Part 34

The Breaking Point

By Skytower

Athena yawned and stretched as the last rays of the setting sun faded from the room.

"You're not getting tired yet are you?" Tiffany asked. She pushed closer to her friend enjoying the heat from her body. "We've only been at this since noon."

"It’s natural for a person to yawn when they see the sun go down," Athena said smiling and pressing against her. Her arm reached around and her hand caressed her friend’s breast.

Tiffany relaxed a bit. They were at a quiet moment and she wanted to enjoy it. It had been a tense few weeks despite the beauty of the place. Just because no one was supposed to know where they were didn’t mean that no one knew where they were. Both women were jumpy and on edge and both were irritated that their lives had been put on hold.

This is what secret identities are for, Tiffany thought. To give you a safe haven.

But against the forces that seemed to be arrayed against them their secret identities didn’t matter much. Tiffany had already decided that when this was over she was going to invest in some sort of telepathic shielding. The memory of how her mind had been violated would give her nightmares for the rest of her life. At least with supervillains they could fight back and put them in jail. According to Abby they had no case against Prof X and Rogue and no hope of a case against Wolverine and Marvel Girl. Athena had found out that even her brother and his family were being watched by SHIELD. Howard the Duck and Beverly had vanished and that chilled Tiffany. If the Avengers could turn on their own like that… It had to be them. Tiffany couldn’t think of who else it could be. A supervillain could manipulate a few heroes but not SHIELD, at least not to this extent.

They’d spent the days reading, playing various games on the PS3 that came with the cabin, hiking and swimming. It would have been a grand vacation if it had been planned. The place relied on anonymity instead of armed guards so they were alone. Tiffany smiled. Good thing too or she could never have convinced Athena to try skinny dipping.

The attraction between them had grown too. They had separate bedrooms but most nights had found them falling asleep on the couch after marathon gamming sessions. The night before had been a beta version of “Loony Tunes In Action” in which they both got to be classic Warner Brothers cartoon characters. Athena had of course been Bugs Bunny and Tiffany had spent hours as Elmer Fudd, Wyle E. Coyote and finally Yosemitte Sam trying to catch her. They’d fallen asleep and hadn’t woken up until the noon time sun had streamed through the cabin’s skylight. They’d woken up slumped against each other and Athena had spontaneously leaned over and kissed her.

Now after hours of wild love making Tiffany found herself as exhausted and content as she had ever hoped to be. Now there was no part of Tiffany’s body that Athena didn’t know and no part of her body that Tiffany didn’t know. What Athena could do with her hips was now rated as number 3 in Tiffany’s all time favorite sex moves.

"This doesn't feel strange to me," Athena said. "I thought it would."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Athena said "we've been friends for years. Yet the past month you were all that I could think about."

"Thanks," Tiffany said "I…"

She stopped in midsentence and Athena instantly recognized that they were in danger from the way that her friend stiffened up. There was no need for words as both of them ran for their costumes. It took barely a minute for both of them to be fully dressed and ready. Even so they weren't ready for the Army of SHIELD agents that exploded into the room from the doors and the windows. As good as they were, as experienced as they had become neither heroine was able to mount any sort of offense before multiple stun beams knocked them out.

"Your Honor this is outrageous!" Abby said nearly shouting at. A sharp look from the judge pushed her back. "Sorry sir, but this request is completely…"

"Proper Your Honor," Jenifer said. "We cannot go to trial without evidence or witnesses or even a body."

"A witness that was taken by SHIELD, a body that mysteriously vanishes, evidence that vanishes from a locked safe, detectives who vanish, a witness who vanishes after her business is attacked…" Abby aimed a venomous look at Ms. Marvel. "And now two prime witnesses kidnapped from a safe house. A place only high-ranking law enforcement agencies even knew existed."

"I had nothing to do with this," Carol growled.

"You have a lot of friends," Abby said matching her angry gaze and tone of voice.

"If you have proof," Jenifer said as Tania put her hand on Carol's shoulder and pulled her back. "Then produce it."

They were in the judge's chambers, only an hour before the trial was set to start. Or had been set to start. Tania knew that Carol had nothing to do with any of what was going on, but from the look on Abby's face the assistant district attorney would never believe that. Jennifer turned to the judge.

"If the ADA is insinuating that we had anything to do with any of this," Jenifer said, "then she had better produce some proof."

"If I did would it vanish?" Abby snapped.

"That’s enough Miss Carmichael," the judge said. "I don't like it any better than you do, but without evidence, without witnesses you have no case. I'm dismissing the charges. Ms. Marvel you're free to go."

"I'd also like the restraining order lifted," Jenifer said.

"I don't have any objection to that," Abby said sarcastically "after all who's left?"

"I don't like your tone Ms. Carmichael," Jenifer said.

"Then you won't like mine either Ms. Walters," Judge Parker said. "I have been on mob trials that have followed this same pattern. Evidence and witnesses vanishing mysteriously, powerful friends coincidently showing up to intimidate and harass those who are left. There's nothing about this case that doesn't disgust me." He aimed a withering look at Ms. Marvel. "The restraining order is lifted, you're free to harass whoever you wish."

"Your Honor!" Jenifer burst out.

"Don't push it," Judge Parker said. "For now just get out of my chambers."

Abby picked up her briefcase and stormed out of the room. Jennifer, Tania and Carol followed her out into the corridor and down the hall to the elevator.

"I'm innocent," Carol said.

“Like hell you are!” Abby said turning to face them. “You got drunk you killed someone and now you’re going to walk.”

“I didn’t do it!” Carol shouted.

“Carol enough,” Jen said stepping between her and Abby. Tania noticed that a small crowd was gathering. “Abby I know how this looks but she didn’t do it.”

“Save it Jen,” Abby said. “I’ve seen this before, Ms. Danvers has the right friends in the right places. Well just wait until you see my press conference.”

“If you start making accusations…” Jen started but Abby cut her off.

"This isn't over. If I make enough of a stir somebody at the federal level is going start looking into it, someone who’ll have the power to dig where I can’t. It was a murder case Jen, now it’s witness tampering, stealing evidence and who knows what else. You better hope that White Owl and Crimson Valkyrie and Le Joueur don't turn up dead."

"You're out of line counselor," Jenifer said coldly.

“They are my friends,” Tania said angry even as she understood the accusation. “I’m worried about them too.”

"Yeah," Abby snarled "right. That’s why you never returned their calls.”

“Abby if you start throwing accusations around in a public place I will call you on it,” Jenifer said. “I’ll sue…”

“So call,” Abby snapped. “So sue! Or maybe I’ll just vanish?”

"If you have proof…" Jenifer started.

"I will have proof," Abby said. The elevator door opened and she got into it, holding up a hand to keep them out. "Take the stairs!"

"She's steamed," Jenifer said as the doors closed.

"Not half as steamed as I am," Carol said as her hands clenched into fists. "We all know what it looks like Jen, it looks like I was guilty and I got off because I know people. I don't blame her for being mad. I don't blame her for not believing me. Hell I don't believe me."

"At least now you’re free and we can pursue this," Tania said. "Because whoever did this isn't going to stop. I'm sure it is they who have White Owl and Crimson. If we find them we find the mastermind behind all this."

"Don't start looking right away," Jenifer said. "Abby is going to cause a lot of trouble for you. I know her, she's like a pitbull when her back is up and her back is really up. Go home take a little time to get yourself centered again. By tomorrow morning I'll know what Abby is up to and what we can do about it. If you go charging out there now you just make it worse."

For a moment Carol looked like she was going to rebel but then she thought better of it. She took a deep breath and then nodded.

"Okay," she said "I'll cool it for today." She turned to Tania. "Come on, I think it's better if I'm not alone from now on. That way if I'm framed for anything else at least I have witness. I'll show you my apartment."

"Good idea," Jenifer said.

"I think we better fly then," Tania said "the press are waiting outside."

"I'll handle them," Jenifer said "you two just get away as fast as you can."

Part 36

The escape and the defeat of Crimson Valkyrie

Athena’s first thought when she woke up was Tiffany. She opened her eyes and saw her friend lying on the floor next to her. They were both still in costume. Athena looked around. She was in a stone walled cell with a force field re-enforcing the bars, two cots and a toilet. She was on one cot and Tiffany on the other. In another cell Le Joueur sat on her own cot. There was a table with a computer monitor on the other side of the bars and a door set in the far side of the wall. Athena’s belt and the gadgets from her gloves and boots were on the table.

“Good morning,” Le Joueur said. “If it is morning. I'm afraid I’ve lost track of time.”

“Where are we?” Athena demanded.

“No idea geographically,” Le Joueur said. “But their food has been Chinese take out. I’m betting we’re still in the US.”

"No bets," Tiffany said setting up.

Both she and Athena were wearing thick metallic colors and bracelets and there were similar ones on their ankles. Power canceling units. Athena looked closely at hers and saw the trademark of Stark International and the SHIELD insignia. Anger burned in her. An organizational of law enforcement had kidnapped them!

"How dare they!" Athena growled. "Everything else was bad enough, but this…"

"Was necessary for national security," A man in a SHIELD uniform said opening the door. “I’m Special Agent Piper.

“Do you know how many laws SHIELD has broken?” Tiffany demanded.

“SHIELD is law.”

“I’ve dealt with SHIELD, I’ve dealt with HYDRA,” Le Joueur said, “and I don’t see a difference.”

“You’re opinion doesn’t matter.” Special Agent Piper said. Ms. Marvel is heavily involved in covert ops. Important ops. Killing one supervillain doesn’t mean a thing to us.” He turned to Athena and Tiffany. “Don't worry ladies the charges were dropped when you didn’t show up in court and we made the other evidence disappear. We just need to do one more thing before we let you go."

"You think you can get away with this?" Tiffany demanded. "You kidnapped us from a federal safe house."

"No witnesses," agent Piper said. "A half-hour after you leave here this place will be sanitized. We won't leave a trace. Even if you remember any of this it'll be your word against ours."

"Bastard!" Athena swore.

"Sometimes you have to do bad things to get good things done."

Athena launched herself at the bars, her anger at the smug tone of voice of the agent driving away her common sense. She screamed as electricity ran through her body. Tiffany caught her as she fell back.

"Control your temper Ms. Nichols," Agent Piper said "we would like to do this in a civilized manner."

"Well I for one appreciate that," Le Joueur said. "But don't expect me to return the favor."

There was a knock on the door and the agent went over and opened it. Charles Xavier was wheeled into the room by Rogue.

"What are you two doing here?" Athena demanded.

"There is a matter of the charges against us," Charles said "charges that must not be allowed to stand."

"You're going to change our minds," Tiffany whispered in horror.

"Not severely," Charles said. "The memory of this will be taken from you and you will wake up later on this evening. You will have no memory of the SHIELD abduction and no desire to pursue any further action against Rogue or myself."

"SHIELD needs both the X-Men and Ms. Marvel," agent Piper said.

"We still don't know who is framing her," Charles said "but we assume that once you two have been neutralized they will try again, but this time we will be ready for them."

"Neutralized”, Tiffany growled "what a nice way to say you're going to rape our minds."

"You two are being used," Rogue said "can't you see that?"

"So that makes this okay?" Athena demanded.

Before the argument could continue part of the wall beside the door exploded into rubble. A tall blonde kicked her way through the hole. Behind her Athena caught a glimpse of more rubble and people in SHIELD uniforms lying broken and bloody on the floor.

"U1trawoman!" Athena shouted in surprise.

"It's about time you found me," Le Joueur said.

Rogue dove at U1trawoman only to be met by a fist in the stomach and another in the face. The blows drove her into the bars of Le Joueur’s cell and energy crackled around her form as she hit the force field. After a few seconds it shorted out and she dropped to the floor stunned. A casual backhand from the tall blonde took out agent Piper. But then U1trawoman stopped and grabbed her head screaming as she fell to her knees. Athena looked over and saw that Charles was looking at U1traoman intensely.

"Get out of my head!" U1trawoman shouted.

"Athena," Tiffany said pointing toward agent Piper. A small control box was lying next to him.

"I've got longer legs,” Athena said sticking her leg out through the bars and trying to reach the control box.

But Le Joueur was closer and managed to get to it first. She pulled it her to her cell and pressed a few buttons on it. Her door started to open but Rogue got up and stood in her way.

"Stay put lady," Rogue ordered. She was still shaky but far stronger than the other woman.

Athena wasn't sure what Le Joueur was going to do. Rogue was as strong as Ms. Marvel. But then she was reminded how clever Le Joueur could be. The woman dropped back a step and then underhanded the box at Xavier’s head. The impact wasn't that much but it was enough to distract him. In the instant that he lost contact U1trawoman struck out, her blow catching him in the stomach, lifting him out of his chair and slamming him against the wall. Before she could do anything else Rogue grabbed her from behind. Athena had a sickening moment of memory as Rogue's hand touched U1trawoman’s face. But then Rogue stiffened and fell as Le Joueur used agent Piper's stun gun on her.

"Not a bad gun," Le Joueur said. "I take it you had trouble finding me?"

"Some," U1trawoman said. She looked at Athena and Tiffany and laughed. "What do you think of your great laws now?"

Athena said couldn’t think of anything to say.

Le Joueur looked at the two of them and then bent down and picked up the remote.

"That would be foolish," U1trawoman said.

"What can I say," Le Joueur said looking at Athena and pushing the button "I just like her."

Athena felt her power return as the shackles and collar fell from her body.

"Don't say that I never did you any favors," Le Joueur said.

"Come," U1trawoman said walking over to the far wall. With one blow she smashed a hole in it revealing an alley filled with garbage cans. Gathering Le Joueur in her arms the villainess took flight. Athena paused to get her belt and her gloves and the other gadgets and then joined Tiffany at the hole. A glance told her where they were.

"Chinatown," Athena said.

Behind her she heard alarms going off and glanced back to see a squadron of troops, some of them in heavy armor, running toward them.

"We find a phone and call Abby," Tiffany said starting to fly. Athena followed her trying to keep her in sight and watched for pursuit the same time.

Tiffany flew straight upward and hoped that her speed would catch anyone waiting off guard. But as soon as she cleared the rooftop Tiffany realized that something was wrong. She stopped dead and looked closely at the city. At first glance everything looked fine, but when she tried to focus in on a specific detail her vision seemed a blur for a few seconds. There was an old TV antenna on the roof just across the way. Tiffany stared at it. First it was rusty then new then rusty again and then it shimmered and became a modern satellite dish. Something was wrong. Instead of the feel of air flowing around her body Tiffany didn't feel anything.

"Crimson lookout!" Athena called.

Tiffany looked and saw Storm heading toward her. But the woman seemed a blur and Tiffany for couldn't focus on her eyes.

Tiffany blinked a few more times and took a deep breath. Suddenly reality split and reshaped around her. She wasn't standing or flying she was lying down. To small video screens were in front of her eyes. She was wearing a helmet! Tiffany reached up and pulled the helmet off.

"She's thrown off the drug!"

Tiffany sat up and looked for the source of the voice. Sitting at a console about 5 feet away from her was a black woman with long hair wearing a black body suit and a lab coat. Beside her stood Mystique. Tiffany looked around and astonishment paralyzed her for a few moments. She was in some sort of laboratory and AIM personnel were working at various consoles. On tables alongside of her rested Athena, Le Joueur and U1trawoman.

"Get her!" The black woman shouted. "I'll pause the scenario."

Mystique jumped over the table and transformed into a gigantic blue snake. Tiffany scarcely had time to think before she was wrapped up in Mystique’s coils. They rolled off the table and onto the floor. Tiffany had one arm free of while other was trapped. Mystique was starting to squeeze the air out of her lungs. With her one free hand Tiffany reached up and grabbed the snakes head. She squeezed the mouth shut and then slammed it against the floor. The move stunned Mystique and Tiffany was able to free her other arm. Getting to her feet she grabbed the snake by the head and spun it around like a rope. She used Mystique's modified body to hit the AIM agents that were coming toward her. Then when she felt it start to transform she let it go and it flew into Destiny.

"Very well done."

Tiffany's heart sank at the voice and her fear increased. She turned around to see that U1trawoman had stood up. Drawing her guns Tiffany fired. A few of the shots hit but they didn't seem to hurt the villainess. She quickly closed the gap between them and drove her knee into Tiffany’s stomach. The impact doubled Tiffany over and U1trawoman followed up with a fist between the shoulder blades that drove Tiffany to the floor. Tiffany rolled over and U1trawoman put her foot on her chest.

"You should stay down," she said with a smirk.

With everything she had Tiffany drove her foot up between U1trawoman's legs. The villainess gasped and stumbled back. Then as Tiffany stood up U1trawoman charged at her and grabbed Tiffany by the throat.

"That was not nice," she said with an edge of anger in her voice.

Tiffany knew what sort of trouble she was in. U1trawoman was more powerful than she was and she was in the middle of an AIM base. Survival was going to be nearly impossible, let alone escape. But the sight of Athena lying motionless on the table with a virtual reality helmet over her head triggered a desperate fury in her soul. She didn't want to think about what the woman that she loved was going to go through if she failed.

Tiffany put both hands on U1trawoman's breasts.

"Do you really think…" U1trawoman started to say but her words were cut off.

Tiffany concentrated, using her power over air and suddenly two mini tornadoes were born inside of U1trawoman's lungs. U1trawoman lost her grip and staggered back as the air was forced from her chest. Tiffany started to hit her as hard as she could, hoping to take advantage of the temporary weakness. There were no rules here only desperation. Forming her fingers into blunt spears Tiffany hit as hard as she could against U1trawoman's eyes. The blows blinded her and U1trawoman cursed and raised her hands to her face. Tiffany took advantage of that to press her hands against U1trawoman’s breasts and again forced the air from her lungs. Taken by surprise by the tactic U1trawoman stood still for a moment with her arms at her side. A full spinning kick into the woman's throat staggered her a little more and Tiffany found that she had pushed the villainess all the way across the room and into the wall. Tiffany knew that if she tried to grab U1trawoman’s breasts again the other woman would probably grab her wrists and tear her arms off. Her only hope was to stun U1trawoman enough to make a run for it. Tiffany hit her again and again and again, feeling the pain in her knuckles and her arms as her flesh pounded on U1trawoman's near invulnerable body. She concentrated on the most vulnerable areas; the throat the eyes, the kidneys, the crotch and for a split second Tiffany hoped that she might get away with it.

But U1trawoman grabbed her arms and head butted her. Tiffany staggered back blood spurting from her nose and she could feel a few of her front teeth were loose. U1trawoman grabbed her in a bear hug and started to squeeze. Tiffany pressed her hands against U1trawoman's back and concentrated. She couldn't raise them high enough for the lungs but the stomach had air in it as well. U1trawoman let her go and fell back throwing up what had probably been a good meal. As she was bent over Tiffany grabbed a table and slammed it edge first across her opponent’s spine. U1trawoman fell and Tiffany hit her again and again with the table with every bit of strength that she could muster. But as desperate as she was her strength still wasn't good enough. Suddenly U1trawoman rolled over and grabbed the table, tearing it out of Tiffany's hands. Then her leg shot up into Tiffany’s stomach. The impact catapulted her back across the room and into the wall. She slammed into it and her head rang with the impact. Tiffany fell to the floor but still was able to get to her knees. U1trawoman flew over to her, grabbed her by the throat and slammed Tiffany's head against the wall. Tiffany landed a few solid punches on U1trawoman's face but they didn't do any good. Tiffany had known they wouldn't do any good but it was a good distraction. She pressed her right hand against U1trawoman's ear and concentrated. U1trawoman dropped her and reeled back as a vacuum was born in her ear when Tiffany swirled all the air out of it. The woman was off balance at least for a moment.

Tiffany was barely able to stand but she knew this was her last chance. As U1trawoman leaned to one side Tiffany clasped her fists together and slammed them against the side of the woman’s head. She did it again and drove her knee into U1trawoman’s crotch. Dodging behind her Tiffany slammed her elbow into the woman’s back and then grabbed a table and slammed it against her. U1trawoman staggered forward but turned as Tiffany started toward her again.

“Enough!” U1trawoman roared and slammed her open palm against Tiffany’s chest, just above and between the breasts.

Tiffany fell to the floor gasping for air. The blow had cracked her breastbone and driven the air from her lungs. Even so she started to struggle to get up only to have U1trawoman’s foot slam into her stomach. Tiffany doubled over in pain and nearly blacked out. Then U1trawoman grabbed her throat and squeezed. Tiffany clawed at the hands that were choking the life out of her but it was futile and she knew it. The last sight she had was of U1trawoman’s angry face.

"She has learned a few new tricks," U1trawoman said as Crimson Valkyrie fell limp. There was a measure of respect in the woman's voice that surprised Tina.

"I managed to halt the scenario," Tina said, helping Mystique stand up. She helped the woman to the console and eased her into a chair. "I told them that Crimson Valkyrie might be strong enough to throw off the drug a second time."

"Will her absence affect the scenario?" U1trawoman asked.

Tiffany thought for a moment before answering. She went over to the console and checked the readings.

"It destroys the scenario we had planned," Tina said. “I can reset her memory to just before the scenario started.”

"Report," Modok space appeared on one of the monitor screens.

"Crimson Valkyrie broke free," Tina said. "Just like I warned you she would. U1trawoman took care of her but the scenario is shattered.”

"A pity," Modok said. "I suppose there will be no harm to the other plans if they just vanish."

“We can not move forward against the X-men without them,” Mystique said.

“That was not the part of the plan I was interested in,” Modok said. “The Avengers are the principle threat. The X-men can be dealt with later.”

“That’s not our deal.”

“It is what I have decided.”

“Wait!” Tina shouted as she saw the argument coming.

“I can just take White Owl as my slave now,” U1trawoman suggested.

“The programming isn’t ready,” Tina said. “I can’t make her fall in love with you over night. Look how long it took with Crimson and she liked her.”

“I can break her on my own,” U1trawoman said.

“White Owl can’t go against the X-men alone,” Tina said. “The plan was for her and Crimson to go to the press and we’d provide enough evidence to put the X-men on the defensive. Mystique was going to escape from a SHIELD prison with her own horror story, then they’d team up and reform the Brotherhood, with Crimson and White Owl they’d win.”

“White Owl can go against the X-men on her own,” U1trawoman suggested.

“She’s not powerful enough and she knows it. She’d sink into despair and suicide or worse try to find other heroes to help her. We need her desperate enough to go to Mystique and a reformed brotherhood. We needed them together so that their love could be used against them!”

Frustrated Tina stared at the read outs. Right now she was holding White Owl’s mind in stasis, caught between two thoughts. But she couldn’t do that forever.

“The X-men must be destroyed!” Mystique shouted almost desperately.

“White Owl can try and fail,” U1trawoman suggested. “A suicide attack would take out at least a few of them.”

“That would deprive us of a pawn,” Modok said. “We must simply run the scenario without Crimson.”

“It won’t work,” Tina said.

“I could take on the X-men,” U1trawoman said.

“The Avengers would come to their aid,” Modok said. “You could not take them all.”

“Besides this isn’t about just killing them,” Tina said. “Remember we have to destroy what the heroes are. Kill them and others will take their place. That’s why White Owl and Crimson joining the Brotherhood was perfect, they have credit and…”

“This is your problem to solve then Tina,” U1trawoman interrupted her and suddenly her tone changed to one of command. “Solve it!”

She hadn’t shouted but Tina felt the words penetrate her soul. The woman was so powerful, so beautiful, so… Commanding. Failing her was unthinkable.

“I’ve got it!” Tina.

Tina looked over at where U1trawoman was standing over the fallen Crimson Valkyrie.

“I have it!” Tina shouted dashing back to the console. She started to type frantically. “But you’ll have to become more involved U1trawoman.”

“I will not mind that,” U1trawoman said.

"We'll need some of her blood," Tina said looking at Crimson. “And I’ll need to re-run this scenario with you in it Mystique. Crimson Valkyrie is going to die and one of the X-men is going to kill her!”

---

PREVIOUS CHAPTER SCARLET'S SANCTUM MAIN PAGE SKYTOWER'S MAIN PAGE NEXT CHAPTER