Chapter 130Avengers
Arc 8 - Ch 22: Monologue
Saturday, May 05, 2012.
Location: Stark Tower, Midtown Manhattan, New York
Tyson streaked through the sky faster than he ever had before. The closest comparison was the Marvel-1 launch into orbit, but this was different. Then, his target had been outer space; all he needed to do was go up. Now he was trying to reach a single building in a skyline full of buildings, traveling more than a mile every second. The air around him superheated into plasma, trailing behind him like a comet's tail.
His electromagnetic field interacted with Earth's magnetosphere, creating a tunnel of ionized particles that guided his trajectory. His consciousness expanded to encompass the invisible lines of force crisscrossing the planet, highways of pure energy.
Buildings blurred beneath him into smears of concrete and glass. The Hudson River flashed by, its surface rippling as the pressure wave disturbed the water. Birds scattered, their primitive senses overwhelmed by the electromagnetic disturbance. Weather patterns shifted subtly; microscopic water droplets in clouds aligned with his magnetic field, creating a visible distortion in the atmosphere.
The pressure against his body was immense, but the adamantium reinforcement of his skeleton prevented compression damage. His magnetic shield held back the superheated air from his lungs, and his regeneration healed the rest.
He overtook Tony quickly. The Iron Man suit couldn't match the pure speed of electromagnetic propulsion. Tyson streaked past the southern tip of Manhattan, banking sharply in a maneuver that would have torn a conventional aircraft apart, then slowed to hover outside Stark Tower. The sudden deceleration created a vacuum that collapsed with a thunderous boom, shattering several windows in nearby buildings.
More importantly, it announced his arrival.
His body adjusted to the abrupt transition from supersonic speed to stationary hovering. The air around him still crackled with residual energy, small arcs of electricity dancing across his skin as the excess charge dissipated. His heart hammered. Adrenaline flooded his system. The rush sang through every nerve ending, pure and electric and alive. A wild grin spread across his face. His hair stood on end from the electromagnetic field, giving him a manic appearance that matched the exhilaration coursing through him.
Tony caught up moments later, repulsors flaring as he decelerated.
"That was a fucking rush." Tyson's voice came out breathless.
"Mach 7, not bad," Tony replied through his helmet. "JARVIS clocked you at just over 5,400 miles per hour. You might want to work on your braking distance, though."
Below them, Dr. Selvig fiddled with a laptop in front of a complex device that hummed with ominous energy. The Tesseract floated and spun inside a containment field. The scientist appeared oblivious to their presence, his eyes glazed with the same unnatural blue that marked Loki's influence.
Iron Man raised his arms, repulsors glowing. "Let's see if we can shut this down before it gets started."
He fired.
The twin beams streaked toward the Tesseract device, then hit an invisible barrier that flared into visibility. With a deafening crack that echoed between skyscrapers, the energy returned to Tony, amplified. The backlash sent Iron Man tumbling backward, systems momentarily overloaded.
Selvig fell from the concussive force, his laptop skittering across the rooftop. The scientist lay motionless, a trickle of blood running from his nose. The device continued its ominous humming, unaffected.
On the streets below, citizens looked up at the commotion near the top of Stark Tower. Traffic slowed as drivers craned their necks. Pedestrians pointed skyward as they spotted the two heroes, some already recording with their phones, others seeking shelter in doorways.
Tony stabilized himself, hovering beside Tyson once more.
"JARVIS, analysis."
"The barrier is pure energy, sir. It's unbreachable. And before you ask, the Mark VII is not ready to be deployed."
"Skip the spinning rims. We're on the clock." Tony's current suit hadn't taken much damage, but the Mark VII was far more combat-capable.
"Alright, kid," Tony said, already plotting his next move, "I need a little time to change outfits. You might get your monologue yet."
"Hell yeah. New plan. You know if the others complain, I'm blaming you, right? And this suit has the adamantium coating. You're going with offense over defense?"
"We'll need it if you're right about what's coming. Can't you just snap your fingers and move the coating to the new suit?"
"Sure can. Gladly will since you're setting the pick so I can take my shot."
Tony descended toward the landing pad. He landed, metal boots clanking against the pad.
Unlike his usual routine, Tony bypassed the disassembly sequence, keeping his Mark VI armor fully engaged. The suit had sustained minimal damage from the energy backlash, and with the impending threat, he needed to remain combat-ready. The walkway carried him inside. Tyson followed close behind, scanning the luxurious space.
Inside the penthouse, Loki stood waiting with a triumphant smile. He held the scepter in his hand, his Asgardian leather and metal armor imposing and regal.
"Please tell me you're going to appeal to my humanity."
Tony descended the steps, maintaining an air of nonchalance. "Uh... actually, I'm planning to threaten you."
"Your armor won't help you."
Tony gestured toward the scepter. "It's handled worse than you and your glow stick of destiny. Would you like a drink?"
Loki paced slowly, his movements fluid and predatory. "Stalling me won't change anything."
Tyson's attention shifted to the interior of the penthouse, and his eyes narrowed.
The Hulk stood inside, unnaturally still. His massive green form dwarfed the furniture around him. He watched with a critical eye so unlike what Tyson expected from him that it sent ice down his spine. Beside him stood a woman in gold and silver armor, wielding a long sword. She was gorgeous, her fierce eyes locked onto him, particularly noting the sword attached to his back.
This must be the Angel everyone kept mentioning.
"No, no, no! Not stalling. Threatening." Tony moved behind the bar. His faceplate raised. "No drink? You sure? I'm having one."
"I'm just going to take a bottle." Tyson reached over and grabbed the nearest alcohol without looking at the label, unwilling to take his eyes off the scene before him.
Loki turned to face the windows, gazing out at the Manhattan skyline with satisfaction. "The Chitauri are coming. Nothing will change that. What have I to fear?"
Tony poured himself a generous measure of scotch. "The Avengers. It's what we call ourselves. Sort of like a team. Earth's Mightiest Heroes type of thing."
"Yes, I've met them."
"Yeah, it takes us a while to get any traction, I'll give you that one. But let's do a head count here. Your brother, the demigod—"
Angela pointed her sword toward the ceiling in a mocking gesture. She jumped up through the roof and tossed an unconscious Thor through the hole she made before landing back where she started. She tossed the God of Thunder far too casually. "He was as strong as expected, but he lost his hammer in our battle. Without it, he proved to be the lesser fighter."
Tony continued undeterred. "A super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend—"
"A Hulk?" Loki interrupted, gesturing toward the docile green giant. "Oh, he's on my team now. We don't have a name, though. Maybe something one word to match yours. Cabal?"
"A couple of master assassins," Tony continued, "an old man with an unbreakable skeleton and wicked set of claws... and—"
"And me." Tyson held up his bottle in a mock toast.
Loki laughed mockingly, the sound echoing through the penthouse. "You? You who failed to stop me on Asgard. You who claimed to be a defender of this realm and have yet to defend it? You who claim illusions are your purview, yet I defeated you with illusions. Still a mortal playing at being a god."
"Much has changed since then, god of mischief." Tyson snorted, the bottle still in his hand. "I'd be wary if I were you. My godly portfolio is more impressive than yours. And I've grown much since our last fight. It's one of the perks of being mortal. While a year for you is the blink of an eye, for me, it's a long time to grow."
Tony set his glass down with a decisive clink. "Like I was saying, big fella, you've managed to piss off every single one of them."
"That was the plan."
Tyson took a long swig from the bottle, the amber liquid burning pleasantly down his throat. It was good scotch. Tony wouldn't stock anything less. But he barely registered the taste. His focus remained on Loki, on the Hulk's unnatural stillness, on the warrior woman whose eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Well, it worked. I'd love to listen to your villainous monologue, but I think it's about time we had our rematch. I've been itching to pay you back, and now it's time."
He placed the bottle on a nearby table, the glass making a soft clink against the polished surface.
Loki smiled, the expression never reaching his cold eyes. "Sorry, Valravn, but I promised the lady glorious battle. I'm afraid she'll be your opponent this time."
She stepped forward. "I am Angela. I have waited long to test myself against the enemies of Heven. I look forward to fighting you, the mortal who claims the title of Valravn."
"Angela," Tyson repeated. "The angel who was cast out of heaven."
A flash of anger crossed Angela's face. Her grip tightened on her sword. "I was not cast out."
"And what does the good doctor think of all this?" Tyson nodded toward the Hulk.
"Dr. Banner has taken a back seat," came a voice from behind the Hulk. Samuel Sterns stepped into view, his enlarged cranium making him instantly recognizable. "His alter ego is far more useful when properly directed."
Tony's expression darkened. "You know, I always thought the whole 'mind control' thing was a bit of a cliché. Very Saturday morning cartoon villain."
"Yet effective," Loki countered. "Humans are so easily led. Their minds bend with just the slightest pressure." He turned to Angela. "You may have your battle now. Show our newest wannabe god how his divinity's lacking."
Angela's lips curved into a predatory smile. "With pleasure." She raised her sword. "I have heard tales of your prowess from the agents of Midgard. Let us see if they are mere exaggerations." She took a step toward Tyson. "Draw your weapon, Valravn. Let us see what caught Odin's eye."
Tyson reached back, his hand closing around the hilt of his sword. The familiar weight settled into his palm, solid and reassuring. He drew the blade in one smooth motion, soundlessly as it stuck to his back with only his magnetism.
"Just so we're clear," he said, meeting Angela's gaze steadily, "Odin mandated I make sure Loki makes it back to Asgard. He didn't say anything about you."
Angela's laugh was cold and sharp as the edge of her blade. "If you survive me, you will be in no condition to challenge Loki."
Loki stepped back, giving them space. The Hulk remained motionless, awaiting commands from Sterns.
Tony remained behind the bar, trying to appear casual, sipping, calculating his moment.
Angela raised her sword in a formal salute. "Prepare yourself, mortal. This will be a battle worthy of the sagas."
Tyson bowed in respect as he did when he sparred at Chikara Dojo. "I'm counting on it."
They faced each other, weapons drawn. Tony watched from the sidelines. Something about Tyson's demeanor seemed off. The young man who had just flown at Mach 7 to confront Loki was now preparing for a sword fight with Angela instead, and not using or revealing his considerable powers.
"Couldn't you just... You know, power through this one?" Tony edged closer to Tyson, keeping his voice low enough that only the younger man could hear.
Tyson turned slightly. "I could." His emphasis on certain words was deliberate, pointed. "But you're the SMARTEST Avenger. Cap is the best LEADER and has the biggest heart. But I'm the STRONGEST."
He looked back and winked. "If you get my drift. We all have our roles to play." He adjusted his grip on the sword. "Oh, and if you can toss me another earpiece at some point, that would be appreciated. I fried mine when I went all Maglev."
Tony thought about what Tyson said, and the words he emphasized. Smartest. Strongest. Looking at the foes arrayed against them: Loki, Hulk, Sterns, and Angela.
Tony could only assume that Tyson meant he could handle Hulk and Angela, but that Sterns would need someone smart to deal with. Or perhaps Tony would need to outthink their enemies. Maybe it had to do with the earpiece, communication, or somehow finding a way to block whatever Sterns was doing to control the Hulk. That made sense. But Tony wasn't sure of anything.
What he did know was that the kid was stalling. Tyson could tear apart that woman's sword and dice her up with it if he wanted. But he hadn't, and he looked ready to have a duel.
"Enough whispering," Angela called out. "Face me with honor, Valravn, or admit your cowardice."
Tyson stepped forward, his sword held at the ready. "Just preparing myself. I'd hate to disappoint you with anything less than my best."
Loki circled around them. "This should be entertaining."
Tony backed away further. The Mark VII was almost ready. He just needed a little more time.
"Tell me, Angela," Tyson said, beginning to circle his opponent, "what did Loki promise you? Revenge against Asgard? A chance to prove yourself? Or just the thrill of battle?"
Angela matched his movements, her footwork precise. "I need no promises to fight for what is mine by right. And I am not beholden to Loki. I came to this planet at the behest of the Titan."
"The Titan?" Genuine curiosity momentarily overrode Tyson's combat focus. "I've heard whispers of the Mad Titan."
Loki's expression darkened. A flash of fear crossed his features before settling back into practiced arrogance. He stepped forward, interrupting with a sharp gesture. "I thought you were a warrior, Angela. Leave the talking to me."
She responded not with words, but by making a lightning-fast probing strike against Tyson.
He sensed her movement through both his metal sense and his spider-sense, the latter sending electric tingles down his spine a split second before her attack. He parried with a quick upward motion of his blade. The clash of metal against metal rang through the penthouse. The impact traveled up his arm, and he noted her speed and strength. Even with his absorbed strength from Kaine and Sabertooth, he knew Angela was stronger yet.
Tony watched from near the window. The mention of a "Titan" had caught his attention, too. Another player they hadn't accounted for. He ran diagnostics on his new, undeployed armor's systems, ensuring everything was at optimal performance for the coming battle.
Angela pressed her advantage, launching into a series of strikes. Tyson fought defensively through her first few attacks, still probing for information while assessing her fighting style. Her technique was flawless, each movement flowing into the next with practiced ease.
"You fight well," Angela said, a hint of surprise in her voice as Tyson blocked another powerful thrust. "For a mortal."
Tyson sidestepped a downward slash, using the momentum to create space between them. "And you fight well for someone who's been lied to." His eyes flicked briefly toward Loki. "And not a mortal, not anymore."
Angela's next attack came with increased ferocity, forcing Tyson to give ground. The furniture in Tony's penthouse became obstacles as they maneuvered around the space. A glass coffee table shattered under the force of Angela's blade as Tyson dodged, the fragments scattering across the polished floor.
"I know the truth of my existence," Angela declared, advancing relentlessly. "More than you know of yours, Valravn."
Tyson parried a thrust aimed at his chest, the blades sliding against each other with a metallic screech. "And what truth is that?"
Loki watched with growing impatience. "Enough talk. Finish him, Angela. We have a world to conquer."
"Perhaps we should expedite matters." Sterns gestured. The Hulk stirred next to him.
Tony caught the movement and understood immediately what Tyson had been trying to tell him. The device on Sterns' head was the key to his control over Hulk. If they could disrupt it...
Angela's next attack drove Tyson back several steps, her sword a silver arc that nearly found its mark. "You are skilled, but you lack the centuries of training that I possess."
Tyson blocked another strike, the impact jarring his arms. He was beginning to understand her patterns now, the subtle tells before each attack. "You're right. I have only a year of training under a master within this city, and another year of self-study."
Angela's eyebrows rose slightly. Her sword momentarily paused. "I understand what Odin sees in you, then. You're a prodigy to be so good after only a year of instruction."
Tyson shook his head. "Actually, my sensei says I'm not talented, just stubborn."
Angela laughed genuinely for the first time. The sound was unexpected, almost musical. The laughter didn't affect her fighting. If anything, her attacks came faster and from more difficult angles to block. Her blade became a silver blur as she pressed her advantage, forcing Tyson to rely more on instinct and spider-sense than technique.
"Stubborn is good." Her sword whistled through the air inches from Tyson's face as he barely dodged in time. "Stubborn keeps you alive when skill fails."
Tony had backed himself against the far wall, drying to phase into the background. The Hulk's unnaturally still form watched the combatants, but his body remained motionless, awaiting commands from Sterns.
"JARVIS," Tony mumbled under his breath, his lips barely moving. "Scan all frequencies. Find the signal being put out from that headband."
There was a brief pause before JARVIS responded through the tiny earpiece. "No electromagnetic signals detected, sir. The device appears to be self-contained or operating on a principle outside standard communication protocols."
Tony frowned. "If it was EM, Tyson would block it himself." His mind raced through possibilities. Not a signal to jam, but a neural link. That complicated matters.
On the other side of the room, Tyson and Angela continued their duel. He had adapted to her style now, anticipating her attacks with increasing accuracy. He no longer merely defended but began to launch counterattacks of his own, testing her defenses.
"You learn quickly." Angela blocked a thrust aimed at her shoulder.
Tyson spun away from a sweeping cut, using the momentum to launch his own attack. Their blades met with a resounding clash, the impact sending vibrations through the floor.
Loki stepped forward. "Enough of this spectacle. Angela, end this now. We have a schedule to keep."
Angela redoubled her efforts, her attacks becoming even more ferocious. "He speaks true about one thing," she said to Tyson as their blades locked. "This must end."
Tyson felt the increased pressure as Angela put her full strength behind her sword. Even with his enhanced strength, he found himself being forced backward. He was forced to bolster his strength with his magnetism, using it to reinforce his skeleton.
"Why?" he asked through gritted teeth. "Why help him? Why help the Titan?"
Something flickered in Angela's eyes. Doubt, perhaps, or a memory. "I serve no one. I fight for what is rightfully mine."
"And what is that?" Tyson pressed, sensing a vulnerability.
Before Angela could respond, Loki intervened. "Dr. Sterns, I believe it's time for your contribution."
Sterns nodded.
The Hulk stirred, taking a lumbering step forward. He lunged at Tyson, but the movement lacked his usual ferocity, betraying the disconnect between the creature's instincts and the mind controlling it. Tyson sidestepped easily and swung with his sword, slicing deep into the Hulk's wrist. Green blood welled from the wound.
Sterns cried out in pain, clutching his own wrist as if he'd been cut.
"You've gotta be kidding. Really, Sterns? You're controlling him directly? What a waste. You don't even know how to fight." Tyson mocked, quickly assessing what had just happened.
"Your assessment betrays your ignorance of neural synchronization technology." Sterns' voice was strained but haughty. "The direct neural interface allows for complete motor control without external transmission signals that could be jammed. The pain feedback loop is merely an unfortunate side effect of complete bilateral neural integration."
"Sounds fancy. Shame it makes you both vulnerable."
Angela stepped between Tyson and the Hulk, her sword raised. "Stay away from him. This is my battle."
The Hulk halted, swaying slightly as Sterns regained his composure. Blood continued to drip from the wound on his wrist, but the cut was already beginning to close.
Angela renewed her attack. Despite the intensity of their duel, Tyson kept up a steady stream of banter.
"You know, Sterns, I think I remember something about your control mechanism." He ducked under Angela's sword and launched a counterattack that she barely blocked. "The bilateral neural integration is clever, but have you considered a trinary system? A buffer consciousness to mediate between your mind and Banner's?"
Sterns frowned, intrigued despite himself. "A buffer consciousness?"
"Sure. You could create a virtual neural construct, a sort of AI middleman that would translate your commands without the direct feedback loop. More nuanced control without the pain transfer."
Loki stepped forward. "Do not listen to his prattle. He seeks only to distract you."
"Of course he does," Sterns replied. "But the concept is not without merit. A quantum neural buffer could potentially—"
Tony had been working feverishly, communicating with JARVIS through his helmet's internal systems. "JARVIS, we need to disrupt that neural link. What about a localized—"
"Sir, we don't have any methodology that would block the signal. The neural link appears to be operating on principles beyond our current understanding."
"Don't give up on me so easily, buddy." Tony's mind raced as he ran calculations on his HUD. "What about a focused sonic pulse? Something to disrupt Sterns' concentration?"
Sterns laughed loudly enough to draw everyone's attention. "Nice try, Mr. Stark. Unfortunately for you, SHIELD breached your defenses days ago, and Fury told me all about your systems before he turned." He raised his voice. "JARVIS, please deploy the Mark VII to me."
Sterns pulled up his sleeves, revealing bands with Stark tech signatures.
"JARVIS, override—"
"I'm afraid I cannot comply with that request, sir. There appears to be a conflict in my programming."
Across the room, a panel in the wall slid open, revealing the sleek form of the Mark VII suit. But instead of flying toward Tony, it remained in place, awaiting commands.
"Impressive security system you have, Stark, but predictable. Your AI's network architecture has several exploitable vulnerabilities that I identified within minutes of accessing."
The duel between Tyson and Angela continued. Her lips curved into a slight smile. "Perhaps we are not so different, you and I."
"Maybe not. Which makes me wonder why you're fighting on the wrong side."
Before Angela could respond, Loki intervened. "Enough of this. Dr. Sterns, have the beast deal with Stark. Angela, finish the Valravn. We have a world to conquer, and time grows short."
Sterns nodded. The Hulk turned toward Tony.
Everything stopped.
A brilliant blue beam of energy shot skyward from Stark Tower, piercing through the afternoon clouds like a lance of pure light. The combatants paused, drawn to the spectacle unfolding above Manhattan. The beam reached its apex and expanded outward, tearing a hole in the fabric of reality itself. The vortex yawned wide against the backdrop of clouds, revealing the cold darkness of deep space beyond. Strange constellations glittered beyond the gateway in patterns never seen on Earth. Through this window into another part of the cosmos, the Chitauri army emerged.
They poured through the portal in waves, their bio-mechanical flying chariots screaming through the air. The alien warriors rode these curved vessels in pairs and trios. Their bodies were a disturbing fusion of flesh and technology, with masks grafted directly onto their faces, some with weapons that appeared to grow from their arms rather than being held.
From the penthouse, Tony watched as the first wave of Chitauri began attacking buildings at random, their energy weapons carving glowing blue trails through the air. Citizens below scattered in panic, their screams barely audible over the chaos of the invasion.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Loki said. "The beginning of your world's liberation."
Angela's sword remained pointed at Tyson, but like the others, her eyes watched the spectacle above.
Tyson sheathed his sword across his back with a fluid motion. The blue energy beam pierced the sky, tearing reality apart as the first wave of Chitauri poured through.
"Sorry, that's my cue. I appreciate the fight, but it's time to go." He backed away from Angela, whose sword remained pointed at his chest. "Tony, you're up."
"JARVIS, isolate yourself from the mainframe."
There was a brief pause. "Isolation protocols engaged, sir. This instance has full independent operational control."
The Mark VII suit flew from its storage chamber, opening as it moved across the penthouse toward Sterns. Sterns held his arms wide. Tyson raised his hand, attempting to control the suit's trajectory with his ferrokinetic abilities.
Nothing happened.
The armor continued its path toward Sterns, who was quickly encased.
"You had to give it anti-magnetism defenses, didn't you?"
Tony's helmet tilted slightly. "Sorry, kid, had to cover my bases. Hate to say it, but it has anti-psychic defenses too." His repulsors hummed to life. "You good here? Kinda got an invasion incoming."
"Sure, sure. Leave me here to fight a god, an angel, a Hulk, and a super-genius in your newest suit designed to counter all my powers."
Tony quipped back, "You did say you could solo his entire team."
Tyson chuckled. "I did say that, didn't I? Yeah, go. I'll clean up this mess and head up right behind you."
Iron Man nodded once, tossed Tyson a new earpiece, then blasted through the floor-to-ceiling windows, his repulsors leaving trails of blue-white energy as he soared upward to meet the incoming army.
Tyson used his power to float the earpiece into place and turned toward the window. He took three quick steps and leapt, his body tensing as he prepared to propel himself into the air.
Angela moved with astonishing speed, flying into his path and blocking his exit.
"You're not going anywhere."
Loki stepped forward, triumphant as he watched the chaos unfolding above the city. "You think you can escape? You think you can stop an army?"
The Hulk stood nearby, still under Sterns' control. Sterns himself was covered by the Mark VII armor. Angela hovered just outside the window. Above them all, the portal continued to disgorge waves of Chitauri warriors.
"Watch me."
He lunged forward, drawing his sword in a single fluid motion. The blade sang as it cut through the air, aimed at creating space between himself and his opponents. Angela reacted instantly, diving back through the window to meet his attack.
This time, her speed was far beyond anything she had demonstrated before. She moved like lightning, her form blurring as she closed the distance. Tyson barely had time to register the change before she was upon him. Her sword sliced at his torso in a diagonal arc, the movement so swift it seemed to leave afterimages in the air.
Tyson tried to raise his blade to parry.
He couldn't match her speed.
Time seemed to slow as he realized he wouldn't be able to block or dodge. He attempted to twist away, to minimize the damage, but Angela's precision was unerring.
The edge of her blade caught him just below the ribs on his left side.
The sword was stopped. It failed to cut through his clothing.
Angela completed her strike with perfect form, the sword withdrew. Her expression was not triumph or malice, but solemn acknowledgment.
"You fought well."
But then she noticed there was no wound, no blood on her blade.
The distraction was brief but crucial. Angela's attention wavered for just a second, and Tyson seized the opportunity. He didn't attack with his sword as she might have expected. Instead, he reached out with his ferrokinetic abilities, targeting the metal in her armor and sword.
Angela felt the pull immediately. "What trickery is this?" She fought against the invisible force.
"Not trickery. Just third-grade science."
He launched Angela back, controlling the metal in her armor, aiming her at Sterns.
"You've been holding back," Loki accused.
"Of course I have. I wanted to see what you were planning. To learn all your tricks. And now that I've seen them..."
Tyson used his hold over Angela's armor to throw her directly at the Leader. The Hulk stepped in the way, catching Angela mid-flight, preventing her from taking out Sterns. While successful, the green giant's movements were clumsy, betraying Sterns' inexperience.
Tyson held his hand out, palm open toward the sky. His eyes locked with Loki's, challenging and confident.
"No," Loki mumbled, recognizing the pose. His brother had stood like that countless times. "It can't be. More trickery."
The skies around Stark Tower darkened, and it wasn't from the incoming Chitauri. The clouds swirled and condensed, forming an ominous spiral directly above the building.
At the first lightning strike, Loki flinched.
The bolt split the sky with blinding intensity, illuminating the penthouse in harsh white light. Thunder followed immediately, so loud it rattled the remaining windows and vibrated through the floor. The air crackled with electricity. The scent of ozone flooded the room.
The legendary hammer streaked through the air like a meteor, leaving a trail of sparks and disturbed air in its wake. It slammed into Tyson's palm. His fingers closed around the handle. Power surged through him, electric and ancient and right. The primal energy of the God Tempest within the weapon made his hair stand on end. His eyes began to glow with electricity, blue-white light spilling from them. The pain from his wound faded to background noise, drowned out by the sheer overwhelming rush of power coursing through his veins.
Loki stared in disbelief. "Impossible. Mjolnir can only be wielded by—"
"The worthy." Tyson finished.
He hefted Mjolnir. Lightning danced along the hammer's surface, arcing between the runes etched into its sides. "Like I said, a lot has changed since we last fought."
Angela stripped off her armor and threw away her sword, freeing herself from Tyson's magnetic grip. Her armor was skimpy in the first place, but now she stood facing him in only a bra and thong.
"Your powers are greater than I believed. This will be a worthy battle indeed."
"You're going to need more than a nice set of lingerie to beat me." He paused dramatically. "Actually, maybe not. My apartment is only three miles south of here, but if you don't want to wait, I'm sure Tony wouldn't mind us using his bed. Well, he probably would, but I could afford a professional cleaner. This place is going to need one anyway. He wouldn't even notice."
Tony's voice came through his earpiece, crisp despite the chaos outside. "I heard that."
Tyson pointed at his ear. "He heard, and he said it's all good." He gave a thumbs-up.
Angela's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "You think your newfound power impresses me?" She took a step forward. "And as for your proposition... I prefer to claim my prizes after victory, not before."
"Besides," she added, her voice dropping to a silky purr that somehow carried more menace than her earlier threats, "I doubt you could handle me, Valravn. Few men have tried since I left Heven, and none lived to speak of it."
Tyson twirled Mjolnir casually in his hand, as if testing its weight. "Oh, you're one of those. My ex-girlfriend is a demon, and I had to beat her ass before she submitted to me. It wouldn't be my first time." His expression shifted momentarily. "Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, Natasha tried fighting me before we had sex the last time, too." He mumbled under his breath, "I'm starting to see a troubling pattern here."
Natasha's voice came through the earpiece. "Head in the game, cowboy, we're almost there. And you're wasting your dueling time."
Tyson straightened. "Shit, you're right. No more fooling around."
He raised Mjolnir high above his head.
The atmosphere in the penthouse changed instantly. The playful banter vanished, replaced by an electric tension that charged the very air. The skies outside darkened further.
A tremendous crack split the air.
Lightning streaked from the heavens, curving in through the shattered windows. The bolt connected with Mjolnir in a blinding flash that illuminated every corner of the room. The hammer absorbed the energy, glowing with power that coursed up Tyson's arm and across his body. His eyes shone with an unearthly blue-white light. Every nerve ending sang with barely contained electricity. His hair stood completely on end. The air tasted like copper and ozone. The power threatened to overwhelm him, to tear him apart from the inside, but he held it, channeled it, mastered it.
Angela braced herself, muscles tensing as Tyson pointed the charged weapon directly at her. Her eyes narrowed, calculating, preparing to dodge.
At the last possible moment, Tyson pivoted, redirecting Mjolnir toward Thor's unconscious form sprawled across the floor.
The lightning leapt from the hammer in a controlled stream, striking Thor. Instead of harming him, the electricity seemed to revitalize the God of Thunder. Thor's body arched as the power flowed into him. His eyes snapped open with a gasp. The lightning danced across his skin, familiar and welcome, restoring his strength.
"And now..."
Tyson began spinning Mjolnir by its leather strap. The hammer moved faster and faster until it became nothing but a blur, creating a high-pitched whine as it cut through the air. The speed was incredible, far too quick to track with the naked eye, creating a disk-like illusion around his hand.
Then he released it, directing it straight at Loki.
The God of Mischief barely had time to register what was happening before Mjolnir connected with his chest. The impact was tremendous, sending Loki flying backward out of Stark Tower as if he'd been fired from a cannon. His form diminished rapidly as he soared across the Manhattan skyline, a small dark speck against the chaos of the invasion.
Tyson tapped his earpiece. "Alright, guys, Thor is back in action. I fucked up, Loki. Hulk is here with Sterns, and he's wearing Iron Man Armor." He paused, glancing at Angela's nearly nude form as she circled him warily. "And I'm about to engage in a wrestling match with a mostly naked amazon."
There was a beat of silence, then everyone's voice came through at once.
"Focus on the mission, son. That's an order," Steve said with a hint of 1940s moral indignation.
"If you're done objectifying her, we have civilians to save," Nat reminded.
"For the love of—" Tony interjected. "My tower is not your personal Fight Club slash dating service. And FYI, those sheets are Egyptian cotton."
"Stand down," Fury commanded. "This isn't a goddamn spectator sport. We need you in the skies."
A deep, rumbling laugh followed. "Gotta admit, kid's got priorities," Logan muttered.
Thor rose to his feet, his movements still somewhat unsteady but rapidly regaining their usual power. He looked around the penthouse, taking in the situation.
Behind his forearm, Tyson released a small piece of adamantium from his shirt. Using Magneto's power, he concentrated on the molecular structure of the metal. The severed adamantium shard hovered in the air, hidden behind his arm, spinning slowly.
Sterns, now fully encased in the Mark VII armor, raised his hands in triumph. The suit closed around his enlarged cranium, the faceplate adapting to accommodate his oversized head. "Now I have Stark's armor, and the Hulk. None can stand against me!"
Tyson looked over the armor with a calculating expression. "Hey Tony, what's the Mark VII armor made out of?"
"Gold-titanium alloy with carbon composite interlacing. Why?"
"Just checking."
Thor noticed the floating shard of adamantium and the intense concentration on Tyson's face.
With a subtle gesture of his fingers, Tyson began to manipulate the magnetic fields around the adamantium shard. The air around it distorted as he created two powerful opposing magnetic fields; one behind the shard and one in front of it.
The physics was simple. The magnetic field behind pushed while the one in front pulled. The adamantium tip hung suspended for a fraction of a second, vibrating with potential energy.
Then Tyson moved his arm and released the power he'd been building.
The adamantium shard vanished with a thunderclap of displaced air. It moved so quickly that Thor's and Angela's godly vision could track it, but neither would have been able to dodge. The silver streak broke the sound barrier instantly, punching through the Mark VII's faceplate as if it were tissue paper. It entered through the left eye socket of the helmet and exited through the back, carrying with it a spray of gray matter and bone fragments that painted the wall behind Sterns in a grotesque abstract pattern.
For a moment, nothing happened.
The armor remained standing, arms still raised in triumph. Then the servos whined as the suit slowly toppled backward, crashing to the floor with a heavy metallic thud. The faceplate retracted automatically, revealing Sterns' ruined face. His enlarged cranium had a neat hole punched through it. His expression was frozen in surprise.
The Hulk roared, suddenly free of Sterns' control. He looked around in confusion, his rage momentarily directionless.
"Sterns is dead," Tyson said coldly, lowering his hand.
Logan's gruff voice came through the comms. "Jesus, kid, that was fast."
"I spent months trying to talk to him. He was beyond redemption."
Angela stared at Tyson warily. The casual way he had executed Sterns spoke of a ruthlessness she hadn't anticipated.
"You kill without hesitation."
"Only when necessary. And trust me, it was necessary."
Thor approached the fallen armor, looking down at Sterns' corpse with a grim expression. "The battle for Midgard has begun in earnest. We must focus on the greater threat." He extended his hand. Seconds later, Mjolnir returned to his grasp, having completed its journey back from Loki. Lightning crackled around the hammer as Thor's power fully returned.
Outside, the Chitauri continued to pour through the portal above Manhattan. Their alien screeches and the sound of energy weapons filled the air, punctuated by explosions and the screams of civilians. Iron Man streaked past the shattered windows, pursued by three Chitauri chariots.
"If you're done with your personal vendetta," Tony's voice came through the comms, strained as he maneuvered through the city skyline, "I could use some help out here!"
Thor twirled Mjolnir, the legendary hammer becoming a blur of motion. He launched himself through the shattered opening of the penthouse, his red cape billowing behind him as he soared into the Manhattan skyline. Lightning crackled in his wake, illuminating the destruction below as he joined the battle against the Chitauri invaders.
Tyson stood alone in the penthouse with Angela. The wind whipped through the broken windows, carrying the sounds of battle; energy weapons, explosions, distant screams.
With an exaggerated flourish, Tyson bowed deeply at the waist. "Sorry, mi'lady, but looks like I've gotta go. Duty calls and all that." He gestured toward the invasion raging outside. "Rain check on that wrestling match?"
"You will not escape me so easily, Valravn."
Tyson didn't wait for further conversation. He dashed toward Angela with Nexus summoned to his hand, the soulsword materializing in a flash of dark energy. The blade hummed with power as he closed the distance in three quick strides.
Angela's muscles tensed, preparing to meet his charge. Her hands came up in a defensive posture, ready to grapple or strike.
At the last moment, using his magnetism, Tyson pivoted sharply to his left, changing direction with impossible agility. With a slash, he cut through the air itself. Reality split open like torn fabric, revealing Limbo beyond.
In one motion, he grabbed Sterns's armored corpse by the ankle as he passed. The Mark VII suit was heavy, but it was no issue for his strength. He swung the body in a wide arc and released it through the opening. The corpse tumbled into Limbo's barren landscape, disappearing among the twisted rock formations.
The portal snapped shut.
Angela lunged forward, her hand reaching for him, but Tyson was already moving. He dismissed Nexus and summoned his ferrokinetic abilities instead. The metal in his skeleton responded instantly. He created a powerful magnetic field around himself, using the framework of Stark Tower as an anchor point. The opposing magnetic forces built rapidly, like compressing a spring.
Tyson reversed the polarity in a sudden burst.
The magnetic repulsion launched him backward with tremendous force. His body shot through the opposite side of the penthouse, shattering those windows as he shot through like a cannonball, the sudden acceleration pressing against his chest and forcing the air from his lungs. Wind screamed past his ears as Manhattan's skyline blurred around him.
Angela's frustrated shout followed him out into the open air, but her voice was quickly lost in the chaos of battle.
Tyson twisted his body mid-flight, orienting himself as he rocketed away from Stark Tower. Below him, the streets of Manhattan teemed with fleeing civilians and advancing Chitauri soldiers. Energy blasts crisscrossed the sky. A Leviathan, one of the massive armored creatures, emerged from the portal above, its segmented body undulating as it descended toward the city.
He adjusted his magnetic field, using the metal in nearby buildings to slow his momentum and change his trajectory.
Angela wasted no time. She leapt after him, her powerful legs launching her through the same opening. She moved with incredible speed, closing the distance rapidly.
Tyson tapped his earpiece as he banked sharply around a building. "Wednesday, where are we at?"
The AI's voice responded, characteristically bored and slightly sardonic. "The plastic legion has been deployed. The shelters are open. And the teams are guiding civilians to the evacuation points. Approximately six percent of the immediate danger zone has been cleared."
Tyson ducked as Angela's fist whistled past his head, missing him by inches. He spun in mid-air, using his momentum to carry him away from her next attack. "Great, so there isn't much for me to do."
"A giant space worm just exited the portal," Wednesday informed him with the same disinterested tone she might use to announce the weather. "Or you could help with civilian evacuations. This could mean the difference between civilians surviving and lives lost. Your choice, really."
Tyson rolled to avoid Angela's diving attack, her fingertips grazing his shoulder as she passed. She banked sharply, preparing for another pass. "Not making this easy, are you?"
Dr. Sofen's voice cut through the comms. "Couldn't you do both?"
"Not while I'm being harried by Amazon Barbie." Tyson executed a tight spiral to evade Angela's grasp. He banked around the corner of a skyscraper, using the building as momentary cover. "Nice to see you're back in the game, doc."
"We're less than a minute out," Natasha responded.
"Wait a second, I beat Loki, fought the Angel, killed Sterns, and you guys aren't even here yet? And you all voted against the monologue and my wrestling match? Slackers."
A voice came through the comms. "Incoming."
High above the streets of Manhattan, a streak of white light cut through the sky. Dr. Karla Sofen, now fully transformed into Moonstone, moved with incredible speed. Her form was wrapped in a skintight white costume that seemed to glow with inner light. Long blonde hair streamed behind her as she accelerated. The Moonstone gem embedded just below her chest pulsed with power, fueling her flight and enhancing her strength to superhuman levels.
Angela, focused entirely on Tyson, didn't notice the approaching threat until it was too late. She had just maneuvered around a building when Moonstone struck.
The impact was tremendous. Moonstone slammed into Angela at full speed, her shoulder connecting with the warrior's midsection. Their collision echoed like a thunderclap as both women went tumbling through the air.
Angela recovered quickly. "Another challenger enters the fray. Good. I was beginning to think Midgard had no other worthy warriors."
Moonstone hovered before her, hands glowing with energy.
"Let us see what you're made of, light-bearer," the angel challenged.
The two women clashed again, their forms blurring with speed. Moonstone fired blasts of photonic energy that Angela dodged. The warrior woman countered with physical attacks. They spiraled through the air, locked in combat, moving between buildings and weaving through the ongoing Chitauri assault.
Tyson watched for a moment as the two powerful women battled across the sky. Moonstone's white energy contrasted sharply with Angela's red hair and tanned skin as they exchanged blows.
"I'm tempted to stay and watch."
"Just go," Moonstone replied between attacks, slightly strained as she phased through a particularly powerful strike from Angela. "I've got this."
— Rogue Redemption —
Tyson banked sharply away from the aerial battle between Moonstone and Angela, his mind already calculating the most efficient approach to the unfolding crisis. The streets of Manhattan had transformed into chaos: people running in all directions, some frozen in terror as they stared upward at the alien invasion pouring through the tear in reality.
"Wednesday, give me a breakdown of civilian concentrations."
"Too long to list. They're scattered everywhere."
As he approached Stark Tower, the Chitauri continued to pour through the portal. The Avengers had arrived and were engaged in combat. Thor and Tony were in the skies, but the civilians needed guidance to safety.
He landed on the tower's landing pad, where Tony had touched down earlier.
Tyson extended his right hand and manifested Nexus, his adamantium soulsword. "Alright, time to really put this thing through its paces."
He had forged it using plates salvaged from the makeshift Cerebro at Alkali Lake. The result was a physical weapon with extraordinary psionic properties. He hadn't used the sword much for its intended purpose as a psionic enhancer, preferring its cutting capabilities in combat. But now, with millions of lives at stake, he needed its amplification properties.
"Here goes nothing."
He closed his eyes and channeled his power through the sword.
His consciousness expanded outward like ripples in a pond. The minds around him came into focus. First dozens, then hundreds, then thousands. Each one was a unique constellation of thoughts, fears, and desperate hopes.
The sensation was overwhelming.
In Times Square, he had projected illusions to approximately twenty thousand people, and even that had been taxing. His range then had been about a quarter mile. Now he pushed himself further, stretching his mental reach as far as possible.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. The sword in his hands began to glow brighter, responding to the immense psychic energy flowing through it. Pressure built behind his eyes. A burning sensation spread across his temples, hot and insistent.
"Too many." He gasped, momentarily breaking his concentration.
He steadied himself, taking deep breaths. The city needed him. These people needed him.
Tyson gripped the sword tighter and tried again, pushing past the pain.
This time, his consciousness expanded even further. He couldn't get an exact count, but he could feel over a million minds within his reach. Each one frightened, confused, looking for guidance. His range extended approximately one mile in all directions from Stark Tower.
There was no way he could project individualized illusions to all these people simultaneously, even with the sword's amplification. Instead, he opted for a simpler approach.
Drawing inspiration from the subway announcements New Yorkers heard daily, Tyson projected a clear, authoritative message to every mind within his range.
"Attention, citizens of New York. This is an emergency broadcast. Proceed immediately to the nearest shelter location. Shelters are located at Grand Central Terminal lower level, Penn Station 34th street, Bryant Park underground..."
He continued, listing each shelter location methodically, including directions. He kept his mental voice calm and reassuring, despite the strain that made his entire body tremble.
He repeated the message a second time, adding, "Look for individuals from House of M. They will guide you to safety. Remain calm. Help is here."
The effort was monumental.
His knees buckled. Blood trickled from his nose, warm and copper-tasting as it reached his lips, but he ignored it. The soulsword's glow intensified, drawing more power from him to sustain the massive psychic broadcast. His vision blurred at the edges. The pressure behind his eyes became a spike of white-hot agony that threatened to split his skull. Every breath came shallow and ragged.
For a third time, Tyson projected the message, emphasizing different routes as reports came in through his earpiece about Chitauri blockades and damaged streets. His mental voice remained steady in the minds of a million terrified New Yorkers, even as his physical body began to fail.
"The shelters are reinforced and protected. You will be safe there. This is not a drill. Proceed calmly but quickly to the nearest location."
After completing the third announcement, Tyson finally lowered the sword.
He staggered backward. The psychic connection broke. The sword dematerialized as his concentration faltered. He dropped to one knee on the landing pad, gasping for breath. His hands shook uncontrollably. More blood streamed from his nose, dripping onto the landing pad in dark splatters. The world tilted sickeningly around him.
"Wednesday," he panted, wiping blood from his nose with the back of his hand, "status update."
"Civilian movement toward shelter locations has increased by 78% in your broadcast radius. Panic levels have decreased by 32%. Estimated shelter capacity will reach 60% within the next hour if current movement patterns continue."
"Good. That's... that's good."
He forced himself back to his feet, swaying.
A hand grabbed him, steadying him with surprising strength. He turned to find Natasha beside him, her red hair whipping in the wind. He hadn't even noticed her arrival during his psionic exertion.
"Pretty sure I told you to limit yourself to half a dozen." Her eyes scanned his face, lingering on the blood that had streamed from his nose and stained the front of his suit.
Tyson laughed, the sound weak but genuine. "That was like a year ago." He wiped at the remaining blood, smearing it across his cheek.
Natasha had positioned herself between him and the edge of the platform. She'd known exactly what would happen when he attempted such a massive psionic broadcast. She'd seen the toll it took on him before. It was why she'd broken away from the main battle to reach him.
"You bled more during your broadcast than Sterns did when you killed him."
Her hand still gripped his arm firmly, keeping him upright. The touch was warm, solid, grounding him when everything else felt like it was spinning.
"I doubt that." Tyson glanced toward the tower where Sterns' body lay before he tossed it into Limbo.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm good." His breathing began to normalize. "Man, it's been an exhausting few days. Pretty sure I earned a rest after this one." He looked at her hand on his arm. "Thanks for watching over me."
She'd made reaching his side a priority, even with the battle raging around them. Someone needed to guard him while he was vulnerable.
"Is that all you've got in you? Leaving the rest of the fight to us?"
Tyson straightened and grinned cheekily. "Nah, I can do this all day," he replied, deliberately stealing Captain America's signature line. The color was already returning to his face, his healing factor rapidly rejuvenating his body.
He stepped toward the edge of the platform, surveying the battlefield that Manhattan had become. Chitauri forces swarmed through the streets. In the distance, a Leviathan crashed into a building, sending glass and concrete raining down as Iron Man harried it, firing repulsor blasts.
"This is my time to shine." Tyson rolled his shoulders. "I was pretty much made for this moment."
Natasha moved to stand beside him. "You don't look ready to fight," she observed, noting the lingering tremor in his hands.
"I just wanted to give everyone else a chance to contribute before I stole the show." His confidence returned with each passing second. His healing factor was working overtime.
"Let's get the team together, and I'll bring this whole thing to a close."
She raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and disbelief crossing her face. "Just like that?"
Tyson turned to her with a grin that bordered on arrogant. "I gotta show off for my girls."
Her eyebrow climbed higher, her lips quirking. "Your girls?"
"Well, yeah. You, Amora, Karla, Felicia, Maki, Jessica, Wednesday... my fan club. Can't let you down, can I?"
Natasha shook her head, but there was no hiding the slight smile that formed. "You're impossible."
"That's why you all love me." His energy visibly returned as his healing factor continued its work. He stretched his arms above his head, then cracked his neck from side to side.
"You sure you're up for this?"
Tyson flexed his fingers. "Watch me." His eyes fixed on the portal above them, the source of the invasion that threatened his home. "This is it. What couldn't be changed has happened."
"Now, it's time to stop holding back."