[ In the laboratory, tensions ran high as voices overlapped in a heated argument. ]
[ Thor said coldly, "You speak of control while deliberately stirring chaos." ]
[ Dr. Banner countered with a shrug: "That's his principle, isn't it?" ]
[ He tilted his head and muttered, half to himself, "I mean… what are we? A team?" ]
[ Banner shook his head, his expression grim. "No, we're not a team. Put us together, and all we'll create is chaos. We're a ticking time bomb." ]
[ Fury's gaze sharpened as he looked at Banner. "And it's just one step away from your anger." ]
[ Tony pointed toward Rogers and scoffed, "Why not let him get angry?" ]
[ Rogers slapped Tony's hand away, his voice curt. "You know why. Let go." ]
[ Tony smirked. "I'm starting to wish you'd mess with me." ]
[ Rogers stepped closer, his posture stiff. "Yeah? You're a big man in a suit of armor. What would you be without it?" ]
[ Tony shot back smoothly, "Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist." ]
[ Rogers glared at him. "The people I know are ten times more useful than you. I've seen your footage. You fight for no one but yourself. You're not the type to sacrifice, lying on a wire so others can climb over." ]
[ Tony cut him off sharply: "I'd just cut the wire." ]
[ Rogers' voice hardened. "There's always a way through a problem. You're not a threat, Stark. But stop pretending to be a hero." ]
[ Tony's smirk faded. "A hero? Like you? You're a science experiment, Rogers. You get your power from a bottle." ]
"Whoa! That's brutal!"
"Why's Rogers coming at Tony like that? Stark's just showing his brains, he's not wrong!"
"Tony's holding his own, though. Respect!"
"Rogers is still stuck in the past. Sacrifice doesn't always make you a hero."
"But Tony's logic isn't perfect either… Both are stubborn in their own way."
"Let's be real, Rogers would be nothing without the serum."
"And Tony? He built everything he has by himself."
"Stark's changed. He fights for redemption now. That's heroic, too."
"Wait, why's everyone so worried about Dr. Banner's temper?"
"Nobody's perfect. But it feels like Tony's always on Banner's side."
"Tony's still my hero, no matter what."
"I just don't want any of them to sacrifice themselves. They're the bravest people we have."
"Honestly, every one of them is risking everything for humanity."
"Please, stop making fun of them."
"Speaking of which… Patton's about to make his entrance!"
[ Outside, fighter jets circled and landed on the aircraft carrier's deck. \
[ With deadly precision, Barton opened the hatch, nocked a long arrow, and fired at the spaceship's flank. The arrow sliced through the air in a perfect arc and struck a propeller. Lights flickered, then the engine shuddered, seconds from detonation. ]
"F**k! He's not playing around!"
"Shut up, you guys! The ship's about to blow!"
"I'm too young to die!"
"Ugh, they're all megalomaniacs!"
[ Back inside, Rogers squared his shoulders at Tony. "Put on your armor. Let's settle this." ]
[ Thor chuckled mockingly. "Hahaha, you mortals are so small." ]
[ Fury's voice cut through the chaos: "Romanov, get Dr. Banner back to his room." ]
[ Banner's voice was dry. "What room?" ]
[ Fury's tone hardened. "That cage was just a precaution." ]
["Precaution?" Banner scoffed darkly. "What if you meant to kill me? You couldn't. I tried." ]
[ The room froze as everyone stared at him. ]
[ Banner's voice grew quiet. "I was lost once. Couldn't see a way out. Tried to end it myself… but the other guy wouldn't let me. Spit the bullet out. So here I am. I used to help people. Thought I'd found peace. But then you dragged me back into this freak show, put everyone in danger. You want to know my secret, Romanova? I stay calm. Always." ]
[ Banner's eyes flickered with restrained fury. Agents around the lab gripped their weapons nervously, sensing danger. ]
[ Rogers said firmly: "Dr. Banner, put down the scepter." ]
[ Banner blinked and glanced down. His fingers were clenched tightly around Loki's scepter. ]
"What the hell?!"
"My heart skipped a beat!"
"I thought Banner was about to transform right there!"
"So the scepter's the real threat, not him?"
"That glass cell wasn't just for Banner, was it?"
"Man, Fury's leadership is questionable…"
"Why's everyone panicking?"
"Barton's heading for the deck!"
"Thor's unbelievable. Even now, he says humans are insignificant. Typical alien attitude!"
"To be fair, he's still Earth's protector."
"And Loki's past explains everything."
"Are you seriously trying to defend Loki?!"
[ Suddenly, the scanner blared loudly, filling the lab with urgent beeps. ]
[ Banner set the scepter aside and stepped to the equipment. "Sorry, folks. No party tricks today." ]
[ Thor's brows rose. "You've found the Tesseract?" ]
[ Banner nodded. "Almost." ]
[Thor's voice grew firm. "That cube belongs to Asgard. No mortal can wield it." ]
[Tony moved toward the exit, but Rogers grabbed his arm. "You can't go alone." ]
[ Tony turned, hand outstretched. "You trying to stop me?" ]
[ "Suit up, Stark. Let's go." ]
[ "I'm not scared of hitting an old man." ]
[ Across the lab, Banner removed his glasses, staring at the monitor. "Oh my God…" ]
[ Before anyone could react, the ship's propeller detonated in a deafening blast, fire tearing through the corridor. The lab erupted in flames, glass shattered, and the shockwave hurled everyone to the ground. ]
[ Outside, the massive ship lurched violently. Its external reflectors shattered, and black smoke curled into the sky. ]
"That's one propeller down!"
"Are there backup systems? If not, we're done for!"
"They were too busy arguing, now look!"
"Wait, what did Banner see just now? He looked terrified…"
Inside the command center, military leaders watched the feed with grim faces.
"With four propellers, losing one means instant imbalance. They need to evacuate."
"It's not beyond saving. If they can stabilize, the ship might hold."
"No way. That damage is catastrophic. It's wedged in steel wreckage."
Historian Johan's pen scratched across paper, capturing every moment. What's happening now could change everything. If those aboard die, Earth's defenders go with them. But if they survive… history might turn.
[ Tony's brows knitted. "Barton's not blowing the ship to kill everyone, right?" ]
[ "No," someone muttered. "He's after Loki. He's their prize." ]
[ The ship rocked violently, flames engulfing the lab. ]
[ "Suit up!" Rogers barked at Tony. ]
[ The two stumbled toward the equipment bay as alarms wailed. The entire ship was on high alert, and chaos was everywhere. ]
[ "Everyone, take your stations!" Fury pushed himself up, voice sharp. "Hill! Report!" ]
[ Hill answered briskly: "Explosion at the periphery! Engine Three is offline, we're under attack!" ]
[ "Can you get it running?" ]
[ "No chance. It's on fire." ]
[ "The steam turbine's wrecked," a tech added. "We can't repair it midair." ]
[ Hill grimaced. "If we can't get that engine back, we'll lose altitude." ]
[ "Someone has to fix it," Fury ordered. He switched channels. "Stark, do you copy?" ]
[ "Loud and clear," came Tony's voice through static. ]
[ "Colson, lock down the detention area. Head to the armory." ]
[ "Romanov?" ]
[ On the stairwell, a blast sent Romanov and Banner tumbling. She lay pinned, a steel pipe crushing her leg. ]
[ "We're fine," she groaned. Her eyes darted to Banner. His fists clenched as he slammed the ground, green veins pulsing beneath his skin. A faint emerald glow flickered along his arms. ]
[ "We're fine, Dr. Banner," she said, voice trembling. "We're fine… right?" ]
The live audience stared, breath held. Everyone remembered their earlier fear of Banner's rage. Now, that fear had a face.
A chilling thought rippled through every mind: "Damn it… Isn't he supposed to be just a physicist?"