A Soldier's Journey

Part 25: A New Enemy

"Whatever, it's a trick." Clint says as we all sit around the table with Thor's hammer sitting on top.
"No, no, it's much more than that." Thor says.
"Ah, whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power." Clint mocks. Thor laughs. "Whatever man, It's a trick!"
"Please, be my guest." Thor says gesturing to his hammer.
"Come on." Tony says.
"Really?" Clint asks. "Yeah." Clint starts to stand up and walk over to the hammer.
"This should be interesting." I say.
"This is gonna be beautiful." Rhodey says.
"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony says mockingly.
"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint says to Thor. Clint grips onto the hammer and lifts with all his strength. The hammer doesn't budge.
Clint laughs. "I still don't know how you do it." Clint says.
"Smell the silent judgment?" Tony asks jokingly.
"Please, Stark, by all means." Clint says. Tony gets up out of his seat. "Never one to shrink from an honest challenge." Tony says. He walks to the hammer.
"Right, so if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?" Tony asks.
"Yes, of course." Thor says.
"I will be reinstituting prima nocta." Tony says. The hammer once again doesn't budge. "I'll be right back." Tony walks away and comes back with his Iron man hand on. He attempts to lift the hammer again and fails. Rhodey joins him with his suit hand on.
"Are you even pulling?" Rhodey asks.
"Are you on my team?" Tony asks.
"Just represent, pull." Rhodey says. The two of them try to lift the hammer, but it doesn't move. Bruce tries to lift it. He groans trying to bring out the Hulk's strength, but the hammer still doesn't move.
Tony then looks at me. "What do you say Disney Princess?" He asks. I roll my eyes and get off the couch. Wrapping my hand around the hammer, I lift with all of my strength, but it's as if the hammer is part of the table. The hammer doesn't move a centimeter. I take a step back and try to lift it with my telekinesis, but it still doesn't move. I lift my hands in front of me and try to blow away the hammer, but, shocker, doesn't move. I sigh and lower my hands. "Well, I'm out of tricks." I say, causing everyone to laugh. I sit back down beside Steve and he gets up and walk towards the hammer. He rolls up his sleeves and wraps his hands around the handle.

When he pulls on the hammer, it moves. It actually moved. He wasn't able to lift it, but it still moved. I look over at Thor who's entertained smile is gone and has been replaced by a shocked and confused expression. Steve raises his hands in defeat. Thor chuckles nervously. "Nothing." He says, raising his glass. Steve sits next to me again, throwing his arm over my shoulders.

Tony clears his throat. "And, Widow?" Bruce asks. "Oh no, that's not a question that I need answered." She says, drinking her beer. "All deference to the Man Who Wouldn't Be KIng, but it's rigged." Tony says. "You bet your ass." Clint says. "Steve, he said a bad language word." Mariah says, making me break out in laughter. "Did you tell everyone about that?" Steve asks Tony. "The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints is, I think, the literal translation." Tony says. "Yes. It's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one. You're all not worthy." Thor says, picking up his hammer, making everyone groan in disagreement. "Oh, come on!" Tony groans.

Suddenly, a loud high-pitched noise fills the room. "Worthy." Someone says quietly. We all turn to the entrance of the room. A large robot, taller than even Thor, comes into our view. It's glowing light blue in some areas and is covered in some sort of ropes. We all stand at the sight and Steve gently pushes me behind him, covering me from the robot. "No. How could you be worthy? You're all killers." The robot says. "Stark." Steve says calmly, not taking his gaze off the possible threat. "Jarvis." Tony says.

"I'm sorry, I was asleep. Or I was a dream." The robot says. "Reboot Legionnaire OS. We got a buggy suit." Tony says quietly to his device, which isn't giving a response. "There was this terrible noise. And I was tangles in...In...Strings." The robot says as he examines his body. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy." The robot says, making me tense. "You killed someone?" Steve asks. "Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we're faced with ugly choices." The robot mumbles, stumbling over his words. "Who sent you?" Thor asks. The robot then plays a recording of Tony's voice saying, I see a suit of armor around the world. "Ultron." Bruce says. "In the flesh. Or no, not yet. Not this chrysalis. But I'm ready. I'm on a mission." The robot says. We all tense and prepare, sensing what comes next. "What mission?" Nat asks. "Peace in our time." Ultron says.