New York
It was a peaceful day in New York as there was a traffic jam as one Taxi was eatibg his lunch in the car looking at the Newspaper with The Avengers picture fighting against Skrulls but before he could read he saw a tornado in the rearview mirror and got out of the car as it flew alongside the others as we see Dave Cannon AKA Whirlwind who was not having a good day. Again.
Whirlwind charged down a busy New York street, his tempestuous energies shunting cars to the left and right while even flinging some over buildings and further down the road. He was in a breathless panic, desperate to escape those pursuing him as he charged heedlessly forward.
whirlwind: Leave me alone why don't you! What have I ever done to deserve this?!
He cried, hurling cars out of the way. As Above we see Generator Rex The Bio-Tech Hero and The Whimisical Wasp.
Rex: I could tell you myself, but SHIELD has a much more accurate rap sheet!
Rex retorted as he tracked him from above.
Wasp: Don't waste your air, Whirlwind! I mean, sure, you're generating plenty of it already, but nothing you say is gonna deter us!
Wasp added, buzzing feverishly behind him in hot pursuit. The pint-sized heroine sent a flurry of biostings chasing after whirlwind, landing a series of hits across his armored body.
wasp: Besides! You should know by now that I'm just gonna knock you out again and then drag you back to a cell again!
Whirlwind: Oh no, not again! Never again!
Whirlwind cried out, coming to a screeching halt as he whipped around to confront Wasp. His arms snapped out, buzzsaw's popping open on his arms as he made to swing for her. Suddenly, they froze in place, no matter how hard he tried to move them.
Whirlwind: W-What the...?
Rex: Easy there, Buzz! Haven't you heard it's not nice to cut a lady?
Rex retorted from on high, In Magnet Mode he with a help of AI and Partner Generator we see a single hand out as his magnets held Whirlwind's limbs at bay.
wasp: Don't trouble yourself, Rex. Not my first rodeo with this wind-whipped clown.
Wasp stated, hovering beside him.
Rex: You sure?
The technopath wondered, shooting her a glance.
Wasp: Sure I'm sure! It's only Dave.
Wasp emphatically promised with a dismissive wave of her hand. As Rex shrugged.
Rex: Okay. But we'll intervening at the first sign of trouble.
He said, relenting as he dropped down to street level and leaned against a nearby lamppost. Generator pops out to watch Wasp handle Whirlwind by herself.
Generator: You sure it was a good Idea?
I mean satistics show that Wasp has no chance against him without help.
Rex: Satistics are good on paper. But real life battle is another, Also I trust Jan besides we're here to back her up in case of trouble.
Rex said as Generator and Rex watch The winsome heroine quickly flew high, arcing over him as she rained down biostings from above and peppered his helmeted head.
Wasp: You getting old, Dave? You're slower than normal!
She teased. Whirlwind growled.
Whirlwind: Hold! Still!
He swung his arms viciously, generating powerful gusting vortex to try and catch her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch Janet or land a hit on her. Rex watched with insightful eyes, noting Wasp's airspeed and her flight patterns as well as Whirlwind's powerful responses. Janet had definitely done this dance before. She knew all of Whirlwind's capabilities and how to deal with them.
Wasp: Really, Dave? Punches and wind? Is that all you've got?
Wasp teased, shooting him right in the eye.
Whiriwind: YEOW!
Whirlwind recoiled, clutching his wounded eye.
whirlwind: Why don't you just shut up, Avenger?!
Spooling up his powers, Whirlwind hurriedly formed a tornado with the hope that the wind gusts would be enough to drive the heroine away from him. Wasp, having dealt with this before, acted quickly.
Wasp: You better get a new routine, windbag/I know all your tricks!
Triggering the Pym particles in her veins, Wasp immediately began to grow in size until she was of normal height. But she didn't stop there and kept growing, quickly expanding to her giant size and towering over Whirlwind. The beleaguered villain looked up in shock as the tread of her boot loomed over him.
Whirlwind: Huh?! What the-?!
He was brutally cut off as Janet stomped him into the street, the windstorm adapting as his powers faded. Lifting her leg, Whirlwind was out cold and smack in the middle of a sizeable crater in the road.
Wasp: Man, that was just sad, Dave. I used to love our little chases, now you're just disappointing.
Janet remarked as she shrank back down to normal size.
Wasp: Maybe it's a good thing you're going back to prison again.
She added with a disapproving sigh and a slow shake of her head. All for dramatic effect, of course, since Whirlwind was no longer conscious. As Generator and Rex strode over to Wasp who was a bit disappointed.
Wasp: You might've found it disappointing, but I'll take this over Tony, Cap and Thor losing their powers.
Rex: Now that was nuts!
Rex interjected as he remember how tough it was Handling three depowered Avengers and Hawkeye.
Wasp: Don't tell me you're whimping out on big-deal stuff!
Wasp exclaimed mockingly so.
Rex: Pffft, as if.
He retorted with a scoff.
Rex: We just fought some Asgardian doomsday-machine while simultaneously keeping three of our teammates alive and safe from the Wrecking Crew. You tell me that isn't a hard days work. Right now, I'm more than happy to do something a little calmer... like haul Whirlwind off to Forty-Two.
Generator then flys over the two and used his eye to scan his suit of armor for future use.
Generator: Another day, another potential suit upgrade.
The next day...
With processing paperwork swiftly cleared by
SHIELD, Generator Rex and Wasp were charged with escorting Whirlwind to his incarceration, along with Captain America, Thor and Miss Marvel who were going along for a routine inspection.
With Prison 42 now being the singular place to house super-criminals of every capacity, it was critical that all systems and functions were heavily monitored.
SHIELD had taken an active role in its use, overseeing 42 in every way. But as the Avengers and Fantastic Four were the ones to devise, construct and found the prison, they were equally entitled to commanding its inner-workings.
wasp: Well, Whirlwind, this is your big day. It's off to prison again.
Janet teased, striding into the teleporter room alongside her fellow Avengers and a bound Whirlwind.
wasp: You must be so psyched!
The supervillain grunted angrily in response.
wasp: And not just any prison... You've got your own private cell waiting for you in Forty-Two.
Janet added, making it seem like he'd won a dream vacation.
Miss Marvel: Jan, you sure it's necessary to tease the prisoner like that?
A hesitant Carol wondered in a hushed voice.
Wasp: Yeah. Pretty much. Especially when it's Dave. We go way back.
Janet responded nonchalantly. She quieted down as their cue to pass through the x-ray scanner came up; a system meant to check on incoming supervillains to make sure they had smuggled nothing in with them. SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell surveyed the skeletal appearances passing on the monitor before him, a separate monitor using biometric readings to confirm the identities of the Avengers and Whirlwind.
Rex: Good thing that wasn't like airport security. With this armor alarms would be going off.
Generator: (Telepathic) Doubtful. Even as Alex Caden the regular mechanic for the Avengers this armor we wear can bypass Alot of Security and even feel like clothes in Camo Mode.
Generator quipped. Leading the group, Captain America paused and saluted the guarding agent on duty.
Captain America: We won't be long.
He promised as the agent stepped aside. Before him, up a stairway, a pair of massive steel doors marked with the numbers '42' slid open to revealing the swirling energies of the portal within. The Star-Spangled Avenger stepped boldly through as Thor pushed Whirlwind on ahead, with Wasp, Miss Marvel and Generator Rex bringing up the rear.
The blinding light of the churning energies gave way to more steel and technology, the prison's 'foyer'.
Waiting for them at the foot of the stairs, a silver-haired man in a blue SHIELD-issue suit stood patiently waiting for them.
Warden: Welcome to Forty-Two, Avengers.
He greeted.
Captain America: Warden.
Cap replied, shaking his outstretched hand. The group was ushered into the super-max level at the end of a corridor. A massive sanctum was revealed, filled with countless ray-shielded prison cells as dozens of SHIELD agents in Mandroid armor stood guard across the various cell blocks. Even higher up revealed a glass dome surrounding a pipeline of golden energy that powered the station, the twinkling lights of a galaxy on the other side; the Negative Zone
The Avengers strode past rows of cells where villains of every calibre had been incarcerated, most of which had been placed there by Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
AIM drones, Hydra troopers, the Abomination, even Captain Mar-Vell, who share the briefest of glances with Miss Marvel as she walked past. The two could sense each other when in close proximity, a consequence of their mirroring energies. Despite the emotional strings being plucked, the Major remained stoic and undeterred and kept walking as Mar-Vell watched her go.
Wasp: Let me give you the heads-up in case you're thinking about escaping again.
Jan continued, nudging the sulking Whirlwind.
Wasp: This prison sits in a billion light years of empty, lifeless nothingness called the Negative Zone. So, even if you got out, you'd have nowhere to go.
She explained. Suddenly, the lights flickered most dramatically. The transfer team abruptly paused, confused and slightly frightened by the power bump. Rex eyes narrowed at the lights as Generator then pops out and raised his flipper and he focused his scans on 42 and found something... Weird.
Geberator: Odd...
He trailed off.
Captain America: Somebody forget to pay the electric bill?
Captain America wondered aloud, half-joking.
Rex: I thought they ran on solar power?
Rex joining the joke as Well as Generator didn't seem to convinced.
Generator: No... I don't think it's that...
Generator muttered.
With the power restored, the team continued on, passing the cell belonging to Samuel Sterns (aka the Leader) seemingly in a fit of a hysteria. Grunting and growling as he grasped his oversized cranium, he appeared to be at his wits end.
Leader: Make it stop! Please!
He hoarsely begged anyone willing to hear. The Avengers proffered a few weary looks before stopping in front of Whirlwind's designated cell.
Captain America: Open Three-Eight-Nine.
Cap ordered. The ray-shield entry was lowered and Whirlwind was shoved inside, his cuffs falling off as the cell's ray-shield was raised, trapping him within.
Thor: Job well done, my friends. A proverbial 'cake walk' as you mortals call it.
Thor praised them.
Rex: Nice work on the Slang Thor!
Thor: Cold!
Rex: No its "Cool".
Thor: Indeed it is.
Rex looks up and shakes his head as he agreed to teach Thor slang for a modern age but he got one of the slang down and many more to go through.
LEADER: You absolute fools! Listen to me!
Leader bellowed from his cell, loud enough to draw the attention of the heroes. He had a wild look in his vivid green eyes, stronger than even the emerald shade of his skin.
The normally composed, arrogant scientist was behaving like a wild man, treating his cell more like a padded room in an asylum.
Leader: They're out there! Waiting!
He raved, clutching his head as beings throbbed and pulsed.
Leader: And they're coming! They're coming for us all!
To punctuate his shrieking, the power fluctuated one more time, the lights in the prison blinking on and off in a rapid, disorderly way. Generator looked around.
Rex: Eerily coincidental.
Rex muttered, as Generator reaching out with his scans to probe the flickering systems.
Wasp: Ugh, not again.
Wasp complained with a huff.
Captain America: What's going on?
Cap wondered aloud with a frown, trying to put two and two together. Clearly something was wrong here, what with the flickering power and raving inmates. But what exactly was wrong?
Clay: That, Captain America, is exactly what I'm here to find out.
Clay Quartermain announced, approaching the heroes with a pair of Mandroids and Jamie Rhys and She-Hulk. Miss Marvel tilted her head in greeting, recognizing a fellow agent. The rest of the Avengers were more focused on She-Hulk, the surly-faced titanic green-skinned woman they had only seen briefly during the battle on the capitol grounds with the Skrull.
Miss Marvel: Agent Quartermain.
Carol greeted. Clay nodded and learned forward.
Clay: Let's, uh, talk in the control room. Don't wanna scare the prisoners.
He stated in a hushed whisper. As Wasp gulped as she didnt like that.
Wasp: When you put it that way, you're starting to scare me.
She whimpered.
Command Hub
A short walk later and everyone was assembled in 42's central command hub. Countless monitors provided readouts on every system and subsystem within the prison's structure. Clay took a seat before the main monitoring terminal as the heroes watched from behind.
Clay: The prisoners, especially the Leader, have been ranting about hearing noises. Something outside trying to get in. The prison doesn't have any external scanners. We never needed them.
Generator: The Negative Zone is supposed to be lifeless, according to what Ant-Man, Iron Man and Mister Fantastic surveyed.
Generator interjected as all eyes on him.
Generator: In short there is supposed to be nothing out there. This dimension is literally... well, nothing.
Clay: That's what we thought too. Countless rotations gone by and not a peep.
Carol was the first to catch on to the unspoken word hanging in the air.
Miss Marvel: Until?
Clay: We used the scanning equipment in the Mandroid armor and saw something.
Clay continued, keying up a map of an exterior grid around the prison.
Captain America: What exactly?
Clay: We don't know, a few blips. Then, they were gone.
Wasp: And the power fluctuations?i
Clay: Its been hapening recently. But we have triple backups in place.
Clay responded, standing up and turning to look directly at Generator and Rex.
Clay: Since you're here, Generator Rex, maybe you two might help us get to the root of the problem.
Generator: Avengers IT to the rescue.
The technopath mused with a emote smirk.
Generator: I'm sure I could poke around and see what's what, provided I'm allowed to access the more sensitive systems.
Clay gestured to the monitor bank with a sweep of his arm.
Clay: You do your thing and don't worry about anything. The power isn't going to go off.
He promised and All of a sudden, the power went out.
Wasp: You were saying?
Wasp dryly remarked. The prison warden quickly took over and keyed in his override code.
Warden: Emergency power online. Cell doors holding. Prisoners contained.
He announced. Generator floted forward and planted a flipper against the terminal, his mind telepathically interfacing with the technology, turning programs and data into thoughts he could process. The problem was quickly deduced before the warden could even bring up the prison's subsystems.
Generator: There's a power disruption at junction ninety-five.
He told the group.
Clay: Let's go take a look.
Clay suggested and Generator and Rex moved to follow him.
Captain America: Major Danvers and I will come with you. Just in case.
Cap offered as he and Miss Marvel trailed after them.
She-Hulk watched them go, not even asking Quartermain what she should do in the meanwhile. As did Rhys as he hated waiting as he saw She-Hulk nervous on her Mission as a SHEILD Agent.
Rhys: Nervous?
She-Hulk: A little... Its just i never thought of myself as a Agent of SHIELD.
Rhys: Just stay calm. Be cool. Fury thought that it would be a good idea to start you off on a easy task given what happened to you being captured by the skrulls. Stay here i will check out around the place.
Jannifer looks down to see her green Hands as Rhys moved away from her seeing how she had her life set to one thing then suddenly being forced in another direction. 'Her total recall of the events served to maintain her sour mood, distancing herself from the chance to mingle with the Avengers.
In fact, She-Hulk was so engrossed in her own thoughts, she failed to notice one of the remaining hero's slide closer to her.
Wasp: So... what's it like being a female Hulk?
Wasp asked her, looking up at the gamma amazon in wide-eyed wonderment. She-Hulk caught her gaze and registered her question. Despite her desire to be left alone, she knew she needed to be polite... somewhat.
She-Hulk: It's... green.
She answered at length. Wasp continued to circle her, drinking in every inch of her unitard-clad form.
Wasp: Are you as strong as Hulk? Or are you even stronger? You don't have the same rage-thing he does, do you?
The heroine inquired. Her barrage of questions was coming in heavily and She-Hulk loosed a grumpy exhale.
She-Hulk: I don't know.
She answered curtly. Undeterred Janet continued to probe, checking out every angle possible. She poked at She-Hulk's thick bicep.
Wasp: Man! Are these real?
She wondered, sounding awestruck.
wasp: I've never seen any this big! You could really give Carol a run for her money.
She-Hulk shot her a sideways glance.
wasp: How can you be so huge but have all these perfect curves?
Janet asked, noting her shapely legs.
She-Hulk: Look, I-... oh!
She-Hulk's mood abruptly shifted, the cloud breaking as the compliment registered.
she-Hulk: You think so...?
She wondered, now curious. As she wore a white and purple unitard then a traditional SHEILD skinsuit like the others.
wasp: Sure I think so!
Wasp replied, beaming.
Wasp: Girl, you could be the world's most exotic model if you wanted!
That earned a chuckle from Jennifer.
She-Hulk: 'She-Hulk: SHIELD model'. 'I dunno if that would ever fly.
Wasp: Hey. Don't knock it until you try it.
Wasp responded.
Wasp: I mean you really knock how to rock that unitard! Hey, I guess that means purple really does go with green and Hulk isn't just a one-off.
Now She-Hulk was smiling and continued to as Wasp's infectious personality spread with every question proffered.
Elsewhere...
Descending into the maintenance corridors, Generator floated down with light showing from his eye and Rex jumped down following Generator as the duo continued to track the damaged junction while Quartermain, Captain America and Miss Marvel flanked him in case of trouble. Although the technopath duo could hold their own in a fight, their abilities paled in comparison to the other Avengers and he knew it. From a tactical standpoint it only made sense to have them along.
Rex: Ok so talk to us? What is happening to the Prison?
Generator: Honestly its kinda hard its like... Guessing all the letters in a crossword puzzle butin Zeros and Ones.But we're getting close to the problem though.
Generator powers led them right to the fault in question, where streams of data gave way to broken and shattered computer gibberish. It was a broken language in Generetor mind, and it was a perfect beacon to the source of their problems. The flashlights of Generator, Captain America and Quartermain briefly flickered across the problem as they swept around the corridor, offering just enough illumination to clue him into what he already knew.
Generator: Well, good news and bad news. Good news is I found the problem. Bad news is I can't fix it unless you've got spare parts lying around.
The lights finally landed on the problem, revealing a power conduit that had been torn wide open as the shredded wires within sparked chaotically.
Clay: Not that I enjoy stating the obvious, but this ain't good.
Clay stated grimly.
Miss Marvel: It looks... chewed through.
Miss Marvel noted as she held up a glowing fist to further illuminate the scene.
Miss Marvel: Could one of the prisoners have done this? Or could something else have followed us through the gateway?
She asked and Quartermain shook his head.
Clay: I don't think so. The prisoners are all accounted for in their cells, and the power dampeners prevent any of them from using their abilities... and I don't know anything on Earth that can eat through metal like that.
Captain America: Besides, whatever caused this was digging its way in not out.
Captain America observed, pointing to the way the metal was curved outwards.
Rex: Sounds like you need an exterminator instead of IT.
Rex remarked.
Clay: If something came in this way, we would see it.
Clay surmised.
Clay: The only way out-
Miss Marvel: Is the way we came in.
Miss Marvel concluded. All eyes slowly turned back towards their entry hatch...
Meanwhile
Up top Rhys walked in a hallway but suddenly the lights turned off as he shakes his head as he takes out a flashlight and turns it on.
Rhys: (Sighs) I swear if this turns into a horror movie I-
Suddenly he heard some growling and pulls out his pistol as he then turns around with pistol raised and was surprised to see a fellow SHIELD agent in the dark.
Rhys: Jesus! You scared me I thought you were something else.
Sheild Agent: Yeah, i was just doing maintenance when the lights went out.
Rhys saw something behind him as Rhys aimed his gun behind him.
Rhys: Get down!
He turns around and screams at the unidentified shadow thing as a blast from Rhys Gun turned the screen white. As the Panicked screams drew Thor, Wasp and She-Hulk into a different section of 42's maintenance wing, the trio charging down darkened corridors until they located SHIELD agent and Rhys as they stare at the dead alien bug a scorpion with huge teeth and thanks to Rhys's good shooting he stares at the carcass with a few wounds on his body and one in the head just to make sure its dead.
Thor: What is it?
Thor questioned as Wasp grew to full size.
SHEILD Agent: I-I don't know... If he didnt warn me to duck I think...
Then there was tapping and growling to which everyone tensed up.
SHIELD Agent: S-Something here?
As The agent sputtered in reply, still gripped by fear.
Rhys: we're not alone.
Rhys said as he shined his light from wall to wall, passing over pipes, girders, flat steel, curved steel... and something distinctly organic.
It as we see it we see it takes the shape of a scorpion from Earth; although it was lacking two of the usual six legs. But the barbed tail-stinger, twin snapping claws, they all fit the description... the massive teeth in its sizeable maw, however, did not.
With a beastial snarl it lunged straight for Wasp. The startled heroine loosed a yelp of fright and shrank down, missing its sweeping claws by taking flight at the last possible second. She-Hulk intervened, rounding a fearless right hook that knocked the insectoid flat on its back. The agent and Rhys wasted no time opening fire, scattered rounds striking off an armored carapace and ricocheting off the floor as the creature righted itself and skittered off into the darkness with a screech.
Wasp: What was that?!
Wasp exclaimed as she grew back to her normal height. Before anyone could respond, the SHIELD agent's radio crackled as a broken, desperate voice called out from the other side.
SHEILD Agent #2: N-Need... Need help...! Control... room...!
It was the warden. Something had gotten to him while the heroes had been dispersed!
The Command Room
The Avengers quickly regrouped and stormed the control room together, expecting a fight. What they found instead was carnage. Screens had been shattered, panels torn apart to reveal sparking severed wires, bits and pieces of debris lay strewn across the floor. Bodies of agents and Mandroids lay unconscious here there and everywhere as Generator Scans them for any dead or critically injured.
Wasp: Are they...?
Janet trailed off as the men stooped to investigate.
Generator: Alive. Just unconscious.
Generator announced.
Captain America approached a bald man groaning as he came to and helped him to his feet.
Captain America: What happened soldier?
He asked.
SHEILD Agent #2: A-A bug.
The agent rasped.
SHEILD Agent #2: Some... horrible alien bug...
Thor: We are familiar with it.
Thor rumbled.
Wasp: That's an understatement.
Wasp remarked.
Miss Marvel: Where's the warden?
Miss Marvel queried.
SHEILD Agent #2: It took him. Dragged him away.
The agent explained, limply pointing towards one of the exit doors with a vacant, haunted look in his eyes. Steve's gaze narrowed.
Clay: Generator. Can you and Quartermain get this gear up and running again?
He tasked. The AI and senior agent moved back over to the broken command console. Before Clay could even take a seat, Generator was already tapping into the mainframe mentally.
Generator: This thing's pretty messed up, Cap. We're looking at about fifty-percent functionality.
He reported.
Generator: Damage is somewhat superficial, but the core conduits have been fried.
Captain America: What can you get working?
Generator: Surveillance. We'll need it to find the Wardan.
Generator responded and, at once, the screens flickered to life as his mental commands prompted various programming readouts to appear one by one. Meanwhile, his CPU performed an assessment of the console's other central features. It was grim.
Generator: The controls to the gateway are shot. We have no communication with the Baxter Building, and we can't open the gate from this side.
Wasp: How do we get back?
Wasp wondered hesitantly.
Clay: We'll have to wait for the gateway to open from the other side.
Miss Marvel: And when will that happen?
Miss Marvel asked.
Clay: When the next shift of guards reports for duty.
Clay answered.
She-Hulk: So... waiting it out with an alien killer-bug running amok. Just dandy.
She-Hulk muttered.
Rhys: At least they can be killed.
Rhys ready his weapon not afraid of these Bugs.
Thor: Clearly there is more to our foe than meets the eye, friend Rhys. In spite of their size, these creatures can exert a brute force that far belies their stature.
Captain America: Then we better stay on our toes, people.
Cap determined, slinging his shield across one arm.
Captain America: We have to find the warden. Surely the bug couldn't have gotten far having to drag an average man.
Generator and Clay turned back to the surveillance cams, combing over the visibly-accessible areas of the prison for signs of the insect intruder. But it was Wasp who beat them both to the punch.
Wasp: There! The mess hall!
Outside the Mess
Quickly and carefully, the Avengers and SHIELD teams met up just outside the mess hall, doing their best to not disturb the creature as it scampered across the walls. It paused periodically, using one of its claws to tap against the steel like a mallet, being very systematic... as if searching for something.
Miss Marvel: What's it doing?
Carol wondered aloud as they all studied the curious behavior.
Captain America: Searching for a way out, perhaps.
Cap theorized.
She-Hulk: I'll smash it before that happens.
She-Hulk vowed, cracking her knuckles.
Wasp: Well, so much for the Negative Zone being devoid of all life.
Wasp muttered, now that they could see their foe in the flesh without flashlights.
Rex: Why does it want the warden?
Captain America: You always try to capture enemy officers for intel.
Captain America explained, speaking from experience. Rhys shot him a quizzical glance.
Rhys …it's just a bug.
Thor: Aye, a very intelligent bug it would seem.
Rex: A Negative Zone bug.
Rex chimed in.
Generator sees the Bug in front of him and crossreferenced it to a Earth Scorpion and see a big difference.
Generator: Seems to rank a little higher on the IQ scale than an Earth bug would.
The teams quickly began prepping their tools and weaponry, not willing to underestimate the tiny attacker.
Captain America: Thor, draw it away. We'll grab the warden.
Captain America ordered, planning out the order of battle in his head. But a Mandroid trooper quickly interjected.
Mandroid: Sir, there are more outside, my sensors show-
Cut off by a thunderous cacophony from one of the walls, steel exploded inwards as dozens more of the insectoid came pouring in with shrieks and snarls to invade this section of the prison. Perhaps they had been summoned by their fellow holding the warden captive?
Rhys, Quartermain and his fellow agents and Mandroids opened fire with their ranged weaponry. She-Hulk wasted no time clapping her hands together to generate a thunderclap that sent the insectoids flying back out the hole they'd entered through. The other Avengers cut them down where they stood, Wasp with her biostings, Miss Marvel with photon blasts, Generator Rex come together and yelled out his many modes.
Rex: Space Mode!
As he takes his spacesuit mode out and his tech swirled on his arms and made duel wielding blasters.
Rex: Exterminators here!
Rex with a two guns blasting each Bug, Captain America with his shield and Thor with dazzling blows from Mjolnir. Despite the success of their attacks, it was hampered by the growing numbers of the insectoids pouring into the room. They closed the gap with the SHIELD agents and attacked them hard, taking them down one by one while tearing chunks out of the Mandroid troopers.
A winged version of the insectoids swooped in from the void and grabbed the warden within deceptively strong legs and started carting him off, disappearing back through the same hole.
Miss Marvel: The warden!
Carol cried out in warning as she broke off to pursue.
Carol cried out in warning as she broke off to pursue. Cap caught his shield, the edges rimmed with green blood.
Captain America: Thor, go with her!
He shouted over the din. The Asgardian gave chase, chasing Miss Marvel into the void.
Thor: Do not let it get a-
Thor stopped suddenly, something grabbing at his senses and drawing him in. He turned in mid-flight, glancing backwards at the prison complex... and a rising shadow looming against the cosmic expanse.
Thor: Odin's beard...
He gasped. Carol heard him and turned to look. Her eyes shot wide as the terror sank in.
Miss Marvel: Oh boy... Cap? You're not gonna like this.
A seething mass of insectoids, their numbers beyond count, was bearing down on them. They were all identical in shape and size, a veritable invasion force looming out of the infinite void and approaching the prison.
Captain Amarica: What's the situation?
Cap radioed from within the structure.
Miss Marvel: There are hundreds of them.
Miss Marvel responded. That didn't sit well with the others.
Wasp: You mean there's more?! I thought this was more!
Rex: Well... Seems like they're pulling a clown-car phenomenon!
Rex remarked as he used his staff to swat a few bugs close to him and then jumps backwards and shoot backwards hiting the bugs. The tide of battle was turning and not in their favor.
Clay: Everyone out! Into the hall!
Clay ordered. The SHIELD agents backed out first as the heroes held the line, Wasp and Generator Rex using their ranged abilities to great effect as they kept the swarm away from the team. She-Hulk reached down to grab the floor, tearing it up and snapping it like a whip to send the insectoids flying in every direction.
Clay: Sealing the mess hall doors!
Clay announced, smashing the emergency seal controls. At once, two fireproof steel panels closed shut like the halves of a vice, crushing several insectoids in the process. Their claws littered the ground as heavy thumps sounded from the other side, dents appearing in the door.
Wasp: Stubborn, aren't they?!
An out-of-breath Wasp noted.
Mandroid: Agent Quartermain, I have Thor and Miss Marvel on my scanners... and something coming right at them... a whole lot of somethings!
A wave of concerned rolled over the Avengers.
Captain America: Carol! Thor! Get out of there!
Captain America barked over their comms.
Miss Marvel: (On Radio) We'll try to slow them down a little.
Carol responded over the sound of her own booming photon blasts.
Miss Marvel: So you can-... Thor! Look out!
The thunder god uttered a war cry that pierced the comms.
Miss Marvel: There's just too many. There's just-...
Carol's words cut to static, filling the air with a chilling sense of dread. Loosing a growl, Captain America hardened himself and tightened his grip on his shield.
captain America: I'm going out there. Open the door.
He commanded.
She-Hulk: Are you nuts?!
She-Hulk exclaimed in disbelief.
Rex: They just took out our muscle! No offence, but what're you supposed to do?
Clay: It's too dangerous!
Quartermain protested. Suddenly, the pounding on the door increased, sizeable dents appearing in the metal as it shuddered with every heavy blow. Freezing in place, Captain America realized they were running out of options.
Captain America: Looks like they're going to open it for you.
He stated, moving to the forefront.
Captain America: Everyone get ready!
The survivors tensed in preparation for another fight. The door shuddered, trembling as punch after punch bent the twin panels inwards.
Suddenly, with a rush of debris and a cloud of smoke and dust, the door caved in and slammed to the floor.
But instead of bugs emerging from the smoke, a victorious Miss Marvel and Thor strode through instead.
Wasp: Thor... Carol... You big blonde bug zappers!
An overjoyed Wasp whooped in delight, rushing forward to embrace her friend.
Captain America: Let's not celebrate too soon.
Captain America cautioned.
Captain America: I have a feeling this isn't over yet.
Later...
Returning to the command centre, they began implementing a new course of action. On Generator's recommendation, technology from the Mandroid armor was pulled out and inserted into the prison's larger programming. Able to do the work of an entire tech team, Generator was chosen to perform the system implementation.
The others watched him work, those familiar with his work looking on with pride while those who were unfamiliar stared with rapt awe.
She-HULK: And I thought SHIELD techies were good.
She-Hulk remarked.
Miss Marvel: You can do a lot when code is practically a second language.
Miss Marvel concurred.
Rex: And being a Super Advanced AI.
Wasp: Yeah, he's the best. I can't remember how many times he's fixed my phone for me.
Wasp added with a grin. With his back to them, Generator allowed himself to emote a smile with glasses as he feels important as he finished up fusing together programs and streams of code.
Generator: Okay….. all systems upgraded with the Mandroid sensors to scan the exterior.
He announced after a moment, flickering all the screens to fresh monitor cycles.
Clay: Good work. Can you put it on screen?
Quartermain asked and Generator did as asked, converting the entire display to a single area scan displaying the territory around the prison.
Revealed was a mass of red dots, so numerous they clumped together into a gigantic red ring that circled around the perimeter of the prison.
Wasp: There's so many...
Wasp gasped in horrified awe.
Rex: Why aren't they attacking?
Rex questions as he put a hand on his chin.
Miss Marvel: It's like they're waiting for something.
Miss Marvel noted.
Clay: If they overrun us, they'll be here when the next shift comes through the gateway in less than an hour.
Clay calculated, godsmacked by just how many of the there were.
Thor: The monsters would flood into Midgard unopposed.
Thor grimly determined.
Rex: And Wave after wave... Earth would be destroyed.
Rex realized.
Captain America: We'll destroy the gateway before we let that happen.
Captain America stated stoically.
Wasp: Won't that sort of. you know, trap us here? Like forever?
Wasp asked with a nervous swallow.
Captain America: As a last resort. Until then, we hold the line.
Miss Marvel: The six of us, a She-Hulk and a handful of SHIELD agents can't hold these things off.
Miss Marvel said aloud.
Miss Marvel: We'll never last alone.
Catching the tone of her words, She-hulk looked curiously in her direction.
She-Hulk: You've got a plan, don't you?
She stated, seeking affirmation.
Captain America: What are you thinking, Carol?
Captain America inquired. As She may have a idea.
A few moments later...
Miss Marvel: Alright, everybody! Listen up!
Miss Marvel boomed as the Avengers stood before all of the incarcerated supervillains.
Miss Marvel: Most of you here aren't stupid!
Wasp: That'll win 'em over.
Wasp remarked under her breath and Rex failed to supress a snicker while Generator shushed them as to keep quiet.
Miss Marvel: You all know something's wrong.
Leader: We knew before you did!
Leader cried from his cell.
Miss Marvel: Yes. Thank you.
Carol grumbled with an exhale.
Miss Marvel: And that's why we're looking to you these walls, there's an army of bugs... very hungry, nasty bugs. We need your help. We can't find them alone.
She explained.
Mar-Vell: You will have my aid in the fight, Carol.
Mar-Vell promised from the door of his cell.
Miss Marvel: Thank you, Mar-Vell.
Abomination: Sure, sure, space-boy wants to help the Avengers, but I seem to remember the Avengers putting us in this prison!
Emil Blonsky, the Abomination, snarled from his cell.
Captain America: It's true. We've fought on opposite sides in the past.
Captain America continued, stepping forward.
Captain America: And, each one of you is in this prison for a reason. But, these insects, whatever they are, they're marshalling to attack in force. And, when they do, they will destroy everyone and everything here, before swarming to Earth. Fight them with us, and I will personally testify on your behalves at your parole hearings, or do nothing... and wait for them in your cells. It's your choice.
His words hung in the air, leaving the villains to choose what they wanted to do. As Rex was in awe of Captain America Charisma.
Mar-Vell was the first released from his cell. In due course, Radioactive Man, Absorbing Man, Abomination, several AIM drones, Blizzard, Skurge the Executioner, Whirlwind, and The Leader joined the team.
Zemo: I will fight these bugs.
Zemo coyly promised as the heroes passed his cell.
Captain America: Keep dreaming, Zemo. I'd rather face a million bugs in front of me than risk one of your daggers in my back.
Captain America retorted with a frown.
Zemo: Oh, do not tempt me with such beautiful imagery, Captain.
Zemo sneered. Miss Marvel cast a lingering glance at the purple-clad villain, pondering his strategic potential.
Miss Marvel: Cap?
Captain America: Too dangerous. Trust me.
Cap responded, already reading her mind.
Miss Marvel: What about some of the Super Skrulls we have packed away? Their combined abilities might be helpful.
She then proffered.
Rex: So much as one of those gets loose and we're gonna start having trust issues all over again.
Rex remarked in passing.
With the select number of villainous volunteers arranged, Quartermain set about arming them properly. Blizzard had his cryo nozzles hooked up again, Whirlwind received his sawblades back, Skurge accepted his rifles back. Quartermain even let the AIM drones access the local armoury, letting them gear up on rifles and blasters to use against the insectoids. As they did, Thor had some business to attend to.
Thor: Executioner, hear me.
The thunder god called out as he approached Skurge.
Thor: Your Enchantress has fallen into the hands of the fire demon, Surtur. I can ensure that you get a chance to see her freed, but you must fight honourably in this battle.
He explained. All Skurge could do was nod solemnly in response.
With the team prepared, the assortment of heroes and villains proceeded back into the lower levels of 42 where evidence of the insectoid's malignant presence was made greatly known.
Blizzard: Those bugs did this..?
A worried Blizzard wondered as he surveyed the damage.
Thor: Aye.
A stone-faced Thor affirmed.
Blizzard: M-Maybe I want back in my cell.
Blizzard muttered with a nervous gulp. Despite his nervousness, some of the villains had more than enough energy to expend in the name of destroying the bugs.
Whirlwind: If we live through this, I'm gonna cut you to pieces, Wasp!
Whirlwind threatened the heroine before him. He was stopped short when a Rex pushed him in the wall and glared at Whirlwind through his mask.
Whirlwind: Ow!
Rex: Lay off the lady, airhead. Unless you want me to trap you in that full-metal suit of yours for good... Got it?
Rex threatened, showing his Cosmic powers which intimidated him.
Whirlwind: G-Got it.
Whirwind loosed a pained exhale at the thought. Wasp just snickered, feeling warmed by his bold defence. Captain America led them to a Y-junction where the debris and damage seemed to worsen. From there he staged his battle plan.
Captain America: We'll use this corridor as a choke point, force them to come to us through the smaller opening. Limit their numbers. If we begin to get overrun, we'll fall back in groups, covering our retreat. The main fall back position is the hallways leading to the cell block. Radioactive Man, Wasp, and Abosrbing Man will cover us. If they get past us there, fall back to the control room.
As Captain America briefed the assault group, Miss Marvel briefed Quartermain and the rest of the SHIELD personnel on site.
Miss Marvel: This is our Alamo. We make our final stand right here.
She stated within the command room.
Miss Marvel: As a last resort, I hit the self-destruct sequence and blow the gateway.
It was an uncomfortable thought, but a noble sacrifice in the name of sparing Earth a similar infestation. The monitors now revealed the red ring around the prison growing tighter and tighter as the swarm closed in on them...
As Captain America briefed the assault group, Miss Marvel briefed Quartermain and the rest of the SHIELD personnel on site. "This is our Alamo. We make our final stand right here." She stated within the command room. "As a last resort, I hit the self-destruct sequence and blow the gateway." It was an uncomfortable thought, but a noble sacrifice in the name of sparing Earth a similar infestation. The monitors now revealed the red ring around the prison growing tighter and tighter as the swarm closed in on them...
The teams broke into crews, with all but the fall back team moving ahead. Waves of defenders were designated, positions pinpointed... it was all coming to a head.
Waso: Rex..
The technopath turned, hearing his name softly spoken. Wasp stood close by, looking concerned, fidgeting nervously with her hands as she looked demurely to him.
wasp: Be careful out there, okay?
He was on the front team, part of Cap's first wave of defenders.
Rex: Sure thing, Jan.
He affirmed, shooting her a soft lighthearted grin. She didn't react in turn.
Wasp: I'm serious. I want you to come back in one piece.
Rex softened, realizing she was worried about him.
Rex: I know. I'll be careful. I'll come back. I promise.
Generator: We gotta go Rex.
Generator floated by before floating away and Rex followed as Jan heard his words hung in the air.
Wasp: Rex one more thing...
Janet walked slowly forward, slipping her arms around him as she pulled Rex into a gentle hug as he was shocked by this.
Wasp: You better make it.
She whispered. Rex returned the hug, enjoying the soft, warm feel of her bodily contours pressed against his.
Generator: (Telepathy) That skintight suit is one of her best ideas, huh?
Rex suddenly hears as he blushes and stare back at a certain AI who was nearby giving Rex a knowing look.
Rex: (Telepathy) Shut up, Generator!
Janet released him soon after to avoid drawing too much attention and Rex stops blushing and talking in his head as they soon parted ways as the teams divided up. Captain America led Thor, Skurge, Generator Rex, Mar-Vell, Leader, Blizzard, Abomination, the AIM drones and She-Hulk right to the opposite end of the mess hall corridor, where an existing hole in the room would allow the insectoids to get in easily.
Captain America: Careful with the lightning. In this space, you'd cook us all.
He cautioned Thor and the thunder god nodded.
Thor: I shall save mine storms for more open areas, Captain.
He promised. As they continued to prepare and wait, Leader clutched at his head, groaning in pain as the same telepathic torture barraged his synapses again.
Leader: Argh...! They're coming... It's coming!
He cried out in warning. Heroes and villains tensed, ready for anything.
Miss Marvel: Everyone, get ready.
Miss Marvel announced over comms.
Captain America: How many this time?
Cap inquired.
Miss Marvel: All of them.
Carol responded darkly. With that disturbing fact looming over their heads, the defenders watched the door ahead with bated breath.
A sound began to grow; skittering, chittering, like a heavier version of a swarm of ants. It grew louder and louder, approaching the door, which began to bend and bow to the tune of a dozen BANG BANG BANG.
It abruptly stopped and the skittering grew louder, now accompanied by beastial shouts and snarls of creatures on the warpath. They had breached the prison.
Leader: I can't take it...!
Leader raved, practically foaming at the mouth as he stumbled back down the corridor, clutching his head.
Leader: It's in my head... Make it stop!
He pleaded to anyone who would listen. Blizzard swallowed nervously.
Blizzard: I, uh... better see if Leader's okay...
He muttered, seeking his own excuse to escape this. But Captain America's hand on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks.
Captain America: Stand your ground. Here they come.
He ordered.
Blizzard whimpered and turned back to look over the barricade of debris they'd formed. The insectoids were getting closer, their shadows could be seen splayed out on the wall at the end.
Captain America: Hold.
Captain America ordered, commanding no itchy trigger-fingers until they insectoids were close enough to stop.
Captain America: Hold...
The beasts came around the corner, snapping their claws and loosing roars from saliva-coated jaws, charging the barricade.
Captain America: NOW!
With the thunderous order, everyone exploded into action.
Skurge opened fire with his rifles. Blizzard unleashed freezing cold vapours from his finger nozzles. Mar-Vell forged beam cannons from his transmog gauntlets. Captain America hurled his shield with all his might. Generator Rex was now in Firing his duel space blasters as it destroys them but more seem to replace the ones they lost and charge forward. Thor flung Mjolnir, obliterate insectoids on the throw as well as during the receive. The AIM drones opened fired with their weaponry. Abomination and She-Hulk held back, waiting for the creatures to get closer.
Thor: Keep fighting! We're holding them back!
The Asgardian boomed as the ranged assault continued. But then, the creatures held their ground and refused to advance.
Blizzard: They're... stopping.
Blizzard noticed as the team let up, as confused as he was.
Leader: They only stop because it told them.
Leader gasped as he shoved his way to the front.
Captain America: What is 'it'?
Captain America demanded and He was about to find out. From the dark depths of the corridor, the insectoids began to divide as a hulking form moved between them. Massive, metallic wings spread open wide, revealing a chitinous body; a green-purple exoskeleton. It's head shaped like a screaming visage, energy blazed brightly within its eyes as it held aloft a golden staff topped with a ruby-like stone. Power flexed and flared, consuming the length of the rod as the creature loosed an inhuman shriek. A war cry.
Leader: IT!
Leader cried, reacting in turn.
Leader: Get out of my head! GET OUT!
He screamed. The bidepal creature pointed its staff towards the assembly, generating a powerful bolt of crimson cosmic energy that struck the barricade and detonated with the force of a missile.
The ensure explosion hurled friend and foe alike down the hall, debris sent hurtling this way and that as smoke and flame consumed the scene. With most of the team down, only the heartiest managed to recover and get back in the fray. Abomination and She-Hulk rushed the insectoids and began beating them into the ground, green blood splattering their fists and bodies as a trail of carnage was left behind.
Whirlwind quickly joined the fray, using his powers to send insectoids hurtling into the walls with hurricane force and obliterating them on impact.
Then Mar-Vell joined in, the Kree using his arsenal to pick off the bugs who tried to skirt around the gamma behemoths currently crushing them.
It was open warfare now.
The others joined in, but the bugs kept coming and grew ever craftier. Crawling across the ceiling, they dragged one of the three AIM drones into their maws as the two survivors ran for their lives. Poor Blizzard was lost to a sudden swarm of the things, overpowered and knocked down as the bugs surrounded him, his blue-white form lost to the sounds of chittering, screams but was saved by Rex as he pulled up the Super Villian as he was grateful of the save. Mar-Vell exchanged guns for a sword and hacked his way through the swarm attempting to crawl up his armored body. Skurge blasted a mountain of the dead to free Thor from their holds, the two Asgardians sharing nods of honorable affirmation as they continued to fight back to back.
Generator: Rex this isnt looking good, that 'Thing' blew up our defenses we need to retreat!
Rex: I know! Cap! We need to fall back! We lost the advantage!
Rex cried out as he torched dozens of insectoids with his blasters before making a staff and swatting two before slamming the end as it became coated in green blood.
Rex: Knock two down and four more take their place!
Captain America: Agreed!
The supersoldier responded, noting that they had lost their advantages.
Captain America: Fall back!
The order was swiftly obeyed as heroes and villains left the scene, Mar-Vell providing covering fire while Abomination scooped up a cowering Leader in his grasp.
Rex: Wasp! We're falling back! Get Kreel and Chen ready!
Generator reported over radio.
Wasp: We'll be ready! Just get your butts back here!
Moving as fast as they could, team one passed team two as the trio prepared to provide sufficient cover.
Wasp: Okay, boys, like we planned.
The diminutive heroine called out to her villainous allies.
Wasp: Roast'em!
Radioactive Man planted both hands on the shoulders of Absorbing Man, allowing the latter to take on his full radioactive powers to form two pairs of nuclear devastators. Together they rushed the swarm, unleashing scorching beams of raw radiation that reduced the insectoids to ashen atoms, without breaking a sweat.
Team One returned to the cellblock, planning to regroup and fortify here. But at once, the same inhuman shrieking from before drew their attention skyward. The massive winged monster from before was leading the swarm through the opening in the roof and bringing wave after wave of his creatures right to the unprepared defenders. With a guttural shout and a flourish from his golden staff, the bugs obeyed his command and descended en masse.
Leader broke free from Abomination's hold and stumbled across the ground, trying to gather his thoughts and find logic amid the chaos wreaked upon his mind.
Leader: Annihil... ugh, hrrn... annihilate? Grah... Annihilation?!
He ranted, attempting to discern the word forced upon his mind trying to perceive itself using the english lexicon. He was getting closer.
Leader: It's name...
he gasped in wide-eyed terrified awe, finally figuring it out,
Leader: It's name is Annihilus!
Looking up in terrified awe of the host attacking them, heroes and villains watched as Annihilus waved his Cosmic Control Rod and order his deadly Annihilation Wave to consume them all...
in the Gateway
Clay: Ten minutes until the gateway opens from the other side.
Quartermain warily announced.
Miss Marvel: The defences aren't gonna hold that long.
Miss Marvel gravely deduced. The two shared a look, unspoken acceptance flitting between them. The gateway would have to be destroyed... trapping them here against odds no team, no matter how numerous, could withstand.
The Cellblock
Heroes and villains gathered, attacking the Annihilation Wave head on as the cellblock was filled with the droning of the insectoid horde. Above it all, Annihilus orchestrated the fervent fury, his unstoppable forces tearing into the defenders in the name of carnage and chaos. Crimson bolts from his Cosmic Control Rod tore Mandroids asunder while the last of the AIM drones was carried off by the insectoids.
Leader crawled on the ground, struggling to think coherently.
Leader: Annihilus... it's controlling them..!
He gasped as Wasp responds to him.
Wasp: Kinda obvious!
Wasp retorted, barraging the insectoids with biostings.
Wasp: They go wherever he waves that crazy stick!
Her words registered with the other Avengers and new battle plan was formed.
Rex: That thing must be using sub-frequency harmonies to control the bugs!
Cybernaut realized.
Rex: They're only obeying because Annihilus has it switched on!
Thor: Then we must take out their leadership! Captain?
Captain America: Agreed!
Captain America affirmed and started giving orders.
Captain America: SHIELD agents, fall back to the Alamo. Hold the gate! The rest of you with me.
Heroes and villains fell in line, moving to new positions... all, that is, except for Abomination.
Blonsky looked up at the descending horde, new numbers replacing those already destroyed. An endless wave after wave of insectoids was coming for them, threatening to ensure their mighty numbers remained unchanged even after the defenders were long dead.
Abomination: Aw, forget this!
He rumbled, fully intending to desert.
Leader: Abomination!
Leader called after him, catching his attention.
Leader: Take me to the gateway.
He implored.
Abomination: Good idea.
Abomination growled as he hoisted Leader up with one arm.
Abomination: Let's get out of here while we still can.
Calculating angles, Cap hurled his shield and ricocheted it off one bug after another before finally clobbering Annihilus with it. But his shield merely bounced off a field generated by the Cosmic Control Rod. Thor tried next, hammering into Annihilus with his mightiest blows only to find himself rebuffed.
Thor: Not even Mjolnir can touch him!
He realized to his horror. Wasp and Generator Rex tried next, dumping energy blasts and biostings into the force field.
He realized to his horror. Wasp and Cybernaut tried next, dumping plasma blasts and biostings into the force field.
Wasp: Nothing's getting through!
The heroine cried out.
Rex: Conventional weaponry isn't working, we've got to try something else!
The technopath echoed. Now it was the horde's turn to attack. The Annihilation Wave slammed into the catwalks, tearing through Mandroids and knocking Radioactive Man to his doom as he fell into the cosmic void below before Rex sees him fall and jumps down.
Rex: Flight Mode!
Rex blasted his cosmic jets to grab him and drops him to the platform quick as Rex see Whirlwind was carted off next, his screams echoing through the prison as the insectoids made an attempt to consume him and they would have if Rex hadn't tackled him out of the Bugs as he is covered in green blood. Rex noticed they were outnumbered and their group of defenders were dwindling, time and options were running out...
The Gateway
Clay watched with a gnawing sense of defeat as heroes and villains failed to stop Annihilus.
Clay: It's too late. Blow the door.
Miss Marvel: You do it, Quartermain.
Carol responded.
Miss Marvel: If I'm going out, I'm going out fighting.
She made to leave but, before she could, Abomination and Leader powered through the door. Miss Marvel, Quartermain and Rhys sprang into action.
Leader: The computer!
Sterns cried and Abomination promptly swatted Quartermain out of the way, Rhys SHIELD agent was knocked out as well as Leader scrambled for the controls. Both paused as the thrum of photons filled the air and a golden glow lit both of Miss Marvel's clenched fists.
Miss Marvel: Touch that computer, and the last thing that'll pass through that oversized mind of yours is my glowing fist.
Carol threatened through gritted teeth.
Leader: We are not trying to escape!
Abomination: Wait... we're not?
A confused Abomination sputtered. Leader carried on, ignoring him.
Leader: I am going to disrupt Annihilus' energy. The energy that's protecting him.
Miss Marvel: How?
Miss Marvel demanded.
Leader: I can attempt to cram forty-three years of Quantum physics into that primitive brain of yours, or you can let me do this!
Leader sardonically retorted. Miss Marvel frowned, half-tempted to blast him for the remark alone. But if she knew one thing about the Leader, it was that his intellect was unmatched. He could think on a level the top army brass couldn't even begin to comprehend. They played checkers while he was playing chess, out-thinking and outmaneuvering everyone through sheer brainpower.
So if anyone knew what he was doing, it would be him.
Miss Marvel: You got two minutes. Then I'm blowing up the gate and you with it.
Her ultimatum delivered, Miss Marvel relented as Leader began rapidly punching commands into the keyboard...
The Annihilation Wave continued to attack the defenders as heroes and villains struggled to stay in the fight. Radioactive Man blasts Radioactive energy and Blizzard feezing mists as bugs freeze and break on the platform or fall in the abyss from the ground up in the air as Whirlwind was out cold from Rex tackle and the bugs surrounding him as Rex made sure no one died anymore as he fires Cosmic blasts from holding Generator. Mar-Vell was airborne now, swatting bugs out of the sky with blades protruding from his transmog gauntlets. She-Hulk managed to generate enough thunderclaps to keep a suitable bubble around her in order to smash any insectoid foolish enough to come within arm's reach. Thor, and Wasp continued their own barrages, as did Captain America. A seemingly futile effort until suddenly,
Miss Marvel: Cap, get ready! The Leader's gonna disrupt that Annihilus-creature's energy shield.
Miss Marvel announced over their comms. With hope rekindled, the heroes gathered for a final stand, Annihilus bellowing between great flaps of his massive wings as he ordered his Annihilation Wave to being final maneuvers.
And then a piercing high-pitch frequency filled the room, generated by 42's own loudspeaker systems, resonating at a level only insectoid antennas could register. It was stronger than the power exerted by the Cosmic Control Rod, the artefact reacting so severely that it fell from Annihilus' hands, the monster dropping it with a cry and revealing his weakness.
Captain America: He's wide open! Hit him hard, Avengers!
The team responded, Skurge lightning up Annihilus with a volley of blasts as Mar-Vell generator his disruptor cannon from the power cells on his back and unleashed mighty blasts of his own. No longer protected, Annihilus was knocked this way and that by the barrages, and the heroes continued to strike true.
Rex: Wasp! Set us up!
Generator Rex called out.
Wasp: On it!
Janet rushed in, barraging Annihilus with rapid-fire biostings. He raised an arm to shield himself completely as Wasp flyby. Generator Rex quickly took flight and primed his knuckles in Cosmic Energy.
Rex: You line him up-
Rex delivered a powerful uppercut right to Annihilus' unsuspecting chin, snapping his head up. Hovering above, Rex went back to basic as he crossed his arms.
Rex: -and we'll knock him down! Space Mode!
In Mid air he changed to his space mode amd Trans modify his guns into Twin canons that shoot out blue beams slammed into his foe's chitinous carpace and powered him across the space. Wasp promptly grew to normal size proportions and punched Annihilus towards Thor.
Rex: Smooth moves, Jan!
Rex complimented as she shrank back down.
Wasp: You too!
Wasp responded, beaming.
Wasp: You and I make a pretty good team! Heck, we're an awesome team! It's like we were made to do this together!
She remarked, riding the high of succeeding in combat.
Rex grinned from ear to ear, saying nothing but turning to watch as Mjolnir powered into the back of Annihilus' head and drove him towards the catwalks. Cap's shield slammed into his midsection, driving him sideways as She-Hulk snatched him out of the air, hoisted him over her shoulders, and promptly delivered a hard-hitting fallaway slam.
With Annihilus down for the count, Thor pounced on the Cosmic Control Rod and shattered the ruby head with an electric blow from Mjolnir, obliterating the device. A shockwave rolled out, the insectoids chittering to themselves with a chorus of chirps as their sentience was restored.
And as one, they turned on Annihilus.
No longer in control, Annihilus loosed a fearful shriek as his own Annihilation Wave swooped down and carried him off, disappearing into the void of the Negative Zone with screaming cries of terror. With them gone, 42 fell deathly quiet as heroes and villains alike paused to recognize their victory...
Later...
The prison was an absolute mess but the day had still been saved. Thanks, in the end, surprisingly, to the Leader.
Generator Rex took Whirlwind, Radioactive Man and Blizzard back to there respective cells as Blizzard and Radioactive man seemed grateful even Let Generator scan Blizzard and Radioactive man after the battle as it was still costly as Rex couldn't save the two Aim scientist and few SHIELD Agents but Rex went back to the gateway to see Abomination, Leader, Captain America and Miss Marvel as Sterns seem to be normal self.
Leader: Ahh... I can think again.
Sterns breathed in relief.
Leader: The noise is gone. The pain is gone.
The Avengers gathered around, suddenly curious.
Leader: It was Annihilus' mind. So chaotic, unlike anything I've encountered, like it was a manifestation of the Negative Zone itself. It could feel our universe encroaching on its anti-matter universe, and all it knew was that it had to destroy us. To destroy the positive matter, to annihilate life itself.
Generator: Almost like white blood cells purging unknowns. The Negative Zone took notice of our increased presence and reacted.
Miss Marvel: Are we sure it's the zone itself? Or just Annihilus?
Miss Marvel wondered.
Rex: That, I think, is a question for Iron Man and Mister Fantastic to explore.
The technopath responded.
Miss Marvel: Something tells me they're gonna want to conduct a more thorough study of the Negative Zone after this.
The two strode ahead to reclaim Leader and Abomination in order to return them to their cells.
Wasp and She-Hulk watched them go.
She-Hulk: Gotta admit, your boyfriend is a jack of all trades. Good with gear and in a fight.
She-Hulk remarked with a nudge to Janet.
Wasp: Huh? Boyfriend?
The heroine spluttered, shooting her a confused look.
She-Hulk: Generator Rex.
The jade giantess replied with a quick tilt of her head.
She-Hulk: You two seemed close and I just figured you were dating.
Wasp's eyes shot wide open in surprise.
Wasp: OH! Oh nononono nothing like that! He's a close friend, a work friend, th-there's nothing going on between us. Nothing at all!
She hurriedly explained. Her mild panic attack over, Janet failed to notice Rex shoot a glance over his shoulder, having caught every word.
Klaxons began to blare, drawing the attention of the Avengers to the gateway. The doors slid back, revealing the SHIELD agents arriving for shift change. They stopped suddenly upon seeing the damage and debris everywhere, as well as both heroes and villains standing together, evidently in the aftermath of a titanic battle.
Captain America: Gentlemen.
Captain America greeted nonchalantly.
Captain America: Welcome to Forty-Two.
A/N: I changed a few things because on this episode because i have plans for the Supervillains in the Future
