Hi everyone. Thanks for clicking on this story. I was playing Marvel Avengers Alliance and I got inspired to do a story in my own Marvel universe. Even though this was inspired by the game it doesn't follow the plot. I did include some movie elements as well, but I did my best to start my own storyline and interpretation of the Marvel universe. That's why I started out with a number for my story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
I do not own Marvel.

I do own Agent Burrus Viall. He's the agent I created for Marvel Avengers Alliance.

And special thanks to I heart Lyoko and AquaDestinysEmbrace for suggesting the story title. I was having a hard time deciding.

Earth 12252012…

I ducked and rolled to the side, evading the attack from Venom. The tongue attempted to grab my foot, but I didn't let it. Pulling out my gun I shot at the villain. The symbiote roared in pain as he recoiled. I then leapt to my feet and punched the disgusting life-form. As he fell I pulled out a little sonic emitter. Pushing the button released a high-pitched sound that threatened to deafen me.

It was much worse for Venom. He roared in pain as he fell to the floor writhing in pain. The black blob that was the symbiote rolled around before the hologram flickered. Venom was replaced by a Life Model Decoy. I heard lighthearted clapping from the side. Turning I saw none other than Agent Phil Coulson and Agent Maria Hill approaching me.

Agent Coulson was the one doing the clapping. "Resourceful. Determined. I think he's perfect."

Agent Hill looked at him. "Coulson, Agent Burrus Viall is still one man. Out there is a world in chaos."

"Some people said the same thing about Captain America when he took on HYDRA. I think he is capable."

"This is different. Your initiative would involve sending him out there."

I cleared my throat. "Agent Hill. Agent Coulson. Would you mind not talking about me while I'm in the same room?"

Agent Hill looked at him. "To the bridge. Now." She and Coulson then left, obviously to discuss something. Probably what his training was for. He had some ideas, but he still preferred to be surprised. Besides, SHIELD agents weren't exactly welcome across the world.

As he passed through the halls of the SHIELD Helicarrier, everyone was focusing on their tasks. With things as they were now being distracted even for a second could be disastrous. The firewall was made twenty times as strong as it had been before. The last time an agent was distracted SHIELD nearly fell to AIM.

Everyone on the bridge was working hard. No one was secretly playing games anymore. The attack from AIM happened because a hacker from them managed to use Candy Slot Saga as a way to track the Helicarrier's location. If they hadn't responded they'd probably all be captured. Or killed. Though there wasn't much difference now.

"Agent Viall." The booming, commanding voice echoed throughout the bridge. When Director Nick Fury spoke everyone listened. I was certain that if Director Fury wanted to he could beat up the soldiers of HYDRA. However, he, like every agent of SHIELD, was wanted by their enemies. And they were everywhere.

I stood at attention. "Director Fury."

He walked towards me, scrutinizing me with his good eye. Even with an eyepatch I felt like he was staring at me with that eye. Still, I was used to dealing with pressure. My trained body didn't flinch.

He just looked at me. "I think you're aware of how things are outside of SHIELD."

I nodded. "For the last five years the United States has been engulfed in another Civil War. Ever since the public learned that HYDRA was in the government the people were divided. HYDRA tried to tighten its control, and those who rebelled formed their own country."

"Yet because even SHIELD was infiltrated they don't trust us. No one on the planet does." Fury looked out the window.

"Still it remains our job to protect the people from the dangers that are out there." I said. "From Asgard, the Negative Zone, or beyond our solar system, our duty remains the same."

"And there was a perfect team to protect the world from any threat." Fury looked at me. "Earth's mightiest heroes. The Avengers."

"The reason I joined SHIELD. So I can protect people like they do. Why did they break up?"

"Too many reasons. If they hadn't split up the world probably wouldn't be in the mess it is. HYDRA waging war in Europe, AIM selling weapons to every terrorist on the planet, and a people that are more divided than ever before."

I sighed. "I saw reports of senators and politicians saying we don't need the Avengers. Or heroes. That the world was better the way it was before they showed up. I disagree. I believe that the world does need heroes. Does need the Avengers. I'm wiling to do what I can to give them hope again, even if it means sacrificing myself in the line of duty."

"I'm not sending you to your death." Fury told me. "Still you should be expecting that it is a possibility. And your team will have your back."

I looked at him. "My team?"

"You've heard of them before."

I entered the bar as a civilian. Not my favorite kind of spot to look for someone, but this guy did all sorts of things that I didn't like. Still, he's had lots of experience with being a leader, even if he did make some crazy crap decisions in his time. That's why I was getting him. So I can learn from him. He was also one of the smartest people on the planet.

The bar stunk like cigarettes that people had thrown around instead of crushing like they should've. Some of the drinks also smelled like chemicals from the toilet were thrown together. A reason for the mess was probably because of what was being reported in the news.

"… And coming in from France, we've received word that HYDRA has pushed its way through the beautiful city of Paris and will start making its way to London. No word yet as to whether England's heroes will intervene or not. In the meantime, Emperor Samuel Sterns of the Imperial States has issued this declaration…"

Several glasses of alcohol were smashed and angry drinkers were cussing away at the Leader. With the chaos of HYDRA in the previous government people rebelled and overthrew it so the Red Skull wouldn't be in control. However, that gave way to anarchy, and the gamma-fied madman saw an opportunity to take control. Still that wasn't enough for him. Hence the civil war.

I then saw who I was looking for. There he was in his black shirt with some former Hollywood star on it. A bit of a beard had grown on him, with his goatee being the longest. He also stunk like laundry that hadn't been done for a year. He gulped down another cup and set it down. The bartender came to him, and I concluded that he hadn't been paying.

Quickly I sat next to the man and handed out some money. "Another round. On me." The bartender looked at me like I was crazy, but went and pulled out another bottle. I then turned to the once famous Tony Stark.

He looked at me with eyes so red I thought he had been possessed by a demon. "Whatcha doing that for?" His slurry voice told me that his possession was intoxication.

I held out my hand. "Burrus Viall. Big fan of yours."

The bartender came back with the drink and poured it into Tony's glass. He gulped it down. "Why would you be a fan of mine?" He asked. "I'm ruined. Got nothing now." He stood up. "Tony Stark's got nothing left in the world!"

Several men grabbed him and threw Tony out onto the street. Guess they weren't fans of his. I was just shocked to see him take it like that. It's one thing to know how bad a situation is. It's another to see it in action.

I paid for the drinks Tony had before and left the bartender with the best change they've ever gotten. Tony was struggling to get up, but just kept falling back down. He was really drunk. Well, time to fix that. Pulling out a syringe I put the needle into his arm.

"Ow! What the heck?" He asked. Only he didn't say heck.

I activated the molecular breakdown of the needle before I explained. "I need to speak with you, Tony. And I need you to be sober when I speak."

"You're with SHIELD, aren't you?" Tony asked. "They want me to make some weapon to fight back against AIM? Well, I don't have anything. Nothing. Tarleton took it all from me. Stark Industries is now a subsidiary of AIM." He looked at me. "All the suits I built. All the androids. Not my property anymore. And as if that wasn't enough they took everything I owned too. My money. My friends. All of it. I'm nothing now."

"Not true." I tapped the arc reactor on his chest. "You still have this. And you've still got your brains. You can think your way out of this one."

"Didn't you hear me? I'm not Iron Man. Not anymore. AIM made sure that I couldn't do a dang thing against them. I'm just… shoot now. And I can't be more than that now."

"Yes. You can." Leaning in, I added, "My team and I can help you get it all back. Stark Industries. Everything."

We got some stares as we made our way through the SHIELD helicarrier. Tony and Fury hadn't exactly been on the best of terms, but now he needed our help just as we needed his. Still it was kind of heart wrenching to not see him making jokes at everyone. The mighty truly have fallen.

I took him to the storage facility. Some scientists were working on some gear, but didn't pay us much mind. The stuff they were working on was going to come in handy later on. If all went to plan now.

We stopped in front of a containment pod. Pressing my hand to the pad, I allowed it to scan my print before I had to scan my eye. It then opened, revealing an Iron Man suit of armor. I swear that Tony's jaw dropped at the sight of it. He held his hand out to it. "Armor 35. But how? AIM took all of them…"

"They didn't get this one." A Russian-accented voice said. We turned to see two people behind us. One was a guy in purple tights with a quiver full of arrows and a bow. The other was a red-haired woman in black tights. She was the one who had spoken. "Clint and I managed to get this one away from them."

"Natasha. Clint." Tony said. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's not to get the band back together if that's what you're wondering." Clint said. "We need you for a mission."

"And you're going to want to help Agent Viall complete it." Fury said from behind us. "Together you're going to be breaking into AIM's headquarters and destroying their latest project."

I looked at Director Fury. "Any idea what their latest project is?"

"It's big, it's bad, and it's going to be destructive." Was his reply. "Something we don't want to have happen." Looking at Tony he said, "Help us on this mission and we'll make sure you get Stark Industries back. Down to the last penny you made while it was yours."

I know what some of you are thinking, and no the Avengers are not assembling. That'll be explained later in the story. If you have an idea or any feedback for me please leave a review. Thanks.