Chapter 198: Chapter 197: Sokovia Standoff.
The sounds of alarms blaring loudly from inside the prime minister's residence rang toward the entire city, causing the citizens to be woken up for their night of rest. Humvee carrying militants rolled around the city streets, making their ways toward the location of the attack.
"Steve Rogers. Not only did you assassinate the Prime Minister under the orders of the American Vice President, but you also released biological weapons inside the residency, killing his entire family and guards." Baron Zemo accused Steve.
"What?"
Steve figured out the situation and hurriedly stood between the prime minister who was still sleeping soundly in his bed, and the militants under Zemo's order. They opened fire toward the defenceless prime minister, ignoring Steve who stood in between.
"Uh-Oh" Steve exclaimed and pressed the button on his right hand. A translucent blue energy shield appeared and protected the prime minister from the hail of bullets.
The situation had changed, the espionage agents were the one who was protecting the prime minister from his own guards.
Zemo planned to accuse the United States using the death of the Sokovian Prime Minister and to drag down the country's name to the mud. He could accuse the biological weapons from the trace of the sleeping gas inside the chamber.
It was fairly simple for him to accuse the members of the Avengers or the United States government during these turbulent times. A few countries such as Russia, Latveria, and many more would support him in his case.
Evidence? What a joke. His words were all the evidence needed in the matter. Maybe he'll spare some of the prime minister's kids to testify against Steve Rogers in the hearing.
"But to do that, I need a trace of your DnA." Zemo said and thrust his sword toward Steve's head. The sword clashed with his helmet, causing a nick on the carbon-fibre armour.
'The sword.' Steve noticed that the sword Zemo was swinging has a potent sharpness, unlike any cold weapons he had seen before. 'Or did he too…'
A suspicion aroused inside of Steve's mind. The figure of a swordsman cutting through steel with a simple sword surfaced in his mind.
"Are you from the Doom training academy?" Steve asked abruptly.
"What?" Zemo narrowed his eyes in suspicion. 'What is the Doom training academy?' He thought. Maybe, the man in front of him wasn't Captain America after all?
"Nothing. I guess you aren't." Steve replied and jumped into the Prime Minister's bed.
"Krooorrhh Krooorrhh." The Prime Minister snored loudly under the effect of the sleeping gas. Steve then released a small capsule from his palm, and a binding cable appeared, coiling the prime minister inside it together with his blankets.
BOOM
The side of the wall exploded, causing a gaping hole. Some of the militants were attacked by the flying debris, but Zemo managed to protect himself using his sword.
"Come on Evans." Sam Wilson yelled from the outside sky. He was the one who had blown up the walls even when he was under heavy pursuit from the Songbird.
"Gosh. You're a pretty lady. And I say this with great reluctance on my part. Stop chasing me!"
Flirtatiously speaking with the Songbird, Sam dived below and flew in a reverse arc, finally turning the table from the chaser and the chased.
He aimed his submachine gun at the woman, but her reaction became weird as she stopped mid-air and stared at him.
"What did you just say to me?"
"Uhhh…Stop chasing me?"
"No…The previous part…"
"Pretty lady?"
The conversation started to go in a very wrong direction for Sam. Melissa Gold suddenly covered her face as she started to blush uncontrollably.
"Pretty? Me? Really?" She peeked through her fingers and waited for Sam's response. Being a member of the female wrestling team, she had never once gotten a compliment from the guys from her looks.
Although Titania used to be on the same team as her, she got all the compliments, making Melissa frustrated sometimes.
"Uhh…What's happening?" Sam muttered to himself.
Inside the chambers, Steve lugged the sleeping president on his back as he shot a cable arrow toward the other side of the hole.
"Mackie, meet me at the rendezvous point." Steve said.
Melissa noticed that Sam's attention had been turned toward his 'friends' who came with him.
"Shoot me." Melissa said.
"What?" Sam exclaimed, becoming more and more confused.
"Shoot me and I will fall down. Otherwise I need to chase you guys."
"Are your suits bulletproof?"
"...No. But I will be fine."
It was Sam's first time fighting a supervillain. Now, he wasn't so sure anymore. "Why are you doing this?"
"You don't have much time. Otherwise Zemo will contact the others." Melissa said hurriedly.
"Argh DAMN IT!" Sam lowered his gun and flew directly toward Melissa. She snapped her eyes wide open as Sam started to hug her and rolled together with her in the air.
"So I tackled you, and you fell unconscious into the ground. We can go with this right?"
He couldn't do it. He couldn't attack a person who was not dangerous to him. Melissa nuzzled inside Sam's chest and replied, "That would work."
Flying together outside of the city's border, Sam let Melissa fall gently into the ground. Sam landed next to her almost immediately and helped her to get up.
"Lady. Quit being a villain. You're not suitable for this." He said in frustration.
"Melissa." Songbird said in a low voice.
"What?" Sam asked as he couldn't catch what she said.
"My name is Melissa." She said coquettishly.
Sam grinned and muttered as he flew into the sky, "Sam."
Steve finally hooked his pulley to the cable he shot into the next building. He jumped through the hole and glided toward the other side of the anchor.
Underneath him, countless militants fired bullets from their rifles and pistols toward him. "Urgh.." The Prime Minister on his back groaned as his consciousness started to return.
Zemo watched Steve's sight leaving the Prime Minister chambers. He reached into a walkie-talkie and ordered his goon, " Shut down the whole city. He couldn't be allowed to run away."
The Sokovian army was mobilised, cordoning off the entire city in a matter of minutes. Roadblocks were created in every major road, and every single one of the citizen outside was captured by the Sokovian army for interrogation.
"This…What are they planning now?" Ryan said with a tired voice. The Vice-President office line wouldn't stop ringing as the United Nations needed answers.
"Finally got your justifications huh. Good Good."
It's time for him to root out some of the problematic officials before the world summit takes place. Ryan ignored the call he received, allowing the sharks inside the political worlds to smell his guilt and create events out of proportions.
Inside the forest near the Nova Grad city, Sam finally regrouped with Steve.
"What are we going to do with him?" Sam asked, pointing at the Prime Minister behind Steve's back. "Should we drop him off at the UN?"
"I don't think I can drop him off at the United Nations building. There is a high chance Zemo is going to kill him there too."
Worrying about the aftermath, Steve decided to call Ryan and report his findings.
"I see. Mass human experimentation. Where are they going to do this?" Ryan asked from the other line.
"At Strucker's residence. But the location is unknown."
After a few minutes of talking, Steve finally put down his encrypted phone.
"Well. In the words of the kids nowadays. We're fucked."
…
(A/N : Nova Grad is the city Wanda and Pietro lived in. Also the city that was taken to the sky by Ultron)
Baron Wolfgang von Strucker Castle. — 100 miles outside of the Nova Grad city.
"The Avengers will come here!" Stucker yelled angrily for the person on the other side of the encrypted line to hear.
Zemo: They couldn't enter Sokovia, not without a justification. However, seeing that there is a working Hydra base here, it's justification enough for them.
As Steve predicted, Zemo did station a few of his militants around the United Nations building. He even placed spies nearby the United States diplomat's home. But, the assailant never came.
'What is the Doom Academy?' That question kept lingering in his mind. After some digging, he found a record of the Von Doom family. The family was located in another country that he had taken over. 'Latveria?'
But to the official knowledge, the Von Doom family had died out in 1960, and has no more descendants. 'Did they hide until they are needed again?'
A conspiracy started to broil inside his mind, about his decision to take residence in Latveria and control the entire country had angered this hidden family. But, it was just a part of the speculation he had. His focus was more on the assailant being Captain America, and the attack was a part of the Oracle's plans.
Strucker replied confidently, "They didn't know about my place. Only yours."
The mass human enhancement experiment would take place in Zemo's castle instead of his. He was only a helper in Zemo's scheme, not the main culprit. The Avengers won't focus on him if they want to get Zemo – that's what Baron Strucker thinks.
Zemo: don't be so naive. You'd forget. What is Ryan Knight's nickname? It's the Oracle. I am 99% sure he'd already know about your location
"And the other 1%?"
Zemo: The other 1% telling me he is already on his way.
…
In the Avenger tower. Despite the clock hand showing the time of 2 am, the inside of the tower was still boisterous. Especially when the two fatties who don't need sleep decided to play a game together.
Wearing a headset and playing on the controller, Hulk yelled at his opponent, "Hackers! I will come to your house and RIP YOU IN HALF!"
"Hulk come on! Cover ME!" Thor said anxiously as he was surrounded by 5 enemies in the new Fornite games Ryan had created. "By The HAMMER OF MJOLNIR-" Thor exclaimed in horror as he was beaten up by 5 people at the same time.
It was a taint to his Asgardian honour to not be able to fight back.
"REMATCH!" Hulk yelled in demand. Thor heard what the gamers said, and he tried to comfort Hulk. "They have school tomorrow. They couldn't stay up that late."
"Argh!" Hulk yelled and threw his controller toward the wall. The custom made rubber controller bounced from the walls and almost hit Ayala's head while she was eating a sandwich in the kitchen. She quickly ducks to avoid being knocked out…again.
"HULK! GO TO SLEEP!" Ayala yelled at the Hulk. It's fine for her to stay up as she was a feline species, but the longer Hulk stays up, the crankier he gets.
"I am not sleepy!" Hulk grunted and stomped his foot.
"I will count to three. ONE…TWOOOOOO…THR-"
"Okay I'm going!"
Hulk stomped loudly as he walked to his room. Ayala shook her head and stared daggers at Thor next. "You. Go exercise. Where are your muscles now?"
Beer and Hamburgers had destroyed the beautifully sculpted body of the Asgardian God, making Ayala stay away from the food at all cost. She didn't want to wake up and find herself increased in size like Thor was right now.
"Hahahaha, you mortals are so funny. This is not fat. This is strength." Thor said as he jiggled his bloated stomach at Ayala. "Besides, Jane didn't have any trouble with this at all. She even said I have become cuddlier."
"Urgh." Ayala groaned and decided to control her anger. Especially on nights when the moon was clear, her temper would get out of control. One time, she threw Thor from the building because he eats food loudly.
Suddenly, Tony flew toward the Avengers building in his Iron Man suit, and landed on the balcony.
"Uh-Oh. Trouble is here." Ayala muttered.
"Call Everyone. Wait no- Avengers. Assemble." Tony said, mimicking Steve. But there was no reaction from the people in front of him. "It didn't suit me huh. Just go call everyone." Tony said sadly.
Ayala and Thor let out a chuckle and finally moved to call the others. After half an hour, Hawkeye – Clint Barton, White Tiger – Ava Ayala, Thor Odinson, Iron Patriot – James Rhodes, Iron Man – Tony Stark had assembled inside the Avengers tower.
Everyone was in their battle suits, and some made some light stretch to get ready for the upcoming battle.
"If the situation worsened, we may have to fight an entire super-powered army. Natasha will meet us there as she is already nearby." Tony explained the mission details to the rest of the team. Every single plan was laid out, and even the contingency measures were explained.
He wouldn't do so if it wasn't for the strict order from Ryan. Tony always has some trouble explaining himself, making the trust people have in him fluctuate. That's why Ryan had to take Tony to some self-help classes, and even convinced him to go to therapy.
Everytime Tony tried to object, Ryan would bring up the baby and Pepper, making him obedient. Not yet born, the little Morgana already has his father around her tiny little fingers.
"Where is Hulk?" Tony asked after ticking the attendance box. Kai and Ryan couldn't come as they were both preoccupied (A/N :Space battles) , and Steve was already there. Carol is Carol, and would arrive late in the battle.
"Just went to sleep. I don't want to be the one to wake him up." Ayala said and pushed out the duty to the others.
All of a sudden, the entirety of the team became tense. Uncomfortable silence appeared as every single one of them was checking out each other.
"So… who will go talk to him?" Hawkeye asked, breaking the silence.
"" NOT IT. "" All of them answered, except for the one who asked the question.
"Me again? COME ON!" Hawkeye said in exasperation.
…
As the Avengers were studying the battle plans, Zemo started his mass enhancement of the Sokovian army.
"What do you mean I need to wait!" Zemo shouted.
"Sir. The enhancement chamber couldn't afford enhancing a thousand people at the same time." One of Zemo's loyal subordinates said.
Being an instructor of the Sokovian army before, Zemo had cultivated thousands of loyal subordinates that would die if he asked them to. Those said subordinates were the ones picked by him to undergo the enhancement process.
After the success of the Maximoff twins, Strucker has high hopes for the experiments, not minding the 95% failure rate in the least. Even if they had a 5% of success, 50 superpowered soldiers could go against the rag tag team of the Avengers.
"Asked Strucker to place the twins in the front line." Zemo said coldly.
"He already predicted that you would say that, and he declined it. Even with the nanite bomb injection on their neck, the twins won't be obedient to the cause."
A robotic voice suddenly sounded from nearby Zemo's sitting place. An almost broken Iron Man helmet containing the AI of Arnim Zola had been brought into Zemo's care instead of Strucker as the latter didn't want to grant freedom toward the AI.
Zemo thought the same as Strucker, but he hooked up Zola to various technological equipment that was without the internet capabilities so Zola couldn't run away or betray them.
"I don't need them to be obedient. They only needed to buy some time. If they lost their life in the process, then that's too bad?" Zemo said and then he chuckled in derision.
ChenLu, the Radioactive man walked toward Zemo with his bare skin showing. Well, all of him was showing.
"My suit?" He asked.
"Techno already created it. The Masters of Evil will join the Maximoff Twins at the front line." Zemo said as he dragged out a beaten up Songbird in front of Chen Wu.
"Betray me, and none of you will survive." Zemo said coldly. He kept Songbird alive for now as she still has her uses. A sexy woman that looked a lot like Carol Danvers approached Zemo and flirtatiously ran her fingers on his chest.
"If we betray you, that means you're no longer worthy as a leader." Moonstone - Karla Sofen said. She then stepped in front of Songbird and helped her to stand. She glanced between ChenLu's crotch and thought, 'Too bad he is radioactive.'
"We're not your slaves Zemo." A man in a Beetle suit said curtly.
"Nah. You aren't my slaves. You're my team. And I am the leader. To work you like a slave is my job." Zemo said condescendingly. He sat at his throne and crossed his legs. "Besides. All of you. Owe. Me."
…
In the New York Sewer, Natasha and the turtles had arrived at the place where Mikey and Donny met with Ophelia – Madame Hydra.
Taking out a cylindrical scanner, Natasha started to trace Ophelia by the poison residue in the sewer line.
"That's…a molecular scanner? Agents have some nice assets." Donny muttered.
Mikey, Raphael and Leonardo were staring at Natasha's backside at the time, and agreed involuntarily, "Totally."
"She is close." Natasha said as they went deeper into the sewers.
'Why did she go to the Bleecker streets?'
She held some very important secrets as she was Ryan's confidant in the Avengers team. Any events that involved the 177A Bleecker Streets should be left alone unless the people there asked for the Avengers help.
The Ancient one didn't get out of the sanctum as she knew it wasn't necessary. But still, Wong and a few Masters of the Mystic arts had arrived at the sewer entrance and met with Skye.
"Greetings little one." Wong said. Skye was stunned, but then she realised it. "Do you know my dad?"
"I do. He has given all of the stubborn Masters of the Mystic art a checkup. Whether it's voluntarily or involuntarily." Wong said and he shuddered a bit after he remembered Kai's health checkup process.
Natasha quickened her steps as she couldn't let Ophelia get away based on a technicality. She needed to end the matter tonight as she felt responsible for it.
"You!" Ophelia widened her eyes as she saw Natasha.
Finally, Natasha and Ophelia saw each other and almost immediately, they attacked one another with the intent to kill.
Ryan connected with Kai as the battle began.
Ryan: Dude. Your wives are trying to kill one another.
Kai:...
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