The Inevitable
Chapter One
The Pieces
"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history."
- Mohandas Ghandi
Wakanda, throne room:
"My king," Okoye called to king T'Challa, as he sat upon his throne, "have you seen the news?"
" the aliens in New York? Yes I saw that, " replied T'Challa.
He had seen Tony Stark and two other, unknown men fighting two very powerful extra-terrestrials. Stark was reported MIA later that afternoon.
"There appears to be more going on," continued the Wakandan military leader.
"The king of Wakanda could've guessed that for himself. He didn't think that alien had attacked NYC just because they were in a bad mood.
"We tapped into a call between Bruce Banner and Steve Rogers," T'Challa perked up at that news. He hadn't expected that.
"What were they talking about?" Asked a now curious T'Challa.
"Banner asked Rogers to find the Vision, something about the mind stone being danger," replied Okoye.
After a long pause, T'Challa finally spoke up.
"Wake the White Wolf, if the mind stone is truly in danger, we'll have to send backup."
"How do we even know where to send him?" Questioned Okoye.
"We have kept tabs on every Avenger since the civil war, we know exactly where they are," replied the king.
Just then, two guards brought a case out and set it on a nearby table. Simultaneously, a man with one arm, wearing tattered robes entered the throne room. The case was opened and the man saw the enhanced prosthetic arm lying inside.
"Where'd the fight?" Asked Bucky Barnes.
Scotland, train station
Wanda and Vision were blown through the top of the train station, landing in a heap. Wanda, having recovered from the fall, ran over to Vision.
"Come on,' she said, "we have moving,.come on, come on."
"Please leave," implored Vision, clearly in pain.
"You wanted me to stay," responded Wanda defiantly responded, "I'm staying."
Their pursuers had caught up. The two aliens stood directly in front the duo trying to escape. Wanda stood, ready to make a final stand. A train blew last the combatants, the train passed and the female alien looked to be in disbelief. Not because of Wand, no, something behind her. Wanda turned her head to the silhouette of a man standing across the tracks. The female pursued three her spear at the newcomer, but he easily sidestepped it and caught it. The man stepped forward revealing none other than... Bucky Barnes? Wanda's mind quickly turned from surprise to gratitude as Bucky leapt across the track,speedster still in hand. The former Winter Soldier was, as with many things, known for his close quarters combat prowess.
Bucky landed in a diving roll, he opened his attack with a slash across the male Allen's chest and a stab to his stomach. The grey-faced freak let out a scream of pain. Bucky kicked the wounded warrior back and turned his attention to his other opponent. His for disarmed him with a well placed kick that sent the spear flying. Bucky reacted faster than the blue-haired alien anticipated. He stunned her with hard man from his metal arm. Seeing his opportunity, Bucky drew his 45. Cal 1911 pistol and quickly shot her in the knee. She let out a help of surprise and pain. These aliens are clearly tough. Bucky thought to himself, but not invincible seeing as one both were bleeding profusely.
The alien head butted Bucky and shoved him backward. Bucky was about to take another shot when he heard a "Whooosh " overhead. The White Wolf looked back to see the Falcon, Sam Wilson, flying in to join the fray. The new combatant used his momentum to kick the remaining foe back toward her wounded comrade.
"I had it under control," said Bucky, keep in his 1911 aimed at the wounded aliens.
"Sure you did, Ice box," replied the air force veteran.
Running up to join the pair was Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers, Bucky's closest friend and the one who helped him remember who he was.
"We don't want to kill you," stated Natasha.
" But we will, " finished Bucky.
"You'll never get the chance again," said the female alien before a blue beam engulfed the two intruders. The next moment , they were gone.
above Scotland, rogue Avengers' quinjet
Sam set Vision down on one of seats in the quinjet and went towards the cockpit.
"Do we have a destination in mind, Cap?" He asked.
" Home, " Steve replied simply.
Sam smiled and typed in the coordinates for the Avengers' compound in upstate New York.
during the chaos of getting Wanda and Vision on the quinjet, Bucky and Steve hadn't even had time to exchange greetings. Steve approached his old friend.
"It's good to see you again, Buck," he said.
"It's good to see you to," replied Bucky.
Steve embraced the man who he considered his brother; Bucky reciprocated.
"I need to make a call," said Bucky.
Steve nodded and Bucky turned on his long-range communicator.
"This is White Wolf to T'Challa, does anyone read, over."
A voice came clearly through the device's speaker.
"We read you loud and clear, White Wolf, over ," came T'Challa's voice.
"Vision and Scarlet Witch have been extracted, mind stone secure, over," It was remarkable how militaristic Bucky's report was.
"Understood, well done, White Wolf," T'Challa ended the call.
"So, said Natasha, "White Wolf, huh?"
Bucky nodded.
" I like it, " she said, "it's got a nice ring to it."
Avengers compound, just after rescue of Wanda Maximoff and Vision.
"Well I think you look great. "
Bruce Banner entered the room. Everyone turned to look at him.
"Yeah, um, I'm back," continued the renowned scientist.
"Hi, Bruce," was all Nat could manage.
She was experiencing many different emotions at the moment. She wanted to hug him and choke him out; mainly the second one. There was one thing she knew for sure, her and Bruce were no longer a couple. He had left. He'd shown what was more important to him, so it was finished.
"This is awkward," Sam said to Bucky, who nodded in agreement.
"Thanos has the biggest army in the universe and he is not going to stop until he gets... Vision's stone," Bruce had informed everyone of the situation they were all now in.
"Then we have to protect it," sated Nat.
It was that kind of loyalty that made Bucky question whether he truly belonged there or not.
"No," said Vision, "we have to destroy it."
Everyone looked at him like he was insane, even Bucky.
"I've been giving a great deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its origins," elaborated the android, "... and also about its composition; I believe that if we expose it to a power source with a similar energy signature, its molecular integrity could fail."
The entire time he said this, he looked right at Wanda. She knew what he wanted her to do.
"And you along with it," she responded, "Vis, we're not having this talk; it's out of the question."
Vision ran his hands through Wanda's hair.
"It is the only way," he said, still not giving up on his idea.
Wanda was clearly infuriated that Vision wouldn't give up on his plan. They only had each other for a short time and he was already prepared to die. In a blind rage, she stormed out of the room. Vision continued as if nothing had happened.
"One life cannot stand in the way of saving half the galaxy," he continued.
"But it should," Steve would not let Vision got through with this, no matter what he said; "we don't trade lives."
"Captain, seventy years ago you laid down your life to save how many millions of people, how is this any different?" The android presses.
"Because you might have a choice," said Bruce, "Your mind is complex overlay of many personalities."
"Uhhh," this all went right over Sam's head.
"His mind is made up of the minds of Jarvis, Ultron, Tony, me."
"So you're saying..." Cap didn't have to finish his question before Banner answered it.
"If we find a way to safely remove the stone, there will still be a lot of Vision left, maybe the best parts." Bruce explained.
"Can you do it?" asked Rhodes.
"Not me, not here," replied the doctor.
"Well you better find someone and somewhere quick," replied Rhodes.
Bucky perked up, he happened to know the location of the smartest human that was still on earth.
"I know someone, and I know somewhere," he said.
The rouge Avengers had sent the last hour packing weapons and other supplies. Bucky packed several weapons including an M4A1, his 1911, an LMG he had used during the Avengers civil war, and two combat knives. Nat had her Glock 17, widow bites, and collapsible batons. Sam loaded his wing suit and his two Uzis. Rhodes had his war machine suit plus a 9mm for emergencies. All of the other Avengers didn't actually use physical weaponry that was on-site.
"Alright everyone," called out Steve, "we're wheels-up in an hour."
Bucky looked around seeing everyone socializing and just being friendly. Their shared shared experiences and team cohesion made him wonder whether or not he should have gone back to Wakanda. He was clearly an outsider; only Steve and Nat had the slightest understanding of what he had gone through as the winter soldier. He had, as Nat would say, "red in his ledger," and, like her, he planned on wiping it out.
" We are not the makers of history, we are made by history. "
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To be Continued...