The heroes follow Gwen into Central Park, guarding her closely. She takes them into an area of the park near a bridge. They scout the area and Gwen points them to a secret entrance hidden in the stonework of the bridge itself. They descend into a passage that goes under the park and ends in a large cavern.
They emerge only to encounter an array of powerful villains who appear to have been waiting for the heroes. They once again see Mystique and Nemesis, but also Omega Red, and two women they do not recognize: one a statuesque stunner with alabaster skin, and long auburn hair, and the other a sable-haired vision in black leather.
“You see, Tessa,” the black garbed woman smirked. “It was not so hard to lure the fools in. A minor incantation to trick the girl into sensing an aura that was not there.”
“As you say, Lady Selene,” the redhead replied. “They still must be dealt with.”
“Indeed,” she replied, turning first to Nemesis. “As promised, Hephaestos’ bastard is here for the taking. Payment in full.”
Nemesis nodded, and drew her blade menacingly, eager to destroy the creature that had brought her shame in battle. At their mistress’ cue, both of Nemesis’ servants, the hulking Russian and the lithe changeling, also prepared themselves for battle.
“Tessa, turn the girl and bring her to me when you are done,” Selene said almost offhandedly.
At that, the fight was on!
As the heroes and villains set upon each other, Crucible unleashed a blast of fiery breath at their oncoming foes, causing the form of Selene to flicker. She was an illusion!
The illusory form of Selene laughed triumphantly as battle was joined, then winked into nothingness.
As Tessa was badly singed by the attack, her form changed as well. She seemed to melt into a green mist, and seeped into a crack in the rough wall of the cavern.
A brutal melee then ensued, and Gwen Stacy fled the chamber to avoid the whirling scrum of lupine claws, demonic barbs, protean fire, flashing blade, steel tentacle and deadly plasma blast. As she fled down the tunnel, the heroes could hear her scream as something intercepted her.
At the sound of the scream Fenris broke off from the fight to see to the girl’s safety, and the sounds of battle could soon be heard in the tunnel where the girl had fled. In a panic, Gwen had once again morphed into a crystalline form, and was trying to hold off her fanged attacker, Tessa! The savage man-wolf attacked their feral enemy, forcing her to flee and depriving the vampiric creature of her intended prey.
Fenris and Gwen re-emerged from the tunnel to join Crucible and Sabanion, and all four joined forces to beat Omega Red into a bloody mess. Sensing that the tide had once again turned against her, Nemesis screamed in rage and frustration, taking flight and quitting the field of battle.
The assembled heroes then turned to look at their lone remaining foe, Mystique. The changeling looked back at each of them in turn. She dropped her weapons, smiling wryly at them.
“Take me away,” she purred, raising her hands in mock submission. “I surrender.”
As the heroes emerged from the tunnel and out into the cool autumn night with Mystique and the unconscious Omega Red in tow, they were immediately confronted by a line of masked commandos with assault weapons at the ready. Stepping between the armed soldiers, a tall mustachioed officer drew a cigar from inside his coat and lit it, briefly illuminating his face.
“Good evening, gentleman,” the officer said to them. “General Glenn Talbot, United States Air Force.”
He took a long pull from the cigar and exhaled, pausing before continuing to address them.
“We’ve been tracking your movements ever since certain . . . recent events . . . have seen the end of your previous employer.”
“We’ve been monitoring all S.H.I.E.L.D. assets, in fact. It seems you lot have been wreaking more than your fair share of mayhem in the tri-state area lately.”
“On the other hand,” he continued. “These two are known enemy combatants. The Ruskie’s been on the lam since he got out of containment when S.H.I.E.L.D. went down. And the little lady, well, we go way back, don’t we Raven?”
The blue-skinned woman frowned, but said nothing.
“”In a way, you did us a favor. You apprehended these miscreants so we can put them back where they belong. Which is far away from the light of day.”
“So, I’ll tell you what,” he continued, drawing on the stogie. “we’ll call it even this time. You’re free to go. But watch your step, because we’ll be watching you.”
He exhaled a large cloud of smoke into the chill night air.
“You don’t want to end up like them,” he said, gesturing at his new prisoners.
(published October 18, 2014)
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