Back to GatefoldIssue #8 by John Cheese
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“ENTRANCE POINTS”
Rykers Island - The Present
Pushing the double doors open Crossfire strolled into the Guard Locker Room and walked straight into a battalion of armed and ready security personnel. “Well this is interesting.” He mumbled as he and Gillette put their hands above their heads.
“Like hell it is!!” Constrictor spat as he lunged at the nearest only for Crossfire to put his foot out and trip the charging felon. Groaning as he got to his feet Constrictor threw a punch at Crossfire only for the most muscular guard to grab his hand, and force it behind his back. Seconds later a second guard had rushed in and hand cuffed Constrictor as a third handed Crossfire a folded uniform. “What’s going on here Cross? You screwed me over!!”
“Hardly.” Crossfire snorted as he stripped and pulled the guard’s uniform on before tapping on the visor of the man restraining Constrictor. “You moved faster then I thought Sneed.”
“I figured you’d like that boss.” Shockwave answered as the unit of guards walked down the stairs and through a security checkpoint, the scanners failing to identify them as prisoners.
“Well it is a pleasant surprise.” Crossfire answered as a security van pulled up to the checkpoint. Turning to Constrictor he shot a smug looking smile. “Your chariot.” He stated as the driver opened the doors for them.
“Jee thanks, why do I feel like a prisoner still?” Constrictor moaned as he walked inside, followed by the fake guards.
“Perhaps our battle with the heroes will ease your fears.” Crossfire suggested. “We spent days analysing the Avengers abilities and technologies. We were hardly a match for them but that’s where my genius and ingenuity come into effect.”
“Modesty too.” Lodestone whispered before receiving an angry stare from Crossfire,
“Never had any.” Crossfire answered. “Still even with such enhancements as an enhanced energy siphon in Shockwave’s armour and jamming technology in Chemistro’s alchemy pistol we still weren’t a match for the heroes.”
“Figures, you hire idiots, you get lacklustre results.” Constrictor snorted as the van began to crawl forwards towards the external security checkpoints.
“Oh we could have won.” Crossfire told him in a voice that caused shivers to run up Constrictor’s spine. “We just had other plans that day.”
# # # # #
Just outside the Maelstrom, Central Park - 4 Hours Ago
“So apart from Crossfire who are we dealing with?” Darkhawk asked as he felt the edge of the storm tug at his armour slightly. “And are we really taking this seriously?”
“When he has thousands of children under his control, yes we do.” Warbird announced as she streaked round from behind the rotating storm. “Bruce, we may have a problem, the storm seems to be gaining in diameter and intensity, and we still don’t know how it’s being powered.” She stated as she connected with the teams technical support back at base.
“The sensors Binary put out suggest it’s meta-human powered but not through a mutant ability.” Bruce answered as he watched the feed on the feed from Stingray and Darkhawk’s armour. “But magnets and magnetic fields are weakened by heat, if you, Nicole and Bonita concentrate your power enough you should punch a hole inside.” He suggested. “There is also the matter of keeping the storm contained; it seems to be growing at the moment.”
“I can put an electromagnetic light field around the storm once your inside.” Photon told the others, “It should prevent the storm from expanding.”
“Well here goes, Monica as soon as we get inside I need you to keep anything from getting out, we can’t afford for Crossfire to escape.” Warbird muttered before opening fire her team-mates following suit, the energy of their attacks combining until a chunk of the storm’s outer shell was broken open. With out saying a word or wasting time the Avengers moved into the vortex’s eye before the wall sealed shut behind them.
“Well this isn’t like any storm I’ve ever seen in my career; both with the navy and the Avengers.” Stingray mused as the Avengers drifted in the current. “So where are the jerks who called us out?”
“Don’t know but can find out.” Speedball answered him as he bounced from metal platform to metal platform. “So far so…whoa.” Before he could finish the platform he was heading too detonated into thick liquid steel that sent Speedball ricocheting back to the ground.
“Well looks like we got some Avengers.” A voice announced as a metal platform descended. “Welcome to the end heroes.”
“Surrender Crossfire, your gang is under-equipped to fight us!!” Warbird yelled up at her. “Besides Shockwave and yourself I have no idea who any of your men are!”
“Wow looks like I owe you five dollars.” Spear sighed as he removed a few coins from his wallet, the magnetic force sending them spinning over to Makro. “That’s just darn insulting.” He added before opening fire, the Avengers scattering away from his projectiles.
“It appears as if God’s hand works against you this day.” Espirita announced as she blazed towards the group. “Perhaps after your defeat you can become something better then…”
“Religious types jeez.” Chemistro announced as he leapt off the platform and intercepted Espirita, the pair slamming into an upside down floating taxi cab. “If I wanted to hear about that I’d go to church he added as flames climbed up his suit. Pressing his Alchemy Pistol against her skull he watched as Warbird came charging towards her.
“Now.” Crossfire announced coldly as the spears fired earlier curved round and flew towards Warbird’s exposed back, the projectiles slashing past her with enough speed to slash through her flesh without leaving a mark. “Gentlemen you know what I require, bring it to me!” He snarled as the magnetic force increased, slamming Stingray and Darkhawk into the side of a slab of concrete.
“Bruce, we need to know who these guys are.” Stingray grunted. “And fast.” He added as Speedball ricocheted away from a wave of spears only to be intercepted by a sparking fist, the blow sending him spiralling.
“Who’s next?” Shockwave sneered as Binary unleashed a torrent of energy at him, only for his suit to send a massive discharge back. “Sorry love but I can send your attacks right back at you.”
“Good.” Binary hissed as her flames got brighter. “Let’s see how far we can take this.” She wheezed, her fist blazing like miniature suns as she fired a burning lance of energy again. This time Shockwave dodged the blast, his suit sucking up some of the ambient energy before raising an electrical shield as a follow up blow came spiralling in.
“Chemistro stop prating around and help me out.” Shockwave called as the villain in question finished mummifying Espirita in flame retardant foam. Looking up at where Sneed was struggling he leapt the twenty feet to the platform and opened fire, liquid concrete sloshing over Binary’s left hand, only for the chemicals to vaporise immediately.
“Stupid Alchemy Pistol!” Chemistro spat as he fired again, this time with a beam of gold only for it too to melt before setting. “Any ideas boss?!” He called as Crossfire sent a shot ricocheting after Speedball, the bullet magnetically tracking the bouncing hero before exploding in front of him, thick globules of ink covering his face.
“Try using that new tech I insisted you install!!” Crossfire bellowed as Warbird fired a photon beam at him, the blast causing him to drop to the slab containing the restrained heroes. Dropping down Warbird came to a halt as Chemistro placed his pistol against Darkhawk’s head. “Do it Avenger, do it and make me flinch, I wonder what a magnetically propelled round would do to his skull?”
“I don’t have to.” Warbird stated as a lance of black energy snaked up and struck Crossfire in the chest, wincing he turned to see Warbird fly towards him and felt it as she smashed him in the face, his optic node cracking under the pressure.
“You bitch, you think this throws off my aim?!” Crossfire bellowed, as a little true anger creped its way past the façade he was putting on. “Send it!” He yelled as Speedball stopped in mid air before streaking towards Warbird, the pair of them colliding before being sent spiralling out of the maelstrom.
“You need new optics boss?” Spear asked
“No, I still have one good eye.” Crossfire announced as cracks in Espirita’s tomb began to show. “Mauler, Spear deal with the Firebird permanently.”
”On it.” Spear answered as he and Mauler leapt down towards where Espirita was lying . “Okay Firebird or whatever you call yourself, I don’t want to do this but…gah.” Before he could finish Spear’s quiver ignited, causing the villain to jettison it before it exploded, the waves of shrapnel streaking up towards Binary only to be vaporised on contact. His shield fading Shockwave watched as Chemistro fired his smoking alchemy pistol, a surge of electricity striking Binary, her energy discharging.
“You did it Chemistro, I can handle her now.” Shockwave stated as he ran at Binary, his fist sparking with energy. With a smile Binary intercepted him and drained the electricity from the glove before unleashing a torrent of flame so hot the electrical systems overheated. Coughing and spluttering Sneed ejected from his armour and fell to the ground as Binary turned to Chemistro, his alchemy gun barrel melting from the intensity of the flame.
“Oh crap.” Chemistro swore as Binary shot a lance of energy at him, the force of the discharge sending him crashing to the floor.
“Lodestone!!” Crossfire roared as Makro scuttled towards Stingray and Darkhawk. “We’re loosing men, increase the magnetic field, rip everything apart!!” He roared as Spear spun his trident defensively against the shear power of the flames directed at him.
“That’s it.” Bruce stated to Stingray as Makro loomed over him, her tentacles glowing with external orange life. “If Nicole burns the energy off of Lodestone she can stop the storm and rob the villains of their advantage.”
“I’m on it.” Binary called as she rocketed past where Makro was attempting to cut through a hastily formed energy shield. “Lodestone would be the crazy bitch sitting in the middle of this thing cackling like a maniac right?” She asked as she caught sight of Lodestone, drops of blood smeared across her mouth. “Hey crazy lady stop right now!!” She ordered as she placed a burning hand on Lodestone’s arm. Looking down in fear Lodestone shook her head and snarled as every metal object in the storm stopped moving and sharpened.
“Never….going…to…loose my arm AGAIN!!” She screamed as Crossfire took aim at her and fired, the dart embedding in her cheek,
”Not part of the plan Angela.” He stated as all around him previously suspended metal objects began falling from the sky. “Not part of the plan at all.” He added as Stingray ripped himself and Darkhawk free from the slab of concrete as Makro bailed in the other direction, seconds before it smashed into the ground. As the remaining villains got to their feet they looked around as the Avengers surrounded them, anger visible on those whose faces weren’t covered.
“Release the children now!! Warbird ordered sternly. “Before I start breaking bones.” She added as she cracked her knuckles.
“If you want to deactivate the control signals you’ll have to get your hands dirty, the problem is do you man up as a leader and do it yourself, or let someone else do it, thus revealing your yellow belly?” Crossfire sneered as he double tapped his damaged cybernetic eye. “And I don’t think you heroes have…” Before he could finish there was a sharp pain and he collapsed his optic nerve hanging out of the socket.
“You thought wrong.” Warbird whispered. “Anyone else?” She asked as the rest of the villains put their hands up and surrendered
# # # # #
The Violet House, Boston
Clad in their usual costumes Crossfire led Shockwave and the bound, hooded form of the Constrictor through the doors of the vivid purple walled warehouse and into the illegal casino inside. Nodding at the bouncers Crossfire continued across the floors and removed the hood from the villain’s head to show who he had brought.
“As promised, now get me Killgrave.” He ordered as Constrictor spat on the floor.
“You didn’t need to hood me!” Constrictor snarled as the TV screen on the wall turned on to reveal Zebidiah Killgrave’s magenta face smirking at the group of felons stood before him.
“Very good Mr Cross.” Killgrave purred before raising a glass of wine in a mocking toast to Crossfire. “Very convincing, now prove to me that is really the Constrictor.”
“Does it matter?” Crossfire asked as he rested his hand on a holstered pistol, the slight movement causing the guards to tense up.
“Of course, I want the real thing.” Killgrave announced, agitation crawling into his voice.
“No you don’t, I’m not an idiot and I wasn’t totally disconnected inside Rykers. You never wanted the Constrictor, hell you probably chose his name at random from the list your ‘girls’ supplied.” Crossfire replied. “Or do you deny that both of them used to work as computer technicians inside the prison until you…what brain washed them?”
“It takes a manipulator to know one.” Killgrave answered. “You know about my little expansion effort then I take it. What will it cost me extra to keep you quiet?”
“Nothing we were paid to do a job.” Crossfire told him. “Now my team’s money.” He stated. A minute later one of the guards emerged carrying a brief-case, before casually handing it to Shockwave. Raising his reaming eye Crossfire looked at Shockwave before noticing the man shake his head slightly just as a stream of data fed its way to his optics.
“A problem Mr Cross?” Killgrave asked as Crossfire scanned the room before focusing on the wall to the left of the screen. “Anything you want to admit?”
“What do you want done with Mr. Payne?” Crossfire asked as his fingers clenched round the pistol they had been resting on.
“Catch and Release. But make sure it can’t find its way back here. I’ve already swept for bugs once this week. You don’t know what they see when we’re alone” He added as Crossfire and Shockwave led Constrictor back outside and down to the dockside.
“So Cross mate, you seem to have…” Constrictor stated before a fist slammed into his nose, the force of the strike cracking the cartilage underneath. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!” He yelled as Shockwave broke the manacles binding Constrictor’s hands. “Why did you…gah.” Once again he was interrupted as Crossfire slammed his foot into the larger man’s gut.
“Something Killgrave said.” Crossfire snarled as Constrictor attempted to grab his arm only for an electrical force field to form between them, the feedback causing the snake themed mercenary to recoil slightly. “It takes a manipulator to know a manipulator. And you Mr Payne are no manipulator; your sloppiness was a beacon to one such as me.”
“Watch your tounge Cross!!” Constrictor bellowed as he charged in and elbow slammed Crossfire to the floor. With a grunt Crossfire retaliated with a double fingered strike to the eyes. As he was relling Constrictor heard cold dead words emerge from his foe’s lips, ones that froze him to the very core.
“You had already contacted SHIELD through their covert back channels, planning to throw me and my operatives under the metaphorical bus. It wasn’t hard to decrypt, a failure on both parties not just you, and I took steps.”
“Steps?!” Constrictor grunted as he blindly lashed out only to receive an open palmed strike to the back of the head.
“Yes I knew the Purple Man didn’t want you as anything more then a distraction, so I had Gillette place a hypnotic trigger in your brain.” Crossfire stated as Shockwave moved in and slammed a rib cracking fist into the Constrictor’s chest before twisting his left arm until it snapped. “All I need is one word, one word to activate it.” He stated before bending in close and whispering something to the Constrictor.
“So what now boss? Armour sensors read that Purple Man only paid half, the rest of the weight is something else.” Shockwave stated.
“Killgrave may have short-changed, but don’t worry, he won’t be getting away with it.” Crossfire stated as he bent over Constrictor and smiled a cold and terrifying grin before slotting a pill up the fallen man’s nostril. “All who cross me pay in full, every time.”
# # # # #
Crosshair Solutions Cooperate Headquarters, Austin, Texas - 5 hours later
“And so the top story remains the decontamination of New York’s Water Supply after it was revealed that the Purple Man had poisoned the main pump stations. The information came from Frank Payne AKA the Constrictor, a known super criminal who had escaped from Rykers shortly before his arrest. In addition it’s come to light that the Purple Man was behind the ‘Crossfire Crew’ attack that resulted in…” Spear yawned and turned the TV off as he sat on the sofa next to Shockwave and Headhunter.
“So looks like that was taken care of. But is anyone you know….feeling uh.” Spear stated as he looked around at the cameras mounted on the wall.
“Dissatisfied?” The Headhunter finished as she looked over at Makro, the lithe Japanese woman hanging from the ceiling. “I assume the portable communications jammer in your armour is active?” She asked before receiving a thumbs up from the woman. “Yes Mr Daniels I am, Cross risked a lot on this mission, he exposed us to the public even if he has somewhat smartly covered it up.”
“Seems to have worked though.” The Mauler grunted as he downed a pint of larger. “Everyone is pointing fingers at the Purple Man rather then at us.”
“Still he risked it.” Shockwave finished. “He risked it, which is something he doesn’t do. Sure he takes calculated risks but knowing the Purple Man’s plan even when the bugs were offline, that is just worrying.” He added as Lodestone staggered in clutching her belly.
”Crossfire isn’t the only thing you have to worry about.” Lodestone purred as she magnetically rotated the sofa and chairs to face her.
”Oh my god…” Spear swore as the others looked on in surprise. “Are you?”
“I’m packing, Lodestone plus one.” Lodestone stated as the bulge shifted beneath the layer of organic stone across her chest, causing the others to feel uncomfortable. “We’re about to become a family.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
Pushing the double doors open Crossfire strolled into the Guard Locker Room and walked straight into a battalion of armed and ready security personnel. “Well this is interesting.” He mumbled as he and Gillette put their hands above their heads.
“Like hell it is!!” Constrictor spat as he lunged at the nearest only for Crossfire to put his foot out and trip the charging felon. Groaning as he got to his feet Constrictor threw a punch at Crossfire only for the most muscular guard to grab his hand, and force it behind his back. Seconds later a second guard had rushed in and hand cuffed Constrictor as a third handed Crossfire a folded uniform. “What’s going on here Cross? You screwed me over!!”
“Hardly.” Crossfire snorted as he stripped and pulled the guard’s uniform on before tapping on the visor of the man restraining Constrictor. “You moved faster then I thought Sneed.”
“I figured you’d like that boss.” Shockwave answered as the unit of guards walked down the stairs and through a security checkpoint, the scanners failing to identify them as prisoners.
“Well it is a pleasant surprise.” Crossfire answered as a security van pulled up to the checkpoint. Turning to Constrictor he shot a smug looking smile. “Your chariot.” He stated as the driver opened the doors for them.
“Jee thanks, why do I feel like a prisoner still?” Constrictor moaned as he walked inside, followed by the fake guards.
“Perhaps our battle with the heroes will ease your fears.” Crossfire suggested. “We spent days analysing the Avengers abilities and technologies. We were hardly a match for them but that’s where my genius and ingenuity come into effect.”
“Modesty too.” Lodestone whispered before receiving an angry stare from Crossfire,
“Never had any.” Crossfire answered. “Still even with such enhancements as an enhanced energy siphon in Shockwave’s armour and jamming technology in Chemistro’s alchemy pistol we still weren’t a match for the heroes.”
“Figures, you hire idiots, you get lacklustre results.” Constrictor snorted as the van began to crawl forwards towards the external security checkpoints.
“Oh we could have won.” Crossfire told him in a voice that caused shivers to run up Constrictor’s spine. “We just had other plans that day.”
# # # # #
Just outside the Maelstrom, Central Park - 4 Hours Ago
“So apart from Crossfire who are we dealing with?” Darkhawk asked as he felt the edge of the storm tug at his armour slightly. “And are we really taking this seriously?”
“When he has thousands of children under his control, yes we do.” Warbird announced as she streaked round from behind the rotating storm. “Bruce, we may have a problem, the storm seems to be gaining in diameter and intensity, and we still don’t know how it’s being powered.” She stated as she connected with the teams technical support back at base.
“The sensors Binary put out suggest it’s meta-human powered but not through a mutant ability.” Bruce answered as he watched the feed on the feed from Stingray and Darkhawk’s armour. “But magnets and magnetic fields are weakened by heat, if you, Nicole and Bonita concentrate your power enough you should punch a hole inside.” He suggested. “There is also the matter of keeping the storm contained; it seems to be growing at the moment.”
“I can put an electromagnetic light field around the storm once your inside.” Photon told the others, “It should prevent the storm from expanding.”
“Well here goes, Monica as soon as we get inside I need you to keep anything from getting out, we can’t afford for Crossfire to escape.” Warbird muttered before opening fire her team-mates following suit, the energy of their attacks combining until a chunk of the storm’s outer shell was broken open. With out saying a word or wasting time the Avengers moved into the vortex’s eye before the wall sealed shut behind them.
“Well this isn’t like any storm I’ve ever seen in my career; both with the navy and the Avengers.” Stingray mused as the Avengers drifted in the current. “So where are the jerks who called us out?”
“Don’t know but can find out.” Speedball answered him as he bounced from metal platform to metal platform. “So far so…whoa.” Before he could finish the platform he was heading too detonated into thick liquid steel that sent Speedball ricocheting back to the ground.
“Well looks like we got some Avengers.” A voice announced as a metal platform descended. “Welcome to the end heroes.”
“Surrender Crossfire, your gang is under-equipped to fight us!!” Warbird yelled up at her. “Besides Shockwave and yourself I have no idea who any of your men are!”
“Wow looks like I owe you five dollars.” Spear sighed as he removed a few coins from his wallet, the magnetic force sending them spinning over to Makro. “That’s just darn insulting.” He added before opening fire, the Avengers scattering away from his projectiles.
“It appears as if God’s hand works against you this day.” Espirita announced as she blazed towards the group. “Perhaps after your defeat you can become something better then…”
“Religious types jeez.” Chemistro announced as he leapt off the platform and intercepted Espirita, the pair slamming into an upside down floating taxi cab. “If I wanted to hear about that I’d go to church he added as flames climbed up his suit. Pressing his Alchemy Pistol against her skull he watched as Warbird came charging towards her.
“Now.” Crossfire announced coldly as the spears fired earlier curved round and flew towards Warbird’s exposed back, the projectiles slashing past her with enough speed to slash through her flesh without leaving a mark. “Gentlemen you know what I require, bring it to me!” He snarled as the magnetic force increased, slamming Stingray and Darkhawk into the side of a slab of concrete.
“Bruce, we need to know who these guys are.” Stingray grunted. “And fast.” He added as Speedball ricocheted away from a wave of spears only to be intercepted by a sparking fist, the blow sending him spiralling.
“Who’s next?” Shockwave sneered as Binary unleashed a torrent of energy at him, only for his suit to send a massive discharge back. “Sorry love but I can send your attacks right back at you.”
“Good.” Binary hissed as her flames got brighter. “Let’s see how far we can take this.” She wheezed, her fist blazing like miniature suns as she fired a burning lance of energy again. This time Shockwave dodged the blast, his suit sucking up some of the ambient energy before raising an electrical shield as a follow up blow came spiralling in.
“Chemistro stop prating around and help me out.” Shockwave called as the villain in question finished mummifying Espirita in flame retardant foam. Looking up at where Sneed was struggling he leapt the twenty feet to the platform and opened fire, liquid concrete sloshing over Binary’s left hand, only for the chemicals to vaporise immediately.
“Stupid Alchemy Pistol!” Chemistro spat as he fired again, this time with a beam of gold only for it too to melt before setting. “Any ideas boss?!” He called as Crossfire sent a shot ricocheting after Speedball, the bullet magnetically tracking the bouncing hero before exploding in front of him, thick globules of ink covering his face.
“Try using that new tech I insisted you install!!” Crossfire bellowed as Warbird fired a photon beam at him, the blast causing him to drop to the slab containing the restrained heroes. Dropping down Warbird came to a halt as Chemistro placed his pistol against Darkhawk’s head. “Do it Avenger, do it and make me flinch, I wonder what a magnetically propelled round would do to his skull?”
“I don’t have to.” Warbird stated as a lance of black energy snaked up and struck Crossfire in the chest, wincing he turned to see Warbird fly towards him and felt it as she smashed him in the face, his optic node cracking under the pressure.
“You bitch, you think this throws off my aim?!” Crossfire bellowed, as a little true anger creped its way past the façade he was putting on. “Send it!” He yelled as Speedball stopped in mid air before streaking towards Warbird, the pair of them colliding before being sent spiralling out of the maelstrom.
“You need new optics boss?” Spear asked
“No, I still have one good eye.” Crossfire announced as cracks in Espirita’s tomb began to show. “Mauler, Spear deal with the Firebird permanently.”
”On it.” Spear answered as he and Mauler leapt down towards where Espirita was lying . “Okay Firebird or whatever you call yourself, I don’t want to do this but…gah.” Before he could finish Spear’s quiver ignited, causing the villain to jettison it before it exploded, the waves of shrapnel streaking up towards Binary only to be vaporised on contact. His shield fading Shockwave watched as Chemistro fired his smoking alchemy pistol, a surge of electricity striking Binary, her energy discharging.
“You did it Chemistro, I can handle her now.” Shockwave stated as he ran at Binary, his fist sparking with energy. With a smile Binary intercepted him and drained the electricity from the glove before unleashing a torrent of flame so hot the electrical systems overheated. Coughing and spluttering Sneed ejected from his armour and fell to the ground as Binary turned to Chemistro, his alchemy gun barrel melting from the intensity of the flame.
“Oh crap.” Chemistro swore as Binary shot a lance of energy at him, the force of the discharge sending him crashing to the floor.
“Lodestone!!” Crossfire roared as Makro scuttled towards Stingray and Darkhawk. “We’re loosing men, increase the magnetic field, rip everything apart!!” He roared as Spear spun his trident defensively against the shear power of the flames directed at him.
“That’s it.” Bruce stated to Stingray as Makro loomed over him, her tentacles glowing with external orange life. “If Nicole burns the energy off of Lodestone she can stop the storm and rob the villains of their advantage.”
“I’m on it.” Binary called as she rocketed past where Makro was attempting to cut through a hastily formed energy shield. “Lodestone would be the crazy bitch sitting in the middle of this thing cackling like a maniac right?” She asked as she caught sight of Lodestone, drops of blood smeared across her mouth. “Hey crazy lady stop right now!!” She ordered as she placed a burning hand on Lodestone’s arm. Looking down in fear Lodestone shook her head and snarled as every metal object in the storm stopped moving and sharpened.
“Never….going…to…loose my arm AGAIN!!” She screamed as Crossfire took aim at her and fired, the dart embedding in her cheek,
”Not part of the plan Angela.” He stated as all around him previously suspended metal objects began falling from the sky. “Not part of the plan at all.” He added as Stingray ripped himself and Darkhawk free from the slab of concrete as Makro bailed in the other direction, seconds before it smashed into the ground. As the remaining villains got to their feet they looked around as the Avengers surrounded them, anger visible on those whose faces weren’t covered.
“Release the children now!! Warbird ordered sternly. “Before I start breaking bones.” She added as she cracked her knuckles.
“If you want to deactivate the control signals you’ll have to get your hands dirty, the problem is do you man up as a leader and do it yourself, or let someone else do it, thus revealing your yellow belly?” Crossfire sneered as he double tapped his damaged cybernetic eye. “And I don’t think you heroes have…” Before he could finish there was a sharp pain and he collapsed his optic nerve hanging out of the socket.
“You thought wrong.” Warbird whispered. “Anyone else?” She asked as the rest of the villains put their hands up and surrendered
# # # # #
The Violet House, Boston
Clad in their usual costumes Crossfire led Shockwave and the bound, hooded form of the Constrictor through the doors of the vivid purple walled warehouse and into the illegal casino inside. Nodding at the bouncers Crossfire continued across the floors and removed the hood from the villain’s head to show who he had brought.
“As promised, now get me Killgrave.” He ordered as Constrictor spat on the floor.
“You didn’t need to hood me!” Constrictor snarled as the TV screen on the wall turned on to reveal Zebidiah Killgrave’s magenta face smirking at the group of felons stood before him.
“Very good Mr Cross.” Killgrave purred before raising a glass of wine in a mocking toast to Crossfire. “Very convincing, now prove to me that is really the Constrictor.”
“Does it matter?” Crossfire asked as he rested his hand on a holstered pistol, the slight movement causing the guards to tense up.
“Of course, I want the real thing.” Killgrave announced, agitation crawling into his voice.
“No you don’t, I’m not an idiot and I wasn’t totally disconnected inside Rykers. You never wanted the Constrictor, hell you probably chose his name at random from the list your ‘girls’ supplied.” Crossfire replied. “Or do you deny that both of them used to work as computer technicians inside the prison until you…what brain washed them?”
“It takes a manipulator to know one.” Killgrave answered. “You know about my little expansion effort then I take it. What will it cost me extra to keep you quiet?”
“Nothing we were paid to do a job.” Crossfire told him. “Now my team’s money.” He stated. A minute later one of the guards emerged carrying a brief-case, before casually handing it to Shockwave. Raising his reaming eye Crossfire looked at Shockwave before noticing the man shake his head slightly just as a stream of data fed its way to his optics.
“A problem Mr Cross?” Killgrave asked as Crossfire scanned the room before focusing on the wall to the left of the screen. “Anything you want to admit?”
“What do you want done with Mr. Payne?” Crossfire asked as his fingers clenched round the pistol they had been resting on.
“Catch and Release. But make sure it can’t find its way back here. I’ve already swept for bugs once this week. You don’t know what they see when we’re alone” He added as Crossfire and Shockwave led Constrictor back outside and down to the dockside.
“So Cross mate, you seem to have…” Constrictor stated before a fist slammed into his nose, the force of the strike cracking the cartilage underneath. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!” He yelled as Shockwave broke the manacles binding Constrictor’s hands. “Why did you…gah.” Once again he was interrupted as Crossfire slammed his foot into the larger man’s gut.
“Something Killgrave said.” Crossfire snarled as Constrictor attempted to grab his arm only for an electrical force field to form between them, the feedback causing the snake themed mercenary to recoil slightly. “It takes a manipulator to know a manipulator. And you Mr Payne are no manipulator; your sloppiness was a beacon to one such as me.”
“Watch your tounge Cross!!” Constrictor bellowed as he charged in and elbow slammed Crossfire to the floor. With a grunt Crossfire retaliated with a double fingered strike to the eyes. As he was relling Constrictor heard cold dead words emerge from his foe’s lips, ones that froze him to the very core.
“You had already contacted SHIELD through their covert back channels, planning to throw me and my operatives under the metaphorical bus. It wasn’t hard to decrypt, a failure on both parties not just you, and I took steps.”
“Steps?!” Constrictor grunted as he blindly lashed out only to receive an open palmed strike to the back of the head.
“Yes I knew the Purple Man didn’t want you as anything more then a distraction, so I had Gillette place a hypnotic trigger in your brain.” Crossfire stated as Shockwave moved in and slammed a rib cracking fist into the Constrictor’s chest before twisting his left arm until it snapped. “All I need is one word, one word to activate it.” He stated before bending in close and whispering something to the Constrictor.
“So what now boss? Armour sensors read that Purple Man only paid half, the rest of the weight is something else.” Shockwave stated.
“Killgrave may have short-changed, but don’t worry, he won’t be getting away with it.” Crossfire stated as he bent over Constrictor and smiled a cold and terrifying grin before slotting a pill up the fallen man’s nostril. “All who cross me pay in full, every time.”
# # # # #
Crosshair Solutions Cooperate Headquarters, Austin, Texas - 5 hours later
“And so the top story remains the decontamination of New York’s Water Supply after it was revealed that the Purple Man had poisoned the main pump stations. The information came from Frank Payne AKA the Constrictor, a known super criminal who had escaped from Rykers shortly before his arrest. In addition it’s come to light that the Purple Man was behind the ‘Crossfire Crew’ attack that resulted in…” Spear yawned and turned the TV off as he sat on the sofa next to Shockwave and Headhunter.
“So looks like that was taken care of. But is anyone you know….feeling uh.” Spear stated as he looked around at the cameras mounted on the wall.
“Dissatisfied?” The Headhunter finished as she looked over at Makro, the lithe Japanese woman hanging from the ceiling. “I assume the portable communications jammer in your armour is active?” She asked before receiving a thumbs up from the woman. “Yes Mr Daniels I am, Cross risked a lot on this mission, he exposed us to the public even if he has somewhat smartly covered it up.”
“Seems to have worked though.” The Mauler grunted as he downed a pint of larger. “Everyone is pointing fingers at the Purple Man rather then at us.”
“Still he risked it.” Shockwave finished. “He risked it, which is something he doesn’t do. Sure he takes calculated risks but knowing the Purple Man’s plan even when the bugs were offline, that is just worrying.” He added as Lodestone staggered in clutching her belly.
”Crossfire isn’t the only thing you have to worry about.” Lodestone purred as she magnetically rotated the sofa and chairs to face her.
”Oh my god…” Spear swore as the others looked on in surprise. “Are you?”
“I’m packing, Lodestone plus one.” Lodestone stated as the bulge shifted beneath the layer of organic stone across her chest, causing the others to feel uncomfortable. “We’re about to become a family.”
TO BE CONTINUED...