Marvel Mayhem: Thunderbolts #24 – Home Invasion (Part 5)
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Last Issue the Thunderbolts were liberated and begun the fight back to reclaim the Living Fortress. However unbeknownst to them both Abe and Arke had been kidnapped by Baron Zemo and Whysper of the Jury respectfully. Can the Thunderbolts defeat the Masters of Evil? And what will become of the team now their leader is missing?
Shroud ran his hand over the surface of the hydro-processing plant and narrowed his eyes. Shocker had lied to him, there was nobody inside. Turning to return to the surface he saw a dark shape cut through the water and bump into him, the blow staggering him as the nine foot long Mako Shark u-turned away from him just as a second shark, this time a massive Hammerhead powered towards Shroud. Without even a blink the water was tinted black with thick inky shadows that hid the hero from the shark’s sight, With a sigh of relief Shroud continued to the surface only to see the Mako charge in and slam into his arm, the only thing stopping his arm from being ripped off was a hastily erected dark-force shield.
“Amazing things sharks.” A voice announced as Shroud broke the surface to see a man dressed in a neoprene wet suit standing on the platform above him. “Their senses let them navigate in the pitch black of the abyss you know.” He added as Shroud tried to climb out of the pool only to be knocked back into the water by a swift whip crack.
“Your sharks may be able to see me but they can't harm me. Not if I don’t let them.” Shroud answered as a third shark, this one a stubby Bronze Whaler charged at him, mouth agape ready to rip the hero apart. Sensing the vibration Shroud turned and summoned a blade of darkness around his hand, the improvised weapon cutting the upper jaw off of the attacking shark.
“You haven't helped yourself.” The trainer snorted. “All that blood in the water will send my pets into a bloodlust.” He announced as the last shark, a gigantic Sleeper Shark swam over to the dying Bronze Whaler and shook it to pieces. “You can't kill them all.”
“I will do what I must.” Shroud answered as the Hammerhead and Mako doubled teamed him from behind, each one grabbing an arm and pulling Shroud under the surface as the Sleeper Shark swum lazily towards him. Struggling Shroud saw something move on the surface and briefly heard a whip-crack followed by a splash as the trainer was thrown into the water. Seconds later a bigger splash was heard and the three sharks circled round releasing Shroud as the water cleared to reveal Orka calmly swimming mid way up the water column.
“So who wants some?” Orka asked. With an inhuman roar the Sleeper Shark powered towards him and grabbed the Atlantean by the arm only for his target to wrap his other arm around the shark’s neck and squeeze, the force causing blood to stream out of the sharks eyes and nose until Orka released it, the body sinking to the bottom as the Mako and Hammerhead swam off towards the holding pen they had been kept in, fear obvious even though the creatures showed no emotion. Reaching down Orka grabbed Shroud and hauled him to the surface before going back down and grabbing the shark tamer and throwing him onto the side.
“Orka right?” Shroud asked. “Abner told me all about the people I was going to be working with.”
“You must be the dark force specialist.” Orka grunted. “You're tougher than you look to tussle with Great White’s sharks.” He added as he tied the shark trainer up with his own whip. “Ready for another fight, the Masters are on the verge of collapse, a good counter attack should see them off.”
“I’m ready.” Shroud grunted as a hole in the floor opened up and Orka walked through. Hesitantly Shroud followed to find the rest of the Thunderbolts gathered together in a hidden antechamber as the remaining Masters of Evil regrouped.
“Shroud right?” Radioactive Man stated. “You’re dark force ability will be very useful in this fight. Our plan is hit hard and hit fast; while the Masters numbers are depleted they still have some heavy hitters such as Moonstone, Cobalt Man and Stegron. There the people we need to take out first, particularly Moonstone since she’s in command of this siege.”
“The others are no pushovers though.” Victoria stated, her body clad in a cast off ULTIMATUM uniform overlaid with a hastily painted thunderbolt. “And we don't have Strikeback and Arke to help us.”
“I saw Arke before Shocker led me into an ambush. A waitress had found the symbiote, a Jennifer something; she didn't tell me her last name.” Shroud announced.” Funny I don't remember seeing her when Orka and I tied up Great White.”
“The symbiote is no longer in the Living Fortress,” Blackheath stated. “Where it is now I can't say but it appears as if the Masters of Evil are ready to leave. I will endeavour to block their teleporter signals but we must make haste.” He added as he squeezed his fists and sent the wall exploding outwards, the flying debris stunning the Masters of Evil for a few seconds as the Thunderbolts and their allies charged in.
“Exfil now!!” Zaran bellowed as he and Moonstone brought out their teleportation triggers only to look on in surprise as the devices failed to fire.
“Ah such as shame.” Gypsy Moth purred as she activated her own trigger and teleported in behind Moonstone and lashed out with a pair of silken blades, the blow knocking the Kree data-crystal out of the villainesses’ hands before lunging at her foe. “This is for kidnapping me and burning down my store!!” She screeched as she fell through Moonstone’s intangible body onto the floor as Zaran moved in, his hands wrapped around a broad headed axe.
“Zaran be careful the crystal can’t be damaged!!” Moonstone screeched as Orka charged at Stegron only to be pummelled with a single massive fist. The massive villain let out a snort before his hand shook and Orka forced the hand up before flipping him over his shoulder, the shock-wave caused by Stegron’s body sending the crystal bouncing down the stairs and into the path of an energy blast fired by the Cobalt Man.
“You idiot!!” Moonstone screamed as the Cobalt Man and Oort the Living Comet double teamed Chen. “Ronan will have our heads if the crystal is destroyed.”
“Will you be quiet!” Cobalt Man snapped back as Oort poured on more power. “Wait Oort no he can…” Before he could finish Chen absorbed the radiation and sent a pulse up the Cobalt Man’s armour and into the arms, the energy surge causing them to explode, the metallic shrapnel ripping through Oort’s protective suit and causing his internal light to drift out before flickering out.
“Not going your way this time is it.” Victoria called as she elbowed Chemistro in the face and turned his alchemy pistol on the Nautilus as the villain blindly lashed out at Shroud. Seconds later his armour had collapsed into sand leaving the pilot exposed to the elements and a swift punch from Shroud that sent him collapsing to the floor.
“The crystal it’s still intact!” Gauntlet yelled up to Moonstone as he dodged an optical laser blast from the Unicom. Springing through the fray he slid along the floor and grabbed the crystal before slotting it into a tactical hard case. “Precious cargo secure.” He added before narrowly avoiding a punch from Orka. “Any time you want to leave is good Moonstone.” He added as Man O War slithered onto Orka’s back and dragged him away.
“Yes of course.” Moonstone spluttered as Gypsy Moth and Zaran fought blade to blade only a few meters away from her. “Make her talk; she must have messed with the master frequency somehow!!” She ordered Zaran as Gypsy Moth dropped her guard and collapsed to the floor, Zaran’s sword strike going wide. Seconds later strands of high tensile silk wrapped around his legs and bound him to the floor. “No it was meant to be perfect…” She gasped.
“Perfect is overrated.” Victoria stated as Chen threw the Cobalt Man at Man ‘O’ War, the pair colliding with a massive explosion of steam. “Your numbers are exhausted; surrender and we’ll show mercy.” Moonstone narrowed her eyes; of her forces only Stag Beetle and Gauntlet were still fighting but both were on the retreat. Chemistro was still conscious but his weapons were gone limiting his effectiveness while Zaran was desperately trying to free himself from Gypsy Moth’s silk-trap.
“I’m sure we could negotiate something.” Moonstone purred. “I was never in charge of the Master’s of Evil anyway. If I give up my employer I want diplomatic immunity and a reduced sentence. You never know I may even dig out the genetic camouflage device I was using and dress up as Meteorite again.”
“Typical Karla Sofen.” Chen hissed as Blackheath emerged and bound the fallen criminals with vines. “Always looking for a deal. Well not this time Moonstone, you've done too much damage to this team already.” He stated as Stag Beetle powered up his chain blades mounted on his suit’s jaws. “We have the power and you can't weasel your way in.”
“Spot like weasels.” Unicorn announced. “He keeps them as pets.” As he finished Blackheath screamed as Stag Beetle cut through his arm before firing a close range repulsor blast at the Thunderbolt, his body catching alight.
“The funny thing about power,” Moonstone purred not noticing the second shadow attached to her feet, “is knowing how and when to exploit it.” She stated as she activated the teleportation trigger, gold energy swallowing up the still conscious Masters of Evil and spiriting them away.
“They got the second piece…” Victoria gasped as she slumped down on the floor. “We failed.”
“We can’t have failed?” Orka asked. “We saw them off right?”
“And what did we loose to do that?” Blackheath stated, his body blackened to resemble burnt charcoal. “The crystal is gone but that’s only a secondary loss. Abe is missing, Donnie is dead and Melissa was never here in the first place. Let’s face it the Thunderbolts are dead, the parts are here but they are tarnished, corroded and unable to function together.”
”What are you saying?” Orka asked.
“I’m out.” Blackheath sighed. “I will continue to work for the cities good but I’m no longer a Thunderbolt.”
“What?!” Orka gasped.
“I agree.” Chen said quietly. “We're not heroes not without the protection Abe and Melissa’s reputation provided. The dream is over.” He added.
“SHIELD did make it clear we needed them as handlers or the team would be shut down.” Victoria stated, “Shroud could fill in but his reputation hasn't got the same clout with the hero community. No offence of course.”
“None taken.” Shroud answered. “For my part I will stay until Smuggler is captured or destroyed. After that I’m in the wind.” He added as the former Thunderbolts left the chamber to move the defeated villains to their cells.
“I can't believe it.” Orka gasped, a salty tear sliding down his face. “It’s over. The Thunderbolts are disassembled. Who will protect Seattle now?”
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