Marvel Mayhem: Thunderbolts #21 – Home Invasion (Part 2)
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Last Issue the Thunderbolts were visited by new heroes Citizen V and Blizzard who had captured the Lava Man Ajakis. Claiming his innocence Ajakis explained his mission and the Thunderbolts decided to aid him in the hopes of preventing another invasion. Unfortunately Ajakis was Oort the Living Comet in disguise and he sent the Thunderbolts into an ambush masterminded by the Army of Insects.
“That’s it.” Strikeback announced as she finished tapping in a command to the geothermal station’s main control unit. “The station is back online, not that the Army of Insects did to much damage to it.”
“What about what Ajakis said about the magma storms?” Orka asked as he slammed Stag Beetle headfirst into a wall before dropping him onto the pile of bound insect villains. “Is the station the cause of the disturbance the Lava Men have been experiencing?”
“No.” Abe replied. “There has been no disturbances caused by this facility. But something is odd; an energy signature similar to one recorded in Tehran a fortnight ago was in the area recently”
“Oort the Living Comet.” Victoria sighed. “Looks like the Masters of Evil are up to something once again.”
“Whatever the case I think we should get the ‘Army’ back to the Labyrinth before we start chasing Moonstone and Zaran.” Chen suggested. “Blackheath can you open a portal back to the Living Fortress?”
“Maybe, something is vibrating on the same wave length as the Green; it’s causing some interference but not enough to throw off navigation.” He stated as Orka dragged the villains outside to where a hole was forming in the ground ready to transport them home. Stepping through the breach the Thunderbolts re-emerged in the main area of ‘Market Mile’ the usually bustling chamber almost deserted save for the brightly costumed individuals standing around seemingly waiting for them.
“What’s going on?” Victoria asked as the Symbiote begun to slither up her body seemingly sensing her worry and acting appropriately.
“We’re looking for something.” A familiar voice purred causing the team to look up and see Moonstone flanked by a gaggle of super villains standing on one of the walkways that crisscrossed the chamber. “A data crystal, we already have it’s sister and it would be such a shame to split up a matching set.”
Looking around at the assorted super-villains standing around her team Strikeback locked onto Moonstone and narrowed her eyes. “You want to look for things from the past,” She hissed in the most threatening voice she could muster, “maybe you’ll remember this.” She finished as the bracer draped across her sternum powered up before unleashing a shockwave of sonic energy that knocked the majority of the villains to their feet. “Thunderbolts,” Strikeback yelled, “Time to clear house!” She added as she summoned up her shoulder mounted heavy machine guns and opened fire of Titanium Man, one of the few foes left standing, as the rest of her tea, spread out to face the rest of the Masters of Evil.
“You will die American.” Titanium Man spat as he returned fire, bullets ricocheting off both their armour plating until a blast of radiation struck him from the left, the blast shutting down his armour suit. Turning Strikeback nodded at Radioactive Man before elbowing Jackhammer in the face before being struck by a blast of radiation from behind.
“I have long awaited this rematch.” The silhouetted form of the Cobalt Man snorted. “Because of you I was starved and left to rot in the Cube. SHIELD tortured me in that hell hole, took blood samples for some kind of lab tests. And now I’ll make sure that you will go through the same thing.” He snarled as he reached out with his powers and started draining energy from Dr Chen. Before he could get to far Radioactive Man begun to drain the Cobalt Man’s energy resulting in a massive field back that sent the pair flying to opposite ends of the chamber.
“Did you just see that?” Orka asked Arke as he intercepted a bounding Grasshopper.
“Kind of hard to miss.” Arke answered as she delivered a snap-kick into Joystick’s chest, the blow sending her skidding across the floor into Stegron’s feet. “We want the Dragon.” She hissed as she sprouted her Symbiote material wings and streaked off towards the giant creature.
“Looks like it’s just us.” Orka told Grasshopper before throwing the villain up in the air just as a swarm of razor tipped mini saws flew at him, the majority missing the incapacitated villain although one of the discs ripped through his neck and sent his headless corpse sprawling. “Or maybe my other favourite punching bag Buzz-Saw wants to cut in.” Orka snorted. “How’s the hand?” He hissed as Buzz-Saw arrived flanked by Jackhammer and Chemistro.
“New and Improved.” Buzz-Saw snarled as he spun up the circular saw attached to where his hand had once been. “And I’ve been dying to see what it does to Atlantean flesh. Hold him still boys and we’ll see if this turn-coat makes the cut.” He added as Jackhammer surged forward only to be repelled by a swift punch that sent him falling to the floor.
“You know I have something else to do.” Chemistro yammered as he ran off towards where Strikeback was blocking mortar shots from Zaran on one of the upper galleries.
Orka sneered as he advanced on Buzz-Saw only to see the villain shoot him a mean smile back before metal jaws restrained him from behind. “Go ahead.” Stag Beetle sneered. “Between my jaws and his saws your nothing but chum.” He hissed as Arke fired waves of sharpened quills into Stegron’s face. “You’ll live just long enough to see her die before joining her.”
**
Strikeback hunkered down as the overlapping fields of fire ricocheted off the makeshift shield she had created. Between Gauntlet on the left hand gantry, Orb Weaver entrenched in a spider hole blasted in the floor and Titanium Man standing in-front of her she was pinned down and exposed to Zaran and the barrage of mortars he was firing off. “Blackheath!” She yelled over the roar of incoming projectiles, “We need to end this. Can you access the Living Fortress’s defence network?”
“Working on it.” Blackheath replied through gritted teeth as he struggled with Gladiatrix to disarm her of the axe she was armed with. “But it’s almost as if the Green is working against me. As if it wants the Masters of Evil to succeed.” He added as he summoned up a twisting mass of vines that entombed Gladiatrix within their boughs. “It’s almost as if…urgh…” Before he could finish a massive shadowy form grabbed him by the scruff of the neck raised him over its head and swallowed him whole before emerging from the darkness.
“The Abomination Simuloid.” Strikeback gasped, “We’re outnumbered and outgunned. Arke we need a path out of here, take out Zaran and we can regroup in one of the antechambers.” She yelled as Chemistro levelled his alchemy pistol and fired a blast of energy that melted through Alyson’s shield. “And we need it right now.”
“Always ruining my fun.” Arke hissed before disengaging from her battle with Stegron and shot off towards Zaran and the armoured figure standing behind him. “Hey I have a message for you.” She purred, “Drop Dead!”
“And I have one for you.” Zaran growled, “Nautilus deliver it.” He ordered the armoured enforcer, the man stirring before firing a volley of airburst grenades that exploded into a sticky dark cloud in-front of Arke causing her to veer off back towards Stegron.
“What is that stuff?” She screeched as Radioactive Man delivered an ionised punch into Gypsy Moth’s chest before turning to see Oort the Living Comet and Firefly take up position on his flanks as the Cobalt Man rumbled towards him.
“It looks like dark-force essence.” Chen yelled up at Arke as the Night Flyer swooped out of the cloud and fired a pair of missiles from his glider, the explosives detonating on the Thunderbolt’s wings sending her plummeting. “Victoria pull up now!” He ordered as Shocker leapt twenty foot into the air and delivered a massive punch that sent the Symbiote flying leaving Victoria naked and exposed as she hit the floor.
“Shocker has never been able to do that before.” Victoria gasped as the villain and a man clutching a whip and a combat knife advanced on her.
“New Tech.” Shocker sneered, “The Tinkerer but sonic dischargers in my boots giving me increased speed and agility. And he gave Great White here an energy whip that can seer flesh off bone.”
“Another whip guy?” Orka snorted as he flexed his muscles and ripped Stag Beetle’s jaws off his armour. “Wasn’t Whiplash enough?” He asked as he barrelled through Buzz-Saw and Bushmaster, the pair trampled underfoot as he ran towards Victoria only to feel a pair of energy batons strike his legs, the blows felling him. Jumping onto his Joystick jabbed her weapons into his spine, the electricity causing his skin to burn until with a defining roar Orka shoot her off and began to pull himself towards Victoria. “Won’t let…you…touch…her.” He snarled as a gelatinous figure moved to intercept him, lightning sparking up and down his body until he collapsed.
“Filthy Traitor.” Man O’ War hissed as he turned towards Victoria. “Surrender or I’ll let my venom kill him.”
“You wouldn’t.” Victoria hissed as Great White’s whip wrapped around her arm, the smell of bubbling flesh and screams echoing around the chamber. Looking at his allies Shocker shoot his head before delivering a tight beam of sonic energy into Victoria’s head, the discharge causing her to fall unconscious, her skin still smoking even as Great White removed his whip.
“Looks like there’s only two left.” Shocker stated proudly as Strikeback sent a salvo of rockets down the range, the projectiles exploding on Titanium Man’s Armour, the blast causing him to fall to his knees. “Should we help the others?”
“No need.” Joystick purred, “They fell into the trap we set for them, I bet they won’t last another minute.” She stated as Gladiatrix cut herself free and ran at Chen as he was caught in an energy field created by Firefly, Oort and the Cobalt Man, his radioactive energies sapping as he faltered. “The Ultimate Nullifier in Gladiatrix’s Axe should drain the Radioactive Man of all his nuclear junk leaving only the cyborg left.” She added as Gladiatrix slashed through Chen’s chest, his powers draining immediately, his human form collapsing as the villain’s started draining his life force from his body.
“Chen.” Strikeback yelled as she backhanded Chemistro only for Moonstone to slam her fist into Abe’s jaw before releasing a blinding flash of light.
“You’re beaten Abe.” Karla stated. “Give up before we have to do something more permanent.” She added as a red dot floated in an ocean of bright light that hung in-front of Abe’s eyes.
“Never.” Abe snarled as the red dot grew brighter.
“Pity.” Karla sighed. “You know what to do.” She stated as the light streaked towards Abe and lanced threw her body, the force drilling a hole threw her and sending her into shock on the floor.
“Once you’re done with that body Spot would like to borrow it.” Unicorn snorted as he and Karla stood over Abe’s body, his third eye charging up again.
“Enough.” Karla spat. “They need to be kept alive. Titanium Man take a team and lock them away in their own prison where they can’t interfere with our plans.” She added unaware of the sliver of liquid silver snaking its way towards the exit, looking to find help wherever it could.
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