Plasma57: thank you

Ilikehats2: hmmm?

INeedAUsername8: he's fighting as hard and patiently as he can

Chapter 16: The Interrogation Part 1

(The next day in one of SHIELD's maximum security prisons)

White Tiger, Zabu, Wolverine, and Captain America are walking down a heavily secured hall. About twenty seasoned and experienced SHIELD guards stand guard over the hall. Each one is exceptionally armed with various weapons: M4 Carbine assault rifle, dual MEU (SOC) handguns, a baton, and a taser. They're wearing armor made of titanium and magnesium. All this protection is needed to keep one of the world's most dangerous villains in lock up.

"You two need to be careful, Skull isn't going to be manipulated so easily. As much as I hate to say it: Skull is an intelligent man. He'll get into your head. We need to stay sharp." Cap said. "We'll see how smart he thinks he is when I'm done with him." Tiger snarled. "That's usually my line kid." Wolverine grunted. "Then you better try to keep up." White Tiger hissed.

She and Zabu entered the conjoined room. Cap and Logan looked at one another, speechless. As experienced as they both are, they hadn't ever met someone as fearsome and assertive as White Tiger. Even though they had seen her cry for an unknown amount of time when Peter was taken; the fire inside her burned with a ferocious rage when the older heroes stupidly said they shouldn't get involved in the matter with Dracula.

"She's a fierce one; I like her more already. I can see why she is Webs speaks so highly of her." Logan said. "Peter chose her first when he was choosing a team to fight the Grandmaster. He picked her first. She said she would've killed him if he didn't pick her." Steve added. "Huh… And I thought I scared him…" Logan chuckled before following the feline heroes.

Steve was one of Peter's choices for his team as well, his battle experience was needed. But he remembered Ava practically deciding to be on the team before Peter told them the situation. Steve sighed and entered the room as well. The conjoined room is like a FBI's interrogation room, but more… 'advanced'.

"I should've gutted him the first day I encountered him. Would've saved a lot of people." Logan snarled.

Skull sat in the other part of the room. He couldn't see or hear who was on the other side. But he had an 'educated guess' who it is. But he didn't know why they were here. His hands and legs are locked in a chrome steel and stainless steel alloy chains. He is wearing 'regular' SHIELD prison 'clothes'. He has no armor or weapons remotely close to him.

"I'm going in there." White Tiger snarled. "Not yet, let's try the more peaceful approach. Logan and I will go first. A good cop, bad cop technique. Good cops first." The super-soldier calmly offered. "Me?... A good cop?..." Wolverine scoffed.

He heard the familiar feline growling of an angry tiger rumbling from Ava's throat, no amusement in her eyes.

"Good cop it is." Logan said. "Thank you. Shouldn't we have brought Kazar? He can understand the sabertooth." Cap said as he looked at Zabu. "I can understand him. Call it: feline intuition." Tiger quickly remarked.

Cap sighed. This was not going to how he wished. He was fine with Logan coming to help, but the two young felines wouldn't have been his other choices. More experienced individuals would've been better suited his style of action.

"Let's go." Steve said.

Both men walked into the interrogation part of the conjoined room. Skull knew Captain America would be the one to question him. He recognized the shorter man at Rogers's side.

"Ah Captain America and Wolverine, what brings you here?" Skull calmly asked. "Can it Skull, we have questions and we know you have answers." Steve said, sitting down across the table from Skull in the chair beside Wolverine. "Is this the iconic good cop, bad cop technique? You play nice while he uses me as one of his punching-bags? Dear Captain, you should've figured out a better plan than this." The villain chuckled.

Wolverine growled and locked eyes with the former Hydra leader.

"Dumm brute, werden Sie nichts von mir. (Stupid brute, you will get nothing from me)" Skull hissed, unamused. "English dammit!" Logan bellowed. "Armselig, (Pathetic)" Skull chuckled.

Logan chuckled, which surprised Red Skull. The mutant usually gutted anyone he didn't like. Why was he laughing?

"I assume you know why we're here?" Steve asked. "Actually no, I've been in here for several months, ever since you captured me from Monster Island. No contact with the outside. I'm under total surveillance, can't even take a scheiße (shit) without some ignorant fool watching." Skull snarled. "It seems you wouldn't enjoy your 'peaceful world' if you were… wait… you are in that position of being monitored every day." Logan chuckled.

Cap sighed; they needed to stay on mission.

"So much for pleasantries." Skull mumbled. "Anyways, we need you to talk. We can be civil about this." Steve reasoned. "What do you wish to know Dear Captain?" Skull deadpanned. "What do you know of Dracula?" Steve asked plainly. "He's a vampire. King of them… anything else?" Skull sighed with boredom.

Wolverine growled impatiently.

"When did you tell him about the content of my blood?" Cap asked. "Some time ago… The serum running through our blood gives us great strength." Skull answered. "What about this Pure of Heart essence? That was supposed to be a part of the power he wants." Cap continued. "Merely superstition… but I knew you, the foolish and brave soldier you are fit that label…" Skull replied. "I thought you believed in that kind of… superstition…" Wolverine added.

Skull chuckled.

"Magic is science which lesser minds don't understand. But the serum's physical changing 'abilities' gave us the power we have now. It was the logical answer to his… problem of curing his weakness." He answered.

The two veteran fighters looked at one another, with actual smirks… It was a luring technique, and Skull took the bait.

"Is something amusing you two fools?" The villain hissed. "He bit me Skull." Cap answered.

Logan noticed the man's heartbeat changed somewhat. But on the outside, Skull remained calm.

"Surprising, I didn't think he'd ever feed on your blood. He hasn't ever gotten the chance." Skull replied. "I was cured." Cap added. "How?" Skull laughed. "That's none of your concern." Logan snarled. "So… is he…" Skull started to say, but Cap interjected by saying, "My blood didn't 'cure' him of his weakness."

Logan noticed the villain's heartbeat return to normal.

"So… you want information on anything else?" Skull said. "We'll come back if we need anything." Cap said.

He walked back into the other part of the room. Logan growled at him, but followed his old friend. Skull sighed to himself.

"We've got what we came for. Let's head back to the tower." Cap said. "WHAT?! He knows more than he's letting on!" Tiger growled with anger.

Cap believed that the information he extracted was the teams needed. With what Logan and he gathered, this would cross out another area where they didn't need to check again.

"We have all we need." Rogers said again. "NO!" Ava screeched. "Skull seemed strange when we mentioned Dracula bit you." Logan said.

Tiger grinned under her mask. She knew what she needed to do.

"Let's go Zabu, it's our turn." Ava said. "No, we're..." Cap started to say, but Wolverine interrupted saying, "This should be good. Go ahead."

Cap sighed in defeat. Tiger and Zabu walked into the room. Wolverine chuckled.

"Here we go, let's see what happens." Logan laughed.

To be continued…