Chapter 1: Some Assembly Required, Part 1
New York State Supreme Court. Foley Square, Civic Center District, Manhattan, NY
1:03 PM EST, Wed 23 Aug 2010
Foley Square was filled with people of all ages, by the hundreds chanting slurs and anger-filled cries of justice. Many of the people held signs with various slogans, and many held pictures of loved loves killed and lost in a number of destructive military operations across the country. There were also many news crews and vans from various news networks, broadcasting the spectacle across the world.
All eyes were upon the New York State Supreme Court building, the chosen locale for the biggest trial in American history, and one that would possibly be dubbed as the trial of the century.
Case Number 125-635. Banner v. United States Army
After a devastating battle several months ago, history's longest manhunt had finally ended. The United States Army had apprehended its number one fugitive: Doctor Bruce Banner, otherwise known as The Incredible Hulk.
Police officers stood guard around the courthouse steps, regular and SWAT personnel, with cars and barricade fences holding back the large crowds. The courthouse itself was surrounded by several teams of the military's specialized HulkBusters unit, and as further safety precaution, this was the only trial that was scheduled for today. Soldiers guarded the halls leading towards the only occupied courtroom.
The courtroom itself was full of many people, their attention focused on the trial before. The fact that there even was a trial was a shock of the nation, the national media, and to the world at large. After much back and forth debating between the Pentagon & other government representatives and the legal firm of Murdock & Walters, Dr. Banner had finally but shockingly been granted a fair trial. This was all thanks to Banner's cousin, a well-renowned defense attorney known across the East Coast, despite working only in New York.
In her early thirties with long black hair and piercing eyes, Jennifer Walters was a force to be reckoned with in a courtroom. She had fought tooth and nail to give her cousin a fair trial, and had finally won her case.
Of course, that had infuriated the man behind the entire manhunt for Banner: General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, commander of Army's HulkBusters unit. The man that had made Bruce' life hell. Though he had been outraged at the sudden change, he had been forced to go along with it by his superiors, albeit reluctantly.
The trial would decide if the Army had ownership over Bruce and his work, as well as Banner's fate.
Jennifer looked at her cousin, who smiled at her while the prosecution's lead lawyer continued speaking. It had taken a lot of effort on her part, as well as days of legal work, to convince the judicial system's top tiers that Bruce deserved a fair trial for the crimes he was accused of, instead of just simply being buried in a military lab or prison. She did recognize, though, the point Bruce had made some time ago that Ross simply wouldn't take this lying down. He expected some form of retaliation from him.
Jennifer turned back to the prosecution's desk. Sitting there were two army lawyers, a federal government official and General Ross himself, a man in his mid-fifties with grayish hair and his impeccable uniform. Jennifer had wondered to herself many times how one man could cause so much pain. She sighed to herself as she turned back to speaking prosecution. A head lawyer for the military's case, he had been going on and on for almost ten minutes, listing the many dangers the Hulk represented if let loose on the public.
"...the Hulk has cost millions upon millions of dollars in property damage on a worldwide scale, Your Honor. He has amassed a death toll in the tens of thousands. He is a menace to the public at large, exemplified by his showdown with the Army and HulkBusters at Culver University, and his rampage through Harlem."
Jennifer quickly stood up. "Objection, Your Honor. My client was attacked by the Army, without cause; that attack led to battle of Culver University. He was acting in self-defense. As for the so-called 'rampage through Harlem,' my client did not start that rampage. He only stepped in to help stop the superhuman known as the Abomination. A former soldier under General Ross's command who was subject to an unstable and untested formula in order to weaponize the Hulk. And that request was made by General Ross himself, Your Honor. Facts that the prosecution has failed to mention, despite their relevance to the case!"
Ross, enraged that Jennifer was throwing his dirty laundry out in public, slammed his hands on the prosecution desk before standing up. "The Hulk is a menace and a danger to public safety! Banner's work and his blood are property of the United States Army! Every strand of hair on his head is property of the United States Armed Forces, and will be used to help our nation as we see fit!"
Jennifer glared at Ross as Bruce just sat there, looking at his oldest enemy. "Members of the jury, you just heard the general admitting that he'd experiment on Dr. Banner as if he were some kind of animal! And may I remind the court of the SHIELD files shown in this trial as evidence. They've proven that similar experiments done by Ross' HulkBusters have created a number of superpowered criminals, some of whom are currently prisoners in SHIELD custody. Each a mistake that cost lives and more lives would have been lost if it weren't for the Hulk stepping in to save your decrepit old ass!"
Several of the people in the room laughed at those remarks, while most people yelled at either sides of the case. The room quickly lit abuzz as those watching the trial shouted out remarks and the like.
The judge slammed her mallet. "Order! Order in my courtroom!" After a minute of this, the crowd finally stopped their outburst. The judge then glared at both the prosecution and the defense. "Miss Walters, I suggest you keep your comments professional. As for the Prosecution, I advise you to have General Ross refrain from another such outburst. Should it happen again, he will be escorted out of my courtroom."
Ross turned beet red with embarrassment with rage before sitting down. At the defense table, Bruce actually managed a small chuckle before he felt another hand clasp his own. He turned to look at the third person sitting at the defense table, one of Jennifer's chief witnesses in her case: Elizabeth "Betty" Ross, Bruce's girlfriend and daughter of General Ross. The brunette gave him a supportive smile and nod, reassuring Bruce of her support for him.
Jennifer sent them a small smile herself before she turned back to the judge, managing to look somewhat apologetic. "Apologies, Your Honor, but my statement remains true. The Hulk has saved thousands of lives many times, and it's because of him that many superpowered criminals are now safely behind bars."
"That is acknowledged," the judge nodded before turning back to the prosecution speaker. "You may continue your statement, Council."
The trial went on again, back on track. The words soon began drowning out in Bruce's ears and mind as he retreated back into the space of his mind that he shared with the giant green behemoth that he had once hated.
"Your cousin sure has spunk."
Bruce turned to meet the gaze of the Incredible Hulk. He had also been watching the trial unfold before him. Unlike Bruce, he made his opinion of this trial blatantly obvious: he was convinced it would do them both no good at all.
"What do you think Hulk?" Bruce asked. "If the court sides in our favor, I mean."
Hulk just turned back to Banner and glared. "Doesn't matter, Banner," he snarled. "Ross will just hunt us again and again. No matter what, we both know Ross will never let us go...We should've smashed him a long time ago."
A thought that had crossed Bruce's mind on more than one occasion. "There may be a surprise. Jen really knows her way in the justice system. She might just be able to paint us in a new light to the government and the people."
"Yeah, right. The entire world hates us and sees us as monster. They see me as a monster. They run away at the sight of me, even when I try to protect them. There's nothing anyone can say or do to change what they all think, especially Ross. No matter what I do, all they see when they look at me and see a monster." Hulk grunted with a scoff as he sat himself onto the ground. "...and maybe they're right."
Bruce found himself unable to reply, only sitting down beside the Hulk as they both continued to watch the trial go on.
Conference Room, Stark Tower. Midtown, Manhattan, NY
1:26 PM EST, Wed 23 August 2010
Anthony 'Tony' Stark eyed the windows of his CEO corporate office with growing longing. He was starting to consider jumping out from them in an effort to save himself from the boring private meeting he was currently in.
That, or throwing Robert Kelly out of said window. The idea was certainly an attractive one. With some effort, the billionaire returned his focus to the Massachusetts Senator lecturing on and on in the chair in front of his desk. He had come to ask Stark and his company for a partnership and contract with the country's MRD, the Mutant Response Division, and the Senator's signature act of his political career. Along with several other requests, all to fuel his hatred of mutantkind and fan the flames of the public's fear of them. Stark had to admit, Kelly was a jackass to his core, but he was still was on a roll, even after the last three hours of droning on and on.
Bigoted bastard. How did Pepper even convince him to agree to this meeting?
'...Oh yeah, right,' Stark thought to himself with a smile. There had been alcohol involved, and not a lot of clothes. 'Sneaky woman.'
The Senator noticed his smile, and arched an eyebrow under his glasses. "Is there something, Mister Stark?" he asked. "Because I have to emphasis how little of a laughing matter is anything of what I've said."
Tony killed a groaned before it had chance to fully develop. "No, Senator," the billionaire replied with a faux smile, replacing the genuine one of moments ago. "Actually, I find everything you're saying rather boring and tedious. No offense, of course."
At that, Senator Kelly narrowed his eyes. "This is a very serious matter, Mister Stark. I can cite dozens upon dozens of cases of mutant terrorism against humanity that will prove my point: mutantkind is a danger to our ways of life. The Brotherhood leader, Magneto, blowing up a squadron of the MRD's Sentinels, his recent attack on MRD headquarters and the escape of several dangerous mutants from SHIELD custody only prove my point even more. But Mister Stark, you can put a stop to that. With your vast resources and genius coupled with our own initiatives, you can help us eradicate the mutant problem once and for all. With how many times you've helped the US government before, it's only natural that we come to you."
Stark rolled his eyes; the senator was really laying it thick, this had to be good. "And exactly how would I be able to help with that, Senator? You're clearly asking me for a weapons contract, or something along those lines. I'm no longer a weapons manufacturer, that's public knowledge. Stark Industries has changed from the old days, and I've taken it in new directions. I only seek to help the world."
"That's precisely what I'm talking about, Mister Stark. You're the perfect man for the job. We need to let mutantkind know that the American people won't cowered under the beds in fear before them, but will stand their ground. Your technological ingenuity and skill will help us show that."
"...you coming to me to get upgrades Trask tech?"
"Trask is a revolutionary genius in his technology, yes, but your technology shows much more promise."
Stark sighed as he rolled his eyes again. "I assume there's more?"
"Yes, Mister Stark," Kelly replied. "We'd like for Stark Industries to design and create a new mutant detection device for the MRD. Our current model has a few flaws, and they don't pick mutants of a certain degree of strength and power levels. And...we'd like to contract Stark Industries for the design and construction of a new detainment facility for mutants. The first of its kind; our intentions are that it nullifies their powers, making them easier to handle and contain. It's known that Reed Richards helped design at least one of SHIELD's prisons. I'm sure you can do the same for us, correct?"
Tony arched his eyebrow. "Is that all, Senator? No 72' flat screen T.V, or maybe even a photo of Captain Marvel naked?"
Kelly blinked in surprise before narrowing his eyes in anger. "Do you think this is a joke, Mister Stark?"
"Of course not, Kelly. I'm actually quite serious especially about the photo. If you happen to find one, please, mail it to me. Though you'd probably just keep it to yourself...and the photo would've probably make national headlines by that point-"
"Stark, this is a serious matter!"
"Really?" Stark replied in anger, rising from his desk chair. "Because I personally find it a joke that you come into my building thinking you can recruit me into your little misguided crusade against mutants. I've already caused the deaths of enough Americans because of the weapons I've developed. Stark Industries will never create, design or build any more weapons, much less a prison to detain any mutant that happens to fall in your line of sight. And as of now, you can guarantee that I'm donating a large sum of money to your opponent in the next election. Good day Senator."
Turning his back on the senator, Tony waited for him to leave. After several moments, he heard the sound of retreating footsteps before he heard his office doors slam shut. He sighed and went to pour himself a drink from his private liquor cabinet. "JARVIS," he called out, "screen all calls from the Senator, his people and pretty much all MRD personnel. I don't want to see or hear them again. And...where's Pepper?"
'Already done, sir,' the British-voiced AI replied. 'Ms. Potts is currently entering her office. Should I call her?'
Tony smirked, shaking his head. "Thank you, JARVIS, but that's okay." Finishing his drink, he left his office to go and say hi. Finding her office doors open, he entered and found her with her back turned, apparently looking at some papers. He smiled at the sight of her, as he did every time he saw her; he was really lucky to have her and his love for her grew every day. He move silently towards her and soon folded his arms around her, making her jump as he bit her neck.
"Tony! Jesus, you scared me!"
He bit her again then turned her around and kissed her. "That was for saddling me with Senator Asshole."
She gave him a brilliant smile and gave him another kiss. "Well, he was very stubborn. It was you or no one else, and he's been badgering me for a meeting for the past six months. Plus, you owed me for that meeting you fell asleep in last week."
He grinned at her. "That was because I was finishing my newest armor. You have to see this one; it's the best model yet. Actually, I just finished it last night and I've been dying to test it out." Tony had been working and tinkering on the new model for weeks now, installing new weapons and features, making it his strongest model yet. "We can go right now and I can show you."
Pepper pouted in response. "We can do that later. How about we go eat somewhere?" Stark ignored that and kiss her passionately and soon they were entirely too busy to go eat. "JARVIS cancel all meetings and appointments for the next couple of hours," Pepper said between breaths.
'Of course, Ms. Potts.'
Fiery Nether Realm. Hell.
Nothing tasted better than mortal souls.
They were such sweet delicacies, mortals. Their pain and suffering were sweet music to his ears, even if their realm was nothing but a dust rock. And their concept of demons and evil was so much fun he took pleasure in appearing as what they fear the most. It relished him to hear the screams of souls while they looked upon them as he tortured them in such a form of misconception.
He then changed his appearance to that of a devil, with red skin and black horns, dressed in a simple kilt and cape that fell on his shoulders. He looked through the different viewing portals before his throne, watching the humans going about their lives, not knowing today was the day the earth will fall to Mephisto.
But those humans were only the appetizer to the main course. What he was really interested in were the souls of the pure and mighty. But first, he had to drag them out of their hiding places. And if the earth fell during his little shopping spring...well, all the better for him.
"Blackheart! Mephista!"
Mephisto's voiced boomed across his dominion as he called out to his children. Moments later, Blackheart was the first to appear in a burst of infernal flames. His son was the epitome of evil. Tall and rotten to the core, he appeared in his favored form that of a humanoid demon covered in black spikes, and black dreadlock-like spikes for hair. His son's red eyes looked at him with cold disposition. Mephista appeared next, beautiful and deadly. His daughter was his pride and joy. She stood before her Lord and father, with fiery red hair and vicious green eyes, and a body most mortal women would kill for, save for her black wings and prehensile tail. She, like him, had horn on her head, and delighted in impaling anyone stupid enough to cross her.
"Yes, father." They both said as they kneeled before him.
"My children, the day has come for the earth to fall on its knees," Mephisto said with a sinister smirk. "We will feast on the souls of mortals, gorge ourselves in their blood. I want you to go, take the legions of my demons. Bring me the strongest and purest souls you can find. Summon the Haarzareth...they have been cooped up in here for far too long. They could use the fun."
Mephista nodded at once, while Blackheart just looked at his father. "What of the so called heroes of Earth, father?" he asked. "If they showed up what are we to do with them?"
Mephisto grinned at his son. At the entity's back, hordes of demons began amassing, screeching and roaring in anticipation. They had heard the summonings of their lord, and were ready to serve his wishes and do his bidding. The hordes, counting into the hundreds, prepared themselves for the carnage lying ahead as Mephisto dispersed his viewing portals.
"Kill them all, and bring them here to me. None of them can stop us."
Blackheart and Mephista both bowed to their father before they were consumed within infernal flames. In an instant, both teleported from Hell to the realm of Earth, specifically in New York City.
Central Park, Manhattan, New York
1:37 PM EST, Wed 23 August 2010
Central Park was famous as a New York landmark. Holding several tourist attractions, a zoo and more than enough space for people to relax and enjoy themselves, it was a popular locale for many tourists and New Yorkers. Today was no different as people went about their usual business in Central Park, enjoying the day as always.
That all changed as new the Park's Columbus Circle entrance, a circle of swirling infernal flames suddenly roared into existence, grabbing the immediate and shocked attention of dozens and dozens of people. The flames soon dispersed to reveal Blackheart and Mephista, who had taken on a more human-like appearance. Blackheart looked like a man in his mid-thirties with long black hair, wearing a black trench coat with a fedora. Mephista looked like an early twenties redheaded girl, wearing a black skin tight leather suit.
Immediately, people began screaming in fear and horror. A number of them began running in fear, while others only stood in place, pointing and yelling out. A few even began calling the police.
Blackheart looked at the mortals fleeing and cowering before them and curled his lip. Humans were so weak and pathetic, nothing but worms to be crush beneath his boot. While he enjoyed getting himself dirty in their work, however, he hated how his father sat cozy in his realm. Soon, however...soon, the old man would learn to fear him. On that day, he would take his father's throne for himself and rule Hades as he saw fit. But first, he will conquer this pitiful realm and make the mortals beg for death. Looking at his sister, he recognized how much of a wild card she was in his plans. He had to be careful, for she was extremely loyal to their father. She could prove to be a nuisance once he decided to challenge Mephisto for his throne.
That was a problem for another time. He and his sister had more pressing matters at the moment.
Blackheart and Mephista joined hands, and moments later, a surge of magical energy swept through all of Manhattan. Across the island, more than a hundred small portals formed out of thin air, birthed from the magical surge. Roars rang out as from these portals poured legions of demons. Looking like something out of the minds of horror movie masterminds, the demons had red scaly skin, horns and tails, standing at fifteen feet.
As soon as the demons appeared, all Hell literally broke loose. People screamed in fear as they began running for their lives. The efforts of many were in vain, however, and to no avail. The demons descended upon every human in sight, roars filling the skies as they started killing left and right devouring anyone they could grab. Buses and cars were ripped apart and torn aside, stores and restaurants were broken and shattered as the demons filled themselves with human flesh. Within minutes, the streets of Manhattan Island were covered in blood and gore.
Blackheart and Mephista smiled at the carnage before their eyes, the screams humanity rising into the skies as their legions ran amok. Mephista turned to her brother with an evil smirk on their face. "Come brother, we must begin the ritual to summon the Haarzareth unto this plane."
Ahh, yes; the Haarzareth. Their father's personal elite demons. Three demons so strong that they could wipe out the Earth in a week. With the force they now had at their disposal, it would only take them a few hours; after they were summoned, of course.
Smiling, Blackheart followed Mephista deeper into Central Park.
The Coffee Bean. Columbus Circle, West Side Manhattan
1:38 PM EST, Wed 23 August 2010. Minutes before all Hell literally breaks loose.
In a popular coffee shop located in Columbus Circle, just outside of Central Park, two friends were having a cup of coffee after a whole day of shopping. One of them a beautiful blond woman in her late twenties, wearing a blue shirt and ripped jeans and was laughing at something her companion had just said. The other one was a British femme fatale of roughly the same age; she had long black hair and she was wearing a red tight tank top and shorts. She was not so subtly ogling the waiter while he delivered their drinks.
"Jess, please stop it," Carol Danvers told her best friend with a laugh. It was good seeing her after she had been gone months on a SHIELD mission. It had been too long; she had almost forgotten how her antics always gave her a smile. "Seriously, that poor guy was a puddle of sweat."
"Oh shut it Carol, I was just been polite," Jessica Drew, an agent of SHIELD, replied with her own grin. "Besides, he is kind of cute." She took a sip of her drink before she added, "Why don't you take him out for a ride? He was checking you out too, you know."
Carol groaned, giving Jess an exasperated look. "We are not here to talk about my love life, Jess. This was supposed to be a girl's day out."
Jess just grinned at her. "Don't you mean your lack of it? Come on, Carol. You haven't been on a date in what, two years? Seriously, you need to have a little fun and enjoy yourself."
Carol glared at her friend. Unfortunately for her, Jess was more than used to her death glares, as they simply bounced off her. After a few moments, Carol just sighed. "More like three, actually. But come on, Jess, you know my track record when it comes to guys. They were either idiots, just wanted me for my body, or both. Where the hell am I going to find a nice responsible guy? And besides, in the one real relationship I've ever had, the guy was killed because of what I do."
Jess just rolled her eyes. "What you need, my friend, is someone to take you on a wild ride, and can take you out of your comfort zone. Dealing with your, well, let's call it a double life, would definitely be a nice bonus. Oh, and of course, he must treat you right. Because if he doesn't, he won't be able to do much after I'm through with him."
Carol rolled her eyes, grinning at her friend's overprotectiveness. "What I need a responsible serious and genuine kind of guy, not some lame-brain and horny idiot."
Jess was about to comment on that when they heard a resonating boom echo out from nearby, apparently from Central Park. All nearby people stopped suddenly, murmurs echoing amongst them as several nearby cops began talking into their radios. Everyone then cried out in surprise and shock as a surging wave burst through the immediate area and the rest of the island.
Screams then began ringing out as numerous portals formed into existence, with horrendous creatures, demons, began pouring out. They roared as they began attacking any and all humans in sight, caused random destruction. Hideous and bloodthirsty, the demons were huge, red and though a minor detail in the issue, they stank of ash and brimstone.
While the rest of the people nearby were screaming in terror and fleeing for their lives, Carol simply swore as her eyes and hands began glowing vibrantly with yellow energy. "Can't have a day off in this city, damn it." Her body glowed as her clothes morphed into a red and blue skin tight costume with a yellow Kree starburst insignia over her chest, and a sash on her hips.
Jess, meanwhile, had grabbed a black bag next to their shopping bags, quickly taking out a bright uniform. She quickly changed into a red Kevlar material suit, completely red except for her yellow gloves and boots. A yellow insignia covered her chest, ending just below her belly button. Her mask had an upside down triangle and big white lenses. Her own hands were glowing with dangerous green energy.
"Oh, come on, Carol," Jess called out as the two themselves shot into the chaos. "There's no complaining on the job. Besides this a good way to burn off those doughnuts we had."
Carol didn't bother to answer, instead firing an energy blast at a nearby demon. She grabbed the kid it had making to kill, quickly taking him to safety. Three other demons made to attack her, but were quickly interrupted as Jess struck at them with a pair of venom blasts and a series of martial arts strikes. Before flying back to help Jess who was busy kicking ass out of three demons.
With that, Captain Marvel and codename: Spider Woman began an all-out war against these invaders. All the while unaware of the two demonic entities within Central Park preparing the ritual to summon Hell's three most devastating weapons.
Unknown Bar within Times Square. Manhattan, NY
1:40 PM EST, Wed 23 August 2010. Minutes before all Hell literally breaks loose.
Within a popular bar within Times Square, many of the patrons and staff currently present had their eyes on one of several TV screens. There was a news broadcast of Senator Kelly being interviewed at LaGuardia Airport. One of the few not paying attention was a 6'3" man with bushy sideburns smoking a cigar and talking on his phone. He wore a black flexible leather armor, with small yellow lines making an X pattern on his chest.
"Senator Kelly!" came the voice of one of the reporters on screen. "Can you comment on your meeting with Stark Industries CEO Tony Stark? Any details on what meeting was about?"
"On behalf of the Mutant Response Division and the US government, I approached Mister Stark in the spirit of cooperation," Kelly replied, still appearing somewhat disdainful of how it had gone. "My intention was to establish a partnership with Stark Industries, helping the MRD and United States in their efforts to deal with the mutant menace we as a species and people face. Sadly, Mister Stark wasn't as cooperative as I had hoped he would be, but I can assure the American people that this will not hinder our efforts. We will not rest until the mutant threat is ended once and for all!"
Many people in the bar cheered at hearing the Senator's words. The man in black simply rolled his eyes, trying to hear the woman he was arguing with on the phone, ignoring the TVs altogether. "Come on, Red. Stop nagging me, it was just a little love tap."
"A love tap?" the woman replied, sounding more annoyed than angry. "You punched Cyclops straight into unconsciousness. He's going to wake up with a killer headache, and on top of already being mad at you, he's going to find out you cut the roof of his car…again."
The man grinned, remembering delivering that sweet punch into 'Slim's' face. "Jeanie, you know he deserved it, telling me what to do. Besides the kid we rescue is safe, the MRD are nursing broken bones and from it looks like on TV, Kelly looks like he's about to blow a gasket. Guess Stark told him to beat it."
"...Why did you stay behind, anyways?" When Logan gave no answer to her question, the woman sighed in exasperation. "Logan, we've talked about this. We have to work together; it's the only way we can make sure that all of us get back home safely. I know you like doing your own solo thing, and that you don't care if you get hurt because you think you're indestructible. But we get worried about you…I worry about you, Logan."
Drowning a large gulp of beer, the man tried to drown the knot in his throat. He didn't care about Cyclops, even though sometimes he made some good choices as a leader. Not that he will ever tell him that. But if there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was making Jean Grey worried.
"I know Red," he sighed, "and I'm sor-"
His words were interrupted as a significantly loud boom rang out from outside. Looking out the windows, the patrons and staff could just see some kind of wind gale blowing through the streets in a surging manner. As it disappeared, dozens upon dozens of alarms from vehicles outside began blaring. Those within and outside the bar began murmuring in confusion, surprise and for some, even fear.
The man was among them. "What the hell…?"
"Logan, what happened? I thought I heard-"
Jean's words were drowned out as a huge explosion destroyed the wall towards the street, killing several people. The rest of those present began screaming and running for the exits as a huge red scaly thing appeared in the dust from the explosion. It began snarling and roaring, soon attacking everything in sight, slaughtering the nearest humans and destroying all furniture around it.
Everyone was going into a state of panic, except the man in black who looked, surprisingly, annoyed. "...Jeannie, I have to call you back; something just came up."
"Logan, what was that explosion? Logan?! Log-!"
Her voice was silenced as the man shut his phone. Finishing his beer and lighting a cigar, he then got up and walked over to the creature, much to the shock of those present. A metallic "Snikt! Snikt!" was heard as six metal claws shot ejected out of his hands, three on each.
"Listen, bub, you just made me hang up on a pretty girl I like, and that put me in a really bad mood. So I suggest you back off before you get gutted."
The beast roared at the man in defiance, grabbing a nearby piece of concrete as club. The man smirked. "So that's how it's going to be?...Good. RAHHHHHHH!"
The man then roared as he jumped into the air, avoiding the demon's wing at him with the concrete weapon. He then slashed at it, slicing the weapon in half before impaling his claws into the creature's chest, roaring into its face. The beast roared back in rage and agony as it tried to shake him off, but he just kept stabbing and slashing away, climbing up the creature's body until he cut its head off. Vile green blood erupted, soaking his face, hair and armor. Jumping off the creature's body, he then looked out the gaping hole the creature had made, seeing more of the same creatures running rampant across the streets, attacking and killing people and causing untold destruction.
He sighed exasperated. "Going to be one those days huh?" Shaking his head, he then stepped out of the bar's hole and into the streets of Time Square to enter the carnage-filled fight off before him.
SHIELD Helicarrier, 2000ft above sea level. Mid-Pacific Ocean
9:49 AM PST, Wed 23 August 2010
Alarms blared across the entirety of the Helicarrier, with the halls filled with soldiers and agents running left and right. The PA system was blaring with deployment orders, the flight deck prepping to ship off combat ready agents.
The most advanced mobile defense headquarters on the planet was in a frenzy, something that almost never happened.
A brown haired man in his late thirties wearing black suit attire soon entered the Helicarrier's command bridge, currently roaring with activity. Ignoring the orders being yelled and information being exchanged, he immediately stepped behind an African American man who stood before a stand of advanced monitor screens. He was in his mid-forties and wore a black leather coat that fell to his shins. The man was completely bald, and his left eye was covered by an eye patch.
The man in charge of the safety of the whole world, Director Nick Fury was a notorious legend.
"Coulson, what the hell is going on?" Fury demanded as he turned to face him.
Not one to mince words, SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson quickly keyed a sequence on the nearest keyboard, broadcasting on several monitors data streams and satellite information regarding the attack on New York by some sort of reptilian-like creatures attacking the city. "Satellites and sensors picked up two dimensional fluctuations in Central Park less than ten minutes ago, then they increased in number exponentially. We have a rising number portals with these creatures pouring out. Our New York offices are responding as we speak but are demanding reinforcements. Local police are engaging, and the US military is being alerted. Casualties have already reached the high hundreds, sir."
Fury swore to himself as he turned back to the buzzing command bridge. He wasn't a man that liked surprises; in fact, he prided himself in creating protocols and preparing for every possible scenario. But this was completely unexpected. He was about to start giving orders when an incoming transmission suddenly came in over one of the SHIELD networks.
"-ention SHIELD Helicarrier, this Agent Drew-we need serious….zzzttt ognd up…Manhattan is been overrun byzzzztttt….send in eve…one!"
Fury snapped into action, quickly replying, "Drew this is Director Fury. What's your status?"
There was no response, the line crackling with static. "Get me a clear line to Agent Drew this minute," Fury ordered. A number of agents quickly set to work doing so, and after less than a minute, their efforts paid off.
"-blood hell, Fury, are you listening to me?! Send in everyone…Damn it!"
"Drew, we hear you loud and clear," Fury replied as Coulson quickly drew up the agent's coordinates.
"Thank bloody God. Carol and I are in Manhattan's Upper West Side, near Central Park. New York is under attack by scaly, stinking reptile things! We need immediate backup, now!"
At that moment, Fury's second in command came over to him. She was a woman in her early thirties with long black hair, wearing a standard issue SHIELD uniform. Maria Hill was one of few people Fury could thrust, at least when she wasn't driving him crazy.
"Sir, The World Security Council is on line three."
...Of all the times to be bothered. "Tell them to wait. Coulson, locate me the closest specialized team to New York and dispatch them immediately." Returning to his comm, Fury continued, "Drew, you and Danvers are going to have to hold your ground for now. The Helicarrier is too far to deliver any heavy support. I'm alerting all bases and active personnel now."
Explosions were heard in the background on Jessica' side, along with some creative British swearing. "Fury, I don't think you understand; there's too damn many of these things. We need backup NOW!"
"Sir, we're detecting a massive surge of dimensional energy within Central Park. Our readings confirm that energy readings match the signature of the first two fluctuations we detected," Coulson said, pulling up the readings for Fury to see.
"That could be the source of all this," Hill noted.
"Might just be," Fury agreed, a plan formulating in his head as he looked at the satellite maps of Manhattan before him. The screen showed him Drew's current location and the location of the energy surge. "Drew, you and Danvers head two miles north of your current location. There's a massive concentration of dimensional energy there, possibly source of all this. Find it and shut it down fast. Backup is coming your way, ASAP!"
Another series of explosions, as well as fighting sounds, echoed through before the agent's reply came. "Oh, goody, back to Central Park... Okay, two miles north got it."
As the communication channel broke, Coulson immediately turned to Fury. "Sir, the only specialized operatives within the vicinity of New York are Captain Rogers and his team. They were transporting Baron Zemo to the Raft; they're currently wrapping up the transfer progress."
"Contact Rogers and tell him to get his team to Central Park to assist Drew and Danvers," Fury ordered. As Coulson opened the appropriate channels, the Director turned to Hill. "How soon can we make it to New York at top speed?"
"Several hours, sir, even with our ARC enhanced speeds, sir."
Fury glared at her, though knew that that was the best they were going to get. Turning to the entire command bridge, he yelled out. "! want every camera and microphone recording what's going on in New York. I want eyes all over Manhattan! We are going to figure out how the fuck this happened, and ensure this doesn't happen again!"
As the chorus of "Yes, sir!" rang out, he turned to Hill said, "Take command; I'm going to see what the Council wants.
"Sir!" Maria nodded as Fury left. She had to admit working for Nick Fury was never boring.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Hey, guys. Harlequin K. here with another new story. I seem to be on a rolled these days huh? Well, first of all, I would like to thank my friend Dakkaman777 for helping me out with this story, and I highly recommend anyone to go and read his "The Marvel Alliance" story and its sequel, "Flames of War." Another shout out to my other friend, who inspired me to write this, and is a heck of a writer: Reborn Dark Phoenix. Go to his page and read his stories, they are amazing.
As always, my friends, read and review. This is a massive story with multiple arcs that I have in store as we see the Avengers come together as a team and learn what it is to become Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Any opinions and questions? Please leave a review with them, and I will gladly answered them.
Until Next Time,
Harlequin K.