Chapter 25: Avengers United
The Avengers (2017)
Captain America (Steve Rodgers) - Sentinel of Liberty
Thor (Jane Foster) - Goddess of Thunder
Hulk (Amadeus Cho) - Strongest There Is
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) - Unerring Marksman
Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) - Mutant Speedster
Human Torch (Johnny Storm) - Fantastic Adventurer
Nova (Richard Rider) - Cosmic Champion
The Avengers (2305)
Vision – Android Avenger
Groot – Flora Colossus
Thor (Liam Aiken) - Defender of Midgard
Nova (Annie Alexander) - Last Nova Centurion
Hawkeye (Sonya Cruz) - Cybernetic Marksman
Starbrand (Kyle O'Conner) - Earths Defence System
Lancelot (Arthur Whitman) - Knight of Tomorrow
New Orleans. The Combine marches through a hospital infecting people. Each infected person begins to follow him, ignoring any injuries they have.
Combine: Do not be afraid. Do not resist. You will all be part of the Combine. This is a blessing. No longer do you have the burden of free will. All decisions will be made for you, all problems solved for you. There will be peace. This world will be perfected. All is one in the Combine.
Humans: We are the Combine!
Avengers Tower. Inside the monitor room Vision, Groot, Amadeus Cho, Captain America and Human Torch study various screens.
Human Torch: Can you run it by me one more time?
Amadeus Cho: They had the Combine's DNA on file. In their time they have ways of tracking that. So we're deploying these trackers in the upper atmosphere so we can find him.
Groot: I am Groot.
Human Torch: Yes. You are Groot.
The upper atmosphere, the two Thors each throw a sphere that hovers in the air before flying off.
Thor: Devices deployed.
The two begin to fly back towards Earth.
Thor: I can tell you are not of Asgard. How did you come to wield Mjolnir?
Future Thor: Aye I am of Midgard, I was born in Toronto. As for how I wield Mjolnir well that began with you Jane Foster.
Thor: With me?
Future Thor: Aye. You showed all of Asgard what it meant to be worthy. Once he ascended the throne Thor Odinson decreed that Mjolnir would seek out the worthy so that Midgard would always have a Thor to protect it.
Thor: Is he worthy? The Odinson? Does he find his way back?
Future Thor: He always was. But his responsibilities keep him in Asgard while both he and Mjolnir agree that it belongs on Midgard.
Thor: What is your name?
Future Thor: Liam.
Thor: It is a pleasure Liam. I look forward to smiting our foe together.
Future Thor: As do I.
On the other side of the globe the two Nova's fly through the sky.
Worldmind: Trackers are following the expected trajectory.
Nova: Good. Now onto the other issue. So why don't you have a connection to the Worldmind? Did you steal that helmet?
Future Nova: What?! No! I'm a Centurion, my families always been Corp through and through!
Nova: Then why have you been changing the subject every time I ask?
Future Nova: What's the first rule of time travel? Don't tell people their future.
Worldmind: Am I deceased in your time?
Future Nova: I never said that-
Worldmind: You did not. But you possess the full Nova force, I should be present to regulate that. I am not, therefore it is logical that in the time between us I become deceased.
Future Nova: I...I wish I could tell you. But-
Worldmind: I understand. I know I am not eternal. And it is good to see that the legacy of Xandar lives on. Be sure to make it a good one.
Future Nova: I try to, I don't know if-
Nova: Trying's enough trust me. Are you handling the Nova force ok? It nearly killed me when I had all that power.
Future Nova: Like I said my families been Corp for a long time. We've adapted somewhat.
Nova: Your family? What's your name?
Nova: Annie Alexander.
Nova: Alexander? Guess he does learn how to talk to girls at some point. Rate he's going maybe by the time he's fifty.
Avengers Tower. Starbrand and Future Hawkeye are on the balcony and they look over New York.
Future Hawkeye: It's strange to see the city without the dome around it.
Starbrand: Stranger to smell all that pollution in the air. They're breathing poison and they don't even know it. Too stupid to realise I suppose.
Hawkeye walks out with some food on a tray.
Hawkeye: You guys hungry? Here's how we eat in the 20th century.
Starbrand takes some food and sniffs it.
Starbrand: Eugh, is that all fat? You call that food?
Hawkeye: I'm trying to be nice here!
Future Hawkeye: If this is it then don't bother.
Hawkeye: What's your problem?
Future Hawkeye: You're my problem! Maybe if you people did your jobs properly and actually thought about what you're doing we wouldn't have to clean up all your messes! Our cities wouldn't be domed, we'd still have rainforests!-
Hawkeye: I didn't do any of that!
Starbrand: And what have you done? This eras Avengers are supposed to be the greatest. I don't see it.
Hawkeye: We beat Apocalypse, Kang, Galactus!
Future Hawkeye: Oh wow, you beat a crazy old mutant, a time travelling moronand an intergalactic eating champion. I'm so impressed.
Hawkeye: If I'm so disappointing then why did you name yourself after me?
Future Hawkeye: Not my choice!
Starbrand: You think anyone would-
Vision: Enough!
Vision and Captain America walk out onto the balcony.
Vision: Groot needs you both in the lab. Now.
Starbrand and Future Hawkeye walk of, glaring at Hawkeye as they do.
Vision: I'm sorry about that.
Hawkeye: Didn't realise that in the future the Avengers become Earth's Mightiest Assholes.
Vision: They're tired. We all are, they just wanted someone to take it out on. Despite their attitudes they can be counted on.
Captain America: Leadership suits you.
Vision: I never wanted to lead. But after Thor became king of Asgard I was the Avenger with the most experience. My suggestions turned into orders, despite my wishes for them not too.
Hawkeye: I wouldn't want to lead those idiots either.
Captain America: Clint!
Hawkeye: Sorry! I like your Thor at least.
Vision: I've been an Avenger for over three hundred years. I've seen many incarnations of this team. Some deserved to be here, others did not. This team does.
Hawkeye: I didn't mean anything by it I just...wait did you say three hundred years? Please tell me you at least took a holiday.
Vision: There was never time. The team needs me. I did want to take a tour of the Nine Realms, show Viv the spires of Asgard. But neither of us ever found the time. Perhaps when this is done. Hmmm...
Captain America: You ok?
Vision: The scanners have located Combine. The Thors are almost there, I suggest we join them.
The Rocky Mountains. A remote SHIELD station is under attack by around one hundred people. The people are of all ages and races and armed with basic weapons such as farm tools.
Then the Thors slam into the ground in front of the attackers.
Future Thor: Combine! Your crimes end here! And they end with THUNDER!
Thunder crashes across the sky as both Thors slam their hammers into the ground creating a shockwave that floors most of the attackers.
In a flash of light of the rest of the two Avengers teams appear and engage the enemy. It's barely a fight, the controlled civilians don't stand a chance.
Quicksilver: This is what you came here to stop? I thought you said it was dangerous.
Lancelot: We've caught Combine in the early stages of an outbreak, the more bio mass it controls the stronger it becomes.
Hulk: Hulk strongest! Not Combine!
Hulk slams his hands together making a sonic boom that knocks down several attackers.
Vision: The prime Combine unit is not here. My scans detect him inside the complex.
Captain America: Quicksilver, Thor's go!
The three of them head inside the bunker.
Human Torch throws a fireball that knocks a gun out of the last Combine attacker.
Human Torch: And we're done here.
Future Hawkeye: Not yet we're not.
She draws an arrow and aims it at the defeated Combine drone.
Hawkeye: What are you doing?
Future Hawkeye: Combines control is irreversible. And one Combine can possess an entire planet! I'm not going to let this infection spread.
Captain America: Avengers don't kill.
Starbrand: Sometimes they have to. When there's no other way.
Human Torch: How do you know there's no other way.
Groot: I am Groot.
Vision: The infestation is in an early stage. If there is a chance it would be now.
Nova: There's always a way. Worldmind could you-
Worldmind: I am scanning the infected now. One moment.
Inside the main bunker Quicksilver and the two Thor's run into the main Combine. This Combine has put on a vest that has a number of wires attached to it.
Combine: Goodbye Avengers.
He vanishes as Future Thor's hammer nearly hits him.
Future Thor: NO!
Outside Nova kneels by the unconscious people.
Worldmind: Scanning. Hzzzz...stand by Worldmind gestalt is rebooting.
Nova: Worldmind?! Did that knock you offline? How did it do that?
Worldmind: The Combine is less of a physical virus and more of a highly aggressive viral program. Each Combine drone is infected with a copy of the program that converts them into a component of the hive mind. The Combine has been infecting people to try and restore itself to its original form.
Lancelot: And that is?
Worldmind: More data will be required to confirm my theory. I would require examination of the pure, unaltered form of the Combine program.
Future Nova: Before the war ended we had tracked Combines point of origin. If it's anywhere it'll be there.
Worldmind: With enough of an understanding of the program I believe I can free these people and those enslaved in your time from the Combines control.
Nova: Looks like we're coming to stay with you.
The Thors and Quicksilver emerge from the bunker.
Thor: We have failed. Combine has gone.
Starbrand: What did you do? How could you let him get away?!
Quicksilver: It wasn't our fault you-
Future Thor: The Combine had acquired some sort of teleport device, it was likely being made at this station.
Captain America: Explains why he attacked a base in the middle of nowhere.
Future Hawkeye: We need to find out where he's gone and get after him.
Future Nova: We've got a possible cure here, millions are still controlled back in our time. That's the priority.
Groot: I am Groot.
Vision: Groot is correct. We can pursue both goals simultaneously.
Thor: I would like to accompany Nova to the future. I am curious to see what has become of Earth and Asgard.
Future Thor: I would be honoured to show you.
Future Nova: I can help you with getting to the Combine origin point if you want.
Nova: Sounds good to me. So the four of us will check out this cure while you guys track down the Combine? Good luck.
Vision: I think some more help would not be a bad thing. Hawkeye go with them.
Future Hawkeye: WHAT?! But the real fights here! I'm not going to babysit-
Vision: The temporal travel has damaged some of your implants. Technology in this time is not advanced enough to repair them.
Future Hawkeye: I can-
Lancelot: Sonya the last thing any of us want is you to die because you pushed your implants too hard. We can handle this.
Future Hawkeye:…...Fine, fine whatever.
Quicksilver: If we find a cure my speed can help distribute it. I'm coming too.
Captain America: Alright then. Nova you and your team will visit the future and try to find a cure to the Combine. The rest of us will track him down here. Good luck.
Hawkeye: Bring back souvenirs.
Another place. The Combine teleports into a wide room filled with servers. He looks around and smiles.
Combine: At last. The Nexus.