Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Marvel; all rights belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 10
Liberation Part 2
Tibet, 3 Months Ago
The cold wind whipped past the man's face as he marched up the cold mountain path.
The massive mountains provided no shelter from the brutal winds that raged across the frozen hills and plateaus.
Despite wearing heavy coats with a thick mask, the cold winds still stung his face through the protective garments. He struggled with each step as his mule whined behind him.
It had taken the man months to get here. And three days later he was still trying to hike up the mountain to reach his destination.
He fell, knees first into the snow as exhaustion threatened to set in.
The mule came up from behind him and nudged him with his snout.
The man turned around to look at the animal before looking back up the mountain pass.
He sighed a heavy breath before pulling out his walking stick and standing up again to continue his trek.
He marched forward up the mountain pass with his mule following close behind.
The long walking stick crunched through the thick snow as the man trudged up the peek of the path.
"Almost there…" he panted in exhaustion as he looked up at the end of the summit.
A massive peek shot out of the mountain, and in its center was a large set of wooden doors with intricate carvings and two brass knockers in their center.
The man walked up to the massive doors, snow crunching beneath his boots.
The man finally stopped in front of the peek before pulling down his facemask.
Bruce Banner breathed in the frigid air before lifting the brass doorknockers and slamming them against the aged wood.
He waited patiently for a minute, but nothing happened.
He turned to the mule that was carrying his bags.
"Think anybody's home?' he asked the animal.
The mule only grunted.
The doors opened up as warm light flooded the snowy path, bathing it in a yellow haze.
Bruce covered his eyes for a moment before they adjusted to see a thin bald man in orange monk robes standing in the doorway.
"Uh…hi…" Bruce said uncertainly.
"Hello." The man responded simply with a friendly smile.
"You…you speak English?" Bruce asked, surprised.
"So do you." The man responded, still grinning.
"Uh…right." Bruce replied.
"How did you find the door?" the man asked curiously.
"Huh?"
"The door. How did you find the path that lead here?"
"Oh! I had a map." Bruce replied pulling out the aged parchment from his coat's inner pocket.
"Ah…that makes sense." The man said with another smile.
"What have you come here for?"
Bruce hesitated before opening his mouth.
"I…I came here to see the Panchen Lama."
"Why do you seek the Panchen Lama?" the monk asked.
"Because legends say that he is the wisest man on Earth. And I…I was hoping…"
Bruce's mind flashed back to the explosion, the heat, the radiation, the weeks he spent alone as the Hulk, the days he wandered lost as Bruce Banner, the rage at Betty, at Fury, at everything.
"I was hoping he could cure me."
"Cure you of what?" the man asked innocently.
"Of…my rage…my anger."
"You think he can do this?" the monk asked.
"Yes. I was hoping that the legends were true. He's the smartest man on the planet."
"HA!" the old man chuckled.
"You flatter him!" the old man cackled as he continued to laugh.
Bruce looked at him curiously before a thought struck him.
"You're him, aren't you? You're the Panchen Lama!"
The man frowned at this statement.
"No. My name is Steve." The man replied.
"Oh…really?" Bruce asked unconvinced.
"Yeah. You want some hot cocoa?"
Bruce sat in a comfy set of pillows while holding a steaming cup of hot chocolate. He waited patiently for a few minutes before the sound of bare feet on stone floor alerted him to another's presence.
Bruce turned around to see a young boy of Asian descent walking towards him. He wore casual clothing befitting a preteen.
"I'd let that cool if I were you. Steve tends to make it too hot."
"Oh…thanks."
"Can I ask you a question…?"
"Bruce."
"Bruce, do you mind if I question you?"
"Uh no…"
The boy sat across from him on an opposite pillow.
"Do you know who I am?" the boy asked.
Bruce said nothing as he simply stared at the boy. Cup of cocoa in hand.
"Do you give up?"
"You're the Panchen Lama." Bruce said finally.
"Yes. I suppose you thought I'd be older?" the boy asked.
"A little bit older at least…but look's are deceiving."
"I could say the same about you, Dr. Banner."
Bruce's eyes widened at those words.
"How did you-!"
"The man who gave you the map ran your prints through Interpol's database. He called me on my phone soon after he gave you the map."
"You…you have phones?"
"In these dangerous times, it is sometimes better to be technical than mystical. But we never lose our roots."
"I see…" Bruce said.
"Don't worry. The man told no one else of your survival. I trust that you've come here for a reason."
"Did the door-monk…Steve, did he not tell you?"
"He did. But tell me, why do you think you're here?"
"To be cured."
"And you think I can cure you of what?"
"My rage."
"Tell me, what do you know of me? Or what do you think you know?"
"You're the Panchen Lama, the greatest scholar in all of Buddhism. You're second only to the Dali Lama. And that when the Dali Lama dies, it's your job to find him again. To find the next body he's to be reincarnated into."
"It is a cycle that has persevered for centuries." The boy said.
"But tell m Bruce. If it is his job to find me, and my job to find him, who found who first?"
"What?"
"Which one of us was found first?"
"I…" Bruce started. "I don't know…"
"You Westerners have a much more amusing way of phrasing this question. I believe it has something to do with chicken and eggs."
"Yeah. Which came first…but what does that have to with me?"
"I know that when you are angry, you transform into a beast. A being of near limitless strength and stamina. A being that cannot be controlled, or contained."
"The Hulk…it's…he's out of control." Bruce said with finality.
"You talk about him like he's a different person." The boy said.
"He is."
"Is he though? Have you ever considered that you and Hulk are one in the same?"
"We are NOT!" Bruce snapped.
"I want you to ask yourself something, Bruce. Perhaps it is not you who turns into the Hulk, but the Hulk that changes into you?"
Bruce stared at the man with wide eyes before he attempted to speak again.
But the boy cut him off.
"Chicken, or egg, Bruce."
Washington DC, Present
"GRAAHHH!"
FABOOM!
A car exploded in the face of a giant mech, knocking it back.
The Hulk roared in rage as he picked up to more jeeps and hurled them at the massive mechs.
Each blow shattered the cars, but sent the drones stumbling back.
"My god…Bruce…" Jennifer whispered in both joy and horror.
"GRAAH!"
She-Hulk turned just in time to receive a blow to the jaw, sending her crashing to the ground.
Hulk turned his head to see the She-Hulk being pummeled by the Abomination.
The blue brute raised his fists in the air, preparing to bring them down with the full force of his gamma-spawned might.
"Gragh!" Hulk screamed grabbing a chunk of rubble from off the ground.
Without another thought, the gamma-powered beast hurled the rock with tremendous force.
CRACK!
The blow struck A-Bomb head on, shattering his snout, making him recoil in pain.
"GRAH!"
Hulk flexed his legs and leapt into the air in seconds he had crossed the distance between himself and the blue monster.
KRABOOOM!
The asphalt shattered as the Hulk landed.
The ground caved in, making a massive crater that was uprooted a soon as the Hulk shot forward, barreling into the Abomination.
"Hrnnn!" Hulk grunted as he lifted the flailing monster off the ground and into the air with both hands.
"A-Bomb smash!" it roared before Hulk glared at him.
"Blue man try to crush Hulk's cousin…now Hulk crush Blue man!"
"Giargh!" Hulk roared as he hurled the monster into the air before he fell, smashing into the street, creating another crater.
The Hulk knelt down in front of his cousin and gingerly raised her to her feet.
"Cousin hurt?" he asked.
Walters looked up at the green monster to see a look of utter concern on the brute's face.
The creature who had killed over seven-hundred people was now trying to help her.
"Yeah…I'm alright big guy…"
She turned to look at the struggling form of A-Bomb rising from his crater, and felt her own anger rise.
"Nothing a little physical therapy can't cure!" she growled.
Hulk followed her gaze and snarled at the monster.
A-Bomb's eyes locked on the Hulk.
Although surprised, the monster quickly felt the anger begin to brim inside of him.
"You not real Hulk…you fake! A-Bomb rip off Fake-Hulk's head!"
Without warning, A-Bomb leapt through the air. Preparing to smash the two gamma-beings.
Hulk roared in rage before flexing his leg-muscles and rocketing forward, slamming into the monster in mid-air, sending them both hurtling down to Earth.
FABOOM!
Tony Stark looked out one of the dozens of monitors housed inside his armored fortress.
"Damn…" he muttered as he watched the two monsters tear apart the streets with each blow they made.
"Well, can't let Banner do all the work. Jarvis."
"Sir?"
"Make sure the PA is directed towards Mrs. Hulk. And get me a bio-scan on who she is." Tony said as the cameras on one his monitors zoomed in on the She-Hulk.
"Attention Mrs…Walters?"
Jennifer looked up at the massive Iron Man Six and was surprised to hear Stark talking to her.
"Stark?" she questioned.
"Good to see you in the…green flesh, Dr. Walters. I'd love to chat you up right now but really I need you to clear as many people off the streets as possible."
"I can still fight!" she roared, her eyes glowing a dangerous green.
"That's why I need you to help the goddamn civilians! Take out as many of these bastards as you can but we need to protect the people like we were formed to do! So go be a hero!"
Jen looked between the battle between the Hulk and the Abomination.
The Hulk struck the brute across the jaw, sending him flying back into the Lincoln Memorial.
"Fine." She muttered before leaping off towards a flock of super-soldiers.
A-Bomb smashed through the roof of the Lincoln memorial, narrowly missing the statue of Honest Abe himself before smashing into the pond.
He groggily lifted his head only to have it shoved back into the water by Hulk's fist.
"BLUARGH!" The monster roared as Hulk held him underwater.
A-Bomb slashed Hulk across the side with his claws, forcing Hulk back.
"Grah!" the Hulk roared as he saw green blood oozing from his side.
"Hulk crush you!"
"A-Bomb kill fake Hulk! A–Bomb kill all fake Hulks!"
"Hulk not fake!" he roared charging forward.
"Hulk REAL!"
The two titans collided with a blast of force that tore apart the surrounding area.
"Jarvis, lock me onto all Avengers com signals now." Iron Man ordered as he watched his automated ship decimate the Dynamo's forces.
"All Avenger's have been located, save Thor."
"Damn. We could use him."
KRAKOOM!
The entire ship shuddered at the impact.
Iron Man remained standing but saw damage to the ships outer hull.
"Jarvis."
"On screen, sir."
"Who the Hell is this?" Iron Man asked in irritation as he saw Perun hammer the outside of his ship with bolts of lightning.
KRAKOOM!
"Sir, his attacks are causing substantial damage to the ships outer hull. I'm reporting 10% damage."
"Is the armor holding?"
"For now, but I'd advise action."
"Turrets 5-8, focus fire on this Thor-wannabe. Shoot him out of the sky!"
Perun soared through the air, strafing the ship with bolts of lightning that hammered the ships outer-hull.
Perun looked own to see the remaining mechs rocketing towards the ship, firing their cannons like no tomorrow.
Iron Man Six rotated its cannons. They opened fire on the flying drones with a payload of repulsor fire.
The beams of blue energy struck the machines head on, vaporizing their armor within seconds.
While Perun held no like for the Dynamo or his forces, he couldn't let their biggest supports crumble like this.
Perun raised his hammer high into the air. His armor charged itself, glowing with ionic energy before the clouds lit up with blue lightning.
Perun focused as he willed the energy to fall.
BABABABABABARRACK!
Perun's concentration broke.
He immediately dived down to avoid the hail of repuslor fire that erupted from the machine-gun like mounts on the upper half of Iron Man Six.
The massive machine's engines roared to life, jets of blue flames bursting out from the exhaust vents
Iron Man Six moved forward as it turrets continued to rain down beams of blue death on all the Liberators.
Perun strafed left, flinging a bolt of lightning into the hull of the Avenger's ship.
FABOOM!
The top portion of the ship exploded as the lightning tore across the ship.
"Damn…" Tony muttered.
He watched as alarms blared over two of his screens, relaying all damage reports to his HUD.
"This guys got chops…Jarvis, give me full operational control of all turrets. I'm leaving the main guns for your operation."
"Affirmative. Suit cradle is now operational."
"Thanks buddy."
A large seat rose up from the middle of the platform, unfolding to reveal a human-shaped table with various plugs and cables.
He laid down in the cradle and waited while the various cables and plugs attached themselves to his suit.
"Iron Man integration system start. Route all turret gun controls to motor eye sensors."
His eyes immediately began to dart around the area, trailing Perun while simultaneously pelting him with a hail of automatic repulsor fire.
His sights quickly followed the soviet Thor, never letting him out of his sight.
"Man this guy's fast…"
KABOOM!
"What the fu-?!" Tony exclaimed.
The turrets went offline one by one. The feed became filled with static as more explosions rocked the ship.
Iron Man detached himself from the cradle as another explosion shook the ship.
"Jarvis!" he barked out.
"New problem sir."
"No shit J! Give me a visual!"
Jarvis brought up the feed to show a single red and grey armored man ripping off one of the mounted turrets and hurling it to the streets below.
"J…who is that?"
"Facial scans have identified him as Ivan Vanko."
"Vanko? As in Anton Vanko?!"
"The same."
"Dammit dad…another one of your messes I have to clean up. How much damage is he doing?"
"The substantial kind."
"Take the wheel J. Me and Ivan are gonna have a little chat."
"Very good sir."
"STARK!" Vanko screamed.
He fired off a volley of rockets that tore apart another turret before aiming his guns towards one of the main cannons of Iron Man Six.
"For the love of God, would you shut the Hell up?"
Dynamo spun around to see Iron Man rocketing towards him in his own armor.
"Stark…" Ivan growled as he aimed his weapon at the armored super-hero.
Iron Man flew to a stop several meters away from the Crimson Dynamo as Iron Man Six's engines roared to life.
Vanko glanced at the machine and saw it was still laying waste to his forces.
But he didn't care. All that mattered now was the man in front of him.
"I've waited all my life for this!" he snarled.
"Really, just to meet me? You should've called, we could've had a few drinks, talk about old times…right before I deported your ass back to Siberia, Rusky."
"You ruined my life!"
"Your dad and mine had a falling out, but that doesn't mean you can't move past that Vanko! I'm not my father!"
"You know what they say, 'Sins of the father.'"
"Vanko…you've already crossed one line and are now standing on very thin ice. You. Need. To. Stop."
"You come from a family of butchers and pigs…the blood of millions is on your hands!"
"My hands? My hands?! Look around Ivan! All of this! This is your doing!"
Dynamo glanced at the carnage his robots were creating as building exploded and the super-soldiers tore apart everything in their path.
"You do all this, and I'm the butcher?"
Vanko said nothing as his rage grew.
"You are a butcher. What you did…to my family…for forty years…I've done to your country in one day."
"You're insane."
"And you'll be dead!"
Dynamo's arms burst open to reveal an impressive array of machine guns and rockets before opening fire on the Armored Avenger.
BARARKKAKBABRA!
Iron Man's boosters cut out a he dropped from the sky.
Dynamo roared in anger as he turned his guns down in a vain attempt to hit the hero.
Iron Man shot forward, dodging and barrel rolling to avoid as many bullets as possible.
"Okay asshole, let me show you what a Stark can really do!"
He rocketed around before his boosters erupted in blue energy.
Dynamo's smirk fell as Iron Man crashed into him, sending them both plummeting to the streets below.
"OOF!" Captain America grunted as the metal fist slammed him in the gut.
He could feel himself being lifted into the air before being hurled to the ground where he smashed into the ground.
He looked up in time to dodge a stomp kick from the Winter Soldier.
The mask-wearing assassin removed another knife from his boot before twirling it around in his hand.
"And here I thought this'd be easy."
Widow dodged another beam-saber before firing off another clip of ammunition at the colonel.
The super-soldier merely spun his weapon as he vaporized the bullets with a grunt of irritation.
He lunged forward, spinning his weapons within his hand as he slashed at the Russian who back flipped away.
Upon landing on her feet, Widow immediately leapt back to avoid a narrow slash at her waist.
She aimed her left gun only to have the tip slashed off by the red energy weapon.
"You've seen what the Americans can do!" Abdul yelled as he tried to sweep her leg.
She leapt over the kick and delivered kick of her own to the man's head.
The Colonel stepped back before slashing again at his opponent, clipping her in the shoulder.
"Gah!" Widow exclaimed as she fell back.
The Colonel stabbed downwards only for the woman to roll back and shoot at him.
The Colonel twirled his weapon, destroying the projectiles before they could hit him.
"You've felt firsthand what they've done!"
"I have." Widow growled before hurling a small knife at the man.
The Liberator caught the blade in his hand and tossed it aside.
"Russia was once a proud nation. One of the strongest. The only other power that could rival America. And they destroyed it."
"You don't need to lecture me. I lived through it all. And I don't need another Red Room speech!" Widow snapped back, reloading her pistol.
"Now it's nation of gangsters and hookers. But what if you could change it?"
"I'm really not interested…" Widow said as she saw Steve fighting the Winter Soldier not to far off.
"You could bring it back to its full glory. Help us."
"Russia had its chance. And you had yours."
"That is a shame." Al-Rahman said.
He raised his weapon and gripped it with both hands.
"Today another person will die in the name of American's and their Independence."
Widow raised her pistol before the Colonel charged forward.
BABLAM-BABLAM
Falcon's guns erupted at bullets flew from their chambers and into the mass of insects that chased them.
Carol fired off volleys of photonic energy alongside Wasp and her wasp-stings.
The horde of insects briefly stalled as the heroes pelted it with fire and energy.
Swarm watched on from the ground below with a sadistic grin. She raised her hand and closed into a fist, ordering the swarm to increase its ferocity.
The Avengers felt it immediately as the insects pushed forward with wild abandon.
"What the Hell is up with these bugs?!" Carol screamed as she fired off another blast of energy from her fist.
"Split! Split!" Falcon screamed as he dived downwards, firing off a hail of gunfire.
Swarm smirked before releasing another set of bugs from beneath her scaly skin.
"Carol! You and Sam keep these things occupied!" Wasp called out before darting forward.
"What?! Wasp where are you going?!"
Her question was cut short when the insects flew towards her, causing her to rocket into the air while unleashing another blast of energy into the cloud of bugs.
"It's no use." Swarm mused as she watched the two Avengers struggle against the cloud of bugs.
"I'd say it's worth a shot!"
Swarm turned around.
And was blast in the face by Wasp.
"GAH!" she screamed as she gripped her face in pain.
Wasp regrew to her normal size and grabbed the woman by the horns before binging her in for a knee to the face.
"Guh!" she grunted as blood spurted from her nose.
Wasp's fist burned with yellow energy before striking Swarm across the face, splitting her scaled skin open.
"Call off those bugs now!" she screamed.
"Fuck you!" Swarm screamed.
She slammed her foot into Jan's stomach, knocking the wind from her body and throwing her back.
Swarm's fingers enlarged briefly before five vicious stingers ejected from her fingertips.
"Hope you like poison, girly…" Swarm sneered as she stomped towards Wasp.
The size-changer quickly shrank down and zipped around the woman darting off into the sky.
"Stop running!" Swarm screamed before she unleashed another horde of insects into the air.
"Dammit, Nick! Move!" Hank yelled over the roar of gunfire as he pulled Fury along.
Scarlet Witch unleashed a burst of crimson energy into the air.
The sphere exploded in a brilliant display of power, knocking multiple flyers out of the air.
Panther slashed another man across the chest before leaping into the air.
He tackled one man down, gutting him in the stomach before hurling five rocket claws into another man, blowing him apart.
"It's hard to stay conscious with one arm…" Nick growled as he kept his assault rifle leveled in his left arm.
Betty Ross lugged a still unconscious Victoria Hand with her as the group made their way towards Air Force One.
"We need to get the President and the VP…" Nick muttered as Pym carried him towards the wreckage.
"We know Nick, just stay conscious!"
"Incoming!" Wanda screamed.
The group looked up to see a massive crowd of insects flying towards them in a massive cloud.
"Hank…" Betty muttered.
"I got this." Hank said, tapping the side of his cowl. Instantly a helmet unfolded onto his head, ejecting two antennae out of the forehead.
Hank concentrated, trying to link his thought to the insects inside the swarm.
"Something's wrong…" Hank said.
"The insects are too coordinated Dr. Pym…" T'Challa said
"I can't control them." Hank muttered in shock.
"Brace yourselves now!" He shouted.
Wanda's eyes burned red before she threw up a defensive bubble of red energy around the group.
Instantly the insects slammed into the shield, pelting it with full force.
"GAH!" Swarm screamed as her body was pelted with wasp-stings.
"Just fall already!" Wasp screamed.
Swarm flailed her arms about in a vian attempt to hit her while she tried to concentrate on her insects.
She looked up to see the swarm, attacking Falcon and Danvers, was losing accuracy and force.
She quickly sent out a mental command to increase their ferocity, making the two heroes scatter in an attempt to separate the cloud.
Swarm smirked before a throbbing pain burst from her skull.
"Ah!" she screamed as Wasp clubbed her over the head with chunk of concrete rubble.
Swarm glared up at the woman before tackling her.
Wasp struggled to hit back but was stopped when the Liberator grabbed her wrists.
Janet fired off her wasp-stings but each missed as Swarm mover her hands out of her face.
"Just face it Girly…You're DEAD! We'll win!"
"You kidding me?!" Wasp screamed back.
"Do you not see the giant fucking space-ship in the sky?!"
"Stark will fail! Just like you have!" Swarm sneered as she pushed her stinger-claw downwards.
Wasp struggled to stop the woman.
"Gruh!"
"Just let it end…" Swarm sneered as her stingers inched closer to the woman's chest.
"One little prick and it'll all be over…"
"FUCK YOU!" she screamed, head butting the woman in the nose.
CRUNCH!
"UMPH!" Swarm screamed as her nose shattered.
Wasp's head throbbed, but she ignored the pain before blasting the woman off of her.
Swarm toppled back in pain.
As her concentration broke, so did the insects.
Hank could feel the insects becoming disorganized and he used this to his advantage.
He tapped the side of his helmet and concentrated, pulling the insects away from Sam and Carol and away from themselves.
Swarm moaned in pain before her eyes found the Avenger that was taking away her personal army.
"NO!" she screamed.
Wasp struggled to rise until she saw Swarm crawling towards Air Force One.
"No…you don't get to walk away."
Wasp reached into her pocket and pulled out a small vial of orange fluid.
"Pym! Are you controlling these things or not?!" Fury screamed.
"She's fighting me!" Hank yelled back as he struggled to guide the insects away from himself and his team.
"Guys…I think Janet's got this." Wanda replied as she kept up her defenses.
"What?' Fury asked.
Hank saw his wife inject herself with the serum and he smiled.
"Don't worry Nick, Swarm's a dead woman."
"What can Jan talk to insects now?!"
"Nah…she's just using something I gave to her for insurance."
Swarm smiled as she saw her horde of insects descend upon the Avengers.
Then a massive shadow covered the area.
Swarm turned around to see something that made her blood run cold.
"Oh shit."
BRAKOOM!
The ground broke underneath the enlarged foot of the now 60-foot tall Wasp.
The enlarged Ultimate smirked down at her handiwork before looking at her teammates.
Wanda dropped her shield as Hank ordered the insects to disperse.
"Janet you are beautiful!" he exclaimed.
Wasp smiled down at her husband before the sound of stomping metal caught her attention.
A small group of Dynamo Mechs were stomping down the street, each aimed at the giant woman.
"Hank, I could use a hand!" she shouted out.
One of the mechs raised its arms before unleashing a torrent of bullets.
Wasp dove to the side before unleashing a massive blast of energy from her hand.
The super-sized wasp sting carved the mech in half before it exploded.
The other mechs moved their guns into position before one was hefted off the ground by and 80-foot tall Giant-Man.
"Get the Hell way from my wife!" he shouted before bringing the robot down on another mech, shattering the two.
Wasp waited no time in unleashing another blast of energy that tore through a mech.
She then delivered a powerful punch to another machine, knocking it back before Giant-man stomped on its head, breaking its robotic skull.
"We could really use a little more back up here!" Hank shouted.
"I've got Ultron taking control of SHIELD's mainframe! They should be here anytime now!"
"Ultron is active?"
"Yeah!"
"Are you in contact with them?!"
"Yeah!" Wasp screamed elbowing a mech in the face before Hank grabbed its cannons before turning the guns on its fellow machine, obliterating it red hull.
"Get them to free everyone in New York! Round up every super-hero they can!"
"And get the Helicarriers!" Fury screamed from down below as he popped off a few rounds into a Hydra soldier's chest.
"The Destroyer-class helicarriers! Get them launched and take out their airfleet! Connect them to the mainframe and—"
"And we'll have both ground and air superiority. Jan!"
"On it! Ultron! Activate the Destroyers! Get them air born!"
Triskelion
Ultron's eyes glowed an eerie red as they accessed the full power of SHIELD's arsenal.
"Ultron prerogative…accessing Destroyer-class files…project Hailfire is primed. All units…deploy."
The hangar doors opened as the jack-o-lantern faced machines activate their rocket boots, launching themselves into the air.
New York City
The assembled heroes were marched out of their cells, each one restrained in inhibitor collars and specialized restraints.
"Get the FF onboard the first transport, the next three will be for the X-Men and then for the other ones."
Spider-Man turned to see his sister walking next to him, her eyes glancing fearfully at Viper who was standing near her own transport.
"It's okay Jess." He assured her. "I'm not gonna let her take you away again."
"Peter…you have no idea what they'll do to me…I can't go back."
"You're not going back." Back Cat reaffirmed.
Jessica smiled under her mask until Viper stepped forward to speak to one of the soldiers.
The soldier nodded his head and motioned towards one of his fellow soldiers.
The two men proceeded to walk towards the group of heroes. Specifically Spider-Woman.
Spider-Man growled under his mask as both he and Black Cat moved to shield their friend from the Hydra foot soldiers.
"You." The soldier said, pointing at Jessica.
"You're coming with us."
The two men moved towards the teen only to be blocked by Spider-Man.
"Move." They said.
"Fuck off." He replied.
Even through the collar, Peter could feel his spider-sense triggering.
The guard slammed the butt of his rifle into the hero's stomach before striking him in the head.
"Guh!" he grunted as he fell to a knee.
"HEY!" Johnny shouted as the numerous heroes began to struggle.
Viper sighed in irritation before gesturing to the remaining super-soldiers.
"Restrain them." She muttered. "And bring me the girl."
"Ma'am!" a soldier exclaimed jogging towards her.
"What?"
"We have civilians in the area, they're refusing to move!"
"Then clear them out, you know how to use that gun don't you?"
"The Liberators aren't allowing us, they refuse to let us hurt them."
"Gah." Viper muttered as she waked towards the edge of the landing zone to see a platoon of super-soldiers holding back a small group of civilians.
"Get them out of here!" Viper snapped.
"We're under orders." A man grunted.
"I don't care. Get them out of here, or I'll have my men mow them down."
"We are to not harm civilians!" a man snapped back.
"Hydra doesn't share your beliefs. If a few people have to die to prove a point they'll die."
"That won't be happening!" a super-soldier growled stepping forward.
Several Hydra troops raised their weapons.
"At least we know you guys hate each other." A new voice said.
The group turned around to see the group of civilians smirking at them.
"Now I think we can get down to business." The lead man said as he removed his glasses.
"You civilians need to leave, now!"
"Oh were not civilians." Another man said as he pulled off his hat.
"We're the EU's Excalibur Super-Team." Captain Britain said as he pulled off the suit jacket to reveal the Union Jack on his chest.
"What?" Viper asked in shock.
"Guess you weren't into comics when you were young." Italy said with a smirk.
"These are called secret Identities."
"OOF!" Johnny exclaimed as the gun struck him across the jaw.
"Back off my brother!" Susan screamed as she rammed the soldier in the back.
"You bitch!" The man yelled grabbing her by the hair.
"Get away from my fiancée!" Reed screamed, slamming his restrained hand onto the man's head, knocking him to the ground.
Two guards slammed into the scientist, tackling him to the ground before Ben Grimm knocked them off with his own restrained arms.
"Back off psychos!" he roared.
"Restrain them!" a super-soldier screamed as he and several more super-powered individual flew towards the group.
Even though he was shackled by an inhibitor collar, the Thing's strength was still strong as he hurled a soldier into the group before leaping forward to barrel into them.
Colossus saw the fighting and turned to Cyclops.
The leader of the X-Men glanced at the still unconscious professor, Jean and Kitty before glancing at the other X-Men.
He nodded his head and Logan nodded back.
Without warning he charged forward and slammed his shackles against Scott's head, shattering his visors.
"Cyclops 2 O'clock!" Storm screamed.
Cyclops opened his eyes and unleashed a blast of optic power in the direction he was told.
The beam rocketed through a platoon of soldiers before striking a transport.
The V-TOL erupted in an explosion of fire.
"Shit!" One of the soldiers screamed before he took aim at Cyclops.
He pulled the trigger and watched as the bullets flew from his gun and collided with Wolverine who pushed Cyclops down.
"AGH!" he roared as the bullets tore into his chest, bouncing off his adamantium ribs.
Colossus charged forward and delivered a powerful stomp-kick to the man, sending him flying back.
"Colossus lean close!" Scott ordered.
Colossus understood what he wanted and arched his neck.
"Now!" the Russian exclaimed.
Cyclops opened his eyes and fired off a beam of energy that tore apart the mutant's collar.
Instantly the man shifted from human flesh to organic steel.
With a grunt of effort, he tore his restraints apart before doing the same to the others.
"Ugh…" a soldier muttered as he got up from the ground.
He turned to see the X-Men breaking free from their restraints as terror seized him.
"Escort to command! The X-Men are loose! Get us the Liberators!"
The man stopped and turned to see a cloud of frost billowing over him.
When the cloud cleared, the man was frozen solid.
"That's for sedating my girlfriend creep!" Iceman shouted as he shifted into his ice form.
Beast and Storm tore off their own collars with the latter taking to the skies.
Rockslide and Husk quickly went to work in freeing the professor Jean and Shadowcat.
"Surge! Jolt them awake!" X-23 shouted as she and Logan remained trapped in their adamantium cuffs.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" the blue-haired girl exclaimed as she ran towards her teachers.
She pulled the sedative needles out of their bodies before sending currents of electricity through them.
Each one spasmed for a moment before their eyes shot open.
Kitty phased right through her gurney and fell painfully on the ground, butt first.
"Ow!" she muttered as Bobby ran over to help her.
"Kitty!"
"Bobby!" she exclaimed before hugging her boyfriend.
"Jean!" Scott yelled as he helped the redhead to her feet.
"I-I'm okay Scott…just…just my head."
"Sedatives…" the Professor groaned as Hank lifted him onto his back.
"Professor." Scott said, looking at his mentor through closed eyes.
"I've read your mind Scott, I know what you're thinking."
"Then can someone help us out of these things?" Logan growled.
Kitty went to work freeing both X-23 and Logan of their restraints by phasing their hands through the metal.
BOOM!
The X-Men turned to see a cloud of dust erupt from the area not far from them.
"I think it's time we fought back." Logan growled.
"I agree Logan." The Professor said.
The Excalibur team flew in fast, plowing through the Liberators forces as they swept in to free the heroes.
Captain Britain threw the soldiers off of Ben before tearing off his collar.
The Thing felt his strength return and grinned, breaking his cuffs.
Spain grabbed the Invisible Woman's collar and tore it off, allowing her to break her restraints, her brothers, and her fiancées with three tiny force bubbles.
"Hey Johnny." Spider-Man said as he held out his own restraints.
"On it." He said with a grin as he lit his hand on fire. He melted through the cuffs and the collar around Spider-Man's neck before the arachnid themed hero freed both his sister and her friend.
"Where's Viper?" Jess growled.
"That green haired skank is making a break for it!" Captain France shouted as he pointed towards a primed V-TOL.
"Come on Spidey!" Jessica exclaimed.
Spider-Man dashed after his twin as they ran towards the chopper.
"Flame On!" Johnny exclaimed as his body burst into flames.
"Johnny! You and Susan get airborne, take out their flyers! Ben you and I are going to draw their fire!" Reed shouted out.
Viper sprinted toward the awaiting V-TOL as her soldiers were mowed down by the Excalibur super-soldiers.
She glanced behind her to see several men go flying into the air before crashing back down to Earth.
"Dammit. Should've kept Crossbones here." She muttered as she stepped onto the V-TOL
THWIP!
"Huh?" she turned her head to see a thick strand of grey gook on her shoulder.
"AGH!" she screamed as she was pulled back.
She crashed into the dirt, right in front of an enraged Spider-Woman.
"Ah…Jessica dear." Viper said with a grin.
"Jess!" Spider-Man yelled.
He ran towards his sister before his spider-sense blared in his skull.
Moving on instinct, he flipped into the air as a super-soldier shot through the sky and smashed into the ground.
Spider-Man landed on the ground, rolling to his feet. He spun around while firing his web-shooters, quickly enveloping the terrorist in a cocoon in webbing.
"One down…" he said. Then his spider-sense blared.
He leapt out of the way of another flyer who took a blind punch at the super-teen.
"Damn!" he muttered.
Jessica Drew-Parker glared down at her former captor who merely smiled up at her.
"If you wanted a hug all you needed was to as-gak!"
Jessica grabbed the woman by the throat and lifted her off the ground, squeezing her hand tighter.
"GARK!" Viper choked as her young ward squeezed tighter.
"You took my life away…you stole me from my family…you erased any chance I could've had for happiness when you abducted me…"
"I-I made you better! I g-agave you your powers…I gave you a true purpose!"
"You turned me into a weapon!" she screamed.
"I-is there any truer purpose?" Viper asked with an ecstatic smile.
"You…!" Jess snarled before she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.
"AH!" she cried out as Viper dug her knife into her stomach.
"Grah!" Jess cried out before throwing Viper to the ground.
The green-clad assassin rubbed her neck with a sinister smile as she saw Jessica stumble back.
Spider-Woman coated her wound in a thick scab of webbing before she looked up.
Viper aimed her pistol at the girl and smirked.
"Simple shot to the chest should keep you down…then it'll be like old times…" she mused.
"Over my dead body!"
Viper turned in time to avoid a slash from five talons attached to a furious Spider-Man.
"That can be arranged!" Viper exclaimed as she leveled her gun. Until it was sliced in half.
Spider-Man grabbed the woman by the face and hoisted her up by the neck.
"This is for my sister!" he roared before pulling his right hand off her face.
SHRIP!
"GIIIAAHHH!"
Viper reeled back in pain.
Spider-Man watched as the woman clutched her now scarred face.
Spider-Man looked down at his now blood soaked palm that still had the remains of her skin.
"GAH!" Viper screamed as she glared daggers at her enemy.
She removed her hand from her face, allowing Jess to see a nasty hand-shaped patch of bloody muscles. The exposed flesh bled profusely as the woman backed up.
"YOU SON OF BITCH!" she screamed as blood pooled from her wound.
Peter released the concentration from his hand, allowing the skin to fall from his palm and onto the ground.
"Careful, bitch. That's my mother you're talking about!"
Spider-man charged forward with all four of his mechanical arms ready to impale the woman.
"Get him!"
Spider-Man felt his sixth sense tingle as a dozen super-soldier shot from the sky and slammed into him.
Viper took her chance and sprinted back onto her V-TOL.
"Take off!" she screamed to the pilot.
"But…what about the men?"
"Fuck 'em!" Viper shouted back as she collapsed into her seat.
Jessica struggled to stand. She then heard the roar of engines.
"NO!" she screamed as she saw the V-TOL with her tormentor take off from the ground.
Before anyone could stop it, the vehicle rocketed off into the air just as several red mechs stopped into the area.
"Hey douchebags!" a female voice screamed.
Spider-Man slashed a man across the chest, dropping him. He turned to see a single teenage girl in a long white coat and combat suit glaring up at several robots.
"Bombshell!" he screamed.
"Suck on this!" the girl screamed before her hands erupted into blasts of yellow energy.
The front of the machines exploded violently.
VROOOMMM!
The arachnid themed heroes turned to see a beaten up Mustang come barreling through the area. On top of the car was a single red-clad figure with two short horns protruding from his mask.
"DD!"
Daredevil turned to 'see' Spider-Man and his sister in the midst of a fight, as well as 'seeing' the X-Men and FF battling against the remaining forces of the Liberators.
"Sup kid!" Luke shouted from the driver seat. Next to him was Iron Fist who wore a small smirk.
"Incoming!" a female voice screamed.
Peter and Jess looked up to see Jessica Jones diving down from the sky.
She slammed into a robot's hull, tearing through its armor before ripping herself out from beneath the cockpit.
"Ugh…Never doing that again…" she moaned as she groggily tried to stand.
"Friends of yours?" Jess asked as her brother helped her up.
"Yeah, you good?" he asked.
"Yeah…I gotta say your webbing makes good first aid."
"Good to know that it's appreciated." He said.
"Spider-Man!" Daredevil shouted as he leapt off the car and rolled to his feet.
"DD, the X-Men and FF are back in the fight! But we need to stop those flyers!"
"Forget the flyers! We need to take down those air ships!" Iron Fist said.
The group looked up to see several air ships circling towards the area.
"I'm pretty sure that's not good!" Bombshell screamed.
"No shit!" Spider-Woman screamed.
The X-Men looked up to see the incoming air ships.
"Storm!" The professor mentally shouted.
Storm looked up at the sky to see the massive aircrafts moving towards them. The turrets on their sides rotated until they were locked onto the heroes below.
African mutant descended from the sky and landed down next to Cyclops.
"Scorched Sky?' he asked.
"Scorched Sky." She responded.
Her eyes glowed white before the clouds above began to swirl together, The sky darkened and lightning flashed.
"Directly above Scott." Jean said as she helped her boyfriend aim his head.
"Right at 12 O'clock." She continued.
"Storm, ready?"
"And waiting, Cyclops."
"NOW!" he screamed before opening his eyes.
Crimson energy erupted from his eyes in a massive stream of power.
Storm channeled her powers through the sky until streaks of lightning burst from the sky.
They arched through the air until striking the sides of the ship, only to bounce harmlessly off a dense field of green energy.
Cyclops' optic blast reacted similarly as the beams merely bounced off the energy shields.
The energies flashed through the sky before striking several buildings.
BABOOM!
"Oh no…" Storm whispered in horror as she saw debris explode from the impact.
"What the Hell was that?!" Kitty exclaimed.
"Deflector shields by the look of it." Beast said as he scratched his chin.
"How do we get through it?" Chamber asked, blasting away a group of soldiers.
"We'd need physical projectiles like rocks or missiles. The shields only work on energy, not kinetic projectiles."
"Would gunships do the trick?"
The group saw Spider-Man and company running towards them.
"Uh…yes, why do you ask?" Beast said.
Spider-Man simply pointed up.
"Because I think we got some."
High above the massive battlefield were three ginormous SHIELD Helicarriers loaded to the brim with weapons.
Multiple cannons, long range anti-air guns, rocket launchers and armor piercing 50. Cal. Machine guns lined the impressive feet of technological engineering.
The Ultron drones stood at the helm of the ship, deep within its central Hub.
"Targets Identified…Hydra…Liberator soldiers…Friendlies: Fantastic Four, X-Men, Spider-Man…various unconfirmed vigilantes…"
Two drones stepped forward before standing at the firing controls.
"Adjusting aim…targets locked: Liberator Air Fleet. Commencing operation Hailfire."
Instantly the sky was alight with cannon and rocket fire.
BABOOOMMM!
Ships exploded in a symphony of perfectly executed shot from the AI robots.
The Helicarrier's guns quickly went to work blowing apart every Liberator aircraft within range of their guns.
The heroes below watched in awe and slight fear as they saw the entire Liberator fleet explode one after another.
Chicago, SHIELD Nuclear Facility
"Command! We're under attack! I repeat! We are under attack!"
Hydra soldiers scrambled through the halls, blind firing their weapons behind them.
"This is Command. Who's attacking?"
"We don't know!" the man screamed.
"GIAGH!"
The group turned to see a soldier being lifted into the air by some invisible force before blood burst from his stomach.
"What the fuck?!" a man screamed in fear.
The body was hurled towards the group, smashing into one man before another's head spurted blood. A hole now existed in his forehead.
"Do you have visual of the target?"
"Yes." A voice said.
Scarlet Spider de-cloaked to reveal himself, bloody stingers and all.
"Target sighted!" a man screamed, leveling his weapon.
"Komodo." Ben said as he snapped a man's neck.
"RAAH!"
The soldier turned around to be met by a brutal slash across the face by a reptilian like woman with a tail and green scales.
"Good girl." Spider said with a smirk.
"Piss off loser!" she snarled.
"Spider to Rhodes, how's the front of the house?"
"Busy!"
War Machine opened fire with his shoulder-mounted cannon, devastating a tank before his hand cannons vaporized another soldier.
"So is that good?" Kaine asked over the coms.
"Is it keeping them off you?"
"Hmm…so far, yeah."
"Then yes it's good! So get off the FUCKIN' LINE!"
War Machine whirled around, striking a soldier across the chest before firing a rocket into a flying chopper.
BOOM!
The helicopter exploded in a heap of fire before spinning to the ground in a pile of molten metal scraps.
"Hardball! Armory! Status!"
BRAAKOOM!
Rhodes turned to see an explosion rip through the walls of one of the buildings, sending debris all over the area.
Two figures leapt down from the hole.
One fired a grappling hook from the purple apparatus attached to her arm.
The second engulfed himself in a sphere of red energy before he hit the ground. The sphere bounced forward and dissipated, allowing the teen inside to skid along the ground.
The man rose from the ground in his red and yellow combat suit with matching cowl.
"Ugh…" he grunted. "Hardball reporting for duty…sir." He replied sarcastically.
"Quit bitching, Roger!" Armory exclaimed.
The purple haired girl retracted the grapple into her arm before it returned to what looked like a normal hand grafted with a purple substance.
"Look alive soldiers!" another voice screamed.
The group turned to see a tank being lifted into the air by a massive arm made of pure energy. The hand closed, crushing the vehicle within its grip.
Attached to the arm was a large African American man in army camo, combat suits, and a green T-shirt.
Sergeant Joseph Green, aka, Gauntlet, retracted the energy into his right hand, reverting it to a large mechanical arm.
"Green, where's Cloud-9 and Ultragirl?"
"Where do you think Rhodes? In the sky!"
The group looked up to see two distinctly dressed figures dodging several Liberator soldiers who flew after them.
The first was a blonde haired girl wearing an orange and green jumpsuit dodging her attackers before delivering a super-powered punch, sending one of the men hurtling into the building.
The second was another blonde-haired girl in camo pants and a blue T-Shirt with goggles strapped to her eyes. The most unique thing about her was the thick cloud she was riding on.
Two soldiers tried to tackle her but were blinded by the thick cloud.
Before they could break free, the smoke flooded their lungs, cutting off their air supply and causing them to plummet from the sky.
Abigal Boylen tried to calm her raging heartbeat as Ultragilr slammed another flyer out of the sky.
"It's okay…it's okay…" she muttered as her eyes darted over the dozens of black-suited terrorist still trying to kill her.
BZZAAPP!
A beam of green energy erupted from the ground, vaporizing the entire platoon.
"Holy-!" she screamed.
"Cloud-9 keep your head in the game!" War Machine shouted as he flew up next to her.
"S-s-sorry sir!" she exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Abby!" Ultragirl said as she flew in close.
"I got your back!"
"Spider to Rhodes, Me and Komodo just cleared the control room. We're uploading the virus now."
Scarlet Spider sat in the control room, typing furiously on the keyboard in front of him.
"Amadeus Cho's little bug better work."
He removed a thumb drive from his costume and plugged it into the computer's USB port.
He quickly keyed in another set of commands before activating the virus.
"Is it working?" Komodo asked as she glanced back from the room's door.
"I'll let you know in a minute." Ben muttered as he saw the download proceed.
"Don't blow up, don't blow up, don't blow up, god please don't blow up…" he chanted quietly as the virus reached the Nukes.
The screen flashed red. Warning signs covered the screen and alarms began to blare.
"What did you do?!" Komodo screamed.
"Damn you Cho!" Ben cursed as he saw the screen flash red.
Then the screen turned green.
The alarms stopped and the warning signs cleared from the screens, allowing the two super-humans to see that all Nukes in the US's position were deactivated.
"We didn't blow up!" Ben screamed in joy.
"We were gonna blow up?!" Komodo screamed.
"Not anymore! Cho you magnificent fuck! You did it!"
"Spider come in, are the Nuke's disabled?"
"Every one of them sir! No Nuclear holocausts for these assholes!"
"Roger that. Secure the area and—"
"I get it. No celebration yet. But hey, we're one step closer to winning, right?"
Washington DC
"A-BOMB CRUSH YOU!"
BRAAKOOM!
Hulk crashed through the few cars that still littered the streets before crashing onto the side of a fountain.
"Gruh…" the brute grunted before he looked up.
A-Bomb slammed on top of him like a missile, uprooting everything around him for blocks.
"AGH!" Hulk roared as A-Bomb slammed an elbow into his back.
"GET OFF HULK!"
The Hulk grabbed A-Bomb and hurled him onto his back, shattering the pavement once again.
A powerful punch socked the monster across the jaw, making him stumble back in pain.
"HULK SMASH FISHFACE!"
Another super-powered punch sent the monster back before he dug his feet into the ground, stopping his movements.
"You not real Hulk…A-Bomb knew real Hulk…you fake! And A-BOMB HATE FAKE!"
The monster slammed his hands together, creating a shockwave that tore across the ground and slammed Hulk with its full force.
The green-skinned monster felt his skin flake at the impact, his bone rumbled while the ground around him was shattered.
Hulk stood his ground, refusing to yield to the monster in front of him.
The shockwave finally ended, allowing the enraged to Hulk to snarl at the Abomination.
"HULK NOT FAKE! HULK ONE OF A KIND!"
Without warning, the Hulk slammed into the Abomination, delivering a vicious punch to the gut, and then a brutal stomp-kick to the groin.
"EEP!" A-Bomb squealed before Hulk kneed him in the face, breaking his nose.
Hulk grabbed the monster by the throat before slamming him into the ground. A powerful stomp, crushed A-Bomb's chest, further burying him into the asphalt.
Hulk delivered a powerhouse punch that stunned the monster, breaking his skin and drawing blood.
Hulk punched him again drawing even more blood.
"Hulk not fake! HULK IS STRONGEST THERE IS!"
Hulk reeled back his fist, grinning as he saw the fear creep into the monster's eyes.
"Y-you…real Hulk?"
Hulk grinned.
"One and only!"
BRAKKAKKOOM!
"GUH!" Iron Man smashed into the ground, helmet scraping against the pavement.
"Ugh…"
"Shields at 63% power, sir."
"Thanks for the update, Jarvis." Iron Man slowly picked himself up from the ground.
His HUD quickly recovered from the impact and scanned the area.
"Jarvis, can you get a lock on Vanko?"
"Incoming sir!"
Iron man spun around to see several rockets racing towards him.
"SHIELDS!"
A thick dome of energy emerged in front of the hero before merging around his armor.
BOOM!
"Oof!" Tony grunted as he again hit the ground hard.
He turned over to see the Crimson Dynamo rocketing down from the sky.
"Set repulsors to 50%!"
"Repulsors armed." Jarvis replied.
Dynamo soared in low, a sinister grin spread across his face as he saw Iron Man.
"Die Stark!" he screamed.
His machine guns fired, unleashing a hail of shrapnel and explosives.
Iron Man's armor took the brunt of the attack. His shields rippled from the impact before he raised his hands.
Instantly, a hail of blue repulsors erupted from his hands and wrists, bombarding the Dynamo as he came closer.
"GAH!" he screamed as chunks of armor exploded off his suit.
The villain smashed into the ground, crushing a car as he landed.
Iron Man raised his wrist and opened fire with his wrist cannon, bombarding the Dynamo with beams of pure energy.
"Grah!"
He returned fire with his machine guns, hammering the hero's shield with bullets and explosives.
Iron Man ignited his rocket boots and launched forward, barreling into Vanko.
They smashed into a tour bus where Iron Man proceeded to beat the Russian down.
Blow after blow was followed by the chipping and breaking of metal as the two titans clashed.
Iron Man grappled with the mechanized Russian, only for Vanko to activate one of his many defense features.
"Feast on my vengeance Stark!"
An electrical field burst forth from Vanko's suit, electrocuting Tony with 300,000 volts.
BZZZAPP!
"GIAAGH!"
Vanko sneered in rage before grabbing the Avenger by the throat.
Tony's HUD was filled with static as his screen blurred. His systems were forced to reboot as the Crimson Dynamo held him above the ground.
"Now I will exact the revenge I so richly deserve!"
The HUD finally began to stabilize, allowing Tony to see Dynamo's free hand unfold into a dozen guns, all aimed at his head.
"J-Jarvis…shields…"
"Shields at 10% power! You need to escape, sir!"
"V-voice activation…"
Two ports opened on the underside of his torso-armor, emitting a faint yellow gas.
"Time to die Stark!"
"Voice-code: JAZZLER."
The ports sparked with energy before releasing a current of electricity through the air.
BZZAAAPP!
The field of electricity sent Dynamo reeling back as his systems were struggling to reboot.
"Guh! Damn you Stark!"
Tony fell to the ground and struggled to stand.
Dynamo shakily got to his feet struggling to keep his aim steady as he raised his weapons.
"What do you have?! Your fancy suit…your repulsor tech?!"
"You forgot about… my EMP." Stark said as his Arc Reactor began to glow a bright blue.
A look of horror took shape on Vanko's face.
"What?"
"Jarvis! 40-meter burst!"
WHMMPP!
A small shockwave ripped across the area, pushing both Iron Man and Dynamo back.
The two armored men smashed to the ground with neither moving.
"S-Stark! What have you done?!" Vanko screamed from inside his armor.
Tony lied still on the ground as Vanko continued to scream.
Neither man could move as every system in their suit had shut down. Well, all except one.
Approximately ten seconds after the EMP fired, Tony's HUD reactivated.
"Sir? Are you alright?" Jarvis asked.
"I'm…okay J. Just…I might need to tag you in…"
"Tracking your coordinates now."
Carol dodged another mech as it plummeted to the streets below in a heap of fire and twisted metal.
She looked up at the massive Iron Man Six to see it slowly turning.
"Mrs. Danvers."
"Whoa!" Carol exclaimed in surprise.
"Fear not, ma'am. I am Jarvis."
"Stark's butler?" She asked keeping her hand on her coms.
"The very same. I apologize if I startled you, but I am in need of your help."
"Uh…sure."
"Mr. Stark is unfortunately immobile and requires some assistance."
"You know where he is?" the blonde asked as she looked up at the space ship.
Al-Rahman stabbed his spear into the ground, narrowly missing Widow's head.
The super spy wrapped her legs around the man's head. She pivoted her hips, flipping the man over before she ready her wrist-stingers.
Al-Rahman grabbed her by the belt and flung her off of him.
He flipped onto his feet and spun his weapon.
Widow leapt to her feet and raised her wrist guns and fired.
Al-Rahman spun his weapon around again.
"You really want to keep this up?"
"Do you?" Natasha snapped back.
BANG!
Cap slid back from the impact of the soldier's metal fist to his shield.
"Guess that didn't hurt." Steve said as he readjusted his shield.
The Winter Soldier said nothing as he readied his knife.
"You don't say much, do you?" Steve asked.
The Winter Soldier remained silent as he gripped his knife. He lunged forward and slashed at the Avenger who blocked it with his shield.
Cap leapt back, hurling his shield, knocking the man in the face.
He recovered his shield and jumped forward before planting his boot in the man's face.
The goggles and mask broke on impact as Winter Soldier stumbled back.
Cap readied his shield for another blow before he saw the man's face.
Winter Soldier recovered, removing the last pieces of his shattered mask off his face.
"Bucky?" Steve breathed as he saw the man's face.
"Who the Hell's Bucky?" He muttered.
He lunged forward without a second thought slashing at the Captain.
Cap blocked slash with his shield before rolling back, hurling his shield at his former friend.
Bucky dodged the shield and stabbed with his knife.
Cap blocked the blow and struck him across the jaw. Only to be sent flying back by the man's metal arm.
"Bucky its me!"
The Winter Soldier tackled him. Both grappled on the ground with Bucky getting in a left hook with his metal arm.
Blood flew from the avengers mouth before he gritted his teeth.
He grabbed Bucky by the collar and head butted him.
Blood spurted from the blow as Cap pushed his former friend onto the ground.
"It's me! It's Steve!"
"Grah!"Bucky kneed Steve in the stomach before throwing him off.
"Buck! You know me!" Steve pleaded.
"No I don't!" he roared hurling the knife at the Avenger.
Cap dodged the knife and charged forward, tackling the soldier before restraining his right arm behind his back.
Bucky grunted as he used his left arm in a vain attempt to free himself.
"Buck! Please!"
"Guh!" Widow grunted as a boot collided with her jaw.
She spit out a strand of blood before wiping her split lip.
The Colonel stomped towards her, spear at the ready.
Widow looked across the lawn to see Cap's shield lying in the grass.
She smirked as an idea popped into her head.
"I'm through with this…" Abdul growled. "DIE!"
Widow spun around, spraying a stream of red mist into the air.
"GAAH!" Colonel screamed as he grabbed his now burning skin.
"Napalm gas…still love it!"
Natasha sprinted across the lawn and rolled over the shield, piking it up and throwing it into the defenseless stomach of the Winter Soldier.
"OOF!"
Cap wasted no time as he flipped himself over his friend and elbowed him in the stomach.
"GAH!"
He delivered a vicious kick to the shin that dropped Bucky to a knee before giving him a right hook to jaw.
WHACK!
Bucky hit the ground hard and remained motionless.
Cap breathed heavily before turning back to see the Colonel slashing at Black Widow.
"Get up soldier…" he muttered to himself as he grabbed his shield.
"War's not over…"
Crimson Dynamo struggled to move as his armor systems slowly rebooted.
"Grah!" he roared in rage.
"Struggle all you want Ivan…" Tony muttered.
By now he had dragged himself into a sitting position, his back slumped against a pile of debris.
"Bah! You think I didn't account for EMP's?! My armor will reboot within the next ten minutes!"
"Funny, mine will reboot in five."
"Grah!" Vanko roared.
"In less then five minutes I'll have full movement again. And soon after, weapons and flight."
"You think I'll be defenseless?! The second my armor went down, a signal was broadcasted to everyone of my drones! Even if you kill me, they'll kill you!"
"Yeah…about that…" Tony muttered.
Ivan looked up from inside his suit to see Iron Man Six flying over them. One of its massive cannons lowered itself until it was pointed over the two.
A bright blue light began to form inside the barrel as Dynamo realized the horrible truth.
"You fool! You'll kill us both!"
"As you would say, small price to pay…"
"Sir, cannon will be primed in ten seconds, brace for impact."
"Ah…" Tony said as he saw a person streak through the air.
"Hey, Ivan."
"Eh?!"
"I know why we're so different. And its not because I'm a genius, playboy, billionaire and philanthropist, its because I didn't spend most of my life resenting the hand that was dealt to me…also, and this is the big one, my team actually likes me."
Carol shot through the air, swooping down and grabbing Iron Man by his shoulders. She effortlessly lifted him into the air before taking off at an incredible speed.
Vanko looked up in terror as Iron Man Six fired its weapon.
"STAAAARRRRRKKK!"
KETHHOOOOMMM!
Carol looked back to see the blue beams of energy decimate the area, ending the Dynamo.
"Damn…" Carol muttered.
"So…" Iron Man said as he looked up at his rescuer.
Carol looked down at him.
"What's your name?"
"GRAAH!" Hulk roared as he buried A-Bomb into the ground.
"Gruh!" the brute moaned as blood poured from his mouth.
Hulk grabbed the monster by the head and hoisted him up.
"Blue man not so tough now!" he snarled, reeling back his fist.
"S-stop! A-Bomb not fight real Hulk!"
"PUSSY!" Hulk roared punching the monster into another building.
The structure crumbled on top of the Abomination, but nothing would deter Hulk.
A-Bomb crawled out from the rubble, body beaten and bloody. His scales were cracked and oozed blood.
"A-Bomb not fight Hulk…A-Bomb do this for Hulk!"
Hulk stomped towards the crawling monster and grabbed it by the shoulder.
A-Bomb turned around and was met by a green fist sending him head first into the pavement.
"Fish-face think Hulk fake! Hulk is real! Hulk is only Hulk! HULK IS STRONGEST THERE IS!"
"A-Bomb do this for Hulk! A-Bomb Hulk's friend!"
"Hulk not have any friends!" the green goliath roared.
A-Bomb's face fell in shock.
"R-Rick not friend?" it pleaded.
Hulk froze in shock.
He looked down at the pleading monster in horror.
"Rick?!"
"It's over!" Captain America screamed.
He blocked a sword slash from the Colonel with his shield, kicking the man's knee in retaliation.
Widow took the chance to shoot the distracted man in the shoulder.
"GAH!" he shouted before Cap sucker-punched him across the face. A powerful blow with hi shield followed.
Abdul hit the ground hard, blood caked all over his face and oozing out of his shoulder-wound.
He tried to bring his weapon around, but felt a searing pain shoot through his hand.
"AH!" he screamed as a bullet pierced his hand.
His weapon tumbled from his hand before five more bullets found their way into his chest.
"Oof!"
Widow panted in exhaustion as she dropped her empty gun on the White House lawn.
Cap walked over towards the now bleeding Abdul Al-Rahman.
The first avenger saw the man's weapon and kicked it up into his own hand.
He pressed its trigger and watched as twin beams of solid energy erupted from its ports.
"KAAF!" Abdul coughed with blood flying from his mouth.
"I-is this ironic for you?" he panted as Steve loomed over the man.
Widow kept her distance as she saw the look in her lover's eyes.
"Is it ironic for you?" Steve asked.
"S-skinny…sick patriot…loves his country…but he can't fight for it! KAAF!" Abdul spurted more blood.
By now the grass was drenched in the man's blood.
Steve looked down at him and continued where the boy had left off.
"He want's to fight for it. Because it's worth fighting for. But they won't let him."
"B-b-because he's…too weak…"
Steve nodded.
"But he keeps on volunteering. He keeps on trying. Until the day comes when someone sees that courage, that love for home and country."
"A-a-and…he o-offers him a chance…'
"And without a second thought the boy takes it. He becomes the hero his country needed. To fight for it. To protect it."
Cap raised the beam-saber over the man's chest.
"I-is this where you say a joke?" Abdul muttered.
Steve said nothing.
"C-can you s-see why I did this? My god…do you know why we even did this?!"
Cap brought the spear down.
Abdul gasped as he felt the beam pierce his chest, severing and burning his heart.
Captain America watched as he saw the life fade from the boy's eyes.
"I understand it all too well Abdul. And there are no jokes today."
Widow walked over to the man and knelt down, closing the Colonel's eyes.
"Iron Man to all Avengers! Meet in Union Square! It's time to finish this!"
Cap nodded to Widow before handing her the Colonel's weapon.
"What do we do about him?" Widow asked as she pointed to the unconscious Winter Soldier.
"Leave him." Cap said.
"Steve…he's your friend."
"Which is why I'm letting him go. We have a country to save. And I intend to save it."
"Damn it all!" Perun roared. He saw from his vantage in the sky that their forces were all but annihilated.
He had to do something he ready his hammer and charged it with all the power he could.
And then he was falling.
A shock of sheer pain ripped through his body as he was tackled out of the sky.
The two super-beings crashed into Union Square, destroying its foundation as they landed.
Perun grunted as he came to, and was met with the intimidating form of the She-Hulk.
"Hello…" She purred with an evil smile.
"Die!" Perun roared as he pointed his hammer at the she-beast.
FWSSHH!
Perun was spun around as a gust of wind rushed past him.
Suddenly the hammer he wielded felt heavier.
He looked back at She-Hulk to see Quicksilver standing next to her, a large silver belt dangled from his fingers.
"If I recall, that hammer doesn't work without the control belt."
Perun's face contorted in rage.
"You American trash! You'll all die! All of y-!"
Falcon swept in and slammed the man's face into the ground, knocking him unconscious.
"Man, shut the Hell up." Sam said as his wings retracted into his pack.
"Is everyone here?" Iron Man shouted as he and Carol flew in towards the square.
They landed on the ground as Hawkeye walked into the area, guns loaded.
"So who's left?" he muttered.
"I haven't seen that Axe guy." She-Hulk said.
"What axe guy?" Widow said as she and the remaining Avengers walked onto the scene.
"Pietro!" Wanda shouted hugging her brother who immediately hugged back.
"The guy who took me down back at the Triskelion."
"RAAH!"
The Avengers looked up to see Hulk crash into the ground, he tumbled to a stop, panting like an ape before slowly calming himself.
"Hulk!" Cap shouted.
"Rnn?"
"You with us?' Cap asked cautiously.
"Hulk smash for you." He grunted.
"Good." Cap said with a smile.
"How touching!"
The Avengers looked up to see the Enchantress descending from the sky in a haze of green smoke.
"It's over lady." Hawkeye said as he leveled his guns at her.
"Or should we say Amy Encante." Iron Man said as he pointed his repulsors at her.
"You framed Thor. You had Hydra leak all that information against the Hulk to have him executed." Hank said.
"Who are you?" Wasp growled.
"I am Amora the Enchantress. Greatest sorceress in all of Asgard!"
"Guess she's a native from Thor's turf." Sam said.
FAABOOM!
A massive ball of fire erupted across the square.
Out of the crater stepped a massive brute of a man wielding a molten hot axe.
"Jen, is that the axe guy?" Wasp asked.
"Yep." She replied.
Panther was the first to step forward.
"It is over Enchantress. The Liberators are either dead or defeated. New York is free by now, and soon the rest of the nation will follow. It's over."
"If you want to surrender, will go easy on you." Quicksilver said as Wanda stood by her brother, hex bolts at the ready.
"Hehe…hahahahah!" Amora laughed.
"I think she's got a few screws loose." Hawkeye muttered.
"Or she knows something we don't." Natasha said as she squeezed the trigger of the Colonel's weapon.
The device flared to life, signaling to all the Avengers that the fight wasn't over.
"You're outnumbered and out gunned! Just give up and we won't turn you into a charred corpse!" Wanda shouted.
"Damn kid, when'd you grow a pair?" Hawkeye asked.
"Just, thinking what you'd say." Wanda replied sheepishly.
"Needs work, but it's a start."
"Hahahaha! I'm not out numbered! You are!"
With a wave of her hand, hundreds of green portals appeared all over the area.
Instantly dozens upon dozens of demonic and horrid creatures burst through the portals and onto the streets.
Orcs, goblins, frost giants and fire demons flooded the area, wreaking havoc in their wake.
"Oh fuck." Tony muttered.
"Where the Hell did these things come from?!" Carol screamed.
"I'm guessing the mythical nine realms that Thor always talked about." Hank responded.
"She must've opened up portals to wherever the Hell these things come from!" Wasp shouted.
"Now do you see what you're up against?! I am a goddess!"
KRAAAKOOMM!
A massive bolt of lightning smashed into Union Square obliterating the center of it, leaving nothing but a smoking crater.
The Avengers saw the carnage and looked up at the sky to see massive storm clouds swarming the once clear sky.
Rain began to pour as thunder erupted in the sky above.
"A goddess?!"
The group turned back towards the crater to see a lone figure holding a massive hammer and axe hybrid.
His long blonde haired was slowly drenched by the rain, but he didn't care.
KRAAKOOM!
Lightning illuminated the battlefield as Thor stepped out of the crater.
"Then it is good fortune that they have a god on their side!"
"Thor…" Amora breathed in terror.
"AMORA!" he roared as lightning burst trough the sky, vaporizing a portion of her army with streaks of raw power.
"I WOULD HAVE WORDS WITH THEE!"
End of Chapter 10!
Next UP: Chapter 11: It All Falls Down