The sun rises over New York City. In the SHIELD tri-carrier, Cerise wakes up to the alarm on her phone. She gets out of bed and gets ready for another day of training. She exits her room and walks up to her best friend and fellow trainee, Sam.
-Cerise: Morning, Wilson.
-Sam: Morning, Gail.
-Cerise: What do you think's on the schedule today?
-Sam: Probably some field training. You know how Director Fury is.
-Fury: And how am I, Wilson.
Cerise and Sam turn to Nick Fury behind them.
-Cerise: Uh, we were just talking about how uncomparably strategic you are, sir.
-Fury: Flattery will get you nowhere. Now, follow me to your training exercise.
-Cerise/Sam: Yes, sir.
Sam and Cerise follow Nick. Along the way, they walk past Rey and Monica.
-Rey: Good luck in training today, my star.
-Cerise: Thanks, dad.
Later at Avengers Tower, Tony is monitoring his former teammates.
-Tony: It's noon, got three hours a beauty rest. Man, it's been a while since I've seen any action. I wonder if any of the old gang needs their butts saved today.
He sees Thor battling monsters in a tundra.
-Tony: So Thor's bringing the thunder as usual. But what are his odds doing it solo? I'll bet 62% chance of...
Thor uses lightning to strike all the monsters. Then Tony switches to Hulk.
-Tony: Scratch that. Hulk. Nah, he's sitting at 96% smash probability.
Hulk sees the camera and reaches for it. The video switches to Hawkeye shooting arrows at a picture of Tony.
-Tony: Hawkeye definitely needs my help.
-JARVIS: Have you noticed how often you lose your bets with yourself? If I were keeping track, I believe you'd owe yourself $15 million.
-Tony: Don't worry, JARVIS. I'm good for every digital penny.
Tony looks at a video of Captain America.
-JARVIS: You could just contact them, sir.
-Tony: No, we broke up the band for a reason. And like I predicted, the earth is doing just fine without the Avengers. It's just that...
Suddenly, an alarm blares.
-Tony: That can't be right. Captain America can handle a bunch of HYDRA losers with one arm and a rolled up newspaper. Red Skull. He's long dead.
-JARVIS: Satellites confirm a match of body telemetry. It is him, sir.
Tony suits up in his Iron Man armor.
-Tony: Upload those coordinates into my navigation and keep my eggs warm. Skull busting makes me hungry.
Tony blasts off to Cap's location.
-Captain America: New toys, same old HYDRA. Sorry, you came all the way back from the dead to chalk up another loss, Skull.
-Red Skull: Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Red Skull whips out two guns and aims them at Cap.
-Iron Man: Just a few more seconds, Cap. I got your back.
Red Skull shoots a Cap, and he disintegrates leaving nothing but his shield.
-Iron Man: Cap! NOOOOOOO!
Iron Man shoots missiles at Skull, and he uses Cap's shield to block them.
-Red Skull: (coughs) So the Iron Man has a heart after all?
-Iron Man: Drop the shield, you animal!
-Red Skull: I think not. Consider it a symbol of a new dawn, and your demise.
Some HYDRA agents fly towards Iron Man.
-Iron Man: JARVIS, give me a pre-play simulation now!
-JARVIS: Pre-play simulation.
-Iron Man: Scans show their tech is hard-wired to their central nervous systems. HYDRA's never been that advanced. What happened to my pre-play sims, JARVIS?
-JARVIS: Already ahead of you, sir. As usual.
Tony flies towards Red Skull while his armor shoots missiles at the agents from behind.
-Iron Man: Those guys are gonna wake up with a headache.
-JARVIS: Armor breached. System failure.
Skull uses Cap's shield to knock Tony out of the air.
-Red Skull: You are just a fool in a machine, Stark! Without technology, you have nothing! No instinct for battle. No fire to lead! You hide behind armor so you don't have to make sacrifices for victory!
-JARVIS: Power is at 20%, sir. And you have a new problem teleporting in.
-Red Skull: Let me show you!
MODOK teleports in front of Tony.
-MODOK: Won't this be fun.
-Iron Man: MODOK? Since when does he team up?
MODOK uses his powers to levitate Tony.
-Red Skull: MODOK has graciously upgraded mt army. As you're well aware, his technopathic abilities work wonders with machines. Even your machines, Herr Stark. Enjoy your final painful moments on earth.
-MODOK: We have what we came for, Skull.
Skull and MODOK teleport away. After that, Tony looks down at Cap's ashes.
-Iron Man: Cap. JARVIS, activate "The Avengers Protocol."
Elsewhere, Hawkeye has defeated a thief.
-Hawkeye: Cops are coming, uh, so hang around.
As Hawkeye leaves the scene, a floating probe floats behind him, and he gets ready to shoot it
-Hawkeye: I'm already warmed up and I got the B.O. to prove it.
A hologram of Tony appears above the probe.
-Iron Man: Don't waste your arrow. It's time. I've activated the Avengers Protocol.
-Hawkeye: Yeah, right. Hilarious, Stark. Alright, where are the hidden cameras?
-Iron Man: This is legit. Code Alpha, Omicron, Omega. We need you Hawkeye.
Hawkeye looks up at the sky and sees a jet. Other message probes disperse to the other former Avengers.
-Iron Man: We all had our reasons for disbanding the Avengers. I bet some of you would count my winning personality as one of them. And the world did fine without us, but something's changed. You know my ego well enough to realize that I wouldn't send out this call if I could just whip up a suit of armor and make the bad things go away.
Hulk destroys his probe.
-Hulk: Puny Stark.
In the city, Sam, Cerise, and other SHIELD agents are training by hanging onto the side of a building.
-Iron Man: Whatever you two are doing, I guarantee it's nothing compared to this. Get to the mansion ASAP. Your team is waiting.
-Cerise: No Way!
The agents descend down the building.
-Director Fury: Agents Wilson and Gail, I was told you two were tied for the top of your class! So why am I watching you just hang out there like Spider-Man after a late night? Agents, what's gotten into you two?
-Sam: Sorry Director Fury.
-Cerise: We just got a call from the big leagues!
-Director Fury: "Big Leagues?" Ha! And what do you think is bigger than SHIELD?
Cerise and Sam arrive at Avengers tower.
-Cerise: JARVIS, we're here.
-Sam: And I am completely geeking out that Tony sent a probe for me.
-Cerise: Uh, you mean us?
-Sam: Right, us, that's what I meant.
-Cerise: Sure it is, fanboy.
-JARVIS: Mr. Stark suggested you should wear the War Machine armor, while Miss Gail wears the Stealth Armor.
-Sam: War Machine? I don't think so. I think it's time to give Project Red Wing its first test run.
Sam closes the pod with the War Machine Armor and opens another one with the Red Wing Armor. Then Cerise opens a pod with her own gear.
-Cerise: I'm giving Project Shade a try. And bring out my birthday present, JARVIS.
JARVIS opens a panel with a locked box in it.
-JARVIS: Arrogant and pigheaded. You'll make fine Avengers.
Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Thor are riding a jet to Avengers mansion.
-Hawkeye: Called you to, huh? Nothing big going on in Valhalla tonight?
-Thor: Yugensborg! A Norse tree-hurling competition and a festival the likes of which you can't even imagine. But never have I heard stark so serious.
A loud bang is heard from outside the jet.
-Hawkeye: Autopilot's out! Cross your fingers!
Hawkeye stabilizes the jet and sighs with relief.
-Hawkeye: Now you go hit whatever hit us!
-Thor: That suits me fine.
Thor looks outside and sees Hulk hanging on to the side of the jet.
-Thor: Hulk, you fool! You will kill us all!
Thor tackles Hulk off the jet and they fall towards Manhattan.
-Hulk: Did you just call me stupid?
Thor and Hulk crash near the mansion while Tony looks on from the inside.
-Tony: Some things never change.
Thor hits Hulk in the face with his hammer.
-Thor: Now this is a battle. It's been too long.
-Hulk: Too long. Like your hair.
Hulk's about to pounce on Thor, but then Hawkeye shoots a flash arrow at them.
-Hawkeye: Enough! You knuckleheads play tag and Manhattan gets a 9.0. earthquake. Thanks for reminding me why this didn't work last time.
Inside the mansion...
-Tony: Here's what's happening. The Avengers are reassembling. Handpicked by me, under my command.
-Hawkeye: Ha! You? You could lead a field trip to Vegas, maybe, but...
-Tony: No jokes. Not now. Cap is gone.
Tony pulls a tarp revealing a statue of Captain America. Thor and Hawkeye lower their heads while Hulk punches the wall.
-Tony: One of our own fell today, taken down by MODOK and the Red Skull. If they're together now, the world is at risk. Besides, we have a friend to avenge. Now I know you all have reasons to walk out that door, but I can't do this alone. Can we set the past aside and work together one last time?
-Thor: We are Avengers, and the world needs us.
-Hawkeye: You know me, point and shoot.
-Hulk: We gonna hug now, or can we go smash someone?
The Avengers take off in the jet. Outside, Black Widow is on the roof watching the jet take off.
-Black Widow: Keeping my distance for now, but it looks like the call I got wasn't a mistake. The Avengers are having a reunion. Black Widow out.
At Red Skull's lair, he is talking to Cap's shield as if he was talking to Cap himself.
-Red Skull: I'm sure you never imagined I would outlive you. (cough)
-MODOK: If you're done muttering to yourself, perhaps you should get to work.
-Red Skull: You have been useful, MODOK, but do not forget your place.
An alarm blares.
-Red Skull: So soon? I knew Stark would be angry. Good.
-Tony: I hacked into the satellite there is to trace the tachyon particles associated with teleportation.
-JARVIS: All data points to Antarctica.
-Hulk: Whatever gets us smashing faster!
Hawkeye flicks a container of mints into Hulk's mouth.
-Hawkeye: They're called mints. Try a dozen.
-Tony: Hawkeye!
-Hawkeye: What? Can't look for bad guys if I have to cut through his gamma breath to see them.
Hulk grabs Hawkeye and dangles him upside down outside the jet.
-Hulk: See anything now?
-Hawkeye: Hulk!
Hawkeye sees a blaster on the ground.
-Hawkeye: Actually, you just did me a favor, green bean. 8 o'clock!
The blaster shoots missiles at the jet. Thor jumps out and destroys the first, then Hawkeye shoots an arrow at the second one. More missiles are shot and one of them hits Thor.
-Hawkeye: Thor just got hammered. Step on it!
The jet flies faster as the missiles fly towards it. The jet starts firing laser blasts at the missiles
-Tony: I'm bringing us in close. Brace yourselves for...
-JARVIS: System breach. Mainframe override.
-MODOK: I thought you understood what a technopath does to machines, Stark. Whatever I want.
MODOK uses his powers to control the jet.
-Tony: Change of plans, guys. Looks like we're gonna need someone to avenge us.
MODOK causes the jet to explode.
-Tony: Everybody clear? Good!
Tony flies out of the explosion without a scratch.
-Tony: Okay, that's an "ouch". Apparently, MODOK's increased his range as well as his power levels. That stinks.
Hulk and Hawkeye are falling toward the ground.
-Hawkeye: (cough) You said it. Forget breath mints, Hulk. We're skipping to advanced showering.
-Hulk: I can still drop you.
-Thor: What is our plan to vanquish the Skull?
-Tony: Hit everything! Hard!
Tony takes off.
-Hawkeye: So the plan is "there is no plan". I thought he was the smart one.
-Hulk: I like that plan.
Meanwhile back at the tower, Sam is finished suiting up. Cerise walks out and shows her gear to Sam.
-Cerise: What do you think? Too much?
-Sam: No. You look great. The gear is definitely your style.
-Cerise: Thanks. Now for the final touch.
Cerise places her headband tiara on her forehead. The crystal on the headband glows as it turns Cerise's hair and her eyes purple.
-Cerise: Wow. I look magical.
-Sam: It really suits you.
-JARVIS: I have sent you Mister Stark's coordinates.
-Sam: Thanks, JARVIS.
Sam and Cerise stand outside the tower.
-Sam: This is it. Our first day as Avengers.
-Cerise: I know. It almost feels like a dream.
-Sam: Definitely a dream come true.
Sam and Cerise lower their visors and read the coordinates.
-Cerise: Ready to rock?
-Sam: Let's roll.
They bump fists and fly off to Antarctica.
HYDRA soldiers start attacking the Avengers, but the Avengers fight back.
-Thor: Asgard's favorite son will lead the fray, and I'll drop more minions!
-Hulk: Want to bet?
-Hawkeye: Hey, I'm fighting here!
Hulk grabs Hawkeyes arm.
-Hulk: Fight there!
-Hawkeye: Don't even think it...
Hulk throws Hawkeye a long distance. Hawkeye lands in front of more HYDRA agents.
-Hawkeye: I'm not with them.
Black Widow watches the battle with her binoculars.
-Black Widow: Typical. So this is what Stark in charge looks like? Oh, boy.
-Hawkeye: Want to rethink the non-plan, shell head?
-Tony: Trust me! Just shoot your little arrows and let me handle it. We have to find the Skull before...
MODOK captures Tony with his technopathy.
-MODOK: One dead avenger isn't enough? There is nothing you can build that I can't manipulate, Stark! I will...
Two flash grenades land in front of MODOK and go off blinding him.
-Tony: Tell me that was someone being fashionably late.
-Black Widow: It was. I just wanted to make sure you needed me before I accepted your invite. And of course, you do. No surprise.
-Red Skull: (on speaker) MODOK, time is now. Or all is lost.
-MODOK: As you wish.
MODOK and the HYDRA soldiers disappear.
-Black Widow: Is it true? About Cap?
-Tony: Yes.
-Black Widow: Then you'd better stop playing solo and actually lead this team before you lose more friends today.
-Tony: All right, as a team. MODOK's cloaked. I can't find a hair on his big ugly head. Ideas?
-Black Widow: Scan for the Skull. He's a super-soldier alumnus. His blood has trace isotopes that'll show up on a chemical scan.
-Hawkeye: I'm impressed.
-Black Widow: Of course, you are.
Black Widow punches a HYDRA agent without looking behind her.
-Tony: Accessing the super-soldier files, scanning for a chemical match. And there are two targets?
Tony flies into the base.
-Hawkeye: We had a plan... for a few seconds.
laser blasters appear out of the snow.
-Hawkeye: Uh-oh.
The Avengers run into the base and Hulk kicks a hole in the wall and places Widow and Hawkeye in it.
-Hulk: Next time you wanna complain about my breath, remember I just saved your li-
Hulk gets interrupted by a laser blast.
-Hawkeye: Sorry, I didn't get that last part. Automated defenses have us pinned down. We need some tech help, now!
-Tony: Rub your brains together and come up with a plan. I'm too close.
Tony blasts off the door to the control room and the door hits MODOK.
-MODOK: No!
-Tony: Knock, knock, MODOK.
Tony sees Cap and Skull strapped in a machine.
-Tony: Cap, you're alive!
He then blasts the machine
-Tony: I don't know what Skull's doing to you, but let's get you out of there.
-Cap: Iron Man?
Tony helps Cap out of the machine.
-Tony: You weren't fried, you were teleported. I can't believe I missed that. I'm glad to see you, buddy. This leadership thing is way harder then I thought. Welcome back.
Cap picks up his shield.
-Cap: So you left the rest of your team behind... for me?
-Tony: It sounds bad when you say like that. But... how did you know they were here?
-Red Skull (in Cap's body): Fool!
Red Skull hits Tony in the head.
-Red Skull: As I said, you have no idea what it takes to be a leader of men. This body is mine!
Skull knocks Tony down with Cap's shield.
-Red Skull: You're not much of a futurist if you didn't see this coming, Herr Stark. I was dying. My body ravaged by the very serum that had given me such strength all these years. But why perish when there was an alternative? MODOK was the key. His power transferred my being into a body where the super-soldier serum actually worked. We left my hated to rot in my own walking corpse. I am the end of the Avengers!
-Cap (in Skull's Body): This is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you.
Cap punches Skull hard.
-Tony: Cap, I hope that's you.
-Red Skull: Auf Wiedersehen.
Skull picks up a blaster and shoots it at Cap, but the shield protects him.
-Cap: You've avenged me, Tony. (cough) Now, lead them.
-Tony: JARVIS, have Sam and Cerise left the tower?
-JARVIS: Yes, they're on their way, but...
-Tony: Perfect. Then it's nap time for the big brain. You said before that I didn't understand sacrifice. Let's see if I've learned anything.
Tony activates his arc reactor and aims the blast at MODOK.
-MODOK: No! Don't let him!
Every electronic in the base turns off.
-Tony: Electromagnetic pulse shut down all the working tech in this base. Meaning your technopath can't do squat.
Tony falls to the ground because his armor is inactive.
-Tony: In your borrowed face.
-Red Skull: (laugh) Your armor is nothing but dead weight now. You did nothing but ensure your own demise!
Skull collects Cap's shield.
-Cap: I know you're the smart one, but that was pretty dumb.
-Tony: Wait for it.
Sam and Cerise arrive in Antarctica and fly past the HYDRA agents at full speed.
-Cerise: HYDRA base in sight. Time to crash the party.
-Sam: Iron Man, we're here. And the suit is awesome.
-Tony: Hit Captain America, hard!
-Cerise/Sam: What?!
They exchange a look and then nod. Sam thrusts Cerise at Red Skull and she punches him hard.
-Cerise: I really hope there was a good reason for that, Tony.
-Sam: I've always wanted to meet Cap and launching my best friend at him is not a way to meet your hero.
-Tony: Brain switch, and I thought I was your hero. What happened to the War Machine and Stealth armors?
-Cerise: The Shadow Maiden gear just feels right.
-Sam: The Falcon armor is just cooler.
-Tony: "Falcon and Shadow Maiden", huh? Works for me.
Skull throws Cap's shield at Cerise and Sam, and they immediately move out of the way. Hulk's arm bursts through the door and catches Cap's shield. Then Hulk busts open the door and the rest of the team follows.
-Hawkeye: Cap?
-Tony: Not Cap, trust me.
Hawkeye aims an arrow at Sam and Cerise.
-Hawkeye: Who're the birdman and princess?
-Black Widow: They're Sam Wilson and Cerise Gail. SHIELD trainees. Been moonlighting for Tony in secret for months.
Cerise and Sam look at each other with confused looks.
-Black Widow: It's what I do. By the way...
Black Widow shows them a hologram of Nick Fury.
-Nick Fury: Wilson, Gail, you're both fired.
-Black Widow: Welcome to the Avengers.
-Falcon: Uh, thanks?
HYDRA soldiers come in and surround the Avengers.
-JARVIS: Power restored.
Tony gets back on his feet.
-Tony: Ah, that's the stuff. Systems are finally back online. That means... Avengers, assemble! You wanted a plan, here it is. Hulk, Thor, keep MODOK off balance. He can't concentrate, he can't take me out. Widow, Hawkeye, get Cap into the brain switch-a-roo thing. Falcon, Shadow Maiden, make the thing work. The Skull's mine. That an acceptable plan, Mr. Hawkeye?
-Hawkeye: I'll let you know when it works.
The team separates and takes out the HYDRA soldiers.
-Falcon: I'm gonna need some cover, Shadow Maiden.
-Shadow Maiden: You got it.
Shadow Maiden blasts streams of dark energy at the HYDRA soldiers.
-Hawkeye: Not bad, princess. I'm impressed.
-Shadow Maiden: Of course, you are.
-MODOK: I will have my vengeance, Stark! I was built to destroy!
-Thor: Together, then?
-Hulk: Why not?
Hulk and Thor create a sonic boom that slams MODOK into the wall.
-Tony: I guess you'll be sitting this one out. Are we good?
-Cap (in Skull's body): Great.
-Red Skull (in Cap's body): Pathetic! This ends now!
Tony blasts Cap's shield out of Skull's hands and Cap grabs him.
-Cap (in Skull's body) I think you're right. You've scratched up my body enough.
-Falcon: Brain swapper's online, but not for long. It took a lot of damage when you pulsed it.
-Tony: Consider it on the job training and make it happen.
Tony straps Skull into the brain swapper.
-Red Skull (in Cap's body): You'll regret this, Stark!
Cap straps himself into the machine.
-Cap (in Skull's body: I hate seeing me squirm. Finish it, would you, kid?
Falcon activates the machine switching Cap and Skull back into their own bodies.
-Cap: Much better, thank you. All of you.
Tony gives Cap his shield.
-Tony: Nobody messes with one of our own and gets away with it.
-Cap: Avengers forever.
-Hawkeye: Uh, don't dislocate your shoulder patting yourself on the back, fearless leader.
-Red Skull: "Leader"? All these years, all these battle, and I've been going about it wrong. Thank you, Stark, for showing me what I must become. MODOK!
MODOK uses his powers to create a barrier around Tony and tear his armor apart.
-Tony: My armor! What... what are you doing?
-Cap: Tony!
The other Avengers try to break the barrier down.
-Red Skull: If I cannot have his body to keep me alive... I will take yours.
MODOK takes Tony's armor off piece by piece and then rips his arc reactor out of his chest.
-Cap: Iron Man!
-Red Skull: Iron Man is no more! Long live the Iron Skull!
By the time the others break the barrier, MODOK, and Red Skull teleport away. The Avengers gather around a weakened Tony.
-Tony: Hey, Cap. Remember how far I went to pull your butt out of the fire? Your turn.
Tony smirks and then passes out.
To be continued...
