In the wake of the most devastating attack on Earth in recorded history, the world mourns the death of Captain America. Though a fugitive from justice for two years leading up to his death, reports allege that Steve Rogers and a band of rogue Avengers were instrumental in stopping what has been confirmed to be a massive-scale extraterrestrial attack.
"Yes Madam President, I have seen the news, it's on every damn channel."
"Then you understand the mess you have on your hands, Secretary Ross. Public support for the Accords started eroding as soon as you made the guy with our flag on his chest public enemy number one. Once they realize how screwed we would be without the Avengers... concessions are going to have to be made."
Thaddeus Ross put the phone on speaker and took a walk to the window. Outside thousands of people - likely more like millions by the end of the day - were gathering, wearing their star-spangled hoodies and t-shirts for the first time in over a year, waving cardboard shields.
"This doesn't change anything. The world may need Avengers but it needs Avengers vetted by us."
"And who exactly is that going to be, Secretary? No Stark, no Rhodes, no Android. You didn't have much to begin with, but now have nothing."
"If you've been reading my memos you'd know that wasn't the case."
"The Initiative? You must be joking."
"I'm very serious. I can make some calls and have the first candidates stateside in 72 hours."
"Well then... I still don't think I approve of the idea, but you can make your calls. I don't want anything made official until we've talked to Congress."
Ross thanked the President and hung up. He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a black file folder. The front was embossed with a familiar A, but with an arrow pointing to the left...
Returning from a subdued wedding in Wakanda to Stark Industries CEO Pepper Potts, Tony Stark has pledged 20 million dollars towards the construction of a memorial for the fallen legend in Washington DC. Wakandan King T'Challa has agreed to match that sum. Stark and Rogers were last seen together during a very public falling out in…
"I didn't know we got that channel," T'Challa called down to Shuri as he entered the lab.
"What the Americans don't know won't hurt them," Shuri sipped her drink. "Besides, a toddler could hack into their satellites."
"I will await a call from Agent Ross, I suppose," T'Challa shook his head.
"The loss of Steve Rogers is a heavy blow to the world," Shuri said ignoring him.
T'Challa nodded. "He was the type of person that comes once a generation. We were lucky that he filled that role for two. For a time, anyway."
"Well, maybe this generation we could help with that," his sister gave him a knowing look.
"Rogers was a man armed with Vibranium, an outstanding moral fiber, and superhuman strength," T'Challa shrugged and then smirked. "Where do you think we could find another such person?"
"I don't know, but just don't ask me to dye any of your suits blue," Shuri snapped. "Now, out, shoo! I have more important things to do than entertain the King of Wakanda all day."
Leaning around her desk to make sure her brother was gone, Shuri returned to the file she was working on. A new Black Panther suit, but one with a distinctly more feminine silhouette. Without the Heart Shaped Herb there could be no future Black Panther. Unless of course, the world's smartest person put her mind to it...
"That's the last group unloaded, Boss," Korg reported.
"Excellent," Thor slapped his rocky friend in the back and gestured out to the sea cliff. "This will be our New Asgard, where the ancients once gave thanks to us as gods. And where my father died."
"Well that's all quite depressing, sir, but there's one little discrepancy I thought you should know about. We can't find your brother."
"No," the God of Thunder shook his head sadly. "Though we were able to restore much of what Thanos took from us, Loki and Heimdall did not return to life. I trust that they are comfortable, wherever they are."
Korg tapped two large fingers together. "Oh well, that's kind of obvious, innit? Thanos sort of wrung the life out of him like an old rag, yeah? But Dead Loki isn't on board either! There's no body or nothing."
"No body?"
"Not even a little smear."
Thor paced back and forth a few steps. Then he grinned.
"Where did Fury get to after the wedding?"
"He's always got something in the air," Natasha shrugged. She and Bruce were making last rounds of the Avengers' compound before they had to get out of the country. "I'm sure we'll see him next when we least expect it."
Happy managed a brief wave as he hurried past. Two moves in three years was doing nothing for his temperament. The compound was being converted into an official Avengers Museum full of paraphernalia from their adventures. Armor, weapons, dioramas, the works. With Vision going to ground and Tony retiring, Rhodey wasn't about to stick around by himself. The Air Force pilot greeted them in the common area.
"You guys had better get going before long. Ross is already steamed I didn't arrest you last month. If he found out you were here…"
"He won't. We've gotten you into enough trouble already," Natasha smiled.
"I'll be fine. I'd like to see a Court Marshall convict a man who saved the universe. Now, I seem to remember there being four of you?"
"I don't like this."
Bucky and Sam were finishing packing for the Quinjet. There was one more thing left to pack.
"Hey, I would do it. But your skill set is better suited for it than mine. Plus, he would have wanted it to be you."
On the table before them was the shield that had so famously protected Captain America through World War II, followed him into the ice, and remained on his arm to his last moment. A faithful partner that had matched blows with the Red Skull, Thor, Black Panther, Iron Man, and even Bucky himself, yet still remained strong.
"Are you boys coming?" Natasha called from the doorway.
Bucky took a deep breath, then slung the shield over his back. "Yeah, let's do this."
Bathed in the amber glow of the Stork Club, Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter shared their first dance. In this place beyond time and death, Peggy appeared as she did back when Steve first met her. And he of course, had hardly changed at all. They both knew they couldn't stay here forever, that eventually they would find their way into a more permanent place of rest together. But for now, this was perfect.
Gamora smiled as she clutched the Soul Stone to her breast. Then she turned to follow Nebula.
Her sister dumped the unconscious form of Thanos out onto the black rock. As his eyes opened, he watched Nebula hold the Gauntlet skyward, sending streaks of red and blue across the atmosphere. Gamora's eyes glowed orange as power surged from the Soul Stone around her neck. He looked around.
"Vormir," he spoke aloud, remembering the dark sky and shallow lakes all too well. "A fitting choice, little one. That my life should end here, where I ended yours."
"We disappoint you again father," Nebula said coldly, turning to face him. "I was almost beginning to grow fond of it."
"I... do not understand," the Mad Titan looked from one sister to the other. "Nebula, you've tried to kill me for four years. You both have wanted to kill me for... far longer. What stays your hands now?"
Gamora remained silent. Nebula however took one step closer to their tormentor.
"Every being in the universe knows now what a monstrous creature you are. Except for one. Except for you.
"It is my hope that one day you will wake up beneath the sunless skies of Vormir, and see yourself the way the rest of the universe does. Because on that day, father, you will feel a pain even the Infinity Stones could not give me the power to inflict. Maybe then as you wish for death you will realize why I haven't given it you today."
Nebula turned and headed back to the cockpit of the Susanna.
"Your life is bound to this world now," Gamora finally spoke. "No force in the universe could remove you from it, living or dead, without our express consent."
As she turned as well, Thanos raised his hand. "Wait-"
In an instant Nebula wheeled back around and flexed her fingers inside the Gauntlet. Thanos was encased in stone before he could take a step.
"No," she stated plainly, turning back around. "You don't get any more chances with us."
She made a flicking motion and Thanos was propelled out of the rocks and flat on his back a few yards away.
As he watched the ship carry the last Children of Thanos away from Vormir, the man once known as the Red Skull felt a pulling at his spirit. At last, he thought, his near-century of imprisonment could come to an end. He took one last look at Vormir's new keeper pulling himself up down below, and faded into so much stardust.
Gamora took one last look at the little pocket knife before she dropped it out the door of the ship.
"So what will you do now?" She asked her sister.
"The longer the Stones remain together the more dangerous they are. We must find new hiding places for them, even more devious ones than before. I don't suppose the Guardians of the Galaxy are up to the challenge?"
"I think we would all be happy to be rid of the things," her face fell. "Plus we have a vacancy."
Dear Gamora,
I know I'm not usually the sort of guy who writes things down, or shares any of his feelings and junk. But I let you down. I made you a promise and I broke it, and I can never seem to get any better at it.
For four years I've been screwing up, and the only reason I made it out was because you were there to keep me safe. I couldn't keep you safe this time, and I don't know if I can keep the galaxy safe next time. That's why I'm not staying behind on Earth. The Guardians of the Galaxy are better off with me not in it. I'm sorry.
I'll always love you...
Peter stood on the porch of the farmhouse. Around him stretched row after row of crops growing in the Missouri soil. Soybean, he thought.
An old man opened the door. "Hey Grandpa," the former Star Lord said sadly. "I'm sorry I ran away. Can I come in?"
"Tony, you need to relax."
"Who's nervous? I'm perfectly mellow."
Rhodey grinned. "Then why are you standing in front of your chair?"
Tony sat back down, only to immediately get up again. "I don't know. Sitting seems so normal, for people like us. Doesn't it? I mean, why are you sitting?"
"I was paralyzed from the waist down, if you recall. Somebody I know hooked me up with these prosthetics to help me out, but I like my rest."
"Seems like a good friend."
"And he'll make an even better father."
"Mr. Stark?" A nurse appeared in the doorway. "We're ready for you in here."
"Can't wait to meet little Steve," Rhodey said, standing and patting Tony on the back. "Good luck."
"Who is it, Scott?"
Scott Lang blinked as he opened the door to find Carol Danvers, Stephen Strange, and King T'Challa on his front step.
"Uh, an Air Force pilot, a wizard, and a king."
"If this is one of those walk into a bar jokes... Oh." Hope cut herself short as she came to the door.
"We've come a great way to speak with you Mr. Lang, Miss Van Dyne," T'Challa said.
"We brought cronuts," Strange said holding a bag with his trademark stern look. At least, that was the impression Scott always got from him.
A few minutes later the five of them were seated around Scott's kitchen table. Scott still had half a pot of coffee left over, which Carol was happy to reheat with a swirl of her fingers.
"That sort of work is still… frowned upon," Hope lowered her head.
"It is," Strange said slowly. "But the world is changing. Waiting on the world to decide when people like us can and can't save them? I'm not sure that's a position that the world can keep for much longer."
"We understand that this would be hard for you Mr. Lang," T'Challa eyed the liquid in his mug.
"Believe me your majesty," Scott passed him some milk. "I really would love to help, but I feel like I have a responsibility to my family to stay out of jail. Speaking of which, this hero stuff seems a bit… below your level?"
"We have our duties," Strange nodded. "The Avengers protected the world, and that goal aligns with mine as a Master of the Mystic Arts."
T'Challa crossed his arms. "And I have promised to share Wakanda's gifts to the world. At risk of sounding extremely egotistical, the power of the Black Panther is one such gift."
"Me, I've been away from home too long," Carol was standing up in the doorway with her cup. "But I want to help. Apparently this whole Avengers Initiative thing is partially my fault anyway."
"So what you're saying," Hope leaned back in her chair, "is that you're planning on operating a legally gray organization, and you want us to risk getting caught by the government to help you save the world?"
"Well, yes," Stephen looked down.
Scott and Hope looked at one another and grinned. "Sounds like fun."
The Avengers Will Return