Ironman: Fallen Shield

Look into it

The sleek lines of the Mark 42 cut through the night sky, the roar of the repulsors echoing through the desolate mountain range. Tony approaches the cabin with caution, his sensors scanning for any signs of danger. He lands a safe distance away, cloaking the suit and approaching on foot.

The cabin is small and rustic, a stark contrast to the high-tech world Tony inhabits. He approaches cautiously, his senses heightened. He can hear movement inside, the faint murmur of voices.

He activates his suit's thermal vision, peering through the walls. He sees Wilson, pacing back and forth, his face contorted in anger. He's on the phone, his voice a low growl.

"...it had to be done... a necessary sacrifice... the future of humanity..."

Tony's blood runs cold.

There's no doubt in his mind now. Wilson is the killer. He's the one who took Steve from them.

He bursts through the door, the force of his entry sending splinters flying. Wilson whirls around, startled, his eyes widening in recognition.

"Stark? What the hell...?"

"You killed him," Tony growls, his voice laced with fury.

"You killed Captain America."

Wilson's face hardens, a defiant glint in his eyes. "He was holding us back. He was a relic of the past, an obstacle to progress. He had to be eliminated."

Tony lunges forward, his repulsor beams firing. Wilson dives for cover, narrowly avoiding the blasts. The cabin erupts in chaos, furniture shattering, walls crumbling under the onslaught of Tony's attacks.

Wilson fights back, using his military training and enhanced abilities to evade Tony's attacks. But he's no match for the Iron Man suit. Tony corners him, pinning him against the wall with a repulsor blast.

"It's over, Wilson," Tony says, his voice cold and hard.

"You're going to pay for what you did."

Wilson struggles against the force of the repulsor beam, his face contorted in rage.

"You can't stop progress, Stark. The world is changing, and those who cling to the past will be left behind."

Tony stares at him, his anger giving way to a profound sadness. "You were his friend, Wilson. He trusted you. And you betrayed him."

He deactivates the repulsor beam, his grip tightening on Wilson's throat. "You're going to tell me everything. Why you did it, who helped you, everything."

Wilson gasps for air, his eyes filled with fear. He's about to speak when a sudden blast rocks the cabin. Tony is thrown back, his grip loosening. He looks up to see a figure standing in the doorway, a weapon smoking in their hand.

It's Sharon Carter, her face pale and drawn, her eyes filled with a chilling determination. "He's not going anywhere, Tony," she says, her voice trembling. "He's still got a part to play."

Tony stares at Sharon, his mind reeling. He hadn't sensed her presence, hadn't even considered the possibility of another player in this deadly game. He feels a surge of anger, but also a chilling sense of recognition. He knows that look in her eyes, the unwavering determination mixed with a hint of desperation.

"Sharon? What the hell are you doing here?" he demands, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Saving you from making another mistake, Tony," she replies, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hand. "Sam isn't the one you should be focusing on."

"He confessed!" Tony gestures towards Wilson, who is still struggling to catch his breath. "He admitted to killing Steve."

Sharon shakes her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "He's covering for someone, Tony. Someone he cares about."

"Who?" Tony demands, his frustration growing. "Who could possibly be worth sacrificing himself for?"

Sharon hesitates, her gaze flickering towards Wilson. He avoids her eyes, his face a mask of shame and resignation.

"It's me, Tony," a voice says from the shadows. A figure emerges, stepping into the dim light of the cabin. It's Maria Hill, her face pale and drawn, her eyes filled with a deep sadness.

Tony stares at her, his mind struggling to comprehend what he's seeing. "Maria? But... how?"

Maria sighs, her shoulders slumping. "It's a long story, Tony. One that involves HYDRA, brainwashing, and a desperate attempt to redeem myself."

She explains how she was captured by HYDRA years ago, subjected to their mind control techniques, and turned into a sleeper agent. She was activated recently, given the mission to assassinate Captain America.

"I didn't want to do it, Tony," she says, her voice breaking.

"But I didn't have a choice. They threatened to... to hurt people I cared about. People like Sam."

Tony looks at Wilson, who finally meets his gaze. "She's telling the truth, Tony. I found out about her mission, tried to stop her. But it was too late. She... she killed Steve."

He hangs his head, tears streaming down his face. "I couldn't let them hurt her, Tony. I couldn't let them take her away from me."

Tony feels a wave of conflicting emotions wash over him. Anger, betrayal, confusion, and a deep sense of sadness. He looks at Maria, her face etched with remorse, and he sees the woman he once knew, the loyal friend and trusted ally.

"Why, Maria?" he asks, his voice barely a whisper. "Why Steve?"

Maria closes her eyes, a tear escaping down her cheek.

"He was the symbol of everything HYDRA stands against. He represented hope, freedom, the very ideals they want to crush.

They wanted to make a statement, to show the world that no one is safe, not even Captain America."

She opens her eyes, meeting Tony's gaze. "I'm so sorry, Tony. I never wanted to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt any of you."

Tony stares at her, his mind racing. He wants to be angry, to lash out, to demand justice for Steve. But he also sees the pain in Maria's eyes, the guilt that consumes her. He knows that she's a victim too, a pawn in a larger game.

He takes a deep breath, trying to find the words to express the turmoil within him. "I don't know what to say, Maria. I don't know what to do."

Sharon steps forward, placing a hand on Tony's shoulder. "We need to get her out of here, Tony. HYDRA will be looking for her. They can't know she's failed."

Tony nods, his mind made up. He may not understand everything that's happened, but he knows one thing: he can't let Maria fall back into HYDRA's clutches. He owes that much to Steve, to Maria, to himself.

"Alright," he says, his voice firm. "We're getting you out of here. But then, we need to talk. We need to figure out what to do next."

He looks at Wilson, his expression softening. "And you," he says, "you're coming with us."

He activates his suit, the familiar hum a beacon of hope in the darkness. He knows the road ahead will be difficult, filled with challenges and uncertainties. But he also knows that he's not alone. He has his friends, his allies, and the memory of Steve Rogers to guide him.

And together, they will find a way to overcome this darkness and bring justice to the fallen hero.