Back to GatefoldIssue #7 by John Cheese
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“ENTRANCE POINTS”
Rykers Island - The Present
“Kill the Avengers.” Constrictor snorted. “Well that must have worked out real well because you got put in here.” He added sarcastically.
“Because I wanted to be here.” Crossfire replied before checking his cybernetic gauntlet. “And Chemistro is active.” He added coldly. “Right now he is sowing the seeds for our escape.”
“So who is even on the Avengers these days?” Constrictor asked. “Been ages since I locked horns with them.”
“I will get to that in good time Mr. Payne.” Crossfire answered. “First I had to get the other pieces of my plan into position. Starting with my secret weapon.”
# # # # #
New Jersey Turnpike, Two Days Ago.
The semi articulated truck lumbered down the highway heading towards New York city, the driver keeping an eye on the speedometer and the mission counter. If he wasn’t on time his bosses would have his head on a platter. So it was natural that he didn’t notice the two people driving towards him on a modified Suzuki Haybursa even if they appeared to be wearing flamboyant costumes.
“Why am I on the back again?” Spear moaned as he levelled a short barrelled spear gun, the projectile loaded with a magnetic tipped tracker.
“Because you can’t drive as well as I can.” Makro answered as she pulled the bike level with the truck. “Now take the shot.”
“Blah blah blah blah. You have a lot to say today Makro you know that?” Spear hissed as he fired the magnetic tipped spear, the projectile sticking behind the driver’s cab. “Boss Cross we hit the truck, now its Sneed’s turn.” He added as Makro gunned the bike and overtook the truck driver, her finger flipping the bird as she passed. In response the truck driver sounded his horn and released a torrent of inaudible swear words not noticing that another vehicle, this time a Land Rover, had pulled alongside, one of it’s occupants leaning out of an open door.
“Okay time for a leap of faith.” Shockwave mumbled as he sprung onto the truck, his magnetic gloves adhering to the side of the vehicle. “And the shock of this guys life.” He added as Crossfire overtook the truck and sped off in pursuit of the long gone motorcycle. Closing his eyes Shockwave released an electrical charge through the vehicle, the sound of the engine cutting out and the smell of burnt skin wafting through the air. Despite that the truck kept rolling and Shockwave opened his eyes to see Lodestone standing on the cab surrounded by a glowing purple aura. “A little help here Andrea!” He called as his left glove lost traction due to the combined electrical and magnetic surge running through it.
“Very well.” Lodestone sighed as she levitated him onto the truck with her powers and deposited roughly on the trailer’s roof.
“Thanks.” Shockwave announced as he felt his blood tingle slightly. “You feeling okay?”
“I feel like crushing your body into a cup and drinking the blood that pours out but I won’t.” Lodestone snarled. “At least not yet."
“Uh thanks?” Shockwave grunted as the team’s confiscated RAID gunship dropped down out of the clouds. “Tailgate down next.” He stated only for Lodestone to turn around, her eyes glaring like violet flame.
“I know what I’m doing!!” She hissed before ripping the tail gate off the truck. “Don’t tell me what to do!!”
“Uh sure.” Shockwave answered as the gunship hovered over the truck. “Okay Cross what’s next?” He asked as Lodestone levitated the goods from out the back of the truck.
“That would be my turn laddie.” The Mauler snorted angrily, “And no I haven’t been drinking you English basted.”
“Never said you had been.” Shockwave replied as the bomb-bay doors of the gunship opened up and dropped a shower of acrid smelling liquid over the crates.
“Okay Cross I’ve crop dusted your portable nano enslavers over the prizes, get ready to take the wheel.” The Mauler grumbled as Lodestone replaced the boxes back in the truck and closed the tailgate.
“What was in those things?” Spear asked as he leapt into the Land Rover and took the wheel. “Fucking right hand drive.” He cursed as Crossfire leapt out into the truck’s cab and threw the driver out, his cybernetics covered in prosthetics that made him look like the man he’d just murdered.
“Are you familiar with the cartoon Yellow Cat?” Crossfire asked only to be met with several groans from the rest of his team. “These toys are being distributed by a big fast food brand. The nano enslavers I laced into the products are on a timer, they will diffuse into any uninfected victim between the hours of nine AM and five PM tomorrow. After that they will lie dormant until I activate the master command programme.”
“You know that cartoon is popular with kid’s right?” Spear asked.
“You’re point?” Crossfire asked. “For the next few days we are the world’s deadliest terrorists. The ethics of chivalry no longer apply.” He added. “It’s time for the world to burn at our finger-tips.”
# # # # #
Rykers Island, The Present
“Kids!!” Constrictor hissed as he slammed Crossfire against the bars of the cell. “You enslaved kids?!”
“Of course.” Crossfire answered as he pushed Constrictor back, “It was a way to get the Avengers attention.”
“That’s disgusting Cross.” Constrictor snarled. “I won’t have that kind of thing on my conscience. I’d rather rot in here then let you spring me.” He added as he came at Crossfire again only for the villain to duck under his blow before delivering a jab to his foes chest. Constrictor was more muscular then he was and like him had been well trained in unarmed combat. In fact Crossfire suspected that his SHIELD training was more comprehensive then the combat skills he had gained from the CIA. The elbow slam he received seconds later hammered the point home as his opponent pinned him against the wall. Despite that he had the advantage as he heard footsteps on the floor outside.
“Enough Constrictor!” A woman’s voice ordered. “Leave Crossfire alone or I will personally make sure that all we bring back to the Purple Man is your head and your coils.” Nodding in an almost zombie like fashion Constrictor sat down on the bed in the corner of the jail cell. Turning Crossfire saw a female guard with shoulder length red hair standing outside the cell, her eyes glowing red.
“Gillette, I assume that the warden is now onside?” Crossfire asked.
“Certainly, few can resist my hypnotic influence.” The Headhunter answered. “And as we speak Chemistro is planting the bombs in the ventilation system. It’s amazing what you can do when the guards are under orders to let you go.”
“I assume that we still are waiting for detonation?” Crossfire asked.
“Three minutes and counting.” Headhunter answered. “In the meantime I’m sure Mr Payne would like to hear the next part of our ingenious plan.”
“I know I would.” Crossfire announced. “Relax friend,” he told Constrictor as he sat on the bed, a vacant expression on his face, “this next bit is going to rock your tiny underperforming mind.”
# # # # #
Ms Marvellous Night Club, Two Days Ago
“So my name is Carol Cox.” The Headhunter told the young woman dressed in the red skirted leotard, her bare feet stroking her mark’s legs under the table. “I work on Wall Street for a big multinational bank but…it’s so boring. Having to work with middle aged men in suits who care about nothing other then their Christmas bonuses is a real turn off.”
“Tell me about it.” The woman she was talking to stated. The Headhunter took time to take in her mark, they were the same height and build, and even their hair colour matched up. Allison, had slightly darker skin and of course instead of the red pools of malice that the Headhunter possessed her eyes were forest green. “The men I work with are all gorillas. And that’s just the other guards.”
“You work in a prison?” Gillette asked her voice easily feigning surprise. “Have you ever met…her.”
“Who Ms. Marvel?” Allison asked. “I think she calls herself Warbird know. And no I’ve never met her; never met any ‘good’ super humans really. Just scum like the Don of the Dead, Constrictor and Cauldron, some people get the Avengers and I get goofy super villains. So how about you? Have you ever met a super hero?”
“Once, some no name hero called Stuntmaster was thrown through my office about eight months ago by some kind of freaky Atlantean Mutant. Whale Shark or Orka Man or something like that.” Gillette answered, secretly proud that Orka had managed to get away with whatever he was up to and was still on the run from the authorities. “And actually I’m a super hero.” She whispered to Allison, before pulling back and watching a massive smile spread across the woman’s face.
”Get out!” Allison stated loudly. “That’s got to be a line.”
“Nope, I’m the Scarlet Oracle. I use my mild telepathic abilities to save people.” Gillette lied; Allison narrowed her eyes before removing her phone and typing in Scarlet Oracle. After a few seconds she looked up at Gillette before looking down at her phone. “Well what do you think?”
“That’s you?!” Allison gasped as she showed Gillette the photos from the shoot she and Chemistro had arranged earlier that day; secretly she was proud that she was still a master manipulator even without her powers. Blushing slightly she nodded as Allison sat there open mouthed. “Are you in need of a sidekick?” Allison asked, her entire body shaking with excitement.
“Maybe, I could consider you if…” Gillette answered as she bit her lip seductively.
“If what, I’ll do anything!!” Allison replied causing a sinister grin to spread across her date’s face.
“Come home with me.” Gillette answered as she stroked Allison’s face softly. “Let me save you.” She added knowing that any resistance her mark had going to put up from this point onwards was pretty much futile.
# # # # #
Headhunter’s Penthouse, An Hour Later
“That’s the problems with cape chasers.” Chemistro said as Allison lay on the bed unbound save for the mental shackles the Headhunter had placed in her mind. “They always get a bit nuts around the heroes but tell them you’re a super villain and they don’t want to know about it.”
”I see.” The Headhunter answered as she sat on the chair back to front as Chemistro sanitised the needle he was holding. “This tattoo is going to be temporary right? I don’t want a pair of frolicking dolphins on my back forever.”
“Sure, sure.” Chemistro answered as he started to trace on the design. “We still have the biometrics to complete as well, and that is going to be painful. Please tell me you had the walls soundproofed.”
“Yes, when you go through a period of mounting living human heads on your wall you make sure that nothing is going to alert the authorities.” Headhunter answered as she winced from the pain of the needle. “That and those noisy neighbours,”
“At least she won’t have to worry about the fallout from all this.” Chemistro announced. “Cross has given us orders to terminate her once we’re done.”
“Terminate. Only Crossfire could be so narrow minded about the small things. I’ll admit killing the girl is an easy way out but it wastes a viable resource.” The Headhunter sighed as Chemistro removed the needle. “She needn’t be wasted for his need for clandestine operations.”
“Don’t think about it Gillette.” Chemistro warned as the Headhunter sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I agree that wasting the honey is not our fearless leader’s best move but I’m not willing to cross him over one girl.”
“Then take five minutes for a smoking break.” The Headhunter ordered, her eyes glowing red. Chemistro nodded slowly before walking out of the room for a smoke, regardless to the fact that he had neither cigarettes nor a lighter on him. Walking over to the bed Headunter turned Allison’s head towards her and smiled slightly. “You’re orders are as follows; you will not scream when we take your biometrics, you will not resist anything I say to you ever again, you will go to Grand Central Station and pick up new ID Cards from a man called the Profile. On there is the person who you know are, after that you will leave the country and never come back to the United States. Now do you understand?”
“Yes Mistress.” Allison moaned. “Anything for you mistress.”
“Good, I like you a lot Allison. You are the first person I’ve genuinely been interested in for a while.” Gillette told her. “In another world…it might have worked out.”
# # # # #
Rykers Island, The Present
“Well, well Cross looks like you’ve got problems within your own camp.” Constrictor chuckled as Crossfire shot Headhunter a look that radiated malice and anger.
“Enough Mr. Payne.” Crossfire hissed his voice cold and loaded with venom. “Tell me Gillette why you felt that you had the right to ignore my orders is beyond me.”
“I did it because for the first time in an age I felt something for someone other then me.” Headhunter snapped back. “That girl made me feel something so I made sure I got rid of her. I don’t want some random woman effecting my judgement so I made sure she got lost wherever it is she ended up.”
“Pah love, mankind’s biggest weakness and it’s saving strength.” Crossfire snarled. “I would be hypocritical to say that I had never been in the same situation. The only difference I made sure that, as a complication she was removed permanently.” He added as Headhunter backed away from the cell bars. “Looks like the steel backbone I saw in you has been undermined by compassion. As such when this mission is completed, you are no longer my second in command. Your betrayal speaks volumes of future actions against me.”
“If that’s what you must do.” Headhunter whispered.
“So when are we getting out of here?” Constrictor interrupted. “Because when we do I know exactly what I want to do as my first act as a free man.”
“Departure time is almost ready.” Crossfire announced. “And while we wait I will continue the tale of how we got here.”
# # # # #
Central Park, 4 hours ago
“Mic check.” The bedraggled singer on the stage announced, “Is everyone here?” He asked.
“Yeah we read you Billy.” The lighting engineer announced as the lithe Japanese woman sitting next to him tapped something into the computer.
“Same here.” One of the roadies announced. “God this is so much like that Yellow Cat episode where Kooky Crow gets kicked out of the band.”
“Stop talking about it before I brain you.” The second roadie hissed as the big screen above the stage flickered on, a cross shaped logo appearing on the centre. “Image looks good Billy, except we seem to have a glitch.”
“Oh there’s no glitch.” A voice coming across the screen stated. “As I speak a large portion of the city’s children and stirring, getting ready to act on my command. And that command is simple, it’s to find the tallest building, go to the roof and get ready.”
“Get ready for what?” The singer asked as a massive armoured figure emerged from backstage and threw him off the stage.
“To jump.” The voice on the TV screen answered as Crossfire followed the Mauler onto the stage, floating cameras whirling around him to catch his speech. “This broadcast is going out live so I feel obliged to warn you, should you try and stop the children form taking up position they will attack without remorse so for there safety and your own I suggest you don’t get in there way.”
“You’re insane!” One of the roadies yelled as the speaker he was carrying was ripped out of his hand and crashed into the rows of empty chairs.
“Yeah what do you want?” The lighting engineer asked as he slipped off the stage as flying debris ripped through the stage’s scaffolding.
“Simple this message goes out to the Avengers.” Crossfire snarled. “We are here and we won’t be ignored. You have forgotten some of your deadliest foes in the pursuit of tyrants and gods. But while you have strived to keep the status quo we have evolved, become something new, something deadly. As such I demand you try and stop us, and if you ignore us then the fate of an entire generation rests on your shoulders.” Crossfire added as the feed froze before going offline.
“And the Oscar for madman goes to…” Spear snickered as the assorted villains took up position on or in front of the stage.
“Please I am not interested in awards or accolades.” Crossfire replied. “Only in results. You all have your orders; we needn’t win this fight to succeed although dead Avengers are an acceptable variable.”
“That’s easier said then done.” Shockwave grunted. “We’ve all tried many times before.”
“But this time we have the advantage.” Crossfire purred as every metal item in the area as well as massive chunks of earth began to rise into the air and swirl around the villains. With each revolution the maelstrom’s metal outer layer got faster and faster until it became a solid sheet of steel and concrete. “This time we are untouchables.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
“Kill the Avengers.” Constrictor snorted. “Well that must have worked out real well because you got put in here.” He added sarcastically.
“Because I wanted to be here.” Crossfire replied before checking his cybernetic gauntlet. “And Chemistro is active.” He added coldly. “Right now he is sowing the seeds for our escape.”
“So who is even on the Avengers these days?” Constrictor asked. “Been ages since I locked horns with them.”
“I will get to that in good time Mr. Payne.” Crossfire answered. “First I had to get the other pieces of my plan into position. Starting with my secret weapon.”
# # # # #
New Jersey Turnpike, Two Days Ago.
The semi articulated truck lumbered down the highway heading towards New York city, the driver keeping an eye on the speedometer and the mission counter. If he wasn’t on time his bosses would have his head on a platter. So it was natural that he didn’t notice the two people driving towards him on a modified Suzuki Haybursa even if they appeared to be wearing flamboyant costumes.
“Why am I on the back again?” Spear moaned as he levelled a short barrelled spear gun, the projectile loaded with a magnetic tipped tracker.
“Because you can’t drive as well as I can.” Makro answered as she pulled the bike level with the truck. “Now take the shot.”
“Blah blah blah blah. You have a lot to say today Makro you know that?” Spear hissed as he fired the magnetic tipped spear, the projectile sticking behind the driver’s cab. “Boss Cross we hit the truck, now its Sneed’s turn.” He added as Makro gunned the bike and overtook the truck driver, her finger flipping the bird as she passed. In response the truck driver sounded his horn and released a torrent of inaudible swear words not noticing that another vehicle, this time a Land Rover, had pulled alongside, one of it’s occupants leaning out of an open door.
“Okay time for a leap of faith.” Shockwave mumbled as he sprung onto the truck, his magnetic gloves adhering to the side of the vehicle. “And the shock of this guys life.” He added as Crossfire overtook the truck and sped off in pursuit of the long gone motorcycle. Closing his eyes Shockwave released an electrical charge through the vehicle, the sound of the engine cutting out and the smell of burnt skin wafting through the air. Despite that the truck kept rolling and Shockwave opened his eyes to see Lodestone standing on the cab surrounded by a glowing purple aura. “A little help here Andrea!” He called as his left glove lost traction due to the combined electrical and magnetic surge running through it.
“Very well.” Lodestone sighed as she levitated him onto the truck with her powers and deposited roughly on the trailer’s roof.
“Thanks.” Shockwave announced as he felt his blood tingle slightly. “You feeling okay?”
“I feel like crushing your body into a cup and drinking the blood that pours out but I won’t.” Lodestone snarled. “At least not yet."
“Uh thanks?” Shockwave grunted as the team’s confiscated RAID gunship dropped down out of the clouds. “Tailgate down next.” He stated only for Lodestone to turn around, her eyes glaring like violet flame.
“I know what I’m doing!!” She hissed before ripping the tail gate off the truck. “Don’t tell me what to do!!”
“Uh sure.” Shockwave answered as the gunship hovered over the truck. “Okay Cross what’s next?” He asked as Lodestone levitated the goods from out the back of the truck.
“That would be my turn laddie.” The Mauler snorted angrily, “And no I haven’t been drinking you English basted.”
“Never said you had been.” Shockwave replied as the bomb-bay doors of the gunship opened up and dropped a shower of acrid smelling liquid over the crates.
“Okay Cross I’ve crop dusted your portable nano enslavers over the prizes, get ready to take the wheel.” The Mauler grumbled as Lodestone replaced the boxes back in the truck and closed the tailgate.
“What was in those things?” Spear asked as he leapt into the Land Rover and took the wheel. “Fucking right hand drive.” He cursed as Crossfire leapt out into the truck’s cab and threw the driver out, his cybernetics covered in prosthetics that made him look like the man he’d just murdered.
“Are you familiar with the cartoon Yellow Cat?” Crossfire asked only to be met with several groans from the rest of his team. “These toys are being distributed by a big fast food brand. The nano enslavers I laced into the products are on a timer, they will diffuse into any uninfected victim between the hours of nine AM and five PM tomorrow. After that they will lie dormant until I activate the master command programme.”
“You know that cartoon is popular with kid’s right?” Spear asked.
“You’re point?” Crossfire asked. “For the next few days we are the world’s deadliest terrorists. The ethics of chivalry no longer apply.” He added. “It’s time for the world to burn at our finger-tips.”
# # # # #
Rykers Island, The Present
“Kids!!” Constrictor hissed as he slammed Crossfire against the bars of the cell. “You enslaved kids?!”
“Of course.” Crossfire answered as he pushed Constrictor back, “It was a way to get the Avengers attention.”
“That’s disgusting Cross.” Constrictor snarled. “I won’t have that kind of thing on my conscience. I’d rather rot in here then let you spring me.” He added as he came at Crossfire again only for the villain to duck under his blow before delivering a jab to his foes chest. Constrictor was more muscular then he was and like him had been well trained in unarmed combat. In fact Crossfire suspected that his SHIELD training was more comprehensive then the combat skills he had gained from the CIA. The elbow slam he received seconds later hammered the point home as his opponent pinned him against the wall. Despite that he had the advantage as he heard footsteps on the floor outside.
“Enough Constrictor!” A woman’s voice ordered. “Leave Crossfire alone or I will personally make sure that all we bring back to the Purple Man is your head and your coils.” Nodding in an almost zombie like fashion Constrictor sat down on the bed in the corner of the jail cell. Turning Crossfire saw a female guard with shoulder length red hair standing outside the cell, her eyes glowing red.
“Gillette, I assume that the warden is now onside?” Crossfire asked.
“Certainly, few can resist my hypnotic influence.” The Headhunter answered. “And as we speak Chemistro is planting the bombs in the ventilation system. It’s amazing what you can do when the guards are under orders to let you go.”
“I assume that we still are waiting for detonation?” Crossfire asked.
“Three minutes and counting.” Headhunter answered. “In the meantime I’m sure Mr Payne would like to hear the next part of our ingenious plan.”
“I know I would.” Crossfire announced. “Relax friend,” he told Constrictor as he sat on the bed, a vacant expression on his face, “this next bit is going to rock your tiny underperforming mind.”
# # # # #
Ms Marvellous Night Club, Two Days Ago
“So my name is Carol Cox.” The Headhunter told the young woman dressed in the red skirted leotard, her bare feet stroking her mark’s legs under the table. “I work on Wall Street for a big multinational bank but…it’s so boring. Having to work with middle aged men in suits who care about nothing other then their Christmas bonuses is a real turn off.”
“Tell me about it.” The woman she was talking to stated. The Headhunter took time to take in her mark, they were the same height and build, and even their hair colour matched up. Allison, had slightly darker skin and of course instead of the red pools of malice that the Headhunter possessed her eyes were forest green. “The men I work with are all gorillas. And that’s just the other guards.”
“You work in a prison?” Gillette asked her voice easily feigning surprise. “Have you ever met…her.”
“Who Ms. Marvel?” Allison asked. “I think she calls herself Warbird know. And no I’ve never met her; never met any ‘good’ super humans really. Just scum like the Don of the Dead, Constrictor and Cauldron, some people get the Avengers and I get goofy super villains. So how about you? Have you ever met a super hero?”
“Once, some no name hero called Stuntmaster was thrown through my office about eight months ago by some kind of freaky Atlantean Mutant. Whale Shark or Orka Man or something like that.” Gillette answered, secretly proud that Orka had managed to get away with whatever he was up to and was still on the run from the authorities. “And actually I’m a super hero.” She whispered to Allison, before pulling back and watching a massive smile spread across the woman’s face.
”Get out!” Allison stated loudly. “That’s got to be a line.”
“Nope, I’m the Scarlet Oracle. I use my mild telepathic abilities to save people.” Gillette lied; Allison narrowed her eyes before removing her phone and typing in Scarlet Oracle. After a few seconds she looked up at Gillette before looking down at her phone. “Well what do you think?”
“That’s you?!” Allison gasped as she showed Gillette the photos from the shoot she and Chemistro had arranged earlier that day; secretly she was proud that she was still a master manipulator even without her powers. Blushing slightly she nodded as Allison sat there open mouthed. “Are you in need of a sidekick?” Allison asked, her entire body shaking with excitement.
“Maybe, I could consider you if…” Gillette answered as she bit her lip seductively.
“If what, I’ll do anything!!” Allison replied causing a sinister grin to spread across her date’s face.
“Come home with me.” Gillette answered as she stroked Allison’s face softly. “Let me save you.” She added knowing that any resistance her mark had going to put up from this point onwards was pretty much futile.
# # # # #
Headhunter’s Penthouse, An Hour Later
“That’s the problems with cape chasers.” Chemistro said as Allison lay on the bed unbound save for the mental shackles the Headhunter had placed in her mind. “They always get a bit nuts around the heroes but tell them you’re a super villain and they don’t want to know about it.”
”I see.” The Headhunter answered as she sat on the chair back to front as Chemistro sanitised the needle he was holding. “This tattoo is going to be temporary right? I don’t want a pair of frolicking dolphins on my back forever.”
“Sure, sure.” Chemistro answered as he started to trace on the design. “We still have the biometrics to complete as well, and that is going to be painful. Please tell me you had the walls soundproofed.”
“Yes, when you go through a period of mounting living human heads on your wall you make sure that nothing is going to alert the authorities.” Headhunter answered as she winced from the pain of the needle. “That and those noisy neighbours,”
“At least she won’t have to worry about the fallout from all this.” Chemistro announced. “Cross has given us orders to terminate her once we’re done.”
“Terminate. Only Crossfire could be so narrow minded about the small things. I’ll admit killing the girl is an easy way out but it wastes a viable resource.” The Headhunter sighed as Chemistro removed the needle. “She needn’t be wasted for his need for clandestine operations.”
“Don’t think about it Gillette.” Chemistro warned as the Headhunter sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I agree that wasting the honey is not our fearless leader’s best move but I’m not willing to cross him over one girl.”
“Then take five minutes for a smoking break.” The Headhunter ordered, her eyes glowing red. Chemistro nodded slowly before walking out of the room for a smoke, regardless to the fact that he had neither cigarettes nor a lighter on him. Walking over to the bed Headunter turned Allison’s head towards her and smiled slightly. “You’re orders are as follows; you will not scream when we take your biometrics, you will not resist anything I say to you ever again, you will go to Grand Central Station and pick up new ID Cards from a man called the Profile. On there is the person who you know are, after that you will leave the country and never come back to the United States. Now do you understand?”
“Yes Mistress.” Allison moaned. “Anything for you mistress.”
“Good, I like you a lot Allison. You are the first person I’ve genuinely been interested in for a while.” Gillette told her. “In another world…it might have worked out.”
# # # # #
Rykers Island, The Present
“Well, well Cross looks like you’ve got problems within your own camp.” Constrictor chuckled as Crossfire shot Headhunter a look that radiated malice and anger.
“Enough Mr. Payne.” Crossfire hissed his voice cold and loaded with venom. “Tell me Gillette why you felt that you had the right to ignore my orders is beyond me.”
“I did it because for the first time in an age I felt something for someone other then me.” Headhunter snapped back. “That girl made me feel something so I made sure I got rid of her. I don’t want some random woman effecting my judgement so I made sure she got lost wherever it is she ended up.”
“Pah love, mankind’s biggest weakness and it’s saving strength.” Crossfire snarled. “I would be hypocritical to say that I had never been in the same situation. The only difference I made sure that, as a complication she was removed permanently.” He added as Headhunter backed away from the cell bars. “Looks like the steel backbone I saw in you has been undermined by compassion. As such when this mission is completed, you are no longer my second in command. Your betrayal speaks volumes of future actions against me.”
“If that’s what you must do.” Headhunter whispered.
“So when are we getting out of here?” Constrictor interrupted. “Because when we do I know exactly what I want to do as my first act as a free man.”
“Departure time is almost ready.” Crossfire announced. “And while we wait I will continue the tale of how we got here.”
# # # # #
Central Park, 4 hours ago
“Mic check.” The bedraggled singer on the stage announced, “Is everyone here?” He asked.
“Yeah we read you Billy.” The lighting engineer announced as the lithe Japanese woman sitting next to him tapped something into the computer.
“Same here.” One of the roadies announced. “God this is so much like that Yellow Cat episode where Kooky Crow gets kicked out of the band.”
“Stop talking about it before I brain you.” The second roadie hissed as the big screen above the stage flickered on, a cross shaped logo appearing on the centre. “Image looks good Billy, except we seem to have a glitch.”
“Oh there’s no glitch.” A voice coming across the screen stated. “As I speak a large portion of the city’s children and stirring, getting ready to act on my command. And that command is simple, it’s to find the tallest building, go to the roof and get ready.”
“Get ready for what?” The singer asked as a massive armoured figure emerged from backstage and threw him off the stage.
“To jump.” The voice on the TV screen answered as Crossfire followed the Mauler onto the stage, floating cameras whirling around him to catch his speech. “This broadcast is going out live so I feel obliged to warn you, should you try and stop the children form taking up position they will attack without remorse so for there safety and your own I suggest you don’t get in there way.”
“You’re insane!” One of the roadies yelled as the speaker he was carrying was ripped out of his hand and crashed into the rows of empty chairs.
“Yeah what do you want?” The lighting engineer asked as he slipped off the stage as flying debris ripped through the stage’s scaffolding.
“Simple this message goes out to the Avengers.” Crossfire snarled. “We are here and we won’t be ignored. You have forgotten some of your deadliest foes in the pursuit of tyrants and gods. But while you have strived to keep the status quo we have evolved, become something new, something deadly. As such I demand you try and stop us, and if you ignore us then the fate of an entire generation rests on your shoulders.” Crossfire added as the feed froze before going offline.
“And the Oscar for madman goes to…” Spear snickered as the assorted villains took up position on or in front of the stage.
“Please I am not interested in awards or accolades.” Crossfire replied. “Only in results. You all have your orders; we needn’t win this fight to succeed although dead Avengers are an acceptable variable.”
“That’s easier said then done.” Shockwave grunted. “We’ve all tried many times before.”
“But this time we have the advantage.” Crossfire purred as every metal item in the area as well as massive chunks of earth began to rise into the air and swirl around the villains. With each revolution the maelstrom’s metal outer layer got faster and faster until it became a solid sheet of steel and concrete. “This time we are untouchables.”
TO BE CONTINUED...