Glory and Gore [3]

Chapter 3: Sokovia Accords

Third Person POV-
"Five years ago... I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my backswing. Turned out it was the best round of my life, because after 13 hours of surgery and a triple bypass... I found something 40 years in the Army had never taught me." Secretary Ross paused to make sure he still had everyone's attention.

"Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt. You have fought for us... protected us, risked your lives... but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some... who would prefer the word "vigilantes"." He finished.

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" The BlackWidow asked.

"How about "dangerous"? What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals... who routinely ignore sovereign borders... and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?" Ross says as he displays a map on a big screen, zooming on to a city. "New York. " He starts before he moves on. "Washington DC." "Sokovia." "Lagos." As soon as he says this Wanda turns in her chair.

"That's enough." Steve said seeing Wanda's discomfort.

"For the past four years you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." He says putting a thick document on the table.

"The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries... it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary." Ross states before crossing his arms.

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve protested in a calm manner.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes... you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground." Secretary Ross countered.

"So, there are contingencies. " James Rhodes asked.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over." As the Secretary says this Steve glances over at Tony. 

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asks. "Then you retire." Ross answers. Natasha stifles a smile.

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor which is one more than you have." Rhodey says. "So let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?"

"A 117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, "No, that's cool. We got it." This is bigger than that." Elli says mocking Sam. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Steve shoot her a look of hurt.

"How long are you going to play both sides?" Sam asks glaring at her.

"I have an equation." Vision says speaking up.
"Oh, this will clear it up." Sam says in a sarcastic tone. Vision ignores him. "In the 8 years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate."

"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve asks.
"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe. Oversight... Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand." Vision explains.

"Boom." Rhodey says with a look of triumph. "Tony. You're being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal." Natasha says looking over to Tony.
"It's because he's already made up his mind." Steve says.

"Boy, you know me so well." He gets up and winces. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort." He says before adding. "Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" He touches his phone and the photo of a smiling, young man appears on a holografic screen. "Oh, that's Charles Spencer by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA. Had a floor level gig at Intel planned for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles on his soul... before he parked it behind a desk. See the world. Maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale, which is what I would do. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam, which sounds fun. He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where, Sokovia." The others look shocked. "He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass." He takes a pill with some coffee, folds his arms and faces the others. "There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys."

"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." Steve says.

"Who said we're giving up?" Tony asks.

"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blames." Steve says.
"I'm sorry. Steve. That... That is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not SHIELD, nor HYDRA."

"No, but it's run by people with agendas and agendas change." Steve says trying to convince him.

"That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing." Tony says.

"Tony, you chose to do that. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own." Steve says leadership showing.

"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty." Tony says.

"You're saying they'll come for Raven and I." Wanda speaks up.

"We would protect both of you." Vision says. "Speaking of which where is she?" Tony asked. "Cuba." Steve replied.

"Maybe Tony's right. If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off..." Natasha started before she was interrupted by Sam. "Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?"

"I'm just... reading the terrain. We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back." She says.

"Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?" Tony asks in a slightly shocked tone.

"Oh, I want to take it back now." She says.

"No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Okay, case closed - I win." Tony says.

Steve stares at his phone. A text message reads: 'She's gone. In her sleep.'