The Avengers Assemble

by Thomas Macri

  Tossing caution to the wind, he zoomed out of his house and into the night sky—shaky at first, but very quickly getting the hang of it. He swooped over the city, over the sea, and around office towers—it was the most amazing feeling Tony had ever experienced.

  Once he became comfortable in his suit, he quickly put it to good use. His first mission would be the most obvious—he planned to return to Afghanistan, to the area where he’d been held captive, and help the people in Yinsen’s village. Tony was successful on this first mission, but unfortunately he caught the eye of the US Air Force—and his friend Rhodey. The military wasn’t happy about the idea of a maverick fighting unauthorized on war-torn foreign soil.

  Worse, his actions caught the attention of Obadiah Stane, who was fed up with Tony and, it came to light, had been for some time now. Tony discovered that Obadiah was the person who had set up his kidnapping in Afghanistan. Obadiah wanted Tony out of the way so he could take control of Stark Industries. And he would stop at nothing to achieve that goal. Obadiah flew back to Afghanistan to retrieve Tony’s original armor, improve on it, and create an armor bigger, more powerful, and fitted with an unimaginable array of weapons.

  Obadiah soon had his suit. It was the very thing he needed to finish off Tony. It was three times as large as the Iron Man suit. Obadiah attacked Tony at Stark Industries. After a long battle, where Obadiah often had the upper hand, Tony, with the help of Pepper, overloaded the building’s tremendous Arc Reactor and blasted Obadiah off the roof.

  The power surge caused blackouts all over the city and sent a stream of light into the sky over LA so bright that it lit up the night like a noontime sun. This one was not going to go unnoticed.

  Tony had won his battle, but he sure had some explaining to do.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  TONY STEPPED UP to the podium. He had been briefed by Pepper, his PR team, Rhodey, and Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. The story reported to the public was to be that there had been an electronic malfunction at Stark Labs the night before and a robotic prototype malfunctioned and caused damage to the Arc Reactor. With all of the fantastic innovations that Stark Industries had produced, the hope was that this story would fly.

  S.H.I.E.L.D. had covered up Obadiah’s demise, writing it off as a small-craft accident while Stane vacationed. With Rhodey setting the stage for Tony’s press conference, Mr. Stark, as smooth as ever, was set to explain away the events of the previous night. The newspapers were calling the armored figure “Iron Man,” and the name was taking hold. Tony liked it, and thought it was catchy—if a little inaccurate, since the suit was not iron, but a powerful alloy. Still, Tony was prepared to brush off “Iron Man” and preserve his secret identity.

  “Uh, it’s been a while since I’ve been in front of you; I figured I’ll stick to the cards this time,” Tony began.

  The audience, many of them reporters who had attended Tony’s previous press conference, rippled with laughter. Tony cleared his throat.

  “There’s been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and the rooftop.…”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Stark,” a female reporter cut him off, “but do you honestly expect us to believe that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared despite that fact that you…”

  “I know that it’s confusing; it is one thing to question the official story and another thing entirely to make wild accusations or insinuate that I’m a Super Hero.”

  “I never said you’re a Super Hero.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “Uh-uh.”

  “Well, good, because that would be outlandish and, uh, fantastic. I-I’m just not the hero type. Clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I’ve made, largely, um, public.”

  Rhodey whispered to Tony to stick to the script and Tony nodded.

  “The truth is,” Tony continued, then paused, with his eyes locked on his cue cards for an eternal instant.

  “I am Iron Man.”

  ASGARD

  One could say that the Realm of Asgard is far from Earth, but that would not be entirely accurate. For the distance between Asgard and Earth is measured not in meters or miles. The journey from one point to the other cannot be traveled by placing one foot before the other, or by flying an aircraft. The two exist on opposite sides of the Bifrost wormhole.

  It is much easier for Asgardians to travel to Midgard, which is what Earth is called on Asgard, then it is for Earth-lings to travel to Asgard. Asgardians can travel relatively easily between Realms. And if Asgardians can do something, you can be certain they will. So, to put it plainly, the people of Asgard have, and still do, travel to Midgard. They do this by journeying over the Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge that can transport them to any of the Nine Realms.

  With the long history of intimate contact between Asgardians and humans came some misunderstandings. Humans have called the beings of Asgard everything from demons and monsters to angels and gods for the abilities they possess. Asgard has found a place in human literature, history, culture, and lore. Thursday, to take one example, is named for Thor, son of Odin, Allfather of Asgard.

  Like any father and son, Odin and Thor enjoyed a complex relationship. Odin loved his son and wanted what was best for him. But Thor was stubborn, proud, and arrogant. On the day that Odin was to bequeath the throne to Thor, a great banquet was held with all Asgardian royalty present—including Thor’s mother, Frigga, and his younger brother, Loki. The kingdom was at peace with its neighbors, and all were set to celebrate with a great feast. Thor’s closest companions were in attendance as well: Fandrall, Volstagg, and Hogun—together called the War-riors Three—and the Lady Sif, a proud and skilled warrior.

  At the very moment that Odin was to bestow the crown unto Thor, a chill frosted the throne room’s very air. The Asgardians looked about them. A chill like this—one that stabbed at your bones—was not common in Asgard, and it could only mean one thing. Frost Giants must be near. The icy blue inhabitants of Asgard’s oldest enemy, the land of Jotunheim, must have somehow entered the Realm despite the truce between the kingdoms.

  Odin, Thor, and Sif rushed from the throne room to the Vault, where all the greatest treasures of Asgard were kept. Sheets of ice covered the walls, and the Vault’s sentries had fallen prey to an onslaught of ice. A giant suit of armor known as the Destroyer, powered by Odin’s very life force, stood at the far end of the Vault. The Destroyer’s only directive was to protect Asgard and its people. When a threat was posed, the Odinforce within the Destroyer would burn bright and lay waste to the threat. It had done that now—and recovered what the Frost Giants had intended to take: the Casket of Ancient Winters. Laufey, king of Jotunheim, once tried to use the casket to cover all Nine Realms with ice, so that he might rule over them. Odin and the Asgardian armies had battled for the Casket and won, then secured it in the Vault so that it might never again be misused.

  Thor was furious about the Frost Giants’ attack. To him, this was clearly an act of war.

  Odin reminded his son that Asgard and Jotunheim had a truce. Who was to say that Laufey ordered this attack? How could Thor know that these Frost Giants were not acting of their own accord? How would Thor have Asgard respond? Odin asked.

  Thor replied that he would march to Jotunheim and teach them a lesson, just as Odin had once done.

  Odin fiercely forbid it. No Asgardian would travel to Jotunheim and jeopardize the peace that both Realms had recently enjoyed.

  Thor was enraged. His nostrils flared—along with his famous temper. He shouted, overturned banquet tables in the now-empty hall, and smashed anything in his way.

  His friends had seen him like this before—it was not atypical behavior for him. Thor grabbed his fabled hammer, Mjolnir, which was cast from the heart of a dying star. He studied the incredibly powerful weapon and told his friends and his brother, Loki, that they were going to Jotunheim.

  His friends pleaded with him. Of all the laws of Asgard, this wa
s the one he must not break.

  But Thor’s mind had been made up. He asked for his friends’ trust. This was something they must do.

  The Warriors Three and Lady Sif reluctantly agreed, and Loki joined them. As they headed out toward the Bifost, they feared they would live to regret this action and trembled at the thought of Odin’s rage coming down upon them.

  All of them quaked with fright, except for Thor: Thor the mighty. Thor the arrogant. Thor the foolish.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  TONY TOOK THE ELEVATOR to this penthouse apartment and punched in his security code.

  “J.A.R.V.I.S.?”

  “Welcome home, sir.”

  Strange. J.A.R.V.I.S. didn’t turn on the lights for Tony upon his arrival, as he normally would. Tony knew something was wrong.

  “I am Iron Man,” a flat and sardonic voice came from the shadows on the far side of the room. “You think you’re the only Super Hero in the world? Mr. Stark, you’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet.”

  Tony noticed the shadows shifting near the area where the voice was coming from. He balled his fists and readied himself for a fight.

  “And exactly who are you?” Tony asked as the figure moved closer.

  “Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” the voice said as its owner stepped out of the shadows. He was a tall, formidable looking man, who wore a patch over his left eye—an eye that was scarred by what looked like the claws of a ferocious animal.

  “Huh…” Tony said, still on guard.

  “I’m here to talk to you about the Avenger Initia-tive.”

  JOTUNHEIM

  Five great warriors of Asgard traversed the frozen landscape of Jotunheim. Thor led them toward Laufey, king of the Realm’s Frost Giants. The son of Odin was determined, filled with a euphoria he only experienced on adventures such as these.

  The party accompanying Thor was not quite as thrilled with the experience. Most did not agree with Thor’s decision to defy Odin’s orders, but joined him because they were loyal friends. As they trudged over the ice-covered soil of Jotunheim, they learned that even the fiercest warriors of Asgard could fall prey to a chill so painful as to burrow into their bones and make it seem as though their limbs might snap from their bodies.

  The warriors knew nothing of their course. They anticipated the battle would come to them once the Frost Giants discerned that Asgardians had entered Jotunheim. From what they could observe through a blizzard, they were journeying through an endless, barren landscape of ice. Not a soul was to be seen.

  But then the giants began to emerge, seemingly from the landscape itself. They surrounded the Asgardians and squinted their glowing amber eyes as they asked what business they had in Jotunheim. Thor raised his head arrogantly and told them he would speak only to their king. And with that, Laufey, king of Jotunheim, appeared. His skin was a pale blue, like that of the other Frost Giants, but he towered over even the other Jotuns.

  Thor asked Laufey how it was that Frost Giants came to enter Asgard. Laufey replied that Odin’s house was full of traitors. This disparaging comment angered Thor, and he threateningly raised Mjolnir. Loki urged his brother to calm down. They were outnumbered. They should return home.

  The Frost Giants extended their arms, which became encased in swordlike shapes of rock-hard ice. The Asgardians rallied around Thor, readying their own weapons.

  For a moment time became still, palpable. And then a brutal battle erupted between the two parties. Ice splintered and shattered as it was smashed by Asgardian and Jotun weaponry. As the battle continued, it also escalated. The scene was more horrible than any battlefield on which the warriors had ever fought before. It seemed that nothing would end this confrontation save the totally annihilation of every living being fighting in it.

  And then, the sky became charged with energy, as Odin rode his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, down from the telltale Bifrost portal onto Jotunheim. He was fitted in golden battle gear and carried his all-powerful staff, Gungnir. He urged Laufey to join him in condemning the battle, but Laufey refused. All of Odin’s efforts—his wise leadership, his diplomacy—had been in vain. The truce he’d worked so hard to secure was broken. And his son, Thor, next in line for the throne of Asgard, was to blame.

  Odin slammed his staff on the ground, sending the Frost Giants toppling. At the same time, he commanded the Asgardians back over the Bifrost and home to Asgard.

  CHAPTER NINE

  HIGH ABOVE THE SEA in his cliff-side Malibu residence with beautiful views, Tony was sparring with his pal and chauffer, Hogan. Though at the current time, Hogan was feeling more like a punching bag than a pal.

  “What the heck was that?” he barked at Tony, who had just walloped him upside the head.

  “It’s called mixed martial arts. It’s been around for three…weeks…now.”

  “It’s called ‘dirty boxing’, and there’s nothing new about it!” Hogan replied.

  Before Hogan could throw another punch, a stunningly beautiful woman with deep red hair and dressed in business attire entered the room with a portfolio. She glanced expressionless toward Tony and Hogan and strode over to Pepper, opening the portfolio and presenting her with the papers inside.

  “I promise you this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company,” Pepper said to Tony as she began to sign the papers. She loved teasing him now that Tony had decided to put her in charge of Stark Industries. He figured he had enough on his plate to begin with, and had to face the fact that Pepper had sort of been running the place all along.

  “I need you to initial each box and sign on the X’s,” the woman told Pepper.

  As Pepper signed, the woman looked over toward Tony and Hogan’s exercise. Tony clearly had the upper hand due to his amazing flexibility and natural agility.

  Tony noticed the woman staring. Never shy, Tony pointed at her.

  “What’s your name, lady?”

  “Rushman. Natalie Rushman,” she responded.

  “Front and center, enter the church,” Tony said, inviting her into the ring.

  “No, you’re not going to…” Pepper protested.

  “It’s fine,” Natalie said, as she folded the portfolio neatly and carried it with her to the ring.

  “I’m sorry…he’s just…very…eccentric…” Pepper said.

  Tony lifted the ring’s ropes and Natalie stepped in. The two stared at each other for an awkward, silent moment. Then Tony turned to Hogan and asked him to give her a lesson.

  With Natalie otherwise occupied, Tony left the ring and sat down next to Pepper.

  “Who is she?” he asked Pepper.

  “She is from legal.”

  “I need an assistant, boss.”

  “Yes, I have three excellent candidates lined up for you.”

  “I don’t have time to meet them,” Tony said, wiping sweat from his brow. “I need someone now. I feel like it’s her.”

  “No it’s not,” Pepper replied.

  While Tony executed a web search on Ms. Rushman and argued the many reasons she was qualified to be his assistant, an unexpected crash sounded from the direction of the ring.

  Tony and Pepper looked up. Natalie had flipped Hogan down, rolled on top of him, twisted her legs into a position that looked nearly physically impossible, and pinned him to the ring in a powerful leg-lock.

  Pepper screamed and Tony yelped, rushing over to the ring.

  “I…just, uh, slipped,” Hogan said to cover for himself as Natalie slid out of the ring.

  “I need your impression,” Natalie told Tony.

  “Quiet reserve, I don’t know, you have an old soul…”

  “I meant your fingerprint.…”

  “Right.”

  She handed Tony the forms that Pepper had signed and Tony pressed his finger down to seal the deal. He turned to Pepper.

  “You’re the boss,” he said.

  “Will that be all, Mr. Stark?” Natalie asked.

  “Yes, that wil
l be all, Ms. Rushman. Thank you very much,” Pepper answered for her former boss—who was now her employee. Then she smiled at Tony as he watched Natalie walk gracefully from the room.

  ASGARD

  Odin could not contain his anger at his son. The Allfather was enraged. He told Thor that he was a vain, greedy, cruel boy. Thor retorted that his father was an old man and a fool. Odin agreed that he had been a fool—to think Thor was ready for the throne of Asgard. He told Thor that he was unworthy of the Realm of Asgard, unworthy of his title. Odin stripped Thor of his armor, his title, and his hammer, all of which would be returned to Thor if he proved himself worthy.

  And then Odin, in all his rage screamed, “In the name of my father and of his father before, I cast you out!” He then uttered an incantation that would forever change not only his son, but Asgard and Midgard as well: “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  TONY WAS TIRED and weary. Ever since his first mission in Afghanistan, the government had been on his case about the Iron Man suit. They felt strongly it should be theirs, not Tony’s, to own. It all culminated in a party-gone-bad the night before, when Rhodey had taken one of the Iron Man suits to deliver it to the military. This was, of course, against Tony’s wishes, and the whole thing had turned into pretty big mess, especially when Rhodey put on the armor and battled Tony—who was wearing his. Two Iron Men blasting each other with repulsors did not a pleasant scene make!

  To make matters worse, Tony had received a call from Colonel Fury saying he’d like to meet with him. Tony, still wearing his Iron Man suit from the night before, chose a place as good as any other: while Tony was waiting, he decided to spend his time the best way possible—enjoying a box of freshly baked doughnuts on top of a doughnut shop, reclining comfortably inside the huge hole of the tremendous plaster doughnut that sat on the roof.