Quinjet
Afternoon
As Sam flew towards The Compound, Steve was silent, musing on everything that was happening. Feeling his pocket vibrating, he pulled out his phone and answered.
"Bruce?"
"Hey Cap. Listen, we were attacked at The Compound," Bruce said and Steve started. "We're okay, but it's not safe for us there. We're in a Quinjet, headed somewhere safe. Rhodey'll send you the location."
In another Quinjet, on the way to the same location, Barry was looking at Vision's wound.
"Pretty nasty cut you've got there," Barry said as he looked up at Vision.
"Thank you for coming to my aid Mr. Allen," Vision said gratefully.
"What are friends for?" Barry asked and Vision frowned.
"Is that what we are? Friends?" Vision asked and Barry paused.
It was a fair point, Barry conceded. He and Vision had never been particularly close during his stay on Earth-66, which wasn't helped by Vision's rather obvious crush on Wanda. But, at the end of the day, Barry would die for Vision, just like he would any Avenger.
"No, we're family. Doesn't mean we have to get along all the time," Barry joked and Vision smiled slightly.
"Well, Cap was confused, but they got the coordinates. They'll be heading to this location wherever it is now," Bruce said as he walked over, sitting by Barry. "So, the multiverse is real?"
"The multiverse, time travel, everything you thought was impossible is true," Barry said as he looked over at Bruce. "Nice to see you again Dr. Banner."
"We've met?" Bruce asked confused.
"Briefly. You were…the other guy," Barry said awkwardly and Bruce nodded.
"Right, sorry you had to see that," Bruce said with a grimace.
"Nice to meet the man behind the beast. I've read some of your work. It's ground breaking Dr. Banner," Barry said and Bruce smiled.
"Nice to be appreciated for something other than my work as an Avenger," Bruce said dryly.
"Hey guys, strap in, we're coming in for a landing," Rhodey called back from the front seat.
Bruce, the only one not strapped in, did so as they heard what sounded like a metal door opening up. Rhodey brought them in for a landing, the Quinjet stopping as it touched down. Rhodey got out of the pilot's seat, helping Barry get Vision to his feet as the ramp lowered. Barry and Rhodey helped Vision down the ramp, Barry and Bruce looking around in awe.
"What is this place?" Barry asked awestruck at the base around them that reminded Barry a lot of Team Arrows' bunker.
"It's called The Playground. Used to be SHIELD's HQ after the fall," Rhodey explained and Barry and Bruce whipped their heads towards him.
"SHIELD?" Barry questioned.
"I thought SHIELD fell during the Hydra uprising," Bruce said confused.
"It did, but some operatives reformed it. This was their base until last year. I'm not sure what exactly happened but there was an explosion that burned this place to the ground. Tony thought it was a good idea to have an off the grid base in case Ross ever decided we needed to be taken out, so, with some help from our friend in Wakanda, he fixed it back up, good as new," Rhodey explained.
"Well, let's get Vision to the lab, see if we can fix up that wound," Bruce suggested.
"Perhaps we shouldn't," Vision suggested and they stopped cold. "I've been giving this a great deal of thought."
"Giving what a great deal of thought Vision?" Bruce asked wearily.
"The stone. If Thanos acquires it, it presents a great deal of danger not only to earth, but to the universe. I think the best way to stop that is to destroy the stone," Vision said.
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Rhodey asked wearily.
"I think if the stone were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something very similar to its own signature…its molecular structure will fail," Vision said.
"You mean Wanda. You want Wanda to kill you," Barry realized.
"No, we're not doing that man," Rhodey said immediately.
"Rhodey's right, we don't sacrifice our friends," Barry agreed.
"Two years ago, you took yourself off the board when you felt you were a danger to the mission. Tell me, how is this any different?" Vision challenged and Barry narrowed his eyes.
"That's not the same thing and you know it. And it turned out to be the wrong decision!" Barry snapped.
"Because you might have a choice," Bruce, although lost on some of what was said, felt this was his chance to speak up. "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays: Jarvis, Ultron, Tony, me, the stone. All of them mixed together, all of them learning from each other."
"You're saying that Vision isn't just the stone?" Rhodey asked.
"I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Maybe the best parts," Bruce said.
"Can you do that?" Barry inquired.
"With the right equipment, maybe," Bruce said.
"Well, let's get to the lab then," Rhodey said, beginning to lead them down the hall.
Central City, Barton house, Earth-1
Later in the afternoon
Wanda pulled on her red leather jacket, looking down at her daughter, who was sleeping in the crib that Clint had built on nights he and Laura would watch Freya. Wanda leaned down, kissing Freya on the forehead. Freya stirred slightly but didn't wake as Wanda stood back up.
"Daddy and I will be back soon. Be good for Grandpa Clint and Grandma Laura," Wanda whispered.
Taking one last look at her daughter, Wanda exited the room. She made her way downstairs, where the others were waiting. Cisco was dressed in his suit as Caitlin, Clint, and Laura waited.
"Ready to go?" Cisco asked as he saw her and she nodded.
"You sure you don't want to come?" Wanda asked as she looked over at Clint.
"I'm retired. Besides, I think you have enough hands on deck to stop this Thanos guy," Clint said confidently.
"Wally and I can protect the city while you're away. Just take Thanos down," Caitlin said.
Cisco and Wanda nodded before Cisco opened up a breach.
The Playground, Earth-66
Not long after
Bruce was working on Vision when a blue portal opened up. Bruce jumped as Cisco and Wanda stepped out, the breach closing behind them.
"Bruce," Wanda greeted politely.
"Wanda. Nice hair," Bruce said, referring to her hair that had been dyed red.
"Thank you," Wanda smiled politely as she glanced over at Cisco. "This is Cisco Ramon."
"Vibe," Cisco said, walking over and holding out a hand to Bruce. "So you're The Hulk. I've heard a lot about you."
"I'm just a doctor with a…" Bruce trailed off, not sure how to phrase it.
"Furry little problem?" Cisco joked and only got a blank look. "Harry Potter? Seriously?"
"Vis," Wanda greeted not unkindly.
"Wanda," Vision smiled slightly.
"So, what's going on here?" Cisco asked as he gestured to where Vision on the table to Bruce.
"I'm trying to get the stone out of Vision's head. Barry tells me you were able to," Bruce said as he looked over at Cisco. "I'd really like your input on this Mr. Ramon."
"I'm gonna need some context here, what is going on?" Cisco asked confused.
Out in the hanger, Barry was waiting as the Quinjet touched down. The ramp lowered as Barry approached it, four people getting off.
"Nice beard Cap," Barry said as he pulled out his cell phone and took a picture. "I'm sure Caitlin is gonna love that look."
"Good to see you Barry," Steve said with a smile, grasping Barry's hand in a firm handshake. "Thank you for coming."
"How could I not?" Barry asked as he dropped Steve's hand, accepting a hug from Natasha. "Good to see you Nat."
"You to, how's that baby?" Natasha asked as she let him go.
"Her name is Freya. And I've got some pictures if you wanna see later," Barry said as he looked over at Sam and Bucky. "You guys look like crap."
"Well, there haven't exactly been in any four star hotels last few years," Sam said he walked over and hugged Barry. "Good to see you man. Sorry we missed the wedding."
"Don't worry about it," Barry said as he stepped back, looking over at Bucky. "I see you cut your hair. Decided you had enough of looking like a hippy?"
"Cute Allen," Bucky said with a grin as Sam snickered.
"I was tired of rolling over in bed and getting a mouth full of hair," Natasha said and Barry blinked.
"So you two are…wow. Well, I'm happy for you," Barry said as he looked between Bucky and Natasha.
"Well you don't live with them," Sam said with a disgruntled look.
"Hey, just because you're not getting any," Bucky shrugged.
"Okay, really could have gone my whole life without that image in my head," Barry said with a disgusted look on his face as Wanda walked in.
"Hey girl," Sam said, drawing the others attention as he walked over to her. "Nice hair."
Wanda simply smiled as they hugged, the others walking over.
"Good to see you Wanda," Steve said with a friendly smile.
"It's good to see you to Steve, all of you," Wanda said as she looked around at her old friends.
"Who else is here?" Bucky inquired.
"Just Cisco. Clint says he's retired and Caitlin and Wally stayed behind to protect the city," Wanda explained.
Rhodey was in the office, in a video conference with Ross. Predictably, it wasn't going well.
"So, you decided to team up with the world's most wanted criminals?" Ross demanded.
"You do know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right sir?" Rhodey snapped.
"My god Rhodes, your talent for horseshit rivals my own," Ross said.
"If it weren't for those Accords, we all would have been there to fight with Tony," Rhodey snapped.
"I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel," Ross said as his hologram stood up and walked over to Rhodey.
"Yeah, that's right. And I'm pretty sure I paid for that," Rhodey said as he glanced down at his leg with the brace on it.
"You have second thoughts?" Ross demanded.
The door opened and the two men looked over as Steve, Natasha, Barry, Sam, Bucky, and Wanda walked in.
"Not anymore," Rhodey said.
"Mr. Secretary," Steve greeted, still polite.
"You've got some nerve, I'll give you that," Ross said with a dark smile.
"Seems to me you could use some of that nerve," Barry said coolly.
"The world's on fire. And you think all's forgiven?" Ross demanded as he looked at Steve incredulously.
"I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking permission. Earth just lost her best defender, so we're here to fight. You wanna stand in our way, and we'll fight you to," Steve said boldly.
With a sneer, Ross looked over at Rhodey.
"Arrest them," Ross said before his hologram faded away.
"Well, looks like you've been court martialed. Good to see you Cap," Rhodey said
"You to Rhodey," Steve said, shaking his hand. "So, care to bring us up to speed?"