Chapter 129Avengers
Arc 8 - Ch 21: All Isn't Lost
Saturday, May 05, 2012.
Location: Shield Helicarrier, Lower Manhattan
Tony Stark soared through the air in his Iron Man suit, banking sharply around the edge of the helicarrier. The HUD inside his helmet highlighted the damaged section of Engine 3 in flashing red.
"I'm approaching Engine 3 now."
The outer housing had been blown away completely, exposing the massive turbine blades within. Several were bent or broken, debris lodged throughout the mechanism. Coolant leaked into the atmosphere in misty clouds.
Tony hovered in place as JARVIS ran diagnostics. Data scrolled across his display: schematics, damage assessments, repair strategies.
"Sir, the primary cooling conduits have been severed," JARVIS informed him. "The superconducting magnetic field generators are offline."
"Without those, we can't safely restart without risking catastrophic overheating." Tony maneuvered closer, examining the intricate machinery. "I gotta get this superconducting cooling system back online before I can access the rotors."
He fired his repulsors at a section of twisted metal, carefully cutting away damaged portions. The metal glowed red-hot before breaking away.
Tyson approached the exposed section, movements cautious on the tilted surface. "What are we dealing with? What do you need?"
Iron Man continuously blasted broken debris off the turbine, pieces of shrapnel tumbling through the air toward the distant ground below.
"It's bad, but fixable," Tony replied. "Even if I clear the rotors, this thing won't re-engage without a jump. I'm gonna have to get in there and push."
"I can handle that. Just let me know when you're clear."
Tony worked steadily, his armored hands moving with surprising dexterity as he reconnected cooling lines and rerouted power conduits. After several minutes, the cooling system hummed back to life.
"Cooling system is back online. Now for the fun part." He moved to the massive rotors, using his repulsors to dislodge the jammed debris. Pieces of metal fell away. "Alright, I've cleared the debris. Now we need to get this thing spinning again."
"Clear," Tony said, backing away.
Tyson stepped forward, reaching out with his hands. Using his ferrokinetic abilities, he gripped the massive metal rotors and began to exert force. The rotors groaned, then slowly began to move, turning in the wrong direction, creating a grinding sound as the mechanism fought against its intended design.
"Wait, wait! The other way!"
Tyson laughed and reversed his mental push. The rotors spun correctly now, gradually picking up speed.
"Sorry, I'm not an ambiturner."
Tony snorted. "Alright, Zoolander, get this thing up to speed, and we should be at a hover."
Sweat beaded on Tyson's forehead as he forced the massive rotors to spin faster. The engine began to hum as the rotors reached operational speed.
He released his magnetism's hold on the ship, shoulders slumping as the strain eased. He wiped sweat from his brow, breathing returning to normal.
"Good work," Tony said, hovering nearby. "Engine 3 is back online and functioning at eighty-three percent capacity."
"Thanks. Guess all those hours of sorting scrap metal finally paid off."
Tyson turned to head back inside, but something tickled at the edge of his awareness. Since boarding the helicarrier, he'd been subconsciously aware of the vast amount of metal comprising the vessel, deliberately tuning most of it out to avoid sensory overload. Now, however, something distinctive caught his attention.
Adamantium.
The unique metal had a signature unlike any other. Dense, virtually indestructible, resonating differently in his mind than steel or titanium. There were only four sources of adamantium on the helicarrier. Captain America's shield, which was proto-adamantium and had its own unique flavor, and this wasn't it. Then there was his sword, the adamantium laced throughout his own skeleton, and Logan.
And one of those sources was currently falling away from the helicarrier.
Tyson's eyes widened. He rushed to the edge of the damaged section, peering down into open air. Far beneath them, a small figure tumbled through space, barely visible even to his enhanced senses.
Logan. Plummeting toward earth thousands of feet below.
Without hesitation, Tyson reached out with his ferrokinetic abilities. The distance strained his powers, forcing intense concentration as he established his grip on the adamantium skeleton within Logan's body. It was like trying to catch smoke. The metal signature kept slipping further away as Logan continued to fall.
It was like reeling in a fish from the depths of the ocean.
Every second counted. One slip in concentration and Logan would be gone, tumbling beyond his reach. The adamantium felt thin and fragile despite its physical indestructibility. Inch by agonizing inch, he pulled Logan back toward the helicarrier, fighting gravity and distance both.
Seconds felt like hours. His entire world narrowed to that single point of adamantium signature in his mind.
Finally, Logan's form became visible below the edge. His clothes were torn as Tyson carefully maneuvered him upward and over the edge before gently depositing him on the deck.
Logan lay motionless for a moment, his healing factor visibly at work.
Tyson knelt beside him, hand on Logan's shoulder. "Logan? You with us, man?"
His eyes fluttered open, unfocused before gradually sharpening. He groaned, pushing himself up with visible effort. "What the hell happened?"
"You took a little skydiving break." Relief flooded Tyson's voice. "Thought I'd bring you back before you hit the ground."
Logan glanced around, taking in their surroundings and the damaged section. "Banner. He transformed. Thor and I tried to contain him, but..." He gestured at his battered state. "Didn't go so well."
"The Hulk is loose on the helicarrier?"
Logan shook his head. "A green guy with a big head showed up, started controlling the Hulk. He tossed me out. Came with the angel who was fighting Thor."
Tyson helped Logan to his feet. "Thanks for the save." Logan's gruff voice carried genuine gratitude. "Could've survived the fall, but wouldn't have been pleasant."
"Not to mention what it might have done to your memories. I know head trauma can mess with that for you."
Logan's memory had been fragmented enough over the years without adding another traumatic brain injury to the mix.
"We need to find out what happened," Tyson said.
Logan rolled his shoulders. "Let's move." He headed toward the nearest entrance back into the helicarrier.
Tyson watched him go, his gaze lingering on the doorway. "You go. I'll work with Tony and try to get the last engine back online. If we can get all four, the helicarrier is back in action. We might need it. I'll catch up."
Logan paused at the doorway, turning back. "That smart, with you still weak?"
"I'm feeling stronger now. I borrowed your healing, too. Thanks for that." Their brief contact had allowed him to absorb a portion of the mutant's healing factor, accelerating his recovery.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "Didn't feel the pain."
"Like I said, I'm feeling better." Tyson gestured toward the interior. "Go. Find out what happened with Loki and the others. I'll handle this."
Logan nodded once, still dubious but accepting. He disappeared into the helicarrier.
Tyson took a deep breath, feeling cool air fill his lungs. The sky stretched endlessly around him, vast blue interrupted only by scattered clouds. He stepped into open air, his ferrokinetic abilities immediately engaging to support him. The metal in his skeleton responded to his will, creating a magnetic field that interacted with the helicarrier's massive structure. He hovered effortlessly.
"Tony, what's the last engine looking like?"
Brief pause, then Tony's voice came through with characteristic dry humor. "Like sliced Swiss cheese. Engine 4 took a direct hit from something with a serious punch."
Tyson flew around the edge of the helicarrier, wind whipping past. Within moments, he spotted Iron Man hovering near Engine 4. Where Engine 3 had been damaged but largely intact, Engine 4 had been practically gutted. Massive sections were simply missing, jagged edges indicating they'd been torn away rather than blown off.
Tyson whistled as he stopped beside Tony to survey the wreckage. "Can we fix it?"
"Normally, I'd say no. This would be a dock job, minimum two weeks with a full engineering team." Tony grinned. "But with you? Maybe."
"Direct me."
Tony's faceplate slid back into place, his HUD lighting up with detailed schematics. "JARVIS, external display."
"Yes, sir."
Tony's helmet began projecting schematics over the missing sections. Tyson recognized the technology, a miniaturized, simpler version of the projectors Tony had made to recreate Tyson's shows.
"The main rotor assembly is intact, but the power coupling and drive shaft are completely gone. We need to rebuild the electromagnetic stabilizers before we can even think about restarting it."
Tyson scanned the area, noting debris scattered across the deck. Using his ferrokinetic abilities, he began gathering the metal fragments, pulling them toward him from all directions. Pieces of twisted steel, aluminum panels, and titanium components floated through the air, assembling like a three-dimensional puzzle.
"The power coupling needs to be cylindrical," Tony instructed, JARVIS projecting a holographic model. "About two feet in diameter, with these specific connection points."
Tyson concentrated, hands moving in subtle gestures as he shaped the metal. The fragments melded together, reforming into necessary components under his control. Like sculpting with his mind, each piece finding its place.
"That's it. Now we need the drive shaft. It needs to be perfectly balanced or the whole thing will tear itself apart when it spins up."
He gathered more metal, incorporating it into his creation. The drive shaft formed piece by piece, its surface smoothing as Tyson refined his control.
"JARVIS, run a structural analysis."
"The drive shaft appears to be within acceptable tolerances, sir. Estimated structural integrity at 89% of factory specifications."
"Not bad. Now for the tricky part, the electromagnetic stabilizers." Tony directed JARVIS to display the complex arrangement. "These need to be precise. They create the magnetic field that keeps the rotor centered during operation."
Using the rubble nearby and following Tony's directions, Tyson began recreating the missing parts. His hands moved with increasing confidence as he shaped the metal, bending it to his will and fitting each piece into place with micrometer precision.
— Rogue Redemption —
The bridge of the helicarrier was quiet as Tyson and Tony entered. Screens flickered with damage reports. Agents moved with purpose but spoke in hushed tones.
Logan sat at the circular table, his face a mask of controlled anger. Steve Rogers completed the gathering, shield propped against his chair, posture military-straight despite the exhaustion. Director Fury stood nearby, his leather coat bearing scorch marks. Hill stood at his right, tablet in hand. Coulson completed the trinity of SHIELD leadership.
Tony took a seat without his usual swagger, the dents and scratches on his armor telling their own story.
"Thor?" Tyson asked, scanning the faces.
Hill shook her head, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Nat? Barton?"
"They're fine," Cap said. "Natasha managed to break Loki's hold on Barton. They're in medical now."
Fury leaned forward, hands on the table. "Here's the situation. Thor and the angel fought, but their grappling drove them off the helicarrier. We're unsure of their location."
"They seemed like an even match," Logan said. "Thor might have his hands full."
"Sterns controlled Banner and made off with him and Loki with the scepter." Fury's words hung heavy. "We lost the results from the program Stark was running to locate the Tesseract."
Coulson shifted. "Sir, the Council is demanding updates. They're suggesting... extreme measures."
"Let me worry about the Council." Fury's tone made it clear the subject was closed.
Then Tyson started clapping.
The sound cut through the somber atmosphere like a gunshot. Slow. Deliberate. Heads turned. Confused stares tracked him as he rose from his seat, still clapping.
"I know this seems like the 'All is Lost moment'. But it's only the first half, and we're still hanging in the game."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "How do you figure, coach?"
"Alright, we're down Banner and Thor, but I'm back at near 100%."
Logan snorted. "Kid thinks himself a god."
Steve and Tony exchanged glances.
"We got the SHIELD team all back in action." Tyson pointed at Coulson. "He's alive, so Cap can sign his card collection."
Coulson's eyes unconsciously drifted toward his locker, where vintage Captain America trading cards sat in plastic sleeves.
"The helicarrier's engines are working enough to get this thing where we need to be," Tyson continued.
"And where is that, Agent Smith?" Fury asked.
Tyson turned to Tony instead. "Hey Tony, where do you think Loki is?"
"I know you heard the tracking program failed."
"So, you're the smartest man in the room. Where would he go?"
The question hung there. Tony's eyes narrowed, wheels turning. Then something clicked. His posture straightened.
"He's a diva. He wants an audience. He wants flowers, parades. He wants a monument built to the skies with his name plastered—" Tony's eyes widened. "Son of a bitch."
"Stark Tower," Steve said.
"My tower. Right in the middle of New York."
"Makes sense. High profile target. Maximum visibility." Logan leaned back in his chair.
"So we know where he's going to be," Tyson said, "and he's not far."
Hill stepped forward. "But he still has the Scepter and the Tesseract."
"Yeah, about that..." Tyson reached for the necklace around his neck, pulling it out. The metal caught the overhead lights, gleaming. "I stole the power source from the scepter and stored it in this neat necklace made from the copy of Magneto's helmet you guys had in storage. No more mind whammies."
Silence.
Fury's eye narrowed dangerously. "You removed the power source from an alien artifact without authorization?"
"I contained it. This is the Amulet of Captured Thoughts."
Tony mused, "That explains why its power signature changed and reduced so much."
"You just... took it?" Steve's tone wavered between impressed and concerned.
"I figured it was better in our hands than his." Tyson shrugged. "Plus, I got a good look at what he's planning. An invasion. The Tesseract will open a portal, and an army will pour through."
"What kind of army?" Hill demanded.
"They're called the Chitauri. Aliens. Loki's made a deal with them. In exchange for the Tesseract, he gets to rule whatever's left."
"How do you know all this?" Fury asked.
Tyson tapped the amulet. "The scepter's power source showed me. I saw glimpses. Not enough details, but enough to know what we're facing."
Tony stood. "I need to get to the tower. If he's using the arc reactor to power the portal, I might be able to shut it down."
"You won't be going alone," Steve said, rising as well.
"Don't worry, I'll go with him. But like I said." Tyson grinned. "That was just the warm-up. Not a bad showing for our first team outing."
"You call getting our asses handed to us 'not bad'?" Logan said.
"We're all still breathing. And we know what we're up against. Plus, Loki just gave us the home-field advantage. He's literally in Tony's house, and that's pretty much my backyard."
"We're short-handed," Hill pointed out. "Banner's compromised, Thor's missing—"
"We work with what we've got." Fury's gaze swept the room. "Captain, get Romanoff and Barton if he's combat-ready. Logan, Smith, you're with them."
"I've also got reinforcements coming," Tyson added. "Amora went to alert House of M. They'll be opening up the evacuation points."
"Evacuation points?" Fury's eye narrowed again.
Tyson shifted as all eyes turned to him. He cleared his throat. "I guess it's time to come clean."
Logan let out a low laugh. "Let's see you talk your way out of this one."
Steve's expression softened slightly. "You look like you just got called to the principal's office."
"Well, let's hear it," Fury said.
"Some of you know that after the fight in Times Square, I had to save Felicia. Magneto had left her with the Morlocks. Mutant outcasts that lived under the streets."
"Yeah," Steve said.
"They weren't just living in the sewers or subways. They were living in an extensive abandoned military project called the Alley."
"The Alley was supposed to be a way to transport military equipment between bases secretly," Fury added. "Underground, where the Soviets couldn't trace."
"Well, afterward I realized the Alley connected to the armories, of which, I had created a shelter in one." Tyson's words came faster now. "So I purchased the other further uptown. The Armories were supposed to be a safe haven for the outcast mutants, so I developed the space between them as shelters. And we added evacuation points between the two locations just in case there were ever open hostilities toward mutants."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "Wait, let me get this straight. You just happened to create shelters between Central Park East and Downtown. Pretty much exactly where Loki's planning to open a portal."
The implication settled over the room.
"I did."
Logan tried not to smile. Tyson had told him about the incoming invasion inside those tunnels, after all.
"So you've been preparing for some kind of disaster," Steve said slowly. "For how long?"
"Since that day. After I finished preparing for Magneto and failed, I promised I would be ready for the next threat."
"And you didn't think to share this information with SHIELD?" Fury's voice was dangerously calm.
"With all due respect, Director, SHIELD hasn't always been the most welcoming to mutants. You put together this team of some of the strongest defenders on Earth, and the only other mutant besides me is here because he's a friend of mine." Tyson met Fury's gaze. "I needed a place the Morlocks could feel safe, regardless of who was in charge above ground."
Hill shifted, knowing there was truth to his words. But Tyson was truly using it to cover his actions and foreknowledge.
"So what exactly are we talking about here?" Tony asked. "Underground bunkers? Tunnels? What?"
"Fully stocked shelters. Medical facilities, food supplies, communications equipment. Enough to house thousands of civilians if needed. The evacuation points are disguised as maintenance access points, subway entrances, even some storefronts."
"And they're all operational?" Coulson asked.
"They've been operational for months. House of M has been running drills with volunteer groups. We can move people quickly if we need to."
"That's why you sent Amora to alert House of M," Steve realized. "They're already mobilizing."
Tyson nodded. "By the time we reach the city, they'll have personnel at every evacuation point, ready to guide civilians to safety."
"Why didn't you tell us about this before?" Fury demanded.
"Would you have approved? Or would you have tried to take control of it? These shelters needed to remain independent, a true sanctuary."
"So we have a network of underground shelters and evacuation routes right in the area Loki's targeting." Tony's clarified. "That's... actually impressive."
"It changes our approach," Steve acknowledged. "We can focus more on containing the threat if civilians have somewhere to go."
"Exactly. And that's not all."
Coulson leaned forward. "You won't happen to have an army to fight Loki's down there, too, would you?"
Tyson's silence spoke volumes.
One by one, eyes widened. Logan burst into deep, rumbling laughter. "Seeing their faces was worth being tossed off this boat for," he managed between laughs, slapping his knee.
Fury's eye narrowed dangerously. "Didn't I specifically ask you not to train a mutant army?"
Tyson held up his hands. "You sidelined me and said I could work on the shelter, so I did. I just took it farther than you anticipated." He paused. "I didn't train a mutant army. Not exactly. I did train volunteers, though. Those who had powers strong enough and were willing to defend the shelter entrances."
Steve's expression shifted to thoughtful consideration. "So a militia then?"
"I had a dozen or so, strong enough, willing to risk themselves in a fight. But..." he shrugged, "I was also at Project PEGASUS for months, so those numbers might be less or more... Plus, we have Dr. Sofen."
Fury's eye snapped to Tyson, his entire posture shifting. "Sofen is alive?"
Tyson winced. "Guess you missed that one. Anyway, when I went to space, Karla was talking with Bloch. If she got out of Level 3 before things went down, my guess is—"
"She has the Moonstone." Fury's tone was flat.
He turned sharply to Hill. "Hill."
"She did escape the facility looking unharmed," Hill confirmed.
"Get in contact with her and bring her in," he ordered. She nodded, already initiating protocols. Fury turned back to Tyson. "You're deflecting. What else are you hiding?"
"Well… I do have an army of sorts."
"Here we go," Tony muttered.
"Remember those sentinels that came to assist me in the fight against Magneto?"
Tony's expression froze. "You didn't."
"I did. We had half a dozen at that fight, and they were able to go toe to toe with the Brotherhood."
The room fell silent.
"What kind of numbers are we talking about here?" Fury's voice was dangerously calm.
Tyson hesitated. "Enough to create a line across Manhattan from the House of M to keep Loki's army contained."
"You have an army of autonomous drones hidden below Manhattan?" Coulson's professional demeanor cracked slightly.
"Uh, yes?"
Tony jumped in. "How are you controlling all of them? The processing power alone would be—"
"Would you be mad if I said Wednesday was doing it?"
Tony's jaw dropped. "Oh boy. That quirky AI?"
"You gave control of an army of combat-ready sentinels to an artificial intelligence?" Hill's voice rose with each word.
"She's not just any AI. And she doesn't control them autonomously. She coordinates them based on parameters we set."
"Parameters you set," Fury corrected.
Steve looked around. "I'm not familiar with all this technology talk, but if these... sentinels... can help us contain Loki's army, isn't that a good thing?"
"It depends," Tony said. "Sentinels were originally designed to hunt mutants. If these are using the same base programming—"
"They're not," Tyson cut in firmly. "We completely rewrote the core directives to remove any chance of a Skynet situation. These are designed for protection. They prioritize evacuation and containment of threats, not hunting specific individuals."
Logan snorted. "Unless you tell them to."
Tyson didn't deny it.
"How many?" Fury demanded.
"A few hundred operational units. I'm not sure of the exact numbers as I've been away for a bit."
"And they're all hidden under Manhattan?" Coulson asked.
"Jesus," Tony muttered. "You've been busy."
"I had help. Dr. Octavius, Ivan Vanko, and Max Dillon. They all contributed to the design and construction."
"This is insane," Hill said. "You've been operating a secret paramilitary force right under our noses."
"Not paramilitary. Emergency response. And technically, it's not secret. You knew I had access to the Sentinel technology and even saw it in action. I just didn't advertise it. With everything else that happened at the Battle in Times Square, the robots barely made the news."
"That's a fine line you're walking," Fury observed.
"Maybe. But right now, that line is our line in the sand."
"So let me get this straight," Steve said. "We have a network of underground shelters, evacuation routes, a team of powered volunteers, and combat-capable robots, all ready to help us contain Loki's invasion?"
"Look, I'm not trying to run a shadow operation here. I'm trying to protect people. These resources exist for one purpose. To save lives. And right now, they're exactly what we need."
Natasha and Barton walked in, Hawkeye sporting a bruise on the side of his face.
Tyson pointed. "Yo, you got knocked out by a girl."
Barton stopped, eyes narrowing. "I watched her pick on you for weeks at that dojo."
Tyson held up a finger. "Correction. I have superstrength. Every time she pinned me, it was because I wanted it. You were just the voyeur. Ha! That should be your new codename. Clint 'The Voyeur'. No, that doesn't sound right… 'The Peeper'?"
Natasha ignored the jabs, her focus shifting to the mission. "What's the situation?"
Tony interjected, rubbing his temples. "Boy Wonder here has created an army of robots and thinks he can hold back Loki with them."
"Boy Wonder? Try, Man of Steel."
"But he gave control of them over to an angsty, quirky AI that I gave him. And I'm wondering what possessed him to do that," he said, talking over Tyson's interruption, "Jarvis, call Wednesday."
"Yes, sir," Jarvis replied.
A moment passed before a new voice emerged from the speakers. Female, young, dripping with boredom and sarcasm. "You rang?"
Tyson's face lit up. "Wednesday might be quirky, but she's awesome."
"I am," Wednesday agreed flatly. "There was one time I saved Tyson's life. He was asleep after having a threesome, and—"
Tony's eyes widened. "Whoa, hey, none of that."
"How are you going to snitch like that!" Tyson called out.
Natasha smiled slyly. "Oh no, please continue the story."
Tyson groaned. "Illyana walked in on me after a night with Felicia and Jessica. Wednesday thought it'd be funny to wake me up by playing 'Wasn't Me' by Shaggy."
Laughter broke the tension. Even Fury's lips twitched.
Tony shook his head, a reluctant smile forming. "Okay, that is pretty funny."
Steve looked around, confused. "I don't get it."
Logan leaned over. "It's a song about getting caught cheating. I'll explain later."
Tony's expression grew serious again. "And with incidents like that, it makes me wonder why you gave this AI control over so many automated combat drones."
Tyson straightened, playful demeanor giving way. "Because Wednesday is on our side and she's the only one I could trust, and the only one capable of it." He pointed at Tony. "I've never seen you control more than one suit. I had Vanko pilot half a dozen in Times Square, and that was with AI assistance. She's the only choice, and I stand by it."
Quiet for a beat.
Wednesday broke the silence with dry wit. "If it helps, I've run 14,682 simulations of the coming battle. In most of them, you all die horribly. But in about 12% of them, we win. Those are the odds without me."
Barton raised an eyebrow. "That's... not exactly reassuring."
"It wasn't meant to be. It was meant to be accurate."
Hill looked at Fury. "Director, are we really going to put our faith in an AI with this level of... personality? And how could she run simulations when we don't even know what we're up against?"
Before Fury could answer, Wednesday spoke again. "I'm no snitch, so my sources remain my own. And I may have a personality, Agent Hill, but I also have processing capabilities that allow me to coordinate hundreds of combat units simultaneously while monitoring civilian evacuations and maintaining communication across all channels."
"Damn straight," Tyson said.
Hill pressed her lips together, unable to argue. Tyson addressed the room. "I know it seems crazy. But Wednesday has been preparing for this kind of scenario for months. And most importantly, she cares. In her own weird way."
"I resent being called weird. I prefer 'uniquely optimized.'"
Tony looked at Fury, then back at Tyson. "Fine. But I'm getting access to her protocols. If something goes wrong—"
"Nothing will go wrong," Tyson insisted.
Natasha spoke up. "So what's the plan?"
All eyes turned to Steve, who straightened. The soldier in him took over, already formulating a strategy. "The plan is to contain and defeat Loki's forces while minimizing civilian casualties. And it sounds like we have more resources than we thought. So let's use them."
"We'll create a perimeter." Steve gestured to a digital map of Manhattan that Tony had pulled up. "Tyson's sentinels can form the outer containment line, keeping the aliens from spreading beyond Midtown. The evacuation points will funnel civilians to the underground shelters."
Tony nodded. "I'll provide air support, keeping an eye on the bigger picture and taking out any stragglers that break through the perimeter."
"Barton, I want you on a rooftop with clear sightlines. Your eyes will be valuable."
"Got it," Barton confirmed.
"Natasha and I will stay on the ground, coordinating with the police and making sure the evacuation routes stay clear."
"Logan, you'll be our wild card. Move where you're needed most, but prioritize protecting civilians."
Logan grunted in acknowledgment.
"And Tyson, you'll coordinate with your sentinels and House of M. Keep the communication flowing between all our teams."
Fury watched with arms crossed. Hill stood beside him, making notes on her tablet.
"Director Fury," Steve said.
Fury nodded once. "We'll keep the World Security Council off your backs as long as we can."
"Any questions?" Steve looked around the room.
The team exchanged glances, each mentally preparing for the battle ahead.
"One last thing." Tyson raised his hand like a student in class. "I'd rather leave Wednesday to the team communication. I want to be there for the monologue and to challenge Loki to a duel for the Earth."
The room fell silent. Steve stared at Tyson, expression perfectly deadpan.
"That wasn't part of the plan. Where did you even come up with that?"
Tyson looked around, suddenly aware of the incredulous stares. "What? It's a solid strategy. Loki loves to monologue."
Tony snorted. "Or he might just skewer you on the spot and move on with his invasion plans."
"I have to agree with Stark," Barton said gravely.
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You really want a rematch that badly?"
"I was close last time. I'm so much stronger now. Pretty sure I could solo his whole team."
Logan chuckled. "Kid's got balls, I'll give him that."
"It's not about courage," Steve said firmly. "It's about an effective strategy. And challenging Loki to a duel isn't part of that strategy."
Tyson looked around, seeking support but finding none. Even Natasha was shaking her head slightly. "Fine. But if the opportunity presents itself—"
"It won't," several voices said in unison.
"Alright, alright." Tyson held up his hands in surrender. "Stick to the plan. Coordinate the sentinels, work with House of M, and keep the communication flowing. No challenging gods to duels. Got it."
"Good." Steve's relief was evident. "Now, let's get moving."
The mood shifted back to serious preparation. Hill and Fury spoke with Barton, who was checking his weapons. Tyson moved to join Logan, who was leaning against a wall.
"Worth a shot," Tyson muttered.
Logan snorted. "Not really. But I appreciate the entertainment value."
"You know, challenging Loki to a duel is your hero complex showing." Natasha pointed out. "Dr. Sofen mentioned it in her notes."
"When did you have time to read my psyche notes? Besides, if I am a hero, is it really that complex?"
"That's exactly what someone with a hero complex would say. You rush into danger, convinced you're the only one who can save the day. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make you predictable."
"Predictable? Me? The guy who just revealed he has a secret army of robots under Manhattan?"
"Especially you." Natasha's voice softened slightly. "Your unpredictability is actually predictable once someone understands you."
Tyson scoffed. "Sure. You'll never guess what I'm going to do next."
"You're going to find some way to have that duel."
"No way! I'm not that predictable."
They walked together toward the Quinjet, conversation continuing in low tones as the rest of the team gathered equipment and prepared for departure. The helicarrier hummed with activity.
Across the hangar, Fury and Steve stood slightly apart, watching the impromptu team come together.
"They're an odd bunch," Steve observed. "Not exactly the unit I'm used to commanding."
"War makes strange bedfellows, Captain. And this is definitely war."
"Still, they seem to be coming together. Even Stark is playing well with others, more or less."
"Less, more than more. But yes, they're finding their rhythm. Let's just hope it's enough."
"It has to be."
They fell silent as the group reached the hangar, the massive bay doors already open to the cloudy sky beyond. The Quinjet sat ready, engines warming up as Barton performed final pre-flight checks.
Suddenly, Jarvis's voice came through the comms. "Sir, Loki and Dr. Selvig have set up a device on the roof of Stark Tower. Energy readings are off the charts."
Tony's face hardened as his helmet assembly dropped around his face. "Time to crash the party." Without another word, he engaged his thrusters and shot out of the hangar, a streak of red and gold against the sky.
Tyson watched Tony's departure, then turned to the others with a hint of excitement. "Okay, so I should go with him, right? Cap said he shouldn't do it alone. Two is better than one."
Fury and Steve exchanged a look. Steve's slight nod was the confirmation Tyson sought.
"Fine," Fury said. "But stick to the plan."
"Absolutely. The plan is the plan. I'm all about the plan."
Natasha rolled her eyes as she boarded the Quinjet. "Sure you are."
Tyson floated out of the bay, hovering just beyond the edge of the helicarrier. He turned back, offering a mock salute. "So... if I happen to get there first and Loki happens to engage in a villainous monologue and challenge me to a duel, I'm 100% not going to accept." He smirked. "Oh, you might wanna step back."
Before anyone could respond, the air around Tyson began to shimmer.
The change was subtle at first. A faint distortion, like heat rippling off asphalt in summer. Then it intensified. The Earth's magnetic field, normally invisible, became a momentarily perceptible aurora as Tyson manipulated the electromagnetic forces around him. A strange tingling washed over everyone present, fine hairs standing on end as the local electromagnetic field warped and twisted.
The sensation deepened into something physical. A low hum started at the threshold of hearing, then dropped lower, vibrating through the metal floor of the hangar. Loose objects rattled. Tools danced across workbenches. The metallic components of the helicarrier groaned in response, as if Tyson were pulling at the very structure of the aircraft. Compass needles in the bridge swung wildly. Electronic displays flickered, then stabilized. Several agents instinctively reached for their earpieces as static crackled through the communication systems.
Around Tyson, the energy intensified. Crackling blue-white electricity manifested from the visible discharge of electrons being stripped from air molecules as the powerful magnetic field ionized the atmosphere. The scent of ozone hit next, sharp and acrid, like the air after a lightning strike.
Those closest to him felt a peculiar pressure in their inner ears, similar to a rapid change in altitude. The temperature dropped noticeably as energy was drawn from the surrounding environment.
Then Tyson aligned himself with the Earth's natural magnetic field lines.
He shot off through the sky in a blur of motion that left purple-green afterimages burned into their retinas as his body became the projectile in an electromagnetic propulsion system of his own creation, with the planet's magnetic field serving as both track and power source.
Zero to supersonic in less than a second.
A vacuum formed in his wake, sucking at loose papers and clothing before collapsing with a thunderous crack. The sonic boom echoed across the sky as he broke the sound barrier, the pressure wave powerful enough to make the helicarrier shudder in midair. Several agents stumbled. Logan's enhanced senses made him wince and shake his head. The disturbance in the local magnetic field lingered for several seconds, gradually normalizing as equipment returned to normal function. In the distance, a faint trail of ionized air marked his trajectory toward Manhattan.
Fury stared at the rapidly diminishing speck. "Did he just use the planet's magnetic field to launch himself at supersonic speeds so that he could arrive early enough to face off in a duel against a god?"
"Looks that way," Hill confirmed.
Logan chuckled as he climbed into the Quinjet, settling into one of the seats. He lit a cigar despite the clear 'No Smoking' signs. "Aww, come on. Let the kid have some fun."
"Fun?" Steve shook his head as he boarded. "This isn't a game."
"It's an act. It's how he copes." Natasha strapped herself in. Certainty filled her voice. "Everything's a game to some people. But trust that he's taking this seriously. He jokes around, makes everything seem like it's just another adventure, but he carries the weight of what's coming like it's already happened."
Logan shot her a knowing look that he quickly suppressed.
Barton glanced over his shoulder from the copilot's seat. "We ready to roll? Stark and the kid are going to have all the fun if we don't hurry."
"Wheels up," Fury ordered, stepping back. "And try to get there before one of our impulsive friends gets themselves killed."
The Quinjet lifted off, banking sharply as it accelerated. Inside, the team checked weapons and prepared for battle, each lost in their own thoughts.
Hill approached Fury as they watched the Quinjet disappear. "Sir, should we be concerned about Tyson's... enthusiasm?"
Fury considered the question. "Tyson Smith is many things, Hill. Impulsive, reckless, and occasionally insufferable. But he's also proven himself time and again." He turned to face her. "Besides, if anyone can survive and win a one-on-one with Loki, or god forbid, the Hulk, it's probably him."
— Rogue Redemption —
Inside the VIP Lounge, alarms blared and green light strobed across the walls. Felicia nearly spilled her coffee, the mug sloshing in her hand.
"Wednesday, what the hell?" She set the glass down hard.
The AI's cool voice filled the room. "Green alert. Tyson preprogrammed this response."
"But there isn't a green alert in Star Trek, only yellow and red."
"This alert triggers when Amora the Enchantress uses a portal to enter House of M without Tyson present. Implemented after she infiltrated following the Battle in Times Square."
Felicia stood, smoothing her black outfit. "Amora is here?"
"In the arena. She seems to be waiting patiently."
She headed toward the arena through quiet corridors. The green lights hadn't flashed throughout the whole facility, and most residents were in their quarters, unaware. Maki joined them en route.
"What's happening?"
"Amora's here. No idea why."
The arena was empty except for one figure. Amora stood at its center, blonde hair cascading down her back, green eyes assessing their approach. The scent of exotic incense drifted through the air to Felicia's enhanced senses.
"Amora. What can we do for you?"
The Asgardian turned fully to face them. The usual playfulness that characterized her interactions with Tyson was gone, replaced by something urgent.
"Tyson sent me." Her voice carried easily across the distance. "He told me to inform you..." She paused, gaze moving from Felicia to Maki. "Red Alert."
The words hit Felicia like cold water.
"It's time," she said.
Everything they'd prepared for. Every contingency plan, every drill, every late night reviewing evacuation routes. They knew Loki was on Earth, and he had made his final play. The invasion was coming.
Her posture shifted. Casual demeanor gone, replaced by focused intensity.
"Maki, get everyone ready." She looked up. "Wednesday, it's go time."
"Initiating Red Alert protocols." Wednesday's voice broadcast throughout the facility. The green lights died. Red flooded the arena, bathing everything in crimson. "All personnel to designated stations. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill."
"Wednesday, call in everyone. Including Peter. Make sure he knows to get Aunt May here or keep her far away, whatever he thinks is best."
Maki was already moving. "I have my own call to make."
Amora watched them spring into action. "The Chitauri will be here soon. Loki has the Tesseract and plans to open a portal above Stark Tower."
"How long?"
"Hours at most. Tyson is with SHIELD on the helicarrier."
"Wednesday, initiate Phase One. Alert all neighborhood coordinators. Have the volunteers begin prepping the facilities."
"Acknowledged."
Throughout House of M, doors hissed open. Residents emerged, moving with purpose rather than panic. The training showed in their coordinated actions.
"Will you stay or are you needed elsewhere?" Felicia asked Amora.
"Elsewhere. But I'll remain briefly to ensure you have this well in hand."
Felicia pulled out her phone, maintaining eye contact with Amora. The Enchantress's presence lent gravity to the situation.
"Dr. Connors. We're at Red Alert. Secure all sensitive materials immediately."
"I began lockdown protocols for the biological samples and research data when the alert started. But there's a problem. Some of the vials in containment are missing."
"We don't have time to examine every little thing or worry about inventory that wasn't updated properly. Focus on the bigger picture."
She ended the call and dialed another number. "Otto. Get Ivan and head to the Sentinel control center. We need them operational within the hour."
"Already on my way. Ivan mentioned some final calibrations for the Mark III."
"Do it quickly. The threat is incoming."
Mechanical arms could be heard whirring in the background. "The Sentinels will be ready. Ivan and I have been running simulations for weeks."
"Good. Status update in fifteen minutes."
The next call connected immediately.
"Yuriko speaking."
"It's time. Today is the day we've been preparing for. Will your teams be ready?"
A brief pause. "We are prepared. We've drilled the evacuation routes extensively. The tunnels are stocked and secured as planned."
"I need you to coordinate with your section leaders. Make sure everyone knows their roles."
"Why call me directly? Why not contact Remy? He's technically the liaison for the Morlock community."
"You know exactly why. I don't have time for his particular brand of charm right now."
"He's actually improved since Ann Marie arrived. She keeps him focused."
"Sure he has." Felicia rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched slightly. Even in crisis preparation, some things remained constant. "I'm sure he's a perfect gentleman."
"The teams will be in position within thirty minutes. We've already begun moving the most vulnerable to non-combat positions."
"Keep me updated."
"Of course." A pause. "Should I inform Remy that you asked about him?"
Felicia hung up.
"Evacuation teams, you know your zones," she called out, voice carrying authority. "Medical teams should be stationed at each location. Remember your training. We've prepared for this."
Amora traced patterns in the air, faint green trails of magical energy lingering. "Your organization is impressive. Tyson has prepared you well."
"We've all been preparing. This isn't Tyson's show. He's been away for months."
Maki approached with her combat gear and a tablet displaying real-time data. "Peter's coming?"
"With his aunt," Wednesday said. "He'll be here soon."
"Good. We need him."
Maki swiped through several screens. "The Sentinels are powering up. Dr. Octavius reports all systems nominal."
"Can you tell us anything more about what we're facing?" Felicia turned to Amora. "Numbers? Weaponry? Entry point?"
Amora's expression grew serious. "The Chitauri are a warrior race, cybernetically enhanced and linked to a hive mind. Their weapons are energy-based, capable of significant destruction. As for numbers..." She paused. "Thousands. Loki plans to open the portal directly above Stark Tower, creating a focal point for their invasion."
"And Tyson? What's his status?"
"He's with SHIELD. Weakened from being boosted and travelling to Asgard and back. But Natasha is close by. He'll be safe." Amora's gaze held hers. "He's found another mistress. She's elsewhere in the city."
"Of course he has," Felicia muttered.
The arena doors slid open. Max Dillon entered, moving purposefully.
"The power grid is secure. I've implemented the surge protectors and backup systems. The fusion reactor seems to be activating on its own. Dr. Octavius went down to find out what's going on there."
"Good work, Max. Join the defense team at Grand Central. It should put you close to the center of everything. They'll need your electrical abilities to keep that evac point clear. Apprise me of any updates from Octavius."
Max nodded and left.
"Alright, let's move. Wednesday, when Peter arrives, brief him and get him to patrol Park Avenue."