Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Fifty-One

"No,"

"Nothing enhanced?"

"Nothing sir," JARVIS said.

"What is he saying Stark?" Steve asked.

"JARVIS isn't picking up on anything abnormal. No enhanced, no Vibranium. Only handguns and regular military weapons," I repeated. More green dots ran toward the team, "Heads up guys, you've got more incoming," I warned. The team was busy fighting the soldiers that were attacking them so I decided to go down to the base and find out what this underground structure was. I flew down to behind the wall and touched down on the ground lightly.

"J, scan the area for hostiles," I said.

"No hostiles until you get to the entrance of the building," JARVIS said.

"Okay, buddy. Time to get to work. Where am I going?" I asked.

"The entrance to the building is straight ahead, .75 miles ahead," JARVIS said. I took off from the ground and sped the direction JARVIS had indicated. Exactly 3/4th of a mile in front of me, a small, shack-like building emerged.

"Incoming sir," I barely had time to register him talking before the metallic bang of bullets exploded on the suit around me. In front of me, two armed guards were holding AR's in front of them.

"Little more of a heads up next time J," I said, holding my hands out and sending a pulse toward them; knocking them back into the wall. They slumped down, unconscious. I started toward the door on foot.

"On your left sir," JARVIS said. I brought my hand up, letting a blast out. A pained groaned proved that I'd hit someone.

"Exactly, like that," I commented. I reached the door and pushed it. Surprisingly, it came open without any hindrance, "that's weird."

"What are you finding Stark?" Steve asked, slightly winded.

"There's an underground structure but the door just comes open," I said.

"How big?" Steve asked.

"Unknown," JARVIS filled the silence.

"Do you need backup?" Nat asked. I stood in the small room looking for a way down.

"Maybe, not clear yet," I said.

"Clint and Nat will make their way toward you," Steve commanded.

"Roger that," Clint said. It was silent for a long time.

"JARVIS, scan the room," I demanded.

"All the walls seem to be completely steady sir," he replied.

"Well there has to be a way down," I said frustrated.

"I don't see one sir," JARVIS said again. I growled in annoyance. This entire mission was one giant pain in my ass. I spun around the room. There was nothing overtly suspicious in it. Nothing that could hide a door or staircase. I spun around probably three times before something caught my eye. On the wall to my left hung a picture. While the picture wasn't super suspicious, it was out of place.

"How many army bases do you know to have framed pictures of valleys?" I asked.

"Is that a rhetorical question?" JARVIS responded. I walked over to it.

"Humor me J," I said.

"None sir," he replied. I flipped the picture off the wall with a crash. Underneath was a single button.