Chapter 16 – Welcome to the New Age
They reached the vent seconds later. Rose slowly undid the cover and moved it behind them soundlessly. Rose went to go in but before she did she gave the same two figure salute as Rosie does before disappearing up onto the roof. Natasha was the next to go but before she did she turned to Clinton.
"Stay sane." she hissed. Clinton raised an eyebrow at her before she climbed out the vent. Natasha joined Rose who was hanging upside down on the roof. Beneath them was nine Agents strapped to a chair shaking, one hanging down limp surrounded by blood and Osborn who was walking around a gun in hand pointing at the Agents and shouting at them. Rose pointed down to the weapons and then to Natasha. Understanding completely Natasha nodded. Waiting until Osborn's back was turned she dropped down and took some of the weapons chucking them up to Rose who put them above the bars in the roof. When Osborn turned back she jumped back up to the roof leaving Osborn none the wiser. It carried on like this for a couple of minutes until all the weapons were gone all apart from one. All three of them, even Hawkeye, failed to notice the small jag filled with a green liquid lying on the floor.
Rose waited until Osborn had just passed her before dropping to the floor right behind him soundlessly. Next to follow was Natasha and then Clinton who had his bow snapped out. Clinton aimed an arrow at him, Natasha trained her Widow Bites at him and Rose trained a gun at him. When Osborn turned he was greeted by the weapons pointed at him.
"Hello Osborn," Rose smirked. Osborn growled before going to dive for his weapons but came back empty handed.
"Tsk, tsk Osborn," Clinton smirked, "Stealing weapons from our weapons vaults, of course we had to take them back." Osborn stood there shocked. With a shaky hand he reached for the gun he had dropped onto the floor.
"Don't you dare," Rose hissed walking over to him taking a dagger off her leg, quickly she shoved him against the wall and held a dagger to his throat whilst kicking the gun away, "Why don't I show you why they call me Death Adder?" At this point she opened her mouth just wide enough so he could see her lick her teeth. Osborn froze as he saw her eye teeth had been made into fangs.
"Stalingrad! Get back here!" Clinton barked. Rose growled at Osborn before returning to where she stood before like a trained animal. Osborn stayed against the wall shaking.
"What did I say about using your mouth?" Clinton hissed.
"Not to," Rose hissed still running her tongue over her fangs. Clinton rolled his eyes before looking back to Osborn.
"I think it's time you leave the Helicarrier for god, Osborn without a jet," Natasha smirked. At this point Osborn looked over to where his weapons had been as if they had magically appeared when his eyes landed on the jag. Quickly Osborn launched for it. It was then Natasha saw the jag. Bursting into action she rushed for the jag. Osborn grabbed it right before her eyes. Quickly he drew away before ripping his shirt sleeve.
"YOU WANT HEROES?! YOU'VE BROUGHT THEM! THEN I'LL BRING THE VILLIAN!" he screamed. Clinton quickly aimed at the jag and went to realise an arrow as Osborn started to inject the liquid. The arrow hit the jag as all the liquid had been pushed into Osborn's veins. The glass smashed but the liquid had gone. Everyone in the room froze what the hell did he just do? Osborn collapsed to the ground clenched up and screaming in pain. They all looked on in horror as he started to turn green and as his body started to grow.
"Get them out of here!" Clinton cried. Instantly the all ran to the hostages and started to cut the ropes that were holding them. The Agents got up and ran the last one stopping at the door before turning to them.
"We'll get your superheroes, hold him off whatever he turns into!" she cried before running out the door. Now left in the room was Clinton, Rose, Natasha, a changing Osborn and the dead Agent. Once again they all pointed their weapons at Osborn. Suddenly the transformation was complete and Osborn stood up now nearly doubled in height.
"Holy shit…" Rose whispered looking up at him.
"Ditto…" Clinton muttered.
"Oh great you again," Natasha rolled her eyes.
"Again?" Rose and Clinton asked at the same time.
"That, in my dimension is called the Green Goblin or just the Goblin," Natasha explained. The Goblin laughed in front of them.
"Green Goblin… I like it!" he growled before turning to Rose, "Care to tell me why they call you Death Adder now?" Rose put her knife back in its strap on her leg.
"Gladly," she smirked. She broke into a run before jumping onto his back and biting his shoulders. Goblin screamed in pain as her fangs broke his skin. Clinton rolled his eyes at her.
"Rose, what have I told you? Don't use your mouth!" Clinton cried smirking firing at Osborn just as Natasha fired her Widow Bites. Goblin quickly threw Rose from his shoulders causing her to smack into the wall with such force knocking her unconscious instantly. Goblin turned and to Rose smirking away.
"Time to say goodbye little snake," he hissed.
"HEY! YOU GREEN FREAK! GET AWAY FROM MY PARTNER!" Clinton cried firing another arrow at Goblin. As soon as it hit the Goblin he pressed a button on his bow causing ice to creep around Goblin's body. Clinton smirked before turning to Natasha.
"That should hold him," he smirked. Just as he said that the ice started to crack. Natasha sighed before turning to Clinton.
"What did you say?" she hissed. Clinton shrugged whilst preparing another arrow. Seconds later the Goblin was free from Clinton's ice. The Goblin looked down at the two laughing away to himself. Both Natasha and Clinton looked at each other. Clinton rolled his eyes and mouthed craazzy. A hint of a smiled showed on Natasha's face before she looked back to Goblin. Slowly the Goblin stopped laughing and refocused back on the two assassins who were still pointing their weapons at him.
"Now you'll fall at the hands of the Gob-" he started but was promptly cut off.
"HULK SMASH!" They heard the Hulk cry from the wall behind them. They barley had enough time to duck to the side before the Hulk burst through the wall behind them and rugby tackled Goblin out the room braking that wall as well. Coughing due to the dust Clinton and Natasha looked up to see Iron Man, Rescue and Captain America file through the Hulk made hole.
"Took your god dam time," Clinton coughed.
"Good to see you too Legolas," Iron Man smirked.
"Lego- what!?" Clinton protested. Natasha got up and walked over to him placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Let it go," she told him firmly. Clinton looked at her annoyed but Natasha just shrugged in reply. Natasha turned to follow Iron Man, Rescue and Cap who were already running out the Hulk sized hole after Hulk and the Goblin.
When they found the two they were battling on the flight deck with the Helicarrier's defences firing on Goblin meaning they had all the Helicarrier's technology on their side. Iron Man and Rescue flew at the Goblin blasting it whilst Cap and Widow both fired at it. It was then Natasha noticed that Clinton was nowhere to be seen. Distracted by that she didn't see Goblin chuck a wing of one of the planes at her until Cap shouted at her. Widow dropped to the floor only just avoiding the wing. She must have been down for only a minute but in that minute Goblin had hopped onto his hover board and was flying above the team. Cap helped her up as they both looked at Osborn above them.
"FINE! HAVE THE HELICARRIER! HAVE YOUR PRESOUS S.H.I.E.L.D.! HAVE YOUR TOWER! BUT WATCH YOUR BACKS BECAUSE I'LL BE SEEING YOU AGAIN!" he shouted down to them before cackling and flying away. Iron Man and Rescue went to fly after him but Cap shouted to them.
"Stop! Leave him! Let him go, as he said we'll see him later right now we need to get S.H.I.E.L.D. up and running," Cap ordered them. The two stopped and looked at him before flying back to the deck. They all went into the Helicarrier and found the girls all around the computers chatting happily, including a conscious Rose. At the main computer was Hill and Rose. Rose was the first to notice. She turned at the sound of the door opening. As soon as she saw them she smiled widely at them. Seeing her smile like that Pepper (who now had her helmet off) gasped.
"Welcome to the new age guys," she smiled hopping over to the door where they all stood, "the age of S.H.I.E.L.D. We need to inform the other heroes. We've got a lot of work to do and we can start by rehiring all of the ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. employees Osborn fired."
"Where's Clinton?" Natasha asked. Rose looked to Natasha and her face fell.
"Come with me," she whispered.
Pepper watched as Rose took Natasha out of the room. As soon as they were gone Pepper grabbed Tony and pulled him aside. She pulled Tony into the hall and closed the door behind them. Once the door was closed Pepper turned to Tony.
"Pep, what are you doing?" he asked her confused as he took off his helmet. Pepper moved over to him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Pepper?" he asked slightly worried.
"I think I've found her!" she smiled widely. Tony narrowed his eyes. What was she on about? Found who?
"Found Pepper?" he whispered.
"Little Rosie, she's Rose!" Pepper smiled. Tony sighed. As much as he wanted to believe it was her he couldn't. Rosie was gone, long gone. She's been gone for 14 years, yes it was a coincidence that she was 14 and he'll admit looks a bit like both of them but she was stolen from them right from his arms when she was only months old and he could do nothing to stop it. After six years of searching for her he just gave up and presumed she was dead, it was just easier that way. Occasionally he still gets awoken by her screams when he was taken from her.
"Pepper she's gone, we've lost her and I really doubt it we'll ever find her again. I'm sorry Pepper but I really don't think Rose is our Rosie," he shook his head. Pepper's head feel and her tears started to fall. Tony pulled her in for a hug before kissing her forehead.
"I just thought- oh I miss her Tony, I just want my baby back!" Pepper wept. Tony sighed before hugging her tighter as his own tears started to fall.
"I know… I want her back too," he whispered.
Natasha let Rose lead her to the room they'd been in with the Goblin. In the room was Clinton he was sitting on the floor holding the dead Agent in his arms crying as one of his hands rested on the person's stomach. Rose nodded to Natasha that she was going back to the command room. Natasha nodded in reply so Rose turned and quickly walked away. Natasha walked in and over to Clinton. She looked to the Agent, it would be the first time she'd get a proper look at them and as soon as she did she gasped, she knew who it was from the start but it still shocked her. It was Bobbie. As much as she hated her she never wanted her to die! Especially here. She was carrying Clinton's kid… and Osborn knew it. He fired two shots one to the head and the other to the stomach, to their kid. Natasha moved over to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Clinton?" she whispered. He looked up to her still crying. When he saw her he moved Bobbie's lifeless body off of him and stood up his suit stained with her blood.
"I know it's stupid after what she did to me but all I've ever wanted was a family and that could have been my only shot…" he whispered. Natasha froze. All he wants is a family… is Clint the same? He never told her anything about wanting a family and if he did it's the one thing she can never give to him. The Red Room made sure of that. They made sure she could never have kids.
"No it's not stupid…" she muttered, "You'll have another shot, you'll find someone." Natasha looked away from him and quickly took her hand off of him. She moved over to the hole and stopped in the middle of the Hulk sized hole in the wall. She looked over her shoulder at him and started to speak.
"But right now you're family needs your help and hiding in here is going to do no good to anyone. It won't bring them back so honour their memory and do some good," she hissed. With that she walked out the room and towards the control room.
As soon as she walked into the control room Hill walked up to her. The first thing she noticed was the unusual smile on the woman's face. Seeing her smile caused her own smile to pull at her lips. Hill led Natasha over to the table behind the main computer and they both took a seat.
"We've got good and bad news," Hill started, "Good news is the devise Banner built to get you back is ok and all of the ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents we have phoned are willing to come back. Bad news is we can't find Goblin." Natasha nodded to her news, "Oh and one more thing, we need a Director and we all want you to decide." Natasha new who would be the best immediately. Quickly she stood up and moved over to the main computer.
"RIGHT!" she shouted catching everyone's attention, "Does anyone have a problem with Hill becoming Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.? No? Congratulations Hill." Hill looked around shocked as everyone started clapping and cheering. Out of the corner of her eye Natasha noticed Clinton leaning against the door clapping as well.
Three hours later – S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
Natasha leant back in the seat. It had been a long three hours but mind you, an organisation like S.H.I.E.L.D. will take a long time to get up and running properly and right now they're only placing the building blocks. Rome wasn't built in a day right? The past three hours had consisted of contacting all the superheroes and telling them they could come out of hiding, firing a lot of still Osborn supporters and re-hiring the ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents. Natasha had just got off the phone with Storm of the X-Men telling them that they could come out of hiding and that the newly re-named Black Hawk would be coming to pick them up and taking them back to Utopia tomorrow. By the screams of excitement and relief coming through the phone they were happy about it. This dimension was finally getting sorted out and Osborn's reign of terror is coming to an end.
Natasha and everyone else in the room looked up to see Hill come back into the room looking just as drained as they all were. Two ago hours she'd gone to speak to The World Council (after Betty had fixed the computers in the room) and they hadn't heard from her since. They looked up at her waiting for news as she moved over to the main computers and stood looking down at them all her hands clutching the sides.
"Well apparently the Council was oblivious to everything that Osborn has been doing and for now I'm afraid we're just going to have to take their word but don't worry we'll be keeping an eye on them all. However they have agreed for S.H.I.E.L.D. to come back and have even given the order for the rebuild of our ground base to start tomorrow that will be the Fury memorial building, all on one condition…" she started, at this they all held their breath, "The condition is that I remain Director, Coulson my second in command and Stalingrad, Barton, Foster, Lewis and Ross to have the most authority out of everyone with May, Ward, Simmons-Fitz and Fitz the second level. Basically we'll all be running S.H.I.E.L.D. together. Is everyone up for that?" At this they all nodded. If they were running S.H.I.E.L.D. it would be easier to make sure that nothing like Oscorp happened again. Maybe everything will finally go back to the way it should be.
"Oh and Iron Man, Rescue, Captain and Dr Banner they want you all to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. in the new special ops division that includes both you and the Hulk Dr Banner," Hill looked to the superheroes in turn before adding, "And you too Stalingrad, Barton." The four quickly nodded so Hill turned to look at Rose and Clinton. The two were looking at each other and seemed to be having a conversation mentally. Eventually Coulson looked over to Hill.
"We're in but we don't think the special ops division is enough for us, we've been through too much together. We want to make a team. What do you say Cap? Iron Man? Rescue? Banner? Care to be part of a team? Earth mightiest heroes' kind of thing?" Clinton asked. A silence came over the Helicarrier for the first time in years. Everyone had stopped talking, typing and it even seemed like breathing as they waited for their decision.
"What will we be called then Legolas?" Tony smirked. Clinton looked to Rose stumped. She was smiling softly to herself she knew exactly what they should be called.
"The Avengers… in honour of Fury," Rose smiled.
"The Avengers Initiative…" Coulson whispered. Rose smiled and nodded to him. Everyone apart from Coulson, Hill, Rose and Clinton looked at Coulson confused this. Seeing their confusion Hill decided to expand on the name.
"There was an idea to bring together a group of remarkable people…" Hill started before looking away repeating Fury's words exactly, "So when we needed them…"
"They could fight the battles… that we never could…" Hill, Coulson, Clinton and Rose finished together before looking down to the floor. Coulson moved over to Hill and put his hand on her shoulder and she leaned into his touch.
"Avengers it is then, I nominate myself as team leader!" Tony cried.
"I think Cap would be a more sensible option," Pepper smirked. Tony pouted as everyone else agreed.
"So Agent Romanoff, are you ready to go home?" Bruce asked. Natasha smiled.
"Yes, yes I am," she nodded. After saying her goodbyes to Jane, Betty, Darcy, Pepper, Ward, May, Simmons-Fitz and Fitz who were staying on the Helicarrier to carry on with the S.H.I.E.L.D. work they headed to the hanger. After taking the second last jet left (after all the others were used to get the Agents off) they flew off towards New York.
"Well then AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!" Tony cried fist pumping the air.
"What?" Rose hissed to Clinton and Natasha. Natasha laughed before leaning over Clinton to Rose slightly.
"Just go with it." She smirked, "So Rose… your teeth…"
"Oh em yeah Red Room made them into fangs and made them poisons," she smirked, "Taking Death Adder to a new level right?"
"Defiantly," Natasha smiled.