For vast destruction shrouded neath a mask?
As quickly as th’Avengers did appear, 445
Their disappearance seems a thing to fear.
The voices disagree, no two the same,
For none can say who is to praise or blame.
One woman, with appreciation rife,
Says Cap’n America hath sav’d her life. 450
Her gratitude o’erflows like riverbanks,
As she articulates her deepest thanks.
Beyond our planet, deep in darkest space,
A wicked alien doth bare his face
Before his master—Thanos is his name, 455
Soon all the galaxy shall know his fame.
The peon says the humans are too strong,
Too mighty as they stood against the throng.
“To challenge them is to court death,” he speaks,
Which only puts a smile on Thanos’ cheeks. 460
For now, though, ev’ry threat hath been suppress’d,
The crew doth rest, no longer sorely stress’d.
Ere the Avengers go their sep’rate ways—
To meet again, perchance, in future days—
A moment’s rest they share, fatigued but free, 465
And dine together—shawarma, nat’rally.
[Exeunt omnes.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
“A fight amidst the bleak and chill of snow!”
“Come thou to me—
In our communion find thy calm again.”
“A suit of armor round the world entire
My vision is.”
“Feel ye my hammer’s blow, you rank machines!”
“My words more than sufficient are
With which I may describe thee, Tony Stark.”
“I have come
To save the world entire.”
“I wonder’d why you two
Alone surviv’d th’experiments of Strucker.
Now all is clear, as if the clouds did part.”
“O, pulse of two unmoving forces met—
The area entire doth feel the shockwave!”
“The public shall not thank us fighting men—
Th’Avengers cause their havoc once again.”
“I witness’d something in the dream of mine—
There answers are that I must elsewhere seek.”
“I’ll lie my feathers down and be at rest.
It is my promise, if I have thy heart.”
“The earth grown helpless by a mighty blast,
Whilst Stones most colorful are gather’d up
To do the bidding of an evil one!”
“Cease, knave! Thou art no match for my vast pow’r.”
“There may, then, be no path by which you’ll trust me,
Yet we must thither fly, and speedily.”
“It liveth! My strange vision doth arise!”
“Sokovia is headed for a ride.”
“Such battle ne’er was seen!”
“Mount, mount, my soul! Thy seat is up on high,
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.”
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day—
The hulk will roar, and android have his say.”
“Up, Avengers!”
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
chorus
tony stark, Iron Man
steve rogers, Captain America
thor, a god of Asgard
bruce banner, The Hulk
natasha romanoff, Black Widow
clint barton, Hawkeye
wanda maximoff, Scarlet Witch
pietro maximoff, Quicksilver
sam wilson, Falcon
nick fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
maria hill, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
jarvis, Stark’s automaton
friday, Stark’s thinking machine
vision, a unique lifeform
james rhodes, War Machine
dr. helen cho, a scientist
dr. erik selvig, a scientist
laura, cooper, and lila barton, Clint’s family
ultron, an evil robotic mastermind
baron strucker, a scoundrel
ulysses klaue, a villain
soldiers, thugs, underlings, and citizens of Sokovia
Prologue
The New World.
ENTER CHORUS.
CHORUS
In our last play, th’Avengers came to be—
Our author hath penn’d further stories now,
New characters and tales he’ll add somehow.
Midway betwixt the last tale and this play, 5
Adventures stood in the Avengers’ way.
Now we must undertake to render you
The tales that came before the play you view.
Here, then, is what hath happen’d to the group—
Remember as ye watch our acting troupe. 10
Ere Tony Stark his demons could escape,
Emerg’d a foe with strange genetic shape—
The horrid Aldrich Killian came nigh,
He who behind the Mandarin did lie.
Eventually Tony’s nerves did calm— 15
Destroying Killian became a balm—
And Pepper and the president were sav’d.
Refusing the old life he once had crav’d,
Kept humble by his trauma and regret,
Wise Stark knew that he needed a reset. 20
Once more to Asgard did the story turn,
Revealing Malekith, whose soul did burn—
Long’d he to bring the Aether into pow’r,
Deliv’ring to Convergence his bleak hour.
Thor fought with bravery against the dark; 25
He wish’d to keep his Jane from fate’s cruel mark.
E’en Loki help’d his brother fight the foes,
Where seemingly he died by weapon’s blows.
In th’end, Thor went to Jane with loving tone—
Not knew he Loki liv’d and held the throne. 30
To tell of Cap’n Steve Rogers’ tale to date
Engrosses one in Bucky Barnes’ sad fate.
Rock’d by the fall of Fury in the field,
Steve learn’d of a conspiracy in S.H.I.E.L.D.
Observing Hydra’s Project Insight fierce— 35
Led by a new head, Alexander Pierce—
Deep in the scheme dives Rogers, most unlucky,
In conflict with the Winter Soldier, Bucky.
E’en Falcon, Romanoff, and Hill help Cap
Repulse the threat, free Barnes’ mind from its trap. 40
Giv’n were we, then, a play beyond the pale,
Untied, as yet, to the Avengers’ tale.
A ragtag group of scoundrels came to be,
Renown’d as Guardians of the Galaxy.
Drax, Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Peter Quill 45
In prison came together with a thrill.
An orb is at the center of the plot,
Nabb’d by Quill, but by vicious Ronan sought.
Soon Yondu, Ronan, Nebula, and more
Outdone were by the gang, who earn’d their score. 50
Forsooth, our curtain shall anon arise,
To witness it shall give ye some surprise—
Herein you shall see Ultron, foe most great,
Endeavoring to seal th’Avengers’ fate.
Gird up your loins, and for the scene prepare; 55
Already, drama permeates the air.
Look soon to meet the twins from other lands,
Attacking our crew with their magic hands—
Xen’phobia shall lead to problems more,
Yea, view our show, next in th’Avengers lore. 60
[Exit Chorus.
SCENE 1
Hydra research base in Sokovia.
ENTER HYDRA SOLDIERS, WANDA MAXIMOFF, AND PIETRO MAXIMOFF ON BALCONY.
SOLDIER 1
Now, fair compatriots, our battle hour
Draws on apace. Th’Avengers make approach—
Report unto your stations in a trice!
’Tis not a drill—we face a dire attack.
ENTER NATASHA ROMANOFF AND CLINT BARTON IN A JEEP AND MANY BRIGANDS, FIGHTING WITH THEM. ENTER STEVE ROGERS ON A MOTORCYCLE, TONY STARK IN HIS IRON MAN SUIT, THOR, AND HULK, FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THEM. THE VOICE OF JARVIS SPEAKS TO ALL.
ROMANOFF
A fight amidst the bleak and chill of snow! 5
BARTON
These enemies shall fall to my bow’s wrath,
The arrows like a talon in each one!
THOR
Dive! Fight with these: my confidants and friends.
HULK
Rawr!
STARK
—Inward, onward, friends, drive through the
snow!
ROGERS
Our might for liberty and justice, mates! 10
[They advance toward a base, defeating enemies along the way. Stark runs into the base’s force field.
STARK
Infectious urchin-snouted gudgeon-scut!
ROGERS
Pray, watch thy language. JARVIS, what dost see
In thy position over all our heads?
JARVIS
The central building is protected by
A shield of energy. This Strucker hath 15
Technology beyond what we have seen
From any other Hydra base we’ve ta’en.
THOR
Then Loki’s scepter must, perforce, be here—
Sans it could Strucker not mount this defense.
Methinks we’ll have the weapon at long last. 20
ROMANOFF
[aside:] I dodge and parry, kick and glide, release
One bomb to send these frightful brigands hence,
Then grasp another by the neck and flip.
[Into radio:] “At long last” lasteth far too long, my friends.
BARTON
If we had hop’d to fly in by surprise, 25
Alas, we’ve lost the element thereof.
STARK
Is’t possible that no one, save myself,
Shall comment on the fact that Cap quoth “Watch
Thy language”? Say, must we not deal therewith?
ROGERS
Old-fashion’d, yea, but with new-fashion’d tricks. 30
[He stops his motorcycle quickly, flings himself over the handlebars, and throws the bike at oncoming foes.
The phrase slipp’d out unbidden, I declare.
THE BATTLE CONTINUES BELOW. ENTER BARON STRUCKER AND DOCTOR LIST ON BALCONY, APPROACHING A SOLDIER.
STRUCKER
Who gave the order for th’attack to launch?
SOLDIER 1
Herr Strucker, ’tis th’Avengers who approach!
They landed in the woods beyond the base—
Our guard on the perimeter hath panick’d 35
And sounded the alarum for the fight.
STRUCKER
[to List:] They have approach’d, the scepter to reclaim.
[To Soldier 1:] Can we forfend them?
SOLDIER 1
—They’re th’Avengers,
sir!
STRUCKER
Deploy the tanks, and concentrate your fire
Upon the weaker ones within their band— 40
A hit may make them close their ranks anon.
[To List:] All we have work’d for, all accomplish’d we,
Shall it be lost because of this attack?
Our greatest breakthrough yet is on the verge!
LIST
Let us, then, show them our accomplishments. 45
Send forth the twins, a double dose of pain.
STRUCKER
’Tis far too soon—the twins are not prepar’d.
LIST
Nay, ’tis the time for which they hither came.
STRUCKER
My soldiers shall defend us, I believe.
JARVIS
[to Stark:] The city, sir, is taking fire severe. 50
STARK
Inevitably, Strucker is concern’d
Not for some few civilian casualties.
Send in the Iron Legion to protect.
ENTER SEVERAL IRON MAN CLONES AND SEVERAL CITIZENS.
CLONE 1
This quadrant is unsafe. Pray, get ye back!
We come to help. Collat’ral damage is 55
A thing we gladly would avoid. We shall
Inform ye when this conflict is resolv’d.
CITIZENS
[chanting:] Avengers, go ye home!
Avengers, get ye gone!
Avengers, go ye home! 60
Avengers, get ye gone!
STRUCKER
[to his soldiers:] We shall not yield unto these circus
freaks
Whom the Americans sent as a test
Of our resolve, our knowledge, and our strength.
Th’Avengers shall return in body bags, 65
Each one destroy’d beneath our mighty thumb.
Surrender not!
SOLDIERS
—Huzzah! Surrender not!
[Exeunt Wanda and Pietro Maximoff.
STRUCKER
[aside, to List:] I shall surrender. Ev’rything delete,
Or all our deeds shall fall into the light.
If we give the Avengers weapons, they 70
May not look closer into what we have—
LIST
The twins!
STRUCKER
—I said they were not ready yet.
LIST
Nay, look—the twins absconded sans our notice.
[Exeunt Baron Strucker and Doctor List.
ENTER WANDA AND PIETRO MAXIMOFF TO THE BATTLEFIELD BELOW.
BARTON
Another brute still shoots, would clip my wings—
Yet I shall target practice make of him. 75
[He shoots one arrow, which is deflected by Pietro, who runs faster than can be seen. Pietro then knocks Barton over as he runs by.
PIETRO
Thou didst not see me coming, fleet of foot?
[Pietro speeds away.
BARTON
What was this vision that hath just flown past,
Like person unto vapor swiftly turn’d?
[Barton is hit by a blast.
ROMANOFF
Clint! Art thou well? This wound thine aspect darkens.
[Pietro knocks Rogers over, but Rogers flips and regains his footing.
ROGERS
[into radio:] We face some soul enhanc’d within the
field. 80
ROMANOFF
[into radio:] Clint hath been hit—I fear grim injury.
Would someone quickly sort the bunker out,
That its guns may be silenc’d presently?
[Hulk runs and smashes into the bunker, disabling it.
My thanks, O green one.
ROGERS
—Stark, we must inside.
STARK
[into radio:] I close in. Yea, at least I think I do— 85
I bid thee, JARVIS, am I closing in?
The situation is, as yet, unclear—
Dost see a power source that drives the shield?
JARVIS
Below the tower on the northern point
A pulsing wave of particle I sense. 90
STARK
[into radio:] It falls to me to poke it by some means.
[He fires on the north tower, and the shield falls.
Look to the drawbridge there! It hath come down,
The strong portcullis open’d for your entry.
THOR
[to Rogers:] What was this one, enhanc’d, whom you
observ’d?
ROGERS
A speedy blur, as though the wind took shape. 95
Of all the enemies encounter’d we,
Ne’er have I seen such faculties as his—
In truth, mine eyeballs still have seen it not.
ROMANOFF
[into radio:] Clint hath been hit and groweth dimmer
still—
He shall evacuation need at once. 100
THOR
I shall take Barton to the jet posthaste—
The sooner we are gone, the better ’tis.
[To Rogers:] The scepter thou and Stark must yet secure.
ROGERS
It shall be quickly done.
[Soldiers begin running toward them single file.
THOR
—Our foes line up
As if they were a band of bowling pins. 105
ROGERS
They are excited—let us tutor them.
[Thor bangs his hammer on Rogers’s shield, creating a shockwave that fells the approaching soldiers. Exeunt all soldiers and enemies below.
THOR
The scepter find, and I shall see thee soon.
STARK
[into radio:] Indeed, and golly gosh, thy language watch!
[Exeunt Thor carrying Clint Barton. Exit Tony Stark severally, toward the base.
ROGERS
[into radio:] This quip cannot go soon enow away—
It seems I never may live down that quote. 110
ENTER TONY STARK ON BALCONY, ENGAGING SOLDIERS THERE WHO BEGIN SHOOTING AT HIM.
STARK
I prithee, stop, for we must talk this through.
[He shoots and disarms all of them.
Good talk, good words, good listening, good men.
SOLDIER 2
[moaning:] The talk was terrible!
[Exeunt all soldiers, hobbling. Stark steps out of his Iron Man suit and addresses it.
STARK
—In sentry mode
Be vigilant. [To JARVIS:] Now JARVIS, hear my words:
Give me the information on their drives— 115