Su Yi's sudden appearance and the non-lethal, yet overwhelmingly powerful punch that incapacitated Dreykov shocked everyone present. The sheer control required to deliver a blow with the strength of a small skyscraper, yet only render the target unconscious, was a testament to his LV7 Strength and supreme mental command.
Su Yi didn't waste a second. He used his Symbiote Suit to instantly restrain the massive Dreykov in dense, black webbing. Then, he snatched a unique ring from Dreykov's finger.
"This little trinket is the biometric key he uses to control the network," Su Yi explained, tossing the ring to Natasha. "Natasha, you operate the computer. Recall every single Widow on active mission and then use the antidote to free them from control."
Peter and Gwen immediately secured the mind-controlled Taskmaster and Yelena, keeping them immobile.
Tony observed the scene with mock disappointment. "So, I'm basically just here for moral support, then? Nothing to smash?"
Dreykov, slowly regaining consciousness, realized the gravity of his situation. He was captured by the very heroes who had just dismantled Kingpin—Iron Man, Spider-Man, Spider Bully, and Ghost-Spider. His sudden downfall, however, was due to abilities he couldn't comprehend, which only served to fuel his resentment. But his capture was absolute.
Under Natasha's swift and determined operation, the Black Widows scattered across the globe were recalled to the Helicarrier.
The focus shifted to the prisoners. Melina, who had helped develop the serum, was already preparing the neutralizing antidote. Soon, Yelena and Antonia were injected.
The control broke instantly. Yelena blinked, suddenly present, and her eyes focused on Melina.
"Mom?" Yelena's voice cracked, the word carrying years of loss and manufactured affection.
Melina, hardened by years in the Red Room, kept her emotional guard up. "I am not your mother," she denied, but her eyes held undeniable pain.
Yelena, no longer the young girl, quickly composed herself. She was now a stunningly beautiful, highly capable agent. She turned to Natasha.
"Natasha."
"I'd love to catch up, but we have an army to save. You and Melina need to start administering that cure to the others, now," Natasha ordered gently but firmly.
"Understood," Yelena replied, her agent training kicking in, and she joined Melina.
However, Antonia—Taskmaster—remained rigid, her eyes burning with pure, distilled hatred directed solely at Natasha. The trauma she had endured, the chip in her neck, and the ruined face were all, in her eyes, Natasha's fault.
Natasha noticed the venomous gaze and paused her work.
"Tony, can you monitor the systems? I have a personal debt to settle."
Natasha approached Antonia, guilt heavy on her shoulders. "I know words are useless, Antonia. It was my plan, and I did it. I used the possibility of you being there to ensure Dreykov would be present. That is my fault."
Tears welled up in Natasha's eyes. "I relive that moment constantly, regretting the outcome. I came back here to try and make things right."
She turned to Su Yi, her expression pleading. "Su, I know you have a way. I know what you did for Aunt May and Bella."
Su Yi sighed internally. Natasha Romanoff was an intelligence expert, and she had clearly pieced together the impossible recoveries he had orchestrated. She knew he possessed the key to curing Antonia's debilitating injuries.
"You know this stuff is incredibly expensive," Su Yi muttered, referring to the Water of Life. He was down to only three drops after generously applying it to all his close female connections.
Natasha closed the distance between them, pressing her body against his. Her alluring gaze met his, her voice a low, irresistible whisper. "As long as you can help me, Su..."
Su Yi was already leaning toward agreement, but Natasha sealed the deal. She quickly hooked her arm around his neck and, before he could fully register it, their lips met in a passionate kiss.
When she finally pulled back, her eyes were intoxicating. "That," she murmured, her chest heaving, "is the down payment."
"Though I despise transactional agreements, I suppose beautiful women do have certain privileges," Su Yi conceded, already reaching for the vial.
Natasha, ever the strategist, saw the look of intense displeasure on Gwen's face. She immediately whispered in Su Yi's ear. "Oops, I may have overlooked Ghost-Spider. I can help you handle her."
"How exactly are you going to 'handle' my girlfriend?" Su Yi asked, intrigued and slightly terrified.
"You'll find out," Natasha promised. "But not now."
Su Yi sighed, pulled out one drop of the Water of Life, and administered it to Antonia.
"It will take a few hours," Su Yi informed the two Widows. "The Water of Life will repair her nerves and her facial tissue completely. When she wakes, she will be fully recovered."
"Thank you, Su," Natasha said, before turning to Antonia. "This doesn't erase the past, Antonia. If you want revenge, you know where to find me."
With Dreykov secured and the key prisoners cured, the immediate crisis was over. All remaining Black Widows were successfully recalled and administered the antidote. The data concerning the program was simultaneously purged by Natasha.
The now-liberated Widows, mostly orphans, had a clean slate. Su Yi, however, had no interest in recruiting them. "Let someone else deal with the administrative nightmare," he thought. "I'm going back to my girlfriends."
Dreykov watched his life's work dissolve into chaos, his heart breaking. "Natasha, you've ruined everything," he rasped through the webbing. "But do you really think you can afford to maintain this Helicarrier and manage all these agents?"
Natasha stood over him, her expression ice-cold. "S.H.I.E.L.D. can."
The Red Room is dismantled, and the Helicarrier is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new asset, but Su Yi now faces a complicated debt to Natasha and a very unhappy Gwen.