Avenging Justice 3:
To Infinity and Anti-Life
Part XXV
Earth, Justice League Watchtower
Martian Manhunter watched the displays, feeling useful. The others were resting, and the solitude was something he was used to. Last survivor of a dead race, well next to last, thanks to finding M'gann. The coolness and the background hum felt more familiar than the background conversations when more of the crew was awake. It was maddening for him to dwell upon what had happened to his people. White Martian against Green Martian, and in the end they were all dust now.
"I'm telling you, I can take their Hawkeye with a blindfold on!" Green Arrow was boasting to Black Canary. "All I hear about is how great of a shot he is. He's second rate, at best. I've even challenged him to a match. But those Avengers are so busy!" Green Arrow drew the last few syllables out, mocking the other group.
The blonde heroine shrugged, "Well things have been going to the shit since Big Blue dropped out."
"Didn't you hear, he's returned," Green Arrow sighed. "Shades are a bit much, I mean 90's angst much? Still, he nearly burned me to cinders! Dying really changed that guy, he's more edgy now."
Black Canary elbowed him, "Love, don't be an idiot. That isn't the real Superman, nor is the Cyborg. I've got it on good authority from a certain source both of them are bogus."
"So, you're saying we should put our money on the kid," Green Arrow pulled out a phone and punched in some information. "Because there is no way the metal man is the real deal. His tech is similar to Iron Man's, but I think I like his better."
Both heroes walked into the command center, expecting someone to be manning the fort. To their surprise the room appeared completely empty. The sounds of the computers and air filters were prevalent, but the stations were unmanned. It immediately threw Black Canary into a heightened state, with Green Arrow just a fraction behind her. His bow already coming off his back, and her Sonic Cry ready to be delivered.
Then she laughed, "J'onn, quit hiding and show yourself."
"Apologies, I was trying to be polite," the Martian Manhunter appeared near the door, as if he was getting ready to phase through it. "There aren't a lot of visitors this time of day."
Green Arrow put the bow away, "You're going to give someone a heart attack. Anyway, let's get your feedback. Who do you think would win, Hawkeye or me?"
"I doubt the answer would be informative, but I do believe having him around will be more beneficial to your development than against it," J'onn answered. "You've been competing with a man who uses no weapon for years, now you have one that can match you with your preferred weapon. It can only be good for you."
Before Green Arrow could come back, Black Canary interjected, "So how are things down there?"
"Your mission being a success, has increased the safety of Earth," J'onn commented. "The people are still adapting to their loss, and as such things are going to get worse before they get better."
The heroine's shoulders fell a bit, "That's comforting, since we've been running ourselves ragged out there."
"Indeed," J'onn was about to say more when a signal came in, overriding the hologram communication system.
A seated figure spoke, his head bald and years showing in his face and eyes. The expensive suit he wore marked him as money, but his demeanor was more of a teacher or professor. His calm demeanor and poise marked him as one used to speaking to those in power. In all honesty, Charles Xavier had spoken truth to all sorts of people who held power. Now he spoke to them.
"Justice League, I bring a message of dire importance," Charles said. "A great threat is coming, and all of us will need to be united in order to stave it off. I call on you and the Avengers to meet with us. Coordinates are being sent now. Please come with haste, I fear we don't have much time."
Earth, New York, New York City
Steve woke up suddenly. Immediately he was alert and up, reaching for his shield. However, the smell was Natasha. He looked up to see her apologetic expression. She didn't need to feel this way, he was a soldier, and when he was needed, he'd be there. Still, those eyes, they didn't view him as that, they viewed him as more. That was a thought for later, because if she was waking him, something had happened.
"What's the situation?" he asked as he went over to where his gear was located at.
Instead of answering, Natasha put Professor X's message on the screen next to Steve. At some point he was going to have to get used to watching that thing more, though he preferred the common room one. He listened to the message, reading what the other man was saying with body language and with his words.
Nothing appeared to be off, nor did there seem to be anything being purposely held back. The man wasn't laying all his cards on the table yet, but wasn't consciously obfuscating the details. S.H.I.E.L.D. had records on this man and his group, so he knew normally the man fell along their interests. This is why they left him alone, for the most part. They did, however poach some of his students as they were leaving his school.
"What's Tony's reaction?" Steve asked.
Natasha spoke directly, "He's not here. Apparently, he jetted off in his suit. No idea where to."
"What about Rhodey, can he track him?" Steve felt something, that little intuition that something was more than it appeared to be.
Natasha shook her head, "He's missing."
"We need to find them, I've got a bad feeling about this," he said.
The red haired Avenger nodded, "So do I."
Earth, Delaware, Metropolis
Iron Man scanned the buildings. Media reports had his target in the neighborhood. One way or another, this Man of Steel was going to tell him where Rhodey was, and he better hope his friend was still in one piece. In his ear, he heard the ringing of Cap and Nat trying to get in touch with him. If he wasn't so close, he would have taken the calls, but there wasn't time.
Steel battered one of the weapons, one of the ones he created in his previous life, away from someone that shouldn't have it. His Toastmasters should have been destroyed, he had seen to that before going into hiding. Yet here they were. Causing pain and destruction to those who didn't deserve it. They were still his tech, he knew how to operate them, and how to dismantle them. Which he did with a quick EMP pulse.
Quick as a snake, he brought his hammer down. The first weapon burst into multiple pieces like a LEGO statue crashing to the ground. Two electric jolts shot out of the hammer and hit the other two. They fell to the ground writhing in pain, but alive. Steel quickly turned his hammer around and smashed the butt into his first target's face. Then he shot out two bola like weapons that secured the other two.
His suit's sensors advised that all three were no longer a threat, and only then did he relax for a moment. Outside he could hear the sirens of the police coming. Thanks to a few well placed words, SCU had given him a little leeway to take these guys out. He could only imagine the carnage if they had tried to come in before him. These Toastmasters were horrible weapons, which is why he destroyed them immediately.
"Funny, the world thinks you are a hero," Steel recognized the voice, the whole world did. It was Iron Man's.
Steel shook his head, "Not a good time, I'm a little busy."
"Well, you're about to make time," was the other hero's response, well one of them.
The other was a burst of energy that sent Steel rolling across the battlefield. He came up, only for a red fist to come at him. Steel reacted and parried that blow, using the magnets in his hand to pull his hammer over to him. Slamming his helm into Iron Man's, he pushed the other man back enough, just for Iron Man to blast him again. This time he was prepared.
He took the hit, dug in, and pushed back with his own suit's motors. He matched the other man's strength, and then brought the hammer around. Sending the handle into the other armored man's solar plexus, he followed up with a smashing hit with the hammer head. However, Iron Man caught it, and then sent Steel flying back with another well placed kick.
Steel ignited his rocket boots and slammed straight into Iron Man. They rolled for a distance, before Steel came back again, swinging his hammer in a manner to disarm and disorient. He had to end this before anyone got hurt, or anyone got the wrong idea. Especially that last part, and maybe he'd find out why Iron Man was attacking him.
"Settle down, man," Steel growled. "I don't know what this is about, but I'm sure we can talk about it."
Iron Man came back at him, his voice furious, "Is that what you told Rhodey?!" He swung, and Steel barely dodged the blow, "Where is my friend you son of a.."
Steel jammed a knee into Iron Man's chin as he blasted off. The other man shot out a grappling shot, but missed. He thought Steel was trying to run, instead he was getting a better vantage. Steel came down with a hard left, sending Iron Man to a knee. He followed this up with a quick jab, and an electrical shock through his suit.
"Thanks for the charge," Iron Man said and sent a center chest blast right into Steel.
"Now this looks like a job for, Superman!" came a new voice, and both men in armor found themselves being held aloft by a kid, a teen at the most. "No need to thank me, now if the city wants to give me the key, we'll go ahead and wrap this up."
"Listen kid, this isn't your fight and you're in way over your head," Iron Man said.
He sent an electrical shock through his suit, to which the young man yelped in pain. Then he sent the kid back with another burst from his gauntlets. The teen, probably unused to anyone actually being able to do that, landed hard on the ground nearby. Friday reported to Tony that the kid was fine, just seemed to be shocked.
"Now, where is Rhodey?!" Iron Man was again after Steel.
Much to his aggravation though, the kid was back, "Listen pops, nobody does that to Superman. Now you two are going to jail."
"Junior, sit down," he sent the kid away with a well-placed kick.
Then sent two electrical bursts to keep the kid discombobulated for a few minutes. Only Steve's insistence of training kept him from getting a hammer to the face. He turned just in time to see an angry Steel slam an elbow into him, as the hammer attack failed. Both armored men crashed into the ground, devolving into erratic punches hitting the other's armor.
However, most curious was that they were both torn apart. Both looked for the kid, only to see him now just getting up. His look was angry, but not just at them. The kid was upset with whomever was breaking up their fight. It didn't take long for that to become clear, as a very stern Nick Fury came over both of their feeds.
"If you two idiots are done making a spectacle, I believe we need to speak," Nick Fury said.
Iron Man tried to get away from his captor, but couldn't break the hold, "Not till he tells me where Rhodey is. Fury, we may not see eye to eye, but this man has him!"
"Colonel Rhodes was last in California," Fury explained. "Steel has been active on the East Coast for the last few days. While it is possible that he could make that trip while we've been watching him, it is unlikely."
Steel spat back, "I've been in Metropolis, what is this all about?"
"I believe you two are being set up," Fury continued. "Steel has been hunting down dangerous tech that has hit the streets, called Toastmasters. I've sent you the specs on those. I figured a weapons designer might be able to find a weakness in them. They've been a plague on cities around the North East recently."
Iron Man responded, "I spent my time getting my tech out of the bad guys' hands. I'm no weapons maker anymore."
"No longer is Steel here," Fury countered. "It is strange how you can't see the parallels to your own journey. Both of you, follow your escorts in, or they'll just carry you in. Things are in motion and I'm going to need both of you."
"This isn't done," Iron Man pointed at Steel. "You still need to tell me where my friend is. Fury or not, we're finishing this."
Steel shook his head, "I'm going to tell you this one time. I don't know what the hell you are talking about. I hope you find your friend, but I'm not at fault for whatever happened."