The two new Avengers bases were finally operational, but the feeling of safety didn't last long. While the team worked tirelessly to strengthen their defenses and gather intel, Eclipse continued to loom over them like a shadow. Days had passed without any major breakthroughs, and the tension was eating away at everyone.
At the mountain base, Steve Rogers stood at the large table in the center of the room. Maps and files were scattered everywhere, but nothing seemed to connect the dots. Clint was nearby, leaning against the wall, fidgeting with an arrow, while Natasha sat on the edge of the table, silent but focused.
"We're running out of time," Steve said, his voice heavy. "Eclipse isn't going to wait forever. They've already made their first move. We need to figure out what's next before it's too late."
Natasha tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "We don't even know what they're after. The data Vision took could be anything. For all we know, it's a trap to keep us distracted while they're working on something bigger."
"Yeah, but sitting here isn't helping either," Clint added. "We need to go out there, make some noise, shake them up a bit."
Steve shook his head. "We can't afford to act blindly. One mistake, and they'll have us right where they want us."
Before anyone could respond, the holographic display in front of them flickered to life. It was Sam, calling in from Tony's city base. His expression was serious, but there was a spark of something in his eyes—hope.
"We've got something," Sam said. "Tony found a trace. It's small, but it might be enough to lead us to Eclipse."
Steve straightened up immediately. "What kind of trace?"
"Energy signatures," Sam explained. "FRIDAY picked up something unusual in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. It matches some of the tech Eclipse used in their last attack."
Natasha stood up, her interest piqued. "An abandoned factory? Sounds like the perfect place for them to hide."
"It could be nothing," Clint said, though his tone wasn't convincing. "Or it could be a trap."
"Maybe," Steve admitted, "but it's the only lead we've got. We can't ignore it. Natasha, Clint—you're with me. Sam, keep monitoring from your end. Let Tony know we're moving out."
Hours later, Steve, Natasha, and Clint arrived at the factory. The place looked deserted, its rusted walls and broken windows giving off a sense of abandonment. But the energy readings FRIDAY had detected told a different story.
"This place gives me the creeps," Clint muttered, his eyes scanning every shadow.
Natasha ignored him, already moving ahead with her weapons at the ready. "Stay sharp. If this is an Eclipse hideout, they won't just leave it unguarded."
Steve led the way, his shield strapped to his back. The factory was silent, but there was an unsettling hum in the air, like something just beneath the surface. As they entered, they found rows of broken machinery and piles of scrap metal scattered everywhere.
"This doesn't look like much," Clint whispered, his bow drawn.
Natasha crouched near one of the machines, inspecting it closely. "Looks can be deceiving." She tapped a small device on the ground, which began to beep faintly. "There's definitely something here. Eclipse tech—modified, but it's theirs."
Steve frowned, his grip tightening on his shield. "Let's keep moving. Stay alert."
They pushed deeper into the factory, the air growing colder as they went. Eventually, they came to a large room at the back. It was empty except for a single console in the center, glowing faintly with blue light.
"Looks like a setup," Clint said, notching an arrow.
"It's bait," Natasha agreed, but she approached anyway, her movements careful and deliberate. She examined the console, her fingers hovering over the screen. "It's encrypted. Tony would need to crack it, but whatever's on here, it's important."
Suddenly, a low, mechanical whirring filled the room. Steve turned just in time to see panels in the walls slide open, revealing rows of armed drones.
"Ambush!" Clint shouted, firing an arrow at the nearest drone.
The room erupted into chaos as the drones began firing, their weapons lighting up the dark space. Steve raised his shield, deflecting the blasts, while Natasha moved with precision, taking out one drone after another.
Clint's arrows flew fast, each one hitting its mark. "I knew this was too easy!" he yelled over the noise.
Steve threw his shield, smashing through a group of drones before catching it again. "Focus on taking them down! We need to secure that console!"
Natasha was already on it. As the others kept the drones occupied, she moved back to the console, working quickly to retrieve whatever data she could. Her fingers flew across the keys, and after a tense moment, the screen blinked, displaying a download bar.
"I've got it!" she called out. "Just a few more seconds!"
"Make it quick!" Steve shouted, blocking another barrage of blasts.
The fight was intense, but the Avengers worked like a well-oiled machine. One by one, the drones fell, their metallic shells crashing to the ground. Finally, the room was quiet again, save for the hum of the console.
Natasha pulled a small drive from the console and held it up. "Got it. Let's get out of here before more show up."
Steve nodded, his breathing heavy. "Good work. Let's move."
Back at the mountain base, the team regrouped, uploading the data to their systems. Tony joined the call from the city base, his face lit up with curiosity.
"Well, what do we have here?" he said, leaning back in his chair.
Natasha crossed her arms, watching as the data decrypted. "Hopefully, something that'll finally give us the upper hand."
The screen filled with blueprints, schematics, and files. It was all Eclipse tech—plans for advanced weapons, energy sources, and something else that caught everyone's attention: a map with two locations marked.
Steve stared at the screen, his expression hard. "What are those?"
Tony zoomed in on the map, his face growing serious. "Those are launch sites. Whatever Eclipse is planning, it's big. And if we don't stop it soon, we're going to find out the hard way."
The room fell silent as the weight of the discovery sank in. The Avengers had found a lead, but it wasn't the end. It was just the beginning of something far worse.
The stakes were higher than ever, and the clock was still ticking. The team wasn't just fighting to survive anymore—they were racing to stop Eclipse before it was too late.