Once Upon a December

07

EARTH

The Quinjet arrived at the upstate New York Avengers HQ while Rhodey dealt with the red tape in the holographic person of Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (Lt. Gen., USA Ret.).

"Still no word from Vision?" Ross asked.

"Satellites lost him somewhere over Edinburgh," Rhodey replied.

"On a stolen Quinjet with four of the world's most wanted criminals."

"You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?"

"My God, Rhodes, your talent for horse shit rivals my own."

"If it weren't for those Accords, Vision would've been right here."

"I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel."

Rhodey, sounding a little bitter, said, "That's right. And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that."

"You have second thoughts?"

"Not anymore."

The fugitive Avengers entered the room, Vision supported by Sam.

"Mr. Secretary," Steve called.

"You got some nerve," Secretary Ross said. "I'll give you that."

"You could use some of that right now," Natasha told him.

"The world's on fire. And you think, all is forgiven?"

"I'm looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight." Steve took a step forward, looking right at Ross. "And if you wanna stand in our way... we'll fight you, too."

Secretary Ross said to Rhodey, "Arrest them."

"All over it," Rhodey replied, swiping off hologram and the computer beeped twice. "That's a court-martial. It's great to see you, Cap."

Steve hugged Rhodey. "You too, Rhodey." Natasha got her own embrace.

"Well. You guys really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years."

"Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five star," Sam said.

"Uh, I think you look great," Bruce complimented as Rhodey and Natasha long rounded to see Bruce walking in from the opposite end of the room. "Uh... heh... Yeah. I'm back."

"Hi, Bruce," Natasha greeted.

"Nat."

Sam whispered, "This is awkward."

ANOTHER ROOM

"So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" Rhodey questioned.

"And they can clearly find us," Wanda said.

"We need all hands on deck," Bruce told the group. "Where's Clint?"

"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal," Natasha replied. "It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest."

"Who's Scott?"

"Ant-Man," Steve answered.

"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man? Okay, look... Thanos has the biggest army in the universe. And he is not gonna stop until he... he gets... Vision's Stone."

"Well then, we have to protect it," Natasha reasoned.

"No, we have to destroy it," Vision corrected. "I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps... its molecular integrity could fail." He addressed Wanda as he neared her.

"And you, with it. We're not having this conversation," Wanda told him.

"Eliminating the Stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it."

"That's too high a price."

Vision took her face gently in both hands. "Only you have the power to pay it." Wanda walked away, distressed. "Thanos threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him."

Steve, diverted down, said, "But it should." He looked up at Vision and added, "We don't trade lives, Vision."

Vision walked toward Steve as he said, "Captain, 70 years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?"

Steve took a breath, but before he had a chance to answer, Bruce spoke.

"Because you might have a choice," Bruce answered. "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. JARVIS, Ultron, Tony, me, the Stone. All of them mixed together. All of them learning from one another."

"You're saying Vision isn't just the Stone?" Wanda asked.

"I'm saying that if we take out the Stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts."

"Can we do that?" Natasha questioned.

"Not me. Not here."

"You better find someone, and somewhere fast," Rhodey said. "Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back."

Steve replied, "I know somewhere."

RURAL WAKANDA

King T'Challa and Okoye walked together, accompanied by two Kingsguard.

"You'll have the Kingsguard, and the Dora Milaje have been alerted," Okoye said.

"And the Border Tribe?" T'Challa inquired.

"Those that are left."

"Send word to the Jabari as well. M'Baku likes a good fight."

"And what of these ones?"

"These ones may be tired of war." Bucky was throwing a bag from a pile on the ground onto a partly-filled cart, while two village children, standing near Nessa, watched. "But the White Wolf and the Ruby Widow have rested long enough."

The party reached Bucky and Nessa. A Kingsguard-man set an elaborate and high-tech-looking equipment case down on the cart, opened the lid, and stepped back. As the Winter Soldier and Nessa approached, he saw a new Vibranium arm in the case.

Bucky, with resignation, asked, "Where's the fight?"

"On its way," T'Challa replied.

Bucky stared at the Vibranium arm, then back to his left stump.

Nessa rubbed a hand up and down Bucky's back and he took her hand.