Chapter 45: Obsession Part 1
The Skies Over Switzerland
The Quinjet cut through alpine clouds at supersonic speed. In the cockpit, Ant-Man watched the tracker and adjusted course.
In the cabin, Ben watched the Swiss Alps far below.
"We're closing on his last known position," Hank said, adjusting their heading. "Three minutes."
Steve studied the overlay. "Thor and Hulk are holding up at the mansion?"
"Yeah," Ben said. "In case this is a diversion. Can't leave New York empty."
"Smart," Steve said, leaning forward. "Basics. Who is Crimson Dynamo?"
"Ivan Vanko. He's a Russian national, brilliant engineer who created a suit of armor similar to Iron Man's... but bigger. A lot bigger. And with more weapons."
Steve's brow furrowed as he processed this. "The Soviets were our allies against Hydra... did things change that much since I was frozen?"
Hank grimaced. "Um, yes. A lot. It's... complicated."
Ben glanced at Steve sympathetically. "There was a Cold War with proxy fights, threats, and all that. I'll pull up a video when we get back."
Steve nodded once, filing it away.
"But Vanko isn't working for Russia," Hank continued, pulling up a holographic profile of the armored figure. "He's obsessed with destroying Iron Man. His armor is based on Tony's tech, reverse-engineered from stolen designs. And Tony, well..." He let out a dry chuckle. "Let's just say he's a little protective of his technology."
Ben chuckled. "A hero and villain with the same gimmick becoming arch enemies? Tale as old as time."
"Iron Man has been trying to take Vanko down ever since they first met… and he finally did."
The display showed past fights. Each time, Vanko escaped until Iron Man finally brought him down.
"Until the breakout," Steve said.
"Right," Hank said. "We're tracking everyone who got out of the four prisons, but this one is at the top of Tony's list." He adjusted his helmet and shrank a little. "Sometimes you forget who's obsessed with whom."
Steve looked down below. "You said Vanko had weapons?"
"Yeah. A lot. Why do you…" Hank caught what Steve was looking at. "Ah. Never mind."
Down below in the snow was a mess of explosions with a large red object in the middle.
Steve huffed. "If I had to guess… I'd say Iron Man's found the Crimson Dynamo."
Below
The sky ahead erupted.
Crimson Dynamo was a nine-foot slab of crimson and gold plating bristling with launchers.
Iron Man shot up from below the clouds, repulsors flaring as he closed on the crimson giant. Missiles streaked toward him, leaving white contrails.
"Contact!" Tony snapped over comms. "All units engage. This ends now!"
"On it," Wasp said, accelerating ahead.
Crimson Dynamo's twin crimson beams carved through the cloud layer.
"Evasive!" Hank shouted, banking hard.
The beams skimmed the Quinjet, heat rippling off the wing. Ben stumbled and caught the bulkhead.
"We need to get in close!" Steve called. "Hank, bring us alongside!"
"Working on it!" Hank said. "Ben, we need…"
Ben was already moving. He hit the hatch release. The rear door hissed open and wind slammed into the cabin. He sprinted and jumped.
The Omnitrix flashed green. His body stretched and thickened. Fur surged across his skin. His face pushed into a muzzle, ears sharpening. A green collar and wristbands formed, the Omnitrix symbol glowing at his throat.
"Blitzwolfer!"
He howled as he dropped toward the fight. Below, Dynamo tracked Iron Man with multiple arrays.
Wasp darted in, firing bio-electric bursts that splashed off heavy plating. "Too thick. We need a weak point!"
"I'm working on it!" Iron Man dove, then snapped upward, pulling Dynamo after him. The larger suit followed, slower on the turn.
Blitzwolfer twisted in freefall, then drew a deep breath and unleashed a sonic howl at the armored Russian.
The shockwave rattled panels and jittered sensors. Dynamo's flight wobbled, servos whining.
"Nice shot!" Tony banked and charged his gauntlets. Energy swelled into a glowing construct, shaped like a giant hand. "My turn."
The construct slammed into Dynamo and sent the heavy armor tumbling. Warnings lit Vanko's HUD.
"Stark!" Vanko roared through external speakers. "You think your toys can stop me? I will tear you from the sky!"
Weapon pods opened along Dynamo's arms. A dozen missiles launched, fanning out toward Iron Man, the Quinjet, and Wasp.
"Scatter!" Steve ordered.
Hank threw the Quinjet into a barrel roll as explosions punched holes in the clouds. Wasp shrank to insect size and threaded between blasts. Iron Man dumped chaff and flares.
Blitzwolfer had no cover. He curled tight as shrapnel hissed past. A fragment raked his shoulder. Green blood welled, and he snarled, still falling.
Dynamo recovered below, rolling into position for another barrage.
Not today.
Blitzwolfer kicked out, caught a passing missile, and redirected it with a brutal strike. The warhead spiraled back and detonated against Dynamo's chest in a bloom of fire and smoke.
"Pour it on, Avengers!" Iron Man dove from above. "Hit him with everything you've got! Put him down!"
Twin repulsor beams hammered Dynamo through the smoke. The armored giant reeled but stayed airborne, thrusters roaring as he fought to stabilize.
Tony surged after him. Energy pooled around one gauntlet, tightening into a crackling sphere, and he drove it into Dynamo's chest plate like a battering ram.
KRAAANG!
The armored giant lurched, servos screaming as gyros fought to steady him. Crimson plating buckled and split with hairline fractures, but Vanko forced the suit upright.
"You are a coward, Iron Man! Do you hear me? A coward!"
His voice boomed through the external speakers, rough with distortion.
"You ran during the breakout because you knew I would destroy you. Now you hide behind others!"
Tony snapped left as Dynamo's arm cannon tracked him. A red beam slashed past, turning drifting moisture into steam.
"Yeah, Ivan. I've heard it." Tony kept his eyes on the targeting reticle that refused to hold steady. "Workshop a new speech."
His HUD flashed warnings. Sensors were dropping out. Target lock kept slipping.
Still falling from above, Blitzwolfer twisted through the air to keep Dynamo in sight. "He's really got it out for you."
"Then shut him up, Ben."
"With pleasure."
Blitzwolfer tucked himself tight and angled into Dynamo's path. As the armored giant rose beneath him, Ben twisted and slammed onto his shoulder, claws carving across the plating.
Metal shrieked. Plates peeled back, exposing wiring and actuators.
Blitzwolfer scrambled onto Dynamo's broad back and dug his claws into the seams as the suit bucked beneath him. Then he opened his jaws.
The sonic howl hit point-blank.
KRA-KOOOOM!
Dynamo jerked as if punched. Alarms wailed inside the helmet. Stabilizers stuttered. Audio cut. Targeting spasmed into static.
Vanko pitched hard, trying to throw him off. "Get off me, you mangy...!"
Wasp streaked in from his blind side, a gold slash against the sky. She fired quick bio-electric bursts.
ZAP. ZAP. ZAP.
They scorched the red plating and left black pits without punching deep. She kept moving, tight loops around the helmet.
"So," Wasp said, sweet as sugar, "you built a big red suit and picked a fight with Tony Stark. That the whole plan?"
Dynamo's hand snapped up. Too fast for something that heavy.
His gauntlet closed around her.
"AAAH!"
Her wings buzzed against steel. Vanko's voice dropped into something calm and ugly.
"Not a copy," he said. "Better."
Power surged through his grip. Blue-white arcs crawled over her body. Her scream cut straight through the comms.
"JANET!" Tony punched his repulsors, closing the distance.
Dynamo's chest reactor flared crimson, swelling to a blinding glow. Twin beams tore out in a wide, brutal sweep and caught Iron Man and Blitzwolfer midair.
KA-THOOM!
Tony spun end over end, HUD exploding with red. Armor temperature spiked. Blitzwolfer was hurled clear, fur smoking as he fought the wind.
Iron Man righted himself with a hard burst, stabilizers whining. Altitude alarms screamed.
"Damn it," Tony hissed, hauling up.
Dynamo rotated, weapon systems cycling. "You see? This is power. Not your pathetic..."
Above, the Quinjet's rear hatch opened again.
Captain America was ready with his shield, and he jumped. Steve kept his eyes on Dynamo as he fell. The armored figure rushed closer, and Steve drew the shield tight before driving it forward like a spear.
CLANG!
Vibranium struck the helmet with a bell-like ring that rolled across the mountains. Vanko's head snapped back. His grip spasmed.
"Back off, comrade!" he barked, more reflex than confidence.
His fingers opened.
Wasp slipped free and vanished to insect size, zipping away in a shaky line, charge still crackling off her.
Steve landed hard on Dynamo's back and caught himself against the damaged shoulder plating. He wedged the shield into the torn joint and wrenched.
Sparks burst from the joint as metal groaned and hydraulic fluid sprayed across Dynamo's back.
Dynamo thrashed, trying to spin him off. "Get off! Get OFF!"
"Not a chance." Steve dug in, driving the shield deeper with every heave.
The suit's thrusters stuttered and flared unevenly, turning the air into a blur of snow and sky.
Tony steadied, then lined up the damaged joint. "My turn."
A tight repulsor beam punched into the gap Steve had opened. The weakened armor gave, and internal circuits erupted in a shower of sparks.
Below them, Blitzwolfer hit the mountainside, dug his claws into the snow, and launched himself from the slope as Dynamo dipped within reach. He slammed into the armored giant's legs and raked across the joints where the plates met. Hydraulics burst.
From the Quinjet, Giant-Man dropped and expanded as he fell. By the time he reached Dynamo, he towered over him. A massive hand clamped around Dynamo's arm and yanked it.
"NYET!" Vanko roared.
Wasp returned, full size and furious. She aimed for exposed wires and open panels and did not miss.
ZAP. ZAP. ZAP. ZAP.
Each hit chained into another failure. The suit's movements slowed.
Dynamo's thrusters coughed once, twice, and went dark.
The armor dropped.
Steve rode it down until the last instant, then kicked free. Dynamo hit the mountainside and tore a trench through snow and stone before slamming into a granite outcrop.
Snow slid in sheets.
The Avengers touched down around the crater.
Iron Man landed first, repulsors trained on Dynamo's cracked faceplate. "Stay down, Vanko."
The helmet turned a fraction, servos grinding. Steam hissed from split coolant lines. Behind the fractured visor, Vanko's eyes still burned.
"It's over. You're done." Tony's voice was cold. "You steal my tech, this is what happens. You're going away for a long time."
"Tony…" Ant-Man shrank back to normal size, concern in his voice.
"He needs to know, Hank. They all need to know. My armor will not be used to-"
Blitzwolfer's ears swiveled, picking up the crunch of boots on snow and the scent of multiple individuals.
"Iron Man…" Steve's tone sharpened, his gaze fixed on something above.
Wasp flew closer, positioning herself between Tony and the ridge. "Tony, just turn around!"
Blitzwolfer narrowed his eyes. "We have visitors."
#
Four figures stood on the ridge above.
The leader wore a fitted blue combat uniform with yellow boots, gloves, and belt. A bold hammer-and-sickle emblem dominated his chest. A short black mask covered his eyes. He held a heavy utilitarian hammer in one hand.
Behind him stood a figure in pale green-gray armor with broad shoulders, oversized fists, and visible seams between the heavy plates.
Beside the armored giant was an enormous brown bear, thick with dark fur and built with heavy shoulders and powerful limbs.
The woman at the edge wore a sleek black bodysuit with gold accents and a stylized star emblem on her chest. Long blonde hair contrasted sharply with the dark uniform. Purple-black energy crackled faintly around one hand.
The man in blue stepped forward. "The Winter Guard has come for the Crimson Dynamo!"
Iron Man's repulsors stayed locked on the downed armor. "…Oh."
Well, they hadn't attacked yet. Maybe they were friendly. Blitzwolfer raised a clawed hand and waved cautiously. "Hi."
The leader's expression didn't change. "I recommend you do not stand in our way."
Tony's HUD tracked each of them. "Who are you? If you're working with Dynamo…"
"We are not, Iron Man. I am called Vanguard. And my team and I are servants of the Russian Federation." He gestured to each in turn. "Titanium Man. Ursa Major. Darkstar."
Blitzwolfer's ears perked. "Oh, you guys are official. Didn't know Russia had its own hero team."
Wasp hovered closer to Tony. "They've got a bear. That's freaky."
Blitzwolfer gave her an incredulous look. "Says the girl on the same team as a talking werewolf."
She opened her mouth. Closed it. "…Fair."
Blitzwolfer padded forward, claws crunching in the snow. Captain America matched his pace, shield lowered but ready.
Steve stopped a few yards from Vanguard. "We're not looking for a fight. Just want to understand the situation."
Vanguard's eyes widened slightly. He straightened. "Captain America."
Steve nodded once.
"It is an honor." Vanguard's tone softened. "I have heard many tales. The first Red Guardian spoke of you often. He fought beside you against the Germans."
Steve's expression flickered at a memory surfacing. A bunker with the Red Skull's insignia. Patriot on his left. Spirit of '76 covering the flank. And a man in red and white, hammer in hand, breaking through steel doors.
"I remember him," Steve said quietly. "A good man."
"His successor, the second Red Guardian, is back in Russia, dealing with other matters."
Vanguard inclined his head respectfully.
Blitzwolfer stepped in front of Vanguard, Ursa Major, and Darkstar. The Omnitrix chimed softly in his ear. Alert: Mutant Signatures Detected. Blitzwolfer grinned. "Hey. Nice to meet ya."
Vanguard gave a simple nod. The bear let out a low rumble that could have been a greeting. Darkstar's expression loosened a notch.
"Nice to meet you as well," she greeted.
Blitzwolfer cocked his head. "Would you believe me if I said I know a blonde guy named Darkstar?"
Darkstar arched a brow. "Do you? What's he like?"
"Magic user. Power-hungry at first. Big ego. Community service knocked some sense into him."
Darkstar blinked, caught between confusion and curiosity. "Well, I'm still learning what I have, but I wouldn't call it magic."
"Makes sense." Blitzwolfer shrugged. "Still, kinda wild seeing mutants on a Russian superhero team."
The trio shared a look.
Steve stiffened. His eyes moved between them. "Wait. Mutants? You mean…"
"Talking bears are not normal in this era either, Captain," Ursa Major said. "Even now."
Steve worked his jaw, then let it go. "The future gets weirder every day."
Wasp drifted closer, wary but curious. "So you can just turn into a bear? Or are you always…"
"I am Ursa Major with or without my inner animal," he said. "I live with it."
Blitzwolfer cleared his throat. "Back home, it's rough for mutants. We're still fighting that." He looked at Darkstar. "How is it here? They treat you right?"
Ursa Major shifted. Vanguard's expression tightened. Darkstar let out a slow breath.
"Better than it was," she said. "There was a time when Russian mutants were considered a threat. If discovered, we could be killed."
Blitzwolfer's expression fell. "Oh. God."
"My brother and I hid what we were for years," Darkstar continued. "Many did. But children cannot always control their powers when they first appear."
"I was young when I first changed," Ursa Major said. "My village did not take it well."
"Geez," Blitzwolfer muttered.
"One professor convinced the government to let him train us instead," Darkstar said. "It gave us an alternative to execution or exile."
Steve's expression dimmed. "Training kids to become agents. That's…"
"Better than a bullet," Ursa Major said.
"Yeah." Blitzwolfer didn't look convinced. "Better than dying, I guess."
Darkstar looked away. "There were not many other options."
"The Winter Guard was my second chance," Ursa Major said. "For some of us, it was the only one."
Steve exhaled. "I'm sorry that's the hand you were dealt."
"It is not your fault," Darkstar said.
"Doesn't make it okay," Blitzwolfer replied.
Darkstar studied them for a moment. "You both care about mutants."
Steve and Ben shared a look.
"We're both close to mutants," Blitzwolfer said, "but it's bigger than that. Mutant, alien, human? It doesn't matter. Nobody should be hunted just for existing."
Ursa Major gave a thoughtful rumble. Darkstar nodded.
"There are protections now," she said. "Limited ones. Mostly because we have proven useful."
"Yeah," Blitzwolfer said. "That tracks."
"It is still more than we had before."
"Fair." Blitzwolfer nodded. "Slow is still forward."
Iron Man stepped forward, repulsors still glowing faintly. "What do you want with Dynamo?"
Vanguard's expression hardened. "He has committed crimes against the Russian people. We are here to see he faces justice." He paused briefly. "Our justice."
Steve folded his arms, shield resting against his back. "Vanko seems like a popular man."
Hank moved between Tony and Vanguard, hands raised. "Tony, this could solve our immediate problem. We don't have anywhere secure to put Dynamo. We can't trust S.H.I.E.L.D. to hold him, and the containment structure we're building still isn't ready…"
"What?" Tony turned sharply. "I'm not turning Dynamo over to these guys."
"Iron Man…" Steve started.
"Vanko stole from me, Cap. He built that armor from my work and used it to hurt people. We're taking him."
Blitzwolfer's ears swiveled. Hank winced.
"No one's saying what he did was okay," Hank said carefully. "But that doesn't mean we get to decide what happens to him."
Tony's helmet snapped toward him. "He's a wanted international fugitive. We have every reason to take him in."
"Yeah, in Switzerland," Blitzwolfer said. "That's kind of the problem."
Tony's fists clenched.
Hank continued before Tony could answer. "Vanko's Russian. His crimes cross multiple countries. Yes, we stopped him. Arresting him and deciding where he gets imprisoned is something else. We aren't the law."
"So what?" Tony said. "We just hand him over?"
"I'm saying we don't have the authority to drag him back to the United States because you have a personal claim against him."
Tony stepped closer. "Personal claim? He stole my technology."
"And that matters," Hank said. "But it doesn't give the Avengers jurisdiction."
Blitzwolfer tilted his head toward Vanguard. "Especially if they actually have permission to be here and we don't."
Vanguard's voice cut through. "We are not asking, Iron Man. This is going to happen."
Tony's helmet turned toward him, HUD locking on.
"The Winter Guard is here with the permission of the Swiss government. Are you?" Vanguard's tone hardened. "By what authority do you take Ivan Vanko?"
Blitzwolfer's ears flattened. "The Swiss, really? Must be serious if they're involved." He looked back at Tony. "And even if we did take him, where are we putting him? The Vault isn't ready, S.H.I.E.L.D. is out, and I'm pretty sure this is the part where lawyers get involved."
Hank nodded. "Normally, U.S., Swiss, and Russian officials would sort out extradition or detention. This is an international incident, Tony. Not just an Avengers operation."
Wasp flew closer, arms crossed. "I don't really care which prison he ends up in. I just want him locked up."
Steve nodded. "Agreed. Dynamo needs to face justice. Where and how that happens isn't our call."
"Exactly," Wasp said. "We stopped him. Let the governments handle the rest."
Tony stared at her, then at Steve, Hank, and Ben.
His HUD flickered with telemetry from Dynamo's downed armor.
Vanguard watched him carefully. "We understand your concern, Iron Man. Vanko is a Russian national, and many of his crimes began in Russia. We are here with Swiss authorization to take him into custody."
Titanium Man's heavy footsteps crunched through the snow as he advanced toward Dynamo's downed armor. His yellow visor remained fixed on the Avengers.
"Step away from the Dynamo, Avenger. We do not wish for a problem."
Tony's arc reactor flared brighter. His repulsors charged.
"You don't wish for a problem? Well, guess what…"
Twin beams lanced out.
Vanguard moved. His hammer swept up, energy flaring along its edge. The repulsor blast deflected into the mountainside, blasting snow and rock into the air.
"…You got one!!"
"Iron Man?!" Hank shouted.
Blitzwolfer stared at Iron Man. "What the hell, man?!"
#
Patreon.com/Firestorm808
Get access to early previews of upcoming chapters.
Like my work? Please consider supporting me, so I can keep writing as often as possible. Even a little means a lot and helps me dedicate more time and resources to my work.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did, please follow or review/comment. See you guys in the next chapter.
Discord Server: discord.com/invite/2uP8ka2