One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Carnage27]

I make my way into the Justice League meeting hall in the Brownstone. Jay and Steve are already here. Last time I was in this room, I drunkenly fell in through the ceiling. This time round, I entered the Brownstone via the front door.

"Oh, you got a skylight, Jay?" I ask, looking up at what the elder Flash must have done to repair the gaping hole in his HQ, "That.... well, that looks nice."

Superman, Supergirl, and I enter the Brownstone, "Yea, it's kinda like we've been a part of super-powered Trading Spaces. I'd love to see what we did with Magneto's cell."

Instantly I get the "Oh great the kid is here" look, "Oh, come on...you guys missed me."

"Hello, Tony. Oh, that does remind me," I say as I turn to Jay.

"Did we ever figure out who put a hole in the roof of the Brownstone?"

I look at Iron Man, who looks like a kid who punched his brother.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Let's get a move on then. Hopefully we can make it there and back again before dark", Scott commented as he fired a thin, precise ray of optic energy that sliced a neat path through the jungle floor. Leading the way, the others followed in behind Cyclops as the X-Men entered the dark, foreboding Amazon jungle...

"I'm pretty sure that Kurt and I could scare off any attacking animals," I quip as Scott continues leading the way with his optic blasts.

Twenty minutes pass in silence before we come into an encampment. The scientists and researches give a start as the X-Men come crashing through the forest.

"Good afernoon, ladies and gentlemen. We'd like a minute of your time to talk to you about the wonderful cutting powers of Ginsu Knives."

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Hello, Tony. Oh, that does remind me," I say as I turn to Jay.

"Did we ever figure out who put a hole in the roof of the Brownstone?"

Crapcrapcrapcrap...

"Well then," I say, quickly changing the subject, "While we're waiting for the others to arrive, let's talk about what exactly we are, as the Justice League. What we're supposed to stand for."

Yeah, Tony, keep on talking, get people's attention away from the roof you dicked up. Though this is actually a point I was wanting to make anyway, so I guess it all works out.

"Look, I know you guys have been busy cleaning up The Hulk's mess, that's understandable, but that might mean you missed the news this morning. Lex Luthor had The Avengers invade Khandaq and depose Black Adam. They sent in these.... things, Sentinels the White House called them, and they were killing innocent civilans and causing chaos. And when all that's done, Luthor brings out The Avengers in front of the cameras and says this is what superheroes do."

Luthor makes me sick to my stomach. I look at what he's doing with the Avengers, I see the frightening, destructive force that this League almost became when we were under the thumb of S.H.I.E.L.D., only much worse.

"We can save lives and stop threats and be the real heroes all we want, but as long as Luthor controls the press and placates the masses we will always be viewed as the outcasts and the outsiders. Invading other countries, killing innocents.... it's conquest, he's engaging in acts of open war. But the media machine has hidden his crimes behind the friendly face of the superhero. The world is being blinded to the truth."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Tony, I'd like nothing more than to see Luthor get what's coming to him", Superman replied.
"He's up to something, I bet my bottom dollar on it. But the American people love him. If we're going to bring Luthor down, we have to expose him for the snake in the grass he really is."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Tony, I'd like nothing more than to see Luthor get what's coming to him", Superman replied.
"He's up to something, I bet my bottom dollar on it. But the American people love him. If we're going to bring Luthor down, we have to expose him for the snake in the grass he really is."

"I hate to sound like a so naive, but maybe there was a legitimate reason Lex sent those robots into the country."

I can feel my face flush a littl bit. I glance down at my feet.

"I mean, as powerful as he is, Lex can't control everything. That'd be unconstitutional. I mean, a president wouldn't do that......right?"

 

[Carnage27]

Okay Parker, just sit back, let the big boys talk...

"You know, I don't know the pres like you guys seem to..."

WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

"...But the guy definitely seems to have a complex. If I had to guess, he'd get rid of all of us if he could."

I shift uneasily as the eyes of the room lock onto me.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Spider-Man is right", Superman stated.

"That's not a normal President, Steve", Clark responds.
"That's Luthor. He doesn't care about what that office represents. All the presidency is to him is a means to an end."

"Eventually, he'll show his true colors, but by then it'll be too late", Superman frowned.

As Superman finished the sentence, the doors opened up and in walked the rest of the Justice League: Wildcat, the Green Lantern, and the Black Canary.

"So, what'd we miss", Ted says as he looks around at the tense faces of his fellow heroes.

 

[Carnage27]

-edit-

 

[Byrd Man]

"That's not a normal President, Steve", Clark responds.
"That's Luthor. He doesn't care about what that office represents. All the presidency is to him is a means to an end."

"Eventually, he'll show his true colors, but by then it'll be too late", Superman frowned.

As Superman finished the sentence, the doors opened up and in walked the rest of the Justice League: Wildcat, the Green Lantern, and the Black Canary.

"So, what'd we miss", Ted says as he looks around at the tense faces of his fellow heroes.

"We were just singing Luthor's praises," I say with a smile as I shake Ted's hand and nod towards Alan and Dinah.

"If you're bashing the Commander in Chief, let me help," a voice says from the shadows. I smell the cigarette smoke before I see the face.

"When they kicked me out of SHIELD, they didn't confiscate the signal device you gave me. So, who's ass are we kicking today?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"I'm pretty sure that Kurt and I could scare off any attacking animals," I quip as Scott continues leading the way with his optic blasts.

Twenty minutes pass in silence before we come into an encampment. The scientists and researches give a start as the X-Men come crashing through the forest.

"Good afernoon, ladies and gentlemen. We'd like a minute of your time to talk to you about the wonderful cutting powers of Ginsu Knives."

Scott and the team froze in their tracks and slowly raised their hands as a pair of rifles were suddenly trained on them.

"Don't move", a read-headed woman in field clothes said as she aimed her gun at Scott's head.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"My name is Scott Summers, and these are my friends", Scott said in calming voice.
"We don't mean you any harm. We represent a man named Charles Xavier who runs a special school in New York. We're here to talk to the Logan's about their son, Garfield."

"What do you want with Gar", She said, her distrustful gaze boring holes in Scott.

"We're here to extend an invitation to attend the Xavier Institute. A school where mutants can learn to control their powers as well as an education", Jean said, giving a slight mental push to calm the people down.

"All right", the lady said as she slowly lowered her gun.
"You can stay to talk to Mark, Marie, and Garfield. You can wait for them in the tent over there", the woman spoke as she pointed to the largest tent in the center of the camp.
"I'd get comfortable too. They're checking out some old ruins we just uncovered, so they'll probably be a while."

"Is there any way we can see them now?"

"Well, Julio here could take you there", she replied as a short Mexican man in camo walked up.
"It'll be a nice trek though. It's five miles North of here, right through the jungle."

"I think we'll be all right", Jean smiled.

"Suit yourself", the lady shrugged.

Within minutes the X-Men were back in the jungle, following the silent Julio as the man led them towards the ancient ruins.

 

[wiegeabo]

"We were just singing Luthor's praises," I say with a smile as I shake Ted's hand and nod towards Alan and Dinah.

"If you're bashing the Commander in Chief, let me help," a voice says from the shadows. I smell the cigarette smoke before I see the face.

"When they kicked me out of SHIELD, they didn't confiscate the signal device you gave me. So, who's ass are we kicking today?"

"Well...I just figured we'd talk about upgrading our systems to be more proactive. I didn't expect this."

I cross my arms and rub my chin as I look over this odd group. Dinah obviously trying not to glare at Nick and Steve, and failing. So much like her mother. Luckily she can't read minds, or she'd make me pay for that thought.

Alan watches over the group the same way he did when he was chairman during our Society days. Ted's also doing the same thing he used to do. Drink beer and make wise-cracks. Steve stands there as he always did: concerned, and powerful. Ready to fight the good fight. And Nick...he's an *******. And a great friend. And I still trust him with my life.

And the new members...I'm still trying to figure them all out. Another sign that we haven't been much of a team lately.

"Ok. We're back together and talking about Luthor again. I didn't get a chance to get very far with Wally." I leave out the part where I'm glad I didn't because I felt like dirt using Wally like that. "I'm guessing you didn't get very far with Luthor, Steve?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"Ok. We're back together and talking about Luthor again. I didn't get a chance to get very far with Wally." I leave out the part where I'm glad I didn't because I felt like dirt using Wally like that. "I'm guessing you didn't get very far with Luthor, Steve?"

"Not really. I can't remember his exact words. They were along the lines of 'I'll let your operate if you stay out of my way, but interfere with the Avengers and I'll throw you all in jail.' So, all in all, that was a bust."

 

[Carnage27]

"Not really. I can't remember his exact words. They were along the lines of 'I'll let your operate if you stay out of my way, but interfere with the Avengers and I'll throw you all in jail.' So, all in all, that was a bust."

"So what choices do we have? Jail or let him run the world like he sees fit?" I say stepping to the center of our little band of brothers. "It sounds like Luthor's basically got us beat before the first bell even rings."

Sometimes I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew by joining the League. I can deal with drug lords, crime bosses, and the occasional super villain, but the President of the United States?

That's a different story.

 

[Red_Robin77]

"Sir, the 'package' has arrived."

I look up from my book as Alfred steps into the library holding a box in nondescript brown wrapping. "It's good to see the overnight delivery still means overnight."

"That usually happens when one pays twice the standard shipping rate, Master Bruce. Where should I take this, sir?"

"The cave will be fine, Alfred. And I didn't pay twice the rate. Although I can't remember which dummy corporation we used this time."

"Silents Wings Pharmaceuticals, I believe sir." I set my book down, the latest volume of Forensic Theory, and follow Alfred. We enter through the grandfather clock and walk down into the cave. Lights snap on automatically as we reach the bottom.

Alfred sets the package down on a table and unwraps it while I don some protective gloves and a mask.

"I did not think the radioactive material was harmful, sir."

"It's not," I say as I open the protective box, and remove the package inside. "But until I've impregnated the bills, the solution is easily absorbed by the skin, and aerosolizes quickly."

"Which means it can be absorbed by the lungs." Alfred takes a subtle step back.

I smirk. "Don't worry, Alfred. Even if you inhaled it, the energy levels of the alpha particles is so low they would do virtually no damage. I'm mostly taking precautions to make sure I don't accidentally contaminate myself and throw off any readings."

"Ah. Shall I get you the money now?"

I start setting up the solution, adding an activating catalyst to it. "Please." I grunt to myself. Jim wondered if I could get ten thousand dollars together. I wonder what he'd think if he knew I keep twice that in just one of the smaller safes in the mansion.

By the time I've finished preparing the marking dye, Alfred returns with the money. "Twenties, fifties, and hundreds, sir. As requested."

"Very good. Give me a hand, would you."

Alfred gives my one of those famous sighs. "It would be my pleasure, sir." I smile as he dons gloves and mask and we get to the task of marking every bill.

The night had been and gone and the meeting with Gordon seems as though it was years ago. The school bell was a dream come true as I run out of class and out of the school building. I meet up with Kitty outside and walk home with her, tonight's events buzzing through my head. Were we going to take down Two-Face tonight? Or would another villain catch our attention first? These thoughts run around my head until I find myself outside Kitty's house and I kiss her goodbye, loving every moment of it. I pick up the pace and head onwards towards the Manor. Before I know it, I'm walking through the front door of the Manor, everything deadly quiet.

"Alfred? Bruce?" I call out to the Manor.

I head up to my room and dump my bag there, before running down the stairs and over to the grandfather clock in the study. I open it up and pull the mechanics, making it slide away to reveal a staircase. I race down the steps, my fingers brushing against the cave wall and I come out into the labryinth of the Batcave. I skid to a halt as I see Alfred and Bruce in protective gear, dunking money into a batch of green solution.

"Got the radioactive stuff then?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"So what choices do we have? Jail or let him run the world like he sees fit?" I say stepping to the center of our little band of brothers. "It sounds like Luthor's basically got us beat before the first bell even rings."

Sometimes I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew by joining the League. I can deal with drug lords, crime bosses, and the occasional super villain, but the President of the United States?

That's a different story.

"If we can find out exactly what it is he's up to, we'd be able to expose Luthor for the crook he is."

"Nick", Clark turned to Fury.
"Do you still have connections in the government you can use?"

"Of course", Nick said as he took a puff of his cigar.
"I can see what I can dig up on Mr. Clean. Try and find out what his game is."

"Good", Superman nodded his head.
"Then, to shift gears a bit, this incident today with the Hulk, and the attack on Khandaq...both are tragedies we could've prevented from getting out of hand."

Superman paused for a moment, as he thought on his words.

"I think we need to change our approach. Get more proactive in monitoring the world and be ready to stop trouble before it becomes a full blown disaster."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Within minutes the X-Men were back in the jungle, following the silent Julio as the man led them towards the ancient ruins.

After a few hours of travel in the fetid jungle, the X-Men finally arrived at the ancient ruins.
There was a few small stone houses around the open field in which the ruins sat. They appeared like small guard posts that the culture who built this place must have used to protect the massive ziggurat that stood in the field's center.

It was getting into the late afternoon, so they had to make sure they did this quick if they were to get back before dark.

"Over here", Scott said as he saw the Logan's packs resting at the base of the ancient temple.

The packs looked like they'd been sitting there for a while, and Scott bent down to look at a small hole in one of them. A bullet hole.
Scott looked around the ground and the pack. There was no blood, but Scott had the feeling all was not right. And it seemed his fellows had the same feelings of trepidation.

"Jean, scan the area. See if you can locate the Logans."

"I've got them", Jean said after a few tense moments.
"They're inside the ziggurat. They're very frightened, Scott...and the parents are hurt. Scott...I'm detecting dozens of other people inside too."

"Other people? Who are they?"

"I can't tell...their minds are extremely hard to get hold of. It's like there's some outside force protecting them."

Jean's eyes went wide and she gasped in shock.

"Scott! Oh, my God!"

"What is it, Jean? What's wrong", Scott asked as he rushed to her, grabbing her by the shoulder's and steadying her.

"They killed her", she said looking at him as her eyes watered with tears.
"Marie Logan...they just killed her..."

 

[Catman_prb]

"Okay, I assume this is the point we get our capes on and go kick some bad guy arse?" Jamie said.

The others looked at him in surprise.

"You'd all forgotten I was here, hadn't you?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Jamie's right", Scott spoke.
"We have to save Garfield and his father. Jean, I need you to lead us to them, okay?"

"Yeah, sure", she said, her voice a bit shaky still from touching Marie's mind as she died.

"Julio, go back to the camp and warn the others."

The frightened man nodded, more than happy to leave this place. As he ran off into the jungle, Scott turned back to the X-Men.

"Let's go."

Cyclops let the X-Men inside the temple.

The ancient structure was surprisingly massive inside, full of winding corridors and dead ends. But, with Jean leading the way, the X-Men eventually found their way into a large cave network underneath the temple. As the went deeper into the darkness, they started to hear the faint sounds of chanting in a language none of them recognized.
Scott lit the way with his visor, summoning barely enough energy to create a torch-like effect.

Finally the team turned down a corridor and looked towards a room that was lit brightly by firelight. The X-Men made their way up to a rocky ledge overlooking a huge man-made cavern. All throughout the walls, images were carved in them. Pictures of sacrifice, brutality, and a massive three-eyed demonic being that lorded over men.

Below them on the cavern's smooth floor, Scott saw a few dozen humans in red robes with black trim. They all stood facing an old stone alter, chanting furiously. The man who had to be their leader, adorned in a more regal garb, stood at the alter, his back to the worshipers and the X-Men.

On the alter was the dead body of Marie Logan, her face frozen in a mask of horror, as her blood poured from her body and down into a chalice held by the leader.
Behind the alter, changed to the wall was an unconscious Garfield and his father, who looked as though he had been severely beaten.

"My flock", the leader said, his back still to them, as he held up his hand and silenced them.
"It seems we have visitors..."

The leader spun around and looked up at the X-Men, his lips curving in a wicked smile.

Holding up the goblet that held Marie's blood, he drank a large gulp, the red liquid running down his chin.

"See to our new guests", he smiled as his minions turned and looked up at the X-Men, their eyes nothing but dark red orbs.
"Show them what happens to those who interfere with the Church of Blood."

 

[Keyser Soze]

"So what choices do we have? Jail or let him run the world like he sees fit?" I say stepping to the center of our little band of brothers. "It sounds like Luthor's basically got us beat before the first bell even rings."

Sometimes I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew by joining the League. I can deal with drug lords, crime bosses, and the occasional super villain, but the President of the United States?

That's a different story.

"Of course, there is another way to deal with Luthor."

I step forward, doing my utmost to not acknowledge the unwelcome presence of Nick Fury. He might be Jay's bud, but I don't trust the guy, not after the crap he's tried to pull with me.

"As we all know, Lex Luthor is the world's second biggest egotistical, publicity-guzzling media ****e. For years now, through every step of his rise to power, the media has been his weapon. When he tried to discredit Superman, he called a press conference. When he wanted to manipulate Captain America, he called a press conference. When he took credit for singlehandedly saving the human race after Darkseid's invasion, he called a press conference. Luthor is President, and one of the most popular Presidents in recent memory, because he's masterfully exploited the media to make him look good and his rivals look bad at every turn."

"If we can find out exactly what it is he's up to, we'd be able to expose Luthor for the crook he is."

"Nick", Clark turned to Fury.
"Do you still have connections in the government you can use?"

"Of course", Nick said as he took a puff of his cigar.
"I can see what I can dig up on Mr. Clean. Try and find out what his game is."

"Good", Superman nodded his head.

"But that's my point. You could have video footage of Lex Luthor raping Oprah Winfrey while bludgeoning her over the head with a kitten and screaming "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!", and he'd find a way to spin it into a PR win, because he's mastered the media game. Public image is everything to Luthor. You undermine that, and the whole deck of cards starts to crumble. We need someone to play him at his own game, someone who can work the media and use it as a weapon against Luthor, for a change. Luthor's ego has always been his weakness. You attack that, and that's when the cracks will appear and he'll reveal his true colors. Who's that someone, you ask?"

The visor on my helmet retracts, revealing my grinning face underneath.

"Lucky for you, the world's biggest egotistical, publicity-guzzling media ****e happens to be... me."

"Then, to shift gears a bit, this incident today with the Hulk, and the attack on Khandaq...both are tragedies we could've prevented from getting out of hand."

Superman paused for a moment, as he thought on his words.

"I think we need to change our approach. Get more proactive in monitoring the world and be ready to stop trouble before it becomes a full blown disaster."

"You're right, Superman, that's the important thing that always has to be our main focus. Lex Luthor is small potatoes. But you know as well as I do that it's only a matter of time before Luthor starts making so much as helping people very hard for us, and if we're talking about proactive, dealing with Luthor has to be on our minds. But leave that to me. Trust me to beat Luthor at his own game, and turn some of that tide against him. As a team, I'm all up for hearing what your plans are for being more on the ball with dealing with the big stuff."

 

[Carnage27]

"My flock", the leader said, his back still to them, as he held up his hand and silenced them.
"It seems we have visitors..."

The leader spun around and looked up at the X-Men, his lips curving in a wicked smile.

Holding up the goblet that held Marie's blood, he drank a large gulp, the red liquid running down his chin.

"See to our new guests", he smiled as his minions turned and looked up at the X-Men, their eyes nothing but dark red orbs.
"Show them what happens to those who interfere with the Church of Blood."

I look at the rest of the team, "Vhy can't ve go somewhere zhat isn't filled vith people who vant to kill us?"

BAMF

I appear next to two of vampire boy's lackies, who attempt to pounce on me. I easily dodge their advances, and they crash into each other. I deliver swift strikes to the nerve clusters on their necks, disabling their motor skills for now.

BAMF

I teleport yet again near the leader of the group, "You picked zhe wrong ancient temple, mein friend."

"Try me, fur ball," he sneers as blood rolls down his cheek.

I charge, and fling myself towards the murdering occultist, who swings a punch in my direction. His right hand connects with my stomach, and the blow sends me flying through the air, landing at Scott's feet.

I look up at our team leader, "Maybe zhat vasn't such a good idea."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Of course, there is another way to deal with Luthor."

I step forward, doing my utmost to not acknowledge the unwelcome presence of Nick Fury. He might be Jay's bud, but I don't trust the guy, not after the crap he's tried to pull with me.

"As we all know, Lex Luthor is the world's second biggest egotistical, publicity-guzzling media ****e. For years now, through every step of his rise to power, the media has been his weapon. When he tried to discredit Superman, he called a press conference. When he wanted to manipulate Captain America, he called a press conference. When he took credit for singlehandedly saving the human race after Darkseid's invasion, he called a press conference. Luthor is President, and one of the most popular Presidents in recent memory, because he's masterfully exploited the media to make him look good and his rivals look bad at every turn."



"But that's my point. You could have video footage of Lex Luthor raping Oprah Winfrey while bludgeoning her over the head with a kitten and screaming "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!", and he'd find a way to spin it into a PR win, because he's mastered the media game. Public image is everything to Luthor. You undermine that, and the whole deck of cards starts to crumble. We need someone to play him at his own game, someone who can work the media and use it as a weapon against Luthor, for a change. Luthor's ego has always been his weakness. You attack that, and that's when the cracks will appear and he'll reveal his true colors. Who's that someone, you ask?"

The visor on my helmet retracts, revealing my grinning face underneath.

"Lucky for you, the world's biggest egotistical, publicity-guzzling media ****e happens to be... me."



"You're right, Superman, that's the important thing that always has to be our main focus. Lex Luthor is small potatoes. But you know as well as I do that it's only a matter of time before Luthor starts making so much as helping people very hard for us, and if we're talking about proactive, dealing with Luthor has to be on our minds. But leave that to me. Trust me to beat Luthor at his own game, and turn some of that tide against him. As a team, I'm all up for hearing what your plans are for being more on the ball with dealing with the big stuff."

"Well", Clark says with a sheepish smirk, "I think we were kind of hoping you could help with that, Tony."

"With the resources you have access to, we were hoping that you could upgrade the Brownstone's systems. Give us the power to watch over the world, to prevent possible disasters before they start."

 

[Johnny Blaze]

I look at the rest of the team, "Vhy can't ve go somewhere zhat isn't filled vith people who vant to kill us?"

BAMF

I appear next to two of vampire boy's lackies, who attempt to pounce on me. I easily dodge their advances, and they crash into each other. I deliver swift strikes to the nerve clusters on their necks, disabling their motor skills for now.

BAMF

I teleport yet again near the leader of the group, "You picked zhe wrong ancient temple, mein friend."

"Try me, fur ball," he sneers as blood rolls down his cheek.

I charge, and fling myself towards the murdering occultist, who swings a punch in my direction. His right hand connects with my stomach, and the blow sends me flying through the air, landing at Scott's feet.

I look up at our team leader, "Maybe zhat vasn't such a good idea."

Scott fires an optic blasts that sends a pair of cultists slamming into the far wall. Jean puts up a telekinetic shield to stop the bullet fire from the trio of cultists firing their handguns their way.
With a mental tug, Jean yanks the pistols from their hands, smashing them like tin cans and letting them drop to the floor.

"We have to get to Garfield and his father", Scott shouts as the fearless cultists swarm at them.
"We need to grab them and get back to the surface before we're overwhelmed!"

 

[Optikal]

Spoiler

Wolverine. Coldcast. Scandal Savage. Warpath. Domino

Ash Moor Industrial Center.
New Jersey.

Three Days after the abduction of mutant Danielle Moonstar.


The scent in the air assaulted his senses. Only a mutant with a sense of smell like his own would be able to pick it up. But to Logan it was so strong that it was almost tangible. Fear.

From the tree-line he could see the main gate to the compound. Domino was on the south flank, Savage on the east and Warpath on the west. Coldcast crouched next to him in the bush. Checking his watch, Wolverine pressed the comm in his ear to activate communication with the team. "Everyone in position?" he growled.

"Check"
"Yeah"
"Lets get this over with"

"Okay. Warehouse 1B is where the package is. Once Coldcast blows the electronics, we'll have three minutes before the back-up generators kick in. We're straight in, straight out. We get Moonstar and get the hell out of there. This is it kids. Buckle up". Wolverine turned to the dreadlocked man next to him and nodded grimly. "It's time".

Coldcast rose up and lifted from the ground, sending out a huge EMP blast towards the compound. Suddenly, the whole scene was plunged into darkness. Wolverine leapt from his position and charged the entrance. Two men appeared from behind a tanker and levelled automatic rifles at the feral mutant.

*snikt*

Wolverine leapt into a flying tackle and collided with the first man, his claws implaing the gunman and taking him to the ground. In one fluid motion he rose and spun to face the other man. A volley of gunfire punched him from his feet. Wolverine hit the ground hard as Coldcast landed behind the man and savagely snapped his neck.

Wolverine rolled to his feet and groaned. The shots had been panicked and hadn't hit anything major. His healing factor would take care of them eventually. With a pissed off grunt he glanced across at Coldcast and nodded a thanks. Both men charged into the Warehouse.
​

Wolverine. Coldcast. Scandal Savage. Warpath. Domino

As they poured into the warehouse, the bloody screams of battle echoed though the maze of crates and gangways. Gunfire lit up the murky darkness as Logan and Coldcast split up. Two more assailants leapt out infront of Wolverine, but with a snarl he launched, claws first and took them down, bloody gurgles escaping thier lips as they died.

High above him on a gangway, he saw Domino running and firing, the fluid motions of the assasin dazzling her attackers. Scandal was cutting through the enemy with ease. She might have been an irritating brat, but Wolverine admired the way she fought.

His sense of smell picked up the scent of Moonstar and he headed towards it, taking down all who stood in his way. The Friends of Humanity were heavily armed, but lacked even the most basic of training. But then again, an idiot with a cannon could be deadly than even the best soldier. Logan wasn't willing to take any chances with a show of mercy.

The scent led him to a first floor office at the back of the warehouse. Inside he caught the scent of three guards and of the mutant they were here to liberate. With a growl he launched himself at the door, shattering it from it's hinges. Wolverine rolled into the room, his claws driving into the torso of the first soldier. The second was in too much shock to defend the claws that opened his midsection.

"Hold it there Mutie!" the final guard roared as he levelled his weapon at the face of his hostage.

Moonstar was tied to a chair, her face covered in cuts and bruises, her head hanging limp to her chest. Wolverine dare not imagine what had been done to the poor girl. He rose to his feet, his eyes meeting those of the remaining soldier. Gore dripped from his claws to the dark wooden floor, mixing with the dark claret of the fallen men.

"See Bub, the way I see things right now is that you don't have many options left. There's five real pissed off mutants in this building and the rest of your boys ain't fared too well. So give up the girl and I'll let you go scurryin' back to whatever hole you crawled out of..."

The soldier winced but held his ground. Wolverine could taste the fear resonating from him. "..O-Or, I could blow off this b-tches head right here and now and then at least there'll be one less of you filthy bastards out there stinkin' up the place!"

Wolverine said nothing, Despite the fear he knew the man wasn't afraid to pull the trigger. In that second, the roof of the small office caved in and a huge form filled the area directly behind the man.

Caught in shock, the soldier turned just in time to see the vibranium bowie knife jam into his back and explode through his chest.

Warpath wrenched the blade free and let the dead man drop to the floor. Wolverine watched in silence as he took Dani Moonstar in his arms and walked out of the office. Wolverine tapped the comm in his ear. "The package is clear. Let's get out of here".
​

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Well", Clark says with a sheepish smirk, "I think we were kind of hoping you could help with that, Tony."

"With the resources you have access to, we were hoping that you could upgrade the Brownstone's systems. Give us the power to watch over the world, to keep prevent possible disasters before they start."

"Wow. Right, well.... that is a brilliant idea. Why didn't I think of that?"

Why didn't I think of that?

"Of course I'd be honored, yes, absolutely. I'll set this place up with a surveillance system that's unmatched, something even S.H.I.E.L.D. won't be able to hold a candle to."

I cast Fury a sidewards glance as I say that last part.

"Of course then they'll probably want to steal that from me, too...."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Of course I'd be honored, yes, absolutely. I'll set this place up with a surveillance system that's unmatched, something even S.H.I.E.L.D. won't be able to hold a candle to."

I cast Fury a sidewards glance as I say that last part.

"Of course then they'll probably want to steal that from me, too...."

"In my defense, Stark. I didn't want you getting **** faced and using that robot to kill any babes who didn't answer the phone when you drunk dialed 'em."

"Nick, Tony. Please let's try to be civil."

"You know Nick can never be civil," Alan says with a smirk.

"Too true. Now, getting back to the Luthor issue. Is the plan trying to dig up dirt on him? Because, quite frankly, I feel uncomfortable with that. He's a slimeball, yeah. But he's still the president and not supporting him seems....unamerican to me."

My cheeks flush slightly as I finish. I feel sort of like a dumb, naive schoolboy. But that's how I feel.