Sensational Songbird #7
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Masquerade Florists, Washington DC
The spear shot out of the launcher concealed in the bouquet so fast that Melissa had no time to react, at least if she hadn't been wary about the florist and the card she had received. With a high pitch whistle she summoned a sonic cocoon around herself, the spear getting trapped between the layers of sound before shearing into pieces.
"Okay miss you're going to..." Melissa began to say, only for the florist to blow along her own arm, an acrid haze of biting plant spores forming an ad-hoc smokescreen between her and her target. Acting quickly Melissa expanded her cocoon to clear the room, and as the spores were clearing she realised that the assassin had escaped in the brief seconds distraction. Heading back out onto the street Melissa took to the air and watched as the back door to the florist was flung open.
"Got you." Melissa hissed through gritted teeth, as the assassin mounted the black Vesper parked behind the shop. "Going somewhere?" She asked, as she dropped down in front of the Vesper and clamped the vehicles front tyre in a sonic clamp.
"Through you by the looks of it." The assassin purred, her words blowing up another storm of plant spores. Blocking it once again Melissa realised that her foe had once again used the distraction, this time to pull her sidearm, an enlarged handgun with a bulky under barrel attachment, and fire.
"Too bad your bullets won't help you." Melissa stated, as the round bullets cracked open on the sonic shield she had summoned, a black powder washing over the construct and its summoner.
"Doesn't matter." The assassin hissed, as she fired again, this time with a beam of green energy from the weapon's attachment. Seconds later the powder was sprouting, and a thicket of vines was creeping over Melissa's defences, their barbed tips scratching at her skin. "Looks like my worthless ex - husband's toys are good for something after all." She added, as multiple sonic secateurs were summoned, each one cutting through a vine until all the attacking tendrils were dead.
"Ex husband?" Melissa groaned, as she encased the assassin's gun in a sonic bubble and advanced on her. "Your talking about Sam Smithers right?" She added, as the assassin flicked her left hand forward, releasing a crescent shaped throwing disc flying towards Songbird.
"You know that looser?" The assassin spat, as Melissa deflected the disc. "Sam was a waste of my time." She added, as she blew another cloud of spores off her arm, only for Melissa to dive threw and tackle her off the Vesper.
"That's my friend you're talking about." She stated, as she pinned the assassin's hand to the ground, the throwing disc clamped in it falling to the floor. "And since you can talk tell me the message Taskmaster gave you for me."
**
Undisclosed Location
Lanie stood stock still in the chamber, a smile on her face as she seductively undressed, a pair of glowing inhuman eyes shining from the darkness behind her. Turning off the cameras Kei left the control room and headed out to the network of pools where Doctor Dorcas was standing. "I couldn't bare it any longer Doctor." Kei sighed, as a dark shape moved just under the surface of the water.
"No, neither could I." Dorcas replied, as the shape moved under the walkway where they were standing. "But rest assured that Songbird's suffering is necessary if she is to be my hammer against the accused sub-mariner!"
"I assume she and the rest of the Deep Six will be the onslaught of our attack force?" Kei asked. "Along with our other assets."
"She will command the enhanced fighting force, just as you will command my human operatives." Dorcas announced, as four more dark shapes swam under the surface past where he was stood. "Kei, your work here will be done once our mercenary friend has finished his work. Once he's left, head out to the staging platform and ready my men. Soon we will have the support of the world once they realise that is Namor whose existence has brought them so much pain."
**
Outside Masquerade Florists, Washington DC
SHIELD agents led the florist away towards the first of the waiting Quinn-Jets, as a woman in a jumpsuit flanked by a pair of officers walked towards Melissa.
"Agent Hill, I wasn't expecting such a heavy SHIELD presence for just one criminal." Melissa stated.
"We've been after Mona Smithers AKA Lady Hellebore for a while. She's not why I'm here, rumour is that you are hunting down Taskmaster. Is that correct?" Hill asked, as a few more guards joined her escort, all of them armed and ready for action.
"I am, he kidnapped a teenage girl with the same power set as me." Melissa answered cautiously, her fists balled ready for action.
"Word of advice, leave Taskmaster alone." Hill stated in a cold almost sinister voice.
"Of course he's a SHIELD asset." Melissa answered in a tone that eclipsed Hill's in coldness. "Was it you who ordered Lannie's capture Hill? Of course not, you'd never leave a trail from a dirty operation back to yourself."
"Of course not. But considering that you're being offered Avengers membership I'd suggest that you do as I say. If you don't this may just get released..." Hill answered, as she handed Melissa an autopsy report. "You killed thirteen people a little while back. Of course you and I know that they were really casualties of sonic dischargers used by the Purple Man, then again I've always wanted an opportunity to but you back where you belong. I believe there's a new place that's just opened in Colorado that specialises in detaining female prisoners."
"Nice threat, it's not going to stop me from rescuing Lanie." Melissa answered. "Do your worst Hill, I'm certain you'll come up short." She added, before handing Hill the report back.
"Abner Jenkins, I can send him to Death Row for multiple murders he committed as the Beetle. I can even fast track it if I like, I can even requisition you to watch the execution." Hill replied. "And then I can do the same to Erik Josten, Dr. Chen Lu, hell everyone you have ever cared about. So I'm ordering you Gold, leave Taskmaster alone."
**
Undisclosed Location
Lannie stood to attention in her Screaming Mimi uniform, as the primal figure of the Mandrill lay on the bed, his shirt unbuttoned like some bestial Casanova.
"So Doctor what do you think, little lady's been violated just like you wanted." Mandrill boasted, as he licked his lips seductively. "I made sure that the kid knew it was wrong too, just for that extra damage you requested."
"Thank you Mr Beechman, I have no further need of your services. As per our agreement I'd rather you didn’t discuss your work here." Dorcas asked, his bitterness barely concealed behind his politeness. " My assistant will show you out." He added, as he took Lannie's hand and walked her into another room, before sitting her down on a chair.
"I'm afraid I've made a terrible judgement my dear." Dorcas sighed, "While I was away a man broke in and..." He stopped, as Lannie's face cracked into one of sheer self loathing, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"He...he...why?" Lanie whimpered.
"His employer seeks to disrupt my work." Dorcas told her. "I have been civil in my approach to him, yet he behaves like an animal. I swear I will bring him and his people to justice, but for that I need you to be brave and help me. Can you do that my Songbird?" He asked. Nodding Lanie threw an arm around Dorcas and hugged him tight despite his foul visage. "I promise I'll make things right."
**
Laurence Harbour, New Jersey
Abe slammed the wrench down into the thoratic cavity of the MACH VII armour, a dent appearing in the chassis. "Hill thretened you?! What about Lanie? You've almost killed yourself looking for her! Rachel actually did die!"
"It isn't just me she threatened. She has enough dirt on your history to get you sentenced to death Abe!" Melissa announced from her seat. "You too Donald." She added, as she turned to face the older dark skinned man working on a second set of armour on the second workbench.
"Well now I wish I'd held off updating my Harrier suit." Donald sighed, as he put down the handheld photon diffuser he'd been using. "Still I had to die someday, I'd be glad to trade it knowing it would be because you saved a life."
"Couldn't say it better myself." Abe added. "As for Taskmaster, well let's just say he's perched on the roof top across the street according to my armour's CCTV feed."
"Are you sure?" Melissa asked, only for both Abe and Donald to give her a nod. With a deep breath Melissa shot through the open skylight and onto the rooftop. Looking across the street she saw Taskmaster nock an arrow before releasing the projectile, the barbed projectile flying towards Songbird and embedding in her chest.
"What's the matter Gold?" Taskmaster jeered, as he leapt down onto the street, his shield drawn ready for his prey's counter-attack. "Not going to fight?"
"I'm not fighting you." Melissa stated. "The fight...is...over!!" She screamed, the force of the sonic release causing the tiles on the roof to shatter and cracks to appear across Taskmaster's shield until it disintegrated under the sonic onslaught. Seconds later his body armour followed suit and Taskmaster fell to his knees as Melissa advanced on him. Reaching for his sword he watched in horror as stress lines along the blade appeared, the weapon fragmenting into metal shards. Changing the pitch of her scream, Melissa smirked as Taskmaster began to vomit, the ossulating noise causing blood to drip out of his nose and ears.
"Melissa enough!" Abe yelled, as he came rushing out of his workshop.
"He's horrible, he needs to pay for what he did!" Melissa snarled, sonic spikes forming through Taskmaster's palms and feet.
"Do that and you loose everything!" Abe stated, as he placed a hand on Melissa's shoulder. Taking a deep breath she dispersed the spikes and took a step back. Getting into a sitting position Taskmaster groaned before looking up at Abe.
"Looks like your lead holding is good for something Jenk..." Taskmaster sneered, only for Abe to slam his elbow into the back of the master mercenaries neck, the blow flooring him.
"Where is Lannie, Masters?" Abe asked.
"Fish Cannary up in Naiton, Maine." Taskmaster grunted. "I would have told you on my own accord at the meet I set up, too bad SHIELD value my services to let me tell you about Lanie."
"We'll get to that in a minute." Abe stated, as Melissa took a few deep breaths to recover after her sustained scream.
"We won't, SHIELD is the key. They hire me out to a super-villain with a henchman to train, I supply my services and report back to my handlers." Taskmaster hissed, as he wiped the vomit from his mouth. "SHIELD sends assets to stop the big bad, and the man I trained, well let's say I make sure that they end up looking for that spark of redemption and enter service with SHIELD."
"SHIELD is making their own Thunderbolt program." Melissa gasped.
"Redeemers actually." Taskmaster announced. "The new Songbird was the last part required after they arrested Dorcas." He added, the colour draining from Melissa's face.
"Abe get your coat, I have an appointment to beat my doctor!" Melissa snarled. "You can go Masters but this stops now, no more recruiting for SHIELD. If I ever hear your name mentioned in connection with a missing persons investigation again..."
"You'll what? Kill me?" Taskmaster hissed.
"No." Melissa replied. "...I won't kill you." She added, as she headed back into the warehouse.
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