Stairway to the Stars

07

Steve, Bea, Bucky and Sam arrived outside the chamber. Red emergency lights flashed all around. There were numerous agents slumped on the floor. All of them were out cold.

"Help me," Zemo begged. "Help."

Steve and Bucky found Zemo in a heap inside the chamber and ordered, "Get up." He grabbed Zemo and shoved him against the wall. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"To see an empire fall."

As Sam and Bea entered, Phillip swung his fist which smashed through the wall and he ducked. He grabbed Sam by the jaw and threw him at the open pod. Before he could attack Bea, she ran backwards toward Sam and pointed a gun at him. Steve and Bucky lurched into the fight and landed two punches which Phillip barely felt. Phillip kicked and punched Steve and Bucky out of the chamber. A punch from Phillip went through the elevator door. Steve blocked the next one, but the power of Phillip's fist sent Steve tumbling into the darkened elevator shaft.

Sam came around to Bea shaking him and spotted Zemo looking down the elevator shaft.

A Man on PA #1 said, "Der Ostflügel ist kompromittiert. Ich wiederhole: Der Ostflügel ist kompromittiert."

(The east wing is compromised. I repeat: the east wing is compromised.)

"Hey," Sam called.

Zemo bolted and Sam rose. At the bottom of the shaft, Steve pushed himself off the floor.

CONTROL ROOM

"Evac all citizens," Secretary Ross ordered. "Get me a perimeter around the building and gunships in the air."

"Please tell me you brought a suit," Natasha said.

"Sure did," Tony replied. "It's a lovely Tom Ford, three-piece, two-button. I'm an active-duty non-combatant."

"Follow me," Sharon instructed, running past Tony and Natasha.

Sam chased Zemo up a stairwell.

Steve started climbing the elevator shaft.

Phillip stalked through the building's ground floor. He battered two guards. With tech-glasses, Tony took cover behind a pillar.

Natasha said over the radio, "We're in position."

Tony tapped a wrist-control which became his Iron Man-glove. He zapped Phillip with a stun-burst before he could shoot a guard. Tony rushed him, firing again. Phillip ducked the blast, then traded blows with Tony, firing the gun. Tony had the Iron Man-glove over the barrel, blocking the bullet. He pulled the gun barrel loose then Phillip smacked him backwards. Sharon rushed Phillip, then Natasha rushed Phillip. They both landed kicks and punches, then Phillip flipped Sharon head over heels. She smashed onto a table and Natasha leapt on Phillip, legs around his neck. He slammed her onto another table and grabbed her throat.

"You could at least recognize me," Natasha managed to say.

T'Challa came from nowhere and kicked Phillip off Natasha who gasped for air. He fought with Phillip, landing lightning fast kicks and some punches. Phillip got a counter punch in and T'Challa fell, but quickly recovered. Phillip hurried up some stairs. T'Challa leapt the levels and vaulted a railing, landing in front of Phillip. Limber T'Challa spin-kicked and grabbed his metal arm which he tried to twist then looked worried as he realized it wasn't going to work. He threw Phillip backwards and kept hold as they both tumbled down the stairs. They resumed fighting on the small landing and a leg sweep sent Bucky over the railing. T'Challa leapt down after him, but found the wide reception empty. He scanned around.

Outside, staff fled the building en masse. Sam was among them and quickly spotted something on the ground. He picked it up.

"Damn it," Sam muttered as he looked around the wide courtyard and scowled.