Avengers Headquarters, Medical Center
James Rhodey lay in a hospital bed, staring at the red-and-white hundred-meter giant on the holographic display. He still had lingering fear as he touched his neck.
"Tony, honestly, when that big guy had me clamped in his grip, I thought I was about to become sardines in a can."
Tony Stark stood beside the bed, his eyes red-rimmed. But seeing that his friend was alright finally eased his tightly wound nerves slightly.
"Dr. Helen Cho said your spine is completely intact." Tony took a deep breath. "That bastard... as much as I hate to admit it, he did hold back. He had the power to crush us to death, yet he chose to let us go."
"Maybe he was right." Rhodey sighed. "Before that kind of godlike power, our accords are just children playing house."
Just then, Friday's urgent voice shattered the silence:
"Boss, Berlin police have reported that psychologist Theo Broussard was found dead in a hotel. The person who interrogated Barnes was an impostor—Helmut Zemo, former Sokovian intelligence officer."
Tony abruptly looked up, his sunglasses creaking in his clenched hand.
"Damn it! Steve was right!" Tony slammed his fist into the wall in frustration. "That psychologist was the bomber! Steve went to Siberia to stop him from awakening the other five Winter Soldiers!"
"Friday, prepare the car! No, prepare the suit! Full speed to Siberia!"
"Boss, an encrypted communication is coming in. Source—the Omnitrix."
Tony paused. "Put it through."
In the holographic projection, Jiang Li sat at the hatch of a transport plane, with howling wind and snow behind him.
"Looks like you already know you screwed up?" Jiang Li's voice held a trace of coldness.
"I'm going to fix it." Tony spoke as he put on his armor. "I'm going to help