Chapter 222: Friendly Reminder
Bruce's voice came coldly through the communicator.
"I warned you a long time ago. Arguing over the price is pointless."
"That 'sample-testing right' is far too broad!" Tony was still complaining.
Lynn's voice joined the channel, carrying a trace of amusement.
"Well, Mr. Stark, there's nothing I can do."
"Without detailed testing, how am I supposed to tell whether you have an ordinary fracture, a genetic mutation, magical corruption, or perhaps some unknown alien parasite?"
Tony's expression stiffened at the words "alien parasite."
"Maybe don't throw around the phrase 'alien parasite' so casually. You'll make a certain kid nervous."
The meeting ended soon afterward, and Lynn received the legally binding, electronically signed document.
He calmly updated the clinic's official regulations.
Before long, a new notice appeared in bold letters on the electronic bulletin board outside Miracle Clinic:
MIRACLE CLINIC RULES UPDATE
Effective immediately, regardless of whether you support the Sokovia Accords, oppose them, are internationally wanted, extraterrestrial, or an extradimensional deity, all emergency cases require a deposit.
Any form of violence within the clinic is prohibited. Violators will have their medical fees automatically doubled.
...
Leipzig/Halle Airport, Germany.
The entire airport had been temporarily shut down.
The runways were deserted, with only several armored vehicles belonging to the joint international task force positioned in the distance.
The atmosphere was tense.
Tony Stark stood before a massive holographic map inside the temporary command center, his expression grim.
Intelligence had confirmed that Steve Rogers intended to bring his anti-Accords team to the airport within hours, seize a Quinjet from the hangar, and immediately head for Siberia.
Colonel James Rhodes stood beside Tony.
"We could lock down the hangars and cut the fuel supply."
Tony shook his head.
"Won't matter."
His finger moved across the holographic map.
"Steve will expect that."
"He's not coming here to politely borrow an aircraft."
"He's coming prepared to force his way through if he has to."
Natasha leaned against the console with her arms crossed.
"He'll take the fastest route."
"Direct approach across the apron, maintenance access, underground service routes..."
She glanced toward the map.
"...or they'll simply break through the perimeter."
T'Challa, silent until now, finally spoke.
"If Barnes appears, I will stop him."
Tony looked over his shoulder.
"Your Highness."
"Stop him."
"Not kill him."
T'Challa didn't answer.
His expression was enough.
Victor Stone's voice came through the encrypted system.
"I have access to the airport's surveillance and infrastructure."
"Communications, runway lighting, hangar doors, aircraft diagnostics, and fuel-management systems are under observation."
He paused.
"However, physical surveillance has limitations."
"If someone can move at supersonic speed or reduce themselves to microscopic size, I can't guarantee interception."
Tony frowned.
"Microscopic size?"
Natasha's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I told you."
"Steve may have recruited more people."
Tony looked at her.
"What do you know?"
"Nothing specific."
Natasha remained calm.
"But Steve isn't stupid enough to attack an airport defended by Iron Man, War Machine, Black Panther, and an international task force with only Barnes, Wilson, and Maximoff."
...
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse several kilometers from the airport, Steve's team was completing its final preparations.
Bucky inspected his weapons.
Sam calibrated the systems in his EXO-7 Falcon wing harness.
Wanda sat on a wooden crate with her eyes closed, conserving her strength.
Pietro paced across the warehouse like a caged animal.
Clint Barton inspected each specialized arrow in his quiver.
Scott Lang kept glancing at Steve.
Eventually, Scott couldn't resist.
"So..."
"Are we actually going to fight Iron Man?"
His voice carried equal parts excitement and nervousness.
Sam rolled his eyes.
"If you're having second thoughts, go home and hang out with your ants."
Scott immediately shook his head.
"No!"
"No second thoughts."
"I just want to make sure I don't get carried away."
He hesitated.
"This is technically a fight between people who are supposed to be on the same side, right?"
Clint pulled an electrified arrow from his quiver.
"Then don't get carried away."
"Stark's armor isn't going to care whether you're excited."
Wanda opened her eyes.
She looked toward Steve.
"Do you think Tony will listen?"
"I'll explain."
Steve's voice remained firm.
"But if he refuses to let us through, we'll have to force our way past them."
Bucky spoke quietly.
"Steve."
"You shouldn't be doing all this because of me."
Steve turned toward him.
"This isn't just about you."
"Zemo is heading for Siberia."
"If there really are other Winter Soldiers there, we have to stop him before he wakes them."
Pietro immediately cut in.
"Then why waste time?"
"When we get to the airport, I can grab all of them and dump them inside the terminal café."
Wanda glared at him.
"Don't hurt anyone."
Pietro raised both hands innocently.
"I said dump."
"Not smash."
Then—
Almost simultaneously, both sides received an email.
The sender was identical.
Miracle Clinic, New York
The subject line read:
Reminder Regarding Prepaid Field Medical Services for High-Risk Conflict at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Germany
Inside the command center, Tony opened the email.
His expression darkened with every line.
Then, through clenched teeth, he began reading aloud.
"Dear Client: Based on our clinic's assessment of your recent medical history, behavioral patterns, and the capabilities of the opposing faction, we anticipate that during the upcoming conflict..."
"...there is a high probability of complex injuries including, but not limited to: multiple fractures, joint dislocations, high-altitude impact trauma, neural-interface damage, armor-system overload, magical exhaustion, and quantum-scale physiological abnormalities."
Tony's eyebrow twitched.
He kept reading.
"To ensure the most efficient emergency treatment possible, we recommend that all participants pay a field-medical-service deposit in advance."
He reached the final line.
His face went completely still.
"Friendly reminder: For those who fail to pay by the deadline, the on-site treatment fee will automatically increase by 300%."
Visit /ShiroTL for more chapters.