allies in the fight against FACT especially if they send the Dark Avengers against us again."
"Let's worry about this tomorrow." Abe suggested, "Enjoy the victory we just pulled out of the hat. Maybe we will find some leads from Volkner, fix the armor at his place and get you checked out by a real doctor." Melissa nodded and coughed before kissing Abe on the lips. "To the Thunderbolts, lets prove that we are better then the rest." he whispered as they turned to watch the sun rise over the clouds, the symbol of a new day and a new future.
Thunderbolts #25
The Thunderbolts are in Chicago for a few days R&R. Unfortunately the villainous F5 has a perfect Windy City Welcome for our Heros in the form of a new ice age. As the city freezes over will our Heros burn hot enough to save the day and possibly themselves? Find out in Issue 25 of the New Thunderbolts.