The Devourer! [Captain America + Iron Man]

[Thor]

"I can't say I'm really used to the new gig," stated Secretary of Defense Steve Rogers with a knowing smile as he looked out from atop the balcony of the newly christened Avengers Tower. "But I manage. More importantly, how are things with you, Bucky?," asked the former Sentinel of Liberty to the current wielder of the famous shield. As he awaited a response, Rogers checked his wrist watch with a half smile. "Funny. Usually it's Tony who's always running late." The second would be arrival was unusually cordial for most of their meetings. Perhaps it was an issue back at Asgard he needed to deal with? For all his years of knowing the Thunder God, there was still a lot he didn't quite understand about him or his people.

And on cue, there he was, the familiar red cape swaying in the breeze, and the Asgardian himself being pulling along air currents via the enchanted hammer Mjolnir. With a dramatic landing every bit as worthy of a prince of the Realm Eternal, Thor greeted both the current and former Captain Americas with a ready smile as he placed Mjolnir to his side. "My apologies, Steven," he said in his usual deep voice, the hint of an accent long since abandoned rolling of his tongue. "There was a...dispute in Asgard. Balder asked me to diplomatically convince those involved to come to an agreement." Thor let out a slight chuckle as Steve laughed briefly, knowing all too well how Thor's diplomacy turned out.

"It's not a problem," he said, holding out his hand to wave away Thor's concerns. "But now that the both of you are here, I have a situation I'd like you both to check out." Rogers nodded curtly before his expression changed to a more serious one. "Turns out there is an underground cult movement of sorts gripping the city. Details are sketchy, but we believe that they may have stumbled upon something truly sinister. They call themselves, simply enough, the Order of Truth. And apparently, their patron "deity" is something called the Devourer. I'd figured I'd ask you if that name meant anything to you, Thor."

"I can not say that it does," replied Thor after a brief moment of consideration. "Though that name could describe many beings in the world of Asgard or Olympus alike."

"I'm afraid, you'd say that," replied Rogers with a frown. "Anyway, if my intel is right - and it usually is - these people might unwittingly unleash this Devourer into the world. I'd rather have it taken care of before it gets to that point..."

[Captain America]

"They go Steve, how's the new career choice?" Bucky replied to his mentor as he continued to stand firm with his military stature. Steve Rogers had taken over the role of Secretary of Defense, a title he was redeveloping into the modern era of Superheroes. With that came the new Captain America, which James had stepped up into during Steve's death. A role he himself was still getting use to, but took with a lot of respect.

"Thor," Captain America replied to Thor's appearance with a nod. Thor was one of the Avengers that he had the utmost respect for (not that he disrespected the others, they were just not Thor). Around the time he had become Captain America, Thor had made his return to the world. Funny how things fell into place in life.

"What is the situation?" Captain America asked Steve as he turned to face the Secretary of Defense. As Steve explained the situation to the God of Thunder and the new symbol of America they glanced over to each other in intrigue. Cultists, demons, deities, and more underground stuff all in one. Something about all of this screamed Iron Fist, Dr Strange, or Ghost Rider. "Unleashed? I assume this means there are already reports of property damage and strange occurrences? Have you talked to Strange?" James asked Steve about the situation. If his mentor was going to send in the big guns there must of been more to the situation than already stated. If not, this almost seems like over kill.

[Iron Man]

The air rumbled as the 'Armored Avenger' touched down on the balcony. Tony peered inside and recognized his three old friends. "Sorry I'm late. I didn't get the memo about the super-secret meeting," his metallic voice rang throughout the room. "Jarvis make a note; I'm going to fire my secretary on Tuesday."

"Of course, sir," Jarvis responded in his usual unfeeling monotone. "Jarvis that was a joke, you know... a joke?" For all of his technological genius, Stark still had not found a way to program a sense of humor into his faithful A.I.

He knew he would get it right one of these days, but for the moment there were more pressing matters to attend to. Tony opened his faceplate so he could see his comrades with his own eyes. He extended his hand and shook with each of them in turn. "Whoa Steve, that's a nice suit. You'll have to give me the name of your tailor," he joked with the former Captain America. "Hey Thor, been a while. Kill any frost giants or bugbears lately?"

[Thor]

The tell tale sound of rocket thrusters caused Steve to glance up, interrupting him before he could answer Bucky's questions. He didn't expect Tony to arrive, believing him to be preoccupied with either personal affairs or business ones, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially an armored one such as the Invincible Iron Man. Steve smiled as the fellow founding member of the Avengers landed next to the others. "Well, it wasn't that secret," he replied in jest to Tony with a shrug of his shoulders. "But now that you're here, we can get things underway in full."

Thor smiled the smallest of smiles in response to Anthony's arrival, inclining his head in a bow before shaking the armored gauntlet of one of the two mortal men whom the God of Thunder trusted his immortal life with right after Steven did. "Greetings, Iron Man!," he said in a jovial tone. Though things had been far less than civil between the two of them in months past, Thor had since put aside his issues with his longtime friend and fellow Avenger. "Nay to both, to answer your question, friend," he replied to Anthony. "Though there was a skirmish between I and a clan of dark elves...but alas, that be a tale for another time."

Steve chuckled as he looked at his two best friends, shaking his head as he did. In a way, he missed this, being an active Avenger and carrying the shield - and burdens - of Captain America. But this was Bucky's time. His day as the Sentinel of Liberty had passed, and truth be told, Steve had welcomed it. But Captain America must never die, and the country needed what only Bucky could offer at this time. "Let me catch you up to speed, Tony," he replied. In a span of moments, he relayed the exact information he had given to Bucky and Thor moments ago.

"Verily, it is distressing news," Thor nodded after hearing the information once more. "But James speaks truth. Stephen Strange might provide insight, or perhaps even the new Sorcerer Supreme, Brother Voodoo."

"They could," admitted Steve as he rubbed his chin. "But we don't have the time to hunt either of them down, to be frank. I want this taken care of before we need to call in favors from our magical powerhouse friends. Well, not counting you, Thor," he added with a brief smile. "Bucky, I want you to infiltrate this building," he said before handing him a folder he had placed on the edge of the balcony earlier. In it had the address as well as photos of an warehouse district the Order of Truth had been seen operating out of. "Thor and Iron Man? The two of you are likely to draw attention, so I'd like you two to hang back and watch from a safe distance. Tony, use your sensors and equipment to provide Bucky information regarding any armed men or threats from withing the building and outside of it. Basic recon stuff which should be a non-issue with that armor of yours. Thor? You're our power play. In case these cultists do unleash some kind of monstrous deity or something equally bad, you'll be the best chance to stop it before someone gets hurt or worse."

Thor nodded as Steve glanced to each of the Avengers before him. "Any more questions?"

[Captain America]

As the meeting had already begun Bucky found himself really focusing on what had been shared. Cults were not something to joke about, most cults had at least one man/woman that was off their rocker that manipulated the others into doing things in the name of their 'beliefs'. So this order of Truth no doubt had some kind of link to cults they had dealt with in the past, demon/deity worship was not new to their line of work. Finding the weaknesses of this group and dismantling them as quickly as possible was in their best interest.

A humming noise could be hear from the belcony where the three heroes stood discussing the mission at hand, so looking to the sky James' eyes locked onto Ironman's lowering body that joined them. He was not planning on another to be joining in on this mission, just how strong was this cult group if they needed Captain America, Iron, and freaking Thor? "Seems like over kill don't you think?" he asked Steve as Tony lowered down completely then shaking all their hands. Over the past couple of years Tony had been a pain to deal with, but now things were different. That did not mean the tension was not still there. Not to mention the awkward feeling he was getting, almost as if he was the fourth wheel in this gathering. His stature did not change though, he was not insecure about anything. He was the new Captain America, growing into the position and making new friendships was his job not Steve's.

Steve wasted little time retelling Tony of the mission's details that he had already told Thor and Bucky. "So we're on a time table? what kind of time are we talking? Or rather, how much time are we working with?" he asked his mentor as he received the file information from Steve. Pulling out the pictures and papers with information on them he began to research the building he would be infiltrating. The layout was the basic run of the mill warehouse, not a whole lot that stood out. He had already spotted four hard entrances and one easily way, but he would have to take the path with least risk to the civilians/cultists. Though they were part of an evil cult, there was no telling if they were there on purpose or because they were possessed in some way.

As Steve pointed out to Thor and Ironman how the mission would go to start, James started to put away the papers and pictures back into the folder. Thor was the contingency plan, Tony was the extra eye/assistance, and Bucky was the cloak/dagger of the operation. Tony knew of some of his skill set, but Thor was relatively new to James. Let alone James as Captain America. During Thor's return was right around the time that Bucky had worked his way into taking the mantle up, those were rough times. Thor's return and Bucky as Captain America were two destined journeys that would eventually cross paths (and they had already a few times). But even now the two barely knew each other.