Play Testers Wanted Pt. 04

"I would get out of the way if I were you." A metallic voice said behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw the imposing visage of none other than Viktor von Doom. "Very well. Open the gate! Let the vehicle in."

"Digging deep for this one!" I yelled as I created an inverted V shaped forcefield in front of me. I stood at the point where the two lines of force met. "Bring it bitch!" I howled at the box truck struck the shield.

I had closed my eyes and winced as the sound of shrieking metal and the impact of metal on stone. I opened my eyes and the wreckage of the truck was split into two major portions. I stood in what had once been the cargo area. The only thing unaffected by my power was a small metal box. I picked it up and opened it. The three perfect ingots of vibranium greeted my gaze. I closed the box and walked toward the hovering Quinjet.

"Ghost! Behind you!" Black Widow hollered in my ear.

I ducked and spun as the energized blast singed my hood. Doctor Doom was still on embassy grounds, but his energy blasts didn't seem to mind lashing out at me. I spun and danced and dodged like a fiend. I held the box close to my center of gravity to keep it safe.

"Stand still damn you!" The angry dictator and supervillain roared.

"Nope. Can't. That was close!" I chided until I slipped on a patch of oil left by the destroyed truck. My feet flew out from beneath me and Von Doom laughed as he took aim.

"No one thwarts the will of Doom!" He said as his fist glowed, but the blast never landed.

Something had slammed into Doom and sent him flying backwards. A moment later the Exomorph decloaked and rubbed her head against my face. I got up and we raced to the lowered ramp of the jet. I made sure the Exomorph was onboard before I joined her. The news would later call it a small ripple in the political climate. It didn't rise to the level of international incident. I think Von Doom was too embarrassed about being knocked on his ass to make too much of a stink about it. Nick Fury performed my debriefing over events about the mission and why I had allowed an alien apex predator aboard his helicarrier. Once he saw the footage of what said animal did to Doom, he let it slide this time.

Six hours had passed since I began the debriefing and Natasha was waiting outside the interrogation room. She followed me silently towards the flight deck and stopped me just before we reached the hatch that led outside.

"Can we talk?" She asked sounding quite serious, well, more serious than usual.

"I thought we were." I replied and she laughed. "What's on your mind?"

"I wanted to thank you." She said and I was confused. "For saving me from Snow. You have no idea how much red I added to my ledger in so short a time. I couldn't..."

"Let's walk." I said and we wandered with no clear destination as she spoke about being a vampire.

"How do you stand it?" She asked.

"A scratch here, a lick there, it is enough to keep the thirst at bay. I try not to think about it and besides the thought of Blade hunting me down if I hurt anyone is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow. Besides, I keep busy."

"You know that this is the second time you've stood in his way." Natasha brought up with a wry grin. "Von Doom doesn't forget. He will come at you directly or indirectly. Watch your ass."

"I'd rather watch yours." I let slip and she blushed. "I got to go. I have an apex predator to feed."

She was right of course. I would have to keep an eye out for Viktor, and he wouldn't let me stand in his way a third time. Was he behind Mystique and her two friends? He was clearly connected to the latest vibranium theft. Of course, his diplomatic immunity would shield him for now. Eventually he would mess up and hopefully I'd be there to stop him. I collected the Exomorph from the agents keeping an eye on her during my debriefing. I thanked them and they were happy to be off pet duty.

'Steph?!' I sent mentally. 'I got a mystical object you might be interested in.'

'Ooh goodie, I love mysteries!' The Sorceress Supreme sent as she opened a mystic portal.

The Exomorph and I slipped through the portal and stepped into the Sanctum Sanctorum. Steph was in the hot tub and soaking away her troubles. Sweat trickled from her scalp, across her lovely features, and dripped off her impressively shaped breasts. I licked my lips and she crooked her finger at me.

"Come on and join me, both of you." Steph offered.

"Thanks, I'm glad you asked." Natasha purred right behind me.

"Damn Widow, you spooked me," I growled at being startled. "Never mind." I whispered as she peeled off her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform.

"Hurry up Ghost or we might start without you." Steph giggled.

In the Shadow of Doom:

"Twice!" Doom roared. "Twice he has stood in my way!"

"It isn't as if he were a mere human." The hard-light construct of Mystique purred in Doom's ear. "He is a dark elf. A member of a supposedly dead race. We've both read the Chronicles of Bor of Asgard."

"You are right my dear." Doom replied his voice softer as her words struck a nerve. "I must move with patience. Have you identified the beast that struck me?"

"I have." The archer replied as she passed a book to the armored despot.

"An Exomorph! It would figure that a dark elf would have tamed such a ferocious beast. If it is a beast, it can be collared." Doom laughed. "Is the generator online?"

"Almost. One more day to make sure everything is properly calibrated." The faceless engineer declared. "It is delicate work. We have enough vibranium now to begin the fusion reaction my Lord."

"Excellent! Let them think they have defeated me. We are only thwarted for the moment and I am a patient man." Doom stated as he smiled behind his mask. "Continue with the work."

Fade to black.