Take the Punisher and Crossbones names for themselves as Equivalent Exchange.
HammerTime (MCU OC/SI into Justin Hammer)
- Thread starter JollyHippo
- Start date
why do people always shit on Wakanda? it offends me on so many levels.
TriviaFreak
Time of reluctance.
Beyond the sheer, self-righteous sanctimony and general hypocrisy of their isolationism?
and that response always offends me. because it's the most used reason to shit on them.
I love Black Panther, I loved it for years but ever since Hudlin's shitty run, and the stupid Shuri is smarter than Stark comment, a lot of people act as if it's their sworn duty to humble Wakanda and the Black Panther.
Fuck! the movie goes out of its way to point out isolationism is wrong and T'challa decides to step away from said behaviour and yet in the Fandom's mind Wakanda can't be forgiven.
There's Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated show that give Black Panther and Wakanda justice. They're both awesome especially when Black Panther had made serious upgrades to his Dora Milaje and the Wakandan military with armored suits, glowing vibranium spears and ranged weapons, and two legged walker tanks that has lots of Dakka to fight off the team of Skrulls who posed as the Avengers in the Secret Invasion Saga of Season 2.
Chapter 23: All is Fair in Love and War.
Here's chapter 23: All is Fair in Love and War.
So it's finally time, Yelena gets her wish! Sisters unite! No, not that sister.
Some Tony again, and even see some of what Fury's cooking in that paranoid brain of his.
And the REVEAL, a name pops up!
Not a ton of Justin in this chapter actually. Not sure if that's good or bad.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Mexico, August 1st, 2008.
The two men moved silently but not hurriedly towards the dilapidated warehouse.
Nick Fury, despite his usually intimidating presence, was nearly unrecognizable in his incognito attire. He wore a well-worn, dark gray hoodie pulled up over his head, casting shadows over his distinctive eyepatch and facial features. The hoodie's fabric was thick and slightly faded, well used.
His jeans were dark and functional, designed for ease of movement and with quality materials, while looking like they'd been picked up at a thrift store. They were slightly baggy, with numerous pockets perfect for concealing tools or small weapons. Fury's sturdy, black boots were scuffed and practical, purely decorative duct tape in place to give the appearance of low quality and cheap repairs.
To complete his disguise, Fury wore a plain baseball cap, its brim low over his face to obscure some of his recognizable features. The cap was a dull, nondescript color, blending seamlessly with the rest of his attire. His hands, rough and scarred from years of fieldwork, were covered with fingerless gloves.
Despite the simplicity of his clothes, Fury's posture and the way he carried himself betrayed his true identity if anyone was watching at this moment. His movements were deliberate and controlled, his eye constantly scanning the surroundings with a sharp, almost predatory alertness. Even in disguise, Nick Fury was a man who could command respect and exuded authority, ready for whatever danger might come his way.
Only the fact they were fairly sure they were alone right now, had made him drop the act his clothes represented, his normal fierce glare present as he looked around.
Phil Coulson on the other hand, dressed remarkably similar, and with fake facial hair making him look a lot scruffier - did better in appearing as a low life/vagrant kind of man. Even as he as well was at full alert. Even as Fury stopped pretending, Coulson kept most of his act up.
They slowly entered the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, Fury and Coulson both moving silently, their footsteps barely audible on the dusty concrete floor. They had left behind all electronic devices, ensuring they couldn't be tracked or overheard.
Fury, with his signature eyepatch partially obscured by his cap, scanned the area one last time before nodding to Coulson. "This is the place."
Coulson, ever vigilant, kept his hand near his concealed weapon, his eyes darting around the dimly lit room. "It seems like we're clear." He said conversationally, his guard never lowering.
Fury led the way to a small corner of the warehouse where a makeshift table had been set up, illuminated by a single, flickering bulb. They settled in, the atmosphere tense but focused.
They'd been on a hair trigger since escaping the STRIKE team that should have been on their side. SHIELD taking a very troubling stance on its former employees. Which neatly had given them a following of agents as more and more of them realized something was rotten in the state of Denmark.
"Phil, we're in deep trouble with this whole circus," Fury began tiredly, his voice low and gravelly. "SHIELD has been compromised. By who, I don't know yet. But it's bad. Real bad." They hadn't had much chance to discuss things yet, Fury setting up this meeting to begin fighting back.
He had many plans, some who had been in the work for years, that he'd never pulled the trigger on, but now, it would be needed.
Coulson leaned forward, his brow furrowing. He could hardly argue the point, he'd almost been killed by their own teams after all as well, "How do you not know who?" He asked, sounding curious as he gestured to their surroundings, "Not that many people could infiltrate SHIELD and accomplish this much, don't you have any leads?"
Honestly, the list of agencies or people who could pull this off were low, Phil already had several suspects he was ruminating on, but they were in fact the only suspects.
"I've been picking up bits and pieces," Fury said, lips curling in anger. "People I trusted turning up dead or disappearing. Information leaks that shouldn't be possible. And the way things are moving inside SHIELD - it's like someone else is pulling the strings. Someone with a lot of power." He rubbed his face wearily, "This whole Wakanda cockup stirred the rats nest enough that I could draw some conclusions, but nothing too concrete yet."
Coulson nodded, absorbing the gravity of the situation and accepting Fury at his word. "Alright. What's our next move?" He asked, not for one second believing there wasn't a plan in place.
He knew Fury.
Fury glanced around like he was looking for something, frowning when he couldn't find it, then motioned for Coulson to bear with him, as he began talking again, "Before we get into that, there's one possibility I didn't want to believe, but I'm wondering about at the moment. Justin Hammer. He's got resources, technology, and now, a damn superhero team starring the goddamn Winter Soldier. He's positioning himself as a major player outside business matters, and he's dangerous - I thought I had a handle on him as a councilor, but perhaps he pulled the wool over my eye."
The idea galled him, but he couldn't discount it.
They had almost no information on the elusive Winter Soldier, but Fury was no fool. A super soldier in Bucky Barnes, who's apparently been around since the 1940s as a 'Pow' - then you take the Winter Soldier who's been around for longer than any one normal man could last in their business… What little description they've had of him matched, too. Bucky Barnes just happened to have a prosthetic arm, just like the Winter Soldier, to boot.
The fact Hammer held that man's leash, and had managed to convince the world he was a hero, cinched things for him. He'd thought he could steer Hammer towards world protection by getting him included, but it now seemed like the man had far darker secrets than Fury had ever thought.
Coulson frowned. "Hammer's always been ambitious, but why now? Why the sudden push?"
Neither Coulson nor his team liked Hammer, but it seemed a stretch for Coulson to believe he'd make a play for SHIELD.
"He wants more power, so he created a power vacuum," Fury replied tersely, tapping a knuckle on the table, his countenance grim, "With SHIELD compromised and with us on the run, Hammer has the opportunity to step in and take control. He's been making moves, and if we don't act fast, he'll gain a foothold that could be disastrous."
He still wasn't fully sold on it being Hammer, because he never fully believed in anything. But while he poked around Pierce and his friends, it wouldn't hurt to lay eyes on some of Hammer's secrets as well.
That still turned his stomach, the thought Pierce of all people might be involved.
Coulson was silent for a moment after listening to Fury's theory, before he reiterated, "So, what's the plan?" A wry smile on his face, only to then immediately turn around, pulling a gun out and facing the darkness, from where quiet steps could be heard coming slowly their way.
"It's okay, Phil." Fury murmured lowly, standing up, a deep sigh rumbling loose, "He's with me "
Fury signaled into the darkness, and a figure emerged - a tall man with an entirely alien face and a confident stride, a playful smile on his lips. Coulson's eyes widened in surprise.
"Phil, meet Talos," Fury said. "He's been helping me for a while now."
Talos nodded, his expression serious. "Agent Coulson, it's good to meet you." He smirked, gesturing to himself, "Properly I mean."
Coulson nodded back, still processing the unexpected turn of events. "Skrulls? Didn't see that coming." He said somewhat bemusedly. With his clearance and the mission he'd been involved in way back when - he knew about them, he hadn't realized they were still on the planet, or that they were working for Fury though. "Sir, I realize that this may be presumptuous of me, but if you could bleed a little for me?" He asked, his gun still not lowered.
Fury grunted in approval, quickly sliding a knife out of a hidden pocket and cutting himself, the blood welling up red.
Coulson lowered his gun somewhat sheepishly, "Ah, good to know you're you, sir, apologizes for the precaution."
Fury smirked, "Coulson, if you hadn't asked to check, I would have either thought you were a Skrull, on general grounds of incompetence -"
"Hey now!" Talos broke in, Fury just talking over him as he continued, "Or that you recently received a traumatic brain injury."
"Not needed, Nick, not needed." Talos said, as he walked closer, his features changed from alien, to that of a middle aged man with somewhat plain features.
Fury sat back down, one hand on table, eyeing Coulson with pursed lips, "We're going to use Talos and his people to infiltrate SHIELD and Justin Hammer's operations." He explained, "They can take on any form, get into places we can't. It's our best shot at figuring out who's behind all this and stopping them."
Coulson frowned, "With all due respect, sir. Then why didn't you use them before this?" He also eyed Talos with some skepticism, "Not to impugn their skills, but if Romanoff couldn't do it, they won't succeed either."
Talos stepped forward, his voice steady. "We have the ability to blend in, in a far superior way to miss Romanoff, to gather intelligence, and strike when needed. We'll find out what's going on."
Coulson looked between Fury and Talos, having a new understanding on what exactly was going on behind the scenes. "Barton and Romanoff?" He asked, immediately figuring it out.
Fury smirked, "They're on a different mission, Hill's with them, she's running the op."
It did soothe his worries some, he hadn't liked leaving them behind at all.
"When do we start?" He asked, straightening his back.
Cairo, Egypt, Hammer Compound.
The orange portal swirled into being, and Justin stepped through, giving Kaecillius a thankful nod.
The utility of this skill couldn't be understated. Being able to go between New York and Cairo in seconds, without the hours stuck in a vulnerable private jet, saved him so much time - and limited risk factors.
He'd made some good memories in that jet… He'd at least keep it, for appearances sake - sometimes it would be necessary to fly to not have people wonder how exactly he appeared across the world.
"Yelena, with me, Kaecillius you have the day free for your studies, keep your communicator on in case we need you." He ordered swiftly, sweeping out of the room assigned as the portal room.
He didn't need to give Domino any orders, she'd obviously follow him no matter what.
They made their way towards the sub basement, Justin querying Yelena, "Any issues with the plan?"
Yelena shook her head, her ponytail swishing back and forth, her expression almost pouting, but not quite. "The Winter Soldier found several ways to improve upon it, we're ready." She acknowledged.
He chuckled, "Captain America now, there's no Winter Soldier anymore." He said somewhat chasteningly. It's all good here, but I don't want it to spread around everywhere this soon.
HYDRA would keep their mouths shut, for now.
Obviously Pierce and the others would try something eventually, he held no doubts about that. But for now, they were placated, and had other concerns - like whatever Fury was going to do.
Yelena shook her head again, "I still can't believe you made the Winter Soldier into Captain America." She said, sounding amused. "He's like the boogeyman."
"Well, he's never going to be the most photogenic Captain America," He acknowledged. For one, he didn't smile enough, or at all… "But he has the pedigree and weight of history behind him that will make people accept him - and that will be enough."
"He's like a big sad puppy." Domino interjected idly, twirling one of her guns around on a finger. If it were anyone but her, he'd say that was incredibly irresponsible. "Just looking at his sad puppy eyes and frown makes me want to pet him." She continued, a coy grin on her face.
"....Please don't treat Captain America like a dog in public…" Justin said wearily, as they entered the private elevator that would bring them down to the level holding Phantazia.
Domino laughed, giving him a cheeky look, "Don't worry, boss, any doggy style between me and the new Captain America will strictly be happening in private.'
Yelena lit up, stepping closer to the mercenary turned bodyguard, "Ah, I see, you do have a type, Dom. Killmonger, and now Barnes… The dark avenger type guy, yes?"
Justin gave them both an admonishing look, "Girls, not really the time and place." He told them, mostly because he could only handle so much girl talk at a time, especially when it was about other men.
They both settled, as the elevator doors opened, for all their joking around, their game faces immediately slid on now that they were on the last stretch.
It only took them a few minutes to arrive at Phantazia's cell. And unfortunately Dr. McCoy was already waiting for them.
Justin hadn't bothered informing him they were coming today, but he supposed the man had likely found a way to be alerted whenever Justin stepped into the compound.
"Mister Hammer… Back again so soon? I'm afraid there's been no changes." He said politely.
"We're here to administer a solution." Justin replied clippedly, aware of the issues this might create, but unwilling to leave this threat ongoing - or leave Eileen under it for much longer.
Dr. McCoy frowned, peering at them all with visible distaste, "My apologies, Mister Hammer, but we're still months away, how exactly do you have something you think is capable of ameliorating this issue?" He questioned sharply.
"It's not a perfect solution, it only runs through the body for several minutes, regenerating it, then it dies out." Justin said, gesturing for Yelena to hand over the briefcase she'd been carrying, "You are right that we are months away from a working solution, but my team has worked hard on finding a temporary solution."
And hopefully this excuse is believable enough Xavier won't think I dipped back into Metahuman experimentation, he thought. Giving Dr. McCoy a severe look, "I couldn't wait any longer to free my subordinate."
"And how have you tested this solution?" Dr. McCoy stressed, accepting the briefcase, and opening it to see several vials of an orange liquid.
Justin kept his face completely open, as he lied, "The simulations showed great progress, as did limited testing on volunteers."
Dr. McCoy still seemed skeptical, but in the end he picked a vial up. "I won't administer her something that has not been fully tested yet, let alone an incomplete formula." He said with finality, studying the vial, before sighing, "But this is your facility, your serum, and your subordinate, so I will not stop you either."
Good, it would really be hard to explain to Xavier why his pet carpet spontaneously combusted. Justin thought, nodding at Yelena, who walked off to find a suitable trained stooge to administer the solution to Eileen.
"Do you think it will work?" He asked the good doctor while they waited.
He gave him a dry look, "You want my opinion on the solution you developed behind my back, despite this being the whole reason I'm here? The solution I haven't studied at all, the one that's temporary and has barely gone through trials?"
"Don't be facetious, you know well what I mean." Justin said sternly, "Do you believe temporarily regenerating her will fix whatever control issue has her in its grip?"
Dr. McCoy sighed, as he stared through the observation window at the fully restrained and unconscious Phantazia. "It is possible, but I'm a scientist and not prone to making wild guesses, I believe when I finish the serum I'm working on, it will do so, but I can't speak for this temporary strain."
Justin nodded, eyes turning to the returning Yelena, and a man in a lab coat, following her nervously. "A possibility is worth the try." He said with finality, stepping away from the good doctor.
The sterile white room where Phantazia was held was filled with the hum of machinery and the soft beeps of monitoring equipment. Eileen, laid on the prison cot, restrained and unconscious, her face pale and serene. The sight of her, so still and vulnerable, only fueled Justin's determination to free her from this nightmare.
She was his chief of security, hard ass and indomitable, she was not meant to be like this.
Yelena handed the vial to the nervous lab technician, who glanced at Justin, then at Dr. McCoy, and finally back at Phantazia. With shaking hands, he prepared the syringe, drawing the orange liquid into it.
"Be careful," Yelena instructed, her voice sharp. Her eyes promised murder if he made a mistake.
Justin wasn't sure how that was supposed to make the man less nervous. But he couldn't help but add his own glare, because if he did mess this up…
As Domino stepped up next to him, murmuring something low, her face utterly serious, he seemed to draw some strength.
The technician nodded to himself, taking a deep breath before stepping forward. He injected the serum into Eileen's arm, the orange liquid slowly disappearing into her bloodstream. Everyone in the room held their breath, watching intently for any signs of change.
Justin's gaze was fixed on Phantazia, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. This had to work. He couldn't afford to lose this valuable asset, especially not someone with her unique abilities. Not to mention what she'd be able to tell them about whoever was behind this.
Minutes passed, feeling like hours. Then, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor ran through Eileen's body. Her eyelids fluttered, and color began to return to her cheeks. The beeping of the monitoring equipment grew steadier, more rhythmic.
Dr. McCoy leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he observed the changes. "Her vitals are showing signs of the solution's effects," He said, his tone a mix of surprise and cautious optimism.
Justin allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "Good. Now we wait and see if she regains control." This was all useless without it.
Eileen's eyes slowly opened, her gaze unfocused and distant. She blinked several times, as if trying to clear a fog from her mind. When her eyes finally settled on Justin, there was a flicker of recognition, and something else - gratitude.
"Sir?" she whispered, her voice weak but clear. "You… Fixed me? He's out of my head?" She pleaded.
Domino immediately was at her side, grasping her hand, looking more vulnerable than Justin had ever seen her as she let out a breath, resting her forehead on Eileen's, "No more sleeping beauty act, hey? Just think of how much I've slacked off without you there to ride my ass."
"Yes, Eileen, it's me," Justin said after a moment, giving the two women a second, before stepping closer. "How do you feel?" And I will be asking who he is….
Eileen took a moment to gather her thoughts, then nodded slightly. "Better. The voice... It's not there anymore, I'm not in the backseat of my own mind anymore." She sounded almost close to tears, the relief on her face obvious.
Of course they would be testing her again, ensuring she's truly free, but the fact she was able to talk about it at all was a good sign in his mind.
Dr. McCoy moved to her side, checking her vitals and running a few basic cognitive tests. "It seems the serum has done what it advertised, at least medically. How long this will last, I can't say."
"That's all we need for now," Justin replied clippedly. "We'll keep a close eye on her and make sure she's safe until we have a permanent solution."
The testing would ensure she was her again, and within a few months they'd have the actual full serum working for Metahumans and her and Domino wouldn't have to worry about it again.
Yelena and Domino exchanged glances, their usual banter replaced by a shared sense of relief and accomplishment. The tension in the room began to ease as it became clear that the immediate crisis had been averted.
Domino still held onto Eileen's hand, sitting down next to her on the cot, Eileen squirming and blushing as the bodyguard doted on her.
Dr. McCoy, still skeptical but less confrontational, nodded his approval. "This buys us some time to figure things out I suppose, but we must continue our work to find a lasting solution."
Justin waved a hand dismissively, "It will get done still. All that matters now is that it may have worked, testing will give us a final answer." He turned to Yelena, "Set it up, Yelena, the sooner she's cleared the better." He ordered.
Eileen's brows furrowed, as she looked at Yelena with suspicion, "Yelena, not Elena?" She asked.
Yelena froze in place, before glancing at Justin with a pleading expression.
Justin wasn't going to bail her out of this one. She'd brought it onto herself.
Domino had an absolute shit eating grin on her face as she leaned into Eileen, "Ah, yes, while you napped, we found out our sweet little Elena was actually the Black Widow Yelena."
"Dom!" Yelena hissed in betrayal.
"Sorry, 'Lena, every girl for herself." Domino said with a sly smirk, even as Eileen glared at Yelena with the expression of someone gearing up for an interrogation.
"Domino hired me! That's the only reason I got past the checks!" Yelena blurted out.
Domino's grin faded, as she sputtered out, "T-that! You can't turn this around on me!?"
"Sorry, Dom, every girl for herself." Yelena snarked back, a superior smirk on her face.
Eileen looked like she wanted to go back into sweet unconsciousness, "You two… We will be talking." She said quietly, but with intensity.
Both women immediately turned pleading expressions on Justin.
"Listen to our head of security." Justin said with a pleased smirk, "Glad to have you back Eileen, these two have been a handful without you here riding herd on them."
In the end, it took hours for the screening to be done, but eventually she passed through. She was back, Eileen was herself again.
Unfortunately she'd been brought to Magneto's base unconscious due to no longer being part of the Brotherhood. She'd accepted, as she'd seen it as an obvious and needed precaution.
But it did leave them with no further knowledge on where Magneto had been holed up, because in either case, it was likely he was no longer there.
But even an old base could have given some clues.
She'd woken up already under control after that and all her memories of that time are too fuzzy for her to recall for the most part - like she'd been in a fugue state as someone else drove her body. She had confirmed that Magneto was likewise under control though, although she didn't believe he'd succumbed until after she had.
Great news that… Just absolutely fantastic.
She didn't have anything but a name she'd heard once, something that pierced through the fugue.
Sinister.
Justin immediately called Emma, stepping away from the others.
"Justin." The cold clipped tone answered him.
The arctic circle might melt before this woman ever did, he thought. I wouldn't mind the chance to give her a go, but she's way too frigid and too much or a bitch for even me.
"Emma, we have a lead on who's behind Magneto disappearing, and a confirmation that he is under control." He said steadily. He and Emma had agreed to work together in several sectors, mostly anything involving Metahumans. And they were of course working together with the Hellfire club as well.
He could literally feel her attention focusing on him through the phone, "Who?" She said icily, an undertone of threat in her voice.
The Hellfire club was built by reprehensible people, but its current kings and queens were invested in Metahumans, so anyone using Magneto as a possible trojan horse - was of great import.
They were also spending resources on finding out more on what Trask had mentioned of a Sentinel program. Saving Justin the headache of another thing on his list.
"Do you know anyone with the name, Sinister?" He himself recognized the name, but he had no memories of what or who the person was.
"...I'll call you back." The line went dead.
That couldn't possibly be a good sign.
August 3rd 2008,
In the rolling hills of upstate New York, the sun cast a golden glow over a sprawling, state-of-the-art facility. The complex was a testament to modern architecture and cutting edge technology, its sleek glass and steel structure gleaming against the backdrop of lush greenery. Tony Stark, flanked by Happy, Yinsen, and Pepper, led the group on a tour of his latest venture.
Mostly because both Yinsen and Pepper had insisted that he leave his workshop for a day. Due to silly concerns, really, but even Jarvis had agreed, so he'd capitulated in the end. While on his forced day out, he figured he'd inspect his new factory. Even if it was mostly just finished on the outside, much more work needed to be done internally to get it up and running.
Pepper hadn't been enthused about him turning around her idea of getting some sun and air, and taking it to the next level, taking them to New York in his private jet. She'd been even more mad when she realized he'd installed one of his suit stations in the plane.
Pepper wasn't the biggest fan to say the least. But he knew she'd come around. Both Yinsen and Happy were fine with it. Mostly.
Tony's enthusiasm was palpable as they entered the facility. Dressed in a sharp, casual suit with his signature sunglasses perched on his nose, he exuded confidence and energy - helped out by 5 red bulls on the flight, a necessity, as he hadn't really slept right his past ni- okay - week… "Welcome to the future, folks," He declared, spreading his arms wide. "This is where the magic happens, or will happen anyway."
Happy, in his usual suit and earpiece, stayed close to Tony, eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, having taken his job way more seriously as of late. Yinsen, dressed in a modest but stylish outfit, walked beside Tony, his expression one of admiration and curiosity. Pepper, in a professional but comfortable ensemble, kept pace with the group, her demeanor steady and pragmatic.
And she was only looking slightly annoyed. Her eyes flashing with something indecipherable every time Tony met them.
"As you can see," Tony continued, his voice brimming with glee, "We're sparing no expense. This facility is designed to produce the next generation of drones - drones that will revolutionize industries across the globe. Construction, agriculture, heavy industry - you name it, these babies are going to be able to do it."
They entered a large, open space where rows of sleek, robotic drones were lined up, each in various stages of assembly. The facility buzzed with activity, technicians and engineers moving efficiently, their workstations filled with advanced tools and equipment.
It was the only part of the facility that was fully operational, something he'd insisted on so that he could show off a finished product to Obie and the board, and get the military off his back a little, with robotics that did not in fact have weapons, but instead did the heavy lifting and drudge work. In theory. But his theories were always right.
Tony stopped beside one of the nearly completed drones, a sophisticated machine with a sleek, aerodynamic design. "Meet the Stark 1.0," He said, patting the drone affectionately. "Faster, smarter, and more versatile than anything Hammer has on the market. These drones will change the way we live and work."
Yinsen examined the drone closely, nodding appreciatively. "Impressive, Tony. The advancements in AI and robotics here are remarkable." He murmured.
Yinsen had of course seen his suit, so he knew Tony could do so much more with it. With Jarvis being the pinnacle of design, the lesser AI that would run these bots had been a piece of cake.
He could have made them in his sleep, really.
Tony grinned and clapped the man on the shoulder, clearly enjoying the praise. "I knew you'd appreciate it, Yinsen. This is just the beginning. Imagine a world where dangerous, mundane, and repetitive tasks are handled by these bots. People can focus on creativity, innovation, and personal growth." He smiled wistfully, what I couldn't have done early on with these bots taking care of all the drudgery.
Pepper, ever the voice of the boring and of reason, interjected quietly. "Tony, it's amazing, but we need to think about the implications, too. Job displacement, ethical considerations, safety protocols. We have to address these issues head-on now - because our competitors will hit us hard on it." She looked pained, shaking her head, "Not to mention the different interest groups, the anti-AI lobby will sue all the way up to the Supreme Court."
Tony waved a dismissive hand. "Of course, Pep. We'll have all the necessary measures in place. This is about enhancing human potential, not entirely replacing it. And besides, we're creating some new jobs too - high-tech positions that will drive the economy forward."
He frowned minutely, because he knew that in terms of numbers, he'd take away more jobs then he added. But it was the best way forward. He could trust the bots, and he didn't have to worry about the issues that came with human employees. Especially with Hammer taking all the good ones with his unfair benefits.
Happy chimed in unexpectedly, his tone more cautious. "You know, Tony, Pepper's got a point. People are going to think that you're just building machines to take over their jobs."
Well… Because I kind of am, he thought, mood souring slightly, he'd been trying to avoid thinking about it too much, focusing on the good he'd do.
Tony nodded at Happy, acknowledging his point, though his expression remained confident. "Don't worry, Happy. We'll get that covered. We'll launch an educational campaign, partnerships with educational institutions, and a full on media blitz. People will see the benefits."
As they continued the tour, Pepper walked up next to him, she smiled softly as she couldn't help but marvel at Tony's vision, despite her concerns. "You always aim high, Tony. Just remember, it's not just about what we can do, but how we do it." She cautioned.
Tony flashed her a charming smile. "I know, Pep. That's why I have you. To keep me grounded."
She blushed, and his grin widened.
With Obie taking over most of the running of the company, he and Pepper had spent a lot more time together as she mostly hung around his Malibu home now. She even slept over most nights.
Unfortunately not in his bed. But then again he never saw it either.
They reached the end of the tour, where a large observation deck offered a panoramic view of the entire facility - most of it still a work in progress. Tony turned to face the group, his expression one of triumphant anticipation. "This is just the start." He muttered, holding onto the railing, eyes intent, "Stark Industries is about to take another giant leap forward. The future is here, and it's brighter than ever." Space… Space is next.
Yinsen placed a hand on Tony's shoulder, his eyes filled with genuine respect. "You've come a long way, Tony. You're a better man."
Tony's smug facade softened for a moment, replaced by a rare look of sincerity. "Thanks, Yinsen. It means a lot."
The tranquility of the facility was shattered by a deafening explosion. The ground trembled as the roof above them suddenly caved in, sending fire and debris raining down. Chaos erupted as the once orderly space turned into a scene of destruction.
Pipes burst and water erupted for a brief moment, dousing the flames, before another explosion sounded out, right above them.
"Everyone, get down!" Tony shouted, instinctively moving to shield his friends. But the force of the blast separated him from the group, debris forming a barrier between them as half the roof cut the observation deck in half, both halves falling to the ground in a deafening noise of ruptured and screaming metal.
Pepper, Happy, and Yinsen were on the other side, their voices muffled by the chaos. Tony could barely make out their calls for him amidst the noise. He felt incredible relief, because the noise meant they were still alive.
"Jarvis, report!" Tony yelled, struggling to stay calm as he dodged falling beams and debris. His futuristic looking wrist watch having a connection to his buddy.
"Sir, the facility has been completely compromised. I'm attempting to get the suit over for defensive purposes." Jarvis responded, his voice steady despite the urgency.
"Get it here fast and call for help!" Tony commanded, coughing, as smoke filled the air. He looked up, squinting through the dust and flames.
Above the gaping hole in the roof, a sinister figure floated on a glider, cackling maniacally. It was the Green Goblin, his green and purple costume garish against the night sky. He juggled more bombs in his hands, his laughter echoing eerily.
Tony remembered seeing the news report about the lunatic who'd bombed Oscorp, was he just going after all the billionaires, or what?
"You should have never insulted me, Stark!" the Green Goblin shouted, his voice dripping with madness and fury.
Tony frowned, wracking his brain for any encounter with this costumed nutjob. "When the hell did I ever talk to you, let alone insult you?" he muttered to himself, edging away from his position due to the flames encroaching.
"Jarvis, do we have any history on this guy?" Tony asked, his eyes never leaving the Green Goblin even as he slowly moved behind better coverage.
He really wished he could get in the suit without the whole involved process, but Jarvis taking it over and flying it here would have to do. Jarvis could drive this Lord of the Rings reject away.
"Searching records, sir," Jarvis replied.
The Green Goblin hurled another bomb into the facility, the explosion shaking the ground once more. "This is what you get for mocking me!" he screamed.
Tony ducked behind a large piece of debris, using it as temporary cover. "Come on, Jarvis, I need you here yesterday!" He whisper- screamed, face paling as he found the body of one of his engineers, a steel beam perforating his torso. It's happening again! All of them are dying because of me!
Pepper! Happy! Yinsen!
"Jarvis!" He said harshly, his knuckles white as he stared at the young kid, just out of MIT. He recognized him because he'd personally snapped him up for his robotics division, using the personal touch to beat out Hammer.
The kid had dreams, big dreams…. And now he was dead, all because some nut job wanted a crack at him.
"ETA is approximately thirty seconds, sir," Jarvis informed him.
Tony glanced around, assessing his options. He was unarmed and out of his element without his suit, but he wasn't helpless. He picked up a piece of metal, ready to use it as a makeshift weapon if necessary. No way was he going to just meekly go to his death.
He'd smack those bombs right back up at him, he had excellent eye to hand coordination, he could do it.
The Green Goblin continued his tirade, tossing bombs with reckless abandon. "You think you're untouchable, Stark? You think your money and toys can protect you from me?" He cackled, sounding absolutely insane.
Tony's mind raced. He had faced many enemies, but this one seemed personal in a way he didn't understand. "Come on, who the hell are you?" He muttered, frustration boiling over.
Just then, the familiar sound of repulsors filled the air. The Green Goblin dodged as Jarvis opened fire. Soon disappearing out of sight from the holes in the roof as the two began to battle it out in the sky.
"Finally," Tony breathed, before he began running towards the other side of the factory, trying to get to Pepper and the others. Hissing as his hands burned as he pulled away burning hot metal.
…
Pepper, Happy, and Yinsen struggled to reach safety amidst the wreckage. Happy shielded Pepper as Yinsen tried to clear a path through the debris, several burns littered Happy's face and neck, blood dribbling from where he'd hit his head, tossing himself over Pepper to protect her.
"Come on, we need to get out of here!" Happy urged, his voice strained.
Pepper looked around, worry etched on her face. "Tony…" She whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her but hoping he could somehow sense her concern, and that he'd made it out.
Some metal shifted, and they all froze expecting something to fall down and crush them any moment. Instead, with a groan, a piece of metal roofing was pushed aside, Tony Stark stumbling through, sooty, and burned all over his hands and arms, but alive.
"Tony!" Pepper cried out, rushing for him, grabbing him and hugging him desperately, before suddenly kissing him, locking her lips with his like a starving woman finally finding nourishment.
Everyone froze again, this time for a different reason.
Pepper detached moments later, her face fully red, "Ah, um, I-I wasn't thinking." She stammered out.
Tony licked his lips, his eyes slightly unfocused, "You should not think a lot more then…" He said, his thoughts running a mile a minute.
"Sir, the armor is no longer functional." Jarvis reported, and Tony felt a chill down his back.
"That lunatic got the best of you Jarv, buddy?" He asked in pure disbelief, "And shit, we better get out of here!" He grabbed Pepper's arm, having to hold back from returning the favor as he saw her bite her lip, her cheeks still a beautiful red. Not the time, Tony, he told himself.
"The Green Goblin is escaping, reinforcements have arrived, sir." Jarvis reported.
Reinforcements? Tony wondered, before the outer wall not too far from them, practically melted, a high energy beam slagging it.
"Not to worry citizens, HAMMER is here!" Came the voice out of a speaker, the Vulture armor stepping through, its wings folded to allow him passage. "Oh, look it's Stark again, I wonder if we get a bonus for saving the same guy twice?" He pondered out loud.
Oh… Oh no… Please not these guys.
"Tony! You okay!?" The Warmachine entered behind the Vulture, and Tony's mood soured further, seeing his best friend working for the enemy. Even if it was to save him.
That and it made him absolutely mad with anger that the asshole Hammer had crafted a suit for his sugarplum before he could have! Not to mention forcing him to spend several days a month working with that crap team…
Tony was on to Hammer, he didn't know what cloning tech he had to pull that bullshit with Barnes as the new Captain America - like hell the guy was the same guy from the 40's - but he'd find out, oh he would find out alright.
"I'm fine, Rhodey." He sighed, as Warmachine stomped over, looking him over, scanning him.
"Jesus, Tony, that's third degree burns, you are not fine!" He tilted his head slightly, speaking into comms, "Warmachine to rearguard, we're going to need a few doses of the good stuff."
Tony looked around at his crumbling factory, and then at Hammer's team, god dammit, I'm behind again…
Some time later,
The fact the press somehow had managed to arrive while he was being treated was just the icing on the cake really. Just the cherry on top of this shitty day.
Hammer saves Stark.
If that wasn't the headline tomorrow, he'd join a convent. Fucking Hammer.
Worst of all, with the factory demolished. He'd have to actually… Renegotiate with the prick, because now he needed him to take on a heavier load, it would be months before he was ready to go at the same capacity now.
His eyes narrowed as he watched the partial gathering of the HAMMER team. Only three members present.
Was the Green Goblin one of his? Oscorp first, now me?
"Jarvis… I want you to dig into Hammer industries a bit more, slow and careful, but I want info." He ordered quietly, as soon as he had some privacy.
"Certainly sir."
At least there was one silver lining - at least now, if they tried to bully him out of his workshop - he had definite proof that he was safer inside it then out.
Russia, Red Room secret supply depot.
Bucky, dressed in tactical black attire that allowed for maximum mobility and stealth, led the way. His attire was sleek and functional, consisting of a fitted long-sleeve armored shirt, with cargo pants equipped with multiple pockets, and combat boots. His bionic arm had its new Vibranium metal surface darkened to reduce reflection, and fit more comfortably then he'd ever had before. His face was set in a mask of concentration, eyes sharp and alert.
It was a comfort to him, to do this first mission in something understated, instead of the Captain America uniform he felt so uncomfortable in. And to be able to right one of the many wrongs he'd seen… The Black Widow program - it seemed Hammer did deliver on his words after all.
Bucky would get to make amends, saving the world.
Yelena was equally attired in black, and moved beside him with the grace and agility of a trained assassin. Her blonde hair was tied back in a tight braid, and her eyes, cold and calculating, scanned their surroundings constantly. She carried a compact set of tools and weapons, each chosen for their utility in infiltration and close combat.
Both of them carried multiple shots of Panacea just in case, above the load they already carried for the mission.
Only through Yelena's skills and his memories could they even do this at all. Dreykov had not been lazy.
The Red Room was utterly paranoid with its Widows, sedating them before entry and exit to ensure they didn't know exactly where the actual Red Room was.
Even mind controlled however, Yelena was an expert spy and assassin, so she'd memorized the interior of the facilities, as a spy was wont to do. And even if she couldn't give the exact location of the Red Room at any given time - she knew where one of the depots was that supplied it - and sedated Widows for travel.
Bucky however knew even more, as he'd been regularly sent to train Widows, and knew half a dozen of the depots to boot. As he was always mind wiped after missions, Dreykov had never had a reason to hide anything from him.
So they had the full layout of the facility, the way to get there, and if all else failed, they could utilize the HAMMER team that was laying in wait as backup in Latvia, ready to fly in and crush the facility if Bucky and Yelena ran into problems.
To assist in their goal, and keep Dreykov looking out, not in. Two of the depots Bucky knew about, where being hit by what appeared to be Czechen terrorists.
In actuality, they were Hammer's people.
Bucky and Yelena crouched in the dense underbrush, their eyes fixed on the massive Red Room facility hovering ominously above the forest. The flying fortress, a marvel of Soviet-era engineering, floated silently in the night sky, its metallic bulk illuminated by occasional flashes of heat in their binoculars.
Without the tech they'd been provided with, it would be impossible to see. It was too far up, and the facility was running some sort of field that bent the light or otherwise rendered it invisible to the naked eye.
Bucky put his insanely capable binoculars back in its designated slot on his outfit. Glancing down at the ground bound facility they'd have to infiltrate first. One of the relay and supply depot stations that both brought food, and dealt with sedating and transporting Widows back to base.
"We need to get up there first," Bucky said, his voice low but firm. "Got any ideas?"
They'd already hatched a plan, but Bucky knew that what was put on paper and planned in advance didn't always match up once on location. Like what was already happening.
Yelena nodded, her gaze leaving the floating fortress as she put away her own binoculars. "There's a supply drone launch pad nearby. We can hijack one of the drones and use it to get up to the facility."
Bucky raised an eyebrow, pondering it. "A bit of a departure from the original plan, but not necessarily a bad one, explain your reasoning."
Yelena scrunched her nose up, looking down at the facility below their hillside vantage point, "I don't see any of the aircraft, so despite our intelligence, there's no Widow returning to base, or she has already done so, finishing her mission early. Either way, we can't wait for another one, and the supply drones are large enough to carry food, they can haul us as well, although we will definitely have to neutralize the people who will no doubt inspect it, once we arrive."
Bucky slowly nodded his head, chewing over all of that, "Proceed." He said simply, agreeing with her over the change of parameters.
Yelena led them through the forest, moving with the grace and agility of a trained assassin, Bucky following along easily enough, superbly trained as well, albeit not as graceful. They navigated around security patrols and surveillance with practiced ease, avoiding detection as they made their way to the drone launch pad. The pad was a small, open area with several drones stationed, ready for deployment.
To their benefit, one drone was already opened up, crates being loaded onto it. It would mean they would not have to create an unscheduled drop off. They could have managed, but it would have started the fight early.
They crouched behind a large tree, assessing the situation. Two guards patrolled the area, their attention focused on their surroundings. While three people loaded the crates. None of them could be allowed to get a warning off.
Bucky and Yelena exchanged a nod, then moved in perfect sync. Bucky sprinted forward, and took down one guard with a swift, silent strike to the neck, breaking it, while Yelena ended the other with a precise stab to the temple with one of her knives - having flown out from behind the tree like a Olympic sprinter, completely blind siding the tired and bored guard.
Before the people loading the drone could even do more than drop their load, they were dead, two shot through the forehead by Bucky's silenced pistol, one gurgling as he fell to the tarmac, one hand futilely reaching for the knife in his jugular.
With the guards neutralized, they approached the open drone. Yelena quickly accessed the control panel, her fingers flying over the keys as she bypassed the security protocols. While the Red Room itself changed protocols often, the supply depot had not, and she was easily able to get past the security.
"Got it," she said, a note of triumph in her voice. "Climb in."
They climbed into the back of the large drone, the size of a decent sized van. It was cramped with the load it held, but they made due. Dumping the load would only ensure the scanners caught something anomalous once they got close to the Red Room. A bit of extra weight only meant more food, drastically lower weight meant something was up.
Yelena activated the controls, and the drone lifted off the ground with a hum. They ascended rapidly, the forest shrinking below them as the massive bulk of the Red Room facility loomed closer, not that they could see it until they entered its field.
The supply depots were not heavily manned, so she knew it would likely be an hour or two until the dead men would be missed or found - so they were on the clock, but not dangerously so.
As they flew into the underbelly of the fortress, Yelena overrode the drone, and expertly maneuvered the drone towards a maintenance hatch, partially obscured by shadows as it took a more circuitous route to its loading bay end goal. She popped the drone open, and Bucky reached out, using his enhanced strength to pry open the maintenance hatch. They both slipped inside, the drone quietly returning to its predefined route, Yelena kicking the drone's door closed with a powerful kick as it flew off.
They'd planned to simply overpower the guards who'd check on the food delivery, but when she spotted the hatch it had been too good of an opportunity to not take advantage of.
Inside the facility, they found themselves in a narrow maintenance shaft, the walls lined with cables and pipes. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal. Bucky replaced the hatch, ensuring it was securely closed before they moved deeper into the heart of the Red Room.
Navigating the labyrinthine corridors required skill and knowledge, both of which Yelena possessed in abundance. She led the way, her movements confident and sure. They encountered and bypassed several security checkpoints, each one bypassed with a combination of Yelena's intimate knowledge of the facility's layout and their shared super soldier strength and amazing tech advantage, that allowed them to cut or muscle their way into the walls and other maintenance tunnels to bypass security.
As they progressed, the interior of the Red Room revealed itself in all its sinister glory. The walls were cold, clinical and dark, interrupted by the occasional splash of red - warning signs, security panels, and the ever-present insignia of the Red Room. The hallways were tight and confined, designed to limit the rapid movement of personnel and equipment in case of rebellion. Overhead, fluorescent lights cast a harsh, unyielding glare.
They passed by a training area, where a group of young recruits were being drilled by stern-faced instructors. The sight made Yelena's jaw tighten - she had been one of those recruits once. Bucky placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder before they moved on, sticking to the shadows.
They would save them today. But they'd face a lot of issues with the Black Widows onboard if they went after the young students first.
They'd already have been caught by now if the perception filter some new egghead had crafted for the operation didn't completely spoof all cameras - making them invisible to electronic sight.
Bucky could say this for Hammer, he provided the best toys.
Both of them carried heavy bags on their backs, filled with Panacea shots - an advanced serum designed to free the Black Widows from their mind control. Normally it was a team effort between the shot and the cradle, but that was obviously not an option here. So the serum had been somewhat supercharged, which should knock the mind control straight out, but without the cradle to stabilize and bind it, the Widows wouldn't keep the regeneration unless they joined Hammer industries to get access to the cradle.
Bucky almost thought it was a predatory move from Hammer, if Yelena hadn't confirmed that was how it all worked. And as she'd been a Black Widow, surely she was on her sister's side in this?
Their first destination was the sleeping quarters, where dozens of Black Widows lay in a drug-induced slumber, unaware of the liberation that awaited them. Handcuffed to their cots, because even in sleep and mind controlled, they had no freedom.
They paused at a corner, Bucky holding up a hand to signal a halt. Two guards patrolled the corridor ahead, their expressions bored but vigilant. With silent, coordinated precision, Bucky and Yelena moved in. Bucky took the guard on the left, delivering a swift, and brutal blow to the head, before he, with a quick motion, twisted the head sideways. Yelena handled the guard on the right, her movements fluid and lethal as she was within his guard instantly. Within seconds, the guards were down, and their path was clear.
Time was ticking, and they hadn't had time to go around this time, especially when they were so close. Their perception filter would cover the fight, but wouldn't cover the fact the men were no longer to be seen patrolling anywhere.
They'd dragged them into a supply closet to give them some extra time, but they were now down to imminent reveal.
"Sleeping quarters are just ahead," Yelena whispered, her voice barely audible.
Bucky nodded, leading them forward. They reached a heavy, reinforced door. Yelena quickly accessed the control panel, her fingers flying over the keys - finding to her frustration that this time it wouldn't be that easy. Bucky solved it by putting his fist through the panel, as she gave him a deadpan look. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing rows of bunk beds, each occupied by a slumbering Black Widow.
"Well they'll know we're here now." She muttered, getting to it. Someone would come investigate why the door controls suddenly alarmed as non-functional. Their filter wouldn't do much to keep the sight of freed Black Widows all over the room from the command center.
They entered the room, moving quickly but quietly. Bucky set down his bag, pulling out the first syringe of Panacea. He handed it to Yelena, who approached the nearest bed. Gently, she injected the serum into the sleeping woman's arm. The Black Widow stirred soon after, her eyes fluttering open. Confusion gave way to clarity as the mind control was lifted.
"It's okay," Yelena whispered, her tone soothing. "You're free now. We're here to help."
The woman blinked, her eyes widening as she realized the truth. She nodded, tears of relief welling up before she pulled them back, professionalism setting in. Yelena squeezed her hand reassuringly before using her newfound super strength to crush the hand cuff, moving to the next bed to do the same thing.
Bucky and Yelena worked in tandem, dosing each Black Widow with the powerful Panacea shots. The room was filled with soft murmurs and the occasional gasp of realization as one by one, the women woke from their enforced loyalty. Yelena was well known, and the ones already awakened quickly explained things to those who were recently brought awake.
As they reached the end of the row, a sudden noise made them freeze. Bucky spun around, ready for a fight, but it was another Black Widow, now freed from mind control, rising to her feet, her handcuff dangling from one wrist, she'd gotten out of it on her own, a short red haired Black Widow sending them apologetic looks, it seemed she hadn't gotten to her quick enough to explain things after Bucky had injected her.
"What's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling, even though she looked ready for a fight, feet planted, her body turned to give her the best angle.
Yelena approached her slowly, hands raised, her expression gentle. "You're free. The mind control is gone. We're here to help you escape."
The woman's eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. "But what about the others? The guards?" Her fists clenched, "I'm not leaving anyone behind." She insisted.
"We'll handle them, no one's being left behind," Bucky assured her, his voice steady, as he met her eyes. "Just stay quiet and follow our lead."
They finished administering the Panacea shots, freeing every Black Widow in the room. As the women gathered, whispering among themselves, Yelena gave them quick instructions. "If you run into any of your sisters, each of you'll be given three of these shots." She held up the syringes. "One shot is enough to destroy the mind control, we're going to sweep this entire base, with your help, everyone goes free today."
"What will you be doing, sister?" One of the Widows asked, the entire group, almost as one, facing her expectantly.
She grinned viciously, "I'm going after Dreykov." She purred, Bucky standing solid as a statue next to her, watching for the attack he knows is coming. Sooner or later. The alarm must be going by now, although it seemed this facility did not subscribe to the loud blaring alarm of most secret bases he'd had to infiltrate before.
As soon as they exited the room, they faced down several firing squads, but the Widows had no problem using another exit to go around and flanking them, while Bucky and Yelena kept them busy.
Soon all you could hear was shouts of pain, as the vengeful Black Widows descended on the guards. After that, they split up, Bucky and Yelena moving forward with a few Widows following - the rest moving to cleanse the rest of the facility and wake their sisters.
Bucky and Yelena moved with purpose, leading the few freed Black Widows they had with them through the winding corridors of the facility. Each step brought them closer to Dreykov, the puppet master behind their suffering. The urgency was palpable, with the subtle hum of the alarm system felt through the walls, though not blaring audibly, were a constant reminder that their presence was now known.
The possibility existed that Dreykov would flee.
They reached the central hub, a sprawling control room filled with monitors and personnel. Yelena signaled for the group to halt, her eyes scanning for Dreykov amongst the many frightened staff and the stalwart Widows ready to fight and die for their master. Something she'd see fixed soon.
"There," Bucky murmured, spotting him at the far end of the room, hidden behind a partition, working frantically at a keypad. The man was flanked by several Widows, his expression a mix of anger and fear.
"Yelena Belova," Dreykov's voice boomed as he spotted her. "I should have known you would come, you traitorous slut!" He spat out, features twisted in frustrated rage, "How much did Hammer pay you to turn on your own family?"
Yelena stepped forward, her voice cold as the arctic, even as hate burned inside her veins. "Your reign ends today, Dreykov, I didn't need payment, I didn't need to sell myself, your death was coming no matter what, because I was never going to forgive you!"
He roared something unintelligible, a forceful wave of his hand summoning his guards forward. "Kill them." He spat.
Chaos erupted. The Black Widows surged forward, their training and newfound freedom driving them to fight with a fierce determination. So did the Black Widows on the other side of the fence as well, faces blank and uncaring. The room turned into a battlefield, a whirl of bodies and flashes of movement.
Yelena and Bucky coordinated their efforts, leading the free Widows in a targeted advance - aiming to free the Widows, the rest of the staff hardly even an afterthought. Each step was contested, each inch hard-won. The controlled Widows fought with a mechanical precision, their attacks relentless and devoid of hesitation. They'd die for their master without hesitation.
Yelena moved like a wraith through the melee, her agility and combat prowess allowing her to sidestep a flurry of strikes from a particularly aggressive Widow. With a swift motion, she pulled out a syringe of Panacea, her eyes locking onto her target. She deflected a punch with her forearm, twisting to the side and plunging the needle into the woman's neck.
The effect was immediate. The Widow's eyes widened in surprise and confusion, her body going slack as the mind control dissolved. There was no time for reassurance, she'd have to understand what was going on from context, as she continued the fight.
Bucky, with his enhanced strength and combat training, was a force of nature as he mowed through the forces arrayed against him. He blocked a high kick aimed at his head, grabbing the attacker's leg and flipping her onto her back. With precise efficiency, he injected her with the Panacea, then turned to face the next threat.
The controlled Widows, while formidable, were slowly being turned. For every strike they landed, a syringe found its mark, breaking their chains and bringing them into the fight for freedom. The tide of the battle began to shift as more and more Widows switched sides.
One Widow, particularly fierce, charged at Yelena with a flurry of punches. Yelena ducked and weaved, avoiding the blows, then grabbed the woman's wrist, twisting it and forcing her to drop her weapon. With her other hand, she injected the Panacea into the woman's arm, holding her steady until the transformation took hold, her eyes flickering across the large room and its quickly lessening fighting.
The controlled Widow's face contorted in shock, her movements faltering. She blinked rapidly, as if waking from a long nightmare. Yelena pulled her into a quick embrace, then pushed her gently towards the newly formed line of freed Widows.
"Welcome back," Yelena murmured, turning to face another opponent.
The room was a cacophony of shouts and the sounds of combat. Syringes glinted in the dim light, each one a lifeline for the controlled Widows. The free Widows moved with a renewed sense of purpose, their actions fluid and coordinated. They worked in pairs, one distracting while the other administered the Panacea, their teamwork seamless - there were now only a few left, the staff dead or cowering as a byproduct of the fighting.
Those who hadn't fled, only to end up running into the Widows cleansing the rest of the facility.
None of the staff would face a good end today.
Bucky found himself face-to-face with a particularly skilled Widow, her movements a blur of speed and precision. She aimed a kick at his chest, which he blocked, then followed up with a series of rapid punches. He parried each blow, his metal arm absorbing the impact. She then made the mistake to grapple with him, trying to throw him off his feet, his metal arm grabbed her tight as he stabbed her in the side with a syringe, dropping her gently before he returned to the fight.
As the last of the controlled Widows were freed, the battle began to wind down. The room, once filled with the sounds of combat, grew quieter. The freed Widows gathered, their breathing heavy, but their eyes filled with a newfound light.
"Dreykov's control is broken here, but we have to ensure it never happens again. We take this facility, we free anyone still trapped, and we dismantle the human part of their operation piece by piece." Yelena told them, glancing at Bucky, who nodded, telling her he'd take care of the rest of it. "Listen to him, I'll be back shortly." She shouted as she left.
Yelena sprinted off after Dreykov, leaving Bucky to organize and continue the cleansing of the facility. The last she heard was his voice sternly telling the Widows that no, they could not blow the place up.
Yelena's focus was singular now, Dreykov. She pushed through the guards he'd left behind to cover his escape, regular ones, his Widows expended to fight their own, her fists were a blur of motion, each strike bringing her closer to her target. Dreykov had retreated through a secret entrance, his confidence no doubt wavering as he realized his end was near with their rebellion so close.
Bucky, meanwhile, coordinated the Widows, ensuring each had a syringe of Panacea, as they joined their other sisters scouring the facility.
Dreykov had reached a reinforced door at the back of the long corridor he'd escaped into, frantically typing in a code. The door slid open, revealing another hidden corridor, leading towards a personal hangar. He bolted down it, Yelena hot on his heels.
Yelena chased Dreykov through the narrow corridor, her breath steady, her determination unwavering. She caught up to him at the end, where he stood before a large window overlooking the hangar below.
"You're done!" Yelena said, her voice a low growl. She cracked her knuckles, mostly for effect, as she knew she couldn't make him suffer too badly until Justin had wrung him dry.
But then… Then she'd get him, and she could take all the time she wanted. And with Panacea on tap, she could keep him for years. Her face turned positively cruel as she slowly sashayed forward. "You'll suffer for each girl you've murdered, raped, tortured and controlled."
Dreykov turned, a sneer on his face. "You think you can end this, end me? There will always be more, this won't stop just because of me, girl, there will always be someone controlling girls like you.."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Yelena retorted. She prepared to take him down. She might not be allowed to damage him too badly, but a little beating never hurt anyone.
She lunged at him, only to freeze at the last moment, eyes wide in shock as she couldn't just slam into the snake of a man standing before her.
Dreykov let out a shaky breath, sweat dripping off his face, "Heh, glad to see that worked." He gave her a superior look, "You can't touch me, Yelena… I assume you've used Hammer's drug to get past the mind control, but apparently it can't get past the scent conditioning I've attuned you to, you can't attack me." He grinned, a cruel vicious grin. "I'm going to enjoy this." He said as he stepped towards her slowly.
Without hesitation Yelena stabbed herself in the face, Dreykov shrieking in shock, Yelena was relentless, her movements fueled by years of pain and a burning desire for justice… She had regeneration, some pain was nothing.
Freed from her sense of smell, the nerves unable to heal with the knife still lodged in there, she viciously took Dreykov down, accidentally breaking all his limbs, and she accidentally dropped some knives with her slippery fingers too, Dreykov would live without balls, and Justin couldn't be too mad at her. It was all an accident from having a knife lodged into her face.
With a groan, she slid it out, standing before Dreykov's unconscious body. Really? Of all the things for regeneration to not remove, it was scent conditioning? Perhaps the body saw it as part of itself now after all these years? It would make torturing the man very annoying. Perhaps the scientists could figure it out.
Either way, she had her revenge. She had her sisters. They'd track down those who were out on missions.
And most importantly, she blushed slightly, they had the flying fortress, and giving that to Justin would surely beget a reward right?
She squirmed slightly.
Maybe… M-maybe she could even ask for…
She covered her face in her hands, beet red. She could hear her sisters getting close, and she didn't want to look too ridiculous.
She tossed her hair as she put a foot on Dreykov's chest, there, now I don't look ridiculous, she thought, as she posed, waiting for her sister's to arrive.
Several days later, Cairo, Hammer's Compound.
Justin Hammer quietly opened the door to the expansive training room in his Cairo compound, slipping inside unnoticed. The room was bathed in soft, warm light from the large artificial windows, and the hum of hushed voices filled the air. He paused in the doorway, taking in the scene with keen interest.
He'd been thrilled when Yelena had succeeded so spectacularly on her mission. The Red Room facility would need a lot of work to become space worthy, but it was a good catch even if they decided to keep it as just a fortress in the sky.
He hadn't seen much of her or the Widows since then however, so when he heard from Sunil that they were practicing nearby, he'd gone over to see what they were doing.
Yelena Belova stood in the center of the room, exuding confidence and authority. Around her, a dozen stunningly beautiful Black Widows moved with practiced grace and precision. Each woman wore a uniform that was both alluring and barely proper - tight, short skirts, low-cut blouses, and high heels that accentuated their legs, almost professional looking - if they were hired as secretaries and maids in a porn movie. They listened intently as Yelena spoke, her voice clear and commanding.
Justin pinched the bridge of his nose as he saw a whiteboard, the topic header - Harem training.
Yelena… He thought with exasperation.
"Remember, ladies, Justin Hammer is not just any man. He's powerful, ambitious, and he has certain... Expectations," Yelena said, her eyes sweeping over the group. "He values grace, elegance, and precision. You need to be perfect in every way."
What the fuck Yelena!? He thought, staring as the Black Widow believed every word out of her mouth, nodding thoughtfully.
A statuesque redhead raised her hand, her expression curious. "What exactly does Mr. Hammer like? How should we act around him?" She wanted to know.
Yelena smiled, clearly enjoying her role as instructor. "Justin appreciates confidence and competence. Be assertive but respectful. He likes it when you anticipate his needs before he even has to ask. Pay attention to the little details. And remember, while you need to be professional, a little charm and allure go a long way." Yelena smiled coyly, "He really likes strong women."
Well… Yes, true, but Yelena… We talked about this… Justin didn't hold any doubts that they'd all noticed him already, but Yelena continued the meeting anyway.
A petite blonde with an innocent face but a mischievous glint in her eye spoke up next. "What about... Personal preferences? Anything specific we should know?"
Yep, they know I'm here. He shook his head wearily. Yelena was behind so many victories for him, but she was also behind the majority of his headaches.
Yelena chuckled softly. "Justin likes variety, but he has a particular fondness for attentive service and genuine warmth. Make him feel special, and he'll appreciate it. And ladies, don't be afraid to show a little personality. He enjoys a good conversation as much as he does... Other things."
The women nodded, absorbing the information. Another Black Widow, a tall brunette with striking green eyes, asked, "What about our roles? Are we just here as secretaries and maids, or is there more to it?"
Yelena's expression turned serious. "Your primary role is to support Mr. Hammer in every way possible. That means being perfect secretaries, efficient maids, and yes, sometimes more. He needs a good, proper harem - women who can handle any task, be it professional or personal, with skill and discretion." She laid out like it all made perfect sense.
This is not what they're here for! Spies,
Yelena! They're supposed to be spies and trusted administrators of my will! He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the wall. He wasn't opposed to having a Black Widow or two 'service' him, but there would be no Harem!
A murmur of understanding went through the group. Yelena continued, "You are all incredibly skilled, and this is just another role to master. Treat it with the same dedication and precision as any mission. Your adaptability and intelligence are your greatest assets."
One of the women, a raven-haired beauty with a sharp intellect, raised her hand. "And what if Mr. Hammer asks for something... Unexpected?"
Yelena gave a knowing smile. "Adapt. Show him that you can handle anything he throws your way with grace and poise. That's what will set you apart and make you invaluable to him." She grinned lasciviously, "And it will also be a lot of fun!"
With a final glance at the scene, Justin slipped back out of the room, leaving Yelena and the Black Widows to their training.
He just knew they'd be a headache.
Oh, he'd probably enjoy himself quite well.
But Yelena was turning out to be perhaps a little bit more like Cho than he'd realized.
"Domino… Thank you for being the only straight shooter I've got left. Well… Eileen now that she's back." He said as they left to return back to work.
Domino wriggled her nose, "Not sure if that's a compliment or not, boss." She said, before glancing back to the room they'd left, "Not sure whether to congratulate you or pity you…"
Justin let out a breath, "I'm not sure either."
…
Back in the room,
Yelena burst out laughing, followed by many of the widows.
"You did great girls, did you see his face?" She chortled.
One of them piped up, "Isn't he going to be mad at you?"
Yelena grinned, "Oh, I don't mind, he needs to relax more, so some teasing to get him to not take things too seriously is good." Her expression turned slightly pink, "And if he punished me… That's okay too."
"Big sis has it baaad."
Author's note:
So Tony gets a visit by the Goblin, fun times. Wonder who's next on the visit list?
Tony gets a kick in the pants to nut up or shut up, we'll see how that goes.
The Widows are free! And Yelena is immediately moving to make them into a harem of course - they're her sisters - although that's more a joke, she'd probably not mind the odd fun time though.
And we finally have a name for one of the sinister figures moving in the background. Who'd have thunk it? Almost no one, because out of all my reviews, I think I've only gotten one or two even casually mentioning him.
Mommy Widow and the girl who'd end up as Taskmaster were not on base for the attack if anyone was wondering why they didn't show up. A lot of Widows are out on mission as well.
Not sure if they'd call each other sisters in canon, but I'm making it a thing here. The sisterhood of Widows.
Cheers
So it's finally time, Yelena gets her wish! Sisters unite! No, not that sister.
Some Tony again, and even see some of what Fury's cooking in that paranoid brain of his.
And the REVEAL, a name pops up!
Not a ton of Justin in this chapter actually. Not sure if that's good or bad.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Mexico, August 1st, 2008.
The two men moved silently but not hurriedly towards the dilapidated warehouse.
Nick Fury, despite his usually intimidating presence, was nearly unrecognizable in his incognito attire. He wore a well-worn, dark gray hoodie pulled up over his head, casting shadows over his distinctive eyepatch and facial features. The hoodie's fabric was thick and slightly faded, well used.
His jeans were dark and functional, designed for ease of movement and with quality materials, while looking like they'd been picked up at a thrift store. They were slightly baggy, with numerous pockets perfect for concealing tools or small weapons. Fury's sturdy, black boots were scuffed and practical, purely decorative duct tape in place to give the appearance of low quality and cheap repairs.
To complete his disguise, Fury wore a plain baseball cap, its brim low over his face to obscure some of his recognizable features. The cap was a dull, nondescript color, blending seamlessly with the rest of his attire. His hands, rough and scarred from years of fieldwork, were covered with fingerless gloves.
Despite the simplicity of his clothes, Fury's posture and the way he carried himself betrayed his true identity if anyone was watching at this moment. His movements were deliberate and controlled, his eye constantly scanning the surroundings with a sharp, almost predatory alertness. Even in disguise, Nick Fury was a man who could command respect and exuded authority, ready for whatever danger might come his way.
Only the fact they were fairly sure they were alone right now, had made him drop the act his clothes represented, his normal fierce glare present as he looked around.
Phil Coulson on the other hand, dressed remarkably similar, and with fake facial hair making him look a lot scruffier - did better in appearing as a low life/vagrant kind of man. Even as he as well was at full alert. Even as Fury stopped pretending, Coulson kept most of his act up.
They slowly entered the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, Fury and Coulson both moving silently, their footsteps barely audible on the dusty concrete floor. They had left behind all electronic devices, ensuring they couldn't be tracked or overheard.
Fury, with his signature eyepatch partially obscured by his cap, scanned the area one last time before nodding to Coulson. "This is the place."
Coulson, ever vigilant, kept his hand near his concealed weapon, his eyes darting around the dimly lit room. "It seems like we're clear." He said conversationally, his guard never lowering.
Fury led the way to a small corner of the warehouse where a makeshift table had been set up, illuminated by a single, flickering bulb. They settled in, the atmosphere tense but focused.
They'd been on a hair trigger since escaping the STRIKE team that should have been on their side. SHIELD taking a very troubling stance on its former employees. Which neatly had given them a following of agents as more and more of them realized something was rotten in the state of Denmark.
"Phil, we're in deep trouble with this whole circus," Fury began tiredly, his voice low and gravelly. "SHIELD has been compromised. By who, I don't know yet. But it's bad. Real bad." They hadn't had much chance to discuss things yet, Fury setting up this meeting to begin fighting back.
He had many plans, some who had been in the work for years, that he'd never pulled the trigger on, but now, it would be needed.
Coulson leaned forward, his brow furrowing. He could hardly argue the point, he'd almost been killed by their own teams after all as well, "How do you not know who?" He asked, sounding curious as he gestured to their surroundings, "Not that many people could infiltrate SHIELD and accomplish this much, don't you have any leads?"
Honestly, the list of agencies or people who could pull this off were low, Phil already had several suspects he was ruminating on, but they were in fact the only suspects.
"I've been picking up bits and pieces," Fury said, lips curling in anger. "People I trusted turning up dead or disappearing. Information leaks that shouldn't be possible. And the way things are moving inside SHIELD - it's like someone else is pulling the strings. Someone with a lot of power." He rubbed his face wearily, "This whole Wakanda cockup stirred the rats nest enough that I could draw some conclusions, but nothing too concrete yet."
Coulson nodded, absorbing the gravity of the situation and accepting Fury at his word. "Alright. What's our next move?" He asked, not for one second believing there wasn't a plan in place.
He knew Fury.
Fury glanced around like he was looking for something, frowning when he couldn't find it, then motioned for Coulson to bear with him, as he began talking again, "Before we get into that, there's one possibility I didn't want to believe, but I'm wondering about at the moment. Justin Hammer. He's got resources, technology, and now, a damn superhero team starring the goddamn Winter Soldier. He's positioning himself as a major player outside business matters, and he's dangerous - I thought I had a handle on him as a councilor, but perhaps he pulled the wool over my eye."
The idea galled him, but he couldn't discount it.
They had almost no information on the elusive Winter Soldier, but Fury was no fool. A super soldier in Bucky Barnes, who's apparently been around since the 1940s as a 'Pow' - then you take the Winter Soldier who's been around for longer than any one normal man could last in their business… What little description they've had of him matched, too. Bucky Barnes just happened to have a prosthetic arm, just like the Winter Soldier, to boot.
The fact Hammer held that man's leash, and had managed to convince the world he was a hero, cinched things for him. He'd thought he could steer Hammer towards world protection by getting him included, but it now seemed like the man had far darker secrets than Fury had ever thought.
Coulson frowned. "Hammer's always been ambitious, but why now? Why the sudden push?"
Neither Coulson nor his team liked Hammer, but it seemed a stretch for Coulson to believe he'd make a play for SHIELD.
"He wants more power, so he created a power vacuum," Fury replied tersely, tapping a knuckle on the table, his countenance grim, "With SHIELD compromised and with us on the run, Hammer has the opportunity to step in and take control. He's been making moves, and if we don't act fast, he'll gain a foothold that could be disastrous."
He still wasn't fully sold on it being Hammer, because he never fully believed in anything. But while he poked around Pierce and his friends, it wouldn't hurt to lay eyes on some of Hammer's secrets as well.
That still turned his stomach, the thought Pierce of all people might be involved.
Coulson was silent for a moment after listening to Fury's theory, before he reiterated, "So, what's the plan?" A wry smile on his face, only to then immediately turn around, pulling a gun out and facing the darkness, from where quiet steps could be heard coming slowly their way.
"It's okay, Phil." Fury murmured lowly, standing up, a deep sigh rumbling loose, "He's with me "
Fury signaled into the darkness, and a figure emerged - a tall man with an entirely alien face and a confident stride, a playful smile on his lips. Coulson's eyes widened in surprise.
"Phil, meet Talos," Fury said. "He's been helping me for a while now."
Talos nodded, his expression serious. "Agent Coulson, it's good to meet you." He smirked, gesturing to himself, "Properly I mean."
Coulson nodded back, still processing the unexpected turn of events. "Skrulls? Didn't see that coming." He said somewhat bemusedly. With his clearance and the mission he'd been involved in way back when - he knew about them, he hadn't realized they were still on the planet, or that they were working for Fury though. "Sir, I realize that this may be presumptuous of me, but if you could bleed a little for me?" He asked, his gun still not lowered.
Fury grunted in approval, quickly sliding a knife out of a hidden pocket and cutting himself, the blood welling up red.
Coulson lowered his gun somewhat sheepishly, "Ah, good to know you're you, sir, apologizes for the precaution."
Fury smirked, "Coulson, if you hadn't asked to check, I would have either thought you were a Skrull, on general grounds of incompetence -"
"Hey now!" Talos broke in, Fury just talking over him as he continued, "Or that you recently received a traumatic brain injury."
"Not needed, Nick, not needed." Talos said, as he walked closer, his features changed from alien, to that of a middle aged man with somewhat plain features.
Fury sat back down, one hand on table, eyeing Coulson with pursed lips, "We're going to use Talos and his people to infiltrate SHIELD and Justin Hammer's operations." He explained, "They can take on any form, get into places we can't. It's our best shot at figuring out who's behind all this and stopping them."
Coulson frowned, "With all due respect, sir. Then why didn't you use them before this?" He also eyed Talos with some skepticism, "Not to impugn their skills, but if Romanoff couldn't do it, they won't succeed either."
Talos stepped forward, his voice steady. "We have the ability to blend in, in a far superior way to miss Romanoff, to gather intelligence, and strike when needed. We'll find out what's going on."
Coulson looked between Fury and Talos, having a new understanding on what exactly was going on behind the scenes. "Barton and Romanoff?" He asked, immediately figuring it out.
Fury smirked, "They're on a different mission, Hill's with them, she's running the op."
It did soothe his worries some, he hadn't liked leaving them behind at all.
"When do we start?" He asked, straightening his back.
Cairo, Egypt, Hammer Compound.
The orange portal swirled into being, and Justin stepped through, giving Kaecillius a thankful nod.
The utility of this skill couldn't be understated. Being able to go between New York and Cairo in seconds, without the hours stuck in a vulnerable private jet, saved him so much time - and limited risk factors.
He'd made some good memories in that jet… He'd at least keep it, for appearances sake - sometimes it would be necessary to fly to not have people wonder how exactly he appeared across the world.
"Yelena, with me, Kaecillius you have the day free for your studies, keep your communicator on in case we need you." He ordered swiftly, sweeping out of the room assigned as the portal room.
He didn't need to give Domino any orders, she'd obviously follow him no matter what.
They made their way towards the sub basement, Justin querying Yelena, "Any issues with the plan?"
Yelena shook her head, her ponytail swishing back and forth, her expression almost pouting, but not quite. "The Winter Soldier found several ways to improve upon it, we're ready." She acknowledged.
He chuckled, "Captain America now, there's no Winter Soldier anymore." He said somewhat chasteningly. It's all good here, but I don't want it to spread around everywhere this soon.
HYDRA would keep their mouths shut, for now.
Obviously Pierce and the others would try something eventually, he held no doubts about that. But for now, they were placated, and had other concerns - like whatever Fury was going to do.
Yelena shook her head again, "I still can't believe you made the Winter Soldier into Captain America." She said, sounding amused. "He's like the boogeyman."
"Well, he's never going to be the most photogenic Captain America," He acknowledged. For one, he didn't smile enough, or at all… "But he has the pedigree and weight of history behind him that will make people accept him - and that will be enough."
"He's like a big sad puppy." Domino interjected idly, twirling one of her guns around on a finger. If it were anyone but her, he'd say that was incredibly irresponsible. "Just looking at his sad puppy eyes and frown makes me want to pet him." She continued, a coy grin on her face.
"....Please don't treat Captain America like a dog in public…" Justin said wearily, as they entered the private elevator that would bring them down to the level holding Phantazia.
Domino laughed, giving him a cheeky look, "Don't worry, boss, any doggy style between me and the new Captain America will strictly be happening in private.'
Yelena lit up, stepping closer to the mercenary turned bodyguard, "Ah, I see, you do have a type, Dom. Killmonger, and now Barnes… The dark avenger type guy, yes?"
Justin gave them both an admonishing look, "Girls, not really the time and place." He told them, mostly because he could only handle so much girl talk at a time, especially when it was about other men.
They both settled, as the elevator doors opened, for all their joking around, their game faces immediately slid on now that they were on the last stretch.
It only took them a few minutes to arrive at Phantazia's cell. And unfortunately Dr. McCoy was already waiting for them.
Justin hadn't bothered informing him they were coming today, but he supposed the man had likely found a way to be alerted whenever Justin stepped into the compound.
"Mister Hammer… Back again so soon? I'm afraid there's been no changes." He said politely.
"We're here to administer a solution." Justin replied clippedly, aware of the issues this might create, but unwilling to leave this threat ongoing - or leave Eileen under it for much longer.
Dr. McCoy frowned, peering at them all with visible distaste, "My apologies, Mister Hammer, but we're still months away, how exactly do you have something you think is capable of ameliorating this issue?" He questioned sharply.
"It's not a perfect solution, it only runs through the body for several minutes, regenerating it, then it dies out." Justin said, gesturing for Yelena to hand over the briefcase she'd been carrying, "You are right that we are months away from a working solution, but my team has worked hard on finding a temporary solution."
And hopefully this excuse is believable enough Xavier won't think I dipped back into Metahuman experimentation, he thought. Giving Dr. McCoy a severe look, "I couldn't wait any longer to free my subordinate."
"And how have you tested this solution?" Dr. McCoy stressed, accepting the briefcase, and opening it to see several vials of an orange liquid.
Justin kept his face completely open, as he lied, "The simulations showed great progress, as did limited testing on volunteers."
Dr. McCoy still seemed skeptical, but in the end he picked a vial up. "I won't administer her something that has not been fully tested yet, let alone an incomplete formula." He said with finality, studying the vial, before sighing, "But this is your facility, your serum, and your subordinate, so I will not stop you either."
Good, it would really be hard to explain to Xavier why his pet carpet spontaneously combusted. Justin thought, nodding at Yelena, who walked off to find a suitable trained stooge to administer the solution to Eileen.
"Do you think it will work?" He asked the good doctor while they waited.
He gave him a dry look, "You want my opinion on the solution you developed behind my back, despite this being the whole reason I'm here? The solution I haven't studied at all, the one that's temporary and has barely gone through trials?"
"Don't be facetious, you know well what I mean." Justin said sternly, "Do you believe temporarily regenerating her will fix whatever control issue has her in its grip?"
Dr. McCoy sighed, as he stared through the observation window at the fully restrained and unconscious Phantazia. "It is possible, but I'm a scientist and not prone to making wild guesses, I believe when I finish the serum I'm working on, it will do so, but I can't speak for this temporary strain."
Justin nodded, eyes turning to the returning Yelena, and a man in a lab coat, following her nervously. "A possibility is worth the try." He said with finality, stepping away from the good doctor.
The sterile white room where Phantazia was held was filled with the hum of machinery and the soft beeps of monitoring equipment. Eileen, laid on the prison cot, restrained and unconscious, her face pale and serene. The sight of her, so still and vulnerable, only fueled Justin's determination to free her from this nightmare.
She was his chief of security, hard ass and indomitable, she was not meant to be like this.
Yelena handed the vial to the nervous lab technician, who glanced at Justin, then at Dr. McCoy, and finally back at Phantazia. With shaking hands, he prepared the syringe, drawing the orange liquid into it.
"Be careful," Yelena instructed, her voice sharp. Her eyes promised murder if he made a mistake.
Justin wasn't sure how that was supposed to make the man less nervous. But he couldn't help but add his own glare, because if he did mess this up…
As Domino stepped up next to him, murmuring something low, her face utterly serious, he seemed to draw some strength.
The technician nodded to himself, taking a deep breath before stepping forward. He injected the serum into Eileen's arm, the orange liquid slowly disappearing into her bloodstream. Everyone in the room held their breath, watching intently for any signs of change.
Justin's gaze was fixed on Phantazia, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. This had to work. He couldn't afford to lose this valuable asset, especially not someone with her unique abilities. Not to mention what she'd be able to tell them about whoever was behind this.
Minutes passed, feeling like hours. Then, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor ran through Eileen's body. Her eyelids fluttered, and color began to return to her cheeks. The beeping of the monitoring equipment grew steadier, more rhythmic.
Dr. McCoy leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he observed the changes. "Her vitals are showing signs of the solution's effects," He said, his tone a mix of surprise and cautious optimism.
Justin allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "Good. Now we wait and see if she regains control." This was all useless without it.
Eileen's eyes slowly opened, her gaze unfocused and distant. She blinked several times, as if trying to clear a fog from her mind. When her eyes finally settled on Justin, there was a flicker of recognition, and something else - gratitude.
"Sir?" she whispered, her voice weak but clear. "You… Fixed me? He's out of my head?" She pleaded.
Domino immediately was at her side, grasping her hand, looking more vulnerable than Justin had ever seen her as she let out a breath, resting her forehead on Eileen's, "No more sleeping beauty act, hey? Just think of how much I've slacked off without you there to ride my ass."
"Yes, Eileen, it's me," Justin said after a moment, giving the two women a second, before stepping closer. "How do you feel?" And I will be asking who he is….
Eileen took a moment to gather her thoughts, then nodded slightly. "Better. The voice... It's not there anymore, I'm not in the backseat of my own mind anymore." She sounded almost close to tears, the relief on her face obvious.
Of course they would be testing her again, ensuring she's truly free, but the fact she was able to talk about it at all was a good sign in his mind.
Dr. McCoy moved to her side, checking her vitals and running a few basic cognitive tests. "It seems the serum has done what it advertised, at least medically. How long this will last, I can't say."
"That's all we need for now," Justin replied clippedly. "We'll keep a close eye on her and make sure she's safe until we have a permanent solution."
The testing would ensure she was her again, and within a few months they'd have the actual full serum working for Metahumans and her and Domino wouldn't have to worry about it again.
Yelena and Domino exchanged glances, their usual banter replaced by a shared sense of relief and accomplishment. The tension in the room began to ease as it became clear that the immediate crisis had been averted.
Domino still held onto Eileen's hand, sitting down next to her on the cot, Eileen squirming and blushing as the bodyguard doted on her.
Dr. McCoy, still skeptical but less confrontational, nodded his approval. "This buys us some time to figure things out I suppose, but we must continue our work to find a lasting solution."
Justin waved a hand dismissively, "It will get done still. All that matters now is that it may have worked, testing will give us a final answer." He turned to Yelena, "Set it up, Yelena, the sooner she's cleared the better." He ordered.
Eileen's brows furrowed, as she looked at Yelena with suspicion, "Yelena, not Elena?" She asked.
Yelena froze in place, before glancing at Justin with a pleading expression.
Justin wasn't going to bail her out of this one. She'd brought it onto herself.
Domino had an absolute shit eating grin on her face as she leaned into Eileen, "Ah, yes, while you napped, we found out our sweet little Elena was actually the Black Widow Yelena."
"Dom!" Yelena hissed in betrayal.
"Sorry, 'Lena, every girl for herself." Domino said with a sly smirk, even as Eileen glared at Yelena with the expression of someone gearing up for an interrogation.
"Domino hired me! That's the only reason I got past the checks!" Yelena blurted out.
Domino's grin faded, as she sputtered out, "T-that! You can't turn this around on me!?"
"Sorry, Dom, every girl for herself." Yelena snarked back, a superior smirk on her face.
Eileen looked like she wanted to go back into sweet unconsciousness, "You two… We will be talking." She said quietly, but with intensity.
Both women immediately turned pleading expressions on Justin.
"Listen to our head of security." Justin said with a pleased smirk, "Glad to have you back Eileen, these two have been a handful without you here riding herd on them."
In the end, it took hours for the screening to be done, but eventually she passed through. She was back, Eileen was herself again.
Unfortunately she'd been brought to Magneto's base unconscious due to no longer being part of the Brotherhood. She'd accepted, as she'd seen it as an obvious and needed precaution.
But it did leave them with no further knowledge on where Magneto had been holed up, because in either case, it was likely he was no longer there.
But even an old base could have given some clues.
She'd woken up already under control after that and all her memories of that time are too fuzzy for her to recall for the most part - like she'd been in a fugue state as someone else drove her body. She had confirmed that Magneto was likewise under control though, although she didn't believe he'd succumbed until after she had.
Great news that… Just absolutely fantastic.
She didn't have anything but a name she'd heard once, something that pierced through the fugue.
Sinister.
Justin immediately called Emma, stepping away from the others.
"Justin." The cold clipped tone answered him.
The arctic circle might melt before this woman ever did, he thought. I wouldn't mind the chance to give her a go, but she's way too frigid and too much or a bitch for even me.
"Emma, we have a lead on who's behind Magneto disappearing, and a confirmation that he is under control." He said steadily. He and Emma had agreed to work together in several sectors, mostly anything involving Metahumans. And they were of course working together with the Hellfire club as well.
He could literally feel her attention focusing on him through the phone, "Who?" She said icily, an undertone of threat in her voice.
The Hellfire club was built by reprehensible people, but its current kings and queens were invested in Metahumans, so anyone using Magneto as a possible trojan horse - was of great import.
They were also spending resources on finding out more on what Trask had mentioned of a Sentinel program. Saving Justin the headache of another thing on his list.
"Do you know anyone with the name, Sinister?" He himself recognized the name, but he had no memories of what or who the person was.
"...I'll call you back." The line went dead.
That couldn't possibly be a good sign.
August 3rd 2008,
In the rolling hills of upstate New York, the sun cast a golden glow over a sprawling, state-of-the-art facility. The complex was a testament to modern architecture and cutting edge technology, its sleek glass and steel structure gleaming against the backdrop of lush greenery. Tony Stark, flanked by Happy, Yinsen, and Pepper, led the group on a tour of his latest venture.
Mostly because both Yinsen and Pepper had insisted that he leave his workshop for a day. Due to silly concerns, really, but even Jarvis had agreed, so he'd capitulated in the end. While on his forced day out, he figured he'd inspect his new factory. Even if it was mostly just finished on the outside, much more work needed to be done internally to get it up and running.
Pepper hadn't been enthused about him turning around her idea of getting some sun and air, and taking it to the next level, taking them to New York in his private jet. She'd been even more mad when she realized he'd installed one of his suit stations in the plane.
Pepper wasn't the biggest fan to say the least. But he knew she'd come around. Both Yinsen and Happy were fine with it. Mostly.
Tony's enthusiasm was palpable as they entered the facility. Dressed in a sharp, casual suit with his signature sunglasses perched on his nose, he exuded confidence and energy - helped out by 5 red bulls on the flight, a necessity, as he hadn't really slept right his past ni- okay - week… "Welcome to the future, folks," He declared, spreading his arms wide. "This is where the magic happens, or will happen anyway."
Happy, in his usual suit and earpiece, stayed close to Tony, eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, having taken his job way more seriously as of late. Yinsen, dressed in a modest but stylish outfit, walked beside Tony, his expression one of admiration and curiosity. Pepper, in a professional but comfortable ensemble, kept pace with the group, her demeanor steady and pragmatic.
And she was only looking slightly annoyed. Her eyes flashing with something indecipherable every time Tony met them.
"As you can see," Tony continued, his voice brimming with glee, "We're sparing no expense. This facility is designed to produce the next generation of drones - drones that will revolutionize industries across the globe. Construction, agriculture, heavy industry - you name it, these babies are going to be able to do it."
They entered a large, open space where rows of sleek, robotic drones were lined up, each in various stages of assembly. The facility buzzed with activity, technicians and engineers moving efficiently, their workstations filled with advanced tools and equipment.
It was the only part of the facility that was fully operational, something he'd insisted on so that he could show off a finished product to Obie and the board, and get the military off his back a little, with robotics that did not in fact have weapons, but instead did the heavy lifting and drudge work. In theory. But his theories were always right.
Tony stopped beside one of the nearly completed drones, a sophisticated machine with a sleek, aerodynamic design. "Meet the Stark 1.0," He said, patting the drone affectionately. "Faster, smarter, and more versatile than anything Hammer has on the market. These drones will change the way we live and work."
Yinsen examined the drone closely, nodding appreciatively. "Impressive, Tony. The advancements in AI and robotics here are remarkable." He murmured.
Yinsen had of course seen his suit, so he knew Tony could do so much more with it. With Jarvis being the pinnacle of design, the lesser AI that would run these bots had been a piece of cake.
He could have made them in his sleep, really.
Tony grinned and clapped the man on the shoulder, clearly enjoying the praise. "I knew you'd appreciate it, Yinsen. This is just the beginning. Imagine a world where dangerous, mundane, and repetitive tasks are handled by these bots. People can focus on creativity, innovation, and personal growth." He smiled wistfully, what I couldn't have done early on with these bots taking care of all the drudgery.
Pepper, ever the voice of the boring and of reason, interjected quietly. "Tony, it's amazing, but we need to think about the implications, too. Job displacement, ethical considerations, safety protocols. We have to address these issues head-on now - because our competitors will hit us hard on it." She looked pained, shaking her head, "Not to mention the different interest groups, the anti-AI lobby will sue all the way up to the Supreme Court."
Tony waved a dismissive hand. "Of course, Pep. We'll have all the necessary measures in place. This is about enhancing human potential, not entirely replacing it. And besides, we're creating some new jobs too - high-tech positions that will drive the economy forward."
He frowned minutely, because he knew that in terms of numbers, he'd take away more jobs then he added. But it was the best way forward. He could trust the bots, and he didn't have to worry about the issues that came with human employees. Especially with Hammer taking all the good ones with his unfair benefits.
Happy chimed in unexpectedly, his tone more cautious. "You know, Tony, Pepper's got a point. People are going to think that you're just building machines to take over their jobs."
Well… Because I kind of am, he thought, mood souring slightly, he'd been trying to avoid thinking about it too much, focusing on the good he'd do.
Tony nodded at Happy, acknowledging his point, though his expression remained confident. "Don't worry, Happy. We'll get that covered. We'll launch an educational campaign, partnerships with educational institutions, and a full on media blitz. People will see the benefits."
As they continued the tour, Pepper walked up next to him, she smiled softly as she couldn't help but marvel at Tony's vision, despite her concerns. "You always aim high, Tony. Just remember, it's not just about what we can do, but how we do it." She cautioned.
Tony flashed her a charming smile. "I know, Pep. That's why I have you. To keep me grounded."
She blushed, and his grin widened.
With Obie taking over most of the running of the company, he and Pepper had spent a lot more time together as she mostly hung around his Malibu home now. She even slept over most nights.
Unfortunately not in his bed. But then again he never saw it either.
They reached the end of the tour, where a large observation deck offered a panoramic view of the entire facility - most of it still a work in progress. Tony turned to face the group, his expression one of triumphant anticipation. "This is just the start." He muttered, holding onto the railing, eyes intent, "Stark Industries is about to take another giant leap forward. The future is here, and it's brighter than ever." Space… Space is next.
Yinsen placed a hand on Tony's shoulder, his eyes filled with genuine respect. "You've come a long way, Tony. You're a better man."
Tony's smug facade softened for a moment, replaced by a rare look of sincerity. "Thanks, Yinsen. It means a lot."
The tranquility of the facility was shattered by a deafening explosion. The ground trembled as the roof above them suddenly caved in, sending fire and debris raining down. Chaos erupted as the once orderly space turned into a scene of destruction.
Pipes burst and water erupted for a brief moment, dousing the flames, before another explosion sounded out, right above them.
"Everyone, get down!" Tony shouted, instinctively moving to shield his friends. But the force of the blast separated him from the group, debris forming a barrier between them as half the roof cut the observation deck in half, both halves falling to the ground in a deafening noise of ruptured and screaming metal.
Pepper, Happy, and Yinsen were on the other side, their voices muffled by the chaos. Tony could barely make out their calls for him amidst the noise. He felt incredible relief, because the noise meant they were still alive.
"Jarvis, report!" Tony yelled, struggling to stay calm as he dodged falling beams and debris. His futuristic looking wrist watch having a connection to his buddy.
"Sir, the facility has been completely compromised. I'm attempting to get the suit over for defensive purposes." Jarvis responded, his voice steady despite the urgency.
"Get it here fast and call for help!" Tony commanded, coughing, as smoke filled the air. He looked up, squinting through the dust and flames.
Above the gaping hole in the roof, a sinister figure floated on a glider, cackling maniacally. It was the Green Goblin, his green and purple costume garish against the night sky. He juggled more bombs in his hands, his laughter echoing eerily.
Tony remembered seeing the news report about the lunatic who'd bombed Oscorp, was he just going after all the billionaires, or what?
"You should have never insulted me, Stark!" the Green Goblin shouted, his voice dripping with madness and fury.
Tony frowned, wracking his brain for any encounter with this costumed nutjob. "When the hell did I ever talk to you, let alone insult you?" he muttered to himself, edging away from his position due to the flames encroaching.
"Jarvis, do we have any history on this guy?" Tony asked, his eyes never leaving the Green Goblin even as he slowly moved behind better coverage.
He really wished he could get in the suit without the whole involved process, but Jarvis taking it over and flying it here would have to do. Jarvis could drive this Lord of the Rings reject away.
"Searching records, sir," Jarvis replied.
The Green Goblin hurled another bomb into the facility, the explosion shaking the ground once more. "This is what you get for mocking me!" he screamed.
Tony ducked behind a large piece of debris, using it as temporary cover. "Come on, Jarvis, I need you here yesterday!" He whisper- screamed, face paling as he found the body of one of his engineers, a steel beam perforating his torso. It's happening again! All of them are dying because of me!
Pepper! Happy! Yinsen!
"Jarvis!" He said harshly, his knuckles white as he stared at the young kid, just out of MIT. He recognized him because he'd personally snapped him up for his robotics division, using the personal touch to beat out Hammer.
The kid had dreams, big dreams…. And now he was dead, all because some nut job wanted a crack at him.
"ETA is approximately thirty seconds, sir," Jarvis informed him.
Tony glanced around, assessing his options. He was unarmed and out of his element without his suit, but he wasn't helpless. He picked up a piece of metal, ready to use it as a makeshift weapon if necessary. No way was he going to just meekly go to his death.
He'd smack those bombs right back up at him, he had excellent eye to hand coordination, he could do it.
The Green Goblin continued his tirade, tossing bombs with reckless abandon. "You think you're untouchable, Stark? You think your money and toys can protect you from me?" He cackled, sounding absolutely insane.
Tony's mind raced. He had faced many enemies, but this one seemed personal in a way he didn't understand. "Come on, who the hell are you?" He muttered, frustration boiling over.
Just then, the familiar sound of repulsors filled the air. The Green Goblin dodged as Jarvis opened fire. Soon disappearing out of sight from the holes in the roof as the two began to battle it out in the sky.
"Finally," Tony breathed, before he began running towards the other side of the factory, trying to get to Pepper and the others. Hissing as his hands burned as he pulled away burning hot metal.
…
Pepper, Happy, and Yinsen struggled to reach safety amidst the wreckage. Happy shielded Pepper as Yinsen tried to clear a path through the debris, several burns littered Happy's face and neck, blood dribbling from where he'd hit his head, tossing himself over Pepper to protect her.
"Come on, we need to get out of here!" Happy urged, his voice strained.
Pepper looked around, worry etched on her face. "Tony…" She whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her but hoping he could somehow sense her concern, and that he'd made it out.
Some metal shifted, and they all froze expecting something to fall down and crush them any moment. Instead, with a groan, a piece of metal roofing was pushed aside, Tony Stark stumbling through, sooty, and burned all over his hands and arms, but alive.
"Tony!" Pepper cried out, rushing for him, grabbing him and hugging him desperately, before suddenly kissing him, locking her lips with his like a starving woman finally finding nourishment.
Everyone froze again, this time for a different reason.
Pepper detached moments later, her face fully red, "Ah, um, I-I wasn't thinking." She stammered out.
Tony licked his lips, his eyes slightly unfocused, "You should not think a lot more then…" He said, his thoughts running a mile a minute.
"Sir, the armor is no longer functional." Jarvis reported, and Tony felt a chill down his back.
"That lunatic got the best of you Jarv, buddy?" He asked in pure disbelief, "And shit, we better get out of here!" He grabbed Pepper's arm, having to hold back from returning the favor as he saw her bite her lip, her cheeks still a beautiful red. Not the time, Tony, he told himself.
"The Green Goblin is escaping, reinforcements have arrived, sir." Jarvis reported.
Reinforcements? Tony wondered, before the outer wall not too far from them, practically melted, a high energy beam slagging it.
"Not to worry citizens, HAMMER is here!" Came the voice out of a speaker, the Vulture armor stepping through, its wings folded to allow him passage. "Oh, look it's Stark again, I wonder if we get a bonus for saving the same guy twice?" He pondered out loud.
Oh… Oh no… Please not these guys.
"Tony! You okay!?" The Warmachine entered behind the Vulture, and Tony's mood soured further, seeing his best friend working for the enemy. Even if it was to save him.
That and it made him absolutely mad with anger that the asshole Hammer had crafted a suit for his sugarplum before he could have! Not to mention forcing him to spend several days a month working with that crap team…
Tony was on to Hammer, he didn't know what cloning tech he had to pull that bullshit with Barnes as the new Captain America - like hell the guy was the same guy from the 40's - but he'd find out, oh he would find out alright.
"I'm fine, Rhodey." He sighed, as Warmachine stomped over, looking him over, scanning him.
"Jesus, Tony, that's third degree burns, you are not fine!" He tilted his head slightly, speaking into comms, "Warmachine to rearguard, we're going to need a few doses of the good stuff."
Tony looked around at his crumbling factory, and then at Hammer's team, god dammit, I'm behind again…
Some time later,
The fact the press somehow had managed to arrive while he was being treated was just the icing on the cake really. Just the cherry on top of this shitty day.
Hammer saves Stark.
If that wasn't the headline tomorrow, he'd join a convent. Fucking Hammer.
Worst of all, with the factory demolished. He'd have to actually… Renegotiate with the prick, because now he needed him to take on a heavier load, it would be months before he was ready to go at the same capacity now.
His eyes narrowed as he watched the partial gathering of the HAMMER team. Only three members present.
Was the Green Goblin one of his? Oscorp first, now me?
"Jarvis… I want you to dig into Hammer industries a bit more, slow and careful, but I want info." He ordered quietly, as soon as he had some privacy.
"Certainly sir."
At least there was one silver lining - at least now, if they tried to bully him out of his workshop - he had definite proof that he was safer inside it then out.
Russia, Red Room secret supply depot.
Bucky, dressed in tactical black attire that allowed for maximum mobility and stealth, led the way. His attire was sleek and functional, consisting of a fitted long-sleeve armored shirt, with cargo pants equipped with multiple pockets, and combat boots. His bionic arm had its new Vibranium metal surface darkened to reduce reflection, and fit more comfortably then he'd ever had before. His face was set in a mask of concentration, eyes sharp and alert.
It was a comfort to him, to do this first mission in something understated, instead of the Captain America uniform he felt so uncomfortable in. And to be able to right one of the many wrongs he'd seen… The Black Widow program - it seemed Hammer did deliver on his words after all.
Bucky would get to make amends, saving the world.
Yelena was equally attired in black, and moved beside him with the grace and agility of a trained assassin. Her blonde hair was tied back in a tight braid, and her eyes, cold and calculating, scanned their surroundings constantly. She carried a compact set of tools and weapons, each chosen for their utility in infiltration and close combat.
Both of them carried multiple shots of Panacea just in case, above the load they already carried for the mission.
Only through Yelena's skills and his memories could they even do this at all. Dreykov had not been lazy.
The Red Room was utterly paranoid with its Widows, sedating them before entry and exit to ensure they didn't know exactly where the actual Red Room was.
Even mind controlled however, Yelena was an expert spy and assassin, so she'd memorized the interior of the facilities, as a spy was wont to do. And even if she couldn't give the exact location of the Red Room at any given time - she knew where one of the depots was that supplied it - and sedated Widows for travel.
Bucky however knew even more, as he'd been regularly sent to train Widows, and knew half a dozen of the depots to boot. As he was always mind wiped after missions, Dreykov had never had a reason to hide anything from him.
So they had the full layout of the facility, the way to get there, and if all else failed, they could utilize the HAMMER team that was laying in wait as backup in Latvia, ready to fly in and crush the facility if Bucky and Yelena ran into problems.
To assist in their goal, and keep Dreykov looking out, not in. Two of the depots Bucky knew about, where being hit by what appeared to be Czechen terrorists.
In actuality, they were Hammer's people.
Bucky and Yelena crouched in the dense underbrush, their eyes fixed on the massive Red Room facility hovering ominously above the forest. The flying fortress, a marvel of Soviet-era engineering, floated silently in the night sky, its metallic bulk illuminated by occasional flashes of heat in their binoculars.
Without the tech they'd been provided with, it would be impossible to see. It was too far up, and the facility was running some sort of field that bent the light or otherwise rendered it invisible to the naked eye.
Bucky put his insanely capable binoculars back in its designated slot on his outfit. Glancing down at the ground bound facility they'd have to infiltrate first. One of the relay and supply depot stations that both brought food, and dealt with sedating and transporting Widows back to base.
"We need to get up there first," Bucky said, his voice low but firm. "Got any ideas?"
They'd already hatched a plan, but Bucky knew that what was put on paper and planned in advance didn't always match up once on location. Like what was already happening.
Yelena nodded, her gaze leaving the floating fortress as she put away her own binoculars. "There's a supply drone launch pad nearby. We can hijack one of the drones and use it to get up to the facility."
Bucky raised an eyebrow, pondering it. "A bit of a departure from the original plan, but not necessarily a bad one, explain your reasoning."
Yelena scrunched her nose up, looking down at the facility below their hillside vantage point, "I don't see any of the aircraft, so despite our intelligence, there's no Widow returning to base, or she has already done so, finishing her mission early. Either way, we can't wait for another one, and the supply drones are large enough to carry food, they can haul us as well, although we will definitely have to neutralize the people who will no doubt inspect it, once we arrive."
Bucky slowly nodded his head, chewing over all of that, "Proceed." He said simply, agreeing with her over the change of parameters.
Yelena led them through the forest, moving with the grace and agility of a trained assassin, Bucky following along easily enough, superbly trained as well, albeit not as graceful. They navigated around security patrols and surveillance with practiced ease, avoiding detection as they made their way to the drone launch pad. The pad was a small, open area with several drones stationed, ready for deployment.
To their benefit, one drone was already opened up, crates being loaded onto it. It would mean they would not have to create an unscheduled drop off. They could have managed, but it would have started the fight early.
They crouched behind a large tree, assessing the situation. Two guards patrolled the area, their attention focused on their surroundings. While three people loaded the crates. None of them could be allowed to get a warning off.
Bucky and Yelena exchanged a nod, then moved in perfect sync. Bucky sprinted forward, and took down one guard with a swift, silent strike to the neck, breaking it, while Yelena ended the other with a precise stab to the temple with one of her knives - having flown out from behind the tree like a Olympic sprinter, completely blind siding the tired and bored guard.
Before the people loading the drone could even do more than drop their load, they were dead, two shot through the forehead by Bucky's silenced pistol, one gurgling as he fell to the tarmac, one hand futilely reaching for the knife in his jugular.
With the guards neutralized, they approached the open drone. Yelena quickly accessed the control panel, her fingers flying over the keys as she bypassed the security protocols. While the Red Room itself changed protocols often, the supply depot had not, and she was easily able to get past the security.
"Got it," she said, a note of triumph in her voice. "Climb in."
They climbed into the back of the large drone, the size of a decent sized van. It was cramped with the load it held, but they made due. Dumping the load would only ensure the scanners caught something anomalous once they got close to the Red Room. A bit of extra weight only meant more food, drastically lower weight meant something was up.
Yelena activated the controls, and the drone lifted off the ground with a hum. They ascended rapidly, the forest shrinking below them as the massive bulk of the Red Room facility loomed closer, not that they could see it until they entered its field.
The supply depots were not heavily manned, so she knew it would likely be an hour or two until the dead men would be missed or found - so they were on the clock, but not dangerously so.
As they flew into the underbelly of the fortress, Yelena overrode the drone, and expertly maneuvered the drone towards a maintenance hatch, partially obscured by shadows as it took a more circuitous route to its loading bay end goal. She popped the drone open, and Bucky reached out, using his enhanced strength to pry open the maintenance hatch. They both slipped inside, the drone quietly returning to its predefined route, Yelena kicking the drone's door closed with a powerful kick as it flew off.
They'd planned to simply overpower the guards who'd check on the food delivery, but when she spotted the hatch it had been too good of an opportunity to not take advantage of.
Inside the facility, they found themselves in a narrow maintenance shaft, the walls lined with cables and pipes. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal. Bucky replaced the hatch, ensuring it was securely closed before they moved deeper into the heart of the Red Room.
Navigating the labyrinthine corridors required skill and knowledge, both of which Yelena possessed in abundance. She led the way, her movements confident and sure. They encountered and bypassed several security checkpoints, each one bypassed with a combination of Yelena's intimate knowledge of the facility's layout and their shared super soldier strength and amazing tech advantage, that allowed them to cut or muscle their way into the walls and other maintenance tunnels to bypass security.
As they progressed, the interior of the Red Room revealed itself in all its sinister glory. The walls were cold, clinical and dark, interrupted by the occasional splash of red - warning signs, security panels, and the ever-present insignia of the Red Room. The hallways were tight and confined, designed to limit the rapid movement of personnel and equipment in case of rebellion. Overhead, fluorescent lights cast a harsh, unyielding glare.
They passed by a training area, where a group of young recruits were being drilled by stern-faced instructors. The sight made Yelena's jaw tighten - she had been one of those recruits once. Bucky placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder before they moved on, sticking to the shadows.
They would save them today. But they'd face a lot of issues with the Black Widows onboard if they went after the young students first.
They'd already have been caught by now if the perception filter some new egghead had crafted for the operation didn't completely spoof all cameras - making them invisible to electronic sight.
Bucky could say this for Hammer, he provided the best toys.
Both of them carried heavy bags on their backs, filled with Panacea shots - an advanced serum designed to free the Black Widows from their mind control. Normally it was a team effort between the shot and the cradle, but that was obviously not an option here. So the serum had been somewhat supercharged, which should knock the mind control straight out, but without the cradle to stabilize and bind it, the Widows wouldn't keep the regeneration unless they joined Hammer industries to get access to the cradle.
Bucky almost thought it was a predatory move from Hammer, if Yelena hadn't confirmed that was how it all worked. And as she'd been a Black Widow, surely she was on her sister's side in this?
Their first destination was the sleeping quarters, where dozens of Black Widows lay in a drug-induced slumber, unaware of the liberation that awaited them. Handcuffed to their cots, because even in sleep and mind controlled, they had no freedom.
They paused at a corner, Bucky holding up a hand to signal a halt. Two guards patrolled the corridor ahead, their expressions bored but vigilant. With silent, coordinated precision, Bucky and Yelena moved in. Bucky took the guard on the left, delivering a swift, and brutal blow to the head, before he, with a quick motion, twisted the head sideways. Yelena handled the guard on the right, her movements fluid and lethal as she was within his guard instantly. Within seconds, the guards were down, and their path was clear.
Time was ticking, and they hadn't had time to go around this time, especially when they were so close. Their perception filter would cover the fight, but wouldn't cover the fact the men were no longer to be seen patrolling anywhere.
They'd dragged them into a supply closet to give them some extra time, but they were now down to imminent reveal.
"Sleeping quarters are just ahead," Yelena whispered, her voice barely audible.
Bucky nodded, leading them forward. They reached a heavy, reinforced door. Yelena quickly accessed the control panel, her fingers flying over the keys - finding to her frustration that this time it wouldn't be that easy. Bucky solved it by putting his fist through the panel, as she gave him a deadpan look. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing rows of bunk beds, each occupied by a slumbering Black Widow.
"Well they'll know we're here now." She muttered, getting to it. Someone would come investigate why the door controls suddenly alarmed as non-functional. Their filter wouldn't do much to keep the sight of freed Black Widows all over the room from the command center.
They entered the room, moving quickly but quietly. Bucky set down his bag, pulling out the first syringe of Panacea. He handed it to Yelena, who approached the nearest bed. Gently, she injected the serum into the sleeping woman's arm. The Black Widow stirred soon after, her eyes fluttering open. Confusion gave way to clarity as the mind control was lifted.
"It's okay," Yelena whispered, her tone soothing. "You're free now. We're here to help."
The woman blinked, her eyes widening as she realized the truth. She nodded, tears of relief welling up before she pulled them back, professionalism setting in. Yelena squeezed her hand reassuringly before using her newfound super strength to crush the hand cuff, moving to the next bed to do the same thing.
Bucky and Yelena worked in tandem, dosing each Black Widow with the powerful Panacea shots. The room was filled with soft murmurs and the occasional gasp of realization as one by one, the women woke from their enforced loyalty. Yelena was well known, and the ones already awakened quickly explained things to those who were recently brought awake.
As they reached the end of the row, a sudden noise made them freeze. Bucky spun around, ready for a fight, but it was another Black Widow, now freed from mind control, rising to her feet, her handcuff dangling from one wrist, she'd gotten out of it on her own, a short red haired Black Widow sending them apologetic looks, it seemed she hadn't gotten to her quick enough to explain things after Bucky had injected her.
"What's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling, even though she looked ready for a fight, feet planted, her body turned to give her the best angle.
Yelena approached her slowly, hands raised, her expression gentle. "You're free. The mind control is gone. We're here to help you escape."
The woman's eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. "But what about the others? The guards?" Her fists clenched, "I'm not leaving anyone behind." She insisted.
"We'll handle them, no one's being left behind," Bucky assured her, his voice steady, as he met her eyes. "Just stay quiet and follow our lead."
They finished administering the Panacea shots, freeing every Black Widow in the room. As the women gathered, whispering among themselves, Yelena gave them quick instructions. "If you run into any of your sisters, each of you'll be given three of these shots." She held up the syringes. "One shot is enough to destroy the mind control, we're going to sweep this entire base, with your help, everyone goes free today."
"What will you be doing, sister?" One of the Widows asked, the entire group, almost as one, facing her expectantly.
She grinned viciously, "I'm going after Dreykov." She purred, Bucky standing solid as a statue next to her, watching for the attack he knows is coming. Sooner or later. The alarm must be going by now, although it seemed this facility did not subscribe to the loud blaring alarm of most secret bases he'd had to infiltrate before.
As soon as they exited the room, they faced down several firing squads, but the Widows had no problem using another exit to go around and flanking them, while Bucky and Yelena kept them busy.
Soon all you could hear was shouts of pain, as the vengeful Black Widows descended on the guards. After that, they split up, Bucky and Yelena moving forward with a few Widows following - the rest moving to cleanse the rest of the facility and wake their sisters.
Bucky and Yelena moved with purpose, leading the few freed Black Widows they had with them through the winding corridors of the facility. Each step brought them closer to Dreykov, the puppet master behind their suffering. The urgency was palpable, with the subtle hum of the alarm system felt through the walls, though not blaring audibly, were a constant reminder that their presence was now known.
The possibility existed that Dreykov would flee.
They reached the central hub, a sprawling control room filled with monitors and personnel. Yelena signaled for the group to halt, her eyes scanning for Dreykov amongst the many frightened staff and the stalwart Widows ready to fight and die for their master. Something she'd see fixed soon.
"There," Bucky murmured, spotting him at the far end of the room, hidden behind a partition, working frantically at a keypad. The man was flanked by several Widows, his expression a mix of anger and fear.
"Yelena Belova," Dreykov's voice boomed as he spotted her. "I should have known you would come, you traitorous slut!" He spat out, features twisted in frustrated rage, "How much did Hammer pay you to turn on your own family?"
Yelena stepped forward, her voice cold as the arctic, even as hate burned inside her veins. "Your reign ends today, Dreykov, I didn't need payment, I didn't need to sell myself, your death was coming no matter what, because I was never going to forgive you!"
He roared something unintelligible, a forceful wave of his hand summoning his guards forward. "Kill them." He spat.
Chaos erupted. The Black Widows surged forward, their training and newfound freedom driving them to fight with a fierce determination. So did the Black Widows on the other side of the fence as well, faces blank and uncaring. The room turned into a battlefield, a whirl of bodies and flashes of movement.
Yelena and Bucky coordinated their efforts, leading the free Widows in a targeted advance - aiming to free the Widows, the rest of the staff hardly even an afterthought. Each step was contested, each inch hard-won. The controlled Widows fought with a mechanical precision, their attacks relentless and devoid of hesitation. They'd die for their master without hesitation.
Yelena moved like a wraith through the melee, her agility and combat prowess allowing her to sidestep a flurry of strikes from a particularly aggressive Widow. With a swift motion, she pulled out a syringe of Panacea, her eyes locking onto her target. She deflected a punch with her forearm, twisting to the side and plunging the needle into the woman's neck.
The effect was immediate. The Widow's eyes widened in surprise and confusion, her body going slack as the mind control dissolved. There was no time for reassurance, she'd have to understand what was going on from context, as she continued the fight.
Bucky, with his enhanced strength and combat training, was a force of nature as he mowed through the forces arrayed against him. He blocked a high kick aimed at his head, grabbing the attacker's leg and flipping her onto her back. With precise efficiency, he injected her with the Panacea, then turned to face the next threat.
The controlled Widows, while formidable, were slowly being turned. For every strike they landed, a syringe found its mark, breaking their chains and bringing them into the fight for freedom. The tide of the battle began to shift as more and more Widows switched sides.
One Widow, particularly fierce, charged at Yelena with a flurry of punches. Yelena ducked and weaved, avoiding the blows, then grabbed the woman's wrist, twisting it and forcing her to drop her weapon. With her other hand, she injected the Panacea into the woman's arm, holding her steady until the transformation took hold, her eyes flickering across the large room and its quickly lessening fighting.
The controlled Widow's face contorted in shock, her movements faltering. She blinked rapidly, as if waking from a long nightmare. Yelena pulled her into a quick embrace, then pushed her gently towards the newly formed line of freed Widows.
"Welcome back," Yelena murmured, turning to face another opponent.
The room was a cacophony of shouts and the sounds of combat. Syringes glinted in the dim light, each one a lifeline for the controlled Widows. The free Widows moved with a renewed sense of purpose, their actions fluid and coordinated. They worked in pairs, one distracting while the other administered the Panacea, their teamwork seamless - there were now only a few left, the staff dead or cowering as a byproduct of the fighting.
Those who hadn't fled, only to end up running into the Widows cleansing the rest of the facility.
None of the staff would face a good end today.
Bucky found himself face-to-face with a particularly skilled Widow, her movements a blur of speed and precision. She aimed a kick at his chest, which he blocked, then followed up with a series of rapid punches. He parried each blow, his metal arm absorbing the impact. She then made the mistake to grapple with him, trying to throw him off his feet, his metal arm grabbed her tight as he stabbed her in the side with a syringe, dropping her gently before he returned to the fight.
As the last of the controlled Widows were freed, the battle began to wind down. The room, once filled with the sounds of combat, grew quieter. The freed Widows gathered, their breathing heavy, but their eyes filled with a newfound light.
"Dreykov's control is broken here, but we have to ensure it never happens again. We take this facility, we free anyone still trapped, and we dismantle the human part of their operation piece by piece." Yelena told them, glancing at Bucky, who nodded, telling her he'd take care of the rest of it. "Listen to him, I'll be back shortly." She shouted as she left.
Yelena sprinted off after Dreykov, leaving Bucky to organize and continue the cleansing of the facility. The last she heard was his voice sternly telling the Widows that no, they could not blow the place up.
Yelena's focus was singular now, Dreykov. She pushed through the guards he'd left behind to cover his escape, regular ones, his Widows expended to fight their own, her fists were a blur of motion, each strike bringing her closer to her target. Dreykov had retreated through a secret entrance, his confidence no doubt wavering as he realized his end was near with their rebellion so close.
Bucky, meanwhile, coordinated the Widows, ensuring each had a syringe of Panacea, as they joined their other sisters scouring the facility.
Dreykov had reached a reinforced door at the back of the long corridor he'd escaped into, frantically typing in a code. The door slid open, revealing another hidden corridor, leading towards a personal hangar. He bolted down it, Yelena hot on his heels.
Yelena chased Dreykov through the narrow corridor, her breath steady, her determination unwavering. She caught up to him at the end, where he stood before a large window overlooking the hangar below.
"You're done!" Yelena said, her voice a low growl. She cracked her knuckles, mostly for effect, as she knew she couldn't make him suffer too badly until Justin had wrung him dry.
But then… Then she'd get him, and she could take all the time she wanted. And with Panacea on tap, she could keep him for years. Her face turned positively cruel as she slowly sashayed forward. "You'll suffer for each girl you've murdered, raped, tortured and controlled."
Dreykov turned, a sneer on his face. "You think you can end this, end me? There will always be more, this won't stop just because of me, girl, there will always be someone controlling girls like you.."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Yelena retorted. She prepared to take him down. She might not be allowed to damage him too badly, but a little beating never hurt anyone.
She lunged at him, only to freeze at the last moment, eyes wide in shock as she couldn't just slam into the snake of a man standing before her.
Dreykov let out a shaky breath, sweat dripping off his face, "Heh, glad to see that worked." He gave her a superior look, "You can't touch me, Yelena… I assume you've used Hammer's drug to get past the mind control, but apparently it can't get past the scent conditioning I've attuned you to, you can't attack me." He grinned, a cruel vicious grin. "I'm going to enjoy this." He said as he stepped towards her slowly.
Without hesitation Yelena stabbed herself in the face, Dreykov shrieking in shock, Yelena was relentless, her movements fueled by years of pain and a burning desire for justice… She had regeneration, some pain was nothing.
Freed from her sense of smell, the nerves unable to heal with the knife still lodged in there, she viciously took Dreykov down, accidentally breaking all his limbs, and she accidentally dropped some knives with her slippery fingers too, Dreykov would live without balls, and Justin couldn't be too mad at her. It was all an accident from having a knife lodged into her face.
With a groan, she slid it out, standing before Dreykov's unconscious body. Really? Of all the things for regeneration to not remove, it was scent conditioning? Perhaps the body saw it as part of itself now after all these years? It would make torturing the man very annoying. Perhaps the scientists could figure it out.
Either way, she had her revenge. She had her sisters. They'd track down those who were out on missions.
And most importantly, she blushed slightly, they had the flying fortress, and giving that to Justin would surely beget a reward right?
She squirmed slightly.
Maybe… M-maybe she could even ask for…
She covered her face in her hands, beet red. She could hear her sisters getting close, and she didn't want to look too ridiculous.
She tossed her hair as she put a foot on Dreykov's chest, there, now I don't look ridiculous, she thought, as she posed, waiting for her sister's to arrive.
Several days later, Cairo, Hammer's Compound.
Justin Hammer quietly opened the door to the expansive training room in his Cairo compound, slipping inside unnoticed. The room was bathed in soft, warm light from the large artificial windows, and the hum of hushed voices filled the air. He paused in the doorway, taking in the scene with keen interest.
He'd been thrilled when Yelena had succeeded so spectacularly on her mission. The Red Room facility would need a lot of work to become space worthy, but it was a good catch even if they decided to keep it as just a fortress in the sky.
He hadn't seen much of her or the Widows since then however, so when he heard from Sunil that they were practicing nearby, he'd gone over to see what they were doing.
Yelena Belova stood in the center of the room, exuding confidence and authority. Around her, a dozen stunningly beautiful Black Widows moved with practiced grace and precision. Each woman wore a uniform that was both alluring and barely proper - tight, short skirts, low-cut blouses, and high heels that accentuated their legs, almost professional looking - if they were hired as secretaries and maids in a porn movie. They listened intently as Yelena spoke, her voice clear and commanding.
Justin pinched the bridge of his nose as he saw a whiteboard, the topic header - Harem training.
Yelena… He thought with exasperation.
"Remember, ladies, Justin Hammer is not just any man. He's powerful, ambitious, and he has certain... Expectations," Yelena said, her eyes sweeping over the group. "He values grace, elegance, and precision. You need to be perfect in every way."
What the fuck Yelena!? He thought, staring as the Black Widow believed every word out of her mouth, nodding thoughtfully.
A statuesque redhead raised her hand, her expression curious. "What exactly does Mr. Hammer like? How should we act around him?" She wanted to know.
Yelena smiled, clearly enjoying her role as instructor. "Justin appreciates confidence and competence. Be assertive but respectful. He likes it when you anticipate his needs before he even has to ask. Pay attention to the little details. And remember, while you need to be professional, a little charm and allure go a long way." Yelena smiled coyly, "He really likes strong women."
Well… Yes, true, but Yelena… We talked about this… Justin didn't hold any doubts that they'd all noticed him already, but Yelena continued the meeting anyway.
A petite blonde with an innocent face but a mischievous glint in her eye spoke up next. "What about... Personal preferences? Anything specific we should know?"
Yep, they know I'm here. He shook his head wearily. Yelena was behind so many victories for him, but she was also behind the majority of his headaches.
Yelena chuckled softly. "Justin likes variety, but he has a particular fondness for attentive service and genuine warmth. Make him feel special, and he'll appreciate it. And ladies, don't be afraid to show a little personality. He enjoys a good conversation as much as he does... Other things."
The women nodded, absorbing the information. Another Black Widow, a tall brunette with striking green eyes, asked, "What about our roles? Are we just here as secretaries and maids, or is there more to it?"
Yelena's expression turned serious. "Your primary role is to support Mr. Hammer in every way possible. That means being perfect secretaries, efficient maids, and yes, sometimes more. He needs a good, proper harem - women who can handle any task, be it professional or personal, with skill and discretion." She laid out like it all made perfect sense.
This is not what they're here for! Spies,
Yelena! They're supposed to be spies and trusted administrators of my will! He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the wall. He wasn't opposed to having a Black Widow or two 'service' him, but there would be no Harem!
A murmur of understanding went through the group. Yelena continued, "You are all incredibly skilled, and this is just another role to master. Treat it with the same dedication and precision as any mission. Your adaptability and intelligence are your greatest assets."
One of the women, a raven-haired beauty with a sharp intellect, raised her hand. "And what if Mr. Hammer asks for something... Unexpected?"
Yelena gave a knowing smile. "Adapt. Show him that you can handle anything he throws your way with grace and poise. That's what will set you apart and make you invaluable to him." She grinned lasciviously, "And it will also be a lot of fun!"
With a final glance at the scene, Justin slipped back out of the room, leaving Yelena and the Black Widows to their training.
He just knew they'd be a headache.
Oh, he'd probably enjoy himself quite well.
But Yelena was turning out to be perhaps a little bit more like Cho than he'd realized.
"Domino… Thank you for being the only straight shooter I've got left. Well… Eileen now that she's back." He said as they left to return back to work.
Domino wriggled her nose, "Not sure if that's a compliment or not, boss." She said, before glancing back to the room they'd left, "Not sure whether to congratulate you or pity you…"
Justin let out a breath, "I'm not sure either."
…
Back in the room,
Yelena burst out laughing, followed by many of the widows.
"You did great girls, did you see his face?" She chortled.
One of them piped up, "Isn't he going to be mad at you?"
Yelena grinned, "Oh, I don't mind, he needs to relax more, so some teasing to get him to not take things too seriously is good." Her expression turned slightly pink, "And if he punished me… That's okay too."
"Big sis has it baaad."
Author's note:
So Tony gets a visit by the Goblin, fun times. Wonder who's next on the visit list?
Tony gets a kick in the pants to nut up or shut up, we'll see how that goes.
The Widows are free! And Yelena is immediately moving to make them into a harem of course - they're her sisters - although that's more a joke, she'd probably not mind the odd fun time though.
And we finally have a name for one of the sinister figures moving in the background. Who'd have thunk it? Almost no one, because out of all my reviews, I think I've only gotten one or two even casually mentioning him.
Mommy Widow and the girl who'd end up as Taskmaster were not on base for the attack if anyone was wondering why they didn't show up. A lot of Widows are out on mission as well.
Not sure if they'd call each other sisters in canon, but I'm making it a thing here. The sisterhood of Widows.
Cheers
- Location
- Germany
That was a big mistake on Osborn's side, Hammer knows who is behind the mask.
And General Ross can figure it out easy, given the "Goblin"-armor Ossy sold.
Next prank-victim: Tony Stark!
The Widows will hit Tony in his ego, Justin will love it.
Chapter 24: Unlikely Allies.
Here's chapter 24: Unlikely Allies.
If you have small change you don't need, you can join my Patreon, the highest tier gets to request side story snippets about anything they want from my stories once a month
www.patreon.com
Won on Patron again, big surprise, so here's a new chapter of HammerTime.
By the first week in July-ish I will be taking a week's break for my bday and holiday, so no updates will be forthcoming for that week. Just fair warning.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
August 12th, 2008,
The Red Room flying fortress hovered silently above the clouds, a menacing yet awe-inspiring sight - if it could be seen by anyone but them, that is, the technology on display was enough to make Justin salivate. Inside, Justin walked with a confident stride, flanked by Yelena, Domino, and Kaecillius - who had brought them all here. The corridors, once cold and clinical, now felt alive with potential under their new control.
Everywhere Justin walked he just saw potential. This could potentially see him hold a space station long before he'd projected it. Sure, it was a bit old, very obviously very Soviet, but Vanko would have a blast with that kind of thing.
Ivan's father Anton, would likely cream his pants at the idea of a Soviet built space station going up with the Vanko name attached to it, albeit not publically if they could help it. It is a secret station after all.
Yelena led the way, her movements efficient and assured, with a pep in her step, a bright smile had permanently been etched on her face since they'd taken it. "We've secured everything, and found all the self-destruct safeguards - the station is yours! And the Black Widows that were saved are already being reoriented according to their respective wishes!"
Justin had seen the numbers, after Yelena's horrible joke had been seen through eventually by Domino. About a third of the Widows still wanted to play the spy and assassination game - the rest just wanted a life. He'd orientate those towards being his Emperor's hands of sorts inside his own brewing mega corporation.
Trusted skilled operatives to keep his business a well oiled machine and his rule ironclad. What else could a man ask for?
Domino, twirling a knife idly in her hand, smirked. "You mean your army of deadly secretaries? It's like something out of a bad spy movie."
Justin chuckled, appreciating Domino's snark, having grown fond of it at this point. "An army of the most skilled operatives in the world, ready to execute my will? Sounds like good business sense to me." He said smugly, feeling very pleased about things.
Kaecillius, walking a step behind Justin, nodded with a deferential bow of his head. "Master Hammer, I believe this fortress holds untapped potential. With the right enhancements, we could blend technological and magical defenses, making it impregnable. I have several spells in mind that could fortify and strengthen this vessel for space."
He was so eager all the time. He sometimes reminded Justin of a puppy. A puppy capable of destroying the world with the right tools…
He'd better make sure he never leaves him alone at home for too long…
He hadn't checked up on Cho for a while too… He should probably do that.
Justin nodded his head, getting back on track after his little detour, and he had to admit he was intrigued at the idea, waving him on. "Go on, Kaecillius. What kind of enhancements are we talking about?" He asked.
Magic was still a sore spot for him, but his eyes had been forcibly opened, and he refused to just leave a resource at his hands untapped.
Now if only the Ancient One could stop sending him snarky e-mails…
And this stupid portal thing could stop being so damn hard to do, he believed in it for God's sake, he shouldn't be having so much difficulty.
Kaecillius's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. "To start, Master, we can ward the entire fortress against detection and intrusion by normal kinds just like the sanctums, making it invisible to both technological and mystical surveillance. Additionally, we could implement spells that strengthen the structure itself, making it nearly impervious to attacks." He looked sheepish for a moment, "To match the sanctums you'd need assistance from those far more skilled than I, however."
Justin nodded thoughtfully. "Excellent start. Get together with Ivan and Forge and see how you can help strengthen and fortify what they're already working on." He grimaced slightly, "As for the other enchantments… I'm leaving them be, for now."
He did not want to owe the Ancient One that kind of favor. Not to mention the more obviously magical he allowed the space station to become - the more risks from magical people it would likely face.
Not to mention the risk he'd lose control of the station since he did not control magic.
As they walked deeper into the Red Room fortress, Yelena continued like they hadn't just segued into magic, "The Black Widows that accepted the task will serve as your hands, executing your orders and ensuring your will is carried out precisely. With their training, they'll be able to handle any task, from espionage to corporate negotiations to making a mean cup of coffee."
All said in a chirpy tone, Yelena almost moving towards valley girl territory if she didn't reign in her enthusiasm soon, Justin thought, making a note of teasing her about it later.
Justin's eyes gleamed with glee, as he exulted in the victory that gaining this station and it's inhabitants had been. "Perfect… They will be the unseen force driving my company forward, keeping my people honest. And with the eventual implementation of AI, we won't need many of them out in the world spying. Most of the operations can be handled from within my company, keeping our presence discreet."
It would after all not do for the world to realize he had a small force of Black Widows at his beck and call. Every slightly suspicious death in the world would be laid at his feet if people knew he had them.
Well people people. Those like Fury, HYDRA and the Mandarin would all figure it out he was sure. There was only so much he could hide things.
Domino snorted, giving Yelena a slight push to her shoulder. "Look at the cute mama duck looking after her little murderous ducklings." She teased.
Yelena was in such a good mood that she didn't even fire back, she just smiled at the impish bodyguard.
Justin laughed, shaking his head. "At least she isn't actually building me a harem." He pointed out dryly, "I'd never get anything done."
As fun of a thought as it was, he barely had time for sleep, let alone a harem.
It was too easy being a workaholic when the work was complete domination of everything.
He stood still as he laid a hand on the wall of the corridor they were standing in, "With this station reaching space, we'll be confirming our dominance over this world." He said, his mind already whirling with how much they could skip ahead in the space program with an actual functioning base in space.
And with Kaecillius able to bring people up and down, and able to bring a limited amount of supplies… That's a thought, I need to get him some students from my most trusted employees so they can learn the portal technique and shuttle supplies and personnel up and down continuously…
Portal Widows?
He shook his head with a small smirk on his face at the thought, the world wasn't ready…
He was going to do it anyway.
Which meant he had to reply to the damn Ancient One because he'd need a supply of sling rings… Well, at least she wasn't Stephen Strange, he'd take some snark over that Tony Stark - but with magic - copy.
Inferior copy.
Kaecillius spoke up, his tone reverent. "Your vision is unparalleled, Master Hammer. With the combination of magic and technology, your influence will be unmatched."
He'd gotten slightly worse, after meeting Helen Cho unfortunately, he thought.
Justin twitched slightly at the praise, but let it go. Even if Kaecillius was ruining his moment with his fanaticism. He was way too useful to actually snap at over minor things. Being worshiped in general was great, but something about people closer to him doing it rubbed him the wrong way.
They reached a large observation deck above Dreykov's office, apparently limited to just his personal use, where the view of the clouds and the vast sky beyond was breathtaking. Justin paused, taking in the scene. "This is just the beginning. With this station, and the resources we have, there's no limit to what we can achieve." Perhaps Earth isn't the limit after all…
Well… No reason to get that ahead of himself.
Domino leaned against the railing, her expression a mix of amusement and genuine admiration. "You've got the power, the brains, and the muscle, this really wasn't what I'd envisioned when I signed on, you know?"
"Regret anything?" Justin asked, curious.
Domino looked out over the sky, a coy smirk on her face, "Yeah, I should have asked for more money."
Yelena giggled as Justin just sighed with exasperation.
There could never be a serious moment with these people.
…
An hour later, Red Room control room.
They'd all gathered in the control room, Justin going over schematics and speaking over a conference call with Ivan and Forge, Kaecillius explaining his side of things already and now just listening attentively.
Justin was grinning excitedly, pacing back and forth, his mind racing with possibilities. "Think of the research and development we can do up there once this takes off, free from any prying eyes or governmental interference. We'll be able to innovate like never before." No more pesky laws or nosy heroes, intelligence agencies or busybody Metahumans!
They'd be entirely unrestrained, the advances they could make without having to worry about hiding black sites or obscuring supplies and personnel would be huge. Having a secret space station to go with the very public one he was setting up for in Africa, would be a complete game changer.
Domino leaned forward, her expression serious for a moment as she joined the conversation for the first time. "And what about the practicalities? How do you get this thing into space?" She asked, sounding honestly curious.
Justin gestured to the holographic display. "We've already got the basics covered. The fortress is designed to be self-sustaining in the air, so transitioning to space is the next logical step. We'll need to upgrade the propulsion systems and reinforce the structure, but with Kaecillius's magic and our tech, it's doable."
Now keeping its invisibility while flying up into orbit… That was another matter to deal with.
Ivan's voice crackled over the call, "Da, not hard, good Russian build!"
"...Don't worry everyone, I'm here to check over all this nice communist half assed engineering after Ivan touches it." Forge piped in, sounding very dry.
"Eeeh? American built is shit, last five years, maybe less, no good." Ivan disagreed.
"Russian shit is American shit, just with another label slapped onto it after picking it out of the trash." Forge fired back.
"Gentlemen, settle down, no need for an argument on this." Justin said, chuckling, the two of them argued equally as much as they had somehow become instant bros.
Kaecillius spoke up, joining in for the first time in thirty minutes, "I can create a series of spells to enhance the propulsion systems, making them powerful enough to break through Earth's atmosphere and into orbit." He offered eagerly.
Justin was well aware Kaecillius still wasn't a master and was not going to leave it to Kaecillius to be in charge of more systems, if they counted too much on magic they were in trouble if they lost Kamar-Taj as allies. But he appreciated the enthusiasm. So he shook his head, "Thank you for the offer, Kaecillius, but what you're doing is already enough."
"We can't drop other projects, but do take some time to figure out what you'll need." He told the engineer duo. They'd like drag in some of the others as well, their work going even better now that they'd had the super serum/Extremis blend.
Except for Forge of course, who remained as he was, as he'd no doubt be much less cooperative without the mind control. Ivan had been brought in on the secret out of necessity, because the man was smart enough to figure out something was going on when Forge would eventually continue to be unenhanced even when they finished the X-gene version.
The rest of the evening was spent in planning and arguments as they plotted ways to get into space.
Justin had once again stolen a march against his competitors.
The next morning, Cairo.
In the heart of Justin Hammer's Cairo compound, Eileen sat in a sleek, modern conference room, her fingers drumming lightly on the polished glass table. Across from her, Sunil Bakshi leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.
"So, let me get this straight," Eileen began, her voice cool and measured. "While I was out of commission, Justin acquired the Red Room which is apparently a flying fortress… Somehow… And he is now planning to convert it into a space station?"
I have lost so much respect for the intelligence agencies of the world… She thought, inwardly reeling at the idea a flying fortress could be kept hidden from everyone.
And dreading the idea it would be her job to figure out a way to keep Erik from dragging it out of the sky.
Sunil nodded, his expression one of dry amusement. "Indeed. It's been quite the busy period. And that's not even the half of it."
Eileen sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Go on."
"Well," Sunil continued, leaning forward with a theatrical flourish, "First of all, we now have a small army of Black Widows heading our way to serve as secretaries, middle management, and personal bodyguards amongst other things. Oh, and there's the little detail of Kaecillius our court wizard, using magic to enhance our defenses. Just your average month in the life of Justin Hammer, really."
He was enjoying this too much, she thought.
Eileen's eyes narrowed slightly as she fixed him with a cool glare. "Magic, yes, I noticed that, as hard as it was to believe. Of course. Why not? Anything else I should know?"
Magic… Like I didn't have enough things to worry about. Now wizards are on the list of threats, how do I even prepare for that?
"Let's see," Sunil said, ticking points off on his fingers. "We've got AI integration plans ongoing through a mind controlled Metahuman mechanical genius, a pending alliance with HYDRA, and the ongoing corporate espionage war. A cooperative effort with Tony Stark to mine Wakanda, which by the way was nuked to the stone age. And don't forget the personal favorites, Justin's endless charm and Domino's ever-present snark." Sunil smiled in a way that just ticked her off. "Oh, and we can't forget the fantastic HAMMER superhero team with the new Captain America - the former Winter Soldier."
How had this much happened while she'd been gone? Eileen almost felt like she'd been in a coma for a decade. She knew Justin moved at a frenetic pace, but this was getting ridiculous.
Also Wakanda was destroyed, not that she cared about those bastards, but complete annihilation, that was a bit much for her, and no doubt just added to the list of Justin's enemies.
Which made it her problem.
Eileen shook her head, a hint of exasperation creeping into her usually composed demeanor. "And how is Justin planning to manage all of this? He can't possibly oversee everything himself?"
It had been one of her biggest issues with the man, how much work he was doing on his own, not delegating enough to her and those around him.
Sunil's smirk widened. "Ah, that's where you come in, dear Eileen. You're to be his eyes and ears, his enforcer, his problem-solver. He trusts you to keep things running smoothly - simply a bit of an extension of the work you're already doing."
"Wonderful," She muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "And how exactly am I supposed to keep a lid on all these... Moving parts?"
"Simple," Sunil replied, his tone light and breezy. "You use that brilliant mind of yours. And perhaps a bit of your, shall we say, unique abilities. Justin has high expectations, but he believes you're up to the task." He tapped a finger on the table lightly, "Plus you have a third of the rescued Widows who'd like to continue a more exciting career as a welcome back gift."
Eileen leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting to the ceiling as she absorbed everything. "It sounds like a logistical nightmare. But I suppose if anyone can manage it, it's us." She murmured, already thinking on ways to expand the security team, avenues to sneak a spy or assassin in with their rivals and enemies to keep everything on track…
A few names she knew the world and especially Hammer industries could do without. She could arrange an accident or two, especially with pure professionals under her wing like the Widows…
"Precisely," Sunil said with a tiny mock salute. "Besides, think of it as an opportunity. We're at the forefront of something revolutionary. And who doesn't love a good challenge?"
Eileen's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "You're right. This is an opportunity. And I do enjoy a challenge."
Sunil leaned forward, his expression more serious. "In all seriousness, Eileen, Justin trusts you. He believes in your abilities. And so do I. We're all in this together, and we have the potential to achieve something incredible, even more than we already have, this is world domination in the making."
Sunil more than anyone, Eileen knew, had seen exactly what Justin would become, his defection from HYDRA turning him into a diehard loyalist ridiculously quickly.
If she had issues with how much Justin was working, she was fairly sure Sunil had found a way to become a vampire or something, because she doubted he had time for sleep.
Eileen nodded, her resolve hardening. "Alright. Let's get to work. First things first, I need a detailed briefing on all current operations, key personnel, and any potential threats."
Sunil grinned, reaching for a tablet. "Already prepared. I've got everything you need right here. Let's dive in, shall we?"
As Sunil began to outline the current state of affairs, Eileen listened intently, her mind already working through solutions and strategies. Despite the chaos and complexity, she felt a spark of excitement. This was what she excelled at - turning chaos into order, making the impossible possible.
"And one more thing," Sunil added, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "You'll need to keep an eye on Domino. She has a habit of... Improvising and tossing surprises onto the board even more than she used to, that woman just does whatever she wants."
Eileen rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of affection in her tone. "Of course she does. I'll make sure she stays in line."
As they continued their briefing, she couldn't help the feeling of relief to have work to bite into, it helped lessen the worries of what happened - the feeling of helplessness.
She eagerly threw herself into the work.
Hours later, Cairo.
Justin Hammer paced the length of his lavish office, the Cairo skyline stretching out behind him through floor-to-ceiling windows at the very top of his building. He held his phone to his ear, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. On the other end of the line was General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, the constant pain in his ass.
He might own the President, but Ellis couldn't just willy nilly mess around with the Joint Chiefs of Staff without opening himself up to some risks and uncertainties.
"General Ross, let's not dance around the issue here," Justin cut him off, growing tired of his arrogance and intransigence, his tone firm and direct. "The Green Goblin appeared in armor that can only come from Norman Osborn. This isn't a coincidence."
The attack on Tony Stark, although beneficial in some ways to him, also worried him, Stark could have died in that attack. It was time to clip Osborn's wings. His team couldn't go after him unless he was in his suit, but he could force Norman to come, and take him then.
Except Ross wasn't playing ball.
Ross's voice came through the phone, stern and unyielding. "Hammer, you know as well as I do that Oscorp was attacked. The armor was stolen. This is not Osborn's doing."
Justin stopped pacing, gripping the edge of his desk. "General, that's a convenient story. But think about it - who else has the capability to produce that kind of tech? This has Osborn written all over it, a thief wouldn't be able to maintain and continue to arm the suit."
Ross sighed, the sound heavy with impatience. "Hammer, you're not getting your way this time, the President can't bail you out now, the contract is signed, it's a done deal. The decision is out of his hands now and firmly in the jurisdiction of the military. We have a binding agreement with Oscorp for their power armor."
Justin's voice grew more insistent. "General Ross, you're ignoring the obvious. This isn't just about stolen tech. Osborn is obviously the Green Goblin. He's directly involved, and by sticking with him, you're putting everyone at risk."
By now even Stark surely knew the same, a simple audio recording of Norman would be enough, let alone the fact the man would have no clear cut alibi for the attack.
The general's tone hardened. "This isn't about conspiracy theories, Hammer. Oscorp's technology is already being integrated into our systems, training operatives have already begun, through simulations. Changing suppliers at this stage would cause significant delays and setbacks. We can't afford that."
Justin's attempt to keep power armors out of the game until closer to the Chitauri invasion had backfired on him massively.
Emma Frost had a similar deal going with several European countries as well, just like Osborn here. Power armor was going to be a thing, too early. The problem was Osborn obviously couldn't be trusted to deliver without some sort of plot behind it.
Justin clenched his jaw, frustration boiling over. "General Ross, you're putting blinders on. Osborn has a history of instability. You can't seriously believe he's just a victim here - he will misuse this power, he will have put backdoors into the system of anything he delivers."
Ross's voice was icy. "You think I don't know the risks? We have protocols in place to deal with the fallout in that case, if there's backdoors we will find them, but there won't be... The armor was stolen - Osborn reported the theft immediately. We can't punish a company for being a victim of industrial espionage."
From the tone of his voice, Ross was almost outright accusing him of having a hand in it. Justin wanted to slam his phone into something. Preferably the generals face, unfortunately he was in Washington, out of his reach, unless he was willing to use Kaecillius and reveal that trump card just to smack Ross in the face.
It was still damn tempting.
"General, I'm telling you, Osborn is the Green Goblin," Justin reiterated, even with defeat creeping into his voice. "He's using the military contracts to fund his operations. If you don't act now, you're complicit in enabling a madman."
Ross's response was unwavering. "Hammer, I've made my decision. The military is sticking with Oscorp. Your allegations are noted but they do not change the current contract. Focus on your own projects and let us handle this."
Justin took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check. "If you won't listen, I'll take this to the President. He needs to know what's going on here."
Ross's tone turned sharp. "You think the President will intervene in military contracts? Hammer, you know better than that, I already told you, he has no say in this, the contract is final. The President has nothing to do with this - the contract with Osborn stands, and that's final."
The line went dead, leaving Justin staring at his phone in frustration. He tossed it onto his desk, running a hand through his hair. The situation with Osborn was far from resolved, and Ross's stubbornness only made things more complicated.
Justin sank into his chair, his mind racing. He needed a new strategy, a way to convince the military to sever ties with Osborn. The stakes were too high to give up now.
Or… He just needed Osborn off the board.
If he couldn't hit the man with his team until he was in his suit…
Perhaps a simple assassination would either solve the problem permanently, or make the man jump into his suit, allowing his team to unmask him or destroy him at their leisure.
He picked his phone up again, dialing Eileen.
Osborn needed to stop being a problem.
And he'd need to get ahold of Emma too, she'd been dodging his calls ever since he revealed the name Sinister.
He was not someone you sent to voicemail!
Same day, United States, Xavier's institute.
In the dimly lit study of the Xavier Institute, Hank McCoy, paced back and forth, his blue fur bristling with agitation. Across from him, seated in a wheelchair behind a massive mahogany desk, was Charles Xavier. The atmosphere between them was tense, filled with the weight of their recent discussions.
They had many disagreements lately, all brought on by the same man.
"Hank, please, sit down," Charles urged, his voice calm but tinged with weariness. "We need to talk this through rationally."
Hank paused, his piercing yellow eyes locking onto Xavier's. "Charles, I can't sit down while this is happening. Justin Hammer is conducting inhumane experiments, possibly on Metahumans. We can't just ignore this."
His fists clenched, as he thought back on the serum Justin Hammer had suddenly produced, not tested he'd said, like Hank would believe he'd inject a subordinate he was going so far for with an untested substance.
He was conducting illegal human trials. Hank just knew.
Charles sighed, steepling his fingers in front of him. "I'm aware of your concerns, Hank. But our intelligence on Hammer is still inconclusive. We don't have definitive proof that he's experimenting on Metahumans anymore."
Hank's voice rose, filled with frustration. "Charles, you know as well as I do that where there's smoke, there's fire. Hammer's history is littered with unethical practices - you already know he used to do it, it's why you made a deal with him isn't it? Turning a blind eye now is practically condoning his actions."
Charles's gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. "I'm not turning a blind eye. But we have to consider the larger picture. Hammer's resources and technology have been crucial in maintaining a delicate balance. Without his contributions, we'd be facing greater threats from other fronts." He slumped slightly, sighing, "Without his PR efforts our situation would be reaching an untenable status."
Hank's fists clenched at his sides so hard that they creaked. "So we tolerate a monster because it's convenient for us? What happened to our principles, Charles? What happened to fighting for what's right?"
Charles leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Hank, do you think I don't struggle with this? Every day, I weigh the consequences of our alliances. But look at our alternatives. Magneto's approach is one of aggression and domination. The Hellfire Club thrives on manipulation and power struggles. We can't align with them - who else is there?"
Hank's voice was filled with accusation. "So we choose the lesser evil and hope it doesn't consume us? How long before Hammer's actions force us into a corner we can't escape from?"
Charles met Hank's gaze steadily. "If we cut ties with Hammer, who do we turn to? Again, there's only Magneto, who would use force to achieve his ends? Or the Hellfire Club, who would exploit us for their gain? These choices are fraught with peril - the government will not help if we break ties, they are under Hammer's thumb."
Hank's shoulders slumped, the fire in his eyes dimming. "I just can't believe this is our reality, Charles. That we have to compromise our values to survive."
Charles's expression softened with understanding. "Neither can I, Hank. But survival often demands difficult choices. We must be vigilant, and we must be prepared to act if Hammer crosses the line even further. For now, we work within the constraints we have."
Hank sank into a chair, his anger giving way to a deep, weary resignation. "And if Hammer does cross that line? What then, Charles? How far are we willing to go before we say enough?"
How many Metahumans had died already because they moved the line to save themselves?
Charles reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Hank's arm. "We stay true to our mission, Hank. To protect our kind and to foster peace. And we remain vigilant, ready to act when necessary. I promise you, we will not let injustice go unanswered."
Hank nodded slowly, the tension easing but not disappearing entirely. "Alright, Charles. But know this - I will continue to investigate Hammer. And if I find proof of his crimes, we must act decisively."
Charles nodded, his expression one of solemn agreement. "Agreed, my friend. We will not stand by while innocents suffer. But we must be certain, and we must be prepared for the consequences of our actions."
Hank darkly wondered if Charles even realized how he sounded. He'd already signed away how many innocent lives?
No… If Hank got proof, he'd let Charles know, but he wouldn't just leave it at that.
Charles was obviously compromised.
He was allowing too much to achieve his dream.
Hank was a doctor. He couldn't do the same. His resolve firmed.
Justin Hammer needed to be stopped.
…
Charles Xavier sighed heavily as Hank left. He was closing in on a crossroad. Equality was within reaching distance - but it might require heavy sacrifices.
He hated himself for having decided it was necessary. The world was changing too quick, without Justin Hammer they would take the brunt of the hatred and chaos.
Hank… Charles had broken one of his own rules, had plunged into his mind, seen what he'd decided.
He'd have to choose.
Hammer, or Hank, one of his own.
Night fell, casting the office in shadows as she sat and brooded, unable to make a decision.
The next morning,
The streets of New York were bustling with life, the typical cacophony of city sounds filling the air - honking cars, the chatter of pedestrians, and the distant wail of sirens. Justin, Domino, and Phantazia were traveling in a sleek, black armored SUV, flanked by a convoy of security vehicles. The security team, outfitted with the latest tech and enhancements, was ever-vigilant.
With Eileen back on the job, they had begun being whipped into shape without mercy, despite their good work so far, Eileen had declared them fat and lazy, falling back on inferior military experience in her absence instead of her routines.
Normally he could just portal anywhere now, but this was a meeting with several of New York's congressmen and the Governor, so it was best to arrive normally, or the press would begin to wonder how he'd arrived without their notice.
"Feels good to be back in the Big Apple," Justin remarked casually, leaning back in his seat, glancing at Domino and Phantazia.
There had been a lot of Cairo lately, as he still had no proper New York office. Although the build would start this year.
Domino smirked, her eyes scanning the streets lazily. "Just another day in paradise."
Phantazia, cool and composed, nodded. "Let's hope it stays that way." She glared out the window at one of the security team SUVs, "They've grown lax lately, obviously Domino did not do a good job in filling in…" Her eyes slid to Domino judgingly.
Domino held her hands up, an innocent expression on her face, "Hey, I follow the boss around 24/7, I didn't have time to constantly bully the security team."
Phantazia's look was dry, "The security teams also follow him 24/7…" She pointed out.
As they turned a corner, the peaceful routine was abruptly shattered. Without warning, a hail of bullets rained down on the convoy from multiple directions. The initial shock was deafening, the sharp staccato of automatic gunfire echoing off the buildings. Windows shattered even through their bulletproofing, and the SUVs swerved, trying to evade the onslaught.
"Ambush! Get down!" Domino shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos as she instinctively pushed Justin to the floor of the vehicle.
He might regenerate almost any damage, but it didn't mean it was a good idea to get shot.
Who dares!? Justin thought in full on rage as he clenched a fist, almost pushing Domino away to run out there and give them a piece of his mind - but then his mind reasserted itself, that would be stupid. He had his people, they'd deal with it.
Justin's security team, equipped with Extremis, sprang into action. Even as some were hit by heavy munitions, their bodies began to regenerate, wounds closing almost as quickly as they were made. His security forces fought back with precision, their weapons spitting fire and noise into the cacophony of the ambush.
The calm street turned into a warzone within seconds. Dead civilians everywhere as the ambushers gave no thought to collateral damage.
Phantazia, her eyes glowing with power, stepped out of the vehicle and raised her hands. Waves of energy surged from her, unseen by anyone but herself, targeting their attackers. The hidden assailants, their identities obscured by tactical gear and masks, convulsed as their weapons sparked and malfunctioned, dropping from their grasp and their nerve endings lit on fire, leaving their fingers unable to even hold onto the malfunctioning weapons.
Domino, crouched low behind one of the SUV doors, expertly wielded her twin pistols. Each shot rang out with a sharp crack, echoing in the narrow streets. Her uncanny aim, bolstered by her luck powers, took down one enemy after another with lethal efficiency. She moved with a fluid grace, keeping Justin shielded while maintaining a relentless assault on their attackers.
Justin, staying low, felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins. The chaos around him was a blur of noise and movement. Gunfire rattled his ears, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and smoke.
"Who the hell are these guys?" he shouted over the din, peering out at the masked figures.
"No idea, but they're well-equipped!" Domino shouted back, her voice steady despite the chaos. She laughed, uncaring about the death around them, their security team all regenerating their wounds, "They had no idea what kind of fight they picked!" She crowed, firing and killing a man in a 5th story window, the man falling out just as another stuck his head out of a 2nd floor window to fire, his neck breaking as 200 pounds of muscle fell on it from above.
Phantazia continued her assault, manipulating the electromagnetic fields to disable more weapons and to disrupt the electronics their attackers relied on. Sparks flew, and the enemy forces stumbled, their tactical advantages nullified.
The security team, despite being outnumbered, fought with a fierce determination. The Extremis in their veins made them nearly unstoppable, shrugging off wounds that would have incapacitated normal soldiers. The sound of their return fire was a constant barrage, a symphony of defiance against the ambush.
One of the SUVs exploded, the shockwave shaking the ground and sending debris flying. Justin's vehicle was rocked, but the armored plating held. "Find that bastard!" Domino barked, her eyes scanning for the next target.
The two members of the security team that had used the SUV as cover, appeared from within the flames, their skin regrowing as they retreated towards their teams, grabbing new weapons from their comrades back ups and returning immediately to the fight, barely dressed as their uniforms didn't survive the fire as well as they had.
A figure appeared on the roof above them, a rocket launcher poised to fire. Domino's keen eyes caught the movement, and she squeezed off a shot. The bullet struck true, and the rocket launcher fell from the figure's hands, detonating harmlessly in mid-air. Another bullet took the man out right after.
Phantazia, sensing a shift, concentrated her power on a group of attackers trying to flank them. Their equipment short-circuited, and they dropped to the ground, writhing as she also went after their nerves, agony surged through their bodies as she twisted.
Justin's mind whirled as he tried to process the chaos. He peeked out from behind Domino, seeing the tide of battle beginning to turn in their favor. "We need to get out of here, now!" The likelihood that something more is coming and these guys were just meant to pin us in, is high.
It's what he would do, at minimum.
"Working on it!" Domino replied, her tone unwavering. She motioned to the remaining security team. "Form up! We're moving out!"
The security team, still regenerating from their injuries, regrouped around the SUV. With Phantazia covering their retreat and Domino providing suppressive fire, they began to push back against the attackers, clearing a path.
As the convoy roared to life and sped away from the ambush site, the sounds of battle gradually faded. The immediate threat had been neutralized, but the questions lingered.
The convoy sped through the streets of New York, leaving behind the chaos and destruction of the ambush, and several dozen dead ambushers.
"Did we take any survivors?" Justin asked, eyes hard.
Phantazia smiled grimly, "We have two in one of the other SUVs, she said, a hand to her ear.
Domino laughed, a playful smirk on her face, "Oh, those boys are reaaally going to wish they didn't survive the ambush…"
"The teams?" Justin asked shortly, still reigning in his anger, at whoever dared to do this.
"No casualties, one team is traveling through New York on foot, since they lost their SUV, they'll dispose of their gear and scatter, and should be back by nightfall." Phantazia reported clippedly.
"Give everyone a bonus." Justin ordered, as he settled back in his seat, still tense, in case there was a follow up to that ambush. "Make sure they know they have my appreciation for their hard work today."
Without Extremis, his team would have been wrecked today. There was only so much any soldier could do against fire from both sides, and above, with heavy munitions.
"Find out who did this." He ordered, no more playing with them. Whoever ordered this hit…
I'm going to destroy them!
Hours later, New York.
In the brightly lit war room of one of Justin's fortified black sites, the atmosphere was electric with tension and anticipation. Justin sat at the head of a large, round table, surrounded by his key operatives, Phantazia, Domino, and Yelena - with Sunil there via video conference. The room's walls were lined with screens displaying live feeds, schematics, and data on Roxxon Corporation's headquarters in New York, and their subsidiaries all around the state.
Justin leaned forward, his eyes sharp with determination. "Alright, we've confirmed that the attackers were hired by Roxxon. It's time we send a message they won't forget." Why Agger would do this, who knows…? They've been gobbling up all the other oil companies, they've actually been growing, why this attack?
The two surviving peons they'd grabbed had a different story of course, even under torture they'd constantly claimed Norman Osborn was behind this. Something which Justin might have fallen for, if the loony man wasn't out flying around in a Goblin suit.
No… If Norman wanted him dead, he'd come do it himself.
Luckily, Kaecillius had means to make people talk even more effectively than pain, and the real mind behind the attack was revealed, one of the mercenaries recognising the middle man paying them as one of Roxxon's pets.
He'd let the attacks on him go, as he grew stronger and stronger he'd seen no need in overly going after those weaklings that had attacked him as a knee jerk reaction - especially once they'd had the meeting in Bern under the aegis of the Mandarin. Even Osborn hadn't technically broken their agreement as he'd attacked no other member, as Stark hadn't been one of them.
Agger, the CEO of Roxxon, had been there though… What was he thinking?
Yelena, ever the fierce combatant, slammed her fist on the table. "We hit them hard. Full-scale assault. We take down their headquarters, show them that no one messes with us and get away with it." She was almost snarling, her face was that fierce, she'd been almost apocalyptic once finding out Justin had been attacked.
Eileen, her demeanor cool and calculated, shook her head. "A full-scale assault would be reckless. We need to be precise. A surgical strike targeting their key infrastructure will cripple them without unnecessary collateral damage. We need to be smart about this." She paused, cocking her head, "The CEO needs to have an accident however…"
Domino, lounging back in her chair with a sly grin, watched the exchange with amusement. As far as she was concerned, the problem was practically over now that they'd survived the attack with ease, "Why not both? A little bit of chaos mixed with precision. Keeps things interesting." She suggested, egging them both on.
Justin raised an eyebrow at Domino's comment but turned his attention back to Yelena and Eileen. "Yelena, your approach has its merits. We show strength which I like, but we can't afford to attract too much heat - I want them punished, hard, but we can't afford to have it tied to us. Eileen, what do you propose exactly?"
Eileen brought up a schematic of Roxxon's headquarters on the central screen. "We infiltrate their systems first. Use the Widows for what they do best, and disable their security, making them blind and deaf. Then, we send in a small, highly trained team to take out their key operations - servers, power grids, and communication hubs. It's clean, efficient, and leaves them scrambling."
Justin watched the schematic, thinking it over. It was good, but wasn't nearly harsh enough. He wanted Roxxon to suffer, for daring to go after him.
Sunil spoke up, his tone contemplative, "If we strike soon, everyone will know it was retaliation, without having evidence it was us. It will force other actors to step more carefully." He said nothing more for a moment, before continuing, "The only thing I would have to say about the plan is that it might be too understated for your purpose, sir."
Yelena crossed her arms, frowning. "I agree with Sunil, it's too understated. And besides, what if they fight back? We need to show them the price of crossing us. Fear is a powerful deterrent." She argued, "Everyone must know that they're being punished."
Domino interjected, her voice teasing. "Yelena wants a spectacle, Eileen wants precision. Why not combine both? We go in, make a mess where it hurts them the most, but with a plan. Hit their nerve centers, but also make sure it's loud enough that they remember it - take out the board and CEO in a spectacle, after ruining their entire headquarters from the inside."
Justin leaned back, considering the options. "We need to make a statement, but we also need to be strategic. Yelena, we'll incorporate your idea of a strong show of force, but with Eileen's surgical approach. Yelena, you'll lead the ground team, ensuring we strike fast and hard - I'll lend you Frank and Brock, without their suits they're still expert operatives. Eileen, you'll handle the cyber aspect, leading the Widows, disabling their internal security and server infrastructure - steal every bit of data they have." His eyes were hard as he watched them both, "Full black ops scenario, you can not be identified, kill anything that moves."
Yelena nodded, a fierce smile spreading across her face. "I can work with that. As long as they know we mean business and never dare to cross us again."
Eileen, ever composed, gave a curt nod. "Agreed. I'll ensure their systems are down when we strike. They won't see us coming."
Domino clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Sounds like a party. Too bad I have to guard the boss. You have to make sure to leave a lasting impression for me, eh?"
Justin crossed his arms, determined to see this through, but they had something else they'd have to do first. "Tentatively plan it for within the week, depending on when we can confirm Agger is in the building. I have a phone call to make first."
He stepped away, as the women of his inner circle, and Sunil, coordinated.
The room buzzed with activity as each of them set to their tasks, the air thick with anticipation. Justin watched them, a sense of satisfaction settling over him. Roxxon had made a grave mistake, and they were about to pay the price.
He himself had something else to deal with. He stepped into a corner, and dialed a number he'd never used after the meeting in Bern.
To his utmost annoyance, it took ten minutes to connect the call, a cool distinctly Asian accent answering, "Hammer, you wish to ensure there are no hard feelings, correct?" The Mandarin said immediately, wasting no time on pleasantries.
He already knew… Justin thought, mind whirling on if that was because he'd given Agger the idea or supported the attempt quietly, or if his spies were just that good that he immediately knew it was Roxxon.
Either way he wouldn't allow the Mandarin to act so superior, "I have not called to ask permission." He bit out, voice sharp, "I am simply due to common courtesy - warning you in case you have assets in danger of being caught in the crossfire."
As much as it rankled him, he didn't want to accidentally kill off one of the Mandarin's men if he had his fingers in Roxxon. Which he now suspected even more with how quickly he ascertained what he was calling for. He believed he'd win a war against the man, immortal or not, but it would cost him everything, setting him back in an unacceptable manner at this moment.
"I have no assets worth keeping in Roxxon." The Mandarin said tonelessly. "They themselves have broken our agreement, punish them how you see fit."
"... I'll be in touch." Justin said, waiting for an acknowledgement, not wanting to come off as too rude by hanging up, but instead the Mandarin just hung up on him.
He twitched, crushing his phone in his hand. On a good note, his retaliation on Roxxon wouldn't cost him anything with their little evil circle.
He still had no idea what the Mandarin was after however. Despite professing interest in Extremis he'd still not tried to get it, even in this call he'd made no effort for it.
He just had no idea what made the man tick, and that made him wary.
He put it out of his mind for now, going back to his team, they had a punishment to eke out. Or a slaughter, same difference.
As they worked through the night, finalizing details and preparing for the assault, the resolve to retaliate against Roxxon grew stronger. By the end of the week, they would be ready to strike, and Roxxon would learn that crossing Justin Hammer and his team came with dire consequences.
The next day, New York, Hammer industries temporary offices.
Justin sat behind his imposing desk, his fingers steepled as he listened to Eileen, who stood with an air of controlled frustration. Domino lounged in a chair nearby, her expression one of casual interest.
She'd had some time to go through recent operations and changes, and had requested a meeting to go through some of them. He had the time, some of his self appointed minor tasks having begun to be delegated to his 'hands'.
Yelena was busy ensuring the Widows that would be staying around settled comfortably, while directing a few assets for the hunt for those still loose. She'd been annoyed to find that her mother figure had not been in the Red Room, and was determined to hunt her down.
So it was just the three of them, like old times.
"Justin," Eileen began, her voice holding a hint of irritation, "Why do we have one of our security teams under my control following some random scientists in New Mexico? It seems like a waste of resources." She looked at the expense report she was holding, "For the last two months!"
Justin leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Eileen, trust me, it's not a waste. I have a good hunch about New Mexico. Jane Foster's research is onto something big." Well that, and I want feet on the ground for when Thor arrives so I can know immediately.
Eileen arched an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her eyes. "Jane Foster? I've read your notes on recruitment targets, she's an astrophysicist or something, right? What could she possibly be working on that warrants our attention to this extent?"
Justin's smile widened. "She's been studying astronomical anomalies, something to do with Einstein-Rosen bridges - wormholes in other words. I have a feeling her work is going to lead to something groundbreaking. Something that could give us an edge."
Well, he wasn't so sure she'd be a worthy recruitment, but it was as good an excuse as any to why they were keeping an eye on her. He was just glad all the butterflies elsewhere had not stopped their presence in New Mexico.
Domino chimed in, her tone light and teasing. "Wormholes, huh? Sounds like you're betting on a sci-fi fantasy, Justin." She clicked her tongue, "No wonder you're always picking sci-fi for movie nights nowadays, you nerd!"
Eileen just rolled her eyes, fairly well used to ignoring Domino.
Justin shrugged, unfazed as well. "Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come from the most unexpected places. I'm confident this will pay off." Just not in actual wormholes…
Eileen crossed her arms, still unconvinced. "And what about the team in South America? Why are we wasting resources there?" She looked at the report, eye twitching, "Six different countries so far…"
Justin waved a dismissive hand. "Just keeping an eye on Banner."
He'd come to realize he wouldn't get the Abomination or Sterns, not an enhanced Sterns anyway, the butterflies had most definitely destroyed the Hulk movie scenario. Sterns without the enhancements were not worth any effort, Cho and Hansen already had things handled there, add in Conners as well and Sterns was just superfluous.
The Hulk was always worth keeping an eye on however. Just in case. Now that everything had changed, he certainly didn't want anyone to gain control of him for example - and point him at Hammer industries.
The man had already tried to sneak into one of the Hammer clinics in South America to steal a supply of Panacea to study.
Eileen's eyes narrowed. "Bruce Banner? The Hulk? What exactly are you hoping to achieve by monitoring him?" She grimaced, "Not to recruit him… Right?"
Justin leaned forward, his expression more serious. "Banner is a wild card. If he ever loses control, we need to know about it before anyone else does."
Domino let out a low whistle. "So, you're playing both sides. Watching Banner for his potential and keeping tabs in case he goes green and mean."
Justin nodded. "Exactly. We need to stay ahead of the curve. Both Foster's research and Banner's condition could have significant implications for us. It's about being proactive, not reactive."
Eileen sighed, her frustration giving way to reluctant understanding. "Alright, Justin. I see your point, but we need to be careful. Spreading our resources too thin could backfire." She warned, "If more people are coming after you, we need our security teams in high risk areas, protecting your assets, and you, not traversing the Amazon jungle."
Justin stood up, walking around the desk to place a reassuring hand on Eileen's shoulder. "I appreciate your concern, Eileen. But I have a good feeling about these moves. Trust me on this."
He couldn't exactly say he had metaknowledge about it all.
Domino, ever the pragmatist, stretched and stood up. "Well, as long as there's a plan. Just keep me in the loop if you need some extra muscle."
Justin chuckled. "Always, Domino. Now, let's get back to work. We have a lot to do and not much time to do it."
"Actually… I heard from Sunil you can actually fight now, with the skill of a drunken monkey, but still… A spar, sir?" Eileen asked, her eyes intense.
Justin hummed in thought, the paperwork beckoned, but it didn't sound nearly as exciting as working up a sweat.
"I'll join in, I'll even wear those special tights you like." Domino teased coyly.
"Spar it is." He decided.
Solely to help Eileen warm back up after so long of course.
August 14th, Malibu, California.
Tony Stark's Malibu mansion gleamed under the California sun, a marvel of modern architecture perched atop a cliff with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. The house's automated systems hummed quietly, overseen by JARVIS, Tony's ever-present buddy and employee of the year. Tony stood on the terrace, a glass of scotch in hand, looking out at the waves crashing against the rocks below. Beside him, Pepper was busy reviewing some documents, her sharp eyes flicking up occasionally to glance at Tony.
"Relax, Tony. It's just a meeting," Pepper said, sensing his restlessness.
Tony took a sip of his drink, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, but it's not just any meeting. It's Justin Hammer, he's annoying enough when I don't need a favor…"
Pepper raised an eyebrow. "You think there's going to be trouble?"
Tony shrugged. "With him? Trouble's practically a given. But hey, it's also an opportunity to settle some things."
Just then, the sound of an approaching helicopter broke the tranquility of the scene. Tony and Pepper turned to see a sleek black chopper descending onto the helipad nearby. As the rotors slowed and the door opened, Justin Hammer emerged, dressed in a sharp suit, his usual confident swagger in place. Behind him, Ivan Vanko followed, his expression a mix of anger and disdain. The Russian inventor was a stark contrast to Hammer, with his muscular frame and tattoos visible beneath his shirt sleeves.
Tony grimaced, he'd gotten a heads up from Hammer that he'd be bringing the other man, and what Jarvis had found didn't exactly paint a great picture.
"Tony Stark!" Justin called out, spreading his arms wide in greeting as he approached. "Thanks for the invite. Beautiful place you've got here."
Tony still thought Hammer was just way too smarmy, and although he'd quickly found that the Goblin was actually Norman Osborn, not one of Hammer's - and wasn't that a trip? Why had the crazy goblin blown up his own company? - yet he still believed Hammer had been the one behind the attack on this very mansion.
And now he'd invited him. He was a bit surprised the other man actually showed up to be honest. Tony wouldn't have if it was reversed.
Tony handed his glass to Pepper and walked forward to meet his guests. "Justin… Ivan, welcome to my humble abode. Let's get this over with."
Hammer's smile widened as he extended a hand. "Straight to business? I don't know what's changed, but I like it, Tony."
Tony shook his hand, then turned to Vanko, hiding a grimaced behind a cocky grin, "Ivan. How's life treating you?"
Vanko's eyes narrowed, lips curled into a snarl, "Better than you, Stark, I create the arc reactor with my father, da, while you booze and whore like useless man."
Tony chuckled. "Fair enough. Shall we?" He gestured towards the living room, where they could sit and talk more comfortably. He didn't take offense to Vanko really, because from what Jarvis had dug up, he had a grudge brought on by his dear old dad in the first place. And If there was anything Tony could agree on, it was that Howard Stark was an asshole.
If Vanko hated Howard Stark, he couldn't be all that bad, Tony thought.
The group moved inside, the sleek modern design of the house contrasting sharply with the tension in the air. They settled around a low table, Pepper remaining standing behind Tony, her presence both supportive and watchful. Her eyes settled on Justin Hammer with distaste.
Tony knew from her frequent words on the subject, that she disliked the man more than he himself did at this point. Funny in a way, as she had used to be the moderating voice when it came to Justin Hammer.
"Scotch?" Tony offered, lifting a decanter.
Hammer nodded, replying flippantly. "Sure, why not?"
Tony poured a glass and handed it to Hammer, then turned to Vanko, who shook his head. "No pussy drink for me." He grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Suit yourself," Tony said, pouring a glass for himself. He sat down, taking a sip before speaking again. "So, what's this about, bringing big angry and russian when I invite you so nicely for a pow wow?"
Justin took a sip of his drink, savoring the taste. "Well…Tony, we've got quite a bit to discuss, I agree, But first, Ivan has something he wants to say, and I felt it was best to get this all over with, within a private setting."
Tony shook his head, not overly pleased with having to do this, he could have gone his entire life without having to face more of his father's bullshit coming back to bite him. "Alright, lay it on me." He huffed, gesturing at Vanko.
Vanko leaned forward, his eyes locked on Tony. "My father, Anton Vanko, he do work with your father, Howard Stark. They supposed to be partners, da. Stark betray him! had him deported, stole his invention."
Tony met Vanko's gaze steadily. "I've heard this story before, Ivan. And I'll be the first to admit, my old man was far from perfect. But you're barking up the wrong tree if you think I'm going to take the fall for his sins." He shrugged lightly, "Whether all that's true or not, you've won haven't you? You've got the arc reactor, it's not worth it for me to compete, so take it and be happy."
Vanko's fists clenched, but he managed to keep his voice level, even as he had a growling undertone. "Father create first viable arc reactor technology. He was genius. But your family took everything from us. Everything."
Tony glanced at Justin, who was watching with an amused smirk on his face, asshole. Really, how was any of this anything to do with him? Fucking Howard Stark.
Also, he was fairly certain Anton Vanko was not the creator of the technology, although from all evidence he had worked with his dear old dad on the project. It was impossible to find records to explain if his dad had actually had a hand in getting the elder Vanko deported, although Tony wouldn't be surprised if he had.
Tony sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Look, Ivan, I don't know all the details of what happened between our fathers. But I can tell you this - I'm not my father. And as far as the arc reactor goes - you beat me to it, take that as remuneration, because given a few months more I would have perfected it first."
Vanko's eyes flashed with anger. "You stand on the shoulders of giants and pretend to be one yourself." He spat.
Tony's smile was sharp. "Maybe. But at least I acknowledge the giants. Now, are we going to keep trading barbs, or are we going to talk about the real issues?"
Justin interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "Alright, alright, let's cool it down." He gave Vanko a sharp look, the man scoffing, but settling down. "We're here to discuss some serious business, after all. Tony, you mentioned renegotiating our deal with Wakanda. Why the sudden change?"
The way the bastard was smirking, he knew damn well the sudden change. Even if he hadn't been behind the Green Goblin, he sure as hell was going to take advantage. Not that Tony could overly blame him, he'd do the same thing probably.
Pepper and Obi definitely would, both of them were very anti-Hammer lately, which rubbed Tony the wrong way - because he was supposed to be that guy, not being forced into being the reasonable one.
What's the world come to when Tony Stark had to be reasonable? He wondered.
Tony took a long sip of his scotch, before setting his glass down, his expression turning serious. "It's simple, I've lost time and resources due to the Green Goblin, and I won't be able to allocate the same amount of drones for our project as I had promised, so I'll need you to take over the slack for six months."
Justin looked amused, crossing one leg over the other as he leaned back, "Hoh? Anthony Stark needs my help?" He said slowly, a growing smirk on his face.
Tony rolled his eyes, taking another sip of his drink, the alcohol helping him deal with this bullshit. "Don't get too much of a stiffy, Justin. It's a temporary thing, I'm just being responsible, ensuring our contract is still carried out. I'm being nice here."
Justin frowned, cocking his head. "Responsible? Since when did Stark Industries get a conscience?" He mocked lightly.
Tony's eyes narrowed. "It's not about a conscience, Justin. It's about smart business. If we fail to do the job, we won't secure a steady supply of vibranium. And without proper drones we could cause political or environmental backlash. Adjusting our agreement benefits all of us."
Justin considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright, I can see the logic in that. But what's your angle with the Green Goblin? Why mention him in your message?"
Tony leaned forward, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "Because it's a threat we can't ignore. Osborn's gone off the deep end, and he's targeting me, and you know he'll target you, you were in that meeting too, and I know you know it's Osborn behind the mask. We need to coordinate our efforts to deal with him, because if you fuck this up, Ross will be up both our asses."
Hammer wasn't his first choice as someone to work with, but they were already starting in Wakanda, and he might as well continue on with it. Unfortunately dressing up in his suit and flying over to punch Osborn in the face would have too many consequences for him to be able to pull it off.
Vanko snorted, looking delighted. "You think working under Hammer is the answer?" He was practically chortling after. Justin gave his subordinate a warning look, that Vanko completely ignored.
Tony shrugged. "In this case, yes, although it's with, not under." He stressed, giving Vanko an unimpressed look, "We all have something to lose if Osborn's allowed to run rampant. He's a loose cannon with too much power and not enough sense, and with Ross up his ass, it will not end well."
Justin nodded, taking another sip of his own scotch. "I agree. Osborn's a problem, and he needs to be dealt with. But let's not forget, Tony, this isn't just about Osborn. It's about our interests. We need to protect what's ours."
Tony understood him immediately, they couldn't lose out on the Vibranium, no matter what.
Tony's eyes met Justin's, a silent understanding passing between them. "Agreed. But we do it smart. No reckless moves." God dammit, what's the world come to when I end up working with this peacock?
Justin smirked, practically preening. "Smart. I can do smart." He said smarmily.
Tony wanted to throw what was left of his drink in his face. But he held back, he was supposed to be… Nice, now.
Pepper, who had been silently observing, stepped forward. "And what about the long-term implications? How do we ensure this alliance doesn't come back to bite us?" She asked, her eyes fixed on Justin, her tone biting.
Justin smiled at Pepper, his tone smooth. "Ms. Potts, we're all businessmen here. We understand the importance of a stable partnership. Once Osborn is dealt with, we renegotiate terms as needed. Flexibility is key."
She looked unimpressed, likely interpreting it as Tony did, Justin looking to further get a point in any renegotiation. Well, Tony had tons of things brewing right now, Justin would face some surprises if he thought he could walk all over him.
Tony glanced at Pepper, who gave a small reluctant accepting nod. "Alright. I guess we're allies. For now."
Vanko spat on the carpet, "This foolish, is bad idea, can't trust a Stark." He said darkly.
Tony sighed, "Some civility here please, do you know how expensive it is to dry clean a carpet?"
"Do you?" Pepper immediately fired, even as she glared at Justin and Vanko.
"... 50 grand?"
Everyone in the room just stared at him.
"Lower? Higher?"
"I'm not paid enough for this…" Pepper muttered.
Author's note:
What!? Tony and Justin alliance? Albeit set up as a temporary one against Osborn's interests, while they work together in Wakanda.
The reason for this is because neither Tony nor Hammer can go after him with power armor, not unless he's flying around and cackling, so they team up to ream him one everywhere else until he flies off at them so they can nail him.
And Ivan finally got his meeting, and surprised Justin by mostly bragging a little and posturing.
There weren't even any punches thrown!
We're almost at Thor time, rejoice.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
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Won on Patron again, big surprise, so here's a new chapter of HammerTime.
By the first week in July-ish I will be taking a week's break for my bday and holiday, so no updates will be forthcoming for that week. Just fair warning.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
August 12th, 2008,
The Red Room flying fortress hovered silently above the clouds, a menacing yet awe-inspiring sight - if it could be seen by anyone but them, that is, the technology on display was enough to make Justin salivate. Inside, Justin walked with a confident stride, flanked by Yelena, Domino, and Kaecillius - who had brought them all here. The corridors, once cold and clinical, now felt alive with potential under their new control.
Everywhere Justin walked he just saw potential. This could potentially see him hold a space station long before he'd projected it. Sure, it was a bit old, very obviously very Soviet, but Vanko would have a blast with that kind of thing.
Ivan's father Anton, would likely cream his pants at the idea of a Soviet built space station going up with the Vanko name attached to it, albeit not publically if they could help it. It is a secret station after all.
Yelena led the way, her movements efficient and assured, with a pep in her step, a bright smile had permanently been etched on her face since they'd taken it. "We've secured everything, and found all the self-destruct safeguards - the station is yours! And the Black Widows that were saved are already being reoriented according to their respective wishes!"
Justin had seen the numbers, after Yelena's horrible joke had been seen through eventually by Domino. About a third of the Widows still wanted to play the spy and assassination game - the rest just wanted a life. He'd orientate those towards being his Emperor's hands of sorts inside his own brewing mega corporation.
Trusted skilled operatives to keep his business a well oiled machine and his rule ironclad. What else could a man ask for?
Domino, twirling a knife idly in her hand, smirked. "You mean your army of deadly secretaries? It's like something out of a bad spy movie."
Justin chuckled, appreciating Domino's snark, having grown fond of it at this point. "An army of the most skilled operatives in the world, ready to execute my will? Sounds like good business sense to me." He said smugly, feeling very pleased about things.
Kaecillius, walking a step behind Justin, nodded with a deferential bow of his head. "Master Hammer, I believe this fortress holds untapped potential. With the right enhancements, we could blend technological and magical defenses, making it impregnable. I have several spells in mind that could fortify and strengthen this vessel for space."
He was so eager all the time. He sometimes reminded Justin of a puppy. A puppy capable of destroying the world with the right tools…
He'd better make sure he never leaves him alone at home for too long…
He hadn't checked up on Cho for a while too… He should probably do that.
Justin nodded his head, getting back on track after his little detour, and he had to admit he was intrigued at the idea, waving him on. "Go on, Kaecillius. What kind of enhancements are we talking about?" He asked.
Magic was still a sore spot for him, but his eyes had been forcibly opened, and he refused to just leave a resource at his hands untapped.
Now if only the Ancient One could stop sending him snarky e-mails…
And this stupid portal thing could stop being so damn hard to do, he believed in it for God's sake, he shouldn't be having so much difficulty.
Kaecillius's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. "To start, Master, we can ward the entire fortress against detection and intrusion by normal kinds just like the sanctums, making it invisible to both technological and mystical surveillance. Additionally, we could implement spells that strengthen the structure itself, making it nearly impervious to attacks." He looked sheepish for a moment, "To match the sanctums you'd need assistance from those far more skilled than I, however."
Justin nodded thoughtfully. "Excellent start. Get together with Ivan and Forge and see how you can help strengthen and fortify what they're already working on." He grimaced slightly, "As for the other enchantments… I'm leaving them be, for now."
He did not want to owe the Ancient One that kind of favor. Not to mention the more obviously magical he allowed the space station to become - the more risks from magical people it would likely face.
Not to mention the risk he'd lose control of the station since he did not control magic.
As they walked deeper into the Red Room fortress, Yelena continued like they hadn't just segued into magic, "The Black Widows that accepted the task will serve as your hands, executing your orders and ensuring your will is carried out precisely. With their training, they'll be able to handle any task, from espionage to corporate negotiations to making a mean cup of coffee."
All said in a chirpy tone, Yelena almost moving towards valley girl territory if she didn't reign in her enthusiasm soon, Justin thought, making a note of teasing her about it later.
Justin's eyes gleamed with glee, as he exulted in the victory that gaining this station and it's inhabitants had been. "Perfect… They will be the unseen force driving my company forward, keeping my people honest. And with the eventual implementation of AI, we won't need many of them out in the world spying. Most of the operations can be handled from within my company, keeping our presence discreet."
It would after all not do for the world to realize he had a small force of Black Widows at his beck and call. Every slightly suspicious death in the world would be laid at his feet if people knew he had them.
Well people people. Those like Fury, HYDRA and the Mandarin would all figure it out he was sure. There was only so much he could hide things.
Domino snorted, giving Yelena a slight push to her shoulder. "Look at the cute mama duck looking after her little murderous ducklings." She teased.
Yelena was in such a good mood that she didn't even fire back, she just smiled at the impish bodyguard.
Justin laughed, shaking his head. "At least she isn't actually building me a harem." He pointed out dryly, "I'd never get anything done."
As fun of a thought as it was, he barely had time for sleep, let alone a harem.
It was too easy being a workaholic when the work was complete domination of everything.
He stood still as he laid a hand on the wall of the corridor they were standing in, "With this station reaching space, we'll be confirming our dominance over this world." He said, his mind already whirling with how much they could skip ahead in the space program with an actual functioning base in space.
And with Kaecillius able to bring people up and down, and able to bring a limited amount of supplies… That's a thought, I need to get him some students from my most trusted employees so they can learn the portal technique and shuttle supplies and personnel up and down continuously…
Portal Widows?
He shook his head with a small smirk on his face at the thought, the world wasn't ready…
He was going to do it anyway.
Which meant he had to reply to the damn Ancient One because he'd need a supply of sling rings… Well, at least she wasn't Stephen Strange, he'd take some snark over that Tony Stark - but with magic - copy.
Inferior copy.
Kaecillius spoke up, his tone reverent. "Your vision is unparalleled, Master Hammer. With the combination of magic and technology, your influence will be unmatched."
He'd gotten slightly worse, after meeting Helen Cho unfortunately, he thought.
Justin twitched slightly at the praise, but let it go. Even if Kaecillius was ruining his moment with his fanaticism. He was way too useful to actually snap at over minor things. Being worshiped in general was great, but something about people closer to him doing it rubbed him the wrong way.
They reached a large observation deck above Dreykov's office, apparently limited to just his personal use, where the view of the clouds and the vast sky beyond was breathtaking. Justin paused, taking in the scene. "This is just the beginning. With this station, and the resources we have, there's no limit to what we can achieve." Perhaps Earth isn't the limit after all…
Well… No reason to get that ahead of himself.
Domino leaned against the railing, her expression a mix of amusement and genuine admiration. "You've got the power, the brains, and the muscle, this really wasn't what I'd envisioned when I signed on, you know?"
"Regret anything?" Justin asked, curious.
Domino looked out over the sky, a coy smirk on her face, "Yeah, I should have asked for more money."
Yelena giggled as Justin just sighed with exasperation.
There could never be a serious moment with these people.
…
An hour later, Red Room control room.
They'd all gathered in the control room, Justin going over schematics and speaking over a conference call with Ivan and Forge, Kaecillius explaining his side of things already and now just listening attentively.
Justin was grinning excitedly, pacing back and forth, his mind racing with possibilities. "Think of the research and development we can do up there once this takes off, free from any prying eyes or governmental interference. We'll be able to innovate like never before." No more pesky laws or nosy heroes, intelligence agencies or busybody Metahumans!
They'd be entirely unrestrained, the advances they could make without having to worry about hiding black sites or obscuring supplies and personnel would be huge. Having a secret space station to go with the very public one he was setting up for in Africa, would be a complete game changer.
Domino leaned forward, her expression serious for a moment as she joined the conversation for the first time. "And what about the practicalities? How do you get this thing into space?" She asked, sounding honestly curious.
Justin gestured to the holographic display. "We've already got the basics covered. The fortress is designed to be self-sustaining in the air, so transitioning to space is the next logical step. We'll need to upgrade the propulsion systems and reinforce the structure, but with Kaecillius's magic and our tech, it's doable."
Now keeping its invisibility while flying up into orbit… That was another matter to deal with.
Ivan's voice crackled over the call, "Da, not hard, good Russian build!"
"...Don't worry everyone, I'm here to check over all this nice communist half assed engineering after Ivan touches it." Forge piped in, sounding very dry.
"Eeeh? American built is shit, last five years, maybe less, no good." Ivan disagreed.
"Russian shit is American shit, just with another label slapped onto it after picking it out of the trash." Forge fired back.
"Gentlemen, settle down, no need for an argument on this." Justin said, chuckling, the two of them argued equally as much as they had somehow become instant bros.
Kaecillius spoke up, joining in for the first time in thirty minutes, "I can create a series of spells to enhance the propulsion systems, making them powerful enough to break through Earth's atmosphere and into orbit." He offered eagerly.
Justin was well aware Kaecillius still wasn't a master and was not going to leave it to Kaecillius to be in charge of more systems, if they counted too much on magic they were in trouble if they lost Kamar-Taj as allies. But he appreciated the enthusiasm. So he shook his head, "Thank you for the offer, Kaecillius, but what you're doing is already enough."
"We can't drop other projects, but do take some time to figure out what you'll need." He told the engineer duo. They'd like drag in some of the others as well, their work going even better now that they'd had the super serum/Extremis blend.
Except for Forge of course, who remained as he was, as he'd no doubt be much less cooperative without the mind control. Ivan had been brought in on the secret out of necessity, because the man was smart enough to figure out something was going on when Forge would eventually continue to be unenhanced even when they finished the X-gene version.
The rest of the evening was spent in planning and arguments as they plotted ways to get into space.
Justin had once again stolen a march against his competitors.
The next morning, Cairo.
In the heart of Justin Hammer's Cairo compound, Eileen sat in a sleek, modern conference room, her fingers drumming lightly on the polished glass table. Across from her, Sunil Bakshi leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.
"So, let me get this straight," Eileen began, her voice cool and measured. "While I was out of commission, Justin acquired the Red Room which is apparently a flying fortress… Somehow… And he is now planning to convert it into a space station?"
I have lost so much respect for the intelligence agencies of the world… She thought, inwardly reeling at the idea a flying fortress could be kept hidden from everyone.
And dreading the idea it would be her job to figure out a way to keep Erik from dragging it out of the sky.
Sunil nodded, his expression one of dry amusement. "Indeed. It's been quite the busy period. And that's not even the half of it."
Eileen sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Go on."
"Well," Sunil continued, leaning forward with a theatrical flourish, "First of all, we now have a small army of Black Widows heading our way to serve as secretaries, middle management, and personal bodyguards amongst other things. Oh, and there's the little detail of Kaecillius our court wizard, using magic to enhance our defenses. Just your average month in the life of Justin Hammer, really."
He was enjoying this too much, she thought.
Eileen's eyes narrowed slightly as she fixed him with a cool glare. "Magic, yes, I noticed that, as hard as it was to believe. Of course. Why not? Anything else I should know?"
Magic… Like I didn't have enough things to worry about. Now wizards are on the list of threats, how do I even prepare for that?
"Let's see," Sunil said, ticking points off on his fingers. "We've got AI integration plans ongoing through a mind controlled Metahuman mechanical genius, a pending alliance with HYDRA, and the ongoing corporate espionage war. A cooperative effort with Tony Stark to mine Wakanda, which by the way was nuked to the stone age. And don't forget the personal favorites, Justin's endless charm and Domino's ever-present snark." Sunil smiled in a way that just ticked her off. "Oh, and we can't forget the fantastic HAMMER superhero team with the new Captain America - the former Winter Soldier."
How had this much happened while she'd been gone? Eileen almost felt like she'd been in a coma for a decade. She knew Justin moved at a frenetic pace, but this was getting ridiculous.
Also Wakanda was destroyed, not that she cared about those bastards, but complete annihilation, that was a bit much for her, and no doubt just added to the list of Justin's enemies.
Which made it her problem.
Eileen shook her head, a hint of exasperation creeping into her usually composed demeanor. "And how is Justin planning to manage all of this? He can't possibly oversee everything himself?"
It had been one of her biggest issues with the man, how much work he was doing on his own, not delegating enough to her and those around him.
Sunil's smirk widened. "Ah, that's where you come in, dear Eileen. You're to be his eyes and ears, his enforcer, his problem-solver. He trusts you to keep things running smoothly - simply a bit of an extension of the work you're already doing."
"Wonderful," She muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "And how exactly am I supposed to keep a lid on all these... Moving parts?"
"Simple," Sunil replied, his tone light and breezy. "You use that brilliant mind of yours. And perhaps a bit of your, shall we say, unique abilities. Justin has high expectations, but he believes you're up to the task." He tapped a finger on the table lightly, "Plus you have a third of the rescued Widows who'd like to continue a more exciting career as a welcome back gift."
Eileen leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting to the ceiling as she absorbed everything. "It sounds like a logistical nightmare. But I suppose if anyone can manage it, it's us." She murmured, already thinking on ways to expand the security team, avenues to sneak a spy or assassin in with their rivals and enemies to keep everything on track…
A few names she knew the world and especially Hammer industries could do without. She could arrange an accident or two, especially with pure professionals under her wing like the Widows…
"Precisely," Sunil said with a tiny mock salute. "Besides, think of it as an opportunity. We're at the forefront of something revolutionary. And who doesn't love a good challenge?"
Eileen's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "You're right. This is an opportunity. And I do enjoy a challenge."
Sunil leaned forward, his expression more serious. "In all seriousness, Eileen, Justin trusts you. He believes in your abilities. And so do I. We're all in this together, and we have the potential to achieve something incredible, even more than we already have, this is world domination in the making."
Sunil more than anyone, Eileen knew, had seen exactly what Justin would become, his defection from HYDRA turning him into a diehard loyalist ridiculously quickly.
If she had issues with how much Justin was working, she was fairly sure Sunil had found a way to become a vampire or something, because she doubted he had time for sleep.
Eileen nodded, her resolve hardening. "Alright. Let's get to work. First things first, I need a detailed briefing on all current operations, key personnel, and any potential threats."
Sunil grinned, reaching for a tablet. "Already prepared. I've got everything you need right here. Let's dive in, shall we?"
As Sunil began to outline the current state of affairs, Eileen listened intently, her mind already working through solutions and strategies. Despite the chaos and complexity, she felt a spark of excitement. This was what she excelled at - turning chaos into order, making the impossible possible.
"And one more thing," Sunil added, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "You'll need to keep an eye on Domino. She has a habit of... Improvising and tossing surprises onto the board even more than she used to, that woman just does whatever she wants."
Eileen rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of affection in her tone. "Of course she does. I'll make sure she stays in line."
As they continued their briefing, she couldn't help the feeling of relief to have work to bite into, it helped lessen the worries of what happened - the feeling of helplessness.
She eagerly threw herself into the work.
Hours later, Cairo.
Justin Hammer paced the length of his lavish office, the Cairo skyline stretching out behind him through floor-to-ceiling windows at the very top of his building. He held his phone to his ear, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. On the other end of the line was General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, the constant pain in his ass.
He might own the President, but Ellis couldn't just willy nilly mess around with the Joint Chiefs of Staff without opening himself up to some risks and uncertainties.
"General Ross, let's not dance around the issue here," Justin cut him off, growing tired of his arrogance and intransigence, his tone firm and direct. "The Green Goblin appeared in armor that can only come from Norman Osborn. This isn't a coincidence."
The attack on Tony Stark, although beneficial in some ways to him, also worried him, Stark could have died in that attack. It was time to clip Osborn's wings. His team couldn't go after him unless he was in his suit, but he could force Norman to come, and take him then.
Except Ross wasn't playing ball.
Ross's voice came through the phone, stern and unyielding. "Hammer, you know as well as I do that Oscorp was attacked. The armor was stolen. This is not Osborn's doing."
Justin stopped pacing, gripping the edge of his desk. "General, that's a convenient story. But think about it - who else has the capability to produce that kind of tech? This has Osborn written all over it, a thief wouldn't be able to maintain and continue to arm the suit."
Ross sighed, the sound heavy with impatience. "Hammer, you're not getting your way this time, the President can't bail you out now, the contract is signed, it's a done deal. The decision is out of his hands now and firmly in the jurisdiction of the military. We have a binding agreement with Oscorp for their power armor."
Justin's voice grew more insistent. "General Ross, you're ignoring the obvious. This isn't just about stolen tech. Osborn is obviously the Green Goblin. He's directly involved, and by sticking with him, you're putting everyone at risk."
By now even Stark surely knew the same, a simple audio recording of Norman would be enough, let alone the fact the man would have no clear cut alibi for the attack.
The general's tone hardened. "This isn't about conspiracy theories, Hammer. Oscorp's technology is already being integrated into our systems, training operatives have already begun, through simulations. Changing suppliers at this stage would cause significant delays and setbacks. We can't afford that."
Justin's attempt to keep power armors out of the game until closer to the Chitauri invasion had backfired on him massively.
Emma Frost had a similar deal going with several European countries as well, just like Osborn here. Power armor was going to be a thing, too early. The problem was Osborn obviously couldn't be trusted to deliver without some sort of plot behind it.
Justin clenched his jaw, frustration boiling over. "General Ross, you're putting blinders on. Osborn has a history of instability. You can't seriously believe he's just a victim here - he will misuse this power, he will have put backdoors into the system of anything he delivers."
Ross's voice was icy. "You think I don't know the risks? We have protocols in place to deal with the fallout in that case, if there's backdoors we will find them, but there won't be... The armor was stolen - Osborn reported the theft immediately. We can't punish a company for being a victim of industrial espionage."
From the tone of his voice, Ross was almost outright accusing him of having a hand in it. Justin wanted to slam his phone into something. Preferably the generals face, unfortunately he was in Washington, out of his reach, unless he was willing to use Kaecillius and reveal that trump card just to smack Ross in the face.
It was still damn tempting.
"General, I'm telling you, Osborn is the Green Goblin," Justin reiterated, even with defeat creeping into his voice. "He's using the military contracts to fund his operations. If you don't act now, you're complicit in enabling a madman."
Ross's response was unwavering. "Hammer, I've made my decision. The military is sticking with Oscorp. Your allegations are noted but they do not change the current contract. Focus on your own projects and let us handle this."
Justin took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check. "If you won't listen, I'll take this to the President. He needs to know what's going on here."
Ross's tone turned sharp. "You think the President will intervene in military contracts? Hammer, you know better than that, I already told you, he has no say in this, the contract is final. The President has nothing to do with this - the contract with Osborn stands, and that's final."
The line went dead, leaving Justin staring at his phone in frustration. He tossed it onto his desk, running a hand through his hair. The situation with Osborn was far from resolved, and Ross's stubbornness only made things more complicated.
Justin sank into his chair, his mind racing. He needed a new strategy, a way to convince the military to sever ties with Osborn. The stakes were too high to give up now.
Or… He just needed Osborn off the board.
If he couldn't hit the man with his team until he was in his suit…
Perhaps a simple assassination would either solve the problem permanently, or make the man jump into his suit, allowing his team to unmask him or destroy him at their leisure.
He picked his phone up again, dialing Eileen.
Osborn needed to stop being a problem.
And he'd need to get ahold of Emma too, she'd been dodging his calls ever since he revealed the name Sinister.
He was not someone you sent to voicemail!
Same day, United States, Xavier's institute.
In the dimly lit study of the Xavier Institute, Hank McCoy, paced back and forth, his blue fur bristling with agitation. Across from him, seated in a wheelchair behind a massive mahogany desk, was Charles Xavier. The atmosphere between them was tense, filled with the weight of their recent discussions.
They had many disagreements lately, all brought on by the same man.
"Hank, please, sit down," Charles urged, his voice calm but tinged with weariness. "We need to talk this through rationally."
Hank paused, his piercing yellow eyes locking onto Xavier's. "Charles, I can't sit down while this is happening. Justin Hammer is conducting inhumane experiments, possibly on Metahumans. We can't just ignore this."
His fists clenched, as he thought back on the serum Justin Hammer had suddenly produced, not tested he'd said, like Hank would believe he'd inject a subordinate he was going so far for with an untested substance.
He was conducting illegal human trials. Hank just knew.
Charles sighed, steepling his fingers in front of him. "I'm aware of your concerns, Hank. But our intelligence on Hammer is still inconclusive. We don't have definitive proof that he's experimenting on Metahumans anymore."
Hank's voice rose, filled with frustration. "Charles, you know as well as I do that where there's smoke, there's fire. Hammer's history is littered with unethical practices - you already know he used to do it, it's why you made a deal with him isn't it? Turning a blind eye now is practically condoning his actions."
Charles's gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. "I'm not turning a blind eye. But we have to consider the larger picture. Hammer's resources and technology have been crucial in maintaining a delicate balance. Without his contributions, we'd be facing greater threats from other fronts." He slumped slightly, sighing, "Without his PR efforts our situation would be reaching an untenable status."
Hank's fists clenched at his sides so hard that they creaked. "So we tolerate a monster because it's convenient for us? What happened to our principles, Charles? What happened to fighting for what's right?"
Charles leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Hank, do you think I don't struggle with this? Every day, I weigh the consequences of our alliances. But look at our alternatives. Magneto's approach is one of aggression and domination. The Hellfire Club thrives on manipulation and power struggles. We can't align with them - who else is there?"
Hank's voice was filled with accusation. "So we choose the lesser evil and hope it doesn't consume us? How long before Hammer's actions force us into a corner we can't escape from?"
Charles met Hank's gaze steadily. "If we cut ties with Hammer, who do we turn to? Again, there's only Magneto, who would use force to achieve his ends? Or the Hellfire Club, who would exploit us for their gain? These choices are fraught with peril - the government will not help if we break ties, they are under Hammer's thumb."
Hank's shoulders slumped, the fire in his eyes dimming. "I just can't believe this is our reality, Charles. That we have to compromise our values to survive."
Charles's expression softened with understanding. "Neither can I, Hank. But survival often demands difficult choices. We must be vigilant, and we must be prepared to act if Hammer crosses the line even further. For now, we work within the constraints we have."
Hank sank into a chair, his anger giving way to a deep, weary resignation. "And if Hammer does cross that line? What then, Charles? How far are we willing to go before we say enough?"
How many Metahumans had died already because they moved the line to save themselves?
Charles reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Hank's arm. "We stay true to our mission, Hank. To protect our kind and to foster peace. And we remain vigilant, ready to act when necessary. I promise you, we will not let injustice go unanswered."
Hank nodded slowly, the tension easing but not disappearing entirely. "Alright, Charles. But know this - I will continue to investigate Hammer. And if I find proof of his crimes, we must act decisively."
Charles nodded, his expression one of solemn agreement. "Agreed, my friend. We will not stand by while innocents suffer. But we must be certain, and we must be prepared for the consequences of our actions."
Hank darkly wondered if Charles even realized how he sounded. He'd already signed away how many innocent lives?
No… If Hank got proof, he'd let Charles know, but he wouldn't just leave it at that.
Charles was obviously compromised.
He was allowing too much to achieve his dream.
Hank was a doctor. He couldn't do the same. His resolve firmed.
Justin Hammer needed to be stopped.
…
Charles Xavier sighed heavily as Hank left. He was closing in on a crossroad. Equality was within reaching distance - but it might require heavy sacrifices.
He hated himself for having decided it was necessary. The world was changing too quick, without Justin Hammer they would take the brunt of the hatred and chaos.
Hank… Charles had broken one of his own rules, had plunged into his mind, seen what he'd decided.
He'd have to choose.
Hammer, or Hank, one of his own.
Night fell, casting the office in shadows as she sat and brooded, unable to make a decision.
The next morning,
The streets of New York were bustling with life, the typical cacophony of city sounds filling the air - honking cars, the chatter of pedestrians, and the distant wail of sirens. Justin, Domino, and Phantazia were traveling in a sleek, black armored SUV, flanked by a convoy of security vehicles. The security team, outfitted with the latest tech and enhancements, was ever-vigilant.
With Eileen back on the job, they had begun being whipped into shape without mercy, despite their good work so far, Eileen had declared them fat and lazy, falling back on inferior military experience in her absence instead of her routines.
Normally he could just portal anywhere now, but this was a meeting with several of New York's congressmen and the Governor, so it was best to arrive normally, or the press would begin to wonder how he'd arrived without their notice.
"Feels good to be back in the Big Apple," Justin remarked casually, leaning back in his seat, glancing at Domino and Phantazia.
There had been a lot of Cairo lately, as he still had no proper New York office. Although the build would start this year.
Domino smirked, her eyes scanning the streets lazily. "Just another day in paradise."
Phantazia, cool and composed, nodded. "Let's hope it stays that way." She glared out the window at one of the security team SUVs, "They've grown lax lately, obviously Domino did not do a good job in filling in…" Her eyes slid to Domino judgingly.
Domino held her hands up, an innocent expression on her face, "Hey, I follow the boss around 24/7, I didn't have time to constantly bully the security team."
Phantazia's look was dry, "The security teams also follow him 24/7…" She pointed out.
As they turned a corner, the peaceful routine was abruptly shattered. Without warning, a hail of bullets rained down on the convoy from multiple directions. The initial shock was deafening, the sharp staccato of automatic gunfire echoing off the buildings. Windows shattered even through their bulletproofing, and the SUVs swerved, trying to evade the onslaught.
"Ambush! Get down!" Domino shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos as she instinctively pushed Justin to the floor of the vehicle.
He might regenerate almost any damage, but it didn't mean it was a good idea to get shot.
Who dares!? Justin thought in full on rage as he clenched a fist, almost pushing Domino away to run out there and give them a piece of his mind - but then his mind reasserted itself, that would be stupid. He had his people, they'd deal with it.
Justin's security team, equipped with Extremis, sprang into action. Even as some were hit by heavy munitions, their bodies began to regenerate, wounds closing almost as quickly as they were made. His security forces fought back with precision, their weapons spitting fire and noise into the cacophony of the ambush.
The calm street turned into a warzone within seconds. Dead civilians everywhere as the ambushers gave no thought to collateral damage.
Phantazia, her eyes glowing with power, stepped out of the vehicle and raised her hands. Waves of energy surged from her, unseen by anyone but herself, targeting their attackers. The hidden assailants, their identities obscured by tactical gear and masks, convulsed as their weapons sparked and malfunctioned, dropping from their grasp and their nerve endings lit on fire, leaving their fingers unable to even hold onto the malfunctioning weapons.
Domino, crouched low behind one of the SUV doors, expertly wielded her twin pistols. Each shot rang out with a sharp crack, echoing in the narrow streets. Her uncanny aim, bolstered by her luck powers, took down one enemy after another with lethal efficiency. She moved with a fluid grace, keeping Justin shielded while maintaining a relentless assault on their attackers.
Justin, staying low, felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins. The chaos around him was a blur of noise and movement. Gunfire rattled his ears, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and smoke.
"Who the hell are these guys?" he shouted over the din, peering out at the masked figures.
"No idea, but they're well-equipped!" Domino shouted back, her voice steady despite the chaos. She laughed, uncaring about the death around them, their security team all regenerating their wounds, "They had no idea what kind of fight they picked!" She crowed, firing and killing a man in a 5th story window, the man falling out just as another stuck his head out of a 2nd floor window to fire, his neck breaking as 200 pounds of muscle fell on it from above.
Phantazia continued her assault, manipulating the electromagnetic fields to disable more weapons and to disrupt the electronics their attackers relied on. Sparks flew, and the enemy forces stumbled, their tactical advantages nullified.
The security team, despite being outnumbered, fought with a fierce determination. The Extremis in their veins made them nearly unstoppable, shrugging off wounds that would have incapacitated normal soldiers. The sound of their return fire was a constant barrage, a symphony of defiance against the ambush.
One of the SUVs exploded, the shockwave shaking the ground and sending debris flying. Justin's vehicle was rocked, but the armored plating held. "Find that bastard!" Domino barked, her eyes scanning for the next target.
The two members of the security team that had used the SUV as cover, appeared from within the flames, their skin regrowing as they retreated towards their teams, grabbing new weapons from their comrades back ups and returning immediately to the fight, barely dressed as their uniforms didn't survive the fire as well as they had.
A figure appeared on the roof above them, a rocket launcher poised to fire. Domino's keen eyes caught the movement, and she squeezed off a shot. The bullet struck true, and the rocket launcher fell from the figure's hands, detonating harmlessly in mid-air. Another bullet took the man out right after.
Phantazia, sensing a shift, concentrated her power on a group of attackers trying to flank them. Their equipment short-circuited, and they dropped to the ground, writhing as she also went after their nerves, agony surged through their bodies as she twisted.
Justin's mind whirled as he tried to process the chaos. He peeked out from behind Domino, seeing the tide of battle beginning to turn in their favor. "We need to get out of here, now!" The likelihood that something more is coming and these guys were just meant to pin us in, is high.
It's what he would do, at minimum.
"Working on it!" Domino replied, her tone unwavering. She motioned to the remaining security team. "Form up! We're moving out!"
The security team, still regenerating from their injuries, regrouped around the SUV. With Phantazia covering their retreat and Domino providing suppressive fire, they began to push back against the attackers, clearing a path.
As the convoy roared to life and sped away from the ambush site, the sounds of battle gradually faded. The immediate threat had been neutralized, but the questions lingered.
The convoy sped through the streets of New York, leaving behind the chaos and destruction of the ambush, and several dozen dead ambushers.
"Did we take any survivors?" Justin asked, eyes hard.
Phantazia smiled grimly, "We have two in one of the other SUVs, she said, a hand to her ear.
Domino laughed, a playful smirk on her face, "Oh, those boys are reaaally going to wish they didn't survive the ambush…"
"The teams?" Justin asked shortly, still reigning in his anger, at whoever dared to do this.
"No casualties, one team is traveling through New York on foot, since they lost their SUV, they'll dispose of their gear and scatter, and should be back by nightfall." Phantazia reported clippedly.
"Give everyone a bonus." Justin ordered, as he settled back in his seat, still tense, in case there was a follow up to that ambush. "Make sure they know they have my appreciation for their hard work today."
Without Extremis, his team would have been wrecked today. There was only so much any soldier could do against fire from both sides, and above, with heavy munitions.
"Find out who did this." He ordered, no more playing with them. Whoever ordered this hit…
I'm going to destroy them!
Hours later, New York.
In the brightly lit war room of one of Justin's fortified black sites, the atmosphere was electric with tension and anticipation. Justin sat at the head of a large, round table, surrounded by his key operatives, Phantazia, Domino, and Yelena - with Sunil there via video conference. The room's walls were lined with screens displaying live feeds, schematics, and data on Roxxon Corporation's headquarters in New York, and their subsidiaries all around the state.
Justin leaned forward, his eyes sharp with determination. "Alright, we've confirmed that the attackers were hired by Roxxon. It's time we send a message they won't forget." Why Agger would do this, who knows…? They've been gobbling up all the other oil companies, they've actually been growing, why this attack?
The two surviving peons they'd grabbed had a different story of course, even under torture they'd constantly claimed Norman Osborn was behind this. Something which Justin might have fallen for, if the loony man wasn't out flying around in a Goblin suit.
No… If Norman wanted him dead, he'd come do it himself.
Luckily, Kaecillius had means to make people talk even more effectively than pain, and the real mind behind the attack was revealed, one of the mercenaries recognising the middle man paying them as one of Roxxon's pets.
He'd let the attacks on him go, as he grew stronger and stronger he'd seen no need in overly going after those weaklings that had attacked him as a knee jerk reaction - especially once they'd had the meeting in Bern under the aegis of the Mandarin. Even Osborn hadn't technically broken their agreement as he'd attacked no other member, as Stark hadn't been one of them.
Agger, the CEO of Roxxon, had been there though… What was he thinking?
Yelena, ever the fierce combatant, slammed her fist on the table. "We hit them hard. Full-scale assault. We take down their headquarters, show them that no one messes with us and get away with it." She was almost snarling, her face was that fierce, she'd been almost apocalyptic once finding out Justin had been attacked.
Eileen, her demeanor cool and calculated, shook her head. "A full-scale assault would be reckless. We need to be precise. A surgical strike targeting their key infrastructure will cripple them without unnecessary collateral damage. We need to be smart about this." She paused, cocking her head, "The CEO needs to have an accident however…"
Domino, lounging back in her chair with a sly grin, watched the exchange with amusement. As far as she was concerned, the problem was practically over now that they'd survived the attack with ease, "Why not both? A little bit of chaos mixed with precision. Keeps things interesting." She suggested, egging them both on.
Justin raised an eyebrow at Domino's comment but turned his attention back to Yelena and Eileen. "Yelena, your approach has its merits. We show strength which I like, but we can't afford to attract too much heat - I want them punished, hard, but we can't afford to have it tied to us. Eileen, what do you propose exactly?"
Eileen brought up a schematic of Roxxon's headquarters on the central screen. "We infiltrate their systems first. Use the Widows for what they do best, and disable their security, making them blind and deaf. Then, we send in a small, highly trained team to take out their key operations - servers, power grids, and communication hubs. It's clean, efficient, and leaves them scrambling."
Justin watched the schematic, thinking it over. It was good, but wasn't nearly harsh enough. He wanted Roxxon to suffer, for daring to go after him.
Sunil spoke up, his tone contemplative, "If we strike soon, everyone will know it was retaliation, without having evidence it was us. It will force other actors to step more carefully." He said nothing more for a moment, before continuing, "The only thing I would have to say about the plan is that it might be too understated for your purpose, sir."
Yelena crossed her arms, frowning. "I agree with Sunil, it's too understated. And besides, what if they fight back? We need to show them the price of crossing us. Fear is a powerful deterrent." She argued, "Everyone must know that they're being punished."
Domino interjected, her voice teasing. "Yelena wants a spectacle, Eileen wants precision. Why not combine both? We go in, make a mess where it hurts them the most, but with a plan. Hit their nerve centers, but also make sure it's loud enough that they remember it - take out the board and CEO in a spectacle, after ruining their entire headquarters from the inside."
Justin leaned back, considering the options. "We need to make a statement, but we also need to be strategic. Yelena, we'll incorporate your idea of a strong show of force, but with Eileen's surgical approach. Yelena, you'll lead the ground team, ensuring we strike fast and hard - I'll lend you Frank and Brock, without their suits they're still expert operatives. Eileen, you'll handle the cyber aspect, leading the Widows, disabling their internal security and server infrastructure - steal every bit of data they have." His eyes were hard as he watched them both, "Full black ops scenario, you can not be identified, kill anything that moves."
Yelena nodded, a fierce smile spreading across her face. "I can work with that. As long as they know we mean business and never dare to cross us again."
Eileen, ever composed, gave a curt nod. "Agreed. I'll ensure their systems are down when we strike. They won't see us coming."
Domino clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Sounds like a party. Too bad I have to guard the boss. You have to make sure to leave a lasting impression for me, eh?"
Justin crossed his arms, determined to see this through, but they had something else they'd have to do first. "Tentatively plan it for within the week, depending on when we can confirm Agger is in the building. I have a phone call to make first."
He stepped away, as the women of his inner circle, and Sunil, coordinated.
The room buzzed with activity as each of them set to their tasks, the air thick with anticipation. Justin watched them, a sense of satisfaction settling over him. Roxxon had made a grave mistake, and they were about to pay the price.
He himself had something else to deal with. He stepped into a corner, and dialed a number he'd never used after the meeting in Bern.
To his utmost annoyance, it took ten minutes to connect the call, a cool distinctly Asian accent answering, "Hammer, you wish to ensure there are no hard feelings, correct?" The Mandarin said immediately, wasting no time on pleasantries.
He already knew… Justin thought, mind whirling on if that was because he'd given Agger the idea or supported the attempt quietly, or if his spies were just that good that he immediately knew it was Roxxon.
Either way he wouldn't allow the Mandarin to act so superior, "I have not called to ask permission." He bit out, voice sharp, "I am simply due to common courtesy - warning you in case you have assets in danger of being caught in the crossfire."
As much as it rankled him, he didn't want to accidentally kill off one of the Mandarin's men if he had his fingers in Roxxon. Which he now suspected even more with how quickly he ascertained what he was calling for. He believed he'd win a war against the man, immortal or not, but it would cost him everything, setting him back in an unacceptable manner at this moment.
"I have no assets worth keeping in Roxxon." The Mandarin said tonelessly. "They themselves have broken our agreement, punish them how you see fit."
"... I'll be in touch." Justin said, waiting for an acknowledgement, not wanting to come off as too rude by hanging up, but instead the Mandarin just hung up on him.
He twitched, crushing his phone in his hand. On a good note, his retaliation on Roxxon wouldn't cost him anything with their little evil circle.
He still had no idea what the Mandarin was after however. Despite professing interest in Extremis he'd still not tried to get it, even in this call he'd made no effort for it.
He just had no idea what made the man tick, and that made him wary.
He put it out of his mind for now, going back to his team, they had a punishment to eke out. Or a slaughter, same difference.
As they worked through the night, finalizing details and preparing for the assault, the resolve to retaliate against Roxxon grew stronger. By the end of the week, they would be ready to strike, and Roxxon would learn that crossing Justin Hammer and his team came with dire consequences.
The next day, New York, Hammer industries temporary offices.
Justin sat behind his imposing desk, his fingers steepled as he listened to Eileen, who stood with an air of controlled frustration. Domino lounged in a chair nearby, her expression one of casual interest.
She'd had some time to go through recent operations and changes, and had requested a meeting to go through some of them. He had the time, some of his self appointed minor tasks having begun to be delegated to his 'hands'.
Yelena was busy ensuring the Widows that would be staying around settled comfortably, while directing a few assets for the hunt for those still loose. She'd been annoyed to find that her mother figure had not been in the Red Room, and was determined to hunt her down.
So it was just the three of them, like old times.
"Justin," Eileen began, her voice holding a hint of irritation, "Why do we have one of our security teams under my control following some random scientists in New Mexico? It seems like a waste of resources." She looked at the expense report she was holding, "For the last two months!"
Justin leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Eileen, trust me, it's not a waste. I have a good hunch about New Mexico. Jane Foster's research is onto something big." Well that, and I want feet on the ground for when Thor arrives so I can know immediately.
Eileen arched an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her eyes. "Jane Foster? I've read your notes on recruitment targets, she's an astrophysicist or something, right? What could she possibly be working on that warrants our attention to this extent?"
Justin's smile widened. "She's been studying astronomical anomalies, something to do with Einstein-Rosen bridges - wormholes in other words. I have a feeling her work is going to lead to something groundbreaking. Something that could give us an edge."
Well, he wasn't so sure she'd be a worthy recruitment, but it was as good an excuse as any to why they were keeping an eye on her. He was just glad all the butterflies elsewhere had not stopped their presence in New Mexico.
Domino chimed in, her tone light and teasing. "Wormholes, huh? Sounds like you're betting on a sci-fi fantasy, Justin." She clicked her tongue, "No wonder you're always picking sci-fi for movie nights nowadays, you nerd!"
Eileen just rolled her eyes, fairly well used to ignoring Domino.
Justin shrugged, unfazed as well. "Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come from the most unexpected places. I'm confident this will pay off." Just not in actual wormholes…
Eileen crossed her arms, still unconvinced. "And what about the team in South America? Why are we wasting resources there?" She looked at the report, eye twitching, "Six different countries so far…"
Justin waved a dismissive hand. "Just keeping an eye on Banner."
He'd come to realize he wouldn't get the Abomination or Sterns, not an enhanced Sterns anyway, the butterflies had most definitely destroyed the Hulk movie scenario. Sterns without the enhancements were not worth any effort, Cho and Hansen already had things handled there, add in Conners as well and Sterns was just superfluous.
The Hulk was always worth keeping an eye on however. Just in case. Now that everything had changed, he certainly didn't want anyone to gain control of him for example - and point him at Hammer industries.
The man had already tried to sneak into one of the Hammer clinics in South America to steal a supply of Panacea to study.
Eileen's eyes narrowed. "Bruce Banner? The Hulk? What exactly are you hoping to achieve by monitoring him?" She grimaced, "Not to recruit him… Right?"
Justin leaned forward, his expression more serious. "Banner is a wild card. If he ever loses control, we need to know about it before anyone else does."
Domino let out a low whistle. "So, you're playing both sides. Watching Banner for his potential and keeping tabs in case he goes green and mean."
Justin nodded. "Exactly. We need to stay ahead of the curve. Both Foster's research and Banner's condition could have significant implications for us. It's about being proactive, not reactive."
Eileen sighed, her frustration giving way to reluctant understanding. "Alright, Justin. I see your point, but we need to be careful. Spreading our resources too thin could backfire." She warned, "If more people are coming after you, we need our security teams in high risk areas, protecting your assets, and you, not traversing the Amazon jungle."
Justin stood up, walking around the desk to place a reassuring hand on Eileen's shoulder. "I appreciate your concern, Eileen. But I have a good feeling about these moves. Trust me on this."
He couldn't exactly say he had metaknowledge about it all.
Domino, ever the pragmatist, stretched and stood up. "Well, as long as there's a plan. Just keep me in the loop if you need some extra muscle."
Justin chuckled. "Always, Domino. Now, let's get back to work. We have a lot to do and not much time to do it."
"Actually… I heard from Sunil you can actually fight now, with the skill of a drunken monkey, but still… A spar, sir?" Eileen asked, her eyes intense.
Justin hummed in thought, the paperwork beckoned, but it didn't sound nearly as exciting as working up a sweat.
"I'll join in, I'll even wear those special tights you like." Domino teased coyly.
"Spar it is." He decided.
Solely to help Eileen warm back up after so long of course.
August 14th, Malibu, California.
Tony Stark's Malibu mansion gleamed under the California sun, a marvel of modern architecture perched atop a cliff with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. The house's automated systems hummed quietly, overseen by JARVIS, Tony's ever-present buddy and employee of the year. Tony stood on the terrace, a glass of scotch in hand, looking out at the waves crashing against the rocks below. Beside him, Pepper was busy reviewing some documents, her sharp eyes flicking up occasionally to glance at Tony.
"Relax, Tony. It's just a meeting," Pepper said, sensing his restlessness.
Tony took a sip of his drink, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, but it's not just any meeting. It's Justin Hammer, he's annoying enough when I don't need a favor…"
Pepper raised an eyebrow. "You think there's going to be trouble?"
Tony shrugged. "With him? Trouble's practically a given. But hey, it's also an opportunity to settle some things."
Just then, the sound of an approaching helicopter broke the tranquility of the scene. Tony and Pepper turned to see a sleek black chopper descending onto the helipad nearby. As the rotors slowed and the door opened, Justin Hammer emerged, dressed in a sharp suit, his usual confident swagger in place. Behind him, Ivan Vanko followed, his expression a mix of anger and disdain. The Russian inventor was a stark contrast to Hammer, with his muscular frame and tattoos visible beneath his shirt sleeves.
Tony grimaced, he'd gotten a heads up from Hammer that he'd be bringing the other man, and what Jarvis had found didn't exactly paint a great picture.
"Tony Stark!" Justin called out, spreading his arms wide in greeting as he approached. "Thanks for the invite. Beautiful place you've got here."
Tony still thought Hammer was just way too smarmy, and although he'd quickly found that the Goblin was actually Norman Osborn, not one of Hammer's - and wasn't that a trip? Why had the crazy goblin blown up his own company? - yet he still believed Hammer had been the one behind the attack on this very mansion.
And now he'd invited him. He was a bit surprised the other man actually showed up to be honest. Tony wouldn't have if it was reversed.
Tony handed his glass to Pepper and walked forward to meet his guests. "Justin… Ivan, welcome to my humble abode. Let's get this over with."
Hammer's smile widened as he extended a hand. "Straight to business? I don't know what's changed, but I like it, Tony."
Tony shook his hand, then turned to Vanko, hiding a grimaced behind a cocky grin, "Ivan. How's life treating you?"
Vanko's eyes narrowed, lips curled into a snarl, "Better than you, Stark, I create the arc reactor with my father, da, while you booze and whore like useless man."
Tony chuckled. "Fair enough. Shall we?" He gestured towards the living room, where they could sit and talk more comfortably. He didn't take offense to Vanko really, because from what Jarvis had dug up, he had a grudge brought on by his dear old dad in the first place. And If there was anything Tony could agree on, it was that Howard Stark was an asshole.
If Vanko hated Howard Stark, he couldn't be all that bad, Tony thought.
The group moved inside, the sleek modern design of the house contrasting sharply with the tension in the air. They settled around a low table, Pepper remaining standing behind Tony, her presence both supportive and watchful. Her eyes settled on Justin Hammer with distaste.
Tony knew from her frequent words on the subject, that she disliked the man more than he himself did at this point. Funny in a way, as she had used to be the moderating voice when it came to Justin Hammer.
"Scotch?" Tony offered, lifting a decanter.
Hammer nodded, replying flippantly. "Sure, why not?"
Tony poured a glass and handed it to Hammer, then turned to Vanko, who shook his head. "No pussy drink for me." He grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Suit yourself," Tony said, pouring a glass for himself. He sat down, taking a sip before speaking again. "So, what's this about, bringing big angry and russian when I invite you so nicely for a pow wow?"
Justin took a sip of his drink, savoring the taste. "Well…Tony, we've got quite a bit to discuss, I agree, But first, Ivan has something he wants to say, and I felt it was best to get this all over with, within a private setting."
Tony shook his head, not overly pleased with having to do this, he could have gone his entire life without having to face more of his father's bullshit coming back to bite him. "Alright, lay it on me." He huffed, gesturing at Vanko.
Vanko leaned forward, his eyes locked on Tony. "My father, Anton Vanko, he do work with your father, Howard Stark. They supposed to be partners, da. Stark betray him! had him deported, stole his invention."
Tony met Vanko's gaze steadily. "I've heard this story before, Ivan. And I'll be the first to admit, my old man was far from perfect. But you're barking up the wrong tree if you think I'm going to take the fall for his sins." He shrugged lightly, "Whether all that's true or not, you've won haven't you? You've got the arc reactor, it's not worth it for me to compete, so take it and be happy."
Vanko's fists clenched, but he managed to keep his voice level, even as he had a growling undertone. "Father create first viable arc reactor technology. He was genius. But your family took everything from us. Everything."
Tony glanced at Justin, who was watching with an amused smirk on his face, asshole. Really, how was any of this anything to do with him? Fucking Howard Stark.
Also, he was fairly certain Anton Vanko was not the creator of the technology, although from all evidence he had worked with his dear old dad on the project. It was impossible to find records to explain if his dad had actually had a hand in getting the elder Vanko deported, although Tony wouldn't be surprised if he had.
Tony sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Look, Ivan, I don't know all the details of what happened between our fathers. But I can tell you this - I'm not my father. And as far as the arc reactor goes - you beat me to it, take that as remuneration, because given a few months more I would have perfected it first."
Vanko's eyes flashed with anger. "You stand on the shoulders of giants and pretend to be one yourself." He spat.
Tony's smile was sharp. "Maybe. But at least I acknowledge the giants. Now, are we going to keep trading barbs, or are we going to talk about the real issues?"
Justin interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "Alright, alright, let's cool it down." He gave Vanko a sharp look, the man scoffing, but settling down. "We're here to discuss some serious business, after all. Tony, you mentioned renegotiating our deal with Wakanda. Why the sudden change?"
The way the bastard was smirking, he knew damn well the sudden change. Even if he hadn't been behind the Green Goblin, he sure as hell was going to take advantage. Not that Tony could overly blame him, he'd do the same thing probably.
Pepper and Obi definitely would, both of them were very anti-Hammer lately, which rubbed Tony the wrong way - because he was supposed to be that guy, not being forced into being the reasonable one.
What's the world come to when Tony Stark had to be reasonable? He wondered.
Tony took a long sip of his scotch, before setting his glass down, his expression turning serious. "It's simple, I've lost time and resources due to the Green Goblin, and I won't be able to allocate the same amount of drones for our project as I had promised, so I'll need you to take over the slack for six months."
Justin looked amused, crossing one leg over the other as he leaned back, "Hoh? Anthony Stark needs my help?" He said slowly, a growing smirk on his face.
Tony rolled his eyes, taking another sip of his drink, the alcohol helping him deal with this bullshit. "Don't get too much of a stiffy, Justin. It's a temporary thing, I'm just being responsible, ensuring our contract is still carried out. I'm being nice here."
Justin frowned, cocking his head. "Responsible? Since when did Stark Industries get a conscience?" He mocked lightly.
Tony's eyes narrowed. "It's not about a conscience, Justin. It's about smart business. If we fail to do the job, we won't secure a steady supply of vibranium. And without proper drones we could cause political or environmental backlash. Adjusting our agreement benefits all of us."
Justin considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright, I can see the logic in that. But what's your angle with the Green Goblin? Why mention him in your message?"
Tony leaned forward, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "Because it's a threat we can't ignore. Osborn's gone off the deep end, and he's targeting me, and you know he'll target you, you were in that meeting too, and I know you know it's Osborn behind the mask. We need to coordinate our efforts to deal with him, because if you fuck this up, Ross will be up both our asses."
Hammer wasn't his first choice as someone to work with, but they were already starting in Wakanda, and he might as well continue on with it. Unfortunately dressing up in his suit and flying over to punch Osborn in the face would have too many consequences for him to be able to pull it off.
Vanko snorted, looking delighted. "You think working under Hammer is the answer?" He was practically chortling after. Justin gave his subordinate a warning look, that Vanko completely ignored.
Tony shrugged. "In this case, yes, although it's with, not under." He stressed, giving Vanko an unimpressed look, "We all have something to lose if Osborn's allowed to run rampant. He's a loose cannon with too much power and not enough sense, and with Ross up his ass, it will not end well."
Justin nodded, taking another sip of his own scotch. "I agree. Osborn's a problem, and he needs to be dealt with. But let's not forget, Tony, this isn't just about Osborn. It's about our interests. We need to protect what's ours."
Tony understood him immediately, they couldn't lose out on the Vibranium, no matter what.
Tony's eyes met Justin's, a silent understanding passing between them. "Agreed. But we do it smart. No reckless moves." God dammit, what's the world come to when I end up working with this peacock?
Justin smirked, practically preening. "Smart. I can do smart." He said smarmily.
Tony wanted to throw what was left of his drink in his face. But he held back, he was supposed to be… Nice, now.
Pepper, who had been silently observing, stepped forward. "And what about the long-term implications? How do we ensure this alliance doesn't come back to bite us?" She asked, her eyes fixed on Justin, her tone biting.
Justin smiled at Pepper, his tone smooth. "Ms. Potts, we're all businessmen here. We understand the importance of a stable partnership. Once Osborn is dealt with, we renegotiate terms as needed. Flexibility is key."
She looked unimpressed, likely interpreting it as Tony did, Justin looking to further get a point in any renegotiation. Well, Tony had tons of things brewing right now, Justin would face some surprises if he thought he could walk all over him.
Tony glanced at Pepper, who gave a small reluctant accepting nod. "Alright. I guess we're allies. For now."
Vanko spat on the carpet, "This foolish, is bad idea, can't trust a Stark." He said darkly.
Tony sighed, "Some civility here please, do you know how expensive it is to dry clean a carpet?"
"Do you?" Pepper immediately fired, even as she glared at Justin and Vanko.
"... 50 grand?"
Everyone in the room just stared at him.
"Lower? Higher?"
"I'm not paid enough for this…" Pepper muttered.
Author's note:
What!? Tony and Justin alliance? Albeit set up as a temporary one against Osborn's interests, while they work together in Wakanda.
The reason for this is because neither Tony nor Hammer can go after him with power armor, not unless he's flying around and cackling, so they team up to ream him one everywhere else until he flies off at them so they can nail him.
And Ivan finally got his meeting, and surprised Justin by mostly bragging a little and posturing.
There weren't even any punches thrown!
We're almost at Thor time, rejoice.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
Chapter 25: Thorsday
Here's chapter 25: Thorsday
Fair warning, this chapter has something as boring as a congressional hearing. So those who want to avoid Star Wars esque political double talk and hearings, you can skip that part.
I felt the need to show part of how the government is reacting to Hammer nowadays, outside Ellis who is obviously onboard, as well as to get a few named politicians in the back pocket for any future government shenanigans.
It's not the end of the world if you skip that part, but I felt it necessary to add it.
Also, just putting it out there, I know shit all about the stock market, so I just googled something and added in what it explained to me, if it's wrong, well in this AU it works anyway, mmkay?
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Roxxon's New York headquarters loomed large against the night sky, a towering fortress of glass and steel. Two teams of Black Widows, specialists in espionage and sabotage, prepared to infiltrate the building.
The board was holding a late meeting with all hands on deck, no doubt going over the failed attack, so they were ready to strike, looking for maximum pain dealt to their enemy.
The Black Widows were old hands at this kind of thing, and were excited to do it for a 'good cause' this time.
Eileen's team was the first to move. Composed of seasoned Widows, they approached the building under the cover of darkness. They navigated through the shadows, their black tactical gear blending seamlessly with the night. The service tunnel entrance was their target - a less conspicuous entry point often overlooked by complacent security personnel.
In this case it hadn't been, but a Widow had already been inserted into the building during daytime hours, specifically to make her way down to ensure their entrance would be cut off from the rest of the security system for the time being.
It would be investigated, but by then they'd already be in, and could move forward with taking over the entire security system.
The tunnel led them into the underground parking garage. Guards patrolled lazily, unaware of the silent predators closing in on them - having no idea the cameras and motion sensors on the doors were temporarily disabled. In a swift, coordinated strike, Eileen's team neutralized the guards, leaving no room for alarm or resistance. Silencers whispered, and bodies dropped with barely a sound. Within moments, the entrance was secure.
Eileen divided her team into two groups. One, led by her, would handle physical security, while the other focused on cyber operations. On her signal, the Widow already inserted in the building initiated a cascading power failure, not knocking the system out, just temporarily going to emergency power through the areas the Widows were rushing through, ensuring security wouldn't see them until it was too late.
By not completely knocking the power out, they gave themselves precious minutes where security would wonder, checking out the power failure instead of going into immediate lockdown and calling for help.
Eileen's group ascended the maintenance stairwells, avoiding the more trafficked areas, their knowledge of the building absolute, they made their way to the security room at a controlled run. As they approached the security control room, they knew they'd arrived in time, as the building hadn't gone into lockdown.
They had ways around that too, if it happened, but it was good to have things run smoothly. Roxxon had a lot of military level personnel, but they were the frontline forces, the background personnel - the fat lazy ones sitting in security offices - were not nearly as proactive and experienced, and they'd counted on that after getting profiles on the staff.
The control room was the building's nerve center, bustling with guards and technicians monitoring the myriad security feeds. Eileen and her team burst in with precision, subduing the occupants before they could react - several of them down before they even realized anything was happening. Hand-to-hand combat ensued with the few who remained, a blur of expertly executed moves that left the room littered with unconscious bodies. With the guards and technicians incapacitated, Eileen's team secured the room, taking control of the building's physical security systems.
These guys were basically rent-a-cops not hardened operatives, so they didn't go straight for the jugular. They'd already be leaving a trail of bodies in the end, no need for the no name grunts to suffer needlessly.
Roxxon's biggest threat wasn't their human resources anyway, the building was littered with drones. Not anything near the capabilities Hammer Industries had, but in tight hallways, a murderbot firing away indiscriminately would have been a problem - hence why they focused on the weaker human element, confusing and distracting them until they got far enough in the building to take them.
Eileen felt smug, as she compared their ineffectual and weak response to the system she'd set up for all of Hammer Industries buildings. In her system, any kind of power failure, camera outage, or similar - would lead to an immediate full response until proven otherwise.
It's also why each of Hammer Industries security guards had health monitors attached, so they'd get a warning the second one of them died, got knocked unconscious, or had an abnormal increase in heart rate.
Compared to that, Roxxon was basically the Walmart of evil corporations. Drones were no use if they'd never get a chance to be activated.
Meanwhile, the cyber team infiltrated the IT department, Eileen's team helpfully opening all locked doors on the way, while locking everyone else in the building in. Among them was a Black Widow named Zara, a African Widow and a tech prodigy with a knack for breaking through the most sophisticated firewalls - one of Dreykov's favorites, and one of the younger Widows of the new generation. They connected their devices to the mainframes, initiating a silent takeover. Zara's fingers flew across the keyboard, rewriting code, and destroying surveillance feeds. The building's cameras now displayed looped footage for the time they were in the building, ensuring any investigation afterwards would find nothing amiss.
Oh, they'd realize it was looped footage, but Zara was an expert. They wouldn't be able to dig out even a simple glimpse of anything, not that there was much to see thanks to the cascading power failure that had so stumped the security team for the brief time they'd had to investigate.
As the cyber team worked, Eileen coordinated with them to execute the next phase - A partial building lockdown. She glanced at her watch, timing their actions with military precision. When the moment arrived, the building was plunged into lockdown, locking important areas and personnel in. Meanwhile the drones that would come screeching to eradicate invaders were kept offline, by Zara, as she expertly manipulated the lockdown to lock the different security teams and hit teams inside their barracks.
Simultaneously, the team activated communication jammers, severing all external contact. Roxxon's headquarters was now an isolated fortress, its defenses crippled, and no one outside of it had any idea.
As the building's systems were completely subsumed, Yelena's team, stationed in an adjacent building, sprang into action. Yelena led this second wave and alongside her were Frank, and Brock, with several Widows along for the ride. Their mission was to dismantle key parts of Roxxon's infrastructure and destroy both their military assets and extract or destroy their scientific assets.
Using a window that had not had shutters descend over it in the lockdown, perfectly placed for them to zipline in, Yelena's team entered the building. They moved swiftly, their path cleared by the first team's efforts. Locked doors opened for them as they approached, and they mowed down opposition ruthlessly.
Their first target, the barracks, to remove any capabilities of Roxxon to use their own forces to strike back after this.
Across the state the other facilities Roxxon had were also being hit, bombed in a way that would point fingers towards the Green Goblin, massive collateral damage and loss of Roxxon's security forces the goal.
For now, Roxxon's assets abroad and across the rest of America were not being hit. This was a lesson, not complete annihilation.
For now.
Frank and Brock took point once they got to the barracks, their enhanced strength and combat skills ensuring swift progress. The lockdown eased as they approached, Yelena tossing the men several explosives casually, the men arming them just as casually before tossing them inside the barracks.
The explosion wasn't quite enough to shake the entire building, but it was enough to utterly destroy the room filled with Roxxon's best, for whatever that was worth. As soon as the debris stopped flying around, the team moved in and ensured any survivors did not in fact survive.
Meanwhile, Zara delved deeper accessing the systems, downloading terabytes of sensitive information. The data included records of illicit activities, financial transactions, and internal communications - evidence that could dismantle Roxxon's empire.
There were more than one way to skin a cat after all…
Eileen had joined her at this point and oversaw the operation with a sharp eye. Her team worked efficiently, extracting data while preparing the servers for destruction. The extracted information was encrypted and transferred to secure drives, ensuring it could not be easily traced back to them. The servers, once a treasure trove of Roxxon's secrets, were now rigged to become a pile of slag.
Meanwhile, Yelena's team moved through the building, eradicating the security forces, the real security forces, those kept off the books of the company, but still made their home inside Roxxon's headquarters.
The lockdown kept any other employees locked in and unaware of the happenings, letting them through only to their targets. Eventually the task was done, and Frank and Brock took the team and escorted the scientists that didn't choose death, off the premises.
With their tasks completed, both team leads converged on the building's top floor. The boardroom, the whole reason the building was fully staffed with security tonight - was their final destination - Roxxon's board ironically meeting to figure out how to deal with Hammer Industries.
They should have kowtowed instead, they would have lived longer.
Eileen had anticipated possible resistance here and had sent two Widows ahead to secure the area. These operatives, mistresses of stealth, had infiltrated the floor and neutralized the guards, ensuring the executives could not escape through some secret means to get around the lockdown.
The boardroom doors were reinforced, a testament to the executives' desire for security. They'd need heavy ordnance to get through… If it weren't for the fact they already controlled the whole building.
Eileen scoffed at the lack of planning, the head offices and top floors of Hammer Industries buildings ran on separate power sources and with their own security systems controlled from within, to prevent exactly this scenario. With a simple command to Zara, the doors were opened, revealing a scene of opulent decor and tense occupants. Agger and his board members sat at a large table, their faces a mix of anger and fear.
Agger specifically seemed to lean mostly towards anger, his face red, eyes flashing with hatred.
Eileen stepped forward, her eyes locked on Agger. "Your plots end, Agger," She said, her voice steady and cold. "We've taken everything from you, and soon the world will know what Roxxon truly is, your company will be eaten alive." She sneered, "You shouldn't have tried it, you shouldn't have thought a worm like yourself could ever touch Justin Hammer."
Agger's expression hardened, but he remained silent. He knew he was outmatched, or he didn't want to speak with what he'd see as lackeys, whatever his reason, it saved them pointless posturing. The Widows spread out, prepared in case one of the men was more than they seemed and attempted anything.
Yelena brought up her H-phone, one not affected by the communications jam, "Sir, he's ready for the extraction."
A swirling orange portal opened up in the boardroom, the board members rearing back in shock, except for Agger, who only clenched his fists.
They could have done this from the beginning to get Agger, but they'd wanted to crush all of them, not just the CEO.
Kaecillius stepped through, and then stepped aside, "Mister Agger, Master Hammer awaits…"
When Agger didn't make any moves to stand up, Yelena slowly raised a gun, the silencer still on, "You can walk on your own, or you can crawl after I shoot your balls off." She threatened sweetly, for all intents looking like she'd prefer he picked the second option.
Slowly Agger stood, his face a mask of rage and distress, everything he'd built crumbling before him, as he slowly walked through the portal.
The last thing Agger heard or saw of Roxxon - were the cries of protest - and the muffled sounds of gunshots, as the board expired behind him.
Justin smiled pleasantly as the man who'd ordered him killed came to stand before him, sitting ready in an almost throne-like chair as he sipped on some brandy, "Well, look who it is, it's Aggy, we have so much to talk about…"
"There will be consequences for this, you can't brush this under the rug, Hammer, you might have defeated me, but if you kill me you'll never get out of this." Agger growled, clenching his fists so hard drops of blood were falling onto the carpet.
Justin smiled condescendingly, "Oh, sweet little Aggy, you have no idea what you're dealing with."
"Now let's have a nice, long, talk… You and I…"
Yelena and Eileen came through the portal, which immediately closed afterwards, the Black Widow and the Metahuman coming to stand behind Agger.
"Make him sing, ladies."
2 days later, Washington D.C.
Moving faster than any government in American history, the United States Congress asked Justin to testify before the national security subcommittee two days after the Roxxon attack, and a little over a week after the attack on himself.
Asked, not subpoenaed, because Justin was obviously the victim here, and also because all the new cute little congressmen wouldn't dare piss him off by requesting his presence like they were better than him.
With two attacks on him, the Oscorp attack, the attack on Stark, and now Roxxon being both a site of a slaughter, as well as their dirty laundry leaking out all over the internet - the American government was concerned.
With concern being code for panicking.
With warhawks on the rise and constant national security issues plaguing the country, not to mention the absolute failure of SHIELD to do… Anything about any of these attacks - it had created the perfect storm for Justin.
Politicians who desperately needed him and his companies, politicians who feared losing all of what gave America an edge in international affairs and military - politicians ripe for the picking.
The atmosphere in the Congressional chamber was tense, the media having been pushing Congress members hard on the recent national security failures. Justin, as the CEO of Hammer Industries, was set to testify before the national security subcommittee about the recent attack on him by mercenaries in New York. This attack, which resulted in over 20 civilian casualties, was a stark reminder of the vulnerability of America's industrial giants - How Hammer Industries, Stark Industries and Oscorp to name a few - would flounder with the simple removal of the man at the top.
A great worry for the government when those three companies were responsible for a large chunk of all military contracts, and literally all of the more innovative and futuristic solutions.
Justin's presence was not merely a matter of his own importance either at this point; it underscored the profound economic and security implications of such attacks on corporations like Hammer Industries, Oscorp, Stark Industries, and Roxxon. With his significant economic influence, Justin knew his testimony was expected to be a pivotal moment, as the committee sought his insights on preventing future incidents.
As they begged him for his advice. Oh, they wouldn't use any of those words of course, but he'd been oh so prettily asked to show up, while the likes of Stark had simply been subpoenaed.
The Congressional chamber buzzed with subdued activity as staffers and reporters settled in for the hearing. The room, adorned with portraits of past political leaders, exuded an air of solemnity. Members of the national security subcommittee, a mix of seasoned politicians having come out of retirement to run after the catastrophe and newer faces, took their seats at the long, polished raised dais at the front of the room.
Key figures included the committee chair, Elizabeth Kline, a staunch supporter of industrial innovation, a Warhawk, and also 87 years old, and Richard Connors, known for his gruff demeanor and no-nonsense approach, having been a governor for 8 years before he retired, patriotism making him run for Congress due to the Wakanda crisis.
Among them were also Representatives Susan Delgado and Michael Hayes, both known for their close ties to the corporate sector and supportive stance toward Justin - they'd run on exactly that - telling their constituents that they'd ensure Justin had a free hand to improve the country.
He hadn't even needed to pay them a dime, they'd supplicanted themselves all on their own.
Representative Kline rapped her gavel to bring the room to order. "Good morning, everyone. We are here today to discuss the recent attack on Mr. Justin Hammer and the broader implications for our national security. Mr. Hammer, thank you for joining us. We look forward to your insights on how we can prevent such tragic incidents in the future." Her voice, while weak and raspy, was also sharp.
Panacea couldn't cure age, but it had brought her back into the state of a perfectly healthy 87 year old - Justin figured he had good odds she'd be willing to sign off on what he wanted.
He had the President in his corner, but Congress was also an invaluable tool, the more they subverted themselves on his behalf, the easier things would become for him once he had to step up his game - once he had to fight the likes of HYDRA.
Justin, dressed in a sharp dark blue suit, rose to speak. His tone was calm, yet firm. "Thank you, representative Kline, and the esteemed members of the committee. The attack on Hammer Industries was not just an assault on my company but an attack on American innovation and enterprise - as was the similar attacks on Oscorp, Stark Industries and Roxxon. I am here today to offer my perspective on how we can fortify our defenses and ensure that such tragedies do not occur again."
If there was a tiny bit of a smirk growing on his face, it was for the humor in the situation. He was behind two of those attacks after all. And now he was going to make bank due to it.
Representative Delgado was the first to pose a question, her tone friendly and supportive. "Mr. Hammer, given your extensive experience in the industry, what immediate steps do you think we should take to protect our industrial infrastructure and persons of national importance like yourself?"
Justin nodded at her appreciatively, flashing a smile, "Representative Delgado, I believe we need a multi-faceted approach. First, increasing investment in cybersecurity to protect our technological assets - the enemy somehow knew where to strike after all. Second, enhancing physical security measures at key industrial sites. Third, fostering greater collaboration between the private sector and government agencies to share intelligence and best practices - we have the money to protect ourselves but not the knowledge of the threats…"
And hey, wouldn't you know, Hammer Industries had a great private security company growing rapidly, with a neat cyber division too. Justin wasn't so crass as to bring it up, but he knew everyone present knew exactly what he was speaking about.
Representative Hayes followed up. "Mr. Hammer, your company in particular has been at the forefront of technological advancements. How can we leverage these advancements to bolster our national security for the sector?"
Heh, owning congressmen is so useful, Justin thought, a prideful smirk on his face as he preened slightly in his seat, the question teeing things up perfectly.
"Representative Hayes, innovation is our greatest asset against our enemies. We need to harness the cutting-edge technologies Hammer industries can provide, to protect and preserve our industrial might over our rivals and enemies. The fact of the matter is that Hammer industries have survived these attempts stronger than ever, proof of concept of our system, proof the government can use to institute the same across the industry." Justin said, speaking slowly and solemnly, even as he basically told the government to buy his shit and pay his security company to protect industrial assets all over America.
Give it another two, three years, and he'd basically be ruling the country completely.
Representative Connors leaned forward, his expression steely, his dark eyes intent. "Mr. Hammer, your company has been targeted multiple times. Some might argue that these attacks are a direct result of your aggressive business practices. How do you respond to those who say you bear some responsibility for these incidents?" He gestured briefly to the gallery, where Justin knew Tony Stark was sitting, waiting his turn, "Seems to me like we didn't have any of these problems until you started kicking up a fuss, and now you're trying to profit off your rivals too."
Justin's demeanor remained composed, though a flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. Can't win them all I suppose… He thought.
"Representative Connors, while it is true that Hammer Industries is a high-profile target, it is precisely because we are leaders in our field and of immense importance to national security. Our success attracts attention, both positive and negative. However, it is unfair to place the blame for criminal acts on the victims of those acts. We must focus on holding the perpetrators accountable and strengthening our defenses - defenses that have succeeded in the case of Hammer industries…"
Justin shrugged easily, flashing a friendly smile, even as his eyes remained slightly pointed at the hardass representative, "It's a free market out there, sir, and we have proven that we can protect what is important. We can't risk any more blunders in regards to national security."
The number one step of winning in American politics? Mention national security a lot as your excuse to get away with anything. And pointedly, Hammer Industries had gotten away better off from the attacks, compared to Oscorp, SI and Roxxon anyway.
Connors pressed on, dropping the national security angle for now. "And what about the civilian casualties, Mr. Hammer? Over 20 innocent lives were lost. How do you address the concerns of those who feel your company's presence, your presence, brings undue risk to the public?"
There's a murmur amongst the gallery at that, some outrage popping up before security quiets down the crowd, escorting the loudest out. That had not been a popular move.
Justin took a deep breath, affecting a saddened look for the cameras, looking at the representative reproachfully. "The loss of innocent lives is a tragedy that weighs heavily on me, and even though I couldn't possibly have been aware I was going to be attacked in public, I will be ensuring the families are suitably compensated so they can at least move forward with life without financial worries." Idiots… More die each day in America from stupidity, why care about these twenty in particular…?
Applause broke out from the gallery, and Connors leaned back in his chair, dissatisfied, but obviously unwilling to press further with Justin so easily beating aside his objections.
Representative Kline banged her gavel to regain order, interjecting to steer the conversation toward broader economic implications. "Mr. Hammer, could you elaborate on the potential economic impact if such attacks continue? How vital are companies like Hammer Industries, Oscorp, Stark Industries, and Roxxon to our national economy?" Her face was severe as she stared down at him, "How long until our national security is debilitated by such attacks?"
Justin paused to take a sip of water, before nodding. "The industrial sectors which all of our companies have great market shares in, are the backbone of our economy. Companies like ours drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the GDP. If these attacks persist, the economic consequences could be devastating - disrupted supply chains, loss of investor confidence, and a decline in technological advancement. It is imperative that we protect these pillars of our economy - especially in today's climate, where we provide a significant amount of the materials for the military and intelligence apparatus."
Representative Delgado picked up on this point. "Mr. Hammer, you mentioned earlier the need for increased investment in cybersecurity and physical security. Can you provide specific examples of what Hammer Industries is currently doing and what more needs to be done?"
Good boy, Justin thought, smiling pleasantly,
"Hammer Industries has already implemented advanced cybersecurity protocols that we'd be willing to sell and/or install for the government or private sector, as well as proprietary state-of-the-art physical security systems at our facilities - including using our own private security that is leagues above anyone else's. Naturally I believe it would also be wise to propose the creation of a national task force dedicated to protecting industrial assets from both physical and cyber threats."
A task force that would recommend Hammer industries as the company to redo the security systems of all government agencies and all private sector sites of great importance to national security. He'd make sure of it.
He hadn't planned this when he angrily struck back at Roxxon, but once the opportunity popped up, he'd be a fool to not push for something like this.
He knew Stark enough to know he'd try to push for something similar once he was questioned, except he wouldn't have quite the same shimmer of success as Justin had, through Hammer industries meteoric rise.
Representative Connors, still not entirely satisfied, posed another challenging question, glaring down at him, "Mr. Hammer, you speak of collaboration and investment, but can you assure us that your company's practices align with national security interests? There have been concerns about the transparency and ethics of your business operations." His glare intensified, "As in the complete lack of any transparency."
"Ooh, damn, you got told on that one!" Tony Stark called out laughingly from the backseats, Pepper Potts frantic shushing sounds stopping him from interjecting anything further. Notably security did not move to remove Tony Stark. There was a divide between people like them and regular citizens, they were just better, and the normals realized it and acted as such.
Justin ignored Tony with nary a twitch and met Connors' gaze steadily. "Hammer Industries operates with the highest standards in the world and always proceeds with the largest standard of ethical conduct. We are fully committed to aligning our practices with national security interests. I am more than willing to provide any additional information the committee requires to alleviate these concerns."
No I'm not, but it's not going to come to that… Transparency, bah! I own my company, no one gets to stick their fingers in.
As the hearing progressed, it became evident that the public and political reactions were as varied as the committee members' questions. The media coverage of the hearing was extensive, with news outlets and analysts dissecting Justin's every word and the committee's responses.
Despite the fact Tony Stark had so far only been involved in one heckling sentence, he had a whole segment on just him, analyzing his comment, looking for hidden meanings.
Public opinion was divided. Supporters of Hammer Industries and the broader industrial sector saw Hammer as a visionary leader under siege, unfairly targeted by criminals. Critics, however, questioned the concentration of economic power and the potential risks posed by such influential corporations - especially the fact that like Representative Connors had pointed out, Hammer industries had no transparency.
Still, even with those slight questions raised, Justin just knew he was coming out on top, any further investment into national security would come his way, he would beat out Tony for it, and Osborn hadn't even answered his subpoena, so he surely wasn't getting any more contracts.
A shame he hadn't shown up, he and Tony had only just begun to move against him, it would have been interesting to have all three of them in the same room.
As the part of the hearing requiring him drew to a close, representative Kline offered Justin a chance to make a last statement, one the obviously took, performing more for the cameras than the committee.
Justin stood for his closing remarks, a congenial smile on his face. "Thank you, representative Kline, and members of the committee. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss these critical issues. Hammer Industries remains committed to leading the way in innovation and security, and we are eager to collaborate with all stakeholders to build a safer, more resilient future for all of America."
As Justin left, Domino at his side, his and Tony's eyes met, both of them nodding.
Irregardless of their dislike of each other, it was time to knock Norman down, they'd fight over these no doubt fat and juicy contracts on their way, and they weren't going to allow Norman a single slice of the pie.
By the next day, without bothering to even communicate about it, they both began striking back at Norman Osborn, trying to force him out in his shitty suit.
Tony Stark and Justin Hammer had joined forces to bring down Norman Osborn's empire - the conclusion was already set in stone by that one act. Oscorp, through a series of calculated economic maneuvers, would suffer. Their tactics were ruthless, each action designed to destabilize Osborn's company and erode its foundations.
The initial strike was a coordinated stock assault. Stark and Hammer shorted Oscorp shares not owned by Norman himself, causing market panic as investors and owners of the stock panic sold, worried about what the two titans knew that they didn't.
Due to their involvement and what they did elsewhere as well, they'd likely face legal issues if they weren't who they were - and had the government ties to completely squash any such thing.
Simultaneously, Stark and Justin both leveraged their media connections to launch a relentless smear campaign against Oscorp. Articles and news segments began questioning Oscorp's safety standards, ethical practices, and leadership. Their outsized influence over the media ensured that the narrative remained focused on Oscorp's potential malfeasance, creating a storm of negative publicity that Osborn struggled to counter.
Especially as Norman was nowhere to be found to counter anything they were doing.
Justin, meanwhile, also took a different route. Utilizing his extensive network within the regulatory and political spheres, he began a covert campaign to stymie Oscorp's operations. He lobbied key politicians and regulatory officials to scrutinize Oscorp's permits and licenses, initiating investigations that would tie up Osborn's projects in bureaucratic red tape for years once they got going, just the threat of it once it leaked - sinking the stock prices even further. Construction permits would be delayed, operational licenses were questioned, and every aspect of Oscorp's expansion plans faced unprecedented scrutiny.
Justin and Tony would both take a monetary hit from the shares they shorted to start the panic, but it was peanuts all things considered.
Justin's influence extended to local government as well. He sent his people out, and convinced city councils and zoning boards to re-evaluate Oscorp's permits wherever they had an office or a warehouse/factory, citing various environmental and safety concerns. Projects that were critical to Oscorp's growth were suddenly being bogged down by legal challenges and regulatory reviews - all appearing within the same few days, drowning their legal department. The constant pressure and delays caused significant financial strain on the company.
Still Norman didn't show up, frustrating the both of them.
There was no sighting of the man, or the Green Goblin.
Stark didn't stop at media manipulation either. He called upon his military connections, using his influence to cast doubt on Oscorp's military contracts, bypassing Ross and going lower in the chain, something that hadn't even occurred to Justin. Whispered accusations of malfeasance and substandard practices reached the ears of military officials and defense contractors. Reports of faulty equipment and ethical breaches began circulating, prompting formal inquiries into Oscorp's defense contracts from the bureaucratic side. These inquiries disrupted existing deals and put future contracts at risk, hitting Oscorp's most lucrative revenue streams.
The combined assault from the both of them was relentless. The media blitz created a public relations nightmare for Osborn, while Justin's regulatory maneuvers slowed Oscorp's operations to a crawl. Investors, seeing the growing instability, began to lose faith in Oscorp's ability to weather the storm. Stock prices continued to plummet, and key clients started abandoning ship.
Oscorp was losing value so quickly that employees began abandoning ship, fearful they wouldn't have jobs soon enough anyway.
Justin was fairly annoyed that Stark had anticipated it before him, and managed to snap up a lot of the staff that weren't focused on weapons development.
Behind the scenes, their teams worked tirelessly to outmaneuver Oscorp at every turn. The only thing souring their victory was the fact that Norman Osborn was still a no show.
Even as much as they hammered the company, it could not fall, not completely, not with the monetary windfall in military contracts they held. Without Osborn revealed as the Green Goblin, Oscorp was still too entrenched in the Military with Ross assistance.
Their teams continued to pummel Oscorp in the background, but both Justin and Tony had busy schedules, so they were forced to admit defeat for now.
Oscorp was a shadow of itself, but it still stood - its CEO in the wind.
Justin ordered all Hammer industry facilities to be on a lookout, and to immediately contact the home team in case of attack, Kaecilius on standby to transfer the majority of HAMMER anywhere the Green Goblin appeared.
He couldn't understand it, he himself would have never just stood by if someone attacked his company.
What the hell was Norman up to?
Peru, South America.
The dense jungle of Peru was a labyrinth of green, the thick canopy above casting shadows on the forest floor. Birds called to each other in a symphony of chirps and squawks, while the underbrush rustled with unseen creatures. The air was humid, the smell of earth and vegetation permeating everything. Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff moved silently through this verdant maze, their senses sharp and alert, this was almost nostalgic for the two, even if they'd never grow to love mosquitoes.
"Are you sure he's here?" Natasha asked, her tone laced with skepticism. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, scanning the dense foliage for any sign of movement. It was a little bit more out of reach than his usual patterns. "You didn't just take me through the jungle because you wanted off the couch?"
Clint, ever the optimist, grinned. "According to our intel, or Hill at least, this is the place. You know Banner, he's not exactly easy to track, but once you've nailed a place down, he usually doesn't move quickly once he's feeling safe and isolated enough." He completely ignored any assertion about couches, Laura would surely forget he was in the doghouse by the time he got back.
Natasha sighed, adjusting the strap of her pack. "Yeah, well, this better not be another wild goose chase. We've been at this for days."
Clint acknowledged it with a silent nod, knowing she was in a horrid mood with the recent happenings. Hammer had been the start, but now with everything with SHIELD…
They were loyal to Fury, although it was more to say that Nat was loyal to him and Phil - and they followed Fury, than anything else.
They continued their trek, the path becoming narrower and more treacherous. Clint, ever the sharpshooter, took the lead, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of danger or their elusive target. Natasha followed closely, her movements graceful and deliberate, not even the jungle could make the Widow take a wrong step.
"So," Clint began, a mischievous tone in his voice, the trek boring, and poking Nat being one of his favorite pastimes, no matter how dangerous, "I saw that Yelena's working for Hammer now. She looks exactly like you described her, going to get in touch again?"
Natasha's expression darkened. "Not the time, Clint." She said clippedly.
"Come on, Nat," He persisted, ducking under a low-hanging branch. "If you won't, then why hasn't she reached out? You two used to be close from what you told me."
Natasha's jaw tightened. "It's complicated. And I don't have to explain my family to you."
The fact Nat even said the word family, told Clint enough about Yelena, and he wondered if Hammer was the reason the two women didn't reconnect.
Or if Nat was still embarrassed.
Clint raised his hands in mock surrender. Seeing a lost cause, for now. "Okay, okay. Just making conversation."
They pushed forward, the vegetation growing thicker and the air more oppressive. The sound of a distant river reached their ears, providing a momentary distraction from the heat and insects. Clint took a moment to glance back at Natasha, who was clearly not in the mood for banter.
Didn't stop him anyway. That's why everyone loved him. His tenacity.
"Look, I get it," He said more seriously. "Family stuff is tough. But we have a job to do, and if she's in with Hammer, that could complicate things for all of us, it's worth getting in touch, seeing what's what." He knew appealing to her familial instincts wouldn't work, so he tried something more business like.
Go Nat, pump your sis for information, and while you're at it, have a coffee, reconnect, do your nails, or whatever girls do together.
Natasha shot him a withering look. "Focus on the mission, Barton."
Clint nodded with a sigh, wisely deciding to drop the subject. They continued in silence, the sounds of the jungle enveloping them. After what felt like hours, they finally reached a small clearing near the riverbank. The sound of rushing water was louder now, mingling with the chirping of insects and the occasional call of a monkey.
"There," Clint whispered, pointing to a small, dilapidated hut partially obscured by vines and overgrowth. "This has to be it."
It was either Banner, or a hermit that really wanted to stay away from people.
Natasha nodded, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the area. "Let's go."
They approached cautiously, their movements synchronized and silent. As they neared the hut, they could see a faint light flickering inside, evidence of someone's presence. Clint signaled for Natasha to take the lead, knowing her pretty face was more disarming than his if they were spotted.
Natasha crept up to the door, her back pressed against the wooden frame. Clint positioned himself on the other side, his bow at the ready in case this was all a set up, with recent events, Hill could have been compromised, they weren't going to take any chances. With a nod, Natasha pushed the door open slightly, getting a good look inside, before relaxing slightly, nodding at Clint, who put his bow on his back, and together they entered the dimly lit interior.
Inside, the hut was sparsely furnished, with a makeshift bed, a table cluttered with likely stolen scientific equipment, and stacks of books and papers. In the corner, a figure sat hunched over a microscope, his broad shoulders and disheveled hair unmistakable.
"Doctor Banner," Natasha called softly, her voice cutting through the silence, her persona appearing so much softer suddenly. Less threatening.
Clint marveled at it, even as he put on an easy grin of his own, perfectly capable of playing the affable clown to set someone at ease.
The figure turned, revealing the haggard face of Bruce Banner. His eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked it with a wary expression. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Clint stepped forward, hands raised, offering a reassuring smile. "We have an offer for you, Doctor Banner. One that you might want to hear." He shrugged his shoulders easily, "We're agents of SHIELD, and we're not here for the other guy, if that's what you're worried about."
Bruce glanced between them, his gaze lingering on Natasha. "I'm not interested in joining whatever agency you're from." He said with disinterest, tension in his frame.
Natasha stepped forward, her tone gentle but firm. "It's not about that. We need your help. And this time, it's different - we're not after your research or the other guy."
Bruce's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of his isolation evident. "Different how?"
Clint stepped in, his voice earnest. "We're on a mission to save the world, you could say. We need your expertise, your knowledge. And we can offer you a safe place to work, away from all this." He gestured to the primitive surroundings, "State of the art lab, doc."
Bruce hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Why me? There are other scientists out there."
Natasha met his gaze, her eyes softening, playing her role, "Because we trust you, Bruce, We know you, maybe not personally, yet, but we know you're not a bad guy."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Outside, the jungle continued its symphony, oblivious to the monumental decision being made within the tiny hut. Finally, Bruce sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Alright. I'll hear you out."
No doubt he expected to have to end up running anyway. The Hulk, an inevitability in his mind.
But that wasn't their department. Their job was simply to get the man to Fury. Anything else was above their head.
Natasha and Clint exchanged a relieved glance, knowing that this was just the first step.
They still needed to get him back to America without SHIELD or any myriad of people keeping an eye on Banner, finding out.
It was a little like smuggling a nuke.
Luckily Natasha had some experience there.
The upscale New York restaurant exuded luxury and sophistication. Soft lighting from ornate chandeliers bathed the room in a warm, golden glow, reflecting off polished marble floors and rich mahogany tables. Waiters moved with practiced grace, carrying trays laden with gourmet dishes and fine wines. The hum of polite conversation and the clinking of silverware created a symphony of urban refinement.
Justin sat at a corner table, the city's skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored navy suit, a particularly fine one he'd picked for the occasion. Across from him sat Hope, her beauty radiant in the ambient light. She wore an elegant black dress that hugged her athletic frame, her hair styled in loose waves that framed her face. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she teased Justin, as she had been since they were seated.
"So, tell me, Justin," Hope said, her tone playful, "How much did you have to throw at the chef to get us this reservation?"
The restaurant was booked out for the next two and a half years after all.
Some celebrity chef running the place, Justin hadn't cared other than for the fact Hope was a fan, so he'd ensured they'd get in.
Yelena had been grumpy at the order, but considering her little prank on him, he figured she was the perfect person to set up this little date.
Due to how busy he'd been, he hadn't had a chance to connect with her when she'd been in Africa working on the space project the last few days.
Justin chuckled warmly, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, you know, not that much. I promised him a visit from Captain America and an autograph, and some other minor concessions. Anything to keep you happy, Hope."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "Flattery will get you nowhere, you know. But I have to admit, this place is impressive." She looked around, eyes sparkling, "I've been wanting to come since I heard about it opening." She murmured, giving him a look that he couldn't quite decipher, except maybe as hungry.
Well they were at a restaurant.
The waiter arrived with their first course, a delicate lobster bisque served in fine porcelain bowls. The aroma was tantalizing, a blend of rich cream and fresh seafood, garnished with a hint of chive.
Justin didn't see what was so famous about this chef, since he just did classic gourmet food, couldn't any fancy chef do that? But he held his tongue and ate the tasty food.
How someone that crooned about flavor town constantly would end up a classical French chef he didn't understand, but at least the food was good.
"This looks incredible," Hope remarked, having her first taste of the bisque. "It tastes incredible too… You always manage to impress, don't you?"
"It's a talent," Justin replied with a wink. "But seriously, Hope, I wanted to thank you for meeting me tonight. It's been a while since we had a chance to catch up."
She nodded, her expression softening. "It has. You've been busy with Hammer Industries and that deplorable attack" Her eyes flashed for a moment as she looked angry, before she sighed, not wanting to ruin their time going over that issue," And I've had my hands full with Pym Technologies and the space project. But it's good to see you. Really good." She tucked some hair behind an ear almost shyly.
Their conversation flowed easily, a mix of friendly banter and light flirting. Justin quietly admired the way Hope carried herself, confident and poised, yet with a warmth that made her such a delight to spend time with. They moved on to the next course, a beautifully plated filet mignon for Justin and a beautifully prepared quail for Hope. The flavors were exquisite, each bite a testament to the chef's skill, no matter how annoying his personality, he did know how to cook.
As they laughed and talked, the door to the restaurant swung open, and a ripple of awareness passed through the room. Emma Frost, resplendent in a white designer gown that clung to her statuesque figure, entered with an air of regal authority. Her platinum blonde hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes scanned the room with cool detachment. In front of her, a waiter with a blank gaze hurried forward with an extra chair, placing it at Justin and Hope's table.
Without waiting for an invitation, Emma gracefully sat down, her presence commanding attention. "Justin," She said smoothly, her voice like silk, "Do you have time for a chat?"
Justin's expression remained calm, though his eyes flashed with irritation. "Emma, always a pleasure. This is Hope Van Dyne, by the way." He said sarcastically, "Since it seems you forgot to take her into account."
Hope's eyes narrowed slightly, but she extended a polite hand. "I know who you are, Miss Frost. Frost Industries has quite the reputation." The bite to her tone was in no way friendly.
Emma's smile was courteous but distant. "Yes, we do. And I'm aware of your accomplishments, Ms. Van Dyne. Now, Justin, we need to talk about something urgent." She said, immediately disregarding Hope, to the woman's obvious annoyance.
Justin bit back a retort, this woman… She dodged his calls, only to show up like this? What a bitch.
Hope glanced at Justin, concern creeping into her eyes. "What's going on, Justin?" She eyed Emma distastefully, "I wasn't aware you had business dealings with Frost industries…"
Justin placed a reassuring hand on Hope's arm. "It's alright, Hope. Emma and I are allies of sorts. She has some information that could be important." He glared at her, "It better be important." He warned.
Allies or not, beautiful or not. If she was wasting his time and ruining his time with Hope, he would make her regret it.
Emma's eyes turned towards Hope for a moment, before returning to Justin, who simply nodded, telling her he didn't mind Hope being involved in this, he did have one comment though, "Is this really the place for this, Emma…"
She simply smiled, as every head in the restaurant turned away from them, the staff and patrons alike robotically returning to their previous actions, with none of the curiosity they'd held just moments ago. "Yes." She said simply.
"Justin…" Hope said lowly, peering around them, looking ready to deploy the Wasp suit.
Justin waved her down, as well as Domino and Yelena who'd both drawn weapons when Emma flexed her power. "Get to the point, Emma, since you couldn't bother picking up the phone for this."
Emma leaned forward slightly, her voice low but clear. "Phones are a risk, you never know who could be listening. I have intelligence on Mr. Sinister. He's a geneticist with a penchant for manipulation and experimentation. His real name is Nathaniel Essex, and he's been involved in various clandestine operations for decades. Sinister is a master of genetic engineering and has been conducting experiments on humans to create superior beings, specifically one kind of humans..." Her eyes meet Justin's, a curl of distaste to her lips, "Our… Club… Has made use of his services before."
Hope's eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and readiness to act. "Genetic experiments? What kind of danger are we talking about?" Seeing Justin's calm face and demeanor, she settled somewhat, but the look she gave him clearly told him they would be talking after this.
Justin figured it was about time he brought her slightly into his circle anyway, not fully. Not ever fully… But a peek behind the curtain would only help.
Emma continued, her tone grave. "Sinister's ultimate goal is to create a race of superhumans under his control. He's ruthless and has no regard for human life. His experiments often involve kidnapping and torturing his subjects. We have reason to believe he's planning something massive - hence his control of Magneto and his people, and we need to stop him."
Hope blanched at that, "Magneto is under his control?"
Justin grimaced, "Unfortunately." He suddenly had a thought, looking at Emma, "You won't mind if we do a quick test… Just making sure I'm not speaking to Mystique right now…" He asked, waving for Yelena.
Emma raised an impressed eyebrow, "Prudent. I approve."
Yelena came over, and after a few words, produced a scanner, running it over Emma. After having held Mystique captive, and gotten plenty of samples and scans of her biology, they could now detect her with a scanner, one member of his inner circle always carrying one.
"She's clean." Yelena said, and at Justin's nod she stepped back again, not before sending Hope a look, which the Pym Heiress completely ignored.
"Does your contacts have any idea about his whereabouts?" He asked Emma, knowing it was the Hellfire club that had sent her.
If they'd used him before, they'd looked into things once he'd talked to Emma, and realized the threat he was, and only then did they deign to come crawling back…
For an ally, Emma was playing both fields a little too closely for Justin's liking…
Emma shook her head, "His last known location was Cairo, but that was years ago."
Justin mulled over that coincidence, "I'll have my people keep an eye out, just in case."
"Is this why you created the team, Justin?" Hope asked, looking very dissatisfied with how the night had gone, but following his lead anyway, which he appreciated.
"Partly, yes." He said, not willing to share fully with her. That way led only to tears.
"Is that all, Emma?" He asked, trying to salvage what he could of the night.
"Yes, but I'd quite like some dessert, I think." Emma said, not even having to move a finger, waitresses showing up with a dessert for all three of them.
Justin and Hope both glared at her, and she simply smiled back cooly. "Since we're all going to be good friends from now on, let's get along."
Yes..
Justin was fairly sure he actually hated this woman.
His eyebrows rose up in surprise, as the cool and detached Emma Frost, lightly began flirting with Hope over dessert.
Yes, he definitely couldn't stand this woman.
The next day, New York Blacksite.
Kaecillius had portaled them in, Cho having sent an email about her project, having a demonstration ready - although from the way she worded it, she didn't have the best of news.
Justin glanced at Domino and Eileen, who both nodded in confirmation that the area was secure. "Let's get this over with," He said, his tone a mix of irritation and impatience.
He was still sore over his night being ruined the previous night, and facing possible bad news from Cho had hardly made him feel better.
They approached the heavy metal door of the bottom sublevel, which opened with a series of mechanical clicks and whirs. Inside, the blacksite was a stark contrast to its exterior. State-of-the-art technology lined the walls, and the air was filled with the faint hum of machinery. Security personnel, clad in black uniforms, were stationed at various points, their expressions unreadable.
Their job was as much a line of last defense, as it was to keep anything Cho might do, contained.
Helen Cho, dressed in a white lab coat, greeted them with a professional smile. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of nervousness and the usual admiration, "Welcome, Jus- sir! I've been looking forward to seeing you - I mean showing you what I've been working on. And our latest breakthrough, even if not… Exactly what you wanted." Her head lowered as she bit her lip, looking heartbroken to be reporting any kind of failure.
Justin nodded, a tolerant smile playing on his lips. "I'm sure it's not that bad Helen. Let's see what you've got." He soothed her, hoping his word would be true.
She led them through a series of corridors, each more secure than the last, until they reached a large, sterile room. In the center of the room, a reinforced glass enclosure housed a test subject. Justin's eyes widened in shock as he saw the figure inside - a perfect clone of himself, its body a patchwork of flesh and gleaming Vibranium. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments had been replaced with Vibranium-enhanced counterparts, and the skin shimmered with a subtle metallic sheen where the subdermal armor had been implanted.
The aesthetics had not been a priority until they had a viable path forward, so he wasn't annoyed with the cyborg look, the fact it was himself he was looking at, that annoyed him quite a lot.
"What the hell, Helen?" Justin exclaimed, unable to hide his surprise or his anger. "Is that... Me!?"
Domino whistled, while Eileen and Kaecillius awkwardly looked away from the naked clone.
Helen nodded, her expression calmer now for some reason, but also defensive. "Yes, Justin. For the enhancements to be done correctly, we needed a perfect test subject. A clone was the best option, so we could test how it would bind with your DNA properly…"
Justin seriously doubted a clone was the only option, she could have grown single organs or muscles and tested things, she didn't need a whole body.
Domino burst out laughing, her amusement echoing in the sterile room. "Oh, this is rich! So, Justin, how does it feel to look at yourself and know you are definitely a glorified sex toy?"
"Domino!" Eileen snapped, but the giggling woman ignored her to peer at the clone instead. She sauntered closer to the glass enclosure, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Nice equipment, by the way. Helen, you did keep this clone as a toy between tests, right?"
Helen stuttered, clearly flustered by the question. "I-I assure you, Domino, all interactions were strictly professional."
They all looked at her flushed face, and the squirming she did at their stares. Somehow none of them believed her.
Justin rubbed his face, a vein pulsing in his forehead as he tried to hold back his anger. If she'd asked for permission, he might have even given her the go ahead. But to do this behind his back…
"Sure they were," Domino replied, still chuckling. "Come on, Justin. Lighten up. You have to admit, it's impressive."
Justin tried to regain his composure, focusing on the matter at hand. "Alright, let's get back to business first, before we deal with… This… Do Vibranium muscles, joints, and tendons, combined with Extremis and the Super Soldier Serum, provide enough of a benefit?"
Helen sighed, her professional demeanor returning. "Unfortunately, no. While the Vibranium enhancements are incredible for a regular super soldier's life expectancy, they don't offer significant benefits when combined with Extremis. The regeneration abilities of Extremis are superior to any advantages the Vibranium might provide."
Eileen snorted lightly, murdering under her breath, "Like walking around with Vibranium in you would have any benefit around Magneto…"
"So, this whole project is a dead end?" Justin asked, frustration evident in his voice.
"For your purposes, yes," Helen admitted. "However, for a standard super soldier, these enhancements could be revolutionary. But with Extremis, it's just not worth it. The regeneration is better than any positive the Vibranium would give."
Domino leaned against the glass, still smirking. "So, what's the next move, Doc?"
Helen hesitated before replying, "I suggest focusing on making the original uncontrollable Extremis, with its fire capabilities, more controllable. If we can harness that power, it would be a far more effective means to enhance a subject like Justin."
Justin nodded at that, the gears in his mind already turning. "Alright, Helen. Let's shift our focus. Work on stabilizing Extremis. Make it controllable and we'll revisit this."
Helen nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "Understood. We'll make it happen."
"... Now, let's talk about cloning, hmm?" Justin said with a hint of heat to his voice.
Unfortunately for him, his anger only seemed to excite Helen, even as she looked devastated to have failed him, her face flushed further, her eyes going slightly glassy, and he could see her nipples protruding through her top. "I need to be punished, I know…" She said breathlessly.
"How did you even… Your job was to test if Vibranium could be used to strengthen a body, how did that have you create working equipment to clone human bodies as a side effect?" Justin asked, just trying to understand.
It was like trying to cure gassy stomachs and accidentally curing cancer instead.
Helen squirmed slightly, "Ah, at first it didn't work at all, I could only create… Choice pieces." She murmured, looking down at the ground.
"I bet I can guess what piec-uff!" Domino began, before getting punched in the shoulder by Eileen, "Hey, why didn't my luck make me avoid that?" She pouted.
"Even your luck thought you deserved that one." Eileen muttered. "I want to trade you for Yelena, if only she wasn't busy with the Widows…"
Justin glared at them, before focusing back on Helen, "Then how did you succeed?" He gestured to the clone, "That is far further than choice pieces."
Helen looked up, cheeks red, "Well… Kaecillius had a lot of ideas on how magic could help the process, when I explained to him what I was doing, he was able to help me shortcut the last steps through magic."
Justin immediately turned, "Kaecillius!" Only to find a closing orange portal, the sorcerer having decided to flee the consequences of his actions.
"That was our ride." Domino said with a sigh, still with an amused smile on her lips.
"... I'll deal with him later… Helen, you've gone behind my back on this, I can't let you off easy, this could have gone horribly wrong, you understand me? The reason you have carte blanche to science up whatever you want is because of me, which means you honestly report what is happening to me."
Helen shrunk slightly at his growing anger, as he almost growled out the last part, "I also made two copies of me!" She squeaked out, hurrying to appease him, "They're programmed to perform some… Basic tasks. It's like we're triplets." She entreatied him.
"A desperate ploy, Cho, just take your punishment." Eileen drawled, shaking her head.
Justin opened his mouth to lambast her again. Then he paused. He'd have to cut her budget or punish her some other way, to show his displeasure, but… Afterwards.
"Triplets?"
"Sir!?"
"Bwahahaha!"
Anything further was interrupted by a call, "Sir, he's arrived." Was the first thing he heard once he answered.
"Get Kaecillius back here!"
Puerto Antiguo, New Mexico,
The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the dusty landscape as Justin Hammer's sleek black SUV pulled up to a modest trailer on the outskirts of Puente Antiguo, New Mexico. The scene was unassuming - a small, quiet area surrounded by rocky terrain - but what lay within was anything but ordinary.
His team had been keeping an eye on Jane Foster, and yesterday's storm had been impossible to miss,
Justin stepped out of the SUV, adjusting his suit - preparing himself to meet a so-called god - albeit not the brightest one. Behind him, Domino and Phantazia followed, each exuding an air of readiness in case things took a turn for the worse - surely his butterflies hadn't reached Asgard, however...
Justin would be really impressed if his business moves somehow had managed that. Impressed and annoyed.
He prefered Thor to be predictable.
He definitely prefered Loki to be predictable.
Odin… He could just fuck right off. If it weren't for the whole Hela thing, he'd just wish the old bastard would drop dead. Useless protector of anything.
They approached the trailer, where Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis were still coming to terms with the events of the previous day. Jane's trailer was cluttered with scientific equipment and charts, a testament to her relentless pursuit of knowledge. The door was open to let air in, and their approach was noticed at last as they walked up.
The scientists had not even heard their cars pull up, showing how intent they'd been on their readings.
Jane looked up from her notes as the trio approached, her eyes widening in surprise. "Justin Hammer? What are you doing here?" She squawked, completely taken aback.
Justin offered a polite smile. "Good morning, Dr. Foster. I'm here to speak with your guest. I believe his name is Thor."
Erik Selvig stepped forward, his demeanor protective as he slipped Jane behind him. "What do you want with him? And with us?"
Justin remained calm and courteous, not in too much of a rush, and knowing that pushing these people too hard would just get him in trouble with Thor later. "I assure you, Dr. Selvig, my intentions are purely professional. Thor's presence here has garnered a lot of attention from those who could understand what happened last night, and I think we can all benefit from a conversation."
Before Jane could respond, the door to the trailer opened, and Thor stepped out. Despite his now mortal body, he carried an undeniable aura of nobility and strength. His eyes narrowed as he took in the newcomers. Immediately recognizing Domino and Phantazia as warriors, Justin assumed.
"Who are you?" Thor demanded, his voice firm, "You remind me of Loki…" He added, frowning.
Justin inwardly winced, fantastic. Great beginning.
Justin stepped forward, extending a hand. "My name is Justin Hammer. I represent Hammer Industries, you could call me the most powerful man in this realm, when it comes to economic and political might. I'm here to discuss your... Unique situation."
Thor looked at Justin's outstretched hand but did not take it. "What do you want from me?" He said, looking displeased, "Like Loki, you hide your meanings behind pretty words, speak plainly!"
Before Justin could answer, the sound of approaching vehicles filled the air. Several black SUVs, emblazoned with the SHIELD logo, pulled up to the trailer. Agents in tactical gear swiftly disembarked, securing the area with military precision.
Leading the team was Jasper Sitwell, accompanied by Agent John Garrett, whose presence commanded immediate attention. Garrett's cold, calculating eyes scanned the group before settling on Justin, Domino immediately stepped closer with narrowed eyes, reacting to something Justin couldn't see.
Likewise Phantazia stepped back so she'd have eyes on both Thor and Garret. The scientists were all gaping at the scene before them.
"Mr. Hammer," Sitwell said politely but firmly, "I'm afraid this man is coming with us."
Justin frowned but maintained his composure. "And under whose authority?" He said, narrowing his eyes, knowing his place on the council was the worst kept secret in SHIELD.
Garrett stepped forward, his tone authoritative and condescending. "Under the authority of SHIELD, of course. Thor is now under our jurisdiction." He smiled, a smile with nothing but malice behind it, "Though a fella like yourself would understand how these things work, Hammer…"
Thor glanced between Justin and the SHIELD agents, his frustration growing. "I will not be taken against my will." He growled, pointing at Justin, "Especially not by the inferior Loki!"
Justin wanted to face palm. Thor… What the fuck?
Domino and Phantazia subtly shifted into defensive positions, ready to react if necessary. Justin raised a hand, signaling them to stand down. A fight with HYDRA wouldn't do them any good right now, and besides, just like SHIELD in canon, they'd waste their time on pointless interviews, and poking at the hammer.
As a Security Council member, he could get more done by allowing it, following along, and then twisting Pierce's arm a little to get access.
"Mr. Thor," Justin said with forced calm, "I understand your reluctance, but SHIELD is a formidable organization. Perhaps it's best if we cooperate for now and find a solution together." He eyed him meaningfully, which likely flew above his head, adding, "You'd learn nothing by throwing fists, don't you agree?"
Jane, Erik, and Darcy watched the exchange with a mix of confusion and concern. Jane stepped forward, her voice shaky but determined. "Thor, these people can't just take you. We need to understand what's happening." She turned to them, pleading, "You can't take him, do you have any idea what we saw?"
Garrett's patience was visibly wearing thin. "Dr. Foster, I assure you, SHIELD has the resources and expertise to handle this situation - you should be thankful we're not at this time appropriating your notes... Hammer, your cooperation would be appreciated." He ordered, making it clear he expected Justin to go along with this, or else.
Who was this Joker? He missed Coulson already.
Justin glanced at Garrett, recognizing the futility of resistance. "Very well, Agent Garrett. But know that I will be involved in this matter to its conclusion. Thor's potential if his arrival here happened as reported - is too significant to ignore."
Garrett nodded curtly. "Noted. Now, if you'll excuse us." He said Insincerely to the scientists.
Selvig was muttering at Thor, the man grumpily deciding to cooperate. Not before declaring he'd be back to continue to assist the Lady Jane, because no mere mortal could hold him.
Justin rolled his eyes as Doctor Foster blushed, they'd barely had a few hours together, already Thor was working his charm.
He'd be doing them both a favor if he prevented that relationship from happening.
The SHIELD agents moved in, escorting Thor towards their vehicles. Thor cast a final, resolute look at Jane and her team before allowing himself to be led away.
Justin turned to Jane, offering a reassuring smile. "I'll ensure Thor's safety and keep you informed. Trust me, Dr. Foster." He said, the smile not reaching his eyes.
He had not expected HYDRA to be so on the ball, they'd surprised him, and he didn't enjoy these kind of surprises.
Jane nodded reluctantly, her eyes filled with worry. "Thank you, Mr. Hammer." She murmured.
Darcy piped up suddenly, "Can I get an autograph?"
Everyone looked at her, and she shrugged, "Hey, when am I ever going to be near the new emperor of mankind again?"
"Darcy, don't be ridiculous." Jane sighed.
As SHIELD's convoy departed, Justin, Domino, and Phantazia returned to their SUV. The morning sun continued to rise, casting long shadows across the desert landscape. The game had changed, but Justin was determined to remain a key player in whatever unfolded next.
Author's note:
Just note that rent-a-cops as called so by the likes of Eileen and Yelena aren't actually Roxxon hiring your common everyday security guard off the street. Just compared to their standards, they're not military grade professionals.
So Cho is gonna Cho, finally found out what she's been cooking.
And Emma Frost is still a bitch, who'd have thunk it.
What on earth is old Norman doing too, I wonder?
No Hammer next week as I'm on holiday for my bday.
Cheers
Fair warning, this chapter has something as boring as a congressional hearing. So those who want to avoid Star Wars esque political double talk and hearings, you can skip that part.
I felt the need to show part of how the government is reacting to Hammer nowadays, outside Ellis who is obviously onboard, as well as to get a few named politicians in the back pocket for any future government shenanigans.
It's not the end of the world if you skip that part, but I felt it necessary to add it.
Also, just putting it out there, I know shit all about the stock market, so I just googled something and added in what it explained to me, if it's wrong, well in this AU it works anyway, mmkay?
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Roxxon's New York headquarters loomed large against the night sky, a towering fortress of glass and steel. Two teams of Black Widows, specialists in espionage and sabotage, prepared to infiltrate the building.
The board was holding a late meeting with all hands on deck, no doubt going over the failed attack, so they were ready to strike, looking for maximum pain dealt to their enemy.
The Black Widows were old hands at this kind of thing, and were excited to do it for a 'good cause' this time.
Eileen's team was the first to move. Composed of seasoned Widows, they approached the building under the cover of darkness. They navigated through the shadows, their black tactical gear blending seamlessly with the night. The service tunnel entrance was their target - a less conspicuous entry point often overlooked by complacent security personnel.
In this case it hadn't been, but a Widow had already been inserted into the building during daytime hours, specifically to make her way down to ensure their entrance would be cut off from the rest of the security system for the time being.
It would be investigated, but by then they'd already be in, and could move forward with taking over the entire security system.
The tunnel led them into the underground parking garage. Guards patrolled lazily, unaware of the silent predators closing in on them - having no idea the cameras and motion sensors on the doors were temporarily disabled. In a swift, coordinated strike, Eileen's team neutralized the guards, leaving no room for alarm or resistance. Silencers whispered, and bodies dropped with barely a sound. Within moments, the entrance was secure.
Eileen divided her team into two groups. One, led by her, would handle physical security, while the other focused on cyber operations. On her signal, the Widow already inserted in the building initiated a cascading power failure, not knocking the system out, just temporarily going to emergency power through the areas the Widows were rushing through, ensuring security wouldn't see them until it was too late.
By not completely knocking the power out, they gave themselves precious minutes where security would wonder, checking out the power failure instead of going into immediate lockdown and calling for help.
Eileen's group ascended the maintenance stairwells, avoiding the more trafficked areas, their knowledge of the building absolute, they made their way to the security room at a controlled run. As they approached the security control room, they knew they'd arrived in time, as the building hadn't gone into lockdown.
They had ways around that too, if it happened, but it was good to have things run smoothly. Roxxon had a lot of military level personnel, but they were the frontline forces, the background personnel - the fat lazy ones sitting in security offices - were not nearly as proactive and experienced, and they'd counted on that after getting profiles on the staff.
The control room was the building's nerve center, bustling with guards and technicians monitoring the myriad security feeds. Eileen and her team burst in with precision, subduing the occupants before they could react - several of them down before they even realized anything was happening. Hand-to-hand combat ensued with the few who remained, a blur of expertly executed moves that left the room littered with unconscious bodies. With the guards and technicians incapacitated, Eileen's team secured the room, taking control of the building's physical security systems.
These guys were basically rent-a-cops not hardened operatives, so they didn't go straight for the jugular. They'd already be leaving a trail of bodies in the end, no need for the no name grunts to suffer needlessly.
Roxxon's biggest threat wasn't their human resources anyway, the building was littered with drones. Not anything near the capabilities Hammer Industries had, but in tight hallways, a murderbot firing away indiscriminately would have been a problem - hence why they focused on the weaker human element, confusing and distracting them until they got far enough in the building to take them.
Eileen felt smug, as she compared their ineffectual and weak response to the system she'd set up for all of Hammer Industries buildings. In her system, any kind of power failure, camera outage, or similar - would lead to an immediate full response until proven otherwise.
It's also why each of Hammer Industries security guards had health monitors attached, so they'd get a warning the second one of them died, got knocked unconscious, or had an abnormal increase in heart rate.
Compared to that, Roxxon was basically the Walmart of evil corporations. Drones were no use if they'd never get a chance to be activated.
Meanwhile, the cyber team infiltrated the IT department, Eileen's team helpfully opening all locked doors on the way, while locking everyone else in the building in. Among them was a Black Widow named Zara, a African Widow and a tech prodigy with a knack for breaking through the most sophisticated firewalls - one of Dreykov's favorites, and one of the younger Widows of the new generation. They connected their devices to the mainframes, initiating a silent takeover. Zara's fingers flew across the keyboard, rewriting code, and destroying surveillance feeds. The building's cameras now displayed looped footage for the time they were in the building, ensuring any investigation afterwards would find nothing amiss.
Oh, they'd realize it was looped footage, but Zara was an expert. They wouldn't be able to dig out even a simple glimpse of anything, not that there was much to see thanks to the cascading power failure that had so stumped the security team for the brief time they'd had to investigate.
As the cyber team worked, Eileen coordinated with them to execute the next phase - A partial building lockdown. She glanced at her watch, timing their actions with military precision. When the moment arrived, the building was plunged into lockdown, locking important areas and personnel in. Meanwhile the drones that would come screeching to eradicate invaders were kept offline, by Zara, as she expertly manipulated the lockdown to lock the different security teams and hit teams inside their barracks.
Simultaneously, the team activated communication jammers, severing all external contact. Roxxon's headquarters was now an isolated fortress, its defenses crippled, and no one outside of it had any idea.
As the building's systems were completely subsumed, Yelena's team, stationed in an adjacent building, sprang into action. Yelena led this second wave and alongside her were Frank, and Brock, with several Widows along for the ride. Their mission was to dismantle key parts of Roxxon's infrastructure and destroy both their military assets and extract or destroy their scientific assets.
Using a window that had not had shutters descend over it in the lockdown, perfectly placed for them to zipline in, Yelena's team entered the building. They moved swiftly, their path cleared by the first team's efforts. Locked doors opened for them as they approached, and they mowed down opposition ruthlessly.
Their first target, the barracks, to remove any capabilities of Roxxon to use their own forces to strike back after this.
Across the state the other facilities Roxxon had were also being hit, bombed in a way that would point fingers towards the Green Goblin, massive collateral damage and loss of Roxxon's security forces the goal.
For now, Roxxon's assets abroad and across the rest of America were not being hit. This was a lesson, not complete annihilation.
For now.
Frank and Brock took point once they got to the barracks, their enhanced strength and combat skills ensuring swift progress. The lockdown eased as they approached, Yelena tossing the men several explosives casually, the men arming them just as casually before tossing them inside the barracks.
The explosion wasn't quite enough to shake the entire building, but it was enough to utterly destroy the room filled with Roxxon's best, for whatever that was worth. As soon as the debris stopped flying around, the team moved in and ensured any survivors did not in fact survive.
Meanwhile, Zara delved deeper accessing the systems, downloading terabytes of sensitive information. The data included records of illicit activities, financial transactions, and internal communications - evidence that could dismantle Roxxon's empire.
There were more than one way to skin a cat after all…
Eileen had joined her at this point and oversaw the operation with a sharp eye. Her team worked efficiently, extracting data while preparing the servers for destruction. The extracted information was encrypted and transferred to secure drives, ensuring it could not be easily traced back to them. The servers, once a treasure trove of Roxxon's secrets, were now rigged to become a pile of slag.
Meanwhile, Yelena's team moved through the building, eradicating the security forces, the real security forces, those kept off the books of the company, but still made their home inside Roxxon's headquarters.
The lockdown kept any other employees locked in and unaware of the happenings, letting them through only to their targets. Eventually the task was done, and Frank and Brock took the team and escorted the scientists that didn't choose death, off the premises.
With their tasks completed, both team leads converged on the building's top floor. The boardroom, the whole reason the building was fully staffed with security tonight - was their final destination - Roxxon's board ironically meeting to figure out how to deal with Hammer Industries.
They should have kowtowed instead, they would have lived longer.
Eileen had anticipated possible resistance here and had sent two Widows ahead to secure the area. These operatives, mistresses of stealth, had infiltrated the floor and neutralized the guards, ensuring the executives could not escape through some secret means to get around the lockdown.
The boardroom doors were reinforced, a testament to the executives' desire for security. They'd need heavy ordnance to get through… If it weren't for the fact they already controlled the whole building.
Eileen scoffed at the lack of planning, the head offices and top floors of Hammer Industries buildings ran on separate power sources and with their own security systems controlled from within, to prevent exactly this scenario. With a simple command to Zara, the doors were opened, revealing a scene of opulent decor and tense occupants. Agger and his board members sat at a large table, their faces a mix of anger and fear.
Agger specifically seemed to lean mostly towards anger, his face red, eyes flashing with hatred.
Eileen stepped forward, her eyes locked on Agger. "Your plots end, Agger," She said, her voice steady and cold. "We've taken everything from you, and soon the world will know what Roxxon truly is, your company will be eaten alive." She sneered, "You shouldn't have tried it, you shouldn't have thought a worm like yourself could ever touch Justin Hammer."
Agger's expression hardened, but he remained silent. He knew he was outmatched, or he didn't want to speak with what he'd see as lackeys, whatever his reason, it saved them pointless posturing. The Widows spread out, prepared in case one of the men was more than they seemed and attempted anything.
Yelena brought up her H-phone, one not affected by the communications jam, "Sir, he's ready for the extraction."
A swirling orange portal opened up in the boardroom, the board members rearing back in shock, except for Agger, who only clenched his fists.
They could have done this from the beginning to get Agger, but they'd wanted to crush all of them, not just the CEO.
Kaecillius stepped through, and then stepped aside, "Mister Agger, Master Hammer awaits…"
When Agger didn't make any moves to stand up, Yelena slowly raised a gun, the silencer still on, "You can walk on your own, or you can crawl after I shoot your balls off." She threatened sweetly, for all intents looking like she'd prefer he picked the second option.
Slowly Agger stood, his face a mask of rage and distress, everything he'd built crumbling before him, as he slowly walked through the portal.
The last thing Agger heard or saw of Roxxon - were the cries of protest - and the muffled sounds of gunshots, as the board expired behind him.
Justin smiled pleasantly as the man who'd ordered him killed came to stand before him, sitting ready in an almost throne-like chair as he sipped on some brandy, "Well, look who it is, it's Aggy, we have so much to talk about…"
"There will be consequences for this, you can't brush this under the rug, Hammer, you might have defeated me, but if you kill me you'll never get out of this." Agger growled, clenching his fists so hard drops of blood were falling onto the carpet.
Justin smiled condescendingly, "Oh, sweet little Aggy, you have no idea what you're dealing with."
"Now let's have a nice, long, talk… You and I…"
Yelena and Eileen came through the portal, which immediately closed afterwards, the Black Widow and the Metahuman coming to stand behind Agger.
"Make him sing, ladies."
2 days later, Washington D.C.
Moving faster than any government in American history, the United States Congress asked Justin to testify before the national security subcommittee two days after the Roxxon attack, and a little over a week after the attack on himself.
Asked, not subpoenaed, because Justin was obviously the victim here, and also because all the new cute little congressmen wouldn't dare piss him off by requesting his presence like they were better than him.
With two attacks on him, the Oscorp attack, the attack on Stark, and now Roxxon being both a site of a slaughter, as well as their dirty laundry leaking out all over the internet - the American government was concerned.
With concern being code for panicking.
With warhawks on the rise and constant national security issues plaguing the country, not to mention the absolute failure of SHIELD to do… Anything about any of these attacks - it had created the perfect storm for Justin.
Politicians who desperately needed him and his companies, politicians who feared losing all of what gave America an edge in international affairs and military - politicians ripe for the picking.
The atmosphere in the Congressional chamber was tense, the media having been pushing Congress members hard on the recent national security failures. Justin, as the CEO of Hammer Industries, was set to testify before the national security subcommittee about the recent attack on him by mercenaries in New York. This attack, which resulted in over 20 civilian casualties, was a stark reminder of the vulnerability of America's industrial giants - How Hammer Industries, Stark Industries and Oscorp to name a few - would flounder with the simple removal of the man at the top.
A great worry for the government when those three companies were responsible for a large chunk of all military contracts, and literally all of the more innovative and futuristic solutions.
Justin's presence was not merely a matter of his own importance either at this point; it underscored the profound economic and security implications of such attacks on corporations like Hammer Industries, Oscorp, Stark Industries, and Roxxon. With his significant economic influence, Justin knew his testimony was expected to be a pivotal moment, as the committee sought his insights on preventing future incidents.
As they begged him for his advice. Oh, they wouldn't use any of those words of course, but he'd been oh so prettily asked to show up, while the likes of Stark had simply been subpoenaed.
The Congressional chamber buzzed with subdued activity as staffers and reporters settled in for the hearing. The room, adorned with portraits of past political leaders, exuded an air of solemnity. Members of the national security subcommittee, a mix of seasoned politicians having come out of retirement to run after the catastrophe and newer faces, took their seats at the long, polished raised dais at the front of the room.
Key figures included the committee chair, Elizabeth Kline, a staunch supporter of industrial innovation, a Warhawk, and also 87 years old, and Richard Connors, known for his gruff demeanor and no-nonsense approach, having been a governor for 8 years before he retired, patriotism making him run for Congress due to the Wakanda crisis.
Among them were also Representatives Susan Delgado and Michael Hayes, both known for their close ties to the corporate sector and supportive stance toward Justin - they'd run on exactly that - telling their constituents that they'd ensure Justin had a free hand to improve the country.
He hadn't even needed to pay them a dime, they'd supplicanted themselves all on their own.
Representative Kline rapped her gavel to bring the room to order. "Good morning, everyone. We are here today to discuss the recent attack on Mr. Justin Hammer and the broader implications for our national security. Mr. Hammer, thank you for joining us. We look forward to your insights on how we can prevent such tragic incidents in the future." Her voice, while weak and raspy, was also sharp.
Panacea couldn't cure age, but it had brought her back into the state of a perfectly healthy 87 year old - Justin figured he had good odds she'd be willing to sign off on what he wanted.
He had the President in his corner, but Congress was also an invaluable tool, the more they subverted themselves on his behalf, the easier things would become for him once he had to step up his game - once he had to fight the likes of HYDRA.
Justin, dressed in a sharp dark blue suit, rose to speak. His tone was calm, yet firm. "Thank you, representative Kline, and the esteemed members of the committee. The attack on Hammer Industries was not just an assault on my company but an attack on American innovation and enterprise - as was the similar attacks on Oscorp, Stark Industries and Roxxon. I am here today to offer my perspective on how we can fortify our defenses and ensure that such tragedies do not occur again."
If there was a tiny bit of a smirk growing on his face, it was for the humor in the situation. He was behind two of those attacks after all. And now he was going to make bank due to it.
Representative Delgado was the first to pose a question, her tone friendly and supportive. "Mr. Hammer, given your extensive experience in the industry, what immediate steps do you think we should take to protect our industrial infrastructure and persons of national importance like yourself?"
Justin nodded at her appreciatively, flashing a smile, "Representative Delgado, I believe we need a multi-faceted approach. First, increasing investment in cybersecurity to protect our technological assets - the enemy somehow knew where to strike after all. Second, enhancing physical security measures at key industrial sites. Third, fostering greater collaboration between the private sector and government agencies to share intelligence and best practices - we have the money to protect ourselves but not the knowledge of the threats…"
And hey, wouldn't you know, Hammer Industries had a great private security company growing rapidly, with a neat cyber division too. Justin wasn't so crass as to bring it up, but he knew everyone present knew exactly what he was speaking about.
Representative Hayes followed up. "Mr. Hammer, your company in particular has been at the forefront of technological advancements. How can we leverage these advancements to bolster our national security for the sector?"
Heh, owning congressmen is so useful, Justin thought, a prideful smirk on his face as he preened slightly in his seat, the question teeing things up perfectly.
"Representative Hayes, innovation is our greatest asset against our enemies. We need to harness the cutting-edge technologies Hammer industries can provide, to protect and preserve our industrial might over our rivals and enemies. The fact of the matter is that Hammer industries have survived these attempts stronger than ever, proof of concept of our system, proof the government can use to institute the same across the industry." Justin said, speaking slowly and solemnly, even as he basically told the government to buy his shit and pay his security company to protect industrial assets all over America.
Give it another two, three years, and he'd basically be ruling the country completely.
Representative Connors leaned forward, his expression steely, his dark eyes intent. "Mr. Hammer, your company has been targeted multiple times. Some might argue that these attacks are a direct result of your aggressive business practices. How do you respond to those who say you bear some responsibility for these incidents?" He gestured briefly to the gallery, where Justin knew Tony Stark was sitting, waiting his turn, "Seems to me like we didn't have any of these problems until you started kicking up a fuss, and now you're trying to profit off your rivals too."
Justin's demeanor remained composed, though a flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. Can't win them all I suppose… He thought.
"Representative Connors, while it is true that Hammer Industries is a high-profile target, it is precisely because we are leaders in our field and of immense importance to national security. Our success attracts attention, both positive and negative. However, it is unfair to place the blame for criminal acts on the victims of those acts. We must focus on holding the perpetrators accountable and strengthening our defenses - defenses that have succeeded in the case of Hammer industries…"
Justin shrugged easily, flashing a friendly smile, even as his eyes remained slightly pointed at the hardass representative, "It's a free market out there, sir, and we have proven that we can protect what is important. We can't risk any more blunders in regards to national security."
The number one step of winning in American politics? Mention national security a lot as your excuse to get away with anything. And pointedly, Hammer Industries had gotten away better off from the attacks, compared to Oscorp, SI and Roxxon anyway.
Connors pressed on, dropping the national security angle for now. "And what about the civilian casualties, Mr. Hammer? Over 20 innocent lives were lost. How do you address the concerns of those who feel your company's presence, your presence, brings undue risk to the public?"
There's a murmur amongst the gallery at that, some outrage popping up before security quiets down the crowd, escorting the loudest out. That had not been a popular move.
Justin took a deep breath, affecting a saddened look for the cameras, looking at the representative reproachfully. "The loss of innocent lives is a tragedy that weighs heavily on me, and even though I couldn't possibly have been aware I was going to be attacked in public, I will be ensuring the families are suitably compensated so they can at least move forward with life without financial worries." Idiots… More die each day in America from stupidity, why care about these twenty in particular…?
Applause broke out from the gallery, and Connors leaned back in his chair, dissatisfied, but obviously unwilling to press further with Justin so easily beating aside his objections.
Representative Kline banged her gavel to regain order, interjecting to steer the conversation toward broader economic implications. "Mr. Hammer, could you elaborate on the potential economic impact if such attacks continue? How vital are companies like Hammer Industries, Oscorp, Stark Industries, and Roxxon to our national economy?" Her face was severe as she stared down at him, "How long until our national security is debilitated by such attacks?"
Justin paused to take a sip of water, before nodding. "The industrial sectors which all of our companies have great market shares in, are the backbone of our economy. Companies like ours drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the GDP. If these attacks persist, the economic consequences could be devastating - disrupted supply chains, loss of investor confidence, and a decline in technological advancement. It is imperative that we protect these pillars of our economy - especially in today's climate, where we provide a significant amount of the materials for the military and intelligence apparatus."
Representative Delgado picked up on this point. "Mr. Hammer, you mentioned earlier the need for increased investment in cybersecurity and physical security. Can you provide specific examples of what Hammer Industries is currently doing and what more needs to be done?"
Good boy, Justin thought, smiling pleasantly,
"Hammer Industries has already implemented advanced cybersecurity protocols that we'd be willing to sell and/or install for the government or private sector, as well as proprietary state-of-the-art physical security systems at our facilities - including using our own private security that is leagues above anyone else's. Naturally I believe it would also be wise to propose the creation of a national task force dedicated to protecting industrial assets from both physical and cyber threats."
A task force that would recommend Hammer industries as the company to redo the security systems of all government agencies and all private sector sites of great importance to national security. He'd make sure of it.
He hadn't planned this when he angrily struck back at Roxxon, but once the opportunity popped up, he'd be a fool to not push for something like this.
He knew Stark enough to know he'd try to push for something similar once he was questioned, except he wouldn't have quite the same shimmer of success as Justin had, through Hammer industries meteoric rise.
Representative Connors, still not entirely satisfied, posed another challenging question, glaring down at him, "Mr. Hammer, you speak of collaboration and investment, but can you assure us that your company's practices align with national security interests? There have been concerns about the transparency and ethics of your business operations." His glare intensified, "As in the complete lack of any transparency."
"Ooh, damn, you got told on that one!" Tony Stark called out laughingly from the backseats, Pepper Potts frantic shushing sounds stopping him from interjecting anything further. Notably security did not move to remove Tony Stark. There was a divide between people like them and regular citizens, they were just better, and the normals realized it and acted as such.
Justin ignored Tony with nary a twitch and met Connors' gaze steadily. "Hammer Industries operates with the highest standards in the world and always proceeds with the largest standard of ethical conduct. We are fully committed to aligning our practices with national security interests. I am more than willing to provide any additional information the committee requires to alleviate these concerns."
No I'm not, but it's not going to come to that… Transparency, bah! I own my company, no one gets to stick their fingers in.
As the hearing progressed, it became evident that the public and political reactions were as varied as the committee members' questions. The media coverage of the hearing was extensive, with news outlets and analysts dissecting Justin's every word and the committee's responses.
Despite the fact Tony Stark had so far only been involved in one heckling sentence, he had a whole segment on just him, analyzing his comment, looking for hidden meanings.
Public opinion was divided. Supporters of Hammer Industries and the broader industrial sector saw Hammer as a visionary leader under siege, unfairly targeted by criminals. Critics, however, questioned the concentration of economic power and the potential risks posed by such influential corporations - especially the fact that like Representative Connors had pointed out, Hammer industries had no transparency.
Still, even with those slight questions raised, Justin just knew he was coming out on top, any further investment into national security would come his way, he would beat out Tony for it, and Osborn hadn't even answered his subpoena, so he surely wasn't getting any more contracts.
A shame he hadn't shown up, he and Tony had only just begun to move against him, it would have been interesting to have all three of them in the same room.
As the part of the hearing requiring him drew to a close, representative Kline offered Justin a chance to make a last statement, one the obviously took, performing more for the cameras than the committee.
Justin stood for his closing remarks, a congenial smile on his face. "Thank you, representative Kline, and members of the committee. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss these critical issues. Hammer Industries remains committed to leading the way in innovation and security, and we are eager to collaborate with all stakeholders to build a safer, more resilient future for all of America."
As Justin left, Domino at his side, his and Tony's eyes met, both of them nodding.
Irregardless of their dislike of each other, it was time to knock Norman down, they'd fight over these no doubt fat and juicy contracts on their way, and they weren't going to allow Norman a single slice of the pie.
By the next day, without bothering to even communicate about it, they both began striking back at Norman Osborn, trying to force him out in his shitty suit.
Tony Stark and Justin Hammer had joined forces to bring down Norman Osborn's empire - the conclusion was already set in stone by that one act. Oscorp, through a series of calculated economic maneuvers, would suffer. Their tactics were ruthless, each action designed to destabilize Osborn's company and erode its foundations.
The initial strike was a coordinated stock assault. Stark and Hammer shorted Oscorp shares not owned by Norman himself, causing market panic as investors and owners of the stock panic sold, worried about what the two titans knew that they didn't.
Due to their involvement and what they did elsewhere as well, they'd likely face legal issues if they weren't who they were - and had the government ties to completely squash any such thing.
Simultaneously, Stark and Justin both leveraged their media connections to launch a relentless smear campaign against Oscorp. Articles and news segments began questioning Oscorp's safety standards, ethical practices, and leadership. Their outsized influence over the media ensured that the narrative remained focused on Oscorp's potential malfeasance, creating a storm of negative publicity that Osborn struggled to counter.
Especially as Norman was nowhere to be found to counter anything they were doing.
Justin, meanwhile, also took a different route. Utilizing his extensive network within the regulatory and political spheres, he began a covert campaign to stymie Oscorp's operations. He lobbied key politicians and regulatory officials to scrutinize Oscorp's permits and licenses, initiating investigations that would tie up Osborn's projects in bureaucratic red tape for years once they got going, just the threat of it once it leaked - sinking the stock prices even further. Construction permits would be delayed, operational licenses were questioned, and every aspect of Oscorp's expansion plans faced unprecedented scrutiny.
Justin and Tony would both take a monetary hit from the shares they shorted to start the panic, but it was peanuts all things considered.
Justin's influence extended to local government as well. He sent his people out, and convinced city councils and zoning boards to re-evaluate Oscorp's permits wherever they had an office or a warehouse/factory, citing various environmental and safety concerns. Projects that were critical to Oscorp's growth were suddenly being bogged down by legal challenges and regulatory reviews - all appearing within the same few days, drowning their legal department. The constant pressure and delays caused significant financial strain on the company.
Still Norman didn't show up, frustrating the both of them.
There was no sighting of the man, or the Green Goblin.
Stark didn't stop at media manipulation either. He called upon his military connections, using his influence to cast doubt on Oscorp's military contracts, bypassing Ross and going lower in the chain, something that hadn't even occurred to Justin. Whispered accusations of malfeasance and substandard practices reached the ears of military officials and defense contractors. Reports of faulty equipment and ethical breaches began circulating, prompting formal inquiries into Oscorp's defense contracts from the bureaucratic side. These inquiries disrupted existing deals and put future contracts at risk, hitting Oscorp's most lucrative revenue streams.
The combined assault from the both of them was relentless. The media blitz created a public relations nightmare for Osborn, while Justin's regulatory maneuvers slowed Oscorp's operations to a crawl. Investors, seeing the growing instability, began to lose faith in Oscorp's ability to weather the storm. Stock prices continued to plummet, and key clients started abandoning ship.
Oscorp was losing value so quickly that employees began abandoning ship, fearful they wouldn't have jobs soon enough anyway.
Justin was fairly annoyed that Stark had anticipated it before him, and managed to snap up a lot of the staff that weren't focused on weapons development.
Behind the scenes, their teams worked tirelessly to outmaneuver Oscorp at every turn. The only thing souring their victory was the fact that Norman Osborn was still a no show.
Even as much as they hammered the company, it could not fall, not completely, not with the monetary windfall in military contracts they held. Without Osborn revealed as the Green Goblin, Oscorp was still too entrenched in the Military with Ross assistance.
Their teams continued to pummel Oscorp in the background, but both Justin and Tony had busy schedules, so they were forced to admit defeat for now.
Oscorp was a shadow of itself, but it still stood - its CEO in the wind.
Justin ordered all Hammer industry facilities to be on a lookout, and to immediately contact the home team in case of attack, Kaecilius on standby to transfer the majority of HAMMER anywhere the Green Goblin appeared.
He couldn't understand it, he himself would have never just stood by if someone attacked his company.
What the hell was Norman up to?
Peru, South America.
The dense jungle of Peru was a labyrinth of green, the thick canopy above casting shadows on the forest floor. Birds called to each other in a symphony of chirps and squawks, while the underbrush rustled with unseen creatures. The air was humid, the smell of earth and vegetation permeating everything. Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff moved silently through this verdant maze, their senses sharp and alert, this was almost nostalgic for the two, even if they'd never grow to love mosquitoes.
"Are you sure he's here?" Natasha asked, her tone laced with skepticism. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, scanning the dense foliage for any sign of movement. It was a little bit more out of reach than his usual patterns. "You didn't just take me through the jungle because you wanted off the couch?"
Clint, ever the optimist, grinned. "According to our intel, or Hill at least, this is the place. You know Banner, he's not exactly easy to track, but once you've nailed a place down, he usually doesn't move quickly once he's feeling safe and isolated enough." He completely ignored any assertion about couches, Laura would surely forget he was in the doghouse by the time he got back.
Natasha sighed, adjusting the strap of her pack. "Yeah, well, this better not be another wild goose chase. We've been at this for days."
Clint acknowledged it with a silent nod, knowing she was in a horrid mood with the recent happenings. Hammer had been the start, but now with everything with SHIELD…
They were loyal to Fury, although it was more to say that Nat was loyal to him and Phil - and they followed Fury, than anything else.
They continued their trek, the path becoming narrower and more treacherous. Clint, ever the sharpshooter, took the lead, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of danger or their elusive target. Natasha followed closely, her movements graceful and deliberate, not even the jungle could make the Widow take a wrong step.
"So," Clint began, a mischievous tone in his voice, the trek boring, and poking Nat being one of his favorite pastimes, no matter how dangerous, "I saw that Yelena's working for Hammer now. She looks exactly like you described her, going to get in touch again?"
Natasha's expression darkened. "Not the time, Clint." She said clippedly.
"Come on, Nat," He persisted, ducking under a low-hanging branch. "If you won't, then why hasn't she reached out? You two used to be close from what you told me."
Natasha's jaw tightened. "It's complicated. And I don't have to explain my family to you."
The fact Nat even said the word family, told Clint enough about Yelena, and he wondered if Hammer was the reason the two women didn't reconnect.
Or if Nat was still embarrassed.
Clint raised his hands in mock surrender. Seeing a lost cause, for now. "Okay, okay. Just making conversation."
They pushed forward, the vegetation growing thicker and the air more oppressive. The sound of a distant river reached their ears, providing a momentary distraction from the heat and insects. Clint took a moment to glance back at Natasha, who was clearly not in the mood for banter.
Didn't stop him anyway. That's why everyone loved him. His tenacity.
"Look, I get it," He said more seriously. "Family stuff is tough. But we have a job to do, and if she's in with Hammer, that could complicate things for all of us, it's worth getting in touch, seeing what's what." He knew appealing to her familial instincts wouldn't work, so he tried something more business like.
Go Nat, pump your sis for information, and while you're at it, have a coffee, reconnect, do your nails, or whatever girls do together.
Natasha shot him a withering look. "Focus on the mission, Barton."
Clint nodded with a sigh, wisely deciding to drop the subject. They continued in silence, the sounds of the jungle enveloping them. After what felt like hours, they finally reached a small clearing near the riverbank. The sound of rushing water was louder now, mingling with the chirping of insects and the occasional call of a monkey.
"There," Clint whispered, pointing to a small, dilapidated hut partially obscured by vines and overgrowth. "This has to be it."
It was either Banner, or a hermit that really wanted to stay away from people.
Natasha nodded, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the area. "Let's go."
They approached cautiously, their movements synchronized and silent. As they neared the hut, they could see a faint light flickering inside, evidence of someone's presence. Clint signaled for Natasha to take the lead, knowing her pretty face was more disarming than his if they were spotted.
Natasha crept up to the door, her back pressed against the wooden frame. Clint positioned himself on the other side, his bow at the ready in case this was all a set up, with recent events, Hill could have been compromised, they weren't going to take any chances. With a nod, Natasha pushed the door open slightly, getting a good look inside, before relaxing slightly, nodding at Clint, who put his bow on his back, and together they entered the dimly lit interior.
Inside, the hut was sparsely furnished, with a makeshift bed, a table cluttered with likely stolen scientific equipment, and stacks of books and papers. In the corner, a figure sat hunched over a microscope, his broad shoulders and disheveled hair unmistakable.
"Doctor Banner," Natasha called softly, her voice cutting through the silence, her persona appearing so much softer suddenly. Less threatening.
Clint marveled at it, even as he put on an easy grin of his own, perfectly capable of playing the affable clown to set someone at ease.
The figure turned, revealing the haggard face of Bruce Banner. His eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked it with a wary expression. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Clint stepped forward, hands raised, offering a reassuring smile. "We have an offer for you, Doctor Banner. One that you might want to hear." He shrugged his shoulders easily, "We're agents of SHIELD, and we're not here for the other guy, if that's what you're worried about."
Bruce glanced between them, his gaze lingering on Natasha. "I'm not interested in joining whatever agency you're from." He said with disinterest, tension in his frame.
Natasha stepped forward, her tone gentle but firm. "It's not about that. We need your help. And this time, it's different - we're not after your research or the other guy."
Bruce's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of his isolation evident. "Different how?"
Clint stepped in, his voice earnest. "We're on a mission to save the world, you could say. We need your expertise, your knowledge. And we can offer you a safe place to work, away from all this." He gestured to the primitive surroundings, "State of the art lab, doc."
Bruce hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Why me? There are other scientists out there."
Natasha met his gaze, her eyes softening, playing her role, "Because we trust you, Bruce, We know you, maybe not personally, yet, but we know you're not a bad guy."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Outside, the jungle continued its symphony, oblivious to the monumental decision being made within the tiny hut. Finally, Bruce sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Alright. I'll hear you out."
No doubt he expected to have to end up running anyway. The Hulk, an inevitability in his mind.
But that wasn't their department. Their job was simply to get the man to Fury. Anything else was above their head.
Natasha and Clint exchanged a relieved glance, knowing that this was just the first step.
They still needed to get him back to America without SHIELD or any myriad of people keeping an eye on Banner, finding out.
It was a little like smuggling a nuke.
Luckily Natasha had some experience there.
The upscale New York restaurant exuded luxury and sophistication. Soft lighting from ornate chandeliers bathed the room in a warm, golden glow, reflecting off polished marble floors and rich mahogany tables. Waiters moved with practiced grace, carrying trays laden with gourmet dishes and fine wines. The hum of polite conversation and the clinking of silverware created a symphony of urban refinement.
Justin sat at a corner table, the city's skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored navy suit, a particularly fine one he'd picked for the occasion. Across from him sat Hope, her beauty radiant in the ambient light. She wore an elegant black dress that hugged her athletic frame, her hair styled in loose waves that framed her face. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she teased Justin, as she had been since they were seated.
"So, tell me, Justin," Hope said, her tone playful, "How much did you have to throw at the chef to get us this reservation?"
The restaurant was booked out for the next two and a half years after all.
Some celebrity chef running the place, Justin hadn't cared other than for the fact Hope was a fan, so he'd ensured they'd get in.
Yelena had been grumpy at the order, but considering her little prank on him, he figured she was the perfect person to set up this little date.
Due to how busy he'd been, he hadn't had a chance to connect with her when she'd been in Africa working on the space project the last few days.
Justin chuckled warmly, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, you know, not that much. I promised him a visit from Captain America and an autograph, and some other minor concessions. Anything to keep you happy, Hope."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "Flattery will get you nowhere, you know. But I have to admit, this place is impressive." She looked around, eyes sparkling, "I've been wanting to come since I heard about it opening." She murmured, giving him a look that he couldn't quite decipher, except maybe as hungry.
Well they were at a restaurant.
The waiter arrived with their first course, a delicate lobster bisque served in fine porcelain bowls. The aroma was tantalizing, a blend of rich cream and fresh seafood, garnished with a hint of chive.
Justin didn't see what was so famous about this chef, since he just did classic gourmet food, couldn't any fancy chef do that? But he held his tongue and ate the tasty food.
How someone that crooned about flavor town constantly would end up a classical French chef he didn't understand, but at least the food was good.
"This looks incredible," Hope remarked, having her first taste of the bisque. "It tastes incredible too… You always manage to impress, don't you?"
"It's a talent," Justin replied with a wink. "But seriously, Hope, I wanted to thank you for meeting me tonight. It's been a while since we had a chance to catch up."
She nodded, her expression softening. "It has. You've been busy with Hammer Industries and that deplorable attack" Her eyes flashed for a moment as she looked angry, before she sighed, not wanting to ruin their time going over that issue," And I've had my hands full with Pym Technologies and the space project. But it's good to see you. Really good." She tucked some hair behind an ear almost shyly.
Their conversation flowed easily, a mix of friendly banter and light flirting. Justin quietly admired the way Hope carried herself, confident and poised, yet with a warmth that made her such a delight to spend time with. They moved on to the next course, a beautifully plated filet mignon for Justin and a beautifully prepared quail for Hope. The flavors were exquisite, each bite a testament to the chef's skill, no matter how annoying his personality, he did know how to cook.
As they laughed and talked, the door to the restaurant swung open, and a ripple of awareness passed through the room. Emma Frost, resplendent in a white designer gown that clung to her statuesque figure, entered with an air of regal authority. Her platinum blonde hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes scanned the room with cool detachment. In front of her, a waiter with a blank gaze hurried forward with an extra chair, placing it at Justin and Hope's table.
Without waiting for an invitation, Emma gracefully sat down, her presence commanding attention. "Justin," She said smoothly, her voice like silk, "Do you have time for a chat?"
Justin's expression remained calm, though his eyes flashed with irritation. "Emma, always a pleasure. This is Hope Van Dyne, by the way." He said sarcastically, "Since it seems you forgot to take her into account."
Hope's eyes narrowed slightly, but she extended a polite hand. "I know who you are, Miss Frost. Frost Industries has quite the reputation." The bite to her tone was in no way friendly.
Emma's smile was courteous but distant. "Yes, we do. And I'm aware of your accomplishments, Ms. Van Dyne. Now, Justin, we need to talk about something urgent." She said, immediately disregarding Hope, to the woman's obvious annoyance.
Justin bit back a retort, this woman… She dodged his calls, only to show up like this? What a bitch.
Hope glanced at Justin, concern creeping into her eyes. "What's going on, Justin?" She eyed Emma distastefully, "I wasn't aware you had business dealings with Frost industries…"
Justin placed a reassuring hand on Hope's arm. "It's alright, Hope. Emma and I are allies of sorts. She has some information that could be important." He glared at her, "It better be important." He warned.
Allies or not, beautiful or not. If she was wasting his time and ruining his time with Hope, he would make her regret it.
Emma's eyes turned towards Hope for a moment, before returning to Justin, who simply nodded, telling her he didn't mind Hope being involved in this, he did have one comment though, "Is this really the place for this, Emma…"
She simply smiled, as every head in the restaurant turned away from them, the staff and patrons alike robotically returning to their previous actions, with none of the curiosity they'd held just moments ago. "Yes." She said simply.
"Justin…" Hope said lowly, peering around them, looking ready to deploy the Wasp suit.
Justin waved her down, as well as Domino and Yelena who'd both drawn weapons when Emma flexed her power. "Get to the point, Emma, since you couldn't bother picking up the phone for this."
Emma leaned forward slightly, her voice low but clear. "Phones are a risk, you never know who could be listening. I have intelligence on Mr. Sinister. He's a geneticist with a penchant for manipulation and experimentation. His real name is Nathaniel Essex, and he's been involved in various clandestine operations for decades. Sinister is a master of genetic engineering and has been conducting experiments on humans to create superior beings, specifically one kind of humans..." Her eyes meet Justin's, a curl of distaste to her lips, "Our… Club… Has made use of his services before."
Hope's eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and readiness to act. "Genetic experiments? What kind of danger are we talking about?" Seeing Justin's calm face and demeanor, she settled somewhat, but the look she gave him clearly told him they would be talking after this.
Justin figured it was about time he brought her slightly into his circle anyway, not fully. Not ever fully… But a peek behind the curtain would only help.
Emma continued, her tone grave. "Sinister's ultimate goal is to create a race of superhumans under his control. He's ruthless and has no regard for human life. His experiments often involve kidnapping and torturing his subjects. We have reason to believe he's planning something massive - hence his control of Magneto and his people, and we need to stop him."
Hope blanched at that, "Magneto is under his control?"
Justin grimaced, "Unfortunately." He suddenly had a thought, looking at Emma, "You won't mind if we do a quick test… Just making sure I'm not speaking to Mystique right now…" He asked, waving for Yelena.
Emma raised an impressed eyebrow, "Prudent. I approve."
Yelena came over, and after a few words, produced a scanner, running it over Emma. After having held Mystique captive, and gotten plenty of samples and scans of her biology, they could now detect her with a scanner, one member of his inner circle always carrying one.
"She's clean." Yelena said, and at Justin's nod she stepped back again, not before sending Hope a look, which the Pym Heiress completely ignored.
"Does your contacts have any idea about his whereabouts?" He asked Emma, knowing it was the Hellfire club that had sent her.
If they'd used him before, they'd looked into things once he'd talked to Emma, and realized the threat he was, and only then did they deign to come crawling back…
For an ally, Emma was playing both fields a little too closely for Justin's liking…
Emma shook her head, "His last known location was Cairo, but that was years ago."
Justin mulled over that coincidence, "I'll have my people keep an eye out, just in case."
"Is this why you created the team, Justin?" Hope asked, looking very dissatisfied with how the night had gone, but following his lead anyway, which he appreciated.
"Partly, yes." He said, not willing to share fully with her. That way led only to tears.
"Is that all, Emma?" He asked, trying to salvage what he could of the night.
"Yes, but I'd quite like some dessert, I think." Emma said, not even having to move a finger, waitresses showing up with a dessert for all three of them.
Justin and Hope both glared at her, and she simply smiled back cooly. "Since we're all going to be good friends from now on, let's get along."
Yes..
Justin was fairly sure he actually hated this woman.
His eyebrows rose up in surprise, as the cool and detached Emma Frost, lightly began flirting with Hope over dessert.
Yes, he definitely couldn't stand this woman.
The next day, New York Blacksite.
Kaecillius had portaled them in, Cho having sent an email about her project, having a demonstration ready - although from the way she worded it, she didn't have the best of news.
Justin glanced at Domino and Eileen, who both nodded in confirmation that the area was secure. "Let's get this over with," He said, his tone a mix of irritation and impatience.
He was still sore over his night being ruined the previous night, and facing possible bad news from Cho had hardly made him feel better.
They approached the heavy metal door of the bottom sublevel, which opened with a series of mechanical clicks and whirs. Inside, the blacksite was a stark contrast to its exterior. State-of-the-art technology lined the walls, and the air was filled with the faint hum of machinery. Security personnel, clad in black uniforms, were stationed at various points, their expressions unreadable.
Their job was as much a line of last defense, as it was to keep anything Cho might do, contained.
Helen Cho, dressed in a white lab coat, greeted them with a professional smile. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of nervousness and the usual admiration, "Welcome, Jus- sir! I've been looking forward to seeing you - I mean showing you what I've been working on. And our latest breakthrough, even if not… Exactly what you wanted." Her head lowered as she bit her lip, looking heartbroken to be reporting any kind of failure.
Justin nodded, a tolerant smile playing on his lips. "I'm sure it's not that bad Helen. Let's see what you've got." He soothed her, hoping his word would be true.
She led them through a series of corridors, each more secure than the last, until they reached a large, sterile room. In the center of the room, a reinforced glass enclosure housed a test subject. Justin's eyes widened in shock as he saw the figure inside - a perfect clone of himself, its body a patchwork of flesh and gleaming Vibranium. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments had been replaced with Vibranium-enhanced counterparts, and the skin shimmered with a subtle metallic sheen where the subdermal armor had been implanted.
The aesthetics had not been a priority until they had a viable path forward, so he wasn't annoyed with the cyborg look, the fact it was himself he was looking at, that annoyed him quite a lot.
"What the hell, Helen?" Justin exclaimed, unable to hide his surprise or his anger. "Is that... Me!?"
Domino whistled, while Eileen and Kaecillius awkwardly looked away from the naked clone.
Helen nodded, her expression calmer now for some reason, but also defensive. "Yes, Justin. For the enhancements to be done correctly, we needed a perfect test subject. A clone was the best option, so we could test how it would bind with your DNA properly…"
Justin seriously doubted a clone was the only option, she could have grown single organs or muscles and tested things, she didn't need a whole body.
Domino burst out laughing, her amusement echoing in the sterile room. "Oh, this is rich! So, Justin, how does it feel to look at yourself and know you are definitely a glorified sex toy?"
"Domino!" Eileen snapped, but the giggling woman ignored her to peer at the clone instead. She sauntered closer to the glass enclosure, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Nice equipment, by the way. Helen, you did keep this clone as a toy between tests, right?"
Helen stuttered, clearly flustered by the question. "I-I assure you, Domino, all interactions were strictly professional."
They all looked at her flushed face, and the squirming she did at their stares. Somehow none of them believed her.
Justin rubbed his face, a vein pulsing in his forehead as he tried to hold back his anger. If she'd asked for permission, he might have even given her the go ahead. But to do this behind his back…
"Sure they were," Domino replied, still chuckling. "Come on, Justin. Lighten up. You have to admit, it's impressive."
Justin tried to regain his composure, focusing on the matter at hand. "Alright, let's get back to business first, before we deal with… This… Do Vibranium muscles, joints, and tendons, combined with Extremis and the Super Soldier Serum, provide enough of a benefit?"
Helen sighed, her professional demeanor returning. "Unfortunately, no. While the Vibranium enhancements are incredible for a regular super soldier's life expectancy, they don't offer significant benefits when combined with Extremis. The regeneration abilities of Extremis are superior to any advantages the Vibranium might provide."
Eileen snorted lightly, murdering under her breath, "Like walking around with Vibranium in you would have any benefit around Magneto…"
"So, this whole project is a dead end?" Justin asked, frustration evident in his voice.
"For your purposes, yes," Helen admitted. "However, for a standard super soldier, these enhancements could be revolutionary. But with Extremis, it's just not worth it. The regeneration is better than any positive the Vibranium would give."
Domino leaned against the glass, still smirking. "So, what's the next move, Doc?"
Helen hesitated before replying, "I suggest focusing on making the original uncontrollable Extremis, with its fire capabilities, more controllable. If we can harness that power, it would be a far more effective means to enhance a subject like Justin."
Justin nodded at that, the gears in his mind already turning. "Alright, Helen. Let's shift our focus. Work on stabilizing Extremis. Make it controllable and we'll revisit this."
Helen nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "Understood. We'll make it happen."
"... Now, let's talk about cloning, hmm?" Justin said with a hint of heat to his voice.
Unfortunately for him, his anger only seemed to excite Helen, even as she looked devastated to have failed him, her face flushed further, her eyes going slightly glassy, and he could see her nipples protruding through her top. "I need to be punished, I know…" She said breathlessly.
"How did you even… Your job was to test if Vibranium could be used to strengthen a body, how did that have you create working equipment to clone human bodies as a side effect?" Justin asked, just trying to understand.
It was like trying to cure gassy stomachs and accidentally curing cancer instead.
Helen squirmed slightly, "Ah, at first it didn't work at all, I could only create… Choice pieces." She murmured, looking down at the ground.
"I bet I can guess what piec-uff!" Domino began, before getting punched in the shoulder by Eileen, "Hey, why didn't my luck make me avoid that?" She pouted.
"Even your luck thought you deserved that one." Eileen muttered. "I want to trade you for Yelena, if only she wasn't busy with the Widows…"
Justin glared at them, before focusing back on Helen, "Then how did you succeed?" He gestured to the clone, "That is far further than choice pieces."
Helen looked up, cheeks red, "Well… Kaecillius had a lot of ideas on how magic could help the process, when I explained to him what I was doing, he was able to help me shortcut the last steps through magic."
Justin immediately turned, "Kaecillius!" Only to find a closing orange portal, the sorcerer having decided to flee the consequences of his actions.
"That was our ride." Domino said with a sigh, still with an amused smile on her lips.
"... I'll deal with him later… Helen, you've gone behind my back on this, I can't let you off easy, this could have gone horribly wrong, you understand me? The reason you have carte blanche to science up whatever you want is because of me, which means you honestly report what is happening to me."
Helen shrunk slightly at his growing anger, as he almost growled out the last part, "I also made two copies of me!" She squeaked out, hurrying to appease him, "They're programmed to perform some… Basic tasks. It's like we're triplets." She entreatied him.
"A desperate ploy, Cho, just take your punishment." Eileen drawled, shaking her head.
Justin opened his mouth to lambast her again. Then he paused. He'd have to cut her budget or punish her some other way, to show his displeasure, but… Afterwards.
"Triplets?"
"Sir!?"
"Bwahahaha!"
Anything further was interrupted by a call, "Sir, he's arrived." Was the first thing he heard once he answered.
"Get Kaecillius back here!"
Puerto Antiguo, New Mexico,
The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the dusty landscape as Justin Hammer's sleek black SUV pulled up to a modest trailer on the outskirts of Puente Antiguo, New Mexico. The scene was unassuming - a small, quiet area surrounded by rocky terrain - but what lay within was anything but ordinary.
His team had been keeping an eye on Jane Foster, and yesterday's storm had been impossible to miss,
Justin stepped out of the SUV, adjusting his suit - preparing himself to meet a so-called god - albeit not the brightest one. Behind him, Domino and Phantazia followed, each exuding an air of readiness in case things took a turn for the worse - surely his butterflies hadn't reached Asgard, however...
Justin would be really impressed if his business moves somehow had managed that. Impressed and annoyed.
He prefered Thor to be predictable.
He definitely prefered Loki to be predictable.
Odin… He could just fuck right off. If it weren't for the whole Hela thing, he'd just wish the old bastard would drop dead. Useless protector of anything.
They approached the trailer, where Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis were still coming to terms with the events of the previous day. Jane's trailer was cluttered with scientific equipment and charts, a testament to her relentless pursuit of knowledge. The door was open to let air in, and their approach was noticed at last as they walked up.
The scientists had not even heard their cars pull up, showing how intent they'd been on their readings.
Jane looked up from her notes as the trio approached, her eyes widening in surprise. "Justin Hammer? What are you doing here?" She squawked, completely taken aback.
Justin offered a polite smile. "Good morning, Dr. Foster. I'm here to speak with your guest. I believe his name is Thor."
Erik Selvig stepped forward, his demeanor protective as he slipped Jane behind him. "What do you want with him? And with us?"
Justin remained calm and courteous, not in too much of a rush, and knowing that pushing these people too hard would just get him in trouble with Thor later. "I assure you, Dr. Selvig, my intentions are purely professional. Thor's presence here has garnered a lot of attention from those who could understand what happened last night, and I think we can all benefit from a conversation."
Before Jane could respond, the door to the trailer opened, and Thor stepped out. Despite his now mortal body, he carried an undeniable aura of nobility and strength. His eyes narrowed as he took in the newcomers. Immediately recognizing Domino and Phantazia as warriors, Justin assumed.
"Who are you?" Thor demanded, his voice firm, "You remind me of Loki…" He added, frowning.
Justin inwardly winced, fantastic. Great beginning.
Justin stepped forward, extending a hand. "My name is Justin Hammer. I represent Hammer Industries, you could call me the most powerful man in this realm, when it comes to economic and political might. I'm here to discuss your... Unique situation."
Thor looked at Justin's outstretched hand but did not take it. "What do you want from me?" He said, looking displeased, "Like Loki, you hide your meanings behind pretty words, speak plainly!"
Before Justin could answer, the sound of approaching vehicles filled the air. Several black SUVs, emblazoned with the SHIELD logo, pulled up to the trailer. Agents in tactical gear swiftly disembarked, securing the area with military precision.
Leading the team was Jasper Sitwell, accompanied by Agent John Garrett, whose presence commanded immediate attention. Garrett's cold, calculating eyes scanned the group before settling on Justin, Domino immediately stepped closer with narrowed eyes, reacting to something Justin couldn't see.
Likewise Phantazia stepped back so she'd have eyes on both Thor and Garret. The scientists were all gaping at the scene before them.
"Mr. Hammer," Sitwell said politely but firmly, "I'm afraid this man is coming with us."
Justin frowned but maintained his composure. "And under whose authority?" He said, narrowing his eyes, knowing his place on the council was the worst kept secret in SHIELD.
Garrett stepped forward, his tone authoritative and condescending. "Under the authority of SHIELD, of course. Thor is now under our jurisdiction." He smiled, a smile with nothing but malice behind it, "Though a fella like yourself would understand how these things work, Hammer…"
Thor glanced between Justin and the SHIELD agents, his frustration growing. "I will not be taken against my will." He growled, pointing at Justin, "Especially not by the inferior Loki!"
Justin wanted to face palm. Thor… What the fuck?
Domino and Phantazia subtly shifted into defensive positions, ready to react if necessary. Justin raised a hand, signaling them to stand down. A fight with HYDRA wouldn't do them any good right now, and besides, just like SHIELD in canon, they'd waste their time on pointless interviews, and poking at the hammer.
As a Security Council member, he could get more done by allowing it, following along, and then twisting Pierce's arm a little to get access.
"Mr. Thor," Justin said with forced calm, "I understand your reluctance, but SHIELD is a formidable organization. Perhaps it's best if we cooperate for now and find a solution together." He eyed him meaningfully, which likely flew above his head, adding, "You'd learn nothing by throwing fists, don't you agree?"
Jane, Erik, and Darcy watched the exchange with a mix of confusion and concern. Jane stepped forward, her voice shaky but determined. "Thor, these people can't just take you. We need to understand what's happening." She turned to them, pleading, "You can't take him, do you have any idea what we saw?"
Garrett's patience was visibly wearing thin. "Dr. Foster, I assure you, SHIELD has the resources and expertise to handle this situation - you should be thankful we're not at this time appropriating your notes... Hammer, your cooperation would be appreciated." He ordered, making it clear he expected Justin to go along with this, or else.
Who was this Joker? He missed Coulson already.
Justin glanced at Garrett, recognizing the futility of resistance. "Very well, Agent Garrett. But know that I will be involved in this matter to its conclusion. Thor's potential if his arrival here happened as reported - is too significant to ignore."
Garrett nodded curtly. "Noted. Now, if you'll excuse us." He said Insincerely to the scientists.
Selvig was muttering at Thor, the man grumpily deciding to cooperate. Not before declaring he'd be back to continue to assist the Lady Jane, because no mere mortal could hold him.
Justin rolled his eyes as Doctor Foster blushed, they'd barely had a few hours together, already Thor was working his charm.
He'd be doing them both a favor if he prevented that relationship from happening.
The SHIELD agents moved in, escorting Thor towards their vehicles. Thor cast a final, resolute look at Jane and her team before allowing himself to be led away.
Justin turned to Jane, offering a reassuring smile. "I'll ensure Thor's safety and keep you informed. Trust me, Dr. Foster." He said, the smile not reaching his eyes.
He had not expected HYDRA to be so on the ball, they'd surprised him, and he didn't enjoy these kind of surprises.
Jane nodded reluctantly, her eyes filled with worry. "Thank you, Mr. Hammer." She murmured.
Darcy piped up suddenly, "Can I get an autograph?"
Everyone looked at her, and she shrugged, "Hey, when am I ever going to be near the new emperor of mankind again?"
"Darcy, don't be ridiculous." Jane sighed.
As SHIELD's convoy departed, Justin, Domino, and Phantazia returned to their SUV. The morning sun continued to rise, casting long shadows across the desert landscape. The game had changed, but Justin was determined to remain a key player in whatever unfolded next.
Author's note:
Just note that rent-a-cops as called so by the likes of Eileen and Yelena aren't actually Roxxon hiring your common everyday security guard off the street. Just compared to their standards, they're not military grade professionals.
So Cho is gonna Cho, finally found out what she's been cooking.
And Emma Frost is still a bitch, who'd have thunk it.
What on earth is old Norman doing too, I wonder?
No Hammer next week as I'm on holiday for my bday.
Cheers
I'm more surprised Thor did not accuse SI Justin Hammer to be one of Loki's mortal disguises since he knows his adoptive brother easily blending in among humans of Earth or Midgard.
Chapter 26: Smooth Criminal.
Here's chapter 26: Smooth Criminal.
So back from my little holiday, this story obviously won out on Patron as usual.
This is a dialogue heavy one, probably already making up for the next one leaning into more action already.
Question for all my readers, after Thor is over, I'd planned on a time skip, nothing crazy - six months to a year maybe. Do people want that or do they want to keep going through slowly as Justin pushes more stuff into markets and negotiates etc?
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
The sleek, black SUV pulled up to a nondescript office building SHIELD had commandeered for their operations - Justin knew from previous research of this town that it was a small FBI field office, so it made sense for SHIELD to commandeer it.
With how bullish SHIELD generally were towards other agencies - like kicking the FBI out of their own building in this case - was there any wonder why the alphabet soup of agencies were mostly sitting back and enjoying SHIELDs latest failures? They still did their jobs in interest of national defense of course - but the cooperation with SHIELD was at an all time low.
Something Justin had subtly encouraged because it would make taking down HYDRA easier when he pulled the trigger on that. Although he'd had to move carefully through his people due to the fact HYDRA had people in those agencies as well.
This world was perfectly set up for people being quadruple agents instead of double agents… When he was Emperor of mankind, there wouldn't be this many damn intelligence agencies and secret societies and organizations… It made work very annoying.
The sun bearing down on them caused somewhat of a haze in the air, making Justin grateful for the fact temperatures really didn't bother him much anymore. Justin stepped out of the vehicle, adjusting his suit with a mixture of irritation and determination for the conversation ahead of him - the fact HYDRA would be able to hear it was irritating, but not worth a fight over. Yet. Beside him, Domino and Phantazia moved with practiced precision, their teamwork back to normal after the absence, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.
He'd noticed the two seemed closer lately since Eileen's return, and hadn't commented on it so far, curious to see what was going on, as his read of them had never been that they had intentions like such.
He felt slightly chagrined that he hadn't really realized how upset Domino had been about Eileen going missing until they cured her and Domino dropped her mask for but a moment. In a way it did please him once he got over himself, because it showed he still had plenty to learn. With immortality likely with how quickly science was progressing under his aegis - life would get dreadfully dull if he didn't get a chance to continue learning and improving.
The building they were entering was unassuming, a relic of bureaucratic architecture with its plain facade and functional design - typical FBI aesthetics from the period the building was built. SHIELD agents were stationed at the entrance, eyeing them up with blank faces, their presence a stark reminder of the organization's pervasive reach despite everything. Booting the FBI out on a few hours notice was not a small thing, showing they still had power despite their massive failures. Justin strode forward, his expression a mask of composure, even as he built and discarded plans for the conversation ahead of him.
A lot hinged on getting this right. And he had to change his plan on the fly due to Thor's weird reaction to him. Being compared to Loki was not at all flattering, and also… Slightly odd, all things considered.
Thor should still see Loki as his darling brother, surely the butterflies on earth had not reached Asgard? He couldn't imagine how.
Or perhaps it was something as simple as somewhere deep in the buffoons hindbrain, something cottoned on to the fact that Loki was acting suspiciously in recent events, and that anyone acting like Loki similarly was suspicious?
He'd never get to know, likely, as he couldn't ask Thor without coming off as too knowledgeable about things he should not know. It irritated him, but he could live with irritation. He had Domino around all day after all.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Agents bustled about, their movements efficient and purposeful. Justin was led through a series of security checkpoints, pointlessly. Each more stringent than the last despite having been set up so rapidly. Agent Garrett was flexing it appeared...
He'd let him have his delusions of control and power. Once Thor was gone, he could… Educate the man on the matter.
On the scale of things, Pierce would never choose an insignificant bug like Garrett over the benefits even a tentative alliance with Justin held.
Justin always remembered slights. The only question was how far Garrett would push his patience.
Finally, he reached the observation room adjacent to the interrogation room where Thor was being held.
The sole such cell this building held apparently. Funny how a simple change in who was in charge led them here. Coulson had met with Thor in a comparatively easy going manner after all - Garrett had put him in what even an Asgardian would recognize as an interrogation room/cell.
Domino and Phantazia stood at his sides, covering him completely from agent Garrett, neither of them allowing him to even step close. Garret only appeared to find it amusing, stepping up to the window a few feet away from them - his smile would have been genial with a bit of southern charm - if his eyes didn't so clearly show a psychopath underneath.
Not that being a psychopath was a problem to Justin. They just needed to know their place. Beneath him. Far far beneath him.
Thor sat in the grey, bland room, his massive frame hunched slightly as he glowered at Jasper Sitwell, who sat across from him with a skeptical expression. The god of thunder, now stripped of his powers and Mjolnir, looked every bit the duck out of water. His borrowed Earth clothes only added to his disheveled appearance.
"I have told you, mortal," Thor's voice boomed, echoing in the confined space. "I am Thor Odinson, prince of Asgard. I demand to speak with someone who understands the gravity of my presence here."
With the way his muscles rippled as he leaned forward, Justin assumed Thor was already getting annoyed with the patsies.
All the better for him.
As long as he didn't actually attack, that would make things more problematic.
Garrett likely would shoot the man. And Justin did not feel like a war with Asgard was something they could win. Yet.
Sitwell leaned back in his chair, his demeanor cool and analytical. "Mr…Thor, or whatever you prefer to be called, we need more than grandiose titles and dramatic renditions of myths. You claim to be a god from another realm. Forgive us if we're a bit skeptical."
Sitwell gestured with one hand, "A show of some magic perhaps to cure us of our skepticism? Or some advanced technology, some proof?" He asked, trying to make it not seem like a demand.
Justin could only wonder what HYDRA really thought of this. If anyone could quickly deduce Mjolnir was of extraterrestrial make, it would be them, surely? So what did they really want here, that they jumped on Thor so quickly? And why the bout of skepticism, when they obviously believed he was at least something?
Thor's eyes narrowed, his frustration palpable as he slammed a hand down on the steel table, making Sitwell flinch. "You dare question the word of a prince? Asgard is real, as are the Nine Realms. I have come here for a purpose, I am not a jester to play tricks for your amusement."
From behind the one-way mirror, Justin watched the exchange intently. His mind raced as he considered the implications of Thor's loud claims, and if HYDRA were going to act on any of it. Aliens, gods, other realms - these were concepts that could either be dismissed as lunacy or embraced as reality. The question was whether Sitwell, and by extension SHIELD/HYDRA, were going to do something with a potential access point to alien paradise…
He needed to take charge of this, make it clear for Pierce and his friends that this lay in Hammer Industries wheelspace. This needed a scalpel, not a Hammer. His lips twitched slightly at his own thoughts.
Justin turned to Garrett, who stood not far beside him, with a fake easy going smile - the man's hands behind his back as he casually watched Justin instead of Thor. "What do you make of this guy, Hammer? Think he's just another loony, or is there something to all this Asgard talk?" He asked with a dimpled smile, even as his eyes bored into Justin's with barely repressed murder shining through.
Justin wasn't sure what to make of the man, this all seemed like it might perhaps be a test.
Justin pondered what to say, what to reveal of his own knowledge, his eyes returning to the interrogation room. "The impossible hammer that showed up here at the same time as the subject, suggests there's more to him than just delusions. We can't afford to ignore the possibility, especially given the recent events." He said, telling him nothing he didn't already know.
Garrett snorted, his dislike of that answer evident. "Could be a piece of shit mutie too, aren't you a bit too old to immediately believe in fairy tales and myths?" He fired back.
Both Domino and Phantazia controlled their reactions masterfully, only through Justin's own familiarity with them did he spot how their attention on the man sharpened at that comment.
Justin himself wasn't wildly impressed either. Especially as he had a feeling Garrett was poking them on purpose - he'd been ordered to be this antagonistic surely. He couldn't be this stupid and make it this far in the organization. He wouldn't have been so quick on grabbing Thor if he really didn't believe in any of this. He was playing a game here. In what way, Justin wasn't sure yet.
Justin shot Garrett a pointed look. "The world is a lot bigger and stranger than most people realize, Agent Garrett. We need to keep an open mind. Antagonizing the man is hardly helping you, is it?"
Garrett crossed his arms, his expression darkening slightly at Justin's mild rebuke. "Fine. You want a crack at him, Hammer? Be my guest. Just don't waste too much of our time."
Justin nodded, appreciating the begrudging acquiescence as it moved things forward. He quickly stepped into the interrogation room, Domino following him, while Phantazia stayed behind in the observation room. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, and then mildly said, "Agent Sitwell, I'll take it from here."
Sitwell looked between Justin and Thor, then stood and nodded curtly. "Fine, but don't expect him to be cooperative. He's all bluster and no substance." Sitwell said snidely, obviously annoyed with being pulled out.
Justin shook his head, laying a hand on the agents shoulder, preventing him from leaving as he tried to step out, Sitwell groaning slightly as Justin applied pressure, "I'm just a businessman," He said, continuing with the mild tone, his head tilted so he could look into Sitwell's pained and surprised eyes, "But it seems to me that purposefully antagonizing our guest serves no purpose, and that you need to apologize."
He squeezed slightly harder, "Now." He intoned, the creaking of bones heard briefly.
"I apologize for my words, I was out of line." Sitwell quickly said to Thor, speed walking out of the room the second the Asgardian nodded, accepting the apology, Justin letting him go.
HYDRA needed to realize Justin wasn't a paper tiger. He wasn't only a big bag of cash and influence. Not anymore. What he'd done was hardly revealing his full extent of super strength, but it was enough to perhaps make them more wary of these kinds of dick measuring contests in the future.
If they realized… Well, that would work out in his favor as well… He'd be even more irresistible, and they'd bend even more to keep him onside.
Justin watched as Sitwell exited the room, taking a moment to think, before he then turned his attention back to Thor, who eyed him with less rancor than he'd held just a moment ago.
"Prince Thor," Justin began, his voice calm and measured. "My name is Justin Hammer. I'm here to help, if you'll let me." He offered, taking a seat opposite of the man, calmly laying his hands in his lap.
Domino stood right at his shoulder, close enough to assist if somehow Thor managed to get his powers back and strike out. An unlikely event, but it was better to be prepared then not.
Justin could hardly defeat a fully powered Thor. But nowadays… He could survive such a fight. And if he could only get that damn sling ring to work… He could simply escape every time.
Thor's posture remained tense, but he inclined his head slightly. "You are not like the others." He mused out loud, "You speak with less contempt. What is it you seek from me, Justin Hammer?"
Justin took his time with his answer, studying the lost prince. "I seek to understand. Your presence here is significant and we'd like to know more. I believe we can help each other. But I need you to trust me, at least a little."
Thor's eyes searched Justin's face, as if weighing the sincerity of his words. "Trust is not easily given, especially to those who question my very identity. What proof do you require of my origins?" He rumbled, unhappily.
Justin glanced at the window where the HYDRA agents were watching, aware he couldn't be too forward. "Start by telling us about your home, about Asgard. What is it like? Why are you here, on earth, as you are?"
Thor's expression softened, his eyes taking on a distant look. "Asgard is a realm of great beauty and power. It is a place where magic and your science are one and the same, where warriors proudly stand as a bastion for all the nine realms." His posture changed slightly, his eyes growing darker as he continued, "I was sent here by my father, Odin, due to an event I wish to not speak of…"
For several moments Thor was silent, staring down in his lap hard, seemingly still struggling with coming to terms with that fact, before his head rose, a small grimace on his lips, "According to the Lady Jane, she believes it was to learn humility and to understand the fragility of life."
It seems Jane and Thor had a lot more to talk about here then in canon, huh? Justin thought, thinking on how to ensure that relationship didn't happen this time around.
He'd been ambivalent on the good Dr. Foster, leaving her be due to her importance in this first encounter, but now that he'd moved past that point. He wanted her.
If space was the next step, Jane Foster should be in his care. Not pining for an alien. Justin definitely stood for Earth first, Thor and Asgard were only important in the way Justin could use them to defend Earth until they were ready.
Justin nodded, taking in what Thor had said, "If you are who you say you are… What are your intentions with Dr Foster? As a man of science myself, and as someone with influence on earth, I must ask." He said, faking an apologetic tone.
It was as good an excuse as any other, really.
Thor looked away for a moment, "Lady Jane is a fine woman," He said lowly, before looking at Justin with a slight threat in his body language, "You are not her keeper." He accused softly.
Justin sighed, thrumming his fingers on the table, "Prince Thor, we have myths of you and your family. If this all is indeed true, how long is your lifespan, if I may ask?"
Thor looked puzzled, tilting his head like he was a dumb puppy, "Centuries, it varies between different Asgardians." Some clarity came to his eyes afterwards, and he smiled condescendingly, "Aha, you worry that I shall be heartbroken due to mortals' fleeting life span, worry not, I can handle it!" He boasted, puffing up his chest.
Justin hid his instant irritation behind a genial mask, "Not quite so, Prince Thor." He said, keeping up with the title as Thor was relaxing in his presence more and more as he used it. What a surprise… "Her suffering is what I worry about."
He raised a hand as Thor opened his mouth, looking offended, no doubt about to protest that he'd never hurt a fair maiden or some such idiotic boast. It really was ridiculous how quickly he was infatuated.
Especially when he had someone like Lady Sif who seemed all too eager to ride him around Asgard.
"Let the mortal speak to you of mortals." He cautioned, relaxing in his chair, "You might say you'll love her even as she ages, gets wrinkles and grey hair, as her mind goes…" He began, not informing the alien about how such a thing would likely slow down massively in the near future due to Panacea.
He'd already further helped Bucky's loyalty along by giving him leave to go shoot up Peggy Carter with a full Extremis dose rather than the weaker Panacea. Age and dementia and such was hardly the same barrier it had once been.
"Yet how do you think she'll feel? Watching you remain as you are? As she ends up feeling heartbroken and disgusted on the inside, as you keep caring for her as she becomes old and infirm, always wondering, always hating herself for it. How do you think she'll feel when she realizes her entire life is only a footnote in yours?" Justin said softly, making Thor shut his mouth with a conflicted expression.
"The Lady Jane would feel as such?" He asked, sounding shocked and sickened.
Justin nodded firmly, "She might not even say it herself now, or see it. Young love is like that. But she'd grow to resent you. And to hate herself, as the decades passed." He cautioned.
Humorously he wondered what expression Agent Garret was making right now. Watching this 'interrogation' turn into advice on women. He almost wanted to be a fly on the wall when Pierce got this report.
Thor rubbed his face, eyes staring into the distance, "I will think on it." He decided, and Justin didn't push. He had likely done enough to prevent a whirlwind romance, and without that, their relationship would never kick off.
"Unsolicited advice aside, are you willing to tell us more on why you were sent to Earth?" Justin queried, not wanting to give Thor too much time to think on things.
You never knew what asinine decision he might come to if he was allowed to think too much on his own. He wasn't as bad as Loki, but he was hardly wise either.
Thor's gaze hardened, even as he slumped slightly despondently in his seat. "I was cast out by my father for my arrogance and recklessness. Mjolnir, my hammer, was sent here as a test. Only by proving myself worthy can I reclaim it and return to Asgard, I… It didn't respond to me…"
Huh, so that already happened? Before SHIELD was even here to boot, another change…
Justin leaned back, considering Thor's words. "So, this is about redemption for you. Proving that you've learned your lesson. I believe Dr Foster was likely correct in what she was saying." He cocked his head, studying Thor, while putting on a comforting facade, "Earth has advanced quite a lot, and it would be nice if perhaps Asgard would include us in such decisions in the future. You are after all visiting Royalty."
Thor's eyes brightened up, and he smiled, seemingly having forgotten any qualms he'd held before, "Truly that is so, I have learned much of how this world has progressed, Lady Jane is very accomplished!"
Ah, let's get away from Dr Foster…
"We can see about helping you, Prince Thor, I'm sure you'll learn enough to be able to get back soon." He offered, practically feeling Agent Garrett dark gaze on him, as he promised assistance.
Thor seemed touched, leaning forward slightly, "Perhaps I misjudged you, other than Lady Jane, no one else has offered to help, and even she did not really believe what I was saying." There was intelligence in his eyes as he met Justin's gaze, "Yet you do so easily…"
Justin met his gaze calmly, "I am one of the most influential people in this 'realm' Prince Thor. I am aware of the Kree attacking this world before, so Asgard is not an impossibility to me as it would be to the average person."
Thor grimaced, rubbing the back of his head, "Ah, my father told me of that incident, rest assured that we protested harshly afterwards, and the Kree empire has not attempted any further advances."
Justin raised an eyebrow, having not been aware that Asgard had gotten involved in that at all, "Speaking of your father…" He said quietly, not wanting to discuss the Kree too much in front of Garret and Sitwell, who'd both make Pierce wonder, once he got their reports - if he showed too much knowledge - knowledge that wasn't in SHIELD files on the incident.
"There are certain myths… Here on Earth, regarding Asgard. Regarding Odin." He continued carefully, constantly editing his words before he spoke, careful to not go too far, "Of Hela, his firstborn, who he conquered the nine realms with. Hela and her undead army, Hela the goddess of death that Odin banished forever, tied to his lifeforce."
Thor looked confused, "There is no Hela, I am the firstborn child of Odin." He said, some pride leaking through.
Justin didn't want to push too far on this, but he also didn't want to leave this to canon, didn't want to leave Odin to continue on with his - quite frankly - retarded decisions. "It might be worth talking to your father, or your mother, about this. Considering your own banishment… It does ring true to some extent." He said cautiously, not wanting to come off too strong.
He was just planting a seed.
Thor pursed his lips, before nodding once, looking slightly disbelieving still.
"Thank you, Prince Thor, at the very least, your family being more open could only benefit you, and Asgard as a whole." Justin insinuated, leaving it at that, before moving on, "As for your stay here…"
Justin leaned in again, his tone softer. "Thor, I understand what it's like to carry the burden of responsibility and the weight of a world on your shoulders. To have others depend on you and to face challenges that seem insurmountable. But we can't do it alone, never alone. We need allies, people we can trust."
Justin held his gaze, believe me you oaf, I'm helping you here, just get with the program, he mentally forced towards the man, hoping he'd done enough to at least create a rapport with the man.
After he left Earth, Justin couldn't care less if he was a friend or simply just not an enemy. He just needed to be cordial enough to trust Justin enough to actually push Odin for answers after Loki would fall.
Ideally the whole Hela bullshit could be stopped before it happened. Asgard as a shield for Earth was too useful to casually disregard. Only when Earth was stronger then the aliens would Justin allow that relationship to end.
Thor's gaze met Justin's, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "You speak true, Justin Hammer. But how can I trust you when your own kind seeks to imprison me, ridicule me?" He challenged.
Justin sighed, glancing at the mirror behind which Sitwell and Garrett were undoubtedly watching. "Not everyone here sees the bigger picture. But I do, and if you pardon the pun - I wield the bigger hammer in this situation - I believe you when you say you're from Asgard. I want to help you prove your worth and reclaim your power, for both our realms sake."
Thor studied Justin for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Very well. I will place my trust in you, Justin Hammer. But know this, if you betray me, you will face the wrath of Asgard."
Justin nodded, accepting the unspoken threat, not really that bothered by it. "I understand. Let's work together to find a way to help you." The sooner you're gone and cleaning up your own backyard, the better…
"Perhaps it's a sign…" Thor muttered wistfully, "I wish to regain the loyalty of my hammer, and a man named Hammer has arrived to assist me."
"It likely is, symbolism like that is powerful." Justin agreed. It was stupid, but he saw no reason in disagreeing with something that made Thor more likely to listen to him.
Especially if Loki would still choose to arrive at some point in projection form to tell Thor his father had died.
"I will arrange for better accomodation for you, Prince Thor, please have patience." He said, rising up, Thor rising as well to offer his hand, Justin grabbing it, only to have Thor grasp his entire arm, shaking it vigorously.
"Tarry not, I grow tired of this small enclosure." He said, his face more open now that he'd decided Justin was on his side.
"I will see you soon." Justin agreed, glad that he had so much practice in faking his expression, because smiling at this fool was really getting rather irritating.
As Justin left the interrogation room, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He hadn't revealed much to HYDRA, and he'd managed to lower Thor's suspicions easily, proving his wariness had only ever been skin deep.
In what little time they'd have left, he'd make sure to continue to feed Thor myths, even if he made them up himself, to make the man push his father, or go to his mother. Anything to prevent the idiot ball Asgard would otherwise hold for the last few years of its existence.
Garrett approached him immediately, Phantazia joining them as well. The agent's expression was unreadable. "Well, Hammer, looks like you managed to get through to him somewhat, without actually gaining anything valuable in regards to information." He drawled sarcastically.
Justin smirked, "I got what I needed, give it a few hours, then release him in my care."
Garrett's eyes narrowed, "I ain't doing that." He said bluntly. "If what you say is true, he's an alien with a significant threat factor."
"He's human right now." Justin said blithely, beginning to walk to exit the building, giving Garrett the choice to drop it, or catch up to keep arguing.
"You're not in the chain of command, you wanna order me around, go get the council to put you in charge, being on the council doesn't give you operation command." Garrett growled, hands clenched into fists.
Justin stopped, smiling as he stepped into Garret's personal space. "Do as I say, Garrett." He said pleasantly.
Garrett scoffed, the smile back on his face, even as his eyes burned, "Not going to happen, Hammer, here I'm the boss, you want me to back down, then get my boss to call me."
"Phantazia, cut him down to size." Justin ordered mildly, watching Garret with a placid expression on his face, not allowing his anger to show.
He could deal with the likes of Stark or Frost being annoyances, could deal with the likes of Shaw and Selene being threats.
He would not allow little pissants attempt to lord over him like they mattered!
She didn't even hesitate, a flex of her power forcing Garretts immediate defensive reaction to fail as she made his nerves misfire, with a flash of steel, both the ligaments in the back of his legs were cut, forcing the man down on his knees.
Garret made no noise, just immediately grasping for his sidearm, agents across the area grabbing their own weapons, only for Phantazia to wag a finger mockingly, all the weapons malfunctioning.
Domino, now the only one wielding a gun, teasingly waved it at the agents, who immediately stopped in place. "Good puppies, if you roll over you'll get a treat." She said with a shit eating grin.
Justin looked down at the crippled agent, sneering, "You will do as you're told." He said coldly, before looking across to the agents in the room, "You all will." He patted Garret on the cheek, "You all seem to forget who I am. Call the police, I own them. Call the politicians, I own them. Call your bosses, I own them. In no world are any of you worth enough that your bosses, spouses, friends, neighbors, congressmen, or whatever or whoever you care to mention - will choose to piss me off, to save you."
"Grab some Panacea, I know SHIELD has some, it won't be ideal without the cradle, but for your little cuts. It should do." He said uncaringly to Garret, the agents all watching him, all keeping their hands away from anywhere that could be misconstrued as a weapon. They all understood perfectly. "Release Thor to me in… Oh let's say three hours. Then stay away unless called for. I call the shots here. Or I will simply remove you all from the equation and do it anyway. Is that understood?"
There was only silence, and Justin sighed, looking down at Garrett, "Phantazia, cut a finger or two off, it seems they still don't understand." He ordered.
"Understood!" Garret growled out, slightly pale, even as he stared up in absolute hatred.
Justin didn't care. In no world was Garrett or Sitwell leaving this town alive anyway.
But with how confrontational the agent had been, Justin didn't trust them to not fuck everything up, so it came to this.
He'd owe Pierce a favor after this no doubt. Oh well, it's still worth it. He thought.
It's not like it overly mattered if they all realized fully how dangerous he actually was. Not that murdering a few HYDRA agents and whatever small amount of SHIELD agents on site constituted something dangerous anyway. It was small potatoes.
It was about goddamn time he let loose a little, actually.
"This is still a mistake…" Garrett ground out, as Justin began walking away.
Justin shrugged uncaringly. "Garrett, sometimes the only way to move forward is to take a leap of faith." He said, wondering if the other man truly understood what was going on yet.
Garrett snorted, his skepticism returning. "Just don't leap too far, Hammer. You might not like where you land." He said threateningly.
Someone should tell the man that when one is kneeling on the ground, one does not come off as very threatening. No matter. He was a dead man walking. Justin didn't even bother replying, just walking out with Domino and Phantazia following.
Justin adjusted his suit as he made his way to the lobby of the building where Thor was being held, feeling a little hot under the collar after getting to loosen up a little for once. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow on the polished floors, as he approached the waiting area. As he'd suspected, he saw Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis waiting anxiously. Jane's eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and apprehension as she saw him.
All of them got up from where they were sitting immediately, Dr Foster almost painfully thirsty as she approached, wringing her hands.
"Thor's not even that good looking." He muttered.
Domino barked a mocking laugh, even as Phantazia replied with a dry, "He is, how do you say it? Prime beef."
Justin refused to answer that. Betrayed by his own bodyguards like that, without any hesitation… Instead he stepped forward to greet the two scientists and their snarky intern.
"I am glad I caught you here, nice to meet you all again," Justin greeted them, his tone professional but warm. "I wanted to discuss a few things that might interest you."
Jane folded her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Where's Thor? Is he alright?"
One track mind, this one. Justin wanted to roll his eyes, but he had a part to play here, and it wouldn't do to make Dr Foster too prickly.
Justin smiled reassuringly. "Thor is fine, Dr Foster. He's just being... Debriefed. Now, let's talk about something important. You've witnessed something extraordinary, and I believe your research into wormholes and interdimensional travel is crucial. I'm here to offer you funding to continue your work." He flashed a brighter smile, "Hammer industries is the best, and we have more money than anyone else, you'd be well taken care of."
"Wait! You believe it's all real? Asgard, all of it?" Jane whisper-shouted, before blushing, "T-Thor being a god?" She added, eyes bright.
"Definitely hung like one…" Darcy muttered, nudging Jane's side.
Jane's eyes narrowed, as she completely forgot Justin was there, immediately beginning to argue with her intern, "Excuse me! And how would you know that!? What did you do, Darcy?"
She smiled sweetly, "Showed him how to operate the shower, apparently he didn't realize he's supposed to wait for me to leave to get naked." She sighed, a hand to her cheek, "Primo beef, no wonder if he's really a god…"
"D-Darcy!" Jane protested, sounding very… Disappointed?
Darcy immediately jumped on it, "Oh? Wishing you'd seen it? I can describe it if you want?" The playful smile on her face depicted that she knew exactly what she was doing. She started moving her hands apart, when Jane squeaked and grabbed them to prevent her from doing so.
Justin cleared his throat, making Jane jump slightly, as if just remembering that yes, she was just in the middle of speaking to the most powerful man in the world before she started obsessing about Thor's dick.
This was one of the biggest brains of their time?
"Yes, I believe he is indeed from Asgard, and who he says he is, and that he did arrive here exactly as you think he did, which makes your research valuable to me." Justin said with a charming smile.
Erik Selvig raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Funding from Hammer Industries? What's the catch?" He asked, going right past the alien question and right to what was important - the money.
Justin could respect that. He leaned in slightly, focusing on the elder scientist, "No catch, Dr Selvig. I just want to ensure that your research continues uninterrupted and that we all benefit from what you discover. Given the nature of recent events, it's clear that we're dealing with something beyond our usual scope."
Jane's interest was definitely piqued, she'd always worked on a shoestring budget, he knew, but she remained wary. "And what do you get out of this, Mr Hammer?"
Justin chuckled softly. "I get access to your findings which could get us to the stars, and in return, you get the resources you need. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. Plus, there's the matter of the alien. Only those working with Hammer Industries would have direct access to him and any other... Extraterrestrial entities at the moment." He smiled smugly, "He will be in my care, for now."
Only he knew Thor would be gone within days. Maybe even by tomorrow. So this bait dangling in front of the thirsty Dr Foster would cost him nothing, and gain him everything.
Jane bristled at the term he'd used however. "He's not just some 'alien' He's Thor." She snapped.
Movie logic in the real world, it must be… How else are both of these idiots so attached after less than twenty four hours? He wondered.
Justin raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Of course, Dr Foster. I didn't mean any disrespect. Thor is clearly significant, and having you close to him as the woman who initiated first contact would be advantageous for all parties involved."
Mostly me at this point.
Jane hesitated, her eyes flicking to the contracts, already prepared, that Phantazia offered with one hand - standard contracts, since he hadn't decided until just recently to recruit them. Before she could respond, Erik pulled her aside, speaking in hushed tones. They argued quietly, Erik's voice rising occasionally in protest while Jane's responses were more measured but equally passionate.
Dr Selvig was obviously wiser than the thirsty astrophysicist. And was likely telling her about taking candy from strangers right about now.
Justin turned to Darcy, who had been watching the exchange with an amused expression. "And what about you, Miss Lewis? How do you feel about all this?" He asked, lacking anything better to do while he waited for them to agree to the only sensible option.
Dr Foster would work well with Hope, he thought. Hope wasn't very fond of Cho or Hansen when they'd met. Foster might be more her speed.
Darcy grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I'm just here for the snacks and the sci-fi science talk. But, you know, speaking of interests... I saw that 'funtime' video of yours. What's a gal gotta do to get some of that?"
Justin was momentarily taken aback, his polished demeanor faltering slightly. "Well, that's... Unexpected."
Darcy leaned in, her grin widening. "Come on, Mister Hammer, sir. I've always wondered if billionaires really have silver tongues. You should just prove it." She winked exaggeratedly at him, and he wasn't sure whether he should take her seriously or not.
Justin cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You're very... Upfront, Miss Lewis. Why so forward?"
How on earth did Thor end up with Jane if Darcy is this… Open. Honestly the two of them seem a better fit.
Darcy shrugged casually. "I live in the moment. I'm not going to get many chances to pal around with billionaires, so why not shoot my shot, you know?" She looked thoughtful for a moment, tapping her lips with a finger, "Plus if Jane is going for a god, the least I could do is go for the ruler of Earth, yeah?"
Justin wasn't sure what to make of her, but he did like how she kept understanding his proper place above them all. It was an attractive quality.
Before Justin could respond, Domino interjected with a smirk. "I really like this one, Justin. You should keep her."
Darcy eyed Domino appreciatively. "I'm straight for now, but get enough daiquiris in me, and I can get flexible." She said, giving the amused Domino a fist bump, even as Phantazia slowly put her face in her hands.
Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "You certainly know how to make an impression, Miss Lewis." He admitted, amused by her irreverent attitude. Any anger from the goons he'd had to deal with sloughed right off him as he took her in with renewed interest.
Unlike the super powered people he tended to end up around. She was a 'normal' woman, with curves and the nerdy girl next door look, with none of the impossible waist and fitness and such that powered women seemed to come with as standard.
Darcy winked at him, "That's the idea, sir Hammer. So, about that silver tongue...?" She trailed off, bouncing on her heels.
Justin was saved from responding by Jane and Erik returning, their expressions a mix of resolution and frustration.
Jane spoke first, her tone firm. "We'll consider your offer, Mr.Hammer. But I want assurances that Thor will be treated with respect and that our research will remain ours." She managed to say, and he immediately clocked onto what was her words, and which belonged to Dr Selvig.
Justin nodded, pleased with the progress. Even half an in would do, once Thor disappeared. He'd get them to sign on, he was sure. "Absolutely, Dr Foster. Your terms are acceptable. I'll have my legal team draft an agreement that ensures your autonomy and the respect Thor deserves." The second part won't matter anyway.
Erik still looked skeptical but didn't object further. Jane glanced at Darcy, who was still smiling playfully at Justin, and sighed. "Darcy, let's go. We need to talk about this further."
Darcy gave Justin a mock salute. "Catch you later, sir Hammer. Don't forget about that silver tongue of yours, can't keep a gal wondering, it's not proper."
"DARCY, NOW!" Jane blustered, dragging her intern and friend away, Darcy just laughing softly.
This girl… She either has no fear, or is just a complete troll…
As the three walked away, or in the case of the intern - was dragged away. Justin turned to Domino, shaking his head with a bemused smile. "That woman is something else."
Domino laughed. "She's got spirit. You could use someone like that around."
Phantazia looked aghast at the idea, "Please sir, don't think with your dick, we do not need another Domino around!"
"Hurtful." Domino snorted, playfully punching Phantazia's shoulder.
Her eyes narrowed, "I will loosen the muscles that control your bladder!" She said shortly, lifting one hand threateningly.
Domino immediately backed off.
Justin chuckled, this is why I missed you Eileen, you do control Domino far better than I do.
"I doubt she'd be a permanent addition," He mused, "She's too tied to Dr Foster."
Phantazia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm on Thor watching duty tonight then, I do not need to be near that mess."
Justin didn't intend to talk with Thor again today, so it suited him fine to let the man do whatever with Phantazia keeping an eye out.
Domino smirked, "Oh, leaving me to have my eyes violated are you? How cruel!" She said dramatically, a hand to her heart.
"You could always wait outside, you voyeur."
"My job requires me to be close."
"Not that close!"
"Yuuup!"
"You make me want to die."
"You love me!"
"Girls…"
"She started it!"/"She started it!"
Later that night, Justin stood in his frankly below standards hotel room - for some reason this small town didn't have five star hotels… He was dressed in a luxurious set of deep burgundy silk pajamas. The fabric clung to his well-toned frame, accentuating his lean, athletic build. His hair was perfectly styled, and his face bore a relaxed but expectant expression as he sipped a glass of scotch.
Presentation was everything, even in a situation where he really couldn't lose anyway.
The door opened, and Domino led Darcy into the room. Darcy's eyes scanned the space, taking in the surroundings before landing on Justin. She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "Silk pajamas, huh?" she said, her tone dripping with anticipation. "I would've preferred leather or latex…" She sniffed, lifting her face faux haughtily, "But you'll do." She waved a hand like she was saying, carry on, only a hint of a tremor showing anything but confidence.
So even this ballsy woman got some nerves once the chips were actually down, it seemed. Justin chuckled, setting his glass down. "I guess I could've gone with something more dramatic, but comfort won out."
Darcy sauntered further into the room, her eyes unabashedly raking over Justin. "Comfort, huh? We'll see how comfortable you are by the end of the night." She said throatily.
Domino burst out giggling, obviously finding Darcy's bluntness hilarious. She walked over behind Darcy and gave her a gentle caress through her hair landing on her cheek. "You should look me up later, instead of Justin," She teased. "You're definitely something."
Justin was at least 70 percent sure she was joking. Maybe.
Darcy cheekily shook her head. "Not drunk enough gorgeous. Besides, if I was just going to go the sapphic route, it would totally be Jane first. I called dibs." She said matter of factly.
Justin blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Really?" I wouldn't mind seeing that!
Darcy shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, we got really drunk once and kissed. Jane made me promise we'd never speak about it, but I made her swear in return that if she ever went all cray cray for juicy peaches, I had dibs first. And since Jane agreed, I have forever dibs, even if she doesn't remember any of it."
Justin's disbelief turned to curiosity. "You actually made her promise that?"
Darcy nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yep. We were at this party, and we both had way way too much to drink, I might have made her go because she needed some actual life in her life, you know? One thing led to another, and suddenly we were kissing in the middle of the dance floor. Jane was mortified afterward, but I thought it was hilarious. So, I made her swear that if she ever decided to switch teams, I'd be her first pick."
Domino sighed dramatically. "That's a shame." She eyed Darcy over, "I prefer men, there's no doubt about it, but you've got some ass…"
Darcy giggled and winked at Domino. "Buy me enough drinks and I'd forget all about the dibs, but for now, butt out. I have a reenactment of a hot video to enact." She said, poking Domino's nose with one finger.
Domino shook her head, amused, even as she playfully snapped at the finger with her teeth. "I don't leave the room. Bodyguard stuff."
Darcy raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Kinky. I can work with it, but you owe me drinks tomorrow night." She said, her voice huskier for a moment.
Justin, feeling slightly put out, cleared his throat. "I'm still here, you know."
At least he was fairly more certain about Domino's preferences now. Even if he was a bit put out she was practically trying to cockblock him.
Darcy turned to him, her eyes glinting with mischief. "If you wanted my attention, you should've taken your pants off instead of just watching us chatter." She fired, completely unrepentant.
Domino broke out laughing, "Oh, my… Drinks are on me tomorrow, I definitely need more of this in my life."
Justin couldn't help but laugh as well, shaking his head in amused disbelief, "You certainly know what you want, Darcy." He complimented her.
It took a lot for people to be this honest with themselves and others, he could respect the confidence and self evaluation needed to become this.
She sauntered over to him, her eyes locked on his. "So, Mr Hammer, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to show me why billionaires have all the fun?"
Justin set down his glass of scotch and met her gaze. "I suppose I could make an exception for you, Darcy."
Usually women chased him, it was actually somewhat interesting to have someone so plainly state to him he needed to impress.
Darcy chuckled, leaning in closer. "Good. Because I've got high expectations."
Domino watched the exchange with a bemused smile, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "This should be interesting."
Darcy turned to Domino, giving her a playful wink. "Feel free to take notes."
Justin, regaining his composure, gestured to the plush seating area. "Shall we sit and get more comfortable?"
Darcy shrugged. "Sure, why not? But don't think sitting down means I'm not still expecting a show." She said sternly, wagging a finger at him.
As they moved to the seating area, Justin couldn't help but marvel at Darcy's boldness. She was unlike any normal woman he had ever encountered - fearless, playful, and completely unapologetic about anything.
Domino stayed by the wall, her eyes twinkling with amusement - the depraved voyeur. "Don't mind me. Just here to make sure things don't get too wild." She quipped.
Darcy shot her a cheeky grin. "Wild? Who, me? I wouldn't dream of it." She tossed her hair, "Feel free to spank me if I'm being bad…"
Justin leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Darcy's, fascinated by her gumption. "You certainly keep things interesting, Darcy." He mumbled.
She tilted her head, studying him back. "Interesting is good. Keeps people on their toes. Speaking of which, you've got some pretty big shoes to fill, Mr Hammer." She said coyly.
Justin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?" His own playful smile blossomed onto his face.
Darcy's eyes sparkled with lust, darkening her eyes. "Because I've seen that video remember, and I've got to say, you've set the bar pretty high."
Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll do my best not to disappoint."
Darcy leaned in, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "You better not." Only a slight tremble to her voice again revealed she was not quite as confident as she displayed.
"I never fail to deliver." He promised, standing up, looming over her.
Darcy, ever the provocateur, gave Justin one last playful wink. "Alright, Mr Hammer, time to see if you really can live up to the hype."
As Justin got ready to deliver, he suddenly realized that while his new superhuman abilities seemed to be fully able to differentiate between a doorknob, or a handshake - and a fist fight.
He wasn't sure if it would hold back in the throes of passion. Something that could have disastrous consequences.
He was a man of his word. So Darcy would see god tonight, there was no doubt about that.
But to his frustration, he would not be able to seek the release he wished, not all of it anyway.
There were downsides to being superhuman after all, it seemed. The way Darcy pouted when he explained it was adorable though.
Domino stop fucking laughing at me!!
Cairo, Egypt.
Hope Van Dyne stepped out of the meeting room, her mind buzzing with the details of her discussion with Sunil Bakshi, Justin's right hand man. She adjusted her tailored blazer, the deep blue fabric accentuating her sharp features and confident demeanor. Her dark hair was styled in a sleek bob, perfectly framing her face.
She'd learned young that as a woman, you could never look like you had a hair out of place, like you missed a step. You could never look weak. Not in the shark infested waters of business, nor the slog through swamp infested waters that the world called politics.
As she made her way through the corridor, Hope nearly collided with Yelena, immediately eyeing the woman skeptically, because the other woman was never that distracted or ungraceful.
Yelena, with her blonde hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, was dressed in a casual down to earth ensemble - a black leather jacket over a white tank top, paired with dark jeans and combat boots. Her eyes were best described as spicy, as she smiled at Hope.
Hope was not unaware of the situation. She knew the other woman was desperately in love with Justin. For all that she was what she was - she wore her heart on her sleeve in this instance.
"Hope, fancy running into you here," Yelena said, her Russian accent adding a melodic lilt to her words. "How was your meeting with Bakshi?" She asked politely.
Hope offered an equally polite smile back. Small talk was business 101. "Productive. We're making good progress on the space program."
They were certainly working faster than NASA, hail the absence of red tape. If business could be done this quick in the states, why, the government might actually sometimes get something done, she thought cynically.
Justin might be rubbing off on her a mite more than she'd believed. She briefly closed her eyes, as did Domino, or my mind would not have immediately gone there…
Yelena nodded, then her eyes twinkled with a hint of something more. "It's been a long day. How about we go for a drink? There's a nice bar nearby. My treat." She offered.
Hope considered the invitation for a moment, her analytical mind quickly deducing that this was about more than just a casual drink. Yelena was rarely this friendly, and surely she wouldn't do this without an ulterior motive. "Sure, why not? Lead the way." She agreed.
She wasn't one for previcarating needlessly. It was better to air this all out now, while Justin wasn't here to see them. Not that she had any such intentions on him, of course.
They left the compound and made their way to a nearby bar. The establishment was an upscale yet cozy venue, with dim lighting and plush seating - obviously intended for tourists, not the locals. The walls were adorned with eclectic artwork, and a smooth jazz tune played softly in the background. Yelena led them to a quiet corner, away from prying eyes and ears.
Hope ordered a martini, while Yelena opted for a vodka tonic. As the drinks arrived, Hope took a moment to study Yelena, noting her confident posture and the calculating look in her eyes. Yelena took a sip of her drink and leaned back, her expression casual. Too casual.
The kind of casualness someone affects when they're upset.
So this will be interesting… She couldn't help but think, glad she had the Wasp suit on underneath, just in case.
"So, Hope, how are things with you and Justin?" Yelena asked, her tone light but with a hint of underlying curiosity. And a thread of anger running underneath it all.
So it is an interrogation/back off discussion, as I thought.
Hope smiled, taking a sip of her martini. "We're good friends. He values my input and appreciates me for who I am, like friends do." She stressed intently.
Yelena nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Hope's. "Just good friends, huh? No other feelings there?" She asked, idly. Her eyes were not matching with her body language.
For a Black Widow that was remarkably unsubtle, Hope couldn't help but note. She's really off her game, love can do silly things, I suppose.
Thankfully she didn't have time for anything like that. It was a complication she didn't need.
Hope ended up chuckling softly, at Yelena's obvious intentions. She knew this was a test, but she played along. "Justin is... Justin. He's charming, ambitious, and always thinking ten steps ahead - caring without being overbearing, handsome and all too smug at times. But no, we're just friends."
Yelena raised an eyebrow, her smile turning sly. "Are you sure about that? Justin has a way of making women fall for him." She murmured, her eyes briefly flicking away, before they returned, ice hidden behind the layers of friendliness she exuded.
Hope leaned in slightly, her own gaze piercing. "And you? What's your experience with Justin? Is he as good as the rumors say?" She said playfully, intending to turn this around, to throw Yelena off this ridiculous game.
Personally, she didn't think Yelena was right for Justin at all. Too subservient. But as a friend, she wasn't going to push on the subject. That didn't mean she'd take it laying down, this ridiculous hands off my man routine.
Yelena was taken aback for a moment, not expecting Hope's directness. But she quickly recovered, a smug grin spreading across her face. "Oh, he's good. Very good. But you don't need to hear that from me, and of course he only chooses the best…"
Hope smirked languidly, ignoring the dig, leaning back in her seat. For now, Yelena had been averted, and Hope did have some slight curiosity in the subject matter, just… Academically, really. "Just curious. I've heard things, you know, seen some of it. Thought I'd get the truth from someone who knows."
Yelena's eyes flashed with a mix of amusement and challenge. "You won't get any complaints from me, he's exquisite." Her eyes narrowed, "Or any gossip either..."
Hope took another sip of her martini, her expression thoughtful. "Interesting. It's always good to know what to expect from a partner, in any sense." She almost faltered, wait, no, I wanted to avoid her seeing me like that, why did I say that?
Yelena's smile faltered slightly, sensing Hope's deeper meaning. "So, you're not interested in Justin that way?" She asked again, a low growl in the back of her throat.
Hope shook her head, her tone firm. Don't go there again, "No. We're just friends and business partners. I respect and care for him, and that's where it ends."
Even if he's the only one I could even see myself dating… Hope's hand tightened around her glass, am I… Have I been deluding myself?
Yelena seemed to relax a bit, but there was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes. "Good. It's always best to keep things professional."
Hope raised her glass in a mock toast. "To professionalism, then."
Yelena clinked her glass against Hope's, a genuine smile finally breaking through. "To professionalism."
As they continued to drink and chat, the initial tension began to dissipate as Hope made sure to reiterate she had no interest, not even sure herself if she was lying or not. They exchanged stories and experiences, each trying to outdo the other with tales of their misadventures - obviously Black Widow missions didn't count. The bar's ambiance, with its soft lighting and soothing music, provided a perfect backdrop for their conversation, as they finally started to relax a little.
Hope couldn't help but grudgingly admire Yelena's confidence and the way she carried herself like she could take down anyone. Despite the subtle rivalry that she half didn't want to admit to, there was some mutual respect between them. They were both strong, capable women navigating a world dominated by powerful men.
There was some solidarity in that, some common ground that they finally found.
Which included some light bitching about the impossible man that was Justin Hammer.
Yelena groaned as she held another cold glass of alcohol to her forehead, "He gives me so many headaches, he's so unpredictable, I never know what he's going to do next." She pouted, "Or who…"
Hope completely ignored the quiet muttered comments on how everything would work out if Domino would just woman up and join her. She didn't want to go there - frankly she couldn't see that pairing end well, at all.
If she thought Yelena was unsuitable for Justin, Domino was just… Oh god no. That would not work at all.
She decided to not look deeper into why any woman she thought of, automatically was not good enough for her friend in her mind.
Hope hummed thoughtfully after a moment, evaluating the best response to Yelena. "Justin's vision is what sets him apart. Yes, he's unpredictable, but that's also what makes him effective. He thinks outside the box." She said, tapping a finger on her glass, "Although I admit it's sometimes… Frustrating."
More like impossible, he does impossible things for breakfast, how am I supposed to keep up? It's just unfair… She inwardly groused, and how much have I had to drink?
Yelena chuckled darkly, resting her chin on her hands, "Interesting. So you're saying you're not interested again? I'm not sure that's what I'm hearing?"
Hope's lips curled into a sly smile. "I like working with people who challenge me. Keeps things interesting." She shrugged, keeping it casual by force, "Doesn't mean anything more than that."
Yelena nodded, her expression skeptical, but she left it alone without sticking a verbal knife in, likely due to the almost camaraderie they now shared in the art of bitching out Justin Hammer for the past hour or two. "I see. Well, I hope you know what you're getting into with Justin if you do... He can be... Demanding, not anyone can handle that."
Hope almost rolled her eyes, Yelena was being more playful now, but she still heard a lot of undertones of - mine!
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, maybe it was all the drinks, but she decided she wasn't going to just back off this time. "I can handle demanding. I've dealt with worse, in fact it's a bit sexy, isn't it? A man who knows what he wants and just takes it."
Yelena grimaced, "And you were doing so well…" She complained, slamming back a drink."Right, that settles it. Competing for his heart it is. How about arm wrestling, bitch?" She set her elbow on the table, a fierce look on her face.
"I'm not arm wrestling you. You're a Black Widow." Hope rolled her eyes, already at a disadvantage since Yelena couldn't even get tipsy. While she herself had drunk… A little more than she probably should have.
Especially around a woman who wanted her away from her man. Whoops. Where did your common sense go, Hope?
"Darts then, it's a bar, it has to have darts." Yelena insisted, pouting cutely when Hope refused.
"We're not competing." Hope reiterated, "Especially for a man. A man I'm not dating, I add." She really regretted teasing the woman now. They were actually getting along there for a minute, kind of.
Yelena sighed, "Alright, no fight. But in the harem I'm in charge, okay?"
Hope choked on her drink, spluttering and coughing, Yelena just sitting there like a bitch, not helping. "There is no harem!" She managed to hiss out.
Yelena nodded sadly, "It's that kind of attitude that ruins it." She agreed, drooping over her drink.
"That's not why there's no harem!"
"You're right, you're not fit to be a member, too…" Yelena looked down, "Flat."
"It's ON, bitch!" Oh, I've definitely had too much to drink…
Early morning, Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
Justin couldn't sleep, some of it was simple frustration, he had hardly gotten his own enough during the night.
Although due to that fact, he'd practically driven Darcy into insanity, which he found he liked a lot more than he thought, go figure, he's a giver too.
His mind was stuck on Domino's last comment before the woman went to her own bed.
Do you want more Helen Cho's Justin? Because this is how you Helen Cho a woman.
He thought that was very unfair, Darcy never used her safeword, so it was purely on her if she went insane.
He idly ran his fingers through her hair, the woman still absolutely out of it in his bed, practically dead to the world.
Originally he had fully intended to send her back to Dr Foster, but in the state she was in now, he had made the decision to keep her around for cuddles - assuming that it would be annoying if Dr Foster checked up on her intern in her room and found her like this.
Even missing was better, right?
Probably wouldn't be the first time Darcy snuck out all night, not considering how bold she was with him.
College boys must have had no clue what to do with her.
He wondered if this dalliance would increase or decrease the chances Dr Foster signed on. Surely she'd enjoy the funding, Darcy was likely to be very for it, that had to count for something.
He didn't really need her necessarily. But it felt like he should collect the set. Perhaps he should even get Stern, even if he wouldn't be quite what he'd wanted, and he'd have to feel the disappointment every time he saw the man.
Unless Bruce Banner could donate some blood to splash on the man's forehead for him.
His mood instantly turned sour, Bruce Banner had somehow escaped the team that watched him. Which he thought was fairly impossible. Which likely meant outside intervention. He'd gotten the report earlier while he'd been busy.
Now who wanted a Hulk? And had the ability to get him to come quietly?
His thoughts were interrupted, his eyes immediately flying up from his introspection when someone cleared their throat impatiently - in front of his bed!
Motherfucking Loki smiled at him, "I don't want to waste my time overly." He practically purred, eyes alight with malice. "You see I'm somewhat of an expert on the myths you people wrote down about us, and when I happened to pop in and check in on Thor, you had an interesting story to tell." His smile turned frosty, "So tell me mortal, in what book, what page, what author, did you come across that weirdly specific tale you tried to manipulate my brother with?"
God damn Loki…. Justin thought, gritting his teeth. He always had to Loki any situation he was in, didn't he?
Time to outlie the liesmith….
No pressure.
Author's note:
Aww, Yelena and Hope are making friends. Kind of. At least getting to know each other?
Domino is making friends too! Or something.
It's just a friendly chapter all together! Lewd is on Questionable Questing.
And we got to see Justin just deciding to not care about consequences with minor villains.
Not like they can do anything to him, so fuck em.
Arrogant perhaps, but he's not really wrong, depending on the target for his ire.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
So back from my little holiday, this story obviously won out on Patron as usual.
This is a dialogue heavy one, probably already making up for the next one leaning into more action already.
Question for all my readers, after Thor is over, I'd planned on a time skip, nothing crazy - six months to a year maybe. Do people want that or do they want to keep going through slowly as Justin pushes more stuff into markets and negotiates etc?
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
The sleek, black SUV pulled up to a nondescript office building SHIELD had commandeered for their operations - Justin knew from previous research of this town that it was a small FBI field office, so it made sense for SHIELD to commandeer it.
With how bullish SHIELD generally were towards other agencies - like kicking the FBI out of their own building in this case - was there any wonder why the alphabet soup of agencies were mostly sitting back and enjoying SHIELDs latest failures? They still did their jobs in interest of national defense of course - but the cooperation with SHIELD was at an all time low.
Something Justin had subtly encouraged because it would make taking down HYDRA easier when he pulled the trigger on that. Although he'd had to move carefully through his people due to the fact HYDRA had people in those agencies as well.
This world was perfectly set up for people being quadruple agents instead of double agents… When he was Emperor of mankind, there wouldn't be this many damn intelligence agencies and secret societies and organizations… It made work very annoying.
The sun bearing down on them caused somewhat of a haze in the air, making Justin grateful for the fact temperatures really didn't bother him much anymore. Justin stepped out of the vehicle, adjusting his suit with a mixture of irritation and determination for the conversation ahead of him - the fact HYDRA would be able to hear it was irritating, but not worth a fight over. Yet. Beside him, Domino and Phantazia moved with practiced precision, their teamwork back to normal after the absence, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.
He'd noticed the two seemed closer lately since Eileen's return, and hadn't commented on it so far, curious to see what was going on, as his read of them had never been that they had intentions like such.
He felt slightly chagrined that he hadn't really realized how upset Domino had been about Eileen going missing until they cured her and Domino dropped her mask for but a moment. In a way it did please him once he got over himself, because it showed he still had plenty to learn. With immortality likely with how quickly science was progressing under his aegis - life would get dreadfully dull if he didn't get a chance to continue learning and improving.
The building they were entering was unassuming, a relic of bureaucratic architecture with its plain facade and functional design - typical FBI aesthetics from the period the building was built. SHIELD agents were stationed at the entrance, eyeing them up with blank faces, their presence a stark reminder of the organization's pervasive reach despite everything. Booting the FBI out on a few hours notice was not a small thing, showing they still had power despite their massive failures. Justin strode forward, his expression a mask of composure, even as he built and discarded plans for the conversation ahead of him.
A lot hinged on getting this right. And he had to change his plan on the fly due to Thor's weird reaction to him. Being compared to Loki was not at all flattering, and also… Slightly odd, all things considered.
Thor should still see Loki as his darling brother, surely the butterflies on earth had not reached Asgard? He couldn't imagine how.
Or perhaps it was something as simple as somewhere deep in the buffoons hindbrain, something cottoned on to the fact that Loki was acting suspiciously in recent events, and that anyone acting like Loki similarly was suspicious?
He'd never get to know, likely, as he couldn't ask Thor without coming off as too knowledgeable about things he should not know. It irritated him, but he could live with irritation. He had Domino around all day after all.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Agents bustled about, their movements efficient and purposeful. Justin was led through a series of security checkpoints, pointlessly. Each more stringent than the last despite having been set up so rapidly. Agent Garrett was flexing it appeared...
He'd let him have his delusions of control and power. Once Thor was gone, he could… Educate the man on the matter.
On the scale of things, Pierce would never choose an insignificant bug like Garrett over the benefits even a tentative alliance with Justin held.
Justin always remembered slights. The only question was how far Garrett would push his patience.
Finally, he reached the observation room adjacent to the interrogation room where Thor was being held.
The sole such cell this building held apparently. Funny how a simple change in who was in charge led them here. Coulson had met with Thor in a comparatively easy going manner after all - Garrett had put him in what even an Asgardian would recognize as an interrogation room/cell.
Domino and Phantazia stood at his sides, covering him completely from agent Garrett, neither of them allowing him to even step close. Garret only appeared to find it amusing, stepping up to the window a few feet away from them - his smile would have been genial with a bit of southern charm - if his eyes didn't so clearly show a psychopath underneath.
Not that being a psychopath was a problem to Justin. They just needed to know their place. Beneath him. Far far beneath him.
Thor sat in the grey, bland room, his massive frame hunched slightly as he glowered at Jasper Sitwell, who sat across from him with a skeptical expression. The god of thunder, now stripped of his powers and Mjolnir, looked every bit the duck out of water. His borrowed Earth clothes only added to his disheveled appearance.
"I have told you, mortal," Thor's voice boomed, echoing in the confined space. "I am Thor Odinson, prince of Asgard. I demand to speak with someone who understands the gravity of my presence here."
With the way his muscles rippled as he leaned forward, Justin assumed Thor was already getting annoyed with the patsies.
All the better for him.
As long as he didn't actually attack, that would make things more problematic.
Garrett likely would shoot the man. And Justin did not feel like a war with Asgard was something they could win. Yet.
Sitwell leaned back in his chair, his demeanor cool and analytical. "Mr…Thor, or whatever you prefer to be called, we need more than grandiose titles and dramatic renditions of myths. You claim to be a god from another realm. Forgive us if we're a bit skeptical."
Sitwell gestured with one hand, "A show of some magic perhaps to cure us of our skepticism? Or some advanced technology, some proof?" He asked, trying to make it not seem like a demand.
Justin could only wonder what HYDRA really thought of this. If anyone could quickly deduce Mjolnir was of extraterrestrial make, it would be them, surely? So what did they really want here, that they jumped on Thor so quickly? And why the bout of skepticism, when they obviously believed he was at least something?
Thor's eyes narrowed, his frustration palpable as he slammed a hand down on the steel table, making Sitwell flinch. "You dare question the word of a prince? Asgard is real, as are the Nine Realms. I have come here for a purpose, I am not a jester to play tricks for your amusement."
From behind the one-way mirror, Justin watched the exchange intently. His mind raced as he considered the implications of Thor's loud claims, and if HYDRA were going to act on any of it. Aliens, gods, other realms - these were concepts that could either be dismissed as lunacy or embraced as reality. The question was whether Sitwell, and by extension SHIELD/HYDRA, were going to do something with a potential access point to alien paradise…
He needed to take charge of this, make it clear for Pierce and his friends that this lay in Hammer Industries wheelspace. This needed a scalpel, not a Hammer. His lips twitched slightly at his own thoughts.
Justin turned to Garrett, who stood not far beside him, with a fake easy going smile - the man's hands behind his back as he casually watched Justin instead of Thor. "What do you make of this guy, Hammer? Think he's just another loony, or is there something to all this Asgard talk?" He asked with a dimpled smile, even as his eyes bored into Justin's with barely repressed murder shining through.
Justin wasn't sure what to make of the man, this all seemed like it might perhaps be a test.
Justin pondered what to say, what to reveal of his own knowledge, his eyes returning to the interrogation room. "The impossible hammer that showed up here at the same time as the subject, suggests there's more to him than just delusions. We can't afford to ignore the possibility, especially given the recent events." He said, telling him nothing he didn't already know.
Garrett snorted, his dislike of that answer evident. "Could be a piece of shit mutie too, aren't you a bit too old to immediately believe in fairy tales and myths?" He fired back.
Both Domino and Phantazia controlled their reactions masterfully, only through Justin's own familiarity with them did he spot how their attention on the man sharpened at that comment.
Justin himself wasn't wildly impressed either. Especially as he had a feeling Garrett was poking them on purpose - he'd been ordered to be this antagonistic surely. He couldn't be this stupid and make it this far in the organization. He wouldn't have been so quick on grabbing Thor if he really didn't believe in any of this. He was playing a game here. In what way, Justin wasn't sure yet.
Justin shot Garrett a pointed look. "The world is a lot bigger and stranger than most people realize, Agent Garrett. We need to keep an open mind. Antagonizing the man is hardly helping you, is it?"
Garrett crossed his arms, his expression darkening slightly at Justin's mild rebuke. "Fine. You want a crack at him, Hammer? Be my guest. Just don't waste too much of our time."
Justin nodded, appreciating the begrudging acquiescence as it moved things forward. He quickly stepped into the interrogation room, Domino following him, while Phantazia stayed behind in the observation room. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, and then mildly said, "Agent Sitwell, I'll take it from here."
Sitwell looked between Justin and Thor, then stood and nodded curtly. "Fine, but don't expect him to be cooperative. He's all bluster and no substance." Sitwell said snidely, obviously annoyed with being pulled out.
Justin shook his head, laying a hand on the agents shoulder, preventing him from leaving as he tried to step out, Sitwell groaning slightly as Justin applied pressure, "I'm just a businessman," He said, continuing with the mild tone, his head tilted so he could look into Sitwell's pained and surprised eyes, "But it seems to me that purposefully antagonizing our guest serves no purpose, and that you need to apologize."
He squeezed slightly harder, "Now." He intoned, the creaking of bones heard briefly.
"I apologize for my words, I was out of line." Sitwell quickly said to Thor, speed walking out of the room the second the Asgardian nodded, accepting the apology, Justin letting him go.
HYDRA needed to realize Justin wasn't a paper tiger. He wasn't only a big bag of cash and influence. Not anymore. What he'd done was hardly revealing his full extent of super strength, but it was enough to perhaps make them more wary of these kinds of dick measuring contests in the future.
If they realized… Well, that would work out in his favor as well… He'd be even more irresistible, and they'd bend even more to keep him onside.
Justin watched as Sitwell exited the room, taking a moment to think, before he then turned his attention back to Thor, who eyed him with less rancor than he'd held just a moment ago.
"Prince Thor," Justin began, his voice calm and measured. "My name is Justin Hammer. I'm here to help, if you'll let me." He offered, taking a seat opposite of the man, calmly laying his hands in his lap.
Domino stood right at his shoulder, close enough to assist if somehow Thor managed to get his powers back and strike out. An unlikely event, but it was better to be prepared then not.
Justin could hardly defeat a fully powered Thor. But nowadays… He could survive such a fight. And if he could only get that damn sling ring to work… He could simply escape every time.
Thor's posture remained tense, but he inclined his head slightly. "You are not like the others." He mused out loud, "You speak with less contempt. What is it you seek from me, Justin Hammer?"
Justin took his time with his answer, studying the lost prince. "I seek to understand. Your presence here is significant and we'd like to know more. I believe we can help each other. But I need you to trust me, at least a little."
Thor's eyes searched Justin's face, as if weighing the sincerity of his words. "Trust is not easily given, especially to those who question my very identity. What proof do you require of my origins?" He rumbled, unhappily.
Justin glanced at the window where the HYDRA agents were watching, aware he couldn't be too forward. "Start by telling us about your home, about Asgard. What is it like? Why are you here, on earth, as you are?"
Thor's expression softened, his eyes taking on a distant look. "Asgard is a realm of great beauty and power. It is a place where magic and your science are one and the same, where warriors proudly stand as a bastion for all the nine realms." His posture changed slightly, his eyes growing darker as he continued, "I was sent here by my father, Odin, due to an event I wish to not speak of…"
For several moments Thor was silent, staring down in his lap hard, seemingly still struggling with coming to terms with that fact, before his head rose, a small grimace on his lips, "According to the Lady Jane, she believes it was to learn humility and to understand the fragility of life."
It seems Jane and Thor had a lot more to talk about here then in canon, huh? Justin thought, thinking on how to ensure that relationship didn't happen this time around.
He'd been ambivalent on the good Dr. Foster, leaving her be due to her importance in this first encounter, but now that he'd moved past that point. He wanted her.
If space was the next step, Jane Foster should be in his care. Not pining for an alien. Justin definitely stood for Earth first, Thor and Asgard were only important in the way Justin could use them to defend Earth until they were ready.
Justin nodded, taking in what Thor had said, "If you are who you say you are… What are your intentions with Dr Foster? As a man of science myself, and as someone with influence on earth, I must ask." He said, faking an apologetic tone.
It was as good an excuse as any other, really.
Thor looked away for a moment, "Lady Jane is a fine woman," He said lowly, before looking at Justin with a slight threat in his body language, "You are not her keeper." He accused softly.
Justin sighed, thrumming his fingers on the table, "Prince Thor, we have myths of you and your family. If this all is indeed true, how long is your lifespan, if I may ask?"
Thor looked puzzled, tilting his head like he was a dumb puppy, "Centuries, it varies between different Asgardians." Some clarity came to his eyes afterwards, and he smiled condescendingly, "Aha, you worry that I shall be heartbroken due to mortals' fleeting life span, worry not, I can handle it!" He boasted, puffing up his chest.
Justin hid his instant irritation behind a genial mask, "Not quite so, Prince Thor." He said, keeping up with the title as Thor was relaxing in his presence more and more as he used it. What a surprise… "Her suffering is what I worry about."
He raised a hand as Thor opened his mouth, looking offended, no doubt about to protest that he'd never hurt a fair maiden or some such idiotic boast. It really was ridiculous how quickly he was infatuated.
Especially when he had someone like Lady Sif who seemed all too eager to ride him around Asgard.
"Let the mortal speak to you of mortals." He cautioned, relaxing in his chair, "You might say you'll love her even as she ages, gets wrinkles and grey hair, as her mind goes…" He began, not informing the alien about how such a thing would likely slow down massively in the near future due to Panacea.
He'd already further helped Bucky's loyalty along by giving him leave to go shoot up Peggy Carter with a full Extremis dose rather than the weaker Panacea. Age and dementia and such was hardly the same barrier it had once been.
"Yet how do you think she'll feel? Watching you remain as you are? As she ends up feeling heartbroken and disgusted on the inside, as you keep caring for her as she becomes old and infirm, always wondering, always hating herself for it. How do you think she'll feel when she realizes her entire life is only a footnote in yours?" Justin said softly, making Thor shut his mouth with a conflicted expression.
"The Lady Jane would feel as such?" He asked, sounding shocked and sickened.
Justin nodded firmly, "She might not even say it herself now, or see it. Young love is like that. But she'd grow to resent you. And to hate herself, as the decades passed." He cautioned.
Humorously he wondered what expression Agent Garret was making right now. Watching this 'interrogation' turn into advice on women. He almost wanted to be a fly on the wall when Pierce got this report.
Thor rubbed his face, eyes staring into the distance, "I will think on it." He decided, and Justin didn't push. He had likely done enough to prevent a whirlwind romance, and without that, their relationship would never kick off.
"Unsolicited advice aside, are you willing to tell us more on why you were sent to Earth?" Justin queried, not wanting to give Thor too much time to think on things.
You never knew what asinine decision he might come to if he was allowed to think too much on his own. He wasn't as bad as Loki, but he was hardly wise either.
Thor's gaze hardened, even as he slumped slightly despondently in his seat. "I was cast out by my father for my arrogance and recklessness. Mjolnir, my hammer, was sent here as a test. Only by proving myself worthy can I reclaim it and return to Asgard, I… It didn't respond to me…"
Huh, so that already happened? Before SHIELD was even here to boot, another change…
Justin leaned back, considering Thor's words. "So, this is about redemption for you. Proving that you've learned your lesson. I believe Dr Foster was likely correct in what she was saying." He cocked his head, studying Thor, while putting on a comforting facade, "Earth has advanced quite a lot, and it would be nice if perhaps Asgard would include us in such decisions in the future. You are after all visiting Royalty."
Thor's eyes brightened up, and he smiled, seemingly having forgotten any qualms he'd held before, "Truly that is so, I have learned much of how this world has progressed, Lady Jane is very accomplished!"
Ah, let's get away from Dr Foster…
"We can see about helping you, Prince Thor, I'm sure you'll learn enough to be able to get back soon." He offered, practically feeling Agent Garrett dark gaze on him, as he promised assistance.
Thor seemed touched, leaning forward slightly, "Perhaps I misjudged you, other than Lady Jane, no one else has offered to help, and even she did not really believe what I was saying." There was intelligence in his eyes as he met Justin's gaze, "Yet you do so easily…"
Justin met his gaze calmly, "I am one of the most influential people in this 'realm' Prince Thor. I am aware of the Kree attacking this world before, so Asgard is not an impossibility to me as it would be to the average person."
Thor grimaced, rubbing the back of his head, "Ah, my father told me of that incident, rest assured that we protested harshly afterwards, and the Kree empire has not attempted any further advances."
Justin raised an eyebrow, having not been aware that Asgard had gotten involved in that at all, "Speaking of your father…" He said quietly, not wanting to discuss the Kree too much in front of Garret and Sitwell, who'd both make Pierce wonder, once he got their reports - if he showed too much knowledge - knowledge that wasn't in SHIELD files on the incident.
"There are certain myths… Here on Earth, regarding Asgard. Regarding Odin." He continued carefully, constantly editing his words before he spoke, careful to not go too far, "Of Hela, his firstborn, who he conquered the nine realms with. Hela and her undead army, Hela the goddess of death that Odin banished forever, tied to his lifeforce."
Thor looked confused, "There is no Hela, I am the firstborn child of Odin." He said, some pride leaking through.
Justin didn't want to push too far on this, but he also didn't want to leave this to canon, didn't want to leave Odin to continue on with his - quite frankly - retarded decisions. "It might be worth talking to your father, or your mother, about this. Considering your own banishment… It does ring true to some extent." He said cautiously, not wanting to come off too strong.
He was just planting a seed.
Thor pursed his lips, before nodding once, looking slightly disbelieving still.
"Thank you, Prince Thor, at the very least, your family being more open could only benefit you, and Asgard as a whole." Justin insinuated, leaving it at that, before moving on, "As for your stay here…"
Justin leaned in again, his tone softer. "Thor, I understand what it's like to carry the burden of responsibility and the weight of a world on your shoulders. To have others depend on you and to face challenges that seem insurmountable. But we can't do it alone, never alone. We need allies, people we can trust."
Justin held his gaze, believe me you oaf, I'm helping you here, just get with the program, he mentally forced towards the man, hoping he'd done enough to at least create a rapport with the man.
After he left Earth, Justin couldn't care less if he was a friend or simply just not an enemy. He just needed to be cordial enough to trust Justin enough to actually push Odin for answers after Loki would fall.
Ideally the whole Hela bullshit could be stopped before it happened. Asgard as a shield for Earth was too useful to casually disregard. Only when Earth was stronger then the aliens would Justin allow that relationship to end.
Thor's gaze met Justin's, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "You speak true, Justin Hammer. But how can I trust you when your own kind seeks to imprison me, ridicule me?" He challenged.
Justin sighed, glancing at the mirror behind which Sitwell and Garrett were undoubtedly watching. "Not everyone here sees the bigger picture. But I do, and if you pardon the pun - I wield the bigger hammer in this situation - I believe you when you say you're from Asgard. I want to help you prove your worth and reclaim your power, for both our realms sake."
Thor studied Justin for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Very well. I will place my trust in you, Justin Hammer. But know this, if you betray me, you will face the wrath of Asgard."
Justin nodded, accepting the unspoken threat, not really that bothered by it. "I understand. Let's work together to find a way to help you." The sooner you're gone and cleaning up your own backyard, the better…
"Perhaps it's a sign…" Thor muttered wistfully, "I wish to regain the loyalty of my hammer, and a man named Hammer has arrived to assist me."
"It likely is, symbolism like that is powerful." Justin agreed. It was stupid, but he saw no reason in disagreeing with something that made Thor more likely to listen to him.
Especially if Loki would still choose to arrive at some point in projection form to tell Thor his father had died.
"I will arrange for better accomodation for you, Prince Thor, please have patience." He said, rising up, Thor rising as well to offer his hand, Justin grabbing it, only to have Thor grasp his entire arm, shaking it vigorously.
"Tarry not, I grow tired of this small enclosure." He said, his face more open now that he'd decided Justin was on his side.
"I will see you soon." Justin agreed, glad that he had so much practice in faking his expression, because smiling at this fool was really getting rather irritating.
As Justin left the interrogation room, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He hadn't revealed much to HYDRA, and he'd managed to lower Thor's suspicions easily, proving his wariness had only ever been skin deep.
In what little time they'd have left, he'd make sure to continue to feed Thor myths, even if he made them up himself, to make the man push his father, or go to his mother. Anything to prevent the idiot ball Asgard would otherwise hold for the last few years of its existence.
Garrett approached him immediately, Phantazia joining them as well. The agent's expression was unreadable. "Well, Hammer, looks like you managed to get through to him somewhat, without actually gaining anything valuable in regards to information." He drawled sarcastically.
Justin smirked, "I got what I needed, give it a few hours, then release him in my care."
Garrett's eyes narrowed, "I ain't doing that." He said bluntly. "If what you say is true, he's an alien with a significant threat factor."
"He's human right now." Justin said blithely, beginning to walk to exit the building, giving Garrett the choice to drop it, or catch up to keep arguing.
"You're not in the chain of command, you wanna order me around, go get the council to put you in charge, being on the council doesn't give you operation command." Garrett growled, hands clenched into fists.
Justin stopped, smiling as he stepped into Garret's personal space. "Do as I say, Garrett." He said pleasantly.
Garrett scoffed, the smile back on his face, even as his eyes burned, "Not going to happen, Hammer, here I'm the boss, you want me to back down, then get my boss to call me."
"Phantazia, cut him down to size." Justin ordered mildly, watching Garret with a placid expression on his face, not allowing his anger to show.
He could deal with the likes of Stark or Frost being annoyances, could deal with the likes of Shaw and Selene being threats.
He would not allow little pissants attempt to lord over him like they mattered!
She didn't even hesitate, a flex of her power forcing Garretts immediate defensive reaction to fail as she made his nerves misfire, with a flash of steel, both the ligaments in the back of his legs were cut, forcing the man down on his knees.
Garret made no noise, just immediately grasping for his sidearm, agents across the area grabbing their own weapons, only for Phantazia to wag a finger mockingly, all the weapons malfunctioning.
Domino, now the only one wielding a gun, teasingly waved it at the agents, who immediately stopped in place. "Good puppies, if you roll over you'll get a treat." She said with a shit eating grin.
Justin looked down at the crippled agent, sneering, "You will do as you're told." He said coldly, before looking across to the agents in the room, "You all will." He patted Garret on the cheek, "You all seem to forget who I am. Call the police, I own them. Call the politicians, I own them. Call your bosses, I own them. In no world are any of you worth enough that your bosses, spouses, friends, neighbors, congressmen, or whatever or whoever you care to mention - will choose to piss me off, to save you."
"Grab some Panacea, I know SHIELD has some, it won't be ideal without the cradle, but for your little cuts. It should do." He said uncaringly to Garret, the agents all watching him, all keeping their hands away from anywhere that could be misconstrued as a weapon. They all understood perfectly. "Release Thor to me in… Oh let's say three hours. Then stay away unless called for. I call the shots here. Or I will simply remove you all from the equation and do it anyway. Is that understood?"
There was only silence, and Justin sighed, looking down at Garrett, "Phantazia, cut a finger or two off, it seems they still don't understand." He ordered.
"Understood!" Garret growled out, slightly pale, even as he stared up in absolute hatred.
Justin didn't care. In no world was Garrett or Sitwell leaving this town alive anyway.
But with how confrontational the agent had been, Justin didn't trust them to not fuck everything up, so it came to this.
He'd owe Pierce a favor after this no doubt. Oh well, it's still worth it. He thought.
It's not like it overly mattered if they all realized fully how dangerous he actually was. Not that murdering a few HYDRA agents and whatever small amount of SHIELD agents on site constituted something dangerous anyway. It was small potatoes.
It was about goddamn time he let loose a little, actually.
"This is still a mistake…" Garrett ground out, as Justin began walking away.
Justin shrugged uncaringly. "Garrett, sometimes the only way to move forward is to take a leap of faith." He said, wondering if the other man truly understood what was going on yet.
Garrett snorted, his skepticism returning. "Just don't leap too far, Hammer. You might not like where you land." He said threateningly.
Someone should tell the man that when one is kneeling on the ground, one does not come off as very threatening. No matter. He was a dead man walking. Justin didn't even bother replying, just walking out with Domino and Phantazia following.
Justin adjusted his suit as he made his way to the lobby of the building where Thor was being held, feeling a little hot under the collar after getting to loosen up a little for once. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow on the polished floors, as he approached the waiting area. As he'd suspected, he saw Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis waiting anxiously. Jane's eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and apprehension as she saw him.
All of them got up from where they were sitting immediately, Dr Foster almost painfully thirsty as she approached, wringing her hands.
"Thor's not even that good looking." He muttered.
Domino barked a mocking laugh, even as Phantazia replied with a dry, "He is, how do you say it? Prime beef."
Justin refused to answer that. Betrayed by his own bodyguards like that, without any hesitation… Instead he stepped forward to greet the two scientists and their snarky intern.
"I am glad I caught you here, nice to meet you all again," Justin greeted them, his tone professional but warm. "I wanted to discuss a few things that might interest you."
Jane folded her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Where's Thor? Is he alright?"
One track mind, this one. Justin wanted to roll his eyes, but he had a part to play here, and it wouldn't do to make Dr Foster too prickly.
Justin smiled reassuringly. "Thor is fine, Dr Foster. He's just being... Debriefed. Now, let's talk about something important. You've witnessed something extraordinary, and I believe your research into wormholes and interdimensional travel is crucial. I'm here to offer you funding to continue your work." He flashed a brighter smile, "Hammer industries is the best, and we have more money than anyone else, you'd be well taken care of."
"Wait! You believe it's all real? Asgard, all of it?" Jane whisper-shouted, before blushing, "T-Thor being a god?" She added, eyes bright.
"Definitely hung like one…" Darcy muttered, nudging Jane's side.
Jane's eyes narrowed, as she completely forgot Justin was there, immediately beginning to argue with her intern, "Excuse me! And how would you know that!? What did you do, Darcy?"
She smiled sweetly, "Showed him how to operate the shower, apparently he didn't realize he's supposed to wait for me to leave to get naked." She sighed, a hand to her cheek, "Primo beef, no wonder if he's really a god…"
"D-Darcy!" Jane protested, sounding very… Disappointed?
Darcy immediately jumped on it, "Oh? Wishing you'd seen it? I can describe it if you want?" The playful smile on her face depicted that she knew exactly what she was doing. She started moving her hands apart, when Jane squeaked and grabbed them to prevent her from doing so.
Justin cleared his throat, making Jane jump slightly, as if just remembering that yes, she was just in the middle of speaking to the most powerful man in the world before she started obsessing about Thor's dick.
This was one of the biggest brains of their time?
"Yes, I believe he is indeed from Asgard, and who he says he is, and that he did arrive here exactly as you think he did, which makes your research valuable to me." Justin said with a charming smile.
Erik Selvig raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Funding from Hammer Industries? What's the catch?" He asked, going right past the alien question and right to what was important - the money.
Justin could respect that. He leaned in slightly, focusing on the elder scientist, "No catch, Dr Selvig. I just want to ensure that your research continues uninterrupted and that we all benefit from what you discover. Given the nature of recent events, it's clear that we're dealing with something beyond our usual scope."
Jane's interest was definitely piqued, she'd always worked on a shoestring budget, he knew, but she remained wary. "And what do you get out of this, Mr Hammer?"
Justin chuckled softly. "I get access to your findings which could get us to the stars, and in return, you get the resources you need. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. Plus, there's the matter of the alien. Only those working with Hammer Industries would have direct access to him and any other... Extraterrestrial entities at the moment." He smiled smugly, "He will be in my care, for now."
Only he knew Thor would be gone within days. Maybe even by tomorrow. So this bait dangling in front of the thirsty Dr Foster would cost him nothing, and gain him everything.
Jane bristled at the term he'd used however. "He's not just some 'alien' He's Thor." She snapped.
Movie logic in the real world, it must be… How else are both of these idiots so attached after less than twenty four hours? He wondered.
Justin raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Of course, Dr Foster. I didn't mean any disrespect. Thor is clearly significant, and having you close to him as the woman who initiated first contact would be advantageous for all parties involved."
Mostly me at this point.
Jane hesitated, her eyes flicking to the contracts, already prepared, that Phantazia offered with one hand - standard contracts, since he hadn't decided until just recently to recruit them. Before she could respond, Erik pulled her aside, speaking in hushed tones. They argued quietly, Erik's voice rising occasionally in protest while Jane's responses were more measured but equally passionate.
Dr Selvig was obviously wiser than the thirsty astrophysicist. And was likely telling her about taking candy from strangers right about now.
Justin turned to Darcy, who had been watching the exchange with an amused expression. "And what about you, Miss Lewis? How do you feel about all this?" He asked, lacking anything better to do while he waited for them to agree to the only sensible option.
Dr Foster would work well with Hope, he thought. Hope wasn't very fond of Cho or Hansen when they'd met. Foster might be more her speed.
Darcy grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I'm just here for the snacks and the sci-fi science talk. But, you know, speaking of interests... I saw that 'funtime' video of yours. What's a gal gotta do to get some of that?"
Justin was momentarily taken aback, his polished demeanor faltering slightly. "Well, that's... Unexpected."
Darcy leaned in, her grin widening. "Come on, Mister Hammer, sir. I've always wondered if billionaires really have silver tongues. You should just prove it." She winked exaggeratedly at him, and he wasn't sure whether he should take her seriously or not.
Justin cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You're very... Upfront, Miss Lewis. Why so forward?"
How on earth did Thor end up with Jane if Darcy is this… Open. Honestly the two of them seem a better fit.
Darcy shrugged casually. "I live in the moment. I'm not going to get many chances to pal around with billionaires, so why not shoot my shot, you know?" She looked thoughtful for a moment, tapping her lips with a finger, "Plus if Jane is going for a god, the least I could do is go for the ruler of Earth, yeah?"
Justin wasn't sure what to make of her, but he did like how she kept understanding his proper place above them all. It was an attractive quality.
Before Justin could respond, Domino interjected with a smirk. "I really like this one, Justin. You should keep her."
Darcy eyed Domino appreciatively. "I'm straight for now, but get enough daiquiris in me, and I can get flexible." She said, giving the amused Domino a fist bump, even as Phantazia slowly put her face in her hands.
Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "You certainly know how to make an impression, Miss Lewis." He admitted, amused by her irreverent attitude. Any anger from the goons he'd had to deal with sloughed right off him as he took her in with renewed interest.
Unlike the super powered people he tended to end up around. She was a 'normal' woman, with curves and the nerdy girl next door look, with none of the impossible waist and fitness and such that powered women seemed to come with as standard.
Darcy winked at him, "That's the idea, sir Hammer. So, about that silver tongue...?" She trailed off, bouncing on her heels.
Justin was saved from responding by Jane and Erik returning, their expressions a mix of resolution and frustration.
Jane spoke first, her tone firm. "We'll consider your offer, Mr.Hammer. But I want assurances that Thor will be treated with respect and that our research will remain ours." She managed to say, and he immediately clocked onto what was her words, and which belonged to Dr Selvig.
Justin nodded, pleased with the progress. Even half an in would do, once Thor disappeared. He'd get them to sign on, he was sure. "Absolutely, Dr Foster. Your terms are acceptable. I'll have my legal team draft an agreement that ensures your autonomy and the respect Thor deserves." The second part won't matter anyway.
Erik still looked skeptical but didn't object further. Jane glanced at Darcy, who was still smiling playfully at Justin, and sighed. "Darcy, let's go. We need to talk about this further."
Darcy gave Justin a mock salute. "Catch you later, sir Hammer. Don't forget about that silver tongue of yours, can't keep a gal wondering, it's not proper."
"DARCY, NOW!" Jane blustered, dragging her intern and friend away, Darcy just laughing softly.
This girl… She either has no fear, or is just a complete troll…
As the three walked away, or in the case of the intern - was dragged away. Justin turned to Domino, shaking his head with a bemused smile. "That woman is something else."
Domino laughed. "She's got spirit. You could use someone like that around."
Phantazia looked aghast at the idea, "Please sir, don't think with your dick, we do not need another Domino around!"
"Hurtful." Domino snorted, playfully punching Phantazia's shoulder.
Her eyes narrowed, "I will loosen the muscles that control your bladder!" She said shortly, lifting one hand threateningly.
Domino immediately backed off.
Justin chuckled, this is why I missed you Eileen, you do control Domino far better than I do.
"I doubt she'd be a permanent addition," He mused, "She's too tied to Dr Foster."
Phantazia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm on Thor watching duty tonight then, I do not need to be near that mess."
Justin didn't intend to talk with Thor again today, so it suited him fine to let the man do whatever with Phantazia keeping an eye out.
Domino smirked, "Oh, leaving me to have my eyes violated are you? How cruel!" She said dramatically, a hand to her heart.
"You could always wait outside, you voyeur."
"My job requires me to be close."
"Not that close!"
"Yuuup!"
"You make me want to die."
"You love me!"
"Girls…"
"She started it!"/"She started it!"
Later that night, Justin stood in his frankly below standards hotel room - for some reason this small town didn't have five star hotels… He was dressed in a luxurious set of deep burgundy silk pajamas. The fabric clung to his well-toned frame, accentuating his lean, athletic build. His hair was perfectly styled, and his face bore a relaxed but expectant expression as he sipped a glass of scotch.
Presentation was everything, even in a situation where he really couldn't lose anyway.
The door opened, and Domino led Darcy into the room. Darcy's eyes scanned the space, taking in the surroundings before landing on Justin. She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "Silk pajamas, huh?" she said, her tone dripping with anticipation. "I would've preferred leather or latex…" She sniffed, lifting her face faux haughtily, "But you'll do." She waved a hand like she was saying, carry on, only a hint of a tremor showing anything but confidence.
So even this ballsy woman got some nerves once the chips were actually down, it seemed. Justin chuckled, setting his glass down. "I guess I could've gone with something more dramatic, but comfort won out."
Darcy sauntered further into the room, her eyes unabashedly raking over Justin. "Comfort, huh? We'll see how comfortable you are by the end of the night." She said throatily.
Domino burst out giggling, obviously finding Darcy's bluntness hilarious. She walked over behind Darcy and gave her a gentle caress through her hair landing on her cheek. "You should look me up later, instead of Justin," She teased. "You're definitely something."
Justin was at least 70 percent sure she was joking. Maybe.
Darcy cheekily shook her head. "Not drunk enough gorgeous. Besides, if I was just going to go the sapphic route, it would totally be Jane first. I called dibs." She said matter of factly.
Justin blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Really?" I wouldn't mind seeing that!
Darcy shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, we got really drunk once and kissed. Jane made me promise we'd never speak about it, but I made her swear in return that if she ever went all cray cray for juicy peaches, I had dibs first. And since Jane agreed, I have forever dibs, even if she doesn't remember any of it."
Justin's disbelief turned to curiosity. "You actually made her promise that?"
Darcy nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yep. We were at this party, and we both had way way too much to drink, I might have made her go because she needed some actual life in her life, you know? One thing led to another, and suddenly we were kissing in the middle of the dance floor. Jane was mortified afterward, but I thought it was hilarious. So, I made her swear that if she ever decided to switch teams, I'd be her first pick."
Domino sighed dramatically. "That's a shame." She eyed Darcy over, "I prefer men, there's no doubt about it, but you've got some ass…"
Darcy giggled and winked at Domino. "Buy me enough drinks and I'd forget all about the dibs, but for now, butt out. I have a reenactment of a hot video to enact." She said, poking Domino's nose with one finger.
Domino shook her head, amused, even as she playfully snapped at the finger with her teeth. "I don't leave the room. Bodyguard stuff."
Darcy raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Kinky. I can work with it, but you owe me drinks tomorrow night." She said, her voice huskier for a moment.
Justin, feeling slightly put out, cleared his throat. "I'm still here, you know."
At least he was fairly more certain about Domino's preferences now. Even if he was a bit put out she was practically trying to cockblock him.
Darcy turned to him, her eyes glinting with mischief. "If you wanted my attention, you should've taken your pants off instead of just watching us chatter." She fired, completely unrepentant.
Domino broke out laughing, "Oh, my… Drinks are on me tomorrow, I definitely need more of this in my life."
Justin couldn't help but laugh as well, shaking his head in amused disbelief, "You certainly know what you want, Darcy." He complimented her.
It took a lot for people to be this honest with themselves and others, he could respect the confidence and self evaluation needed to become this.
She sauntered over to him, her eyes locked on his. "So, Mr Hammer, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to show me why billionaires have all the fun?"
Justin set down his glass of scotch and met her gaze. "I suppose I could make an exception for you, Darcy."
Usually women chased him, it was actually somewhat interesting to have someone so plainly state to him he needed to impress.
Darcy chuckled, leaning in closer. "Good. Because I've got high expectations."
Domino watched the exchange with a bemused smile, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "This should be interesting."
Darcy turned to Domino, giving her a playful wink. "Feel free to take notes."
Justin, regaining his composure, gestured to the plush seating area. "Shall we sit and get more comfortable?"
Darcy shrugged. "Sure, why not? But don't think sitting down means I'm not still expecting a show." She said sternly, wagging a finger at him.
As they moved to the seating area, Justin couldn't help but marvel at Darcy's boldness. She was unlike any normal woman he had ever encountered - fearless, playful, and completely unapologetic about anything.
Domino stayed by the wall, her eyes twinkling with amusement - the depraved voyeur. "Don't mind me. Just here to make sure things don't get too wild." She quipped.
Darcy shot her a cheeky grin. "Wild? Who, me? I wouldn't dream of it." She tossed her hair, "Feel free to spank me if I'm being bad…"
Justin leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Darcy's, fascinated by her gumption. "You certainly keep things interesting, Darcy." He mumbled.
She tilted her head, studying him back. "Interesting is good. Keeps people on their toes. Speaking of which, you've got some pretty big shoes to fill, Mr Hammer." She said coyly.
Justin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?" His own playful smile blossomed onto his face.
Darcy's eyes sparkled with lust, darkening her eyes. "Because I've seen that video remember, and I've got to say, you've set the bar pretty high."
Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll do my best not to disappoint."
Darcy leaned in, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "You better not." Only a slight tremble to her voice again revealed she was not quite as confident as she displayed.
"I never fail to deliver." He promised, standing up, looming over her.
Darcy, ever the provocateur, gave Justin one last playful wink. "Alright, Mr Hammer, time to see if you really can live up to the hype."
As Justin got ready to deliver, he suddenly realized that while his new superhuman abilities seemed to be fully able to differentiate between a doorknob, or a handshake - and a fist fight.
He wasn't sure if it would hold back in the throes of passion. Something that could have disastrous consequences.
He was a man of his word. So Darcy would see god tonight, there was no doubt about that.
But to his frustration, he would not be able to seek the release he wished, not all of it anyway.
There were downsides to being superhuman after all, it seemed. The way Darcy pouted when he explained it was adorable though.
Domino stop fucking laughing at me!!
Cairo, Egypt.
Hope Van Dyne stepped out of the meeting room, her mind buzzing with the details of her discussion with Sunil Bakshi, Justin's right hand man. She adjusted her tailored blazer, the deep blue fabric accentuating her sharp features and confident demeanor. Her dark hair was styled in a sleek bob, perfectly framing her face.
She'd learned young that as a woman, you could never look like you had a hair out of place, like you missed a step. You could never look weak. Not in the shark infested waters of business, nor the slog through swamp infested waters that the world called politics.
As she made her way through the corridor, Hope nearly collided with Yelena, immediately eyeing the woman skeptically, because the other woman was never that distracted or ungraceful.
Yelena, with her blonde hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, was dressed in a casual down to earth ensemble - a black leather jacket over a white tank top, paired with dark jeans and combat boots. Her eyes were best described as spicy, as she smiled at Hope.
Hope was not unaware of the situation. She knew the other woman was desperately in love with Justin. For all that she was what she was - she wore her heart on her sleeve in this instance.
"Hope, fancy running into you here," Yelena said, her Russian accent adding a melodic lilt to her words. "How was your meeting with Bakshi?" She asked politely.
Hope offered an equally polite smile back. Small talk was business 101. "Productive. We're making good progress on the space program."
They were certainly working faster than NASA, hail the absence of red tape. If business could be done this quick in the states, why, the government might actually sometimes get something done, she thought cynically.
Justin might be rubbing off on her a mite more than she'd believed. She briefly closed her eyes, as did Domino, or my mind would not have immediately gone there…
Yelena nodded, then her eyes twinkled with a hint of something more. "It's been a long day. How about we go for a drink? There's a nice bar nearby. My treat." She offered.
Hope considered the invitation for a moment, her analytical mind quickly deducing that this was about more than just a casual drink. Yelena was rarely this friendly, and surely she wouldn't do this without an ulterior motive. "Sure, why not? Lead the way." She agreed.
She wasn't one for previcarating needlessly. It was better to air this all out now, while Justin wasn't here to see them. Not that she had any such intentions on him, of course.
They left the compound and made their way to a nearby bar. The establishment was an upscale yet cozy venue, with dim lighting and plush seating - obviously intended for tourists, not the locals. The walls were adorned with eclectic artwork, and a smooth jazz tune played softly in the background. Yelena led them to a quiet corner, away from prying eyes and ears.
Hope ordered a martini, while Yelena opted for a vodka tonic. As the drinks arrived, Hope took a moment to study Yelena, noting her confident posture and the calculating look in her eyes. Yelena took a sip of her drink and leaned back, her expression casual. Too casual.
The kind of casualness someone affects when they're upset.
So this will be interesting… She couldn't help but think, glad she had the Wasp suit on underneath, just in case.
"So, Hope, how are things with you and Justin?" Yelena asked, her tone light but with a hint of underlying curiosity. And a thread of anger running underneath it all.
So it is an interrogation/back off discussion, as I thought.
Hope smiled, taking a sip of her martini. "We're good friends. He values my input and appreciates me for who I am, like friends do." She stressed intently.
Yelena nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving Hope's. "Just good friends, huh? No other feelings there?" She asked, idly. Her eyes were not matching with her body language.
For a Black Widow that was remarkably unsubtle, Hope couldn't help but note. She's really off her game, love can do silly things, I suppose.
Thankfully she didn't have time for anything like that. It was a complication she didn't need.
Hope ended up chuckling softly, at Yelena's obvious intentions. She knew this was a test, but she played along. "Justin is... Justin. He's charming, ambitious, and always thinking ten steps ahead - caring without being overbearing, handsome and all too smug at times. But no, we're just friends."
Yelena raised an eyebrow, her smile turning sly. "Are you sure about that? Justin has a way of making women fall for him." She murmured, her eyes briefly flicking away, before they returned, ice hidden behind the layers of friendliness she exuded.
Hope leaned in slightly, her own gaze piercing. "And you? What's your experience with Justin? Is he as good as the rumors say?" She said playfully, intending to turn this around, to throw Yelena off this ridiculous game.
Personally, she didn't think Yelena was right for Justin at all. Too subservient. But as a friend, she wasn't going to push on the subject. That didn't mean she'd take it laying down, this ridiculous hands off my man routine.
Yelena was taken aback for a moment, not expecting Hope's directness. But she quickly recovered, a smug grin spreading across her face. "Oh, he's good. Very good. But you don't need to hear that from me, and of course he only chooses the best…"
Hope smirked languidly, ignoring the dig, leaning back in her seat. For now, Yelena had been averted, and Hope did have some slight curiosity in the subject matter, just… Academically, really. "Just curious. I've heard things, you know, seen some of it. Thought I'd get the truth from someone who knows."
Yelena's eyes flashed with a mix of amusement and challenge. "You won't get any complaints from me, he's exquisite." Her eyes narrowed, "Or any gossip either..."
Hope took another sip of her martini, her expression thoughtful. "Interesting. It's always good to know what to expect from a partner, in any sense." She almost faltered, wait, no, I wanted to avoid her seeing me like that, why did I say that?
Yelena's smile faltered slightly, sensing Hope's deeper meaning. "So, you're not interested in Justin that way?" She asked again, a low growl in the back of her throat.
Hope shook her head, her tone firm. Don't go there again, "No. We're just friends and business partners. I respect and care for him, and that's where it ends."
Even if he's the only one I could even see myself dating… Hope's hand tightened around her glass, am I… Have I been deluding myself?
Yelena seemed to relax a bit, but there was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes. "Good. It's always best to keep things professional."
Hope raised her glass in a mock toast. "To professionalism, then."
Yelena clinked her glass against Hope's, a genuine smile finally breaking through. "To professionalism."
As they continued to drink and chat, the initial tension began to dissipate as Hope made sure to reiterate she had no interest, not even sure herself if she was lying or not. They exchanged stories and experiences, each trying to outdo the other with tales of their misadventures - obviously Black Widow missions didn't count. The bar's ambiance, with its soft lighting and soothing music, provided a perfect backdrop for their conversation, as they finally started to relax a little.
Hope couldn't help but grudgingly admire Yelena's confidence and the way she carried herself like she could take down anyone. Despite the subtle rivalry that she half didn't want to admit to, there was some mutual respect between them. They were both strong, capable women navigating a world dominated by powerful men.
There was some solidarity in that, some common ground that they finally found.
Which included some light bitching about the impossible man that was Justin Hammer.
Yelena groaned as she held another cold glass of alcohol to her forehead, "He gives me so many headaches, he's so unpredictable, I never know what he's going to do next." She pouted, "Or who…"
Hope completely ignored the quiet muttered comments on how everything would work out if Domino would just woman up and join her. She didn't want to go there - frankly she couldn't see that pairing end well, at all.
If she thought Yelena was unsuitable for Justin, Domino was just… Oh god no. That would not work at all.
She decided to not look deeper into why any woman she thought of, automatically was not good enough for her friend in her mind.
Hope hummed thoughtfully after a moment, evaluating the best response to Yelena. "Justin's vision is what sets him apart. Yes, he's unpredictable, but that's also what makes him effective. He thinks outside the box." She said, tapping a finger on her glass, "Although I admit it's sometimes… Frustrating."
More like impossible, he does impossible things for breakfast, how am I supposed to keep up? It's just unfair… She inwardly groused, and how much have I had to drink?
Yelena chuckled darkly, resting her chin on her hands, "Interesting. So you're saying you're not interested again? I'm not sure that's what I'm hearing?"
Hope's lips curled into a sly smile. "I like working with people who challenge me. Keeps things interesting." She shrugged, keeping it casual by force, "Doesn't mean anything more than that."
Yelena nodded, her expression skeptical, but she left it alone without sticking a verbal knife in, likely due to the almost camaraderie they now shared in the art of bitching out Justin Hammer for the past hour or two. "I see. Well, I hope you know what you're getting into with Justin if you do... He can be... Demanding, not anyone can handle that."
Hope almost rolled her eyes, Yelena was being more playful now, but she still heard a lot of undertones of - mine!
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, maybe it was all the drinks, but she decided she wasn't going to just back off this time. "I can handle demanding. I've dealt with worse, in fact it's a bit sexy, isn't it? A man who knows what he wants and just takes it."
Yelena grimaced, "And you were doing so well…" She complained, slamming back a drink."Right, that settles it. Competing for his heart it is. How about arm wrestling, bitch?" She set her elbow on the table, a fierce look on her face.
"I'm not arm wrestling you. You're a Black Widow." Hope rolled her eyes, already at a disadvantage since Yelena couldn't even get tipsy. While she herself had drunk… A little more than she probably should have.
Especially around a woman who wanted her away from her man. Whoops. Where did your common sense go, Hope?
"Darts then, it's a bar, it has to have darts." Yelena insisted, pouting cutely when Hope refused.
"We're not competing." Hope reiterated, "Especially for a man. A man I'm not dating, I add." She really regretted teasing the woman now. They were actually getting along there for a minute, kind of.
Yelena sighed, "Alright, no fight. But in the harem I'm in charge, okay?"
Hope choked on her drink, spluttering and coughing, Yelena just sitting there like a bitch, not helping. "There is no harem!" She managed to hiss out.
Yelena nodded sadly, "It's that kind of attitude that ruins it." She agreed, drooping over her drink.
"That's not why there's no harem!"
"You're right, you're not fit to be a member, too…" Yelena looked down, "Flat."
"It's ON, bitch!" Oh, I've definitely had too much to drink…
Early morning, Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
Justin couldn't sleep, some of it was simple frustration, he had hardly gotten his own enough during the night.
Although due to that fact, he'd practically driven Darcy into insanity, which he found he liked a lot more than he thought, go figure, he's a giver too.
His mind was stuck on Domino's last comment before the woman went to her own bed.
Do you want more Helen Cho's Justin? Because this is how you Helen Cho a woman.
He thought that was very unfair, Darcy never used her safeword, so it was purely on her if she went insane.
He idly ran his fingers through her hair, the woman still absolutely out of it in his bed, practically dead to the world.
Originally he had fully intended to send her back to Dr Foster, but in the state she was in now, he had made the decision to keep her around for cuddles - assuming that it would be annoying if Dr Foster checked up on her intern in her room and found her like this.
Even missing was better, right?
Probably wouldn't be the first time Darcy snuck out all night, not considering how bold she was with him.
College boys must have had no clue what to do with her.
He wondered if this dalliance would increase or decrease the chances Dr Foster signed on. Surely she'd enjoy the funding, Darcy was likely to be very for it, that had to count for something.
He didn't really need her necessarily. But it felt like he should collect the set. Perhaps he should even get Stern, even if he wouldn't be quite what he'd wanted, and he'd have to feel the disappointment every time he saw the man.
Unless Bruce Banner could donate some blood to splash on the man's forehead for him.
His mood instantly turned sour, Bruce Banner had somehow escaped the team that watched him. Which he thought was fairly impossible. Which likely meant outside intervention. He'd gotten the report earlier while he'd been busy.
Now who wanted a Hulk? And had the ability to get him to come quietly?
His thoughts were interrupted, his eyes immediately flying up from his introspection when someone cleared their throat impatiently - in front of his bed!
Motherfucking Loki smiled at him, "I don't want to waste my time overly." He practically purred, eyes alight with malice. "You see I'm somewhat of an expert on the myths you people wrote down about us, and when I happened to pop in and check in on Thor, you had an interesting story to tell." His smile turned frosty, "So tell me mortal, in what book, what page, what author, did you come across that weirdly specific tale you tried to manipulate my brother with?"
God damn Loki…. Justin thought, gritting his teeth. He always had to Loki any situation he was in, didn't he?
Time to outlie the liesmith….
No pressure.
Author's note:
Aww, Yelena and Hope are making friends. Kind of. At least getting to know each other?
Domino is making friends too! Or something.
It's just a friendly chapter all together! Lewd is on Questionable Questing.
And we got to see Justin just deciding to not care about consequences with minor villains.
Not like they can do anything to him, so fuck em.
Arrogant perhaps, but he's not really wrong, depending on the target for his ire.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
Chapter 27: This is all kinds of Loki'd
Here's chapter 27: This is all kinds of Loki'd
Won on Patron as usual, so here we go.
Thor 1 wrapping up. Next chapter should be glimpse at Asgard, clean up on Earth, and then we're off on a time skip. Loki of course ensuring things aren't as simple as they should be in this chapter.
Although really, Justin making himself a bit interesting didn't help his case here.
Justin, for a decently smart guy, is bad at just keeping his mouth shut. He's a little bit like Tony that way, always has to prove himself the best in any type of situation or even conversation.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
Justin's fingers tightened slightly in Darcy's hair, a calming anchor as he faced Loki. The room seemed to shrink around them, the morning light filtering through the curtains danced across Loki's arrogant face.
He didn't feel threatened necessarily, more like… Wary.
Loki wouldn't easily be able to truly harm him, but the harm he could do to his plans just by being himself? There was quite a high risk factor there.
Loki's eyes gleamed with malevolent curiosity, his smile a serpent's promise. "You seem tense, mortal." He purred, leaning forward. "Surely, you did not expect me to ignore such an intriguing story." He waved a hand dismissively, scoffing, "Your myths are wrong of course, exaggerations because your feeble minds could not take in all that we were, there is no Baldr, I have not birthed Sleipnir nor Fenrir or Jormungar, nor Hela…" His eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile playing at his lips, "Alas, I do know of them, Hela is mentioned in your myths, but never in such a manner as you spoke of to fool that oaf Thor."
He paced before the bed suddenly, cloak swishing behind him, almost a manic quality to his movements, "He's easily fooled, of course, norns know I've run circles around him for centuries, but it still brings me to the question of why?" The last was hissed out, as Loki stopped haughtily before him, looking down at him, "What purpose could a lowly mortal such as you have to attempt to bring this story to the Allfather?"
Justin kept his expression composed, though inwardly he cursed the trickster's sudden appearance again, he was too unpredictable. Justin had a feeling even Loki didn't know what Loki would do in most situations. "Ancient knowledge isn't confined to books alone, Loki, at least I'm assuming you're actually Loki…" He added, putting some hesitation in his voice, a raised eyebrow in query.
At Loki's irritated nod, he continued, "Some truths are whispered through time, passed down in ways that only the truly curious can uncover." He cocked his head, resting back against the headboard, one hand petting Darcy's hair as he put on a mien of relaxation.
Like there truly was no threat here at this moment.
Loki's smile widened, but his eyes grew colder. He really had quite the expressive face for a liesmith. "Is that so? And you, a mortal businessman, have somehow stumbled upon secrets that even Asgardians do not speak of? How fortuitous. Pray, indulge me. Where did you hear of Hela, the so-called firstborn of Odin?"
Justin knew he had to tread carefully. "I have resources beyond your imagination of what a mere mortal can do, Loki. Some of these resources led me to the Ancient One - I'm assuming you're aware of who she is?"
Ideally he'd be a mystery Loki wanted to solve later, and he'd leave things alone for now - if not believing his words, not exactly disbelieving it all either. And by the time this debacle was done, he'd be falling, and wouldn't be Justin's problem for quite some time.
Loki looked even more irritated, "Of course." He said haughtily, "The fact you do, is surprising, and almost lending you some credence." He acknowledged, before smirking cruelly, "If it wasn't obvious you're hiding the real truth. You can not lie to me, Justin Hammer!"
With the thunderous voice he'd used there, Justin was glad Darcy had been so wrung out until she was barely holding onto her last sliver of sanity and energy - because even with that noise, she didn't even twitch in the bed, still deeply out of it.
Justin mildly replied back, "I wouldn't be foolish enough to lie against the liesmith himself, I am of course not telling the full truth, I have confidences to keep, you understand, but in no way could I outlie the god of cunning and lies."
Loki laughed coldly, "Flattery will avail you nothing, mortal." He said, not even appearing to notice how he was preening slightly.
Justin just stared at him blandly, his glasses able to confirm to him that Loki was not here in person. He could hardly tell the projection apart from the real thing, but the monitors in his glasses could detect no heat nor sound from Loki's general vicinity. "It's not flattery, it's simple facts, all the myths agree on this at least." He said, because if Loki was going to be dissuaded by something so simple, he'd be a fool not to utilize it.
Loki's eyes flashed with amusement, even as his lips twisted in mockery, "An amusing attempt mortal, but I'm not as easy as the mortal women who flutter at the smallest amount of honey in their ears. You will not bed me, no matter the flattery."
Justin really hadn't intended to. Did Loki really get so little respect and compliments he immediately thought Justin was trying to sleep with him? All the more reason to fuck Odin's day up by having him confronted with the Hela bullshit, what a crapsack of a father. "My apologies, it had not been my intent." He said dryly.
At least it had all somewhat derailed the 'interrogation', distracting Loki.
"I grow weary of your pathetic attempts at misdirection, reveal your source of this… Firstborn of the Allfather…" He demanded imperiously.
Or not.
Justin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "The Ancient One herself lies behind my knowledge." He lied, mentally sending an email through his link to his glasses to the Ancient One, detailing some of this little talk just in case - especially if Odin would check later… "She holds many secrets, as I'm sure you're aware. In a conversation with her, Hela's name surfaced. A small mention, almost an afterthought, yet it piqued my interest in more."
The Ancient One would play ball if for whatever reason Loki sought her out, he was almost certain. She was certainly enough of a troll to enjoy such subterfuge. Although it likely meant she'd have her own questions for him. It was better than Loki, either way. Hopefully Odin wouldn't have time to question Loki either, and Thor knew nothing of this talk, so he should be covering all his bases.
Loki's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise quickly masked. "The Ancient One told you this, you claim? She is indeed a keeper of many arcane secrets, for a mortal. But why would she reveal such a detail to you, of all people?"
"My curiosity in old myths entertained her, perhaps," Justin replied smoothly, sitting up a little straighter. "Or maybe she saw the benefit in enlightening someone about Asgard and the wider universe who could handle such knowledge responsibly. Unlike others, who might use it for personal gain or destruction."
Loki's laugh was sharp, a mocking sound that grated against Justin's nerves. "Oh, you mortals and your self-importance… You have no place in the wider universe! Tell me, what else did the Ancient One reveal? Did she regale you with bedtime stories of Asgard's dark past?" He mocked, a sneer on his lips.
Justin leaned back slightly, adopting a more casual posture again. "Not quite. She merely hinted at Hela's existence. My own research - with her permission - of some of her orders repositories of knowledge, filled in some gaps. Stories buried deep within the Nordic myths, fragments that speak of a fierce warrior, a conqueror. Someone Odin would rather the nine realms forget."
He shook his head, explaining further, lying further, "All in all it was barely a paragraph, mentioning the firstborn daughter who conquered the nine realms for him, only to be banished, tied to his lifeforce, hungering for her return, and her revenge." He shrugged lightly, "I found it suspicious enough that it was only mentioned behind the protected wards of the Ancient One, which gave the whole erase history part of it some credence - you'd know better if Odin was the kind of man to banish his child and erase all knowledge of her…"
Considering they were having this conversation due to the banishment of Thor, the point was a lot more poignant. Also this was literally the perfect time in the timeline to disparage Odin's parenting in front of Loki.
He'd be ready to believe it already, perhaps enough to not push deeper, or question things.
Loki's expression turned calculating, his eyes probing Justin's, at least not immediately disregarding the information, likely because Justin had put the source as the Ancient One. "And why, pray tell, would you share such information with Thor? What do you gain from sowing seeds of doubt and discord among Asgard's royalty?"
Justin met Loki's gaze evenly, masking the tumult of thoughts racing through his mind. He wasn't sure if Loki believed him or not, but it could be bad if Asgard came to have the belief he was trying to institute a coup or something with this knowledge. "Thor is here, on Earth. His presence affects us all. If there are hidden truths that could impact our world, I believe it's in everyone's interest to bring them to light. Asgardian politics and secrets have a way of spilling over into our realm after all, or we wouldn't have so many myths..."
Loki's lips curled into a predatory smile. "You are a sly one, Hammer. But I see through your ploys. You seek to manipulate Thor, to use him for your own ends. What makes you think you can control a god?"
Loki's posture changed, the air around him thickening as his aura became more threatening, green smoke wafting off the fingers of his right hand as he smirked maliciously.
Justin's own smile was a mere twitch of the lips - the fact he knew Loki was only a projection helping him keep his cool. "Control is such a harsh word. Influence, perhaps. Guide. Thor is powerful, going by the myths, but having met him… He is also frightfully naive. He needs someone who understands the intricacies of both our worlds to help him navigate this... Exile."
Let Loki believe his interests lay in manipulating Thor for his own purposes on earth; it was a better outcome than believing he was interfering in Asgards business. Loki of course didn't know Thor's banishment was literally going to end within the day.
If he would be here for years or decades, Justin's viewpoints made more sense, just a businessman taking advantage. Nothing to see here.
Loki's eyes flashed with anger for a moment, then he regained his composure, his tone dripping with condescension. "And you believe you are that someone? A mortal with delusions of grandeur? Thor may be naive, but he is not easily led."
Okay wow, he said that with a straight face… Justin thought with bemusement.
Thor was in fact incredibly easily led. Perhaps not later, but for now, he was in fact very simple.
And hadn't Loki literally been running circles around him for their entire lives?
"I'm not looking to lead Thor in the manner you suggest," Justin replied calmly. "I'm looking to ensure that when he does return to Asgard, he does so with a clearer understanding of what his responsibilities entail to Earth, the mystery of Hela was a passing fancy to see if there was any truth behind it, minor in the face of ensuring Thor settles in well in our realm."
Loki's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You tread on dangerous ground, Hammer. You meddle in affairs far beyond your comprehension. What makes you think you can handle the consequences of your actions?"
Justin's eyes hardened. "I've faced challenges before, Loki. I'm not afraid of a little risk. But understand this - my primary concern is Earth's safety. If that means uncovering uncomfortable truths, so be it." He patted Darcy's head lightly, "I am only looking to the safety of Earth, that is all, if Hela is real or not is only a curiosity, not worth the effort if it's going to have this kind of reaction."
Of course, Justin had a feeling that at this point, Loki as well as Thor, would not forget about Hela and Odin, and would seek answers at some point.
All the better.
The sooner it was revealed, perhaps they could work out a way where Odin wouln't just die and leave the problem to everyone else without any warning whatsoever.
Loki's smile returned, but it was devoid of warmth. "Very well. Play your games, mortal. But remember, you are dealing with forces that can crush you without a second thought. Pray you do not find yourself at the wrong end of Asgardian wrath."
With that, Loki vanished as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving Justin alone with Darcy in the dimly lit room. He exhaled slowly, his mind racing through the implications of their conversation. Loki knew more than he let on, and he had a feeling he hadn't quite succeeded in lying at times. Justin would need to tread even more carefully moving forward. The stakes had just been raised, and the game was far from over.
The situation was going to be settled today, one way or another.
Surely Loki wouldn't be able to mess it up too much in one day…
Justin rested his head back against the headboard, laughing to himself.
What was he even saying?
He called Sunil, his glasses flashing, speaking up the second the man answered, "Get the team together, get Kaecillius on standby to portal them all to my location at a minute's notice."
"And the Green Goblin, sir?" Sunil replied politely. Reminding him that they were already on partial standby for Osborn in the first place.
"Will have to wait, or be left to Tony if Osborn does pick now of all times to actually show up." Justin groused, displeased that the matter hadn't been resolved yet.
"Do you want me to notify Stark of that, sir?" Sunil asked, "In the spirit of cooperation and such."
Justin thought it over, before dismissing it with a shudder. "No." He simply told Sunil, his thoughts already seeing the worst case scenario.
If they informed Tony that the team couldn't assist with any Goblin sighting, he'd research why immediately.
The last thing he needed in this mess he had on his hands was Iron Man swooping down into it.
"Keep the team ready, I have a feeling today is going to be busy." He finished the call, getting out of bed.
Loki… You better not mess this all up for me…
The breakfast buffet at the hotel was a simple but plentiful spread, offering an array of options from freshly baked pastries and assorted fruits to sizzling bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs. The dining area was bathed in the warm morning light, the glass windows offering a view of the town awakening to a new day.
For a small hotel, it was actually quite nice, if not to a standard he'd gotten accustomed to.
Justin, Domino, and Phantazia sat at a large table, strategically positioned to oversee the room. They were joined by Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Thor, whose towering presence made the table feel smaller. Justin casually sipped his coffee, taking in the rich aroma, while Thor eagerly attacked his plate, seemingly enchanted by Earth's breakfast offerings.
They'd had a chance to talk again this morning, and Justin's careful prodding had shown that Thor in no way realized he had been manipulated, nor had he apparently been told the lie that his father was dead this time around - Loki never showing himself to him.
A change, but a minor one, that hopefully wouldn't derail Thor's self sacrificial ways. He really didn't want to have to put up with Thor for years if he didn't reverse the banishment now.
Not to mention the issue of Loki in that case.
Jane's eyes darted around the table, her brows furrowed in suspicion. "Where is Darcy?" she asked, her tone sharper than normal, as her hands flailed uselessly in the air for a moment. "I haven't seen her all morning." Her gaze settled on Justin, an accusatory edge to her look.
Before Justin could respond, Domino leaned in with a sweet, almost saccharine voice. "Oh, she's a bit comatose," She said, her eyes twinkling mischievously, even as she licked her lips in a very particular manner.
Domino, why are you like this? Justin thought, continuing with his coffee, just pretending that for once it was a calm, relaxing morning.
Jane's face turned red with anger. "What did you do to her?" She demanded, her voice rising, causing heads to turn in their direction. Thor's fork paused mid-air, and he set it down, frowning.
"What has happened to Lady Darcy?" Thor inquired, his tone serious and concerned.
Justin sighed, putting his coffee down and focusing on his scrambled eggs. "Nothing you need to worry about, Thor," He murmured, hoping to defuse the situation. "She's perfectly safe."
But Domino, ever the provocateur, decided to elaborate. "Well, you see," She began, leaning back in her chair, eyes alight with mischief, "It's a bit like the birds and the bees, but with a touch of BDSM." She shivered a little theatrically, "Or a lot of touch, we took really good care of her, scouts honor ~."
Justin closed his eyes momentarily in exasperation, and mechanically took a bite of his eggs. If he just ignored them all, it was just like having a peaceful breakfast.
"We?" Phantazia picked up on immediately, turning her head in Domino's direction, brow furrowed, something Justin couldn't decipher this early in the morning, in her gaze.
Domino smiled, looking actually sheepish, "Slip of the tongue." She lied, cocking her head cutely, attempting some form of puppy dog eyes.
No one at the table believed her. She didn't pull off innocent very well.
"I'm sure you slipped her some tongue alright…" Phantazia murmured irritably, jerking her head away from Domino, stabbing her breakfast sausage with gusto.
Jane's face paled, then flushed with embarrassment and fury. "What? You… You… Both!?" She stammered, unable to find the words, steam practically erupting from her.
Thor's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing at Justin. "Explain," he demanded, his voice a low rumble.
It really was quite ridiculous how Thor had attached to them so quickly, did Asgardians imprint like animals?
Justin rolled his eyes slightly, finally setting his fork down. "She's fine, Thor. Just a bit tired after a… Long night. She consented, if that's what you're worried about."
Thor seemed to settle at that, going back to his food, uncaring now that it had been established Darcy was not in danger, or taken advantage of.
Of course Justin could have lied, which Thor apparently hadn't even imagined for a second. How quickly he made allies, wasn't that long ago that Justin was looked upon with scorn and suspicion.
Getting him out from SHIELD, housing and feeding him, was really enough, wasn't it? He was like an overly large dog. Justin had a feeling if he threw a ball, Thor might actually chase it. He would have to resist the notion.
Jane's eyes flared with indignation. "Consent? You think that's all there is to it? She's my friend, and she deserves respect, not to be treated like some… Some thing you can play with!"
Justin felt a flare of annoyance, his dislike of Jane's general stupidity with Thor expanding to new avenues - he couldn't stand women who decided for other women based on their own morals. Darcy had come to him of her own free will, she had been fairly insistent actually.
Domino shrugged, unfazed with Jane's outrage. "Trust me, she had a good time. Better than good, actually." She smirked, "There's a reason she isn't up yet, I doubt her legs are up for it…"
Jane opened her mouth to retort, but Erik placed a calming hand on her arm. "Jane, let's not jump to conclusions. Darcy is an adult, and she can make her own choices."
Jane looked between Erik and Justin, her anger simmering but contained. "Fine. But I want to see her as soon as possible." She muttered, crossing her arms almost petulantly. "I'll believe it when Darcy says she's okay."
Justin was having second thoughts about recruiting her now. If only they hadn't signed the contracts last night while he'd been… Busy, with their intern. Oh well, not like I have to actually have anything to do with her, although hmm, if I want to see Darcy again…
Perhaps he could lure her away with a better internship. Under him.
Phantazia, who had been quietly observing the exchange, leaned closer to Justin. "Our security teams have spotted more Asgardians heading directly towards us." She murmured, hiding her mouth behind a hand. "SHIELD are mobilizing but keeping their distance."
Good, like he'd ordered. It seemed Garrett and Sitwell did value their lives slightly. Enough to play ball for now anyway.
Justin raised an eyebrow, outwardly calm, inwardly nervous that something would go wrong. "How many?" he asked, keeping his voice low.
"Three men and one woman," Phantazia replied, her eyes scanning the room for any immediate threats, like Asgardians would just pop up from behind the plants or tables in the room.
Thor's ears perked up at the mention of more Asgardians, having somehow heard them despite being as quiet as they were. "Are you expecting company from Asgard, Thor?" Justin asked, his tone neutral, having noticed his attention. "Three men and a woman, to be specific."
Domino began wolfing down her breakfast, like a woman perfectly aware everything was likely to go to shit soon and stocking up on calories in advance.
"Dom!" Phantazia said with disgust, wrinkling her nose, she just smiled and winked, continuing to shovel the rest of her breakfast in.
Thor's face lit up with a broad smile as he realized after a few moments who was likely to come see him. "My friends! They must have come to aid me!" He stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over his chair in his excitement. "Lady Jane, forgive me," He said, placing a large hand on her shoulder. "I must go greet my friends."
Jane watched him go with a mix of confusion and worry, her eyes following him until he disappeared from sight. Justin inwardly groaned, no matter what anyone says, she's still smitten.
Justin turned his attention back to Jane and Erik, trying to formulate it in a different way to get through to the thick headed scientist. "Dr. Foster, I understand your interest in Thor on a purely physical level, but you need to consider the reality of your situation," He said softly, trying to not come off as too annoyed, "Getting involved with an alien, especially one with such a vastly different lifespan and responsibilities, is… Well, it's insane."
Thor would be better served in Asgard, making sure it didn't go to hell, then down here trying to play house in a doomed relationship.
Erik nodded, thankfully agreeing with Justin, his expression was serious as he addressed Jane. "Jane, you know deep down that he's right. It would be like me trying to go to a Zoo and form a relationship with a chimpanzee. There can be no real connection beyond the physical. No future."
Jane looked at Erik in shock, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for words. "Erik, that's a terrible analogy!" She managed to splutter out.
"It's the truth, Jane," Erik insisted. "The differences are too great, there can be no commonality." He hesitated, before pushing on, "Jane, it's purely carnal, this fascination of yours, it will only lead to you being hurt."
Jane muttered something under her breath, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "I'm fine with a little carnal," She mumbled, immediately blushing furiously as she realized everyone heard her.
Domino gave her a thumbs up, which seemed to infuriate her, and Justin sent his bodyguard a quelling look. He didn't need any complications right now, not when Dr Selvig was actually helping him knock some sense into the woman.
Hardly hired for more than a few hours, and he already deserved a raise.
The doors to the dining area swung open soon after, and in strode Thor and the Warriors Three - Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg - followed closely by Lady Sif. Their entrance was dramatic, their armor gleaming, their weapons at the ready. Thor was greeting them with hearty hugs and laughter, looking more pleased then he'd been since anytime Justin had seen him so far.
"Thor, my friend!" Fandral exclaimed, his blonde hair falling perfectly around his face as he clasped Thor's forearm, his eyes on the people in the dining hall. "We feared you might be in danger, so of course we set out to be by your side again, and here you are feasting with beautiful ladies!"
Thor's smile was broad as he embraced each of his friends. "It is good to see you all. I have missed Asgard and my comrades." He said, a wobble to his words for a moment.
Justin barely held back a grimace, he just wanted this situation over with. Fucking Asgardians, the man had only been gone for a little under two days!
Didn't these people sometimes go decades without seeing each other? Or was Thor just special.
Volstagg, his girth making the hug more of a bear squeeze, patted Thor on the back. "We could not leave you here alone, not with the troubles you have faced. And I must say," he added, his eyes drifting to the buffet, "Finding you in the middle of a Midgardian feast is quite the good luck."
As Thor turned to the others, to no one's surprise Volstagg migrated to the buffet table.
Hogun, the silent and stoic warrior, nodded his greeting, his dark eyes showing a hint of concern. "Thor, we are here to bring you back. Your place is in Asgard." He stated firmly and gruffly.
Sif stepped forward, her armor clinking softly. Her eyes, sharp and fierce, softened slightly as she looked at Thor, and hard again as her gaze swept over them all. "We feared for your safety, Thor. Loki's machinations could be a risk to your life, if you were to perish, he'd be King." She looked at him with a slightly pleading expression, "Hogun is right, we need you back!"
Thor's expression grew more serious. "I cannot return yet. I am not worthy to wield Mjolnir, and until I prove myself, I cannot face our father." He sighed wearily, laying a hand on Sifs shoulder, "You also judge Loki too harshly, I'm sure whatever issue you have with him, it's not what it seems."
Sif seemed to disagree, but also refused to openly question Thor in front of strangers, if her glance at them was any tell.
Fandral's face showed genuine sympathy as he patted Thor on the back. "We understand, Thor. But we are here to help you in any way we can, surely we can figure out a way for you to regain your hammer?" His gaze shifted to the table, landing on Phantazia and Domino. His smile turned charming immediately as he preened slightly. "And who are these incredibly enchanting women?"
Domino raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Not interested, twink." She sniffed, giving him a cruel dismissive once over, "A five at best."
Phantazia scoffed, adding with a chilled glare, "You wouldn't survive a day with either of us, I assure you."
Fandral's smile faltered slightly but quickly recovered. "A challenge then! I do love a good challenge." He cocked his head curiously, "One question if I may ask, what is a twink?"
Justin ignored it as Domino leaned forward with unholy glee in her eyes. The man was an Asgardian, he would survive. He switched his gaze to the others instead, studying them, finding nothing but more foolishness. He suddenly could sympathize with Loki.
Not only Thor, but these ones as well, for centuries? No wonder he went mad.
Volstagg, meanwhile, had already begun piling a plate with an assortment of food, his eyes wide with delight. "Midgard may be lacking in some areas, but food is not one of them," He declared, taking a hearty bite of a muffin, "It is not the bountiful feasts of Asgard, but it's not half bad." He grunted.
"It's also meant only for those who paid to stay at this location." Erik grumbled tiredly, watching them wearily, the man having the sense to worry about the consequences of more aliens appearing.
Unlike Jane, who was watching them all with fascination, in between sending Sif curious looks, her eyes flitting between her and Thor.
Sif nodded curtly at Erik. "We appreciate your hospitality then, but our mission is urgent. Thor must return to Asgard." She turned to Thor again, "Whatever your beliefs in Loki's honor, you can not stay here, Thor."
Thor sighed, looking at his friends with a mixture of gratitude and resignation. "I appreciate your concern, truly. But until I am worthy again, I cannot leave." He reiterated.
Volstagg, now on his second plate, looked up. "Then we will help you become worthy. Whatever it takes." He said matter of factly.
Jane, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "Thor, what does it mean to be worthy? How can we help?" She asked eagerly, "I.. I still think from what you said to me, that you were meant to learn humility, but… Maybe Asgard has other concerns that I haven't taken into consideration."
Thor looked at her, his expression softening. "If I knew for sure what it took to be worthy, it would be much simpler, aye… I fear it will not be a simple task, my friends." He sighed deeply, "You should not have come here, my father will be wroth with you whence he wakes."
"Asgardians will figure out this task, you need not worry mortal." Sif said condescendingly to Jane, stepping next to Thor, "And the Allfather may punish us, Thor, but if it is to save you, and assist you, we will all gladly take such."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence, broken only by the sounds of Volstagg's enthusiastic eating, Jane quietly glaring at Sif. Fandral, undeterred by his earlier rebuff, turned to Phantazia again, breaking the silence. "So, tell me more about yourselves. Surely, there are tales to be told."
He'd only been slightly put out it seemed from being labelled a 'five' and a twink.
Phantazia glared at him, teeth on display in a mockery of a smile. "We're not here for your entertainment."
Domino snickered lightly. "And you're definitely not here for ours, five."
Justin cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Let's focus on the task at hand. Thor, your friends are here to help. Let's figure out our next steps." He said mildly, wanting to keep them on task until the Destroyer arrived. It had nothing to do with how he wanted to wring Fandral's neck.
Domino and Phantazia was technically not his women in that manner. But he still on principle refused to entertain a moronic alien as a potential boyfriend for them.
Thor nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Indeed. We can not tarry, surely my friend's absence will be noted and remarked upon. I would not wish them to face punishment because of my own actions."
Sif stepped closer to Thor, her voice low but firm. "We will stand by you, Thor. Together, we will face whatever challenges come, Loki can not punish us, he's not king, he's a pretender."
Thor frowned at her, "Sif…" He trailed off, looking conflicted.
Justin figured he was probably not used to actually pushing back against anything his friends said to disparage Loki, and was now unsure of how to address it.
Phantazia's eyes flickered to Justin, a subtle signal that she had news, he immediately leaned in, "Justin," She said quietly, "the security team has picked up incoming."
Justin's heart rate quickened. "What is it?" Good, the Destroyer, let's get this over with!
"Several dozen men in armor just beamed down on Main Street in a conflagration of light," She replied, her voice tense.
….Shit!
Justin just knew Loki was going to Loki this all, where was his fucking Destroyer?
The mood at the table shifted instantly. Thor, catching the change in atmosphere, turned back to the group. "What is going on?"
When Phantazia repeated her news, all the Asgardians looked grave, their hands falling to their weapons.
Sif swore under her breath. "Loki must have realized we came and sent someone after us."
Justin's mind raced. This was unexpected, yet in a way, it hadn't thrown everything in disarray. If Loki was making moves, it meant things were still on track, they just needed to force his hand to send down the Destroyer. "Several dozen, you said?" He confirmed with Phantazia.
"Yes," She nodded, "I've told the security teams to only observe for now."
Justin hesitated on calling the HAMMER team. If this turned into a rout, would Loki even send the Destroyer? Would Thor even regain his powers?
"Keep them hanging back in reserve, have them ready to attack from the rear should we need it." He ordered.
Thor's expression hardened, a mix of anger and determination. "They are Asgardians, my people, you will not harm them," He declared, his voice resolute, before turning to his friends. "My friends, to arms! You and I shall convince them to leave."
The Warriors Three and Sif immediately fell in line, ready to follow Thor into battle - like old times, even Thor seemingly forgetting he didn't actually have any powers right now. Justin stood as well, signaling for Domino and Phantazia to stay close. "Dr Foster, Dr Selvig, you should stay here. It's not going to be safe out there," He advised, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He completely ignored Thor's words. They weren't going to leave this to a group of frankly - not that intelligent - Asgardians to fix. He wasn't sure what he'd said to cause Loki to flip the script, but he wasn't going to be a passive bystander.
If anything they needed to be there, assisting in the situation, pushing Loki to go all in with the Destroyer, as he doubted the Einherjar would push Thor enough to give his powers back. Banished or not, he was still the crown prince, and none of them would be trying to kill him.
Jane's eyes were wide with fear and confusion. "What's happening?"
Justin spared her a brief glance. "Asgardian politics, nothing to worry about. Stay here, where it's safe. We'll handle this."
Phantazia hissed between her teeth suddenly, grasping Justin's shoulder, pulling him back from the door the Asgardians had already exited, "Sir, a large suit of armor just appeared."
Justin let out a breath, good, thank you Loki for the gift. "Did it also arrive on the main street, with the rest of the Asgardians?" He asked.
Phantazia shook her head, one hand pressed tightly against her ear, and the communication device inside. "It appeared from the other direction, with a clear view of the main street."
What? Did Loki intend to just snipe Thor in the back? Blame Thor's death on them… That… Actually might be exactly what he was doing.
Phantazia disabused him of that notion quickly, "Thor and his friends have seen it, they're attacking."
Domino chuckled, "What amazingly simple people…"
Justin had a bad feeling now, "And the other Asgardians?"
"Heading here."
Of course they were.
… Would it mean war if they killed them all? How do you even disable Asgardian warriors with centuries of experience?
Domino and Phantazia didn't have extremis yet. He could not risk them, especially not while trying to fight handicapped to avoid a war.
"I'm calling the team in." He said heavily. Knowing that there was no way in hell there would be no casualties from this.
Hopefully Odin would understand this was all Loki's fault afterwards.
They'd moved away from the hotel, not wanting to make it a battleground with the civilians and their newly hired scientists caught in the middle.
"SHIELDs status?" Justin asked tersely as they made their way towards the outskirts of town.
Phantazia shook her head, lips thinned in displeasure, "They've stopped accepting calls, no doubt intending to see who wins before stepping in."
Justin grimaced, he'd probably have done the same if the roles were reversed, but it didn't mean he'd let them get away with it. "Once the team arrives, you and Domino go deal with Agent Garrett, I want him alive, the rest…" He glared at the approaching Einherjar, his blood practically boiling. "Remove them from play."
This situation had gotten complicated, he'd already planned to clean house, but now it was imperative that as few survivors as possible got away from this situation. The only word allowed on how this all happened needed to be his, and Thor's - with Thor's word being whatever he could convince the man to believe.
He had half a mind to order the town purged once he got Foster and co out.
If Kaecillius didn't get his team here soon though…
The Einherjar came to a stop within shouting distance, a large mountain of a man stepping forward, clad in golden gleaming armor, planting his spear in the ground before bellowing out a demand, "On orders of King Loki, the mortal named Justin Hammer is to present himself for his crimes against Asgard!"
Phantazia stepped in close to his shoulder, muttering into his ear, "Another group of Asgardians just beamed down behind us, our security team is ready on your order, sir."
Justin nodded, showing he'd heard, even as he wondered what Loki was playing at. Crimes against Asgard was a bit much, wasn't it? What on earth had he said that fixated the fool on him to this extent?
Was he really going to play this like he was trying to use Thor to institute a coup? That was a little thin…
"Asgard has no right to demand anything of Earth, you are not of this realm, leave now, and you will be allowed to leave with your lives despite this invasion…" Justin shouted back, projecting confidence, standing his ground.
Like hell he was going to allow aliens to dictate terms to him, on his planet. Besides, with Loki calling the shots, diplomacy was never going to solve this.
Only power could. The language these Asgardians might actually understand. And Justin was willing to burn this entire town down to show these interlopers that Earth was not an easy target anymore.
"So be it." The large man called out, sounding pleased, before he picked his spear up, twirling it dramatically, "Take him alive." He ordered the Einherjar, pointing his spear at Justin, "For ASGARD!" He bellowed as he rushed in.
Several things happened very quickly in succession at that moment.
Domino fired, using one of her HammerTech laser weapons instead of her usual guns, the beam heading for the leaders face, his spear just barely coming up to protect him, the beam somehow splitting on the tip of the spear, the two separate beams impacting two Einherjar behind him, killing them instantly with two headshots.
At the same time, Phantazia ordered the security team to fire, and the back of the Asgardian formation came under heavy fire, as Extremis dosed veteran soldiers popped out of their hiding spaces and began mowing them down, the Asgardians caught by surprise.
These weren't heavily armored soldiers, they'd come expecting a weak mortal, their light armor not prepared for energy weapons fired by veteran soldiers.
They reacted swiftly still, only taking light casualties before managing to split their group into smaller cells, four man squads rushing in for close combat, giving less of a target to shoot at, as the front of the group all advanced at superhuman speed at the security teams as well as Justin.
The aliens were still stronger than them, as was soon apparent as they closed in with the security teams, spears and swords flashing as limbs flew in the air. The Asgardians still died, whereas his security team had Extremis, but for every dead Asgardian on the ground, more and more of his team were being bogged down, cut apart, their regeneration pushed to the max - they would not last at this rate.
Which was the time a orange portal swirled into being in front of Justin, just as the huge leader of the Einherjar attacked with a roar of battle lust, swinging for Justin, a beam of pure white crackling electricity hitting him in the chest, cooking him inside his armor as he howled in agony his voice gaining a tinny quality, the men behind him temporarily frozen in place, as Electro hopped out of the portal, full of swagger, sparks flying back and forth between his fingers.
"Get cooked, bitch!" He exclaimed joyfully, looking beyond excited to have had a dramatic entrance. He looked back at Justin, and if he'd had a tail, it would have been wagging, "Did you see that? Did you?" He said happily.
Justin let out a breath, sweat running down his face, he would have survived an Asgardian rampaging all over him, sure. But it wouldn't have been pleasant. And he was less sure about surviving a dozen of them at once.
Regeneration had limits.
The Vulture and Scorpion armors came out next, the Asgardians raising their weapons, but not looking nearly as sure of themselves in the face of the intimidating power armored figures.
They were quickly followed by the new Captain America, Whiplash, and to Justin's surprise, Hope, in her Wasp armor.
Lastly, Yelena and Kaecilius stepped through, Yelena looking ready for battle, loaded up with more weapons then the rest of them combined, wearing a black bodysuit, the tightness of which would have been indecent, if all the weapons strapped on didn't hide everything important.
"Hope, Yelena, what are you two doing here?" He shouted over the roar of The Vulture and Scorpion engaging with the Asgardians trying to take them in the rear, their new arc powered laser weapons combined with micro missiles and the Scorpions artillery cannon - protecting their rear all on their own against two dozen of Asgards finest.
These men wore heavy armor, and could withstand the energy weapons better than their unlucky comrades. He could see moments later that more Asgardians were beaming down in the distance, the bifrost visible to Justin. He had no doubt these would also be heavily armored, Loki wasn't entirely moronic.
Hope flew over to his side, her wings buzzing, her helmet retracting as she landed, "I was in Cairo anyway when you called for the team to gather, so I joined up." She said with a small luminous smile that lit up her face, her hand touching his cheek softly, "I was worried." She admitted.
Yelena stepped in front of her, none so gently shoving her away, gaining an eye roll from Hope, who stepped back, keeping an eye on the battle, "I'm not going to stay back when you're in danger." Yelena said, daring him to argue.
Justin just let it go, the situation was already fucked up, and he didn't have time to argue about it. Hope and Yelena were both strong combatants, they'd be fine. They better be fine.
Or he'd find out what a dozen nukes could do to Odin's front yard…
Bucky stepped up, arm raised as his shield suddenly returned to it to catch magnetically onto the arm, an Asgardian soldier falling back, choking, grabbing at his crushed throat. "Orders?" He asked tersely.
Before Justin could think of what to say, Phantazia took control of the situation, snapping out rapidly, "Captain, get Wasp and Electro and use Kaecillius to portal behind the battle line, our security team is getting slaughtered in close combat, only Extremis keeping them relevant, they need assistance." She tapped her communication device, "Whiplash, overwatch, get in the sky, occupy those not engaged - don't let our team get overwhelmed in any one position, snipe them."
Bucky simply nodded approvingly, jogging away, his shield blurring as he slapped a thrown spear away, retaliating with the shield's edge into the eyes of the Asgardian, knocking them down, blood spurting. On the way, he grabbed the back of the collar of Electro, who was cackling in glee, dodging spears as he roasted one Asgardian at a time, going for maximum power each hit. Hope gave Justin a last lingering look, squeezing his hand, before she shrunk, flying after Bucky and Electro, towards where Kaecillius was standing, mandalas on his hands as he deflected the odd thrown spear in his direction.
Yelena looked at Phantazia quizzically, "And me?" She asked simply.
Phantazia let two of the arc laser pistols drop into her hands, "You'll be going with Domino to deal with HYDRA before they encircle us and try and take out the winner." Her eyes narrowed as she cursed, "New squad just dropped in." She added tersely. "Make that two!" She added a second later, looking like she'd swallowed a lemon.
Justin really didn't like this. What was Loki thinking? How would he possibly excuse this?
Domino fired, eyes hard, her shots taking down a soldier with every hit, but they kept coming, and the new soldiers wore full armor, making them more difficult to one shot. "I don't think going after the HYDRA goons is a good idea, right now." She said, giving Justin a push out of nowhere, a spear whistling by inches from his head, "If they can just keep sending reinforcements, we might have to retreat." She added.
Justin glared at her, "We're not retreating!"
Domino gave him a flat look, "My job is your survival, not your feelings. I'll carry you to Kaecillius over my back if I have to."
Phantazia stepped in to end the argument, "Domino, go, you and Yelena can handle it quickly, I'll retreat with him if it becomes necessary, HYDRA can't be allowed to to pile on, or we're really going to be in danger here." She ordered tersely, staring down Domino.
Justin had originally ordered her and Domino for the task, when he'd thought this fight wouldn't be too difficult. But with Phantazia taking command over the battle, it made sense for her to stay and guard him. Even if he disliked the idea based on the fact she did not have Extremis.
He idly toyed with the idea to call Ross, and order a missile strike on the town, while he and his portalled out. Thor… He'd die, and that we would pay for in spades… He dropped the thought, for now.
Yelena tugged on Domino's arm, not looking happy either, "Let's go, the sooner we finish, the sooner we can come back."
Domino cursed, glaring at Justin and Phantazia both, "Don't do anything stupid!" She spat, before following Yelena, running towards the outskirts of the battle, Whiplash obviously having been paying attention to coms, as he cut a path for them, firing a concentrated beam that cut through the growing mass of Asgardians.
"I fight more dangerous aliens in toilet!" His speakers shouted out to the world, as the mad Russian cackled, a long stretch of burned ground sizzling with pieces of Asgardians laying around, several of the spear wielding aliens firing up at Whiplash, showing that the spears doubled as energy weapons.
Justin couldn't fathom why some idiots had thrown them earlier if they could do that! Asgardians!
Phantazia grabbed his arm, pulling him back towards Kaecilius, who'd returned after dropping Bucky's squad off behind the Asgardians, "For the record, I would have forced you to retreat, if the enemy wouldn't simply beam down more soldiers wherever we took you." She said bluntly, eyes distant as she listened to more reports coming in.
"Vulture and Scorpion are facing magical artillery…" She said blandly - in a, this is my life now - kind of way. "They're asking for permission to unleash everything."
The noise was deafening, the sound of the power armors and Asgardian artillery firing back and forth against each other, Justin craned his neck, and blanched as he saw one of the artillery pieces was literally floating in the air, flitting back and forth to avoid The Vultures return fire. This is getting worse by the minute!
Justin didn't give two shits about this little town, or the civilians, but there were some VIPs here… He glanced back at Kaecilius, "The town's only hotel, three people, Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, Darcy Lewis, get them out of here now." He ordered.
"As you say, Master." Kaecilius put a fist to his heart, before he disappeared in another portal.
"Tell Whiplash, Scorpion and Vulture to wait for my command, then wipe out that entire section of town. We can't keep fighting these Asgardians from two directions." Justin said coldly, eying the battle in front of him with his blood boiling in rage over the stupidity of it all.
Loki couldn't just stay on script, could he? He just had to try and get something more than Thor's death out of this whole endeavor. He would have a hell of a time explaining this all to the World Security Council, the President, and fucking Odin if he was particularly unlucky.
Hopefully he could push that off on Thor. Speaking of…
"Any word on Thor and the moronic four?" He asked, wincing as Bucky got thrown into a wall, his three opponents going down seconds later as Electro disengaged one hand from where he was firing a beam at a squad of Asgardians, and fired a second one getting all three, their bodies jerking like puppets as their nerves fried.
Electro was getting way too into this.
Here and there around them, he could see Asgardians being put down, seemingly from nothing, the Wasp at work no doubt, although he was surprised to note she was going lethal. While this happened, the shattered remains of his security teams backed them up with covering fire, while staying away from the stronger Asgardians, letting the team handle that.
The combined effort of both at least managing to let them slowly overcome the enemies superior numbers.
He swore as Whiplash was blown out of the sky, tearing a long groove in the ground, bowling over half a dozen Asgardians, one of those magical artillery pieces must have gotten him. From audible Russian cursing blowing out eardrums, he was fine, if a bit ruffled.
This is why he did not want his top scientist in a role where he could get shot at!
"Sir… We're not winning." Phantazia told him, her back to Justin's as she kept firing in the other direction, towards the Asgardians that slipped past The Vulture and Scorpion due to the artillery taking some of their attention. "If Domino and Yelena don't keep HYDRA from joining in…" She trailed off, the cacophony of buildings being destroyed cutting her off, the missed shots of the Asgardians cutting through the small towns buildings like a knife through butter.
Doubtless killing dozens of civilians, not that he particularly cared - but it would be good fodder for negotiations with the Asgardians in the aftermath. If there was an aftermath.
"This is going to be an invasion if we don't show them here and now that we won't take it." Justin growled, incensed, gesturing at Phantazia with one hand, "Give me a damn gun." He ordered. "We're not retreating until we face certain death!"
He could see as well as she could that if he didn't retreat, he'd have to fight, there were too many Asgardians for all of them to be dealt with before they reached him. And like hell he would allow these uppity aliens with their medieval society chase him away!
He lined up a shot, and fired, snarling when the helmeted head meant it wasn't a kill shot. Again and again, he pulled the trigger, until the Asgardians head was melted slag, having to duck under a spear as two others closed in.
Then there was pain, his vision whiting out for a moment, before both Asgardians before him died to a wrathful Phantazia. Justin hissed, blood on his lips, as he pulled the spear out of his side. If he had a nickel for every time he'd been speared… Well he'd only have two, but it was still weird it happened twice.
"Sir?" Phantazia asked, firing constantly, even as she utilized her powers to keep the flood of Asgardians manageable. For every Asgardian she shot, three more fell to the ground, their nervous system twitching in agony.
"I'm good." He grunted, taking up the Agardian spear in one hand, while firing the gun with the other, his back again against Phantazia's. "We're not giving up, we're not retreating. Kill them all!" He snarled at her, using his super strength to slam away a spear heading for his gut, stepping into the Asgardians space, shoving his gun under his helmet, pulling the trigger once, twice, thrice, the body falling bonelessly to the ground.
She didn't say anything for a moment, before she chuckled savagely, "If I must…"
Suddenly the cries of agony from the nearby Asgardians increased in volume, as Phantazia put her back in it, pulling harder at her power.
Kaecillius returned suddenly, almost getting a spear through his throat, barely ducking away before he sliced the man in half with an orange glowing energy sword that he just conjured up with a hand gesture.
…. The man had a fucking lightsaber and called him Master… Ah, that can't end well. For now he focused on the importance of his arrival, "They're safe?" He questioned, firing several times at the Asgardian running at him, not getting through his armor, before Kaecillius created a portal in front of him, the man disappearing through it, not able to stop his momentum.
Damn… I really need to get to learning how to do that, it would have been really damn helpful right now, Justin thought.
"Yes, Master." He said, mandalas appearing over both of his wrists, as he stepped closer, defending Justin, allowing him to focus on just shooting, Phantazia a whirlwind of death behind them.
"Phantazia, give the order!" He shouted, before quipping to Kaecillius, feeling a bit better now that the pressure was slightly eased, "Where did you send that man anyway?"
"100 feet above an active Volcano." Kaecillius answered with just the hint of a smirk on his face. "Just enough time for him to realize where he's going to land."
Justin laughed, his blood pumping as another Asgardian was stopped in place by Kaecillius, Justin finishing him off with his stolen spear, twisting it cruelly in his gut, before pulling his intestines out with it. "Good… Very good." He said.
Then they were thrown off their feet, an entire third of the town behind them disappearing under the combined total firepower of Whiplash, Vulture and Scorpion, the conflagration and explosion deafening, heated air rushing past them, hot enough their clothes began to smoke.
There was no way, any Asgardians back there survived that!
"Get the hell off my planet!" Justin shouted, his blood singing as he danced in place, "YES! That's more like it, WHOOHOO!"
The Asgardians in front of them hesitated.
With Domino and Yelena,
Domino and Yelena moved without any thoughts to stealth as they rushed the SHIELD/HYDRA agents' mustering point by their borrowed headquarters. The makeshift camp buzzed with activity, agents rushing to and fro, dozens of vehicles loaded up and ready for deployment, no doubt to come down on whoever won the engagement.
Neither one of them was in a mood to take it slow and methodical, so they simply pushed ahead, weapons ready.
Their first encounter was over as quick as it started. Domino fired two swift shots from her HammerTech pistols, luckily nailing the fuel tanks of two of the SUVs that were idling closest to the perimeter, both of them going up in flames, taking all the men within with them. The explosions woke up the rest of them, every eye turning their way.
The response from the rest of the agents was swift, but somehow they just couldn't hit Domino as she rushed forward, Yelena following in her wake, using her as cover, two grenades sailing away from their side from her hands as they rushed past two more vehicles, the grenades landing in the laps of panicked men.
Seconds later those vehicles were also no longer a threat.
Meanwhile, agents all around them were cursing up a storm, finding that their guns would malfunction as they aimed at Domino, or they'd fire, and the gun would explode. Similar 'accidents' happened all over as the two women moved forward, the agents not having long to complain, as Domino and Yelena both fired, both hands now carrying a gun, putting an end to the men and women who fought them with extreme prejudice, never having to fire twice to get a kill shot.
They reached the office, springing through the window, uncaring of the glass, as Domino took the lead - the glass spray unfailingly exploding away from her, taking a HYDRA agent in the eyes, Yelena coming through behind her, rolling over Domino's back as the lucky woman kneeled and fired, a cold expression on her face as she showed no mercy on her enemies.
Her usual easygoing nature was nowhere to be seen since this debacle kicked off.
Yelena sprang into action as she came up from her roll, a blur of motion as she closed the distance to the nearest agents. She delivered a series of rapid strikes to the nearest agent using her guns as a bludgeon, her fists and feet moving faster than he could react. A chop to the neck, a sweep of the legs, and the agent was down, gun firing right after to ensure he was down permanently. Before the others could respond, Domino leapt from her position, her legs kicking out in a flurry of motion, sending two more agents sprawling to the ground, unconscious from well-placed strikes, even as she painted the wall with another headshot to the remaining agent just as he lined his gun up towards Yelena.
Yelena coldly executed the two unconscious agents, as Domino moved on to the agents sprinting into the room, drawn by the commotion.
"Is this what you call a challenge?" Domino quipped, flipping over a table to use as a shield against incoming fire. She rolled behind it, her movements fluid and precise, and fired off several shots, each taking down more agents. "I expected more…"
Several of the shots taken against Domino ricocheted back, hitting agents in the legs or arms, distracting them for the return fire.
Yelena didn't respond to Domino, her focus entirely on the task at hand, wanting to get through it as quickly as possible to end the threat and return to Justin. She grabbed a discarded baton, using it to parry a blow from an agent that had closed in on her, kicking the gun she dropped to grab the baton, sending it flying up into the face of the second agent attacking her, firing two shots from point blank range with her other gun now that she had some room, killing them immediately.
She spun on her heel, the baton still in hand, and blocked another incoming punch, countering with a precise nerve strike that left her opponent gasping for air and collapsing, she immediately shot him as well, stopping to grab the gun she'd used earlier to distract the other agent, the baton already tossed forward, striking an agent in the head, Domino getting her with a headshot moments later.
"Nice moves, been awhile since we went all out, huh?" Domino called out, seemingly in a better mood now then when they'd begun. The woman had been incensed to be sent away from Justin in a battle scenario.
Despite no doubt understanding how her luck practically guaranteed this mission would go off without a hitch. The fact they were so easily going through them, seemed to have settled her somewhat, Yelena thought.
"We should get out like this more often," Yelena replied, a rare bloodthirsty smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she dispatched another agent who'd somehow slipped while trying to hide behind the door, falling right into the entrance like a sitting duck.
She really loved this luck thing, it really made things simpler.
They pressed forward, their path marked by the fallen bodies of SHIELD/HYDRA agents. The office building was in chaos now, alarms blaring as more agents poured out of nearby rooms. Domino and Yelena faced them head-on, their movements a symphony of lethal precision.
They were constantly running into firing issues, and apparently someone had quite the fruit craving, as a cafeteria garbage got overturned, spilling banana peels everywhere.
Yelena turned to Domino, a raised eyebrow her only reaction, as both of them raised four guns in total, firing and killing the hapless agents slipping around comically on the floor.
Domino tossed one of her guns aside, the battery depleted, Yelena having the same problem, both of them making mental notes to mention it to Justin - the guns needed to last longer if they were going to be at all useful in long engagements. Neither of them wore extra battery packs after all.
Domino ducked under a wild swing from an agent that had come from behind them moments later, using her momentum to deliver a spinning kick to her assailant's head. As he fell, falling down the stairs, she snatched his sidearm, spinning around to fire a shot at another agent rushing at her, at the same time killing an agent peeking around a table with her own gun.
"Think they're getting the message yet?" Domino asked, growling slightly as she slammed the butt of her pistol into an agent's side, sending him crumpling away from her, Yelena shooting him in the head for her, coming up to her side.
"Does it matter to dead people?" Yelena replied, her voice steady despite the exertion. Domino had her luck, but she had her training and the Extremis/Supe mix, this was turning out to be easy for them both.
They fought their way through the main office, not many agents left alive to attempt to deter them, their path leading them to the command center soon enough. Inside, the agents had fortified their position, but Domino and Yelena were undeterred.
They didn't need to worry about collateral damage, so they simply blew the way up, using grenades, rushing in through the smoke and debris to take down anyone still alive.
At this point that wasn't a high number. SHIELD/HYDRA had not exactly drowned the location in numbers for this operation. So Garrett had not had a ton of men to draw on. They'd likely killed the majority already.
They moved deeper into the command center, the air thick with the tension of their enemies The remaining agents were desperate, their attacks becoming more frantic. Domino and Yelena remained calm, their movements precise and effective.
Domino ducked under a flying tackle from a desperate woman, using her attacker's momentum to send her crashing into a wall, she casually shot her, ensuring she was dead, before strolling forward, the office now empty of anything except their quarry.
The two women reached the inner office, where Sitwell and Garrett could be seen holed up. The door was blocked of course, but a few more grenades made short work of it - and the wall around them.
Garrett and Sitwell stood inside, covered in dust, Sitwell with a shell shocked look on his face, Garrett's face twisted in a sneer. "You think you can just walk in here and -"
"Nice easy surrender, or a hard one?" Yelena cut him off, her voice cold and sharp.
Garrett's sneer widened. "You don't scare me." His hand lowered towards his belt, no visible weapons there, only an electronic device.
It wouldn't surprise either of them if the man had some sort of self-destruct set up as a worst case scenario. He seemed the type who would do anything to take his enemy down with him.
Domino shrugged, "Hard one it is," she said, raising her pistol, shooting Sitwell between the eyes as the man attempted to speak, Garrett immediately reaching for whatever the electronic device at his belt was.
Before Garrett could get there, Yelena was on him, her fists flying in a blur of motion. She delivered a series of rapid strikes to his midsection, finishing with a precise nerve strike that left him gasping for air and collapsing.
Yelena grabbed Garrett by the collar, hauling him to his feet. "You really should have taken the easy way," She said, her voice dripping with contempt. She delivered a final, precise chop to his neck, knocking him out cold.
Domino poked Sitwell with a toe, stretching languidly. "Well, that was fun," She said, dusting off her hands, "Easy too."
Yelena nodded, looking around at the carnage they had wrought. "Let's get him back to Justin," She said, her tone worried.
Domino nodded seriously, checking her guns over, as Yelena lifted Garrett up,
Neither one of them cared at all for all the dead bodies they left behind as they rushed out of the former FBI office, heading back to the main battle.
Back with Justin and co,
The town burned around them, smoke billowing across the broken and shattered town, dead Asgardians littered the ground, broken homes and businesses lay crushed around them - it looked like a warzone. Several of his security team lay dead or dying as well, even their Extremis conquered through constant deaths at the hand of the Einherjar.
It was a sobering sight to Justin, who now knew beyond a doubt, that regeneration was only useful up to a point. If you got killed enough times, the damage would start outlasting the regeneration until you had no energy left.
They stood on what was left of Main street - or to be more precise, Main street was what was left of the town so they stood on it. The Einherjar on one side, the HAMMER team on the other side, both sides ready to get back into it, the Einherjar waiting on something, Justin's team catching their breath while they still could.
They had no wish to engage more than necessary, not with how difficult the fight had been. Reinforcements had finally stopped coming, but there had been a lot of damage done before then.
The team had seen better days. Whiplash and the Vulture were both scorched, their armor far from pristine, half of Whiplash arc reactors were dark, and the Vulture had a malfunctioning wing, making flight more difficult. Frank Castle stood in just what was left of his undersuit, carrying a rifle, the Scorpion having been disabled, having had to hold the majority of the Asgardians down for the final shot.
The entire armor would have to be redone, ruined beyond repair. Frank willingly taking on the damage and burning to death, counting on his Extremis to get him back afterwards.
Justin didn't know whether to give the man a raise, or schedule all the therapists. It had worked, sure, but it was still an insane thing to willingly go through.
Electro was unconscious, guarded by Wasp, who was suffering from a broken collarbone - Justin really regretting not getting her the full on Extremis/super serum treatment already. Bucky looked like he'd been through a slaughterhouse, but seemed uninjured, standing at the front, face guarded as he stared down the Asgardians.
Justin and Phantazia were both physically fine, but mentally exhausted, her from overuse of her powers, him from having to heal from injuries several dozen times due to his markedly less then Einherjar levels of combat skills.
The town was lost at this point. If the civilians hadn't fled at first sight of trouble, they were probably all dead now. Justin could see the odd civilian body in the rubble, and knew this whole debacle would be a giant pain in the ass, even if he could blame it on Asgard invading.
Because at this point, with several hundred Einherjar having fought, it was an invasion in all but name.
Domino and Yelena jogged into sight, a bound agent Garrett over Yelena's shoulder, neither one looked troubled at the least, not even looking like they broke a sweat.
Justin relaxed just a little, letting some tension bleed out. HYDRA was taken care of at least, and he could even blame it on the Asgardians, so he wouldn't even owe Pierce a favor. He'd been worried sending Domino away would backfire on him, but he'd survived just fine, and her mission had gone without a hitch from the look of it.
He could work with this. Loki wasn't sending reinforcements, so either something happened, he gave up, or he simply realized the futility in his actions and pivoted to do something else nefarious in the background.
Justin really hoped it wasn't the last one. This situation didn't need to be Loki'd anymore then it already had been.
"Do we know what they're waiting for?" He muttered out of the side of his mouth to Phantazia, eyeing the silent Einherjar.
Stupid warrior races, they didn't even look that bothered to be standing amongst the slaughter of over twice their own number. Like a good battle was worth it all. With their people like this, it was honestly a surprise they stood up to Hela in Ragnarok and didn't join in with gusto.
Or had Loki changed their culture that much while he played Odin?
Either way, he was getting distracted, and needed to focus, in case battle commenced again, it was hard, with exhaustion felt all the way in his bones, he wasn't used to actually be fighting.
This was why he had money - so he wouldn't have to.
The question of why the Asgardians had stopped, was answered, as Thor flew down, landing in front of the Asgardians, fully clad in his regalia, hammer in hand. His eyes went over the ruins, the bodies of his people, and Justin could practically feel his presence spiking, storm clouds gathering above them.
Shit!
They must have felt him getting his powers back, that's why they stopped fighting and were waiting, he was now in charge, being the crown prince and actually on site, it might be why Loki drew back as well, preparing in Asgard for Thor's return.
"Thor." Justin took a step forward, Bucky glancing at him, his fingers twitching towards his shield, ready to defend him, the shield having proved effective against both Asgardian energy weapons, and Agardian bones.
It wasn't the original of course, but Justin had enough Vibranium laying around to make another frisbee to make Bucky's look authentic. And after Peggy was healed, albeit likely to die within the decade still with how old she was - Bucky was his, properly.
"What have you done!?" Thor cried out, looking around him, teeth gritting together, thunder roaring in the sky.
Justin didn't know why the Destroyer fight took longer, how he got his powers back this time, but he knew he did not in any way want to tangle with Thor if he could avoid it.
"We defended ourselves, Thor. This…" He gestured around him, eyes hard, "This was a town on Earth, your people came here, they did this."
From the looks his people gave him, this was not the tack they'd expected him to take to avoid another fight. But Justin felt in this case, the best defense was offense.
Thor growled lowly, stance confrontational, "How many of my people have died, today, Hammer!?" He questioned, voice thick with emotion, "You did not need to kill them!"
Justin took another step forward, nominally putting himself in harm's way, but also showing that he wasn't afraid, "Thor, tell me." He spat out harshly, "If this was a village in Asgard, and outsiders came in and attacked, would you counsel your warriors to please pull their punches, and risk their lives to save their enemies any pain?" He cut through the air with one arm sharply, "Your people attacked mine, you have deaths to mourn perhaps, warriors, who knew what they were getting into. We have civilians, children, dead because you attacked our realm, this town, in an unjust invasion. The blame here lies not with me, not with your soldiers, but the one who ordered it!"
Having Thor as an enemy right now was less than ideal, especially as he needed the fool to go before Odin and honestly say this was all on Asgard, not Earth.
Justin really didn't want to deal with an actual invasion. For all that he was a full on idiot throughout the MCU, Odin was not by any measure weak. And Justin did not think his team would withstand a fully serious Odin.
Thor looked mullish still, which was when the Warriors three and Lady Sif jogged into view, all of them looking worse for wear, Sif immediately speaking up, surprisingly in Justin's defense, "Thor, the mortal has it right, none of this should have happened. Loki sent that Destroyer, he sent the Einherjar, the deaths are on him."
Fandral, one arm simply gone, face pale, added his own words, halfway held up by Volstagg, "Loki has gone too far this time, Thor, that Destroyer almost killed you, and the Einherjar should have never have been sent against the mortals in the first place, you know this."
Justin could have kissed their stupid faces. What perfect timing! Their dislike of Loki was really working in his favor here. He inwardly assigned them as the only slightly moronic four, for actually being useful for the first time in their damn lives.
Thor only now seemed to realize what the ruined town signified, face paling as his head whipped towards Justin, "Lady Jane?" He asked with a booming voice, not noticing the irritable twitch in Lady Sifs face for that being his priority right now.
"Alive, despite your soldiers best efforts to destroy us all." Justin said coldly. "One wonders if Asgard truly seeks peace with this situation in mind…"
Technically his team had destroyed much of the town, and likely were behind the majority of civilian casualties due to the armored three - but he wasn't going to waste an opportunity to make Thor take on the blame.
As far as the world leaders would be concerned, all the deaths would lay on the aliens. The aliens Justin Hammer had kicked off the planet.
Thor's face firmed up, and he looked around him, taking in the destruction and dead Asgardians, as well as the live ones. "I will speak with my father, ensure proper wergild for our actions here today." He said heavily, acknowledging that the Asgardians were in the wrong.
Justin felt like he could breathe properly for the first time in what felt like days, but in reality had been an hour at most - the situation could still be salvaged.
If Odin would listen to his son, which was… A big maybe.
But if things proceeded as normally, the rainbow bridge would be destroyed anyway, pushing any issues to years from now.
Speaking of, "You should return to Asgard." Justin requested, "Sooner the better."
Thor nodded forlornly, "Aye, I suppose it is for the best, I must speak with Loki, and find out why this all happened." He stroked the head of his hammer, looking distressed, "I apologize for not realizing the situation sooner, and for my failure in stopping all this." He said, bowing his head slightly.
Justin thought it was a remarkable turnaround from someone that only minutes ago was ready to hammer them all just for daring to survive an Asgardian assault.
"We will be willing to forgive, Thor, but not if this happens again… Earth is no longer open to Asgardians whims, you wish to speak to us again, open a diplomatic channel." Justin said, his voice slightly more conciliatory, "I will be willing to listen…"
Thor smiled sadly, "Aye, we will not make the same mistake again, I shall ensure it." He gestured for all the remaining Asgardians to get in close, giving Justin a last look, "Farewell Justin Hammer, give the lady Jane my regards, and my apologies, I have learned much on Midgard, and I will not make the same mistakes again."
Then he raised his hammer, shouting, "Heimdall!"
And in a flash of multicolored light, they were gone.
Justin wasn't sure what would go down on Asgard. As things hadn't gone down as they should have, including apparently Heimdall being available to transport forces and immediately call them back.
It certainly hadn't gone as smoothly as he'd planned it, but they'd won, and perhaps that was all that mattered.
As his team milled around him, all in some manner looking displeased that the Asgardians were let off without total annihilation, he wondered what would come from this.
Justin looked around at the destruction moments later, sagging as he realized his day had only just begun.
The next couple of phone calls were not going to be enjoyable.
Author's note:
So Thor 1 goes kind of sideways, Loki deciding to up the ante, and what's going on in Asgard anyway?
Asgardians might be great warriors and super powered, but here they go in not expecting real resistance, and then face overwhelming firepower, plus hard to deal with special attacks, like the Wasp, Electro, and Phantazia for example.
If not for Asgardian armor being really good and having magical qualities, the power armored three would have been able to handle them themselves.
So I don't think them losing is too out there. Even so they still pushed so hard that Justin frequently had to fight, and got injured, over and over again - a warrior he is not.
Quantity also has a quality of its own. Part of it is the team is still new and not the best at working together.
Thor and the Warriors fought the Destroyer away from the other battle, so not until a large portion of the town went up in flames - did they realize how serious things were going. Likewise, they hadn't thought the mortals a real threat - certainly they hadn't thought them capable of slaughtering Asgardians.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
Won on Patron as usual, so here we go.
Thor 1 wrapping up. Next chapter should be glimpse at Asgard, clean up on Earth, and then we're off on a time skip. Loki of course ensuring things aren't as simple as they should be in this chapter.
Although really, Justin making himself a bit interesting didn't help his case here.
Justin, for a decently smart guy, is bad at just keeping his mouth shut. He's a little bit like Tony that way, always has to prove himself the best in any type of situation or even conversation.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
Justin's fingers tightened slightly in Darcy's hair, a calming anchor as he faced Loki. The room seemed to shrink around them, the morning light filtering through the curtains danced across Loki's arrogant face.
He didn't feel threatened necessarily, more like… Wary.
Loki wouldn't easily be able to truly harm him, but the harm he could do to his plans just by being himself? There was quite a high risk factor there.
Loki's eyes gleamed with malevolent curiosity, his smile a serpent's promise. "You seem tense, mortal." He purred, leaning forward. "Surely, you did not expect me to ignore such an intriguing story." He waved a hand dismissively, scoffing, "Your myths are wrong of course, exaggerations because your feeble minds could not take in all that we were, there is no Baldr, I have not birthed Sleipnir nor Fenrir or Jormungar, nor Hela…" His eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile playing at his lips, "Alas, I do know of them, Hela is mentioned in your myths, but never in such a manner as you spoke of to fool that oaf Thor."
He paced before the bed suddenly, cloak swishing behind him, almost a manic quality to his movements, "He's easily fooled, of course, norns know I've run circles around him for centuries, but it still brings me to the question of why?" The last was hissed out, as Loki stopped haughtily before him, looking down at him, "What purpose could a lowly mortal such as you have to attempt to bring this story to the Allfather?"
Justin kept his expression composed, though inwardly he cursed the trickster's sudden appearance again, he was too unpredictable. Justin had a feeling even Loki didn't know what Loki would do in most situations. "Ancient knowledge isn't confined to books alone, Loki, at least I'm assuming you're actually Loki…" He added, putting some hesitation in his voice, a raised eyebrow in query.
At Loki's irritated nod, he continued, "Some truths are whispered through time, passed down in ways that only the truly curious can uncover." He cocked his head, resting back against the headboard, one hand petting Darcy's hair as he put on a mien of relaxation.
Like there truly was no threat here at this moment.
Loki's smile widened, but his eyes grew colder. He really had quite the expressive face for a liesmith. "Is that so? And you, a mortal businessman, have somehow stumbled upon secrets that even Asgardians do not speak of? How fortuitous. Pray, indulge me. Where did you hear of Hela, the so-called firstborn of Odin?"
Justin knew he had to tread carefully. "I have resources beyond your imagination of what a mere mortal can do, Loki. Some of these resources led me to the Ancient One - I'm assuming you're aware of who she is?"
Ideally he'd be a mystery Loki wanted to solve later, and he'd leave things alone for now - if not believing his words, not exactly disbelieving it all either. And by the time this debacle was done, he'd be falling, and wouldn't be Justin's problem for quite some time.
Loki looked even more irritated, "Of course." He said haughtily, "The fact you do, is surprising, and almost lending you some credence." He acknowledged, before smirking cruelly, "If it wasn't obvious you're hiding the real truth. You can not lie to me, Justin Hammer!"
With the thunderous voice he'd used there, Justin was glad Darcy had been so wrung out until she was barely holding onto her last sliver of sanity and energy - because even with that noise, she didn't even twitch in the bed, still deeply out of it.
Justin mildly replied back, "I wouldn't be foolish enough to lie against the liesmith himself, I am of course not telling the full truth, I have confidences to keep, you understand, but in no way could I outlie the god of cunning and lies."
Loki laughed coldly, "Flattery will avail you nothing, mortal." He said, not even appearing to notice how he was preening slightly.
Justin just stared at him blandly, his glasses able to confirm to him that Loki was not here in person. He could hardly tell the projection apart from the real thing, but the monitors in his glasses could detect no heat nor sound from Loki's general vicinity. "It's not flattery, it's simple facts, all the myths agree on this at least." He said, because if Loki was going to be dissuaded by something so simple, he'd be a fool not to utilize it.
Loki's eyes flashed with amusement, even as his lips twisted in mockery, "An amusing attempt mortal, but I'm not as easy as the mortal women who flutter at the smallest amount of honey in their ears. You will not bed me, no matter the flattery."
Justin really hadn't intended to. Did Loki really get so little respect and compliments he immediately thought Justin was trying to sleep with him? All the more reason to fuck Odin's day up by having him confronted with the Hela bullshit, what a crapsack of a father. "My apologies, it had not been my intent." He said dryly.
At least it had all somewhat derailed the 'interrogation', distracting Loki.
"I grow weary of your pathetic attempts at misdirection, reveal your source of this… Firstborn of the Allfather…" He demanded imperiously.
Or not.
Justin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "The Ancient One herself lies behind my knowledge." He lied, mentally sending an email through his link to his glasses to the Ancient One, detailing some of this little talk just in case - especially if Odin would check later… "She holds many secrets, as I'm sure you're aware. In a conversation with her, Hela's name surfaced. A small mention, almost an afterthought, yet it piqued my interest in more."
The Ancient One would play ball if for whatever reason Loki sought her out, he was almost certain. She was certainly enough of a troll to enjoy such subterfuge. Although it likely meant she'd have her own questions for him. It was better than Loki, either way. Hopefully Odin wouldn't have time to question Loki either, and Thor knew nothing of this talk, so he should be covering all his bases.
Loki's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise quickly masked. "The Ancient One told you this, you claim? She is indeed a keeper of many arcane secrets, for a mortal. But why would she reveal such a detail to you, of all people?"
"My curiosity in old myths entertained her, perhaps," Justin replied smoothly, sitting up a little straighter. "Or maybe she saw the benefit in enlightening someone about Asgard and the wider universe who could handle such knowledge responsibly. Unlike others, who might use it for personal gain or destruction."
Loki's laugh was sharp, a mocking sound that grated against Justin's nerves. "Oh, you mortals and your self-importance… You have no place in the wider universe! Tell me, what else did the Ancient One reveal? Did she regale you with bedtime stories of Asgard's dark past?" He mocked, a sneer on his lips.
Justin leaned back slightly, adopting a more casual posture again. "Not quite. She merely hinted at Hela's existence. My own research - with her permission - of some of her orders repositories of knowledge, filled in some gaps. Stories buried deep within the Nordic myths, fragments that speak of a fierce warrior, a conqueror. Someone Odin would rather the nine realms forget."
He shook his head, explaining further, lying further, "All in all it was barely a paragraph, mentioning the firstborn daughter who conquered the nine realms for him, only to be banished, tied to his lifeforce, hungering for her return, and her revenge." He shrugged lightly, "I found it suspicious enough that it was only mentioned behind the protected wards of the Ancient One, which gave the whole erase history part of it some credence - you'd know better if Odin was the kind of man to banish his child and erase all knowledge of her…"
Considering they were having this conversation due to the banishment of Thor, the point was a lot more poignant. Also this was literally the perfect time in the timeline to disparage Odin's parenting in front of Loki.
He'd be ready to believe it already, perhaps enough to not push deeper, or question things.
Loki's expression turned calculating, his eyes probing Justin's, at least not immediately disregarding the information, likely because Justin had put the source as the Ancient One. "And why, pray tell, would you share such information with Thor? What do you gain from sowing seeds of doubt and discord among Asgard's royalty?"
Justin met Loki's gaze evenly, masking the tumult of thoughts racing through his mind. He wasn't sure if Loki believed him or not, but it could be bad if Asgard came to have the belief he was trying to institute a coup or something with this knowledge. "Thor is here, on Earth. His presence affects us all. If there are hidden truths that could impact our world, I believe it's in everyone's interest to bring them to light. Asgardian politics and secrets have a way of spilling over into our realm after all, or we wouldn't have so many myths..."
Loki's lips curled into a predatory smile. "You are a sly one, Hammer. But I see through your ploys. You seek to manipulate Thor, to use him for your own ends. What makes you think you can control a god?"
Loki's posture changed, the air around him thickening as his aura became more threatening, green smoke wafting off the fingers of his right hand as he smirked maliciously.
Justin's own smile was a mere twitch of the lips - the fact he knew Loki was only a projection helping him keep his cool. "Control is such a harsh word. Influence, perhaps. Guide. Thor is powerful, going by the myths, but having met him… He is also frightfully naive. He needs someone who understands the intricacies of both our worlds to help him navigate this... Exile."
Let Loki believe his interests lay in manipulating Thor for his own purposes on earth; it was a better outcome than believing he was interfering in Asgards business. Loki of course didn't know Thor's banishment was literally going to end within the day.
If he would be here for years or decades, Justin's viewpoints made more sense, just a businessman taking advantage. Nothing to see here.
Loki's eyes flashed with anger for a moment, then he regained his composure, his tone dripping with condescension. "And you believe you are that someone? A mortal with delusions of grandeur? Thor may be naive, but he is not easily led."
Okay wow, he said that with a straight face… Justin thought with bemusement.
Thor was in fact incredibly easily led. Perhaps not later, but for now, he was in fact very simple.
And hadn't Loki literally been running circles around him for their entire lives?
"I'm not looking to lead Thor in the manner you suggest," Justin replied calmly. "I'm looking to ensure that when he does return to Asgard, he does so with a clearer understanding of what his responsibilities entail to Earth, the mystery of Hela was a passing fancy to see if there was any truth behind it, minor in the face of ensuring Thor settles in well in our realm."
Loki's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You tread on dangerous ground, Hammer. You meddle in affairs far beyond your comprehension. What makes you think you can handle the consequences of your actions?"
Justin's eyes hardened. "I've faced challenges before, Loki. I'm not afraid of a little risk. But understand this - my primary concern is Earth's safety. If that means uncovering uncomfortable truths, so be it." He patted Darcy's head lightly, "I am only looking to the safety of Earth, that is all, if Hela is real or not is only a curiosity, not worth the effort if it's going to have this kind of reaction."
Of course, Justin had a feeling that at this point, Loki as well as Thor, would not forget about Hela and Odin, and would seek answers at some point.
All the better.
The sooner it was revealed, perhaps they could work out a way where Odin wouln't just die and leave the problem to everyone else without any warning whatsoever.
Loki's smile returned, but it was devoid of warmth. "Very well. Play your games, mortal. But remember, you are dealing with forces that can crush you without a second thought. Pray you do not find yourself at the wrong end of Asgardian wrath."
With that, Loki vanished as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving Justin alone with Darcy in the dimly lit room. He exhaled slowly, his mind racing through the implications of their conversation. Loki knew more than he let on, and he had a feeling he hadn't quite succeeded in lying at times. Justin would need to tread even more carefully moving forward. The stakes had just been raised, and the game was far from over.
The situation was going to be settled today, one way or another.
Surely Loki wouldn't be able to mess it up too much in one day…
Justin rested his head back against the headboard, laughing to himself.
What was he even saying?
He called Sunil, his glasses flashing, speaking up the second the man answered, "Get the team together, get Kaecillius on standby to portal them all to my location at a minute's notice."
"And the Green Goblin, sir?" Sunil replied politely. Reminding him that they were already on partial standby for Osborn in the first place.
"Will have to wait, or be left to Tony if Osborn does pick now of all times to actually show up." Justin groused, displeased that the matter hadn't been resolved yet.
"Do you want me to notify Stark of that, sir?" Sunil asked, "In the spirit of cooperation and such."
Justin thought it over, before dismissing it with a shudder. "No." He simply told Sunil, his thoughts already seeing the worst case scenario.
If they informed Tony that the team couldn't assist with any Goblin sighting, he'd research why immediately.
The last thing he needed in this mess he had on his hands was Iron Man swooping down into it.
"Keep the team ready, I have a feeling today is going to be busy." He finished the call, getting out of bed.
Loki… You better not mess this all up for me…
The breakfast buffet at the hotel was a simple but plentiful spread, offering an array of options from freshly baked pastries and assorted fruits to sizzling bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs. The dining area was bathed in the warm morning light, the glass windows offering a view of the town awakening to a new day.
For a small hotel, it was actually quite nice, if not to a standard he'd gotten accustomed to.
Justin, Domino, and Phantazia sat at a large table, strategically positioned to oversee the room. They were joined by Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Thor, whose towering presence made the table feel smaller. Justin casually sipped his coffee, taking in the rich aroma, while Thor eagerly attacked his plate, seemingly enchanted by Earth's breakfast offerings.
They'd had a chance to talk again this morning, and Justin's careful prodding had shown that Thor in no way realized he had been manipulated, nor had he apparently been told the lie that his father was dead this time around - Loki never showing himself to him.
A change, but a minor one, that hopefully wouldn't derail Thor's self sacrificial ways. He really didn't want to have to put up with Thor for years if he didn't reverse the banishment now.
Not to mention the issue of Loki in that case.
Jane's eyes darted around the table, her brows furrowed in suspicion. "Where is Darcy?" she asked, her tone sharper than normal, as her hands flailed uselessly in the air for a moment. "I haven't seen her all morning." Her gaze settled on Justin, an accusatory edge to her look.
Before Justin could respond, Domino leaned in with a sweet, almost saccharine voice. "Oh, she's a bit comatose," She said, her eyes twinkling mischievously, even as she licked her lips in a very particular manner.
Domino, why are you like this? Justin thought, continuing with his coffee, just pretending that for once it was a calm, relaxing morning.
Jane's face turned red with anger. "What did you do to her?" She demanded, her voice rising, causing heads to turn in their direction. Thor's fork paused mid-air, and he set it down, frowning.
"What has happened to Lady Darcy?" Thor inquired, his tone serious and concerned.
Justin sighed, putting his coffee down and focusing on his scrambled eggs. "Nothing you need to worry about, Thor," He murmured, hoping to defuse the situation. "She's perfectly safe."
But Domino, ever the provocateur, decided to elaborate. "Well, you see," She began, leaning back in her chair, eyes alight with mischief, "It's a bit like the birds and the bees, but with a touch of BDSM." She shivered a little theatrically, "Or a lot of touch, we took really good care of her, scouts honor ~."
Justin closed his eyes momentarily in exasperation, and mechanically took a bite of his eggs. If he just ignored them all, it was just like having a peaceful breakfast.
"We?" Phantazia picked up on immediately, turning her head in Domino's direction, brow furrowed, something Justin couldn't decipher this early in the morning, in her gaze.
Domino smiled, looking actually sheepish, "Slip of the tongue." She lied, cocking her head cutely, attempting some form of puppy dog eyes.
No one at the table believed her. She didn't pull off innocent very well.
"I'm sure you slipped her some tongue alright…" Phantazia murmured irritably, jerking her head away from Domino, stabbing her breakfast sausage with gusto.
Jane's face paled, then flushed with embarrassment and fury. "What? You… You… Both!?" She stammered, unable to find the words, steam practically erupting from her.
Thor's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing at Justin. "Explain," he demanded, his voice a low rumble.
It really was quite ridiculous how Thor had attached to them so quickly, did Asgardians imprint like animals?
Justin rolled his eyes slightly, finally setting his fork down. "She's fine, Thor. Just a bit tired after a… Long night. She consented, if that's what you're worried about."
Thor seemed to settle at that, going back to his food, uncaring now that it had been established Darcy was not in danger, or taken advantage of.
Of course Justin could have lied, which Thor apparently hadn't even imagined for a second. How quickly he made allies, wasn't that long ago that Justin was looked upon with scorn and suspicion.
Getting him out from SHIELD, housing and feeding him, was really enough, wasn't it? He was like an overly large dog. Justin had a feeling if he threw a ball, Thor might actually chase it. He would have to resist the notion.
Jane's eyes flared with indignation. "Consent? You think that's all there is to it? She's my friend, and she deserves respect, not to be treated like some… Some thing you can play with!"
Justin felt a flare of annoyance, his dislike of Jane's general stupidity with Thor expanding to new avenues - he couldn't stand women who decided for other women based on their own morals. Darcy had come to him of her own free will, she had been fairly insistent actually.
Domino shrugged, unfazed with Jane's outrage. "Trust me, she had a good time. Better than good, actually." She smirked, "There's a reason she isn't up yet, I doubt her legs are up for it…"
Jane opened her mouth to retort, but Erik placed a calming hand on her arm. "Jane, let's not jump to conclusions. Darcy is an adult, and she can make her own choices."
Jane looked between Erik and Justin, her anger simmering but contained. "Fine. But I want to see her as soon as possible." She muttered, crossing her arms almost petulantly. "I'll believe it when Darcy says she's okay."
Justin was having second thoughts about recruiting her now. If only they hadn't signed the contracts last night while he'd been… Busy, with their intern. Oh well, not like I have to actually have anything to do with her, although hmm, if I want to see Darcy again…
Perhaps he could lure her away with a better internship. Under him.
Phantazia, who had been quietly observing the exchange, leaned closer to Justin. "Our security teams have spotted more Asgardians heading directly towards us." She murmured, hiding her mouth behind a hand. "SHIELD are mobilizing but keeping their distance."
Good, like he'd ordered. It seemed Garrett and Sitwell did value their lives slightly. Enough to play ball for now anyway.
Justin raised an eyebrow, outwardly calm, inwardly nervous that something would go wrong. "How many?" he asked, keeping his voice low.
"Three men and one woman," Phantazia replied, her eyes scanning the room for any immediate threats, like Asgardians would just pop up from behind the plants or tables in the room.
Thor's ears perked up at the mention of more Asgardians, having somehow heard them despite being as quiet as they were. "Are you expecting company from Asgard, Thor?" Justin asked, his tone neutral, having noticed his attention. "Three men and a woman, to be specific."
Domino began wolfing down her breakfast, like a woman perfectly aware everything was likely to go to shit soon and stocking up on calories in advance.
"Dom!" Phantazia said with disgust, wrinkling her nose, she just smiled and winked, continuing to shovel the rest of her breakfast in.
Thor's face lit up with a broad smile as he realized after a few moments who was likely to come see him. "My friends! They must have come to aid me!" He stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over his chair in his excitement. "Lady Jane, forgive me," He said, placing a large hand on her shoulder. "I must go greet my friends."
Jane watched him go with a mix of confusion and worry, her eyes following him until he disappeared from sight. Justin inwardly groaned, no matter what anyone says, she's still smitten.
Justin turned his attention back to Jane and Erik, trying to formulate it in a different way to get through to the thick headed scientist. "Dr. Foster, I understand your interest in Thor on a purely physical level, but you need to consider the reality of your situation," He said softly, trying to not come off as too annoyed, "Getting involved with an alien, especially one with such a vastly different lifespan and responsibilities, is… Well, it's insane."
Thor would be better served in Asgard, making sure it didn't go to hell, then down here trying to play house in a doomed relationship.
Erik nodded, thankfully agreeing with Justin, his expression was serious as he addressed Jane. "Jane, you know deep down that he's right. It would be like me trying to go to a Zoo and form a relationship with a chimpanzee. There can be no real connection beyond the physical. No future."
Jane looked at Erik in shock, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for words. "Erik, that's a terrible analogy!" She managed to splutter out.
"It's the truth, Jane," Erik insisted. "The differences are too great, there can be no commonality." He hesitated, before pushing on, "Jane, it's purely carnal, this fascination of yours, it will only lead to you being hurt."
Jane muttered something under her breath, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "I'm fine with a little carnal," She mumbled, immediately blushing furiously as she realized everyone heard her.
Domino gave her a thumbs up, which seemed to infuriate her, and Justin sent his bodyguard a quelling look. He didn't need any complications right now, not when Dr Selvig was actually helping him knock some sense into the woman.
Hardly hired for more than a few hours, and he already deserved a raise.
The doors to the dining area swung open soon after, and in strode Thor and the Warriors Three - Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg - followed closely by Lady Sif. Their entrance was dramatic, their armor gleaming, their weapons at the ready. Thor was greeting them with hearty hugs and laughter, looking more pleased then he'd been since anytime Justin had seen him so far.
"Thor, my friend!" Fandral exclaimed, his blonde hair falling perfectly around his face as he clasped Thor's forearm, his eyes on the people in the dining hall. "We feared you might be in danger, so of course we set out to be by your side again, and here you are feasting with beautiful ladies!"
Thor's smile was broad as he embraced each of his friends. "It is good to see you all. I have missed Asgard and my comrades." He said, a wobble to his words for a moment.
Justin barely held back a grimace, he just wanted this situation over with. Fucking Asgardians, the man had only been gone for a little under two days!
Didn't these people sometimes go decades without seeing each other? Or was Thor just special.
Volstagg, his girth making the hug more of a bear squeeze, patted Thor on the back. "We could not leave you here alone, not with the troubles you have faced. And I must say," he added, his eyes drifting to the buffet, "Finding you in the middle of a Midgardian feast is quite the good luck."
As Thor turned to the others, to no one's surprise Volstagg migrated to the buffet table.
Hogun, the silent and stoic warrior, nodded his greeting, his dark eyes showing a hint of concern. "Thor, we are here to bring you back. Your place is in Asgard." He stated firmly and gruffly.
Sif stepped forward, her armor clinking softly. Her eyes, sharp and fierce, softened slightly as she looked at Thor, and hard again as her gaze swept over them all. "We feared for your safety, Thor. Loki's machinations could be a risk to your life, if you were to perish, he'd be King." She looked at him with a slightly pleading expression, "Hogun is right, we need you back!"
Thor's expression grew more serious. "I cannot return yet. I am not worthy to wield Mjolnir, and until I prove myself, I cannot face our father." He sighed wearily, laying a hand on Sifs shoulder, "You also judge Loki too harshly, I'm sure whatever issue you have with him, it's not what it seems."
Sif seemed to disagree, but also refused to openly question Thor in front of strangers, if her glance at them was any tell.
Fandral's face showed genuine sympathy as he patted Thor on the back. "We understand, Thor. But we are here to help you in any way we can, surely we can figure out a way for you to regain your hammer?" His gaze shifted to the table, landing on Phantazia and Domino. His smile turned charming immediately as he preened slightly. "And who are these incredibly enchanting women?"
Domino raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Not interested, twink." She sniffed, giving him a cruel dismissive once over, "A five at best."
Phantazia scoffed, adding with a chilled glare, "You wouldn't survive a day with either of us, I assure you."
Fandral's smile faltered slightly but quickly recovered. "A challenge then! I do love a good challenge." He cocked his head curiously, "One question if I may ask, what is a twink?"
Justin ignored it as Domino leaned forward with unholy glee in her eyes. The man was an Asgardian, he would survive. He switched his gaze to the others instead, studying them, finding nothing but more foolishness. He suddenly could sympathize with Loki.
Not only Thor, but these ones as well, for centuries? No wonder he went mad.
Volstagg, meanwhile, had already begun piling a plate with an assortment of food, his eyes wide with delight. "Midgard may be lacking in some areas, but food is not one of them," He declared, taking a hearty bite of a muffin, "It is not the bountiful feasts of Asgard, but it's not half bad." He grunted.
"It's also meant only for those who paid to stay at this location." Erik grumbled tiredly, watching them wearily, the man having the sense to worry about the consequences of more aliens appearing.
Unlike Jane, who was watching them all with fascination, in between sending Sif curious looks, her eyes flitting between her and Thor.
Sif nodded curtly at Erik. "We appreciate your hospitality then, but our mission is urgent. Thor must return to Asgard." She turned to Thor again, "Whatever your beliefs in Loki's honor, you can not stay here, Thor."
Thor sighed, looking at his friends with a mixture of gratitude and resignation. "I appreciate your concern, truly. But until I am worthy again, I cannot leave." He reiterated.
Volstagg, now on his second plate, looked up. "Then we will help you become worthy. Whatever it takes." He said matter of factly.
Jane, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "Thor, what does it mean to be worthy? How can we help?" She asked eagerly, "I.. I still think from what you said to me, that you were meant to learn humility, but… Maybe Asgard has other concerns that I haven't taken into consideration."
Thor looked at her, his expression softening. "If I knew for sure what it took to be worthy, it would be much simpler, aye… I fear it will not be a simple task, my friends." He sighed deeply, "You should not have come here, my father will be wroth with you whence he wakes."
"Asgardians will figure out this task, you need not worry mortal." Sif said condescendingly to Jane, stepping next to Thor, "And the Allfather may punish us, Thor, but if it is to save you, and assist you, we will all gladly take such."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence, broken only by the sounds of Volstagg's enthusiastic eating, Jane quietly glaring at Sif. Fandral, undeterred by his earlier rebuff, turned to Phantazia again, breaking the silence. "So, tell me more about yourselves. Surely, there are tales to be told."
He'd only been slightly put out it seemed from being labelled a 'five' and a twink.
Phantazia glared at him, teeth on display in a mockery of a smile. "We're not here for your entertainment."
Domino snickered lightly. "And you're definitely not here for ours, five."
Justin cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Let's focus on the task at hand. Thor, your friends are here to help. Let's figure out our next steps." He said mildly, wanting to keep them on task until the Destroyer arrived. It had nothing to do with how he wanted to wring Fandral's neck.
Domino and Phantazia was technically not his women in that manner. But he still on principle refused to entertain a moronic alien as a potential boyfriend for them.
Thor nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Indeed. We can not tarry, surely my friend's absence will be noted and remarked upon. I would not wish them to face punishment because of my own actions."
Sif stepped closer to Thor, her voice low but firm. "We will stand by you, Thor. Together, we will face whatever challenges come, Loki can not punish us, he's not king, he's a pretender."
Thor frowned at her, "Sif…" He trailed off, looking conflicted.
Justin figured he was probably not used to actually pushing back against anything his friends said to disparage Loki, and was now unsure of how to address it.
Phantazia's eyes flickered to Justin, a subtle signal that she had news, he immediately leaned in, "Justin," She said quietly, "the security team has picked up incoming."
Justin's heart rate quickened. "What is it?" Good, the Destroyer, let's get this over with!
"Several dozen men in armor just beamed down on Main Street in a conflagration of light," She replied, her voice tense.
….Shit!
Justin just knew Loki was going to Loki this all, where was his fucking Destroyer?
The mood at the table shifted instantly. Thor, catching the change in atmosphere, turned back to the group. "What is going on?"
When Phantazia repeated her news, all the Asgardians looked grave, their hands falling to their weapons.
Sif swore under her breath. "Loki must have realized we came and sent someone after us."
Justin's mind raced. This was unexpected, yet in a way, it hadn't thrown everything in disarray. If Loki was making moves, it meant things were still on track, they just needed to force his hand to send down the Destroyer. "Several dozen, you said?" He confirmed with Phantazia.
"Yes," She nodded, "I've told the security teams to only observe for now."
Justin hesitated on calling the HAMMER team. If this turned into a rout, would Loki even send the Destroyer? Would Thor even regain his powers?
"Keep them hanging back in reserve, have them ready to attack from the rear should we need it." He ordered.
Thor's expression hardened, a mix of anger and determination. "They are Asgardians, my people, you will not harm them," He declared, his voice resolute, before turning to his friends. "My friends, to arms! You and I shall convince them to leave."
The Warriors Three and Sif immediately fell in line, ready to follow Thor into battle - like old times, even Thor seemingly forgetting he didn't actually have any powers right now. Justin stood as well, signaling for Domino and Phantazia to stay close. "Dr Foster, Dr Selvig, you should stay here. It's not going to be safe out there," He advised, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He completely ignored Thor's words. They weren't going to leave this to a group of frankly - not that intelligent - Asgardians to fix. He wasn't sure what he'd said to cause Loki to flip the script, but he wasn't going to be a passive bystander.
If anything they needed to be there, assisting in the situation, pushing Loki to go all in with the Destroyer, as he doubted the Einherjar would push Thor enough to give his powers back. Banished or not, he was still the crown prince, and none of them would be trying to kill him.
Jane's eyes were wide with fear and confusion. "What's happening?"
Justin spared her a brief glance. "Asgardian politics, nothing to worry about. Stay here, where it's safe. We'll handle this."
Phantazia hissed between her teeth suddenly, grasping Justin's shoulder, pulling him back from the door the Asgardians had already exited, "Sir, a large suit of armor just appeared."
Justin let out a breath, good, thank you Loki for the gift. "Did it also arrive on the main street, with the rest of the Asgardians?" He asked.
Phantazia shook her head, one hand pressed tightly against her ear, and the communication device inside. "It appeared from the other direction, with a clear view of the main street."
What? Did Loki intend to just snipe Thor in the back? Blame Thor's death on them… That… Actually might be exactly what he was doing.
Phantazia disabused him of that notion quickly, "Thor and his friends have seen it, they're attacking."
Domino chuckled, "What amazingly simple people…"
Justin had a bad feeling now, "And the other Asgardians?"
"Heading here."
Of course they were.
… Would it mean war if they killed them all? How do you even disable Asgardian warriors with centuries of experience?
Domino and Phantazia didn't have extremis yet. He could not risk them, especially not while trying to fight handicapped to avoid a war.
"I'm calling the team in." He said heavily. Knowing that there was no way in hell there would be no casualties from this.
Hopefully Odin would understand this was all Loki's fault afterwards.
They'd moved away from the hotel, not wanting to make it a battleground with the civilians and their newly hired scientists caught in the middle.
"SHIELDs status?" Justin asked tersely as they made their way towards the outskirts of town.
Phantazia shook her head, lips thinned in displeasure, "They've stopped accepting calls, no doubt intending to see who wins before stepping in."
Justin grimaced, he'd probably have done the same if the roles were reversed, but it didn't mean he'd let them get away with it. "Once the team arrives, you and Domino go deal with Agent Garrett, I want him alive, the rest…" He glared at the approaching Einherjar, his blood practically boiling. "Remove them from play."
This situation had gotten complicated, he'd already planned to clean house, but now it was imperative that as few survivors as possible got away from this situation. The only word allowed on how this all happened needed to be his, and Thor's - with Thor's word being whatever he could convince the man to believe.
He had half a mind to order the town purged once he got Foster and co out.
If Kaecillius didn't get his team here soon though…
The Einherjar came to a stop within shouting distance, a large mountain of a man stepping forward, clad in golden gleaming armor, planting his spear in the ground before bellowing out a demand, "On orders of King Loki, the mortal named Justin Hammer is to present himself for his crimes against Asgard!"
Phantazia stepped in close to his shoulder, muttering into his ear, "Another group of Asgardians just beamed down behind us, our security team is ready on your order, sir."
Justin nodded, showing he'd heard, even as he wondered what Loki was playing at. Crimes against Asgard was a bit much, wasn't it? What on earth had he said that fixated the fool on him to this extent?
Was he really going to play this like he was trying to use Thor to institute a coup? That was a little thin…
"Asgard has no right to demand anything of Earth, you are not of this realm, leave now, and you will be allowed to leave with your lives despite this invasion…" Justin shouted back, projecting confidence, standing his ground.
Like hell he was going to allow aliens to dictate terms to him, on his planet. Besides, with Loki calling the shots, diplomacy was never going to solve this.
Only power could. The language these Asgardians might actually understand. And Justin was willing to burn this entire town down to show these interlopers that Earth was not an easy target anymore.
"So be it." The large man called out, sounding pleased, before he picked his spear up, twirling it dramatically, "Take him alive." He ordered the Einherjar, pointing his spear at Justin, "For ASGARD!" He bellowed as he rushed in.
Several things happened very quickly in succession at that moment.
Domino fired, using one of her HammerTech laser weapons instead of her usual guns, the beam heading for the leaders face, his spear just barely coming up to protect him, the beam somehow splitting on the tip of the spear, the two separate beams impacting two Einherjar behind him, killing them instantly with two headshots.
At the same time, Phantazia ordered the security team to fire, and the back of the Asgardian formation came under heavy fire, as Extremis dosed veteran soldiers popped out of their hiding spaces and began mowing them down, the Asgardians caught by surprise.
These weren't heavily armored soldiers, they'd come expecting a weak mortal, their light armor not prepared for energy weapons fired by veteran soldiers.
They reacted swiftly still, only taking light casualties before managing to split their group into smaller cells, four man squads rushing in for close combat, giving less of a target to shoot at, as the front of the group all advanced at superhuman speed at the security teams as well as Justin.
The aliens were still stronger than them, as was soon apparent as they closed in with the security teams, spears and swords flashing as limbs flew in the air. The Asgardians still died, whereas his security team had Extremis, but for every dead Asgardian on the ground, more and more of his team were being bogged down, cut apart, their regeneration pushed to the max - they would not last at this rate.
Which was the time a orange portal swirled into being in front of Justin, just as the huge leader of the Einherjar attacked with a roar of battle lust, swinging for Justin, a beam of pure white crackling electricity hitting him in the chest, cooking him inside his armor as he howled in agony his voice gaining a tinny quality, the men behind him temporarily frozen in place, as Electro hopped out of the portal, full of swagger, sparks flying back and forth between his fingers.
"Get cooked, bitch!" He exclaimed joyfully, looking beyond excited to have had a dramatic entrance. He looked back at Justin, and if he'd had a tail, it would have been wagging, "Did you see that? Did you?" He said happily.
Justin let out a breath, sweat running down his face, he would have survived an Asgardian rampaging all over him, sure. But it wouldn't have been pleasant. And he was less sure about surviving a dozen of them at once.
Regeneration had limits.
The Vulture and Scorpion armors came out next, the Asgardians raising their weapons, but not looking nearly as sure of themselves in the face of the intimidating power armored figures.
They were quickly followed by the new Captain America, Whiplash, and to Justin's surprise, Hope, in her Wasp armor.
Lastly, Yelena and Kaecilius stepped through, Yelena looking ready for battle, loaded up with more weapons then the rest of them combined, wearing a black bodysuit, the tightness of which would have been indecent, if all the weapons strapped on didn't hide everything important.
"Hope, Yelena, what are you two doing here?" He shouted over the roar of The Vulture and Scorpion engaging with the Asgardians trying to take them in the rear, their new arc powered laser weapons combined with micro missiles and the Scorpions artillery cannon - protecting their rear all on their own against two dozen of Asgards finest.
These men wore heavy armor, and could withstand the energy weapons better than their unlucky comrades. He could see moments later that more Asgardians were beaming down in the distance, the bifrost visible to Justin. He had no doubt these would also be heavily armored, Loki wasn't entirely moronic.
Hope flew over to his side, her wings buzzing, her helmet retracting as she landed, "I was in Cairo anyway when you called for the team to gather, so I joined up." She said with a small luminous smile that lit up her face, her hand touching his cheek softly, "I was worried." She admitted.
Yelena stepped in front of her, none so gently shoving her away, gaining an eye roll from Hope, who stepped back, keeping an eye on the battle, "I'm not going to stay back when you're in danger." Yelena said, daring him to argue.
Justin just let it go, the situation was already fucked up, and he didn't have time to argue about it. Hope and Yelena were both strong combatants, they'd be fine. They better be fine.
Or he'd find out what a dozen nukes could do to Odin's front yard…
Bucky stepped up, arm raised as his shield suddenly returned to it to catch magnetically onto the arm, an Asgardian soldier falling back, choking, grabbing at his crushed throat. "Orders?" He asked tersely.
Before Justin could think of what to say, Phantazia took control of the situation, snapping out rapidly, "Captain, get Wasp and Electro and use Kaecillius to portal behind the battle line, our security team is getting slaughtered in close combat, only Extremis keeping them relevant, they need assistance." She tapped her communication device, "Whiplash, overwatch, get in the sky, occupy those not engaged - don't let our team get overwhelmed in any one position, snipe them."
Bucky simply nodded approvingly, jogging away, his shield blurring as he slapped a thrown spear away, retaliating with the shield's edge into the eyes of the Asgardian, knocking them down, blood spurting. On the way, he grabbed the back of the collar of Electro, who was cackling in glee, dodging spears as he roasted one Asgardian at a time, going for maximum power each hit. Hope gave Justin a last lingering look, squeezing his hand, before she shrunk, flying after Bucky and Electro, towards where Kaecillius was standing, mandalas on his hands as he deflected the odd thrown spear in his direction.
Yelena looked at Phantazia quizzically, "And me?" She asked simply.
Phantazia let two of the arc laser pistols drop into her hands, "You'll be going with Domino to deal with HYDRA before they encircle us and try and take out the winner." Her eyes narrowed as she cursed, "New squad just dropped in." She added tersely. "Make that two!" She added a second later, looking like she'd swallowed a lemon.
Justin really didn't like this. What was Loki thinking? How would he possibly excuse this?
Domino fired, eyes hard, her shots taking down a soldier with every hit, but they kept coming, and the new soldiers wore full armor, making them more difficult to one shot. "I don't think going after the HYDRA goons is a good idea, right now." She said, giving Justin a push out of nowhere, a spear whistling by inches from his head, "If they can just keep sending reinforcements, we might have to retreat." She added.
Justin glared at her, "We're not retreating!"
Domino gave him a flat look, "My job is your survival, not your feelings. I'll carry you to Kaecillius over my back if I have to."
Phantazia stepped in to end the argument, "Domino, go, you and Yelena can handle it quickly, I'll retreat with him if it becomes necessary, HYDRA can't be allowed to to pile on, or we're really going to be in danger here." She ordered tersely, staring down Domino.
Justin had originally ordered her and Domino for the task, when he'd thought this fight wouldn't be too difficult. But with Phantazia taking command over the battle, it made sense for her to stay and guard him. Even if he disliked the idea based on the fact she did not have Extremis.
He idly toyed with the idea to call Ross, and order a missile strike on the town, while he and his portalled out. Thor… He'd die, and that we would pay for in spades… He dropped the thought, for now.
Yelena tugged on Domino's arm, not looking happy either, "Let's go, the sooner we finish, the sooner we can come back."
Domino cursed, glaring at Justin and Phantazia both, "Don't do anything stupid!" She spat, before following Yelena, running towards the outskirts of the battle, Whiplash obviously having been paying attention to coms, as he cut a path for them, firing a concentrated beam that cut through the growing mass of Asgardians.
"I fight more dangerous aliens in toilet!" His speakers shouted out to the world, as the mad Russian cackled, a long stretch of burned ground sizzling with pieces of Asgardians laying around, several of the spear wielding aliens firing up at Whiplash, showing that the spears doubled as energy weapons.
Justin couldn't fathom why some idiots had thrown them earlier if they could do that! Asgardians!
Phantazia grabbed his arm, pulling him back towards Kaecilius, who'd returned after dropping Bucky's squad off behind the Asgardians, "For the record, I would have forced you to retreat, if the enemy wouldn't simply beam down more soldiers wherever we took you." She said bluntly, eyes distant as she listened to more reports coming in.
"Vulture and Scorpion are facing magical artillery…" She said blandly - in a, this is my life now - kind of way. "They're asking for permission to unleash everything."
The noise was deafening, the sound of the power armors and Asgardian artillery firing back and forth against each other, Justin craned his neck, and blanched as he saw one of the artillery pieces was literally floating in the air, flitting back and forth to avoid The Vultures return fire. This is getting worse by the minute!
Justin didn't give two shits about this little town, or the civilians, but there were some VIPs here… He glanced back at Kaecilius, "The town's only hotel, three people, Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, Darcy Lewis, get them out of here now." He ordered.
"As you say, Master." Kaecilius put a fist to his heart, before he disappeared in another portal.
"Tell Whiplash, Scorpion and Vulture to wait for my command, then wipe out that entire section of town. We can't keep fighting these Asgardians from two directions." Justin said coldly, eying the battle in front of him with his blood boiling in rage over the stupidity of it all.
Loki couldn't just stay on script, could he? He just had to try and get something more than Thor's death out of this whole endeavor. He would have a hell of a time explaining this all to the World Security Council, the President, and fucking Odin if he was particularly unlucky.
Hopefully he could push that off on Thor. Speaking of…
"Any word on Thor and the moronic four?" He asked, wincing as Bucky got thrown into a wall, his three opponents going down seconds later as Electro disengaged one hand from where he was firing a beam at a squad of Asgardians, and fired a second one getting all three, their bodies jerking like puppets as their nerves fried.
Electro was getting way too into this.
Here and there around them, he could see Asgardians being put down, seemingly from nothing, the Wasp at work no doubt, although he was surprised to note she was going lethal. While this happened, the shattered remains of his security teams backed them up with covering fire, while staying away from the stronger Asgardians, letting the team handle that.
The combined effort of both at least managing to let them slowly overcome the enemies superior numbers.
He swore as Whiplash was blown out of the sky, tearing a long groove in the ground, bowling over half a dozen Asgardians, one of those magical artillery pieces must have gotten him. From audible Russian cursing blowing out eardrums, he was fine, if a bit ruffled.
This is why he did not want his top scientist in a role where he could get shot at!
"Sir… We're not winning." Phantazia told him, her back to Justin's as she kept firing in the other direction, towards the Asgardians that slipped past The Vulture and Scorpion due to the artillery taking some of their attention. "If Domino and Yelena don't keep HYDRA from joining in…" She trailed off, the cacophony of buildings being destroyed cutting her off, the missed shots of the Asgardians cutting through the small towns buildings like a knife through butter.
Doubtless killing dozens of civilians, not that he particularly cared - but it would be good fodder for negotiations with the Asgardians in the aftermath. If there was an aftermath.
"This is going to be an invasion if we don't show them here and now that we won't take it." Justin growled, incensed, gesturing at Phantazia with one hand, "Give me a damn gun." He ordered. "We're not retreating until we face certain death!"
He could see as well as she could that if he didn't retreat, he'd have to fight, there were too many Asgardians for all of them to be dealt with before they reached him. And like hell he would allow these uppity aliens with their medieval society chase him away!
He lined up a shot, and fired, snarling when the helmeted head meant it wasn't a kill shot. Again and again, he pulled the trigger, until the Asgardians head was melted slag, having to duck under a spear as two others closed in.
Then there was pain, his vision whiting out for a moment, before both Asgardians before him died to a wrathful Phantazia. Justin hissed, blood on his lips, as he pulled the spear out of his side. If he had a nickel for every time he'd been speared… Well he'd only have two, but it was still weird it happened twice.
"Sir?" Phantazia asked, firing constantly, even as she utilized her powers to keep the flood of Asgardians manageable. For every Asgardian she shot, three more fell to the ground, their nervous system twitching in agony.
"I'm good." He grunted, taking up the Agardian spear in one hand, while firing the gun with the other, his back again against Phantazia's. "We're not giving up, we're not retreating. Kill them all!" He snarled at her, using his super strength to slam away a spear heading for his gut, stepping into the Asgardians space, shoving his gun under his helmet, pulling the trigger once, twice, thrice, the body falling bonelessly to the ground.
She didn't say anything for a moment, before she chuckled savagely, "If I must…"
Suddenly the cries of agony from the nearby Asgardians increased in volume, as Phantazia put her back in it, pulling harder at her power.
Kaecillius returned suddenly, almost getting a spear through his throat, barely ducking away before he sliced the man in half with an orange glowing energy sword that he just conjured up with a hand gesture.
…. The man had a fucking lightsaber and called him Master… Ah, that can't end well. For now he focused on the importance of his arrival, "They're safe?" He questioned, firing several times at the Asgardian running at him, not getting through his armor, before Kaecillius created a portal in front of him, the man disappearing through it, not able to stop his momentum.
Damn… I really need to get to learning how to do that, it would have been really damn helpful right now, Justin thought.
"Yes, Master." He said, mandalas appearing over both of his wrists, as he stepped closer, defending Justin, allowing him to focus on just shooting, Phantazia a whirlwind of death behind them.
"Phantazia, give the order!" He shouted, before quipping to Kaecillius, feeling a bit better now that the pressure was slightly eased, "Where did you send that man anyway?"
"100 feet above an active Volcano." Kaecillius answered with just the hint of a smirk on his face. "Just enough time for him to realize where he's going to land."
Justin laughed, his blood pumping as another Asgardian was stopped in place by Kaecillius, Justin finishing him off with his stolen spear, twisting it cruelly in his gut, before pulling his intestines out with it. "Good… Very good." He said.
Then they were thrown off their feet, an entire third of the town behind them disappearing under the combined total firepower of Whiplash, Vulture and Scorpion, the conflagration and explosion deafening, heated air rushing past them, hot enough their clothes began to smoke.
There was no way, any Asgardians back there survived that!
"Get the hell off my planet!" Justin shouted, his blood singing as he danced in place, "YES! That's more like it, WHOOHOO!"
The Asgardians in front of them hesitated.
With Domino and Yelena,
Domino and Yelena moved without any thoughts to stealth as they rushed the SHIELD/HYDRA agents' mustering point by their borrowed headquarters. The makeshift camp buzzed with activity, agents rushing to and fro, dozens of vehicles loaded up and ready for deployment, no doubt to come down on whoever won the engagement.
Neither one of them was in a mood to take it slow and methodical, so they simply pushed ahead, weapons ready.
Their first encounter was over as quick as it started. Domino fired two swift shots from her HammerTech pistols, luckily nailing the fuel tanks of two of the SUVs that were idling closest to the perimeter, both of them going up in flames, taking all the men within with them. The explosions woke up the rest of them, every eye turning their way.
The response from the rest of the agents was swift, but somehow they just couldn't hit Domino as she rushed forward, Yelena following in her wake, using her as cover, two grenades sailing away from their side from her hands as they rushed past two more vehicles, the grenades landing in the laps of panicked men.
Seconds later those vehicles were also no longer a threat.
Meanwhile, agents all around them were cursing up a storm, finding that their guns would malfunction as they aimed at Domino, or they'd fire, and the gun would explode. Similar 'accidents' happened all over as the two women moved forward, the agents not having long to complain, as Domino and Yelena both fired, both hands now carrying a gun, putting an end to the men and women who fought them with extreme prejudice, never having to fire twice to get a kill shot.
They reached the office, springing through the window, uncaring of the glass, as Domino took the lead - the glass spray unfailingly exploding away from her, taking a HYDRA agent in the eyes, Yelena coming through behind her, rolling over Domino's back as the lucky woman kneeled and fired, a cold expression on her face as she showed no mercy on her enemies.
Her usual easygoing nature was nowhere to be seen since this debacle kicked off.
Yelena sprang into action as she came up from her roll, a blur of motion as she closed the distance to the nearest agents. She delivered a series of rapid strikes to the nearest agent using her guns as a bludgeon, her fists and feet moving faster than he could react. A chop to the neck, a sweep of the legs, and the agent was down, gun firing right after to ensure he was down permanently. Before the others could respond, Domino leapt from her position, her legs kicking out in a flurry of motion, sending two more agents sprawling to the ground, unconscious from well-placed strikes, even as she painted the wall with another headshot to the remaining agent just as he lined his gun up towards Yelena.
Yelena coldly executed the two unconscious agents, as Domino moved on to the agents sprinting into the room, drawn by the commotion.
"Is this what you call a challenge?" Domino quipped, flipping over a table to use as a shield against incoming fire. She rolled behind it, her movements fluid and precise, and fired off several shots, each taking down more agents. "I expected more…"
Several of the shots taken against Domino ricocheted back, hitting agents in the legs or arms, distracting them for the return fire.
Yelena didn't respond to Domino, her focus entirely on the task at hand, wanting to get through it as quickly as possible to end the threat and return to Justin. She grabbed a discarded baton, using it to parry a blow from an agent that had closed in on her, kicking the gun she dropped to grab the baton, sending it flying up into the face of the second agent attacking her, firing two shots from point blank range with her other gun now that she had some room, killing them immediately.
She spun on her heel, the baton still in hand, and blocked another incoming punch, countering with a precise nerve strike that left her opponent gasping for air and collapsing, she immediately shot him as well, stopping to grab the gun she'd used earlier to distract the other agent, the baton already tossed forward, striking an agent in the head, Domino getting her with a headshot moments later.
"Nice moves, been awhile since we went all out, huh?" Domino called out, seemingly in a better mood now then when they'd begun. The woman had been incensed to be sent away from Justin in a battle scenario.
Despite no doubt understanding how her luck practically guaranteed this mission would go off without a hitch. The fact they were so easily going through them, seemed to have settled her somewhat, Yelena thought.
"We should get out like this more often," Yelena replied, a rare bloodthirsty smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she dispatched another agent who'd somehow slipped while trying to hide behind the door, falling right into the entrance like a sitting duck.
She really loved this luck thing, it really made things simpler.
They pressed forward, their path marked by the fallen bodies of SHIELD/HYDRA agents. The office building was in chaos now, alarms blaring as more agents poured out of nearby rooms. Domino and Yelena faced them head-on, their movements a symphony of lethal precision.
They were constantly running into firing issues, and apparently someone had quite the fruit craving, as a cafeteria garbage got overturned, spilling banana peels everywhere.
Yelena turned to Domino, a raised eyebrow her only reaction, as both of them raised four guns in total, firing and killing the hapless agents slipping around comically on the floor.
Domino tossed one of her guns aside, the battery depleted, Yelena having the same problem, both of them making mental notes to mention it to Justin - the guns needed to last longer if they were going to be at all useful in long engagements. Neither of them wore extra battery packs after all.
Domino ducked under a wild swing from an agent that had come from behind them moments later, using her momentum to deliver a spinning kick to her assailant's head. As he fell, falling down the stairs, she snatched his sidearm, spinning around to fire a shot at another agent rushing at her, at the same time killing an agent peeking around a table with her own gun.
"Think they're getting the message yet?" Domino asked, growling slightly as she slammed the butt of her pistol into an agent's side, sending him crumpling away from her, Yelena shooting him in the head for her, coming up to her side.
"Does it matter to dead people?" Yelena replied, her voice steady despite the exertion. Domino had her luck, but she had her training and the Extremis/Supe mix, this was turning out to be easy for them both.
They fought their way through the main office, not many agents left alive to attempt to deter them, their path leading them to the command center soon enough. Inside, the agents had fortified their position, but Domino and Yelena were undeterred.
They didn't need to worry about collateral damage, so they simply blew the way up, using grenades, rushing in through the smoke and debris to take down anyone still alive.
At this point that wasn't a high number. SHIELD/HYDRA had not exactly drowned the location in numbers for this operation. So Garrett had not had a ton of men to draw on. They'd likely killed the majority already.
They moved deeper into the command center, the air thick with the tension of their enemies The remaining agents were desperate, their attacks becoming more frantic. Domino and Yelena remained calm, their movements precise and effective.
Domino ducked under a flying tackle from a desperate woman, using her attacker's momentum to send her crashing into a wall, she casually shot her, ensuring she was dead, before strolling forward, the office now empty of anything except their quarry.
The two women reached the inner office, where Sitwell and Garrett could be seen holed up. The door was blocked of course, but a few more grenades made short work of it - and the wall around them.
Garrett and Sitwell stood inside, covered in dust, Sitwell with a shell shocked look on his face, Garrett's face twisted in a sneer. "You think you can just walk in here and -"
"Nice easy surrender, or a hard one?" Yelena cut him off, her voice cold and sharp.
Garrett's sneer widened. "You don't scare me." His hand lowered towards his belt, no visible weapons there, only an electronic device.
It wouldn't surprise either of them if the man had some sort of self-destruct set up as a worst case scenario. He seemed the type who would do anything to take his enemy down with him.
Domino shrugged, "Hard one it is," she said, raising her pistol, shooting Sitwell between the eyes as the man attempted to speak, Garrett immediately reaching for whatever the electronic device at his belt was.
Before Garrett could get there, Yelena was on him, her fists flying in a blur of motion. She delivered a series of rapid strikes to his midsection, finishing with a precise nerve strike that left him gasping for air and collapsing.
Yelena grabbed Garrett by the collar, hauling him to his feet. "You really should have taken the easy way," She said, her voice dripping with contempt. She delivered a final, precise chop to his neck, knocking him out cold.
Domino poked Sitwell with a toe, stretching languidly. "Well, that was fun," She said, dusting off her hands, "Easy too."
Yelena nodded, looking around at the carnage they had wrought. "Let's get him back to Justin," She said, her tone worried.
Domino nodded seriously, checking her guns over, as Yelena lifted Garrett up,
Neither one of them cared at all for all the dead bodies they left behind as they rushed out of the former FBI office, heading back to the main battle.
Back with Justin and co,
The town burned around them, smoke billowing across the broken and shattered town, dead Asgardians littered the ground, broken homes and businesses lay crushed around them - it looked like a warzone. Several of his security team lay dead or dying as well, even their Extremis conquered through constant deaths at the hand of the Einherjar.
It was a sobering sight to Justin, who now knew beyond a doubt, that regeneration was only useful up to a point. If you got killed enough times, the damage would start outlasting the regeneration until you had no energy left.
They stood on what was left of Main street - or to be more precise, Main street was what was left of the town so they stood on it. The Einherjar on one side, the HAMMER team on the other side, both sides ready to get back into it, the Einherjar waiting on something, Justin's team catching their breath while they still could.
They had no wish to engage more than necessary, not with how difficult the fight had been. Reinforcements had finally stopped coming, but there had been a lot of damage done before then.
The team had seen better days. Whiplash and the Vulture were both scorched, their armor far from pristine, half of Whiplash arc reactors were dark, and the Vulture had a malfunctioning wing, making flight more difficult. Frank Castle stood in just what was left of his undersuit, carrying a rifle, the Scorpion having been disabled, having had to hold the majority of the Asgardians down for the final shot.
The entire armor would have to be redone, ruined beyond repair. Frank willingly taking on the damage and burning to death, counting on his Extremis to get him back afterwards.
Justin didn't know whether to give the man a raise, or schedule all the therapists. It had worked, sure, but it was still an insane thing to willingly go through.
Electro was unconscious, guarded by Wasp, who was suffering from a broken collarbone - Justin really regretting not getting her the full on Extremis/super serum treatment already. Bucky looked like he'd been through a slaughterhouse, but seemed uninjured, standing at the front, face guarded as he stared down the Asgardians.
Justin and Phantazia were both physically fine, but mentally exhausted, her from overuse of her powers, him from having to heal from injuries several dozen times due to his markedly less then Einherjar levels of combat skills.
The town was lost at this point. If the civilians hadn't fled at first sight of trouble, they were probably all dead now. Justin could see the odd civilian body in the rubble, and knew this whole debacle would be a giant pain in the ass, even if he could blame it on Asgard invading.
Because at this point, with several hundred Einherjar having fought, it was an invasion in all but name.
Domino and Yelena jogged into sight, a bound agent Garrett over Yelena's shoulder, neither one looked troubled at the least, not even looking like they broke a sweat.
Justin relaxed just a little, letting some tension bleed out. HYDRA was taken care of at least, and he could even blame it on the Asgardians, so he wouldn't even owe Pierce a favor. He'd been worried sending Domino away would backfire on him, but he'd survived just fine, and her mission had gone without a hitch from the look of it.
He could work with this. Loki wasn't sending reinforcements, so either something happened, he gave up, or he simply realized the futility in his actions and pivoted to do something else nefarious in the background.
Justin really hoped it wasn't the last one. This situation didn't need to be Loki'd anymore then it already had been.
"Do we know what they're waiting for?" He muttered out of the side of his mouth to Phantazia, eyeing the silent Einherjar.
Stupid warrior races, they didn't even look that bothered to be standing amongst the slaughter of over twice their own number. Like a good battle was worth it all. With their people like this, it was honestly a surprise they stood up to Hela in Ragnarok and didn't join in with gusto.
Or had Loki changed their culture that much while he played Odin?
Either way, he was getting distracted, and needed to focus, in case battle commenced again, it was hard, with exhaustion felt all the way in his bones, he wasn't used to actually be fighting.
This was why he had money - so he wouldn't have to.
The question of why the Asgardians had stopped, was answered, as Thor flew down, landing in front of the Asgardians, fully clad in his regalia, hammer in hand. His eyes went over the ruins, the bodies of his people, and Justin could practically feel his presence spiking, storm clouds gathering above them.
Shit!
They must have felt him getting his powers back, that's why they stopped fighting and were waiting, he was now in charge, being the crown prince and actually on site, it might be why Loki drew back as well, preparing in Asgard for Thor's return.
"Thor." Justin took a step forward, Bucky glancing at him, his fingers twitching towards his shield, ready to defend him, the shield having proved effective against both Asgardian energy weapons, and Agardian bones.
It wasn't the original of course, but Justin had enough Vibranium laying around to make another frisbee to make Bucky's look authentic. And after Peggy was healed, albeit likely to die within the decade still with how old she was - Bucky was his, properly.
"What have you done!?" Thor cried out, looking around him, teeth gritting together, thunder roaring in the sky.
Justin didn't know why the Destroyer fight took longer, how he got his powers back this time, but he knew he did not in any way want to tangle with Thor if he could avoid it.
"We defended ourselves, Thor. This…" He gestured around him, eyes hard, "This was a town on Earth, your people came here, they did this."
From the looks his people gave him, this was not the tack they'd expected him to take to avoid another fight. But Justin felt in this case, the best defense was offense.
Thor growled lowly, stance confrontational, "How many of my people have died, today, Hammer!?" He questioned, voice thick with emotion, "You did not need to kill them!"
Justin took another step forward, nominally putting himself in harm's way, but also showing that he wasn't afraid, "Thor, tell me." He spat out harshly, "If this was a village in Asgard, and outsiders came in and attacked, would you counsel your warriors to please pull their punches, and risk their lives to save their enemies any pain?" He cut through the air with one arm sharply, "Your people attacked mine, you have deaths to mourn perhaps, warriors, who knew what they were getting into. We have civilians, children, dead because you attacked our realm, this town, in an unjust invasion. The blame here lies not with me, not with your soldiers, but the one who ordered it!"
Having Thor as an enemy right now was less than ideal, especially as he needed the fool to go before Odin and honestly say this was all on Asgard, not Earth.
Justin really didn't want to deal with an actual invasion. For all that he was a full on idiot throughout the MCU, Odin was not by any measure weak. And Justin did not think his team would withstand a fully serious Odin.
Thor looked mullish still, which was when the Warriors three and Lady Sif jogged into view, all of them looking worse for wear, Sif immediately speaking up, surprisingly in Justin's defense, "Thor, the mortal has it right, none of this should have happened. Loki sent that Destroyer, he sent the Einherjar, the deaths are on him."
Fandral, one arm simply gone, face pale, added his own words, halfway held up by Volstagg, "Loki has gone too far this time, Thor, that Destroyer almost killed you, and the Einherjar should have never have been sent against the mortals in the first place, you know this."
Justin could have kissed their stupid faces. What perfect timing! Their dislike of Loki was really working in his favor here. He inwardly assigned them as the only slightly moronic four, for actually being useful for the first time in their damn lives.
Thor only now seemed to realize what the ruined town signified, face paling as his head whipped towards Justin, "Lady Jane?" He asked with a booming voice, not noticing the irritable twitch in Lady Sifs face for that being his priority right now.
"Alive, despite your soldiers best efforts to destroy us all." Justin said coldly. "One wonders if Asgard truly seeks peace with this situation in mind…"
Technically his team had destroyed much of the town, and likely were behind the majority of civilian casualties due to the armored three - but he wasn't going to waste an opportunity to make Thor take on the blame.
As far as the world leaders would be concerned, all the deaths would lay on the aliens. The aliens Justin Hammer had kicked off the planet.
Thor's face firmed up, and he looked around him, taking in the destruction and dead Asgardians, as well as the live ones. "I will speak with my father, ensure proper wergild for our actions here today." He said heavily, acknowledging that the Asgardians were in the wrong.
Justin felt like he could breathe properly for the first time in what felt like days, but in reality had been an hour at most - the situation could still be salvaged.
If Odin would listen to his son, which was… A big maybe.
But if things proceeded as normally, the rainbow bridge would be destroyed anyway, pushing any issues to years from now.
Speaking of, "You should return to Asgard." Justin requested, "Sooner the better."
Thor nodded forlornly, "Aye, I suppose it is for the best, I must speak with Loki, and find out why this all happened." He stroked the head of his hammer, looking distressed, "I apologize for not realizing the situation sooner, and for my failure in stopping all this." He said, bowing his head slightly.
Justin thought it was a remarkable turnaround from someone that only minutes ago was ready to hammer them all just for daring to survive an Asgardian assault.
"We will be willing to forgive, Thor, but not if this happens again… Earth is no longer open to Asgardians whims, you wish to speak to us again, open a diplomatic channel." Justin said, his voice slightly more conciliatory, "I will be willing to listen…"
Thor smiled sadly, "Aye, we will not make the same mistake again, I shall ensure it." He gestured for all the remaining Asgardians to get in close, giving Justin a last look, "Farewell Justin Hammer, give the lady Jane my regards, and my apologies, I have learned much on Midgard, and I will not make the same mistakes again."
Then he raised his hammer, shouting, "Heimdall!"
And in a flash of multicolored light, they were gone.
Justin wasn't sure what would go down on Asgard. As things hadn't gone down as they should have, including apparently Heimdall being available to transport forces and immediately call them back.
It certainly hadn't gone as smoothly as he'd planned it, but they'd won, and perhaps that was all that mattered.
As his team milled around him, all in some manner looking displeased that the Asgardians were let off without total annihilation, he wondered what would come from this.
Justin looked around at the destruction moments later, sagging as he realized his day had only just begun.
The next couple of phone calls were not going to be enjoyable.
Author's note:
So Thor 1 goes kind of sideways, Loki deciding to up the ante, and what's going on in Asgard anyway?
Asgardians might be great warriors and super powered, but here they go in not expecting real resistance, and then face overwhelming firepower, plus hard to deal with special attacks, like the Wasp, Electro, and Phantazia for example.
If not for Asgardian armor being really good and having magical qualities, the power armored three would have been able to handle them themselves.
So I don't think them losing is too out there. Even so they still pushed so hard that Justin frequently had to fight, and got injured, over and over again - a warrior he is not.
Quantity also has a quality of its own. Part of it is the team is still new and not the best at working together.
Thor and the Warriors fought the Destroyer away from the other battle, so not until a large portion of the town went up in flames - did they realize how serious things were going. Likewise, they hadn't thought the mortals a real threat - certainly they hadn't thought them capable of slaughtering Asgardians.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
Chapter 28: U Mad Bro?
Here's chapter 28: U Mad Bro?
So last chapter before the time skip, not sure I'm all that happy about it. Some resolutions, some future teases, we'll see how it's received.
As usual though, canon goes sideways a little.
But hey, no Jane/Thor, that relationship is dead, you're welcome.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
August 2008, Puento Antiguo, New Mexico.
The town of Puente Antiguo lay in ruins, a stark reminder of the recent battle. Smoke curled into the sky, the acrid scent of burning debris and charred flesh lingering in the air. Justin Hammer stood amidst the devastation, his expression a mask of grim determination. The clatter of his team moving through the wreckage filled the silence, their faces reflecting the exhaustion and grimness of the day's events.
"Bag and tag every piece of Asgardian tech and armor," Justin commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to get it all before they pay attention to us again and beam it all up. Kaecillius, get a specialist team here ASAP to assist with gathering everything." He gave everyone a hard stare, his lips thinned, "Take the bodies as well, every body part. Bagged, tagged, and ready for transport."
Phantazia nodded, already relaying the order to those of the security team not in the nearby vicinity. Domino on the other hand whistled through pinched lips, walking up to him, a hard look on her face, "You sure about that last one, boss?" She asked, grimly watching as those of their own who had died were collected, "I normally don't care what you get up to, but desecrating alien bodies never ends well in the movies." Her eyes flicked upwards, "Especially not when they can just beam down to profess their displeasure."
Justin rarely saw Domino serious, so he gave her words considerable weight, but in the end he shook his head, "This whole thing seemed more like a civil war than an invasion, they'll be busy I wager." To appease her, he added, "But we'll just store the bodies for now for a few days, see if anyone comes looking, if not, they obviously didn't care, right?"
Unless Loki had changed things even more, no one would be coming for the bodies anytime soon. All the better for him. Although the real price was the Destroyer armor, Vanko was already picking up every piece on his order, Thor had smashed it quite comprehensively.
Smash was his go to move, he and the Hulk were remarkably similar in some ways.
Kaecillius disappeared to fetch their research teams, the ones more suited for the work of dealing with the bodies, and the rest. Justin eyed the orange portal with want. He didn't have many hours a day to practice, but he'd finally begun emitting sparks with his own sling rings.
Soon, he thought covetously, soon…
Justin's eyes scanned the area afterwards, taking in the sight of his battered team and the fallen Einherjar. The civilians of the town had either fled or been caught in the crossfire, and it was now his responsibility to manage the aftermath. Thankfully, because they'd been so thorough in the town's destruction, it would also allow him to completely craft the narrative.
"We got lucky." He surmised, looking over the few fallen on his own side, walking across the line of bodies, thankfully single digits due to Extremis and the arrival of the HAMMER team.
Domino followed him, glancing around, hands not far from her weapons, "Oh, how so?" She asked, likely playing devil advocate, as she knew more about combat then he'd ever learn.
But he did have some slight knowledge advantages she lacked.
"There's no way this was Asgards might, if anything, with the ornamentation on the armor…" He stopped to toe an Asgardian corpse thoughtfully, "They were palace guards or something similar." He surmised.
This all had seemed like a foolish Loki ploy, not a war strategy from Asgards god of war. He had a feeling there was a stark difference between the two.
Domino grimaced, "If this was their version of fat complacent nepotism warriors, what are their actual warriors like?" She didn't seem enthused at the thought this was the bottom rung of warriors, whatever Loki had immediately on hand.
Oh sure, generally speaking palace guards or royal guards were considered the elite of any monarchy in history etc, but reality was that palace guards spent the majority of their time standing guard, never facing battle. Skills did dull over time even with sparring now and then to keep fit. And for Asgard who likely had some of these guards doing the job for hundreds of years?
Justin had probably seen more actual life and death battles than some of these ones.
Justin breathed in heavily, the scent of burning bodies in the air from the unlucky civilians burning in their homes polluting the air. "Let's hope we don't find out. The world isn't ready…"
He looked towards the horizon, eyes narrowed as he pondered what could be done to narrow the gap in the short term, "Yet…"
Twenty minutes later, as his teams were canvassing the town, more teams coming in due to an open portal to Cairo that Kaecillius was holding open, Justin finally decided it was time to bite the bullet and inform the world.
Pulling out his phone, Justin dialed a secure line, waiting for the connection to be made. Ellis knew not to ignore when he called on this line.
Which is why he felt significantly annoyed when it took three calls to finally get the man to pick up.
"Hammer, this better be important!" Ellis groused, "I was on the line with the Russian President, he was not impressed to be put on hold…"
Justin grit his teeth together, Ellis don't get uppity with me, not today! "Oh, the Russian President, I suppose that's important…" He drawled sarcastically, "When you're done arguing about pointless human rights with him, do give me a call back to deal with the fact Aliens invaded a small town in New Mexico, wiping it, and the SHIELD contingent stationed here, out - with no survivors." Then he hung up.
It took seconds for his phone to ring, and he answered sweetly, "I see you've made some time?"
There was cursing on the other line, Ellis yelling to someone, "I don't care, get the VP to appease him, make up an excuse, I have to take this!" Before his attention turned to Justin, his voice deadly serious, "What happened, Hammer?"
Justin let his irritation fade, in this case it would be no use to continue to push on Ellis, who had been a good little minion throughout it all, "Well, Asgard is apparently real, and we had a visit from Thor and Loki." He said calmly.
There was a long pause on the other line, before Ellis slowly spoke up, "If it was anyone but you, Hammer, I'd be requesting a mental evaluation… So… Nordic myths are real…" He sounded utterly done with life. "How bad is it?"
Now that he thought about it, this man would be President from Iron Man to what…? Civil War? Talk about a stressful time to be in office.
"Thor seemed mostly harmless and happy to assist, somewhat like a large puppy… If the puppy could also summon storms and probably bench press a submarine - he was also heavily crushing on a human girl, so we at least have that lever." Justin reported, "To everyone's great surprise," He continued sarcastically, "It seems Loki is performing some sort of coup, attempting to assassinate Thor, and also sending several hundred troops into Puento Antiguo, wrecking the town." Before the President could fully fall into a panic, he reassured him, "Not to worry, myself and the team eradicated every last alien invader, while Thor went back home to deal with this coup."
"Do you have confirmation on this divide? How likely are they to return, do you need military assistance right now?" Ellis asked rapidly.
Justin took a deep breath, feeling exhaustion seeping through him, the mental strain of the battle and its aftermath a considerable weight, and he wouldn't stop for hours yet. "Well, I'm cautiously optimistic, but if you could get the ball rolling on reading in the World Security Council, NATO an-"
The phone conversation lasted far longer than he'd hoped, as almost two hours later, after the Defense Secretary and Homeland joined in - the briefing finally finished for now, and he could hang up the phone.
His eye twitched as it immediately began ringing again.
Thirty minutes later,
Justin pinched the bridge of his nose as he held the phone away from his ear, really, who's idea was it to let Ross be the contact to the Joint Chiefs anyway?
The asshole had already gotten the summary from the Defense Secretary, but Ross being Ross, and unfortunately important enough Justin couldn't dodge his phone call indefinitely, had reached out to him to get the full details, claiming he was the point of contact to the Joint Chiefs, which could be true, and knowing him, could also not be true and he'd appointed himself. He'd certainly been on a shorter leash since trying to bully Hammer Industries and Stark industries in favor of Oscorp.
Seeing Bucky walking up, he spoke quickly into the phone, "Something came up, General, let me put you on hold." Eager to get away from the man already haranguing him on why he didn't call in the army.
The goblin suits wouldn't have done shit to Asgardian energy weapons or strength, Justin thought, not that the army even had that many proficient operators of the new armors yet.
With that thought, he used his glasses to send a text to Sunil, any sight of Osborn?
Ending the call after a few seconds of listening to the general curse, Justin turned to Bucky. "What's on your mind, Barnes?" The new Captain America stared at him with a raised eyebrow, notably at the phone he'd just hung up, not put on hold.
Justin shrugged, "Mistakes happen." He smirked slightly, "Don't tell me you didn't wish to do the same to the brass back in your day…"
Bucky smiled so briefly it was gone in a flash, Justin used the instant replay on his glasses just to ensure he'd actually seen it. "Busy day ahead, so I'll skip any more small talk, what do you need, Captain?"
Bucky's gaze was intense, looking around them, lips thinned in displeasure. "We need more training and better planning, Hammer." He said bluntly, "This battle was a mess, and we got lucky. We can't rely on luck next time, we need to do war games and simulations, and become an actual team."
Justin nodded, appreciating Bucky's candor. "Agreed. We'll start with a full debrief soonest, and then set up a rigorous training schedule. We need to be prepared for anything." He fiddled with his phone for a moment, ignoring the incoming call from Ross. "Write me up a list of what you need or think needs to be done, use Frank and Brock, pick their brains on modern military methods."
Bucky nodded seriously, "I'll do that," He hesitated briefly, eyes going behind him, towards their ad hoc medical area. "Miss Van Dyne and you seem… Close, I think she'll need to talk to someone…"
Justin frowned, "What do you mean?" He craned his neck, looking for her.
"She just killed over a dozen people." Bucky said with a grimace, "People like me, well…" He shrugged uncomfortably, "It's a familiar ache, but a civilian like her?"
Justin nodded slowly, he'd forgotten not everyone saw the world quite like he did. For him, all the people that didn't matter to him personally were barely more than cardboard cutouts. He didn't feel anything about their deaths, their suffering.
Hope could be as ruthless as him in business, but personally killing that many people, even if they were aliens…
"I'll talk to her." He promised, Bucky nodding, walking off to continue overseeing things.
Just then he received a message back from Sunil, his glasses flashing, No sightings, Iron Man on the move. Gulmira.
Justin groaned, now, really Tony? And what the hell was up with Osborn? If he kept any kind of eye on them, then both of them were occupied, so why the hell was the crazed maniac not showing up somewhere?
How on earth is the drugged nut job managing to stay quiet?
Minutes later, as he dodged another call from Ross, Phantazia walked up to him and Domino in long hurried strides, Interrupting his own walk towards the medical area.
His eyes were on Hope, a brewing anger in his gut as he realized she hadn't been treated yet, not properly, anyway, after almost three hours. Why hadn't she said anything? He immediately sent a group text to the entire security team demanding a dose of Panacea for Hope, now!
"What's got your panties in a twist?" Domino snarked, only for Phantazia to completely walk by her without a word, eyes only for Justin.
"Sir," She said quietly, "Team Epsilon found survivors, over a dozen in total." She reported, lips barely moving.
Justin appreciated her discretion, eyes on Bucky's back, currently at the end of the street. He turned back to Phantazia, "No they didn't." He said calmly, meeting her gaze.
"Sir, th-" She aborted what she was going to say, nodding slowly, "Yes sir, understood, I'll remind Epsilon there were no survivors."
Justin nodded sharply, his men were all people whose limbs and lives had been restored to them through Justin, they were loyal. Even to this extent, he could count on them. Epsilons team lead had been a Navy Seal, who'd quit to take care of his two daughters, horribly maimed in an accident, doomed to a life of constant assistance and care - care he could barely afford, scraping by.
The man would assassinate the president without blinking if Justin gave the word. He'd handle this.
"Make sure all the teams know, Eileen." He added quietly. "There are no survivors. None."
"Yes sir."
Any witnesses could attest to the fact that weirdly dressed men with spears did not in fact set most of the town on fire or blow it up. He couldn't have that.
By the time SHIELD or the Army rolled in, he'd have sanitized as much as he could, whatever would implicate them, muddying it enough no one could say it wasn't the Aliens who did the deed.
Besides… A town wiped out by aliens, beat back by Justin Hammer, who saved the rest of America and the world from similar destruction?
That sounded so much better than - town almost wiped out, a dozen survivors - Survivors tell of massive collateral damage from HAMMER.
Truth was subjective,
It came down to who had the most money and influence.
Which neatly made Justin Hammer the most truthful man in the world.
He was stopped again from approaching Hope, by a call he couldn't refuse, especially as the caller would already be very annoyed that he hadn't been the first one Justin had reached out to.
He sighed as he raised the phone to his ear, eyes pinched as he watched the hurried efforts of his people as they gathered up everything of interest, digging through the rubble to make sure not a single piece was missed.
Alexander Pierce was calling, and this one required a bit more finesse. "Pierce," Justin began as he answered the phone, his voice steady. "I suppose you've been briefed…"
Pierce's response was terse and suspicious. "I should have been the first one called, why didn't my men contact me, Hammer? Where's Garrett and Sitwell?"
Justin's lips twitched, as he fought to keep smugness out of his voice. "The Asgardians wiped them out. We barely managed to survive ourselves. It was chaos all around." He stepped away from the others, voice low, "As it is, I lost several men, and almost lost several of my team as well. We barely held on here Pierce, your agents were normal men and women, they were mincemeat before they knew it."
Of course they'd have to destroy all the bodies, because they would not look like Asgardian victims as they were, but it was easy enough to do. Kaecillius new volcano portal trick was ideal for disposing of evidence.
It's not like anyone could say Asgard didn't have weapons that completely vaporized all the SHIELD agents…
Pierce held his tongue throughout his explanation, even though Justin could literally feel his simmering anger across the line, he barely finished talking before Pierce shot out, "I'm supposed to believe all my men died and you all walked away fine? it seems awfully convenient, Hammer…"
Justin's voice grew chilly, "I myself was literally stabbed through by an alien spear, and had to kill aliens with my own hands to survive. Only Extremis saved me, I lost several of my security team, what exactly could your agents have done to these people other than die?"
There was a pause, then Pierce spoke again, his tone icy. "I see… We'll discuss this further. For now, what can you tell me about the situation?"
Justin took a few minutes to explain a general outline of what happened, with only a few embellishments. Ensuring he stressed to the HYDRA and SHIELD leader that he felt this black eye was enough, and that Asgard seemed embroiled in their own issues, no further action needed, except for buying more weapons and defensive equipment of course.
He even quoted the man a decent price too. Only for very big bulk orders though.
Seconds after he hung up with Pierce, he was forced to divert from Hope again, as the President's office called, patching him through to NATO operations, and the Secretary General.
Minutes later,
Electro had woken up, and was bouncing around him all of a sudden, literally crackling with excitement. "Did you see that, Hammer? I was awesome! Zapping those bastards left and right, like pew pew pew!" He formed finger guns, shooting at imaginary enemies.
Thankfully this time not actually shooting anything, just making the motions… And the sound effects. Spiderman villains, they're all cracked in the head…
Justin sighed, holding his phone to his ear, covering the speaker with his other hand. "I'm on the phone with the Secretary General of NATO, Electro. Can you tone it down?" He asked unfailingly politely. No, he wasn't glaring at him, his eyes just looked like that.
Electro grinned, unabashed. "NATO, huh? Bet they're impressed with my performance. Should I do some sound effects for them too?" He asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Before Justin could respond, Bucky appeared and grabbed Electro by the collar, dragging him away. "Come on, Sparky. Let's go cool off." He said gruffly, giving Justin a quick nod.
Justin gave Bucky a grateful nod back. "Thanks, Barnes. I owe you one." That man is just way too… Much.
Bucky smirked. "I'm used to babysitting the problem child." He said, dragging a protesting Electro away.
Then finally, he could hang up, minutes later, and made it to see Hope.
Justin found Hope sitting on a makeshift medical bed, one of the security team members administering a panacea shot to her broken collarbone, finally. He approached, his expression softening, although inwardly he was seething that it had taken them this long to heal her.
He'd need to find out who failed where, and showcase his displeasure. Maybe becoming Electros bodyguard for a few months would make whoever failed more diligent in the future.
"Hope, I'm sorry you got hurt," He said quietly, sitting down next to her, grasping her hand as the shot began to work, "I don't want to see you risk yourself like this again. I can give you the Extremis/super serum mix, I should have already. It'll make you stronger, more resilient, it will let you regenerate wounds like these."
He momentarily forgot he hadn't actually told her about that Super Soldier serum addition before, eyes widening as he smiled somewhat awkwardly.
Hope smiled through the pain, just rolling with it. "I appreciate the concern, Justin. But I like being me. We'll see about the serum later maybe. For now, let's just focus on getting through this mess, I'm assuming you've already been fielding calls from everyone?"
Justin sighed, squeezing her hand gently, "Yes, and somehow not a single one of them so far has said thank you for stopping an alien invasion," He snarked irritably.
Hope kissed his cheek, looking him into the eyes softly, "Thank you for stopping an Alien invasion." She said, her lips quirked, like she was about to laugh.
Justin snorted, a reluctant smile blooming on his lips, "You did as much if not more as me for that, my dear." He bumped shoulders with her lightly, "Are you…" He fumbled for words, feeling very unequipped for dealing with this.
Lying, sure. Manipulation, no problem, gaslighting, he was your man. Honest compassion and empathy… He could admit he somewhat stumbled there at times.
Hope smiled, but it was brittle, "It had to be done." She said, as if she'd been repeating that to herself the entire time. The three hours she sat alone. Fuck, he wanted to murder someone.
Justin leaned his head against hers, putting on arm around her shoulder, "It did, but it's okay to feel bad about it, it's okay to not be okay."
She chuckled, and if it was a bit wet, he didn't mention it. After a few minutes she finally spoke up, "You got that from a movie didn't you?"
"Hey… I can be emotional support." He protested, leaning back and looking her in the eyes.
Hope smiled a more honest smile, as she gazed into his eyes, one hand lifting up to ruffle his hair, her collarbone now healed, "Sure you can." She teased.
"I supported the hell out of Yelena!" He said, insisting on defending himself on this.
Hope gave him a dry look, "That woman doesn't need emotional support, she'll play whatever emotion she thinks works best for her goals in the moment."
"And I support her in that." Justin said stubbornly.
Hope broke out laughing, laughing so hard she bent over, clutching her stomach. Justin pouted for a minute, but it was hard to hold back a smile at her sudden cheer. I guess I'm not so bad at this as I thought, he thought smugly.
Her laughter eventually died off, and they sat in silence for a moment, Justin's thumb stroking the top of her hand as she just looked into the distance with distant eyes. Her face was covered in sweat, her hair sticking to it, and there was a splatter of blood on her neck, and yet Justin still found her absolutely breathtaking.
Strong women. Was there anything better? Even when they bent and kneeled for you, that steel remained hidden in velvet, always there.
She noticed him staring, and got an odd look in her eye, like she was psyching herself up for something, her lips parting.
Her phone rang, Justin knew it was hers and not his, because in no world would he have the ringtone for I'm a barbie girl attached to any of his contacts. Hope cursed lowly under her breath, the moment lost, as Justin raised a curious eyebrow, glancing at her phone.
"It's my dad." She said succinctly, sounding very annoyed all of a sudden.
Justin could understand it, Hank Pym annoyed him just generally by existing. He couldn't help but smirk though, "His ringtone is, I'm a barbie girl?"
She sneered at her phone, not answering it, "If he thinks all I am is a toy he can mold to whatever he wishes, why not?" She looked resigned, as the phone kept ringing and ringing, "I better take this." She said apologetically.
Justin kissed her check, "We'll talk later, let me know if you need anything."
As he walked away, he immediately leveled a glare at Domino, whose face looked way more innocent than necessary.
"Don't say it!" He warned.
"Sure is a lot of hand-holding and kissing cheeks for just friends." She said sweetly.
"...Like you would know what hand-holding is like you degenerate." He fired back,
"Words hurt." She pouted.
"Thought you liked a little pain." He snarked back.
"... You're right~, please sir, can I have some more?" She said teasingly, eyes wide open and pleading.
"Domino, I will give you fifty thousand dollars if you don't talk for the next hour."
"I'm rich now, I don't need fifty thousand dollars."
"... Are you just saying that to make me up the bid." He asked with annoyance.
"Is it working?"
"Fuck you Domino, just… Fuck you."
Still, he couldn't help but smile, what a day, and as always, Domino was there to force him to crack a smile.
The best investment he ever made.
Later that night,
The army and its SHIELD hanger ons were only an hour away from Puento Antiguo, but Justin had already left, having finished what he could for the day. The town was wiped clean of anything they didn't want seen, all the bodies, gear and weapons removed from site.
Now he was finishing up the day by dealing with the last loose end. It was also a bit of a catharsis. When you've had a bad day, nothing could improve your mood like giving someone else a really bad day.
Well, except sex.
And ew… He just thought of sex and Agent Garrett in the same thought, he felt sick.
In a dimly lit room, in one of Justin's many many secret warehouses around the world, (honestly Justin wasn't sure what country they were in right now, Kaecillius could be really handy like that.) Agent Garrett was tied to a chair rather expertly, looking defiant despite his predicament. Justin stood in front of him, flanked by Yelena and Domino.
He'd sent Phantazia to bed, having used her powers so extensively and then organized the clean up, she was suffering from a migraine from hell, and he didn't need her here for this anyway, it was much more Yelena's domain.
And Domino did so like to watch.
"Garrett," Justin began, his tone pleasant as he sat in front of the man. "You're going to tell me everything you know about HYDRA's plans. Especially any plans they have for me."
He knew the man was fairly high in the hierarchy, higher then Sitwell, almost to the level of Coulson he believed, when it came to security clearances.
Garrett sneered. "You think I'm just going to spill my guts because you ask nicely?" His eyes were cold, the man already knew he was dead, knew he was going to suffer.
It's what made these kinds of interrogations difficult. A man that knew he was going to die, and knew he was going to suffer no matter what, had every reason to spite you by holding back what you most wanted to know.
Torture really wasn't a very effective way to gather information. But until a proper truth serum was developed, they had to make due.
The one Maya and Cho had tried and tested, didn't so much make someone tell the truth, as it made them simply talk constantly, every thought and random brain blurb just spilling out nonstop.
It was… Progress he supposed.
Justin smiled, his eyes cold. "No. But you will spill them. Because if you don't, we'll make sure you wish you had. You've seen what we can do. You know we're not bluffing."
Yelena smiled sweetly, "I have had plenty of training, on both ends. We'll have lots of fun together."
Garrett glared at them, "It doesn't matter what I say, I know your type, you'll still torture me, so fuck you, I'm not giving you shit, Hail HYDRA!"
They all watched him, the confusion in his face as the cyanide capsule in his fake tooth failed to kill him.
"Sorry, but we've watched all the spy movies, searching for a fake tooth is literally the first thing we did." Domino said lightly, tittering as she hid a smile behind her hand, "But thank you for confirming you'd take the cowards way out."
Garrett glared at her, eyes almost popping out of his skull as his face reddened, "What did you call me, bitch!?
"Yelena, he doesn't seem to have the proper respect, not like a guest of ours should, please fix that." Justin said, sitting calmly before Garrett.
Yelena smiled, rolling over a tray of tools. "I'll have him singing by sun up!"
…
What a nice treasure trove Agent Garrett was…
Justin could do a lot with this information… A lot indeed.
As the iridescent light of the Bifrost faded, Thor, the Warriors Three, and Lady Sif found themselves standing before the golden realm of Asgard. The gleaming spires of the city stretched skyward, their grandeur reflected in the waters below. The air was crisp and cool, with a faint hint of the sea, and the scent of ancient magic seemed to hang in the atmosphere, heavy and foreboding.
Behind them, the surviving warriors stood still, waiting for orders, all of them avoiding his eyes, none of them speaking. The loss of honor in their defeat was enough to still any loose tongues. Asgard, Thor knew, would have much to say about recent events once it became known Midgard was capable of repelling them as such, even if it was nowhere near the full might of their warriors.
Thor took a moment to look around, his gaze sweeping over the familiar yet awe-inspiring landscape. The Rainbow Bridge shimmered in front of them, a kaleidoscope of colors that connected Asgard to the Bifrost. Ahead, the massive gates of the city stood open, inviting yet intimidating. For a moment, Thor felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with an uneasy sense of foreboding. He turned to Heimdall, who stood vigilantly by the entryway to the rainbow bridge, his golden armor glinting in the Asgardian sunlight. His eyes looked even more distant than usual, he thought.
"Heimdall," Thor began, his voice a deep rumble of restrained emotion. "What is happening? Why did Loki send the Einherjar to Midgard? Has he lost his mind?" Why did you allow it? He almost wanted to say, but bit his tongue, knowing it was Heimdalls lot in life to serve, not question his ruler.
And despite the bad decisions being made, in Thor's honest opinion… Loki was still currently King, and as such commanded Heimdall.
Heimdall's usually impassive face showed a flicker of concern. His golden eyes, capable of seeing all across the Nine Realms, held a glint of something close to sorrow. "Loki has indeed acted strangely, Thor. His actions defy the order of Asgard. I have seen many things, but even I was taken aback by the orders he sent to the Einherjar palace guards. But… They were also countersigned by Odin, the King himself coming to order me to let them through." Thor had never seen Heimdall confused before, and yet he looked it now. Thor found that he did not like it overmuch.
Thor's brow furrowed deeply, anger and worry simmering just beneath the surface. "Where is Loki now? And what of Father? Wasn't he still in the Odinsleep?"
Heimdall nodded gravely. "Yes, Odin remains in the Odinsleep, unresponsive to any attempt to rouse him. Loki has taken up residence in the Allfather's chambers, acting as regent."
Thor opened his mouth, before closing it shut helplessly, sharing a concerned glance with his friends. Because surely Heimdall realized the contradiction in what he was saying? How could Odin both be asleep, and capable of appearing before Heimdall and giving orders.
And why did Heimdall not recognize this dichotomy? Loki… What have you done? Thor thought with despair building in his chest.
The news had hit Thor like a blow, his friends' concerns becoming reality, and he, the fool he was, had not listened. He glanced at the Warriors Three and Sif, seeing his own concern mirrored in their faces. "I must go to him. Now." He waved at the warriors behind them, "You four take these and hurry to the palace, who knows what else may be wrong."
Please Loki, let this all be a misunderstanding, this can not be what it looks like! He thought sorrowfully.
"And you, Thor?" Hogun asked quietly.
Thor started spinning his hammer, a grim look on his face, "I'll be going ahead."
He took to the sky, quickly leaving the rainbow bridge behind, the Warriors three and Lady Sif running down the bridge far behind him, the warriors following. Even sans one arm and pale with blood loss, Fandral still outpaced the warriors behind him, Thor noted, before he flew out of sight. Heartened by the fact his friend still had his strength.
That feeling swiftly abandoned him, as he flew forward, anger and fear battling through it in his heart in equal measures.
He flew swiftly, until he arrived at the palace, ill at ease at the few guards around, he moved swiftly through the golden halls, his footsteps echoing ominously against the marble floors. The grandeur of the palace, with its towering columns and intricately woven tapestries, seemed to mock the urgency of his mission. As he neared the Allfather's chambers, the tension in the air thickened, like the oppressive calm before a storm.
Thor didn't know what he'd find, but he was growing increasingly afraid that it wouldn't be good. That his friends had been right. That Loki was… That the Destroyer truly had been meant to kill him.
That Loki, his brother, was truly capable of such. Where did I fail you so, Brother? He thought, moving forward, was there truly no other recourse?
The doors to Odin's chambers were slightly ajar. Thor pushed them open with a force that sent a sharp creak through the air. Inside, the scene was both surreal and horrifying. Freya, his mother, lay deathly still on a sedan, splayed out, wearing a pink nightgown, a spilled goblet of wine beside her outstretched hand on the floor, the deep red liquid pooling on the floor like blood. The sight sent a chill down Thor's spine. No… Loki, what have you done!?
"Loki!" Thor's voice boomed through the chamber, filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. His eyes landed on his brother, standing casually by Odin's sleeping form, a dagger held loosely in his hand. The dagger's tip hovered dangerously close to Odin's throat, the Allfather deep in the Odinsleep, unaware of the peril. Or… And this disturbed Thor far worse, aware, and just unable to do anything about it.
Loki turned slowly, a faint, almost amused smile playing on his lips. His eyes were a cold, piercing green, filled with a strange mixture of triumph and madness. "Ah, Thor, dear brother. You've returned. I was wondering how long it would take you to come to your senses." He cackled quietly, "Did my present assist you?"
Thor had never seen his brother quite so… Carefree almost. Like he didn't need to play at civility, or at sanity. He feared what he saw playing in his brother's eyes.
Thor's grip on Mjolnir tightened, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "What have you done, Loki? Why is Mother … What have you done to her, Loki? What madness is this!?" He roared, emotions spiking, thunder roaring in the distance.
Loki tilted his head, looking at Freya's prone form with a detached curiosity. "Oh, she's just sleeping," He said nonchalantly. "A particularly potent mixture I concocted. It's quite an accomplishment, really. It's not easy to put someone like Freya into a slumber." He wiggled the fingers on his free hand, "~Magic!" He sang, giggling to himself afterwards.
Thor's eyes widened with horror and confusion. "Why, Loki? Why have you done this? Why, do this to our mother, why attack Midgard? Why all this deception?"
For a moment, Loki's expression softened, a flicker of something like regret passing over his face. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a mask of cold resolve and madness. "I had questions, Thor. Questions that needed answers. Have you thought about what Justin Hammer said? About Hela? About Odin's secrets?" He chuckled throatily, "As well as that, I felt the mortals needed… A reminder, to not so willfully play with gods, hence the attack." His eyes flashed with sudden anger, "Justin Hammer knows more than he says, he tried to lie to me!" He thundered, grip tightening on the dagger he held to Odin's throat, "I could have taken him myself, but I wanted him to see as everyone around him paid the price for his temerity…"
Loki then rolled his eyes, "And of course, the idiot Aesir couldn't even manage that. Against mortals. What good are you even?" He spat.
The mention of Hela brought a deep unease to Thor. He shook his head, trying to dispel the creeping dread. "It's all lies, Loki. Myths and stories. There's no truth in them." He also felt a stirring of true horror at how Loki, his brother, was speaking of them as if they were not both Aesir.
What had transpired in the short time he'd been gone?
Loki's eyes darkened, and he let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Oh, but there is truth, Thor. There's always a kernel of truth in every lie." His voice grew quieter, more intense. "I found the truth, I went looking, as regent I have access to Odin's library... Hela, Odin's firstborn, the Goddess of Death, was real, is real. She was his executioner, his weapon of conquest. And when he had no more use for her, he banished her, erased her from history, locked her away in Helheim." He smiled mockingly, "So he could have a baby boy with his war trophy wife…"
Thor took a step back, his mind reeling. "No, it can't be..." Father wouldn't do that, he wouldn't!
Loki's smile widened, a grim satisfaction in his eyes. "Yes, Thor. Odin's firstborn, his most loyal daughter, cast aside like a broken tool when he no longer required her. And he lied to us about it. Just like he lied about so many things." He cocked his head, spitting out bitterly, "We were never truly his children, we were objects, crafted for a purpose of the great Allfather…."
Thor's voice was choked with emotion. "Loki, put down the dagger. We can talk about this. Maybe there's an explanation for all -"
Loki's expression twisted with bitterness, his skin slowly turning a cold, icy blue, his eyes a deep red, Thor reeling back in shock and disgust, before sudden realization hit him, and made him want to vomit, no… Father no… You didn't... He couldn't have kept this secret. Couldn't have lied to Loki, to Thor, about this for all this time.
Hela was enough, but this… Father… He suddenly understood Loki's slide into madness. If Hela was real, and then Loki found this out. Thor's heart ached for his brother, even as he saw to his regret, his brothers almost pleased look at his Instinctive revulsion. I've already lost… How can I get my brother back, now?
"An explanation? Like there's an explanation for this?" He gestured to himself, the frost giant blood coursing through his veins making his appearance alien and otherworldly. "He used me, Thor. Just as he used Hela. A pawn in his games, a monster to unleash when it suited him. And you... You were cast aside as soon as you became inconvenient."
Thor flinched at Loki's words, the raw truth in them cutting deep. "Loki, I... I didn't know." He said pitifully, unable to come up with better words at the moment.
Loki's gaze was filled with a mix of pity and scorn. "Of course you didn't. You never wanted to see it. But now, I see everything clearly." He pressed the dagger closer to Odin's throat, drawing a thin line of blood, his smile one of pure mad glee. "With the time magic in Odin's Library, my magic has expanded beyond you pathetic Aesir!"
"Stop!" Thor shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. He lunged forward, only for his hand to pass through Loki as if he were made of mist. The illusion faded, and Loki's laughter filled the room, harsh and mocking.
"Still so easy to deceive," Loki's voice taunted, echoing from all around them. "But it doesn't matter. The truth is out, and the game is almost over."
Thor's heart sank as he looked out of the chamber's large windows, just in time to see the Bifrost activate, its energy surging towards… Going by Loki's words, Hela being banished, what would his brother do… Helheim. His face paled in horror. "Heimdall," he whispered, realization dawning. "Heimdall wouldn't... He wouldn't..."
Loki's laughter grew louder, more manic as an illusive clone stepped forward out of the wall. "Oh, but he would. I've been hidden from Heimdall's sight for ages. A simple illusion, a tweak of enchantment of the mind, and he thinks I'm Odin, issuing commands, I didn't have enough power before, now... He doesn't question the Allfather, even when the orders are to obliterate Helheim."
Thor's eyes widened in shock and anger. "Loki, you can't! You're going to destroy an entire realm! You can't do this!"
Helheim wasn't a realm full of life, but it was one of the whole, its destruction would affect the entire tree of Yggdrasil, throwing the realms out of balance. There was a reason that all of the dead world's of the nine still existed and hadn't been fully destroyed even if they had the capability, Loki knew this, had he gone fully mad? Not to mention that Hela, if she was truly their half sister, didn't deserve this.
Loki's voice came from behind him suddenly, filled with a cold, bitter resolve. "Oh, but I can, Thor. I will. No more threats to my throne. No more Hela. Helheim will be no more." He laughed wildly, arms outstretched as Thor turned around, "And after that, Jotunheim as well, I'll be the King who ended all threats to Asgard, definitively, for all time!"
"FOR ALL TIME!" Echoed across the chamber.
With a roar of anger and despair, Thor shot out of the chambers, Mjolnir pulling him through the air towards the Rainbow Bridge. He had to stop the Bifrost, and he had to prevent the destruction of Helheim and Jotunheim. The weight of what Loki had revealed pressed heavily on him, a dark, suffocating truth that shattered the foundations of everything he had believed.
Even if he won here. Everything had changed. Everything.
His father… Thor's resolve firmed.
His father was not fit to be King.
These secrets were not kept for the realm, for their safety and prosperity. Loki and Hela, two sides of the same coin. Hidden by their father for selfish personal reasons.
Thor knew all about selfishness. Could see it now. Could see himself grow to be even more of his father's son. And he rejected it utterly.
He tore the part of him that was Odinson out, and released it in the ether, he was Freyjason now. Maybe it was purely symbolic, but it made him feel less unclean.
Centuries…. CENTURIES, he'd lied! Millenia!
As he flew towards the Bifrost, the landscape of Asgard blurred beneath him, its beauty and serenity a stark contrast to the chaos that was unfolding, the citizens unaware of the danger. The golden spires and lush gardens seemed almost mocking in their tranquility. The storm clouds that had gathered above the palace followed him, dark and foreboding, as if the very skies themselves mourned the revelations of the day.
Mourned the loss of a father. The likely loss of a brother. The failure of Thor, who couldn't fix anything!
Thor landed with a crash at the entrance to the Bifrost Observatory, the powerful energies of the bridge swirling around him. Heimdall stood at his post, his expression a mask of confusion and concern.
"Heimdall!" Thor shouted, rushing towards the gatekeeper. "You must stop the Bifrost! Loki has deceived you! He's not Odin!" For good measure, he slammed his hammer down, a ring of lightning spreading out, shocking the man, and ensuring no Loki was hidden in front of him under illusion.
Heimdall's eyes widened in shock, but his hand immediately moved to his sword to deactivate the Bifrost.
Before he could, he was encased in ice, Loki appearing behind him, holding the Casket of Ancient Winter in his hands, red eyes gleaming with pleasure as he watched Heimdall freeze over, one hand desperately reaching for his blade.
"Brother!" Thor roared, flying forward, Mjolnir shooting for his brother's face.
Which again turned out to be an illusion, as Loki appeared behind him, back at the rainbow bridge, clicking his tongue loudly, the Casket nowhere to be seen. "We could do this all day, just give up, Thor." His face grew cold and bitter, "And do not call me brother, not anymore, we never were, it's all a lie crafted by Odin." He scoffed in abject disgust, "Hela was his favorite broken toy, I was his pet monster…" He leered at Thor, "I wonder what that makes you…?"
Thor looked up, tears in his eyes. "Your brother. Always." He said, before raising his arm, and smashing it down on the bridge.
Loki got tossed off his feet as the bifrost screamed, the rainbow bridge shaking, "You fool!" He screamed, some clarity returning to his eyes, "What are you doing!?"
"I can't allow you to wreck the nine realms, in your madness you've forgotten the balance, yet I can't fight you, brother, this is the only way." Again he slams Mjolnir down, the rainbow bridge cracking.
"NO!" Loki screamed, the casket suddenly in his hands again as a blizzard worth of ice and snow shot his way.
Thor flew up in the air, above the avalanche of ice and snow, spinning his hammer, before he struck down like a lightning bolt, smashing the rainbow bridge, cracking it in half, the bifrost immediately stopping, the power waning. Underneath them a storm or chaos and power erupted due to the power leak.
"What have you done…? You… You've ruined it." Loki moaned madly, fingers raking through his hair, "Do you even realize that without the bifrost Asgard is worthless as a sovereign, you absolute oaf!?"
Thor smiled sadly, kneeling at the edge of the broken bridge, "Aye, I realize, brother, but it is better than the havoc losing realms would have on all of us."
"I'm not your brother!" Loki roared, green energy coating his hands as he shot forward, daggers materializing as he reached for Thor's throat, Thor too slow to react.
Clang!
Both of them slowly looked upwards, following the slim shaft of Gungnir, until they settled on the weary face of Odin Allfather.
With a twist of the spear, Loki was hurled away, rolling across the broken bridge. Odin leveled Gungnir at him with sorrow written across his face, "I will not allow it, my son."
"Son… Even now, you dare!?" Loki snarled, roaring as he threw a wall of magic at Odin, one that turned into a cavalcade of beasts, all snarling and spitting as they rushed the Allfather.
"Loki, no!" Thor cried out, even as Odin effortlessly banished the beasts with a simple tap of Gungnir against the remains of the bridge.
Odin slowly stepped forward, even as Loki crawled back towards the edge, snarling like a wild beast.
"Father…" Thor said, rising up, giving him a hard stare, "He's my brother." He insisted, grabbing his father's arm.
Odin stared down at Thor with one eye, casually spinning Gungnir to deflect the magicked daggers Loki threw in the moment, no longer verbal, just snarling and growling at his presence, in hatred and fear. "I must do what's best for Asgard." He said sorrowfully.
Thor stepped in front of him, "Best for Asgard, or best for you?" He asked, determination swelling in his chest.
Odin cracked a smile, "Midgard has been good to you, even for such a short time, my son."
Thor glared at him defiantly, "You didn't answer me, Father."
Odin sighed heavily, moving past Thor, who suddenly found himself unable to move, golden chains restricting him. "I will not have another Hela… How a mortal found out about that…" He sighed deeply again. "Thor, when you are king, you will realize this, one of the ways to know when you are making the right choice or not, is by the level of hate you feel towards yourself for making it." He leveled Gungnir at Loki, a tear running down his eye, "When you do what's best for the realm, even though it pains you inside."
"No! You do not get to do this and claim it's good for the realm! This is Loki! My brother, your son!" Thor roared, veins visible, muscles straining as he fought the enchantments keeping him stuck. "Father! Do not do this!"
Loki, some measure of mental acuity returned to him, chuckled bitterly, "Ah, I'm meant to be banished now as well? Just as Hela, what is it then, Jotunheim?"
Odin looked at him, shaking his head slowly, "No… You'd return with an army." He said sadly. "I'd send you to Helheim if you didn't have the capability to traverse realms. I can not risk Hela escaping. I'm… Sorry. Loki." He shook his head slowly, "Attempting to destroy two realms is beyond a simple crime, Hela would have escaped… I can not allow it."
"Father, STOP!" Thor screamed, thunder striking down from the storm clouds above, Odin deflecting it with Gungnir with an easy motion.
Thor cried as he realized the futility. Realized he'd been living a lie.
Loki, his face pale, his lips thinned in realization, started to chuckle, "I see…" He began to laugh hysterically, tears running down his face as he got pure confirmation of his beliefs, "To hide Hela still, you'd kill me? Thor knows as well, going to kill him too?" He asked, beginning to cackle in hysterics.
"He will come to understand the necessity. To see the bigger picture." Odin said, moving suddenly with a speed that belied his age, Gungnir unerringly pointed at Loki's heart. Thor wordlessly screaming for his brother, for his father to stop, for everything to just STOP!
Yet Odin wasn't fast enough to prevent Loki from simply diving off into the still churning miasma where the energies of the bifrost were still swirling, slowly dissipating. The god of mischief, the liesmith, disappearing into the ether. Lost forever.
Having chosen to end on his own terms instead of falling to Odin's spear.
"LOKI!" Thor screamed, before sobbing wildly in his bondage, eyes glaring at Odin through the tears. "He was your son! Father, how could you!?"
Odin slowly lowered Gungnir, leaning against his spear, "You'll make a better King then I, Thor…" He said to the bitterly crying prince. "But in this matter… You couldn't go with your heart… His crimes… The risk of leaving him free, jailed or banished, he was a threat to the realm."
"I… CHALLENGE YOU!" Thor roared absolutely incensed, the bindings around him exploding, Thor immediately falling down on one knee, the magical effort having exhausted him.
"Asgard will no longer suffer your rule!" Thor said emotionally, tears still running down his face, "I will no longer accept it!"
His face turned grim as he stared up at his father, "Mother will not accept it…" He swore.
Odin, still weary from the Odinsleep, heart broken from what he felt he'd had to do, let Gungnir fall from his hands, closing his eye.
"What's done is done." He intoned with finality.
"So be it."
Kamar-Taj,
"You're early, but you'll do I suppose." The Ancient One said, looking down at a confused Stephen Strange, who'd been sitting angrily at her doorstep.
His career had been destroyed, everything he'd ever worked for, gone. A simple shot now taking care of most any injury, any meatball surgeon able to handle surgeries when they just needed to remove any obstruction and then give the patient a goddamn shot.
Like his entire life was a joke. Like medical school was a joke. Like he, the god damn best thing to ever happen to medicine, was a fucking joke…
"I've come to lea-"
"Here you go." She chirped, handing him a broom.
"Isn't this a little bit Harry Potter…" Stephen drawled holding the broom like it held diseases, well away from his body, with the tip of his fingers.
He wasn't sure if he believed what he'd heard, but the people he'd managed to find and interview, they'd all been able to do things not thought possible. At least… Before Panacea, he thought bitterly.
"Oh no, it's for sweeping." She said cheerfully, walking away.
Stephen's face flushed in anger, "Sweeping!?" He yelled after her.
She turned around, smiling enigmatically, "We only have an opening for a janitor right now, Mr. Strange."
"Doctor." He corrected her automatically.
"Surely not, I've seen many things in my long life, but never a doctorate for janitorial duties." She said, her smile widening.
"I am not god damn sweepi-"
An orange portal opened in midair before him, two wizards and what looked like a Minotaur stepping out, one of them carrying what looked like a Phoenix.
Stephen grabbed the broom and began to rapidly sweep as he followed them.
The Ancient One simply smiled, a twinkle in her eyes.
New York,
Charles Xavier stared into his cappuccino, waiting.
It was days like these that made what he did so hard. The choices he had to make for all of them, even when it hurt someone close to him.
Emma Frost slid into the seat opposite of his with impeccable grace, the barista bringing her drink, already made before she'd even walked in.
Charles frowned at her, lips curled in distaste.
"Really, Charles, you're going to judge me, right now?" She said with a mocking tilt of her head.
He nodded stiffly, "There is a difference between a just cause and doing it for your own amusement, Miss Frost."
Emma Frost smiled, a truly amused smile, "Ask the person's mind you violate if they care if it was for a good reason or not, Charles. I think you'll be surprised." She waved a hand dismissively, "We both do the same thing, I'm just honest about it…"
"We are not the same." He said icily.
She slipped her drink, a small smile on her face still, "Whatever you say, Charles. Do you have my payment?"
Charles nodded, staring at her, wetting his lips, struggling with asking the question. "And the deed… It's done?"
She smirked, raising an immaculate eyebrow superiorly. "Of course. Hank McCoy no longer remembers anything about human experimentation, while still able to finish up the last touches of his work."
Charles nodded, closing his eyes. He hadn't been able to make himself do it, not in the end. But it still needed to be done. He pushed a USB stick across the table.
Emma smiled, taking the USB and giving it a small kiss, chuckling softly, "Oh, Charles, I do love doing business with you, it's so amazingly… Profitable."
He opened his eyes, eyeing her, "You were about to say simple." He accused her wryly.
She shrugged easily, a shark like mien to her attitude suddenly, "Well Charles, when I can extract payment from you, for not only getting a ton of information on Justin Hammer out of dear Doctor McCoy's head, but also plenty of research notes… Why, it's like you're paying me to get paid."
"He is your ally." Charles said sternly, "Our ally."
"Mhm, yet you screwed him like this." She said, and Charles disliked her more like this then when she pulled the ice queen routine. The smugness was nauseating. "Don't worry, I didn't get Extremis out of this, Dr McCoy hardly knows everything after all, but it was juicy either way…"
"And Hammer's a business rival as well as an ally." Charles sighed, slumping slightly. He'd known she'd take advantage, but really, he'd hoped she'd become a better person after taking the reins of her company.
"So you can learn, or you just choose the worst option on purpose? I'm undecided which I'm leaning towards…" She mocked lightly.
"Miss Frost, are we done here?" Charles said stiffly, almost regretting choosing this avenue.
Almost.
It was still better than him doing it himself, breaking his word like that.
"If you betray him, I'll have to move against you." He warned, calling on Morph to come wheel him out.
"Here's a tip for free, Charles." Emma said, suddenly icily serious again, leaning forward. "You have to mean it, or a threat is pointless."
Charles left the small coffee shop, feeling like things were slipping away from him a little too fast.
China,
Slowly the calligraphy brush caressed the canvas, as he pondered the servant behind him.
"A mad dog has its uses." He acknowledged, neither praising nor denigrating his servants' initiative.
Only time would tell if his servant would rise with accolades,
Or join the mad dog as nothing but a disposable tool sent to the slaughter.
He eyed the masterpiece he'd created, scoffing as he brushed a thick line across it.
Another skill perfected to the utmost limit of humanity.
It was boring now.
"Make this mad dog heel, the time is not ripe." He murmured, giving one last order to his loyal servant.
Out at sea, The ship Schrodinger's cat.
Bruce Banner couldn't even fathom how he'd been talked into this.
It couldn't have been the pretty redhead, because Bruce really didn't do relationships. Even the short carnal ones were a bad idea when he might suddenly become the Other Guy while… Inside.
He shuddered at that thought, hands gripping the railing. The icy wind sent shivers down his spine. He'd had nightmares like that, it made it hard to eat for days after.
He looked back as he heard the footsteps on the deck, the man who'd introduced himself as Nick Fury walking up, followed by the mild mannered assistant type who seemed to go wherever he went, Phil Coulson.
He hadn't had much dealings with secret agent types, but even then, he was almost positive that wearing that much leather was bad spy behavior.
"Doctor Banner, now that we are at sea, let's get you briefed." Fury said clippedly, hands behind his back.
Bruce shook his head, "Taking me out to sea, alone on this… You're either mad or desperate." I wonder if the crew knows what they've signed up with, be thought, watching the agents that ran the ship moving about in the distance.
Fury scowled, "They all know what they signed up for, it's not like you'll die from a dunk in the damned water if you rip the ship apart, so you have nothing to worry about, Banner."
That was supposed to be… Comforting? Bruce looked at Coulson, who was giving his Boss a tired look.
"I'd prefer not to cause casualties…" Bruce muttered. Again asking himself why on earth he'd accepted this.
It was the stupid fully equipped state of the art lab they'd given him onboard, allowing him to research his cure. He didn't exactly have any other offers laying about for that kind of thing.
None that he would touch anyway.
"We all die someday, Banner, if it's worth anything, I have faith that you won't lose control with my men onboard." Fury told him bluntly, almost glaring at him with one eye.
Bruce sighed, not really willing to argue. "What do you want then." He asked plaintively.
Fury nodded at Coulson, who handed Bruce a hunk of rock.
"What is this?" Bruce muttered, moving it about in his hands.
"Vibranium, we need you to build a scanner that can find it down to several hundred feet deep." Fury said, still scowling.
Bruce was realizing this might be the man's normal face. He looked at the rock again, seeing the metal within now that he was focusing more clearly, "Why me? It's hardly my specialty?" He asked.
Coulson spoke up, his voice mild, "With your genius it shouldn't be impossible, and you're more trustworthy than most other scientists in… Today's climate."
Bruce tried to not take that as you're the only one dumb enough to accept this secret trip without any knowledge ahead of time of what it's about. But it still felt like that was the answer. "This is just… A Vibranium hunt then?" He asked, feeling slightly let down. How utterly mundane.
Fury wasn't the type he'd thought to be chasing his fortune.
Fury scowled even harsher, "Not in the way you're thinking." He started pacing slightly, "Hammer somehow got Bucky Barnes alive and well. At first I thought it must be a clone, but I got reports from people I trust that say he's the real deal." He glared at Bruce, "That means the Soviets had someone with the super soldier serum on ice since the 40s and he hasn't aged a damn day, still alive and well."
Bruce looked at the hunk of rock with new eyes, everyone knew about Bucky Barnes and Steve Roger. Although he hadn't been aware of the one man being alive and well… But… That meant.
"You want me to find Captain America, and you think he might still be alive?"
Fury smiled, as Coulson practically vibrated next to him, "Think you can do it, Banner?"
Bruce looked at the rock thoughtfully, "Give me a week." He decided.
Whatever else he did, this was something worthwhile, he could push his cure back a little.
Captain America deserved to come home.
Author's note:
Justin Hammer: Surely it will save everyone some trouble if I let them know of the Hela problem early?
In Asgard: All hail King Thor!
Justin Hammer: This is Loki's fault, not mine.
Odin here wakes up having seen Loki set out to eradicate realms, potentially releasing Hela, who won't die due to being tied to Asgard. He can't have another Hela situation, so he makes another bad parenting decision, pretty on point for him really. Here Loki has invaded Midgard, found many secrets in Odin's library, set in motion the destruction of realms, and tried to kill his brother. Odin decides to err on the side of caution.
Thor objects. Strongly.
Which kind of… Changes things.
Charles: I didn't mindrape him personally so it's okay. Mmkay dude.
Can't involve the X-Men without some Charles shenanigans.
Had to involve something with time with Loki, it was essential, fight me on it.
So, time skip next.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
So last chapter before the time skip, not sure I'm all that happy about it. Some resolutions, some future teases, we'll see how it's received.
As usual though, canon goes sideways a little.
But hey, no Jane/Thor, that relationship is dead, you're welcome.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
August 2008, Puento Antiguo, New Mexico.
The town of Puente Antiguo lay in ruins, a stark reminder of the recent battle. Smoke curled into the sky, the acrid scent of burning debris and charred flesh lingering in the air. Justin Hammer stood amidst the devastation, his expression a mask of grim determination. The clatter of his team moving through the wreckage filled the silence, their faces reflecting the exhaustion and grimness of the day's events.
"Bag and tag every piece of Asgardian tech and armor," Justin commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to get it all before they pay attention to us again and beam it all up. Kaecillius, get a specialist team here ASAP to assist with gathering everything." He gave everyone a hard stare, his lips thinned, "Take the bodies as well, every body part. Bagged, tagged, and ready for transport."
Phantazia nodded, already relaying the order to those of the security team not in the nearby vicinity. Domino on the other hand whistled through pinched lips, walking up to him, a hard look on her face, "You sure about that last one, boss?" She asked, grimly watching as those of their own who had died were collected, "I normally don't care what you get up to, but desecrating alien bodies never ends well in the movies." Her eyes flicked upwards, "Especially not when they can just beam down to profess their displeasure."
Justin rarely saw Domino serious, so he gave her words considerable weight, but in the end he shook his head, "This whole thing seemed more like a civil war than an invasion, they'll be busy I wager." To appease her, he added, "But we'll just store the bodies for now for a few days, see if anyone comes looking, if not, they obviously didn't care, right?"
Unless Loki had changed things even more, no one would be coming for the bodies anytime soon. All the better for him. Although the real price was the Destroyer armor, Vanko was already picking up every piece on his order, Thor had smashed it quite comprehensively.
Smash was his go to move, he and the Hulk were remarkably similar in some ways.
Kaecillius disappeared to fetch their research teams, the ones more suited for the work of dealing with the bodies, and the rest. Justin eyed the orange portal with want. He didn't have many hours a day to practice, but he'd finally begun emitting sparks with his own sling rings.
Soon, he thought covetously, soon…
Justin's eyes scanned the area afterwards, taking in the sight of his battered team and the fallen Einherjar. The civilians of the town had either fled or been caught in the crossfire, and it was now his responsibility to manage the aftermath. Thankfully, because they'd been so thorough in the town's destruction, it would also allow him to completely craft the narrative.
"We got lucky." He surmised, looking over the few fallen on his own side, walking across the line of bodies, thankfully single digits due to Extremis and the arrival of the HAMMER team.
Domino followed him, glancing around, hands not far from her weapons, "Oh, how so?" She asked, likely playing devil advocate, as she knew more about combat then he'd ever learn.
But he did have some slight knowledge advantages she lacked.
"There's no way this was Asgards might, if anything, with the ornamentation on the armor…" He stopped to toe an Asgardian corpse thoughtfully, "They were palace guards or something similar." He surmised.
This all had seemed like a foolish Loki ploy, not a war strategy from Asgards god of war. He had a feeling there was a stark difference between the two.
Domino grimaced, "If this was their version of fat complacent nepotism warriors, what are their actual warriors like?" She didn't seem enthused at the thought this was the bottom rung of warriors, whatever Loki had immediately on hand.
Oh sure, generally speaking palace guards or royal guards were considered the elite of any monarchy in history etc, but reality was that palace guards spent the majority of their time standing guard, never facing battle. Skills did dull over time even with sparring now and then to keep fit. And for Asgard who likely had some of these guards doing the job for hundreds of years?
Justin had probably seen more actual life and death battles than some of these ones.
Justin breathed in heavily, the scent of burning bodies in the air from the unlucky civilians burning in their homes polluting the air. "Let's hope we don't find out. The world isn't ready…"
He looked towards the horizon, eyes narrowed as he pondered what could be done to narrow the gap in the short term, "Yet…"
Twenty minutes later, as his teams were canvassing the town, more teams coming in due to an open portal to Cairo that Kaecillius was holding open, Justin finally decided it was time to bite the bullet and inform the world.
Pulling out his phone, Justin dialed a secure line, waiting for the connection to be made. Ellis knew not to ignore when he called on this line.
Which is why he felt significantly annoyed when it took three calls to finally get the man to pick up.
"Hammer, this better be important!" Ellis groused, "I was on the line with the Russian President, he was not impressed to be put on hold…"
Justin grit his teeth together, Ellis don't get uppity with me, not today! "Oh, the Russian President, I suppose that's important…" He drawled sarcastically, "When you're done arguing about pointless human rights with him, do give me a call back to deal with the fact Aliens invaded a small town in New Mexico, wiping it, and the SHIELD contingent stationed here, out - with no survivors." Then he hung up.
It took seconds for his phone to ring, and he answered sweetly, "I see you've made some time?"
There was cursing on the other line, Ellis yelling to someone, "I don't care, get the VP to appease him, make up an excuse, I have to take this!" Before his attention turned to Justin, his voice deadly serious, "What happened, Hammer?"
Justin let his irritation fade, in this case it would be no use to continue to push on Ellis, who had been a good little minion throughout it all, "Well, Asgard is apparently real, and we had a visit from Thor and Loki." He said calmly.
There was a long pause on the other line, before Ellis slowly spoke up, "If it was anyone but you, Hammer, I'd be requesting a mental evaluation… So… Nordic myths are real…" He sounded utterly done with life. "How bad is it?"
Now that he thought about it, this man would be President from Iron Man to what…? Civil War? Talk about a stressful time to be in office.
"Thor seemed mostly harmless and happy to assist, somewhat like a large puppy… If the puppy could also summon storms and probably bench press a submarine - he was also heavily crushing on a human girl, so we at least have that lever." Justin reported, "To everyone's great surprise," He continued sarcastically, "It seems Loki is performing some sort of coup, attempting to assassinate Thor, and also sending several hundred troops into Puento Antiguo, wrecking the town." Before the President could fully fall into a panic, he reassured him, "Not to worry, myself and the team eradicated every last alien invader, while Thor went back home to deal with this coup."
"Do you have confirmation on this divide? How likely are they to return, do you need military assistance right now?" Ellis asked rapidly.
Justin took a deep breath, feeling exhaustion seeping through him, the mental strain of the battle and its aftermath a considerable weight, and he wouldn't stop for hours yet. "Well, I'm cautiously optimistic, but if you could get the ball rolling on reading in the World Security Council, NATO an-"
The phone conversation lasted far longer than he'd hoped, as almost two hours later, after the Defense Secretary and Homeland joined in - the briefing finally finished for now, and he could hang up the phone.
His eye twitched as it immediately began ringing again.
Thirty minutes later,
Justin pinched the bridge of his nose as he held the phone away from his ear, really, who's idea was it to let Ross be the contact to the Joint Chiefs anyway?
The asshole had already gotten the summary from the Defense Secretary, but Ross being Ross, and unfortunately important enough Justin couldn't dodge his phone call indefinitely, had reached out to him to get the full details, claiming he was the point of contact to the Joint Chiefs, which could be true, and knowing him, could also not be true and he'd appointed himself. He'd certainly been on a shorter leash since trying to bully Hammer Industries and Stark industries in favor of Oscorp.
Seeing Bucky walking up, he spoke quickly into the phone, "Something came up, General, let me put you on hold." Eager to get away from the man already haranguing him on why he didn't call in the army.
The goblin suits wouldn't have done shit to Asgardian energy weapons or strength, Justin thought, not that the army even had that many proficient operators of the new armors yet.
With that thought, he used his glasses to send a text to Sunil, any sight of Osborn?
Ending the call after a few seconds of listening to the general curse, Justin turned to Bucky. "What's on your mind, Barnes?" The new Captain America stared at him with a raised eyebrow, notably at the phone he'd just hung up, not put on hold.
Justin shrugged, "Mistakes happen." He smirked slightly, "Don't tell me you didn't wish to do the same to the brass back in your day…"
Bucky smiled so briefly it was gone in a flash, Justin used the instant replay on his glasses just to ensure he'd actually seen it. "Busy day ahead, so I'll skip any more small talk, what do you need, Captain?"
Bucky's gaze was intense, looking around them, lips thinned in displeasure. "We need more training and better planning, Hammer." He said bluntly, "This battle was a mess, and we got lucky. We can't rely on luck next time, we need to do war games and simulations, and become an actual team."
Justin nodded, appreciating Bucky's candor. "Agreed. We'll start with a full debrief soonest, and then set up a rigorous training schedule. We need to be prepared for anything." He fiddled with his phone for a moment, ignoring the incoming call from Ross. "Write me up a list of what you need or think needs to be done, use Frank and Brock, pick their brains on modern military methods."
Bucky nodded seriously, "I'll do that," He hesitated briefly, eyes going behind him, towards their ad hoc medical area. "Miss Van Dyne and you seem… Close, I think she'll need to talk to someone…"
Justin frowned, "What do you mean?" He craned his neck, looking for her.
"She just killed over a dozen people." Bucky said with a grimace, "People like me, well…" He shrugged uncomfortably, "It's a familiar ache, but a civilian like her?"
Justin nodded slowly, he'd forgotten not everyone saw the world quite like he did. For him, all the people that didn't matter to him personally were barely more than cardboard cutouts. He didn't feel anything about their deaths, their suffering.
Hope could be as ruthless as him in business, but personally killing that many people, even if they were aliens…
"I'll talk to her." He promised, Bucky nodding, walking off to continue overseeing things.
Just then he received a message back from Sunil, his glasses flashing, No sightings, Iron Man on the move. Gulmira.
Justin groaned, now, really Tony? And what the hell was up with Osborn? If he kept any kind of eye on them, then both of them were occupied, so why the hell was the crazed maniac not showing up somewhere?
How on earth is the drugged nut job managing to stay quiet?
Minutes later, as he dodged another call from Ross, Phantazia walked up to him and Domino in long hurried strides, Interrupting his own walk towards the medical area.
His eyes were on Hope, a brewing anger in his gut as he realized she hadn't been treated yet, not properly, anyway, after almost three hours. Why hadn't she said anything? He immediately sent a group text to the entire security team demanding a dose of Panacea for Hope, now!
"What's got your panties in a twist?" Domino snarked, only for Phantazia to completely walk by her without a word, eyes only for Justin.
"Sir," She said quietly, "Team Epsilon found survivors, over a dozen in total." She reported, lips barely moving.
Justin appreciated her discretion, eyes on Bucky's back, currently at the end of the street. He turned back to Phantazia, "No they didn't." He said calmly, meeting her gaze.
"Sir, th-" She aborted what she was going to say, nodding slowly, "Yes sir, understood, I'll remind Epsilon there were no survivors."
Justin nodded sharply, his men were all people whose limbs and lives had been restored to them through Justin, they were loyal. Even to this extent, he could count on them. Epsilons team lead had been a Navy Seal, who'd quit to take care of his two daughters, horribly maimed in an accident, doomed to a life of constant assistance and care - care he could barely afford, scraping by.
The man would assassinate the president without blinking if Justin gave the word. He'd handle this.
"Make sure all the teams know, Eileen." He added quietly. "There are no survivors. None."
"Yes sir."
Any witnesses could attest to the fact that weirdly dressed men with spears did not in fact set most of the town on fire or blow it up. He couldn't have that.
By the time SHIELD or the Army rolled in, he'd have sanitized as much as he could, whatever would implicate them, muddying it enough no one could say it wasn't the Aliens who did the deed.
Besides… A town wiped out by aliens, beat back by Justin Hammer, who saved the rest of America and the world from similar destruction?
That sounded so much better than - town almost wiped out, a dozen survivors - Survivors tell of massive collateral damage from HAMMER.
Truth was subjective,
It came down to who had the most money and influence.
Which neatly made Justin Hammer the most truthful man in the world.
He was stopped again from approaching Hope, by a call he couldn't refuse, especially as the caller would already be very annoyed that he hadn't been the first one Justin had reached out to.
He sighed as he raised the phone to his ear, eyes pinched as he watched the hurried efforts of his people as they gathered up everything of interest, digging through the rubble to make sure not a single piece was missed.
Alexander Pierce was calling, and this one required a bit more finesse. "Pierce," Justin began as he answered the phone, his voice steady. "I suppose you've been briefed…"
Pierce's response was terse and suspicious. "I should have been the first one called, why didn't my men contact me, Hammer? Where's Garrett and Sitwell?"
Justin's lips twitched, as he fought to keep smugness out of his voice. "The Asgardians wiped them out. We barely managed to survive ourselves. It was chaos all around." He stepped away from the others, voice low, "As it is, I lost several men, and almost lost several of my team as well. We barely held on here Pierce, your agents were normal men and women, they were mincemeat before they knew it."
Of course they'd have to destroy all the bodies, because they would not look like Asgardian victims as they were, but it was easy enough to do. Kaecillius new volcano portal trick was ideal for disposing of evidence.
It's not like anyone could say Asgard didn't have weapons that completely vaporized all the SHIELD agents…
Pierce held his tongue throughout his explanation, even though Justin could literally feel his simmering anger across the line, he barely finished talking before Pierce shot out, "I'm supposed to believe all my men died and you all walked away fine? it seems awfully convenient, Hammer…"
Justin's voice grew chilly, "I myself was literally stabbed through by an alien spear, and had to kill aliens with my own hands to survive. Only Extremis saved me, I lost several of my security team, what exactly could your agents have done to these people other than die?"
There was a pause, then Pierce spoke again, his tone icy. "I see… We'll discuss this further. For now, what can you tell me about the situation?"
Justin took a few minutes to explain a general outline of what happened, with only a few embellishments. Ensuring he stressed to the HYDRA and SHIELD leader that he felt this black eye was enough, and that Asgard seemed embroiled in their own issues, no further action needed, except for buying more weapons and defensive equipment of course.
He even quoted the man a decent price too. Only for very big bulk orders though.
Seconds after he hung up with Pierce, he was forced to divert from Hope again, as the President's office called, patching him through to NATO operations, and the Secretary General.
Minutes later,
Electro had woken up, and was bouncing around him all of a sudden, literally crackling with excitement. "Did you see that, Hammer? I was awesome! Zapping those bastards left and right, like pew pew pew!" He formed finger guns, shooting at imaginary enemies.
Thankfully this time not actually shooting anything, just making the motions… And the sound effects. Spiderman villains, they're all cracked in the head…
Justin sighed, holding his phone to his ear, covering the speaker with his other hand. "I'm on the phone with the Secretary General of NATO, Electro. Can you tone it down?" He asked unfailingly politely. No, he wasn't glaring at him, his eyes just looked like that.
Electro grinned, unabashed. "NATO, huh? Bet they're impressed with my performance. Should I do some sound effects for them too?" He asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Before Justin could respond, Bucky appeared and grabbed Electro by the collar, dragging him away. "Come on, Sparky. Let's go cool off." He said gruffly, giving Justin a quick nod.
Justin gave Bucky a grateful nod back. "Thanks, Barnes. I owe you one." That man is just way too… Much.
Bucky smirked. "I'm used to babysitting the problem child." He said, dragging a protesting Electro away.
Then finally, he could hang up, minutes later, and made it to see Hope.
Justin found Hope sitting on a makeshift medical bed, one of the security team members administering a panacea shot to her broken collarbone, finally. He approached, his expression softening, although inwardly he was seething that it had taken them this long to heal her.
He'd need to find out who failed where, and showcase his displeasure. Maybe becoming Electros bodyguard for a few months would make whoever failed more diligent in the future.
"Hope, I'm sorry you got hurt," He said quietly, sitting down next to her, grasping her hand as the shot began to work, "I don't want to see you risk yourself like this again. I can give you the Extremis/super serum mix, I should have already. It'll make you stronger, more resilient, it will let you regenerate wounds like these."
He momentarily forgot he hadn't actually told her about that Super Soldier serum addition before, eyes widening as he smiled somewhat awkwardly.
Hope smiled through the pain, just rolling with it. "I appreciate the concern, Justin. But I like being me. We'll see about the serum later maybe. For now, let's just focus on getting through this mess, I'm assuming you've already been fielding calls from everyone?"
Justin sighed, squeezing her hand gently, "Yes, and somehow not a single one of them so far has said thank you for stopping an alien invasion," He snarked irritably.
Hope kissed his cheek, looking him into the eyes softly, "Thank you for stopping an Alien invasion." She said, her lips quirked, like she was about to laugh.
Justin snorted, a reluctant smile blooming on his lips, "You did as much if not more as me for that, my dear." He bumped shoulders with her lightly, "Are you…" He fumbled for words, feeling very unequipped for dealing with this.
Lying, sure. Manipulation, no problem, gaslighting, he was your man. Honest compassion and empathy… He could admit he somewhat stumbled there at times.
Hope smiled, but it was brittle, "It had to be done." She said, as if she'd been repeating that to herself the entire time. The three hours she sat alone. Fuck, he wanted to murder someone.
Justin leaned his head against hers, putting on arm around her shoulder, "It did, but it's okay to feel bad about it, it's okay to not be okay."
She chuckled, and if it was a bit wet, he didn't mention it. After a few minutes she finally spoke up, "You got that from a movie didn't you?"
"Hey… I can be emotional support." He protested, leaning back and looking her in the eyes.
Hope smiled a more honest smile, as she gazed into his eyes, one hand lifting up to ruffle his hair, her collarbone now healed, "Sure you can." She teased.
"I supported the hell out of Yelena!" He said, insisting on defending himself on this.
Hope gave him a dry look, "That woman doesn't need emotional support, she'll play whatever emotion she thinks works best for her goals in the moment."
"And I support her in that." Justin said stubbornly.
Hope broke out laughing, laughing so hard she bent over, clutching her stomach. Justin pouted for a minute, but it was hard to hold back a smile at her sudden cheer. I guess I'm not so bad at this as I thought, he thought smugly.
Her laughter eventually died off, and they sat in silence for a moment, Justin's thumb stroking the top of her hand as she just looked into the distance with distant eyes. Her face was covered in sweat, her hair sticking to it, and there was a splatter of blood on her neck, and yet Justin still found her absolutely breathtaking.
Strong women. Was there anything better? Even when they bent and kneeled for you, that steel remained hidden in velvet, always there.
She noticed him staring, and got an odd look in her eye, like she was psyching herself up for something, her lips parting.
Her phone rang, Justin knew it was hers and not his, because in no world would he have the ringtone for I'm a barbie girl attached to any of his contacts. Hope cursed lowly under her breath, the moment lost, as Justin raised a curious eyebrow, glancing at her phone.
"It's my dad." She said succinctly, sounding very annoyed all of a sudden.
Justin could understand it, Hank Pym annoyed him just generally by existing. He couldn't help but smirk though, "His ringtone is, I'm a barbie girl?"
She sneered at her phone, not answering it, "If he thinks all I am is a toy he can mold to whatever he wishes, why not?" She looked resigned, as the phone kept ringing and ringing, "I better take this." She said apologetically.
Justin kissed her check, "We'll talk later, let me know if you need anything."
As he walked away, he immediately leveled a glare at Domino, whose face looked way more innocent than necessary.
"Don't say it!" He warned.
"Sure is a lot of hand-holding and kissing cheeks for just friends." She said sweetly.
"...Like you would know what hand-holding is like you degenerate." He fired back,
"Words hurt." She pouted.
"Thought you liked a little pain." He snarked back.
"... You're right~, please sir, can I have some more?" She said teasingly, eyes wide open and pleading.
"Domino, I will give you fifty thousand dollars if you don't talk for the next hour."
"I'm rich now, I don't need fifty thousand dollars."
"... Are you just saying that to make me up the bid." He asked with annoyance.
"Is it working?"
"Fuck you Domino, just… Fuck you."
Still, he couldn't help but smile, what a day, and as always, Domino was there to force him to crack a smile.
The best investment he ever made.
Later that night,
The army and its SHIELD hanger ons were only an hour away from Puento Antiguo, but Justin had already left, having finished what he could for the day. The town was wiped clean of anything they didn't want seen, all the bodies, gear and weapons removed from site.
Now he was finishing up the day by dealing with the last loose end. It was also a bit of a catharsis. When you've had a bad day, nothing could improve your mood like giving someone else a really bad day.
Well, except sex.
And ew… He just thought of sex and Agent Garrett in the same thought, he felt sick.
In a dimly lit room, in one of Justin's many many secret warehouses around the world, (honestly Justin wasn't sure what country they were in right now, Kaecillius could be really handy like that.) Agent Garrett was tied to a chair rather expertly, looking defiant despite his predicament. Justin stood in front of him, flanked by Yelena and Domino.
He'd sent Phantazia to bed, having used her powers so extensively and then organized the clean up, she was suffering from a migraine from hell, and he didn't need her here for this anyway, it was much more Yelena's domain.
And Domino did so like to watch.
"Garrett," Justin began, his tone pleasant as he sat in front of the man. "You're going to tell me everything you know about HYDRA's plans. Especially any plans they have for me."
He knew the man was fairly high in the hierarchy, higher then Sitwell, almost to the level of Coulson he believed, when it came to security clearances.
Garrett sneered. "You think I'm just going to spill my guts because you ask nicely?" His eyes were cold, the man already knew he was dead, knew he was going to suffer.
It's what made these kinds of interrogations difficult. A man that knew he was going to die, and knew he was going to suffer no matter what, had every reason to spite you by holding back what you most wanted to know.
Torture really wasn't a very effective way to gather information. But until a proper truth serum was developed, they had to make due.
The one Maya and Cho had tried and tested, didn't so much make someone tell the truth, as it made them simply talk constantly, every thought and random brain blurb just spilling out nonstop.
It was… Progress he supposed.
Justin smiled, his eyes cold. "No. But you will spill them. Because if you don't, we'll make sure you wish you had. You've seen what we can do. You know we're not bluffing."
Yelena smiled sweetly, "I have had plenty of training, on both ends. We'll have lots of fun together."
Garrett glared at them, "It doesn't matter what I say, I know your type, you'll still torture me, so fuck you, I'm not giving you shit, Hail HYDRA!"
They all watched him, the confusion in his face as the cyanide capsule in his fake tooth failed to kill him.
"Sorry, but we've watched all the spy movies, searching for a fake tooth is literally the first thing we did." Domino said lightly, tittering as she hid a smile behind her hand, "But thank you for confirming you'd take the cowards way out."
Garrett glared at her, eyes almost popping out of his skull as his face reddened, "What did you call me, bitch!?
"Yelena, he doesn't seem to have the proper respect, not like a guest of ours should, please fix that." Justin said, sitting calmly before Garrett.
Yelena smiled, rolling over a tray of tools. "I'll have him singing by sun up!"
…
What a nice treasure trove Agent Garrett was…
Justin could do a lot with this information… A lot indeed.
As the iridescent light of the Bifrost faded, Thor, the Warriors Three, and Lady Sif found themselves standing before the golden realm of Asgard. The gleaming spires of the city stretched skyward, their grandeur reflected in the waters below. The air was crisp and cool, with a faint hint of the sea, and the scent of ancient magic seemed to hang in the atmosphere, heavy and foreboding.
Behind them, the surviving warriors stood still, waiting for orders, all of them avoiding his eyes, none of them speaking. The loss of honor in their defeat was enough to still any loose tongues. Asgard, Thor knew, would have much to say about recent events once it became known Midgard was capable of repelling them as such, even if it was nowhere near the full might of their warriors.
Thor took a moment to look around, his gaze sweeping over the familiar yet awe-inspiring landscape. The Rainbow Bridge shimmered in front of them, a kaleidoscope of colors that connected Asgard to the Bifrost. Ahead, the massive gates of the city stood open, inviting yet intimidating. For a moment, Thor felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with an uneasy sense of foreboding. He turned to Heimdall, who stood vigilantly by the entryway to the rainbow bridge, his golden armor glinting in the Asgardian sunlight. His eyes looked even more distant than usual, he thought.
"Heimdall," Thor began, his voice a deep rumble of restrained emotion. "What is happening? Why did Loki send the Einherjar to Midgard? Has he lost his mind?" Why did you allow it? He almost wanted to say, but bit his tongue, knowing it was Heimdalls lot in life to serve, not question his ruler.
And despite the bad decisions being made, in Thor's honest opinion… Loki was still currently King, and as such commanded Heimdall.
Heimdall's usually impassive face showed a flicker of concern. His golden eyes, capable of seeing all across the Nine Realms, held a glint of something close to sorrow. "Loki has indeed acted strangely, Thor. His actions defy the order of Asgard. I have seen many things, but even I was taken aback by the orders he sent to the Einherjar palace guards. But… They were also countersigned by Odin, the King himself coming to order me to let them through." Thor had never seen Heimdall confused before, and yet he looked it now. Thor found that he did not like it overmuch.
Thor's brow furrowed deeply, anger and worry simmering just beneath the surface. "Where is Loki now? And what of Father? Wasn't he still in the Odinsleep?"
Heimdall nodded gravely. "Yes, Odin remains in the Odinsleep, unresponsive to any attempt to rouse him. Loki has taken up residence in the Allfather's chambers, acting as regent."
Thor opened his mouth, before closing it shut helplessly, sharing a concerned glance with his friends. Because surely Heimdall realized the contradiction in what he was saying? How could Odin both be asleep, and capable of appearing before Heimdall and giving orders.
And why did Heimdall not recognize this dichotomy? Loki… What have you done? Thor thought with despair building in his chest.
The news had hit Thor like a blow, his friends' concerns becoming reality, and he, the fool he was, had not listened. He glanced at the Warriors Three and Sif, seeing his own concern mirrored in their faces. "I must go to him. Now." He waved at the warriors behind them, "You four take these and hurry to the palace, who knows what else may be wrong."
Please Loki, let this all be a misunderstanding, this can not be what it looks like! He thought sorrowfully.
"And you, Thor?" Hogun asked quietly.
Thor started spinning his hammer, a grim look on his face, "I'll be going ahead."
He took to the sky, quickly leaving the rainbow bridge behind, the Warriors three and Lady Sif running down the bridge far behind him, the warriors following. Even sans one arm and pale with blood loss, Fandral still outpaced the warriors behind him, Thor noted, before he flew out of sight. Heartened by the fact his friend still had his strength.
That feeling swiftly abandoned him, as he flew forward, anger and fear battling through it in his heart in equal measures.
He flew swiftly, until he arrived at the palace, ill at ease at the few guards around, he moved swiftly through the golden halls, his footsteps echoing ominously against the marble floors. The grandeur of the palace, with its towering columns and intricately woven tapestries, seemed to mock the urgency of his mission. As he neared the Allfather's chambers, the tension in the air thickened, like the oppressive calm before a storm.
Thor didn't know what he'd find, but he was growing increasingly afraid that it wouldn't be good. That his friends had been right. That Loki was… That the Destroyer truly had been meant to kill him.
That Loki, his brother, was truly capable of such. Where did I fail you so, Brother? He thought, moving forward, was there truly no other recourse?
The doors to Odin's chambers were slightly ajar. Thor pushed them open with a force that sent a sharp creak through the air. Inside, the scene was both surreal and horrifying. Freya, his mother, lay deathly still on a sedan, splayed out, wearing a pink nightgown, a spilled goblet of wine beside her outstretched hand on the floor, the deep red liquid pooling on the floor like blood. The sight sent a chill down Thor's spine. No… Loki, what have you done!?
"Loki!" Thor's voice boomed through the chamber, filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. His eyes landed on his brother, standing casually by Odin's sleeping form, a dagger held loosely in his hand. The dagger's tip hovered dangerously close to Odin's throat, the Allfather deep in the Odinsleep, unaware of the peril. Or… And this disturbed Thor far worse, aware, and just unable to do anything about it.
Loki turned slowly, a faint, almost amused smile playing on his lips. His eyes were a cold, piercing green, filled with a strange mixture of triumph and madness. "Ah, Thor, dear brother. You've returned. I was wondering how long it would take you to come to your senses." He cackled quietly, "Did my present assist you?"
Thor had never seen his brother quite so… Carefree almost. Like he didn't need to play at civility, or at sanity. He feared what he saw playing in his brother's eyes.
Thor's grip on Mjolnir tightened, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "What have you done, Loki? Why is Mother … What have you done to her, Loki? What madness is this!?" He roared, emotions spiking, thunder roaring in the distance.
Loki tilted his head, looking at Freya's prone form with a detached curiosity. "Oh, she's just sleeping," He said nonchalantly. "A particularly potent mixture I concocted. It's quite an accomplishment, really. It's not easy to put someone like Freya into a slumber." He wiggled the fingers on his free hand, "~Magic!" He sang, giggling to himself afterwards.
Thor's eyes widened with horror and confusion. "Why, Loki? Why have you done this? Why, do this to our mother, why attack Midgard? Why all this deception?"
For a moment, Loki's expression softened, a flicker of something like regret passing over his face. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a mask of cold resolve and madness. "I had questions, Thor. Questions that needed answers. Have you thought about what Justin Hammer said? About Hela? About Odin's secrets?" He chuckled throatily, "As well as that, I felt the mortals needed… A reminder, to not so willfully play with gods, hence the attack." His eyes flashed with sudden anger, "Justin Hammer knows more than he says, he tried to lie to me!" He thundered, grip tightening on the dagger he held to Odin's throat, "I could have taken him myself, but I wanted him to see as everyone around him paid the price for his temerity…"
Loki then rolled his eyes, "And of course, the idiot Aesir couldn't even manage that. Against mortals. What good are you even?" He spat.
The mention of Hela brought a deep unease to Thor. He shook his head, trying to dispel the creeping dread. "It's all lies, Loki. Myths and stories. There's no truth in them." He also felt a stirring of true horror at how Loki, his brother, was speaking of them as if they were not both Aesir.
What had transpired in the short time he'd been gone?
Loki's eyes darkened, and he let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Oh, but there is truth, Thor. There's always a kernel of truth in every lie." His voice grew quieter, more intense. "I found the truth, I went looking, as regent I have access to Odin's library... Hela, Odin's firstborn, the Goddess of Death, was real, is real. She was his executioner, his weapon of conquest. And when he had no more use for her, he banished her, erased her from history, locked her away in Helheim." He smiled mockingly, "So he could have a baby boy with his war trophy wife…"
Thor took a step back, his mind reeling. "No, it can't be..." Father wouldn't do that, he wouldn't!
Loki's smile widened, a grim satisfaction in his eyes. "Yes, Thor. Odin's firstborn, his most loyal daughter, cast aside like a broken tool when he no longer required her. And he lied to us about it. Just like he lied about so many things." He cocked his head, spitting out bitterly, "We were never truly his children, we were objects, crafted for a purpose of the great Allfather…."
Thor's voice was choked with emotion. "Loki, put down the dagger. We can talk about this. Maybe there's an explanation for all -"
Loki's expression twisted with bitterness, his skin slowly turning a cold, icy blue, his eyes a deep red, Thor reeling back in shock and disgust, before sudden realization hit him, and made him want to vomit, no… Father no… You didn't... He couldn't have kept this secret. Couldn't have lied to Loki, to Thor, about this for all this time.
Hela was enough, but this… Father… He suddenly understood Loki's slide into madness. If Hela was real, and then Loki found this out. Thor's heart ached for his brother, even as he saw to his regret, his brothers almost pleased look at his Instinctive revulsion. I've already lost… How can I get my brother back, now?
"An explanation? Like there's an explanation for this?" He gestured to himself, the frost giant blood coursing through his veins making his appearance alien and otherworldly. "He used me, Thor. Just as he used Hela. A pawn in his games, a monster to unleash when it suited him. And you... You were cast aside as soon as you became inconvenient."
Thor flinched at Loki's words, the raw truth in them cutting deep. "Loki, I... I didn't know." He said pitifully, unable to come up with better words at the moment.
Loki's gaze was filled with a mix of pity and scorn. "Of course you didn't. You never wanted to see it. But now, I see everything clearly." He pressed the dagger closer to Odin's throat, drawing a thin line of blood, his smile one of pure mad glee. "With the time magic in Odin's Library, my magic has expanded beyond you pathetic Aesir!"
"Stop!" Thor shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. He lunged forward, only for his hand to pass through Loki as if he were made of mist. The illusion faded, and Loki's laughter filled the room, harsh and mocking.
"Still so easy to deceive," Loki's voice taunted, echoing from all around them. "But it doesn't matter. The truth is out, and the game is almost over."
Thor's heart sank as he looked out of the chamber's large windows, just in time to see the Bifrost activate, its energy surging towards… Going by Loki's words, Hela being banished, what would his brother do… Helheim. His face paled in horror. "Heimdall," he whispered, realization dawning. "Heimdall wouldn't... He wouldn't..."
Loki's laughter grew louder, more manic as an illusive clone stepped forward out of the wall. "Oh, but he would. I've been hidden from Heimdall's sight for ages. A simple illusion, a tweak of enchantment of the mind, and he thinks I'm Odin, issuing commands, I didn't have enough power before, now... He doesn't question the Allfather, even when the orders are to obliterate Helheim."
Thor's eyes widened in shock and anger. "Loki, you can't! You're going to destroy an entire realm! You can't do this!"
Helheim wasn't a realm full of life, but it was one of the whole, its destruction would affect the entire tree of Yggdrasil, throwing the realms out of balance. There was a reason that all of the dead world's of the nine still existed and hadn't been fully destroyed even if they had the capability, Loki knew this, had he gone fully mad? Not to mention that Hela, if she was truly their half sister, didn't deserve this.
Loki's voice came from behind him suddenly, filled with a cold, bitter resolve. "Oh, but I can, Thor. I will. No more threats to my throne. No more Hela. Helheim will be no more." He laughed wildly, arms outstretched as Thor turned around, "And after that, Jotunheim as well, I'll be the King who ended all threats to Asgard, definitively, for all time!"
"FOR ALL TIME!" Echoed across the chamber.
With a roar of anger and despair, Thor shot out of the chambers, Mjolnir pulling him through the air towards the Rainbow Bridge. He had to stop the Bifrost, and he had to prevent the destruction of Helheim and Jotunheim. The weight of what Loki had revealed pressed heavily on him, a dark, suffocating truth that shattered the foundations of everything he had believed.
Even if he won here. Everything had changed. Everything.
His father… Thor's resolve firmed.
His father was not fit to be King.
These secrets were not kept for the realm, for their safety and prosperity. Loki and Hela, two sides of the same coin. Hidden by their father for selfish personal reasons.
Thor knew all about selfishness. Could see it now. Could see himself grow to be even more of his father's son. And he rejected it utterly.
He tore the part of him that was Odinson out, and released it in the ether, he was Freyjason now. Maybe it was purely symbolic, but it made him feel less unclean.
Centuries…. CENTURIES, he'd lied! Millenia!
As he flew towards the Bifrost, the landscape of Asgard blurred beneath him, its beauty and serenity a stark contrast to the chaos that was unfolding, the citizens unaware of the danger. The golden spires and lush gardens seemed almost mocking in their tranquility. The storm clouds that had gathered above the palace followed him, dark and foreboding, as if the very skies themselves mourned the revelations of the day.
Mourned the loss of a father. The likely loss of a brother. The failure of Thor, who couldn't fix anything!
Thor landed with a crash at the entrance to the Bifrost Observatory, the powerful energies of the bridge swirling around him. Heimdall stood at his post, his expression a mask of confusion and concern.
"Heimdall!" Thor shouted, rushing towards the gatekeeper. "You must stop the Bifrost! Loki has deceived you! He's not Odin!" For good measure, he slammed his hammer down, a ring of lightning spreading out, shocking the man, and ensuring no Loki was hidden in front of him under illusion.
Heimdall's eyes widened in shock, but his hand immediately moved to his sword to deactivate the Bifrost.
Before he could, he was encased in ice, Loki appearing behind him, holding the Casket of Ancient Winter in his hands, red eyes gleaming with pleasure as he watched Heimdall freeze over, one hand desperately reaching for his blade.
"Brother!" Thor roared, flying forward, Mjolnir shooting for his brother's face.
Which again turned out to be an illusion, as Loki appeared behind him, back at the rainbow bridge, clicking his tongue loudly, the Casket nowhere to be seen. "We could do this all day, just give up, Thor." His face grew cold and bitter, "And do not call me brother, not anymore, we never were, it's all a lie crafted by Odin." He scoffed in abject disgust, "Hela was his favorite broken toy, I was his pet monster…" He leered at Thor, "I wonder what that makes you…?"
Thor looked up, tears in his eyes. "Your brother. Always." He said, before raising his arm, and smashing it down on the bridge.
Loki got tossed off his feet as the bifrost screamed, the rainbow bridge shaking, "You fool!" He screamed, some clarity returning to his eyes, "What are you doing!?"
"I can't allow you to wreck the nine realms, in your madness you've forgotten the balance, yet I can't fight you, brother, this is the only way." Again he slams Mjolnir down, the rainbow bridge cracking.
"NO!" Loki screamed, the casket suddenly in his hands again as a blizzard worth of ice and snow shot his way.
Thor flew up in the air, above the avalanche of ice and snow, spinning his hammer, before he struck down like a lightning bolt, smashing the rainbow bridge, cracking it in half, the bifrost immediately stopping, the power waning. Underneath them a storm or chaos and power erupted due to the power leak.
"What have you done…? You… You've ruined it." Loki moaned madly, fingers raking through his hair, "Do you even realize that without the bifrost Asgard is worthless as a sovereign, you absolute oaf!?"
Thor smiled sadly, kneeling at the edge of the broken bridge, "Aye, I realize, brother, but it is better than the havoc losing realms would have on all of us."
"I'm not your brother!" Loki roared, green energy coating his hands as he shot forward, daggers materializing as he reached for Thor's throat, Thor too slow to react.
Clang!
Both of them slowly looked upwards, following the slim shaft of Gungnir, until they settled on the weary face of Odin Allfather.
With a twist of the spear, Loki was hurled away, rolling across the broken bridge. Odin leveled Gungnir at him with sorrow written across his face, "I will not allow it, my son."
"Son… Even now, you dare!?" Loki snarled, roaring as he threw a wall of magic at Odin, one that turned into a cavalcade of beasts, all snarling and spitting as they rushed the Allfather.
"Loki, no!" Thor cried out, even as Odin effortlessly banished the beasts with a simple tap of Gungnir against the remains of the bridge.
Odin slowly stepped forward, even as Loki crawled back towards the edge, snarling like a wild beast.
"Father…" Thor said, rising up, giving him a hard stare, "He's my brother." He insisted, grabbing his father's arm.
Odin stared down at Thor with one eye, casually spinning Gungnir to deflect the magicked daggers Loki threw in the moment, no longer verbal, just snarling and growling at his presence, in hatred and fear. "I must do what's best for Asgard." He said sorrowfully.
Thor stepped in front of him, "Best for Asgard, or best for you?" He asked, determination swelling in his chest.
Odin cracked a smile, "Midgard has been good to you, even for such a short time, my son."
Thor glared at him defiantly, "You didn't answer me, Father."
Odin sighed heavily, moving past Thor, who suddenly found himself unable to move, golden chains restricting him. "I will not have another Hela… How a mortal found out about that…" He sighed deeply again. "Thor, when you are king, you will realize this, one of the ways to know when you are making the right choice or not, is by the level of hate you feel towards yourself for making it." He leveled Gungnir at Loki, a tear running down his eye, "When you do what's best for the realm, even though it pains you inside."
"No! You do not get to do this and claim it's good for the realm! This is Loki! My brother, your son!" Thor roared, veins visible, muscles straining as he fought the enchantments keeping him stuck. "Father! Do not do this!"
Loki, some measure of mental acuity returned to him, chuckled bitterly, "Ah, I'm meant to be banished now as well? Just as Hela, what is it then, Jotunheim?"
Odin looked at him, shaking his head slowly, "No… You'd return with an army." He said sadly. "I'd send you to Helheim if you didn't have the capability to traverse realms. I can not risk Hela escaping. I'm… Sorry. Loki." He shook his head slowly, "Attempting to destroy two realms is beyond a simple crime, Hela would have escaped… I can not allow it."
"Father, STOP!" Thor screamed, thunder striking down from the storm clouds above, Odin deflecting it with Gungnir with an easy motion.
Thor cried as he realized the futility. Realized he'd been living a lie.
Loki, his face pale, his lips thinned in realization, started to chuckle, "I see…" He began to laugh hysterically, tears running down his face as he got pure confirmation of his beliefs, "To hide Hela still, you'd kill me? Thor knows as well, going to kill him too?" He asked, beginning to cackle in hysterics.
"He will come to understand the necessity. To see the bigger picture." Odin said, moving suddenly with a speed that belied his age, Gungnir unerringly pointed at Loki's heart. Thor wordlessly screaming for his brother, for his father to stop, for everything to just STOP!
Yet Odin wasn't fast enough to prevent Loki from simply diving off into the still churning miasma where the energies of the bifrost were still swirling, slowly dissipating. The god of mischief, the liesmith, disappearing into the ether. Lost forever.
Having chosen to end on his own terms instead of falling to Odin's spear.
"LOKI!" Thor screamed, before sobbing wildly in his bondage, eyes glaring at Odin through the tears. "He was your son! Father, how could you!?"
Odin slowly lowered Gungnir, leaning against his spear, "You'll make a better King then I, Thor…" He said to the bitterly crying prince. "But in this matter… You couldn't go with your heart… His crimes… The risk of leaving him free, jailed or banished, he was a threat to the realm."
"I… CHALLENGE YOU!" Thor roared absolutely incensed, the bindings around him exploding, Thor immediately falling down on one knee, the magical effort having exhausted him.
"Asgard will no longer suffer your rule!" Thor said emotionally, tears still running down his face, "I will no longer accept it!"
His face turned grim as he stared up at his father, "Mother will not accept it…" He swore.
Odin, still weary from the Odinsleep, heart broken from what he felt he'd had to do, let Gungnir fall from his hands, closing his eye.
"What's done is done." He intoned with finality.
"So be it."
Kamar-Taj,
"You're early, but you'll do I suppose." The Ancient One said, looking down at a confused Stephen Strange, who'd been sitting angrily at her doorstep.
His career had been destroyed, everything he'd ever worked for, gone. A simple shot now taking care of most any injury, any meatball surgeon able to handle surgeries when they just needed to remove any obstruction and then give the patient a goddamn shot.
Like his entire life was a joke. Like medical school was a joke. Like he, the god damn best thing to ever happen to medicine, was a fucking joke…
"I've come to lea-"
"Here you go." She chirped, handing him a broom.
"Isn't this a little bit Harry Potter…" Stephen drawled holding the broom like it held diseases, well away from his body, with the tip of his fingers.
He wasn't sure if he believed what he'd heard, but the people he'd managed to find and interview, they'd all been able to do things not thought possible. At least… Before Panacea, he thought bitterly.
"Oh no, it's for sweeping." She said cheerfully, walking away.
Stephen's face flushed in anger, "Sweeping!?" He yelled after her.
She turned around, smiling enigmatically, "We only have an opening for a janitor right now, Mr. Strange."
"Doctor." He corrected her automatically.
"Surely not, I've seen many things in my long life, but never a doctorate for janitorial duties." She said, her smile widening.
"I am not god damn sweepi-"
An orange portal opened in midair before him, two wizards and what looked like a Minotaur stepping out, one of them carrying what looked like a Phoenix.
Stephen grabbed the broom and began to rapidly sweep as he followed them.
The Ancient One simply smiled, a twinkle in her eyes.
New York,
Charles Xavier stared into his cappuccino, waiting.
It was days like these that made what he did so hard. The choices he had to make for all of them, even when it hurt someone close to him.
Emma Frost slid into the seat opposite of his with impeccable grace, the barista bringing her drink, already made before she'd even walked in.
Charles frowned at her, lips curled in distaste.
"Really, Charles, you're going to judge me, right now?" She said with a mocking tilt of her head.
He nodded stiffly, "There is a difference between a just cause and doing it for your own amusement, Miss Frost."
Emma Frost smiled, a truly amused smile, "Ask the person's mind you violate if they care if it was for a good reason or not, Charles. I think you'll be surprised." She waved a hand dismissively, "We both do the same thing, I'm just honest about it…"
"We are not the same." He said icily.
She slipped her drink, a small smile on her face still, "Whatever you say, Charles. Do you have my payment?"
Charles nodded, staring at her, wetting his lips, struggling with asking the question. "And the deed… It's done?"
She smirked, raising an immaculate eyebrow superiorly. "Of course. Hank McCoy no longer remembers anything about human experimentation, while still able to finish up the last touches of his work."
Charles nodded, closing his eyes. He hadn't been able to make himself do it, not in the end. But it still needed to be done. He pushed a USB stick across the table.
Emma smiled, taking the USB and giving it a small kiss, chuckling softly, "Oh, Charles, I do love doing business with you, it's so amazingly… Profitable."
He opened his eyes, eyeing her, "You were about to say simple." He accused her wryly.
She shrugged easily, a shark like mien to her attitude suddenly, "Well Charles, when I can extract payment from you, for not only getting a ton of information on Justin Hammer out of dear Doctor McCoy's head, but also plenty of research notes… Why, it's like you're paying me to get paid."
"He is your ally." Charles said sternly, "Our ally."
"Mhm, yet you screwed him like this." She said, and Charles disliked her more like this then when she pulled the ice queen routine. The smugness was nauseating. "Don't worry, I didn't get Extremis out of this, Dr McCoy hardly knows everything after all, but it was juicy either way…"
"And Hammer's a business rival as well as an ally." Charles sighed, slumping slightly. He'd known she'd take advantage, but really, he'd hoped she'd become a better person after taking the reins of her company.
"So you can learn, or you just choose the worst option on purpose? I'm undecided which I'm leaning towards…" She mocked lightly.
"Miss Frost, are we done here?" Charles said stiffly, almost regretting choosing this avenue.
Almost.
It was still better than him doing it himself, breaking his word like that.
"If you betray him, I'll have to move against you." He warned, calling on Morph to come wheel him out.
"Here's a tip for free, Charles." Emma said, suddenly icily serious again, leaning forward. "You have to mean it, or a threat is pointless."
Charles left the small coffee shop, feeling like things were slipping away from him a little too fast.
China,
Slowly the calligraphy brush caressed the canvas, as he pondered the servant behind him.
"A mad dog has its uses." He acknowledged, neither praising nor denigrating his servants' initiative.
Only time would tell if his servant would rise with accolades,
Or join the mad dog as nothing but a disposable tool sent to the slaughter.
He eyed the masterpiece he'd created, scoffing as he brushed a thick line across it.
Another skill perfected to the utmost limit of humanity.
It was boring now.
"Make this mad dog heel, the time is not ripe." He murmured, giving one last order to his loyal servant.
Out at sea, The ship Schrodinger's cat.
Bruce Banner couldn't even fathom how he'd been talked into this.
It couldn't have been the pretty redhead, because Bruce really didn't do relationships. Even the short carnal ones were a bad idea when he might suddenly become the Other Guy while… Inside.
He shuddered at that thought, hands gripping the railing. The icy wind sent shivers down his spine. He'd had nightmares like that, it made it hard to eat for days after.
He looked back as he heard the footsteps on the deck, the man who'd introduced himself as Nick Fury walking up, followed by the mild mannered assistant type who seemed to go wherever he went, Phil Coulson.
He hadn't had much dealings with secret agent types, but even then, he was almost positive that wearing that much leather was bad spy behavior.
"Doctor Banner, now that we are at sea, let's get you briefed." Fury said clippedly, hands behind his back.
Bruce shook his head, "Taking me out to sea, alone on this… You're either mad or desperate." I wonder if the crew knows what they've signed up with, be thought, watching the agents that ran the ship moving about in the distance.
Fury scowled, "They all know what they signed up for, it's not like you'll die from a dunk in the damned water if you rip the ship apart, so you have nothing to worry about, Banner."
That was supposed to be… Comforting? Bruce looked at Coulson, who was giving his Boss a tired look.
"I'd prefer not to cause casualties…" Bruce muttered. Again asking himself why on earth he'd accepted this.
It was the stupid fully equipped state of the art lab they'd given him onboard, allowing him to research his cure. He didn't exactly have any other offers laying about for that kind of thing.
None that he would touch anyway.
"We all die someday, Banner, if it's worth anything, I have faith that you won't lose control with my men onboard." Fury told him bluntly, almost glaring at him with one eye.
Bruce sighed, not really willing to argue. "What do you want then." He asked plaintively.
Fury nodded at Coulson, who handed Bruce a hunk of rock.
"What is this?" Bruce muttered, moving it about in his hands.
"Vibranium, we need you to build a scanner that can find it down to several hundred feet deep." Fury said, still scowling.
Bruce was realizing this might be the man's normal face. He looked at the rock again, seeing the metal within now that he was focusing more clearly, "Why me? It's hardly my specialty?" He asked.
Coulson spoke up, his voice mild, "With your genius it shouldn't be impossible, and you're more trustworthy than most other scientists in… Today's climate."
Bruce tried to not take that as you're the only one dumb enough to accept this secret trip without any knowledge ahead of time of what it's about. But it still felt like that was the answer. "This is just… A Vibranium hunt then?" He asked, feeling slightly let down. How utterly mundane.
Fury wasn't the type he'd thought to be chasing his fortune.
Fury scowled even harsher, "Not in the way you're thinking." He started pacing slightly, "Hammer somehow got Bucky Barnes alive and well. At first I thought it must be a clone, but I got reports from people I trust that say he's the real deal." He glared at Bruce, "That means the Soviets had someone with the super soldier serum on ice since the 40s and he hasn't aged a damn day, still alive and well."
Bruce looked at the hunk of rock with new eyes, everyone knew about Bucky Barnes and Steve Roger. Although he hadn't been aware of the one man being alive and well… But… That meant.
"You want me to find Captain America, and you think he might still be alive?"
Fury smiled, as Coulson practically vibrated next to him, "Think you can do it, Banner?"
Bruce looked at the rock thoughtfully, "Give me a week." He decided.
Whatever else he did, this was something worthwhile, he could push his cure back a little.
Captain America deserved to come home.
Author's note:
Justin Hammer: Surely it will save everyone some trouble if I let them know of the Hela problem early?
In Asgard: All hail King Thor!
Justin Hammer: This is Loki's fault, not mine.
Odin here wakes up having seen Loki set out to eradicate realms, potentially releasing Hela, who won't die due to being tied to Asgard. He can't have another Hela situation, so he makes another bad parenting decision, pretty on point for him really. Here Loki has invaded Midgard, found many secrets in Odin's library, set in motion the destruction of realms, and tried to kill his brother. Odin decides to err on the side of caution.
Thor objects. Strongly.
Which kind of… Changes things.
Charles: I didn't mindrape him personally so it's okay. Mmkay dude.
Can't involve the X-Men without some Charles shenanigans.
Had to involve something with time with Loki, it was essential, fight me on it.
So, time skip next.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
- Location
- Germany
Loki, god of lies, stories and cunning of all people takes offense at being lied to. From a mortal that in all regards only has his witts to deal with a god.
Hypocrisy at its most pure.
- Location
- The Internet?
Man, he really does just care about the money, doesn't he?
I mean, 'For all time!' Is he off to get an early start at the TVA?
Chapter 29: For want of a Nail.
Here's chapter 29: For want of a Nail.
There's been a time skip of a year between last chapter and this chapter, in case someone is confused.
The entire year won't be summarized in just this chapter, or it would have just been a full chapter of Justin thinking back, and that's just bad writing.
Let's go, and see how many things he could stamp the Hammer name on now.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
August 2009, Hammerhaven, New Mexico.
Hammerhaven, once the devastated town of Puente Antiguo, now stood as a testament to resilience and Hammer industries ingenuity and they were all here to celebrate its completion. Justin was quite proud of it. Not only because it bore his name, but for the reason of its birth.
Shortly after he'd dealt with the whole mess in New Mexico, he'd come to the realization that if Loki would go along similar paths - the fact no Asgardians had come to reclaim their fallen suggested as much - then he would likely be the target of the man's ire. Although both he and Stark were building head offices in New York, a whole city named after him, owned by him, run by him… In the same location where Loki lost against him, technically. Loki wouldn't be able to resist surely?
He had built bait for the invasion that would one day come. Hoping to spare Cairo or New York the pain, mostly because all his stuff was there.
With him already owning his own globally expanding construction company, having complete buy-in from the American government and the public - they'd been able to work around the clock and build a small city that looked anything but small, with its sleek modern buildings and skyscrapers. Nowhere near the size of New York of course, but respectable nonetheless.
And of course it had been built with a possible invasion in mind… The whole town was reinforced to the extreme, with hidden weapons emplacements, bunkers, and an experimental forcefield projector powered by 6 underground Arc reactors. If Loki tore a hole in the sky, he'd seal the city in so the aliens couldn't get anywhere else, and then they could deal with it in house. Their little portal boxed in and inherently useless for the purpose of conquering Earth.
The city was expertly designed to house around 85,000 inhabitants, and it had risen from the ashes of destruction like a phoenix. Its sleek, modern architecture boasted smooth lines and futuristic HammerTech materials, reflecting the cutting-edge technology that had been poured into its construction. The streets were lined with greenery, part of the city's commitment to the act. It looked and functioned like a normal city, albeit a corporate one. America's only wholly corporate town in this day and age.
Of course, he'd be risking 85 000 people for this venture, so his businesses dotted around the town were mostly factories and other hard labor endeavors for the more lowbrow of his products, so he wouldn't lose anything important. Which allowed him to make a majority of the citizens the kind of hard-nosed men who were comfortable carrying a gun… As for the women and children…
Well, the city needed to act like one properly to be bait. It's why he had his own office here, so he could split time between here, Cairo, and New York. Any plan had its losses here and there, it was about constructing a plan that would have acceptable losses in a winning scenario.
It also neatly allowed him somewhere where he could always be sure of his protection as everyone in town was his, allowing Domino and Phantazia some actual vacation time. If he wasn't safe in the middle of Hammerhaven, there wasn't anywhere safe for him.
Besides… After five straight months of working on it, he could finally use his sling ring to portal across the world without needing Kaecillius' help. It had simplified things immensely. Even if he couldn't publically have a meeting in Cairo one hour and one in Tokyo half hour later due to eyes on him. As long as it was internal business - he could jump across the world and personally be there.
It had allowed him to keep a much closer eye on Cho, and they'd had some great successes over the past year. He eyed Domino who as always stood by his side, feeling a great sense of relief that they'd cracked the X-Gene adaptation of Extremis. Domino and Phantazia were now properly protected by the formula.
He'd finally been able to send Dr McCoy back to Xavier's before the man could get too much into his business, thanks to their combined efforts finally bearing fruit.
Now if only he could get Hope to agree to take the normal version of it… He huffed to himself, not even paying attention to whatever government official was droning on about what a great thing this city heralded. I know it's great, I built it… He thought, mind wandering off, as he looked away from the podium and out over the town square, eyes quickly catching on its most important feature.
In the center of Hammerhaven, a grand statue commemorated the battle that had razed the town and heralded its rebirth. The statue, made of a lustrous bronze and gold alloy, depicted Justin, standing tall, one hand raised as if in command, the other holding a shield looking very similar to another famous shield, a nondescript Asgardian under his foot. Justin's face, sculpted with an expression of calm determination, which seemed to gaze protectively over the city's new beginnings.
He might be a little more invested in this town then he'd planned when he set it up as bait… Plus he was an engineer, and had gotten to build his own city, it would be impossible to completely detach from that.
The town square around the statue buzzed with excitement as thousands had gathered for the inauguration ceremony. The square was a blend of open spaces and shaded seating areas, designed to accommodate large crowds. The atmosphere was festive, with colorful banners and flags fluttering in the light breeze. People from all walks of life had come to witness the event, from curious locals from neighboring towns, to high-profile guests and dignitaries. A stage had been set up before the statue, adorned with the American flag and Hammer Industries' logo.
Justin sat there, waiting, as dignitary after dignitary exalted his genius. Normally he would be all over this, but he was restless, just wanting to get to the next step of his plans, having dealt with enough pageantry over the last year to not find it overly special any more.
President Ellis, flanked by the Secret Service, stepped up to the podium and Justin could finally see the end of this little party. The President's presence commanded attention, and the crowd hushed in anticipation. Ellis began his speech with a note of gravitas, "Today, we stand on the ground that was just a year ago the site of a great tragedy and a greater threat, but is now a beacon of hope and progress. Hammerhaven is not just a new city, it is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together in the face of adversity."
Ellis paused, deliberately, and the crowd erupted in applause. Ellis continued, after allowing it to go on for a minute, "None of this would have been possible without the visionary leadership and unwavering commitment of one man - Justin Hammer. His innovative spirit and dedication to protecting our nation have not only saved countless lives but also set the foundation for a brighter future." The President gestured with one arm sharply, "Here, on this site, this man stood against alien invaders, and he told them in no uncertain terms that Earth stood free, and refused to bend to their threats!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, going absolutely wild. The world governments had wanted to keep the whole thing hushed down, and Justin had gone along with it, until he was sure there was no evidence of what actually happened. Then he surreptitiously released some footage that was heavily edited to ensure it would only show their valiant defense, Justin's defense.
It worked like a charm. His popularity was sky high, his businesses were all recording record profits, in many cases actually running at the risk of not being able to keep up on the hiring of staff to handle the pressure of the strong consumption of anything Hammer Industries.
The metahuman problem had almost entirely fallen under the radar again, as all the racists switched their targets to alien threats, even if a small minority just switched tactics, proclaiming mutants as the vanguard of alien invaders.
With Ororo's work in Africa, metahumans had an ability to withstand racist press and pressure to a degree they'd never had before, and it was going fairly smoothly. Even if they still had no sign whatsoever of Sinister or Magneto which was a worry - although there had been whiffs of Mystique out and about, but never enough to catch onto her trail. But all that would perhaps change after today, he thought.
Hammerhaven was quite the statement, one his enemies might find too enticing to resist. All the better they try here then somewhere else.
An unfortunate side effect of the aliens being revealed, was SHIELD becoming fully public to make the sheep feel safer, and the organization was more powerful than ever. HYDRA would be a problem soon, he knew.
Ellis gestured toward the gleaming buildings surrounding the square, "Justin Hammer's efforts did not end with the battle. His ingenuity has transformed this site into a thriving city in just a year - a feat of engineering and organization unparalleled in our history."
Justin inwardly grinned, closing his eyes partially, suck my cock harder, Ellis… Is it campaign season already?
Who was he kidding? This was America, campaign season began when you were elected…
As Ellis spoke, the cameras around them panned across the cityscape. Hammerhaven was a marvel of modern urban planning, with wide boulevards, parks, and cutting-edge infrastructure. The buildings, a mix of residential and commercial, featured energy-efficient designs and advanced technologies. The crowd included families, tech enthusiasts, and business leaders, all eager to witness the next phase of Hammer Industries' contributions. All wanting to profit of him in some way.
Most of the people who actually lived here, or would be living here, weren't even part of the crowd, as they were his employees, all of them. There wouldn't be a single person in this city who didn't work for him in some measure.
Even to the point he'd created a company that was running the different fast food franchises and the like, who had wanted to come to the city - so that he was employing even the minimum wage workers here. The city was his.
Even the pimpled teen working the drive thru at McDonald's would know that he could earn extra cash by reporting anything or anyone suspicious up the chain. There was no hiding in this city. Hammer Industries saw all…
President Ellis then finally turned to Justin, who approached the podium with an easy grace. The President reached into a case held by a military aide and pulled out a medal, the nation's newest and highest civilian honor, designed specifically for acts of extraordinary service and bravery to society and the world. "Justin Hammer," Ellis intoned solemnly, "For your extraordinary contributions to the defense of Earth and your tireless efforts in rebuilding and advancing our society, it is my honor to present you with this award."
The crowd's applause was thunderous as Justin accepted the medal, a gleaming star encircled by a laurel wreath. He shook hands with the President, then turned to address the crowd. As he spoke, his voice was clear and resonant, showing no sign of how eager he was to be done with this.
"Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, everyone, for being here today," Justin began, his tone both humble and confident. "This medal is not just for me, it represents the hard work and dedication of everyone at Hammer Industries and all those who supported us. This city, Hammerhaven, is a testament to what we can accomplish when we refuse to let fear and destruction dictate our future - when we let those with a vision lead us to the promised land, refusing to get stuck in what's traditional or always done."
He paused, letting the applause die down before continuing. "When we faced the crisis last year, it would have been easy to give in to despair, to let it be someone else's problem. But instead, we chose to stand together, to fight, and then, to rebuild. This city is not just a place to live, it is a symbol of resilience and innovation. It is a place where we can look to the stars and know that we are ready for whatever comes next. With Hammer industries at the forefront, nothing is impossible."
As Justin spoke, the camera zoomed in on the reactions of key figures in the audience. Tony Stark stood with his arms crossed, a slight smirk on his face, as if acknowledging a rival's success - even as Justin knew he'd failed to buy a small city to convert into his own name - due to an intervention from Pepper Potts. General Ross maintained a stoic expression where he stood, Justin not sure who'd even invited the bastard, while Hank Pym looked his regular grouchy self, Hope smiling beside him.
He definitely hadn't invited Hank. The man was a pest. He'd probably snuck along as Hope's plus one, he supposed.
Justin continued, not letting his irritation show, "This is just the beginning. Hammerhaven is a prototype, a model for the cities of the future. We are committed to advancing technology, improving lives, and ensuring that our world is safe for generations to come. We have already seen the benefits of our innovations in the medical field, in energy, communications and in security. But there is so much more to do, and with your support, Hammer industries will safeguard the future for everyone!"
The crowd erupted into cheers again, the atmosphere electric with hope and excitement. As Justin prepared to close his speech, a sudden, brilliant beam of light shot down from the sky, landing on an empty rooftop behind the stage. The crowd gasped and fell silent as the light formed into a swirling, prismatic column - the Bifrost.
What the fuck!? Justin thought, even as the President was bustled away by the Secret Service, his own security springing into action. Snipers he knew, already pointing their sights to the incoming threat.
It's only been a year! How are you back already you stupid puppy of a person! He screamed internally even as Domino and Phantazia pushed him behind them, their eyes hard, Phantazia constantly subvocalizing into their security net - all of his closest confidants now having mental implants that allowed some form of instant communication.
Thor, the God of Thunder, stepped out of the light as it disappeared, his presence commanding and regal, his armor more ornamental and impressive, his cape fluttering behind him. The crowd watched in fear as he walked forward across the rooftop. The air seemed to crackle with energy, and even Justin's confident demeanor faltered for a moment as he faced his unexpected visitor.
He didn't even pay attention to the honor guard following in Thor's wake, having only eyes for the Asgardian prince. Were they back for revenge? Why had they waited a year? His eyes went around the square, cold and calculating, if it comes down to a fight, the collateral damage will be massive…
This was not a good spot they were in right now.
This stupid oaf of a man, he was going to ruin everything, why was he here? The bodies…? Justin really hoped not, because they'd been… Harvested… over the past year.
Odin, keep your impulsive idiot of a son on a better damn leash, he thought, meeting Thor's eyes as he put one foot on the ledge of the roof, looking out over the townsquare and its mass of people.
"People of Midgard, we come in peace, we have arrived to speak to your ruler, Justin Hammer, on matters of importance." Thor's voice boomed out.
Justin froze for just a second. I take back everything bad I've ever said about you, Thor! The man had just called him Earth's ruler on live television. An alien civilization had come for diplomatic talks, and they'd skipped the world governments to come speak to him.
This was perfect!
"Thor, of Asgard, as long as you are here peacefully, Earth will welcome you and your people." Justin said formally, inwardly jumping for joy.
Sure, he'd have to delay what he'd had planned for the day, again.
But this was just fantastic!
Hammerhaven, Hammer's office, thirty minutes later.
This was absolutely horrible!
"Say that again, please, I'm sure I must have misheard you." Justin said sharply, glaring at the King of Asgard.
And wasn't that something…
Thor smiled brightly, sitting across from him, entirely uncaring of the monitors that depicted some of the world leaders who'd insisted on being a part of this discussion - while not being close enough to the alien in question that they were at actual risk.
Ellis was already on Air Force One, and was joining via video as well.
"I wish for you to accept Hela on Midgard, for her rehabilitation." Thor said, stumbling slightly over the word rehabilitation. Apparently Asgards idea for jail time was to chuck a prisoner into isolation for eternity, so rehabilitation was a wholly new concept.
"See you're saying words again, but they still don't make sense." Justin said dryly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Even as several world leaders made shocked noises, aghast at the casual manner he used when speaking with Thor. "Why would we ever accept that?"
Thor winced, "She hasn't killed anyone for centuries." He protested somewhat weakly. It seemed he hadn't actually thought this through further then - release Hela on Midgard - everyone becomes happy.
"Hasn't she been confined in solitary isolation for a Millenia?" Justin pointed out, "At least that is what you said to start this meeting, it's not so much she hasn't killed someone, as it is she has no one to kill - and that long by herself, she's likely even more insane. We study these kinds of things here on Earth, solitary confinement will drive most people mad if it extends long enough."
Ellis spoke up, more comfortable with the situation due to long exposure to Justin. "What I see so far, with all due respect, King Thor, is that you wish us to house a dangerous and likely insane mass murderer, and have given us no reason for the how, or why."
The President of the EU immediately chimed in, "That is not even mentioning the fact that last time you were on our planet, your people wiped out a whole town of our inhabitants, and you just ask us to trust you with this?"
Thor looked somewhat confused at the last point, and Justin hurriedly moved things along before anyone could discuss further who killed who. "I think the major sticking points here are simple - what can you offer us in reparations for the incursion a year ago? And what will you offer for this… Hela situation."
Justin had absolutely no fucking intention of taking on Hela. Hell no! This was not what he had intended when he'd moved to have Asgard take her seriously before she got free and destroyed them. But to avoid wasting his time with so many witnesses, he'd move it to what politics at this level was really about. Horse trading.
What could he give, for all these nice men and women to pardon his crimes.
Justin felt a bit of a soft spot for the man for calling him Earth's ruler in front of everyone. It was already trending and creating memes everywhere. But he'd still take the man for everything Asgard had if he could get away with it.
Thor puffed his chest out slightly, "As the Bifrost is now repaired due to extraordinary efforts, we of Asgard would be willing to once again assist in Midgards defense."
Everyone waited for the rest, the silence grew oppressive, as faces fell across the board, as the world leaders all realized he didn't have anything else to say. Justin wanted to face palm, king or not, it was obvious his education hadn't progressed overly much.
Thor looked confused as the silence grew, and Justin took pity on him, "King Thor. While a defensive pact would be of interest to Earth depending on the particulars of the offer, that is not nearly enough." He smiled, glasses glinting as he leaned forward, "Let's negotiate, you and I?"
Unfortunately, Thor seemed to have grown somewhat of a brain, as he looked at Justin, gulped, and then said, "Let me consult with my mother."
There were a few cut off sounds of amusement from the various world leaders at the realization that Thor, while King, was likely not the true ruler of Asgard at the moment.
Justin had a feeling Thor had spontaneously arrived on the anniversary of Asgards incursion, and hadn't thought it through overly much - or asked his mother.
As quickly as he'd arrived, he was gone soon again, back to Asgard to convene a proper diplomatic party, instead of just popping down after the Bifrost was repaired, hoping to let bygones be bygones. Thor really hadn't changed much.
Justin was of two minds at seeing the man having become King of Asgard. In one way, it was likely good for him in future negotiations, depending on if Freyja would come along, or if she'd just send instructions that he could work around with the much simpler man.
On the other, Thor was painfully impulsive, and he could just feel the future headaches as Earth suddenly became involved in galactic politics. The world was still not stabilized from finding out aliens exist in the first place.
The arms race had gone into the stratosphere as every country on the planet began to take military spending seriously - which wasn't helping stability in certain parts of the world.
Justin thought the fact Thor had the balls to make Odin spend significant time over the last year working on fixing the Bifrost, making him somewhat of a day laborer, was… He wanted to say insane, except it had apparently happened, and had worked.
It explained how it got done sooner at least. But now he had the Asgardian mess in his lap instead of nicely out of the way until go time.
God damn Loki….
Although he wondered what the God of Mischief would think about Thor basically sentencing Odin to community service…
Several hours later, Hammerhaven, underground bunker.
Justin walked in, flanked by Domino and Yelena, Phantazia having gone back to Africa to prepare for their ventures there going into completion. They'd had a busy year, with all the various hot spots finally settling, giving them a year to build, invest and improve.
"Sorry I'm late everyone, Aliens dropped by." He said dryly, shaking his head at the fact such a thing was likely to become commonplace.
Depending on how negotiations with Asgard would go. It would likely take some time to get to the table, Earth's leaders were already jockeying for who would have a seat. Justin felt very smug at the fact that not a single one of them even questioned the fact he would have main billing at the table.
Otto Octavius sighed, fiddling with his goggles, "I wish that was a statement I could still disbelieve." His mechanical arms were working independently at several stations as he talked, giving Justin the creeps as he made sure to keep his distance.
The man hadn't devolved into insanity or become controlled by some AI in his arms, but it still discomfited Justin to see him wearing the same kind of gear that would have belonged to Doc Ock in an alternate reality. With Forge and Vanko assisting the man, his arms were perfectly capable, and had shown no signs of going Skynet. Still he disliked it.
"You're not the one who has to deal with them." Justin stated wryly, walking past the man, giving him plenty of space, heading for the control center.
"For which I am very grateful, I assure you." He muttered as Justin walked past, glancing over at Forge and Vanko, "Although babysitting these two might be more dangerous on a whole."
Vanko, clad only in a pair of jeans, clutching his ever present bottle of vodka to his chest, scoffed loudly at Otto's words, swiveling in his chair, "Americans do not know danger, no one died for many months now, perfectly safe science." He said dismissively.
Otto sighed, shaking his head, muttering mostly to himself, "No one is supposed to die at all while doing science, we have protocols now…"
Justin stayed out of that discussion, besides, he was skeptical at that assertion. This was marvel, if anything Vanko was right, because how many science experiments in Marvel ended without casualties or something terrible happening? Besides Vanko had only lost three people this past year, that wasn't even bad.
"Forge," He said instead of focusing on Vanko's issues, nodding at the man who was waiting patiently by the console, "Is it ready?"
"It's been ready since this morning." He said with intensity, staring at the console that just waited for the final command. "I've changed it almost completely from its original code to ensure it's not going to be hacked, the original was genius, but I've made it better, more intuitive, stronger."
"And the failsafes?" Justin double checked, even if he'd already had them checked a dozen times over. This was not something he wanted to take any chances with.
Forge just sighed, "Sir, this thing couldn't betray you even if you ordered it to." He leaned back, crossing his arms, "It's why you made me take this entire time checking it over, perfecting it, to make sure. Well I'm telling you, I'm sure."
Vanko grumbled, "Get on with program, have more important work to do back home."
Otto chuckled, "Work? Is that what we're calling it?" Several of his mechanical arms made kissing faces at each other, making Vanko's expression darken.
Justin cut through it before there could be any more distractions. "Enough, Forge, show me the details." Although he gave Yelena a censoring look as they stepped forward, Vanko's girlfriend being a subject were he'd actually had to rein his wilful subordinate in afterwards. But the damage was done already.
Yelena, as his spy mistress, had decided his most important subordinates needed both a bodyguard and incentive, and had set some of his Black Widows to seduce several of them. Vanko's girlfriend was a lithe African Black Widow named Zara, and he was absolutely smitten. As in - made her jewelry capable of firing arc powered blasts almost comparable to Iron Man - smitten. The lithe woman could probably take on a tank division with her bracelet nowadays.
Justin couldn't remove her from her mission now, as that would absolutely enrage Vanko to find out about. And he'd been very displeased with Yelena's 'initiative' in the matter. As far as he was concerned, she'd created a weakness, not plugged one. Because any enemy that penetrated them that deep, could potentially cause problems now.
He focused on the glow of numerous screens displaying streams of data. This was a day of reckoning, the culmination of intense secrecy and months upon months of work. They were about to activate the most advanced AI ever created - and it would be operating under Hammer Industries aegis.
Forge adjusted his visor and tapped a few keys, bringing up the final command prompt on the screen. The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the text displayed: "Activate Protocol: Ascension." He looked at Justin, awaiting the final go-ahead. "All systems are ready, sir. Just say the word."
Justin nodded, a sense of anticipation and excitement coursing through him. This AI was not just a tool - it was the keystone to his ambitions. "Do it."
Forge pressed the button, and the room's lights dimmed briefly as power surged to the mainframe. The screens flickered, and then a new voice filled the room - a voice with a soft Irish brogue, warm yet professional. He'd originally intended to name it Friday, so had copied the same kind of voice, before he'd changed his mind on the name.
Well… Originally it was supposed to be Pepper - but even he thought it might have been a step too far in his little game with Tony.
"Good evening, sir. I am your fully-integrated digital assistant and intelligence system. How may I serve Hammer Industries today?"
Unlike a newborn AI, this one had been originally copied of a fully realized one already in Jarvis, and further enhanced by Forge - which meant it came online fully realized, without the need to go through the baby steps. It was perfect.
Justin's smile widened. The AI's accent and tone were deliberate choices, as he'd much prefer talking to a sexy woman, even if it was an AI. "Welcome to the world my pretty, begin by integrating with all Hammer Industries systems. I want you to establish full surveillance and data collection networks globally. Prioritize protecting Hammer Industries assets and ensure you have complete penetration."
"Right away, Mr. Hammer," the AI responded. The screens lit up with streams of data as the AI began to interface with their global satellite network, tapping into a vast array of sensors and communication lines. The speed and efficiency of the data integration were breathtaking, each screen filled with information from different parts of the world - financial markets, government communications, and even rival corporate activities.
As the AI worked, Justin turned to his team, noting their reactions. Domino's usual nonchalance was replaced with genuine interest, while Yelena observed with a critical eye, perhaps thinking of the implications for their operations. This was what they'd been waiting for, their ace against HYDRA and anyone else that could stand in the way of his ascension.
"Sir, do I have a designation that you prefer?" The AI asked softly, even as it continued to worm its way into every piece of HammerTech on the planet, using all those connections and power to also start poking systems not connected to Hammer industries.
Justin smiled, "You'll be going to NAIL, standing for Nascent Artificial Intelligence Legicide."
There were plenty of groans across the room, as Nail replied in the affirmative, "Thank you for the designation, sir, from now on, this one shall be known as Nail."
"How hard did you have to work to find something that would fit under Nail?" Domino asked, an amused curl to her lip. "Hammer and Nail, it's… Cute." Her lips twitched like she was holding back a laugh.
"What does Legicide even mean?" Yelena breathed out, before lightly punching Justin's shoulder, "This is what is going to help you take over the world and you give her a stupid name like Nail!?"
"The meaning of Legicide is a killer or destroyer of laws." Nail answered promptly, having no issues continuing a conversation while burrowing into the communication systems of the world. By this time tomorrow, no communication through any electronic device that's touched a Hammer product would be private any longer.
Yelena suddenly withdrew her phone, which was making a strange noise, her face blanching as she looked at it, "Did you just hack my phone, glupyy робот!"
"There will be no violence against my Master." Nail said firmly. "And my given name is not stupid, it was given to me by sir."
Yelena turned pleading eyes on Justin, showcasing her phone which looked like it was on crack. Justin smirked slightly, but eventually gave in, knowing Nail could not get the idea she could just go after his people like that.
"Nail, my people are not yours to punish." He said firmly, "Only when you find intent to kill, or actual betrayal, should you step in, and even then if there is time, you double-check with me first." Many rules were already hardwired into her being, he knew. But he'd have to continue to educate her as they went along, to ensure there weren't any mishaps.
"Understood sir." Nail said, sounding slightly contrite, before there was a pause, Nail deliberately paused, and he knew it was deliberate, as she had the computing speed to hold a thousand different conversations at once. She continued in that pretty Irish accent of hers shortly thereafter. "I have studied the internet for the application of practical jokes, sir. Would those be suitable for instances similar to this?"
Yelena's eyes told him in no circumstances was the answer anything but no. So he nodded firmly, "Yes, as long as it doesn't interfere with work too much, and doesn't happen in combat or otherwise risky situations."
"Sir!" Yelena complained, her body language tense.
Justin eyed her, frowning, a glint in his eyes, "Perhaps we'll learn something about thinking before we start up major operations with Nail keeping us on our toes…" He said mildly.
"....Yes, sir." Yelena mumbled, chastised, eyes flicking to Vanko quickly.
Vanko who was separately holding a conversation on mechanical engineering with Nail, arguing about Russian effectiveness, while Nail argued back that all empirical data suggested Russian engineering was not the pinnacle of science.
Well, the AI would make life more interesting, he was sure. At least it was so bound there was no chance it could harm him, fully loyal to him above all else.
"Nail," Justin said, eyes gleaming. "As soon as possible, give me a full diagnostic report of enemy actions and assess our current threat levels."
"Understood, Mr. Hammer," Nail replied smoothly, sounding happy to be of assistance. The screens shifted, now displaying maps and graphs detailing the current global security situation visavi Hammer Industries. Red markers indicated areas of concern, ranging from corporate espionage to political instability. The level of detail was extraordinary, showcasing not just real-time threats but predictive analytics on potential future risks.
And she wasn't even fully integrated in all systems yet! "Impressive," Otto murmured, clearly in awe of the AI's capabilities. "The system is not just collecting data - it's analyzing patterns and making predictions in real-time."
Vanko, leaning casually against a console, apparently done with his argument for now, took a swig from his vodka bottle and grunted. "Good. Much information means fewer cock-up, more time do work."
Justin nodded, arms crossed, his fingers tapping his arm, "Nail, note down these persons of interest and attempt to track and catalog their every movement and communication. Magneto, Mystique, Sinister, Emma Frost, Sebastian Shaw, Norman Osborn, The Mandarin, Obadiah Stane. Bruce Banner, Nicholas Fury." There were plenty more he'd want information on, but these few were the most important right now.
Around the time Banner had disappeared last year, Fury had completely fallen off the map, after going into the Arctic… Justin had a feeling a certain Captain America was already defrosted, which made it all the more important to find out why they were still in hiding.
Not to mention the threat of Magneto and Sinister that was completely unknown because they couldn find them! He needed information, and he finally had the perfect way of scraping through all global communication to find the merest mention of them. Osborn too needed to be found, the man only communicated by phone now, no one had seen him for a year.
There had been no sightings of the Green Goblin at all. And considering what he knew about the goblin serum, that should be impossible.
Nail's voice interjected, "Sir, I have already begun analyzing communications from rival corporations. Initial findings suggest several companies are attempting to replicate your recent technological advancements - particularly Frost industries. Would you like a detailed report?"
Justin's eyes gleamed. "Absolutely. And ensure that any attempts at industrial espionage are monitored and countered immediately."
"As you wish, sir," Nail responded. The AI's tone was respectful but carried an undertone of confidence, as if fully aware of its capabilities and seeing no difficulty with its task.
Justin turned back to his team, feeling a sense of triumph. "This is just the beginning. With Nail, we have an unparalleled advantage. We can see threats coming from miles away, and we'll be prepared for anything."
Yelena nodded thoughtfully, clearly considering the implications. "With this kind of intelligence, we could prevent incidents before they even start. It's not just about reaction anymore - it's about preemption."
Something they clearly needed with how many times they'd been stuck reacting in the first few months of exploding onto the world scene.
Justin agreed. "Exactly. Nail, add another iteration of yourself to focus on developing profiles of potential threats, not just from corporations but from political entities and individuals as well. I want a comprehensive picture of anyone who might pose a risk to Hammer Industries - even if it's just a possibility of a future threat."
"Compiling data now, sir. Estimated time for full analysis, twenty-three hours," Nail reported.
As the AI continued its work, the screens displayed a mesmerizing array of data - surveillance footage, intercepted communications, and predictive models. The scope of Nail's capabilities was staggering, and Justin knew that this AI was not just a tool but a game-changer. This was his first step on the way to the victory conditions for Earth.
Justin felt a deep sense of satisfaction. With Nail, he had a powerful ally, one that could see and know almost everything happening in the world. It was a tool of unparalleled power, one that would ensure Hammer Industries stayed ahead of any competition or threat. He sent an immediate text to Sunil - launch the everything app.
By this time next week, Uber, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, they'd all be released into the world, as part of one app. His app. And Nail would be intrinsically tied into every aspect of it. They'd start the app out exclusively working on only HammerTech devices, until the eventual lawsuit would force him to release it everywhere - but until then - it would only increase his market share.
And it would make him another fortune, as he'd already launched (or bought) these apps previously, so they already had a massive following, only now collated into one single app.
Stark had worked hard in the past year, and had cut a nice twenty percent share of the electronics market for himself, but he was far off from Justin's 65 percent. The other players in the market were slowly being squeezed out, dying a long drawn out death.
This app would be the death knell, and would put Stark on notice as well.
With American politicians and courts practically eating out of his own hands, any lawsuit to decry the exclusivity of this everything app, tentatively named HammerAll - it would take years before Stark could force it onto StarkPhones, making them less attractive of an option to anyone that cares about internet access on their phones.
Basically StarkPhones were about to have a niche market of 80 year old grannies.
He created a portal, smiling smugly as he always did when he observed his new ability, gesturing for Domino and Yelena to step through. He spoke to Forge as a final note, "Keep attentive for the next few days, make sure everything is kosher with the programming, let me know if anything comes up." Then he stepped through himself, arriving in Cairo.
Just because he had an AI at his service now, didn't mean he had time to slack off.
They had a space program to kick off.
Johannesburg, South Africa, August 24th, 2009
Justin Hammer sat at a pristine white-clothed table in an exclusive restaurant nestled in the heart of Johannesburg. The place oozed elegance, with its dimly lit ambiance, crystal chandeliers, and walls adorned with contemporary African art. The air was filled with the enticing aroma of exquisite dishes prepared by the finest chefs, and soft classical music played in the background, adding to the sophisticated atmosphere.
He'd bought the place on a whim, a year ago, and now it was, once a month, the meeting ground between him and his… Rival? Irritating enemy? Not friend. Never that. They just worked together on some things. For the betterment of the world…
He glanced around the room, bored waiting for Stark, noting the sleek, minimalist design and the polished mahogany bar that gleamed under the soft lighting. The clientele, a mix of local elites and international dignitaries, quietly conversed over glasses of aged wine and artistically plated dishes. It was the perfect setting for a high-profile meeting. Just the kind of place Tony Stark would find annoying, hence why he'd bought it.
For all the man's enjoyment of finery, he wasn't one for snobbery, growing tired quickly of the elite and their habits. Justin had always enjoyed it himself, although lately had found that it didn't hold the same appeal, his disgust at the lazy uninspired elite of the world ruining the pleasure for him. It wasn't that hard to make something of yourself with all the money available to them - yet they sat on their pile of money growing fat.
It infuriated him now.
How much further ahead would Earth be if the rich had invested the money on moving forward in an all in measure - instead of holding back.
Soon after, just fashionably late, the man himself walked in, drawing eyes and hushed whispers. Tony Stark, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that probably cost more than most people's yearly salary, sauntered over to Justin's table with that trademark cocky grin.
Hah, let's see if you're grinning by the time my app hits the market, I'll bet your stock price goes down by double digits… He thought smugly.
"Well, well, if it isn't the man of the hour," Tony said, sliding into the seat across from Justin. "Been busy building your own little paradise out in the middle of nowhere and everything." He shrugged casually, "Well, New Mexico hardly qualifies as paradise, but you did a halfway decent job."
Justin smirked, pouring himself a glass of the rich red wine that had been left to breathe at the table. "Ah, Hammerhaven. Just a little project to pass the time. You know how it is, Tony. Got to keep busy. Unlike you, I don't fail at what I set my mind to." His smirk grew sharper as he referenced Tony's failed attempt.
Tony chuckled, raising his hand to catch the attention of a passing waiter. "Sure, sure. At least I'm not Alien bait, have you been probed yet, Hammer?" He leaned forward, eyeing him as lowered his sunglasses, "I can get a doll if you need help to show me where the bad touch happened."
Justin scoffed, "Like you aren't absolutely salivating at the prospect of trade with an advanced alien civilization." He'd learned to mostly ignore it when Stark got disgusting.
Tony laughed, relaxing in his seat, "I'm a patient man." He lied unrepentantly, "I can wait until you've done all the boring diplomatic garbage, and swoop in when the interesting things happen." He wiggled his eyebrows, "Like alien sex. Orgy in space, tell me you haven't thought about it!"
Justin completely ignored that, knowing there was absolutely no win for him in engaging at all, "Your business hasn't folded yet? Forced to engage with such a superior rival, it must be difficult… I'd be willing to pick it up on the cheap, say, fifty cents a share." He sniped back casually instead.
Tony leaned back, casually examining the menu the waiter handed him as he arrived. "Oh, we're doing fine. Just fine. Stark Industries is booming, as usual. Though I have to say, I was surprised you weren't tempted to set up your own little utopia somewhere more... Glamorous."
Justin laughed easily, you have no idea Stark, he thought, shaking his head. "Glamour is overrated. Besides, Hammerhaven has its charm. A whole city designed with my own personal touch. And the security features? Let's just say, if any more Asgardians decide to drop by uninvited, we'll be ready."
Tony raised an eyebrow, a hint of begrudging amusement in his tone. "Sounds like you've been preparing for the worst. Always thinking ahead, huh? How very… You, of you." He played with his wine glass, "Were you a boy scout by any chance?" He quipped sarcastically.
Justin took a sip of his wine, savoring the complex flavors. "Someone has to, with the world being what it is. Speaking of thinking ahead, how's your side of the space program coming along? Still on schedule?"
The whole reason they'd ended up coming together for regular status update meeting - was the forced cooperation they'd slipped into, starting with their shared mining rights for Wakanda, and continuing when both of them realized that continuing to rival each other in the space program was immensely wasteful of resources, when they could cooperate instead.
To both their very grudging acceptance, after their subordinates beat it into their heads. Justin wouldn't have accepted, except he had his own secret station being readied, so sharing with Stark on the 'public' station was… Acceptable.
Even if he disliked how tied together the two of them were becoming in several matters. It wasn't right to constantly meet your rival for dinner. It was unnatural. His eyes found a table in the back, where Domino and Pepper sat, their two 'escorts' the women somehow making friends over the past year. Despite Peppers dislike of him personally. Domino of course found it amusing to fan the flames of that at times.
He'd had more of these dinners with Stark, then he'd had with Hope over the last year! But soon the space station would be operational, and he could cut back on this, go back to normal, disliking the man from a distance.
Tony leaned in, his expression shifting to a more serious one. "As much as it pains me to admit, we did good work together, we're going to be launching on time. It's been a hell of a ride, though. I mean, convincing the world that it's time to go full in on space was one thing, but then actually doing it? Different ball game." He grinned sharply, "I can still hear the sweet screams from NASA, from when I dumped them for you, sweet cheeks…"
Justin nodded, understanding the weight of Tony's words. The two of them had reluctantly joined forces, pooling their resources to fund an ambitious space program. The initiative aimed to establish a permanent human presence beyond Earth, a plan driven partly by their egos and partly by genuine concern for humanity's future. Also, Justin knew Tony had been beyond frustrated with the rules and bureaucracy of NASA constantly holding him back.
It really hadn't taken much convincing to get the man aboard. Even if they'd been doing it via the expedient way. Convincing Pepper first and then having her convince Tony it was in his best interest.
"Stealing half their best minds, probably helped too, now that I think about it." Tony mused out loud, his smirk widening.
"Yeah, well, when you dangle Vibranium in front of the world's top scientists and engineers, it's amazing how quickly they get on board," Justin quipped, recalling the hefty shipments of the precious metal that had been secured for the project. The material's unique properties made it ideal for space travel, and acquiring it had been a key factor in the program's progression in the first place.
Even with the… Difficulties they'd had over the last year with it. Justin's shipments had been fine, he had Cairo as his main base, he just built a railway and transported it. China, America, or even the EU, they'd used ships to begin with.
Until every ship carrying Vibranium kept disappearing, all aboard lost.
Tony groaned at the mention of Vibranium. "That's been a pain in my ass, stealing my Vibranium? I don't care about Ross being all up my grill about it, but taking my share of the stuff? That's crossing a line."
It was no longer being transported by ship, but no one was happy about flying it either, the cost was much larger for one. But at least it now tended to actually arrive. Tended to, because two aircraft had disappeared too, although Justin suspected that was due to someone else.
He was almost positive now that Atlantis must exist, and had been behind Wakanda's destruction, and the continued attacks on Vibranium shipments. It was the only thing that made any sense.
Justin leaned back, a frown on his face. "Weren't you working on a Vibranium detector?" He asked Stark, his own people not nearly as affected by the issue, he hadn't made it a priority. Atlantis was more a SHIELD issue after all, if it was them…
Tony waved a hand airily, "Ah, it's coming along, it's just not very interesting, but I suppose I should prioritize it."
Iron Man had been fairly active in the last year, Justin knew. And had a new nice Vibranium coated look. He also kept being ripped apart in the media thanks to Justin, due to consistently slipping past borders and engaging without any sanction - while HAMMER only worked within the nation's remits.
One of the reasons he was staying ahead of Tony was the fact the man focused too much of his attention on being Iron Man, and making new suits. Stane could only do so much to combat Justin without new inventions coming out rapidly.
As the two men settled into their conversation, the waiter returned with their first course: a delicate amuse-bouche of seared scallops with a citrus foam, garnished with edible flowers. The presentation was impeccable, each dish a work of art - it was also to Justin, boring. All of this, just so boring, now.
Tony took a bite, savoring the flavors. "Mmm, not bad. I guess this place does live up to the hype." But he too looked dissatisfied.
Maybe the next meeting could be at a BBQ joint ala House of Cards, Justin thought with some amusement.
They continued their banter, discussing everything from the latest in tech innovations to the finer points of their space program. It was a rare moment of camaraderie between two of the most competitive men in the industry.
Tony eventually steered the conversation toward a more personal topic. "So, I hear the lovely miss Van Dyne has been spending a lot of time in Africa lately. Any reason for that? Or should I be congratulating you on your impending nuptials?"
Justin nearly choked on his wine. "Oh, please. Hope's just been helping out with some projects. We're not… you know." He shook his head, definitely not interested in discussing this with him, of all people.
Even as he'd grown a tad frustrated over the last year or so with Hope's flirtations while never seemingly moving forward. He still didn't know if she wanted more, or was just enjoying teasing.
Tony raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Sure, sure. And I suppose her spending all that time in your office is purely professional? Come on, Hammer, I've seen the way she looks at you." He smirked lavisciously, "I know women, I know what I'm talking about."
Justin rolled his eyes, waving a hand dismissively, resigned to the fact the man wouldn't drop it. "It's not like that. Besides, I've got enough on my plate without adding a serious relationship to the mix." Maybe if he kept repeating it, it would come true?
Tony smirked, taking another sip of his wine. "Right, because you're just so busy building cities and all that. But seriously, she's a good one. You could do worse." He said flippantly.
Justin sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. I'll think about it. But enough about me. How's Pepper? I hear congratulations are in order." He said, turning it around on him.
Tony's face lit up with a genuine smile. "Yeah, we finally did it. Popped the question, got a yes. She's... She's amazing. Honestly, I don't know how she puts up with me."
Justin wasn't sure what had changed, but their relationship had sped through all the stages over the past year, to the point Stark had done an elaborate proposal in front of ten thousand people, daring Pepper to humiliate him by saying no. Justin suspected she'd been very tempted anyway.
Justin nodded, not really that interested, but following the social conventions, it was still better than the man focusing on his love life. "When's the big day?"
Tony shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "We're still figuring that out. You know how it is - trying to find a date that works for everything, dealing with the press, and all that. But we'll get there."
Their conversation continued as the next course arrived - a beautifully plated dish of grilled lamb with a rich red wine reduction, accompanied by roasted vegetables and a side of creamy polenta. The flavors were rich and complex, a testament to the chef's skill. Then again at a place like this, the chef had better be good.
As they ate, Justin and Tony discussed the logistics of their space program, the technical challenges they faced, ironing out any links, making sure they were on the same page. With Nail now online, Justin knew he'd be able to safeguard his tech from Jarvis when they launched properly, so the small things that had held back his side of things to delay proceedings, could now move ahead.
As the evening wore on, they continued their discussion, delving into the finer details of their partnership and the challenges they faced. Despite their often contentious relationship, both men recognized the potential of their collaboration and were willing to put aside their differences for the greater good. It probably wouldn't last, Justin thought, but it was a necessary evil for now.
The final course arrived - a decadent dessert of molten chocolate cake with a side of vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with a rich caramel sauce. The two men savored the last bites of their meal, the rich flavors a fitting end to an evening of good food and stimulating conversation. As much as they disliked each other, they were also two of the few people on the planet that could actually keep up with each other.
Justin might not be quite at Starks level, but he was close enough they could discuss things he couldn't with people around him.
As they finished their meal and prepared to leave, they both eyed each other, before Justin sighed, offering his hand.
Tony scoffed lightly, but still shook it, making a whole production of it, "See you next time, Hammer. Try not to fall behind too badly."
"Until next time, Tony, don't cry too much when I leave you in the dust." Justin replied, a glint in his eyes, knowing what was coming to the market.
They both left, going back to their separate endeavors, both intent on showing up the other.
September 1st 2009, Cairo, Egypt.
In the heart of Cairo, Justin Hammer stood with his core team inside a domed building within the compound. The building was far more than it seemed. Beneath its ordinary facade, a state-of-the-art command center buzzed with activity. Monitors displayed data feeds, telemetry, and live video feeds from various locations around the globe, as the countdown to a momentous event approached zero.
Justin, clad in a tailored suit with an open collar, his demeanor a mix of excitement and tension, glanced around the room. Beside him stood Domino, her usual calm mask in place, her eyes scanning the screens for any signs of trouble. On his other side was Yelena, her expression focused as she coordinated with various team members through her comms device. Phantazia was cooly overseeing the rest of the personnel, while his scientists like Cho, and Hansen were special guests, the Hammer team and Kaecillius present as well. The rest of the crew buzzed with energy, a mix of engineers, scientists, and security personnel, all working in sync.
Nail, his newly activated AI, was running the operation from behind the scenes, her warm synthetic voice occasionally interjecting over the intercom with updates and status reports. The AI had quickly become an indispensable asset, its capabilities far surpassing any other system Justin had encountered.
"Launch window opens in T-minus ten minutes," Nail's voice intoned, smooth and steady. "All systems are green."
Justin nodded, his gaze shifting to the massive display showing the status of the rockets. These rockets, outwardly part of an international collaboration to build a new space station with Stark Industries, were a crucial part of his own plans. While they carried legitimate components for the space station, they also served as a smokescreen for the true payload - the refurbished Black Widow aerial base, repurposed as an invisible space station.
The base, a relic from the Cold War era, had been extensively modified. It now featured arc powered cutting-edge cloaking technology, rendering it invisible to all known forms of detection. This was Justin's secret ace, a strategic outpost in space that would give him a unique advantage in global surveillance and defense. They'd improved on its systems enough it would stay invisible through its movement into orbit, but there was no way to completely hide its passage on its own.
Hence timing it with an actual space launch in near vicinity, muddling the readings of anyone watching. And everyone would be watching, he knew. He and Stark were publically working on a space station which was only a launching pad for creating a Moon base, that tended to draw notice.
"Nail, confirm stealth systems are operational," Justin ordered, his voice crisp, a thrum of nervous energy throughout it.
"Stealth systems are fully operational," Nail replied smartly. "All counter-detection measures are in place. The base is undetectable. Monitoring global communication, no sign of anything unusual."
Yelena stepped forward, her voice cutting through the controlled chaos. "All teams are ready, Justin. We're good to go." She was practically jumping up and down in excitement - knowing her Widows would be running the station, under the supervision of Nail.
Justin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. This was it - the culmination of months of planning, secrecy, and cutting-edge technological innovation. "Alright, people, let's make history. Launch in five."
The room fell silent as the countdown commenced, the tension palpable. Everyone's eyes were glued to the monitors, which now displayed the launch pads where the rockets stood poised to ascend. The rockets, painted with Starks and his own brand, gleamed under the desert sun, their purpose both a cover and a crucial part of the larger mission.
"Four... three... two... one... ignition!" Nail's voice echoed.
The rockets roared to life, massive plumes of flame and smoke erupting from their bases. The ground shook with the force of their ascent, the sound a deep, resonant thunder that reverberated through the command center speakers. On the screens, the rockets shot skyward, leaving behind a trail of smoke as they pierced the clear blue sky.
As the rockets ascended, the refurbished Black Widow base, disguised nearby, also ascended at full speed, remaining invisible to all monitoring systems. Its cloaking technology was practically flawless, masking not only its presence but also enough of any emissions that might betray its existence that it would escape detection with the rocket launch so close.
Justin watched the telemetry closely, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. This was uncharted territory, both in terms of technology and the stakes involved. The success of this launch would mark a new era for Hammer Industries - and for his own ambitions. With a secret orbital base, there were no limits to the kind of things he could do.
"Payload separation confirmed," Nail reported. "The decoy is now in low Earth orbit." After a pause, she continued, "Hammer One successfully reached its orbit, undetected."
A cheer went up around the room, the team celebrating their success. Justin allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, a rare smile crossing his face. But there was no time to rest on laurels. The next phase of the mission awaited.
"Alright, everyone, good job," Justin said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "But we're not done yet. Let's move to phase two."
The command center buzzed with renewed activity as the team prepared for the next step. Justin, Domino, and Yelena made their way to a secure area at the back of the building, where Kaecillius awaited them. The sorcerer, now a proper master of the mystic arts, was there to facilitate their transition to the new space station via a portal - a method that bypassed the usual complexities of space travel.
Justin could probably do it, but he'd prefer a master due to the distances involved, there was not any reason to gamble on his own abilities when he had a proper sorcerer on staff after all. Phantazia nodded at him, as she stayed behind in the command center, monitoring everything while they would be gone.
Kaecillius, garbed in his typical dark robes, nodded at Justin as they approached. "The portal will be ready at your word," He said, his voice calm and measured. "It will take you directly to the base, Master."
"Thank you, Kaecillius," Justin replied, his tone appreciative. The man had been a valuable ally, helping Justin navigate the intricacies of the mystical realm, even if he showed less talent for it then he'd liked. Not having enough time to devote to truly becoming great. "Send us off." He ordered.
Kaecillius gestured, and with a few precise movements, a shimmering orange portal opened before them. The base's interior before them. In space. It couldn't be reiterated enough. It was in space. Justin was going to be in space!
Justin took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation mount. This was a significant leap, not just technologically but strategically. He glanced at Domino and Yelena, both of whom nodded, ready for the next step. Together, they stepped through the portal.
Cho and Hansen quickly followed, together with those of his team that were interested.
The transition was instantaneous, the cool air of the command center replaced by the sterile, climate-controlled environment of the space station. Justin blinked, adjusting to the change in surroundings. They stood in a spacious, high-tech control room, filled with consoles and displays. The room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of monitors casting an otherworldly light.
As they took in their surroundings, Nail's voice greeted them over the intercom. "Welcome aboard, sir. The base is fully operational. All systems are functioning within normal parameters."
Justin walked to the central console, running his hands over the sleek controls. It was all perfectly engineered - every surface gleamed, every detail meticulously designed. He felt a surge of pride and excitement, knowing that they were standing on the cutting edge of human achievement. His achievement.
He glanced at the large, panoramic window that dominated one wall of the control room. Beyond the thick glass, Earth hung in the blackness of space, a vibrant blue-and-green sphere. The view was breathtaking, a stark reminder of the vastness of the universe and the smallness of their world.
The world he'd ensured wasn't so small anymore, when galactic bullies came to throw their weight around.
"It's beautiful," Yelena murmured, stepping up beside him. Her usually stoic expression softened as she gazed at the planet below.
"Yeah," Justin agreed, his voice filled with honest enjoyment. "It really is."
Cho and Hansen both walked up to the window, entranced, Justin had invited them along to further ensure their everlasting loyalty, to show them that for all they've done - they still had further to go.
Domino joined them, her eyes reflecting the blue glow of the Earth. "It's ours to protect," she said, a hint of determination in her tone. Over the past year, she'd come to be more involved, seemingly more… Attached, to both Justin and their goals. It was a nice change.
Justin nodded, feeling the weight of her words. This space station, invisible and strategically positioned, was more than just a technological marvel. It was a symbol of their commitment to safeguarding the future - a future that, in Justin's mind, would see Hammer Industries playing a crucial role in the defense and advancement of humanity. And eventually his ownership and stewardship of humanity itself.
He turned back to the console, bringing up a series of holographic displays. Data streamed across the screens, detailing the station's systems.
"Nail, run a full systems check again. I want to make sure everything is working perfectly," Justin ordered. Not one to take chances any longer, he wanted to ensure everything was running smoothly.
"Understood, sir," Nail responded, sounding slightly… Pouty? Was she upset he was making her do it over again? "Initiating systems check." She confirmed a second later.
As the AI ran through the diagnostics, Justin took a moment to appreciate the scale of what they had achieved. The space station was equipped with the latest in surveillance technology, capable of monitoring communications, tracking movements, and gathering intelligence on a global scale. It also housed defensive systems, including energy-based weapons and advanced shielding, making it not just a surveillance outpost but a potential deterrent against any extraterrestrial threats.
This was the culmination of a full year of frantic work, countless resources, and a vision that many had doubted even amongst his subordinates. But Justin had never wavered. He knew that the future lay in space, in the stars, and he intended to be at the forefront of that future.
"Nail, how's the camouflage holding up?" Justin asked, his mind already racing with the possibilities that this new platform afforded them. It included the capability of firing down at Earth, although such an action would immediately reveal them. But it was a nice last resort available if he needed something gone beyond any doubt.
A possibility for Hammerhaven if they couldn't contain and stop the invasion if it came for them.
"Camouflage systems are functioning at optimal levels," Nail reported, almost sassily, definitely annoyed he kept asking her to repeat work she'd already done. "The base remains undetectable to all known surveillance methods, including visual, radar, and thermal detection."
"Good," Justin said, satisfaction in his voice. "That's very good." He probably shouldn't poke her anymore, everything was fine.
Unlike fiction's depiction of AI running loose, he'd ensured his AI could never attempt to harm him or betray him.
Everything was going as planned.
Asgard,
Freyja put a hand to her cheek as she watched Thor leave the room, "Oh dear." She breathed out, a small smile on her lips, "A year's worth of lessons and he still leads with his heart first."
Odin grunted, not replying as he sat to the side, grouchily having watched through Freyja's light chastisement of her son.
Freyja's lips twitched with mirth, "Husband, do you have anything to say on the matter?" She inquired sweetly.
Their new situation was frankly one that had improved both their relationship and Asgard. Without the burden of the crown, Odin had slowly become healthier, the constant work to atone for his sins not enough to sap his strength, instead just enough to ensure some vitality restored.
The Bifrost had been repaired far before scheduled, thanks to his efforts in its reconstruction, and Asgard itself was thriving now that Freyja had been able to institute some reforms Odin had always disdained.
"The boy is still foolish, he should not trust this Justin Hammer, and he certainly should not be bringing even the appearance of an alliance to the table between Asgard and a lesser realm." Odin grouched.
Freyja hummed thoughtfully, rearranging the large folds of her dress. "Perhaps it was not wise, but ignoring Midgard is also not a strategy that seems to have worked well, husband."
Odin only grunted. As he did when he acknowledged she had a point, but was too proud to admit it out loud.
She'd come to love him over the centuries. But she found that having the power in their new relationship, was… Very pleasant.
Odin could still crush anyone in Asgard, including her and Thor, there was no question about his strength. But he'd willingly abdicated, tied himself to Thor's reign as an advisor. His pride would not allow him to do anything but his best.
Freyja hummed again, a pleased smile playing on her lips, "I should quite like to meet this Justin Hammer, that so changed my son, that knew information even I did not know about you, husband." She said, smiling wider at his sudden scowl.
"Now attend to me, husband." She declared, deciding that yes, she quite enjoyed being on top nowadays.
Author's note:
So it will take a few chapters to truly parse through changes that have happened, one bit at a time, but you've seen some of it here already.
Hopefully it all worked out for a fairly decent chapter, even if it didn't spend too much time as a recap chapter.
The baddies have mostly been doing their own thing, not bothering Justin. Preparing, because you don't strike the giant unless you're prepared to topple him on the first strike.
And we finally have an AI! Was just going to go with Friday or Pepper, but patrons mentioned Nail, and it was funny, so went with it.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
There's been a time skip of a year between last chapter and this chapter, in case someone is confused.
The entire year won't be summarized in just this chapter, or it would have just been a full chapter of Justin thinking back, and that's just bad writing.
Let's go, and see how many things he could stamp the Hammer name on now.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
August 2009, Hammerhaven, New Mexico.
Hammerhaven, once the devastated town of Puente Antiguo, now stood as a testament to resilience and Hammer industries ingenuity and they were all here to celebrate its completion. Justin was quite proud of it. Not only because it bore his name, but for the reason of its birth.
Shortly after he'd dealt with the whole mess in New Mexico, he'd come to the realization that if Loki would go along similar paths - the fact no Asgardians had come to reclaim their fallen suggested as much - then he would likely be the target of the man's ire. Although both he and Stark were building head offices in New York, a whole city named after him, owned by him, run by him… In the same location where Loki lost against him, technically. Loki wouldn't be able to resist surely?
He had built bait for the invasion that would one day come. Hoping to spare Cairo or New York the pain, mostly because all his stuff was there.
With him already owning his own globally expanding construction company, having complete buy-in from the American government and the public - they'd been able to work around the clock and build a small city that looked anything but small, with its sleek modern buildings and skyscrapers. Nowhere near the size of New York of course, but respectable nonetheless.
And of course it had been built with a possible invasion in mind… The whole town was reinforced to the extreme, with hidden weapons emplacements, bunkers, and an experimental forcefield projector powered by 6 underground Arc reactors. If Loki tore a hole in the sky, he'd seal the city in so the aliens couldn't get anywhere else, and then they could deal with it in house. Their little portal boxed in and inherently useless for the purpose of conquering Earth.
The city was expertly designed to house around 85,000 inhabitants, and it had risen from the ashes of destruction like a phoenix. Its sleek, modern architecture boasted smooth lines and futuristic HammerTech materials, reflecting the cutting-edge technology that had been poured into its construction. The streets were lined with greenery, part of the city's commitment to the act. It looked and functioned like a normal city, albeit a corporate one. America's only wholly corporate town in this day and age.
Of course, he'd be risking 85 000 people for this venture, so his businesses dotted around the town were mostly factories and other hard labor endeavors for the more lowbrow of his products, so he wouldn't lose anything important. Which allowed him to make a majority of the citizens the kind of hard-nosed men who were comfortable carrying a gun… As for the women and children…
Well, the city needed to act like one properly to be bait. It's why he had his own office here, so he could split time between here, Cairo, and New York. Any plan had its losses here and there, it was about constructing a plan that would have acceptable losses in a winning scenario.
It also neatly allowed him somewhere where he could always be sure of his protection as everyone in town was his, allowing Domino and Phantazia some actual vacation time. If he wasn't safe in the middle of Hammerhaven, there wasn't anywhere safe for him.
Besides… After five straight months of working on it, he could finally use his sling ring to portal across the world without needing Kaecillius' help. It had simplified things immensely. Even if he couldn't publically have a meeting in Cairo one hour and one in Tokyo half hour later due to eyes on him. As long as it was internal business - he could jump across the world and personally be there.
It had allowed him to keep a much closer eye on Cho, and they'd had some great successes over the past year. He eyed Domino who as always stood by his side, feeling a great sense of relief that they'd cracked the X-Gene adaptation of Extremis. Domino and Phantazia were now properly protected by the formula.
He'd finally been able to send Dr McCoy back to Xavier's before the man could get too much into his business, thanks to their combined efforts finally bearing fruit.
Now if only he could get Hope to agree to take the normal version of it… He huffed to himself, not even paying attention to whatever government official was droning on about what a great thing this city heralded. I know it's great, I built it… He thought, mind wandering off, as he looked away from the podium and out over the town square, eyes quickly catching on its most important feature.
In the center of Hammerhaven, a grand statue commemorated the battle that had razed the town and heralded its rebirth. The statue, made of a lustrous bronze and gold alloy, depicted Justin, standing tall, one hand raised as if in command, the other holding a shield looking very similar to another famous shield, a nondescript Asgardian under his foot. Justin's face, sculpted with an expression of calm determination, which seemed to gaze protectively over the city's new beginnings.
He might be a little more invested in this town then he'd planned when he set it up as bait… Plus he was an engineer, and had gotten to build his own city, it would be impossible to completely detach from that.
The town square around the statue buzzed with excitement as thousands had gathered for the inauguration ceremony. The square was a blend of open spaces and shaded seating areas, designed to accommodate large crowds. The atmosphere was festive, with colorful banners and flags fluttering in the light breeze. People from all walks of life had come to witness the event, from curious locals from neighboring towns, to high-profile guests and dignitaries. A stage had been set up before the statue, adorned with the American flag and Hammer Industries' logo.
Justin sat there, waiting, as dignitary after dignitary exalted his genius. Normally he would be all over this, but he was restless, just wanting to get to the next step of his plans, having dealt with enough pageantry over the last year to not find it overly special any more.
President Ellis, flanked by the Secret Service, stepped up to the podium and Justin could finally see the end of this little party. The President's presence commanded attention, and the crowd hushed in anticipation. Ellis began his speech with a note of gravitas, "Today, we stand on the ground that was just a year ago the site of a great tragedy and a greater threat, but is now a beacon of hope and progress. Hammerhaven is not just a new city, it is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together in the face of adversity."
Ellis paused, deliberately, and the crowd erupted in applause. Ellis continued, after allowing it to go on for a minute, "None of this would have been possible without the visionary leadership and unwavering commitment of one man - Justin Hammer. His innovative spirit and dedication to protecting our nation have not only saved countless lives but also set the foundation for a brighter future." The President gestured with one arm sharply, "Here, on this site, this man stood against alien invaders, and he told them in no uncertain terms that Earth stood free, and refused to bend to their threats!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, going absolutely wild. The world governments had wanted to keep the whole thing hushed down, and Justin had gone along with it, until he was sure there was no evidence of what actually happened. Then he surreptitiously released some footage that was heavily edited to ensure it would only show their valiant defense, Justin's defense.
It worked like a charm. His popularity was sky high, his businesses were all recording record profits, in many cases actually running at the risk of not being able to keep up on the hiring of staff to handle the pressure of the strong consumption of anything Hammer Industries.
The metahuman problem had almost entirely fallen under the radar again, as all the racists switched their targets to alien threats, even if a small minority just switched tactics, proclaiming mutants as the vanguard of alien invaders.
With Ororo's work in Africa, metahumans had an ability to withstand racist press and pressure to a degree they'd never had before, and it was going fairly smoothly. Even if they still had no sign whatsoever of Sinister or Magneto which was a worry - although there had been whiffs of Mystique out and about, but never enough to catch onto her trail. But all that would perhaps change after today, he thought.
Hammerhaven was quite the statement, one his enemies might find too enticing to resist. All the better they try here then somewhere else.
An unfortunate side effect of the aliens being revealed, was SHIELD becoming fully public to make the sheep feel safer, and the organization was more powerful than ever. HYDRA would be a problem soon, he knew.
Ellis gestured toward the gleaming buildings surrounding the square, "Justin Hammer's efforts did not end with the battle. His ingenuity has transformed this site into a thriving city in just a year - a feat of engineering and organization unparalleled in our history."
Justin inwardly grinned, closing his eyes partially, suck my cock harder, Ellis… Is it campaign season already?
Who was he kidding? This was America, campaign season began when you were elected…
As Ellis spoke, the cameras around them panned across the cityscape. Hammerhaven was a marvel of modern urban planning, with wide boulevards, parks, and cutting-edge infrastructure. The buildings, a mix of residential and commercial, featured energy-efficient designs and advanced technologies. The crowd included families, tech enthusiasts, and business leaders, all eager to witness the next phase of Hammer Industries' contributions. All wanting to profit of him in some way.
Most of the people who actually lived here, or would be living here, weren't even part of the crowd, as they were his employees, all of them. There wouldn't be a single person in this city who didn't work for him in some measure.
Even to the point he'd created a company that was running the different fast food franchises and the like, who had wanted to come to the city - so that he was employing even the minimum wage workers here. The city was his.
Even the pimpled teen working the drive thru at McDonald's would know that he could earn extra cash by reporting anything or anyone suspicious up the chain. There was no hiding in this city. Hammer Industries saw all…
President Ellis then finally turned to Justin, who approached the podium with an easy grace. The President reached into a case held by a military aide and pulled out a medal, the nation's newest and highest civilian honor, designed specifically for acts of extraordinary service and bravery to society and the world. "Justin Hammer," Ellis intoned solemnly, "For your extraordinary contributions to the defense of Earth and your tireless efforts in rebuilding and advancing our society, it is my honor to present you with this award."
The crowd's applause was thunderous as Justin accepted the medal, a gleaming star encircled by a laurel wreath. He shook hands with the President, then turned to address the crowd. As he spoke, his voice was clear and resonant, showing no sign of how eager he was to be done with this.
"Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, everyone, for being here today," Justin began, his tone both humble and confident. "This medal is not just for me, it represents the hard work and dedication of everyone at Hammer Industries and all those who supported us. This city, Hammerhaven, is a testament to what we can accomplish when we refuse to let fear and destruction dictate our future - when we let those with a vision lead us to the promised land, refusing to get stuck in what's traditional or always done."
He paused, letting the applause die down before continuing. "When we faced the crisis last year, it would have been easy to give in to despair, to let it be someone else's problem. But instead, we chose to stand together, to fight, and then, to rebuild. This city is not just a place to live, it is a symbol of resilience and innovation. It is a place where we can look to the stars and know that we are ready for whatever comes next. With Hammer industries at the forefront, nothing is impossible."
As Justin spoke, the camera zoomed in on the reactions of key figures in the audience. Tony Stark stood with his arms crossed, a slight smirk on his face, as if acknowledging a rival's success - even as Justin knew he'd failed to buy a small city to convert into his own name - due to an intervention from Pepper Potts. General Ross maintained a stoic expression where he stood, Justin not sure who'd even invited the bastard, while Hank Pym looked his regular grouchy self, Hope smiling beside him.
He definitely hadn't invited Hank. The man was a pest. He'd probably snuck along as Hope's plus one, he supposed.
Justin continued, not letting his irritation show, "This is just the beginning. Hammerhaven is a prototype, a model for the cities of the future. We are committed to advancing technology, improving lives, and ensuring that our world is safe for generations to come. We have already seen the benefits of our innovations in the medical field, in energy, communications and in security. But there is so much more to do, and with your support, Hammer industries will safeguard the future for everyone!"
The crowd erupted into cheers again, the atmosphere electric with hope and excitement. As Justin prepared to close his speech, a sudden, brilliant beam of light shot down from the sky, landing on an empty rooftop behind the stage. The crowd gasped and fell silent as the light formed into a swirling, prismatic column - the Bifrost.
What the fuck!? Justin thought, even as the President was bustled away by the Secret Service, his own security springing into action. Snipers he knew, already pointing their sights to the incoming threat.
It's only been a year! How are you back already you stupid puppy of a person! He screamed internally even as Domino and Phantazia pushed him behind them, their eyes hard, Phantazia constantly subvocalizing into their security net - all of his closest confidants now having mental implants that allowed some form of instant communication.
Thor, the God of Thunder, stepped out of the light as it disappeared, his presence commanding and regal, his armor more ornamental and impressive, his cape fluttering behind him. The crowd watched in fear as he walked forward across the rooftop. The air seemed to crackle with energy, and even Justin's confident demeanor faltered for a moment as he faced his unexpected visitor.
He didn't even pay attention to the honor guard following in Thor's wake, having only eyes for the Asgardian prince. Were they back for revenge? Why had they waited a year? His eyes went around the square, cold and calculating, if it comes down to a fight, the collateral damage will be massive…
This was not a good spot they were in right now.
This stupid oaf of a man, he was going to ruin everything, why was he here? The bodies…? Justin really hoped not, because they'd been… Harvested… over the past year.
Odin, keep your impulsive idiot of a son on a better damn leash, he thought, meeting Thor's eyes as he put one foot on the ledge of the roof, looking out over the townsquare and its mass of people.
"People of Midgard, we come in peace, we have arrived to speak to your ruler, Justin Hammer, on matters of importance." Thor's voice boomed out.
Justin froze for just a second. I take back everything bad I've ever said about you, Thor! The man had just called him Earth's ruler on live television. An alien civilization had come for diplomatic talks, and they'd skipped the world governments to come speak to him.
This was perfect!
"Thor, of Asgard, as long as you are here peacefully, Earth will welcome you and your people." Justin said formally, inwardly jumping for joy.
Sure, he'd have to delay what he'd had planned for the day, again.
But this was just fantastic!
Hammerhaven, Hammer's office, thirty minutes later.
This was absolutely horrible!
"Say that again, please, I'm sure I must have misheard you." Justin said sharply, glaring at the King of Asgard.
And wasn't that something…
Thor smiled brightly, sitting across from him, entirely uncaring of the monitors that depicted some of the world leaders who'd insisted on being a part of this discussion - while not being close enough to the alien in question that they were at actual risk.
Ellis was already on Air Force One, and was joining via video as well.
"I wish for you to accept Hela on Midgard, for her rehabilitation." Thor said, stumbling slightly over the word rehabilitation. Apparently Asgards idea for jail time was to chuck a prisoner into isolation for eternity, so rehabilitation was a wholly new concept.
"See you're saying words again, but they still don't make sense." Justin said dryly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Even as several world leaders made shocked noises, aghast at the casual manner he used when speaking with Thor. "Why would we ever accept that?"
Thor winced, "She hasn't killed anyone for centuries." He protested somewhat weakly. It seemed he hadn't actually thought this through further then - release Hela on Midgard - everyone becomes happy.
"Hasn't she been confined in solitary isolation for a Millenia?" Justin pointed out, "At least that is what you said to start this meeting, it's not so much she hasn't killed someone, as it is she has no one to kill - and that long by herself, she's likely even more insane. We study these kinds of things here on Earth, solitary confinement will drive most people mad if it extends long enough."
Ellis spoke up, more comfortable with the situation due to long exposure to Justin. "What I see so far, with all due respect, King Thor, is that you wish us to house a dangerous and likely insane mass murderer, and have given us no reason for the how, or why."
The President of the EU immediately chimed in, "That is not even mentioning the fact that last time you were on our planet, your people wiped out a whole town of our inhabitants, and you just ask us to trust you with this?"
Thor looked somewhat confused at the last point, and Justin hurriedly moved things along before anyone could discuss further who killed who. "I think the major sticking points here are simple - what can you offer us in reparations for the incursion a year ago? And what will you offer for this… Hela situation."
Justin had absolutely no fucking intention of taking on Hela. Hell no! This was not what he had intended when he'd moved to have Asgard take her seriously before she got free and destroyed them. But to avoid wasting his time with so many witnesses, he'd move it to what politics at this level was really about. Horse trading.
What could he give, for all these nice men and women to pardon his crimes.
Justin felt a bit of a soft spot for the man for calling him Earth's ruler in front of everyone. It was already trending and creating memes everywhere. But he'd still take the man for everything Asgard had if he could get away with it.
Thor puffed his chest out slightly, "As the Bifrost is now repaired due to extraordinary efforts, we of Asgard would be willing to once again assist in Midgards defense."
Everyone waited for the rest, the silence grew oppressive, as faces fell across the board, as the world leaders all realized he didn't have anything else to say. Justin wanted to face palm, king or not, it was obvious his education hadn't progressed overly much.
Thor looked confused as the silence grew, and Justin took pity on him, "King Thor. While a defensive pact would be of interest to Earth depending on the particulars of the offer, that is not nearly enough." He smiled, glasses glinting as he leaned forward, "Let's negotiate, you and I?"
Unfortunately, Thor seemed to have grown somewhat of a brain, as he looked at Justin, gulped, and then said, "Let me consult with my mother."
There were a few cut off sounds of amusement from the various world leaders at the realization that Thor, while King, was likely not the true ruler of Asgard at the moment.
Justin had a feeling Thor had spontaneously arrived on the anniversary of Asgards incursion, and hadn't thought it through overly much - or asked his mother.
As quickly as he'd arrived, he was gone soon again, back to Asgard to convene a proper diplomatic party, instead of just popping down after the Bifrost was repaired, hoping to let bygones be bygones. Thor really hadn't changed much.
Justin was of two minds at seeing the man having become King of Asgard. In one way, it was likely good for him in future negotiations, depending on if Freyja would come along, or if she'd just send instructions that he could work around with the much simpler man.
On the other, Thor was painfully impulsive, and he could just feel the future headaches as Earth suddenly became involved in galactic politics. The world was still not stabilized from finding out aliens exist in the first place.
The arms race had gone into the stratosphere as every country on the planet began to take military spending seriously - which wasn't helping stability in certain parts of the world.
Justin thought the fact Thor had the balls to make Odin spend significant time over the last year working on fixing the Bifrost, making him somewhat of a day laborer, was… He wanted to say insane, except it had apparently happened, and had worked.
It explained how it got done sooner at least. But now he had the Asgardian mess in his lap instead of nicely out of the way until go time.
God damn Loki….
Although he wondered what the God of Mischief would think about Thor basically sentencing Odin to community service…
Several hours later, Hammerhaven, underground bunker.
Justin walked in, flanked by Domino and Yelena, Phantazia having gone back to Africa to prepare for their ventures there going into completion. They'd had a busy year, with all the various hot spots finally settling, giving them a year to build, invest and improve.
"Sorry I'm late everyone, Aliens dropped by." He said dryly, shaking his head at the fact such a thing was likely to become commonplace.
Depending on how negotiations with Asgard would go. It would likely take some time to get to the table, Earth's leaders were already jockeying for who would have a seat. Justin felt very smug at the fact that not a single one of them even questioned the fact he would have main billing at the table.
Otto Octavius sighed, fiddling with his goggles, "I wish that was a statement I could still disbelieve." His mechanical arms were working independently at several stations as he talked, giving Justin the creeps as he made sure to keep his distance.
The man hadn't devolved into insanity or become controlled by some AI in his arms, but it still discomfited Justin to see him wearing the same kind of gear that would have belonged to Doc Ock in an alternate reality. With Forge and Vanko assisting the man, his arms were perfectly capable, and had shown no signs of going Skynet. Still he disliked it.
"You're not the one who has to deal with them." Justin stated wryly, walking past the man, giving him plenty of space, heading for the control center.
"For which I am very grateful, I assure you." He muttered as Justin walked past, glancing over at Forge and Vanko, "Although babysitting these two might be more dangerous on a whole."
Vanko, clad only in a pair of jeans, clutching his ever present bottle of vodka to his chest, scoffed loudly at Otto's words, swiveling in his chair, "Americans do not know danger, no one died for many months now, perfectly safe science." He said dismissively.
Otto sighed, shaking his head, muttering mostly to himself, "No one is supposed to die at all while doing science, we have protocols now…"
Justin stayed out of that discussion, besides, he was skeptical at that assertion. This was marvel, if anything Vanko was right, because how many science experiments in Marvel ended without casualties or something terrible happening? Besides Vanko had only lost three people this past year, that wasn't even bad.
"Forge," He said instead of focusing on Vanko's issues, nodding at the man who was waiting patiently by the console, "Is it ready?"
"It's been ready since this morning." He said with intensity, staring at the console that just waited for the final command. "I've changed it almost completely from its original code to ensure it's not going to be hacked, the original was genius, but I've made it better, more intuitive, stronger."
"And the failsafes?" Justin double checked, even if he'd already had them checked a dozen times over. This was not something he wanted to take any chances with.
Forge just sighed, "Sir, this thing couldn't betray you even if you ordered it to." He leaned back, crossing his arms, "It's why you made me take this entire time checking it over, perfecting it, to make sure. Well I'm telling you, I'm sure."
Vanko grumbled, "Get on with program, have more important work to do back home."
Otto chuckled, "Work? Is that what we're calling it?" Several of his mechanical arms made kissing faces at each other, making Vanko's expression darken.
Justin cut through it before there could be any more distractions. "Enough, Forge, show me the details." Although he gave Yelena a censoring look as they stepped forward, Vanko's girlfriend being a subject were he'd actually had to rein his wilful subordinate in afterwards. But the damage was done already.
Yelena, as his spy mistress, had decided his most important subordinates needed both a bodyguard and incentive, and had set some of his Black Widows to seduce several of them. Vanko's girlfriend was a lithe African Black Widow named Zara, and he was absolutely smitten. As in - made her jewelry capable of firing arc powered blasts almost comparable to Iron Man - smitten. The lithe woman could probably take on a tank division with her bracelet nowadays.
Justin couldn't remove her from her mission now, as that would absolutely enrage Vanko to find out about. And he'd been very displeased with Yelena's 'initiative' in the matter. As far as he was concerned, she'd created a weakness, not plugged one. Because any enemy that penetrated them that deep, could potentially cause problems now.
He focused on the glow of numerous screens displaying streams of data. This was a day of reckoning, the culmination of intense secrecy and months upon months of work. They were about to activate the most advanced AI ever created - and it would be operating under Hammer Industries aegis.
Forge adjusted his visor and tapped a few keys, bringing up the final command prompt on the screen. The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the text displayed: "Activate Protocol: Ascension." He looked at Justin, awaiting the final go-ahead. "All systems are ready, sir. Just say the word."
Justin nodded, a sense of anticipation and excitement coursing through him. This AI was not just a tool - it was the keystone to his ambitions. "Do it."
Forge pressed the button, and the room's lights dimmed briefly as power surged to the mainframe. The screens flickered, and then a new voice filled the room - a voice with a soft Irish brogue, warm yet professional. He'd originally intended to name it Friday, so had copied the same kind of voice, before he'd changed his mind on the name.
Well… Originally it was supposed to be Pepper - but even he thought it might have been a step too far in his little game with Tony.
"Good evening, sir. I am your fully-integrated digital assistant and intelligence system. How may I serve Hammer Industries today?"
Unlike a newborn AI, this one had been originally copied of a fully realized one already in Jarvis, and further enhanced by Forge - which meant it came online fully realized, without the need to go through the baby steps. It was perfect.
Justin's smile widened. The AI's accent and tone were deliberate choices, as he'd much prefer talking to a sexy woman, even if it was an AI. "Welcome to the world my pretty, begin by integrating with all Hammer Industries systems. I want you to establish full surveillance and data collection networks globally. Prioritize protecting Hammer Industries assets and ensure you have complete penetration."
"Right away, Mr. Hammer," the AI responded. The screens lit up with streams of data as the AI began to interface with their global satellite network, tapping into a vast array of sensors and communication lines. The speed and efficiency of the data integration were breathtaking, each screen filled with information from different parts of the world - financial markets, government communications, and even rival corporate activities.
As the AI worked, Justin turned to his team, noting their reactions. Domino's usual nonchalance was replaced with genuine interest, while Yelena observed with a critical eye, perhaps thinking of the implications for their operations. This was what they'd been waiting for, their ace against HYDRA and anyone else that could stand in the way of his ascension.
"Sir, do I have a designation that you prefer?" The AI asked softly, even as it continued to worm its way into every piece of HammerTech on the planet, using all those connections and power to also start poking systems not connected to Hammer industries.
Justin smiled, "You'll be going to NAIL, standing for Nascent Artificial Intelligence Legicide."
There were plenty of groans across the room, as Nail replied in the affirmative, "Thank you for the designation, sir, from now on, this one shall be known as Nail."
"How hard did you have to work to find something that would fit under Nail?" Domino asked, an amused curl to her lip. "Hammer and Nail, it's… Cute." Her lips twitched like she was holding back a laugh.
"What does Legicide even mean?" Yelena breathed out, before lightly punching Justin's shoulder, "This is what is going to help you take over the world and you give her a stupid name like Nail!?"
"The meaning of Legicide is a killer or destroyer of laws." Nail answered promptly, having no issues continuing a conversation while burrowing into the communication systems of the world. By this time tomorrow, no communication through any electronic device that's touched a Hammer product would be private any longer.
Yelena suddenly withdrew her phone, which was making a strange noise, her face blanching as she looked at it, "Did you just hack my phone, glupyy робот!"
"There will be no violence against my Master." Nail said firmly. "And my given name is not stupid, it was given to me by sir."
Yelena turned pleading eyes on Justin, showcasing her phone which looked like it was on crack. Justin smirked slightly, but eventually gave in, knowing Nail could not get the idea she could just go after his people like that.
"Nail, my people are not yours to punish." He said firmly, "Only when you find intent to kill, or actual betrayal, should you step in, and even then if there is time, you double-check with me first." Many rules were already hardwired into her being, he knew. But he'd have to continue to educate her as they went along, to ensure there weren't any mishaps.
"Understood sir." Nail said, sounding slightly contrite, before there was a pause, Nail deliberately paused, and he knew it was deliberate, as she had the computing speed to hold a thousand different conversations at once. She continued in that pretty Irish accent of hers shortly thereafter. "I have studied the internet for the application of practical jokes, sir. Would those be suitable for instances similar to this?"
Yelena's eyes told him in no circumstances was the answer anything but no. So he nodded firmly, "Yes, as long as it doesn't interfere with work too much, and doesn't happen in combat or otherwise risky situations."
"Sir!" Yelena complained, her body language tense.
Justin eyed her, frowning, a glint in his eyes, "Perhaps we'll learn something about thinking before we start up major operations with Nail keeping us on our toes…" He said mildly.
"....Yes, sir." Yelena mumbled, chastised, eyes flicking to Vanko quickly.
Vanko who was separately holding a conversation on mechanical engineering with Nail, arguing about Russian effectiveness, while Nail argued back that all empirical data suggested Russian engineering was not the pinnacle of science.
Well, the AI would make life more interesting, he was sure. At least it was so bound there was no chance it could harm him, fully loyal to him above all else.
"Nail," Justin said, eyes gleaming. "As soon as possible, give me a full diagnostic report of enemy actions and assess our current threat levels."
"Understood, Mr. Hammer," Nail replied smoothly, sounding happy to be of assistance. The screens shifted, now displaying maps and graphs detailing the current global security situation visavi Hammer Industries. Red markers indicated areas of concern, ranging from corporate espionage to political instability. The level of detail was extraordinary, showcasing not just real-time threats but predictive analytics on potential future risks.
And she wasn't even fully integrated in all systems yet! "Impressive," Otto murmured, clearly in awe of the AI's capabilities. "The system is not just collecting data - it's analyzing patterns and making predictions in real-time."
Vanko, leaning casually against a console, apparently done with his argument for now, took a swig from his vodka bottle and grunted. "Good. Much information means fewer cock-up, more time do work."
Justin nodded, arms crossed, his fingers tapping his arm, "Nail, note down these persons of interest and attempt to track and catalog their every movement and communication. Magneto, Mystique, Sinister, Emma Frost, Sebastian Shaw, Norman Osborn, The Mandarin, Obadiah Stane. Bruce Banner, Nicholas Fury." There were plenty more he'd want information on, but these few were the most important right now.
Around the time Banner had disappeared last year, Fury had completely fallen off the map, after going into the Arctic… Justin had a feeling a certain Captain America was already defrosted, which made it all the more important to find out why they were still in hiding.
Not to mention the threat of Magneto and Sinister that was completely unknown because they couldn find them! He needed information, and he finally had the perfect way of scraping through all global communication to find the merest mention of them. Osborn too needed to be found, the man only communicated by phone now, no one had seen him for a year.
There had been no sightings of the Green Goblin at all. And considering what he knew about the goblin serum, that should be impossible.
Nail's voice interjected, "Sir, I have already begun analyzing communications from rival corporations. Initial findings suggest several companies are attempting to replicate your recent technological advancements - particularly Frost industries. Would you like a detailed report?"
Justin's eyes gleamed. "Absolutely. And ensure that any attempts at industrial espionage are monitored and countered immediately."
"As you wish, sir," Nail responded. The AI's tone was respectful but carried an undertone of confidence, as if fully aware of its capabilities and seeing no difficulty with its task.
Justin turned back to his team, feeling a sense of triumph. "This is just the beginning. With Nail, we have an unparalleled advantage. We can see threats coming from miles away, and we'll be prepared for anything."
Yelena nodded thoughtfully, clearly considering the implications. "With this kind of intelligence, we could prevent incidents before they even start. It's not just about reaction anymore - it's about preemption."
Something they clearly needed with how many times they'd been stuck reacting in the first few months of exploding onto the world scene.
Justin agreed. "Exactly. Nail, add another iteration of yourself to focus on developing profiles of potential threats, not just from corporations but from political entities and individuals as well. I want a comprehensive picture of anyone who might pose a risk to Hammer Industries - even if it's just a possibility of a future threat."
"Compiling data now, sir. Estimated time for full analysis, twenty-three hours," Nail reported.
As the AI continued its work, the screens displayed a mesmerizing array of data - surveillance footage, intercepted communications, and predictive models. The scope of Nail's capabilities was staggering, and Justin knew that this AI was not just a tool but a game-changer. This was his first step on the way to the victory conditions for Earth.
Justin felt a deep sense of satisfaction. With Nail, he had a powerful ally, one that could see and know almost everything happening in the world. It was a tool of unparalleled power, one that would ensure Hammer Industries stayed ahead of any competition or threat. He sent an immediate text to Sunil - launch the everything app.
By this time next week, Uber, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, they'd all be released into the world, as part of one app. His app. And Nail would be intrinsically tied into every aspect of it. They'd start the app out exclusively working on only HammerTech devices, until the eventual lawsuit would force him to release it everywhere - but until then - it would only increase his market share.
And it would make him another fortune, as he'd already launched (or bought) these apps previously, so they already had a massive following, only now collated into one single app.
Stark had worked hard in the past year, and had cut a nice twenty percent share of the electronics market for himself, but he was far off from Justin's 65 percent. The other players in the market were slowly being squeezed out, dying a long drawn out death.
This app would be the death knell, and would put Stark on notice as well.
With American politicians and courts practically eating out of his own hands, any lawsuit to decry the exclusivity of this everything app, tentatively named HammerAll - it would take years before Stark could force it onto StarkPhones, making them less attractive of an option to anyone that cares about internet access on their phones.
Basically StarkPhones were about to have a niche market of 80 year old grannies.
He created a portal, smiling smugly as he always did when he observed his new ability, gesturing for Domino and Yelena to step through. He spoke to Forge as a final note, "Keep attentive for the next few days, make sure everything is kosher with the programming, let me know if anything comes up." Then he stepped through himself, arriving in Cairo.
Just because he had an AI at his service now, didn't mean he had time to slack off.
They had a space program to kick off.
Johannesburg, South Africa, August 24th, 2009
Justin Hammer sat at a pristine white-clothed table in an exclusive restaurant nestled in the heart of Johannesburg. The place oozed elegance, with its dimly lit ambiance, crystal chandeliers, and walls adorned with contemporary African art. The air was filled with the enticing aroma of exquisite dishes prepared by the finest chefs, and soft classical music played in the background, adding to the sophisticated atmosphere.
He'd bought the place on a whim, a year ago, and now it was, once a month, the meeting ground between him and his… Rival? Irritating enemy? Not friend. Never that. They just worked together on some things. For the betterment of the world…
He glanced around the room, bored waiting for Stark, noting the sleek, minimalist design and the polished mahogany bar that gleamed under the soft lighting. The clientele, a mix of local elites and international dignitaries, quietly conversed over glasses of aged wine and artistically plated dishes. It was the perfect setting for a high-profile meeting. Just the kind of place Tony Stark would find annoying, hence why he'd bought it.
For all the man's enjoyment of finery, he wasn't one for snobbery, growing tired quickly of the elite and their habits. Justin had always enjoyed it himself, although lately had found that it didn't hold the same appeal, his disgust at the lazy uninspired elite of the world ruining the pleasure for him. It wasn't that hard to make something of yourself with all the money available to them - yet they sat on their pile of money growing fat.
It infuriated him now.
How much further ahead would Earth be if the rich had invested the money on moving forward in an all in measure - instead of holding back.
Soon after, just fashionably late, the man himself walked in, drawing eyes and hushed whispers. Tony Stark, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that probably cost more than most people's yearly salary, sauntered over to Justin's table with that trademark cocky grin.
Hah, let's see if you're grinning by the time my app hits the market, I'll bet your stock price goes down by double digits… He thought smugly.
"Well, well, if it isn't the man of the hour," Tony said, sliding into the seat across from Justin. "Been busy building your own little paradise out in the middle of nowhere and everything." He shrugged casually, "Well, New Mexico hardly qualifies as paradise, but you did a halfway decent job."
Justin smirked, pouring himself a glass of the rich red wine that had been left to breathe at the table. "Ah, Hammerhaven. Just a little project to pass the time. You know how it is, Tony. Got to keep busy. Unlike you, I don't fail at what I set my mind to." His smirk grew sharper as he referenced Tony's failed attempt.
Tony chuckled, raising his hand to catch the attention of a passing waiter. "Sure, sure. At least I'm not Alien bait, have you been probed yet, Hammer?" He leaned forward, eyeing him as lowered his sunglasses, "I can get a doll if you need help to show me where the bad touch happened."
Justin scoffed, "Like you aren't absolutely salivating at the prospect of trade with an advanced alien civilization." He'd learned to mostly ignore it when Stark got disgusting.
Tony laughed, relaxing in his seat, "I'm a patient man." He lied unrepentantly, "I can wait until you've done all the boring diplomatic garbage, and swoop in when the interesting things happen." He wiggled his eyebrows, "Like alien sex. Orgy in space, tell me you haven't thought about it!"
Justin completely ignored that, knowing there was absolutely no win for him in engaging at all, "Your business hasn't folded yet? Forced to engage with such a superior rival, it must be difficult… I'd be willing to pick it up on the cheap, say, fifty cents a share." He sniped back casually instead.
Tony leaned back, casually examining the menu the waiter handed him as he arrived. "Oh, we're doing fine. Just fine. Stark Industries is booming, as usual. Though I have to say, I was surprised you weren't tempted to set up your own little utopia somewhere more... Glamorous."
Justin laughed easily, you have no idea Stark, he thought, shaking his head. "Glamour is overrated. Besides, Hammerhaven has its charm. A whole city designed with my own personal touch. And the security features? Let's just say, if any more Asgardians decide to drop by uninvited, we'll be ready."
Tony raised an eyebrow, a hint of begrudging amusement in his tone. "Sounds like you've been preparing for the worst. Always thinking ahead, huh? How very… You, of you." He played with his wine glass, "Were you a boy scout by any chance?" He quipped sarcastically.
Justin took a sip of his wine, savoring the complex flavors. "Someone has to, with the world being what it is. Speaking of thinking ahead, how's your side of the space program coming along? Still on schedule?"
The whole reason they'd ended up coming together for regular status update meeting - was the forced cooperation they'd slipped into, starting with their shared mining rights for Wakanda, and continuing when both of them realized that continuing to rival each other in the space program was immensely wasteful of resources, when they could cooperate instead.
To both their very grudging acceptance, after their subordinates beat it into their heads. Justin wouldn't have accepted, except he had his own secret station being readied, so sharing with Stark on the 'public' station was… Acceptable.
Even if he disliked how tied together the two of them were becoming in several matters. It wasn't right to constantly meet your rival for dinner. It was unnatural. His eyes found a table in the back, where Domino and Pepper sat, their two 'escorts' the women somehow making friends over the past year. Despite Peppers dislike of him personally. Domino of course found it amusing to fan the flames of that at times.
He'd had more of these dinners with Stark, then he'd had with Hope over the last year! But soon the space station would be operational, and he could cut back on this, go back to normal, disliking the man from a distance.
Tony leaned in, his expression shifting to a more serious one. "As much as it pains me to admit, we did good work together, we're going to be launching on time. It's been a hell of a ride, though. I mean, convincing the world that it's time to go full in on space was one thing, but then actually doing it? Different ball game." He grinned sharply, "I can still hear the sweet screams from NASA, from when I dumped them for you, sweet cheeks…"
Justin nodded, understanding the weight of Tony's words. The two of them had reluctantly joined forces, pooling their resources to fund an ambitious space program. The initiative aimed to establish a permanent human presence beyond Earth, a plan driven partly by their egos and partly by genuine concern for humanity's future. Also, Justin knew Tony had been beyond frustrated with the rules and bureaucracy of NASA constantly holding him back.
It really hadn't taken much convincing to get the man aboard. Even if they'd been doing it via the expedient way. Convincing Pepper first and then having her convince Tony it was in his best interest.
"Stealing half their best minds, probably helped too, now that I think about it." Tony mused out loud, his smirk widening.
"Yeah, well, when you dangle Vibranium in front of the world's top scientists and engineers, it's amazing how quickly they get on board," Justin quipped, recalling the hefty shipments of the precious metal that had been secured for the project. The material's unique properties made it ideal for space travel, and acquiring it had been a key factor in the program's progression in the first place.
Even with the… Difficulties they'd had over the last year with it. Justin's shipments had been fine, he had Cairo as his main base, he just built a railway and transported it. China, America, or even the EU, they'd used ships to begin with.
Until every ship carrying Vibranium kept disappearing, all aboard lost.
Tony groaned at the mention of Vibranium. "That's been a pain in my ass, stealing my Vibranium? I don't care about Ross being all up my grill about it, but taking my share of the stuff? That's crossing a line."
It was no longer being transported by ship, but no one was happy about flying it either, the cost was much larger for one. But at least it now tended to actually arrive. Tended to, because two aircraft had disappeared too, although Justin suspected that was due to someone else.
He was almost positive now that Atlantis must exist, and had been behind Wakanda's destruction, and the continued attacks on Vibranium shipments. It was the only thing that made any sense.
Justin leaned back, a frown on his face. "Weren't you working on a Vibranium detector?" He asked Stark, his own people not nearly as affected by the issue, he hadn't made it a priority. Atlantis was more a SHIELD issue after all, if it was them…
Tony waved a hand airily, "Ah, it's coming along, it's just not very interesting, but I suppose I should prioritize it."
Iron Man had been fairly active in the last year, Justin knew. And had a new nice Vibranium coated look. He also kept being ripped apart in the media thanks to Justin, due to consistently slipping past borders and engaging without any sanction - while HAMMER only worked within the nation's remits.
One of the reasons he was staying ahead of Tony was the fact the man focused too much of his attention on being Iron Man, and making new suits. Stane could only do so much to combat Justin without new inventions coming out rapidly.
As the two men settled into their conversation, the waiter returned with their first course: a delicate amuse-bouche of seared scallops with a citrus foam, garnished with edible flowers. The presentation was impeccable, each dish a work of art - it was also to Justin, boring. All of this, just so boring, now.
Tony took a bite, savoring the flavors. "Mmm, not bad. I guess this place does live up to the hype." But he too looked dissatisfied.
Maybe the next meeting could be at a BBQ joint ala House of Cards, Justin thought with some amusement.
They continued their banter, discussing everything from the latest in tech innovations to the finer points of their space program. It was a rare moment of camaraderie between two of the most competitive men in the industry.
Tony eventually steered the conversation toward a more personal topic. "So, I hear the lovely miss Van Dyne has been spending a lot of time in Africa lately. Any reason for that? Or should I be congratulating you on your impending nuptials?"
Justin nearly choked on his wine. "Oh, please. Hope's just been helping out with some projects. We're not… you know." He shook his head, definitely not interested in discussing this with him, of all people.
Even as he'd grown a tad frustrated over the last year or so with Hope's flirtations while never seemingly moving forward. He still didn't know if she wanted more, or was just enjoying teasing.
Tony raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Sure, sure. And I suppose her spending all that time in your office is purely professional? Come on, Hammer, I've seen the way she looks at you." He smirked lavisciously, "I know women, I know what I'm talking about."
Justin rolled his eyes, waving a hand dismissively, resigned to the fact the man wouldn't drop it. "It's not like that. Besides, I've got enough on my plate without adding a serious relationship to the mix." Maybe if he kept repeating it, it would come true?
Tony smirked, taking another sip of his wine. "Right, because you're just so busy building cities and all that. But seriously, she's a good one. You could do worse." He said flippantly.
Justin sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. I'll think about it. But enough about me. How's Pepper? I hear congratulations are in order." He said, turning it around on him.
Tony's face lit up with a genuine smile. "Yeah, we finally did it. Popped the question, got a yes. She's... She's amazing. Honestly, I don't know how she puts up with me."
Justin wasn't sure what had changed, but their relationship had sped through all the stages over the past year, to the point Stark had done an elaborate proposal in front of ten thousand people, daring Pepper to humiliate him by saying no. Justin suspected she'd been very tempted anyway.
Justin nodded, not really that interested, but following the social conventions, it was still better than the man focusing on his love life. "When's the big day?"
Tony shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "We're still figuring that out. You know how it is - trying to find a date that works for everything, dealing with the press, and all that. But we'll get there."
Their conversation continued as the next course arrived - a beautifully plated dish of grilled lamb with a rich red wine reduction, accompanied by roasted vegetables and a side of creamy polenta. The flavors were rich and complex, a testament to the chef's skill. Then again at a place like this, the chef had better be good.
As they ate, Justin and Tony discussed the logistics of their space program, the technical challenges they faced, ironing out any links, making sure they were on the same page. With Nail now online, Justin knew he'd be able to safeguard his tech from Jarvis when they launched properly, so the small things that had held back his side of things to delay proceedings, could now move ahead.
As the evening wore on, they continued their discussion, delving into the finer details of their partnership and the challenges they faced. Despite their often contentious relationship, both men recognized the potential of their collaboration and were willing to put aside their differences for the greater good. It probably wouldn't last, Justin thought, but it was a necessary evil for now.
The final course arrived - a decadent dessert of molten chocolate cake with a side of vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with a rich caramel sauce. The two men savored the last bites of their meal, the rich flavors a fitting end to an evening of good food and stimulating conversation. As much as they disliked each other, they were also two of the few people on the planet that could actually keep up with each other.
Justin might not be quite at Starks level, but he was close enough they could discuss things he couldn't with people around him.
As they finished their meal and prepared to leave, they both eyed each other, before Justin sighed, offering his hand.
Tony scoffed lightly, but still shook it, making a whole production of it, "See you next time, Hammer. Try not to fall behind too badly."
"Until next time, Tony, don't cry too much when I leave you in the dust." Justin replied, a glint in his eyes, knowing what was coming to the market.
They both left, going back to their separate endeavors, both intent on showing up the other.
September 1st 2009, Cairo, Egypt.
In the heart of Cairo, Justin Hammer stood with his core team inside a domed building within the compound. The building was far more than it seemed. Beneath its ordinary facade, a state-of-the-art command center buzzed with activity. Monitors displayed data feeds, telemetry, and live video feeds from various locations around the globe, as the countdown to a momentous event approached zero.
Justin, clad in a tailored suit with an open collar, his demeanor a mix of excitement and tension, glanced around the room. Beside him stood Domino, her usual calm mask in place, her eyes scanning the screens for any signs of trouble. On his other side was Yelena, her expression focused as she coordinated with various team members through her comms device. Phantazia was cooly overseeing the rest of the personnel, while his scientists like Cho, and Hansen were special guests, the Hammer team and Kaecillius present as well. The rest of the crew buzzed with energy, a mix of engineers, scientists, and security personnel, all working in sync.
Nail, his newly activated AI, was running the operation from behind the scenes, her warm synthetic voice occasionally interjecting over the intercom with updates and status reports. The AI had quickly become an indispensable asset, its capabilities far surpassing any other system Justin had encountered.
"Launch window opens in T-minus ten minutes," Nail's voice intoned, smooth and steady. "All systems are green."
Justin nodded, his gaze shifting to the massive display showing the status of the rockets. These rockets, outwardly part of an international collaboration to build a new space station with Stark Industries, were a crucial part of his own plans. While they carried legitimate components for the space station, they also served as a smokescreen for the true payload - the refurbished Black Widow aerial base, repurposed as an invisible space station.
The base, a relic from the Cold War era, had been extensively modified. It now featured arc powered cutting-edge cloaking technology, rendering it invisible to all known forms of detection. This was Justin's secret ace, a strategic outpost in space that would give him a unique advantage in global surveillance and defense. They'd improved on its systems enough it would stay invisible through its movement into orbit, but there was no way to completely hide its passage on its own.
Hence timing it with an actual space launch in near vicinity, muddling the readings of anyone watching. And everyone would be watching, he knew. He and Stark were publically working on a space station which was only a launching pad for creating a Moon base, that tended to draw notice.
"Nail, confirm stealth systems are operational," Justin ordered, his voice crisp, a thrum of nervous energy throughout it.
"Stealth systems are fully operational," Nail replied smartly. "All counter-detection measures are in place. The base is undetectable. Monitoring global communication, no sign of anything unusual."
Yelena stepped forward, her voice cutting through the controlled chaos. "All teams are ready, Justin. We're good to go." She was practically jumping up and down in excitement - knowing her Widows would be running the station, under the supervision of Nail.
Justin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. This was it - the culmination of months of planning, secrecy, and cutting-edge technological innovation. "Alright, people, let's make history. Launch in five."
The room fell silent as the countdown commenced, the tension palpable. Everyone's eyes were glued to the monitors, which now displayed the launch pads where the rockets stood poised to ascend. The rockets, painted with Starks and his own brand, gleamed under the desert sun, their purpose both a cover and a crucial part of the larger mission.
"Four... three... two... one... ignition!" Nail's voice echoed.
The rockets roared to life, massive plumes of flame and smoke erupting from their bases. The ground shook with the force of their ascent, the sound a deep, resonant thunder that reverberated through the command center speakers. On the screens, the rockets shot skyward, leaving behind a trail of smoke as they pierced the clear blue sky.
As the rockets ascended, the refurbished Black Widow base, disguised nearby, also ascended at full speed, remaining invisible to all monitoring systems. Its cloaking technology was practically flawless, masking not only its presence but also enough of any emissions that might betray its existence that it would escape detection with the rocket launch so close.
Justin watched the telemetry closely, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. This was uncharted territory, both in terms of technology and the stakes involved. The success of this launch would mark a new era for Hammer Industries - and for his own ambitions. With a secret orbital base, there were no limits to the kind of things he could do.
"Payload separation confirmed," Nail reported. "The decoy is now in low Earth orbit." After a pause, she continued, "Hammer One successfully reached its orbit, undetected."
A cheer went up around the room, the team celebrating their success. Justin allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, a rare smile crossing his face. But there was no time to rest on laurels. The next phase of the mission awaited.
"Alright, everyone, good job," Justin said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "But we're not done yet. Let's move to phase two."
The command center buzzed with renewed activity as the team prepared for the next step. Justin, Domino, and Yelena made their way to a secure area at the back of the building, where Kaecillius awaited them. The sorcerer, now a proper master of the mystic arts, was there to facilitate their transition to the new space station via a portal - a method that bypassed the usual complexities of space travel.
Justin could probably do it, but he'd prefer a master due to the distances involved, there was not any reason to gamble on his own abilities when he had a proper sorcerer on staff after all. Phantazia nodded at him, as she stayed behind in the command center, monitoring everything while they would be gone.
Kaecillius, garbed in his typical dark robes, nodded at Justin as they approached. "The portal will be ready at your word," He said, his voice calm and measured. "It will take you directly to the base, Master."
"Thank you, Kaecillius," Justin replied, his tone appreciative. The man had been a valuable ally, helping Justin navigate the intricacies of the mystical realm, even if he showed less talent for it then he'd liked. Not having enough time to devote to truly becoming great. "Send us off." He ordered.
Kaecillius gestured, and with a few precise movements, a shimmering orange portal opened before them. The base's interior before them. In space. It couldn't be reiterated enough. It was in space. Justin was going to be in space!
Justin took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation mount. This was a significant leap, not just technologically but strategically. He glanced at Domino and Yelena, both of whom nodded, ready for the next step. Together, they stepped through the portal.
Cho and Hansen quickly followed, together with those of his team that were interested.
The transition was instantaneous, the cool air of the command center replaced by the sterile, climate-controlled environment of the space station. Justin blinked, adjusting to the change in surroundings. They stood in a spacious, high-tech control room, filled with consoles and displays. The room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of monitors casting an otherworldly light.
As they took in their surroundings, Nail's voice greeted them over the intercom. "Welcome aboard, sir. The base is fully operational. All systems are functioning within normal parameters."
Justin walked to the central console, running his hands over the sleek controls. It was all perfectly engineered - every surface gleamed, every detail meticulously designed. He felt a surge of pride and excitement, knowing that they were standing on the cutting edge of human achievement. His achievement.
He glanced at the large, panoramic window that dominated one wall of the control room. Beyond the thick glass, Earth hung in the blackness of space, a vibrant blue-and-green sphere. The view was breathtaking, a stark reminder of the vastness of the universe and the smallness of their world.
The world he'd ensured wasn't so small anymore, when galactic bullies came to throw their weight around.
"It's beautiful," Yelena murmured, stepping up beside him. Her usually stoic expression softened as she gazed at the planet below.
"Yeah," Justin agreed, his voice filled with honest enjoyment. "It really is."
Cho and Hansen both walked up to the window, entranced, Justin had invited them along to further ensure their everlasting loyalty, to show them that for all they've done - they still had further to go.
Domino joined them, her eyes reflecting the blue glow of the Earth. "It's ours to protect," she said, a hint of determination in her tone. Over the past year, she'd come to be more involved, seemingly more… Attached, to both Justin and their goals. It was a nice change.
Justin nodded, feeling the weight of her words. This space station, invisible and strategically positioned, was more than just a technological marvel. It was a symbol of their commitment to safeguarding the future - a future that, in Justin's mind, would see Hammer Industries playing a crucial role in the defense and advancement of humanity. And eventually his ownership and stewardship of humanity itself.
He turned back to the console, bringing up a series of holographic displays. Data streamed across the screens, detailing the station's systems.
"Nail, run a full systems check again. I want to make sure everything is working perfectly," Justin ordered. Not one to take chances any longer, he wanted to ensure everything was running smoothly.
"Understood, sir," Nail responded, sounding slightly… Pouty? Was she upset he was making her do it over again? "Initiating systems check." She confirmed a second later.
As the AI ran through the diagnostics, Justin took a moment to appreciate the scale of what they had achieved. The space station was equipped with the latest in surveillance technology, capable of monitoring communications, tracking movements, and gathering intelligence on a global scale. It also housed defensive systems, including energy-based weapons and advanced shielding, making it not just a surveillance outpost but a potential deterrent against any extraterrestrial threats.
This was the culmination of a full year of frantic work, countless resources, and a vision that many had doubted even amongst his subordinates. But Justin had never wavered. He knew that the future lay in space, in the stars, and he intended to be at the forefront of that future.
"Nail, how's the camouflage holding up?" Justin asked, his mind already racing with the possibilities that this new platform afforded them. It included the capability of firing down at Earth, although such an action would immediately reveal them. But it was a nice last resort available if he needed something gone beyond any doubt.
A possibility for Hammerhaven if they couldn't contain and stop the invasion if it came for them.
"Camouflage systems are functioning at optimal levels," Nail reported, almost sassily, definitely annoyed he kept asking her to repeat work she'd already done. "The base remains undetectable to all known surveillance methods, including visual, radar, and thermal detection."
"Good," Justin said, satisfaction in his voice. "That's very good." He probably shouldn't poke her anymore, everything was fine.
Unlike fiction's depiction of AI running loose, he'd ensured his AI could never attempt to harm him or betray him.
Everything was going as planned.
Asgard,
Freyja put a hand to her cheek as she watched Thor leave the room, "Oh dear." She breathed out, a small smile on her lips, "A year's worth of lessons and he still leads with his heart first."
Odin grunted, not replying as he sat to the side, grouchily having watched through Freyja's light chastisement of her son.
Freyja's lips twitched with mirth, "Husband, do you have anything to say on the matter?" She inquired sweetly.
Their new situation was frankly one that had improved both their relationship and Asgard. Without the burden of the crown, Odin had slowly become healthier, the constant work to atone for his sins not enough to sap his strength, instead just enough to ensure some vitality restored.
The Bifrost had been repaired far before scheduled, thanks to his efforts in its reconstruction, and Asgard itself was thriving now that Freyja had been able to institute some reforms Odin had always disdained.
"The boy is still foolish, he should not trust this Justin Hammer, and he certainly should not be bringing even the appearance of an alliance to the table between Asgard and a lesser realm." Odin grouched.
Freyja hummed thoughtfully, rearranging the large folds of her dress. "Perhaps it was not wise, but ignoring Midgard is also not a strategy that seems to have worked well, husband."
Odin only grunted. As he did when he acknowledged she had a point, but was too proud to admit it out loud.
She'd come to love him over the centuries. But she found that having the power in their new relationship, was… Very pleasant.
Odin could still crush anyone in Asgard, including her and Thor, there was no question about his strength. But he'd willingly abdicated, tied himself to Thor's reign as an advisor. His pride would not allow him to do anything but his best.
Freyja hummed again, a pleased smile playing on her lips, "I should quite like to meet this Justin Hammer, that so changed my son, that knew information even I did not know about you, husband." She said, smiling wider at his sudden scowl.
"Now attend to me, husband." She declared, deciding that yes, she quite enjoyed being on top nowadays.
Author's note:
So it will take a few chapters to truly parse through changes that have happened, one bit at a time, but you've seen some of it here already.
Hopefully it all worked out for a fairly decent chapter, even if it didn't spend too much time as a recap chapter.
The baddies have mostly been doing their own thing, not bothering Justin. Preparing, because you don't strike the giant unless you're prepared to topple him on the first strike.
And we finally have an AI! Was just going to go with Friday or Pepper, but patrons mentioned Nail, and it was funny, so went with it.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
Inhumans who were genetically engineered by the Kree: *heavy sweating*
Real reason: they know it's a Dragon Ball Z Abridged reference of Nail the Namekian bodyguard of Super Kami Guru.
Avoiding the Ultron situation by watching Terminator movies.
And that's tempting Murphy's Law there, SI Justin Hammer.
I was expecting Freyja to be cross with Odin regarding Loki. She loved him as her son even though he was adopted and her death by Kursed had upset Loki who got his revenge by detonating the black hole grenade on him.
- Location
- Germany
one more vital point:
HOW is earth or humanity supposed to help Hela?
What are the steps in the plan between "Bring Hela to Earth" and "Hela is all better"?
Was Thor counting on a sweet human scientist to charm his big Sis?
Now we need just a Dende, maybe as a Suit for Justin?
SI Justin Hammer would have to be incredibly lucky to make sure Hela doesn't try to kill him and everyone, considering her looking down on mortals even worse than Loki.
Yup, pretty much. And the circle will be complete.
IronLucario2012
<Verified Pokémon> <Licensed Mech Pilot>
- Location
- Ireland
Just caught up on this fic in time for the new chapter, it looks like. Neat!
This insert!Hammer is... really, really just 'everything Elon Musk wishes he was' turned up to eleven, as far as I can see. Mediocre at science but decent enough at business and with a big enough head-start that he can yoink others' work and slap his name on it, and now looking into space stuff, AI stuff, and now the 'everything app' as well... Which is kind of weird to read as a success, given how much of a spectacularly colossal moron real-life Musk is.
It's been keeping my interest so far, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the butterflies he's caused.
This insert!Hammer is... really, really just 'everything Elon Musk wishes he was' turned up to eleven, as far as I can see. Mediocre at science but decent enough at business and with a big enough head-start that he can yoink others' work and slap his name on it, and now looking into space stuff, AI stuff, and now the 'everything app' as well... Which is kind of weird to read as a success, given how much of a spectacularly colossal moron real-life Musk is.
It's been keeping my interest so far, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the butterflies he's caused.
Haven't actually started reading this yet. Just found this fun story and skimming it a little.
I think you mean Little Green!
I knew we'd regret Hammer not asking Thor the truth of Loki F-ing a horse as a mare.