2010/Avengers Assassinated

*"You would do best to kneel before a god."
"We don't really do that here. No matter who or what you are."*
―Loki and Nick Fury[src]This is a timeline of events that occurred in **2010** in a reality where Hank Pym assassinated almost all Avengers Initiative candidates.

## 2010

### May

#### 31st

* Nick Fury practices his speech about the Avengers Initiative, but is cut off by Natasha Romanoff, who finishes the speech. Romanoff says that she is surprised that Fury is betting on Tony Stark, who eats a donut. Fury insists that Stark has potential, but Romanoff is still skeptical. Fury says that people felt similarly about Romanoff and gets out of the car, approaching Stark.
* Fury and Stark eat in the restaurant, and Stark reiterates his lack of desire to join the Avengers. Fury points out Stark's palladium poisoning, and says that Stark has become a problem which Fury has to deal with.
* File:Tony Stark is killed by Hank Pym.png  **Assassination of Tony Stark**: At Fury's command, Romanoff walks up behind Stark and attempts to inject him with Lithium Dioxide. However, the injector is modified by Hank Pym, who enters Stark's body and rearranges Stark's organs. Fury explains that Romanoff had injected him with lithium dioxide, and Romanoff begins explaining that it will help with his symptoms. However, Stark collapses, having been killed. Romanoff checks his pulse and finds that he is dead.

### June

#### 1st

* Phil Coulson discovers Mjolnir sitting in a crater in New Mexico and contacts Nick Fury, who says that they are in the middle of something. Coulson says that it cannot wait, and Fury tells Coulson to set up a perimeter and that he will join them.
* Natasha Romanoff is escorted by STRIKE to get transported to New York to talk to Alexander Pierce. Fury asks to talk to Romanoff alone, and says that his hands are tied. He gives Romanoff the Lithium Dioxide and asks her to find out who killed Stark. Romanoff is placed in a truck, and Fury closes the door. The truck drives off.
* Romanoff sits in the car and comments on the rest of the group being quiet. She breaks out of her handcuffs and begins fighting through the agents. In the front of the truck, Brock Rumlow says that he never understood what Fury saw in Romanoff, claiming that her fighting skills are due to people underestimating her. Romanoff fights her way through several guards. Rumlow hears the action and orders the truck stopped while Romanoff sneaks out. Rumlow rushes to the back and opens the truck, seeing the entire STRIKE team knocked out and Romanoff gone. He shots in frustration.
* S.H.I.E.L.D. studies Mjolnir while Clint Barton tells Fury that the hammer is powerful and not from Earth, as Thor battles S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, making his way to the hammer.
* Lightning strikes, and Fury comments on it sounding ominous. Barton says that it has been happening all night, and says it was the artifact, which no one could lift. Fury suggests that someone will come looking for it. Barton asks Fury what their plan is, and Fury says that they will hope for the best while preparing for the worst.
* Coulson discovers a fallen S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and reports his discovery, causing the alarms to blare. Fury enters a control room and asks for information from Coulson, who begins to describe the situation, when he sees Thor fighting. He describes Thor while he fights, and Fury orders Barton into the sky.
* File:Thor is killed by Hank Pym.png  **Assassination of Thor**:
	+ Thor finds Mjolnir while Barton readies an arrow. Thor approaches Mjolnir and goes to grab it, while Fury orders Barton to hold his fire. However, Hank Pym shrinks down and hits Barton's hand, causing him to slip and release the arrow, killing Thor.
* Fury scolds Barton, who insists that he did not shoot. S.H.I.E.L.D. rushes out and points their guns at Barton, who again insists that he was not responsible. Fury comes out and sees the arrow in Thor's body, and says that it is proof to the contrary. Barton is brought into custody.
* **Assassination of Clint Barton**:
	+ While in holding, Barton talks to himself, saying that he does not misfire. Pym then flies into Barton's ear and induces a brain hemorrhage, killing him.
* File:Clint Barton is killed by Hank Pym.png  Meanwhile, Coulson asks about Thor, and Fury says that he is dead and almost one thousand years old. Coulson points out that two high value targets had been killed and that Barton will not talk to anyone. Fury enters Barton's cell to talk to him, but finds him dead, as he slumps over. Fury orders a medic, and Coulson demands to know who was allowed in. A medic approaches Fury, who tells Barton to stay alive.
* Coulson tells Fury that they are preparing a toxicology report on Barton, and Fury said that he would not have killed himself, suggesting that he was killed by the same person as Tony Stark. Coulson smells Thor's corpse, and notices that it smells like lavender. Fury realizes that both Stark and Barton were a part of the Avengers Initiative, and suspects that the killer is targeting them. He walks away, and Coulson again smells Thor.

#### 2nd

* Natasha Romanoff approaches Betty Ross, who refuses to give information about Hulk. Romanoff tells her about Stark's murder, interesting Ross. Romanoff asks Ross to study the Lithium Dioxide off of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar. Ross studies the injector, and finds no lethal pathogens, noting that the lithium dioxide did not leave the syringe. She suggests that a small projectile was fired from the needle. Ross tells Romanoff to leave, and she starts to do so, noting an outfit from Stanley's Pizza Parlor.
* Nick Fury calls Romanoff and tells Romanoff that Clint Barton had been killed, and that they are connected by the Avengers Initiative. Fury tells Romanoff that she and Bruce Banner are the only remaining candidates, telling her to find Banner and hide. Romanoff says that she has already found him and hangs up.
* Romanoff goes to open a closet she believes Banner to be in as Banner opens the closet and greets her. Romanoff hears Thaddeus Ross' soldiers approaching and says that they need to leave.
* The Watcher watches Phil Coulson drives to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Crater Investigation Site, when objects begin floating. The Bifrost lands on Earth, covering Coulson's car in dust.
* A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent reports a large energy spike to Fury, who rushes outside to see the Einherjar, led by Loki. S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles rapidly approach Loki and point their weapons at the Asgardians.
* File:3AD7C5E4-B48D-4EB6-B5B4-1E48128607C9.jpeg  **Battle of Puente Antiguo**:
	+ Fury makes his way to the front of the group and says he appears to be lost, and Loki suggests that Fury kneel. Loki begins to declare his identity, when Fury's cell phone starts ringing. Loki asks Fury if he is going to take the call.
	+ Romanoff expresses frustration that Fury is not answering her calls, while Banner insists on fending for himself, pointing out that he cannot die. Suddenly, Thaddeus Ross' soldiers appear. Ross orders them to move in on his mark. Fury answers the phone, saying that he is busy. Romanoff tells Fury about Ross' presence, and Fury tells her to handle it, hanging up. Fury asks Loki what he wants, and Loki says that he wants vengeance for Thor's murder.
	+ Loki insists that Fury does not understand their situation and is handed the Casket of Ancient Winters. Fury then asks what is in the Casket, and Loki says that his insolence will not be tolerated, as he unleashes a blast that Fury nearly avoids.
	+ Several S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles are turned to ice as agents flee.
* Banner suggests that Romanoff leave as he begins to transform into the Hulk.
* **Assassination of Bruce Banner**:
	+ Romanoff announces her identity and that Banner is in her custody, asking the army to stand down. Hank Pym suddenly flies through the window and into Banner, causing Romanoff to believe it to be a bullet. Ross shouts out to his soldiers, demanding to know who opened fire. The soldiers insist that it was not them while Pym hits Banner with Pym Particle Discs. Romanoff checks on Banner, promising to get him out of their situation.
	+ Banner suggests that Romanoff leave as he begins to transform into the Hulk, as Romanoff flees toward the military. Hulk roars, and Ross orders the soldiers to shoot the Hulk. Soldiers fire at Hulk, who jumps at them, sending their tanks flying back. Hulk rushes over to a tank and throws it.
	+ File:Bruce Banner's Heart is destroyed by Hank Pym.png  Hulk repeatedly hits a tank against the ground and throws it. He picks up another tank and throws it. Hulk roars, and Romanoff dodges an incoming tank, as Thaddeus Ross begins shooting at Hulk, while Betty Ross rushes up to her father and begs him to stop. Romanoff pulls Betty out of the crossfire, and insists that there is nothing she can do.
	+ Hulk finds himself surrounded by soldiers, when he suddenlt starts expanding. Betty rushes towards him as Hulk explodes, shocking Betty, who falls to her knees and cries, repeating that he cannot die.
* Loki freezes more S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles, and Fury says that a war will not bring Thor back. Sif says that Odin would want them to listen, and Fury says that they have the same enemy. Fury asks to help, and promises Loki custody of the killer. Loki gives Fury until sunrise to find the killer.
* Romanoff visits the Manassas Public Library and pulls up several files, discovering that Hope van Dyne had accessed the Avengers Initiative.
* File:Pym vs Romanoff.png  **Assassination of Natasha Romanoff**:
	+ She tries to contact Fury, but senses Hank Pym's presence. She says that Pym will not win and prepares to fight, but Pym throws her to the ground. Romanoff's phone calls Fury while Romanoff gets thrown around. Romanoff tries to warn Fury, but can only get out the message "It's about Hope" before Pym kills her.

#### 3rd

* In the early hours, Nick Fury sits in a diner and listens to Natasha Romanoff's voicemail repeatedly. Coulson reports that the sun will rise in four hours, and reminds Fury that he is an Avenger too. Fury remembers that he is not the only Avenger remaining. Fury goes to his car and pulls out his Transmitter Pager, preparing to contact Captain Marvel. However, Fury realizes what Romanoff's message meant and decides to approach Loki.
* Fury drives up to Loki's ice fortress, where he sees the Destroyer, demanding to see Loki.
* **Ambush on Yellowjacket**:
	+ File:Fury vs Yellowjacket.png  The Watcher watches as Loki, disguised as Fury, waits near Hope van Dyne's grave in San Francisco. He is approached by Hank Pym, expressing his frustration about van Dyne's death, and that he blames Fury for her death.
	+ Pym attacks "Fury," and the two engage in hand-to-hand combat. Fury them flips over Pym, who expresses shock at "Fury's" ability. Pym shrinks and approaches "Fury," who punches him and sends him crashing to the ground. "Fury" claims not to care about any S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, angering Pym more. Loki creates several illusions of Fury and freezes Pym, causing him to crash to the ground.
* Loki sends the illusions away, and Fury explains that S.H.I.E.L.D. is people willing to save the world. Pym demands that van Dyne is honored as he is taken into custody by the Einherjar.
* Fury demands that Loki leave Earth, but Loki says that he intends to extend his stay on the planet.

#### 4th

* Loki enters the United Nations Headquarters and delivers a speech, announcing that Earth's nations have united under his command, and that humanity was made to be ruled.
* Nick Fury and Phil Coulson stand over the Avengers' graves, as Fury says that the Avengers were an idea.

#### 11th

 File:What If...? 41.png
* Nick Fury activates a Transmitter Pager to contact Captain Marvel.
* Fury ventures into the Arctic, where he finds Captain America frozen in the ice with his shield, Where Captain Marvel finds him, asking him where the fight is.
* **Attack on the Helicarrier**:
	+ Loki leads an attack on the Helicarrier, causing a conflict between the Asgardian forces and S.H.I.E.L.D., joined by the few remaining Avengers.
	+ The Watcher appears on the Helicarrier with a Natasha Romanoff from another universe. Romanoff looks around, seeing Captain America and Captain Marvel battling Asgardians. Romanoff asks the Watcher where they are, he tells her that this is a universe that lost their Black Widow. Romanoff notes that the world is a mess, and thanks him for bringing her there as opposed to her own universe.
	+ File:Screen-Shot-2021-10-07-at-1.13.43-AM.png  Loki then pins down Nick Fury with his Scepter, remarking that the Avengers had fought well. He is kicked by Romanoff, who then uses the Scepter to subdue Loki, shocking him. Loki comments that he was told Romanoff was dead, and Romanoff says that she heard the same thing. Fury realizes that she isn't the Romanoff he knew, but can tell she has the same spirit.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 *What If...?: 1.03: What If... The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?*
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 In *What If... The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?*, the Watcher says that he has observed the events of Fury's Big Week, and that they played out differently in the universe where the Avengers were assassinated. It can therefore be taken that Fury's Big Week happened on the same dates in both timelines.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 In *What If... The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?* and *What If... The Watcher Broke His Oath?*, Nick Fury is shown assembling the Avengers and fighting Loki. It appears to be approximately one week after Loki's reign over Earth started, as Loki does not seem to have been in charge for very long. These scenes can therefore be approximated to one week following Loki's conquest, June 11, 2010.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 *What If...?: 1.09: What If... The Watcher Broke His Oath?*