Chapter 33: West Coast Tribulations

[yendorj]

“Anyone else I’d scrap with for saying that. Their relationship reminded me of mine, and how grateful I’d be if I could leave a battle with the woman I married.”

He grins when Iron Man pipes up. “Jubilee’s right, Nefaria. Though... Batroc is tempting. Reminds me of the elf.”

[doc]

Jubilee responded to Tabitha. "Batroc. Batroc happened. People underestimate him because of the mustache and the accent but then you remember he's an absolutely lethal combatant. So yeah, like Kurt." He looked at Logan, then as Blink landed. "We chased off Nefaria, beat the bad guys, now Zemo Senior wants us to turn over his kid and form his own superteam that the Avengers will have to fight in a couple months."

Zemo snapped his fingers. "Oh, look, it's the time-displaced people offering their critique. May I ask you all a question - wouldn't you prefer not to have to continue the exact same struggle as the previous generation? I know I tried it-" His eyes drifted to Cap. "I cannot say I recommend it."

"I'm not inclined to turn over a criminal to your custody, Helmut." Cap clenched his jaw. "You don't represent any government or institution-"

"A fact of which I'm quite proud."

"Can I just smash him?" Gabby chimed in. "I've still got a thousand options on this suit I haven't tried yet - ooh! Maybe there's lightsabers! Please tell me that's an -"

"Sorry, system is collapsing. System was overloaded by frequent mode-switching." Friday chirped.

Tony sighed. "There's a reason I stopped using that armor. Never could work out the modular-wear-out problem."

Gabby's armor collapsed, leaving only the helmet, which reconfigured itself into a Deadpool-style motif. "I'm sticking with you. You're fun." Friday giggled.

"Uhm...no, that's an advanced Stark AI and -"

Jen raised an eyebrow. "You're not about to call a sentient AI property, are you? As your lawyer, I really don't recommend it."

Gabby took a moment to process it. "Aww! The GM didn't want me to have the cool suit! I wasn't going to break the game too much! Well, at least I have a new sidekick who I'm sure won't just be providing expository infodumps and commentary."

Friday's holo-avatar smirked. "You're weird. I like you."

"It seems you have your own internal dramas to deal with - may I have my son and leave you to your own very pressing business?" Zemo shot back as Fixer joined his side.

[yendorj]

"For once, Gabby makes sense, if she still had her nifty toy."

[kurff]

We could try to take him down, but further violence seems pointless. The Zemo that nearly killed her seems to have tamed down. Not sure why. This idea of villains fighting villains would keep them at odds with each other. still, she would be ready, she remembers the last encounter with Zemo in the Savage land that had her in surgery. Perhaps Stark could provide a countermeasure to that. Not a suit that did everything for her, just one that assisted. Blink puts the face plate back down and sends a text message to Tony.

"Any chance of getting a suit? Something light, agile, and to help to teleport with better guidance, to help carry arrows and throwable weapons better? Heck even get us a better Avengers suits to wear? We can talk later." she hits the send button. While she was taking to Hawk-eyes philosophy of natural skill a little tech could not hurt, provided it did not make her lazy or become a crutch. Once the message was sent she looks to the villains.

"Zemo, I get where you are coming from. That said, Cap has fair a point. We have civilians to keep in mind." Blink adds, "I would have one question, If we did let you take him would you be willing to cooperate to some degree with us? Your history as it is does leave a few concerns as you can imagine. You are not one to share power."

[dakota]

"Batroc? You mean the crazy french guy?No thanks, I watched him and Taskmaster spar once, and I'd rather take my chances with Nefaria than either one of them." Tabitha said before turning to Cap and the latest arrival, "Okay, that's Zemo, who's the second...,"she trailed off, uncertain if the they were being insulted or not, "Thanks, but we don't really need career advice from a guy impersonating a purple sock puppet." She gave the elder Zemo a thumbs up and a wink. "Cap, we let them walk, we're just gonna have kick their tails again once he regroups."

[doc]

Zemo turned to Blink first. "I will work with any who would see the benefit in a finer world. I should make very clear I do not suffer from my father's Nazi ideology, and welcome any ethnicity. I'm a meritocrat at heart."

"More like an Aristocrat." Songbird fired back.
"With a sense of Noblesse Oblige and an inferiority complex." Moonstone, though still groggy and restrained by She-Hulk, added in. "and that's my professional opinion."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure your license was revoked a long time ago." She-Hulk added.

Helmut cleared his throat "Nevertheless, what shall be our arrangement? I would very much like to take my son home for discipline. I guarantee it shall be long before he troubles you again. The word of a true Zemo."

It was the teenage Jolt who jumped to the forefront of the crowd. "Your word? You lied to me for months! You're criminal! You've tried to take over the world several times!"

"This is true, and for what it is worth, Hallie, I am sorry for lying to you. I have been, as you say, a villain, but I believe I have changed. I offer a better world for all. I simply do not suffer the bureaucracy of petty men, like you do with Henry Gyrich and his ilk. Do you truly believe yours is a better way?"

"I do." Captain America spoke up. "It's not perfect, but I believe that everyone should be given a choice."

"Then that means you have to make sure there is an alternative. There is no choice without options, Captain." You all can imagine the smile beneath the mask.

Jubilee sighed. "Alright, enough with the freshmen debate club. Cap? Hand over Kid Zemo to Pappy. Avengers charter says its my call anyways."

"Jubilee read the rulebook. All sorts of new and exciting things." Gabby smirked as she put on her helmet. "Don't mind me, I'm going to see what stuff Tony Stark doesn't want me to see on this helmet!"

Atlas handed over the younger Zemo's unconscious form. The two men locked eyes. "You're still welcome, Erik."

"I...no, sorry." Atlas stepped back towards Tabitha.

Fixer gave Blink a wink. "Stark might not be interested in making your a suit, but I'll certainly help. Call me."

"Don't call him." M.A.C.H IV answered back.
"Total Creep." Jolt added.

U.S. Agent stirred. "What...what hit me?"