Back to GatefoldIssue #6 by John Cheese
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“CODE VIOLET”
The guard dragged the one eyed prisoner down the corridor of cells in Rykers Island Super Max wing. Ever since the problems with containment at the Vault other prisons had been retrofitted to deal with the wide range of super criminals brought to justice either by the police or by the multitude of Heroes that existed along the Eastern Seaboard. As far as the guards were concerned their prisoner was another low life un-ambitious punk who, along with his friends had tried to be big men but failed spectacularly. Reaching the end cell the guards unlocked the bullet proof plastic door reinforced with titanium bars and hurled the man forcefully into his new accommodation, shutting the door almost on his foot before returning back to the main guard station. Picking himself up the prisoner looked around the cell and saw a man sized figure sitting in the corner glaring at him as he went to sit on the opposite bench.
“So meat what are you in for?” The former occupant of the cell asked his new roommate.
“I’m here because I want to be here.” The new prisoner answered, “Hey do me a favor and reach into my eye socket and pull out the main optic cord would you.”
“And why would I do that.” The original prisoner spat as he got to his feet and walked over, his arms held ready to beat his cellmate to death if he caused any trouble.
“Just do it.” The new prisoner ordered as he pulled off his shirt and looked around for something under his skin. “Do it and I can see.” Hesitantly the original prisoner put a finger into the eye and reached in before finding what felt like a fibre optic cable and tugged the end out of the socket before stepping back as his cellmate tore off a patch of fake skin to reveal a tiny disc with a cross shaped lens. Clipping the lens to the exposed wire the prisoner pushed the disc in and shook his head before tapping the eye piece before turning to his cellmate. “You asked what I did.” He stated, “The right question is what I am going to do?”
“And that is?” the second prisoner.
“Why Mr. Payne me and my associates got ourselves arrested, beaten to a pulp and incarcerated just to break you out of prison. My employer stated that he needed the Constrictor and was willing to pay an obscene amount of money to do so.”
“Then get me out of here.” The Constrictor stated as Crossfire looked out towards the guard station. “I don’t have time for tales.”
We will not jump our timetable Mr. Payne; there are other players to move into position if we are to succeed. We have at least a few hours to kill so you may as well listen to what I have to tell you, if just for your own amusement.”
“What the hell.” Constrictor replied, “Dazzle me with your amazing exploits if it makes you fell better.”
“Very well the story of your release starts four days ago on the other side of the Atlantic.” Crossfire stated.
# # # # #
Hamburg, Germany - Four Days Ago
Crossfire reclined in the covert observation platform that overlooked the central hall of the Hamburg Rathaus watching as the men and women dressed in suits gathered in the seats around the stage, all of them looking confused at why they were here. To be honest Cross understood the confusion mostly because the Headhunter had managed to convince the delegates that they were meeting in this room rather then the one prepared for them. The emergency meeting of the G20 that was taking place in the building was a prime target not just for the despots of the world but for manipulators such as himself. All the countries represented here were discussing the threat of rouge states gathering super human assets and as such the meeting was a potential threat to several countries including Latvaria whose leaders had hired Cross and his team to keep an agreement from being reached. Naturally Crossfire had accepted the work not only for the money but so his infiltrators could access the secret information the nations processed so that he could use it against them later. For now he was forced to be the lackey rather then the master and while he had planned for such jobs it didn’t mean he liked it.
“Gillette is everyone accounted for?” He asked over the team’s radio as he started running through the profiles of the twenty priority targets.
“The French Premier is just entering now.” The Headhunter replied from her position in the lobby. “From there we are ready for you to take charge.”
“Good; Daniels, Makro and Sneed are on standby in the hall just in case we missed anyone.” Cross answered as he spotted one of his team talking to the South Korean representative before walking away to the next person along. All across the hall the other two villains disguised as aides were doing the same thing before they had made contact with all twenty targets before regrouping back at the main door. Looking down at the map of the building Cross smiled as he saw twenty green dots appear on the screen indicating the targets tagged with microscopic slithers of lodestone just waiting to be activated.
“Okay Carr I hope you liberally sprayed the nano-transmitters on the minders clothes.” Cross asked as he switched channels to the dry cleaners that Chemistro and Mauler had taken over.
“I’m getting good signals my end, detonation is being synched to your tablet.” Chemistro replied. Crossfire looked down to see a yellow cat spring across the screen before dropping a smiley faced bomb icon in the bottom right hand corner. Daniels, Crossfire silently cursed, his obsession with the Czech cartoon Yellow Cat was becoming more then a mild annoyance. With a shudder Cross clicked the icon and watched as the dots turned amber signalling that the nano materials were homing in on the magnetic strips before embedding a repurposed virus that in theory would turn the brain of any infected individual into both a transmitter and a receiver. As the dots turned red Crossfire smiled and double tapped one of the markers, the screen flickering to reveal what the representative was seeing and hearing.
“Good work, the system works which means we can never use it again.” Crossfire told the others. “Time to send a little message.” He added as he sent the commands he had been typing, in seconds civilized conversation turned into absolute anarchy. The minders and aides were so busy that they didn’t notice the three undercover villains slip out of the hall and into the atrium where they met up with their comrades and beat a hasty exit. A few streets away the group of saboteurs ducked into a laundrette and slid down the back to where their remaining members sat watching feed of the conference hall streaming back via a mini camera in the observation pod to the bulky PC and onto the Latvarian Embassy in Berlin.
“So job done boss.” The bulky man sitting at the console asked, “Because I fancy a night on the town that doesn’t involve doing a laundry run before we leave.”
“I have confirmation that the Latvarians are depositing our fee into our bank accounts as we speak.” Crossfire told him as a mobile phone went off. “I assume the owner of this establishment is still tied up in the closet.”
“Yeah that owner but up a fight and had to be sedated.” Lodestone purred as she squeezed an empty beer can with her powers, “And the blood has been cleaned up as well.” she added before seductively licking her lips. “I never knew who much iron that the body contains until I decided to sample hers.”
“As long as you left no trace then I have no problem what you consume Lodestone.” Crossfire announced. “And as long as you don’t get into trouble with the law I am more then happy for you to enjoy yourself Mauler, the same goes to the rest of you. Store your equipment and have a few hours of ‘shore leave’ before…” As he spoke the Headhunter’s mobile phone started to ring until she answered, a few yes and no answers in the conversation before she terminated the call.
“That was an acquaintance.” She told the others, “He is offering a large sum of money if we complete a job for him.”
“And that is?” Crossfire asked, “I need specifics before I commit us to a job.”
“Just what I said, I arranged a meeting tomorrow morning in one of the properties we own.” Headhunter answered, “If we are to arrive on time and properly prepare we have to leave in the hour.”
“So no time for fun then.” Spear said sadly as he checked his bank account details on his phone.
“If we can extend our reach then we should seize any opportunity to do so.” Crossfire ordered, “Give Miss. Dvorak the antidote, wipe the computer’s hard drive and systems and let’s leave before anyone expects foul play at the assembly. I want to be out of German airspace in half an hour.”
# # # # #
Rykers Island - The Present
Crossfire rubbed his arm to reveal a metal gauntlet with seven red lights on the screen, each one representing his team-mates. If all went to schedule then they would be green in just over an hour. Replacing the synthetic skin Crossfire looked back at where Constrictor sat impatiently staring back at him as if enthralled at his new cellmate.
“So after the G20 thing what happened?” Payne asked, “And what else has been going on since I was thrown into this hell hole.”
“I won’t bore you with long complicated issues of geo-politics.” Crossfire yawned, “After Darkhawk threw you in jail there was a strike force that entered North Korea only to find that the government in charge was creating their own super soldiers using a techno organic virus know as the Phalanx. Details are still up in the air even for a master of Intel such as myself. Needless to say the leaders of the world got scared and called an emergency meeting.”
(Constrictor was arrested in Steve Crosby’s Avengers #64. The events in North Korea are ongoing in Dan Ingram’s Force Works #39 to #Forty Something)
“Okay caught up now.” Constrictor told Cross, “So who wants me out of here so badly that he hired a team of villains.”
“Well,” Crossfire said checking to make sure the corridor was clear. “We met him in Philadelphia shortly after we landed.”
# # # # #
Crosshair Solutions Storage Space, Philadelphia - Three Days Ago
The Storage building owned by Crosshair Solutions while outwardly a grotesque gloomy building was anything but inside, a clever ruse by the owner coupled with the fact that any building inspectors that investigated were easily brought off either by bribes or more aggressive negotiations. Sitting on one of the chairs that were centred around an antique coffee table Crossfire checked the ventilation system status on his tablet and turned it up to its maximum level just to ease his nerves. While he powerful for a non powered operator there were several people whose personalities matched his own and whose natural abilities exceeded his own. Looking around the room he mentally made a note of where the automated sentry turrets, slaved to chemo-regulators in his blood, were positioned, their camouflage systems helping them to blend in with the surroundings. Between them, the fan and the silent bulk of the Mauler clad in his sealed power armour he had the advantage but it still wasn’t enough, as such as soon as the regulators fired the whole room would depressurize and render anyone not protected unconscious in twenty seconds.
“He’s here.” Gillette announced over the buildings closed communication system, “Time to play the gracious hostess.” she added as Cross brought up the CCTV system on his tablet and saw her stride towards the door, her body swaying seductively in the red suit dress she was wearing, a pair of knives concealed in the shoulders although hopefully she wouldn’t have to use them. Opening the door he watched as a man dressed in a trench coat and wide browed fedora walked in followed by a pair of women dressed in just their bras and mini skirts as well as a man wearing a multi coloured costume whose hands were glowing with rainbow energy. Shucking his coat the man in the fedora handed it to Gillette his purple skin clashing with the dark business suit he was wearing and walked into the lounge.
“Killgrave.” Crossfire stated as he got to his feet and gestured to an empty seat. “I heard you have a business proposition for us although I didn’t expect an entourage to be following you.”
“Crossfire, I didn’t believe it when they said you were running one of the best crews in the business.” Killgrave said, “But then I had a problem regarding a man I’m looking to employ for my fledgling empire and naturally thought of you. Britney, Tiffany,” he added turning to the girls he had brought, “Why don’t you two go and talk to Mr. Cross’s friend.” he ordered as he gestured at Gillette.
“Sorry but I would rather have my lieutenant not distracted by your bimbos.” Cross growled as he saw Gillette reach for the concealed knives in her dress.
“Very well.” Killgrave sighed before clapping twice, the sound causing the girls to return to him and sit at his feet, adoring looks on their faces as they gazed lovingly up at their purple skinned master. “I suppose it’s going to be all business with you.” he added, “Unless I can change your mind.”
“No you can’t.” Cross replied coyly, “Industrial strength fans and nasal plugs keep your pheromones out of my associates’ body systems. Even if they failed the receptors in our blood streams would make sure you didn’t leave this place.” he added whilst casually noticing the rainbow coloured figure stirring aggressively. “But hey keep your boy their under control or I may just activate them any way.”
“Calm yourself we are all friends here.” Killgrave commanded, “You will have to excuse Dr. Spectrum there, his mind is some what more resistant to my pheromones then the others I control. So business it is then, what I need you to do is to bring this man to my establishment in Boston and I will pay each of your crew one million dollars or equivalent cash as well as expenses and the possibility on further employment with me if they feel like taking up my offer.”
“Why not send your thralls to do your work?” Cross asked as the Mauler shot dirty looks at Dr. Spectrum from behind his armour’s sealed helmet.
“Because I won’t risk them in any action against his captors, at least not until my power base is fully established.” Killgrave told him, “I need your team to break my associate out of prison.”
“Let me just consult my men.” Crossfire replied, “If you don’t mind moving your party outside then we will try and determine if we will take your mission as our own.” he added as Killgrave turned and walked to the door followed by his thralls. Double checking the surveillance shields were online Cross turned to Gillette and smiled at her with a devil may care grin that suggested he had secretly been enjoying the conversation with Killgrave. “So what Intel do we have about Killgrave’s Crime Empire?” he asked.
“Not much but it does exist and he is moving some serious talent into the areas he holds.” Gillette answered, “He already has control of Dr. Spectrum, Thundersword, Firefight and the Death Squad not to mention a whole host of low level criminals. That in itself suggests he has a considerable network and valuable intelligence we could use.”
“So that’s a yes then.” Crossfire told her before tapping his tablet and opening up a secure line to the lab concealed beneath the building. “Chemistro are the Gadfly Infiltrator Drones ready for deployment?”
“Sure is boss, we just need a signal of some kind for them to lock onto, once they reach the designated area it will hunt down the targets computer system and inject a virus into the system that will copy and transmit data to our processors.” Chemistro answered, “What kind of signal do you want me to set the sensors for.”
“Hormonal discharge, especially pheromones such as those released by the Purple Man. Release it five minutes after Killgrave leads and set up a monitoring programme like the one we injected into Sunset Bain’s network.” Crossfire ordered before turning back to Gillette, “Let them back in, we have to tell Killgrave the ‘good news’ about his problem.” he added before removing the sneer from his face and blanking the screen of his tablet ready for round two with his new employer.
# # # # #
Rykers Island - The Present
“Purple Man?” Constrictor stated with a great deal of surprise on his voice, “I’ve never met that basted before let alone work with him. “And if what you told me about Spectrum is true I don’t want to, I prefer me mind the way it is now, my own and not under the control of anyone else’s. “I can’t believe that you would take this job just for the money.” he added staring at Cross.
“I have my reasons.” Crossfire replied, glad that he had decided to omit the part about who he was bugging all his clients. “Those include an investigation into the major crime lords as well as the up and coming threats and assets to my own work.”
“So what do you think about Killgrave then?” Constrictor asked as a platoon of guards ran past on the opposite balcony. “Hey what’s going on out there?” he yelled as a pair of guards ran past the cell.
“One of the new inmates brutally attacked his cell mate.” The guard told him, “We are currently dealing with the situation. As such any prisoners who ‘act out’ will be subdued with overwhelming force.” he added before spitting into the cell, “I hate you fucking capes and I’m just asking for a reason to teach types like you a lesson.”
As the guards moved on Crossfire checked his gauntlet and saw that the first light that was synched up to Chemistro’s own temporary cybernetics had gone green. The fight while real looking was just a cover, with Chemistro being moved to solitary on the orders of the warden and his ‘victim’ Spear in the infirmary things were moving out on schedule. Rolling the synthetic flesh back over his gauntlet he turned and watched as his teammate was dragged from the cell while medical staff entered with the pair of guards to assess how badly the injured prisoner was.
“So the safeguards, you have a way around them?” Constrictor asked, obviously now enthralled by Crossfire’s plans for his rescue.
“We’re jumping ahead a bit but yes, the floor and walls are designed to give an incapacitating electric shock if the prisoners cause trouble. The voltage and current is scaled to deliver the amount required for the prisoners being targeted. In that end it makes sense to match cellmates with each other based on their abilities and endurance. Being only peak human you and I were a perfect match allowing me to skip a lengthy search to find you.” Crossfire explained, “And yes I have plans for all the security system in this facility. As I did for the events that led me and my men to be incarcerated her in the first place.”
# # # # #
Crosshair Solutions Cooperate Headquarters, Austin, Texas - Three Days Ago
“Okay so everyone run through the plans for the heist.” Crossfire ordered as he sat at the head of the holographic table.
“First Makro and I ride out on the Hayabusa and locate the truck.” Daniels announced, “We tag the truck and drive on to the intercept point.”
“Once the truck is tagged you and I arrive in the Land Rover.” Sneed stated, “From there I board the truck and send an electrical pulse through the truck and stun the driver.”
“After that I swoop in and take control of the truck, keep it moving so the automated alarm doesn’t kick in and alert its owners that it is being high jacked.” Andrea purred, “I open the tail gate and wait for team one to return.”
“At that point we come back.” Daniels told Cross, “We jump aboard and check the cargo that’s aboard. From there it’s you’re game Boss.”
“It is,” Crossfire announced, “Lodestone keeps the truck moving while I transfer to the Skua and deliver our own cargo on-board. Doyle will keep pace with us in the Gunship and carry the devices into position.”
“So what exactly is in the truck?” Daniels asked, “Money, a few jewels maybe some valuable data that we can sell.”
“That is on a need to know basis.” Cross told him, “Just rest assured that this will help us rescue the Constrictor and get that big bonus from Killgrave.”
“And what about Headhunter and Chemistro what the hell are they doing while we play stop the truck?” Doyle asked, “You know that I don’t fly so well when I am sober.”
“We will be hooking up with chicks.” Gillette said with a worried looking smile on her face as she poked her head around the doorway. “Are you sure that this is necessary?”
“Oh yes.” Crossfire replied absently, “Our secondary target is attracted by such people such as yourself. Once you make contact it will be up to you to subdue the young lady and take her biometric details.”
“Not that I like to disagree with you’re plans but why can’t Lodestone or Makro do this?” Lodestone spat as Chemistro walked past dressed in jeans and a black T-Shirt showing the famous image of the Beatles crossing the road on the front. “I don’t mingle well with anyone.” she added her eyes glowing red.
“And another thing no hypnosis.” Crossfire stated without meeting Gillette’s glare. “Here take these contact lenses they should cover you’re normal iris colour and make you less recognizable.”
“So what club are we hitting?” Chemistro asked, “To be honest I don’t like this plan.”
“It’s called Ms. Marvellous, a strip club based around the hero called Ms. Marvel; we know that our target Alyson Lewis often frequents the premises. It is also well known as a venue that caters primarily to the woman interested in Sapphic relationships.”
“Oh so now I’m a Dyke.” Gillette hissed as she stepped out into view of everyone. The rest of the villains gasped, Gillette was dressed in a leotard displaying the Kree starburst over the breasts and cut down sides revealing her pale skin. Apart from that the only other thing she was wearing were a pair of ballet pumps and some hair extensions that reached down to the small of her back. Spear wolf whistled but immediately caught a glimpse of the deadly stare on Gillette’s face and turned away. “This is humiliating.” the Headhunter snarled, “I won’t do it.”
“Hey Cross if you have a girlyfying ray around here then I’ll do it.” Daniels mumbled.
“Unfortunately Daniels you’re marksmanship is required elsewhere.” Crossfire snapped, “Gillette, Calvin move out, we need to get Lewis in play before tomorrow evening. The attack on Columbus Circle must go off without a hitch.”
“Okay that’s the part I don’t get.” Sneed groaned, “Why involve them at all, we’re just asking for trouble by even putting ourselves out in the open.”
“Because the only way this plan will work.” Crossfire stated as he clicked his knuckles, “Is if we kill the Avengers.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
“So meat what are you in for?” The former occupant of the cell asked his new roommate.
“I’m here because I want to be here.” The new prisoner answered, “Hey do me a favor and reach into my eye socket and pull out the main optic cord would you.”
“And why would I do that.” The original prisoner spat as he got to his feet and walked over, his arms held ready to beat his cellmate to death if he caused any trouble.
“Just do it.” The new prisoner ordered as he pulled off his shirt and looked around for something under his skin. “Do it and I can see.” Hesitantly the original prisoner put a finger into the eye and reached in before finding what felt like a fibre optic cable and tugged the end out of the socket before stepping back as his cellmate tore off a patch of fake skin to reveal a tiny disc with a cross shaped lens. Clipping the lens to the exposed wire the prisoner pushed the disc in and shook his head before tapping the eye piece before turning to his cellmate. “You asked what I did.” He stated, “The right question is what I am going to do?”
“And that is?” the second prisoner.
“Why Mr. Payne me and my associates got ourselves arrested, beaten to a pulp and incarcerated just to break you out of prison. My employer stated that he needed the Constrictor and was willing to pay an obscene amount of money to do so.”
“Then get me out of here.” The Constrictor stated as Crossfire looked out towards the guard station. “I don’t have time for tales.”
We will not jump our timetable Mr. Payne; there are other players to move into position if we are to succeed. We have at least a few hours to kill so you may as well listen to what I have to tell you, if just for your own amusement.”
“What the hell.” Constrictor replied, “Dazzle me with your amazing exploits if it makes you fell better.”
“Very well the story of your release starts four days ago on the other side of the Atlantic.” Crossfire stated.
# # # # #
Hamburg, Germany - Four Days Ago
Crossfire reclined in the covert observation platform that overlooked the central hall of the Hamburg Rathaus watching as the men and women dressed in suits gathered in the seats around the stage, all of them looking confused at why they were here. To be honest Cross understood the confusion mostly because the Headhunter had managed to convince the delegates that they were meeting in this room rather then the one prepared for them. The emergency meeting of the G20 that was taking place in the building was a prime target not just for the despots of the world but for manipulators such as himself. All the countries represented here were discussing the threat of rouge states gathering super human assets and as such the meeting was a potential threat to several countries including Latvaria whose leaders had hired Cross and his team to keep an agreement from being reached. Naturally Crossfire had accepted the work not only for the money but so his infiltrators could access the secret information the nations processed so that he could use it against them later. For now he was forced to be the lackey rather then the master and while he had planned for such jobs it didn’t mean he liked it.
“Gillette is everyone accounted for?” He asked over the team’s radio as he started running through the profiles of the twenty priority targets.
“The French Premier is just entering now.” The Headhunter replied from her position in the lobby. “From there we are ready for you to take charge.”
“Good; Daniels, Makro and Sneed are on standby in the hall just in case we missed anyone.” Cross answered as he spotted one of his team talking to the South Korean representative before walking away to the next person along. All across the hall the other two villains disguised as aides were doing the same thing before they had made contact with all twenty targets before regrouping back at the main door. Looking down at the map of the building Cross smiled as he saw twenty green dots appear on the screen indicating the targets tagged with microscopic slithers of lodestone just waiting to be activated.
“Okay Carr I hope you liberally sprayed the nano-transmitters on the minders clothes.” Cross asked as he switched channels to the dry cleaners that Chemistro and Mauler had taken over.
“I’m getting good signals my end, detonation is being synched to your tablet.” Chemistro replied. Crossfire looked down to see a yellow cat spring across the screen before dropping a smiley faced bomb icon in the bottom right hand corner. Daniels, Crossfire silently cursed, his obsession with the Czech cartoon Yellow Cat was becoming more then a mild annoyance. With a shudder Cross clicked the icon and watched as the dots turned amber signalling that the nano materials were homing in on the magnetic strips before embedding a repurposed virus that in theory would turn the brain of any infected individual into both a transmitter and a receiver. As the dots turned red Crossfire smiled and double tapped one of the markers, the screen flickering to reveal what the representative was seeing and hearing.
“Good work, the system works which means we can never use it again.” Crossfire told the others. “Time to send a little message.” He added as he sent the commands he had been typing, in seconds civilized conversation turned into absolute anarchy. The minders and aides were so busy that they didn’t notice the three undercover villains slip out of the hall and into the atrium where they met up with their comrades and beat a hasty exit. A few streets away the group of saboteurs ducked into a laundrette and slid down the back to where their remaining members sat watching feed of the conference hall streaming back via a mini camera in the observation pod to the bulky PC and onto the Latvarian Embassy in Berlin.
“So job done boss.” The bulky man sitting at the console asked, “Because I fancy a night on the town that doesn’t involve doing a laundry run before we leave.”
“I have confirmation that the Latvarians are depositing our fee into our bank accounts as we speak.” Crossfire told him as a mobile phone went off. “I assume the owner of this establishment is still tied up in the closet.”
“Yeah that owner but up a fight and had to be sedated.” Lodestone purred as she squeezed an empty beer can with her powers, “And the blood has been cleaned up as well.” she added before seductively licking her lips. “I never knew who much iron that the body contains until I decided to sample hers.”
“As long as you left no trace then I have no problem what you consume Lodestone.” Crossfire announced. “And as long as you don’t get into trouble with the law I am more then happy for you to enjoy yourself Mauler, the same goes to the rest of you. Store your equipment and have a few hours of ‘shore leave’ before…” As he spoke the Headhunter’s mobile phone started to ring until she answered, a few yes and no answers in the conversation before she terminated the call.
“That was an acquaintance.” She told the others, “He is offering a large sum of money if we complete a job for him.”
“And that is?” Crossfire asked, “I need specifics before I commit us to a job.”
“Just what I said, I arranged a meeting tomorrow morning in one of the properties we own.” Headhunter answered, “If we are to arrive on time and properly prepare we have to leave in the hour.”
“So no time for fun then.” Spear said sadly as he checked his bank account details on his phone.
“If we can extend our reach then we should seize any opportunity to do so.” Crossfire ordered, “Give Miss. Dvorak the antidote, wipe the computer’s hard drive and systems and let’s leave before anyone expects foul play at the assembly. I want to be out of German airspace in half an hour.”
# # # # #
Rykers Island - The Present
Crossfire rubbed his arm to reveal a metal gauntlet with seven red lights on the screen, each one representing his team-mates. If all went to schedule then they would be green in just over an hour. Replacing the synthetic skin Crossfire looked back at where Constrictor sat impatiently staring back at him as if enthralled at his new cellmate.
“So after the G20 thing what happened?” Payne asked, “And what else has been going on since I was thrown into this hell hole.”
“I won’t bore you with long complicated issues of geo-politics.” Crossfire yawned, “After Darkhawk threw you in jail there was a strike force that entered North Korea only to find that the government in charge was creating their own super soldiers using a techno organic virus know as the Phalanx. Details are still up in the air even for a master of Intel such as myself. Needless to say the leaders of the world got scared and called an emergency meeting.”
(Constrictor was arrested in Steve Crosby’s Avengers #64. The events in North Korea are ongoing in Dan Ingram’s Force Works #39 to #Forty Something)
“Okay caught up now.” Constrictor told Cross, “So who wants me out of here so badly that he hired a team of villains.”
“Well,” Crossfire said checking to make sure the corridor was clear. “We met him in Philadelphia shortly after we landed.”
# # # # #
Crosshair Solutions Storage Space, Philadelphia - Three Days Ago
The Storage building owned by Crosshair Solutions while outwardly a grotesque gloomy building was anything but inside, a clever ruse by the owner coupled with the fact that any building inspectors that investigated were easily brought off either by bribes or more aggressive negotiations. Sitting on one of the chairs that were centred around an antique coffee table Crossfire checked the ventilation system status on his tablet and turned it up to its maximum level just to ease his nerves. While he powerful for a non powered operator there were several people whose personalities matched his own and whose natural abilities exceeded his own. Looking around the room he mentally made a note of where the automated sentry turrets, slaved to chemo-regulators in his blood, were positioned, their camouflage systems helping them to blend in with the surroundings. Between them, the fan and the silent bulk of the Mauler clad in his sealed power armour he had the advantage but it still wasn’t enough, as such as soon as the regulators fired the whole room would depressurize and render anyone not protected unconscious in twenty seconds.
“He’s here.” Gillette announced over the buildings closed communication system, “Time to play the gracious hostess.” she added as Cross brought up the CCTV system on his tablet and saw her stride towards the door, her body swaying seductively in the red suit dress she was wearing, a pair of knives concealed in the shoulders although hopefully she wouldn’t have to use them. Opening the door he watched as a man dressed in a trench coat and wide browed fedora walked in followed by a pair of women dressed in just their bras and mini skirts as well as a man wearing a multi coloured costume whose hands were glowing with rainbow energy. Shucking his coat the man in the fedora handed it to Gillette his purple skin clashing with the dark business suit he was wearing and walked into the lounge.
“Killgrave.” Crossfire stated as he got to his feet and gestured to an empty seat. “I heard you have a business proposition for us although I didn’t expect an entourage to be following you.”
“Crossfire, I didn’t believe it when they said you were running one of the best crews in the business.” Killgrave said, “But then I had a problem regarding a man I’m looking to employ for my fledgling empire and naturally thought of you. Britney, Tiffany,” he added turning to the girls he had brought, “Why don’t you two go and talk to Mr. Cross’s friend.” he ordered as he gestured at Gillette.
“Sorry but I would rather have my lieutenant not distracted by your bimbos.” Cross growled as he saw Gillette reach for the concealed knives in her dress.
“Very well.” Killgrave sighed before clapping twice, the sound causing the girls to return to him and sit at his feet, adoring looks on their faces as they gazed lovingly up at their purple skinned master. “I suppose it’s going to be all business with you.” he added, “Unless I can change your mind.”
“No you can’t.” Cross replied coyly, “Industrial strength fans and nasal plugs keep your pheromones out of my associates’ body systems. Even if they failed the receptors in our blood streams would make sure you didn’t leave this place.” he added whilst casually noticing the rainbow coloured figure stirring aggressively. “But hey keep your boy their under control or I may just activate them any way.”
“Calm yourself we are all friends here.” Killgrave commanded, “You will have to excuse Dr. Spectrum there, his mind is some what more resistant to my pheromones then the others I control. So business it is then, what I need you to do is to bring this man to my establishment in Boston and I will pay each of your crew one million dollars or equivalent cash as well as expenses and the possibility on further employment with me if they feel like taking up my offer.”
“Why not send your thralls to do your work?” Cross asked as the Mauler shot dirty looks at Dr. Spectrum from behind his armour’s sealed helmet.
“Because I won’t risk them in any action against his captors, at least not until my power base is fully established.” Killgrave told him, “I need your team to break my associate out of prison.”
“Let me just consult my men.” Crossfire replied, “If you don’t mind moving your party outside then we will try and determine if we will take your mission as our own.” he added as Killgrave turned and walked to the door followed by his thralls. Double checking the surveillance shields were online Cross turned to Gillette and smiled at her with a devil may care grin that suggested he had secretly been enjoying the conversation with Killgrave. “So what Intel do we have about Killgrave’s Crime Empire?” he asked.
“Not much but it does exist and he is moving some serious talent into the areas he holds.” Gillette answered, “He already has control of Dr. Spectrum, Thundersword, Firefight and the Death Squad not to mention a whole host of low level criminals. That in itself suggests he has a considerable network and valuable intelligence we could use.”
“So that’s a yes then.” Crossfire told her before tapping his tablet and opening up a secure line to the lab concealed beneath the building. “Chemistro are the Gadfly Infiltrator Drones ready for deployment?”
“Sure is boss, we just need a signal of some kind for them to lock onto, once they reach the designated area it will hunt down the targets computer system and inject a virus into the system that will copy and transmit data to our processors.” Chemistro answered, “What kind of signal do you want me to set the sensors for.”
“Hormonal discharge, especially pheromones such as those released by the Purple Man. Release it five minutes after Killgrave leads and set up a monitoring programme like the one we injected into Sunset Bain’s network.” Crossfire ordered before turning back to Gillette, “Let them back in, we have to tell Killgrave the ‘good news’ about his problem.” he added before removing the sneer from his face and blanking the screen of his tablet ready for round two with his new employer.
# # # # #
Rykers Island - The Present
“Purple Man?” Constrictor stated with a great deal of surprise on his voice, “I’ve never met that basted before let alone work with him. “And if what you told me about Spectrum is true I don’t want to, I prefer me mind the way it is now, my own and not under the control of anyone else’s. “I can’t believe that you would take this job just for the money.” he added staring at Cross.
“I have my reasons.” Crossfire replied, glad that he had decided to omit the part about who he was bugging all his clients. “Those include an investigation into the major crime lords as well as the up and coming threats and assets to my own work.”
“So what do you think about Killgrave then?” Constrictor asked as a platoon of guards ran past on the opposite balcony. “Hey what’s going on out there?” he yelled as a pair of guards ran past the cell.
“One of the new inmates brutally attacked his cell mate.” The guard told him, “We are currently dealing with the situation. As such any prisoners who ‘act out’ will be subdued with overwhelming force.” he added before spitting into the cell, “I hate you fucking capes and I’m just asking for a reason to teach types like you a lesson.”
As the guards moved on Crossfire checked his gauntlet and saw that the first light that was synched up to Chemistro’s own temporary cybernetics had gone green. The fight while real looking was just a cover, with Chemistro being moved to solitary on the orders of the warden and his ‘victim’ Spear in the infirmary things were moving out on schedule. Rolling the synthetic flesh back over his gauntlet he turned and watched as his teammate was dragged from the cell while medical staff entered with the pair of guards to assess how badly the injured prisoner was.
“So the safeguards, you have a way around them?” Constrictor asked, obviously now enthralled by Crossfire’s plans for his rescue.
“We’re jumping ahead a bit but yes, the floor and walls are designed to give an incapacitating electric shock if the prisoners cause trouble. The voltage and current is scaled to deliver the amount required for the prisoners being targeted. In that end it makes sense to match cellmates with each other based on their abilities and endurance. Being only peak human you and I were a perfect match allowing me to skip a lengthy search to find you.” Crossfire explained, “And yes I have plans for all the security system in this facility. As I did for the events that led me and my men to be incarcerated her in the first place.”
# # # # #
Crosshair Solutions Cooperate Headquarters, Austin, Texas - Three Days Ago
“Okay so everyone run through the plans for the heist.” Crossfire ordered as he sat at the head of the holographic table.
“First Makro and I ride out on the Hayabusa and locate the truck.” Daniels announced, “We tag the truck and drive on to the intercept point.”
“Once the truck is tagged you and I arrive in the Land Rover.” Sneed stated, “From there I board the truck and send an electrical pulse through the truck and stun the driver.”
“After that I swoop in and take control of the truck, keep it moving so the automated alarm doesn’t kick in and alert its owners that it is being high jacked.” Andrea purred, “I open the tail gate and wait for team one to return.”
“At that point we come back.” Daniels told Cross, “We jump aboard and check the cargo that’s aboard. From there it’s you’re game Boss.”
“It is,” Crossfire announced, “Lodestone keeps the truck moving while I transfer to the Skua and deliver our own cargo on-board. Doyle will keep pace with us in the Gunship and carry the devices into position.”
“So what exactly is in the truck?” Daniels asked, “Money, a few jewels maybe some valuable data that we can sell.”
“That is on a need to know basis.” Cross told him, “Just rest assured that this will help us rescue the Constrictor and get that big bonus from Killgrave.”
“And what about Headhunter and Chemistro what the hell are they doing while we play stop the truck?” Doyle asked, “You know that I don’t fly so well when I am sober.”
“We will be hooking up with chicks.” Gillette said with a worried looking smile on her face as she poked her head around the doorway. “Are you sure that this is necessary?”
“Oh yes.” Crossfire replied absently, “Our secondary target is attracted by such people such as yourself. Once you make contact it will be up to you to subdue the young lady and take her biometric details.”
“Not that I like to disagree with you’re plans but why can’t Lodestone or Makro do this?” Lodestone spat as Chemistro walked past dressed in jeans and a black T-Shirt showing the famous image of the Beatles crossing the road on the front. “I don’t mingle well with anyone.” she added her eyes glowing red.
“And another thing no hypnosis.” Crossfire stated without meeting Gillette’s glare. “Here take these contact lenses they should cover you’re normal iris colour and make you less recognizable.”
“So what club are we hitting?” Chemistro asked, “To be honest I don’t like this plan.”
“It’s called Ms. Marvellous, a strip club based around the hero called Ms. Marvel; we know that our target Alyson Lewis often frequents the premises. It is also well known as a venue that caters primarily to the woman interested in Sapphic relationships.”
“Oh so now I’m a Dyke.” Gillette hissed as she stepped out into view of everyone. The rest of the villains gasped, Gillette was dressed in a leotard displaying the Kree starburst over the breasts and cut down sides revealing her pale skin. Apart from that the only other thing she was wearing were a pair of ballet pumps and some hair extensions that reached down to the small of her back. Spear wolf whistled but immediately caught a glimpse of the deadly stare on Gillette’s face and turned away. “This is humiliating.” the Headhunter snarled, “I won’t do it.”
“Hey Cross if you have a girlyfying ray around here then I’ll do it.” Daniels mumbled.
“Unfortunately Daniels you’re marksmanship is required elsewhere.” Crossfire snapped, “Gillette, Calvin move out, we need to get Lewis in play before tomorrow evening. The attack on Columbus Circle must go off without a hitch.”
“Okay that’s the part I don’t get.” Sneed groaned, “Why involve them at all, we’re just asking for trouble by even putting ourselves out in the open.”
“Because the only way this plan will work.” Crossfire stated as he clicked his knuckles, “Is if we kill the Avengers.”
TO BE CONTINUED...