Part III: The Champion of the Gods/Mission: Backdoor

== The Day Before the Mission ==
Captain Marvel calls Hunter to C.E.N.T.R.A.L. to advise that she's decrypted part of the data drive from Crossbones. Surprisingly it wasn't intelligence on Hydra, it was about the Avengers and the Midnight Suns. He had files on all of them, including their strengths and weaknesses, mostly the latter.
There's another section that she can't access due to its multiple layers of encryption. It will take a while to decrypt, but Captain America could make the process go faster. However, he was there when the drive was first unlocked, and with him already being on edge about Crossbones, seeing the data really set him off.
As Hunter leaves to go convince Cap to return, they ask what the files said about them. Strangely, there was nothing about Hunter in the data. 
Captain America is sitting out in the Yard by himself. When Hunter tells him that Carol needs help, he says that he still doesn't want anything to do with those files. He explains that when Crossbones mentioned the "old man", he was referring to the Red Skull, one of Captain America's oldest enemies. The Red Skull was the head of Hydra during the war, and he was obsessed with the occult. Captain America believes that Crossbones wants him to use the tools of his oldest enemy against his newest. Hunter finally convinces Cap that the enemy of your enemy is your friend, and he agrees to go back.
==Mission: Backdoor==
Steve and Carol are with Logan at C.E.N.T.R.A.L.. They've decrypted documents about "Project Gottmorder", something Red Skull was working on back during World War II. There are maps showing tunnels dug during the war, and some that are possibly older. It's not clear where they go, but it looks like there may be something important down there. Steve trusts the information enough to want to launch a reconnaissance mission, and asks Logan to take charge. His tracking abilities will help the squad find whatever Hydra is hiding down there. 
The team arrives on site and explores the tunnels for about 20 minutes without finding anything. Hunter is becoming impatient, but Wolverine says that they're close to whatever he is detecting. He is right; they turn a corner and find a room with a vault. There are a number of dead Hydra troops in the room who were apparently killed when trying to get to the vault.
They spot a Lilin looking down on them from above. Wolverine and Hunter both sense that the creature is different than usual, more feral. Several more Lilin appear and the group attacks the heroes.
After defeating the Lilin, the team moves to open the vault. Wolverine's claws make short work of the locking mechanism. Inside they find a glass case with a dagger, the "Godkiller", inside. When Wolverine breaks the glass, an alarm sounds. Hunter grabs the dagger and seems to be mesmerized, their eyes turning purple and a vision of Chthon's red eyes in their mind. Wolverine snaps Hunter out of it and they escape the facility.
As they exit, they can see the Temple of Chthon. A moment later, Fallen Hulk comes bounding in and attacks. The heroes hold him off as long as they can, but eventually they are cornered up against an edge with a steep drop below. Hulk offers to let the other go if Hunter returns to Lilith with him, but they refuse. 
Fallen Hulk stomps the ground, causing the heroes to fall off the edge. As they are tumbling to near-certain death, one of Magik's portals opens mid-air and they fall into it to safety.
== That Night ==
Caretaker tells Hunter that the hilt of the Godkiller looks like it is made of the same material as Hunter's collar. This seems impossible, as the collar is made of orichalcum, the metal of Atlantis. She wants Doctor Strange to examine it to learn the truth. She's also feeling some mixed emotions, thinking that once Lilith is defeated and killed, the Blood will be nearly extinct, and her sister will be dead.
Doctor Strange calls Hunter to ask them to come to the Forge, saying that it is urgent. Strange has started studying the Godkiller and has found occult emanations unlike anything he's ever encountered before. Hunter reveals that when they picked it up, they saw the face of Chthon. Strange believes this is more than a mere artifact; it is something that could change the direction of the battle against Lilith. However, the safest option is to keep it in the Forge where he can study it more. No one should handle it until he knows what it is for sure.
== The Next Day ==
At night, Agatha and most of the Midnight Suns are in the Common Room talking. Wanda, the subject of the conversation, is notably absent. The Suns have come to the conclusion that Wanda is the only one powerful enough to face Lilith, but they are concerned that she may not be ready for it, or may not want to do it. Blade declares that if she doesn't want to do it, then one of them will need to convince her.
== The Following Day ==
A group of heroes is gathered in the War Room getting a report on the situation in Transia. S.H.I.E.L.D. has decided to take a more aggressive approach to securing the country, sending a squad in to attack Fallen Hulk directly. Tony and Caretaker try to reason with the agent, telling him to pull back. A moment later Hulk is heard attacking the squad and the communication cuts off with a scream.
Next: Part III: The Champion of the Gods/Mission: The Witch on Wundagore Mountain
Category:Story