Carol Danvers and Peter Parker's Apartment, 2am

"What the?" Peter Parker groaned as he the noise woke him from his slumber. Bringing his hand to his face he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. To his surprise the space next to him that was normally occupied by his girlfriend was empty. Shaking his head he turned his attention back to the noise and realized it was his phone. Letting out another groan he reached out and answered it.

"Hello?" he spoke into the phone, doing his best to sound awake.

"Pete its me."

"Carol? Where the hell are you? Its like 2am" Peter replied as he sluggishly laid back on the bed holding the phone to his ear.

"I had to come to the Avengers HQ . We had a lead and….Oh god Pete its happening again" Carol replied.

Now Peter was awake. The nervousness in his girlfriend's voice gave her away and if Carol was nervous about something then whatever it was could not be good.

"What do you mean its happening again?" Spider-man asked as he sat upright.

"Blacklight. We're heading to Penn Station now."

These words were enough for Peter to leap out of bed and run straight for his costume.

"I'm on my way" he replied before hanging up.

"He's coming" Ms. Marvel said turning back to the other Avengers.

"Good we need everything we've got on this" Captain America replied as they headed for the hanger were the jet was kept. They single filed into it in silence well most of them did.

"Road trip! Hell yeah!" Deadpool shouted as he climbed into jet and took his seat.

"Ok here's what we know. The target is Alex Mercer. He was infected with an experimental virus called Blacklight although his is not the same strain that was released last year but it was based off the same design" Stark began.

"Cut the crap Tony what have you got that we can use to take this son of a b**** down?" Hawkeye asked interrupting him.

"I haven't had time to cook up anything special but we have numbers and superior tech between us he shouldn't be an issue."

"Stark I don't want to sound rude but you weren't here last time this happened" Mockingbird began seeing Clints eye's twitch in annoyance. "This guy isn't some C-lister. Alex Mercer manhandled nearly all of us at the same time. We need more than just a possibility of a take down."

"I didn't have time to work on anything that can definitely win us the fight so we'll just have to work with what we have" Iron Man replied as the metal mask slammed over his face and he took his place next to Ms. Marvel.

"They're right you know?" Carol began turning to the armored man sitting next to her. "This guy isn't some small fry villain. He's dangerous."

"What do you expect us to do sit back and do nothing? The virus has only just been released, now is the best time for us to contain it" Iron Man replied solemnly. He knew they were unprepared but what choice did they have? Carol sighed. She knew he was right. Everything had happened too quickly for a proper response to be generated.

"So you and Spider-man huh?"

Carol turned back to Tony to find his robotic eye pieces focused on her. "Yeah" Ms. Marvel replied smiling slightly as she thought of the web-swinger.

"I've got to admit I was surprised to say the least. I would have thought someone like Parker would have driven you mad" Tony continued.

"Oh he does" Carol replied still smiling. It was true sometimes Peter's carefree attitude drove her military mind completely bonkers but that was one of the things she liked about him. He was always able to cheer her up no matter what was wrong.

"Well I'm happy for you. I haven't seen you smile while thinking about many people in the past" Tony replied looking at her. "I guess he still hasn't forgiven me for…." His voice trailed off as he remembered the events of Civil War.

"Well would you Tony?" Carol asked a slight note of sourness in her voice.

"No. I wouldn't" Iron Man admitted. "Before all that happened and even during it I thought of him like my brother. When it all turned into a shit-storm I was too focused and convinced that what I was doing was right I didn't even stop to think what I was doing."

"Is that supposed to be an excuse?" Ms. Marvel asked turning away from him angrily.

"No. It isn't and some of what was done there should never have happened but it did and there's nothing I can do to change that now. All I can do is live with the guilt and get on with it" Stark finished as he turned to the front of the plane.

The plane touched down in the street opposite Penn Station and the Avengers walked out and surveyed the building in front of them.

"it's been almost an hour. We don't know if he's still in there or not" Steve said as he turned to his team. "Carol and Tony will take the front entrance. Spider-woman you and…."

"Oh me pick me!" Deadpool suddenly piped up. Before Spider-woman could utter a word of protest Steve continued.

"Fine Deadpool and Spider-woman you try and find an alternative route in. Mockingbird, Hawkeye, Black Widow and myself will take the back. We get in and if Mercer is still there we encircle him and attack him from all sides" he finished looking round to make sure everyone understood.

They all humped as the sound of slow clapping resonated down the deserted street.

"Brilliant plan. Take the enemy by surprise using shock and awe to force them into submission."

The Avengers heads snapped round at the sound of the voice to find Alex Mercer leaning against the doorframe of building opposite the station.

"Oh crap" Mockingbird muttered as she realized the element of surprise was gone.

"I can't really see a fault with that plan" Alex finished flexing his fingers as he did.

"You should have stayed dead" Hawkeye growled putting an arrow into his bow.

"Why are you doing this?" Carol asked trying to find some kind of reasoning behind Mercer's actions.

"Because humans are weak, feeble, arrogant and narcissistic. When everyone is infected there will be no more war. No more racial discrimination. No more free will to poison your minds. I'm looking to create a better world. A stronger world" Mercer replied eyeing the Avengers.

He knew they were just stalling. Trying to find a way to catch him off guard. At that moment all the Avengers who had been present could sense something was wrong. This Alex was different. Sure he hadn't been a particularly nice guy the last time they saw him and they even knew he was insane enough to release the virus as he had already done it but there was always something human about the Alex they had previously encountered. The man they were currently facing however was completely different. His eyes were cold, predatory, deadly. There was something unhinged about him.

"It's not too late to stop this son" Captain America said stepping forward. Something flashed across Alex's eyes as the super-soldier moved into his vision but instantly disappeared.

"I'm afraid it is. The virus is already air-born by tomorrow this whole part of the city will be infected" Mercer replied matter of factly.

"Oh god" Jessica breathed the images of what happened last time flashing through her mind.

"Take him" Iron Man growled engaging his repulsers and flying forward. Mercer didn't even make one movement to avoid Stark's blow and took it head on but didn't budge an inch.

"Not bad. I almost felt that" Mercer said smiling as he grabbed Iron Man's armored arm and threw him through a building to his left.

"Well that's not good" Carol thought as she heard the crashing noises as Stark continued smashing through the walls.

Alex's attention flashed back to them and raising his hand he snapped his fingers, spikes began to erupt from the ground sending tarmac and cars flying in all directions. The Avengers quickly scattered to avoid getting hit by the rubble.

Steve's foot hit the floor hard as he landed but after years of combat training landing right was second nature and with the grace of an Olympic gymnast he twisted putting full momentum into the vibrainium shield. It flashed from his hands ricocheting from a nearby building and sped towards the back of Mercer's head. Without even turning round Alex sidestepped and the shield flew harmlessly past him. As the shield returned to his hands Steve's mind was racing. He knew from the briefing that had been given to them that Mercer's stats were incredibly high. Strength was undefined but was estimated to between 80 and 90tons, speed to easily outrun speeding cars, agility and reflexes that could match Spider-man. Ontop of that he could shapeshift and modify his appearance but the way he'd avoided his attack denoted experience. Mercer had known where his shield was heading. Captain America's jaw clenched slightly. Mercer knew his fighting style. How was that possible? Before he had time to come to a conclusion Mercer was on him.

His fist lashed out and Steve was only just fast enough to bring his shield up defensively. He was lifted off the floor by Mercer's blow and sent flying back.

"You know I really owe you some payback for beating the crap out of me at Osborn's lab" came a voice from behind. Mercer's eyes flashed round as five throwing daggers hit him squarely in the back. Deadpool was standing not far away knives in hand.

"Really? Knives? I can take an explosion big enough to decimate a town and you think knives will stop me?" Mercer muttered pulling one of them out.

"One day I was sitting bored in a warehouse and decided to combine two of my passions" Deadpool continued.

"Are you going somewhere with this?" Alex continued swatting Spiderwoman to one side as she lunged at him.

"Well my passions are sharp object and things that go boom" Deadpool finished pulling a detonator from one of his pockets. Alex's eyes shot to the knife in his hand. The handle was coated in plastic explosive and a small smiley face had been drawn into the putty-like substance.

"Son of a…." Alex growled not having time to finish before Deadpool pressed the button setting the five explosives off simultaneously.

"Annnnnd boom goes the dynamite! Deadpool wins!" the mercenary shouted triumphantly throwing the detonator to one side.

"I told you. I can take an explosion big enough to destroy a town that did nothing but tickle. However you and your toys are starting to annoy me" Alex growled emerging from the crater caused by the explosions his wounds already almost fully regenerated.

Tony got back to his feet and sped back to the fight. Mercer had thrown him through three full buildings. It was his own fault though he'd underestimated Alex. He wouldn't be making that mistake again. He collided with Mercer and lifted the infected off the floor. Mercer growled in surprise and drove his elbow in Iron Man's helmet. The visor flashed as the blow destroyed some of the electronics in the eyepieces and Tony quickly dropped Alex before he could cause more damage. Mercer landed with a thud but quickly got back to his feet. He was no longer calm and collected whatever his original plan had been his face now denoted rage.

"He doesn't look very happy" Natasha commented darkly as she saw the murderous look in Alex's eyes. Instead of attacking he opened his mouth and let out an ear pitching shriek. It wasn't a cry of pain, frustration or annoyance there was something else behind it and as soon as he'd finished the Avengers realized what it was. Creatures began to emerge from the station. Their feral snarls breaking the silence.

"Oh not these guys again" Clint cursed recognizing the Hunters. The Hunters lunged at the Avengers with the same terrifying ferocity the Avengers who had been there before remembered them for. Natasha rolled to one side as the long knife-like claws buried in the area she had previously occupied.

"How do we put these things down?" she shouted to Ms. Marvel as she realized the creatures weren't even feeling her bullets.

"Aim for the head it seems to slow them down at the very least" the blonde woman replied as she threw one of the snarling creatures away from her. "Same old tricks huh?" Carol shouted at Alex. She'd seen how easily he'd been provoked earlier and thought if she could keep him on edge he might make a mistake. Mercer eyed her distastefully before replying.

"You want to see something new? Fine" he said a smile curving his lips. He raised his hand, placed his thumb and middle finger together and clicked them audibly.

At first Carol didn't understand what the significance of this action but it soon became apparent as the ground began to shake. The roof of the station flew off in a shower of bricks and cement and from it emerged a massive creature the likes of which Carol had never seen. It was immense. How it ever fit in the station in itself was a mystery. Alex's eye's flashed briefly to the creature then back to the Avengers.

"I realized how unimaginative the previous wielders of Blacklight were when I began to experiment with my abilities. I call this a juggernaut. Quite fitting yes?"

"Oh shit" Natasha gasped looking at the size of the creature that prepared to attack them.

Alex's Apartment 6am

"NO!" Alex shouted as he shot up, his head suddenly clear. His eyes whipped around the apartment wildly. "Whats going on?" he muttered pulling himself to his feet.

He remembered passing out but not much else. Suddenly the images of the Avengers entered his mind. He could see himself attacking them as clear as if it had just happened. What was causing these visions. Was it just his mushed up memories or maybe his mind was playing with him. Either way it disturbed him how real they felt. Alex could almost legitimately feel the hate he had held for the Avengers in that vision and yet he had no reason to. His head throbbed and he dragged himself over to the couch and pulled himself on flicking on the television hoping a little background noise may help. In fact it had the exact opposite effect as he saw the footage the news channel was broadcasting. His eyes widened, his chest clenched and his stomach churned with horror as he watched and listened to the tele.

"My name is Alex Mercer and you people of New York have all been deceived. The virus that ravaged your city last year was created and released by Blackwatch. The very organization you chose to defend you from it. You are all fools. Even your so called heroes stand by these murderers." Alex watched himself on the TV as his hand went off camera before pulling a battered and bloody Tony Stark into the frame.

"These Avengers. They side with people who have killed untold amounts of people for personal gain" he continued throwing Iron Man aside like a ragdoll. "You are clearly incapable of thinking for yourselves. You cannot be trusted with your own lives. Your stupidity will destroy everything. Thus I take it upon myself to eradicate this disease. Blackwatch, Gentek and any of their affiliates watching this consider this a declaration of war. I am the king of New York and you, you are in my land. Make the most of what is left of your lives" he finished as the camera feed cut.

"This video was sent to us anonymously..." the anchor began but Alex was no longer listening. He couldn't process what he had just seen.

As he'd watched the feed he could remember filming it and yet at the same time it was as if it wasn't actually him. It was like when you wake up from a dream. You remember you had it but you can't remember it exactly. He was snapped out of his thoughts by his mobile phone ringing.

"Yes?" he asked in a dazed tone of voice.

"Alex!" He recognized his sister's voice instantly. "Alex what the f*** was that? It's all over the news even out here. You just publicly declared war on Blackwatch? What happened to laying low? Do you know how many people will die now that they know you're still alive and send their full-force after you?" Dana shouted angrily down the line.

"No. It wasn't me" Alex replied quickly.

"What do you mean not you?" Dana asked her tone changing from angry to confused.

"I don't know. I passed out and…I can't….Something's wrong with me. I'm blacking out and seeing things that I thought were just dreams or inventions of my mind but they're not they're real but you need to believe that wasn't me that was someone else! I have to go I need to figure this out" he finished hanging up. He didn't like leaving Dana in the dark but he didn't know what was going on either and until he did he needed to keep her at arm's length where she couldn't get hurt.

"Alex!?" Dana growled down the line as it went static. "Son of a b****. He hung up."

"Well what did he say?" Ragland asked looking from the TV to Dana worriedly.

"He said it wasn't him. That he's been blacking out and seeing things" she replied frustratedly. Ragland didn't reply but his eyes gave away his worry. "You know something about this don't you?" Dana asked recognizing the look.

"Alex talked to me a month ago about light-headedness and again yesterday saying he'd passed out. At the time I thought nothing of it but after that second phone call where he said he was remembering things he hadn't done it set off alarm bells in my head."

"What are you talking about?" Dana asked.

"I didn't think that it could happen due to how he functions I thought he could handle it."

"Whats happening to him?" Dana demanded impatiently turning to Ragland.

"I fear it's all the people he's absorbed. His mind is a mess and it might be making him schizophrenic or even causing dis-associative personality disorder" Ragland replied worriedly.

"Split-personalities?" Dana asked in horror. Ragland nodded.

"He's absorbed so many people all with different emotions and all of them are rolling around in his mind. It would not take much for one to take root. When he blacks out I think it might be this other personality taking over. It explains how he remembers it but can't fully understand why or how it's happening."

"So the Alex we saw on TV is this other personality?"

"I think so. This is bad. If Alex can shift between these personalities at any point it makes him incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. I'm going to call some friends and see if there's anything I can do."

"Why don't we just ring him up and tell whats going on?"

"Not advisable. Right now the other Alex is only in control for short periods of time and thats most likely because it doesn't feel threatened. If we tell Alex about this, the other personality might force its way into control and that would be a major problem for everyone."

"F***. I need to get to New York before this all goes to shit!" Dana replied getting to her feet and running to the door.

"Wait Dana its not safe. This other Alex isn't your brother he could kill you without any hesitation don't…." but the only reply Bradley got was the door slamming.

Note: I know this update was a longtime coming. Unfortunately my hard-drive died on me so I lost all of my data and I had other things to prioritize before continuing with this.