222. Paths of War. (Patreon)

Peter POV:

“Man…” Yelena turned slowly in front of the mirror, flexing her fingers as the suit responded like a second skin. “You even embedded a personal energy shield generator in our suits?”

She knocked lightly on her own chest plating.

A faint ripple of light shimmered and vanished.

“You’re like Santa Claus,” she continued, smirking at me through the reflection, “except instead of toys you hand out badass battlesuits and crazy guns to good assassins.”

I leaned against the equipment rack and shrugged. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Clint snorted from behind her. “Pretty sure Santa doesn’t arm people with relativistic photon weapons.”

“Depends on the naughty list.” I replied dryly.

Yelena spun around, walking toward me with exaggerated seriousness.

“So what you’re saying is…” She tapped her chin.

“I’ve been very good this year.”

Natasha rolled her eyes. “You’ve killed at least twelve people this year.”

Yelena didn’t miss a beat. “And I did it efficiently.”

Clint pointed his finger and said, “She’s got a point.”

Steve sighed. “I’m surrounded by professional idiots.”

I clapped my hands once, pulling everyone back to focus. “We’re moving out.”

The holo-display lit up behind me, projecting the frozen expanse of Siberia. “The target is the Seventh Circle Maximum Security Detention Facility.”

I walked forward, gesturing as the projection zoomed in. “We’ll approach using a Sahara-class Prowler which has a low signature, is cloaked and atmospheric-capable.”

Tony wasn’t here but I could practically hear his commentary in my head. “We insert, reach the prison perimeter and extract Alexei Shostakov.”

Clint tilted his head. “With teleportation?”

“Yes. Short-range extraction only.”

Natasha frowned slightly. “Why not long-range?”

“Because right now…” I tapped my temple. “Clanker is running global war coordination for Spartan battalions, logistics, civilian protection and economic stabilization. 73 percent of Parker Industries’ computational power is currently occupied while the rest is utilized for automated industry.”

Steve blinked, "Seventy three percent?”

“Yes.” I shrugged. “It’s inefficient. I’m working on it.”

Clint muttered under his breath. “Guy says that like he forgot to charge his phone.”

“So,” Steve said, refocusing, “short-range teleportation.”

“No.”

The word cut through the room and we all turned to find the source which is... Yelena.

Her arms were crossed tightly while her jaw clenched.

“I beg your pardon?” Steve asked calmly.

Yelena stepped forward, her voice trembled but didn’t break. “Alexei Shostakov has taken the easy way his entire life.”

Her eyes burned.

“He abandoned us. Left me and Natasha to rot in Dreykov’s system. All so he could chase glory, fame and to prove that he’s Captain America’s equal.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “He never understood what you stand for.” She pointed at Steve. “He just wanted people to clap for him.”

“It sucks,” she continued, wiping her eyes angrily, “that we have to rescue him but we're not making it easy for him. If there are 5,987 Widows in the world… then he and Melina are responsible for at least a thousand broken children.”

I watched her quietly and then I nodded. “Noted.”

She blinked. “That’s it?”

“I own several sensory deprivation tanks.”

Clint coughed. “That sounds worse than prison.”

I turned toward the exit. “Board the Prowler.”

The Sahara-class Prowler hummed softly beneath our feet as we entered the cockpit.

We strapped in and the engines began their low, almost predatory vibration.

Then, a sharp tone indicating incoming transmission. “Put it on speaker.”

A breathless voice filled the cockpit. “This is Lerato... I was exposed to Red Dust and I escaped mind control. Huff huff. I’m being chased by Taskmaster. Please, save me Yelena. I’m in Budapest...”

The line cut off.

Natasha spoke first. “That’s a trap.”

“Definitely,” Yelena added immediately. “Lerato is Taskmaster’s handler.”

Steve crossed his arms. “I’m sensing a ‘but.’ ”

Yelena looked up and down. “I want to save her.”

Natasha shook her head. “That’s not our call.”

She pointed at me. “That’s his.”

I leaned back in my seat. “I’ve already upgraded the Red Dust. Now, it’s now just ‘Mist.’ It's colorless, odorless, undetectable and deployable over large areas.”

"You weaponized the cure.” Clint muttured.

“I optimized it.”

Yelena stared at me. “You’re not even bothered that I’m dragging us into an obvious trap.”

I met her gaze. “To me, they’re future employees but to you… They’re sisters and I’m used to winging it. My plans don’t go from point A to point B, they spiral.”

Clint grinned. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

Yelena suddenly smirked. “If you ever want a second wife or a mistress, call me.”

Before I could respond,.a voice crackled through the comms. “I was connected to that line, by the way.”

It was Gwen.

Yelena groaned. “Killjoy.”

I laughed. “I’m not interested in anyone except Gwen.”

“Good answer.” Gwen replied instantly.

The engines roared to life, the Prowler lifted and we were gone.

Gwen POV:

The roar of the departing Sahara-class Prowler faded into the distance.

I stood in the hangar, arms crossed.

“She's just like you, kid.” Tony’s voice cut in beside me.

I glanced at Tony Stark. “Hides pain with humor.”

I shrugged. “Guess I’m a bad influence.”

He smirked. “Or a good one.”

I stepped forward and activated my suit.

The Iron Spider Mk. III flowed over my body.

Rhodey tilted his head. “No more spider legs?”

I smiled. “They’re still there.”

Four hardlight tipped tendrils burst out from my back and tipped with glowing pink hardlight spearheads.

Then they retracted instantly. “Picotech compression.”

Rhodey whistled. “Okay, that’s just unfair.”

Beside us, Thor crossed his arms, looking mildly confused. “I do not understand our team composition.”

His voice echoed. “Why has Son of Parker gathered so many ‘heavy hitters’?”

He gestured broadly. “Two men of Iron, woman of spiders and the God of Thunder.”

He frowned. “All for one frail mortal woman?”

Tony smirked. “You’re new to spy games, Point Break.”

Thor ignored him. “This feels excessive.”

I turned to him. “Ever seen a loach?”

Thor blinked. “I have eaten one.”

Tony snorted. “Of course you have.”

Thor nodded proudly. “In the South Land of Korea, during a date with Jane, daughter of Foster.”

I smiled. “Then you know how slippery they are.”

Thor nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“That’s the whole defining trait of Melina Vostokoff.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Ah, a creature that evades grasp.”

“Exactly.”

I walked toward the Winter-class Prowler. “Peter stacked this team so she has nowhere to run.”

Tony folded his arms. “Then why bother rescuing Shostakov?”

I paused at the ramp and then looked back. “Because Natasha deserves it. She’s been nothing but loyal. A great Avenger and a great friend.”

I stepped onto the ramp. “So, Peter’s giving her closure by giving them one last chance to talk with each other.”

Tony’s expression shifted. “Yeah.”

Rhodey nodded. “Seems fair.”

He stepped up beside me. “She is family and we shall bring her peace.”

The ramp sealed. The engines ignited and as the Winter-class Prowler lifted into the sky war had begun.