Chapter 77: Launch Day!

Chapter 77: Launch Day!

A/N: Launch Day!

-x-X-x-

They were finally here. Launch Day. Alexander Pierce lets himself bask in that feeling for a moment, just as the elevator doors open and he steps out to begin walking towards where the rest of the World Security Council were waiting for him.

Well, most of them. Malick had stepped down from his position on the World Security Council as planned and ultimately would be in control of one of the six Helicarriers launching today. Pierce and his branch’s relationship with Malick and the Hive Branch of HYDRA might not have been the most copacetic at times, but after today any enmity would be a thing of the past. Not only would HYDRA be ascendant, the world bowing before their might, but also... Pierce’s branch would have three Helicarriers, and Hive would only have one.

In a world where these state of the art Helicarriers would be the new super weapons, as well as a world where Pierce had control of the Iron Legion to top things off... Gideon Malick would no longer be the most feared and powerful HYDRA head any longer. No, after today that title would fall to Pierce. How could it not?

As Pierce meets the rest of the World Security Council outside of the Triskelion, he notes the absence of one other Council Member as well. Tony Stark’s absence has the others glancing around, clearly wondering where he is.

Pierce, meanwhile, finds the smile slipping away into a frown. If Tony wasn’t here today, that could be a problem. While Zola had assured him and the other heads of HYDRA that JARVIS would be contained before the launch and Tony Stark would be left weaponless, it wouldn’t do for the man behind the technology that made up Project Insight to just... go to ground.

He was-

Pierce blinks as he suddenly hears music on the wind. Words follow the melody, even as everyone in the promenade looks up.

“Back in black

I hit the sack

I’ve been too long, I’m glad to be back

Yes, I’m let loose

From the noose

That’s kept me hanging about”

Coming flying in, in direct defiance of a dozen air traffic laws and all of SHIELD’s security protocols, is Tony Stark in one of his suits. Not just any suit either, but the one he’s rather famous now for using to fly a certain nuke through a certain portal to blow up an alien invasion fleet.

As AC/DC blares at full volume, he comes in for a landing just a few feet away from Pierce and the rest of the World Security Council.

For just a second, the Secretary feels a slight shiver down his spine, staring into the glowing eyes of the armor as it looks up at him. What if Tony knows? What if Zola missed something and JARVIS was able to overcome him? What if this is the moment where Stark decides to kill him?

Then, the song cuts off and the armor rises to its full height, splitting open in the front to let Tony Stark step out. Clad in an Armani Suit more expensive than the combined total of the rest of the WSC’s clothing, a big bright smile on his face, Tony clasps his hands together in front of him.

“Sorry if I’m late. Traffic was killer.”

The joke doesn’t go over all that well with the other Council Members, who all share looks at Tony’s flashy entrance. Chuckling softly, Pierce just shakes his head, gesturing for Tony to join the rest of the group.

“Not late at all, Councilman Stark. Just in time, in fact. Come along all of you, right this way.”

Glancing back behind him, Tony calls out to the abandoned suit.

“Go and park that somewhere nobody will bother it, J.”

“Of course, Sir.”

Closing back up, the empty suit moves away. Pierce lets himself feel a small pang of relief at that, knowing that Stark is separated from his powerful weapon. But he’ll feel even better in a moment as he turns to see his assistant present the case with the specially prepared security badges to him.

“Ah, right, just one more thing. This facility is biometrically controlled. These badges will give you unrestricted access, so please...”

He falls silent after that, still grinning toothily. Councilman Rockwell uses that opportunity to interject, the grumpy old man huffing as he raises an eyebrow at the eccentric, grandstanding billionaire.

“Is there a point to all of this, Stark?”

Pointing a finger at Rockwell, Tony grins.

“There is! You’re welcome!”

A ripple goes through the WSC at those egotistical words. Tony even goes so far as to take a bow.

“All that power. All of that technology... in the hands of all of you. I’ve really outdone myself this time, haven’t I? Fortunately, the best hands are our own, aren’t they? But imagine if they weren’t. Imagine, if you will, all of that power falling into the hands of people with bad intentions. People who didn’t have the world’s best interests at heart.”

He’s taunting them, Pierce realizes. Goading them, even. It’s like he wants them to realize something is wrong before the end comes. That realization brings a small smile to Pierce’s face, truth be told. Because even as Stark is messing with the rest of the Council, he has no idea what’s coming for him. He has no clue that-

Pierce’s phone suddenly vibrates in his hand. He looks down to see that he has a message from Arnim Zola, precisely the message he’s been waiting for all day long.

Zola: Stark’s program has been contained. You may proceed with neutralizing Stark at any time.

Wonderful. Pierce did so love it when a plan came together. Navigating off of the message, he brings up a very important application. In a moment, he has his finger hovering over a button.

“Yes Tony. Very well done.”

Stark turns to him then, looking him right in the eye without any idea what’s about to happen. Pierce just smiles.

“It’s too bad you won’t be there to see the world your inventions will create, Stark. But not to worry. Even if your wife proves to be unmanageable... I promise to look after your daughter for you.”

Then, just as Tony’s brow is furrowing and his mouth is opening, Pierce stabs his thumb down on the button... activating the thermite explosive in Stark’s security badge. It goes off immediately, the incredibly intense heat pouring out of the back of the badge and burning a two inch hole through Stark’s sternum that goes straight through his heart and out his back.

The look of surprise and shock on Tony’s face is honestly a little too gratifying if Pierce is being honest, even as the genius slumps to the floor, dead on the spot.

As the other Council Members start to react, Pierce holds up the phone while in the same moment loyal HYDRA guards invade the room and hold them all at gunpoint.

“I wouldn’t do anything rash, Councilmen, Councilwoman. Tony Stark is the only person in this room who has to die today if you all play your cards right. You just have to realize that it’s time to join the winning team.”

Douglas Rockwell grits his teeth, taking a step forward only to stop as half a dozen guns cock in his direction.

“What is the meaning of this, Pierce?!”

Heh, he couldn’t have asked for a better layup, really. Letting his lips curl up into a wide grin, knowing full well that the time to Project Insight’s launch is still counting down behind him, Alexander Pierce spreads his arms nice and wide and says just two words.

“Hail HYDRA.”

“““HAIL HYDRA!”””

Every single guard in the room immediately echoes the call and Pierce knows he shouldn’t... be he relishes the fear that spreads across the World Security Council’s faces. He relishes it quite a bit.

-x-X-x-

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A/N: Dun, DUN, DUUUUUUUN!!!

Oh yeah, Pierce is feeling REALLY good right now. I suppose now is when I let you guys know I'm moving to updating five days a week and taking weekends off so next chapter will be Mon-

Naaaah, I'm just fucking with you. See you all tomorrow for Chapter 78 :P