Avengers II
He watched the footage from the darkened room again. New York newscaster Trish Tilby was doing yet another report on the clean up from the Chitauri invasion fleet in Midtown, this time with some actor trying to make a name for himself by urging fans to donate to the clean up effort. Then all hell broke loose.
"This was the scene earlier today when action star Simon Williams was on hand to film a disaster relief spot," Trish informed viewers. "Some of the wreckage was apparently giving off some sort of radiation which caused officials to evacuate the immediate area. We are unsure of what happened next, but SHIELD officers on the scene began shouting for passersby to get back, and urging police to get to a safe distance."
The camera on scene became erratic as the person holding it tried to film whatever was happening while trying to distance themselves from it. A slow buildup of static in the picture could now be noticed as events progressed. A mix of civilians, police, and SHIELD uniforms could be seen running past the camera as a pulsing glow began to emanate from the pile of wreckage that was being cleared.
Trish continued to describe the events as they unfolded. "As you can see, one of the SHIELD officials in charge, the blonde woman on the wreckage, apparently stayed behind with some of her personnel in hopes of trying to deactivate it."
In the video, a small group dressed in SHIELD uniforms could be seen crawling over the equipment, trying to locate the source of the glow. There was also a low rhythmic hum on the newsfeed which could also be heard by others on screen, looking around for the source. It quickly increased tempo, which had the few stragglers assuming the worst and running for cover, including the cameraman. The picture was even more erratic for the next few seconds, but no sooner had the camera settled at a safer distance, than it seemed to focus on a trio of people running to assist the SHIELD agents.
"What we can see here, is that apparently Mr. Williams, accompanied by his bodyguard and an unidentified woman, decided to assist the agents on scene, when the chaos erupted," Tilby continued as a flash of light and static filled the screen. "There was a sudden increase in sound and light coming out of the wreckage, which completely enveloped Williams, his associates, and the SHIELD agents."
Trish continued her story back in the studio. "Unfortunately, we have no footage of what happened next, as all electronics in the immediate area were affected by what some believe was some sort of electromagnetic pulse. The condition of Williams and the agents are unknown at this time, but they are being treated at a SHIELD facility at this time. We will bring you updates as soon as we have them," she informed the audience. "We have been unable to reach Stark Enterprises for a comment from Tony Stark, who helped stop the invasion as Iron Man, nor any of his comrades in the battle. More as this situation develops."
The man turned off the TV and stood up, shakily. "ZOUNDS! This is a fight I should have assisted in!" he declared to the empty room. "The son of Zeus shall make haste to this new city of York and lend his assistance!" he bellowed, grabbing his mace and leaving his room, stalking across his mess of a house, littered with bodies and remnants of the continuous party that seemed to always be happening there.
Nick Fury stormed down the hospital corridors. "How many were affected by this radiation?" he demanded of Maria Hill.
"Six of ours, and at least three civilians, sir," she informed him off her PADD.
"Three civilians? Weren't they evacuated?"
"The order had gone out, and several agents unaffected said that they and local authorities believed they had cleared the immediate area, but some actor and two others managed to stay behind," she informed.
"Great, just what we need, some wannabe movie star worse than Stark," he groused. "Who was it? Do we have any names?"
"Yes sir, the men are identified as Simon Williams, from those Arkon barbarian movies, and his bodyguard, Lucas Cage. The woman has been identified as Jessica Jones, a private investigator. We don't know why she was there, but Williams was apparently there for a local relief effort."
"I correct myself, a grandstanding version of Stark," he noted. "What of our people?"
"Field officer Captain Carol Danvers and her squad," Hill informed him. "Agents affected include Wendell Vaughn, Erik Josten, William Foster, Monica Rambeau, and Brian Braddock. They have injuries to various degrees, from radiation burns to minor wounds like concussions. It seems Williams, Danvers, Josten, Foster, and Rambeau were the affected the most. Cage, Jones, Vaughn, and Braddock have only minor injuries."
She handed Fury the PADD so he could see the extent of their injuries. "Odds of survival?"
"Unknown, sir, Dr. Pym is working on treating the radiation burns, but for the most part, they're being kept comatose until he can devise a proper treatment."
"Radiation? What kind?"
"Unknown sir, Pym is examining the weaponry found on site as we speak."
"Get Banner on the horn, he's used to dealing with radiation."
"I've already sent word to Banner, Stark, and even Rogers."
"Rogers?"
"Pym requested his presence," she noted. "He wants a comparison sample of Rogers' and Banner's blood to see if either can be used in the treatment."
"Great, just what we need, an army of Hulks running around," he mused. "Are any of the others affected awake?"
"Vaughn and Braddock are, sir. Cage and Jones are being kept sedated."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"They will be fully debriefed as soon as they wake. I'll have Vaughn and Braddock sent to your office."
He paused to look at the line of bodies in the next room. "Ten minutes. I want to see Pym, as well."
"Yes sir," she noted and went about her business. He stood watching the injured for another moment before returning to his office. He was already dealing with enough bureaucracy from the invasion, he didn't need more civilians killed by Chitauri technology, much less his own people.
"Hen-ryy!" the voice on the other end whined. "I'm bored! I want to know when you're coming home so we can fool around!"
"I told you, I'm stuck in the lab right now, Janet," Hank Pym informed his girlfriend. Dating a rich girl was fun, but she was always demanding her time. "Isn't Paris in town? Maybe you to could go clubbing?" he suggested.
"She's on house arrest. Again," the debutante fumed. "She's not allowed to party, right now, or it's jail time instead of rehab. I told you this!" She began flipping channels as she rolled over on the divan.
The blond scientist tried juggling his assistants handing various files to him, as well as a cup of coffee and his phone. "Why don't you call up another girlfriend and go shopping?" he suggested as a colleague tried to show him a PADD. "Yes, thank you Langkowski. Just set it on my desk, will you?"
"Daddy threatened to cut off my cards again, if I spent another dime in Neiman this month!" she complained. "What's so important that they need you there, anyway?"
"There was a serious accident this afternoon," he explained, hoping she would understand. "Several people were seriously injured and I'm the only one on hand that knows how to deal with this type of radiation. They have another expert on his way in, but I don't know when he's going to get here."
She sat up at the news report. "Did you say radiation?"
"Don't worry, I shouldn't be affected," he assured her, adding, "At least, I hope not."
"Was this the deal with Arkon? I love his movies!"
Pym was distracted upon seeing Nick Fury's new number two. "What? No, we can't go to the movies tonight, I'll be here probably for the next few days, at least."
Maria Hill approached him. "Fury's office, now."
"Janet, sweetie, I've really gotta go. I'll call you when I get the chance, okay?" he quickly said, ending the call and trying to sort through the reports he thought Fury would want to see. "Walter! What did you do with that radiation report?" he called out.
The two young men stood at attention in Fury's office. He studied them for a moment, both young, blond, blue eyed. "Well, gentlemen, explain to me what happened today."
Braddock began his report. "We were assigned to dismantle some of the enemy tech when it suddenly became active. We tried to locate the power source before it went critical. I informed Captain Danvers to evacuate the area, and that we would require assistance to dismantle the power source, but it escalated before we could do so."
Fury looked to the younger man. "Is this your assessment as well?"
"Pretty much, sir," Vaughn replied. "Just before the incident, I noticed a column that appeared to be connected to the power source, but, uh, honestly, sir, I'm not sure what I experienced next, only that the next I knew, I had been thrown clear of the energy explosion?"
"What did this column look like?" Fury inquired.
"I recall that is was black, with two rows of yellow gems encircling it," he explained, nervously. "When I touched them, it, uh...permission to speak freely sir?"
"Granted," Fury said through his scowl.
"When I touched it, it seemed to speak to me, sir."
"Speak to you?"
"There were images, of space and some sort of conflict," he explained. "A number of alien species, but I couldn't quite understand what it was about before the explosion knocked me clear. Sir."
"You mean to tell me this technology is, what, telepathic in nature?"
"It appears to be the case with this device, sir," Wendell agreed as Pym hurried into the room.
"Doctor Pym, do we have the construct that caused this afternoon's incident in our possession?"
Hank seemed to fumble with his pile of papers looking for an answer. "It appears...yes, we had the entire piece brought to a warehouse for further testing, sir."
"Mr. Braddock, did you experience anything like what Agent Vaughn has described? Any visions or outré experiences before, during, or after this explosion?"
"Not that I recall, sir," he replied.
"Very well, I want you two to stay under observation for the next, let's say, 24 hours, then you will assist Dr. Pym in the examination of said technology," he ordered. "I want to know what we're dealing with. Vaughn, Braddock, dismissed."
Pym seemed to take notice of the name. "Vaughn? Any relation to Dr. Gilbert Vaughn?" He thought he could see a passing resemblance to the man in the pictures he had seen.
A dark look crossed the young man's face. "Unfortunately."
Hank could tell it was best he didn't inquire further. As the two agents left, he asked, "Me, too, director Fury?"
"Not yet. Have you identified the type of radiation that construct emitted and injured my people with?"
"Not as yet, sir. We believe it to be some sort of ionic based energy wavelength. Dr. Langkowksi and I are researching it as we speak, but we would really need Dr. Banner's input on this to make any confirmations before we go ahead with any treatments."
"Understood," he said and pressed his Bluetooth. "Agent Hill, have we located Dr Banner, yet?"
"We believe so, sir," she replied. "Miss Potts thinks that he and Stark are testing a new armor?"
"Tell both of them I want them here immediately, no excuses."
"Yes sir," she replied, then turned back to her commlink. "Did you get that Miss Potts?"
"I heard," Pepper replied. "I'm trying to call Tony, right now, but he's not answering."
"We have his signal," Hill informed her. "He's in the New Mexico desert?"
Tony glanced at his HUD. "Okay, flight systems all check out. Let's go big boy. I want to see what this new baby can do, shall we?"
Bruce took off his glasses and unbuttoned his shirt, laying it on the table outside the scarlet and gold trimmed RV. "If you insist," he chuckled, kicking off his shoes. Moments later, he let his rage take over and the meek scientist in shorts was replaced with a giant green behemoth.
"Tag," the Hulk smiled at the bulky red and gold knight before him before he leaped up and tried to land on the tin man. Stark evaded his landing and flew up out of his reach before the beast could grab him.
"Tony."
"Not now, Pepper. Busy."
The Hulk jumped at him again. Tony narrowly avoided the collision.
"Yow, that was close. Please don't distract me when I'm testing new armor, okay, Pepper?"
"SHIELD's on line two for you. Something important."
Tony landed and tried tackling the mass of muscle. Hulk didn't move out of his way, letting the armored avenger grab him around the waist before pummeling the back of the armor.
"Ow. Okay, that hurt," Stark griped before releasing his hold and allowing momentum to take the Hulk away from him.
The creature recovered immediately and launched himself at the tin man once more. Tony was quick enough to grab the beast by his wrists before they could hit him, but the HUD indicators started red lining immediately. He let out a repulsor blast from his hands as he pushed the creature back. Panels on his shoulders popped open and small missiles flared to life, striking the Hulk in the upper body, stunning him momentarily.
As the Hulk shook his head, trying to clear it, Stark went on the offense again, punching Hulk with a right uppercut followed by a left hook. Both hits were backed by tasers built in to the gauntlets.
Hulk stumbled back, wiped his mouth and roared.
"uh-oh." Stark launched into the sky to avoid the Hulk's retaliation, but was too slow. Hulk landed on top of the armor and started beating on it, legs wrapped around the waist of the armor, squeezing it.
"Tony?"
"Not now, Pepper!" he managed to get out before the Hulk tore the domed head of the armor in half. The pair began plummeting to earth. "Now that should never have happened. Another design flaw to take care of, Pepper."
"Mr. Stark, this is Maria Hill on behalf of Director Fury."
Tony's HUD display went dark. Outside, he could hear the crash of another expensive suit of armor hitting the desert floor. He took off his remote control helmet and gloves and flipped open the comm.
"Yes, Ms. Hill, I remember you," he finally replied. "What can I do for SHIELD today now that you've distracted me and allowed a very expensive suit of armor be turned into the plaything of a giant radioactive manchild with an attitude?"
"So Dr. Banner is with you out there?"
"You wound me, Maria. I can call you Maria, right? You only disrupted my day to ask me to bring my friend Bruce over to play? That's not very nice. I think you owe me dinner, at the very least."
"I'll check my schedule. Is Dr. Banner available?"
"That's not a no. You heard her, Pepper, that was not a no, am I right?"
"I'm not listening to this conversation, Tony," she replied.
"Yes, you were and yes, I am available for a romantic dinner for two, possibly three."
"Only if that dinner includes Dr. Banner on the Helicarrier, I'm afraid, Mr. Stark," Hill informed him.
"Bruce? No, I think Bruce is busy destroying my latest armor!" he yelled at the large green man shredding the prototype armor, tearing it limb from limb. "Hey! Hey, buddy? You've got a phone call from a very attractive lady over here!"
"Hulk busted!" he exclaimed, holding up the remains of the armor.
"Yes! Thank you!" Tony saluted him with his drink. "What seems to be the problem you need our help with, Maria?"
"There was an accident with some of the alien tech during a clean up operation. Several SHIELD agents and a handful of civilians were injured. We need Dr. Banner's expertise in radiation to help them," she explained.
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Bring in Dr. Banner for us."
"Boy, you are one stuck record, lady," he quipped. "I'll tell you what, I'll swing by, drop off Bruce, and then you and I go out for dinner. Whattya say?"
"The sooner you can get Dr. Banner her, the better," she replied.