"It threw both of us off, maybe if I had paid more attention I could have controlled the situation better"
"We could play the What if game all day, the fact is what happened, happened"
It's time to choose sides, and knowing the outcome is hard on s...
We left Wanda's room and entered the conference room to join the others. We sit down at the table with Tony as well as James Rhodes. Secretary Ross is looking at all of us. "Five years ago I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my back swing. 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: Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an unplayable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked our lives..but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some..who would prefer the word 'vigilantes'" he says as he walks around us.
"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha asks "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?" He says. He then activated a screen causing news footage to appear.
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"New York" He says and we watch a Chitauri leviathan attacking, citizens terrified. The Hulk smashing into a building. I give Nat a look, at seeing Bruce. "Washington DC" He says and the footage changes. We watch the Insight helicarriers firing at each other. The Triskelion being destroyed. The helicarrier Steve, Bucky and I had been on crashing into the Potomac engulfing citizens in water. Sam looks down and I grab Steve's hand squeezing it.
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"Sokovia" Ross says changing the footage again. We watch the terrified citizens, the city rising, buildings toppling over.
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"Lagos" He says and we see the burning building. I can see the footage is fully affecting Wanda and I reach over placing a hand on her shoulder. "Okay that's enough" Steve says seeing how it was hurting Wanda. Ross nods to an aide and footage is turned off.
"For the last four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the government of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution" He says as he places a think document on the table. Wanda takes it, looks at it before passing it onto James.
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"The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries.. It states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead they'll operate under under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel seems it necessary" Ross says as he walks around the table.
"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that" Steve says to Ross. "Tell me Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now" Ross asks and Steve looks up at him. "If I misplaced a couple 30 megaton nukes..you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise, Reassurance. That's how the world worlds. Believe me, this is the middle ground" Ross says as he goes back to the front of the table. "So there are contingencies" James says. "Three days from now the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords" Ross tells us. Steve glances at Tony who looks down. "Talk it over" Ross says as he starts to walk away. "And if come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asks him. "Then you retire" he says before leaving.
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Looking at one another we decide to move to our more comfortable seating area. I sit on the edge of the chair Steve sits on as he has the accords in his hands and begins to look them over. "Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honour, which is one more that you have" I hear James say. "So let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they Lo-Jack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam asks him.
"117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam and your just like 'No, that's cool. We got it'" James says back to him.
"How long are you going to play both sides?" Sam asks.
"I have an equation" Vision pipes up saying. "Oh, this will clear it up" Sam sarcastically says. "In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself 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" Vision says. "Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve asks. "I'm saying there may be a casualty. Our very strength invited challenge. Challenges incites conflict. And conflict.. breeds catastrophe. Oversight..oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand" Vision says. "Boom!" James then says.
I look over at Tony who has his hand over his face. "Tony, you are behind uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal" I say as he moves his hand to look at me. "It's because he's already made up his mind" Steve says looking up at me. "Boy, you know me so well" Tony says as he gets up and rubs the back of his neck. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache" Tony says as he walks over to the kitchen area and grabs a mug. "That's what's going on Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal" he asks as he goes through the cupboards. "Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" He says as he then tosses his phone in the basket and a picture of a young man appears.
