Chapter 627 - Reptilian Strike (1/2)
”Betrayed! After all this hard work!” Connors huffed. Even though the application of the serum had increased his vitals by aa slight margin, he still found his breath shortening and his lungs aching. The damp environment didn't help his sweat-soaked body as he continued to run through the narrow tunnels. Wilson's auctions of surrender didn't only bring ruin to the underground activities of gangs of the state but also brought many troubles to a few of his 'creative' patrons.
Garuk was dead with his laboratory seized by Strange to clear of all the filth the faceless man had dabbled into in the past years. Felicia Hardy, famously known as the Black Cat was on the run. Eddie Brock's information was leaked but his presence was unknown while Curt Connors was being pursued by a team of specialized agents.
”Dr. Connors is dangerous as much as the past failures of the project S.I.N,” Phil stared Maria in the eyes as they continued to monitor the situation through their tactical van. ”Let me call my team,” He implored with a serious expression as Agent Hills heaved in frustration and took off her intercom, ”I cannot do that, and don't ask me to break the rules again.” Seeing that Phil was barely satisfied by being brushed off, she sighed before whispering, ”The problem isn't with the avengers initiative. I may have heard from a few... dubious sources that the confidence of the 'bosses' is dwindling because of the members in your team. White Tiger and Luke Cage are both fine. But with the sudden resignation of the Captain and the remaining members being rather unknown can cause some distrust.”
”Distrust?” Phil continued to stare hard at Maria.
”Fine,” she huffed, ”As usual, for proper funding, they want the most popular 'hero'— Iron Man— to enter the initiative and... also Vanish. The situation is barely under the Director's control due to the successful capture of those supervillains. We did gain a lot of information from them, both, corporate and genetic.”
”Thank you,” Phil nodded. He knew firsthand how stubborn Maria can be at times. It was times like this that Phil found himself blessed knowing that he had a part in mentoring Hill since she had a lot of information about the situation within the agency.
”Anyway, there's one good news. Hellicarrier is operative.”
”I already got my room,” Hill smiled as Phil refrained from stating the fact that he had an entire cabin to himself. There was no point in aggravating his source of info regarding the funds of the initiative.
”Why are they fixated on Vanish?” Phil inquired as Maria flinched before grunting, ”Wakandan forces contacted the Shield for Vanish's and Silk's visit into their nation to express their gratitude in assisting their young ruler.”
”Damn... dibs on being the accompanying ambassador,” Phil grinned as Maria narrowed her eyes and scoffed. Still, she knew that Phil would be the only agent the Director would consider. After all, he now led the initiative and successful at that.
”There's some noise,” Coulson looked back at the leftmost screen in the van and tapped on it to enlarge it.
”Team Square, prepare to engage,” Maria spoke into her comm as she focused on a shred of white clothing. As the team moved forward, more and more shreds of clothing could be seen as Maria furrowed her brows.
”Team Square,” Phil instantly spoke in, ”engage level 3. Ready your arms. I repeat, prepare your arms!”
”What are you doing?” Maria hissed while cutting off his channel as Phil gestured towards the screen, ”The doctor outgrew his clothes and I've seen the Hulk's clips many times to see another large... entity.”
Looking back at the shreds of clothes, Maria's frown grew deeper before she heard the team captain's hushed order, ”Keep sharp, I heard something.”
”Left!” One of the agents dressed in black whispered as the entire troop readied their guns when a thick fleshy rope-like organ whipped down, aiming at the center-most agent and viciously coiling around his neck with a shuddering snap.
”Positions!” Hollering, the captain raised his gun with his head tilting up and allowing the supporting force to finally view the reptilian monstrosity clawing at the head belted with a camera, turning one of the screens in Maria's van static as fearful shrieks of the others in the task force followed soon enough with more cameras turning static with the last one disconnecting not before a monstrous screech.
”We confirmed that Connors escaped without any serum in hand,” Phil mumbled with a somber expression as Maria nodded with a stern glare towards the empty screens. ”We made a mistake, that is obvious. We have a lizard monster loose within the sewerage system of the city. You should... gather your team. If you can, make Vanish evacuate the surrounding region—”
”Vanish is a hired help, remember?” Phil smiled sadly, ”I'll get the group ready.”
”And I will inform the local authorities. We need to clear the nearest point of attractions.”
”Why is that?” Phil turned to Maria as she took a deep breath, ”You said it so, the problem is angry, destructive, and green. They always strike at the most cheerful locations.”