From Midnight to Dawn

Ebb

A dark, abandoned factory on the outskirts of New York clanged with the sounds of busy workers on multiple assembly lines, beating tools against the wreckage of alien machinery, being re-purposed into modern weapons, capable of human operation.

Roars of aircraft mechanisms deafened Tompkins, as he followed behind a bald man donning a thick bomber jacket, with multiple steel anchors dangling from his sides.

"A kidnapping?"  The bald man chortled.  He spun, glaring his dark, lifeless eyes right back at Tompkins.  "You come to me, the Vulture himself, the man who brought working Chithurian technology to the human race...  Asking for something as mundane as a kidnapping?  Your boss has a lot of balls."

Tompkins folded his arms, smirking to Mr. Toomes, the "Vulture," one of the few supervillains not currently incarcerated.  "My employer was impressed by your resume.  You went toe to toe against Iron Patriot and managed to out-maneuver him with superior aerial combat.  Someone with as much tactical genius as you is precisely what we need at the moment.  Common thugs and base villains couldn't hope to compare to your expertise."

Toomes laughed, inspecting a glowing blue blade on a conveyer belt.  He chucked it back on the line, patting one of his workers on the back, accompanied with words of praise before turning back to the conversation.  "Your boss has a fine taste or is well aware of my weakness to shameless flattery.  You may continue."

Reaching into his pocket, Tompkins handed Toomes a picture of their darling spider thief, Peter Parker.  "One of our most valuable assets has come under the protection of Stark Academy, and possibly the Avengers.  We need to drag him out of that ecosystem as quickly as possible.  You are our best bet to make that happen."

"Excuse me if I call bullshit on this project already."  Toomes scoffed, rolling his eyes.  "Stark Academy is within shooting distance of that blasted eye soar of a Tower.  Do you think I'm dumb enough to take on the whole army of Avengers by myself?"

"The Avengers will be otherwise...  Occupied."  Tompkins grinned, pacing around Toomes.  "Some of our friends overseas will make sure they're days away from coming to anyone's aid.  Besides, you'll be staying far away from Stark Academy during the abduction.  My employer's daughter attends the school, and he's sooner cut off his own arm than place her in even the slightest danger."

"Really, now?  A distraction big enough to keep the Avengers away?  This must be costing your boss a pretty penny."  Toomes rose an eyebrow, taking another look at the skinny boy with the pale skin and soft brown curls.  "This boy is that valuable?  Doesn't look like much to me."

"My employer believes it to be so, who am I to argue?"

Toomes shrugged, tucking the photo into his front pocket.  "What are the mission specs?"

"Simple enough.  Kidnap our asset, Mr. Peter Parker while he is outside of the academy."  Tompkins paced throughout the factory, eyes gazing over the impressive arsenal of alien technology lining the walls.  "Take him as far away from Stark Academy as you can manage.  Make sure he can't escape, and that the Avengers can't find him.  Terrify the boy, make him suffer, rough him up as much as you want, but you are NOT to kill him under any circumstances.  My employer's men will come to his rescue after enough time has passed to thoroughly scar the boy, and you will take a fall as we rescue the boy from your dastardly clutches."  He clasped his hands together, smiling.  "Our asset becomes indebted to us once again, too broken to fight us, and all is well again."

"Won't people ask why the Vulture was interested in a boy like this?"  Toomes pocketed the picture.

Tompkins shook his head.  "Our agents are under the impression that he's garnered the personal attention of Tony Stark.  A possible protégé of some kind.  Any villain would want such a valuable ransom."