A/N: I promised weirder
Chapter 8: Things Get Even Weirder
For Thor, progressing to the equipment was like wading through a sand dune. For every clone he tossed aside, two more took its place. He couldn't even throw Mjolnir with three clones clinging to his arm.
Then — pop, pop, pop — arrows punctured the hindering trio. Thor prepared to throw his hammer. Another clone leaped to grab it, but one was not enough to impede the thunder god. Thor let Mjolnir fly, with a clone trailing behind, clinging to the handle.
The hammer smashed the equipment above Emilio, just as the violet light flared into a violent explosion. Vats shattered and their contents poured down, dousing the booth and it's occupant in a flood of chemicals.
Glass and metal shrapnel flew everywhere. Clones dissolved into sickening puddles. Thor threw up his arms to protect his face, grunting stoically at the many minor wounds.
Iron Man stepped in front of Clint, letting the shards rattle of his armor. Natasha dodged behind her foe, which was distracted for a bare instant. Long enough for the Widow to pull her gun and put two bullets in the clone's brain. It dropped in the slime that coated the floor.
Lupe screamed in denial. The Avengers regrouped near the door. Only a few clones remained to block their way to the scientist.
Then, from out of the sparking, bubbling, foaming phone booth, came a roar of triumph. And a monster burst forth.
Twice the height of Thor, it was a misshapen manlike form, a half melted and dripping bipedal candle with Emilio's face. Lupe cried out in joy and ran to hug the creature, which pulled her close to defend her. Simple surprise crossed the woman's face followed by horrified shock and pain as her human body began to melt into the slimy clone thing that had been her brother.
The Avengers stared, aghast.
Lupe screamed, then her expression turned into manic glee as she and her beloved brother were joined. The two-headed monster laughed, hugging itself in delight, then it faced the Avengers with malice gleaming in all four eyes.
"Capitalist tools!" Lupe spat.
Tony flipped up his faceplate. "Oh, please! I'm no tool. I'm the capitalist," the billionaire bragged.
"Yeah, and Prince Thor is a monarchist," Clint pointed out helpfully. "Wacko eco-terrorist mad scientists should get their facts straight."
Emilio snarled. Lupe laughed. "I see your leader did not join you," she smirked. "Could he not face the people he has oppressed or is it true that instead of killing the Potts bitch, we snared a bigger prize and killed Captain America?"
Iron Man's metal fingers bunched in angry fists, but Natasha just buffed her fingernails on her shoulder in a mocking show of unconcern. "Neither. Cap stayed with Ms. Potts. He is not dead and he's certainly not afraid of you," the weight of scorn in the last word was as heavy as the Statue of Liberty.
Clint admired the masterful lie. It was totally true, but it implied Steve was protecting Pepper instead of lying on a hospital bed.
Thor felt a current curl around his feet, as if he was standing in a river. He looked down and saw the splattered remains of the clones flowing toward the monster, adding to its bulk and heights.
"'Ware!" he shouted. "It grows!"
The thunder god's feet were yanked out from beneath him as the gooey undertow formed fingers and grabbed his legs.
From out of the puddles around them, grabbing hands reached for all the Avengers.
Iron Man launched into the air. He reached for Clint and Natasha, pulling them to safety with sick, sucking sounds. He deposited them out of reach on top of Natasha's computer barricade and went for Thor. The Asgardian flailed right and left with his hammer, but it had as little effect as striking the tide. He snarled and threw Mjolnir straight up, smashing a vast hole in the ceiling. Concrete tumbled down, pummeling the monster, disrupting the goopy flow and threatening to flatten Thor himself. Iron Man hovered above his friend, serving as a metal umbrella, then had to dodge away when Mjolnir returned to the Asgardian's hands.
The monster roared in a two-note bellow, then stomped forward to stomp Thor.
Clint shot arrow after arrow into the monster and Natasha emptied two guns, but this creature did not dissolve when punctured. Despite leaking holes and the appearance of a pincushion, it continued toward Thor, who had struggled to his feet.
"Back, Man of Iron," Thor warned. He raised his hammer and called lightning from the heavens. Through the roof opening it flashed, striking the monster and all the glop around it. The creature wailed in pain, but did not seem greatly injured.
Iron Man fired mini-missiles. They blasted pieces off, but the slime just joined the river back to the creature. Nothing stopped its advance.
To Be Continued, the author said with an evil chuckle.
A/N: Big finale next time.