"Do you see now how outmatched you are, 'Heroes'?" Octopus taunted, flinging Luke's beaten body around like a doll at the end of one Hammer-enhanced robotic arm. "Any war is always won by the side with superior technology. And my technology is the most advanced in the world."

"Dr. Horton might take issue with that..." Torch muttered under his breath, even as he burned an exit through the factory wall for himself and his allies. "We weren't ready to handle this Iron Fist! We need to regroup, we can come back and expose this operation now that we know it's here."

"Yeah... yeah," Danny nodded reluctantly. It vexed him to let a gloating scumbag like Doctor Octopus walk free, but he wasn't in a position to do anything about it without the muscle it would take to overcome Octavius' new Hemmertech armor. He was tempted to sic the Captain and Punisher on the Sinister Six and let the chips fall where they may.

"Don't forget your trained gorilla," Octopus jeered, flinging Luke's helpless form at Iron Fist like a limp sack of rocks. Danny bounced aside, knowing that even unconscious Luke could do more damage to him than the floor would do to Luke. The Heroes for Hire hoisted him up and retreated, taking the chance Octavius had given them. He watched them go, grinning smugly.

"You're just going to let them go?" Vulture asked, swooping down to perch next to Octopus.

"I've beaten them twice already. If they are arrogant enough to get in my way again it will be just as easy to administer a third thrashing. It is enough to prove my mental superiority and dominance over this city... I needn't bloody my hands on a pointless skirmish."

Vulture backed down, satisfied by Otto's answer for now. Killing heroes did tend to escalate things to a degree they weren't looking for. Kicking around some mercenary "heroes" in the streets was one thing, but murdering them might call down the wrath of the Avengers and put a halt to the Sinister Six's plans. Better to keep things low-key until they had firmly established their power base. Then, when they were the undisputed kings of New York, then they would start making some changes.

"We're back," came Gargan not long after. While Dr. Octopus has been fending off the mayor's superpowered goon-squad, Gargan had led the mission to free Electro after his ill-timed breakdown. "Everything went smoothly. No complications."

"Excellent," Doctor Octopus said, though despite their success he wasn't smiling. Rhino lumbered in to the compound behind Mac holding the still manacled Electro by the scruff of his neck. Octopus rose on his arms until he was eye level with Electro, who failed to meet the mad doctor's gaze.

"Electro. Your little stunt very nearly compromised our team's entire agenda. Do you know we had a visit from the Heroes for Hire this evening? Our secret base is no longer very secret. Can you guess why that is?"

"Sorry, Doc, I wasn't meaning to, ahh, what I mean is-"

"Shut up!" Octopus snapped, watching Electro squirm. Good... The Sinister Six were a powerful weapon but they needed to remember who had built that weapon, and whose hand wielded it. His newly strengthened tentacles clacked dangerously in the air around them, as though itching to compress around Electro's unprotected head until it popped. Instead, a glance from Otto told Rhino to put a squeeze on Electro. The young villain heaved in pain, his body dicharging current against Rhino's insulated armor. Doctor Octopus watched on without pity.

"You are reckless Electro... you need to be disciplined."

"No boss, I won't screw up again, I swear! It was just a fluke, I got messed up in the head, I-"

"Don't bother pleading to me," Octavius stopped him. He lifted away, giving Max some breathing room. In his place however came a skull-faced figure that Max didn't recognize, every bit as fearsome as Otto's scowl.

"Electro, meet your new Taskmaster. He has been hired to whip you into shape, by any means necessary. From now on, you will obey his orders unquestioningly save for any that conflict with mine. If you fail to keep up with his training you won't have a place here on the Sinister Six... or amongst the living."

Rhino dragged the whimpering Electro off with Taskmaster at his side, no doubt to begin training harsher than any military bootcamp. With that dealt with, Scorpion once again approached Octopus.

"Alright, I did what you asked. Now you're gonna hold up your side of the deal?"

"Of course Scorpion. It just so happens that your goals have lined up precisely with my own. Our final strike against the city of New York will make it totally clear who this city belongs to, and no superheros or gangsters or assassin cult will dare to cross us!"

Nevermind I found it, getting XP up now.

Heroes for Hire
1) Luke Cage 98 [1]
w/ Unstoppable 5, Thunderbolts 8 (Defenders)
2) Iron Fist 70
3) Human Torch 85 [3]
w/ Careful Aim 6
4) Shang-Chi 58 [6]
5) Misty Knight 16
Squad Total: 340



Team Experience

Volume 1, Arc 5, Issue #14
Start game XP

R Iron Fist 70 (7/7) [5,1]
(R FF-046, E FF-047, V SI-004, V FF-048)
V Luke Cage 85 (8/8) [2,2] + {1} = [2,3]
(R FF-49, V AV-016, E FF-50, V CA-14)
W/ Unstoppable 5, W/ Thunderbolts ATA 8
E Black Knight 64 (6/6) [11,2]
(R FF-004, E FF-005)
E Shang-Chi 58 (6/6) [19,3] + {6}[1,2] = [21,1]
(E AV-012)
w/ lunge 5, w/ Marvel Knights ATA 10
R Felicia Hardy 29 (5/5) [2,3]
(R CT-022, LE CT-1008)
w/ pounce 15
E Punisher 65 (6/6) [0,1]
(R UL-052, E UL-053, E IH-010, E IH-011, E IH-023)
E Human Torch (7/7) [15,1] + {3}[0,3] = [16,0]
(E SI-017)
w/ Careful Aim 6
V Hercules 83 (9/9) [17,2]
(R IC-118, E IC-119, V IC-120)
Colleen Wing 10/13 (2/2) [8,1]
(FF B005)
Misty Knight 12/16 (2/2) [5,0]
(FF B004)
Nurse 10 (3/3) [1,0]
( R WOS-004)
TXP [95,3] + {10}[2,2] = [98,1]
Team Total: 592 (627 w/feats)Squad Size: 350









Volume 1, Arc 5, Issue #14
End game XP/ Start Issue #15 XP

R Iron Fist 70 (7/7) [5,1]
(R FF-046, E FF-047, V SI-004, V FF-048)
V Luke Cage 85 (8/8) [2,3]
(R FF-49, V AV-016, E FF-50, V CA-14)
W/ Unstoppable 5, W/ Thunderbolts ATA 8
E Black Knight 64 (6/6) [11,2]
(R FF-004, E FF-005)
E Shang-Chi 58 (6/6) [21,1]
(E AV-012)
w/ lunge 5, w/ Marvel Knights ATA 10
R Felicia Hardy 29 (5/5) [2,3]
(R CT-022, LE CT-1008)
w/ pounce 15
E Punisher 65 (6/6) [0,1]
(R UL-052, E UL-053, E IH-010, E IH-011, E IH-023)
E Human Torch (7/7) [16,0]
(E SI-017)
w/ Careful Aim 6
V Hercules 83 (9/9) [17,2]
(R IC-118, E IC-119, V IC-120)
Colleen Wing 10/13 (2/2) [8,1]
(FF B005)
Misty Knight 12/16 (2/2) [5,0]
(FF B004)
Nurse 10 (3/3) [1,0]
( R WOS-004)
TXP [98,1]
Team Total: 592 (627 w/feats)Squad Size: 350