Arc Five. Chapter One Hundred Forty-Nine. Guilty By Association

Abomination roared and picking up speed, charged at Octave, who hoisted herself up on two of the limbs and prepared to avoid him.

Octave wasn't stupid, she knew in a match of brute strength that a hulk would overpower her, the formula running through their veins primarily affected their muscles, and from the amount that both the smaller man and Ross grew, that was all. She could expect a hard-hitting, long fight but with little tactics. After watching the reports on Harlem, and the fight that the Abomination and the Hulk had, they had resorted to simply punching each other until one couldn't move. To even call it brawling was an insult to brawlers. Which left her with a problem. 

While Octave was born from the newly enhanced Peter, they had no idea exactly what that meant. Even he was still learning what his new powers and abilities were, Octave was the same. This would be her first real fight since Natasha, and she doubted Abomination would pull his punches as she did.

As he ran towards her she tilted, pivoting on one limb and as he charged past she let the second limb support her while the other two darted out, and like Ross, impacted against the backs of his knees, hoping to disable his legs.

Abomination however was more armoured, bone plates jutted out from his shins and thicker skin covered the normally sensitive area. She needed a better plan against the bigger brute. Reaching out mentally, she felt static from his mind. Whatever the Banner formula did to his body, also made his mind an impenetrable fortress, or he was just too dumb, Octave had no idea which.

He laughed as he felt the impacts, “gotta do better, took an ‘it from the ‘ulk I did, an’ you ain’t ’im,” and digging a hand into the ground, he swivelled and rather than charging, launched himself at her, tearing up the asphalt road as he kicked off the ground.

Octave pushed off and as he sailed under her two limbs darted down and struck him on the neck, not to injure but to test. She swung like a gymnast on a bar as one limb kept her anchored to the ground and not just the harness limbs struck out but her own symbskin blades as well. Octave knew if her strength was unable to penetrate this mutated hulks hide then she would have no choice but to either flee or surrender, and as Wanda was currently hiding in the warehouse, fleeing was not an option.

Octave noticed that on his forearms and sides were small cuts, oozing green blood and while it wasn't perfect it was better than nothing. As she back away from the Abomination she felt the air  move behind her and tilted to one side as a giant red fist swung past where her chest had been moments ago,

“Oi, my fight Ross, back off,” Abomination complained but Ross admonished him

“This isn't supposed to be a fight idiot, grab her and stop playing around.”

Sorry Peter, Liv thought to herself and pacing back she spotted, grabbed and swung a parked car at Red, who crossed his arms, still went flying with the impact. As Abomination stepped forwards to swing another punch, Octave lifted herself on one limb and spun, letting the razor-sharp blades of not just the harness but her symbskin slash out in a pirouetting dervish of steel and symbiote. Even reaching out to Ross, she felt nothing but hate and anger from him. She would have to warn Peter that using telepathy against a hulk was pointless.

Sorry dear, I think we’re a bit outmatched with these two,

Octave growled, the Liv needs to train more and stop with the frenchy fries,

Liv laughed. I believe the one who ate that last large portion was you, and ducking under a fist, drove both a  clawed arm and a bladed fist into the side of Red, scoring a large gash across his side.

Abomination however grabbed a hold of another of her limbs and swung her up and then back down into the ground. With the wind knocked out of her, she was helpless as Abomination swung her again, and even trying to right herself with the other arms Red grabbed them and between them, they held her fast.

“Sorry Doctor, but attacking Military personnel requires you to come with us,” and Octave screeched as Red grabbed a hold of her and pulled. With her being held fast the symbiote had no choice and was ripped free from Liv, leaving both in excruciating agony,

“And I believe that a parasitic life form with no legal rights doesn't deserve to live.” Octave screeched and wriggled under Ross’s grip as his hand smoked and heated up.

“You monster, you monster!” Liv yelled as she watched Octave burn. She struggled but without Octave to aid her, the harness was held fast by the two hulks.

As she watched Octave writhe under the burning grip of Red, Liv calmed herself, struggling was getting her nowhere and with their attention on Octave, she took a breath and slapped the release on the front of the harness. Dropping to her feet, she ran forwards and grabbed at the symbiote, letting it flow over her arm,

Fuck you! She screamed in Ross’s mind, an unusual fit of rage taking her over and as Octave, hurt but alive, swan up her arm she kept a hold of Ross. How fucking dare you, she screamed, pushing herself forwards, Octave enveloped her hand, slithered around her body and coated her arm. She formed a blade and stabbed Red Hulk in the side, digging a hand into the cut and sending tendrils into Ross’s Body.

“Move a muscle you big mutant shit and I gut him from the inside,” Octave yelled at Abomination who paused, but Red Hulk was silent, his eyes fluttering as she assaulted his mind. Well, Peter did say that a physical connection made it easier.

He raged as he saw a young Bruce kissing his daughter and he vowed then that once Bruce had outlived his usefulness, that he would have a small accident.

He roared in rage as every attempt to capture Bruce and wring the formula from him was thwarted, even his latest recruit, Blonsky was reduced to a pile of broken flesh. His last favour from Pierce, a shipment of Super Soldier Serum, was now his only hope at containing the Hulk.

In his mind General Ross watched as Banner destroyed his tanks, sending the men running across the battlefield. Even the enhanced Blonksy was useless, they were all useless.

There was one bottle left after Abomination had left to find Hulk. One single bottle of Sterns formula amongst the ruined laboratory, and as he shook his head, he still rolled up his sleeve and injected himself. Setting the machine to click on and off, it followed the same preset that Blonskey had just used. Finally, he felt the raw power of the Hulk as it burned within him

He stared in awe as Bruce held up a bottle of formula, and with his blessing injected the rest of the newly formed ‘Thunderbolts.’ 

He still gave Bruce the stink eye as he found Betty and Bruce in a closet, the newly enhanced daughter of his ignoring his orders to keep away from Bruce. He had forgiven him for almost destroying his career, he was still sore about him taking Betty from him.

Pathetic, you're a worm, a nothing. Building your career on the backs of others, and we will make you suffer for the wrongs you have committed. You love your Hulk so much, then we will take it from you.

Octave had the advantage the others never knew, she had been born from the new Venom, enhanced by the Mind Stone and powered by the complete Peter. She was a new symbiote, whole and with all the powers of the rest, and more. With her hand digging to Ross’s side she extracted it, formed a syringe and then stabbed him once more, letting the Anti-Venom formula flow into his body.

“We will never forgive those who invade our home.” Octave spat at Ross, his body beginning to overheat as the de-powering formula spread.

Octave watched as Gwen was proven right. It started small, the wound on his side began to smoke and flicker as his cells met the Anti-Venom. As they reacted to the AV they returned to normal, releasing all the stored energy within and as the gamma energy stored within his cells was released, he burned.

General Ross screamed as his side caught fire and spread across his body, the smell of burning flesh of barbeque was abhorrent, and his screams of pain and terror added to the scene.

Octave stood and watched, he deserved this, and even as Ross shrank his body continued to cook.

“Please, help me,” he begged, falling to his knees and reaching for Octave.

Shaking her head she looked over at Abomination who shrugged. “I ain’t touchin’ that,” but it wasn't until the red energy enveloped Ross and the burning flesh stopped that Octave turned,

“Peter would not like you to kill a man outside his home.” Wanda stated, walking forwards, weaving her hands and stopping the anti-venom from killing Ross. “I can stop it, but you should Doctor, even if it is to stay with Peter for longer.” Octave sighed.

Damn conscience, she muttered and formed a new syringe full of symbcells. She knew the same cream they used to heal Natasha and themselves would stop the Anti-Venom from burning him from the inside, and she stabbed the frozen Ross again, injecting it into his side. “There, happy?” and she crossed her arms and huffed.

“Peter would be proud,” and Wanda patted Octave on the shoulder, “but uh, I think it might be too late anyway,” and looking around Wanda watched as a convoy of black armoured cars surrounded the group.

“Uh, do we fight?” she asked Octave, who shook her head and slipped back to Liv.

“No dear, we don't fight, we behave and let the grown-ups talk.” Liv pointed to an agent, well dressed, with a serious look on his face.

“Agent Coulson, Shield. I'm afraid that this little party has to break up ladies, and uh, well, Hulks.” and he motioned to a group of agents, positioned behind the car, pointing the same energy weapons that Wanda had seen in Sokovia.

“Are we under arrest?” Liv asked, and Coulson shook his head.

“Not right now, maybe for the car, but I'm sure we can blame him for that.”

“Oi,“ Abomination had shrunk back down to normal. “I didn't smash that up,“ but Coulson shrugged,

“No cameras. Harlem was pretty bad, Sergeant Blonsky. I'm sure you’ll have a hard time convincing anyone it wasn't you.” and Blonsky shook his head,

“Its Colonel, fuckin secret service, and what about ‘im?” he asked, pointing to Ross, still unconscious and badly burned by the Anti-venom. One whole half of his body was charred and even at this distance the smell of cooked flesh was abhorrent. 

Coulson shrugged. “Can’t touch him, he’s a general. Maybe see if you've got a radio and call your HQ, maybe just walk away, and we’ll finish cleaning up,” and Blonsky nodded, dropping the harness on the ground,

“Good fight Luv. Pity dick ‘ed here interfered,” and as Coulson raised an eyebrow, “not you,” and as he threw the unconscious Ross over his shoulder “this dick ‘ed,” he slapped the groaning Ross on his ass. “Right, have fun cleaning this mess up,” and ungracefully dumping Ross in the back of their ATV, Blonsky fished around in the driver's compartment until he found the keys, and waved as he drove off.

Coulson watched as the van left. “Sorry though. We do need to take you to Shield HQ, Ms Octavious and, I’m sorry, we don't have a file on you Ms?”

Wanda looked over at Liv who shrugged, “They’ll find out if they fingerprint you dear, might as well.”

“Maximov, Wanda Maximov,” and for once the agent's stoic face cracked, 

“Well. Shit” Liv heard him whisper.