Ben 10/MCU: Under Going Editing

May 7th, 2012 — 10 PM

A black SUV sat idle on the darkened street outside Tennyson Industries, the low hum of the city night punctuated by distant sirens and the rustle of leaves. Its tinted windows reflected the neon glow of the skyline, concealing the high-tech spy equipment humming quietly within. Maria Hill sat in the back seat, her legs crossed, black heels kicked off and neatly placed to the side. She leaned back against the leather upholstery, her expression sharp and unreadable, but her fingers tapped a restless rhythm on the armrest.

Glancing at her watch, she shifted her gaze to the window, observing the last few employees filtering out of the building like shadows. Moments later, the passenger door swung open, and a young man in his late twenties climbed into the vehicle.

Agent Cole, dressed in business-casual attire that fit his cover as a tech specialist, slid into the seat across from Hill. His demeanor was professional but slightly nervous, posture stiff as he adjusted his glasses and placed a slim laptop bag at his feet.

"You called, ma'am?" Cole asked, his voice steady despite the tension that hung in the air like a thick fog.

Hill didn't look at him right away. Instead, she reached for a tablet resting on the center console, her fingers flying over the screen as she pulled up a file. A moment of silence stretched between them, heavy and charged, before she turned her sharp gaze on him.

"How long have you been embedded at Tennyson Industries?" she asked, her tone clipped and direct.

"Eighteen months, ma'am," Cole answered promptly, but there was a slight hitch in his voice.

"And in all that time, no one thought to mention that Benjamin Tennyson possesses advanced holographic projection technology and what appears to be an artificial intelligence assistant?" Hill's voice was low, but the disappointment cut deeper than outright anger.

Cole blinked, momentarily taken aback. "H-holographic projection? An A.I. assistant?"

"Yes," Hill said, leaning forward slightly, her intensity palpable. "I just came from his office. While we were talking, he casually summoned a hologram. It was no clunky Stark knockoff nor the simple Elena assistant available to the general public now. This tech was seamless—fluid. And the A.I.? It's not just a voice interface; it was clearly well aware and understood our entire conversation."

Cole's face paled slightly, a bead of sweat forming at his temple. "I—I wasn't aware, ma'am. My assignment has been focused on analyzing Tennyson's hardware production facilities and their security protocols. No one mentioned anything about proprietary A.I. or advanced holographics."

Hill leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Your job is to observe, Cole. That includes keeping me informed about anything unusual. How does someone like Tennyson, a teenager from nowhere, develop technology that rivals or even surpasses Stark's? And why do we know so little about it?"

Cole swallowed hard, adjusting his glasses again as if that would steady him. "With all due respect, ma'am, Tennyson keeps a lot of his projects under wraps. Even the senior engineers don't have full access to his designs. The only people who might know are his inner circle... and they're airtight. No leaks, no chatter."

Hill tapped her fingers on the armrest, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Then we need to dig deeper. I don't like surprises, Cole. Not when they come from a wildcard like Tennyson. Fury might be willing to roll the dice on him, but I want contingencies."

"Yes, ma'am," Cole said quickly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And another thing," Hill added, her tone softening slightly but still firm. "You're part of a team. Coordinate with Agent Mahalo. She's been tracking his movements during night patrols. Between the two of you, I expect a full picture of what Tennyson is capable of—his strengths, his weaknesses, everything."

"Understood, ma'am," Cole replied, his voice gaining a hint of determination.

Hill's gaze lingered on him for a moment, weighing his resolve, before she turned her attention back to the tablet. "Good. Now, get back to work. And Cole?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Don't make me call you in for something this basic again. If there's another oversight like this, you'll wish you'd stayed at the Academy."

Cole nodded stiffly, feeling the weight of her words. "It won't happen again, ma'am."

Without another word, Hill tapped a button on the console, and the SUV door unlocked with a soft click. Cole took it as his cue to leave, quickly grabbing his bag and stepping out into the cool night air.

As the door closed, Hill leaned back in her seat, her mind racing through the implications of what she'd witnessed in Tennyson's office. She stared out at the glowing Tennyson Industries logo, her sharp features reflecting faintly in the glass.

"Wildcard," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with equal parts intrigue and caution.

The SUV pulled away moments later, its sleek form disappearing into the city's shadowy streets.

Hill grabbed a tablet from a compartment, her fingers flying over her device. The secure line to Nick Fury flickered to life, his familiar one-eyed gaze meeting hers on the screen.

"Hill report," Fury said curtly.

"Recruitment was successful," Hill began. "Tennyson agreed, though I'm not entirely convinced we need to bring in such a wildcard like him. In addition to Dr. Banner, these two individuals can cause quite a stir."

Fury's expression remained neutral, but a hint of concern flickered in his eye. "You think he's hiding something?"

"Yes," Hill admitted, her voice steady. "His records don't add up, and the technology he's developed goes far beyond anything we've seen outside of Stark Industries."

Fury nodded slightly, his gaze sharpening. "Your suspicions are well-founded, but right now, we need all the firepower we can muster to deal with Loki. We'll keep a close eye on him, just to be safe."

Hill acknowledged this with a slight tilt of her head before switching topics. "How did your recruitment go with Captain Rogers?"

Fury's expression softened slightly, a flash of satisfaction crossing his features. "Better than expected. Rogers is a soldier; he understands duty. He's in."

"And Romanoff's work with Banner?" Hill pressed, her curiosity piqued.

"Natasha has a knack for handling delicate situations," Fury replied, a ghost of a smile appearing. "She managed to convince Banner without him flipping a table—or worse."

Hill raised an eyebrow at the subtle jab. "And Coulson's recruitment of Stark?"

Fury paused, his jaw tightening briefly before he replied, his voice carrying a hint of annoyance. "Stark is... Stark. Coulson managed, but let's just say I'll owe him more than a pat on the back."

Hill smirked faintly but said nothing further. Fury's tolerance for Stark's antics was always a balancing act.

"I'll keep you updated on Tennyson," she said, her tone returning to business.

"Do that," Fury replied. "And Hill—stay sharp. Loki's already outplayed us once. Let's not give him another chance."

The line went dead, leaving Hill alone with her thoughts, the weight of her responsibilities settling heavily on her shoulders.

INT. OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Minutes later, Hill sat on the Quinjet, the hum of the engines vibrating through her body as she was flown back to home base.

Now dressed in her S.H.I.E.L.D. tactical suit, Maria Hill leaned against the console inside the Quinjet, her fingers once again moving quickly across her tablet. Outside, the sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the Pacific. She glanced at the clock on her HUD visor: Steve Rogers and Ben Tennyson were due to arrive at the rendezvous point with Coulson.

For now, she focused on the task at hand. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s analysts were already working to locate Loki and Barton, but Hill had taken a more hands-on approach. She pulled up satellite feeds, reports from global law enforcement, and surveillance logs from S.H.I.E.L.D. outposts.

The problem was, Loki wasn't making mistakes—definitely with Barton's help. Every lead ended in a dead end. Barton's handiwork—subtle, precise—was evident in the clean trails and lack of witnesses. It was frustrating, but not unexpected. Hill frowned, her mind racing through possibilities.

She keyed into a secure line to one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s field teams. "Status report on the Madrid lead?"

"Negative, Deputy Director," came the response. "Warehouse was empty. No sign of Loki or Barton."

Hill sighed, tapping her pen against the edge of the console. Loki was too smart to stay in one place for long. She flipped through another report, this one highlighting a potential sighting in Stuttgart, Germany.

"Cross-reference this with Barton's known operational patterns," she instructed the system. "Focus on locations with minimal civilian interference and access to high-value targets."

The airport hangar was quiet, the hum of the nearby airfield filling the still air. Inside, a sleek S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet stood waiting, its engines powered down but ready for a quick departure.

Agent Phil Coulson stood near the Quinjet's ramp, adjusting his suit and glancing at his watch. He barely suppressed his excitement as a black SUV rolled into the hangar. The vehicle came to a smooth stop, and the door opened to reveal Steve Rogers, stepping out in his signature understated manner.

"Captain Rogers," Coulson greeted, extending a hand, his professionalism only barely masking the admiration in his voice.

"Agent Coulson," Steve replied, shaking his hand firmly. "You're the one Fury mentioned?"

"Yes, sir," Coulson said, smiling politely. "I'll be accompanying you on this mission. We're just waiting on one more."

Steve nodded, climbing into the Quinjet and taking a seat near the window. He adjusted his shield on his lap, his posture straight and disciplined, though he couldn't help but wonder who this "one more" might be.

An hour passed, and Coulson's patience began to wear thin as he paced the hangar floor. Suddenly, the sound of a roaring engine shattered the relative calm.

A green BMW M3 with sleek black accents tore into the hangar at high speed, its tires screeching as it came to a halt just a few feet from the Quinjet.

Ben stepped out, a large duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Dressed in a simple black T-shirt, green cargo pants, and boots, he exuded a casual confidence that contrasted sharply with Steve's crisp, military demeanor.

Coulson sighed, as Ben approched the Quinjet. "You're late."

Ben raised an eyebrow as he walked toward them, his movements unhurried. "Apologies for the delay, Agent…?"

"Coulson," he replied, irritation barely concealed.

Ben nodded, smirking tossing his bag back over his shoulder. "Well, sorry Agent Punctuality. Turns out being the CEO of a billion-dollar company makes it hard to take an impromptu leave of absence. But here I am."

His tone was calm, his sarcasm subtle and pointed. Coulson narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't respond. Instead, he gestured to Steve, who had stepped out of the Quinjet. "Captain Rogers, Ben Tennyson."

Ben extended a hand, his grin easygoing. "Captain America, Big fan. Nice to meet a living legend. Though I thought you'd be taller."

Ben comment as he looked the super solider up and down, who just stood a head taller than him. He'd imaged feeling a little more intimated meeting some who could easily send him flying the across the room in his human, as a certain 2 meter tall southern American once did just a month ago nearly breaking his arm. 

Steve smiled at Ben's comment and shook his hand, his grip firm but polite. "I get that a lot. Nice to meet you, Mr. Tennyson. Heard a bit about you from Fury."

"All good things, I hope," Ben quipped, slinging his bag onto the Quinjet. "Though knowing Fury, probably not."

Coulson cleared his throat. "Let's get moving. Loki's not waiting around for us to get cozy."

The three boarded the Quinjet, and within minutes, it roared to life, lifting off and heading toward their next destination.

As the Quinjet ascended into the sky, Ben dropped into a seat across from Steve, his bag stowed securely nearby. He glanced out the window for a moment before turning his attention to the super-soldier.

"So," Ben started, leaning back casually, "what's it like being America's first superhero? Do you ever miss the simpler times?"

Steve smiled faintly, leaning forward slightly. "I wouldn't call fighting in a world war 'simpler,' but things were… different back then. More straightforward, in some ways. You knew who the enemy was."

Ben nodded thoughtfully. " Yeah, things aren't so black and white anymore. It's hard to know who to trust sometimes."

Steve's expression shifted, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face. "That's why we stick to what we believe in. Stand by the people who've proven themselves. Speaking of which, Fury seems to trust you. That says something."

Ben grinned. "Fury doesn't trust anyone. I've never even met the man; he just tolerates my presence and potential usefulness to the mission."

Steve stared at Ben for a second before replying. "Well, let's hope you're as useful as he says. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Ben leaned forward, his grin softening into a determined look. "Don't worry, Captain. I've got your back."

The two exchanged a nod of understanding as the Quinjet soared toward their mission, a sense of camaraderie already beginning to form.

**INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION — LOKI'S LAIR, UNDERGROUND**

Inside a hidden bunker, armed men and scientists were hard at work constructing another C.M.S. machine. The hum of machinery and the murmur of hurried voices filled the air as the process unfolded under strict supervision.

Loki sat back, watching the operation with a calm yet calculating demeanor, his scepter held loosely in one hand. He observed Selvig working on the C.M.S. device while directing others. Suddenly, his scepter began to glow brightly. Before he could react, his vision blurred, and he found himself elsewhere—on a large asteroid floating in the depths of space.

The Other stood at a distance, his hunched form cloaked in shadows, his voice creeping through the void like a sinister whisper. "The Chitauri grow restless," he hissed.

Loki straightened, unfazed by the ominous tone. "Let them ready themselves. I will lead them into glorious battle," he declared as golden armor materialized over his form, the iconic horned helmet crowning him once more.

"Battle?" The Other sneered, disdain dripping from his words. "Against the mighty forces of Earth?"

"If your army is as formidable as you claim…" Loki replied, letting the implication hang in the air.

"You dare question us?" The Other's voice rose sharply, cutting through the silence. He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Do you question him—the one who placed the scepter in your hand? The one who gave you purpose when you were cast out and defeated?"

Loki's confident facade faltered slightly, his jaw tightening. But his voice remained steady as he responded. "I was a king! The rightful king of Asgard—betrayed!" His tone was commanding, though tinged with the bitterness of past failures.

The Other chuckled darkly, circling Loki like a predator. "Your ambition is hollow. A child's need for validation. We look beyond Earth, to a vast universe that the Tesseract will unlock."

"You do not have the Tesseract yet," Loki retorted coldly.

Without warning, The Other's hand shot forward, stopping just centimeters from Loki's face. Though it hovered like a phantom's touch, it radiated an unnerving power.

Loki met the gesture without flinching, his icy confidence intact. "I do not threaten," he said, his voice low but sharp. "Until I open the gates, your army is mine to command. Do you have any objections?" A sly smirk played across his lips, daring a response.

Before The Other could reply, green energy flared in Loki's left hand, the glow enveloping him completely. In a flash, he vanished, leaving only the echo of his mocking laugh.

The Other stood alone, silent for a moment. But instead of anger, a wicked grin spread across his face. "Oh, Asgardian prince," he whispered coldly, "you can have your world… for now."

Loki's consciousness snapped back to the bunker. His expression was icy, but something beneath the surface felt… wrong. A nagging sensation gnawed at the edges of his mind, though he couldn't place it.

He shook off the thought, turning his gaze back to the glowing scepter in his hand, unaware of its insidious influence.

"You'll regret that," Loki muttered under his breath, brushing aside the strange feeling. He tightened his grip on the scepter, oblivious to the fact that it was slowly bending his will to its own.

**EXT. HELICARRIER LANDING STRIP – DAY**

The Quinjet descended onto the sprawling deck of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, its engines hissing as it came to a stop. The landing strip was a hive of activity, agents rushing about and aircraft parked in neat formations. Agent Coulson stepped out first, followed by Steve Rogers and Ben Tennyson, the latter carrying his duffel bag over one shoulder.

Ben's sharp green eyes swept over the massive structure. "A flying battleship," he muttered under his breath. "Of course. Subtlety is overrated."

Steve gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing, still adjusting to the whirlwind of modern technology.

Coulson, walking ahead, turned to greet an approaching figure—Natasha Romanoff.

"Agent Romanoff," Coulson said with a professional nod. "Captain Rogers."

Natasha's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Ma'am?" Steve asked, unsure of her rank.

"Hi," she said simply, her tone casual but her gaze sharp as it flicked to Ben. "Looks like you brought a friend."

Ben stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips. "Ben Tennyson. But I'm sure you already knew that."

Natasha raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "No actual, would you like to in lighted me more on who exactly you are Mr. Tennyson?"

" Huh... maybe another time," Ben replied, his tone light under Natasha scrutinizing gaze. Steve and Coulson clearly noticed the double meaning in Romanoff question but, the two didn't comment.

Not getting, the answer she wanted Natasha didn't pry any further turning her attention to Coulson. "They need you on the bridge," Natasha told Coulson. "Face time."

Coulson nodded, shooting a quick look at Steve and Ben. "I'll see you both there." He headed off briskly, leaving the trio by the railing of the ship.

"There was quite the buzz around here when they found you in the ice," Natasha said to Steve, leaning casually against the railing. "I thought Coulson was going to swoon. Did he ask you to sign his Captain America trading cards yet?"

Steve blinked. "Trading cards?"

"They're vintage. He's very proud." Natasha smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.

Ben watched the exchange with a faint smirk of his own, not bothered by Romanoff subtle exclusion. But he couldn't resist jumping in. "I mean, who wouldn't want a piece of history? I'd ask for a signed autograph too."

As they spoke, another figure approached nervously, trying to avoid brushing shoulders with the bustling agents. Bruce Banner was clearly out of his element, his movements hesitant and his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Steve stepped forward to meet him. "Dr. Banner," he said, extending a hand.

Banner hesitated for a moment, then shook it. "Yeah. Hi. They told me you'd be coming."

"Word is you can find the cube," Steve said simply.

Banner gave a wry smile. "Is that the only word on me?"

"It's the only one I care about," Steve replied, his expression earnest.

Ben observed the interaction, curious about Banner's demeanor. "You know, Doc, if you need to take a break from the whole 'finding the Tesseract' thing, I can help with that too. I've got some downtime techniques that are pretty effective."

Banner looked at him, surprised. "What do you mean by downtime techniques?"

"Oh, you know, meditation, breathing exercises, maybe some yoga, a bit of Brazilian Jujitsu. I might not be a doctor, but I can teach you how to chill out a bit."

Banner chuckled, his tension easing slightly. "I'll keep that in mind. But I think I've got things covered. "

Natasha on the other had raised another eye but, remained silent S.H.I.E.L.D already had a few guess about how Bruce kept himself calm. Meditation and breathing exercises were one of them as for Brazilian Jujitsu it does focus on keeping ones emotion in check.

"It must be strange for you, all of this," Banner said to Steve, breaking Natasha out of her thoughts, Bruce gestured to the high-tech surroundings.

Steve glanced around, nodding. "Actually, this is kind of familiar. Just... a bit more advanced than I remember."

Natasha interrupted, her gaze shifting to the horizon. "Gentlemen, you might want to step inside in a minute. It's going to get a little hard to breathe."

The Helicarrier began to vibrate beneath their feet as massive lift fans roared to life. The ship's engines whined as it transitioned from a stationary platform to an airborne fortress.

Steve stared in awe as the deck tilted slightly. "Is this a submarine?"

Banner glanced over the edge, his expression grim. "Really? They wanted me in a submerged, pressurized metal container?"

Ben leaned over, a dry chuckle escaping his lips. "Oh no, Doc. This is much worse. Welcome to flying warfare—where the view is great but the stakes are higher."

Ben couldn't help but, comment wondering if this thing was going to fall out of the sky before things are said and done. Just as it happens every Tuesday in the comics his read.

Natasha stared at Ben seemingly familiarity with the Helicarriers ability to sore high up into the skies.

The Helicarrier slowly rose into the sky, the horizon tilting as the ship gained altitude. As they ascended.

" OH, NO. THIS IS MUCH WORSE."

INT. HELICARRIER BRIDGE – DAY

Steve and Ben followed Banner through the gleaming corridors, eventually stepping into the bustling bridge of the Helicarrier. Dozens of agents worked at their stations, screens displaying data streams and satellite imagery. Maria Hill stood at the center, issuing orders with practiced efficiency.

"We're at lock, sir," Hill reported to Nick Fury, who stood by the command chair, his expression unreadable.

"Good," Fury said. "Let's vanish."

The Helicarrier's reflective panels fully activated, blending it seamlessly into the sky.

Fury turned as Steve and Ben approached, the latter observing the bridge with an air of curiosity. "Gentlemen," Fury greeted.

Steve reached into his pocket and handed Fury a crisp ten-dollar bill, a small smirk on his face.

Fury chuckled dryly, pocketing the bill.

Fury smiled slightly, then turned to Banner and Tennyson. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming."

Banner hesitated, then shook Fury's hand reluctantly. "Thanks for asking nicely. So... how long am I staying?"

"Once we get our hands on the Tesseract, you're in the clear," Fury assured him.

"Where are you with that?" Banner asked, his tone skeptical.

Fury nodded toward Coulson, who stepped forward. "We're sweeping every wirelessly accessible camera on the planet—cell phones, laptops. If it's connected to a satellite, it's eyes and ears for us."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "That's a lot of surveillance. Makes you wonder if finding the Tesseract is the only thing you're watching."

Fury shot him a look, his expression hardening slightly. "We use the tools we have, Mr. Tennyson."

Natasha, seated at a nearby station, glanced at the screen displaying Clint Barton's profile. "That's still not going to find them in time."

Bruce interjected, his tone professional. "You need to narrow the field. How many spectrometers do you have access to?"

Fury tilted his head. "How many are there?"

"Call every lab you know," Bruce continued. "Have them put spectrometers on the roof and calibrate them for gamma rays. I'll rough out a tracking algorithm based on cluster recognition. At least we can rule out a few places."

Fury nodded. "Agent Romanoff, show Dr. Banner to his lab."

Natasha stood, gesturing for Bruce to follow her. "You're gonna love it, Doc. We've got all the toys."

As they left, Ben folded his arms, turning to Fury. "You're throwing a lot of resources at this. So tell me—what's S.H.I.E.L.D. really planning to do with the Tesseract once you get it?"

Fury's gaze hardened, but he didn't answer directly. "We're trying to prevent a war, Mr. Tennyson. That should be enough for you."

Ben's expression remained skeptical, but he didn't push further—for now. "Just remember, sometimes the best intentions lead to the worst outcomes."

Fury met Ben's gaze, a flicker of understanding passing between them. "I'll keep that in mind Mr. Tennyson.

---

Character Bios

Steve Rogers

Full Name: Steven Grant Rogers

Current Alias:

Captain America

Age: 89

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Blonde

Height: 6'3" (191 cm)

Occupation: Teacher, federal official, intelligence operative; former soldier.

Notable Traits: He is honest, up-front, loyal, extremely noble, and unfailingly dependable.

Natasha Romanoff

Full Name: Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanova

Current Alias: Black Widow

Age: Unknown approximately 60-70s years

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Red

Height: 5'7 (170cm)

Occupation: S.H.I.E.L.D. agent[28] intelligence operative; former schoolteacher, fashion designer, ballerina, assassin, mercenary.

Notable Traits: Independent, resourceful, critical, adventurous.

Bruce Banner

Full Name: Dr. Robert Bruce Banner

Current Alias: The Incredible Hulk

Age: 35

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Brown

Height: 5'10 (178cm)

Occupation: Nuclear physicis, research scientist, inventor, biochemist and expert in gamma radiation.

Notable Traits: Genius-level intellect, introverted, intuitive, turbulent, emotionally repressed and has dissociative identity disorder.