Steve watched with wide eyes as Tony Shut off the communication. He hesitated just for a moment before he turned towards Hank Pym. The Doctor seemed to be in shock as much as him. But He really needed to know what was going on. To know that the left behind team members were ok.
"Doctor. What’s going on? What was happening at the tower? Was that T’Challa? But I know I just saw him come out of this lab just moments ago." Steve became annoyed as the doctor seemed intent on not listening to him as he hurriedly packed his stuff.
"Doctor! I need to know what going on!" Steve finally yelled. And for the first time he arrived in the Lab Doctor Pym acknowledged his presence by turning towards him.
"I don’t know what’s going on! So shut up so I can pack my things and figure that out!" Hank yelled back. He tried shoving everything on top of his desk inside his briefcase, but in the end the research papers littered the floor. As Hank made way to the floor to pick up the papers Rogers stopped him. Hank looked up to see the Previous Captain America glaring once again at him.
"Doctor please I need to know everything you do."
This man must be stupid! "How many times do I have to repeat myself. I don’t know! I don’t know what happened in the Tower. All I know is they were attacked. Now let me go!" Hank jerked his hands away and grabbed all the papers on the ground. Why was there a man that looked like the King of Wakanda there? How can that be? As far as he knows T’Challa was the only child. Maybe a hidden sibling? Or just a Look Alike? From T’Challa’s reaction he had guessed the look alike was the man they were discussing before Stark had interrupted. Hank had to figure out what was going on in Wakanda.
Steve didn’t know what to do. The Doctor refused to talk. He needed to know what happened! He turned around when he heard footsteps coming from outside the lab. He watched as Bucky and Scott hesitantly walk in.
"Hey Cap. Is everything ok in here?" Scott voice was weary as he spotted Hank packing everything up.
"No. Scott gather the rest of the Team we’re going back to New York." Steve answered.
Now that got everyone’s attention. Especially Hank’s.
"You are an idiotic man. You are the most wanted people in almost every country and you want to just waltz into the Tower?" Hank growled. This man was the leader of the Avengers? This man who apparently seemed to be controlled by his emotions? "Captain. Don’t make this any messier than it’s already going to be. The whole government is going to watch the Tower right now! Stay in Wakanda keep low!" Hank pushed past everyone in the room. He needed to make contact with Stark.
The other occupants in the room watched the Doctor leave. Steve was seething and the other two stood still awaiting for Steve’s commands.
"So… should I get the others? But what the hell is going on Cap?" The current Ant-Man looked weary once more. If Hank and Cap fought… He would side with Hank. After all he was the one who gave him this second chance.
"Someone attacked the Avenger Tower. I watched on the screen as Tony was being choked! Before I could get an answer from Tony he cut off communication. Bucky. I need to be there for him. Like I was there for you. I need to make sure He’s ok…"
Bucky saw the guilt on his best friend’s face. He could see Steve was kicking himself for whatever had occurred at the Tower. "If that’s what you want. Let’s go. You all risked arrest to go to New York to help me. Let’s go again and be there for your other team." He smiled. He would be there for Steve and Steve had been there for him all this time.
Steve watched as Scott and Bucky nod in agreement. "Ok get the others. We need to go help our friends."
"I’ll get them!" Scott raised his hand as he volunteered. The two super soldiers watched as the eager man run out of the lab.
"Thank you Bucky for understanding."
"No problem Steve. No problem."
XXX
Tony and the others stared at the communication screen as it blinked with incoming transmission.
Tony really didn’t want to accept. He was almost 99.9% sure that it will be Rogers. He did not want to be caught off guard as he had been moments before. But before he could stop Vision already clicked on the transmission. He closed his eyes and tried to turn away from the screen before he heard the person.
"Iron Man. I am on my way to New York at the moment. ETA is about 13 hours. Please connect me to the main frame of your PA system. I’ll command down my soldiers. They will know that they were tricked and stand down." T’Challa spoke swiftly through.
Tony breathed in a sigh of relief and nodded. "King T’Challa you are now on speaker. Go on and command your soldiers." FRIDAY connected T’Challa’s announcement through out the whole Tower. Tony tuned him out as he turned towards the bigger mystery that was currently unconscious on the floor of his lab.
He waited for T’Challa to be finished before he asked. "So mind telling us who he is?"
T’Challa looked hesitant "I will answer all questions when I arrive. So please be patient with me."
"Your highness if you do not tell us who he is right now, we will treat him as a hostile that he is. So I want an answer in 3 2 1." Tony had raised his fingers as he counted down. T’Challa sighed and gave in.
"He is me from another universe." There was silence in the lab for a moment before Peter decided to break it.
"That’s so cool! Another universe? That was going to be my next guess if cloning wasn’t right! Mr. Stark another universe! So that means there’s another me?" Peter bounced up and down as he leaned in closer to the other T’Challa.
Tony found himself frowning. Other universes. Aliens weren’t enough now he had to think about other universes! "So what he from the mirror universe and so he’s the evil T’Challa?" He sneered.
"No. He’s sick. I’ll explain more when I get there. This is a topic that shouldn’t be discussed over a hackable link. Please just be patient. I promise to tell you everything." T’Challa pleaded and Tony relented and decided to show him mercy.
"Ok. We will wait. But we will still put him in our holding area in the Tower. I can’t risk anyone’s life in this tower." Tony firmly stood his ground.
"Thank you Tony Stark. See you soon."
And the transmission disconnected.
XXX
Scott rushed out of the lab and ran towards Hank’s room. Whatever that had happened in the Tower had greatly unsettled both Hank and the Cap. He rushed to find Hank packing up all his belongings in the room. Hank looked up from what he was doing before he promptly ignored him and went back to work.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Hank. What’s going on. I heard the tower was attacked. Cap is resolute in his decision on returning."
Hank snarled. "That idiot." Under his breath but did not stop what he was doing.
"Hank!"
"Scott! I need to return to the Tower now. I don’t have time to baby you right now! I don’t care if you follow that idiot leader to your arrest but right now I need to leave Wakanda!"
"If only you tell me what’s going on I might have a better excuse to stop the team from rushing into their doom!" Scott cried out.
Hank heaved a sigh and scowled. "Wakanda has something they’re hiding. I need to go and figure that out. T’Challa was moments away from telling me but now… the Wakandan army attacked the Tower. I don’t know if this is insurgence or if they were tricked like T’Challa stated. All I going to do right now is return back to the Lab so that the research we’ve been working on does not go into the wrong hands."
Scott looked doubtful of the older man’s explanation but he really didn’t expect him to tell him truthfully that he wanted to return to make sure the people, Tony, was alright.
"Ok. Is it something that doesn’t require the Secret Avenger’s help?"
The Older scientist regarded him for a moment and nodded. "The Secret Avengers aren’t needed. If they arrive now it’s only going to cause more trouble. Right now the Wakandan army attacked the Tower in United States’ Soil. It’s already a political nightmare without the highly wanted fugitives showing up."
Hank packed quickly and was about to rush out the door before he stopped. He turned towards the younger man.
"Here. These are new shrink serum I invented. It should help shrink not only the item but everything within it. It will come in handy for you. But please Scott don’t do anything rash. Think about Hope and you daughter." And the man was out the door
Scott nodded. He’ll trust his mentor’s judgement. He had to leave now and convince the others.
XXX
"The tower was attacked?!’ Clint cried out in shock. ‘Was anyone hurt? Do you know by who?" There was a million questions rushing past his head.
"I don’t know anything yet. I just saw Tony being choked by someone who looked like T’Challa. Maybe someone tried to infiltrate by stealing his identity. But I promised Tony that I’ll be there for him. And I’m going to keep my promise." Steve stood firm in his decision.
"No. I get it. No matter how much of a jerk Tony is, he’s still our friend." He stood up quickly and retrieved his bow from where he had hidden it. If anyone had the galls to attack the Tower they usually had the galls to attack the world. Better to nip it at the bud.
"I got what I need. Where’s Wanda?" Clint asked trying to seek the young woman.
"I don’t know. I thought maybe you might know?" The Cap speculated.
"I’m here." Wanda entered with Scott.
"Great! I’m guessing Scott told you what we’re going to do? We need to leave now." Steve smiled as he tried to push past the two newcomers in the doorway. He stopped when he spotted the frown on their faces. "What’s wrong?"
"I don’t think this is a good idea." Scott replied.
"What do you mean?" Clint asked for Steve. Bucky and the bowman came closer to the trio near the door.
"All of this plan. It’s not a good idea." Scott continued. "Cap you’re letting your emotion cloud your judgement. If we enter the Avenger Tower now we will be arrested. The tower was attacked! There’s bound to be people from the government trying to figure out what the heck is going on. If we go now it’ll only look worse for the rest of the Avengers that was left behind."
"So now you’re being a coward? Is jail not worth it now? Our friends are in danger! We need to help if we can. Not sit on our asses." Clint scowled.
"Clint I agree with Scott." Wanda whispered softly. "I heard the situation is under control now. How are we suppose to help when the battle is already over? I don’t understand what’s the point in going to the Tower."
Steve closed his eyes when he felt the tiny bit of annoyance rise in him. "Wanda, Scott. I know you both aren’t close to Tony and the others. If there’s a chance that the Tower might be attacked again we need to be there for him. He is my friend."
"I know he’s your friend. But maybe that’s why your judgement is clouded?" Scott’s voice rose in volume. Why couldn’t Cap realize there was nothing for them to help? If they tried to help now everything will be worse!
"Lang you aren’t willing because the others aren’t your friend!" Clint exclaimed finally. "If this had been your family you’ll be the first one to rush out this door! Well that’s how we feel about the people in that Tower!"
"You’re right. If that had been my family I would have rushed out! But that doesn’t mean it’s the right call! The two of you are putting this whole team at risk because of your emotional attachment."
"Is that what you think also Wanda?" Clint sneered at the girl as he continue to glare at Scott.
"Yes. I don’t think this is the right call for the team." Was her simple answer.
"Fine! Steve we’ll just go ourselves! We don’t need these two. If they are too afraid of being sent to jail let them hide here forever!"
Steve was silent as he tried to push his way pass but Scott once again stood in his way.
"So are you going to break up the team again? Breaking up with the Avengers wasn’t enough for you? Now your going to break up with this team?"
Steve growled. He grabbed and slammed Scott to the wall behind them. "I’m trying to fix it! If I’m not there for Tony right now we’ll never be able to be one team anymore! If I can’t show him that he can trust me and my word how can we be a team anymore!"
The Ant-Man barred his teeth. "I don’t think Stark can ever trust you anymore. Didn’t you say he cut off communication the moment he saw your face. Well Rogers wake up that relationship is already over and done with! You showing up there is not going to help Stark! It’s going to make everything worse!"
The Super Soldier hesitated before he choked out. "That’s why I need to be there now… That’s why I need to make sure he’s ok. That’s why I need to go! To regain his trust!" He shouted.
Both of them were in a gridlock. The tension in the room continued to rise. Both Clint and Barnes were getting ready to push their way out as Wanda hesitated but drew her hands out.
"What the hell is going on here?" Sam shouted as he appeared before them all.
XXX
"So alternate Universe huh…" Rhodey uttered. "Well I guess I’m still right. He’s a different person."
"What?! No way I’m right! It was T’Challa. Yeah maybe not the T’Challa but T’Challa non the less!" Tony declared. "So who was right spiderling?"
"Uh… I guess we were all right?" Peter responded timidly.
"No! Peter you were suppose to take my side!" Tony exasperated.
"Whatever Tones. I’m right!" Rhodey became silent for a moment when the body inside the class cage stirred a little bit. "So… alternate universe…? Really? Aliens weren’t enough?"
Tony scowled. Yes. The thought was cool. But now there was more threat in the world them he previous thought. Extremis had to be finished more quickly than he first planned.
"Well we’ll get a clearer answer when T’Challa arrives. We’ll just watch this dude closely but other than that we have to wait." Tony cut off when another transmission tried to connect with the Tower. Tony automatically noticed it was from Hank and answered quickly. "Hank! How are you?"
The old man looked haggard.
"Are you on a plane?" Peter asked in shock.
"Peter. Glad to see you are ok. I’m heading back to the tower right now. T’Challa allowed me to take the second jet after his already left. So what the heck happened." Hank tiredly asked.
"Alternate Universe Doctor Pym. Alternate Universe." Rhodey responded shaking his head.
Hank soundlessly burrowed his eyebrows. That was not something he had been expecting. He looked towards Tony for a clearer answer.
Tony noticed. "I don’t know either. Sorry. We’re all waiting for T’Challa." He shrugged.
"Speaking of T’Challa…" Hank spoke while he disappeared from the frame. The others in the lab could tell he was rummaging through the briefcase he always took with him.
"I found something interesting. You should take a look at it." Hank raised his hand and showed the USB he held.
This time Tony raised his eyebrows in question.
"You’ll see what I mean when you take a look. I just sent over the file."
Tony nodded.
Hank sighed. He spoke once more.
"I think Rogers is going to do something stupid. Right before I left he was trying to get the others try to come with him back to the Tower."
"What?! Is he an idiot? Doesn’t he know the whole congress and army are flooding this place right now? What does he think he’ll do? Or does he not know that everything is already under control?" Rhodey inquired.
"He’s blinded by his friendship with Stark."
Tony sighed. Stupid Rogers. This was how the first civil war started! He didn’t need this right now.
"Do you think there might be a way to stop them from leaving Wakanda?" Tony asked.
"I called T’Challa. He agrees with us. He doesn’t want more attention than Wakanda already received due to this attack. He told me he’s going to do his best to make sure the rest will stay over there."
Irritation filled his head. Tony knew if Steve wanted to do something even the whole army wont stop him. Like it didn’t stop him last time.
"That won’t stop him if he already set his mind on coming here…"
He didn’t want to… But he needed to call him.