Draku didn't wish to spare much time lolly gagging about the city, taking to the rooftops and heading straight back towards the direction of the hotel, always lost in thought. He wondered if anybody noticed he was missing at all, hopefully he didn't have much to deal with in terms of copping another ride out of here, he would rather not have to explain his brief disappearance and the missing bike. Draku smirked sheepishly at the thought, stopping very suddenly when he spotted a green flare bounce of the bottom of an unknown aircraft in the vicinity.

Looking down over the edge of the building he stood upon, eyes widening behind his dark shades at the sight of AListar's hotel being swarmed by agents of some kind, his gaze switching between the infiltrators and the ship up above. Stepping back he would close his eyes and sigh deeply, Here goes nothing..., he'd think grimly before launching himself straight for the ship; with the wind to carry him for added effect, landing deftly upon the jet without a sound. He had himself two options here, the first being to tear the plane apart to get the patrons inside and the other being to sit back and enjoy the ride. No harm in finding the source of the attack, right?

Draku would raise a brow, as if listening to another's suggestion, before allowing a small grin to play about his lips as the jet seemingly prepared itself to take off.

(Music being played when he walks in)

“And in the blue corner the challenger standing at 5 foot 10 inches and weighing in at 193 pounds he hails from Belfast Ireland, The Beast of Belfast. Finnlay MacTyre!” Came the booming voice of a typical ring announcer as Finnlay walked to the ring with his group of “trainers” which mostly consisted of his friends. As he stepped through the ropes the music died down as he stared down his opponent across the ring. He looked over to the side seeing his team giving him confident looks as they were sure he would win this fight. Looking passed them he could see a dark figure sitting in a chair looking back at him who had red hair the color of fire. Turning his eyes back to his opponent he dropped all smiles and playfulness about him almost becoming a different person as he raised his fist ready for a war that was sure to come with the sound of the bell. Finnlay breathed in deeply as he heard the sweet sound of a bell ringing as everything else faded away, all that remained was his opponent across from him.

Stepping forward both fighters had their fist raised as they began to dance around each other measuring up the other waiting to see the slightest bit of hesitation before striking. After about three revolutions around the ring, the champ made the first move by pump-faking a punch to see if Finn would flinch but instead saw the challenger come full speed at him. Finn laid in the defending champ with a flurry of blows that the champ desperately tried to defend against. Breaking through his guard Finn placed one haymaker right across the Champs face knocking him in the corner and to his knees. Stepping back at the refs' request he watched as the champ got to feet with plenty of time left on the counter before turning to face Finn with a look of anger. The two ran at each other trading blows that would surely destroy any other man. Bones shattering could be heard throughout the arena with every punch that landed on its target. By about the 6’th round the toll of the fight could be seen in each fighter as blood flowed down their faces and their ribs were on the verge of all breaking as they continued to clash like a pair of giants from legends of old. It seemed almost to even when out of nowhere the Champ caught Finn with an uppercut out of nowhere dropping him on the spot.

Hitting the ring face first Finn could see the whole thing go black. As colors flashed every now and then. One that seemed to always catch his eye was a fiery red that seemed to fly by in waves. Slowly the fire stopped moving and formed into a head a long hair as it moved closer to Finn who appeared to be standing in an all-black room. “Time to get up” he heard in a sweet voice before his eyes shot open and his body shot up just before the ten count. Looking shocked at what just happened he turned to the ref who was checking him over with a look of shock on his face at Finn appearing to have jumped up from the dead. Looking back at the champ Finn had a look of pure rage that was only magnified by the blood being poured down his face. Just as they were about to clash once again the bell rang stopping the round. The whole break Finn looked straight at the champ who was slumped on their stool spitting out water trying to take in every bit of rest that he could. As they both got up and moved to the center of the ring both knew that this was going to be the last round one way or another.

Then Finn did something unexpected. As they met in the center of the ring he put both his hands out calling for the champ to take a free shot as he yelled as loud as he could. Taking the perfect opportunity in front of him the champ began laying into Finn with everything he had. After a short combo, Finn managed to get out of the way as he continued to taught his opponent. As the champ continued to go on the offensive Finn just kept absorbing hits over and over seemingly getting more and more pissed off with every punch that hit him before he finally snapped. As a punch was halfway from connecting with Finn's face the champ felt his wind get knocked from his lungs when he noticed a large fist deep in his gut. Reeling back from the blow the champ look straight into the face of what looked like the face of a devil as Finn rushed headstrong at the champ. This time the champ was on the receiving of a beating of a lifetime as Finn let loose with a flurry of blows that made everything previously seen in the fight look like child's play. Body blows shock the champ as the instant he tried to cover his face Finn simply switched target and began laying into the poor man as if he was a punching bag. With one heavy punch, Finn would feel the champs ribs give under the pressure as they cracked and the champ spat out blood all while trying his best to not fall to the ground. Any other fighter might have stepped back for a second but Finn was indifferent mindset it seemed as he simple increased his power and speed to his blows as he continued his onslaught. With one last uppercut, Finn could feel the man's jaw break as his head snapped back and his eyes rolled into the back of his head before slamming hard into the matt.

“Here is your Winner and new Britannia Light heavyweight champion….. Finnlay MacTyre!” The same anncoer as before bellowed out as the ref raised his hands and his friends began helping him put his new belt on his waist. Looking around he let out a large yell of celebration as he couldn't believe what was happening to throw his hands up as the crowd went wild at the amazing fight they had just witnessed. As his friends parted a path he could see the same fiery color again walking towards him as he tried to study it and make it out but couldn't until it was right in his face. “Congrats Champ.” it said almost in a teasing tone before something a bit “don't worry about it. It’s alright. I know you'll make up for it soon. And sooner than you think.” the voice finished as the figure placed a kiss on Finnlay’s cheek as his eyes shot open as he jumped up wide wake with a cold sweat and what felt like a heart attack as his mind and body raced around what had just experienced again. He had that dream before and everything was the same as how it happened that night. But this felt like more than just a kind of dream. He couldn’t tell if it was just from the fight with the agents but it felt like his whole body had become sore like he had actually fought the fight. Reaching his hand up to his cheeck feeling It. “What the hell kind I’ve dream was that?”

---

"So we are just going to throw the word alien around now? In front of the others? Are you sure that is wise? While we just almost literally fought back to back in that hotel I think we should ease others into this discussion. ", James pauses and sits down almost like Venom except a bit more relaxed then although he flinched a bit each time he moved still feeling the ache in his muscles and over every nerve ending his symbiote suit covered, "Sorry if I am a bit off at the moment, my other half really didn't like those agents' grenades. So let's get to it if you want to have this discussion here. While I rather we have this conversation somewhere less crowded. So let's do this then.

James reaches up to his face and grabs his mask then pulls on it. It pulls off the symbiote material which fuses back into his hand and into the rest of the suit. He then says, "Starting this off with answering your request you had back in the hotel. You wanted to see my face if I remember correctly to see if am still human. Well looky I am human after all. Also if I remember correctly I said i'd show you mine if you showed me yours. Then you called me a creep. So how about it, a face for a face?" James spoke with a smile trying to keep a light tone while a bit in discomfort pain.

James kept his senses paying attention to those around him. Realizing this conversation might not go for long. As he wasnt sure when he would be dropped off out in Hells Kitchen like he asked. New York city was his home and it is the prefer place he wanted to be dropped at. While he wanted to have a conversation with Venom he was at the mercy of time and how long the jet gets them to where they all need to go.

As Price had asked everyone else what they were doing Alistar crashed to the floor and started coughing up blood. "Damit, if you blokes keep dropping like flies in a bug zapper I'm just going to have to set up a sec ok and medbay right here. with that and the wretching demon on the floor he received a message and ran to the cockpit. Flashing in red was SAVE AL." With that Price ran out of the cockpit and shot the little disc out and over Alistar. Pressing the button he enveloped Alistar and ran off to the medbay. Get he put Alistar in a tube and glass slide over him encasing him. A mask with a tube attached to his face as Athena appeared in the glass. She watched him and analyzed him as he was then stuck by needles and tubes connected to arms and back. "You will be ok" Athena said in his mind.
Through sheer will he says three words hoping she hears "get.. bullets... out" with that he slows his breathing to slow his heart rate so the poison doesn't run through his body.
His mind then spoke back to her through the bots as he tried to talk. "...get...bullets...out" with that he passed out and the tube filled with with a gel substance. Athena scanned the body and noted there was eighteen bullets inside him. The bots then went to work that were inside the substance. One by one each bullet was removed and the bots cleansed the wounds. Athena then shifted to another screen to look at Jocelyn and her friend. Something was going on, this couldn't have just been S.H.I.E.L.D....Athena looked around the room as she set to work on Jocelyn then her friend. The bots he set on them would stabilize them and then dissolve after they were stable.

”Sounds fair,” Venom answered and felt resistance when peeling back the liquid material covering her face. As if the alien life-form inside her fought her decision. Her blond hair fell on her shoulders, her delicate features laid bare.
With her distinctiveness exposed she drew a deep breath. “Mind blowing, right? The secret identity of Venom is … some generic blond,” she joked, but changed to a more serious tone. “Truth be told, I’m a scientist, as least that’s what I used to tell myself. And as a researcher and a… host… to one of these organisms, I suppose I would be all peaches and bagels if you were to tell me a bit about your experiences with your little marriage to a Symbiote. Any changes in your daily routines? Health? Sleep? All that good stuff.”

---

"A generic blond? Oh, somebody is too modest. Somebody is a bit of a looker" James says with a wink a bit light teasingly. James goes on to listen to Venom speak learning she is a scientist, he felt his symbiote feel a bit nervous and agitated when she talked about that. James ignored the feeling and continued to listen and heard the questions asked of him.

James starts to explain his 'marriage' with his symbiote, “Well, I am not a scientist never have been. I was a police cadet before. Then I got shot and dumped in a river. While I should have been dead, I end up waking up with this thing attached to me. Truth be told it saved my life. My daily routine changed quite a bit I'd say. I mean I swing around New York as a vigilante calling myself a hero. A bit different then when I was trying to become a cop I'd say. As for Health, I haven't been healthier, or stronger. I don't know if it is the same with you but my symbiote has granted me with some regenerative abilities, so my health has been good. Finally sleep, well except for the first weeks have been normal. Those first weeks was basically going to sleep and wake up in random locations. Mostly in places that sells food though, this thing was like a child most of the time just exploring and figuring everything out." James takes a pause and a deep breath then resumes talking in a bit of a more somber tone, "The only weird thing has been the weird memories and feelings that have rushed in from my symbiote initially. I don't know what it has been through but before me this symbiote only knew pain and suffering. Whatever happened to it I believe created it, and it somehow ended up in the river that I was dumped in."

James stops then thinks about what he said then says with a more cheerful tone quickly realizing he was getting a bit depressive, "So anyway, that's me. So, where you from Venom? I am from New York myself, mostly from the Hell's Kitchen portion of New York City, and no it isn't as bad as everyone assumes." James continuing the conversation for however long he has left to continue it as long as he is on the ship before it drops him off.

---

Jax stared at the ground before him. He was used to ending up in situations like this. He remembered his times in a facility deep in Siberia. His current accommodations were more suitable now than they were back then. The more he thought about it, the more Jax began to realize he ended up in a lot of bad situations when he was a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. And now that he was involved with them again... he began to realize how expendable people like him were.

But there was something else that began to click in his mind. His last mission... Myers' willingness to provide files... it was all a setup. If S.H.I.E.L.D. was compromised by Hydra, then no one could be trusted. Myers could have been compromised. Myers could have hoped he pulled together the team so that they could all be tracked down. At the very least, Jax's willingness to use the equipment at least compromised them at the hotel, if not from the very beginning at the bar.

Regardless, one thing was becoming clear: Jax needed to take care of business. A legendary assassin thought to be six feet under was on the loose, and working for the enemy. That sounded like a start. What happened after that... who knows? Jax worked better alone, or at the very least seemed to get less people caught in the crossfire.

---

“Queens,” Venom answered Sliver. “And no, we are not as annoying there as some people will let you think. Well, except this kid, Peter, I’m tutoring. But that’s a different story.”
Never had Gwen really thought about Symbiotes as having actual feelings. But the way Sliver described his there was a lot about it that couldn’t be discovered by a microscope. Perhaps this also explained the animosity and manipulation her own Symbiote displayed. She had done more than a fair share of experiments on the damn thing.

“As for the reason behind your Symbiote, my mentor has a theory. The guys doing experiments on it were Hammer Tech, after it broke off from my liquid guest. Since Norman Osborn, our previous benefactor, believed that he owned the rights to the alien jelly…”
Do not call us jelly, a voice complained in her head.
“… he sabotaged the place. One of those kinds of sabotages that includes hellfire missiles and quite a few deaths. And it might have caused their sample of the Symbiote to escape and attached itself to you.”

The unmasked Venom drew a begrudgingly breath.
“If you ask me, Norman Osborn is long overdue a violent wake up call.”

I was one of the last people to be beamed up into the ship. I had never thought something like that would ever happen to me in real life. It always seemed like it'd just be one of those things you see in sci-fi films. But it looks like science-fiction is quickly becoming our reality. Science "Non-fiction", you could say. Especially now with the Avengers being these public figures or rather public superheroes. Now the world will forever have their eyes on them. I was thankful to always do my dirty work in the dark, away from the public's prying eyes. Of course, I eventually had Hydra and then Shield to worry about, but that wasn't something I couldn't handle. At least, that's what I had originally thought. Tonight, both Shield and Hydra proved themselves to be worthy adversaries. Two organizations that I'd best avoid, especially since it looked like I was already on their bad side.

I sat in the corner of the ship, keeping to myself. I was in no mood to socialize with these people (granted, I am rarely in a mood to socialize with anyone but that's beside the point). The last bunch of Shield agents I took out in the hotel were tough and put up quite the fight. That made their deaths all the more satisfying, though one thing has left me concerned. At some point, I started to feel this odd buzz in the back of my head that would occasionally feel like it was lightly shocking me. At first, it was something I was able to ignore but now it has become more and more apparent… and uncomfortable. I didn't dare bring this up around the others, though. They already know too much about me, no thanks to that Sling fellow.
Speaking of, I wonder where that guy is? I thought to myself. I had yet to see him on the ship. I was starting to wonder if he had been killed. He seemed like a pretty capable fighter. He certainly wouldn't have gone down easily. I would never admit this out loud or even to myself, but it felt like a small part of me was hoping he was still alive. I doubt I'll ever find out what his fate was. It seems like it's the end of the line for this little motley crew anyway. Can't say I didn't expect this to happen.
One by one everyone, who wasn't unconscious, was dropped off to some remote area of their choosing. I lost track of how long it took. I probably dozed off at least once, which I hate to do in such an unfamiliar environment. However, everyone was engrossed in their own business. I think Alistar, Jocelyn, and Finnlay were up in the med-bay. I also overheard someone mention Sling was locked up, which earned a snicker from me. So, I didn't feel like I was in any immediate danger. Still, I'll be kicking myself later for falling asleep anyway. The buzzing in my head seemed to have subsided, though I'd still feel a mild shock here and there. I'll need to figure out a way to deal with it when I was-

"So, where will we be dropping you off?" I heard a familiar voice say. I looked up but didn't see anyone. Before I could even open my mouth to speak, I heard the voice once again. "Sorry, let me change into something you'll probably recognize." Suddenly, the drone from earlier that looked to have appeared of nowhere, flew over to me, creating a hologram of Alistar's friend.
"Hello again. Athena here." She said, with a wave. "You're the last person we have to drop off somewhere. Do you have a specific location in mind?" I stood up slowly, looking around the quiet, empty room before answering. "No… just someplace remote and quiet."
"Oh, okay." Athena said, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. I was about to question her when her hologram suddenly disappeared and the drone flew up to the cockpit. "You're welcome to sit up here, if you'd like. We have an extra seat. Frost Weaver won't mind." I heard Athena voice say. "I'm sure it's more comfortable than sitting on the floor." She has a point. With a sigh, I slowly made my way to the cockpit where Frost Weaver sat piloting the ship. There was a second seat right next to him and then a third one behind that. I sat in that one as it didn't feel right to sit in the co-pilots chair.

"So, Athena told me you want someplace 'remote and quiet'?" The man asked after I sat down. "Yes" I answered, simply. "Do you want that place to be outside of New York or somewhere else entirely?". I thought about it for a few moments before answering "Outside of New York would probably be best."
"Alright, then. I guess we'll-"
"You know, you could always come to DS Technologies with us." Athena's hologram appeared again.
"What?"
"You'll be completely safe there. Plus, you'll get the added bonus of testing out state-of-the-art tech created by yours truly." Athena said with a bow
"I don't know about that…" I trailed off
"You could also assist us in taking down Hydra. Someone with your special set of skills would really be quite advantageous to us."
"Why are you going after Hydra?" I asked her
Athena cocked her head "Why wouldn't we? You and your friends were nearly killed by Hydra twice tonight."
"They're not my friends, Athena."
"Very well. Your 'acquaintances' then. Shield isn't even doing anything about Hydra. They believe Hydra is dead and has been dead for decades. If they're not going to do anything about them, we might as well take care of it." Athena said.
"Just the three of us? Taking down Hydra?" I said
"Your acquaintances are equipped with commlinks. Should we ever need assistance, we can always contact them." She said.
"I doubt they'd help us." I told her
"Well, even if they don't respond three is still better than one. Our chances of survival our higher than you may think, especially if you stay with us.""It's suicide, Athena." I said
"Perhaps… but it's genocide if we let Hydra thrive."

What Athena said struck a chord with me for some reason. I had never once cared about what happened to the people around me, even when I worked for Hydra. It didn't matter who lived or died. I just did my job and got paid. I was hoping to go back to that simple way of life. Though now, with both Hydra and Shield after me, I might not be able to.
Whether I like it or not, I'm going to have to divert from the path I was originally on if I'm going to survive. I have to shake things up, do the unexpected, and that may mean helping people I usually would have no desire to help.
I sighed and turned to Athena "Very well. I'll help you. But I'm not doing this for you, for Frost Weaver, or for anybody else other than myself. The longer Hydra is around, the more my life will be in danger. I'd like to change that and soon."
"Wonderful!" Athena exclaimed "Frost Weaver, let's head to DS Tech!"
"Already on it." He said, making a sharp turn that almost had me falling off my chair.
"This is going to be so exciting. I have a ton of cool gear to show you. Weapons, armor, you name it. I can even update your suit, if you'd like…"

As Athena kept talking, my mind started to wander again. I really hoped I wouldn't regret helping Athena and Frost Weaver hunt down Hydra. I still felt like it was a bad idea.
What the hell has been wrong with my mind these past twenty-four hours? One thing was for certain: my life was about to change dramatically and for the first time in many years, I didn't think I was ready.

Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russian Federation

---

The only sounds that filled the room were the automated alarms and the sound of a single pair of footsteps on the shattered glass lying on the ground. The facility looked as if it had been destroyed by a bomb. Which, quite frankly, it had been. Explosives weren't necessary, but they were entertaining. And effective.

Jackson Hurley walked past the corpses of the mutated test subjects that Hydra's Leviathan project had created. They were monsters... bastardized attempts to create what was only made once effectively. Well... hopefully twice. As he approached the vault, Jackson took a moment to look at his reflection. A lot had changed since he took his own path. He stood in his old under-suit, but was now crimson in color with a black trim. Over his left eye was a new eyepiece with an x on it. He wasn't Slingshot anymore. He had changed.

He made his way to the front of the vault and looked at the panel next to it. He pressed a button on the side of his eyepiece, and the overlay showed the proper code. The former SHIELD agent gave a smile as he tapped the code onto the screen. The sound of the pressure seal of the vault breaking was a beautiful sound, and it took a few moments before the door slowly slid open. Inside was a room of pure white, with a metal contraption waiting. Cowering behind it was a single researcher, peering around the corner. Jax barked out his order in Russian. "Get the chamber prepared, or you join your comrades." The researcher looked out at the carnage outside of the vault and gave a short nod as he moved to the side of the device.

Jax stripped out of his suit and down into his boxers. The researcher took a step back as Jax approached it, entering in his dimensions, measurements, and other appropriate data. Once done, he entered into the device. The researcher took a deep breath and pressed the button on the side of the console. The doors enclosed Jax inside, and the process began. It only took a few minutes before the device lowered itself and the doors slid open. Out stepped a larger and more intimidating Jackson Hurley.

"Success.... It was a success!" The researcher beamed momentarily, until Jackson's gaze turned towards him. "Yes... you did succeed. You created the weapon that is going to stop this madness."

Minutes later, Jackson made his way out into the frozen terrain outside of the facility in all of his gear. He raised a finger to his ear, activating his communications device. "Athena, this is Jackson Hurley, former designation 'Slingshot.' I'm going to need a lift, a new suit... and I'm going to need you to update my designation. From now on... call me Crossfire."

---

"Queens huh? Wouldn't have thought it," James says then quickly says afterwards in a light tone, "Maybe you and I should go get a drink or something sometime once they let us all go home." James thinks about what she said about Hammer Tech and Norman Osborne. he really didn't have any comments. His symbiote had some unfriendly comments when Venom says that Osborn believes he has rights over their 'jelly friends'.

James was going to ask more questions before it was his stop to get off of the Jet. He sighs then stands up, "Looks like this is my stop. I don't know if you are going to go with the others or stay here in New York still, but I am still serious about that drink. You think about it, who knows maybe we will run into each other over again." James leaves out the jet. Not sure if Venom will follow or not but he leaps out and prepares to go out and head home finally. After a long night or day or however long this journey has been James was happy to be home and not being shot at for once.

---

---

Time didn't pass quickly for James. After leaving the jet and deciding to stay home, his life got harder. That first month James continued to being the vigilante known as Sliver. Keeping his eyes open for hydra and his head down at the same time James found himself in the crosshairs of another organization and a quite a few unsavory individuals in New York. At first James looked into Norman Osborne rather discreetly after his meeting with Venom. Trying to keep tabs on the only other person he knew of in the world with a symbiote similar to his own.

That first month James fought a group a small gang who were running guns into the city from port as Sliver he stopped them. Three days later Sliver was wanted for murder of a cop a friend that James knew when he was training in the academy. James did some poking around as James the former cadet trainee. Only for him to ask the wrong questions and having his apartment blown up by a rather crude explosive. James of course lived and played it off as he wasn't home. Even though he was and only survived thanks to his symbiote.

James then started a more in depth search as his Sliver persona while being homeless. At first James thought of asking Venom for help but he didn't want to burden her with his problems. So he went at it his own way, and after beating up a corrupt cop James found a name. Fisk.
The cop that told James died a day later he was hung. Whether it was suicide or murder it wasn't clear, James assumed the latter. James continued to search for this guy by the name of Fisk and his year went from bad to worse. James was lured into a trap, where Sliver was caught and 'shot to death' by the police while trying to 'resist' arrest. James didn't die though, while he was shot up he only fell into the ocean and wasn't seen coming back up. James managed to catch the slip but was hurt badly.

James let the newspapers and everyone believe Sliver had died. Mostly so he and his symbiote could heal. The year ended with Sliver declared dead, James didn't reach out to anyone. Nobody from the hotel he fought with against the shield agents. James didn't want to drag them into the fire he found himself in. James didn't want to fight cops even if they were corrupt and he wasn't willing too kill. So him being dead was the easiest choice. Or so he thought.

James did keep his eyes on his 'friends' from a far even took a few trips outside of New York to make sure they were alright but was always dragged back to New York. That second year James found another group which made him go cold. This group at first was very fascinating as James thought they were good people. He found a shelter that was helping people and a new place to live so he volunteered. This place he volunteered for was requirement center for the hand. James found out about the hand by accident and thought they were good people. They had plans for dealing with everything wrong in New York city. A few plans James thought weren't bad at first. So James accidentally joined the hand.

James learned how to fight better then he did though, but he learned quickly that the hand were not all what he seen in the beginning. They were full of people he would hunt down as Sliver. They murdered people sold drugs and poison to people they were just making New York worse. James tried to leaving the hand. His actions were met with a very negative result as he was marked for death. James was hunted day in and day out by the hand. Sometimes they were skilled warriors, and ninjas coming after him. Other times they were just kids that the hand recruited and fooled like they fooled him. James no killing policy changed when he fought one member of the hand who was killing everyone in the way between him and James. James used his symbiote abilities for the first time in the year and ran the man through. Another mistake was for James not to remove the mans head.

A little less than a month later James fought the man again who nearly spilled James identity to the whole world and nearly killed James. Using poisoned blades James was stabbed to the point he passed out. To the horror of the servant of the hand the symbiote came to James's aid. When James came to the member of the hand had been ripped apart.

---

Interactions: Venom possibly, and anyone else in New York city after the time skip.

Present Day, James is on the run. Sliver has been declared dead for nearly two years. James missed the that day he was only fighting Shield with his old friends Those times seem so far away from James now. James scaling the roof tops over Queens in New York city. He needed help or at least a distraction from being hunted James changing into his full symbiote attire for the first time in a few years.
'Two years we really should have asked for help from any of the others before now..." James thought back to his symbiote. He gets answered back, 'We no need help. we could do less with the stalking of the others though..." James thought back trying to defend himself from those accusations, 'We weren't stalking any of them. We had to make sure they were all right. Or at least the ones we could find. I mean Fisk just had us killed. If he had any connections with those shield agents that attacked us back at the hotel a year or two ago then they could have been in danger..."

James's concerns now were much greater since he had used his abilities much recently against a member of the hand. The only other person in New York that James knew of what Venom who had the same abilities. If that Hand person talked at all she could be in trouble and James had to make sure she or anyone else was alright. Or at least that is the reason he told himself. For going to Queens.

---

---

---

---

I sat in the dark. Shades were drawn lights out completely. Something was going on with Finn and I was going to corner him and make him tell me what it was. I’d been too caught up in my own head to realize it but for the last two months it was like he was avoiding me. Coming back late. Away for days at a time for “personal reasons”. If this was about a girl and he wasn’t telling me about it I might do something rash. Thoughts of using my power on him floated to the surface and I visibly pushed them away. I found that if you physically pushed thoughts away it helped get rid of them. The thing that bothered me was I was obviously deeply upset if I could think along those lines and not feel the slightest bit ill.

I knew I shouldn’t have waited this long. Was this a breaking point? I felt a wrenching in my gut. Alright so that was not something to think about. Just get through the next few minutes. Try not to yell or scream too much.

I could hear a soft swear word in Gaelic, a shuffle and the keys in the door. I’d left all the lights off even went as far as to kill the streetlight a few houses down. Now of course I got nervous. I swallowed and pushed it down waiting for Finn to come in, amazed that he didn’t think something was wrong. We normally left the light on for each other.

---

As finnlay finally got the key into the lock he realized that there wasn't any light showing from under the door. He thought it odd that Jocelyn had the lights off but he assumed it was just because she was already asleep, the meeting had gone a little long this time. As he turned to open the door he saw nothing but a pitch black room with only the slightest bit of moonlight coming in. stopping for a moment he tried to see threw the black but to no avail. Grabbing ahold of the handle to his knife that still stayed on his belt he began to slowly enter the room. He wasn't sure what was going on but he had a bad feeling deep in his gut. “Jocelyn? You there?” he called out quietly as he moved slowly forward.

---

My hackles raised as I heard the slight edge to Finn’s tone. I breathed in quietly and held it pushing the sensation down and coming up with a poker face that had taken me ages to perfect. I can see how it would be slightly frightening if you knew me well enough as I thought Finn might. I didn’t move but instead said flatly “Aye.” I couldn’t hold back the falling into the tones of my motherland. Breeding will out, as the saying goes. Normally I really try for a more American sound. What I refer to as “I’m from the middle of nowhere don’t mind me” accent.

But that one word was all high brow British. And at this point I was fine with it.

---

Finnlay was still walking slowly into apartment ready for a fight when he heard Jocelyn reply to him. Giveing a sigh of relief he let go of his knife believing that there was no need to be worried. Turning to his side he flipped on the light to see Jocelyn standing right in front of him with a look that looked to plain to be real. ‘Well shit’ he thought to himself at seeing how she was looking at him. He also noticed how she let her accent slip for a split second which meant she must be pissed off about something. Trying to play it off Finn simply started to walk to the kitchen where he placed his phone down on the counter and began taking off his jacket. “Why were standing in the dark?”

---

I walked to the kitchen threshold and leaned against it watching Finn set his phone down and take off his jacket. “They teach you in college that the only time to answer a question with another question is in Philosophy, or in interrogation.” I strolled over and hopped up on the counter taking the phone and deliberately putting it in my bra under my shirt. I was counting on the fact that he’d been a gentleman for the past year and a half or that he had no real interest in me anymore. “Where the bloody fucking hell were you tonight?” Damn my accent. I give I’m not worrying about it anymore.. Oh well at least it was monotone and delivered flatly.

---

Finnlay watched as Jocelyn took his phone off the counter cursing to himself. ‘Well I had to see that coming.’ he thought to himself. He was however taken back by her sudden burst in anger, he figured she was mad about something but this was something else. “I was at the Black Rose. Now give me my damned phone back.” he said with a slightly more angry tone than he intended.

---

I raised an eyebrow. Like hell I was giving him his phone back. He wasn’t getting what he wanted at this time. Maybe later. Maybe. Depends on what he wanted. I hopped off the counter and walked away. “What’s her name? And if you lie to me you will wish to all the Saints that you had never been born.”

I turned back around as I flicked on the living room light switch that was right by my door. I had a clear view of Finn’s face to see if I hit a nerve or not.

---

Finnlay’s eye twitched slightly at her accusation. “There wasn't a she at the pub.” he said quickly. “I was just there with some friends trying to have a good night. Now I really need my phone back.” he began moving out of the kitchen towards the middle of the apartment.

---

“I find it highly unlikely that there was not a single female in the pub. Would you like to rephrase the answer and include the names of these friends? I may consider releasing the phone to your possession. Or I could just go through your phone to find incriminating texts. Yes, I rather like that option.” I open the door flick off the living room light and slam the door to my room locking it quickly.

---

Finnlay was about to say something when he saw Jocelyn quickly enter the spare room and shut the door. “Son of a…” he started as he rushed for the door. As he gripped the handle he shook it hard trying to open the door. “Jocelyn! Open this damned door and give me phone. I am in no mood for this shite.” he started to raise his voice a little. “It doesn't matter who I was with cause you don’t them anyways so could lie if I really wanted to so it doesn't much matter much now does it?” he paused for a moment taking a breath.

---

I gritted my teeth at Finnlay’s raised voice. “Which is why going through the phone was a much better idea. So glad you are on the same wavelength Finnlay. I shall only be a moment then you may have the phone back.”

I am able to flip through the phone and see the first two names Jimmy and Ashby. Male names. Fine. I walk over to the bed and lay down working up the courage to read the messages. It seems beneath me and a breach of trust to actually open the messages.

---

Not hearing a reply Finn decided that he couldn't risk Jocelyn looking through his phone. Ina split second his body had broken down into smoke and traveled under the door before appearing inside her room. Not breaking a sweat he began walking forward almost instantly after he had reformed into his body. “What the hell Jocelyn!” he began to get really angry at seeing her actually going through his phone. As he made his way toward her he didn't realize it but he had a look of rage and anger plastered firmly on his face. As he got closer he reached for the phone figuring he had no choice but to take it back by force.

---

I knew he was going to do that damned smoke trick. I looked at him as he reformed and that look of rage and anger made me just as mad. I seriously thought he’d know me better than that. Fine. We can play this game. I dropped my right hand his phone in my left hand. My bare left hand. I looked at it pointedly. “Where I come from a locked door means something. What have you got yourself into that you did not think to already delete? Do not think to patronize me. If you cannot already tell I am beyond livid.” I drop the phone onto the bed. “One way or another I will find out what it is that has changed you. We can do this the easy way or the hard way Finnlay. You pick. You are not keeping this secret any longer. I would appeal to your softer side but that would not get me what I want. Truth. Out with it.”

---

“Are you trying to threaten me?” he asked thinking she had lost it. “What has gotten into you? I already told you what you need to know. Nothing else that has been going on concerns you ok.” he said ready to turn to smoke again if she tried to touch him with that damned poison hand.

---

I nod. I over reacted. I moved away from my bed giving Finn a wide berth. I went from aggressive to fragile far too quickly. He was not seeing me like this. I refused to continue this conversation. He did not trust me. I grabbed my gloves. Elbow high and stretch satin white. I unlocked the door and strode out shutting it quietly and pointedly. He’d either smoke under it or open it but either way it gave me more time to get out the front door. I pulled on the left glove smoothing it up my arm. Opened the front door and put the other glove on as I tossed on a jean jacket. The jacket hung for a second and it took me longer to get it on. Long enough for Finnlay to catch up to me at the front door. Damnit.

---

Finnlay grabbed his phone off of her bed before walking out of her door trying to follow her before he saw her walk out the front door. “Where are you going now?” he asked still angry at what had just happened.

---

I muttered. “Ah for Christ sake…” I lean my head on the front door the knob still in my right hand. I almost had it open. I know he’s upset. Hell I’d be upset if he did what I just did to me. “Possibly out the door.” I state neutrally. It is beyond me to calm him down at this point or apologise. Maybe later. Maybe. I still have not opened the front door. It seems rude. I will be getting there at some point tonight probably sooner than later.

---

Finnlay just stood there for a moment looking at Jocelyn as she was waiting to exit the apartment. Gritting his teeth Finnlay managed to keep down some of his anger at what was happening. How dare she pull this kind of shit, start all of this and then try and pull the sad card. “You know what, forget it. It doesn't matter anyway. Leave or stay your choice” he said as he began to walk into his room looking at his phone.

---

I could feel back back stiffen. “You did not just say that to me.” That was the tipping point. I could feel myself turning. I had to close my eyes and breath a death grip on the door knob still not turning around. I heard it in my head over and over. Control was a fragile thing. “You did not just say to me ‘You know what, forget it. It doesn’t matter anyway. Leave or stay your choice.’, with the full weight of that implication.” I could not help it I turned around and raised my voice at his retreating back. “Even if you did, tell me you did not! Tell me I imagined that! Because if it did not matter then you could tell me why you have been going out late, or staying out later and later, or leaving for days at a time!!! Because if you just said that I am no longer important enough to matter!!! And I will be Goddamned if I am not important enough to the one person I go out of my way for who pulls away from me!!! You come back out here and finish this we are not remotely done yet!! And do not tell me you are done yet, your tales of Irish fights are longer than this argument has been by far!!!” I was full out yelling by the time I was done. I felt better a bit. I would feel even better once Finnlay told me what I was missing.

---

Just as Finnlay was about to enter his room he heard Jocelyn's outburst. “Why do you care so much what I do with my own time huh? Just want to know so you can have another excuse to up and leave out of nowhere until you need me again to save your sorry ass?” he began yell. The anger was flowing off him at this point coming in waves as he was just getting madder and madder. “And what did you say ‘person I go out of my way for’? When if I may ask have you gone out of your way for me?” His face was that of pure rage at this point full of nothing but anger and disdain.

---

I saw red. “Ah examples. Fine. When you were on ‘personal time’ in Ireland who kept the gym and the pub running? I apologized for ‘up and leaving out of nowhere’ I thought only females were allowed to bring up old history in a fight? That is bad form Quiet Man. You really want to know why I care so much about what you do with your time? Because I love you!!!” I yelled every answer at him. Then I thought about what I just yelled and my eyes went wide and I backed to my door. “Okay you win fight is over… I am going to bed now.”

---

Finnlay just stood there shocked at what he had just heard. After she quickly went to her room he finally snapped as he grabbed a glass on the stand near him as he chucked it as hard as he could at the wall. “AHHHHH” he yelled as the glass crashed into the wall shattering on impact. He was overwhelmed with emotions at this moment he was angry and sad and just to buried with stuff happening right now. He was getting visitest from his past, he was meeting with the kings all the time now, and now this.

Walking up to his nightstand he began to open the drawer to grab his pistol hidden inside it. When he closed the drawer he looked up at the picture he had sitting there of 5 people standing smiling at the camera with looks of pure joy on their faces. Smiling slightly at the picture he turned around before heading towards the front door. Throwing on his jacket he slid the pistol in the back of his jean as he walked out the front door to clear his head with a ride.

---

I winced as I heard the glass shatter. There was only one glass in the living room. My favorite one. I hadn’t closed my door and I watched from the dark recesses as Finnlay went to the front door. Was that a gun? Seriously? Great. Now I couldn’t sleep. I waited till he left. Leaving the glass for later, hell for him to clean up. He made the mess. I waited till I could hear him walk off from the door.

---

As Finnlay walked out the door he breathed in the nice cool Boston night air. He closed his eyes for a moment as he decided to just take a walk rather than go for a ride. Turning as he got to the sidewalk and began to keep down the path trying to let his mind roam free. After quite a while of walking he could see two girls who where clearly drunk across the street laughing and being obnoxiously loud as they struggled to walk straight. “I can't even get peace and quiet in the middle of the night.” He tried his best to ignore it when he saw two men following them into an alley. Frowning he calmly walked across the street towards the alley getting ready for a fight.

“Hey!” he yelled when he got to the entrance of the alley and saw the men had cornered the the women. As the men turned the women took the opportunity to leave as Finnlay stood there ready to kill the two men. Calmly walking forward he smiled as they tried to rush him clearly not knowing what he was. As they passed right through them the poor man on the right felt his knee break as Finnlay’s boot was placed hard into it. As he feel to the ground in pain the other man turned around straight into a pistol barrel that flashed before his lifeless body feel to the ground. Putting his pistol back Finn grabbed the man whose leg was broken and who was currently trying to crawl away. “Oh no you dont. Your not getting off that easily.” picking him up slammed him up against the wall repeatedly. After about the third time he grabbed his knife superheating it to a red hot degree as he placed the flat side against the man's cheek. The man managed to get out a small scream before Finnlay covered his mouth. “Sh sh sh sh. Don't worry you'll only get what you deserve.”

---

I heard Finnlay walk away from the door and as he turned the corner I opened it. Closing it quietly I slunk down to our bikes. Which were both still there. Okay. That makes following him just in case he gets hurt easier but keeping back far enough is harder. I sigh and see him in the distance walking along the sidewalk. After about five minutes I’m pretty sure that he has no clue I’m tailing him. He’s a damned fool walking around this late at night. I see the drunk girls just as he does. He probably heard them. They look like they’re having a blast. Then I see it. Two men following the girls. I watch Finnlay go still and I know he is going to play hero. That’s all well and good. Fine by me. I’ll just cut the girls off and get them the heck out of there.

They head down an alley and I make for a cross street that crosses into the alley. Ah Boston with predictable cross-streets. Gotta love it. I am able to get the girls attention just as Finn gets the guys attention. I lead them to a better lit part of the city and tell them to wait at the diner that we pass and call a cab. I hand them forty dollars and tell them to go home.

I hear a gunshot and run off back toward Finn’s location. Fearing the worst. I’m at the end of the alley as I see a silhouette of someone getting slammed into the wall. Creeping closer I notice that it’s Finn doing the slamming. I breathe again the spots I didn’t notice fading away. Then I see a knife blade that looks red hot. I smell the crisp scent of superheated carbon steel. My eyes widen in horror and Finn presses the blade to the man’s cheek. Time seems to slow for me as I hear the pop and sizzle of burning flesh and my vision goes grey. The man chokes out a small scream before I watch Finn over his mouth.

My feet are moving as my vision goes in and out. I wrench Finn off of the man. Semi-coherent I say. “No. No more.” But its not Finn that I see anymore at this point. The man, who part of me screams that he would have done worse to the girls; is no longer a man in my eyes. All I see is someone torturing another person and it has to stop.

---

Finnlay was surprised to see Jocelyn had thrown him off the man but didn't understand the problem. “What are you doing?” he said clearly angry keeping an eye on the man who was now on the ground with his back against the wall making sure he didn't get to leave. “I have this under control I don't need you getting in my way. Now if you excuse me.” he said as he tried to step pass Jocelyn towards the man still holding onto his knife.

---

I look up at Finnlay. He wasn’t like this six months ago, was he? I know he wasn’t like this a year ago. Something fundamental has shifted in him. I shake my head. “No. You don’t do this. This isn’t how you act. No matter what he has done or will do killing and torture are not an option. What is wrong? Can’t you see that this is not how things are done? That this is wrong!” I clasp Finnlay’s forearms. I can feel the heat from the knife but I don’t care. “If this is what you call under control I’d hate to see you lose it. I’m not moving until you come to your senses. This is wrong and you know it. Somewhere deep in there you know how wrong this whole situation is.” I could still feel the heat from the knife but my eyes stayed locked with his.

---

Finnlay looked at Jocelyn who was trying to keep herself in between him and the filth of a human that was behind her. Furious by her interference he pulled his hands away from her grasp. “He deserves this and much worse for what he was panning to do and deep down you know that. His friend there got off easy.” he finished by pointing to the man he had just shot. “This is how things should be done around here. What should I leave him to the police so he can see another sun rise? No, he lost that privilege by his actions. People like him don't deserve to live in our world!” he paused for a second again looking at the man who still sitting there in shock.

---

“And who made the good little Irish Catholic boy judge, jury and executioner? I think you need to take a step back and reevaluate the situation, love. If this is how it should be where does it stop? Humm? Do we get a warning or is it step out of line and die? What happens to people who get in arguments? Am I next cause I argued with you? Or am I next because I’m standing up for a basic human right? You know I’m pretty hard to kill. If you want him you’ll have to deal with me first.” I pull off my right glove and lean down and back to touch the man on the forehead. I can tell he’s still unconscious. Probably passed out from shock. The healing isn’t much just enough that his cheek heals. My eyes never leave Finnlay’s as I heal the man. I straighten and tilt my chin up. “So is killing me worth his life?”

---

Finnlay was seething with anger at seeing and hearing what she was doing. “You sound like a child who hasn't figured out the truth of this world yet. And don't try to twist my words around to make me out to be the bad guy hear. Now I'm going to ask one more time. Get out of my way and let me finish this.” as he finished he reached behind his back and pulled out his pistol once more. Holding it in his right while his knife was in his left still glowing hot from heat.

---

This was really happening. If I give in now everything I’ve said already means nothing. When did this happen? How did I not see this? I was too busy with the lab to notice the change. When? Why? How many times has this happened? “No. Don’t do this. I don’t know what happened but this...this is not right.”

---

Finnlay gave a sigh. He turned slightly to walk around trying to get Jocelyn to move ever so slightly. Not much but just enough to give him enough room. “You complain about me appointing yourself as Judge Jury and Executioner but who died and made you the moral compass of everyone's lives?” looking at her he saw that she was keeping herself firmly in the way of a clean shot to the thug. “Fine then, have it your way.” he said as he drained the heat out of the knife before putting back in its sheath and relaxing his muscles. He turned to walk out of the alley clearly done with the events of tonight. As he began to walk passed he saw Jocelyn sit up a bit more and relax at hearing his words. “Oh and one more thing. This is gonna hurt.” he said before quickly turning around firing his pistol straight through Jocelyn hitting the thug square in the head. “Sorry love but you left me no choice.” was all he said before he turned and made his way back to his apartment while bringing his phone up to his ear.

Interactions: Sliver @BladeSS4
Location: Queens

Venom sat on top of the Queens Plaza Park. Her vision blurred slightly after the long night of drinking and having mindless sex. Yet her breakfast had an alcohol percentage way over 30. She drank the bitter toxic and thought back to yesterday’s events.

-------------------------------------------------
It had felt so much like a normal day. Same songs playing over the radio, and Gwen had prepared herself for the normal joke about her top being too revealing, when she approached the lab.
She and doctor Conners were about to secure new funding. Finally, they were free from the clutches of Norman Osborn and his never-ending grudge, when they lost the Symbiote.
She had had her hand on the door handle, when the explosion sent her flying backwards. She had hit the pavement and instantly her senses were at 110%. All except her hearing. Only an unnerving high-pitch tone existed. Her heart pounded like an angry gorilla, and she jumped up without any fear of being exposed as Venom. Her black suit materialized right there on the street.
That’s when she heard it. A laughter. Though everything else was just a single tone, the laughter broke through. It was so quick, and for a second, she thought she saw a goblin-like creature on some kind of a board. Then it was gone.
No longer Gwen, but Venom, she had launched herself forward and into the burning building.
Flames and smoke made everything into an incomprehensible inferno where only hopelessness reigned.
“Curt!” she had yelled out in her slightly obscured Venom-voice.
Nothing.
She tackled a new door and proceeded deeper into the firestorm. Had her mouth not been covered and had she not been able to breath inside the suit, the very air itself would undoubtedly have been poisonous.
Suddenly she spotted a figure in the rubble. Next second she was by his side and lifted away some of the debris. One of the supporting beams, a massive thing, trapped his left arm.
Doctor Curtis Conners opened his eyes.
“It’s gonna be alright, sir,” Venom said and tried to imitate a superhero. With all her might she grabbed the beam and attempted to lift it off. The thing hardly moved. She tried again and even panting like crazy, she could not move the massive object.
“Gwen… Gwen let me see your face,” Curt said, surprisingly soft.
Her hearing was back. She hesitated and then drew back the liquid mask and let him see her. How he knew didn’t matter, only how he was doing.
“My dear Gwen, you… you have to cut it,” he told her.

For hours she had watched him in the hospital. For hours she had waited for the surgery to end. By the time she was finally told that he would be alright, she already knew that she would only find comfort in the bottom of a bottle.
-------------------------------------------------
Now only the thought of vengeance seemed to dull her pain.

It was Osborn. It must be. He realized the connection between my alter ego and the Symbiote that Curt and I lost. Perhaps he realized the purpose of my plan: That I was going to be the venom that would cripple Oscorp Industries. But how did he find out? And why now? He must have had help. Someone who had a beef with Venom. Perhaps Hydra. Perhaps someone else.
A dead man mounted the rooftop of Queens. At least the rumor said he was dead. The very same guy whom had fought at Venom side almost 2 years ago: Sliver. He seemed to have noticed her too.

Venom finished her bottle of breakfast, stood up and let the suit conceal her lips once again.

Interactions: Sliver @BladeSS4
Location: Queens, New York.

“Osborn struck first,” Venom answered Sliver in a mixture of alcohol and cynicism. “He found a way to get to me, and he attacked a very dear friend of mine. Even if he hasn’t realized who’s behind the mask, he’s gonna come for Gwen Stacy like a hungry dog. When he does, I'll be ready for him”
She tightened her fist and almost fell down on the spot, she intended to sit at. New York did not have a lot of friendly corners anymore, or maybe Venom just couldn’t see them.
“Someone has helped Norman Osborn. Someone who can track the untraceable, I would say. Know anyone like that? … And why the hell haven’t you showed signs of life before now?

Sighing Venom looked at Sliver. ”Ah, what the hell. I need the alcohol anyway. This alien tar is making my metabolism burn a lot faster than I would like it to. Don’t feel like becoming too sober right now.”

The two of them landed in a back alley where privacy was easier to come by.
At first Venom only managed to get the Symbiote to change her lower half. The red dress that had materialized only really had the skirt part. She tried again and noticed her parasite was being strangely quiet.
Maybe it too has grown fond of Sliver. Maybe if it has nothing bad to say, it thinks it shouldn’t say anything. Strange choice.
She managed to create a white blouse and black skirt. She remembered the image from a magazine. Perhaps a bit too stylish and expensive looking for her taste, but it would do.
New York was buzzing with activity outside the alley. It was at these times the city felt most alive. So many unworrying souls. So much work.
“So… the Hand, huh? With my luck it’s exactly them I’m now also up against.” She thought about it. “Question is: Did they help Osborn because they feel a grudge against all Symbiote user? Or did the bastard hire them because they already fought one Symbiote?”

As they flew dropping most everyone off they finally came to where James/Silver wanted to be. Oberon came to them and looked them over. Before he exited Oberon took him to medbay to ask about the symbiote. Finally Oberon asked for a sample and ended up asking for a sample as Athena had asked for a sample to make a new suit for Oberon. James agreed and detached a small portion as a sample. Oberon gave a promise that he wouldn't do anything terrible with it then dropped off James.

After getting out of the tube Alistar would go to a quiet area and starts to go over what happened the past few days, while meditating in a corner. "Athena how did the group fair tonight? And who actually hit us?"

Athena materialized a few feet away and looked Alistar over. " As of right now I'm sure both group have attacked us." She moved slightly and glitched over to him. "Seems you have healed well." She threw herself at him and passed right through. " Her tears streamed down her digital face as twinkling points of light. "Don't ever do that again! You have to be safe about your heroics. You cant just let out the Oni. You have to control it so you can realize what someone has on you." She blinked away the tears and the reappeared in front of him. "For the ones who shot at the ones I care about and hurt you Hydra is our target." She then looked angrily at a screen showing Hydra agents in the hotel. "This time I'll be hitting them personally!" She turned her gaze at him with a wicked smile.

Knowing he couldn't actually hug her he would still wrap his arms around her hologram. "I can't let another group die that I'm in. You know I have history with both sides, hell I bet I'm still on hydra's hit list!" grinning at her smile he drug a finger down her face and whispered. "I'm sorry for worrying you beautiful."

Over the past two years Athena gather information on Hydra while hiding from Shield. During this time she began work on a project with Oberon trying to make her a body. Oberon came up with some ideas dealing with the people that he met on the plane. They would take blood from Alistar, the sample of a symbiote from Silver, and some asguardian tech. The tech she had covered through means of the black market and the other stuff they already had.

Alistar who had healed from his wounds stayed with Dark Star Technologies as a partner in the company. It was all official with contracts drawn up. He didnt prefer it that way but Athena wouldn't have it any other way. Finally once Oberon and she were ready they asked Alister for a blood sample. A long story and a few drinks later Oberon saw the draw backs to what might happen, as Alistar had convinced Price to tell him the plan. The blood could, in whatever form drive Athena insane and cause her bloodrage. So Oberon being the genius he was set to work after Alistar finally agreed.

Oberon set to work collecting martial as Athena took to work writing the code and doing Intel work for Sling. She had outfitted the man to go on a mission that he wanted to be hush hush on. She had given him the gear but kept an eye on him just in case. At some point he disappeared from her radar but she figured nothing was really wrong as it would have alerted her.

During all this however Athena was also working with a woman called Ava who had been a gun for hire and maybe even worked for Hydra. At request though Athena didn't dig into personal details and just let it be. Ava it seemed was a meta or mutant as some called them. Unlike Oberon her power was born into her from some type of gene. He power was ice or something like that. Ava had stayed to work at Dark Star Tech and being a new life and Athena agreed as long as Ava agreed never to divulge anything she saw here. Head of security was the title she received. This kept her busy with testing security devices such as battle suits, weapons as well as following up on intel. One of her other duties was to go with Oberon during outings or secret meetings when he was Frostweaver.

Finally it was time. "Finally using my blood are you?" Alistar said as he watched Oberon and Athena. She nodded as Oberon explained what he had figured out. A mixture of blood and symbiote that would result in a synthetic building blocks for the nanites to make a body. They would also maintain the body. The process started and Athena disappeared for two months inside her nanites. Dreaming of the day she could get her revenge.

During this process Oberon let the lab go dark to let Athena work. None of them knew that there would be a terrible side effect to all this. A sentient part of the mixture also took over some of the nanites learned what Athena was doing and escaped the lab undetected. This being was all the hate and feelings of Revenge that Athena had along with the bad parts of Alistar's blood and the sentience of the symbiote. This creature was like what the new Athena would be but it would make it's own improvements in due time. For now it would watch and wait to make its move.

Systems kicked on in the lab onelce the two month period was over. Oberon and Alistair walked into the lab along with Ava who was messaging someone named Crossfire. Lights around the pod that Athena would come out of lit up. Some inside the pod came on and visible was the face of a woman with Auburn hair. As the machine began to whirl her eyes sprang open in surprise. Storm gray and full of intelligence she gazed at the occupants of the room. Before the rest of the lights came on her nanites inside her body took effect and produced clothes that the Goddess would have worn in times of comfort. A robe clasped with a silver sigil of an owl and sandals. The rest of the lights came on and the tube vented as it opened and Athena stepped out in front of everyone. "Hello everyone it's nice to see all of you in person." As she said it she transformed into her self that had been her chosen form in the net. The smallish girl with long blond hair and green eyes wear a purple and white outfit. "In public please call me Alice Darkstar." She smiled at them and then looked at Alistar her smiled widening.