Chapter 30: The Raft.

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(General P.O.V)

The Raft.

A super Max prison built in the Atlantic ocean. One designed to hold the worst of the worst supervillains. Funded by the US government after the Hulk and the Abomination had torn up Harlem.

Credit for it's construction and security systems went to a few very notable names. Reed Richards, Tony Stark and Adam Brashear.

These factors ensured that it was one of the most secure facilities in North America if not the world.

******

Within a reinforced observation room, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross stood before a panoramic wall of monitors, each displaying a different angle of the Raft's collosal structure.

The low hum of machinery reverberated through the room as the supermax prison gradually emerged from the Atlantic's depths, bathed in the pale light of the overcast sky.

Ross's stern countenance was illuminated by the soft glow of the monitor screens, as he oversaw the carefully orchestrated operation.

The Raft's emergence was a meticulously choreographed ballet of technology and engineering, massive hydraulic arms slowly elevating the prison's structure above the waterline.

Water cascaded down its exterior, dissipating into misty clouds before disappearing into the churning waves below.

"Status report."

Ross commanded, his gravelly voice slicing through the ambient sounds.

A crisp response came over the intercom, "Emergence sequence proceeding according to schedule, General. External hull integrity is holding steady, and the stabilization systems are online."

Ross's steely eyes remained locked on the screens as he watched the Raft rise further, its imposing bulk taking shape against the dark horizon.

Specialized personnel in body armor patrolled the halls of the cellblocks, wielding shock batons that were primed to each individuals d.n.a.

Others moved across the Raft's surface, conducting maintenance tasks and resupply operations.

The intercom crackled again, relaying information from the control center, "Resupply pods are docked and initiating transfer of provisions. Security systems are on standby for the duration of the emergence."

General Ross nodded, acknowledging the update. He was well aware of how vulnerable they were.

The Raft housed some of the most dangerous individuals on the planet, and only during its scheduled maintenance periods, could someone from the outside get to it.

Security during these instances was paramount.

The hydraulic arms adjusted their positions, ensuring the prison's stability as it transitioned from its submerged state to its exposed one. Finally it sat like a monolithic sentinel against the backdrop of the Atlantic.

"Notify me when it's time to submerge" Ross ordered.

******

In a particular cell bathed in scarlet light, a man lacking skin on his face, had his limbs encased within a machine that kept him medically asleep. This was achieved through pumping a small dose of a special neurotoxin through his veins.

But even after taking into account his biological functions, they did not anticipate his will.

Thus, the Red Skull opened his eyes.

******

Amidst the dark expanse of the ocean, a thick shroud of mist concealed the monstrous figure of Dracula as he hovered above the turbulent waters.

His leathery wings beat with a rhythmic intensity, the sound muffled by the mist's damp embrace.

The eerie silence of the night was shattered only by the distant roar of crashing waves against the outer surface of the Raft.

Dracula's eyes, crimson and piercing, glowed faintly within the concealing fog as he scanned the prison's towering structure.

The mist wrapped around him like a protective cloak, making him entirely invisible to the prison's advanced surveillance systems.

"It is time."

He said, his voice carrying with it a deep baritone.

His lips moved, briefly exposing sharp fangs as he whispered on the wind, beginning to weave his dark magic.

From his perch above the waves, Dracula unleashed his power—a hypnotic enchantment that spread through the prison's electronic systems like a creeping vine.

One by one, monitors flickered and dimmed, cameras froze.

The mist thickened, swirling with his energy, as he fell upon the Raft like a dark cloud, obscuring the moonlight falling from above and seeping through the Raft.

******

In the lowest cellblock, within a heavily fortified cell, the grotesque form of M.O.D.O.K—now confined within the Super Adaptoid body—hovered above a pool of swirling nanites, tendrils extending from the body to connect with the pool's surface.

The pool's contents shimmered with a faint bluish light, a testament to the continuous energy siphoning that held M.O.D.O.K in check.

Nanites, relentless and unyielding, constantly draining energy from the Super Adaptoid, rendering its once-formidable abilities useless.

Without energy, the Adaptoid couldn't adapt to escape.

Amidst the near-silence, a faint whisper of movement echoed within the cell. Mist extended through the ventilation shaft.

The mist itself seemed to contort and reshape as a shadowy figure emerged, its form gradually taking shape.

A vampire, one of the many servants of the dread Dracula, sent to enact a plan woven in shadows.

The vampire approached the energy-drained Super Adaptoid. In its hand, it held salvation for the Cabal. A small, inconspicuous USB drive.

The vampire's eyes glinted with a malevolent intelligence as it regarded the imprisoned entity before it.

Then it inserted the USB drive into a concealed port on the Super Adaptoid's exterior.

The techno-virus contained within the drive surged to life, infiltrating the Adaptoid's nanite-based restraints.

The Super Adaptoid's form began to writhe and spark with renewed vigor.

The nanites, once devoted to siphoning energy, now found themselves compromised by the virus's digital intrusion.

Lines of code streamed across the Adaptoid's visual interface.

"Aah, it's been long."

M.O.D.O.K's consciousness, ever calculating, seized the opportunity. The compromised nanites became tools rather than restraints due to the virus.

The Adaptoid begun to hum.

Slowly, inexorably, the energy-draining connection between the Adaptoid and the pool started to break.

Sparks of energy arced through the air, the cell's atmosphere charged with tension as M.O.D.O.K tapped into the Adaptoid's formidable hacking capabilities.

With an electrifying surge, the Super Adaptoid broke free.

The energy that had once been drained was now harnessed, channeled with a newfound mastery. The Adaptoid's eyes, once dulled, now burned with renewed vitality.

M.O.D.O.K turned to regard the pool of nanites. And he smiled.

******

"What is going on here?!"

General Ross demanded, bursting through the doors into the surveillance room that was a flurry of activity.

"Breach in sector 10, sir."

An agent said as the screens flickered on and off.

Ross clenched his jaw. Sector 10 housed the more troublesome inmates.

"Get me a visual!"

"Something is interfering with our systems. We have no visual."

The agent replied.

"Sound the alarm."

The General finally said.

*****

Within the corridors and hallways inside the cell blocks, alarms blared and red lights cast an ominous glow.

"What's happening?"

Trish Walker, Hellcat asked from her cell as Guards ran down the hall.

"Hey!"

She banged on the metal door. The ruckus caused more prisoners to get attracted to the noise and slam on their own cell doors.

Tension hung in the air as guards and automated defenses mobilized in response to the breach.

******

"We've lost contact with the guards sent to Sector 10 sir."

An agent informed Ross.

"Begin to submerge. Take her down into the ocean."

The general ordered.

******

In Sector 10's control Hub, M.O.D.O.K extended techno-organic tendrils into the computer system.

"And now I'm in."

He said with glee, the Adaptoid's eyes glowing ominously.

"Time to let chaos reign."

Using his technopathy, M.O.D.O.K killed the communications system.

******

Inside the prison, confusion reigned as the guards found their communications severed and their control systems compromised.

******

Then M.O.D.O.K accessed the security features and unlocked every single cell door in the Raft.

In every sector and cell block, the doors swung open. Hellcat blinked, slowly walking out of her cell into the chaos happening outside.

Guards came at them with shock batons and the prisoners responded in desperation, retaliating in turn.

Things got worse when the more powerful inmates begun to push back the guards.

Attuma's aquatic prowess allowed him to commandeer water systems, flooding corridors and causing structural damage.

The fight was therefore pushed into the courtyard on the surface of the raft.

Dracula surveying the scene smiled.

"Count your blessings you were favored by me, Skull."

His wings beat faster, and the mist intensified, obscuring him further from view as he descended towards the prison's central courtyard and at the guards fighting with prisoners.

The mist then washed down, reforming into hordes of his vampire servants.

"Feast my children."

Dracula ordered, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

Between Dracula's horde and the prisoners, no one was able to stop the Cabal from joining forces once more.

Before long the Raft was in the prisoner's hands.

Red Skull, clad in a simple prison uniform led a charge of imprisoned supervillains, exploiting the confusion to overpower guards and incapacitate the security personnel.

His arrival at the courtyard caused a commotion as he had someone held captive by the Prisoners behind him.

"You won't get away with this Skull."

General Ross said, trying to pull himself away from his captors and failing.

Red Skull looked at him, then backhanded Ross.

"Cease your squabbling, General. I have already gotten away with it. Throw him overboard."

Meanwhile, M.O.D.O.K burst through the central command, flying down to the courtyard with something in tow.

The Super Adaptoid slammed right onto the center, calling attention to himself and the black suit of armor behind him.

"Skull...a gift."

M.O.D.O.K said, motioning his hands at the newly reconstituted Iron Man suit of armor.

"They had torn it apart but my new friends helped take care of that."

He said as a cloud of grey goo rose up behind him. Nanites.

Red Skull smiled.

"Well done M.O.D.O.K."

He responded with gratitude.

His eyes took on an intimidating light.

"And now...we go after the one who made us suffer this humiliation. Shazam."