Back at Gillette Stadium,

Zvezda taps her watch and sends the call out to the other Hockey Avengers. "We're going to need the others, Kelly. But we'll save Tara, I promise. Now, tell us what happened."

Psychica looks at them. She blinks and looks out. Gronk is still stomping around looking for them. He heads in the opposite direction just as the curly blonde woman clears her throat and launches into her story, "Well...there was this voice in my head telling me that Vladimir was not okay. I saw him clearly tied to the post on the field...it was like I was meant to see it. And when I tried to communicate telepathically with Gronk, his voice spoke again. It was like, "Nice try Psychica, but you're telepathy isn't that strong." And then a searing pain filled me...it was worse than a migraine!"

Zvezda gasps.

Scorpion leans forward with Star Vision next to him. "Your telepathy isn't strong enough?"

"That's not good," Freedom Forward says, shaking his head.

Zvezda sighs. "Luckily the others are on their way, but...Tyler," she pauses, turning to the spy, who looks at her and cocks his head. "I need your help."

"Of course, what is it?" Scorpion asks.

"I'm gonna take you and see if we can sneak back in and find this guy who hurt Kelly." She nods to him.

Scorpion smiles at her. "So you need a spy. Awesome."

"А что я? (What about me?)" the Russian archer inquires.

"No, stay here with Ben and Kelly. Keep an eye open for the others," Zvezda says.

Arrow Hawk pouts his lip but nods. He spins to Scorpion and gives him a look. "Если вы что-нибудь ... Я вложил стрелу в вас! (If you do anything...I'll put an arrow in you!)" He lifts his bow up, which still has an arrow notched in it. He aims it at his friend.

"Easy Val," Star Vision growls.

Arrow Hawk lowers the bow, but continues looking at the spy, who shrugs.

Zvezda reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder, causing him to spin around to her. "Расслабьтесь, он не будет ничего делать. Помните, у меня есть верх над ним. Всегда. Он не посмел бы попробовать что-нибудь. (Relax, he won't do anything. Remember, I have the upper hand on him. Always. He wouldn't dare try anything.)"

Arrow Hawk mutters something and relaxes even more. He joins Psychica and Freedom Forward. Star Vision dips his head and joins them next. Scorpion follows Zvezda back into the open.

Gronk is turning over cars in the lot, so the two dart back to the entrance tunnel and slip down it once more. They turn the corner and make it safely into the interior of the stadium, where they are out of Gronk's sight, should he return. They pass by the concession stands and enter the lobby, which looks like a hotel's. It is all red in color and it is air-conditioned.

"Evs, over here," Scorpion remarks.

Zvezda spins around to see Scorpion standing in front of an elevator.

"Where does this go, eh?" Scorpion inquires as he pushes the button.

Zvezda joins him. "Next time alert me when you are going to press a button, for all you know this fiend has rigged the elevator and something will blow up in your face. We've lost one team member to this guy, please don't be the second, Tyler."

"Are you hitting on me??" Scorpion questions. "Look, I'm flattered, but I've moved on. And you shouldn't cheat on Val."

"I'm not! You know what, I'll use you as the human shield if something blows up!" Zvezda exclaims, smiling.

Scorpion halts in place and gasps, "You wouldn't!"

"Try me!"

"Evs, come on."

The elevator dings and then the door opens. There is nothing inside, but the same velvety red interior. Scorpion folds his arms and gives Zvezda a, "see, we're okay?" look. Zvezda rolls her eyes.

"Ladies first," Scorpion gestures.

"You're impossible." Zvezda enters the elevator, tapping the only logical button, "Top floor" and Scorpion scurries in after her, before the doors close and trap them inside. "Get your guns out, just in case."

Scorpion raises his arms and flexes, putting on a cheesy smile. "You mean these?"

Zvezda rolls her eyes again and shakes her head, biting back the laughter she had brewing in her. "No, just no."

Scorpion laughs himself and gets his real guns out, flipping them in his hands in a showoff-y way. Zvezda ignores him and waves her hands around in the air, producing cosmic dust in preparation for an attack as soon as the doors open.

After a few seconds, they finally part and the two peer out, seeing that the coast is clear. They carefully and cautiously step out of the small elevator and find themselves in the press box area. Zvezda watches as Scorpion walks over to the glass window and peers out.

"What do you see?" Zvezda hisses.

"Vladimir," Scorpion responds. "And oh no...I think the others are here....I saw a ring of orangish-red fly at Gronk!"

Zvezda darts over and looks out. "Vladdy? They're here! Good!"

Scorpion looks down at his feet. "I should've brought Nikita...I miss him."

Zvezda turns to look at him. "I know, Tyler, but you know Geno...he's almost done with him. Soon, he'll be on all our missions and help us out."

"Yeah. But still..." He looks back up and nods at the window in the direction of the parking lot. "Should we go join them? I mean I don't think that guy is here!"

Zvezda makes to respond, when a thunderous cackling breaks out, followed by, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Tyler Seguin the great...and his girlfriend?! I'm not really surprised to see you here..."

Scorpion and Zvezda spin around and find a man standing with a billowing black cloak and a glowing orange scepter. A black mask covers his face. He smirks at them wickedly and waves his scepter about the air, before banging it on the ground to his side.

Zvezda shakes her head and waves her hands before her. "Oh no, not girlfriend! I'm not his girlfriend..."

"Why did you kidnap Vladimir?!" Scorpion snarls, raising his guns up.

The man laughs and puts a finger to his head. You really wanna challenge me, Tyler? Instantly Scorpion's arms lower and he blinks. "I'll tell you why, because I'm here to take out each and every single one of you Hockey Avengers and then when you've all fallen, I'm going to force the world to be under my command. Vladimir Tarasenko is my pawn. I figure it's only right, he is the first mortal to bow down to me!"

Scorpion looks at Zvezda.

"You can't!" Zvezda snaps. "We'll stop you!" She musters her energy, ready to unleash it should she need to. She controls herself not to show the villain that she is ready to attack and channels the power inside of her.

"You of all people should know that...after all, I bested Psychica. How's her head?" the villain snickers. "Whatever, anyway, it had to be done. Now, maybe the next one to die is the preppy little spy kid?"

Zvezda glares at him and steps in front of Scorpion. "How about no?" Then she throws her hands out and emits purple plasma energy at the man, who blocks it with his orange scepter. The plasma hits the ceiling and makes a hole in place.

"So I'm gonna have to go through you, eh?" the villain snarls. "Luckily, I'm flexible." He lifts his scepter and points it at Zvezda, who spins around and grabs Scorpion. He unleashes a stream of orange energy from the tip, just as the heroine zooms into the air with her friend, dodging it.

Zvezda drops Scorpion behind the villain. The spy instantly begins to send off shot after shot at him from his guns, while Zvezda blasts more plasma at the man.

"Who are you?" Zvezda shouts.

Orange energy slices through her purple plasma and then she feels someone controlling her mind and she stops blasting the villain, who stands unharmed before her. He instantly throws his arm out to the side and causes the magical scepter to touch Scorpion's chest. Instantly the Star freezes in place.

"TYLER!" Zvezda gasps. She narrows her eyes at the villain and her wings flap in anger behind her. "Don't you dare!"

"Relax, spy boy will fine," the man sneers. "Now, I believe I should answer your question. My name is Guzzler and I'm not a fan of heroes. I'm not ready to kill Seguin yet...though I really want to. No, my mission has just begun and I'd like him around a little bit longer. I just don't want him pestering me with bullets!" He jabs Scorpion's chest with the tip gently. "You know what I mean?"

"Let him go, Guzzler!" Zvezda snaps. "Or whoever you really are."

Guzzler's eyes glow orange and then energy travels through the scepter and reaches the petrified spy. His eyes glow the same orange and then he, himself, glows orange.

"Tyler, no! Fight it Tyler!"

"What is there to fight? He's just a pathetic, weak wannabe spy..." The villain moves his scepter to Zvezda now and makes her freeze in place. "You shouldn't have come to find me, now I'm going to make you - and nosy Pretty Boy there - pawns in my scheme. You both are going to kill your friends and then I'll kill you both! I'm just way too powerful and there is nothing you two or anyone else can do about it!?" He causes his scepter to glow orange again.

Zvezda's eyes soon flash orange and she dips her head in respect to Guzzler, who turns and motions them both to join him in front of the window. Scorpion looks at Zvezda and they step forward.

"Now...let's see here...why don't you both start with Jamie Benn...and how about...Valeri Nichushkin? That'd be a show to see. Friend against friend, girlfriend against boyfriend. 'Makes my mind leap with a wicked joy!" Zvezda and Scorpion nod and step forward, joining the villain on either side. Guzzler spins to them both. "Kill them, while I pay a visit to my hostage."

"As you command, Guzzler," Scorpion says.

"We'll do you proud, Master!" Zvezda states, putting a fist to the palm of her hand and dipping her head in a ceremonial respect.

Then Scorpion and Zvezda, their eyes still glowing the demon orange, dart off to the elevator and take it back down to the lobby. Guzzler laughs hysterically and gradually turns from the window.

He flicks his cloak behind him and makes his way down a secret ramp, which leads to the field. He passes by the place he'd toyed with Psychica and everyone's memories. Since things didn't exactly work out, he had a Plan B in place, Tyler Seguin and Evelyn O'Reilly. They'd be able to distract everyone long enough and help Gronk out.

There was no way he could fail with his plan!

He snickers to himself and spots Vladimir jerking intensely at the ropes holding him in place. He snaps his head to the side and looks at the villain with a mixture of fear, distress, disgust and worry. It pleases Guzzler, who smirks as he walks onto the field, heading toward the helpless Blues forward.

****

"How long should we wait for them?" Star Vision asks, pacing back and forth. "I'm not used to being away from Tyler this long. He's probably in terrible danger!!" He stops and gasps, looking at Freedom Forward, Arrow Hawk and Psychica. "Oh God! Oh God!"

"Jamie, settle down, you're more riled up than Jonny was with Kaner. Evelyn is with him. He'll be fine," Freedom Forward says.

Psychica pushes herself up to her feet, waving the men around her away. "I'm fine now guys, I'll kill him! I hope Eve and Tyler find him and get some good information on him. I want a piece of that telepathic asshole!" She clenches a fist at her side and stomps her foot on the ground in fury. "Tie up my Vladimir? You got another thing coming!"

Just then, a ring flies past their line of vision and hits Gronk in the shoulder. "Hey you egotistical dick, down here!" a voice snaps. "That's right you overweight blundering idiot!" Another ring comes followed by a stream of orangish-red plasma.

"VLADDY!" Arrow Hawk exclaims. "They here!"

Iceshot, Arrow Av, Chaos, Russiosteel, The Russian Bear, and Nikita appear at the far end of the parking lot. Amongst them, Portal emerges, looking determined and healthy. Iceshot sends chunks of ice flying at the giant, who finally growls and whirls around to them. Gronk pounds his fist into the ground.

"Come on!" Psychica exclaims. "Let's fight! FOR VLADIMIR!!"

Arrow Hawk darts over to Arrow Av and they share a secret handshake and communication in Russian. Chaos rolls his eyes as Russiosteel high-fives the Star and Avalanche player. Freedom Forward joins Portal, who faces Gronk.

"You ready to give up you big brute?" Chaos snorts, folding his arms across his chest. "Because you're about to get the full Hockey Avenger treatment!"

"Gronk smash puny Hockey Avengers!!" Gronk roars.

"You can certainly try to!" The Russian Bear snaps. "Nikita, RUFF!"

Nikita crouches down, growling at the beast. He snaps his jaws and stalks forward. Chaos, Iceshot, Arrow Av and Arrow Hawk pelt the creature with ice, arrows and plasma.

Russiosteel stomps forward and pounds a fist into the palm of his hand. "Payback time," the Lightning defenseman snarls.

"Puny metal human try for round two?"

"Sure!" Russiosteel replies and pounds a fist into the shin of the hulking man, who kicks out and sends the Tampa forward flying backward.

Portal teleports and catches him before he hits the ground and then teleports behind Gronk. Then Russiosteel charges forward and rams his head into the back of the big man's knee. Gronk roars and falls to his knees, swiping at Chaos in the process, who has his head up high and proud. The massive hand makes contact with the Tampa forward and sends him slamming into The Russian Bear.

Nikita rounds the fallen beast, growling and keeping his guard up. He finds a blind spot and halts. The Golden Retriever then stands up on his four paws; one paw steps back and he draws in his energy as he lowers his head down.

Gronk spins and smacks Russiosteel away and turns to where the dog is. Nikita snaps his head up, his eyes flashing the Victory Green color. He opens his mouth and lets loose a fierce, echoing bark. Shock waves zoom out, knocking all the hockey players and Psychica off their feet. Gronk stumbles backward and begins to recover but Nikita unleashes another powerful bark and manages to get him off his feet.

"Let's rope 'im y'all!" Star Vision screams. "Yeehaw!"

Everyone spins to look at him, bewildered.

"Uh, Jamie, are you okay?" Chaos asks. "When have you EVER said 'yeehaw' before or even 'y'all'?"

"Never," Val remarks.

"Yeah...I think so...I don't know what that was...!" Star Vision shakes his head and looks to Psychica, who raises her hands up in surrender. The Dallas captain shrugs and zaps Gronk with a concentrated beam of green energy.

Suddenly, there is a loud bang...like a starting shot to a race. Arrow Av looks to the tunnel, where two figures stand. He shouts out, "Tyler!! Evs!!"

Nikita perks up and looks toward the entrance of the stadium.