Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Finish the job, Robert." Valentina gave the order for Sentry to kill the Thunderbolts as they were escaping. by the elevator.

"Finish the job?..." Doubt got into his mind, then he replied with simply "No" as he was looking at Yelena before the elevator doors closed.

"What?!" Valentina was taken aback by his answer and looked at him.

"They are not a threat to me, so..." He turned towards Valentina. "Why, I would need to kill them?" Doubt was very visible in his eyes.

"You need to do what I say, Robert." Valentina had a slight smug on her face with her head tilted towards her shoulder, while looking at him.

"Why??" He was incredibly confused

"Why?!!" She couldn't even believe his answer.

===

A few minutes later, after talking about the hair, his suit, and his name.

"Why would a God? Take orders from anyone at all?" Sentry was going back and forth, looking at the ground and walking.

"I think you are throwing the word 'god' a bit loosely there." Valentina was clearly panicking, despite not showing it, and was trying to de-escalate the debate.

"No... Because you said, I was all powerful, with one arm raised to his hips and going back and forth." Invincible, and stronger than a whole team of Avengers, which includes at least one God...so." he was unsurely playing with his hands

"But I am starting to think maybe..." He started to get closer to her in a threatening way. "You don't know who I am, what I am capable of." He had a sort of evil smile and crazy eyes.

Valentina knew she fucked up. "Oh, God dammit," She was so tired of this, she pulled a remote from her pocket, and hid it behind her hips.

He was close to her in her comfort zone. 'Maybe, I need to show you"

She let out a breath. "This is so irritating." She was about to press it.

But Sentry wasn't buying it. His hand shot out, fingers like steel vices wrapping around her slender neck. He lifted her effortlessly, slamming her back against the cold wall with a thud that cracked plaster. Valentina gasped, her feet dangling, manicured nails clawing at his unbreakable grip.

"You were gonna turn on me?! Just like the rest of them..." He was so betrayed, he didn't initially intend to hurt her, he wanted to choose his own mission. She pushed him.

Valentina, despite not showing it, was shitting herself with fear. "I am not afraid of you, Robert."

"Is not Robert that you should be afraid of..."

Val’s eyes narrowed, her patience snapping like a brittle twig. “You think you’re a god, don’t you? You’re nothing but a lab rat with delusions.”

Dust rained down as Val gasped, her hands clawing at his iron grip. “You don’t control me,” he growled, his eyes glowing with a sickly yellow light, the Void stirring within him.

Behind him, Mel, Valentina’s mousy assistant, fumbled with a sleek remote device, her hands trembling as she punched in the button for the neural kill switch embedded in Sentry’s skull. “Come on, come on,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.

The remote beeped, a red light flashing as the kill switch activated—or tried to. Sentry’s head twitched, his grip on Val tightening for a moment as a faint hum buzzed in his ears. Then, nothing. The failsafe, designed to fry his brain and reduce him to a drooling husk, fizzled out. His lips curled into a manic grin, the golden glow in his eyes intensifying to a blinding blaze.

“It… didn’t work,” Mel stammered, stepping back, the remote slipping from her shaking hands.

Sentry’s laugh was a low, unhinged rumble that echoed through the chamber. “You thought you could cage a god?” He turned his gaze back to Valentina, who was still pinned against the wall, her face pale with terror. “You’re no master of mine.”

Without warning, twin beams of searing energy erupted from his eyes, pure and devastating. Valentina’s scream was cut short as her head melted under the onslaught, her body slumping lifelessly to the ground in a grotesque heap.

Sentry turned, his cape billowing, his expression no longer human but divine in its arrogance. “I am the Sentry. I am the Void. I am everything.” His voice boomed, shaking the walls. “This world grovels in chaos, ruled by insects like her.” He gestured to Val’s corpse, his lip curling in disgust. “No more. I’ll bring order. I’ll bring salvation.”

Mel gasped, dropping the remote, her knees buckling as she backed away.

“No, no, please!” Mel cried, her voice cracking as she fell to her knees. “Don’t kill me, I—I was just following orders! I’ll do anything!” Tears streamed down her face as she clasped her hands, pleading. “You’re… you’re a god, right? I’ll serve you! I’ll be loyal, I swear!”

Sentry loomed over her, his golden aura casting long shadows. His expression was unreadable, the Void’s whispers coiling in his mind. She’s weak. Useful. A tool. He tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing. “You want to live? Prove your worth.”

Mel nodded frantically, crawling closer. “Yes, yes, anything you want! I’ll help you, I’ll follow you!” Her voice was desperate, her hands trembling as she reached out, not daring to touch him.

Sentry’s smile was cold, divine in its arrogance.

Mel scrambled to her feet, nodding vigorously. “I will, my lord. Whatever you command.”

Sentry’s gaze drifted to the horizon, his mind ablaze with visions of dominion. “First,” he said, his tone almost casual, “bring me Pepsi Twist. Popcorn, buttered, and a pile of sweets. Candy bars, gummies, whatever’s decadent. I’m a god; I don’t settle for less.” He paused, his eyes glinting with manic ambition. “Then, later, you’ll bring costume designers. I want a crown, something worthy of my power. Gold, jewels, the works. Understood?”

Mel blinked, her fear momentarily replaced by confusion, but she nodded again. “Yes, my lord. Pepsi, popcorn, sweets, and… and I’ll find the best designers for your crown. I swear it.”

Sentry’s smile widened, unhinged and radiant. “Good. Move.”

. The Void’s voice echoed in his mind: Rule them. Break them. Remake them. Below, the world festered in chaos, but he would cleanse it, starting with his new servant’s obedience.

Mel stumbled to her feet, her heart pounding as she glanced at Val’s corpse. She grabbed her phone, already dialing contacts to secure Sentry’s demands for the drink, gourmet popcorn, and a stash of high-end candies. As she worked, her hands shook, but a strange resolve hardened within her. She was alive, and she would serve her god. The crown would come next, a symbol of his reign. And the world would bow.

Chapter Text

Sentry hovered above the city, his golden aura casting an eerie glow over the streets below. The Avengers Tower, now renamed by the late Valentina as the Watchtower, once a gleaming symbol of mortal heroism, was now his canvas.

With a wave of his hand, reality bent to his will, power surging through him like a divine current. The tower groaned, its steel and glass twisting as if alive, reshaping into something far grander, far darker, a monument to his delusional godhood.

Black, skeletal tendrils erupted from the tower’s peak, curling upward and outward like the gnarled branches of some ancient, cursed tree. The structure pulsed with an ominous energy, its surface shimmering with intricate, organic lines that seemed to writhe in the moonlight.

A central column of molten, golden-yellow light anchored the design, stretching from the city’s core to the tower’s apex, pulsing like a heartbeat. At the top, angular, wing-like forms flared outward, sharp and menacing, crowned by three massive crescent moon-shaped arcs that loomed over the skyline, dwarfing the city below.

Sentry descended, landing on the transformed tower’s pinnacle, his boots sinking slightly into the black, almost living material. He ran a hand along its surface, feeling its warmth, its power. “This,” he declared, his voice echoing across the city, “is no longer their tower. This is my throne, my judgment seat.” Whispering its approval, a low hiss in his mind: Perfect. A beacon of your dominion.

Below, Mel stood on a makeshift platform, her phone clutched tightly as she oversaw the final preparations. Workers, who were previously trying to finish the Watchtower, terrified but driven by her barked orders, scurried to secure the last of Sentry’s demands regarding his crown; they made one from some gold and steel. The crown gleamed in a velvet-lined case, its golden sun motif blazing with diamonds and emeralds.

“My lord,” Mel called, her voice steady despite the emotions within her. “The tower is complete, as you envisioned. The throne is being installed inside a marble and gold monstrosity, carved with your radiant sun symbol. The broadcast is ready, too. Every screen in the world will show your face the moment you give the word.”

Sentry turned, his eyes glowing with that sickly yellow light, the Void’s influence ever-present. “Good. You’ve done well, mouse.” He stepped closer, “But this is just the beginning. This tower will be the heart of my empire. From here, I’ll burn away the rot of this world and forge a 'good' new order.”

Mel nodded, her fear tempered by a growing sense of purpose. She’d seen what he could do. Valentina’s corpse still haunted her dreams, but she also saw opportunity. If she played her cards right, she could rise in his new world, a loyal servant to a god. “The crown is ready for you, my lord,” she said, gesturing to the case.

“And the cathedral chamber inside the tower is prepped for your broadcast. OXE hackers hacked into every major network, CNN, Fox, YouTube, X, Reddit, even the dark web, and so on. The world will see you tonight.”

Sentry’s lips curled into a manic grin. He reached for the crown, lifting it from its case with reverence. The gold gleamed, its sun motif mirroring the glowing column that ran through his tower. He placed it on his head, the weight settling perfectly, as if forged for him by divine hands. “A god needs no approval,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “But they’ll bow all the same.”

He strode toward the tower’s interior, where the throne awaited a colossal structure of white marble veined with gold, its backrest carved with a radiant sun that seemed to pulse with the same energy as the tower itself. Sentry sat, the crown glinting, his aura casting long shadows across the chamber.

“Start the broadcast,” he commanded, his voice shaking the room. Mel scrambled to a control panel, her fingers flying across the keys. Screens flickered to life across the globe, Times Square billboards, smartphones, TVs in bars and living rooms. Sentry’s face appeared, his eyes blazing, his crown radiant. The world stilled, transfixed by the image of a god.

“Nothing's of Earth,” Sentry began, his voice booming through every speaker, every device. “You’ve lived in chaos, ruled by weak men and weaker ideals, being divided into two sides artificially, young men dying to fulfill the old and rich, cultures being disrespected by their own politicians. Nobody does anything about the drug problem. NONE does nothing about families being torn apart by the economy. He nearly broke down at the last two sentences.

“No more. I am Sentry. I am your salvation.” He leaned forward, his gaze piercing through the screens. “This tower, my throne, is the dawn of a new era. Serve, and you may live. Defy, and you’ll burn.”

The Void’s whispers grew louder, urging him to act, to demonstrate.  Sentry raised a hand, and the tower pulsed, sending a shockwave of golden energy rippling across the city. Buildings trembled, windows shattered, and the sky itself seemed to bend under his will. Screams echoed below, but Sentry only smiled.

On the west coast, in a low-key safehouse nestled in the hills above Los Angeles, Sam Wilson, Captain America, stood with his arms crossed, staring at the flickering screen. Sentry’s face loomed large, his golden crown glinting, his eyes burning with that unsettling yellow glow. The broadcast had hijacked every channel, every streaming platform, even the damn radio. Sam’s jaw tightened as Sentry’s voice boomed, proclaiming himself a god, demanding the world kneel.

“Who the hell is this guy?” Sam muttered, his shield resting against the wall nearby. He glanced at his team, a mix of seasoned heroes and new blood, all gathered around the safehouse’s makeshift war room. The air was thick with tension, the kind that comes when you realize the world’s about to go to shit.

Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, adjusted his wings’ harness, his brow furrowed. “Never seen him before, Cap. But that tower? That’s Avengers Tower, or… was. Looks like he turned it into some freaky-ass castle.”

Shuri, perched at a console, her fingers dancing over a holographic interface, snorted. “Freaky-ass is an understatement. Those energy readings are off the charts, way beyond anything Stark tech could pull off. This guy’s tapping into something big, maybe cosmic.” Her eyes narrowed as she pulled up a 3D model of the transformed tower, its black skeletal tendrils and glowing golden column rotating in the air. “And that broadcast? It’s not just media hacks. It’s overriding every firewall I’ve got. He’s got tech or power we don’t understand.”

Ant-Man leaned back in his chair, munching on a bag of chips. “So, what, we’re dealing with a wannabe god with a goth phase? That tower looks like it’s auditioning for a sci-fi horror flick.” He paused, catching Sam’s glare. “What? I’m just saying, guy’s got a flair for the dramatic.”

Captain Marvel stood near the window, her fists glowing faintly with cosmic energy. “Dramatic or not, he’s dangerous. That shockwave he sent out? It leveled half a block in New York. Casualty reports are coming in… no one died dead it seems he teleported them out, but. If he’s got the power to reshape Avengers Tower like that, he’s an Avengers-level threat.”

She-Hulk cracked her knuckles, her green skin catching the dim light. “So we take him down. Simple. I’ve punched out plenty of egomaniacs with complexes. This guy’s just louder about it.” She glanced at the screen, where Sentry’s dead stare lingered. “Okay, maybe a lot crazy.”

Shang-Chi, leaning against the wall, spun a ring on his finger, his expression calm but focused. “You aren’t seeing the full picture, Jennifer. He’s not just loud. He’s unhinged. Did you see his eyes? Nothing behind those “

Sabra stood apart, her arms crossed, her eyes sharp as she studied the broadcast. “He is Sentry. I’ve heard whispers of that name—old OXE files, buried deep. Supposedly a super-soldier experiment gone wrong, or right, depending on who you ask. Power levels on par with Thor, maybe more. But unstable. Very unstable. He was made to replace the Avengers.”

Sam turned to her, his brow raised. “OXE files? Anything useful? Like, say, a way to take him down without turning the East Coast into a crater?”

Sabra shook her head. “The files were incomplete; there was someone who blew the lab in Malaysia before we could download more. Something about a ‘Void’ entity tied to him or that was claimed by the scientists, but it’s all redacted.”

Shuri’s console beeped, pulling everyone’s attention. “Got something,” she said, zooming in on the tower’s golden column. “That energy signature? It’s not just cosmic, it’s got traces of quantum instability, antimatter, cosmic rays, Adamantium…Vribranium? like Scott’s Pym Particle tech, or even Wakandan, but… There is something similar to the infinity stones, but darker. I’d need to get closer to analyze it, but I’m betting it’s tied to whatever’s driving his power.”

Scott choked on a chip. “Darker than Pym Particles? That’s not comforting, Shuri. What you described sounds more like matter or molecule manipulation.”

Sam paced, his mind racing. “Alright, we don’t know enough, and that’s a problem. This guy’s got the power to reshape a city, maybe more, and he’s got the world’s attention. We can’t just rush in blind.” He stopped, looking at his team. “But we also can’t sit here while he plays god. Joaquin, you and Carol do a flyover, recon only, no engagement. Get eyes on that tower, see what we’re dealing with. Shuri, keep digging into those energy readings. If we can figure out what’s powering him, maybe we can cut it off.”

Carol nodded, already heading for the door. “I’ll keep it stealthy. If he’s as powerful as he looks, I can still take him in a fight.”

Joaquin adjusted his wings, following her. “Got it, Cap. We’ll get you visuals and stay out of trouble.”

Sam turned to the others. “Jen, Shang-Chi, Sabra, start prepping for a ground assault, just in case. Scott, you’re with Shuri. If this guy’s got fancy tech, you’re our best shot at cracking it.”

Scott saluted, half-serious. “Aye, aye, Cap. Just don’t ask me to shrink into that creepy tower. Looks like it’d eat me.”

Jen smirked. “Relax, Scott. If it eats you, I’ll punch it till it spits you out.”

Shang-Chi’s rings glowed faintly as he stepped forward. “If this Sentry’s as unstable as he seems, we might not need to fight him head-on. Get in his head, exploit his doubts. That broadcast? He’s desperate for worship. That’s a weakness.”

Shuri nodded, her voice cold. “Or we end him before he ends us. No games, no mercy. A man like that doesn’t negotiate.”

Sam held up a hand. “We’re not executioners, Shuri. We take him down, we do it right, save the world, save him if we can. But I’m not naive. If it comes to it, we stop him, whatever it takes.”

The team nodded, their resolve hardening. On the screen, Sentry’s broadcast looped, his voice a chilling promise of domination. The transformed tower loomed in the background, its black tendrils and golden light a stark warning of his power. Sam grabbed his shield, its weight grounding him.

“Let’s move,” he said. “We’ve got a god to dethrone.”