Chapter 34: Ancient One(s)
Here's chapter 34: Ancient One(s)
We finally get an answer to - where the !#$@!! Was the Ancient One? A few of you already knew what I was going to do here, catching onto it, although only one reviewer caught exactly how it would all end up going.
Justin is a bit off kilter right now, not used to loss, not something he's really ever had to deal with. Time to do what he does best, fuck someone else over so he'll feel better - while wringing every advantage for himself out of it that he can.
Although someone trying to fuck with him first doesn't help that.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Cairo,
Justin stood amidst the ruined streets of Cairo, his armor weighing heavily on his shoulders. The drone camera continued to hover nearby, its red light blinking as it streamed live to the billions of viewers around the world. Justin knew they were still being watched, knew that the world's eyes were on him at this very moment. He needed to keep his composure, even if every part of him was screaming to let loose, to fall apart in the face of all that had happened.
He took a deep breath and removed his helmet, feeling the cool, gritty air of the city against his sweat-dampened skin. His face was a mask of exhaustion, the weight of his decisions, and the losses he had suffered weighing heavily upon him. He wiped his brow with a gloved hand, his thoughts a chaotic mess of grief and anger. Every muscle in his body ached somehow, even with Extremis in play. Still, his body thrummed with energy, and he wanted to just rip and tear his enemies apart… But he forced himself to stand tall, to appear strong and collected. There's still work to do, he reminded himself. There's always more work to do.
The Power stone had changed him, he could feel it. It was like it had carved a new set of veins throughout, or perhaps simply scooped out and hollowed him in a way - a way that was now filling up with power, he could feel it settling, deep into his bones. This… Divinity, filling up the space the Power Stone had left.
If before he could handle the Power Stone only for a few minutes, he had a feeling he could now use it further… The temptation was strong… To just take it back and wipe away all resistance.
One glance at Hela, who was eying him almost thoughtfully, ended that brief power fantasy. I am not like her…
He glanced at Hela again, and at Thor, who finally had been able to escape now that Apocalypse was no more. I will have to barter for information from them… He thought with distaste, because divinity was not a subject he had any great knowledge on.
His eyes scanned the street, taking in the aftermath of the battle. Debris was scattered everywhere, the remnants of once-proud buildings now reduced to rubble. Fires still burned in some places, sending dark plumes of smoke into the sky. He forced himself to look away from the spot where Hope had died, her last moments replaying in his mind like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.
The Egyptian government was dead, Nail had confirmed it. Which in a way would make things easier for him. Cairo would now be his, Egypt, would be his. In a way it already had been, but now he could make it official. His own flying capital in the sky… Although… He continued to scan the broken skyline, it needs some work…
He turned his attention to his team, doing his best to push aside the grief that threatened to overwhelm him. He had to focus. His team needed him to be their leader, to be the pillar they could lean on in this moment of chaos and uncertainty. "You alright?" he asked, directing his question toward Bucky, whose metal arm was bent awkwardly, sparks occasionally flickering from damaged wiring - Bucky having chosen to keep the arm over regenerating a new one out of some stupid penance. Bucky's face was a stoic mask, but his eyes told a different story - a mix of pain and understanding.
Justin really didn't want fucking sympathy right now, but snapping at his own men while in mixed company wouldn't do, so he kept his cool, simply raising an eyebrow questioningly.
Bucky nodded slowly, his expression calm despite the discomfort. "I'll manage," He said quietly. He could see the turmoil in Justin's eyes, could sense the weight of his grief and rage. Bucky had seen that look before, in the eyes of soldiers who had lost comrades in battle. He knew better than to push, to ask questions. Instead, he waited for orders, ignoring the pleading, almost desperate look from Steve standing a few feet away.
Justin nodded, appreciating that Bucky didn't offer platitudes or condolences, just kept things business like, it helped right now. He pointed off toward the distance, his voice firm but weary. "Sinister's crawled away," He said with distaste, Nail having been keeping an eye on the bastard. "According to overwatch," He said, mindful of their audience, "Black Widow is on the prowl already, but Sinister's ours. His knees are shot, so he won't get very far. Go get him." He kept his voice steady, though he could feel the anger bubbling beneath the surface. Sinister was going to pay. For everything.
He wouldn't let him die. Dying was easy. No… Sinister would live forever, wishing for death every moment of his miserable existence.
Bucky glanced in the direction Justin indicated. "And Black Widow?" He asked, his voice neutral. He knew the history between them and wanted clarification on rules of engagement.
Justin snorted, rubbing his temples with his free hand. "If she has a problem, tell her she's on an island in the sky with no way off," He replied bluntly. "And to have the balls to come take it up with me." He looked at Bucky, his eyes hard. "We have bigger issues right now. Just get Sinister, no need to be gentle..."
Bucky nodded again, turning away to carry out his orders. Justin watched him go, then turned back to the rest of his team. His eyes fell on Electro, who lay motionless on the ground, his body still. Yelena was kneeling beside him, her face partially turned away. For a moment, Justin thought he saw tears glistening in her eyes, but when she looked up, her expression was blank, unreadable.
"What happened to Electro?" Justin demanded, his voice sharp with concern. "Why is he still down? Extremis should have fixed him." He felt a surge of frustration. Not another one. Please, not another one.
He didn't particularly like Electro. But he was one of his. And he'd had enough of his people dying. All of this felt like a giant slap from the heavens punishing him for his cowardice. For holding back, for waiting for the right moment, for not being willing to put himself on the line.
He'd only been able to in the end. When he'd already lost… Too much.
Yelena shook her head, her voice steady but tinged with something he couldn't quite identify. "We don't know," She said flatly. "Apocalypse hit him with some kind of power or effect, and he went down. He hasn't moved since."
Justin rubbed his brow, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling over him like a heavy cloak. "Quarantine him," He ordered flatly. "Scorpion, guard him until overwatch can get a team here." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. They couldn't afford to take any chances. If there was any possibility that Apocalypse had left some sort of contingency, they had to be prepared.
Frank nodded, moving to take up position near Electro, his weapons still hot, his sensors all keeping an eye on all the non Hammer personnel on site. Yelena sighed, standing up and brushing dust off her pants. "You think he might be compromised?" She asked, her tone carefully neutral.
In a way, Yelena sounded like Justin, forcing herself to feel one way to avoid falling apart, focusing on the job, pushing everything else until later. Justin couldn't offer her comfort, not here, not now. Maybe not ever. Not when he knew it was his fault. If I had gone for the power stone immediately…
Justin's expression hardened, as he threw away all useless thoughts and focused on the now. "I don't think anything," He replied tersely. "I'm just not risking Apocalypse somehow seeing a chance he might lose and having burrowed a backup into Electro's skull. He kept pulling powers out of his ass. I can't risk it." His mind was already racing with possibilities, with worst-case scenarios. If they couldn't find out what was wrong conclusively, if there was even a hint of him being compromised, Electro would have to be euthanized. It wasn't a choice he wanted to make, but he couldn't let Apocalypse come back. Not after everything.
Not with how dangerous he'd been.
He'd been preparing for Loki for fucks sake, not an enemy that made Thanos seem underwhelming.
"Justin, I need to speak with you," A voice cut through his thoughts, interrupting him. It was Captain America… Well the first one anyway. He was stepping forward, his face a mixture of concern and something else - a hint of pity, maybe, or perhaps it was disappointment. Justin couldn't tell, and frankly, he didn't care.
Justin cocked his head, his eyes narrowing at Steve Rogers. "It's Mister Hammer or sir, to you, soldier," He snapped, his patience wearing thin. He didn't have time for this, not now. But if the soldier out of time was going to force the issue, he'd make the Avengers regret it, they didn't know who they were dealing with it seemed. He'd educate them…
Captain America's expression shifted, his lips thinning as he frowned. "You're not my superior, Mister Hammer," He replied, his voice calm but firm.
Justin sneered, his frustration boiling over. "On the contrary, I'm empowered by the President of the United States to take charge of any U.S. forces in my and my team's vicinity during a major powered incident, terrorist attack, or alien invasion," He retorted. "That includes you, even if you're technically a deserter..."
Captain America's face darkened at the accusation, his shoulders squaring as he prepared to argue. "Son, you don't seem to know your history -" He began, his tone patronizing.
"Don't call me son," Justin interrupted coldly, his voice laced with venom, even as Yelena eyed the man with rage in her eyes, fingering her gun. "You deserted the moment Fury got you out of the ice, Mister Rogers. When you decided to follow a man wanted and convicted for treason by the American government. When you hid away for a year with said man, in the hands of the terrorists that committed genocide, nuked Wakanda, and murdered thousands of American and allied soldiers." His words were sharp, biting, each one a carefully aimed barb.
He was well aware of the camera, even if the Captain seemingly was not - or was stupid enough to think it didn't matter.
Captain America looked stricken, his expression one of shock and dismay. "It's not like that," He protested, his voice faltering. "And Fury didn't get a trial by his peers. He was persecuted and chased away, he's fighting the good fight still, even with being unjustly accused."
Justin gave him a look of utter disdain, the kind of look one might give a particularly dense bratty child. He was glad the camera drone was rolling, capturing every moment, every word. "He was tried in absentia," He said slowly, as if explaining to someone particularly slow. "Because he ran," He stressed. "Not exactly an innocent man's behavior, let alone what he did afterward with you and Mr. Genocide." His gaze shifted pointedly to Namor, who stood not far behind Captain America, his arms broken but his entire mien one of sneering contempt for those around him.
Props to Fury, it does take some skill to get such an obvious asshole to join with his Avengers and dance to his tune. Fury probably threatened him with what the world would do to him if he didn't, Justin thought, inwardly shaking his head at the pointlessness of it all. America wouldn't forget. The world wouldn't forget. Vibranium might pay off any actual consequences - but the families of the dead would never forgive.
And Fury had given Justin just the weak point needed to utterly shatter the public perception of the Avengers in their first outing. If their poor performance hadn't already…
Namor sneered at him, his voice filled with contempt. "A surface dweller does not have the right to judge me. Talokan is beyond your ways."
Talokan? Not Atlantis. Weird, but who cares, I'm beyond some fish fucker. Justin thought with derision.
"Even with no arms, I am more than you can handle," He tilted his head arrogantly, a challenging smirk on his face, "I am Namor, ruler of Talokan, of the sea itself, an Avenger… Who are you to stand before me?"
Justin wasn't the only one giving him absolutely dry looks at that particular arrogance. Namor had just seen what happened, right? One of the X-Men even let out a short laugh, shaking his head at the fish king.
"Brock, stun shot, then bag and tag him," Justin said without hesitation. He was done with this conversation, done with the posturing. Namor had to be dealt with - the world was watching. Brock complied eagerly, his Vulture armor whirring to life as he fired a stun shot at Namor. The first shot wasn't enough to bring him down, but after several more, Namor finally fell, his body convulsing as the electric shocks coursed through him.
The man had been so unprepared for the sudden action he hadn't even tried to dodge, his face almost slack in shock, especially as none of his 'allies' stepped in.
Captain America looked on, his expression a mix of frustration and helplessness. "That wasn't necessary," He said quietly, shaking his head. "He came to fight for the world."
Justin laughed, a cold, bitter sound. "What a ridiculous notion, Mr. Rogers," He replied. "So if the Red Skull had shown up to fight on our side, would you have forgiven his sins? Some sins don't wash away!" He could see the way Captain America blanched at the comparison, could see the moral dilemma written all over his face.
Captain America floundered for a moment, searching for a response that wouldn't condemn Namor. "You will tell me where Fury is, Mr. Rogers - or you'll tell the American government, but you will talk…" Justin continued, pressing the advantage. "Because he is an international fugitive. Whatever he said to you is a lie. You think it's a coincidence that he out of all people found you suddenly?"
By then, Black Widow returned, her expression tight and annoyed. Hawkeye dragged Iron Man forward, the malfunctioning armor clanking loudly as it scraped against the ground. Black Widow's eyes darted to Justin, her lips pressed into a thin line. Justin noticed the frustration etched on her face, which gave him a grim sense of satisfaction. It meant Bucky had Sinister, and that was one less problem to deal with right now.
Justin turned his attention to the new arrivals. "All of you," He began, pausing as his gaze shifted between the motley group of Avengers before him. "What's your name again, anyway?"
"The Avengers," Captain America responded proudly, despite the tense situation. He'd clearly been drinking Fury's kool aid heavily the past year.
Justin raised an eyebrow, feigning incredulity. He put a hand over his face and shook his head theatrically. "Yes, very heroic. Instead of the Defenders or something sensible, you're instead the ones avenging a situation you couldn't stop," He said with disdain. "Fury isn't even trying to say you're not his weapon against the world." You're making this too easy, Cap.
"Careful now, Hammer," Hawkeye growled out, taking a step forward. "If anyone's a threat here it is you."
Oh my, and here I thought Cap was foolish, really Barton? Right now?
Barton might have survived Apocalypse, but with the way Yelena was eyeing him, he wouldn't survive much longer. The worried look in Black Widow's eyes as she stepped up to Barton and laid a hand on his shoulder said it all, she knew exactly what her sister was thinking.
Justin shot him a deadpan look in the end. "Really, Archer, or... Whatever you're supposed to be," He said condescendingly. "Fury is revealed as a traitor and is on the run, and he just so happens to stumble upon Captain America in the Arctic - the last known location we knew of for Fury before he disappeared off our radar. The Arctic where Stark Industries has been searching for Captain America for over 50 years, paid for by Howard Stark. Why, it's almost like he knew exactly where soldier boy was stashed, and was keeping him for a rainy day for insurance - for legitimacy."
The accusation hung in the air, a mixture of truth and fabrication designed to sow doubt. Captain America still looked unconvinced, his lips thinning in frustration. "You don't know that," He muttered, but it was a weak rebuttal, lacking conviction.
Justin seized the moment, pressing harder. "Oh? And what did Fury do after somehow finding you and somehow reviving you? Did he step out and proclaim you lived again? Or did he hide you away for only his own benefit, while also apparently allying with the same people who genocided a country?" His voice was sharp, almost accusing."The question must be asked… Did Fury really fail to utilize SHIELD to stop the bombings… Or were they already his allies back then?"
He cut himself off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It doesn't matter. You can all answer the government's questions about it. You're all under arrest under the authority granted to me and the H.A.M.M.E.R team by the President of the United States."
The tension in the air thickened. The Avengers stiffened, their eyes darting around, assessing the situation. Captain America readied his shield, his jaw clenched. Hawkeye pulled back on his bow, an arrow nocked and ready. Iron Man, still prone, managed a weak protest from his suit. "Hey, I literally just came along. I didn't know about any of this! New recruit here, definitely not on the genocide boat, cut me a break!"
Justin really had no idea how Tony even got involved with this, he kept enough of a track of the man to know he hadn't been hiding under the sea. More Fury manipulations surely.
Barton glared down at the useless Iron Man armor, "Gonna roll over just like that?" He bit out.
Tony was undaunted, "...Don't drop the soap in your new accommodations, Birdman, I'm not going up on the block for genocide…"
"Tony, no one's going to be charged with genocide." Black Widow soothed, her expression closed off, eyes flicking back towards Yelena whenever she thought the other woman wasn't looking.
Tony let out a disbelieving snort, "I don't know how I ever let Fury convince me any of you were intelligent…"
Justin rolled his eyes, unamused. The Avengers everybody… "As upstanding heroes," He said with a hint of sarcasm, "I will not bind you. You will all simply come with us on your own cognizance to answer to the U.S. government. They can decide whether you're innocent or not. I am just doing my duty." He turned towards Hawkeye, giving him a mocking smile as he eyed the bow and arrow. "And the only reason you're not snoring like Mr. Genocide over there is that I find your little stick and string toy cute, and as a complete and utter non-threat, there's no reason to take you down."
Tony, ever the comedian, quipped, "Ouch, okay, I'll take handcuffs rather than those kinds of burns, Justin, buddy, my man, bestest bud." God, he's even more annoying when he's useless… Wait until he finds out about Rhodes.. Is it treason to kill a four star general?
"So, Mr. Rogers, will you comply with the officer of the United States government that stands before you?" Justin said, ignoring Tony's attempt at humor, knowing he'd be singing a different tune shortly. "Or are you truly a deserter?"
Captain America's face tightened, frustration clear in every line of his expression. He was trapped, and he knew it. The weight of the situation bore down on him, the consequences of his actions now a visible burden. "You're not leaving us much choice," He said quietly, his voice resigned.
Hawkeye let out a frustrated curse. "Are you serious with this bullshit?"
Justin raised an eyebrow, his tone condescending. "Do you seriously not know the laws? Aiding and abetting at minimum, considering Fury's conviction for treason. I'd suggest getting a good lawyer." Not that they'll be convicted anyway…
He didn't intend for that anyway, this was simply an absolute public reputation coup. The camera had already caught him and his team doing what no one else could do. And that was after they also dealt with New York. Now the Avengers were brushed with more then incompetence - with genocide, treason, desertion.
Justin couldn't have done this better if he'd written out a script and hired actors to do the job. They were practically handing him this.
As the Avengers processed the reality of their situation, the X-Men, who had been standing silently to the side, watching the exchange with a mix of concern and exhaustion, stepped forward. Jean Grey, her face determined despite the inner turmoil, moved closer to Captain America and Justin, her gaze intense.
"The X-Men stand with Hammer," She said softly, her voice steady but with an underlying tension. "Don't try anything, Captain, stand down..."
Notably, it was Jean stepping forward and taking charge, not Xavier.
Hela, who'd just been watching everything lazily, smirked nastily, "I like this one." She purred, pointing at Justin with a blade, eyes sliding over to Steve, "Do as he says." She ordered, smirk widening like she was begging him to disobey, and give her an excuse.
Great… Justin thought, sending a sheepish Thor a glare, Just the person I want supporting me…
Captain America glanced around, frustration clear in his eyes. His gaze settled on Black Widow, who simply raised an eyebrow and gave a small shrug, her expression noncommittal.
"Avengers, stand down," He said firmly, acknowledging the lack of options.
Tony's voice broke the tense silence. "If I could stand up, I'd definitely stand down, Cap!"
Justin sighed, gesturing toward Tony's battered suit. "Whiplash, cut him out of there, will you?" And I will never let you forget that even Barton did more in this fight than you, Tony…
He just knew memes would follow the man for the rest of his life, he had not covered himself in glory here.
Vanko chuckled darkly. "Da, with pleasure. Great Tony Stark, more useless than even Archer." A buzzsaw slid out of the arm of his armor, Vanko continuing to chuckle darkly, the sound echoing through his speakers, taking on an electronic and menacing quality. "No need all appendages, da?"
"Hey..." Tony protested weakly, but there was a resigned humor in his voice, recognizing the futility of his situation. And despite everything, Vanko was probably the only person on the field Tony would trust to actually know what he was doing.
As Vanko moved to assist Tony, Justin turned away, motioning for Yelena to keep an eye on the Avengers. Jean Grey, surprisingly, followed him as he stepped away from the group. He could feel Xavier's eyes on him, but he felt he couldn't care less anymore.
With Magneto killing Domino, and Xavier proving he's still a mind raping bastard, Justin didn't have much time for the 'leaders' anymore. More Metahumans followed him now anyway, the dinosaurs could go fossilize now and let him create his new world order.
Justin paused at Jean's approach, looking at her with a mix of curiosity and irritation. "Can I do something for you?" He asked, his voice edged with fatigue. He was careful not to let his gaze drift to the spot where Hope had died. A message to Nail ensured the camera drone was hacked and shut down - now that the Avengers had been properly humiliated.
Jean gave him a sympathetic look, her voice calm. "You're our ride out of here, sir, and we also need medical attention," She pointed out, her tone pragmatic.
Justin ran a hand through his hair, nodding. "Help is on the way," He said, his voice measured. "Although I will be taking Magneto into custody..." The Master of Magnetism was unconscious and had all his limbs broken, there would never be a better time… Although the limbs had already healed...
For revenge, for removing a possible future threat, to ensure the one man that knew Justin had some future knowledge wasn't able to share it… And lastly, Magneto would know the information on where they'd been. This… Savage Land. As would Sinister. A whole new land for Hammer industries to exploit, with sole access.
Having Magneto would also be great bait to snare Mystique as well, who was likely still mind controlled.
Jean's expression tightened, a flicker of conflict crossing her face. "The Professor won't like that..." She murmured, glancing over at Xavier, who was being supported by his remaining X-Men, even if some of them were not looking overly happy about it. Logan seemed the only one that was actually arguing with Xavier though.
Justin eyed her shrewdly. "His opinion doesn't matter as much to me anymore," He replied, his tone blunt. "As I suspect is the feeling among many of your cohorts." He switched his gaze to where Logan snarled something at Xavier and then stomped away.
Beast stood alone, leaning against a broken wall, looking lost. Justin sent a mental note to Nail to contact the man and offer him a place. While he wouldn't want him involved with sensitive research again, the man was too morally uptight for it - there were plenty of positions that wouldn't require him to know about the darker side of Hammer Industries.
Jean winced, her lips pressing together. "I..." She began, but seemed to falter, lost for words.
Justin took the moment to send silent messages to Nail, coordinating the next steps. He looked back at Jean. "I've sent messages. Cyclops and Storm will both be receiving Extremis to ensure they heal fully. The rest of you are not injured to an extent that requires it. Although if you ever want to join my team..."
Jean smiled weakly, appreciating the offer. "Thank you for the offer... I'll think about it. And thank you for Scott and Ororo, truly."
Justin waved it away dismissively. "Don't worry about it, and if joining the team is too far a step, you could always join Storm in UNESCO." He offered.
Jean looked thoughtful, a small, genuine smile playing at her lips. "That... I'll think about it," she promised, her tone more sincere this time.
Justin nodded, watching as she turned to head back toward her team. He finally had a moment to himself, surveying the scene, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He itched to get his hands on Sinister, to make him pay for everything that had happened, but there were still things that needed to be cleaned up first.
"Nail," He said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Status of the compound?"
Nail's response was immediate, her tone calm and efficient as always. "The Cairo compound has sustained minimal damage due to being on the opposite side of the main battleground."
It had been built to withstand even an alien invasion popping by, so it was nice to see some of that had worked out.
"Good," Justin muttered, running a hand through his hair again. "Start search and rescue operations. Bring all Cairo civilians still alive into the compound courtyard. Provide Panacea, food, and water. Ready them for evacuation." The whole city will need to be rebuilt, no need to keep the civilians here…
"Affirmative," Nail responded. The sad fact, something she'd already reported, was that the compound being used as triage would actually work. A city of over 8 million people… Reduced to less than a hundred thousand. The first beam of power, then the lava eruption, then lifting the city and spinning it, crushing the infrastructure - the civilians all crushed or tossed off the flying island… The compound had been built harder, it had survived - the only thing in Cairo that wasn't crushed.
Millions died, unseen, unnoticed, as the Heroes all fought Apocalypse. With the dead in New York, today would cross the 10 million dead mark - In one attack.
Justin closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. He felt the weight of everything he had done, everything he still needed to do. The grief and rage still simmered just beneath the surface, but he knew he couldn't afford to let them take over. Not now. There was too much at stake, too much left to do.
The world was still watching, still waiting for answers. And Justin Hammer was going to give them those answers, no matter what it took. He looked around at the shattered remains of Cairo, at the people still moving, still fighting, still surviving.
There's always more work to do, he reminded himself again. Always.
Cairo, Hammer industries compound.
Justin sat in his office, still clad in his black and gold armor, the weight of his thoughts heavier than the Vibranium encasing him. His helmet lay discarded on the table, his eyes fixed on a spot on the wall. His gaze was unfocused, lost in a swirl of emotions that he couldn't quite manage. Around him, the muted sounds of Hammer Industries' rescue operations filled the room. Voices barked orders over comms, machinery whirred as rubble was moved, and the distant rumble of engines echoed through the walls. Cairo was still in chaos, even three hours after the battle had ended, but inside this room, everything felt eerily still.
For the past three hours, Justin had been bombarded with calls - world leaders, SHIELD, the World Security Council, and even the Mandarin. Each conversation felt more exhausting than the last. He had to explain the situation, the status of Cairo, and, most importantly, that Magneto and Sinister were now his prisoners. No one had dared argue with him too much, after his display of power, though he could sense the underlying tension and hesitation in their voices. For now, they would concede that Magneto and Sinister were his responsibility. The world had seen what he could do - no one was eager to push him any further.
Yet.
His bet lay on the Mandarin making the next move. But that was future him's problem.
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes closing momentarily. The image of Cairo, torn apart and lifted into the sky by Apocalypse, flashed in his mind. He could still hear the bastard's voice, feel the ground tremble beneath his feet as the battle raged on - as short as his contribution had been. And then there was Hope, her face filled with fear and regret, her final moments playing over and over again in his head.
She'd apologized to him.
In her final moments, she'd apologized to him. When his choice was what killed her. He should have just kept her locked up, feelings be damned. Since when did he ever listen to his heart anyway?
He exhaled slowly, I've… Changed… He was forced to acknowledge. He was supposed to be a ruthless businessman and villain. He'd murdered thousands for his goals.
So why… Why did he care so much! Domino… Hope… Kaecillius, even Electro… Why did he care!
He switched tracks, not wanting to go there, not wanting to probe his feelings further. The grief was too fresh.
His mind turned to Thor and Hela which were another problem for him. They were being housed in one of the Hammer Industries buildings in the compound, waiting for further instructions. Thor had seemed almost relieved to not be handily kicked off the planet for his stunt. Hela, on the other hand, had been a wildcard that was now going to give him a massive headache. Many world leaders were now lauding her efforts during the battle, unaware of how truly unstable she was. It was yet another headache Justin knew he would have to address later. He had bluntly told both of them to stay out of the way until everything was dealt with, but he knew that was a temporary fix at best. The whole Asgard situation had become infinitely more complicated with Hela now seen as a potential ally by those who didn't understand the depths of her madness.
With her already on the planet. He now saw no real way to exclude her from the negotiations with Asgard. All that remained was forcing Thor to pay dearly for it. He was going to get his pound of flesh from Asgard for them dumping Odin's bad parenting in his lap.
A sound at the doorway pulled him from his thoughts. He didn't need to turn to know who it was. He heard the familiar footsteps pause, then continue, growing closer until he felt a hand running gently through his hair. Yelena. Her touch was comforting, but even that wasn't enough to pull him fully out of the dark spiral his mind was in.
"Done all of the kiss and make up routine then?" He asked, his voice rough, still staring at the wall. He was referring to the time she'd spent talking with her sister, Natasha Romanoff, after everything had calmed down. It had been the first time in years that Yelena and Natasha had seen each other, and the tension was palpable, both serving different sides.
Especially since Justin had put the woman under arrest. Not to mention the whole… Fucked the both of them thing. He spitefully hoped Yelena had told Natasha that Justin considered her better in bed.
Yelena sighed softly, her fingers continuing to stroke his hair. "We don't agree on some things," She said quietly, "But it was... Nice to see Natasha again. It's been too long."
"Not mad at me for arresting her?" He asked, his tone a mix of bitterness and exhaustion. He knew he'd only done it to tarnish the Avengers' name, to paint them as untrustworthy in the eyes of the world, but he also knew how much Yelena valued her sister, no matter their differences.
She snorted lightly, the sound tinged with a mix of exasperation and resignation. "I know you did that to tar the Avengers' name," She said, as always the most intune with his intentions of his people. "You know they'll all get off. You're not actually imprisoning them."
"True enough," Justin sighed, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "They did make it terribly easy for me, though." It was an unfortunate reality that even Namor, who had caused so much destruction, would likely get a pass. The threat Apocalypse posed had been so immense that even minimal help was being lauded by the world. Vibranium was a resource the world leaders couldn't ignore, and Namor's involvement, however minor, meant he would probably just face a very heavy fine. Paid in Vibranium, of course.
Money talked. No one knew that better than Justin.
Fury was fucked though. The 'heroes' actually fought, and would get a pass, although the world wouldn't forget what Justin had said.
Fury… Fury would not get that chance.
"They'll need you soon to transport them to America," Yelena said hesitantly. She leaned her cheek against the top of his head, her hand sliding down to gently stroke his cheek. It was a tender gesture, one that usually would have brought him some comfort. But now, it only reminded him of everything he'd lost.
"Me... Yes... Because I got Kaecillius killed. Domino... Hope..." Justin's voice was thick with bitterness, his mind drifting back to the horrors of the day, the choices he'd made that had led to so much loss. All preventable, if he'd only been wiser, or more cold hearted.
If he'd been the him of two years ago, they wouldn't have died…
Yelena tried to comfort him, her voice gentle but firm. "They all knew the risks, Justin. They died saving the world. It wasn't your fault. The enemy was just too strong, you couldn't have changed that."
But Justin wasn't listening. His mind was elsewhere, muttering to himself in a low, almost broken tone, "Where was the Ancient One?" With the Time Stone, she could have stopped Apocalypse without all of this…
Almost as if summoned by his words, a portal suddenly opened in front of them, swirling with bright, orange light. The Ancient One stepped out, her expression calm, a sympathetic smile on her face. Her robes flowed around her as if caught in a gentle breeze, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "I only did what I had to do," She said softly, her voice almost a whisper against the chaos outside.
Justin snapped up to his feet, rage boiling over in an instant. Yelena pivoted to his side, her weapon drawn and aimed directly at the Ancient One. "Where the hell were you?" He demanded, his voice a low growl, barely restrained fury radiating off him.
The Ancient One sighed, her serene composure unbroken even in the face of Justin's anger. She kept her hands folded within her robe sleeves, her expression unchanged. "You may not understand, and you will hate me for it, Justin," She began, her tone even, "But I only did what was necessary."
Justin could feel the power inside him building again, his rage fueling it. His eyes began to glow, a bright blue light seeping out from behind his eyelids. "And what was necessary?" He demanded, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"You," She said simply, her gaze steady and unflinching.
He blinked, taken aback. "Me?" He echoed, not understanding. His voice was harsh, confusion mingling with his anger.
The Ancient One nodded slowly, taking a step closer, but still keeping a respectful distance. "You've changed this world so much, Justin. The trajectory of every timeline has been altered by your actions, the very timeline of the world. But you needed an impetus, a reason to grow strong enough for the future, because power breeds conflict, dominance breeds rebellion."
The words cut through Justin like a knife, and for a moment, all he could feel was the utter hate that exploded from him. Yelena gasped as she was forced to step back from his side, the energy emanating from him pushing her away. His veins glowed so brightly that it was visible through his armor. "You knew they'd die!" He roared, his voice shaking with fury. Only the thought that he might still need her stopped him from attacking outright. He needed the Time Stone. He couldn't burn this bridge completely. Not yet.
The Ancient One's expression softened, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I knew you needed a reason," She said gently. "Something to push you to take risks, to gamble it all. If you hadn't lost Domino, you would have waited too long. Apocalypse would have killed the Avengers and X-Men and left Egypt. You would have been forced into an orbital bombardment, still trying to play it safe. It would have escalated from there."
"You will fix it," Justin snarled, stepping forward, his body trembling with rage. "The Time Stone. FIX IT!"
She smiled enigmatically, her gaze unwavering. "It can't be undone," She said softly, but there was no room for argument in her voice.
Justin's anger spiked, and he took another step toward her, his hand twitching as if ready to strike. "Don't give me that mystical bullshit! You think I'm going to accept this? Hope -"
The Ancient One cut him off with a slight shake of her head. "You're already changing, Justin," She said quietly. "Look around you. This world has already been altered by your presence. But you needed something to drive you. To push you to your limits. To make you take that final step."
Before Justin could respond, she stepped aside, a subtle gesture with one hand. From behind her, two figures emerged from the portal - Domino and Kaecillius. They looked shaken but alive, their faces pale and sorrowful. But they were breathing, and they were standing.
Justin's anger was immediately replaced by shock, his rage dissipating as he took in the sight of his allies. "Domino... Kaecillius?" He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. What… What is going on!?
Domino offered a half-smile, subdued but relieved. "Hey, boss," She said quietly, her voice tinged with emotion. "Nice to know you'd miss me."
"How...?" Justin's voice trailed off, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.
Domino grimaced, wincing slightly as she shifted her weight. "Thought for sure we were dead," She admitted. "My legs got crushed, and I thought that was it," Domino continued, her voice steady but filled with a raw edge. "But then my luck kicked in again. A piece of the metal buckled, just for a second, giving us enough of a gap. It bought us time, just enough for Kaecillius to pull us into the Mirror Dimension."
Kaecillius nodded, his face marked with fatigue but determination in his eyes. "It was a close call. Too close. But once inside, we were safe - well, safe from the physical destruction, at least." His eyes slide to the Ancient One, bitterness clear.
Justin's mind raced as he processed this information. They had survived, hidden away in the Mirror Dimension, a place outside of the normal rules of reality. Relief flooded through him, mixing with anger as he turned his gaze back to the Ancient One. "And why didn't you let them out sooner?" He demanded, his voice sharp. Cottoning on immediately that the Ancient One had been waiting for them, and had forced them to remain.
Domino and Kaecillius both glared at the Ancient One. She met their gaze with a calm, almost sad smile. "You needed a reason," She reiterated softly.
Justin felt a wave of conflicting emotions crash over him. Relief that Domino and Kaecillius were alive, anger at the Ancient One for her manipulations, and a deep, aching grief that Hope had not been saved. His fists clenched again, but this time he kept his anger in check. He needed answers, and lashing out wouldn't get them.
If Kaecillius wasn't gone… Would I have portaled myself all the way to Morag? Would I have taken myself and my entire team to Apocalypse so quickly? If I wasn't so angry, and grieving over Domino, would I have thrown myself into the fight?
He hated that the blasted woman had a point. Even in his rage he could see it, for despite everything else, he was still a very intelligent man, and he refused to discard the truth just because it hurt.
Yelena, who had been standing frozen with shock, suddenly rushed forward, throwing her arms around Domino. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her head in Domino's shoulder. "I'm so glad you're okay," She whispered, her voice choked with emotion in an uncharacteristic display.
Domino, for once, didn't have a teasing remark. She simply held Yelena close, her expression softening. "Yeah," She murmured. "Me too."
As they embraced, Justin's thoughts shifted back to Hope. He turned to the Ancient One, his voice low and filled with barely restrained fury. "What about Hope?" He asked, the name feeling heavy on his tongue. "What about her? Can she be brought back?"
The Ancient One's expression grew solemn, and she slowly shook her head. "That... Happened," She said gently. "It can't be undone."
Justin's frustration boiled over, his fists trembling with the effort of holding himself back. "What do you mean, it can't be undone? Just use the Time Stone! You owe me!"
The Ancient One sighed, her face filled with a sadness that seemed almost genuine. "Hope's death is a fixed point in time, Justin," She explained gently. "Her death has already had a profound effect on you and on the world. It has set in motion events that are crucial for what is to come. Even the Time Stone cannot alter a fixed point."
The words hit Justin like a punch to the gut. The finality of her statement, the calm certainty in her voice - it was like a door slamming shut, cutting off any hope he might have had of reversing what had happened. His anger surged again, and before he could stop himself, he lunged forward, his armored fist connecting with the Ancient One's face.
The impact was solid, the crack of the punch echoing through the room. The Ancient One staggered back, her head snapping to the side, but she remained standing. Blood trickled from her lip, but she didn't react with anger or surprise. Instead, she simply wiped the blood away with the back of her hand, her expression remaining calm.
Yelena gasped, stepping back with Domino still in her arms. "Justin, no -" She started, but her voice faltered as she saw the raw pain in his eyes.
"She didn't have to die!" Justin shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of rage and anguish. "You could have saved her! You could have saved all of them!"
The Ancient One straightened, her calm demeanor never wavering. "I could have," She admitted, her voice soft. "But doing so would have changed the course of history in ways you cannot comprehend. Hope's death... It shapes you, Justin. It prepares you for the challenges that are yet to come."
"I don't care about the future!" Justin roared. "I care about my people! About the ones who died today because you sat back and did nothing!"
The Ancient One's eyes softened, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "Sometimes, we must allow events to unfold as they are meant to," She said gently. "Even when it causes pain. Even when it seems cruel. But know this, Justin, Hope's sacrifice was not in vain. It has set in motion a series of events that will shape the future of this world. And you, more than anyone, will play a crucial role in what is to come."
Justin felt his anger deflate, replaced by a cold, hollow feeling in his chest. He turned away from the Ancient One, unable to look at her anymore. He couldn't process her words, couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that Hope's death was somehow necessary. It felt like a betrayal, like the universe itself was conspiring against him.
The Universe is wrong…
I'll find a way.
Some time later,
Justin was alone again, Yelena, Domino and Phantazia taking over running the show. Kaecillius portaling the Avengers and X-Men out, back to America.
His emotions were still raw and he dreaded what he'd have to do.
Not even a shocked Phantazia running and tackling Domino to the ground upon seeing her had managed to uplift his spirit.
"Nail…" He said slowly, he had no choice now. If Hope… If Hope couldn't be brought back… Hank Pym was going to be a problem.
There were three men he never wanted fully motivated to go after him, Tony Stark, Doctor Doom, and Hank Pym. The first was a somewhat ally/rival, the second didn't exist here, and now Hank Pym had every reason to want him dead. Whether that meant Ultron, or an Ant-Man rampage he didn't know…
Despite Ant-Man almost being a joke in the MCU, there were few things scarier when you thought of how the suit could actually be used. Forget front line fighting - it's best purpose was as an assassin.
"Yes, sir." Nail answered promptly, the Irish brogue somewhat comforting to hear. At least Nail could never die…
"Do we still have a Black Widow inserted in Hank Pym's company?" He asked, already knowing the answer. Just dragging out the decision, the betrayal of Hope's memory.
"Yes, sir."
"Arrange an accident. Make it look like a heart attack or something," Justin said with a heavy heart, I'm… Sorry, Hope… "Just a grieving father with too much stress, succumbing."
"It will be done, sir."
Hank Pym was too dangerous to leave at his back.
Justin would… He'd ensure Hope's company wasn't subsumed into Hammer Industries, he could use Cross as a patsy for now. The man had an Ant-Man suit… He'd… He'd give him the Wasps place on the team in exchange for fealty.
One day he'd find a way for her to return, give her the company back.
The Ancient One was wrong.
Hope's death did not make him better.
It only made him harder.
Later that night, Cairo, Justin's office.
Justin sat in his office quietly just thinking over the last day's events. It was a rare moment of peace amid the chaos of rescue operations in Cairo and managing the fallout of the battle with Apocalypse. Not even Domino and Yelena were near him right now, Justin sending them away, wanting to be alone with his thoughts.
He couldn't bring himself to take his armor off just yet, no matter that it was becoming uncomfortable. The weight was a reminder of the choices he had made, of the battle fought and lost. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a brief moment, allowing himself to take a single, deep breath.
The air shifted, a cold breeze sweeping through the room, and Justin's eyes snapped open. Before him, standing with a predatory smirk and eyes alight with a dark, playful glint, was Hela. She leaned casually against the door frame, her arms crossed, a smile playing at her lips. Her presence filled the room like a storm waiting to break.
Nail, how did you miss this? He sent immediately through the implant, the AI confused, swearing it was still seeing her in her room.
Fucking Magic… Justin cursed. Get Thor here, NOW!
"What do you want, Hela?" Justin asked after his instructions were sent off silently, his voice carefully neutral, though he could feel his muscles tensing instinctively. He mentally activated the link to Nail again, sending a rapid message through his neural implant. Domino and Phantazia too, in case she needs to be subdued. He kept his face blank, hiding the sudden surge of adrenaline that shot through him.
Hela pushed herself off the door frame and began to circle Justin like a panther stalking prey. Her eyes never left his, and her smile widened, a mix of amusement and something darker. "I've been very bored for a very long time," She purred, her voice low and silky, yet carrying a dangerous edge. "And that fight earlier… Well, it got my blood flowing again. But now," She paused, her gaze raking over him, "Now I have this little puzzle to figure out."
Justin's expression remained carefully blank, though his mind raced. He could feel her eyes boring into him, stripping away the layers of armor and flesh to see what lay beneath. "What do you mean?" He asked cautiously, his voice steady. Inside, he was already preparing himself, the power within him stirring in response to the threat before him.
Hela's steps were slow and deliberate as she circled him, her gaze never wavering. "Oh, so many interesting things about you," She mused, her voice taking on a teasing, almost mocking tone. "A warrior, yet not really. An artificer, yet not truly. A god… yet not quite." She stopped in front of him, leaning in close, her breath warm against his skin. "What are you?" She asked, her tone darkly seductive.
Justin could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He carefully channeled the newfound power within him, feeling it course through his veins, a dark and potent force that hummed with energy. He could feel the armor's systems activate, weapons preparing to fire if needed. "Whatever I am," He said, his voice low and firm, "It's nothing to you. We are not going to have anything to do with each other, Hela."
Hela threw her head back and laughed, a sound that sent chills down Justin's spine. "Oh, I can feel you drawing on your power," She said with a grin, her eyes flashing with excitement. "I can feel the hate in your veins, mortal. And I have to say, I kind of like it." She moved faster than he could react, her hand suddenly around his throat, making him regret not wearing his helmet, slamming him back against the wall with a force that cracked the concrete. Before he could fully process what was happening, her lips were on his, capturing his in a fierce, aggressive kiss.
Justin's mind screamed in shock. What the fuck!? His hand instinctively shot up, his armored gauntlet pressing against her chest. Without thinking, he fired a repulsor blast, the force of it pushing her away. She was ripped from him, her teeth catching his lower lip and tearing it slightly as she was blasted backward. For a moment, he felt the sting of pain, his lip bleeding, but then Extremis activated, healing the wound almost instantly.
Justin wiped his mouth, his face a mix of anger and confusion. "You don't want to do this," He warned, his voice a low growl as he slammed his helmet back on, the HUD flashing to life. His weapons locked onto Hela, targeting her with deadly precision.
But Hela just laughed, a wild, manic sound. She touched her lips with her fingers, smirking. "Oh, but I do!" She purred, her voice dripping with dark amusement. With a flick of her wrist, blades appeared in her hands, black as night and gleaming with a deadly sharpness. She lunged at him, her movements a blur, fast and fluid, her eyes wide in pure enjoyment.
Justin barely had time to react. He rocketed to the side, his thrusters firing, sending him skidding across the floor as Hela's blades sliced through the air where he had been standing just moments before. He fired a volley of miniature missiles from his shoulders, the small projectiles streaking toward her with a high-pitched whine.
Hela twisted in mid-air, her blades flashing as she cut through the missiles with ease. The explosions rocked the office, but she moved through them with a grace and agility that made it seem like she was dancing through the chaos. She landed on her feet, an excited grin on her face, her eyes locked onto Justin with a predatory gleam. "Is that all you've got?" She taunted, her voice filled with dark joy. "And here I thought you were at least a demi-god!"
Justin's mind raced as he analyzed the situation. She was fast, too fast, and clearly enjoying herself. He needed to find a way to slow her down, to gain some control over the fight. He fired a burst of energy from his palm, aiming at her legs, trying to knock her off balance. Meanwhile he began calling up his power, not in any way used to it, nor enjoying having to try it in the middle of a battle.
Hela was ready, her power might not be back, but her battle instincts and experience were amongst the finest in the universe. She dodged the blast with ease, her body moving with a fluidity that was inhuman. She closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, her blades flashing as she swung at him. Justin barely managed to bring up his arm in time, deflecting the strike with his armor, the force of the blow sending him staggering back.
She'd nicked the Vibranium! It suddenly became much more important to avoid hits. Especially to vital areas. Yes he had Extremis, but he didn't want one of those blades inside him. Who knows what else they could do…
"Come on, mortal… Justin, was it?" Hela purred, her voice a seductive whisper even as she smiled too widely. "Don't tell me this is all you can do. I expected more from you." She moved in again, her blades a blur of motion as she struck at him with relentless precision.
Justin gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he tried to keep up with her attacks. He fired another repulsor blast, aiming for her torso this time, but she dodged it effortlessly, her movements almost too fast to follow. He felt a surge of frustration and anger, his power flaring up in response. He needed to find a way to turn the tide.
Frustratingly enough his targeting computer wasn't able to help, Hela creating some sort of magical effect as she moved forward, creating afterimages that fooled his AI.
He shifted tactics, launching himself into the air and through the roof with a burst of his thrusters, gaining some distance. He activated the sonic pulse cannons on his arms, firing a rapid series of blasts at Hela. The office was filled with the sound of energy discharges, the walls and floor cracking with the intensity of the blasts.
Hela laughed as she dodged and weaved through the onslaught, her eyes alight with a wild, feral joy. She seemed to be enjoying the fight, relishing every moment. "Yes, that's it!" She shouted, her voice filled with exhilaration. "Show me what you're made of, Justin!" If she was affected by the sonic blasts flying by her, she sure as hell didn't show it.
Justin knew he couldn't keep this up forever, he'd never fought in this armor before his fight with Apocalypse and that wasn't even a fight. He needed to end this, and quickly. He launched the rest of his micro missiles, while blasting out with one hand, limiting her movement area, while he put full power to thrusters, and flew right at her as she dodged and cut his attacks.
He concentrated his power inside him, feeling himself start to glow, his fist starting to vibrate as he launched at Hela, flying right through the aftereffects of his own missiles explosions.
Hela's eyes widened in surprise as Justin came at her, but she recovered quickly, bringing up her blades to block. The force of Justin's punch collided with her arms and swords, crushing them and sending her skidding back across the floor. She dug her heels in, literal grooves getting cut in the concrete, slowing her momentum, and then looked up at him with a grin, her eyes flashing with pure excitement. "That's more like it!" She exclaimed, her voice filled with approval. She licked her lips, "Show me more!"
To his dismay, she was within moments perfectly fine, and crafting new blades out of her power.
Justin landed in a crouch, his armor whirring as he prepared for the next attack. But before he could move, Hela was on him again, her blades slicing through the air with deadly intent, half of them not even real, just some sort of illusion. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike of the real blades - he could feel them with his power coursing through his veins, even if his AI couldn't compute which was which - and he fired a full power repulsor blast at her as he got an opening in the middle of her strike and his own dodge. The energy hit her square in the chest, briefly burning her chest armor off, making Justin blink at what he saw, as it sent her flying backward into the wall.
The impact cracked the concrete, but Hela merely laughed, getting back to her feet with a look of pure exhilaration on her face. "You're ~fun," She said with a dark chuckle. "I haven't had this much fun in ages." Her armor grew back, as she smoothed it down with a hand, eyeing him hungrily, "That felt nice."
Justin felt his frustration mount. "You're insane!" He shouted, his voice filled with exasperation. "Why the hell are you doing this?"
Nail, what's taking so long!?
Sorry, sir, Thor is hard to get moving, and the others were at the other side of the city. ETA three minutes 12 seconds.
Hela's grin widened, her eyes alight with a wild, manic glee. "Because I can," She replied simply, her voice filled with a dangerous edge. She lunged at him again, her blades flashing through the air with deadly precision. This time one superseding it, thrown as a projectile faster than his own blasts.
Justin ducked under her throw, and then her swing, firing his thrusters to propel himself backwards again, trying to create some distance between them. But Hela was relentless, closing the gap in an instant. She swung her blades at him, and he barely managed to block the strike with his armored forearm again. The force of the blow sent him staggering back, sparks flying as she managed to cut far enough to destroy something in his left arm.
He quickly regained his footing, launching a counterattack with a rapid series of punches, pulling on his well of power, blue light pouring out of his fists as each hit sent a concussive force emanating from it, cratering the ground and walls behind Hela, as she gritted her teeth and bore the beating, her arms up and crossed before her.
The energy draw on his new well of power wasn't something he was used to, and eventually he missed a strike, overextended with the almost earthquake-like blasts he was putting out. Hela immediately took advantage, getting inside his guard.
Hela dodged effortlessly as he tried to strike her, a smirk playing on her lips. Her movements were fluid, almost like a dance, and she seemed to be enjoying herself, amused by his attempts. Her own fists hammered into him, sending warning signals blaring from his Vibranium armor.
"You move well for a mortal," Hela teased, her tone dripping with a dark kind of amusement. "But you're still not fast enough to push me down..."
Justin, frustrated but focused, steadied himself and launched a series of quick, controlled energy blasts from his working gauntlet. Hela sidestepped them with ease as well, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She seemed more interested in teasing him than actually fighting now. "Why are you so obsessed with me? What do you want?"
At least with the sudden lull, he was able to get some space between them again, his left arm useless for any further fighting.
Hela laughed, a dark melodic sound that sent chills down his spine. "You intrigue me, Justin." She said, her voice low and heady with a meaning he couldn't quite grasp, "A mortal wielding godly power, yet refuses to fully embrace it. You have potential, you have power… But you're so afraid to use it, why is that?"
Justin clenched his teeth, his hands tightening into fists, "I'm not like you, Hela… I'm not some bloodthirsty lunatic who gets off on chaos and destruction."
Hela's crazy smile widened, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "No, you're not like me," She agreed, "But have you ever… Tried? Just letting go of your fear, your rules. Conquer yourself, Justin, and then all the world's, no, the universe's pleasure - is there for the taking."
Hela moved suddenly, closing the distance between them in an instant. Justin tried to react but she was too fast, her hand shooting out to grab his wrist, she twisted, forcing him down onto one knee with a strength you'd never think a woman of her slender frame would be capable of. "You're strong… interesting.. " She said, leaning in close, "But you could be so much more, if you'd only let go of your fear."
He let his power explode out of him, throwing Hela away, sending her tumbling in the air through the completely demolished office, his entire frame burning in blue flames as he got back to his feet.
She laughed again, an almost ecstatic wild sound, "Yes, that's it!" She shouted, somersaulting back to her feet, "That's the power I want to see!"
Before Justin could respond, the door burst open, and Thor entered, flanked by Phantazia and Domino. "Hela, that's enough!" Thor called out firmly. "Leave him be, you've done enough damage as is."
The look both Domino and Phantazia sent Hela promised death, if Justin thought it would stick he'd give the order, this was a headache he didn't need. Fuck Asgard, and fuck Thor.
Hela glanced over at her brother, then back at Justin, and with a sigh, she stepped back. "Fine, little weakling king, have it your way," She said, her voice still carrying a hint of amusement. "For now."
Justin exhaled, relieved but still on edge. He watched as Hela turned to leave, throwing him a final, playful glance. "Until next time, Justin Hammer," She said with a dark grin that held a clear promise.
Thor approached Justin, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Normally, as a brother, I'd be upset if you and my sister were courting, but given Hela's… Nature, I can only wish you good luck." He gave Justin an exaggerated thumbs up.
Justin's irritation flared. "Thor, you are going to regret this, I will murder you... In the negotiations," He muttered, trying to keep his cool. Tempted to murder you for real… Keep a leash on the damn she-beast you overgrown puppy.
Thor chuckled, clearly not taking the threat seriously. "I look forward to it!"
With the tension easing, Justin watched Hela leave, knowing this encounter was likely only the beginning. But at least, for now, the immediate threat had passed.
And she was going to be stuck on his planet.
…Fuck.
Next day, Cairo, Hammer's compound.
The sun hung high in the sky over the remnants of Cairo. Rubble and devastation stretched out for miles behind Justin as he stood on a hastily erected stage.
Despite the devastation, there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. The world had been waiting for answers, and Justin was here to provide them - in a manner of speaking... Cameras from every major news network were pointed directly at him, capturing every movement, every word. He knew the eyes of the world were on him now, looking for hope, for clarity, for leadership. He had carefully selected the members of the press who were present, ensuring that they were reporters he could count on to ask the right questions, to steer the narrative in the direction he wanted.
He stood at the podium, his stance confident and commanding, his black and gold armor gleaming in the sunlight. He took a moment to let the silence settle, to let the weight of the moment sink in for everyone present. Then, he began to speak, his voice steady and strong, carrying across the gathered crowd.
"Yesterday was one of the darkest days in human history," He began, his tone somber, his expression grave. "A day when we faced an enemy unlike any we have ever known. An enemy who sought not just to conquer, but to annihilate, to break our spirit and take from us everything that we hold dear. But we stood our ground. We fought back. And against all odds, we won."
His words were carefully chosen, each one delivered with a force that made it clear he believed in what he was saying. He paused for a moment, letting the gravity of his words sink in. The crowd was silent, hanging on his every word.
This was both intended to hammer home how he was the only one capable of saving them, and to give them an outlet for their grief, fear and rage, and point them at a target of his choosing. Swiveling the bullseye away from metahumans.
"We are humanity," Justin continued, his voice rising with passion. "We are a resilient species, capable of enduring the unthinkable and rising from the ashes stronger than before. We do not give up. We do not surrender. And we do not bow to those who would seek to take away our God-given rights to live and to thrive."
He let his words linger in the air, the audience captivated by his conviction. He then seamlessly transitioned into the next part of his speech, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "We have faced threats from beyond our world before. We have seen what alien invaders are capable of. And now, we face a new threat, one that has been lurking in the shadows, manipulating us, infiltrating our ranks, and trying to strip us of our humanity."
Justin took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the crowd as he prepared to drop the bombshell he had been waiting for. "We now know," He declared, lied. "That Apocalypse was not a metahuman, but the leader of an alien sect that has been secretly infiltrating Earth. These aliens, known as the Skrulls, have used their shape-shifting abilities to blend in, to manipulate, and to control. They have been among us for decades, working in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike."
The crowd erupted into a frenzy, reporters shouting questions all at once, eager to be the first to get a response. Justin raised a hand to quiet them, his expression calm and controlled. He pointed to a reporter in the front row, giving them the floor.
"So, it was aliens then? That's been confirmed?" The reporter asked, his voice barely containing his shock and disbelief.
Justin nodded shortly, keeping his expression stoic. "Yes, it has been confirmed. Apocalypse claimed to be from Earth, to be a metahuman. He did so to sow division between us, to make us forget that human or metahuman, we're all part of humanity, of Earth. In truth, he was here on Earth, serving as a leader of this alien sect. The Skrulls have been using him to test the waters, to see how far they could push us, to gauge our response, to take our planet. They controlled Magneto with alien technology, using him as a pawn to limit the resistance against Apocalypse and further their own agenda."
Another reporter, this time a woman with a fierce expression, immediately jumped in with a follow up. "What can you tell us about these Skrulls? Who are they? What do they want?"
I hope you're shitting yourself right now, Fury, the one with the hand on the wheel of events will be me - not you!
Justin took a moment, making sure to keep the tension high before he answered. "The Skrulls," He began, "Are a race of shape-shifting aliens. They have the ability to take on the appearance of anyone they choose, to blend in seamlessly with any population. They have used this ability to infiltrate our world at every level, from the highest echelons of government to the smallest local communities. Their goal is simple - to sow chaos, to create division, and ultimately, to prepare our planet for invasion and subjugation."
The shock was heavy amongst those standing before him, so heavy that they didn't even think to ask another question, just staring at him aghast. If he was anyone other than who he was, they wouldn't even believe him.
"Apocalypse was not kidding when he claimed he wanted to erase most of humanity, he only lied about the reason why. The Skrulls need a new home planet, and they've been promised this one…" Justin said darkly. "The billion survivors would have been nothing more then slaves, tilling the fields of our new alien overlords."
As he spoke, Justin signaled to Yelena, who was standing off to the side, Storm on his other side to signal that metahumans were on their side. Yelena nodded and moved to the edge of the stage, disappearing behind a curtain for a moment. The reporters were now frantically shouting questions, but Justin ignored them, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal his ace. When Yelena returned, she was accompanied by a figure in handcuffs. The reporters fell silent almost immediately, their eyes widening in shock and horror.
The figure was a Skrull, its green skin and ridged chin making their alien appearance obvious. It walked slowly, its head down, clearly aware of the attention it was receiving and not happy about it. The cameras zoomed in, capturing every detail of its alien appearance. The crowd was stunned into silence, the only sound the whirring of camera shutters and the low hum of a nearby generator.
Justin allowed the tension to build, letting the press and the world take in the sight of the Skrull before he spoke again. "This," He said, gesturing to the captive, "Is a Skrull. One of the many who have been hiding among us, deceiving us, using us for their own ends."
He'd simply had one of the Skrulls Fury had sent to infiltrate Hammer industries grabbed for the occasion. This whole mess was the perfect opportunity to both sink Fury beyond recovery, and further condition humanity to the need to stand together against alien threats. With Justin as the logical choice to lead them of course. After all… He'd now stopped two alien invasions.
The crowd erupted into chaos once more, reporters shouting over one another, their questions blending into an unintelligible roar. Justin waited, a satisfied smile briefly flashing on his face, letting the uproar continue for a few moments longer before raising his hand to silence them once again.
The Skrull stood quietly, its head bowed, under strict orders to comply. It hadn't taken much convincing for it to realize it needed to cooperate.
"You want to know how to identify a Skrull?" Justin asked rhetorically, his voice rising above the din. "Watch closely." He nodded to Yelena, who drew a small knife from her belt and stepped forward. She made a small cut on the Skrull's arm, and instead of red, its blood was a strange, dark green. A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.
Justin then took another knife from Yelena and made a small cut on his own hand, holding it up for everyone to see the red blood that oozed out for a second. Yelena followed suit, doing the same, as did Storm. "We are human," Justin said firmly, his voice filled with authority. "We bleed red. But these creatures - these Skrulls - do not. They are here on Earth, hiding among us, plotting against us. And they are led by one man." His face twisted into a snarl, as he hammered a fist on the podium for effect, "One traitor to humanity, that offered our entire planet to these aliens!"
He turned to the Skrull, his expression fierce. "Tell them," He commanded. "Tell them who sent you to infiltrate my company. Tell them who is behind this alien conspiracy."
The Skrull hesitated for a moment, its eyes darting around the crowd, before finally speaking in a reluctant, strained voice. "The Skrulls have operated under Nicholas J. Fury since the 1990s," It confessed. "We were his covert operations team, promised a planet of our own in exchange for our services in making him rise to power."
It's even the truth, to a certain extent, Justin thought with hidden amusement.
The silence that followed was deafening. Even the most seasoned reporters seemed at a loss for words, their faces a mix of shock, disbelief, and horror. It was as if the entire world had been turned upside down in an instant. Then, just as quickly, the crowd exploded into chaos once again, the cacophony of voices rising to a fever pitch.
Justin ignored the clamor, leaning into the microphone, his expression grave. "We already knew Fury was a dangerous man, convicted of treason as he is, gathering together a team to fight in his name with superpowers, including a genocidal hidden kingdom. But now, with the capture of this Skrull, the curtain has been drawn back on his dark past. He became the leader of SHIELD, sponsored by aliens, using them to infiltrate, to murder, to take over the lives of his enemies for his benefit. And now, when he was on the run, his life on the verge of ruin, he 'created' a hero team and sent his Skrulls to fight, to bring their champion in what was meant to be pure theater to lift him back as the savior. Only Fury hadn't expected his heroes would be too weak to beat him. That the Skrulls might chafe under his incompetent leadership and want their promised planet now."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, letting the full weight of his words settle in. "Millions lost," He continued, his voice thick with emotion, focused on the only important loss, "And for what? One man's obsession with power, his betrayal of humanity to alien parasites. I ask you all, as the one who saved the day, who fought so hard to safeguard humanity - say no more! Refuse to allow this to happen again. Show your bloodied hands to the sky, find these infiltrators, and show Nick Fury that he is a race traitor of the highest order. Hunt him down!"
Storm and Yelena both stepped up next to him, and he gestured to them, "Human," He gestured to Yelena, "Metahuman!" He gestured to Storm, "We ARE HUMANITY!" He made a sweeping gesture, eyes fierce, "Everything else doesn't matter, race, sex, creed, mutation. Humanity first! We are all humans, and this… IS OUR PLANET!"
The crowd erupted again, but this time with a fervor that bordered on hysteria. Reporters were shouting, cameras flashing, and Justin stood tall and unyielding, the perfect picture of a hero who had saved the day, who had exposed a conspiracy, who had given humanity a new enemy to unite against.
The message was clear.
Trust in me, I'll see humanity through it all.
Author's note:
No, Hela is not a new waifu, although she clearly wants to play at the very least..
What can I say, she's been bored for a loooong time. That said, she'd never make herself subservient in any manner to Justin, or even be able to see him as equal - he's not enough of a monster at the moment.
Justin just wants Fury to stop being a hassle in his rear. This… Will probably be enough to manage that.
Funnily enough he doesn't hate him or anything, Fury isn't at the top on his shitlist. He's just a very convenient and annoying target. That and hammering on the Alien thing to unite humanity behind him as an added bonus.
Justin probably could push for the Avengers to see some actual harsh punishments and get away with it - but he wants them as cannon fodder that does exactly what they did in the Apocalypse fight, although it was more the X-Men there.
Fight and lose (and do all the dying) while revealing the enemy's hand so Justin can swoop in and beat them.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
We finally get an answer to - where the !#$@!! Was the Ancient One? A few of you already knew what I was going to do here, catching onto it, although only one reviewer caught exactly how it would all end up going.
Justin is a bit off kilter right now, not used to loss, not something he's really ever had to deal with. Time to do what he does best, fuck someone else over so he'll feel better - while wringing every advantage for himself out of it that he can.
Although someone trying to fuck with him first doesn't help that.
Anyway as usual, I don't own Marvel, the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Disney and etc, etc.
Hope you enjoy.
Cairo,
Justin stood amidst the ruined streets of Cairo, his armor weighing heavily on his shoulders. The drone camera continued to hover nearby, its red light blinking as it streamed live to the billions of viewers around the world. Justin knew they were still being watched, knew that the world's eyes were on him at this very moment. He needed to keep his composure, even if every part of him was screaming to let loose, to fall apart in the face of all that had happened.
He took a deep breath and removed his helmet, feeling the cool, gritty air of the city against his sweat-dampened skin. His face was a mask of exhaustion, the weight of his decisions, and the losses he had suffered weighing heavily upon him. He wiped his brow with a gloved hand, his thoughts a chaotic mess of grief and anger. Every muscle in his body ached somehow, even with Extremis in play. Still, his body thrummed with energy, and he wanted to just rip and tear his enemies apart… But he forced himself to stand tall, to appear strong and collected. There's still work to do, he reminded himself. There's always more work to do.
The Power stone had changed him, he could feel it. It was like it had carved a new set of veins throughout, or perhaps simply scooped out and hollowed him in a way - a way that was now filling up with power, he could feel it settling, deep into his bones. This… Divinity, filling up the space the Power Stone had left.
If before he could handle the Power Stone only for a few minutes, he had a feeling he could now use it further… The temptation was strong… To just take it back and wipe away all resistance.
One glance at Hela, who was eying him almost thoughtfully, ended that brief power fantasy. I am not like her…
He glanced at Hela again, and at Thor, who finally had been able to escape now that Apocalypse was no more. I will have to barter for information from them… He thought with distaste, because divinity was not a subject he had any great knowledge on.
His eyes scanned the street, taking in the aftermath of the battle. Debris was scattered everywhere, the remnants of once-proud buildings now reduced to rubble. Fires still burned in some places, sending dark plumes of smoke into the sky. He forced himself to look away from the spot where Hope had died, her last moments replaying in his mind like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.
The Egyptian government was dead, Nail had confirmed it. Which in a way would make things easier for him. Cairo would now be his, Egypt, would be his. In a way it already had been, but now he could make it official. His own flying capital in the sky… Although… He continued to scan the broken skyline, it needs some work…
He turned his attention to his team, doing his best to push aside the grief that threatened to overwhelm him. He had to focus. His team needed him to be their leader, to be the pillar they could lean on in this moment of chaos and uncertainty. "You alright?" he asked, directing his question toward Bucky, whose metal arm was bent awkwardly, sparks occasionally flickering from damaged wiring - Bucky having chosen to keep the arm over regenerating a new one out of some stupid penance. Bucky's face was a stoic mask, but his eyes told a different story - a mix of pain and understanding.
Justin really didn't want fucking sympathy right now, but snapping at his own men while in mixed company wouldn't do, so he kept his cool, simply raising an eyebrow questioningly.
Bucky nodded slowly, his expression calm despite the discomfort. "I'll manage," He said quietly. He could see the turmoil in Justin's eyes, could sense the weight of his grief and rage. Bucky had seen that look before, in the eyes of soldiers who had lost comrades in battle. He knew better than to push, to ask questions. Instead, he waited for orders, ignoring the pleading, almost desperate look from Steve standing a few feet away.
Justin nodded, appreciating that Bucky didn't offer platitudes or condolences, just kept things business like, it helped right now. He pointed off toward the distance, his voice firm but weary. "Sinister's crawled away," He said with distaste, Nail having been keeping an eye on the bastard. "According to overwatch," He said, mindful of their audience, "Black Widow is on the prowl already, but Sinister's ours. His knees are shot, so he won't get very far. Go get him." He kept his voice steady, though he could feel the anger bubbling beneath the surface. Sinister was going to pay. For everything.
He wouldn't let him die. Dying was easy. No… Sinister would live forever, wishing for death every moment of his miserable existence.
Bucky glanced in the direction Justin indicated. "And Black Widow?" He asked, his voice neutral. He knew the history between them and wanted clarification on rules of engagement.
Justin snorted, rubbing his temples with his free hand. "If she has a problem, tell her she's on an island in the sky with no way off," He replied bluntly. "And to have the balls to come take it up with me." He looked at Bucky, his eyes hard. "We have bigger issues right now. Just get Sinister, no need to be gentle..."
Bucky nodded again, turning away to carry out his orders. Justin watched him go, then turned back to the rest of his team. His eyes fell on Electro, who lay motionless on the ground, his body still. Yelena was kneeling beside him, her face partially turned away. For a moment, Justin thought he saw tears glistening in her eyes, but when she looked up, her expression was blank, unreadable.
"What happened to Electro?" Justin demanded, his voice sharp with concern. "Why is he still down? Extremis should have fixed him." He felt a surge of frustration. Not another one. Please, not another one.
He didn't particularly like Electro. But he was one of his. And he'd had enough of his people dying. All of this felt like a giant slap from the heavens punishing him for his cowardice. For holding back, for waiting for the right moment, for not being willing to put himself on the line.
He'd only been able to in the end. When he'd already lost… Too much.
Yelena shook her head, her voice steady but tinged with something he couldn't quite identify. "We don't know," She said flatly. "Apocalypse hit him with some kind of power or effect, and he went down. He hasn't moved since."
Justin rubbed his brow, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling over him like a heavy cloak. "Quarantine him," He ordered flatly. "Scorpion, guard him until overwatch can get a team here." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. They couldn't afford to take any chances. If there was any possibility that Apocalypse had left some sort of contingency, they had to be prepared.
Frank nodded, moving to take up position near Electro, his weapons still hot, his sensors all keeping an eye on all the non Hammer personnel on site. Yelena sighed, standing up and brushing dust off her pants. "You think he might be compromised?" She asked, her tone carefully neutral.
In a way, Yelena sounded like Justin, forcing herself to feel one way to avoid falling apart, focusing on the job, pushing everything else until later. Justin couldn't offer her comfort, not here, not now. Maybe not ever. Not when he knew it was his fault. If I had gone for the power stone immediately…
Justin's expression hardened, as he threw away all useless thoughts and focused on the now. "I don't think anything," He replied tersely. "I'm just not risking Apocalypse somehow seeing a chance he might lose and having burrowed a backup into Electro's skull. He kept pulling powers out of his ass. I can't risk it." His mind was already racing with possibilities, with worst-case scenarios. If they couldn't find out what was wrong conclusively, if there was even a hint of him being compromised, Electro would have to be euthanized. It wasn't a choice he wanted to make, but he couldn't let Apocalypse come back. Not after everything.
Not with how dangerous he'd been.
He'd been preparing for Loki for fucks sake, not an enemy that made Thanos seem underwhelming.
"Justin, I need to speak with you," A voice cut through his thoughts, interrupting him. It was Captain America… Well the first one anyway. He was stepping forward, his face a mixture of concern and something else - a hint of pity, maybe, or perhaps it was disappointment. Justin couldn't tell, and frankly, he didn't care.
Justin cocked his head, his eyes narrowing at Steve Rogers. "It's Mister Hammer or sir, to you, soldier," He snapped, his patience wearing thin. He didn't have time for this, not now. But if the soldier out of time was going to force the issue, he'd make the Avengers regret it, they didn't know who they were dealing with it seemed. He'd educate them…
Captain America's expression shifted, his lips thinning as he frowned. "You're not my superior, Mister Hammer," He replied, his voice calm but firm.
Justin sneered, his frustration boiling over. "On the contrary, I'm empowered by the President of the United States to take charge of any U.S. forces in my and my team's vicinity during a major powered incident, terrorist attack, or alien invasion," He retorted. "That includes you, even if you're technically a deserter..."
Captain America's face darkened at the accusation, his shoulders squaring as he prepared to argue. "Son, you don't seem to know your history -" He began, his tone patronizing.
"Don't call me son," Justin interrupted coldly, his voice laced with venom, even as Yelena eyed the man with rage in her eyes, fingering her gun. "You deserted the moment Fury got you out of the ice, Mister Rogers. When you decided to follow a man wanted and convicted for treason by the American government. When you hid away for a year with said man, in the hands of the terrorists that committed genocide, nuked Wakanda, and murdered thousands of American and allied soldiers." His words were sharp, biting, each one a carefully aimed barb.
He was well aware of the camera, even if the Captain seemingly was not - or was stupid enough to think it didn't matter.
Captain America looked stricken, his expression one of shock and dismay. "It's not like that," He protested, his voice faltering. "And Fury didn't get a trial by his peers. He was persecuted and chased away, he's fighting the good fight still, even with being unjustly accused."
Justin gave him a look of utter disdain, the kind of look one might give a particularly dense bratty child. He was glad the camera drone was rolling, capturing every moment, every word. "He was tried in absentia," He said slowly, as if explaining to someone particularly slow. "Because he ran," He stressed. "Not exactly an innocent man's behavior, let alone what he did afterward with you and Mr. Genocide." His gaze shifted pointedly to Namor, who stood not far behind Captain America, his arms broken but his entire mien one of sneering contempt for those around him.
Props to Fury, it does take some skill to get such an obvious asshole to join with his Avengers and dance to his tune. Fury probably threatened him with what the world would do to him if he didn't, Justin thought, inwardly shaking his head at the pointlessness of it all. America wouldn't forget. The world wouldn't forget. Vibranium might pay off any actual consequences - but the families of the dead would never forgive.
And Fury had given Justin just the weak point needed to utterly shatter the public perception of the Avengers in their first outing. If their poor performance hadn't already…
Namor sneered at him, his voice filled with contempt. "A surface dweller does not have the right to judge me. Talokan is beyond your ways."
Talokan? Not Atlantis. Weird, but who cares, I'm beyond some fish fucker. Justin thought with derision.
"Even with no arms, I am more than you can handle," He tilted his head arrogantly, a challenging smirk on his face, "I am Namor, ruler of Talokan, of the sea itself, an Avenger… Who are you to stand before me?"
Justin wasn't the only one giving him absolutely dry looks at that particular arrogance. Namor had just seen what happened, right? One of the X-Men even let out a short laugh, shaking his head at the fish king.
"Brock, stun shot, then bag and tag him," Justin said without hesitation. He was done with this conversation, done with the posturing. Namor had to be dealt with - the world was watching. Brock complied eagerly, his Vulture armor whirring to life as he fired a stun shot at Namor. The first shot wasn't enough to bring him down, but after several more, Namor finally fell, his body convulsing as the electric shocks coursed through him.
The man had been so unprepared for the sudden action he hadn't even tried to dodge, his face almost slack in shock, especially as none of his 'allies' stepped in.
Captain America looked on, his expression a mix of frustration and helplessness. "That wasn't necessary," He said quietly, shaking his head. "He came to fight for the world."
Justin laughed, a cold, bitter sound. "What a ridiculous notion, Mr. Rogers," He replied. "So if the Red Skull had shown up to fight on our side, would you have forgiven his sins? Some sins don't wash away!" He could see the way Captain America blanched at the comparison, could see the moral dilemma written all over his face.
Captain America floundered for a moment, searching for a response that wouldn't condemn Namor. "You will tell me where Fury is, Mr. Rogers - or you'll tell the American government, but you will talk…" Justin continued, pressing the advantage. "Because he is an international fugitive. Whatever he said to you is a lie. You think it's a coincidence that he out of all people found you suddenly?"
By then, Black Widow returned, her expression tight and annoyed. Hawkeye dragged Iron Man forward, the malfunctioning armor clanking loudly as it scraped against the ground. Black Widow's eyes darted to Justin, her lips pressed into a thin line. Justin noticed the frustration etched on her face, which gave him a grim sense of satisfaction. It meant Bucky had Sinister, and that was one less problem to deal with right now.
Justin turned his attention to the new arrivals. "All of you," He began, pausing as his gaze shifted between the motley group of Avengers before him. "What's your name again, anyway?"
"The Avengers," Captain America responded proudly, despite the tense situation. He'd clearly been drinking Fury's kool aid heavily the past year.
Justin raised an eyebrow, feigning incredulity. He put a hand over his face and shook his head theatrically. "Yes, very heroic. Instead of the Defenders or something sensible, you're instead the ones avenging a situation you couldn't stop," He said with disdain. "Fury isn't even trying to say you're not his weapon against the world." You're making this too easy, Cap.
"Careful now, Hammer," Hawkeye growled out, taking a step forward. "If anyone's a threat here it is you."
Oh my, and here I thought Cap was foolish, really Barton? Right now?
Barton might have survived Apocalypse, but with the way Yelena was eyeing him, he wouldn't survive much longer. The worried look in Black Widow's eyes as she stepped up to Barton and laid a hand on his shoulder said it all, she knew exactly what her sister was thinking.
Justin shot him a deadpan look in the end. "Really, Archer, or... Whatever you're supposed to be," He said condescendingly. "Fury is revealed as a traitor and is on the run, and he just so happens to stumble upon Captain America in the Arctic - the last known location we knew of for Fury before he disappeared off our radar. The Arctic where Stark Industries has been searching for Captain America for over 50 years, paid for by Howard Stark. Why, it's almost like he knew exactly where soldier boy was stashed, and was keeping him for a rainy day for insurance - for legitimacy."
The accusation hung in the air, a mixture of truth and fabrication designed to sow doubt. Captain America still looked unconvinced, his lips thinning in frustration. "You don't know that," He muttered, but it was a weak rebuttal, lacking conviction.
Justin seized the moment, pressing harder. "Oh? And what did Fury do after somehow finding you and somehow reviving you? Did he step out and proclaim you lived again? Or did he hide you away for only his own benefit, while also apparently allying with the same people who genocided a country?" His voice was sharp, almost accusing."The question must be asked… Did Fury really fail to utilize SHIELD to stop the bombings… Or were they already his allies back then?"
He cut himself off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It doesn't matter. You can all answer the government's questions about it. You're all under arrest under the authority granted to me and the H.A.M.M.E.R team by the President of the United States."
The tension in the air thickened. The Avengers stiffened, their eyes darting around, assessing the situation. Captain America readied his shield, his jaw clenched. Hawkeye pulled back on his bow, an arrow nocked and ready. Iron Man, still prone, managed a weak protest from his suit. "Hey, I literally just came along. I didn't know about any of this! New recruit here, definitely not on the genocide boat, cut me a break!"
Justin really had no idea how Tony even got involved with this, he kept enough of a track of the man to know he hadn't been hiding under the sea. More Fury manipulations surely.
Barton glared down at the useless Iron Man armor, "Gonna roll over just like that?" He bit out.
Tony was undaunted, "...Don't drop the soap in your new accommodations, Birdman, I'm not going up on the block for genocide…"
"Tony, no one's going to be charged with genocide." Black Widow soothed, her expression closed off, eyes flicking back towards Yelena whenever she thought the other woman wasn't looking.
Tony let out a disbelieving snort, "I don't know how I ever let Fury convince me any of you were intelligent…"
Justin rolled his eyes, unamused. The Avengers everybody… "As upstanding heroes," He said with a hint of sarcasm, "I will not bind you. You will all simply come with us on your own cognizance to answer to the U.S. government. They can decide whether you're innocent or not. I am just doing my duty." He turned towards Hawkeye, giving him a mocking smile as he eyed the bow and arrow. "And the only reason you're not snoring like Mr. Genocide over there is that I find your little stick and string toy cute, and as a complete and utter non-threat, there's no reason to take you down."
Tony, ever the comedian, quipped, "Ouch, okay, I'll take handcuffs rather than those kinds of burns, Justin, buddy, my man, bestest bud." God, he's even more annoying when he's useless… Wait until he finds out about Rhodes.. Is it treason to kill a four star general?
"So, Mr. Rogers, will you comply with the officer of the United States government that stands before you?" Justin said, ignoring Tony's attempt at humor, knowing he'd be singing a different tune shortly. "Or are you truly a deserter?"
Captain America's face tightened, frustration clear in every line of his expression. He was trapped, and he knew it. The weight of the situation bore down on him, the consequences of his actions now a visible burden. "You're not leaving us much choice," He said quietly, his voice resigned.
Hawkeye let out a frustrated curse. "Are you serious with this bullshit?"
Justin raised an eyebrow, his tone condescending. "Do you seriously not know the laws? Aiding and abetting at minimum, considering Fury's conviction for treason. I'd suggest getting a good lawyer." Not that they'll be convicted anyway…
He didn't intend for that anyway, this was simply an absolute public reputation coup. The camera had already caught him and his team doing what no one else could do. And that was after they also dealt with New York. Now the Avengers were brushed with more then incompetence - with genocide, treason, desertion.
Justin couldn't have done this better if he'd written out a script and hired actors to do the job. They were practically handing him this.
As the Avengers processed the reality of their situation, the X-Men, who had been standing silently to the side, watching the exchange with a mix of concern and exhaustion, stepped forward. Jean Grey, her face determined despite the inner turmoil, moved closer to Captain America and Justin, her gaze intense.
"The X-Men stand with Hammer," She said softly, her voice steady but with an underlying tension. "Don't try anything, Captain, stand down..."
Notably, it was Jean stepping forward and taking charge, not Xavier.
Hela, who'd just been watching everything lazily, smirked nastily, "I like this one." She purred, pointing at Justin with a blade, eyes sliding over to Steve, "Do as he says." She ordered, smirk widening like she was begging him to disobey, and give her an excuse.
Great… Justin thought, sending a sheepish Thor a glare, Just the person I want supporting me…
Captain America glanced around, frustration clear in his eyes. His gaze settled on Black Widow, who simply raised an eyebrow and gave a small shrug, her expression noncommittal.
"Avengers, stand down," He said firmly, acknowledging the lack of options.
Tony's voice broke the tense silence. "If I could stand up, I'd definitely stand down, Cap!"
Justin sighed, gesturing toward Tony's battered suit. "Whiplash, cut him out of there, will you?" And I will never let you forget that even Barton did more in this fight than you, Tony…
He just knew memes would follow the man for the rest of his life, he had not covered himself in glory here.
Vanko chuckled darkly. "Da, with pleasure. Great Tony Stark, more useless than even Archer." A buzzsaw slid out of the arm of his armor, Vanko continuing to chuckle darkly, the sound echoing through his speakers, taking on an electronic and menacing quality. "No need all appendages, da?"
"Hey..." Tony protested weakly, but there was a resigned humor in his voice, recognizing the futility of his situation. And despite everything, Vanko was probably the only person on the field Tony would trust to actually know what he was doing.
As Vanko moved to assist Tony, Justin turned away, motioning for Yelena to keep an eye on the Avengers. Jean Grey, surprisingly, followed him as he stepped away from the group. He could feel Xavier's eyes on him, but he felt he couldn't care less anymore.
With Magneto killing Domino, and Xavier proving he's still a mind raping bastard, Justin didn't have much time for the 'leaders' anymore. More Metahumans followed him now anyway, the dinosaurs could go fossilize now and let him create his new world order.
Justin paused at Jean's approach, looking at her with a mix of curiosity and irritation. "Can I do something for you?" He asked, his voice edged with fatigue. He was careful not to let his gaze drift to the spot where Hope had died. A message to Nail ensured the camera drone was hacked and shut down - now that the Avengers had been properly humiliated.
Jean gave him a sympathetic look, her voice calm. "You're our ride out of here, sir, and we also need medical attention," She pointed out, her tone pragmatic.
Justin ran a hand through his hair, nodding. "Help is on the way," He said, his voice measured. "Although I will be taking Magneto into custody..." The Master of Magnetism was unconscious and had all his limbs broken, there would never be a better time… Although the limbs had already healed...
For revenge, for removing a possible future threat, to ensure the one man that knew Justin had some future knowledge wasn't able to share it… And lastly, Magneto would know the information on where they'd been. This… Savage Land. As would Sinister. A whole new land for Hammer industries to exploit, with sole access.
Having Magneto would also be great bait to snare Mystique as well, who was likely still mind controlled.
Jean's expression tightened, a flicker of conflict crossing her face. "The Professor won't like that..." She murmured, glancing over at Xavier, who was being supported by his remaining X-Men, even if some of them were not looking overly happy about it. Logan seemed the only one that was actually arguing with Xavier though.
Justin eyed her shrewdly. "His opinion doesn't matter as much to me anymore," He replied, his tone blunt. "As I suspect is the feeling among many of your cohorts." He switched his gaze to where Logan snarled something at Xavier and then stomped away.
Beast stood alone, leaning against a broken wall, looking lost. Justin sent a mental note to Nail to contact the man and offer him a place. While he wouldn't want him involved with sensitive research again, the man was too morally uptight for it - there were plenty of positions that wouldn't require him to know about the darker side of Hammer Industries.
Jean winced, her lips pressing together. "I..." She began, but seemed to falter, lost for words.
Justin took the moment to send silent messages to Nail, coordinating the next steps. He looked back at Jean. "I've sent messages. Cyclops and Storm will both be receiving Extremis to ensure they heal fully. The rest of you are not injured to an extent that requires it. Although if you ever want to join my team..."
Jean smiled weakly, appreciating the offer. "Thank you for the offer... I'll think about it. And thank you for Scott and Ororo, truly."
Justin waved it away dismissively. "Don't worry about it, and if joining the team is too far a step, you could always join Storm in UNESCO." He offered.
Jean looked thoughtful, a small, genuine smile playing at her lips. "That... I'll think about it," she promised, her tone more sincere this time.
Justin nodded, watching as she turned to head back toward her team. He finally had a moment to himself, surveying the scene, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He itched to get his hands on Sinister, to make him pay for everything that had happened, but there were still things that needed to be cleaned up first.
"Nail," He said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Status of the compound?"
Nail's response was immediate, her tone calm and efficient as always. "The Cairo compound has sustained minimal damage due to being on the opposite side of the main battleground."
It had been built to withstand even an alien invasion popping by, so it was nice to see some of that had worked out.
"Good," Justin muttered, running a hand through his hair again. "Start search and rescue operations. Bring all Cairo civilians still alive into the compound courtyard. Provide Panacea, food, and water. Ready them for evacuation." The whole city will need to be rebuilt, no need to keep the civilians here…
"Affirmative," Nail responded. The sad fact, something she'd already reported, was that the compound being used as triage would actually work. A city of over 8 million people… Reduced to less than a hundred thousand. The first beam of power, then the lava eruption, then lifting the city and spinning it, crushing the infrastructure - the civilians all crushed or tossed off the flying island… The compound had been built harder, it had survived - the only thing in Cairo that wasn't crushed.
Millions died, unseen, unnoticed, as the Heroes all fought Apocalypse. With the dead in New York, today would cross the 10 million dead mark - In one attack.
Justin closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. He felt the weight of everything he had done, everything he still needed to do. The grief and rage still simmered just beneath the surface, but he knew he couldn't afford to let them take over. Not now. There was too much at stake, too much left to do.
The world was still watching, still waiting for answers. And Justin Hammer was going to give them those answers, no matter what it took. He looked around at the shattered remains of Cairo, at the people still moving, still fighting, still surviving.
There's always more work to do, he reminded himself again. Always.
Cairo, Hammer industries compound.
Justin sat in his office, still clad in his black and gold armor, the weight of his thoughts heavier than the Vibranium encasing him. His helmet lay discarded on the table, his eyes fixed on a spot on the wall. His gaze was unfocused, lost in a swirl of emotions that he couldn't quite manage. Around him, the muted sounds of Hammer Industries' rescue operations filled the room. Voices barked orders over comms, machinery whirred as rubble was moved, and the distant rumble of engines echoed through the walls. Cairo was still in chaos, even three hours after the battle had ended, but inside this room, everything felt eerily still.
For the past three hours, Justin had been bombarded with calls - world leaders, SHIELD, the World Security Council, and even the Mandarin. Each conversation felt more exhausting than the last. He had to explain the situation, the status of Cairo, and, most importantly, that Magneto and Sinister were now his prisoners. No one had dared argue with him too much, after his display of power, though he could sense the underlying tension and hesitation in their voices. For now, they would concede that Magneto and Sinister were his responsibility. The world had seen what he could do - no one was eager to push him any further.
Yet.
His bet lay on the Mandarin making the next move. But that was future him's problem.
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes closing momentarily. The image of Cairo, torn apart and lifted into the sky by Apocalypse, flashed in his mind. He could still hear the bastard's voice, feel the ground tremble beneath his feet as the battle raged on - as short as his contribution had been. And then there was Hope, her face filled with fear and regret, her final moments playing over and over again in his head.
She'd apologized to him.
In her final moments, she'd apologized to him. When his choice was what killed her. He should have just kept her locked up, feelings be damned. Since when did he ever listen to his heart anyway?
He exhaled slowly, I've… Changed… He was forced to acknowledge. He was supposed to be a ruthless businessman and villain. He'd murdered thousands for his goals.
So why… Why did he care so much! Domino… Hope… Kaecillius, even Electro… Why did he care!
He switched tracks, not wanting to go there, not wanting to probe his feelings further. The grief was too fresh.
His mind turned to Thor and Hela which were another problem for him. They were being housed in one of the Hammer Industries buildings in the compound, waiting for further instructions. Thor had seemed almost relieved to not be handily kicked off the planet for his stunt. Hela, on the other hand, had been a wildcard that was now going to give him a massive headache. Many world leaders were now lauding her efforts during the battle, unaware of how truly unstable she was. It was yet another headache Justin knew he would have to address later. He had bluntly told both of them to stay out of the way until everything was dealt with, but he knew that was a temporary fix at best. The whole Asgard situation had become infinitely more complicated with Hela now seen as a potential ally by those who didn't understand the depths of her madness.
With her already on the planet. He now saw no real way to exclude her from the negotiations with Asgard. All that remained was forcing Thor to pay dearly for it. He was going to get his pound of flesh from Asgard for them dumping Odin's bad parenting in his lap.
A sound at the doorway pulled him from his thoughts. He didn't need to turn to know who it was. He heard the familiar footsteps pause, then continue, growing closer until he felt a hand running gently through his hair. Yelena. Her touch was comforting, but even that wasn't enough to pull him fully out of the dark spiral his mind was in.
"Done all of the kiss and make up routine then?" He asked, his voice rough, still staring at the wall. He was referring to the time she'd spent talking with her sister, Natasha Romanoff, after everything had calmed down. It had been the first time in years that Yelena and Natasha had seen each other, and the tension was palpable, both serving different sides.
Especially since Justin had put the woman under arrest. Not to mention the whole… Fucked the both of them thing. He spitefully hoped Yelena had told Natasha that Justin considered her better in bed.
Yelena sighed softly, her fingers continuing to stroke his hair. "We don't agree on some things," She said quietly, "But it was... Nice to see Natasha again. It's been too long."
"Not mad at me for arresting her?" He asked, his tone a mix of bitterness and exhaustion. He knew he'd only done it to tarnish the Avengers' name, to paint them as untrustworthy in the eyes of the world, but he also knew how much Yelena valued her sister, no matter their differences.
She snorted lightly, the sound tinged with a mix of exasperation and resignation. "I know you did that to tar the Avengers' name," She said, as always the most intune with his intentions of his people. "You know they'll all get off. You're not actually imprisoning them."
"True enough," Justin sighed, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "They did make it terribly easy for me, though." It was an unfortunate reality that even Namor, who had caused so much destruction, would likely get a pass. The threat Apocalypse posed had been so immense that even minimal help was being lauded by the world. Vibranium was a resource the world leaders couldn't ignore, and Namor's involvement, however minor, meant he would probably just face a very heavy fine. Paid in Vibranium, of course.
Money talked. No one knew that better than Justin.
Fury was fucked though. The 'heroes' actually fought, and would get a pass, although the world wouldn't forget what Justin had said.
Fury… Fury would not get that chance.
"They'll need you soon to transport them to America," Yelena said hesitantly. She leaned her cheek against the top of his head, her hand sliding down to gently stroke his cheek. It was a tender gesture, one that usually would have brought him some comfort. But now, it only reminded him of everything he'd lost.
"Me... Yes... Because I got Kaecillius killed. Domino... Hope..." Justin's voice was thick with bitterness, his mind drifting back to the horrors of the day, the choices he'd made that had led to so much loss. All preventable, if he'd only been wiser, or more cold hearted.
If he'd been the him of two years ago, they wouldn't have died…
Yelena tried to comfort him, her voice gentle but firm. "They all knew the risks, Justin. They died saving the world. It wasn't your fault. The enemy was just too strong, you couldn't have changed that."
But Justin wasn't listening. His mind was elsewhere, muttering to himself in a low, almost broken tone, "Where was the Ancient One?" With the Time Stone, she could have stopped Apocalypse without all of this…
Almost as if summoned by his words, a portal suddenly opened in front of them, swirling with bright, orange light. The Ancient One stepped out, her expression calm, a sympathetic smile on her face. Her robes flowed around her as if caught in a gentle breeze, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "I only did what I had to do," She said softly, her voice almost a whisper against the chaos outside.
Justin snapped up to his feet, rage boiling over in an instant. Yelena pivoted to his side, her weapon drawn and aimed directly at the Ancient One. "Where the hell were you?" He demanded, his voice a low growl, barely restrained fury radiating off him.
The Ancient One sighed, her serene composure unbroken even in the face of Justin's anger. She kept her hands folded within her robe sleeves, her expression unchanged. "You may not understand, and you will hate me for it, Justin," She began, her tone even, "But I only did what was necessary."
Justin could feel the power inside him building again, his rage fueling it. His eyes began to glow, a bright blue light seeping out from behind his eyelids. "And what was necessary?" He demanded, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"You," She said simply, her gaze steady and unflinching.
He blinked, taken aback. "Me?" He echoed, not understanding. His voice was harsh, confusion mingling with his anger.
The Ancient One nodded slowly, taking a step closer, but still keeping a respectful distance. "You've changed this world so much, Justin. The trajectory of every timeline has been altered by your actions, the very timeline of the world. But you needed an impetus, a reason to grow strong enough for the future, because power breeds conflict, dominance breeds rebellion."
The words cut through Justin like a knife, and for a moment, all he could feel was the utter hate that exploded from him. Yelena gasped as she was forced to step back from his side, the energy emanating from him pushing her away. His veins glowed so brightly that it was visible through his armor. "You knew they'd die!" He roared, his voice shaking with fury. Only the thought that he might still need her stopped him from attacking outright. He needed the Time Stone. He couldn't burn this bridge completely. Not yet.
The Ancient One's expression softened, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I knew you needed a reason," She said gently. "Something to push you to take risks, to gamble it all. If you hadn't lost Domino, you would have waited too long. Apocalypse would have killed the Avengers and X-Men and left Egypt. You would have been forced into an orbital bombardment, still trying to play it safe. It would have escalated from there."
"You will fix it," Justin snarled, stepping forward, his body trembling with rage. "The Time Stone. FIX IT!"
She smiled enigmatically, her gaze unwavering. "It can't be undone," She said softly, but there was no room for argument in her voice.
Justin's anger spiked, and he took another step toward her, his hand twitching as if ready to strike. "Don't give me that mystical bullshit! You think I'm going to accept this? Hope -"
The Ancient One cut him off with a slight shake of her head. "You're already changing, Justin," She said quietly. "Look around you. This world has already been altered by your presence. But you needed something to drive you. To push you to your limits. To make you take that final step."
Before Justin could respond, she stepped aside, a subtle gesture with one hand. From behind her, two figures emerged from the portal - Domino and Kaecillius. They looked shaken but alive, their faces pale and sorrowful. But they were breathing, and they were standing.
Justin's anger was immediately replaced by shock, his rage dissipating as he took in the sight of his allies. "Domino... Kaecillius?" He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. What… What is going on!?
Domino offered a half-smile, subdued but relieved. "Hey, boss," She said quietly, her voice tinged with emotion. "Nice to know you'd miss me."
"How...?" Justin's voice trailed off, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.
Domino grimaced, wincing slightly as she shifted her weight. "Thought for sure we were dead," She admitted. "My legs got crushed, and I thought that was it," Domino continued, her voice steady but filled with a raw edge. "But then my luck kicked in again. A piece of the metal buckled, just for a second, giving us enough of a gap. It bought us time, just enough for Kaecillius to pull us into the Mirror Dimension."
Kaecillius nodded, his face marked with fatigue but determination in his eyes. "It was a close call. Too close. But once inside, we were safe - well, safe from the physical destruction, at least." His eyes slide to the Ancient One, bitterness clear.
Justin's mind raced as he processed this information. They had survived, hidden away in the Mirror Dimension, a place outside of the normal rules of reality. Relief flooded through him, mixing with anger as he turned his gaze back to the Ancient One. "And why didn't you let them out sooner?" He demanded, his voice sharp. Cottoning on immediately that the Ancient One had been waiting for them, and had forced them to remain.
Domino and Kaecillius both glared at the Ancient One. She met their gaze with a calm, almost sad smile. "You needed a reason," She reiterated softly.
Justin felt a wave of conflicting emotions crash over him. Relief that Domino and Kaecillius were alive, anger at the Ancient One for her manipulations, and a deep, aching grief that Hope had not been saved. His fists clenched again, but this time he kept his anger in check. He needed answers, and lashing out wouldn't get them.
If Kaecillius wasn't gone… Would I have portaled myself all the way to Morag? Would I have taken myself and my entire team to Apocalypse so quickly? If I wasn't so angry, and grieving over Domino, would I have thrown myself into the fight?
He hated that the blasted woman had a point. Even in his rage he could see it, for despite everything else, he was still a very intelligent man, and he refused to discard the truth just because it hurt.
Yelena, who had been standing frozen with shock, suddenly rushed forward, throwing her arms around Domino. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her head in Domino's shoulder. "I'm so glad you're okay," She whispered, her voice choked with emotion in an uncharacteristic display.
Domino, for once, didn't have a teasing remark. She simply held Yelena close, her expression softening. "Yeah," She murmured. "Me too."
As they embraced, Justin's thoughts shifted back to Hope. He turned to the Ancient One, his voice low and filled with barely restrained fury. "What about Hope?" He asked, the name feeling heavy on his tongue. "What about her? Can she be brought back?"
The Ancient One's expression grew solemn, and she slowly shook her head. "That... Happened," She said gently. "It can't be undone."
Justin's frustration boiled over, his fists trembling with the effort of holding himself back. "What do you mean, it can't be undone? Just use the Time Stone! You owe me!"
The Ancient One sighed, her face filled with a sadness that seemed almost genuine. "Hope's death is a fixed point in time, Justin," She explained gently. "Her death has already had a profound effect on you and on the world. It has set in motion events that are crucial for what is to come. Even the Time Stone cannot alter a fixed point."
The words hit Justin like a punch to the gut. The finality of her statement, the calm certainty in her voice - it was like a door slamming shut, cutting off any hope he might have had of reversing what had happened. His anger surged again, and before he could stop himself, he lunged forward, his armored fist connecting with the Ancient One's face.
The impact was solid, the crack of the punch echoing through the room. The Ancient One staggered back, her head snapping to the side, but she remained standing. Blood trickled from her lip, but she didn't react with anger or surprise. Instead, she simply wiped the blood away with the back of her hand, her expression remaining calm.
Yelena gasped, stepping back with Domino still in her arms. "Justin, no -" She started, but her voice faltered as she saw the raw pain in his eyes.
"She didn't have to die!" Justin shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of rage and anguish. "You could have saved her! You could have saved all of them!"
The Ancient One straightened, her calm demeanor never wavering. "I could have," She admitted, her voice soft. "But doing so would have changed the course of history in ways you cannot comprehend. Hope's death... It shapes you, Justin. It prepares you for the challenges that are yet to come."
"I don't care about the future!" Justin roared. "I care about my people! About the ones who died today because you sat back and did nothing!"
The Ancient One's eyes softened, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "Sometimes, we must allow events to unfold as they are meant to," She said gently. "Even when it causes pain. Even when it seems cruel. But know this, Justin, Hope's sacrifice was not in vain. It has set in motion a series of events that will shape the future of this world. And you, more than anyone, will play a crucial role in what is to come."
Justin felt his anger deflate, replaced by a cold, hollow feeling in his chest. He turned away from the Ancient One, unable to look at her anymore. He couldn't process her words, couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that Hope's death was somehow necessary. It felt like a betrayal, like the universe itself was conspiring against him.
The Universe is wrong…
I'll find a way.
Some time later,
Justin was alone again, Yelena, Domino and Phantazia taking over running the show. Kaecillius portaling the Avengers and X-Men out, back to America.
His emotions were still raw and he dreaded what he'd have to do.
Not even a shocked Phantazia running and tackling Domino to the ground upon seeing her had managed to uplift his spirit.
"Nail…" He said slowly, he had no choice now. If Hope… If Hope couldn't be brought back… Hank Pym was going to be a problem.
There were three men he never wanted fully motivated to go after him, Tony Stark, Doctor Doom, and Hank Pym. The first was a somewhat ally/rival, the second didn't exist here, and now Hank Pym had every reason to want him dead. Whether that meant Ultron, or an Ant-Man rampage he didn't know…
Despite Ant-Man almost being a joke in the MCU, there were few things scarier when you thought of how the suit could actually be used. Forget front line fighting - it's best purpose was as an assassin.
"Yes, sir." Nail answered promptly, the Irish brogue somewhat comforting to hear. At least Nail could never die…
"Do we still have a Black Widow inserted in Hank Pym's company?" He asked, already knowing the answer. Just dragging out the decision, the betrayal of Hope's memory.
"Yes, sir."
"Arrange an accident. Make it look like a heart attack or something," Justin said with a heavy heart, I'm… Sorry, Hope… "Just a grieving father with too much stress, succumbing."
"It will be done, sir."
Hank Pym was too dangerous to leave at his back.
Justin would… He'd ensure Hope's company wasn't subsumed into Hammer Industries, he could use Cross as a patsy for now. The man had an Ant-Man suit… He'd… He'd give him the Wasps place on the team in exchange for fealty.
One day he'd find a way for her to return, give her the company back.
The Ancient One was wrong.
Hope's death did not make him better.
It only made him harder.
Later that night, Cairo, Justin's office.
Justin sat in his office quietly just thinking over the last day's events. It was a rare moment of peace amid the chaos of rescue operations in Cairo and managing the fallout of the battle with Apocalypse. Not even Domino and Yelena were near him right now, Justin sending them away, wanting to be alone with his thoughts.
He couldn't bring himself to take his armor off just yet, no matter that it was becoming uncomfortable. The weight was a reminder of the choices he had made, of the battle fought and lost. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a brief moment, allowing himself to take a single, deep breath.
The air shifted, a cold breeze sweeping through the room, and Justin's eyes snapped open. Before him, standing with a predatory smirk and eyes alight with a dark, playful glint, was Hela. She leaned casually against the door frame, her arms crossed, a smile playing at her lips. Her presence filled the room like a storm waiting to break.
Nail, how did you miss this? He sent immediately through the implant, the AI confused, swearing it was still seeing her in her room.
Fucking Magic… Justin cursed. Get Thor here, NOW!
"What do you want, Hela?" Justin asked after his instructions were sent off silently, his voice carefully neutral, though he could feel his muscles tensing instinctively. He mentally activated the link to Nail again, sending a rapid message through his neural implant. Domino and Phantazia too, in case she needs to be subdued. He kept his face blank, hiding the sudden surge of adrenaline that shot through him.
Hela pushed herself off the door frame and began to circle Justin like a panther stalking prey. Her eyes never left his, and her smile widened, a mix of amusement and something darker. "I've been very bored for a very long time," She purred, her voice low and silky, yet carrying a dangerous edge. "And that fight earlier… Well, it got my blood flowing again. But now," She paused, her gaze raking over him, "Now I have this little puzzle to figure out."
Justin's expression remained carefully blank, though his mind raced. He could feel her eyes boring into him, stripping away the layers of armor and flesh to see what lay beneath. "What do you mean?" He asked cautiously, his voice steady. Inside, he was already preparing himself, the power within him stirring in response to the threat before him.
Hela's steps were slow and deliberate as she circled him, her gaze never wavering. "Oh, so many interesting things about you," She mused, her voice taking on a teasing, almost mocking tone. "A warrior, yet not really. An artificer, yet not truly. A god… yet not quite." She stopped in front of him, leaning in close, her breath warm against his skin. "What are you?" She asked, her tone darkly seductive.
Justin could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He carefully channeled the newfound power within him, feeling it course through his veins, a dark and potent force that hummed with energy. He could feel the armor's systems activate, weapons preparing to fire if needed. "Whatever I am," He said, his voice low and firm, "It's nothing to you. We are not going to have anything to do with each other, Hela."
Hela threw her head back and laughed, a sound that sent chills down Justin's spine. "Oh, I can feel you drawing on your power," She said with a grin, her eyes flashing with excitement. "I can feel the hate in your veins, mortal. And I have to say, I kind of like it." She moved faster than he could react, her hand suddenly around his throat, making him regret not wearing his helmet, slamming him back against the wall with a force that cracked the concrete. Before he could fully process what was happening, her lips were on his, capturing his in a fierce, aggressive kiss.
Justin's mind screamed in shock. What the fuck!? His hand instinctively shot up, his armored gauntlet pressing against her chest. Without thinking, he fired a repulsor blast, the force of it pushing her away. She was ripped from him, her teeth catching his lower lip and tearing it slightly as she was blasted backward. For a moment, he felt the sting of pain, his lip bleeding, but then Extremis activated, healing the wound almost instantly.
Justin wiped his mouth, his face a mix of anger and confusion. "You don't want to do this," He warned, his voice a low growl as he slammed his helmet back on, the HUD flashing to life. His weapons locked onto Hela, targeting her with deadly precision.
But Hela just laughed, a wild, manic sound. She touched her lips with her fingers, smirking. "Oh, but I do!" She purred, her voice dripping with dark amusement. With a flick of her wrist, blades appeared in her hands, black as night and gleaming with a deadly sharpness. She lunged at him, her movements a blur, fast and fluid, her eyes wide in pure enjoyment.
Justin barely had time to react. He rocketed to the side, his thrusters firing, sending him skidding across the floor as Hela's blades sliced through the air where he had been standing just moments before. He fired a volley of miniature missiles from his shoulders, the small projectiles streaking toward her with a high-pitched whine.
Hela twisted in mid-air, her blades flashing as she cut through the missiles with ease. The explosions rocked the office, but she moved through them with a grace and agility that made it seem like she was dancing through the chaos. She landed on her feet, an excited grin on her face, her eyes locked onto Justin with a predatory gleam. "Is that all you've got?" She taunted, her voice filled with dark joy. "And here I thought you were at least a demi-god!"
Justin's mind raced as he analyzed the situation. She was fast, too fast, and clearly enjoying herself. He needed to find a way to slow her down, to gain some control over the fight. He fired a burst of energy from his palm, aiming at her legs, trying to knock her off balance. Meanwhile he began calling up his power, not in any way used to it, nor enjoying having to try it in the middle of a battle.
Hela was ready, her power might not be back, but her battle instincts and experience were amongst the finest in the universe. She dodged the blast with ease, her body moving with a fluidity that was inhuman. She closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, her blades flashing as she swung at him. Justin barely managed to bring up his arm in time, deflecting the strike with his armor, the force of the blow sending him staggering back.
She'd nicked the Vibranium! It suddenly became much more important to avoid hits. Especially to vital areas. Yes he had Extremis, but he didn't want one of those blades inside him. Who knows what else they could do…
"Come on, mortal… Justin, was it?" Hela purred, her voice a seductive whisper even as she smiled too widely. "Don't tell me this is all you can do. I expected more from you." She moved in again, her blades a blur of motion as she struck at him with relentless precision.
Justin gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he tried to keep up with her attacks. He fired another repulsor blast, aiming for her torso this time, but she dodged it effortlessly, her movements almost too fast to follow. He felt a surge of frustration and anger, his power flaring up in response. He needed to find a way to turn the tide.
Frustratingly enough his targeting computer wasn't able to help, Hela creating some sort of magical effect as she moved forward, creating afterimages that fooled his AI.
He shifted tactics, launching himself into the air and through the roof with a burst of his thrusters, gaining some distance. He activated the sonic pulse cannons on his arms, firing a rapid series of blasts at Hela. The office was filled with the sound of energy discharges, the walls and floor cracking with the intensity of the blasts.
Hela laughed as she dodged and weaved through the onslaught, her eyes alight with a wild, feral joy. She seemed to be enjoying the fight, relishing every moment. "Yes, that's it!" She shouted, her voice filled with exhilaration. "Show me what you're made of, Justin!" If she was affected by the sonic blasts flying by her, she sure as hell didn't show it.
Justin knew he couldn't keep this up forever, he'd never fought in this armor before his fight with Apocalypse and that wasn't even a fight. He needed to end this, and quickly. He launched the rest of his micro missiles, while blasting out with one hand, limiting her movement area, while he put full power to thrusters, and flew right at her as she dodged and cut his attacks.
He concentrated his power inside him, feeling himself start to glow, his fist starting to vibrate as he launched at Hela, flying right through the aftereffects of his own missiles explosions.
Hela's eyes widened in surprise as Justin came at her, but she recovered quickly, bringing up her blades to block. The force of Justin's punch collided with her arms and swords, crushing them and sending her skidding back across the floor. She dug her heels in, literal grooves getting cut in the concrete, slowing her momentum, and then looked up at him with a grin, her eyes flashing with pure excitement. "That's more like it!" She exclaimed, her voice filled with approval. She licked her lips, "Show me more!"
To his dismay, she was within moments perfectly fine, and crafting new blades out of her power.
Justin landed in a crouch, his armor whirring as he prepared for the next attack. But before he could move, Hela was on him again, her blades slicing through the air with deadly intent, half of them not even real, just some sort of illusion. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike of the real blades - he could feel them with his power coursing through his veins, even if his AI couldn't compute which was which - and he fired a full power repulsor blast at her as he got an opening in the middle of her strike and his own dodge. The energy hit her square in the chest, briefly burning her chest armor off, making Justin blink at what he saw, as it sent her flying backward into the wall.
The impact cracked the concrete, but Hela merely laughed, getting back to her feet with a look of pure exhilaration on her face. "You're ~fun," She said with a dark chuckle. "I haven't had this much fun in ages." Her armor grew back, as she smoothed it down with a hand, eyeing him hungrily, "That felt nice."
Justin felt his frustration mount. "You're insane!" He shouted, his voice filled with exasperation. "Why the hell are you doing this?"
Nail, what's taking so long!?
Sorry, sir, Thor is hard to get moving, and the others were at the other side of the city. ETA three minutes 12 seconds.
Hela's grin widened, her eyes alight with a wild, manic glee. "Because I can," She replied simply, her voice filled with a dangerous edge. She lunged at him again, her blades flashing through the air with deadly precision. This time one superseding it, thrown as a projectile faster than his own blasts.
Justin ducked under her throw, and then her swing, firing his thrusters to propel himself backwards again, trying to create some distance between them. But Hela was relentless, closing the gap in an instant. She swung her blades at him, and he barely managed to block the strike with his armored forearm again. The force of the blow sent him staggering back, sparks flying as she managed to cut far enough to destroy something in his left arm.
He quickly regained his footing, launching a counterattack with a rapid series of punches, pulling on his well of power, blue light pouring out of his fists as each hit sent a concussive force emanating from it, cratering the ground and walls behind Hela, as she gritted her teeth and bore the beating, her arms up and crossed before her.
The energy draw on his new well of power wasn't something he was used to, and eventually he missed a strike, overextended with the almost earthquake-like blasts he was putting out. Hela immediately took advantage, getting inside his guard.
Hela dodged effortlessly as he tried to strike her, a smirk playing on her lips. Her movements were fluid, almost like a dance, and she seemed to be enjoying herself, amused by his attempts. Her own fists hammered into him, sending warning signals blaring from his Vibranium armor.
"You move well for a mortal," Hela teased, her tone dripping with a dark kind of amusement. "But you're still not fast enough to push me down..."
Justin, frustrated but focused, steadied himself and launched a series of quick, controlled energy blasts from his working gauntlet. Hela sidestepped them with ease as well, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She seemed more interested in teasing him than actually fighting now. "Why are you so obsessed with me? What do you want?"
At least with the sudden lull, he was able to get some space between them again, his left arm useless for any further fighting.
Hela laughed, a dark melodic sound that sent chills down his spine. "You intrigue me, Justin." She said, her voice low and heady with a meaning he couldn't quite grasp, "A mortal wielding godly power, yet refuses to fully embrace it. You have potential, you have power… But you're so afraid to use it, why is that?"
Justin clenched his teeth, his hands tightening into fists, "I'm not like you, Hela… I'm not some bloodthirsty lunatic who gets off on chaos and destruction."
Hela's crazy smile widened, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "No, you're not like me," She agreed, "But have you ever… Tried? Just letting go of your fear, your rules. Conquer yourself, Justin, and then all the world's, no, the universe's pleasure - is there for the taking."
Hela moved suddenly, closing the distance between them in an instant. Justin tried to react but she was too fast, her hand shooting out to grab his wrist, she twisted, forcing him down onto one knee with a strength you'd never think a woman of her slender frame would be capable of. "You're strong… interesting.. " She said, leaning in close, "But you could be so much more, if you'd only let go of your fear."
He let his power explode out of him, throwing Hela away, sending her tumbling in the air through the completely demolished office, his entire frame burning in blue flames as he got back to his feet.
She laughed again, an almost ecstatic wild sound, "Yes, that's it!" She shouted, somersaulting back to her feet, "That's the power I want to see!"
Before Justin could respond, the door burst open, and Thor entered, flanked by Phantazia and Domino. "Hela, that's enough!" Thor called out firmly. "Leave him be, you've done enough damage as is."
The look both Domino and Phantazia sent Hela promised death, if Justin thought it would stick he'd give the order, this was a headache he didn't need. Fuck Asgard, and fuck Thor.
Hela glanced over at her brother, then back at Justin, and with a sigh, she stepped back. "Fine, little weakling king, have it your way," She said, her voice still carrying a hint of amusement. "For now."
Justin exhaled, relieved but still on edge. He watched as Hela turned to leave, throwing him a final, playful glance. "Until next time, Justin Hammer," She said with a dark grin that held a clear promise.
Thor approached Justin, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Normally, as a brother, I'd be upset if you and my sister were courting, but given Hela's… Nature, I can only wish you good luck." He gave Justin an exaggerated thumbs up.
Justin's irritation flared. "Thor, you are going to regret this, I will murder you... In the negotiations," He muttered, trying to keep his cool. Tempted to murder you for real… Keep a leash on the damn she-beast you overgrown puppy.
Thor chuckled, clearly not taking the threat seriously. "I look forward to it!"
With the tension easing, Justin watched Hela leave, knowing this encounter was likely only the beginning. But at least, for now, the immediate threat had passed.
And she was going to be stuck on his planet.
…Fuck.
Next day, Cairo, Hammer's compound.
The sun hung high in the sky over the remnants of Cairo. Rubble and devastation stretched out for miles behind Justin as he stood on a hastily erected stage.
Despite the devastation, there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. The world had been waiting for answers, and Justin was here to provide them - in a manner of speaking... Cameras from every major news network were pointed directly at him, capturing every movement, every word. He knew the eyes of the world were on him now, looking for hope, for clarity, for leadership. He had carefully selected the members of the press who were present, ensuring that they were reporters he could count on to ask the right questions, to steer the narrative in the direction he wanted.
He stood at the podium, his stance confident and commanding, his black and gold armor gleaming in the sunlight. He took a moment to let the silence settle, to let the weight of the moment sink in for everyone present. Then, he began to speak, his voice steady and strong, carrying across the gathered crowd.
"Yesterday was one of the darkest days in human history," He began, his tone somber, his expression grave. "A day when we faced an enemy unlike any we have ever known. An enemy who sought not just to conquer, but to annihilate, to break our spirit and take from us everything that we hold dear. But we stood our ground. We fought back. And against all odds, we won."
His words were carefully chosen, each one delivered with a force that made it clear he believed in what he was saying. He paused for a moment, letting the gravity of his words sink in. The crowd was silent, hanging on his every word.
This was both intended to hammer home how he was the only one capable of saving them, and to give them an outlet for their grief, fear and rage, and point them at a target of his choosing. Swiveling the bullseye away from metahumans.
"We are humanity," Justin continued, his voice rising with passion. "We are a resilient species, capable of enduring the unthinkable and rising from the ashes stronger than before. We do not give up. We do not surrender. And we do not bow to those who would seek to take away our God-given rights to live and to thrive."
He let his words linger in the air, the audience captivated by his conviction. He then seamlessly transitioned into the next part of his speech, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "We have faced threats from beyond our world before. We have seen what alien invaders are capable of. And now, we face a new threat, one that has been lurking in the shadows, manipulating us, infiltrating our ranks, and trying to strip us of our humanity."
Justin took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the crowd as he prepared to drop the bombshell he had been waiting for. "We now know," He declared, lied. "That Apocalypse was not a metahuman, but the leader of an alien sect that has been secretly infiltrating Earth. These aliens, known as the Skrulls, have used their shape-shifting abilities to blend in, to manipulate, and to control. They have been among us for decades, working in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike."
The crowd erupted into a frenzy, reporters shouting questions all at once, eager to be the first to get a response. Justin raised a hand to quiet them, his expression calm and controlled. He pointed to a reporter in the front row, giving them the floor.
"So, it was aliens then? That's been confirmed?" The reporter asked, his voice barely containing his shock and disbelief.
Justin nodded shortly, keeping his expression stoic. "Yes, it has been confirmed. Apocalypse claimed to be from Earth, to be a metahuman. He did so to sow division between us, to make us forget that human or metahuman, we're all part of humanity, of Earth. In truth, he was here on Earth, serving as a leader of this alien sect. The Skrulls have been using him to test the waters, to see how far they could push us, to gauge our response, to take our planet. They controlled Magneto with alien technology, using him as a pawn to limit the resistance against Apocalypse and further their own agenda."
Another reporter, this time a woman with a fierce expression, immediately jumped in with a follow up. "What can you tell us about these Skrulls? Who are they? What do they want?"
I hope you're shitting yourself right now, Fury, the one with the hand on the wheel of events will be me - not you!
Justin took a moment, making sure to keep the tension high before he answered. "The Skrulls," He began, "Are a race of shape-shifting aliens. They have the ability to take on the appearance of anyone they choose, to blend in seamlessly with any population. They have used this ability to infiltrate our world at every level, from the highest echelons of government to the smallest local communities. Their goal is simple - to sow chaos, to create division, and ultimately, to prepare our planet for invasion and subjugation."
The shock was heavy amongst those standing before him, so heavy that they didn't even think to ask another question, just staring at him aghast. If he was anyone other than who he was, they wouldn't even believe him.
"Apocalypse was not kidding when he claimed he wanted to erase most of humanity, he only lied about the reason why. The Skrulls need a new home planet, and they've been promised this one…" Justin said darkly. "The billion survivors would have been nothing more then slaves, tilling the fields of our new alien overlords."
As he spoke, Justin signaled to Yelena, who was standing off to the side, Storm on his other side to signal that metahumans were on their side. Yelena nodded and moved to the edge of the stage, disappearing behind a curtain for a moment. The reporters were now frantically shouting questions, but Justin ignored them, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal his ace. When Yelena returned, she was accompanied by a figure in handcuffs. The reporters fell silent almost immediately, their eyes widening in shock and horror.
The figure was a Skrull, its green skin and ridged chin making their alien appearance obvious. It walked slowly, its head down, clearly aware of the attention it was receiving and not happy about it. The cameras zoomed in, capturing every detail of its alien appearance. The crowd was stunned into silence, the only sound the whirring of camera shutters and the low hum of a nearby generator.
Justin allowed the tension to build, letting the press and the world take in the sight of the Skrull before he spoke again. "This," He said, gesturing to the captive, "Is a Skrull. One of the many who have been hiding among us, deceiving us, using us for their own ends."
He'd simply had one of the Skrulls Fury had sent to infiltrate Hammer industries grabbed for the occasion. This whole mess was the perfect opportunity to both sink Fury beyond recovery, and further condition humanity to the need to stand together against alien threats. With Justin as the logical choice to lead them of course. After all… He'd now stopped two alien invasions.
The crowd erupted into chaos once more, reporters shouting over one another, their questions blending into an unintelligible roar. Justin waited, a satisfied smile briefly flashing on his face, letting the uproar continue for a few moments longer before raising his hand to silence them once again.
The Skrull stood quietly, its head bowed, under strict orders to comply. It hadn't taken much convincing for it to realize it needed to cooperate.
"You want to know how to identify a Skrull?" Justin asked rhetorically, his voice rising above the din. "Watch closely." He nodded to Yelena, who drew a small knife from her belt and stepped forward. She made a small cut on the Skrull's arm, and instead of red, its blood was a strange, dark green. A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.
Justin then took another knife from Yelena and made a small cut on his own hand, holding it up for everyone to see the red blood that oozed out for a second. Yelena followed suit, doing the same, as did Storm. "We are human," Justin said firmly, his voice filled with authority. "We bleed red. But these creatures - these Skrulls - do not. They are here on Earth, hiding among us, plotting against us. And they are led by one man." His face twisted into a snarl, as he hammered a fist on the podium for effect, "One traitor to humanity, that offered our entire planet to these aliens!"
He turned to the Skrull, his expression fierce. "Tell them," He commanded. "Tell them who sent you to infiltrate my company. Tell them who is behind this alien conspiracy."
The Skrull hesitated for a moment, its eyes darting around the crowd, before finally speaking in a reluctant, strained voice. "The Skrulls have operated under Nicholas J. Fury since the 1990s," It confessed. "We were his covert operations team, promised a planet of our own in exchange for our services in making him rise to power."
It's even the truth, to a certain extent, Justin thought with hidden amusement.
The silence that followed was deafening. Even the most seasoned reporters seemed at a loss for words, their faces a mix of shock, disbelief, and horror. It was as if the entire world had been turned upside down in an instant. Then, just as quickly, the crowd exploded into chaos once again, the cacophony of voices rising to a fever pitch.
Justin ignored the clamor, leaning into the microphone, his expression grave. "We already knew Fury was a dangerous man, convicted of treason as he is, gathering together a team to fight in his name with superpowers, including a genocidal hidden kingdom. But now, with the capture of this Skrull, the curtain has been drawn back on his dark past. He became the leader of SHIELD, sponsored by aliens, using them to infiltrate, to murder, to take over the lives of his enemies for his benefit. And now, when he was on the run, his life on the verge of ruin, he 'created' a hero team and sent his Skrulls to fight, to bring their champion in what was meant to be pure theater to lift him back as the savior. Only Fury hadn't expected his heroes would be too weak to beat him. That the Skrulls might chafe under his incompetent leadership and want their promised planet now."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, letting the full weight of his words settle in. "Millions lost," He continued, his voice thick with emotion, focused on the only important loss, "And for what? One man's obsession with power, his betrayal of humanity to alien parasites. I ask you all, as the one who saved the day, who fought so hard to safeguard humanity - say no more! Refuse to allow this to happen again. Show your bloodied hands to the sky, find these infiltrators, and show Nick Fury that he is a race traitor of the highest order. Hunt him down!"
Storm and Yelena both stepped up next to him, and he gestured to them, "Human," He gestured to Yelena, "Metahuman!" He gestured to Storm, "We ARE HUMANITY!" He made a sweeping gesture, eyes fierce, "Everything else doesn't matter, race, sex, creed, mutation. Humanity first! We are all humans, and this… IS OUR PLANET!"
The crowd erupted again, but this time with a fervor that bordered on hysteria. Reporters were shouting, cameras flashing, and Justin stood tall and unyielding, the perfect picture of a hero who had saved the day, who had exposed a conspiracy, who had given humanity a new enemy to unite against.
The message was clear.
Trust in me, I'll see humanity through it all.
Author's note:
No, Hela is not a new waifu, although she clearly wants to play at the very least..
What can I say, she's been bored for a loooong time. That said, she'd never make herself subservient in any manner to Justin, or even be able to see him as equal - he's not enough of a monster at the moment.
Justin just wants Fury to stop being a hassle in his rear. This… Will probably be enough to manage that.
Funnily enough he doesn't hate him or anything, Fury isn't at the top on his shitlist. He's just a very convenient and annoying target. That and hammering on the Alien thing to unite humanity behind him as an added bonus.
Justin probably could push for the Avengers to see some actual harsh punishments and get away with it - but he wants them as cannon fodder that does exactly what they did in the Apocalypse fight, although it was more the X-Men there.
Fight and lose (and do all the dying) while revealing the enemy's hand so Justin can swoop in and beat them.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
