Chapter 45: Obsession Part 1
The Skies Over Switzerland
The Quinjet cut through alpine clouds at supersonic speed. In the cockpit, Ant-Man watched the tracker and adjusted course.
In the cabin, Ben watched the Swiss Alps far below.
"We're closing on his last known position," Hank said, adjusting their heading. "Three minutes."
Steve studied the overlay. "Thor and Hulk are holding at the mansion?"
"Yeah," Ben said. "In case this is a diversion. Can't leave New York empty."
"Smart," Steve leaned forward. "Basics. Who is Crimson Dynamo?"
"Ivan Vanko. He's a Russian national, brilliant engineer who created a suit of armor similar to Iron Man's... but bigger. A lot bigger. And with more weapons."
Steve's brow furrowed as he processed this. "The Soviets were our allies against Hydra... did things change that much since I was frozen?"
Hank grimaced. "Um, yes. A lot. It's... complicated."
Ben glanced at Steve sympathetically. "There was a war, but it was cold. Proxy fights, threats, all that. I’ll pull up a video when we get back.”
Steve nodded once, filing it away.
"But Vanko isn't working for Russia," Hank continued, pulling up a holographic profile of the armored figure. "He's obsessed with destroying Iron Man. His armor is based on Tony's tech, reverse-engineered from stolen designs. And Tony, well..." He let out a dry chuckle. "Let's just say he's a little protective of his technology.
Ben chuckled. "A hero and villain with the same theme being arch enemies? It's a tale as old as time."
"Iron Man has been trying to take Vanko down ever since they first met… and he finally did."
The display showed past fights. Each time, Vanko escaped until Iron Man finally brought him down.
“Until the breakout,” Steve said.
“Right,” Hank said. “We’re tracking everyone who got out of the four prisons, but this one is at the top of Tony’s list.” He adjusted his helmet and shrank a little. “Sometimes you forget who’s obsessed with whom.”
Steve looked down below. “You said Vanko had weapons?”
“Yeah. A lot. Why do you…” Hank caught what Steve was looking at. “Ah. Never mind.”
Down below in the snow was a mess of explosions with a large red object in the middle.
Steve huffed. “If I had to guess… I’d say Iron Man’s found the Crimson Dynamo.”
Below
The sky ahead erupted.
Crimson Dynamo was a nine-foot slab of crimson and gold plating bristling with launchers.
Iron Man shot up from below the clouds, repulsors flaring as he closed on the crimson giant. Missiles streaked toward him, leaving white contrails.
“Contact!” Tony snapped over comms. “All units engage. This ends now!”
“On it,” Wasp said, accelerating ahead.
Crimson Dynamo's twin crimson beams carved through the cloud layer.
“Evasive!” Hank shouted, banking hard.
The beams skimmed the Quinjet, heat rippling off the wing. Ben stumbled and caught the bulkhead.
“We need to get in close!” Steve called. “Hank, bring us alongside!”
“Working on it!” Hank said. “Ben, we need…”
Ben was already moving. He hit the hatch release. The rear door hissed open and wind slammed into the cabin. He sprinted and jumped.
The Omnitrix flashed green. His body stretched and thickened. Fur surged across his skin. His face pushed into a muzzle, ears sharpening. A green collar and wristbands formed, the Omnitrix symbol glowing at his throat.
“Blitzwolfer!”
He howled as he dropped toward the fight. Below, Dynamo tracked Iron Man with multiple arrays.
Wasp darted in, firing bio-electric bursts that splashed off heavy plating. “Too thick. We need a weak point!”
“I’m working on it!” Iron Man dove, then snapped upward, pulling Dynamo after him. The larger suit followed, slower on the turn.
Blitzwolfer twisted in freefall, then drew a deep breath and unleashed a sonic howl at the armored Russian.
The shockwave rattled panels and jittered sensors. Dynamo’s flight wobbled, servos whining.
“Nice shot!” Tony banked and charged his gauntlets. Energy swelled into a glowing construct, shaped like a giant hand. “My turn.”
The construct slammed into Dynamo and sent the heavy armor tumbling. Warnings lit Vanko’s HUD.
“Stark!” Vanko roared through external speakers. “You think your toys can stop me? I will tear you from the sky!”
Weapon pods opened along Dynamo’s arms. A dozen missiles launched, fanning out toward Iron Man, the Quinjet, and Wasp.
“Scatter!” Steve ordered.
Hank threw the Quinjet into a barrel roll as explosions punched holes in the clouds. Wasp shrank to insect size and threaded between blasts. Iron Man dumped chaff and flares.
Blitzwolfer had no cover. He curled tight as shrapnel hissed past. A fragment raked his shoulder. Green blood welled, and he snarled, still falling.
Dynamo recovered below, rolling into position for another barrage.
Not today.
Blitzwolfer kicked out, caught a passing missile, and redirected it with a brutal strike. The warhead spiraled back and detonated against Dynamo’s chest in a bloom of fire and smoke.
“Pour it on, Avengers!” Iron Man dove from above. “Whatever it takes, Avengers. Put him down!”
The arc reactor flared. Twin repulsor beams hammered Dynamo’s position.
#
Iron Man surged forward, arc reactor flaring. Energy pooled around his gauntlet, tightening into a crackling sphere. He drove it into Dynamo’s chest plate like a battering ram.
KRAAANG!
The armored giant lurched, servos screaming as gyros fought to steady him. Crimson plating buckled and split with hairline fractures. Vanko stayed airborne anyway, thrusters punching harder.
“You are a coward, Iron Man! Do you hear me, a coward!”
His voice boomed through the external speakers, rough with distortion.
“You ran during the breakout because you knew I would destroy you. Now you hide behind others!”
Tony snapped left as Dynamo’s arm cannon tracked him. A red beam slashed past, turning drifting moisture into steam.
“Yeah, Ivan. I’ve heard it.” Tony kept his eyes on the targeting reticle that would not hold steady. “Workshop a new speech.”
His HUD flashed warnings. Sensors were dropping out. Target lock kept slipping.
High above, Blitzwolfer rode a thermal, eyes fixed on the fight. “He’s really got it out for you.”
“Then shut him up, Ben.”
“With pleasure.”
He folded his wings and dove. At the last moment he flared, claws scoring Dynamo’s shoulder. Metal shrieked. Plates peeled back, exposing wiring and actuators.
Blitzwolfer landed on the broad back and dug in between seams as the suit vibrated under him. He opened his jaws.
The sonic howl hit point-blank.
KRA-KOOOOM!
Dynamo jerked as if punched. Alarms wailed inside the helmet. Stabilizers stuttered. Audio cut. Targeting spasmed into static.
Vanko pitched hard, trying to throw him off. “Get off me, you mangy-!”
Wasp streaked in from his blind side, a gold slash against the sky. She fired quick bio-electric bursts.
ZAP. ZAP. ZAP.
They scorched the red plating and left black pits without punching deep. She kept moving, tight loops around the helmet.
“So,” Wasp said, sweet as sugar, “you built a big red suit and picked a fight with Tony Stark. That the whole plan?”
Dynamo’s hand snapped up. Too fast for something that heavy.
His gauntlet closed around her.
“AAAH!”
Her wings buzzed against steel. Vanko’s voice dropped into something calm and ugly.
“Not a copy,” he said. “Better.”
Power surged through his grip. Blue-white arcs crawled over her body. Her scream cut straight through the comms.
“JANET!” Tony punched his repulsors, closing the distance.
Dynamo’s chest reactor flared crimson, swelling to a blinding glow. Twin beams tore out in a wide, brutal sweep and caught Iron Man and Blitzwolfer midair.
KA-THOOM!
Tony spun end over end, HUD exploding with red. Armor temperature spiked. Blitzwolfer was hurled clear, fur smoking as he fought the wind.
Iron Man righted himself with a hard burst, stabilizers whining. Altitude alarms screamed.
“Damn it,” Tony hissed, hauling up.
Dynamo rotated, weapon systems cycling. “You see? This is power. Not your pathetic-”
Above, the Quinjet’s rear hatch opened again.
Captain America was ready with his shield, and he jumped.
The drop stole the world down to one target. Dynamo’s frame swelled in his sight. Steve drew the shield tight, then drove it forward like a spear.
CLANG!
Vibranium struck the helmet with a bell-like ring that rolled across the mountains. Vanko’s head snapped back. His grip spasmed.
“Back off, comrade!” he barked, more reflex than confidence.
His fingers opened.
Wasp slipped free and vanished to insect size, zipping away in a shaky line, charge still crackling off her.
Steve landed on Dynamo’s back, boots locking with Tony’s mag system. He wedged the shield into the torn shoulder joint and wrenched.
Sparks burst. Metal groaned. Hydraulic fluid sprayed.
Dynamo thrashed, trying to spin him off. “Get off! Get OFF!”
“Not a chance.” Steve dug in, driving the shield deeper with every heave.
The suit’s thrusters stuttered and flared unevenly, turning the air into a blur of snow and sky.
Tony steadied, then lined up the damaged joint. “My turn.”
A tight repulsor beam punched into the gap Steve had opened. The weakened armor gave, and internal circuits erupted in a shower of sparks.
Blitzwolfer came back in low, fast, and mean. He raked Dynamo’s leg joints, carving along the connections where plates met. Hydraulics burst.
From the Quinjet, Giant-Man dropped and expanded as he fell. By the time he reached Dynamo, he towered over him. A massive hand clamped around Dynamo’s arm and yanked it.
“NYET!” Vanko roared.
Wasp returned, full size and furious. She aimed for exposed wires and open panels and did not miss.
ZAP. ZAP. ZAP. ZAP.
Each hit chained into another failure. The suit’s movements slowed.
Dynamo’s thrusters coughed once, twice, and went dark.
The armor dropped.
Steve rode it down until the last instant, then kicking free. Dynamo hit the mountainside and tore a trench through snow and stone before slamming into a granite outcrop.
Snow slid in sheets.
The Avengers touched down around the crater.
Iron Man landed first, repulsors trained on Dynamo’s cracked faceplate. “Stay down, Vanko.”
The helmet turned a fraction, servos grinding. Steam hissed from split coolant lines. Behind the fractured visor, Vanko’s eyes still burned.
"It's over. You're done." Tony's voice was cold. "You steal my tech, this is what happens. You're going away for a long time."
"Tony…" Ant-Man shrank back to normal size, concern in his voice.
"He needs to know, Hank. They all need to know. My armor will not be used to-"
Blitzwolfer's ears swiveled, picking up the crunch of boots on snow and the scent of multiple individuals.
"Iron Man…" Steve's tone sharpened, his gaze fixed on something above.
Wasp flew closer, positioning herself between Tony and the ridge. "Tony, just turn around!"
Blitzwolfer narrowed his eyes. "We have visitors."
#
Four figures stood on the ridge above.
The leader wore a fitted blue combat uniform with yellow boots, gloves, and belt. A bold hammer-and-sickle emblem dominated his chest. A short black mask covered his eyes. He held a heavy utilitarian hammer in one hand.
Behind him was a figure in pale green-gray armor. Broad shoulders. Oversized fists. Visible plating seams.
Beside the armored giant stood an enormous brown bear. Thick dark fur. Heavy shoulders. Powerful limbs.
The woman at the edge wore a sleek black bodysuit with gold accents and a stylized star emblem on her chest. Long blonde hair contrasted sharply with the dark uniform. Purple-black energy crackled faintly around one hand.
The man in blue stepped forward. "The Winter Guard has come for the Crimson Dynamo!"
Iron Man's repulsors stayed locked on the downed armor. "…Oh."
Well, they hadn't attacked yet. Maybe they were friendly. Blitzwolfer raised a clawed hand and waved cautiously. "Hi."
The leader's expression didn't change. "I recommend you do not stand in our way."
Tony's HUD tracked each of them. "Who are you? If you're working with Dynamo-"
"We are not, Iron Man. I am called Vanguard. And my team and I are servants of the Russian Federation." He gestured to each in turn. "Titanium Man. Ursa Major. Darkstar."
Blitzwolfer's ears perked. "Oh, you guys are official. Didn't know Russia had its own hero team."
Wasp hovered closer to Tony. "They've got a bear. That's freaky."
Blitzwolfer gave her an incredulous look. "Says the girl on the same team as a talking werewolf."
She opened her mouth. Closed it. "…Fair."
Blitzwolfer padded forward, claws crunching in the snow. Captain America matched his pace, shield lowered but ready.
Steve stopped a few yards from Vanguard. "We're not looking for a fight. Just want to understand the situation."
Vanguard's eyes widened slightly. He straightened. "Captain America."
Steve nodded once.
"It is an honor." Vanguard's tone softened. "I have heard many tales. The first Red Guardian spoke of you often. He fought beside you against the Germans."
Steve's expression flickered at a memory surfacing. A bunker with the Red Skull's insignia. Patriot on his left. Spirit of '76 covering the flank. And a man in red and white, hammer in hand, breaking through steel doors.
"I remember him," Steve said quietly. "A good man."
"His successor, the second Red Guardian, is back in Russia, dealing with other matters."
Vanguard inclined his head respectfully.
Blitzwolfer stepped in front of Vanguard, Ursa Major, and Darkstar. The Omnitrix chimed softly in his ear. Alert: Mutant Signatures Detected. Blitzwolfer grinned. "Hey. Nice to meet ya."
Vanguard gave a simple nod. The bear let out a low rumble that could have been a greeting. Darkstar’s expression loosened a notch.
"Nice to meet you as well," she greeted.
Blitzwolfer cocked his head. "You believe me if I say I know a blonde guy named Darkstar?"
Darkstar arched a brow. "Do you? What's he like?"
"Magic user. Power-hungry at first. Big ego. Community service knocked some sense into him."
Darkstar blinked, caught between confusion and curiosity. "Well, I'm still learning what I have, but I wouldn't call it magic."
"Makes sense." Blitzwolfer shrugged. "Anyway, kinda wild seeing mutants on Russia’s hero teams."
The trio shared a look.
Behind them, Steve stiffened. "?!" His eyes flicked between them. "Wait. Mutants? You mean…"
"Talking bears are not normal in this era either, Captain," Ursa Major said. "Even now."
Steve worked his jaw, then let it go. "The future gets weirder every day."
Wasp drifted in closer, wary but curious. "So you can just turn into a bear? Or are you always…"
"I am Ursa Major both with and without my inner animal," he said. "I live with it."
Then Blitzwolfer cleared his throat and tried to lighten it. "Back home, it’s rough for mutants. We’re still fighting that." He looked at Darkstar. "How’s it over here? They treat you right?"
Ursa Major shifted. Vanguard's expression went thin. Darkstar’s mouth tightened, then she let out a slow breath before patting Vanguard on the shoulder. "It's… better… comparatively. It was not always good," she said. "There was a time when Russian mutants were considered a threat. They were to be killed when discovered."
Blitzwolfer’s face fell. "Oh. God."
"My brother and I hid what we were for years," Darkstar went on. "Many did. But children cannot always control their powers when they appear."
Ursa Major’s rumble dipped. "I was young when I first changed. My village did not take it well."
"Geez," Blitzwolfer muttered.
Darkstar nodded once. "One professor convinced the government to let him train us instead. He gave us a way out of execution or exile."
Captain America's expression dimmed. "Training kids to be agents. That’s…"
"Better than a bullet," Ursa Major said.
"Yeah," Blitzwolfer said, but didn’t look happy about it. "Better than dying…, I guess."
Darkstar’s eyes softened. "At least we are contributing members to society." Darkstar looked away. "There were not many other options."
Ursa Major nodded. "For some, there were none. The Winter Guard was my second chance. Without it…" He trailed off.
Captain America exhaled. "I’m sorry that's the hand you were dealt."
"It is not your fault," Darkstar said.
"Doesn’t make it okay," Blitzwolfer said.
Darkstar smiled. "You both care about mutants."
Steve and Ben shared a look.
"We are both close to mutants, but we care about all people at the end of the day," Blitzwolfer said. "Mutant, alien, human. Doesn’t matter. Nobody should be hunted for existing."
Ursa Major rumbled, thoughtful. Darkstar gave a small nod. "There are protections now. Limited. Mostly because we are useful."
"Yeah," Blitzwolfer said. "That tracks."
"It is still more than we had," Darkstar said.
"Fair," Blitzwolfer replied. "Slow is still forward."
Iron Man stepped forward, repulsors still glowing faintly. "What do you want with Dynamo?"
Vanguard's expression hardened. "He has committed crimes against the Russian people. We are here to see he faces justice."
He paused.
"Our justice."
Steve folded his arms, shield resting against his back. "Vanko seems like a popular man."
Hank moved between Tony and Vanguard, hands raised diplomatically. "Tony, this could solve our immediate problem. We don't have anywhere to put Dynamo. We can't trust S.H.I.E.L.D. to hold him, and the containment structure we're building still isn't ready…"
"What?" Tony turned sharply. "I'm not turning Dynamo over to these guys…"
"Iron Man-" Steve started.
"Vanko stole from me, Cap. He hurt people with my technology! We're taking him."
Blitzwolfer's ears swiveled. Hank winced.
"Tony…" Hank said carefully. "You never actually patented most of your core armor technology."
Tony's helmet snapped toward him. "What?"
"Technically speaking," Blitzwolfer added, claws flexing in the snow, "Dynamo stole your company secrets, not patented designs."
Hank nodded reluctantly. "Even the U.S. government is currently using Stark-derived technology. You licensed some of it under very specific terms, but the rest…"
Blitzwolfer tilted his head. "We're not actually sure where your exclusive ownership legally ends."
Tony's fists clenched. "Are you serious right now? He built a weapon out of my work and you're arguing semantics?"
"I'm arguing law," Hank said quietly.
"And jurisdiction," Blitzwolfer added. "Which is kind of important here."
Vanguard's voice cut through. "We are not asking, Iron Man. This is going to happen."
Tony's helmet turned toward him, HUD locking on.
"The Winter Guard is here with the permission of the Swiss government. Are you?" Vanguard's tone was steel. "By what authority do you take Ivan Vanko?"
Blitzwolfer's ears flattened. "The Swiss, really? Must be serious if a super neutral country like that is involved."
He turned to Tony.
"Continuing on what Ant-Man said, without the Vault, where are we gonna put him? Plus, I'm pretty sure this is where lawyers are supposed to be involved."
Hank nodded. "Dynamo's crimes cross borders. This isn't something we can handle unilaterally."
Tony's jaw tightened behind the faceplate. "So what, we just hand him over?"
"I'm saying," Hank said slowly, "that normally, U.S., Swiss, and Russian officials would coordinate extradition or detention. This is an international incident, Tony. Not just an Avengers op."
Wasp flew closer, arms crossed. "Look, I don't really care where the prison is. I just want him locked up."
Steve nodded. "Agreed. Dynamo needs to face justice. The logistics of where and how, that's not our call."
"Exactly," Wasp said. "We stop the immediate threat. Let the suits handle the rest."
Tony stared at her. Then at Steve. Then at Hank and Ben.
His HUD flickered with telemetry from Dynamo's downed armor. Warnings. Damage reports. Stolen schematics still embedded in the code.
Vanguard watched him carefully. "We understand your concern, Iron Man. But Vanko is a Russian national. His crimes began in Russia. And Russia has jurisdiction."
Titanium Man's heavy footsteps crunched through snow as he advanced toward Dynamo's downed armor. His yellow visor locked onto the Avengers.
"Step away from the Dynamo, Avenger. We do not wish for a problem."
Tony's arc reactor flared brighter. His repulsors charged.
"You don't wish for a problem? Well, guess what…"
Twin beams lanced out.
Vanguard moved. His hammer swept up, energy flaring along its edge. The repulsor blast deflected into the mountainside, blasting snow and rock into the air.
"…You got one!!"
"Iron Man?!" Hank shouted.
Blitzwolfer stared at Iron Man. "What the hell, man?!"