Billy Lee tended to his farm, his tractor squashing the soft, damp earth beneath its thick tires. This land had been in his family for years, and would remain in it for years more. He was getting old, and with a grandchild born and two more on the way, he couldn't be more thrilled.
The sky above had been threatening those below it with passionate thunder for the last ninety minutes, which wasn't strange around these parts. The lightning was, however, out of place, in pillars of electricity.
He looked forward, away from the sky, and almost crashed into something. It was like a statue, giant and made of an odd kind of metal. He reached out to touch it, but it moved so he drove away from it and immediately called the police.
But something else turned up. Nick Fury approached the familiar figure slowly. He beckoned to Maria Hill, who walked behind him.
"Get Stark here. Tell him an old friend is here. I'll get Banner."
He sighed. Today was going nice until now.
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Tony spotted Bruce Banner, already running tests on the giant metal man.
"Hey, big man, we getting-"
"Readings like before? Yep. And even more, they found a name printed on it. 'Destroyer'. Yeah, I know, kinda pretentious."
"I think we should open it up."
"How?"
"Must be some sorta panel on it. Like how seagulls always seem to have radar for crap."
A short sliding panel 'shucked' open, revealing a lever. Tony and Bruce looked at each other.
"Fury!" they yelled in unison, while laughing in relief and anxiety.
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There was a message imprinted on the panel, which read "Those who Bear the Wit of Mydrnl Be fit To open The works of Asgard."
"So, uh, you want me to suit up?"
"Yes. Just as a precaution."
"Ok. But as for what we discussed after Fluttershy McBondage attacked me: No."
"There's no debate. You go suit up, you go pull that lever and you help out with Operation War Machine. End of."
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He wrenched the lever up, which caused the head to open and send a small cube spinning out. It was blue and shimmering, and sent Banner crazy. Fury dragged the scientist out of trouble, calming him while he watched Tony pick the cube up and, with clear pressure, push it back into the Destroyer and close the hatch. He looked at Fury and shook his head. Fury sighed, and gave the signal for Tony to retreat.
"Bury the thing." he muttered to Agent Hill.
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Tony sat Pepper down.
"Listen, I have something to-"
"Iron Man? Yeah, I know. I'm capable of opening your doors, y'know. So, what's happening now?"
"I'm...I guess I've been commissioned to build more suits. Got some awesome ideas. Get this: 'Hulk Buster'. How great is that?"
"And I presume we're getting nothing for this?"
"Actually, we're getting diplomatic immunity."
Pepper made a quiet "oh" sound, and got up. She paused as Nick Fury entered and patted him on the back before leaving.
"So, you got ideas?"
"I'm thinking gatling-gun, tankbusters and most importantly, a failsafe so no one innocent gets hurt. Also, I think we need to build a Hulk-Buster, heavy duty armour in case of Banner. And I've got some ideas for space stuff-"
"I'll take the first two. Get in touch when they're done, I'll get agent Coulson to pick them up."
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The Arctic rarely had secrets to keep, especially to the lowest fishermen. Yet, as they dragged the spectral block of ice from the ghostly water, they felt betrayed. The cold tomb turned into the blood of the earth gradually, freeing the man who rested inside. He opened a solitary eye, as he emerged from the pale universe of sleep, and screamed. The scream was one word, one usually innocent word.
"Bucky!"