Written by Hawk & Tiger
Avengers #2
Deep in the heart of a mysterious fortress, hidden away from the rest of the world there is a place of technological wonder that comes from knowledge of a being from a far future.
This very being is sitting alone in his throne room, plotting and waiting for the perfect time to put his well-thought plan into motion.
The room itself has a very regal, noble appearance, but at the same time it is strange and futuristic.
Two massive doors open at the far end of the room, and a beautiful young woman walks through the doorway.
She looks to be in her early to mid 20’s with slightly longer than shoulder-length brown hair, with a streak of white. She is wearing a costume as green as her emerald eyes.
Her boot heels click across the tiled floor, then go quiet as she reaches the section of red carpet leading to the throne.
A voice speaks, “Rogue, have you any news for me?”
”Yes master,” she replies in her southern accented voice, “Blood hawk & Abomination have been broken out, as you ordered.”
”Excellent, as usual Rogue. And how did they perform?”
Rogue responds, “They acted out just as you said.”
”Good.” The figure enters the next room into revealing light. He looks towards the computer screen. “Then the Age of Heroes began anew.”
Rogue says, “Have you gathered any info on them?”
”I am well aware of their powers. Hulk. Moon Knight. Hardcase. Meanstreak. And so it begins.”
In the next room, Abomination, Blood hawk & Absorbing Man sit in wait. “So what’s good about being a team? Nothing! I’ve done my best work solo and I will continue.” Says Blood hawk.
Abomination was the next to speak, “I too have worked on my own, but by working together we can watch each other’s backs so to speak.”
Blood hawk stood up and glared at Abomination, “Yeah I bet, watch my back. Until you get what you want, then stick a knife in it.”
The door opens and in walks Rogue, who steps out watching the door as a figure walks out of the shadows.
”the outbreak has started. You two are now working for me.”
Abomination stands up fast, “I didn’t sign anything. I work with, not for.”
The figure presses a button on a remote and Abomination feels a shock and starts to kneel to the ground.
”Kneel before Kang.”
”I kneel before nobody!” Blood hawk yells, and attempts to attack Kang. But before he can reach him, he feels a powerful force slam into his back. He falls at Kang’s feet, and sees Absorbing Man standing above him, now apparently made of solid steel.
”Absorbing Man has quite a useful talent. He takes on the physical properties of anything solid he touches, but you know that now.”
Abomination stands and confronts Kang. “What was that?”
”A taste of what I can do to any of you. Just because you work for me now, doesn’t mean you won’t gain from it.”
Kang walks over to the counter and puts the heroes on screen. “And if revenge isn’t your price, there’s always the money factor…”
Rogue picks up a large case, Kang nods and she opens it. Blood hawk gets to his feet shakily eyeing the case. “You know I used to just rip people up for free, but making money is a lot more fun. Count me in.”
“I already have,” Kang smirks “and do you have any objections, Abomination?”
”No,” he answers “what do we do first?”
”You will collect some items of interest. The first is the highest difficulty.”
An object appears on screen. A brightly colored circular disk.
Blood hawk grins. “That’s still around?”
Kang responds, “Of course just because he has been invisible for years, the mighty shield is still guarded. Opposition is expected, but you better not fail.” He pauses. “Go! Don’t come back without Captain America’s shield.” He points them out.
”Wait, just where are we supposed to find it? It’s not like it’s on display at the Smithsonian.”
”You’ll find it here Abomination.” Rogue answers, pointing to a view screen showing them their target.
”We’re breaking in there?” Blood hawk seemed to be enjoying this.
”Yes,” Rogue answered. “Now go, you’ll find your transportation waiting for you outside. It’s already programmed to pilot you there and back.”
They turn to leave, and make their way to the transport. It’s not long before their target appears on the horizon.
As fast as Kang’s airship is, it doesn’t go without notice. “Director Fury, there is a strange ship on our radar. It’s headed for The Vault.”
”The Vault? What in the blue blazes are they going there for? And why didn’t we pick them up before now?”
”I don’t know sir, some kind of cloaking device.”
”We should have seen them anyway. Keep an eye on them, alert The Vault, but we’re not getting into this until we need to.” He paused to put out his cigar. “The people at The Vault aren’t idiots, when that UFO gets there, they’ll be ready.”
”And if they aren’t sir?”
”then we take ‘em out fast and hard. If they’re hostile that is.”
Kang’s ship lands, The Vault’s guards stand ready guns aimed at the ship’s doors. They open and Absorbing Man steps out first.
The Vault commander speaks up, “State your business here.”
”I’m afraid that you have something I want.”, Absorbing Man answers.
”And that is?”
”Captain America’s shield.” Absorbing Man replies with a smirk.
The guards begin to snicker, then laugh. Their commander motions for them to stop. “Well it appears you won’t be getting it.”
”Then I’ll just have to take it.”
”Tell you what, I will give you something. I’ll give you three to get back in that ship and take off.” Several guns click at once, ready to fire. “One…two…”
”Three!” Absorbing Man shouts, touching the ship and becoming solid steel.
He charges the gate and to the guards’ credit most of their shots hit their mark, but the bullets have no effect.
Blood hawk is out next, ripping into them with a ravenous hunger for violence. His attacks are random and not very precise, but no less effective.
Abomination follows, he tears open the main gate and tosses it aside. Within seconds, they’ve breached their defenses.
The three of them stop and await their field leader. Rogue steps off the ship. “Well done, Kang will be pleased.”
”So where’s the shield?”, Blood hawk asks with enthusiasm.
”Must I do everything?” Rogue answers sarcastically. She slowly pulls off one of her gloves and touches the cheek of the barely conscious commander. Within seconds she has the information she wants, leaves him out cold.
”This way.” She points, putting her glove back on.
Rogue leads the three down the aisle, then pushes a door open. More guards approach from the front. Rogue blasts them unconscious with an optic blast.
Blood hawk says, “Wasn’t that?”
Absorbing Man cuts him off and quiets him.
Rogue stops at a door. “Open it.”
Abomination charges and tackles the door. He bounces off of it. Rogue places her hand on her head. “With one of the guard’s keycards.”
Blood hawk looks at him, “Dumbass.”
Absorbing Man slides the keycard through the lock and the door opens. On display in the center of the room is Cap’s shield encased.
”Now you can use your strength to bust something open.”
Abomination smashes the case and grabs the shield. Rogue says, “Four to teleport.”
Blood hawk says, “Hey was that a surfing board?” The four disappear as they teleport back to the ship.
Rogue puts the ship on autopilot back to Kang’s base. “Mission One accomplished.”
Next Issue: S.H.I.E.L.D. Reacts
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