Author's Note: Ready for some original content? I'll be sprinkling little chapters like this throughout as I cover Season 1 and 2 and possibly into another season as I finish all the episodes that we covered. After that, it's full throttle original ideas! This particular chapter is inspired by the EMH minicomics, specifically Volume 1, Issue 3. Enjoy!
New York
The sun was setting over New York City, bathing its glass and concrete jungles with a myriad of golden colours. For many it was the end of another day, a chance to relax and take things easy.
But it was not the case for everybody.
A man, cloaked in an old-style hooded cape stalked through alleys and stuck to the shadows cast by looming high-rises.
Constantly looking over his shoulder, he was a wanted man, hunted and pursued by some of the deadliest beings Earth had to offer. He knew time was short, he knew the situation was dire, and he knew there was only one path to take.
Pausing to check a piece of crumpled paper in his hands, he confirmed his direction.
The path he was taking led to Avengers Mansion.
Avengers Mansion, T'Challa's Room
We see Rex was in a meditation stance as was Black Panther as he instructed Rex.
Black Panther: Breathe deeply... allow your mind to find a peaceful centre... exhale slowly...
T'Challa continues to instruct as he is Sitting cross-legged, Rex did his best to follow his every command, eyes closed as he did his best to focus. Beside him, T'Challa did the same, leading by example as he meditated along with Rex.
But the Rex had a minor adjustment to his body that made finding 'inner peace' a lot harder.
After Rex incident involving around the Mansion more frequently as technology suddenly start to fritz out thanks to his recent near death experience with the Kree Sentry Drone. As we see his body glow slightly before reaching out towards the light switch as then it shorts out as well and with a grimace and a nervous twitch, and a quick look around with his left eye as the surroundings looked like a messy teenager's room as he gave away his internal conflict to the ever-perceptive T'Challa and looks around the room from Rex's internal struggles with his own energy.
Black Panther: You are having trouble focusing.
Rex: Yeah...
Black Panther: Calming your mind is a difficult task, it seems. You have been through much, Rex. It is hard for your mind to settle.
Rex: It's... not that.
The human cosmic generator muttered, opening his eyes as he looks at his teammate as he recalled his emotional response toward protecting his teammates and friends and... Janet... as he went on about his powers.
Rex: My abilities seem to be growing stronger and faster... and what happened when I... when I took that Nega Bomb in Outerspace and went off and absorbed it seemed to have awakened some of my unknown abilities.
TChalla nodded in understanding.
Black Panther: Then your path to peace of mind will be longer than most. Attainable, but only after much effort is applied.
Rex feels bad as he looks down and feels like a failure as T'Challa sensed his disappointment as he explained it better.
Black Panther: You are not the first to suffer through a barrage of the mind, Rex. I have seen this before. Yours is a journey that is very capable, despite your perception of it.
Nodding slowly, the human generator felt little hope in spite of his words.
Rex: If you say so. Now excuse me I need to go work on my project in the garage.
As Rex leaves the room he immediately goes to head towards the Sub level garage in the mansion as he thinks about Janet. He agreed to himself that he needs to let go but... some things are easier said then done.
Generator: How was your training?
Rex looks up and we see his AI partner in the suit to help him maintain his modes are here and waiting for him to finish meditation.
Rex: (Flatly speaking.) Slow.
Generator: Come on Rex, you know you can't learn everything in one day.
Rex: Whatever... let's just finish the Avenge-cycle I'm working on.
Training Room
Elsewhere in the mansion, Tony was running a training simulation together with Janet and the Hulk. And it wasn't necessarily going according to his intended plan.
Iron-Man: Hulk! Wait! That turret is still shelling us!
He cried from above as the green giant promptly tore out a piece of pipe from the floor and hurled it towards a nearby generator with a roar, destroying the device and shutting down the energy turret firing on the three of them.
Wasp: Woohoo! Way to go big guy!
Wasp applauded as she hovered by his head.
Wasp: Score one for us!
As Hulk smirked with a grunt.
Hulk: Too easy.
Iron Man: Yeah, sure, easy for you. But what about fliers like Thor, Rex and me? We'd all be getting shot at, we might be in trouble!
Iron Man chided as he touched down beside them.
Hulk: Thor's fine. So are you. You find the problem, you stop the problem."
Wasp: Eh, you're not wrong. But maybe start with the turret before you turn off the base power, okay?
Hulk: Hmph. Trying to make your lives easier. Maybe you should just get good.
Hulk remarked as Janet promptly laughed while Tony frowned and crossed his arms, looking somewhat unimpressed. At that moment, JARVIS' voice filled the room.
JARVIS: Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt but there is someone attempting to use the main entrance.
Iron-Man: Define attempting'?
He pressed as who it is that they are infiltrating their Mansion again.
JARVIS: They are seeking to-.. (Static.)
Suddenly the Al's voice fell to garbled static, confusing the Avengers before JARVIS returned to state
JARVIS: Warning; ID scanner compromised. Access granted to unknown user.
Iron-Man: (Annoyed.) Not this again!
Tony groaned as his helmet slid back down.
Iron-Man: Last time that happened, Zemo and his goons showed up!
Hulk: Been waitin' to smash someone again.
Hulk remarked, cracking his knuckles and moving out with Janet and Tony as the armored hero put out a call
Iron-Man: Avengers! Assemble in the main hall! We've got an intruder... again!
In multiple parts of the mansion
Branching out across the mansion, his words drew the other Avengers into action. Rex was closer to the sub level elevator as was Generator as they nod and in a bright light we see Generator go towards his chest and went into his hero suit Generator Rex. T'Challa suited up and joined Captain America and Hawkeye in a mad sprint to the front hall, Thor flying through each winding corridor at breakneck speed to join them, while even Ant-Man left his lab to join in. Fully assembled, the Avengers grouped up in the main hall to contront a single figure dressed in a shoddy cloak. Armed and ready, Iron Man raised a palm towards the stranger and flashed a glowing repulsor.
Iron-Man: Alright, buddy! We've had enough of unwelcome intruders lately, so tell us who you are and what you want or we'll kick you right back out that door.
The stranger stayed silent, unmoving. The Avengers tensed, Cap priming his shield for a throw, Hawkeye pulling his bowstring taut, Thor spinning a fully-charged Mjolnir, Generator Rex as he grabs Generator and aim it at the intruder, Wasp charging her stings, Iron Man diverting power to his repulsors. All of them were ready to move at a moments notice.
Intruder?: I'm not here for a fight, Iron Man.
The stranger stated in a voice very familiar to all of them. so familiar, in fact, that most of the team were downright shocked. It was then that he pulled back his hood, properly revealing his identity.
Captain America: Nick Fury?
Steve questioned in bewilderment. Sure enough, the director of SHIELD himself stood before the team, his uniform slightly visible beneath his cloak and his eyepatch a dead giveaway.
Wasp: Nick Fury?! What're you doing here?
Iron-Man: This better be good, Fury. You put all of us on high alert and for what?
Fury: Trust me, this is a serious issue.
Fury replied with a frown as he stares off at the Avengers
Fury: As a matter of fact, it's a life or death situation.
He revealed as the rest didn't like to hear that at all.
sub-Levels, Avengers Hall
Reconvening down in the sublevel meeting room, the Avengers paid close attention as Fury revealed the need for his unorthodox arrival.
Fury: Last night the SHIELD database servers were hacked from an unknown source. They were attempting to download grid coordinates for all of our safehouses where we keep objects and items that could be importance to super-criminals. At the same time, a transport I was in was attacked by a trio of assailants. I managed to identify them as members of the Zodiac Cartel.
Holding up a flash drive, he plugged it into the holotable.
Rex: The who-now?
Fury: The Zodiac Cartel is a criminal organization based around the Zodiac symbols...
Fury said briefly as a trio of faces appeared in hologram before them all; two men in domino masks and one in a complete facemask split evenly between black and white.
Fury: These are the three that attacked me: Gemini, Sagittarius and Aquarius.
Ant-Man: Why do I get the feeling you're connected to them somehow?
Hank wondered, staring thoughtfully at the three faces.
Before the breakout, SHIELD interrupted one of their attempted operations and took down several of their members. We also confiscated this...
The hologram changed to an ankh-shaped object,
Fury: they call it 'the Zodiac Key'. It's a piece of remarkably advanced technology wielded by the group's leader; Scorpio. When we took this from them, we moved the Key to one of our secure safehouses.
Black Panther: That explains why they were attempting to hack the grid coordinates.
Wasp: So, did they get it?
Fury: Not yet. The trick is, that safehouse's information is not in our database. I memorized the coordinates... and I'm the only one who knows them.
Iron-Man: Huh... gets that's why they were after you.
Thor: Clearly the matter of vengeance is on the minds of this... Zodiac Cartel. Their course, then, is singular and predictable.
Captain America: Agreed. If they want Fury then they clearly want this Zodiac Key. We just need to stop them before they succeed, in any regard.
Hawkeye: Sounds like a trap... that could work both ways. Even if we set this up for them, they could turn it back on us. That's why you contacted us, isn't it Fury?
Fury Fixing him with his good eye, he did not respond positively or negatively at first.
Fury: SHIELD doesn't have what it takes to handle this group. I've seen them in action, they have powers, they have tech, some might even be mutants. Last time, we barely held our own against all twelve. It was a fluke that we managed to bag the six we did. That's why I came, Agent Barton.
Hawkeye: News flash, I don't work for SHIELD anymore, Fury. I go by Hawkeye full-stop these days.
Clint told bus former boss with arms crossed.
Fury: Fine.
Iron-Man: Okay, let's get down to business, which members does SHIELD have in custody?
Fury: We took down half of the cartel in a surprise attack. It was costly but we managed with the help of two Hulkbuster units. Right now we have Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Libra, Pisces and Virgo locked up
Rex: Leaving Aquarius, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus, and Scorpio. All'twelve signs.
Everyone looks at him weird as if he said something weird.
Wasp: You remember all of those? I can't even wrap my head around names like Pisces.
Janet remarked with a slight grin.
Rex: I may not look like it but I like to read books about history and Mechanical Engineering and newspapers especially funny pages as I remember each 12 Zodiacs.
Rex replied with a smirk of his own as T'Challa looks at Rex and responds to his own Wakanda Zodiacs.
Black Panther: Curious, Wakanda ha sventeen signs instead of twelve.
As Hawkeye had enough of listening to everyone say their zodiac or whatever as he rubbed his temple head with his hand.
Hawkeye: (Bemused.) Don't make this any harder than it is!
Ant-Man: I'm just surprised they didn't escape during the breakout.
Fury: We held them at a different location.
Iron-Man: So what's the draw of this Key? Sounds to me like they'd have more strength if they just broke out their other members.
Fury: We don't know. All we do know is that it's extremely powerful. Energy readings and radiation checks were off the scales. Whatever its secret is, only the Cartel knows.
Hulk: So we smash this key. Break it so they can't use it.
Fury: We can't. We don't know what it's capable of.
Iron-Man: Is this a case of 'find out so we can use it instead' or 'find out and then break it because we know how bad it is'?
Tony pointedly questioned as Fury said nothing and simply glared at him.
Iron-Man: Well, if it's tech, you've come to the right people. Generator? Think you can handle it?
He asked of the two resident rookies who was truly pulling his weight thanks to their unique power sets.
Generator: I can try, for sure. But we won't know until I try.
Wasp: Alright, next stop: secret warehouse!
Wasp declared, shrinking down and taking flight.
Outside The Mansion Across the street
From a distant rooftop we see a pair of eyes watched Avengers Mansion like a hawk, ever vigilant and piercing. They were not alone, joined by several others, an entire cast of shadowy rigures watching the mansion with sinister intent in mind.
???: Why do we waste our time here we can storm them now, we can force their hand easily.
???: Fury's smart. He's avoided us this long, it won't be easy to remove him from the Avengers' company."
???: Once we have the Key, the Avengers won't matter.
???x2: Storm the mansion and force them to lead us/Ask them to take us to it.
???: No, we wait. Nicholas will learn we are patient and that no matter how far ahead he thinks he is, we are not far behind. He will pay for what he's done to us. His past has bidden the future to come and pay an unpleasant visit.
???: And the Avengers?
???: Mere casualties in this war. Fury's greatest hope will become his greatest regret... and the Zodiac will reign supreme!
Later that Night, Outside an Antique Shop
Taking every precaution imaginable, Nick Fury led the Avengers to New York's east side and straight to an old antique store. Pausing outside, the heroes couldn't help but tilt their heads in mild bewilderment
Wasp: I mean... I get it, it's where the old stuff is. But still.. seriously?
Rex: They say 'looks can be deceiving' although I shopped here a while ago to get Cap a little piece of home.
Thor: Aye. The deceptive nature of these measures is rather unsettling.
As Hulk looks inside and notices that the door was a little to small to go in as he stares at everyone there.
Hulk: We're not all gonna fit.
Fury: You'll have to stay out here then, keep an eye out for the Zodiac, the rest of you come with me.
Thor: I shall remain here with you, friend Hulk.
As Hulk grunts at Thor as he didn't liked to be helped.
Hulk: I don't need any help.
As the two biggest members remained outside, Nick Fury pulled an old skeleton key from his belt and held it to the door lock. From the tip, a thin wire shot out and triggered the actually locking mechanism. Fury then put the key away and grabbed the handle, its internal fingerprint reader scanning the tips of his digits before allowing him access as he opened the door and lead the Avengers inside.
The team followed him inside, Wasp and Ant-Man flying. around to check the place out.
Wasp: Well, it's definitely got all the usual old junk you'd expect this place to have. I'm gonna guess that Key is definitely buried in it around here somewhere.
Wasp mused as she checked out old tools, candlesticks, vases and cups.
Fury: On the contrary, this is the kind of place that goes on for miles.
Pressing a hidden button on his skeleton key, the rear wall pulled away as a series of lights turned on, revealing the beginning of a spiral staircase.
Rex: I shudder to think just how many of these SHIELD has set up around the city.
Generator Rex remarked as he and the others followed Fury down into the hidden bowels built beneath the antique shop. The halls eventually opened up, and what was revealed to the Avengers caused several to gasp while others merely gaped in awe.
The massive room below was almost twenty feet in width and height and filled with several dozen wooden crates.
Rex: I feel like I've seen this in a movie before...
Hawkeye: How many SHIELD secrets are in those crates? Probably more than I was ever privy to, let's poke around and see dirt we can dig up.
Hawkeye suggests slightly amused as he looks at one crate as Fury glares at him.
Fury: The Zodiac Key is here, we're not looking for it. We're here to ward off the the Cartel if they show up tonight.
Rex: What? Not even a peek at this thing? Sounds to me like we're playing with a lot of probabilities. We could be spending an all-nighter here for nothing.
Wasp: Yeah, I should've brought my sleeping bag.
Fury: They've been hounding me ever since yesterday, they'll be coming, a SHIELD warehouse was the last thing on their minds.
Spreading out, the Avengers poked around as Wasp and Ant-Man grew into their normal sizes to join in, Fury merely standing passive by an iron girder support strut.
Generator pops out of Rex and allowed his receptors to wander, picking up all manner of ambient data emissions from concealed technological devices. Truly, there was a lot hidden here, some of which was incredibly foreign to him... like data from another world..
Rex: Anything, Generator?
Generator: More like, a lot of things...
He replied, glancing around as he picked out as many objects as possible.
Generator: There's so many different objects here, all of them incredibly powerful. Not sure which one is the Zodiac Key, though.
Fury: We are not looking for the Key.
Fury growled with a frown.
Iron-Man: What's the matter, Fury? Not a fan of us browsing through your private weapons collection?
Tony teased as Rex suddenly looks right and senses something in a certain direction as he made his way over to it as Hawkeye notices him as did Panther as they follow him.
Fury: Not all of these are weapons. But that's not the case. We're here to keep the Zodiac from getting the Key.
Then Fury notices they were a few people short.
Fury: Where is Rex and Barton, and Panther?
In a different location we see Rex was walking through a section of this SHIELD warehouse where he looks at a crate and opens it with his strength and looks inside and took out a cylinder that had warning signs on it.
???: You know... it doesn't seem like you to take something that isn't yours.
Rex drops the cylinder and it rolls to Hawkeye feet as he and T'Challa are here to see why Rex was opening this specific crate then the others.
Black Panther: Indeed. You seem to be... possessed by something?
Hawkeye: What is this thing anyway?
Rex: I... I don't know... I just felt something calling to me wanting me to find it.
Hawkeye: Wanting to find it? Are you sure you're right in the head?
Rex: I think we should open it and see what it is?
Hawkeye: Since when do we open SHIELDS dirty laundry?
Rex: Well, I know that you would like to mess with SHIELD since they falsely imprisoned you.
As Hawkeye then looks at Rex and smiles at him.
Hawkeye: Fair enough.
Rex: And Panther maybe this thing that called me maybe important. It may help me control my powers it may help me find my center.
Panther looks away before looking at him nodding at what they needed to do as they open it and Rex was shocked to see it but the other two have no idea what they are looking at.
Rex: (Worried.) It can't be!
Hawkeye: A crystal?
Rex takes it out as he stares at it as it is palmed in his hand.
Rex: You know what this is? This crystal is a dangerous power. It... it has so much power that it turned a normal human into a Toxic villain.
Hawkeye: That's bad.
Black Panther: Indeed.
Little did they know that in the cylinder smoke came out and mysteriously floated out into the vents unaware of the smoke they have unleashed.
Then Fury sees them hold the Crystal and he immediately became angry.
Fury: Where did you get that?! That isn't yours!
Rex then shows the crystal to the Rest of the Avengers as they become shocked to see it.
Wasp: Tony? Is that?
Iron-Man: Same energy signature... there's more of those crystals? (To Fury.) Why do you have such a weapon... (Disdain.) Fury?
Fury: It's not a weapon! As I said before Not all of these are weapons. But that's not the case. We're here to keep the Zodiac from getting the Key.
Hawkeye: You're awful hellbent on the Zodiac. Wouldn't the direct route be to go after them, instead of waiting for them to come to us?
Black Panther: Indeed. The chances of them discovering this place are low. You are not making sense, Fury.
Fury: For the last time, we are here to ensure the Zodiac does not get the Key!
Iron-Man: That's just it, Fury. They didn't know where this place was, until we showed up. Sounds to me like you're trying to lure them out, bring them into a fight with us... So you can use these weapons to deal with them. What about that crystal you have in your possession? We have one that looks exactly the same and has the exact energy signature are you planning to use it on them? News flash: Don't! It seem to only make them stronger and more dangerous.
This confused Fury as he stared at him confused by the fact that they had the same exact crystal power.
Fury: That can't be right... our sources told us that--
All of a sudden, the ceiling shook in time with a distant crack of kinetic energy being exchanged, bits of debris cascading from the ceiling as then all the Avengers and Fury looked tense and alert as Fury knew who was here.
Fury: Their here...
Rex: Well... no duh! Because we've got a green giant and a freaking god of thunder up top!
Rex remarked, as he got into a fighting stance.
Rex: If there was ever a beacon that screamed... 'Hey! This is important' they would be it!
To emphasize his point, a second thunderous crash echoed from above, followed by a third that was much loud.
Suddenly, the roof gave way and the Hulk came crashing down right above them. The heroes scattered, quickly darting out of the way just before Hulk slammed into the floor where they had been standing.
Wasp: Hulk!
Wasp cried in alarm, hovering over the groaning giant as he struggled to get up. Her gaze was immediately drawn to his entry hole as a cast of individuals descended from above.
They were a strange bunch indeed, some of which we clad in colorful costumes while two were downright mutants of some degree; one a human-bull hybrid by the name of Taurus and the other a human-lion hybrid by the name of Leo. But on each of their chests was branded individual Zodiac symbols. As we see a man dressed in red and yellow by the name of Scorpio as his frowning gaze fixed on Fury, telling them who they are.
Scorpio: Your attempts to evade us were in vain, Nicholas. Now, bear witness to the ascension of the Zodiac!
At his word, a man in blue transformed the lower half of his body into water his name was Aquarius and he unleashed twin high-pressure blasts from his fists that sent Iron Man tumbling as Captain America braced with his shield but was driven back across the compound by Aquarius.
Another in red and black drew a bow and arrow as his name was Sagittarius, as he unleashing a volley of shots towards Ant-Man as he shrunk to avoid them.
Hawkeye: No no no! Arrows are my thing!
Hawkeye remarked, unleashing an explosive head that struck the incoming arrow from Sagittarius, detonating both.
Hawkeye: Huh, that was a pretty good shot.
As Sagittarius drew back his bow and continued to fire his arrows. The bull hybrid, Taurus, immediately gave chase after Generator Rex, as he put the crystal away and carried the cylinder holding the crystal as he quickly runs away and dodged the bull as he lands in some crates before snorting out its breath and chasing Rex as he then went into Flight mode to take flight and stay well out of his limited range.
Rex: Down boy!
He chided, sending his his blasting cosmic energy from himself into Generator as he sent him hurtling in the air and landing over Hulk and into more crates. Taurus got up and with a snarl, the beast tried to reach him, jumping and grasping at the air with each swipe barely missing his foot. Spying the ring in his nose, Rex flys down summoned used his strength and speed and pulled him by the nose tugging the ring and forcing Taurus to be dragged upright and struggle against him.
Rex: Allow me to introduce our heavy hitter! Hulk!
As Generator Rex sees a revived Hulk, who notices Rex pulling Taurus Hulk Smirks and tackled him angrily.
Hulk: Stupid man-bull!
The Hulk roared, throwing Taurus into the ground.
Meanwhile, Black Panther traded blows with the equally agile Leo, the human-lion hybrid sporting a series of claws along his knuckles to give each swing a deadly edge.
Panther, however, remained in peak form and expertly dodged every one as Wasp buzzed around Leo raining down biostings from every angle.
Wasp: Is this a case of 'cat got your tongue? Or are you just speechless in the face of the real King of the jungle?
Black Panther: Wakanda is not a jungle!
Panther retorted, landing a lunge kick that struck Leo in the torso.
Surging into the mix, the half white and black super villain by the name of Gemini unleashed energy beams that struck multiple Avengers at once, paving the way for Scorpio to go head-to-head with Nick Fury and Captain America.
Scorpio: I want the Key, Nicholas. Give it to me!
He demanded.
Fury: Over my dead body!
Nick retorted, firing his sidearm.
Gemini Black/Gemini Light: That can be arranged!/We wouldn't want that.
Gemini mused, channeling twin bursts of energy towards the SHIELD director only to have them blocked by Cap's shield.
As he did, Scorpio lunged, pouncing on Fury and sending the two rolling across the floor.
Scorpio: If you won't give it up willingly, I'll just tear down everything you've built to keep me out. The Key will be mine, Nicholas, make no mistake!
Scorpio threatened. With a shout, Fury threw him off and rained down a volley of shots, only to have his pistol shot out of his hands by one of Sagittarius' arrows. In a flash, Cap was by his side, defending Nick from Sagittarius and Gemini. A prompt toss of his shield knocked the split-sided foe to the ground while Ant-Man grew large enough to land a concentrated punch that knocked Sagittarius sideways.
Captain America: What's Scorpio's deal, Fury?
Cap questioned. With a sigh, Fury gathered his bearings as Steve shielded him up against a stack of crates.
Fury: We don't know for sure. Our intel is... limited; ties to Hydra, criminal madman, just when we think we know him, he robs us of every potential advantage we had by changing the game.
Captain America: So he's a strategist.
Fury: That's one word for it.
captain America: He seems hellbent on getting to you.
Cap mused, quickly taking the brunt of an axe-kick from Scorpio with his shield.
Fury: Because I'm the one who stopped him last time.
Nick remarked, whirling past him to land a cross-jab that smashed into Scorpio's face and sent him tumbling. By this point, the Avengers had managed to gain the upperhand against their foes and backed the Zodiac into a corner, the team fully prepared to stop them here and now.
Then, with a boom of thunder, Thor descended from above, Mjolnir twirling above his head and charged with electrical energy.
Thor: Your evil ends here, villains! Behold the might of Asgard's thunder! For Midgard!
He shouted, directing a bolt of lightning straight down into the midst of the Zodiac. The blinding impact sent the six flying in multiple directions, slamming into walls, girders, the floor and piles of crates.
Aquarius found himself pitched into a series of wooden boxes, each one splintering under his weight as he landed. It hurt and he groaned in pain, which suddenly receded from his mind as a glow from beneath him caught his eye.
Turning over, he swept pieces of debris aside as the green light shone ever brighter. It was curved, seemingly circular in shape, but even more intricate than that the more he dug.
With a gleeful gasp, Aquarius finally pulled out the complete piece, warm in his hands and radiating with immense power.
Aquarius: I found it..!
He breathed. Standing up and looking around, he spied Scorpio across the way.
Aquarius: Scorpio, I found it!
He cried, his shout drawing the attention of the Avengers. They paused, eyes wide as they quickly pieced things together.
Iron-Man: Fury... is that...?
Iron Man wondered, trailing off.
Fury: The Zodiac Key.
Nick confirmed with a frown. Using his powers, Aquarius blasted the Key towards Scorpio on a jet of water, the cartel leader snagging it and holding it aloft as he tapped into its powers.
Scorpio: Now, Avengers, your end has come!
He proclaimed, taking aim and unleashing a powerful blast of green energy that knocked every hero, Hulk and Thor included, across the room. Laid out by the immense power of the Zodiac Key, the heroes were incredibly stunned by its capabilities.
Wasp: Ugh! Anyone get the number of that disco ball that hit me?
Wasp groaned as she rubbed her head
Generator: Sure would've been nice to know it could do that, but someone didn't explain what it does.
Generator Chided as we see Fury glares at The Zodiac as they regrouped in front of them, Scorpio pointing the glowing Key towards them.
Scorpio: I've been waiting for this for a long time, Nicholas.
Scorpio said, landing a switt kick that caught Fury on the jaw,
Scorpio: You stopped me once, but that track record ends today.
Captain America: You wanna tell me what you hope to accomplish, Scorpio? What's that key do?
Cap demanded. Regarding him with a simple smirk, Scorpio chuckled.
Scorpio: Captain America. Super soldier. Hero of World War Two. Your job is to save the world...
He said while, levelling the Key at the Captain,
Scorpio: Mine is to destroy it.
Thor: Nay, villain. Thou wilt know the fervor of Earth's mightiest heroes!
Thor declared, unleashing a bolt of lighting from his hammer. Swiftly turning on the Asgardian, Scorpio unleashed a power bolt that struck his lightning and negated it, nullifying its powers and saving him from the blow.
Thor: I think not, thunder god. Today Earth's mightiest heroes meet their end. It is over, finished!
Captain America: You think that's the first time we've heard that? (Cap slowly rising to his feet.) I know men like you, Scorpio. If you truly meant to kill us, you would've done so already. You didn't, because you like an audience.
Scorpio smiles as looks at them.
Scorpio: Indeed, Captain. I kept you alive because I wanted to show that the Zodiac is not all talk. We intend to show as well.
Scorpio affirmed in reply. Keeping him talking was enough to buy the Avengers time to plan as Iron Man scanning the Key and drawing a surprising conclusion.
Iron-Man: Fury was right, the energy is off the charts. Whatever that Key is, it's not of this world.
Scorpio: You're correct, Iron Man. What this is, is power. Power the likes of which this world has never seen. Power that will make the Zodiac rulers of the world!
Pointing the key at the ground, a green beam struck the floor and slowly began to generate a portal.
Scorpio: The Key does exactly what it should; it opens the door to another dimension! And once that door is open, nothing can stop what's coming through it.
Gemini Light/Gemini Dark: Rejoice/Tremble in fear!
Gemini proclaimed. Despite the severity of the situation, even Nick Fury was losing his calm composure, Iron Man had developed a plan.
Iron-Man: Generator, despite its alien nature, that Key is still some form of technology.
He whispered to Generator Rex.
Iron-Man: If we can get it can you two, can you shut down that portal?
Generator then went through some information and and whispered back into Tony and Rex.
Generator: I'll have to learn the tech first. The moment I get my hands on it, you have to keep every one of them away from me.
Iron-Man: Got it.
Iron Man promised and himself up, he stood next to Captain America as the other Avengers rose.
Iron-Man: I'll have you know, Scorpio, we're really good at stopping things. So that portal, and you lot, are next on our list.
Iron-Man: Avengers, attack!
He cried, shooting forward and driving repulsor-first into Scorpio. The rest of the team followed suit, pursuing the rest of the Zodiac. Outnumbering the Cartel by four, equal powers clashed as the Avengers battled each one as best they could.
Hulk grappled with Leo, slamming him into the wall as Hawkeye loosed a taser arrow to strike him right in the forehead.
Black Panther sprinted ahead of Sagittarius' arrows, retaliating with Vibranium throwing knives as Cap rushed the archer, plowing into him with his shield.
Wasp flew circles around Aquarius, narrowly avoiding jets of water as Thor used the situation to his advantage by having Mjolnir run an electric current straight through the villain, shocking him into submission.
Rex using his strength mode Generator Rex block all shots with his body from Gemini as Ant-Man took advantage and pounced on him from behind, growing just large enough to tackle him to the ground.
Gemini Dark/Gemini Light: You cannot stop me!/Someone help!
The twin-shaded man cried.
Giant-Man: I'd like to offer you some, after you're behind bars.
Hank remarked as he pinned him.
Taurus found himself attacked by Iron Man, chasing his crimson armor in a furious stampede. Using his jets to vault over the charging Minotaur, Iron Man snapped up his gauntlet and unleashed a burst of electrostatic energy that struck the hybrid bull in the back, dropping him to his knees. A single unibeam blast was enough to bowl him over, knocking him into a pile of crates.
Iron-Man: Been a while since I've been to Spain, I'd say my bullfighting is rusty. Ole, I guess.
Fury and Scorpio grappled with such intensity and energy the fight seemed almost personal to both. Doing his best to avoid getting blasted by the Key, Fury drove Scorpio's arm high as blasts struck the ceiling and walls. The balance of power shifting back and forth, neither seemed to hold an edge over the other.
Scorpio: It's over, Nicholas! I've won!
Scorpio growled, cuffing him upside the head.
Fury: Not. Yet.
Fury retorted, driving a knee into Scorpio's gut before landing a judo chop to the hand holding the Key, forcing the villain to drop it.
Scorpio: No!
Scorpio cried, only to receive the brunt of Fury's shoulder as the SHIELD director slammed into him. Spying the fallen Key, Iron Man acted quickly.
Generator! Heads up!
He cried, unleashing a concussive beam that sent the Key flying through the air. Departing his battle with Gemini, Rex quickly sprinted ahead and caught the ankh-shaped device before it could hit the ground.
Rex: Okay G! Do your thing! He shouted, while gripping the object and in turn allowing Generator and his mind to intertwine with the data radiating off the key. It was incredibly foreign to Rex as it was to Generator, so much so that they almost doubled over. But they kept their ground and both did their best to focus, Generator desperately trying to understand this strange programming and the alien nature of this technology.
Behind him, the portal began to froth and shimmer as something began to emerge.
A single tentacle began to wriggle and writhe its way into reality, followed by another and another as some thing began to crawl out.
Wasp: Uh, guys! We got a problem! A big, scary, wriggling problem!
Wasp cried in alarm. Her words caused the Avengers to turn, the Zodiac following soon after. As Scorpio smiles at this.
The door between dimensions is opening! There's no stopping us now!
Scorpio declared with a cackle.
Generator Rex! The Key!
Steve cried in alarm as Generator Rex himself did not respond, determined to shut this down and focused hard on comprehending the alien technology. So far they was getting nowhere, but Generator had yet to explore every connection. They had to keep trying.
Feeling a resurgence of hopeful potential, the Zodiac renewed their attack, Leo and Taurus grappling with Thor and Hulk while Aquarius blasted Hawkeye with a drenching torrential burst of water. Sagittarius' arrows pierced Iron Man's armor as Gemini unleashed powerful energy bolts that took down Ant-Man and Black Panther.
Gemini Black/Gemini White: There is no hope!/We hope for a new world."
Wasp: Man! Make up your mind, would you? So confusing!
Wasp remarked as she zapped him in the back of the head.
Iron-Man: Generator, Buddy! Anytime now!
Tony cried as his armor fizzled.
The Generator Rex reached deeper with both minds it was hard bypassing miles of alien data that Rex struggled to comprehend.
Generator: (Telepathic.) I know it's hard but I need you Rex! The team needs you!
Rex's body then became cosmic as he didn't stop, not even when blood began to drip from his nose.
Rex: Come on... Come on..!
He grunted, grimacing amid his struggle. The tentacles started crawling towards him, inching their way further and further into reality. Wasp hurriedly flew in, unleashing a volley of biostings to try and keep them at bay.
Wasp: Generator! Rex! Please hurry!
She begged them and they struggled, the blood from Rex's nose now a river as sweat beaded along his forehead. There was nothing... nothing! And then, suddenly, there was something. A singular strand of understandable code, a data transmission that could only stem from one thing: Scorpio's control over the Key. Generator immediately latched onto it, everything slowly becoming clearer and clearer the more he dove into Scorpio's connection. His knowledge grew, his control grew, his power grew.
Generator/Rex: We got it!/We got it!
They gasped, coming back to reality as they promptly turned and unleashed a beam of light towards the portal.
Generator: Keys can open doors.
Rex: But they can close them too!
They announced as Ever so slowly, the portal began to close, the tentacles also beginning to retreat as their access closed around them. Scorpio looked on in horror.
Scorpio: No! That creature promised me dominion over the Earth, and I intend to have it!
He roared, puching Nick Fury off him and rushing towards Generator Rex. Captain America charged in and clocked him upside the head with his shield, taking Scorpio down one more time. The Avengers pressed their advantage over the Zodiac, taking down each member one at a time and buying Generator and Rex the space they needed to to use the Key's power to close the portal, slicing off a tentacle in the process.
By the time it was over, Rex fell to his knees and dropped the Key, mentally exhausted from his efforts. But they could take solace in the simple fact that he had helped save the world.
Generator then removed his helmet to allow Rex breathing as Wasp looks at Rex and noticed that his nose was covered in blood as it trickled down to the floor.
Wasp: REX! Rex are you ok?
Rex: I'm... I'm fine just tired...
As Wasp touched his cheek a rosy tint was seen on his face as a shiver went across his spine as he looks at Janet. His ideal girlfriend, his ideal woman of dreams as he relishes her touch even if was a short while.
Later in the morning
Now it was morning Fury called in SHIELD as they come to collect the villains as the Avengers collected the unconscious Zodiac. Piled up, the Cartel was all defeated as the heroes tended to Rex, who sat on a crate with the head of one of Hawkeye's freeze arrows pressed to the side of his nose. Janet sat beside him, T'Challa and Thor standing around him
Thor: You've done well this day, friend Rex and Friend Geberator. Once again you have proven your worth as an Avenger.
The Asgardian said heartily. Rex shrugged and offered him a grin.
Rex: Eh, you know, I followed by example. I just did what any of you would've done.
Black Panther: Indeed. But not with your finesse and power. None of us could have done it as you did. You should be proud of your actions, Alexander Caden.
Wasp: Are you going to be okay?
Janet asked, touching the side of his face to check on his nose. Connor paused, fighting back the urge to inhale sharply as her fingers ghosted across his skin. A shiver shot up and down his spine as the woman of his dreams touched him.
Rex: I-I'll be fine. I feel fine, better now actually.
Iron-Man: And by the way I wasn't you know worried about that Key doing a number on you. Did you learn anything about it?
Rex: Honestly? Yeah me and Generator did, actually.
Generator: There's a lot more to that Key. It's alien, alright. But the power of that thing. it's like Scorpio was holding back.
Generator replied in a thoughtful tone.
Iron-Man: What're you saying?
Rex: What Generator is saying is that Scorpio could've done that the first time he had the Key in his possession.
He explained. Fury, who had been standing by himself, watching the bodies of the Zodiac, suddenly chimed in.
Fury: So why didn't he?
Cap then talked as he walks towards them.
Captain America: That's just it. Scorpio waited, he wanted an audience. He could've destroy us, the opposition, and fulfilled his plan unhindered. He wanted you around, Nick.
Captain America stated as he arrived. The group focused on him and Nick, Fury staring back at Steve with his one eye.
Captain America: Why would he do that?
Steve asked in a low, knowing tone. Fury said nothing at first, seemingly testing cap's resolve to see it he would break and let this slide or remain steadfast and press the issue.
He should've known that Captain America never faltered.
Fury: Because it was personal. Scorpio wanted me to see it, he wanted me to see what he'd done. Because he hates me.
Hawkeye: Because you stopped him the first time? That's a lot because of one time stopping him.
Fury: No. Not because of that.
Fury said simply, striding towards Scorpio's body.
Fury: Our connection runs far deeper than that.
Kneeling before him, Fury lifted his hood and pulled off the mask covering the upper half of his face. The Avengers slowly crowded around and were shocked by the face revealed beneath.
Thor: Odin's beard!
Iron-Man: Is that...?
Hawkeye: I think I can see the family resemblance from here.
Before them, a dark-skinned man who shared many similarities to Nick Fury's own appearance was revealed to them. The true face of Scorpio.
Fury: Scorpio is the alias assumed by my younger brother: Jacob Fury.
Nick revealed and suffice to say, the Avengers were lost for words.
Wasp: Nick Fury... has a brother?
Ant-Man: Apparently.
Hank replied in equal surprise.
I knew about his father, Sergeant Jack Fury. But a brother...
Black Panther: Of course... it all makes sense now. The secrecy. The determination. The stubbornness. You knew Scorpio was your brother and you wanted to handle him your way.
The team's emotions began to shift, Tony's most directly as he turned on Fury.
Iron-Man: You knew this. The whole time. And you never told us.
Fury: It wasn't important.
Hawkeye: It would've gone a long way in helping us understand things. Like you telling us the Zodiac Key was a portal to another world. Now you've got a brother who's a terrorist. What other dirty little secrets are you keeping?
Fury: That's for me to know and you to wonder about.
Iron-Man: So, what, you called us to handle your brother because you couldn't let SHIELD handle him? You know, for a man who runs an emotionless operation, you wore your heart on your sleeve this time.
Fury: Such hypocrisy is the necessary ingredient to undermining proper functionality. Your two-faced nature compromised this effort. We truly owe Generator Rex our thanks for saving this mission.
Iron-Man: And if this is what SHIELD is made of, then count us out forever. Just when I thought that maybe we could cooperate a little more, you pull the wool over our eyes and rip the carpet out from under us.
Fury: You can't expect to know absolutely everything about an intelligence organization.
Yeah, but secrets are the key to its undoing, too. Avengers, we're done here. Let's go home get something to drink, I need to clear my head.
He told the team, turning around and making to leave.
Iron Man: We'll let SHIELD sort out their mess. I'm tired of getting dragged into their problems.
As the team leave we see Fury look down before taking a look in his hand and we see the Cylinder that Rex found earlier before the battle and look inside to see the crystal there as he looks at the Avengers.
In the Afternoon
We see Rex was holding a ice pack over his head as he didn't change clothes as he kept the suit on still as he feels like his head was used for drumming.
Generator: Man, I can't believe you went with me. This is a new ability, though I did most of the work.
Rex: Generator... my brains on fire and want to sleep the rest of the day.
JARVIS: Excuse me, but someone left a package out by the front door.
Rex suddenly got curious as he went to the front door to see an wrapped up package and he looks around and brings it in and it is addressed to the Avengers but it didn't say it was from.
Curiosity got the better of Rex as he opens it and we see the Cylinder from the SHIELD Warehouse and Rex and Generator then look at it in shock.
Rex: The Crystal!
Avengers Hall
As the Avengers Assemble in the Hall we see the Cylinder from before lays down in the center of the table. As we see Tony out of his armor and Cap without his mask on and, T'Challa while Hank put down his helmet.
Hawkeye: You called us down here for this Crystal? What's so special about it?
Hank: Well, Clint for starters it turned a man into a toxic supervillain known as Toxzon.
Janet: And almost turned New York into Zombies.
As Clint looked worried as he stares at the open crystal there.
Hawkeye: Ok... so that's not everyday we see this.
Iron Man: Exactly! No such power exists! Whatever it is there is no limit to what it can do. It has Infinite power! It's a--
Rex: Infinity Fractal.
Hawkeye: Infinity Fractal? That's what we're calling it?
Iron-Man: Actually... that's not a bad ring to it actually.
Rex: We thought there was only one. But now? I can definitely say there is more and I fear what it can do if anyone else grabs a hold of one.
As Rex looks at the Infinite Fractal we see the other Avengers look at each other and agree with a nod that this was bad if anyone got their hands on it.
Iron-Man: Then we got to look for them. As we handle supervillains we need to find these fractals out there and stop whoever is using them for whatever they plan.
Thor: Aye, never have I seen such power from this Fractal, but I know is that no Mortal or Immortal or God should ever possess something this terrible.
Captain America: No power this power should be used no matter who controls them. We need to find them and make sure no one ever uses them.
Ant-Man: Yes. I need to work on some form of containment for them if we are going to stop people from using it.
Wasp: If we don't stop them people could get hurt.
Black Panther: In Wakanda, we are guardians of protecting our Vibranium. Now, us Avengers must protect the world from these fractals from anyone using them.
Hawkeye: Well, I agree that all of you are worried about this Crystal? But yeah count me in on this scavenger hunt for them.
Rex: Well, I seen what it can do to people first hand and I agree we need to stop them.
Generator: The Aye's have it. While we put away supervillains and save the world from them we need to gather these Infinite Fractals and stop whoever is using them.
Everyone agreed that these crystals are dangerous as they now have another reason to be together as they now gather the Infinity Fractals and make sure they are never used at all.
A/N: Finally! I finally got the Infinite Fractal rolling. Hope you enjoy more of the chapters I'm making.