10/9/2006 The warehouse is located in one of the more disreputable sectors of the docks district, and at a glance doesn't look much different from the other abandoned or near-abandoned structures that surround it. The paint is peeling, and the big bay doors for receiving shipments are thick with rust. One or two of the windows facing the street appear broken. The faded sign says "Vetru Shipping," and all seems quiet and peaceful. Emma pages, "M'kay, Emma's mentally goodness is up and running. Are the people inside blocked to telepathy at all?" to you. You page, "Nope. How deep is she scanning?" to Emma. The best technology in the world couldn't mask the roar of the mighty Quinjet's engines -- but it says a lot about Tony's technical acumen that all his baffles, suppressors and other black box features only give the enemy a five second warning. The silence is shattered as the Quinjet seems to almost fall out of the sky, engine's screaming as retro-thrusters fire and stop the ponderous vechicle on the metaphorical dime! A hundred yards away, one of the SHIELD surveillance agents sees the stomach-churning drop and lowers his binoculars. /"Damn."/ By the time the word's faded into the air, four heroes are already out and moving for the warehouse. One of them fires a webline and disappears into the shadows surrounding the building, leaving the other three heading right for the entrance. "Show them how it's done, team!" Captain America yells over the fading whine of the engines behind them, his shield is on his forearm and his eyes promising a world of hurt for anyone in his way. Twenty yards ahead the doors of the massive warehouse remain closed. The entire structure is quiet; a marked contrast to the surgical strike about to descend on it. Emma pages, "surface thoughts for now, getting a body count, placing where they all are and lowering their alertness. 'Oh, look...that over there is /real/ shiny.'" to you. Emma pages, "Ya know to counter this loud ass jet, gah. Nevermind that alertness bit, I was thinking it was all stealth and quiet." to you. You page-pose, "Otto scraps the lowering of alertness bit. B) There's an even dozen, all armed, tense and expecting trouble but... they have that soldier-before-a-battle mindset. Most are /hoping/ for trouble, for something to do and all." to Emma. "A dozen, Captain. Armed and looking for a fight. How lucky we came to oblige." Emma says after a mental scan of the area as the team moves toward the warehouse. More than a little ready for a battle herself, the Cap's war cry getting an amused smile from the telepath. The_Black_Cat does quite well with keeping up with the others as they converge towards the warehouse's entrance. The world for her is a shade of green, the indistinguishable lenses covering her eyes giving her various spectrums to view with, though for now it's good old night vision for her. "Only a dozen? Maybe they're not expecting more company afterall?" She picks up her pace and sprints ahead somewhat, but never strays too far ahead, taking a moment to scope the surrounding area for any sign of exterior defenses. The_Black_Cat does quite well with keeping up with the others as they converge towards the warehouse's entrance. The world for her is a shade of green, the indistinguishable lenses covering her eyes giving her various spectrums to view with, though for now it's good old night vision for her. "Only a dozen? Maybe they're not expecting more company afterall?" She picks up her pace and sprints ahead somewhat, but never strays too far ahead, taking a moment to scope the surrounding area for any sign of exterior defenses. Captain_America breaths an inner sigh of relief over Emma's report; at least they got /that/ intelligence right. And then there's no more time for internal reflection. The front door is now only feet away. The Avenger speeds up into a long loping stride, building up momentum for the entrance. "Black Cat, I'll open the door, you bring the refreshments!" Bracing his shield in front of him, Cap tenses to jump. "/Knock knock,/" he murmurs through gritted teeth -- and then leaps into a dive. CRASH!! The small delivery door inset into the larger warehouse doors practically cartwheels out of its frame under the force of Cap's human battering ram! Just like that, they're in. There's a scramble of activity even as the door comes crashing into the warehouse. Light floods the open space, giving the incoming heroes a glance at rows of large, long shipping crates set up in defensive position in front of the freight elevator. Two of Ock's men, obviously in the process of transporting a smaller crate, have just dropped their cargo and are falling back post-haste as the others cover them and fill the air with bullets. They're dressed in dark purple tactical gear -- an updated version of the old Master Planner gang uniforms (which Cat'll find especially familiar) complete with full headgear and goggled masks. The White Queen is already in her diamond form as the door is opened, more than ready for these armed minions, which, of course, cuts of her telepathy for the moment. Undeterred by the rain of bullets, she strides to the nearest one, grabbing the gun with one hand, using it to yank him downward to meet his face to her knee, which she brings up sharply. The quicker they can get the guns out of commission, the quicker she can turn her telepathy back on. The_Black_Cat gets a very good look at the goons.... Oh, they are -NOT- running around in those uniforms, still. A good way to make her rather pissy... When being shot at, it's always good to either or both a.) use your surroundings for cover, and b.) Make yourself as hard to hit as possible. Felicia mostly picks the latter, for the moment splitting from the cap in order to cover one side and to draw some fire from the other two. The crates make for good cover to sprint behind as well, though after a few moments, she slips between a pair of rows, already spotting a target or two to go after. Making use of the cover, she sprints low, then when close enough, suddenly leaps up into view, springing atop the crate and planting her hands so she can push off. Her legs spin up from behind her, sending her into a flip over said crate which puts her in prime position to land upon a goon, thrusting with a foot to kick him squarely in the collar and sending him spilling across the floor! A second one not far off starts to bring his weapon up, only to be met by one of the cat's grappling hooks, winding around the thug's weapon and being yanked away by the approaching Cat, who is quick to throw several hard blows with her fists, ending with another kick across the side of the goon's head! The air resonates with an almost musical sound: bullets being deflected off of Cap's shield. Right after Captain America hits the floor he goes into a roll and comes up into a defensive crouch. SPANG! PTANG! He risks a look over the rim of his disc, knowing that a few of the goons will fixate on him -- and giving Felicia and Emma more time to ambush. A loud ricochet sets the Avenger's ears to ringing and he hastily pulls his head back. The Cap quickly goes over the mental lay-out of the thugs... calculates a plan of attack... then frowns. Reluctantly, he removes two thugs off his mental checklist to reflect his current condition. /Ready? Yes./ The Star-Spangled Avenger takes a breath, and moves! The next minute is an acrobatic tour de force, his internal voice methodically keeping him on track: /Cartwheel behind that crate... there. Under cover. Throw the shield... hit!/ One assault rifle clatters to the floor! /Turn, see if the other one moved where you thought -- almost. Two feet further to the left. Forget the fist, use the foot./ THWACK! The guard cries out and sprawls onto the ground, trailing broken pieces of his goggles. /Move it, Rogers! Behind the second crate should be... yes!/ Without pausing, Captain America bends down and scoops up his shield. /Blast! More aggressive than I thought and right behind me! Turn and-/ SPANG! Two hearbeats longer and the thug moving to overtake him would have blasted the Cap right between the shoulderblades, as it is he goes tumbling against a crate, knocked unconcious by the edge of his shield. The Avenger gives a precious half-second to curse his weakened state, and then goes back into the battle. Moving, flipping, dodging; a unique dance of tactics and carefully controlled violence which has no greater master. A few more thugs drop, he turns a corner -- and almost runs right into Felicia. The two flanks are clear, and judging from what the Cap saw of Emma, he bets the center is done as well. Only a minute has passed, if that, and every one of the dozen defenders are out cold or groaning in pain on the floor. Hardly a challenge, but then, this isn't the main attraction, obviously. The doors to the freight elevator await, currently closed. Where a button panel would be is a simple card-reader. More guards are quick to be subdued by Felicia, whose own body in motion gives what might be thought of as a pleasant comparison to the Cap's own acrobatic prowess. Something to appreciate as long as you're not the one getting your butt handed to you because of it. Landing from another spring, she finds herself face to face with Old Glory, noting the sudden quietness around them and laying a hand on her hip. "Nice moves. You and I -HAVE- to go dancing sometime." Emma's looked for soon after. "Everything alright, Queen?" Captain_America looks around at the unconcious thugs, breathing heavily. After a moment he turns to grin at his teammates. "Ladies... that was /outstanding./ Cat, my girlfriend might have something to say... about the dancing idea. But enough small talk... let's head-" The Avenger abruptly sways and almost topples, but manages to turn the fall into a heavy sit on a nearby crate. "Unh...!" His shield strikes the floor with a dull, gong-like sound. The Cap sits for a moment, slump-shouldered and still breathing hard. "...let's... let's head over to the elevator... and see what we can find. Don't worry about... tying them up. SHEILD's right behind. Emma, can you find which one might have a pass card? I'm just... going to rest for a bit." After a moment he reaches up and touches one of the red stripes on the bottem of his shirt. His gloved hand comes up gleaming with blood that the color had concealed. "Damn. Suture popped." The Cap could be talking about a button coming off of a piece of clothing. Changing back to her normal skin, and bringing her telepathy back into play, Emma nods to Felicia, "Perfect over here, Kitten." She does crouch next to one of the defender searching through pocket until she plucks a card from one of them. Without so much as looking over at him, Emma mentally reaches into his mind, turning down any pain he might be feeling to a low annoyance. She stands and strides over to the elevator, swiping the card before turning back to the room as she waits for the doors to open. Looking over the knocked out defenders she mentally reaches out to each of them, creating a lovely parting gift - a mental compulsion. They may not need to be tied up, but from this day forward, everytime they hear the word 'Octopus', they will have the uncontrollable urge to perform the infamous 'Chicken Dance' along with humming the music off key. For a good hour straight. Then she looks over at the other two, "We ready?" The_Black_Cat knew he'd say that.. She's tempted to follow up, something along the lines of "Come on, loosen up, Cap." but any further amusement fades when he clumsily comes to settle against a crate, the look on her face reflecting her inner thoughts.. "Hey... Were you shot?" Another look towards Emma as she passes by, and hearing the mutter from Steve.. Whether or not he needs the help, she feels obliged to give it, stepping over to give him some aid in getting up while looking back to Emma. "Coming, Queen." Again to Steve, quieted, whether or not Emma can tell what's being said. "Are you sure you can keep going?..." Captain_America stops Black Cat with a friendly head-shake. "I'll be okay, Felicia. But thanks for the offer." He looks towards Emma as he says it, eyes narrowed. Then he carefully stands and flexes, bending down to retrieve his shield. After another moment, the Avenger walks over to the elevator looking markedly improved. "Ready." He replies to Emma's query, striding inside as soon as the doors slide away. He begins looking around for any potential traps, but apparently finds nothing. The Cap then turns back to look at the others -- again favoring the "White Queen" with a more intent stare -- "Emma," he says after a second's hesitation, "did you..." He abruptly shakes his head. "Uh, nevermind. Going down." The large elevator takes the trio swiftly and smoothly downwards, eventually coming to a only mildly shuddery halt. The doors open to reveal the true heart of Doc Ock's operation -- a massive, gleaming, high-tech headquarters. With the lights dimmed to twilight levels and a complete lack of human activity, it looks chillingly abandoned. At the far end, on a raised platform, sits a large table-like structure, over which rotates, slowly, a detailed three-dimensional holographic schematic of the Ryker's Island prison. As they're taking this in, what appears to be a discarded pile of machinery comes to life with buzzing malevolence and approaches the trio on eight thick metallic, clawed tentacles not terribly unlike those of a certain green-clad supervillain. The Octo-bot's spheroid main body is about ten feet in diameter, and its tentacles are each at least twice that in length. It definitely does not look friendly. "I wouldn't worry about the Captain, Cat. He's a big strong man, and been in enough of these situations to know when he needs to sit out and when he can continue." Emma gives Steve an innocent smile at his semi-question, and that's about all the answer he'll need. "Indeed, going down." As they step out of the elevator, Emma looks over the empty room, just beginning to head for the Ryker's display when the sudden movement from the Octo-bot draws her attention. Knowing the threat to not be human, her skin is already diamond once more by the time the bot is fully brought to life. Stepping to put herself between it and the Captain, Emma doesn't exactly look too friendly herself. "Kitten, I'm not ashamed to tell you...I /really/ hate tentacles," is muttered before the White Queen charges forward at this...thing. It never hurts to make sure. Felicia finally accepts, though there is a faint hint of annoyance lingering for some reason. It's soon brushed off.. As they find themselves stepping out from the elevator, The Cat again surveys the surroundings, again making use of her contacts to see all around. "A little too quiet here for my-" And then the Octo-bot shows up. "Tch... Now why am I -not- surprised?" Emma's quip is grinned upon as Felicia readies herself to move. "You and me both, sister.." Captain_America's eyes are also jerked away from the tantilizing hologram as Ock's narcissitic invention comes to life, threatening to turn them all into paste! "Cat, go for the hard drive on that computer! Emma and I will keep it busy!" Taking a guess at the ponderous machine's center of gravity, he moves forward into its attack range, waiting until only three of it's legs (arms?) are on the ground... and then flings his shield at the most vulnerable one, aiming for a knockdown! "I wish Tony were here..." he murmurs, distantly aware that under normal circumstances his body would be screaming in agony about now. With the sound of grinding machinery and the clanging thuds of metal striking metal as its clawed 'feet' make contact with the gleaming floor, the Octo-bot lashes out with a tentacle for each intruder simultaneously; a beat later, another rockets out directly for Captain America. Another starts a lunge for Emma, then whips back as the star-spangled shield knocks one of its three supporting legs out from under it. The machine wobbles briefly before stabilizing. "I'm on it!" The Cat doesn't waste any more words, and quickly goes to put herself at the computer, though it takes some quick leaping and some reflexes to dodge the machine's first assault before she makes a break for the computer, closing in on it and preparing to put her skills to work. "Okay, come to mama...." She only looks back briefely for any sign of trouble she sets in and seeks out the computer's databanks, working rather quick with those gloved fingers of hers. "Nice shot, Captain." Emma states as the tentacle whips back. "Distraction, now that I can do." She tries to dodge in toward the bot at a sprint, jumping slightly to aim a kick at one of the legs balancing this guy on the floor. Attempting to throw it off balance more than actually damage. Captain_America barely manages to dodge the tentacle swiping at him -- all too aware that his reflexes are a fraction of their normal speed...! He uses the momentum to carry him into a roll and bring him back near his shield. The Avenger quickly scoops it up and flips over onto his back, ready to use the disc if the Ock-bot tries to step on him. At the same time he urgently peers at the underside of the sphereoid's body, seeking any obvious weaknesses... "Nice kick, Emma!" He manages to grunt. The hologram over the table blips out as the Black Cat starts working, and she's quickly in a race against programming which is even now obliterating files and data. Meanwhile, the multi-armed mechanoid deals with its two attackers, flexible metal arms swiping out, claws snapping. It keeps shifting its weight, changing which legs it's standing on and which it's using to attack. The Captain narrowly avoids getting smashed by one thudding 'foot' and is able to bring his shield up in time to deflect the force of another blow, though the power of it drives him backward a step. Another tentacle whips out at Emma, misses, then strikes the floor as a second catches hold of one arm in its claws and lifts her easily off her feet. In between dealing with the robot's attacks, Captain America spots a panel set into the thing's underside. At this point, all Felicia can do is keep working, and try to break through before everything gets erased. While she's not busy fighting a metallic titan like her two comrades, this seems rather taxing as well, but she doesn't quit easily. "You're not gonna beat me.... There's not a lock I can't break, and not a door I can't open... Now let me in, you piece of junk!" Emma grunts as she's grabbed and lifted by her arm. Bringing her free hand up to hold onto the claw, she swings her feet backward and then up at the tentacle holding her, hoping it'll let go...maybe. She turns the momentum from the downswing into more force behind a second attempt. Captain_America is lucky to have noticed the small panel at all amidst the chaos of lashing limbs and (quite literally) looming death. Nevertheless, as soon as the Avenger sets eyes on it, he instinctively grasps that this is his only -- his last -- chance. Quickly summoning up his final reserves of energy, he stands and settles into a combat pose. /Don't pass out,/ his mind murmurs over and over like a mantra, /You will -not- pass out...!/ At the moment of greatest opportunity, the Cap leaps forward, holding the shield like a steering wheel: hands at ten and two precisely. If his calculations are correct (not a sure thing in his present state -- is he running a fever now?) then the tip of the shield is about to become a very effective can opener. "Emma!" He shouts, hoping she sees what he's up to; Captain America could really use a diamond fist if that panel comes off... The Octo-bot whips Emma back and forth violently before releasing her, the motion sending her flying through the air back toward the closed elevator doors. Then it stumbles to the side as the Cap's shield strikes home, knocking open the belly-panel and exposing a tangled array of wires and circuits. This seems to anger the machine, or at least makes it focus on the super-soldier as a higher threat, for now it directs no less than five of its eight limbs on Steve. The limbs come at him from every side, trying to grab and strike and, in general, beat the all-american into a bloody pulp. The Black Cat, meanwhile, fights her own desperate battle with the computer, but just as it seems that all is lost, the data self-destruct halts. Many files have been wiped, though not all, and the actual operating system and file structure is still intact, albeit encrypted and password-protected. The_Black_Cat narrows her eyes.. She's still focused, but is aware that she's running out of time... She hears the fight going on further back and away, wishing she could stop and help them.. The look on her face brightens when she finally sees results. "Alright, I'm in! Just a little longer, guys!... Password, huh? Now, if I were an Octopus, what would my password be?" She doesn't expect many chances to crack the code, so she better make them count.. Emma slams up against the elevator doors and sliding down with the high-pitched Fingernails-On-The-Chalkboard sound. Once she hits the ground, though, she gets back on her feet and charges back at the bot. "Try 'Kill Spider-man'. Or maybe 'I am the biggest megalomaniac in the history of super-villainy'!" Aiming more to get herself at those wires than to relieve the Cap, at the moment, anyway. Fully healed and rested, Captain America would have handled the onslaught with a quick combination of dodges and parries. Maybe he even would have found an opening to rip the guts out of the machine... unfortunately the Cap is anything but well. The first swipe bounces off the shield, sending the Avenger staggering, while the second he only partially manages to dodge, getting clipped on the shoulder and spun around. "Unh!!" The Cap struggles to stay upright as massive splotches of color explode across his vision. Whatever trick Emma pulled has been undone by the sheer exhaustion of his body; he knows the next attack will fully connect. "Emma, F-Felicia! P-panel...!" That's it, his voice gives out as Captain America does the last sensible thing he can: he takes a step to put him in position for the next blow. A hit that will get him knocked clear of the thing's underside. He braces himself behind the shield as the leg slams it in the exact center of the star! "Aarrghhh!" Unable to hold it steady, the disc clips Cap across the brow, sending a bright stream of blood flying the same direction the Avenger does: about twenty feet away to sprawl against the floor. Cap rolls ten more feet and thuds into a wall. He doesn't move. A stray tentacle lashes out at Emma and misses, giving her, for a moment anyway, free access to wreck whatever havoc she wants at its guts. The mechanism clanks, whirrs, and buzzes angrily. The other arms, apart from the three supporting it, are moving in on the motionless Captain America -- going in for the kill! Time for guesses won't be much of a luxury. Instead, Felicia procures some decryption cables fitted within her glove, plugging them in and letting the program run, watching as numbers, letters, symbols and the like blur across the blank spaces at blazing speed, the program little by little decyphering the password, from letter to letter. It gives her time to look back, only to have no choice but watch as the captain is sent flying after warning her and Emma of the panel on the machine's 'belly'. The way he crumples only further frightens her! "Steve!!" Seeing the Octo-bot stomp towards him, she quickly searches around for something, anything to hurl at it, to grab its attention at least, even resorting to shouting, though her other arm stays stretched out while the decryption continues. "Hey! Get away from him! Over here!!! Come and get me, I'm right here!" Emma reaches up into the bot's 'guts', pulling out every wire or gear or whathaveyou what she can reach. And then, she just does it again. That diamond fist does stop with the havoc-wreaking until this thing stops, or until it stops her. The Octo-bot shudders violently, its tentacles falling short of the helpless Captain America. A few retract, reaching for Emma, but then the whole mechanism totters and falls over onto its side, going still. Seems Felicia got its attention at least for a few moments. Enough time for Emma to finish the bot off... Though she's very worried about Steve, she returns to the computer, watching as the letters begin to gradually come together on the screen. [b**nc**e... b*anc*le... brancale. Password Confirmed, Access Granted.] Felicia puzzles over the meaning of the word a moment, before speaking up quickly. "Alright, I've reached the database. There's not much left here, but..." For the moment, Felicia goes quiet, taking particular note of what's left..... Emma sits back a moment, her skin turning back to normal skin. She lets out a long breath before moving over to Steve's side. "Whatever you got, Kitten, it's more than we had before. I just hope it was worth all this." In regards to the computer files, there's not much left -- inventories and lists of equipment, mainly, though one of the remaining files contains Octavius's notes for a device to that uses crystalline objects (diamonds, emeralds, and other precious jewels and rare elements) to create a sphere in which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is blocked out. Though it's not the full schematics, it should be quite useful for certain /other/ geniuses. The elevator doors slide open, discharging a squad of SHIELD agents. Two of them, sporting red-cross armbands, immediately head over to the crumpled figure of Captain America while the others spread out. To the heroes go the victory; to SHIELD goes the clean-up. "All clear upstairs," says one, addressing Emma Frost. "Do you need medical attention?" Emma stands as the SHIELD agents arrive. "See to the Captain. He took the brunt of the attack down here. I've lowered the amount of pain he will be feeling should he wake up, but I'd appreciate it if you boys could give him a little something." She turns to look over her shoulder at Felicia, "Kitten, we'll need to get that information back to the towers, and over to Reed." Mission accomplished.