Chapter 2
Andrea
Andrea put on her blazer. Today was the summons in front of the United Nations. Mark asked her to attend just in case he needed her to gather information to develop a last minute plan. She wore a pink blouse under her blazer; she opted for dress pants in the event they needed to fight their way out of anything. She always knew to go prepared, like Mark taught her. She put on her black heels and left her room. Andrea walked down the hall and down the stairs. She walked toward the kitchen where she saw Mark. Mark went to the refrigerator and grabbed a cola for Andrea.
"Thanks," Andrea said as she grabbed the cola. Mark was drinking one himself. "Tony said he will meet us at the United Nations. He needed to handle something at Stark Industries first. He will be on time."
"Alright," Mark said. Andrea noticed Mark did not take this summons very seriously. He wore his blazer, but he also wore jeans and his converse sneakers. "Could you have dressed a little more for this?" Andrea asked.
"I am going as myself to represent myself. I don't want to give a false impression of how I am." Mark said.
"You could have dressed up more to give a good impression," Andrea said as she sat at the table.
"Nah," Mark said.
Andrea looked around, "Where is Steve?" she asked.
Mark was pouring hot water into a mug and put a tea bag in it. "He is still getting ready. He will be down soon."
"How are things between you two?" Andrea asked. She didn't hear anything bad, but she was still curious about what Mark thought of their relationship.
"Good… for now anyway," Mark said.
"For now?" Andrea asked. Mark put the mug of tea on the table as he took a seat. "Give it twenty years, and we might have some conflict," Mark said.
Most people wouldn't get what Mark meant, but Andrea did. "So when you age four years, and he ages twenty." She said nodding her head and taking a sip of her cola.
"It sucks, but the reality of the situation. When I age ten years, Steve will age fifty. Who knows how our lives will be then. The fact of the matter is all of you will age faster than me. It sucks." Mark said.
Andrea didn't realize the bigger picture. Mark was right they all will age and be long gone before he even begins to show signs of old age. Andrea had looked down to the table before she asked something which she wondered for a while. "If you losing your powers didn't make you age rapidly, would you have gotten them back?"
Mark allowed for a moment of silence to pass before he sighed. "No, I would have permitted them to be destroyed and just stayed human. It would have been better for all of us. I can hold my own without my powers. I think I showed that over the weeks without them. If I could, I would get rid of them right now. It would make all this easier."
"It sure would," Andrea agreed. Steve walked in, but Andrea and Mark didn't react to him entering the room. "Still making too much noise when I walk?" Steve asked as he sat down to drink his tea. "Yup," Andrea answered. Andrea saw Steve dressed in his military suit for the summons. At least, Steve tried to make a good impression at the United Nations. Most likely, Steve said something to Mark as well. No way either of them could work through Mark's stubbornness on this.
"Finish your tea quickly. We need to leave soon." Mark said.
"Am I that late?" Steve asked.
"No, we are just going to get there a little earlier. We don't want to give the UN one thing to complain about before they start speaking," Andrea answered. Mark looked at Andrea. "Did Tony leave you keys for us to take one of his cars?"
Andrea held up a set of keys, "Yup. I told him nothing too fancy. We don't want to seem like badasses who don't care what the UN thinks."
"Nervous?" Steve asked Mark. Mark shook his head.
"I am!" Andrea said. "We have no idea what to expect. How can you not be nervous?"
"What do I always tell you?" Mark said to Andrea.
She sighed, "Prepare for any outcome to the situation. Are you really that prepared?"
Mark stood up, "For the most part. Let's go." Mark said as he walked toward the door. Andrea followed Mark. Steve put his mug in the sink before he followed. Andrea took the driver's seat, and Mark rode in the passenger's seat. Steve sat in the back. They found their way to the United Nations building. Finding a landmark like that in New York was easy. Andrea parked the car on the street, and they all walked over to the entrance. Andrea could see Tony near the doors waiting for them. Andrea walked up to Tony and kissed him on the lips.
"I see you guys made it in one piece," Tony said. Then Tony looked over to Mark. "Ready for this?"
Mark sighed, "Let's get this over with. I am getting tired of people asking me if I am ready for this." Before Mark could walk through the door, Andrea saw Steve grab Marks hand. She looked at Steve, who was smiling at Mark. "We will be okay. You know how to deal with this." Steve said. Andrea saw Mark smile, and she began to feel better about this summons. They entered the building.
Andrea was surprised they didn't have to wait. The United Nations cleared their morning for the summons. Security walked them over to the council room. They walked in and found themselves at the bottom of the giant counsel room. Andrea looked around, and she saw all of the representatives from the other nations. She felt her nervous increase. Light shined on all four of them, which made Andrea realize this was actually beginning. She looked over to Tony and Steve, who looked nervous as they looked around. Then Andrea saw Mark, who remained calm but still looking around to get the full picture of the room.
"Mark, you have been summoned to the United Nations to discuss the possibility of you being part of the Avengers. We will look through the recent files of your work on the team as well as look at your past work as an assassin. We know your history is extensive and we do not have the entire record of your life. We also wish to discuss the recent events of Winter Soldier taking your powers for Red Skull to use against the world. Are you ready to speak about this and do you have any questions." The speaker for the UN said from her seat.
Mark looked at the speaker, "I only have one question before we begin. Am I to assume this is an attempt to take me down here and now?"
Andrea looked at Mark and grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?" She whispered.
"Hack the system and shine the lights at the top," Mark said looking up to the ceiling. Andrea did not know what Mark meant, but she began to do as he said.
"I assure you, the United Nations only wishes to discuss a peaceful way to resolve all of this," The speaker began. The lights went on the ceiling, and Andrea saw three snipers posted up there on the walls.
"Then explain to me why three of the best snipers for hire are aiming their guns at my friends and me," Mark said. The people of the UN looked up and began to make noise in their conversation. Andrea didn't know what to make of this either. Was this a trap set for Mark? Andrea heard three gunshots. She didn't move. She saw both Tony and Steve take cover, but Andrea knew better. She looked to Mark whose eyes were black and yellow, the markings showed on his face and hands. Mark opened his hand to drop three sniper rifle bullets to the ground. "None of this seems to be a peaceful resolution to me. More so, the snipers were aiming at Captain America, Iron Man, and Lucinda. Hoping I would be too slow and need to heal one of them?" Mark said to the United Nations.
"What will you do to us?" The speaker asked with fear in his voice. Mark's eyes returned to normal, and the markings disappeared. "Nothing," Mark said. Andrea saw the people of the United Nations looked relieved when Mark said he do nothing to harm them. "I came here for a peaceful way to resolve all of this fear around me. I did not come here to kill anyone. I see you all had something else planned. If this was a failed assassination attempt, then I will leave and just do as I please. If you wish to talk, then have the snipers leave. I won't kill them, but I will need to defend the Avengers if they fire again."
There was a long period of silence as the people in the room were discussing what Mark offered. Andrea couldn't hear one conversation over the whole hall speaking. Andrea saw Steve grab Mark's arm. "We can leave. They just tried to kill all of us. They don't seem to want to resolve anything."
"Hold on, Steve," Tony whispered. "I think Mark offered them something they didn't expect. My guess is they thought Mark would kill them all if they failed. Mark did something completely different. He offered to talk or to leave, implying their lives would be spared."
Andrea looked to Mark after Tony spoke. Was Mark this prepared? Did he know an assassination attempt would be made here and now? Andrea saw the lights turn on and the snipers begin to climb down from their posts.
"We are willing to find a peaceful resolution to all this if you are," The speaker for the UN said to Mark.
"Good. We all know why I am here. I am the assassin you heard about with immense powers. Most of the world fears my power. But still, my power has been used to take down supervillains, war criminals, rebels threatening the stability of a country, and dictators who committed horrible crimes against their people. I have fought for the Allies in World War II, took down war criminals in Vietnam, and take missions to help maintain peace and stability in countries all over the world. Even though I have completed all these tasks, leaders fear my power and abilities. Recently, Winter Soldier used an artifact to steal my powers for Red Skull. In the weeks hunting them down, Red Skull used my powers to make weapons which could take out cities in an upcoming war. The Avengers along with myself took down Red Skull, destroyed all of the weapons, and got my powers back. I fail to understand why the United Nations fears to allow me to join the Avengers." Mark finished letting the representatives of the nations' take in all he said. Andrea did not know their missions helped keep stability in other countries. She knew some of the criminals they took down involved themselves in the politics of the nation, but she never figured every mission played a role in managing the safety of the public. She felt better about their past knowing this now.
"Mark, we understand your role in the recent years, but our countries fear S.H.I.E.L.D. having such a powerful warrior on the Avengers. We do not know if this will give the United States the ability to be brasher in their policies and leave other nations to retaliate to attempt to take down such a powerful nation."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is an agency which manages the Avengers, which if I am not mistaken, work to defend the Earth. Over the last crises, the Avengers took down entities threatening the Earth, not just the United States. Should we not be more concerned with how we can defend the planet and less worried about how the United States will gain more power?" Mark said.
"Mister Mark," The representative of Italy, began, "My concern lies in someone's ability to defy you. You hold the ability to kill anyone, what stops you from going against what others will tell you to do?"
Mark looked at the man's name but could not pronounce it. "Well, I would look at what happened five minutes ago. You attempted to assassinate three Avengers and me, yet the whole room including the shooters are still alive. I would say my missions and actions show my moral compass remains strong." The representative from Italy did not speak but looked shocked remembering just minutes ago he thought his life along with everyone else's in the room would be over.
"And how do we know you won't go rogue when you join the Avengers? We have worried about someone like you doing such a thing," the representative from Japan said. Mark had paused on his name before he spoke.
"What worry do you have of any other member going, rogue? You need to have faith in those you allow on the team," Mark said.
"We did when Hulk joined, and we almost had a crisis on our hands if he wasn't contained," The representative of England spoke.
Andrea thought the summons was going in Mark's favor until they brought up the Hulk.
"That's right. Didn't the Hulk lose control and begin to attack civilians in a residential area?" The speaker of the UN asked.
"Bruce lost control, but no one got hurt. The Avengers managed the situation" Tony shouted. Andrea looked back at Tony, who had anger in his eyes. Andrea didn't know Tony was so defensive of Bruce.
"Yes but that is the Hulk. How will the Avengers manage Mark if he loses control of his powers and goes on the attack against civilians?" The representative from Spain asked.
Andrea didn't know how Mark would answer that question. Mark at full strength could take down anyone. She looked to Mark, who still remained calm before he spoke.
"With all due respect, Bruce Banner is a scientist who attempted to recreate the Super Soldier serum and ended up creating the Hulk. He does not have a lifetime of being born with the abilities and growing to learn how to maintain control. I was born with these powers. I existed on this planet for over a hundred years, has there been any account of me losing control?"
The representatives remained quiet at Mark's questions. Andrea was impressed at how Mark responded to that one. She felt the Hulk was the best defense they had against Mark, and Mark quickly eliminated that trump card.
Mark leaned over to Andrea. "Run a scan on all the names of the representatives and our missions over the last five years. I feel we will find something interesting." Andrea looked at Mark then at a few of the names listed next to the countries. She did begin to recognize some of the names. Her eyes went green as she did the search.
"What is Lucinda doing?" The speaker of the UN asked pointing out her green eyes.
"She is running some research for me right now. Don't worry nothing illegal. Least not what she is doing." Mark said.
"So as we speak here we still do not have a definitive answer as to how we can guarantee you can maintain control over your powers and not use them for the benefit of your country. The United Nations needs to maintain balance as much as possible and how will super humans help maintain that balance?" The representative from Brazil began.
"Got it," Andrea said to Mark. "Send it to them," Mark said. Andrea quickly worked, and soon all the representatives got messages on their screens.
"You're right. We do need to work to maintain balance in each nation. I wondered how this talk would go, but I feel you all hold back secrets from one another. The discussion centered on me maintaining my power and control, but the real discussion is how other countries can benefit from me if I join just one team. We sent you files from Lucinda's and my missions over the last five years. Each and every one of you has hired me to help maintain balance in your country, illegally hiring me to assassinate someone. The truth being, you and your leaders worry I cannot be of use if I am part of the Avengers."
Tony and Steve stepped forward next to Andrea and Mark. "Is this true?" Steve asked looking to Mark and Andrea. Andrea answered while Mark maintained his eyes on the United Nations. "It is. Every single one of them hired us to take out a mafia member, warlord, or a person rising to power threatening the people of the country. The request came from either the leader of the country or the UN representative sitting in front of us right now." Steve looked at the counsel when Andrea finished. Andrea felt her hand being held by Tony. "You are amazing you know that?" Tony said. "I am pretty damn awesome," Andrea replied.
"So this is the deal. You decide if you want this truth to come out. All countries should know the truth behind why I cannot join the Avengers; you want to use my assassination skills to maintain order in your country. You lack the power and skill to do it on your own. If I join the Avengers, this means the requests will become public when I need to do your dirty work. But know this, if you decline me joining the Avengers, I will also not be an assassin anymore." Mark said to the United Nations.
The room began to discuss the recent information. Representatives began to argue against one another figuring out the best possible resolution, and Andrea was sure some representatives argued against the other because of the assassination requests they put in against their country. The Speaker of the UN quieted everyone down and looked at Mark.
"You were born into this world to be a weapon. You cannot think we are wrong for using you as such. Yes, we put in requests to you, but you are an assassin and took them. It would be a mistake for you to let the information out and would put you on the hit list for other assassins to come after you for breaking their code."
"Let them come after me," Mark said with no hesitation in his voice. "Who stands a better chance of surviving this? Me or all of you?"
The UN speaker paused before answering. "You will live far beyond all of us. We all know how slow you age. You join the Avengers, and they each will pass on long before you begin to look like you are in your forties. You will still be a weapon to the world."
Andrea finally saw some emotion in Mark when the speaker said those words. The thought of Mark outliving everyone hurt him. He did his best to hide the fact that was the one time he showed weakness to the United Nations, but Andrea saw it clear as day.
"I may have been created to an assassin, but I am human and have choices. I decide my fate in what I do. You cannot be serious in saying a human created to be a weapon should be just that? You have time to decide on if I should join the Avengers or not. Speak with your leaders and let them know what the world will find out based on your decision. I think we are done here." Mark said as he turned and began to walk out of the room.
"How long will you give us?" The UN speaker asked.
"What sounds fair to you?" Mark said. Andrea liked the fact although Mark maintained all the power at the end of this; he gave a choice to the United Nations. Mark still held on to his humanity, showing he was not a weapon to these people.
"We will need a month to fully discuss all of this," The Speaker said to Mark.
"Then I will be back in a month," Mark said as he continued to walk to the doors, "Have your answer then." Mark left the room. Andrea, Tony, and Steve followed Mark. Andrea caught up with Mark before speaking. "Did you really think it would go like that?"
"More or less. You finding out the information that they hired us on missions was the wild card. I needed that to hold them in their place," Mark said.
"It scares me you had an answer for everything," Tony said.
"Don't I always?" Mark smiled. "I knew what they would bring up. I was hoping they wouldn't bring up Bruce. I apologize for that part. I didn't know how low they would get."
"It's alright. I think Bruce would have liked your answer as well," Tony said.
Steve walked next to Mark and grabbed his hand. "I am glad it was over. And you did amazing in there. Now we wait."
"Now we wait," Mark repeated.
"We wait when you had all the nations' leaders by the balls. We should have forced them to answer then," Tony said.
"It would have been a bad play," Andrea said.
"What do you mean? We had the power, we had the control, we could have forced them to say yes," Tony said.
"And I would have shown them I am as bad as they think. Andrea is right; it would have been a bad play. It is good how I left it," Mark said.
"I need you at my board meetings. You can get all the other members to just let me do what I wish," Tony said.
"Don't you already do what you want?" Andrea asked. Tony smiled at her. "For the most part."
The four of them left the United Nations building, Mark broke off from the rest. "You guys go on ahead. I am going to S.H.I.E.L.D. I am going to update Fury on what happened."
"Want company?" Steve asked.
"I will be back at the mansion later Steve. I will see you then. It is just Fury. I will see you guys later," Mark said as he began to walk toward the direction of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Andrea looked over at Tony, and he was looking at her. "Yeah I thought so," Andrea said. She found it odd Mark denied a request for Steve to join him somewhere. Mark never said no before.
"Maybe he needs a moment alone to handle what just happened," Tony said.
"That might be it," Steve said. Steve was thinking the same thing Andrea and Tony were.
"Well, we can get a snack and then head back to the mansion. Make Mark upset he denied you a chance to join," Tony said.
"Ice cream?" Andrea asked. Tony nodded.
"Alright," Steve said. "It might make him upset he said no, so why not."
The three of them began to walk toward an ice cream parlor Tony knew which served the best ice cream in the city.