I've been in something of a writer's block for this story, but do know I still appreciate the nice feedback, and continue to. I hope this chapter is good enough for you guys.
Nero rocked back on his heels, then crumpled over. Steve went to check for a heartbeat and found none: the bullets had gone straight in the chest.
Damnit. He had wanted as many of them as alive. Oh well, there were always causalities. Better this man than Sam or Natasha. He put the UMP's sling around his neck and jumped down to the ground, scanning for any of the other men. He found none.
Basilisk continued to face the SWAT team dead in the eye. He knew they wouldn't do anything, not with him holding Colonel James Rhodes at gunpoint. And even if they did, Nero on the roof could pick them off one by one.
It wasn't a perfect strategy, but he reckoned they'd be just fine once Forson and Neptune were done doing whatever they were here to do.
He didn't even notice Wanda Maximoff creep up behind, Levitating as small as possible not tomake the slightest sound, Wanda floated around the darkened and seemingly abandoned hallways to find another of the hostage takers, this one using the threat of offing Rhodey to keep the police and SWAT barricade from barging in.
Wanda considered several ways of handling the threat, and then settled on one. She whistled at Basilisk to get his attention. He turned his head nervously.
"What the hell-"
That was all that the man was able to get out before Wanda hit him with a red hex, knocking the wind out of him. As soon as Basilisk was on the ground and his rifle out of his hands, the SWAT made their move. Several of them quickly grabbed the mercenary and handcuffed him, while others revovered Rhodes, taking him to safety.
"Thanks," the colonel said to Wanda. "I owe you big time."
"Don't thank me," was her reply. "Thank the Captain." Her attentions turned to the SWAT leader. "There's more in the hangar bay."
"We got it. Lead the way."
She did, two dozen armed policemen following close behind.
Aztec continued to pretend to hold Maria at gunpoint, with only the two of them aware that Maria had stuck several guns in her suit. As they approached the huge hangar bay, Trojan broke off from guarding the hostages to bring them in. "Took you long enough to get her."
"Does it matter? We're not keeping score on anything."
"Okay, I guess not. Hand her over and get your ass back to patrol duty."
As soon as Aztec did, however, Maria pulled out her pistol and shot Trojan point blank. The mercenary fell, stone dead. Before Aztec could do anything, Maria shot him in the leg, just to be safe. Then she grabbed his F2000 and began running.
She stopped when Captain America ran into her. She apologized for nearly shooting him in the face and he said not to worry. It was the hostages that needed saving.
Now, with several of the hostage takers eliminated through various means, there was just one man guarding the hostages. He was pacing back and forth, speaking in his headset uneasily. Attempting to contact your friends who are already dead or in custody, thought Maria. She signaled to Sam, who got the message: Let me deal with this.
While Sam signaled to the others that Maria was going to get them out of there, Maria banged on the door leading to the armory. Griffion immediately heard it and walked towards it. Hiding in a corner, Maria waited for him to walk past him and spot Aztec laying on the ground. Before he could react, she put the gun at the back of his head: "Not a move, or you're dead."
"I don't think so, Ms. Hill."
That was the smug voice of Andrew Forson, holding Natasha Romanoff at gunpoint. Neptune and Charon held Nick Fury and Selvig, respectively.
"Let my man go or else the Black Widow gets a bullet."
"You're bluffing. You need her alive."
"Really?" Forson cocked his Desert Eagle. "How about now-"
He was interrupted by the red hex that had been fired straight at him. Wanda Maximoff quickly threw up a red shield of similar energy to deflect bullets fired by the others. She also shielded Steve and the rest of the SWAT moving in and taking cover around the hangar bay.
The battle soon became a free for all. Most of the remaining hostages escaped under the cover of the SWAT teams. Griffon managed to get back with Forson, but not before taking a shot to the shoulder.
Seeing the way the battle was going, Forson told his remaining men to let the hostages go and to get in one of the Quinjets. The wounded Griffon provided covering fire while the other three slowly got in the Quinjet, powering it on and flying out of the area. A few bullets dented the jet, but there was no real damage to them. Griffon, however, got left behind, and was promptly bound and gagged.
Steve's focus was on Natasha, who'd also be unintentionally thrown by Wanda's hex. "Nat, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She'd hit her head but other than that there was no real damage to her. "Was that Wanda throwing a hex at me."
"Yep," said Steve, rather awkwardly as Wanda herself walked up to the two of them. "Don't suppose you're mad at her for it?"
"Not at all. It's what I would have done in that situation." Natasha's words seemed to put Wanda at more ease.
Everyone was accounted for on Steve's end, but three of the bad guys had made off with one of their Quinjets. He didn't know whether the stealth tech on that particular jet had been installed yet, but if it was, he was going to have a very hard time.
If he had an idea of where they'd be headed, his job would be so much easier. He grabbed Griffon by the neck, took off his gag, and asked angrily, "Where'd your friends go?"
"I ain't telling you shit," was the response.
"You really wanna do this, pal? Because one of your other friends experienced something that he didn't really have to. I'm offering you a chance to do the right thing."
"I am doing the right thing, meat head. You super soldiers and high tech gizmos all think you're hot shit and stuff, going around the planet, cleaning up messes you created, destroying lives in the process. I don't get why anyone think's your special enough to have this playpen you call a base."
Steve frowned. They really thought they were on the side of good, weren't they?
"All right, as I said with your other friend there, your choice. Wanda, fix his mind with something not so sweet, would you?"
She nodded and grabbed Griffon's head with both hands. Like she had with Aztec, he began convulsing violently. However, she seemed to be working with his mind far worse and far faster than before. When she let go of him, he was panting.
"Alright, they're probably headed to Ares' headquarters, a mobile offshore base near Genosha. My guess is that they'll recuperate there before planning what to do next. Now get that bitch away from me!"
While the wounded Griffon was taken along with Aztec by the SWAT, Steve began thinking about what to do next: "We need that jet back. Natasha, can you track it?"
"Depends on the stealth tech, Cap."
"Try anyways." Steve then focused his attentions on Wanda, taking her in his arms. "You need to rest some more. I'm not sending you in whatever team goes after that bastard Forson."
"But Steve, I want to-"
"You're not going, and that's an order. I'm not going to even consider it. You're the one he wants dead."
Wanda crossed her arms.
"If he wants me, then he'll get it. Besides, there's not many people that can move an entire jet with their mind alone."
"Wanda-"
"She's right, Cap." That was Natasha, patting Steve on the back. As much as it hurts to say it, she's one of our best bets to finding the rest of these scumbags. Plus, she already proved tonight that she can hold her own. Same as with Sokovia."
Looks from Maria and Sam showed they agreed. Steve still wasn't sold on the prospect of throwing Wanda into the fire again, but the tide had turned against that particular opinion.
He felt like Fury did when Fury objected to blowing up SHIELD, only to find that everyone else wanted for the blowup to happen. God, he hated being wrong.
"Fine," he let slip in between his teeth.
"Good," said Natasha, letting off one of her devious half-smiles. "We'll take Vision as well, because I doubt anyone's come up with a way to deal with him."
"I agree," seconded Maria. "They knew to hit the place while Vision was away."
Vision himself floated down to where the other heroes were conversing. "I only regret that I could not make it in time to help anyone."
"It's not your fault," said Wanda reassuringly. "They're scared of you and would rather not fight you."
"That is reassuring," said the android in a pleasant manner.
Natasha's eyes suddenly beamed from the phone she was looking on. "The stolen Quinjet's not one of those with camouflage tech. It's currently above the Atlantic Ocean, but will get within African airspace in an hour or so."
"So we'll be quicker," said Captain America.