Chapter 23: Trouble
'.....'=Thoughts
"....."= Conversations
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"It would've sounded a lot more convincing if you weren't sprouting out blood," Tony quipped with his signature sarcasm.
No, this fight felt a bit too easy. It was as if Ebony wasn't using his full strength while fighting. It seemed like he was just buying time...," suddenly James became alert as he sensed another presence materializing on top of the Helicarrier, seemingly out of thin air. The presence felt ominous, as if it existed and didn't exist simultaneously.
Ebony Maw's face contorted as he pondered over something unpleasant.
"Foolish humans, the purpose for which I have come has been accomplished, and now you shall experience the terror of what I have unleashed upon this planet," Ebony Maw declared, wasting no time as he swiftly flew out of the Helicarrier and disappeared into the endless blue sky.
As for the soldiers Ebony had brought along, they were swiftly neutralized even before the battle began. They didn't even have a chance to fight back.
The presence which James had sensed earlier disappeared too, in the direction where Ebony Maw had ran.
""What the fu*k is he plotting and why the hell did he just take off?" Tony complained.
"Language, Tony," Captain America says sternly. "From what he said, it seemed like he was just trying to buy himself some time. But I can't help but wonder, what was his endgame? What was his ultimate motive behind all this...,"
"Not good," Fury burst into the room, putting an abrupt end to whatever Steve was babbling about. "A damn portal's been opened smack dab in the middle of New York City, and all sorts of creepy crawlies are pouring out of it, leveling everything in sight. To make matters worse, Stark's tower seems to be the epicenter of this chaos. We've got the Helicarrier hauling ass towards Stark's Tower at top speed. "
Everyone looked at Tony who just sighed, "Not my fault."
"What's the deal with Client? Is he alright?" Tony brushed off the stares from everyone in the room and inquired.
"He's with Natasha, spillin' the beans 'bout what went down after the Tesseract got swiped," Fury retorted.
Regarding the soldiers Ebony brought along, one of those soldiers was Hawkeye. He had participated in an assault on the Helicarrier. Afterwards, the mesmerized soldiers were freed from their hypnotic state and interrogated, except for Hawkeye. He was kept in a separate chamber, supervised by Nick Fury. Natasha was entrusted with the task of interrogating him. Banner had feed them from this hypnotic state with the help of Loki's sceptre.
"What about Loki?" Thor asked.
"He's still sittin' tight in that damn circular prison, starin' daggers at anyone who comes near. And when I told him what had happened, he was Swearin' up a storm about how he got stabbed in the back and how he was the one meant to rule this whole damn planet," Fury scoffed.
"I think that Ebony had planned to take Loki with him, but he had no idea that we were this strong. So ultimately, he just reduced his goal to wasting time and abandoned Loki. Loki was used as cannon fodder," James said.
"Oh, brother," Thor lamented, speaking of Loki's fate, but he felt no pity for him.
"Looks like you need me after all," Bruce's voice rumbled as he and Natasha entered the room. He had a hint of a smile playing on his lips, knowing that Fury had already filled him in on the impending battle.
"The other guy's assistance will be essential in the impending battle, Bruce," Steve said with a confident smile.
"If that guy, Ebony, is waiting for us in New York, then Hulk could be played as a hidden card against him," James suggested.
"And what about me, boys? Don't you need my help?" Natasha smiled.
"The team would be incomplete without you Natasha. Also you are going to play a very important role in this fight," Steve smiled seemingly planning something.
"And I'll be in there scrappin' right alongside you," Clint Barton's voice rang out as he entered the room. "This is the least I can do after being one of the guys that helped open that damn portal in the first place."
"Oh, Clint, don't beat yourself up. If it wasn't for Loki, you wouldn't have done it in the first place," Natasha said, attempting to alleviate Clint's guilt.
Steve and Tony too assured Clint that he was not at fault at all.
"Stop it, guys. I know damn well that this is my fault. What if I had killed one of your family members while being hypnotized by Loki? Would you still be talking to me like this, trying to assure me? Who would explain to the people who were killed due to those aliens? 752 people died, even when Director Fury ordered the evacuation of Manhattan. Still, 752 people died, and even more people are dying now," Clint let out all his frustration.
Everyone went silent at Clint's retort, not knowing what to say.
Finally, James decided to step up. "Clint, this is our first meeting, I believe. I have no right to dictate your actions, but what I'm trying to convey is that the past is unalterable, regardless of your actions. Those 752 people who lost their lives will never return, no matter what you do. Rather than placing blame upon yourself and dwelling on their tragedy, focus your efforts on saving those people who are currently at risk."
Clint just looked at James with unfocused eyes, but didn't say anything.
"We have arrived," Fury declared as one of the agent informed him through the communicator.
The Helicarrier stopped a few buildings away from Stark's Tower, still in invisible mode to avoid alerting the enemies.
Apart from the Stark Tower, the surrounding buildings were almost in ruins, with people running and desperately seeking shelter. The state of Manhattan was much worse than portrayed in the movie.
"Quinjet is ready. Let's go" Natasha said, breaking the tension. Without any hesitation, everyone boarded the jet and it flew towards the Stark Tower.
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