New Jersey, former site of Camp Lehigh.
The earth shook and the mountains swayed.
A green giant, over three meters tall and covered in bony spikes, like a prehistoric Beast, was performing a violent aesthetic called "demolition" in a Base seventy meters underground.
Abomination had no interest in finding any host interface.
He grabbed rows of massive server racks and threw them against the opposite wall like toys.
The screech of twisting metal and the crisp crackle of exploding components composed a symphony of destruction.
Zola's face, flickering on the screen, had just appeared and hadn't even had time to say "Hail HYDRA" before Abomination slapped him, along with the entire screen, deep into the wall.
Electrical sparks crackled for a moment before extinguishing completely.
He remembered William's instructions: "Don't leave a single chip."
So, Abomination began to perform a "tap dance" on the floor with his massive feet.
With each step, the ground collapsed half a meter, and the remaining circuit boards and hard drive fragments were crushed into their most basic powder.
A few minutes later, he found the so-called "host."
After forcefully inserting Fury's USB drive and seeing the indicator light finish flashing, he grinned, pulled out the USB drive, and then gave the poor host a loving embrace.
"Boom!"
The entire server matrix was lifted by him and violently pierced through the ceiling.
Florida, offshore oil rig.
"Boom!"
A man engulfed in an orange-red glow was slammed hard in the chest by a shield and sent flying backward.
Captain America Steve Rogers panted, the edge of his shield glowing faintly red from the high temperature.
"Tony! He's about to self-destruct!"
"Understood, Old Popsicle!"
Iron Man's suit's thrusters were at full power, diving down from the sky, his arm-mounted repulsor rays aimed at the man who had just gotten back up—Aldrich Killian.
"Colonel Rhodes, clear the area!"
"Working on it!"
War Machine's shoulder-mounted machine gun spat fire, riddling several Extremis soldiers attempting to approach.
Killian let out a beastly roar, breathing fire from his mouth. "I am a God!"
"No, you're just an idiot who needs to cool down."
Tony's voice came from inside the suit.
A thick blue Impact beam instantly engulfed Killian, followed by Steve's spinning shield, which precisely severed one of his arms.
The explosion's flames shot skyward.
Tony landed on the deck, his faceplate retracting to reveal a face covered in soot.
"Party's over. Seriously, Captain, interested in an iced U.S. coffee?"
"No time, Tony, we still have to go to Washington."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm wanted by S.H.I.E.L.D."
"?"
A quinjet landed in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Washington.
As Tony, Steve, and Rhodes stepped off the plane, they saw Natasha waiting.
"Things are bad."
Natasha got straight to the point.
"Fury is 'dead,' Pierce is HYDRA, and he's activated the Insight Project."
Steve's expression immediately darkened.
"The Insight Project? That big thing flying in the sky?"
Tony frowned.
"I thought that was just a deterrence project."
"Three Helicarriers, connected to the Zola Algorithm, will launch in ninety minutes, locking onto and eliminating millions of targets worldwide deemed 'threats' by HYDRA."
Natasha handed him a tablet.
"This is Fury's last message."
Just then, another person emerged from the shadows of the warehouse, carrying a bow and arrows.
"Looks like we need more hands."
Hawkeye Clint Barton walked out, followed by a man wearing a hood that obscured most of his face.
The man removed his hood, revealing his iconic bald head and single eye.
"I think it's time for me, a dead man, to go back to work."
Nick Fury's voice was still hoarse... Triskelion Headquarters, World Security Council office.
Alexander Pierce was holding a glass of champagne, admiring the three Helicarriers slowly ascending outside the window, an uncontrollable smile on his face.
The office door was pushed open.
Pierce didn't turn his head.
"I said, don't disturb me while I'm enjoying this historic moment."
"I'm afraid not, Alexander."
A familiar voice made Pierce's body stiffen instantly.
He spun around, seeing the man who should have been in a grave.
Nick Fury was aiming a pistol at his head.
"Nick? You..."
"Save your bullshit about 'order through fear' for the devil."
There was no ripple in Fury's single eye.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Fury pulled the trigger twice without hesitation, watching his former mentor and friend fall into a pool of blood.
He took out his communicator.
"Target eliminated. Rogers, it's up to you."
On the Helicarrier.
Captain America charged towards the main console, but a dark figure blocked his path.
Metal arm, red five-pointed star.
Winter Soldier.
The two instantly engaged in a fierce close-quarters battle.
After a violent collision, the Winter Soldier's mask was knocked off, revealing a face that was both familiar and strange.
Steve was thunderstruck, his movements momentarily frozen.
"Bucky?"
"Who's Bucky?"
The Winter Soldier's eyes were icy, and he threw a punch.
"Captain, look out!"
War Machine's cannon was aimed at Bucky.
"Rhodes, don't shoot!"
Steve roared, blocking Bucky's attack with his shield and pinning him down.
"He's my friend!"
On the other side, Tony and Natasha had already rushed into the data center.
"No time for a physical shutdown! We have to upload the counter-program!"
Natasha inserted the USB drive brought back by Bronski into the main console.
"Upload will take one minute! But the Helicarrier will be in firing position in one minute!"
Tony shouted, his arm-mounted repulsor rays continuously shooting down approaching Hydra Soldiers.
"Then buy me one minute!"
Steve's voice came through the communicator, accompanied by intense metallic clashes.
The progress bar slowly crawled across the screen.
"98%... 99%..."
"Tony! Firing countdown ten seconds!"
Rhodes' voice was filled with anxiety.
"100%! Upload successful!"
The massive cannons of the three Helicarriers had already lit up with deadly light, but a second before firing, all the lights instantly extinguished.
Their targeting systems began to furiously turn on each other, locking on and firing.
Three giant fireworks bloomed in the sky.
Tony slumped onto the debris-strewn deck, his armor disassembling; he was too exhausted to move a single finger.
His private phone rang.
"Tony? It's Bruce."
Dr. Banner's voice sounded somewhat confused.
"I just saw on the news that Washington's sky was like fireworks, and I saw you guys. Need any help?"
Tony looked at the mess around him, the distant falling Helicarrier wreckage still emitting black smoke, and Steve trying to dig his friend, Bucky, out of the rubble.
He sighed, speaking weakly into the phone.
"Help? Sure."
"Order me a few shawarmas, deliver them to the Avengers Tower. Yes, the same place we ate last time."
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