Hawkeye aimed his smoke arrow with great dexterity at the raging Ultron, who was at that moment too intent on vaporizing U.S. Agent to notice anyone else.
“Now,” said Ultron, “you laughable excuse for a pitiful species, it is time to die.”
Hawkeye fired. The arrow hit Ultron in his right eye-slot and began billowing smoke, temporarily blinding Ultron while U.S. Agent ran to join his fellow Avengers.
“Okay, folks,” said Hawkeye to the rest of the team, of which only Iron Man and the still-unconscious Wonder Man were missing, “time ta take down the tin-can-man. Avengers, attack!”
“Ahh, the more victims the merrier!” shrieked a sight-restored Ultron.
The Scarlet Witch sent Ultron staggering with a hex-bolt, while Spider-Woman bound him in her psionic web. Hawkeye fired his most powerful explosive arrow into Ultron’s maw. The blast sent flames and sparks flying out of Ultron’s head, but the evil robot shook off the shock easily.
“Soft, all of you – soft!” said Ultron, ripping his way out of the psi-web and swatting away the Avengers one by one.
“Too soft for you?” came a heavily filtered voice. “Then try me instead.”
Ultron could not help but be shocked for a split second as he took in the sudden sight of Iron Man in his new armor, which made him look more like a tank than a man.
That split second was all Iron Man needed. His shoulder-mounted gatling gun and double-barreled wrist-mounted cannon fired a barrage of bullets powerful enough to pierce even the adamantium that made up Ultron’s outer shell. With great precision, Iron Man followed this with near-nuclear-strength mini-rockets aimed squarely at Ultron’s biggest wounds. Ultron’s form was now twisted, distorted and emitting foul-smelling smoke. A blast from Iron Man’s particle beam cannon almost knocked Ultron to the ground, but he was still standing until additional firepower came via two enormous guns that Dr. Pym produced from his pocket in miniature size and instantly grew with his special particles. Ultron was finally down.
Iron Man hadn’t expected this from Dr. Pym, and neither had anyone else. Iron Man and Dr. Pym’s eyes met, and Dr. Pym smirked and winked at Iron Man.
After a tense few seconds, there came a startling transformation in U.S. Agent, Mockingbird, and Spider-Woman. Giving in to their basest animal instincts, they dog-piled on Ultron’s remains and began tearing them apart savagely. Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch, and the Wasp could only stare in horror.
Suddenly, Ultron rallied with his last ounce of strength and tossed aside his attackers. “Fools!” he raged, “No matter how hard you try, you cannot kill me!”
A guttural voice emerged from the shadows. “Wanna bet?”
Wonder Man, recovered, rushed Ultron, his hands blazing ionic power. One hand grabbed Ultron’s neck, the other a crack in Ultron’s mid-section. With a terrifying roar, Wonder Man ripped Ultron in half and slammed the remains to the ground.
Without hesitating, Iron Man turned his particle beam back on, this time full-force, melting Ultron’s remains to slag. Before Ultron expired, he shocked everybody one last time...by laughing. “Now you can fool yourselves no longer – you are truly no better than I!” More laughter followed, until nothing remained of Ultron but a small puddle of metal.
Hawkeye finally found his voice, and used it loudly. “Ya MANIACS! Ya should all be locked up in chains! Ya call yourselves HEROES??”
“As the old saying goes, the ends justify the means.” said Iron Man coldly. “Besides, you’re not gonna tell me this robot had a soul.”
“An’ what’s gonna happen when we face a flesh-an’-blood villain?” demanded Hawkeye. “You gonna blast him an’ tear him apart an’ torch him, too??”
“If need be, yeah.” sneered Wonder Man facetiously.
“Face it, Hawkeye,” said Mockingbird, “there’s no place for wishy-washy wimps in the modern world.”
“Lady,” grinned U.S. Agent, “you took the words right outta my mouth.”
“So what’s it gonna be, Hawkeye?” asked Spider-Woman, “Are you gonna discharge us all?”
“I’ll beat him to the punch.” said Iron Man. “I’m quitting the Avengers and forming a new team, so anybody’s free to come join me.”
“Count me in.” said Mockingbird.
“Me, too,” said U.S. Agent.
“And me.” said Spider-Woman.
“I’ll join you, Tony.” said Dr. Pym.
“HANK!” exclaimed a horrified Wasp.
“No...” groaned Hawkeye, “...not you, too, Hank.”
“How can you do this, after what we were talking about earlier?” demanded the Scarlet Witch.
“What can I say?” shrugged Dr. Pym. “The scales fell from my eyes. Thanks to Tony, my greatest mistake has been taken care of permanently. That’s pretty damn inspiring.”
“Enough talk,” said Wonder Man, “let’s go do some justice!”
Iron Man and his acolytes walked away, leaving Hawkeye, the Wasp, and the Scarlet Witch behind.
“This is the last straw.” said the Scarlet Witch. “If this is the future for superheroes, I want no part of it.”
“Don’t give up on us, Wanda.” pleaded Hawkeye.
“Yeah,” said the Wasp, “we’ll just re-join the original Avengers.”
“With other killers like Vision, Sersi, Black Knight, and Hercules?” retorted the Scarlet Witch. “ No, thank you.”
“Maybe Wanda’s right.” whimpered Hawkeye. “Maybe we should just quit this dirty business. I’m sure I’ll find a carnival out there willing ta take on an over-the-hill archer.”
“That’s your decision, Hawkeye.” said the Wasp. “I’m sticking with the Avengers.”
The Scarlet Witch and the Wasp went their separate ways, leaving Hawkeye all alone.
Hawkeye stood alone for what seemed like an eternity, tears streaming down his mask.
Finally, he sighed to himself, “That’s life,” and began walking in search of whatever awaited.
Showing posts with label avengers west coast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label avengers west coast. Show all posts
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
BOOK ONE, CHAPTER 2
In the garden of the Avengers West Coast compound, the Scarlet Witch sat cross-legged on the ground, peacefully communing with nature.
Suddenly, her reverie was interrupted by crunching footsteps. The Scarlet Witch swiftly turned her head and saw, to her partial relief, that it was not an invading villain, but rather Spider-Woman and Spider-Woman’s daughter on their way out of the compound. However, her partial relief turned to pure anger when Spider-Woman looked over at her and they made eye contact. The Scarlet Witch was, to say the least, not happy with the way Spider-Woman had voted a few weeks earlier, and she gave Spider-Woman the proverbial Evil Eye.
“Mommy,” asked Spider-Woman’s daughter, “why is she looking at us like that?”
“It’s grown-up stuff, sweetie,” replied Spider-Woman, “nothing to worry your pretty little head about.”
Spider-Woman and her daughter finished exiting the compound, and the Scarlet Witch went back to being one with nature.
*********
Meanwhile, inside the compound, Hawkeye was thinking that he didn’t know how many more blows to his fragile peace of mind he could take.
“My heart’s just not in it anymore,” said Living Lightning to Hawkeye, “it hasn’t been since the outer space incident. I hope you understand.”
“I do.” replied Hawkeye resignedly. “Believe ya me, I do. Best of luck at college, Miguel.”
“Thanks.” said Living Lightning.
The two men shook hands, and Living Lightning walked out of the conference room. Hawkeye sat down at the table and let out a heavy sigh. He leafed through his divorce papers – Mockingbird’s vote to keep Iron Man & Wonder Man in the team had been the final nail in the coffin of her marriage to Hawkeye. Suddenly finding himself pining for what they’d had a long time ago, Hawkeye angrily tossed the papers back on the table, got up, and walked to the window, where he saw the Scarlet Witch in the garden.
********
Tony Stark contemplated the impressive sight of his latest invention. It had occupied all his time these past few weeks. He told himself, with no little sense of satisfaction, that work was all the therapy he REALLY needed, and that he’d never make the mistake of seeking therapy again.
All work and no play makes Tony a dull boy? Well, his alcoholism ruled out partying, while promiscuity was impossible in the age of AIDS. Work was his life, life was his work.
He had also taken some time to ruminate on the situation with Clint. Tony was now more convinced than ever that changes had to be made to the Avengers West Coast. He wondered hopefully whether they were coming around to seeing things his way.
********
The Scarlet Witch heard footsteps again, and turned her head again. This time, she saw Hawkeye approaching her.
“Wanda, could I trouble ya for a minute o’ yer time?”
“Sure, Clint. What is it?”
“I was just thinking...you an’ I have been in the superhero business for the exact same amount o’ time, an’ I was just wondering...do ya still enjoy it?”
“Quite honestly, no. I can only live with it by looking at it as a hobby.”
“I was also thinking that maybe Tony had a point about changing with the times...but I can’t change me. Like my hero Popeye, ‘I yam what I yam.’ Maybe there’s not a place in this scary new world for old-timers like us...uh...I mean, me...um...no offense, Wanda. Sorry.”
“None taken.”
The sound of footsteps was followed by the sound of Dr. Pym’s voice. “I’m glad to find out I’m not the only one who’s been thinking about that.”
“Oh, stop it, all of you.” said the Wasp, buzzing around the other three veteran heroes. “As long as there’s evil in the universe, there’s gonna be a place for real heroes.”
“I wanna believe ya,” said Hawkeye wistfully, “I really do.”
*********
U.S. Agent dashed through a typical backstreet of Los Angeles, while Wonder Man followed him by flying close to the ground.
“I gotta tell ya, Wondy, you lucked out! You got to kick alien butt and help kill a genocidal maniac, while I got stuck with a buncha lame-os who got creamed by the bad guys.”
“Whatever.” muttered Wonder Man. “It wasn’t as great as you think.”
U.S. Agent changed the subject. “According to my snitch, there’s some kinda villainy afoot at an industrial park near here. Hopefully, he’s right, cause I really need something to hit.”
Wonder Man quietly and reluctantly admitted to himself that he shared U.S. Agent’s need for naked aggression. That nega-radiation had definitely done something to him, not just his body but his personality. And he had trouble focusing, and was hungry all the time.
“Y’know, Wondy,” U.S. Agent said more to himself than to his teammate, “villains are so damn predictable. Always hiding out in industrial parks, warehouses, condemned buildings, always with their stupid plans that get undone by their own stupidity. And yet they get away all the time and then they come back for another butt-kicking from us good guys. Hell, I think it’s time we just rounded them up and shot ‘em all.”
“Here’s the industrial park.” said Wonder Man in a detached voice as he sped up and flew ahead of U.S. Agent.
“Wondy, be careful,” warned U.S. Agent, “there might be a...”
Suddenly, a massive laser burst caught Wonder Man off-guard and sent him to the ground, unconscious.
“...trap.”
“Like flies to rotted meat, the heroes come to their doom!” declared a shrill, echoing voice.
U.S. Agent looked up to see the villain standing above him on a walkway.
“Ultron!”
“Yes, it is I!” said the evil robot, “And all life is now forfeit...starting with the two of you!”
Ultron dodged U.S. Agent’s flying shield as he leapt off the walkway and landed on his cybernetic feet. Agent caught his shield as it returned to him, and he dived for cover behind a pile of scrap just before Ultron opened fire with his laser blasts.
**********
At the Avengers West Coast compound, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Wasp, and Dr. Pym were reminiscing.
“You shoulda been there when Wanda brought A WHOLE METEOR down on Kang’s robot!” laughed Hawkeye.
“I still remember how good that felt.” smiled the Scarlet Witch.
Suddenly, the alarm rang.
The Wasp got to the master computer first, by flying. “It’s U.S. Agent sending a code red.”
“Get a fix on his location while you patch him through.” ordered Hawkeye.
Agent’s voice crackled through the speakers. “Agent to Compound. Ultron’s back, Wondy’s down, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep dodging this tin maniac!”
“ALL RIGHT!” whooped Hawkeye. “Ultron’s back. Time for some good old-fashioned fun!” Then, after a beat, he added, “Uh...I mean...we’ll round up the others an’ be there right away, Agent. Hawkeye out.”
Hawkeye raised his bow above his head and said the words that still sent a chill down the spines of those present: “AVENGERS, ASSEMBLE!”
**********
“I’m on my way, Clint.” said Tony into his Avengers communication card.
Now, thought Tony, was his chance – and Iron Man’s chance – to prove that might made right. That force worked. And his new invention was the perfect catalyst. It was an austerely gray new armor that would turn him into the scourge of super-villains everywhere, a veritable war machine!
Suddenly, her reverie was interrupted by crunching footsteps. The Scarlet Witch swiftly turned her head and saw, to her partial relief, that it was not an invading villain, but rather Spider-Woman and Spider-Woman’s daughter on their way out of the compound. However, her partial relief turned to pure anger when Spider-Woman looked over at her and they made eye contact. The Scarlet Witch was, to say the least, not happy with the way Spider-Woman had voted a few weeks earlier, and she gave Spider-Woman the proverbial Evil Eye.
“Mommy,” asked Spider-Woman’s daughter, “why is she looking at us like that?”
“It’s grown-up stuff, sweetie,” replied Spider-Woman, “nothing to worry your pretty little head about.”
Spider-Woman and her daughter finished exiting the compound, and the Scarlet Witch went back to being one with nature.
*********
Meanwhile, inside the compound, Hawkeye was thinking that he didn’t know how many more blows to his fragile peace of mind he could take.
“My heart’s just not in it anymore,” said Living Lightning to Hawkeye, “it hasn’t been since the outer space incident. I hope you understand.”
“I do.” replied Hawkeye resignedly. “Believe ya me, I do. Best of luck at college, Miguel.”
“Thanks.” said Living Lightning.
The two men shook hands, and Living Lightning walked out of the conference room. Hawkeye sat down at the table and let out a heavy sigh. He leafed through his divorce papers – Mockingbird’s vote to keep Iron Man & Wonder Man in the team had been the final nail in the coffin of her marriage to Hawkeye. Suddenly finding himself pining for what they’d had a long time ago, Hawkeye angrily tossed the papers back on the table, got up, and walked to the window, where he saw the Scarlet Witch in the garden.
********
Tony Stark contemplated the impressive sight of his latest invention. It had occupied all his time these past few weeks. He told himself, with no little sense of satisfaction, that work was all the therapy he REALLY needed, and that he’d never make the mistake of seeking therapy again.
All work and no play makes Tony a dull boy? Well, his alcoholism ruled out partying, while promiscuity was impossible in the age of AIDS. Work was his life, life was his work.
He had also taken some time to ruminate on the situation with Clint. Tony was now more convinced than ever that changes had to be made to the Avengers West Coast. He wondered hopefully whether they were coming around to seeing things his way.
********
The Scarlet Witch heard footsteps again, and turned her head again. This time, she saw Hawkeye approaching her.
“Wanda, could I trouble ya for a minute o’ yer time?”
“Sure, Clint. What is it?”
“I was just thinking...you an’ I have been in the superhero business for the exact same amount o’ time, an’ I was just wondering...do ya still enjoy it?”
“Quite honestly, no. I can only live with it by looking at it as a hobby.”
“I was also thinking that maybe Tony had a point about changing with the times...but I can’t change me. Like my hero Popeye, ‘I yam what I yam.’ Maybe there’s not a place in this scary new world for old-timers like us...uh...I mean, me...um...no offense, Wanda. Sorry.”
“None taken.”
The sound of footsteps was followed by the sound of Dr. Pym’s voice. “I’m glad to find out I’m not the only one who’s been thinking about that.”
“Oh, stop it, all of you.” said the Wasp, buzzing around the other three veteran heroes. “As long as there’s evil in the universe, there’s gonna be a place for real heroes.”
“I wanna believe ya,” said Hawkeye wistfully, “I really do.”
*********
U.S. Agent dashed through a typical backstreet of Los Angeles, while Wonder Man followed him by flying close to the ground.
“I gotta tell ya, Wondy, you lucked out! You got to kick alien butt and help kill a genocidal maniac, while I got stuck with a buncha lame-os who got creamed by the bad guys.”
“Whatever.” muttered Wonder Man. “It wasn’t as great as you think.”
U.S. Agent changed the subject. “According to my snitch, there’s some kinda villainy afoot at an industrial park near here. Hopefully, he’s right, cause I really need something to hit.”
Wonder Man quietly and reluctantly admitted to himself that he shared U.S. Agent’s need for naked aggression. That nega-radiation had definitely done something to him, not just his body but his personality. And he had trouble focusing, and was hungry all the time.
“Y’know, Wondy,” U.S. Agent said more to himself than to his teammate, “villains are so damn predictable. Always hiding out in industrial parks, warehouses, condemned buildings, always with their stupid plans that get undone by their own stupidity. And yet they get away all the time and then they come back for another butt-kicking from us good guys. Hell, I think it’s time we just rounded them up and shot ‘em all.”
“Here’s the industrial park.” said Wonder Man in a detached voice as he sped up and flew ahead of U.S. Agent.
“Wondy, be careful,” warned U.S. Agent, “there might be a...”
Suddenly, a massive laser burst caught Wonder Man off-guard and sent him to the ground, unconscious.
“...trap.”
“Like flies to rotted meat, the heroes come to their doom!” declared a shrill, echoing voice.
U.S. Agent looked up to see the villain standing above him on a walkway.
“Ultron!”
“Yes, it is I!” said the evil robot, “And all life is now forfeit...starting with the two of you!”
Ultron dodged U.S. Agent’s flying shield as he leapt off the walkway and landed on his cybernetic feet. Agent caught his shield as it returned to him, and he dived for cover behind a pile of scrap just before Ultron opened fire with his laser blasts.
**********
At the Avengers West Coast compound, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Wasp, and Dr. Pym were reminiscing.
“You shoulda been there when Wanda brought A WHOLE METEOR down on Kang’s robot!” laughed Hawkeye.
“I still remember how good that felt.” smiled the Scarlet Witch.
Suddenly, the alarm rang.
The Wasp got to the master computer first, by flying. “It’s U.S. Agent sending a code red.”
“Get a fix on his location while you patch him through.” ordered Hawkeye.
Agent’s voice crackled through the speakers. “Agent to Compound. Ultron’s back, Wondy’s down, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep dodging this tin maniac!”
“ALL RIGHT!” whooped Hawkeye. “Ultron’s back. Time for some good old-fashioned fun!” Then, after a beat, he added, “Uh...I mean...we’ll round up the others an’ be there right away, Agent. Hawkeye out.”
Hawkeye raised his bow above his head and said the words that still sent a chill down the spines of those present: “AVENGERS, ASSEMBLE!”
**********
“I’m on my way, Clint.” said Tony into his Avengers communication card.
Now, thought Tony, was his chance – and Iron Man’s chance – to prove that might made right. That force worked. And his new invention was the perfect catalyst. It was an austerely gray new armor that would turn him into the scourge of super-villains everywhere, a veritable war machine!
Monday, January 18, 2010
BOOK ONE, CHAPTER 1
Inside the antiseptic office of Doctor Leonard Samson, Iron Man paced the room, looking away from Samson, who was seated across from him.
"I’m not sure this was a good idea." said Iron Man.
"It was your idea." replied Samson.
"Not all my ideas are going to be good." grumbled Iron Man.
"If you want to call it off, you’ll still owe me my full fee." said Samson calmly.
"No, no, it’s just...I don’t know any more about anything." stammered Iron Man.
"Let’s try to focus," said Samson, "on what precipitated the incident."
"I don’t know." said Iron Man flatly.
"You’re going to have to do better than that." said Samson.
"Okay," said Iron Man, "Hawkeye was chairing the meeting. The more I think about it, I probably shouldn’t even have been there. Anyhow..."
********
One day earlier...
Hawkeye stared unsmilingly at the team he led, the West Coast Avengers, for what seemed like an eternity until he finally spoke.
"I move ta vote on whether or not ta discharge Iron Man an’ Wonder Man fer conduct unbecoming."
"How many times," snarled Wonder Man, "do I have to remind you that it’s over?"
"That’s out of line, Simon." snapped the Scarlet Witch. "Show some respect to our chairman."
Wonder Man slouched in his chair and sulked silently.
"If I may, Clint?" said Iron Man, raising his hand.
"Go on." said Hawkeye.
"I’ve always prided myself on changing with the times. And I feel that the incident in outer space only underlines how overdue the Avengers are for a serious re-thinking."
Iron Man could tell from Hawkeye’s face that he had touched a nerve. Hawkeye yelled, "Do I have ta remind ya who the leader of this team is??"
"You’re not listening." said Iron Man stoically.
"I damn well am listening!" replied Hawkeye. "An’ I’m adding insubordination ta yer list of crimes."
"Now you’re just being childish." said Iron Man.
"Can we just get on with the vote?" Mockingbird piped up acidly.
"Yeah...all right." said Hawkeye. "Those in favor of discharging Iron Man and Wonder Man for their involvement in killing the Supreme Intelligence, say ‘Aye!’"
"Aye." said the Scarlet Witch.
"Aye." said the Wasp.
"Aye." said Living Lightning.
"Those in favor of keeping Iron Man and Wonder Man in the team, say ‘Nay!’"
"Nay." said U.S. Agent.
"Nay." said Spider-Woman.
Dr. Pym paused before he, too, said "Nay."
Hawkeye locked eyes with Mockingbird, who was also his ex-wife and currently his on-again, off-again lover.
"Nay." said Mockingbird.
Hawkeye closed his eyes tightly, brought down the gavel, hard, and spluttered through gritted teeth, "The ‘Nays’ have it." Then, after a few tense seconds, "Ya got lucky this time, but I’ll be watching yer every move. There won’t be any more killing while I lead this team."
"Then maybe it’s time you stepped down." snickered U.S. Agent.
Hawkeye clenched his fists as his face turned crimson. But instead of exploding, he slammed down the gavel softly and said, softly, "Meeting adjourned."
********
"That’s it?" asked the unruffled Samson.
"What do you mean, ‘That’s it?’" snapped Iron Man.
"You’re all on edge after recent events, and you had a tense meeting. It’ll blow over."
"Do you...do you think I was wrong in killing the Supreme Intelligence?"
"I’m a professional. I’m not paid to make judgements like that."
"You’re no help at all."
"I’m sorry you feel that way."
"Don’t call me, I’ll call you...maybe!"
With those words, Iron Man stormed out of Samson’s office.
"I’m not sure this was a good idea." said Iron Man.
"It was your idea." replied Samson.
"Not all my ideas are going to be good." grumbled Iron Man.
"If you want to call it off, you’ll still owe me my full fee." said Samson calmly.
"No, no, it’s just...I don’t know any more about anything." stammered Iron Man.
"Let’s try to focus," said Samson, "on what precipitated the incident."
"I don’t know." said Iron Man flatly.
"You’re going to have to do better than that." said Samson.
"Okay," said Iron Man, "Hawkeye was chairing the meeting. The more I think about it, I probably shouldn’t even have been there. Anyhow..."
********
One day earlier...
Hawkeye stared unsmilingly at the team he led, the West Coast Avengers, for what seemed like an eternity until he finally spoke.
"I move ta vote on whether or not ta discharge Iron Man an’ Wonder Man fer conduct unbecoming."
"How many times," snarled Wonder Man, "do I have to remind you that it’s over?"
"That’s out of line, Simon." snapped the Scarlet Witch. "Show some respect to our chairman."
Wonder Man slouched in his chair and sulked silently.
"If I may, Clint?" said Iron Man, raising his hand.
"Go on." said Hawkeye.
"I’ve always prided myself on changing with the times. And I feel that the incident in outer space only underlines how overdue the Avengers are for a serious re-thinking."
Iron Man could tell from Hawkeye’s face that he had touched a nerve. Hawkeye yelled, "Do I have ta remind ya who the leader of this team is??"
"You’re not listening." said Iron Man stoically.
"I damn well am listening!" replied Hawkeye. "An’ I’m adding insubordination ta yer list of crimes."
"Now you’re just being childish." said Iron Man.
"Can we just get on with the vote?" Mockingbird piped up acidly.
"Yeah...all right." said Hawkeye. "Those in favor of discharging Iron Man and Wonder Man for their involvement in killing the Supreme Intelligence, say ‘Aye!’"
"Aye." said the Scarlet Witch.
"Aye." said the Wasp.
"Aye." said Living Lightning.
"Those in favor of keeping Iron Man and Wonder Man in the team, say ‘Nay!’"
"Nay." said U.S. Agent.
"Nay." said Spider-Woman.
Dr. Pym paused before he, too, said "Nay."
Hawkeye locked eyes with Mockingbird, who was also his ex-wife and currently his on-again, off-again lover.
"Nay." said Mockingbird.
Hawkeye closed his eyes tightly, brought down the gavel, hard, and spluttered through gritted teeth, "The ‘Nays’ have it." Then, after a few tense seconds, "Ya got lucky this time, but I’ll be watching yer every move. There won’t be any more killing while I lead this team."
"Then maybe it’s time you stepped down." snickered U.S. Agent.
Hawkeye clenched his fists as his face turned crimson. But instead of exploding, he slammed down the gavel softly and said, softly, "Meeting adjourned."
********
"That’s it?" asked the unruffled Samson.
"What do you mean, ‘That’s it?’" snapped Iron Man.
"You’re all on edge after recent events, and you had a tense meeting. It’ll blow over."
"Do you...do you think I was wrong in killing the Supreme Intelligence?"
"I’m a professional. I’m not paid to make judgements like that."
"You’re no help at all."
"I’m sorry you feel that way."
"Don’t call me, I’ll call you...maybe!"
With those words, Iron Man stormed out of Samson’s office.
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