NOVEL WEB Arc Fifteen. Chapter Four Hundred Thirty-Three. Avengers Dissasemble
At Camp Gamma, Steve and Carol were already in huge containers, both with an IV drip in one arm. Unconscious it had been easy enough to restrain them, inject them, and load them up. The 'Cubes' had the latest in Shields power dampening technology as well as thick armour. Their next stop was Alcatraz, named the ‘Freezer’ as it was for long-term storage of prisoners. Only the worst would be sent on to the Raft. A high-security facility that only a select few knew the location of. Only the Freezer had the cryosleep serums counter, and without it, they would never wake up. It had been developed to contain Hulk, but against a normal Enhanced, it was just as good. It was a given, that once you had an Enhanced in one of them, they were never getting out.
Monica watched as they loaded the Cubes into the truck. Carol’s alien had retreated once she was out for the count, and they had no way of getting to it. She didn't care though, as the serum should take care of it just as easily. She was on watch, she was the only one that had returned from her mission. Talbot had been reported as down, Blonsky, the idiot, hadn't even put up a fight, and Stark was hiding. He was recovering at Stark Medical after Venom had driven a sword through his chest. What was worse, was he failed. They had no proof it was Parker under that armour, no matter who knew it was him.
Leaving the base under her command, Ross had personally gone after him. He wasn't under orders to do so, but she knew he wanted to finish the job. He hated Parker's blasé attitude and after becoming a Hulk, Ross took things way too personally. He'd expose who was under that costume, even if it meant ripping their mask from their corpse.
She felt the slight tingle in the hairs on the back of her neck, a warning sign. Her sensitivity to different energies had given her a second sense. Anyone with powers was enough to set it off, as their own energy interacted with hers. As it tingled, she knew that something or someone was coming. She clicked her mic. “Early Warning, no visuals.”
The soldiers knew she had powers, and were to listen, even if it turned out to be a false alarm. As they sounded off there was a chatter of gunfire, and one of the guard towers suddenly went dark. Even without powers, it was obvious they were under attack.
She spotted the first enemy, and it was one of those slick bodysuits that Carol had been wearing. “Dammit,” she clicked her walkie-talkie, “it's Parker, get the pulse rifles.” It was standard procedure that the soldiers in Camp Gamma only used normal ordinance. A Hulk was immune to most small arms, but those rifles disintegrated matter at an atomic level. They were dangerous, and as such were stored in a secure part of the camp. Normal training used regular rifles, simply sized up. As the black shadow flickered and she heard the screams of soldiers, she knew that would have to change.
“Dammit,” she cursed again. She moved forward and as she lit up her hand a red beam streaked from an unknown location and impacted against her. She was blown backwards and flew through the air, tumbling along the ground as she landed heavily.
“Stay down, I won't warn you again,” she heard a man's voice and she moaned. That was a warning? Fuck. She focused the photon force through her body but it spluttered and faded. She tried to summon any form of energy to defend herself. But as her hands cycled through every particle she could think of the beam stuck out once more and impacted her. It blew a huge hole in the ground around her, leaving her lying struggling to breathe in the crater.
“I was not joking. We will take our friends and leave. If nobody resists we won't harm anyone. Stay down and stay out of it,” she heard him say again. With no choice, she nodded.
“Damn you’re sexy when you take charge,” Cyclops heard the invisible Vengeance whisper in his ear. Her hot breath tickled and was threatening to distract him. “But later you can use that voice on me.” He shuddered as the husky voice gave the promise of bedroom pleasure. “sadly, not the time lover boy, six o'clock.” While he couldn't see anyone a beam wide enough to hit a person streaked out.
Falcon landed, narrowly avoiding the beam. “We heard. You know we can't just stand down. The Avengers never give up.” As he raised his small pulse pistols, there was echoing laughter from all around him.
“The Avengers mean something. You are thugs, following orders and licking boots. You aren't Avengers, you are criminals.” but Falcon's headset couldn't pinpoint the voice. “Stand down and we’ll take Cap and Carol and leave. Stand against us, and we’ll make sure the Avengers never see the light of day again.”
“What guarantee do I have you won't do that anyway?” Falcon asked and the voice became a show which became a man, a man he recognised. The other man, with the red visor, nodded at Webb and headed towards the containment facility.
“Because Sam. That badge means something to me, and it means everything to Cap,” Webb said, throwing his ID down at Falcon's feet. “We are more than just a name, we are supposed to be an example. And you failed. You and Scott, and Monica. Didn't you learn from Ava?”
Sam frowned but nodded. Ava had been slated to join the Avengers, but her hatred of Hank Pym had led her to attack Scott as soon as she saw him. She was off the team before her badge was printed. Not only that, but her powers were dangerous. She had been sedated and was officially Prisoner One of the Freezer. Sam knew it was wrong, but so was attacking a fellow teammate. She could have talked it out, they could have done something other than fight. Just like right now.
“You know this is all illegal right? We work for the government, we’re the good guys,” Falcom stated. They were. Unlicenced vigilantes were dangerous enough without powers. He had watched Magneto and could imagine just how much damage he could do in a city.
Webb shook his head and stepped in front of him, “No, we work for the people. We protect the citizens of the world. If we can't save them, then we avenge them. Not just the US, not just the rich or the privileged, but everyone. Humans, Enhanced, Symbiotes, and Augments. Like Cap says, liberty and justice for all.”
Falcon sighed, “Cap’s from a different time Flash, it doesn't work like that anymore.”
Webb snorted, “And you think that makes it right, that makes it our job? To enforce the laws. You’re not military anymore Sam, you’re supposed to be an Avenger. If you want to enforce the law, become a cop, not a superhero,” Webb took a deep breath, “and that’s long enough.”
Falcon frowned and realised that he couldn't hear the sounds of any fighting going on around him. He laughed, “You distracted me, and got your people back.” Webb just smiled and nodded, “And Scott?”
“He’s fine. As soon as he saw them he stopped and surrendered. Ant-Man isn't big on taking out a whole team.”
Falcon laughed, “Nice work, but you might want to save the jokes for your trial. You know taking them will get you arrested.”
Webb shrugged, “You have to catch us first Sam.” As the jet flew in and hovered behind Webb, he lifted a hand and shot a web at it. “Don't chase us, it won't end well, even with the pulse guns, you won't win.”
Falcon nodded. As the jet lifted off taking Webb with it he lifted his visor and folded his wingsuit back into standby mode. “Anyone awake?” He was met with a chorus of groans, “Fine, get this shit cleaned up, Anyone seen Lang or Rambeau?” As he spoke Scott grew from nowhere and appeared by his side. ”Some help you were.”
Scott pointed to his suit, a note had been webbed to it, where the first of the Pym particle cartridges sat. "Yeah, someone blabbed about my suit."
‘Next time it’s a spike, and that belt won't stop it’
Sam shuddered. They had been shown the test files from Darren Cross’s failed experiments of the Yellow Jacket suit. It was straight from a horror movie where parts of an animal shrunk at different rates as the mix was wrong. “Yeah, I get that.” He lifted his walkie-talkie, "Can I get a sit-rep?"
⁂
Across in the prison facility, Huntress was approaching her target. There were still Baby Hulks around, and it was fun to play with them. Most of the low-level grunts had been given a round of injections, and Huntress felt they were on par with Steve. She had never fought him, but Widow had, and these were just as tough, but nowhere near as smart. It was cathartic to kick them over and over, while they tried to wrestle with her. She was fast, and they were so dumb. She even kicked a few in the groin, knowing that Hulk-sized balls meant Hulk-sized pain. If she was in a caring mood, she would have suggested a different style of fighting. Hulk was a powerhouse and not a ballerina. These men were trying to fight like men, and not like Hulks.
She lept, kicked the last one in the head, and watched happily as he went night nightly. She was leaving them, waking up on the hard concrete floor would be a lesson not to mess with her friends. Steven and Carol, with some weird big head man, were lined up in a row of three. A single power cord tied them together, and Huntress sighed, Free them all or kill the egghead?
Is he green? Venom replied. He was waiting with Emma as he knew there was no point in running from Ross.
Kinda? Got a really stupid moustache as well. If he's a prisoner I should really deal with him.
No time, it's Sterns. If they aren't dumb the glass will be soundproof. His powers won't work and they can just sedate him again. Cut them loose and then get out before anyone else shows up.
The military might not have a lot of powered, but they did have a lot of soldiers.
You're the boss, Huntress snorted as she created a large blade and slashed through the thick cable.
The locks on the side of the cabinets weren’t attached, and she popped the three latches. There was a hiss as they depressurised and Huntress flung open the lids. "Hey, WAKEY WAKEY!" As neither stirred she grumbled, "assholes. I'm here alone, how am I supposed to carry Goldilocks and her brother here?"
Huntress tilted her head, Hey, think they'll wake up if I zap them?
I think Carol will wake up and kick your ass. She hates being woken up, the Symbiote replied
That was once and she got over it, there was no ass-kicking.
There was, with much kissing afterwards. I do not know what the male will do, zap him as a test.
Huntress shrugged. It wasn't like she could make him any more unconscious. Spreading her palm out, she reached forward and pressed it to his chest, making sure to avoid his heart,
Muscles are overrated, we prefer the sleekness of Peter. See if his penis is comparable.
Huntress jolted a small shock through Steve's chest. He groaned and stirred a little.
I am not touching another man's junk Huntress, You want to look, you do that right after you get a new host.
We are merely curious. Liv has encountered a variety, and we simply wished to know if-
LALALA, I am not looking at Captain America's dick, now stop distracting me.
She pressed her hand down again and this jolt was much heavier. The skin on his chest blistered as the charge pulsed through him, "What the hell!" he shouted as he sat bolt up. He rubbed the tender patch, "While I appreciate the save ma'am, next time, a stiff cup of joe would be much easier to take."
"Yeah yeah, I bet she says the same," As Huntress leaned over, she shocked Carol.
"Mother fucker! I should, oh hey Huntress." Carol stretched, "Ravage, clothes please." Her uniform spread over her and she floated out of the container. "Right, powers are all to hell, Ravage is bitching like a sailor, are we fighting or fleeing?"
"Fleeing. The military has gone nuts, and Pee, uh, Venoms got problems of his own." Huntress cleared her throat, "Nobody heard that. Venom, it's Venom definitely Venom."
"Ma'am, find me some pants and you can say what you like. I don't mind the show, but I'm not one for stealing another man's gal."
Carol and Huntress gave him the once over, "Yeah, not happening," they both said at the same time. They both laughed and high-fived each other, "Pants can wait. We need to leave, like right now." Steve raised a hand to object when Huntress sprayed him with webbing, "There, big baby." She made sure to cover his feet, even spraying the bottom when he lifted them. Under her mask, she rolled her eyes, "Now, can we please leave before the soldiers come back."
⁂
A soldier rushed over and hastily saluted. “Captain Rambau is unconscious Sir, unhurt but they hit her hard.” Sam sighed. “They released Captain America and Marvel Sir. And uh, Sterns escaped as well.”
“Ross is going to be pissed.” lifting a radio from the soldier, began to organise the camp cleanup.
