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[Exit Rogue to Xavier's Institute]

(IO is actually on the ropes right now, and that flight deck is clear at this moment.... with a cryocoffin on the tarmac just beside a transport aircraft. Arell took out the techs that were handling that thing.)

As Rogue was helped through the portal, Songbird approached Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, Nightshade and Alexi, "Still shakin out the cobwebs from that blast. How are you guys fairing, if nothing else I can fly us over to that base so we can rescue those kids...."

"Ssskkzzzz...."

Melissa had a confused look on her face, as she stared at her comm, when Oracle spoke through all the communicators, "The new arrivals are trying to talk to us, Everyone. Ummmm... Cyclops, what do you know about SHIELD? They're offering to help. Can we trust them?"

Alexi's earpiece quietly activated, issuing a message for the SHIELD operative that only he can here, "Coulson to Shadow, can you give me a sitrep. Is the canyon clear of hostiles? Copy?"

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"I have had it!!! I HAVE HAD IT!!!!! I'm going to reach into your stomach and RIP OUT YOUR GODDAMN SPINE!!!!" Ivana continues her rant as she dives at Arell -- metallic claws out. The cyborg made a double slash at Arell's midsection, intending to carry out her threat....

..................................

Jimmy Zorn had already packed up his laptop and tuck it away in his backpack. The former Stonewall operative now was making his way down an access stairwell attempting to escape the SHIELD assault by going through the parking garage in the lowest levels of the base.

...................................

Cyclops heard a message from Jinx, "Psst. Hey Cyc. I'm at a side entrance of this base, and I already knocked out the cameras around here. Do you want to enter this place here or are we going topside to the flight deck to get at those 100+ kids in this place?"

(That makes sense. He could easily get out of the way of 'Kryptonite shockwave'. Rogue got seriously hurt by Iron Monger (Uranium shells and the Kryptonite Unibeam)

Before Rogue was helped out of the area, Alexi had moved over and placed his jacket around her carefully, his eyes looking over her form with an undreadable expression. It didn't seem like much but for Colson, and any others that knew him, especially his so called "Uncle" War Machine...they knew that what he just did was probably the nicest thing he'd done for a person. But why? Well...he had his reasons. Watching as she was taken through the portal, Alexi grunted and turned away shirtless while brushing past War Machine...obviously not in the mood to talk to his Father's friend. "Colson, hostiles have been removed on the ground, there were air hostiles but I believe they are gone. New targets are within...I'm going off to finish this. Permission for lethal force?" If not....he'd knock the b***h out. "Arell....I'm coming to you. BE prepared. In that moment, the shadows enveloped him almost immediately.

HE knew Arell's shadow signature, something that was unique to every individual, and in that moment, he burst out of his shadow. "Beneath you, Arell. In that moment, Alexi rose from underneath Arell as Ivana struck at his midsection. One katana was already out, his left one knocking away her metallic claws as his revolver was aimed right at her own midsection, the gun sounding off like a firecracker within the room as the bullets went for her body. "I told you, I'd come for you Ivana...I don't lie. Hopefully, he didn't scare the s**t out of Arell.

War Machine

“WTH ok boys you want to do this the hard way” says Jim as he accelerates dipping and rolling away from the 20 missiles coming his way. The armor’s counter measures fire up as the hip joints extend firing flares and parts of the calves in the armor extend firing chaff. Jim feels the sensation he is riding the fastest roller coaster of his life as his combat pilot training combined with his power armor training kicks in as he dives, rolls an flies straight up.

“Mister Rhoades the combat computer has identified these missiles as the same repulsor multi missiles that are part of the Jericho missile weapon system. I advise severe caution if you are hit.” The suits AI Jarvis warns the suit operator.

“Frak me, Ok so these idiots are using some serious fire power and think they can smoke me. Jarvis activate the auto cannon and target those missiles and engage the auto targeting A gunner program . Load the gauntlet guns with armor piercing explosive ammo I am not playing with these people if they want to kill me an be a threat to the SHIELD teams then I will use lethal force on them.” Jim orders the AI of the suit.

Jim hears the orders from Colson and checks his radar for all the enemies he has to deal with. He sees that there are multiple threats that are using Stark weapons technology and shakes his head. “Colson pull your teams back these people have Stark weapons technology, I doubt your assault teams have the body armor that can handle blasts like that. Send down the Mandriod Armor teams to set a perimeter and I will take down the hostiles, if any get past me use lethal force these guy are not playing nice. I will open a path for your other teams to get in.” Jim says over his comm channel to the SHIELD team leader an to the SHIELD teams.

Jim hears and feels the auto cannon begin to move and fire at the oncoming missiles. It feels like he has been diping , rolling and dodging for hours but in reality it has been only a few minutes. In between the flares, chaff, gun fire and his suits with his skill maunvers he dodges all but 3 missiles as they hit him and explode in a huge blast. For a few seconds all jim hears is the blaring warning alarms an the suit updating the damage report. He regains control over his fall from the shock wave of the explsoin of the 3 missiles that hit him. He reminds himself he needs to thank Ta’Chula for the giving him the vibranium to help better armor his suit with. Jim shakes the ringing out of his head an clears out the stunning effect he had from being hit as hard as he was. He quickly found the 2 idiots in the Raider armor who fired on him. He quickly lines up his sights and begins firing up the 2 armored idiots with his gauntlet guns and from his shoulder auto cannon. Armor piercing explosive rounds begin to hit the 2 armored pilots with 100% accuracy due to advance targeting systems designed and updated by Stark and Rhoadey over the years.

Meanwhile, as Ivana shot at Arell, the big Cajun had made it out of the way, the sonic blast BARELY clipping his foot by an inch. He was less than worried about the I.O. leader. Alex could take care of that chump easily for a while as Arell threw some parts together . . . hurriedly forming some sort of weapon. It looked crude. Literally four or five rocket launchers, an M-16 and a table (he had to strap the rocket launchers down onto SOMETHING). As he waited for Alex to clear the way, he whistled sharply towards the woman.

"HEY! CHICKEN s**t! How 'bout doin' me a favah an' sayin' hi t' ******** for me?" he asked before firing off ALL the rocket launchers before grabbing the M-16, setting it to full auto and giving Ivana a heaping helping of red-hot dakka!

"If that doesn't work, I'm a duck!"

What?!

((I think he said DUCK! I can't hear a damn thing over Arell's mayhem!))

s**t!! *dives under the desk*

Coulson's response brought a terrifying smile to Alexi's face as Ivana observed one of his inherent abilities. if the poor b***h only knew what was actually standing before her... "I'm more than just that".. Arel might have guessed what was coming up next... Most had not seen Alexi's...other form...only the damage it dealt when he used it. The beast flew quick enough that most just saw a black image flash before them. Arel...coulson...and those related to him were the only ones that knew what the sight was. As Ivana shot her gun, a wall of shadow rose in front of the blast via her own shadow, enveloping it in the Shadow Realm. Using what strength he could, shadows seemed to crawl over Alexi's form quickly, until he burst free.

The Shadow was an appropriate name for it.

. Alexi had grown into a terrifying beast...the one that wrecked havoc on Ivanas allies outside...but was more dangerous in this area...especially an enclosed area. This was the last time he could transform today however...all of his energy had been out in this form and he needed a days rest to recuperate and turn back...but who says it was an issue? As soon as the blast was dispersed by His defense, a blood curdling roar from the beast shook the area as it opened it's mouth, releasing a torrent of sparkling black electrical volts from the recesses of his mouth. It was quick...it was sudden....it was a surprise that the woman would not see coming. The shock was not a small dosage...it was lethal. And it would fry her corpse into nothingness, and if she managed to dodge? Alexi still charged with his claws and teeth....aiming to tear her limb from limb. He is death. He is the judge. He was the king of the Shadows.

At first, Ivana had been focusing on the rockets that the Cajun was firing..... until she saw Alexi transform into some sort of shadowy dragon. That, she wasn't expecting. The I.O. director's mouth hung open at the sight, and her cybernetic body gets slammed by Arell L'Amour's missiles. Ironically, those missile hits saved Ivana from Alexi's burning electrical attack. The missile barrage explosion knocked Ivana Baiul down the hallway, ricocheting twice off of the walls and into an empty cavity that was once an elevator shaft. Ivana's fading scream could be heard....

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Falling several floors, Ivana landed hard on the remains of an elevator that holds the remains of several Black Talons. After a few seconds of processing pain, the I.O. director rolled off the wreckage and now gazed out to the battle-damaged flight deck from the hangar bay the raven trussed cyborg was laying on the deck of.

Three large walking constructs were making their way out onto the flight deck -- a trio of Mark VIII Sentinels. As Ivana stood up, she saw a defensive turret explode in some sort of pink energy clearly signifying to the cyborg that it was time to leave....

......................

Jinx smiled as her hex destroyed the turret she spotted firing at the SHIELD aircraft. The former HIVE operative was using the batgrapple to repel upward, now almost up on the flight deck. That's when she heard something large and metallic walking toward her on the deck above, Uh-oh....

Unbeknownst to all parties involved in this conflict, some of Jinx's hex actually reached the Rigellian cryocoffin..........

Alexi was not done by a long shot. As soon as Ivana was thrust into the elevator shaft, Alexi knew that the which was not dead...not yet. He could smell her and could track her...but he knew that was not enough to kill her...at least not until he got a hold of her. He could not change back but he could sure as hell follow her and make sure she was dead. By tearing her limb from limb.

Looking at Arell, he snarled and went after her. He crawled all around the shaft as he went down, his claws easily digging into the sides of the walls as he tracked after her. He saw the woman get up and leave, having not seen the stealthy beast that was pursuing her. And that was when he burst forth, breaking through the wall as if it were paper and landing in front of Ivana with a piercing roar, letting loose another torrent of black sparkling electricity aimed at her. He was not playing around and would not give her time to talk or breathe. From the look in the world's greatest assassin (aside from Deadpool) 's eyes, Ivana could tell that Alexi was going to kill her and did not care who he hurt to do it.

He did his job well.

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When you feel that something‘s wrong
I‘ll shelter you and keep you warm
I‘ll never let you walk alone
I loved you when you still hated me