Fury brought up a holographic image and projected it into the air.
In Harlem, New York, a ten-foot-tall green monster with bulging muscles grabbed a main battle tank and hurled it at an Apache attack helicopter as though throwing a toy.
Amid the towering flames, heavily armed U.S. Army soldiers were tossed like ants by the blast wave. This was the devastation wrought by Abomination.
Then the scene changed.
It showed surveillance screenshots of Retsu Unohana effortlessly incapacitating Ivan on the Monaco racetrack.
"This is the truth about the world, Stark." Fury walked into the center of the holographic projection, his single eye flickering in the firelight from the footage.
"This world is changing faster and faster. Metahumans, genetic mutants, even supernatural forces we can't begin to understand are springing up everywhere."
Fury pointed at the green monster throwing the tank.
"Ordinary police? The military? Conventional weapons? Against these things, they're just moving meat targets. Our laws and our order can't restrain individuals with power on this scale."
"So you need an army." Tony stared at the footage, his mind racing to assess these monsters' destructive capabilities.
"An army of freaks to fight another bunch of freaks."
"I need a line of defense," Fury corrected. "One that can stand between humanity and annihilation."
A brief silence settled over the laboratory while the soundless footage of explosions continued to loop.
Tony took a deep breath and set his glass down hard on the table.
"Sounds noble, but my answer hasn't changed. I'm not cut out for this team game. I-"
"I know." Fury cut him off without ceremony.
Fury tipped his chin toward Natasha.
Natasha stepped forward, pulled a paper report from her tactical pocket, and slapped it against Tony's chest.
"This is my psychological and behavioral assessment of you during