Explosion
Chapter 7
Explosion
Just as we walked back into the lab, Fury was standing there looking like he was arguing with Stark.
Tony faced up to Fury and asked, “What is Phase 2?”
“Phase 2 is apparently where Shield uses the cube to make weapons.” I said, crossing my arms as Steve tossed the gun onto one of the tables. Steve turned to Tony, “Sorry, the computer was moving a little slow.” Fury glared at me and I leveled a glare right back.
“What the hell are you doing Fury? You know damn well what happens when people start trying to make bigger weapons.” Fury shook his head then looked over to Steve, “Rogers, we gathered everything related to the tesseract. It does not mean…” I cut him off. “Save the bullshit Fury!” I pointed at the screen that Tony flipped around, “What is that then?” Looking at the missiles that were being made, using the power of the tesseract. “Just doing some simple upgrading director?” I sneered at him.
“No, just listen…” then Tony cut him off. “So you were lying?” Tony asked in a smug tone. Just then the doors opened again and I turned to see Thor and Natasha walking into the lab. I saw her look over to Banner quickly and my gaze snapped to Banner when he yelled at her, “Did you know about this?” Pointing to the weapon on the table.
She ignored him though, instead asking him, “You wanna think about removing yourself from this environment doctor?”
Bruce laughed snidely “I was in Calcutta. I think I was pretty well removed.” I stepped up beside Nat when she threw back at him, “Loki is manipulating you Banner. You need to keep calm.”
“Nat, I don’t think telling him to keep calm is going to help anything.” I muttered lowly.
“Yeah, and what have you been doing since you cornered me?” He directed his question at Nat again. “You didn’t come here because I bat my eyelashes at you.” She fired back. I snorted at that.
“Oh I know. But I am also not leaving because suddenly you all get a little twitchy.”Banner snapped back. I jumped in, “The real question is why shield is building weapons of mass destruction using the tesseract. We all know what happens when you start running experiments on it.” Turning the focus back to Fury, hinting at what happened to my father and me. I felt Steve step up closer to me and press his hand into my low back at a sign of comfort at that statement.
“Well director?” I pushed while placing my hands on my hips. He just looked at all over us then sighed. Turning to face Thor slightly, “because of him.” Fury pointing at Thor.
I glanced over at Thor, wondering what he had to do with that. He was on our side. Thor was just as stunned, “Me?” He asked while pointing at himself. Fury continued to speak and moved around the lab, “Last year, earth had a visitor from another planet, who then had a town leveling grudge match.” I winced at that, remembering when Thor had first come to earth and busted into our makeshift base to get his hammer back.
“We learned that earth is hilariously outgunned. And we have learned over the years, that he is not the only other species out there. This world is filling up and earth is at risk. We may have gotten lucky with Thor, but we cant control who comes here, but we can sure try.”
“Yeah, like you are controlling the cube?” I Steve scoffed at him.
Thor jumped in, “Your work with the tesseract is what drew Loki to earth and to the cube. It is a signal to all of the realms that earth is ready for a higher form of war. A war earth is not actually ready for.”
“A higher form?” Steve asked. I glanced at Steve and shrugged my shoulders not quiet sure what that was meaning as well.
Fury was looking frustrated that we weren’t understanding, “You forced our hand Thor. I know you didn’t mean too, but it happened. We had to come up with something.”
“Because a nuclear deterrent always calms everything right down? Have you learned nothing from history?” Tony asked. Fury turned back and looked a him, “Remind me how you made your fortune Stark?” Ouch, that was a low blow.
I heard a beeping from the tesseract tracker and walked over to go check it out while everyone was arguing. I rolled my eyes, no one was listening to the other so I just was running through the info that the computer was showing. Steve and Stark were facing off, butting heads like they have been since they stepped into the room together.
I looked up to see Tony holding Steve back and Steve shoved Tony back. I put my hand up and formed a shield between them, “Boys. Settle down. Talking only please.”
“Stay out of this Sapphire!” Stark snapped back. “Hey! Don’t talk to her like that.” Steve said back to him.
Suddenly I heard Banner start yelling and I looked up to see his was standing in front of the scepter. I tensed and walked back over to stand between Steve and Nat. Tony and Steve pausing their argument. Realizing they missed some of the other arguments that were happening in the room. Fury stepped up a little as well placing his hand on his side arm on his thigh, “The cell was just in case..” but Banner cut him off again. “In case you needed to kill me right? But you can’t! I know.. I’ve tried.” I sucked in a sharp breath at that. No way that meant what I think it did.
“I got low. I didn’t see an end, so I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spit it out. So I moved on. I focused on helping other people. I was good until you,” Banner pointed at Nat, “dragged me back into this freak show and put everyone at risk.” Banner’s voice steadily got louder as he directed the last bit towards Nat. I stepped forward and had my hands up ready in case the Hulk decided to make an appearance.
“You wanna know my secret, Agent? Want to know how I stay calm?”Banner asked in a warning tone. I was getting more nervous for everyone. I felt Steve step up behind me and place a hand around my waist lightly. I created two small shields in my hands when I saw Banner pick up the scepter. I was getting ready to expand them out if I needed to or blast him with an energy blast.
I could hear from behind me Steve said in a low commanding voice, “Doctor Banner, put down the scepter.” Banner looked down at that and looked confused at when he had reached for the scepter.
There was a loud beeping from the computer again, this sounding more like an alarm, but I didn’t take my eyes off of Banner. I kept my hands up ready to go if he decide to snap. I heard Tony from behind me who must have been the one to check the computer. “It was very close to finding the cube I think a moment ago.” I said over my shoulder.
“Well, we found it.” Tony confirmed.
Banner sat down the scepter and started walking over to the computer, “Sorry kids. You don’t get to see my little party trick.” Banner said.
“Located the tesseract?” Thor asked. Tony confirmed yes and then Thor added, “The tesseract belongs on Asgard. No human is match for it.”
“Yeah well, except when a human gets blasted with it and it enhances your powers maybe.” I muttered to myself.
I saw Tony go to leave, “I can get there faster.” But Steve speaks up quickly, “You are not going alone!”
Tony turns around to face him, “You gonna stop me Captain?” Steve goes to respond, “If he cant, I will Stark.” I told him, moving a force field around in my hand showing him that I was serious. “We go together Stark.” Steve added.
“I don’t think so Cap.” Tony said, getting into Steve’s face.
“Put on the suit Tony. Lets find out who will win.” Steve said, stepping up to him toe to toe. I was too focused on the two men to register the panic in Banners voice when I heard him mutter, “Oh my God.”
Suddenly there was a huge explosion. I fell through the floor where the glass was. I heard two other people fall with me, but I hit right on the small set of stairs and rolled down them groaning. Shattered glass raining down all around me.
“Emma!” I heard Steve shout. I reached up to tap my ear where the coms were still stuck behind my ear. Activating them to be open coms so I could hear most everything going on.
“Im fine.” I groaned out. There was more chatter going on. Then Hill came across the coms, “Number 3 engine is down. We lose one more engine, we wont be in the air much longer. Somebody’s got to get outside and patch that engine ASAP.”
“Stark, you copy that?” Fury sounded. I heard Stark answer, “Im on it. Cap, find engine three and I’ll meet you there.”
Getting up to my feet I looked around and I heard some shuffling behind me. I turned and saw Nat was stuck on the grate with some fallen debris on her legs. She was struggling to get free. I looked next to her and froze at seeing Banner and he looked like he was fighting off changing into the hulk. I locked eyes with Nat, and she looked terrified. I heard some shield agent behind me and turned to wave them off quickly.
I crept closer to Nat and Banner, trying to stay quiet while Nat was trying to talk down Banner. I formed a shield between the debris and Nat’s leg and raised it just slightly for her to wiggle out.
“We’re gonna be okay. Right? Bruce… Can you hear me? I swear on my life I will get you out of this, you will walk away…” Nat said as she started to slowly crawl away. But at that exact moment Banner snapped, “YOUR LIFE?” He roared.
Shit! I formed a shield around him and threw him away from us as best as I could, probably not my smartest move, but it gave us enough time to get up and start running. “Lets move Nat! Now!” We started running and leaping and jumping through turbines and piping to avoid the hulk. I couldn’t hear him yet, but I could hear the roar.
I could see an opening in the catwalk we were on and I grab Nat’s arm and tossed her down it. “Emma! What the hell are you doing?” I could hear her scream at me. But she was already too far down to get back up to me.
“I am more durable than you are sweetie! You will forgive me. Now Get!” I demanded. I turned at the primal roar from the hulk and planted my feet. “Alright green dude. Wanna dance? Lets dance.” I waited until he was closer to me and then started running towards him and slide underneath of him between his legs and immediately popped back up and blasted the hulk with an energy blast. I hit him right in the chest and it knocked him back through a few walls.
I started running full sprint through the holes that he had created and I saw that we ended up in storage that had a little more space to maneuver a little bit more. “Alright Hulk, can we talk about things? Do you remember who I am?” The hulk was up and turned to me and unleashed a huge roar of rage with spit flying. “Alright, guess not.” I dropped back down into a ready fighting stance.
The hulk jumped toward me and I encased myself in my shield. The hulk kept beating on the side of the shield and every hit, he was driving me further down into the concrete. Damn he is strong. Each concussion from the hits were starting to put some strain on me. He suddenly changed tactics and starting to push down directly on top of my shield and that started to drain some of my strength. I was gritting my teeth trying to hold myself in place against his strength, trying not to let the shield collapse.
“Umm, A little help here. Anyone close by?” I gritted out. “I don’t think I can hold off Banner much longer here guys!” I could hear fighting on the coms since they were opened up on a constant channel.
Suddenly a small blur came flying past me and knocked the hulk away from me. Sagging down in relief I felt an arm left me back up, “I got you Miss Emma.” I heard Thor’s voice from above me, and then he was gone again.
“Thor! Is Emma okay?” I heard Steve ask. “Im fine Steve!” I laughed lightly.
I turned and saw Thor and hulk engaged in a fight now. The hulk threw him across the room and I grabbed Thor in my shield and pulled him towards me and sat him on the ground. I smirked at him, “I thought you were supposed to be able to fly there, god of thunder?” He just looked at me and raised his hand near my head. I raised my eyebrow at him when his hammer settled into his hand. “Nothing?” He asked amused.
“Ummmm, did you forget I am used to your antics by now Thor?” He just laughed at me. We both spun around quickly at the roar of the hulk again. He was coming at us full speed. We dropped into a fighting stance and I quickly jumped up into the air and formed a large shield above the hulks head and pulled him down hard as I landed back down on the ground. As the hulk face planted, Thor hit him on the back of the head with his hammer and the hulk went flying down another level through the floor.
Running towards the hole that was made, Thor jumps down seeing an opportunity to jump on the hulks back and strangle him. Hoping to make him pass out. I jump down as well and form shields around the hulks feet to hold him place if possible.
“Guys, the Hulk is going to destroy this carrier if we don’t get him off of it. Now!” I said to anyone listening. If he doesn’t himself, tossing Thor around is going to destroy it as well.
“Then get his attention.” Fury shouted. “What do you think we have been doing down here director? Chatting?” I snarked back.
I heard Agent Hill just then, “ Escort 606, proceed to 270 Main shuttle, but don’t get too close.” I heard the pilot of 606 sound back, “Copy.”
I looked to the window of and saw a fighter jet come into view, “target acquired.” I heard the pilot speak. Shit!
“Ummm Thor, time to let go. When you jump off, jump back towards me. 3, 2, 1 Now!” Just as I said that, Thor released and jumped landing behind me, I threw up a shield in front of us, just as the pilot said, “Target engaged.” And started firing. Bullets rained down around us and were bouncing off my shield.
That got the hulk’s attention and he started running towards the pilot and leaped out of the window. The fighter jet had turned and taken off as soon as the hulk started towards him, leading him off the helicarrier.
“Hulk is off the carrier.” I alerted everyone.
I turned towards Thor, “thanks for the help!” I bumped his arm. “You are welcome Miss Emma!” Then we took off running to see where else we could help with things. I had been listening to the coms closely, seeing if anywhere was really needing the help as people were speaking.
“Im going to check on Loki.” Thor announced. I nodded to him and took off towards engine three where Steve and Tony were working on things.
“Captain, Stark, how you two doing with getting the engine going?” I asked. “Little busy at the moment darling. Maybe you could help out?” I heard Steve respond. Smiling at the endearment, I sprinted towards engine 3.
Just as I got to the landing that was a few levels above where Steve and Tony where, I looked down and saw Steve hiding behind a small piece of metal, avoiding the shooting, then returning fire when he could. “Need a little help there Rogers?” I asked. I laughed when I saw him glance around, but while he was distracted I saw a grenade get launched out towards him, “Steve! Grenade!” I shouted and I quickly wrapped my shield around the grenade and contained the blast. He ducked, waiting for the explosion, but realized it didn’t do anything.
“You’re welcome sweetie!” I said as I jumped down and landed next to him on the platform. He stood up and leaned down and gave me a kiss on the cheek, “Thanks doll.” Blushing, I tuned to focus on things. “Stark! How’s it coming in there?”
“Oh good! Someone who understands English. Get over to the panel and start re-wiring things!” Rolling my eyes at him I tuned and looked for the platform with all the control panels. I saw it on a level above me and across a huge space. Though it was a little far for a simple jump, even with my enhanced strength, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make it with just a jump. “Can you make that?” I heard Steve ask. “Ummmm…. I have an idea.” I muttered.
“I don’t like how you said that Em.” Steve said back.
“Alright, time to test out the flying thing we have been doing.” I muttered. “What? No! I’ll just jump over there!” Steve shouted back. I looked at him, “Do you know what you are doing with those wires?” I asked. He just gave me look, like he was trying to decide how to best lie to me. “Exactly.” And without him able to react fast enough, I launched off the platform. “Emma! Damn it woman!” I heard Steve yell behind me, but then he was distracted by more enemy agents shooting at him again.
Taking a deep breath I made a shield around me and started moving it with me in it. I concentrated and squealed excitedly when I was able to actually fly myself over to the other platform with ease!
Once I landed I turned around and jumped up and down, “I did it!!!” Steve was still engaged in a firefight, but I could just make out his grin.
“Alright Stark! Im here, anything specifically I need to know? This panel is damaged all to hell though, just fyi.”
“Just get power flowing back to it. I will need to give it a jump start. Then I will need you to slow it down when I get it going.”
“Copy that.” And I set to work redoing wires and bypassing certain things that were not needed at this point so I could get enough power to the engine. A bullet hit right above my head and I threw up the shield around me to protect my work. “God Dammit! I just connect that wire asshole! Captain, I thought you were supposed to cover me.”
“Little preoccupied at the moment darling.” Steve huffed over the coms. I just laughed to myself at the way he just nonchalantly said it.
“Alright, get ready to pull the red lever.” I started looking around for the lever and didn’t see one. “Umm, Stark, where is the lever at?” I asked.
“It’s over here, but I am a bit busy at the moment.” I heard Steve from behind me. I tuned and he was hanging on by a wire that was dangling and he was being shot at.
“Oh my god! Steve!” I shouted.
I leaped off the platform I was on and flew down towards the men that were shooting at Steve. “The lever! Someone! The Lever!” Stark shouted.
“Steve get the lever! I got these guys here!” I shouted as I landed right in front of the men shooting. “Howdy fellas! How about we put those guns down!” I grabbed two of the rifles from two of the men closest to me and pulled them towards me. I grabbed one out of the air and started shooting back at them. One person snuck up on me and hit me in the back with a metal bar. I flew forward with the impact but then somersaulted forward and turned back around and blasted them with an energy blast.
Shaking my head from the impact, getting the dizziness away.
I heard the engine start and I watched Tony drop down out of the bottom of the engine. More men came around the corner and I put up a shield and blasted them all back, but more kept coming. I didn’t know where Steve ended up, but suddenly Stark flew past me and took out the last couple of men that were standing at the end of the hall.
“We all good out here?” I asked, directing my question at Stark and Steve. I heard a loud clunk next to me and saw Steve standing there. He was a little sweaty, but looked ok. I looked down at Tony and he was breathing hard, just laying there in his suit still. “Ummm Stark? Need some help up?” I chucked. He just waved me off.
I took and deep breath because everything was quiet all of a sudden. Realizing it was over for the moment, I leaned back against Steve and he dropped an arm around my shoulder.
“Agent Coulson is down.” And I froze at that. “Paramedics are on their way.” I heard another voice sound.
Fury answered back, “They are here. They already called it.” He said in a somber tone.
My knees gave out at that and Steve dropped down with me to help ease me down. He turned me around and hugged me into his chest. I couldn’t hear anything else for a moment. Coulson was gone. He was one of the Agents that was more like family to me since I had become part of shield.
We just sat in silence for a few minutes until Steve helped me stand up. “Come on sweetheart. We gotta go.” I just nodded to him. He turned me towards him and he placed his hands on my face, wiping some of the tears with his thumbs. Leaning forward to place a kiss on my forehead, “Im so sorry Emma. We will get Loki for this. I promise.”