The short story about the potential Civil War left Peter and Tony deeply contemplative. The fragility of their status as heroes was now clear; one spectacular failure could make them the world's greatest enemies.
However, Su Yi was supremely confident in the success of the current operation. The Black Widows, while highly trained agents, were no match for the combined power of his team. Eliminating their leader, Dreykov, was the key to freeing them all.
The team reached the jump point, and Natasha immediately initiated the infiltration. Her first stop was the research farm of Melina Vostokoff, the "Iron Maiden." Dreykov's new mind control serum had matured, allowing him to easily influence and command the Widows, making them efficient, unfeeling weapons—a threat easily negated by Su Yi's power.
Natasha and Melina faced each other in the farmhouse. Melina, surprised by her former 'daughter's' return, was wary.
"Natasha, you earned your freedom. You shouldn't have risked coming back to this mess," Melina urged, her voice laced with concern.
Natasha's resolve was steel. "I thought my actions had destroyed him and liberated everyone. I believed I had killed Dreykov and finished the Red Room. Instead, I caused collateral damage and left him alive to continue his evil. I am here to correct that catastrophic failure."
"You can't take on an entire army of Black Widows alone," Melina countered. "He has trained hundreds. You can't fight that many."
"I am not alone, and I don't intend to fight an army," Natasha stated with absolute confidence. "I only need you to get me inside to face Dreykov. Once he is dealt with, the control falls apart. He's just a man—he can't stop a simple bullet."
Melina shook her head. "You won't be allowed to bring weapons into the Red Room's facility."
"I don't need weapons. I just need a distraction and a clear line of entry," Natasha countered, thinking of Su Yi's ability to Teleport her backup team directly to the target.
Melina, conflicted by her genuine affection for Natasha and her conditioning to protect the Red Room, appeared hesitant, but in reality, she had already signaled Dreykov.
Dreykov, having wanted revenge on Natasha for years, was delighted. He immediately ordered a specialized capture team to bring her in alive.
Natasha was alert, but chose not to resist. Then, she saw her sister, Yelena Belova, and a group of other Widows approach.
"Yelena!" Natasha cried out, her heart aching.
Yelena, however, showed no sign of recognition. Natasha realized the mind control was far more advanced than she thought.
"Melina, what has he done to her?"
Melina's voice was hollow. "The mind control serum is complete. They remember everything, but the serum overrides their consciousness, leaving them responsive only to command. They are just machines. And soon, you will be one too."
Natasha's determination intensified. She surrendered, allowing Yelena to secure her. After being disarmed and restrained, Natasha was escorted onto a fighter jet, which ferried her to the massive, secret Helicarrier floating high above. S.H.I.E.L.D. had struggled for years to even locate the platform, much less plan an assault.
Natasha was brought to Dreykov's office, Melina and Yelena flanking her. Dreykov, savoring his victory, smiled cruelly.
"My Natasha," he drawled, circling her, "you have finally returned to me."
"I returned to finish the mission I botched," Natasha replied calmly, concealing the raging storm inside.
Dreykov noticed her composure and looked toward the formidable figure in the corner: his daughter, Antonia, who wore the advanced Taskmaster armor. He felt invincible.
"Mission?" Dreykov sneered. He walked to Antonia and whispered, "Say hello to Natasha."
Taskmaster removed her helmet, revealing a horribly scarred face—a clear testament to the explosion Natasha had caused years ago.
Natasha immediately recognized Antonia and the immense, debilitating damage. The trauma of her past actions hit her like a physical blow. Antonia's eyes were vacant, just like Yelena's—a puppet secured by a control chip visible on the back of her neck.
"When your bomb exploded, it nearly killed my little girl," Dreykov hissed. "I had to put a chip behind her neck to keep her alive and responsive. Look at her. Does it pain your heart to look at what you did?"
"It pains my heart deeply," Natasha admitted, self-reproach evident in her voice. "But I have to eliminate you to prevent this from happening to anyone else."
"Do you really think she can hear you apologize? Do you think that gesture will make you feel better?" Dreykov scoffed. "You should have considered the consequences before you tried to kill me."
Natasha silently composed herself. She knew the time for regret was over; the time for action was now.
"Can she hear me speak?" Natasha asked, a sudden shift in her tone.
"Why, are you still trying to appeal to her?" Dreykov mocked, sensing her pain. "Look at the pain you caused! And look at Yelena! She is utterly brilliant, and now I'm excited to see which of my two finest creations will perform better for me."
Natasha lifted her head, her eyes now sharp and focused. "Dreykov, a friend of mine wants to ask you a question. A simple one, really: Can you stop a bullet?"
Dreykov blinked, confused by the non sequitur. "What? Of course not. That's why I have this entire ship protecting me!"
"Exactly," Natasha said, a slight, cold smile touching her lips. "Then it's truly a pity. Because you are even less likely to stop his punch."
"What punch are you talking about?" Dreykov demanded, looking around frantically.
At that instant, a spatial distortion shimmered in the air, and with a flash of light, four powerful figures Teleported directly into his opulent office.
Before Dreykov could react, a figure clad in a massive, black-and-red symbiotic suit stepped forward. A fist, easily the size of a sandbag, shot out with incomprehensible speed and slammed directly into Dreykov's face.
"The Iron Fist of Justice!" Su Yi declared triumphantly as Dreykov's massive body was lifted off his feet and sent flying across the room, collapsing into a heap of unconsciousness and shattered glass. The Kingpin's downfall was just a warm-up.
Dreykov has been dealt with, but the Helicarrier and the mind-controlled Widows remain.