Here is the beginning to my second Marvel/Metroid crossover. I don't own any characters except for Aluren, Morin, The Syndicate Members, and, of course, Gyllin.
Hearts of Steel
Chapter I: Voice From the Future.
It was a bright morning. The sun was shining brightly against a cerulean backdrop, with only a few faint wisps of cloud hanging in the chill morning air. The sounds of traffic could be heard from down below.
Clint Barton, otherwise known as the Avenger Hawkeye, was whistling to himself softly as he shaved in front of the hotel bathroom mirror. The small window that opened out to the world was only slightly open, allowing a faint flutter of wind rustle into the small bathroom. From beyond the slightly ajar bathroom door, the faint sound of a television could be heard
"Tonight is the big night," a female's voice "Tony Stark will be unveiling his newest invention to the world at the UN Inventors Summit tonight. The billionaire playboy claims that this device – the Vulcan's Heart – will be able to power entire cities with minimal energy. A truly remarkable device – if it works. And there are plenty of skeptics that doubt Mr. Stark's boasts.."
The television continued, but Clint decided to tune it out as he finished shaving. When he was done, he rubbed his now smooth face with his hand as he grinned to his reflection. He then brushed his hand through his blond hair, and put the razor back into the medicine cabinet behind the mirror.
"Tony," he whispered. "I hope this idea of your works. Because I don't want to be there if you fail," he added with a sarcastic grin. Tony was adamant that Clint be there at the unveiling for 'support' if something were to happen. Why he chose good ol' Hawkeye instead of a powerhouse like Thor was a mystery to Clint. But who was he to turn down a good friend though? He accepted readily, though he resented getting all dressed up. He looked at the pricey tuxedo that Tony gave him for the night. It hung on a hanger on the bathroom door and he sighed.
"Give me some jeans and a t-shirt any day," Clint said as he walked through the bathroom door. He was only wearing a pair of faded blue jeans.
"But you look so nice when you clean up," a tired feminine voice said from the bedroom. Clint walked into the room, and saw the lump covered by the comforter of the bed. He walked up to the bed, sitting next to the lump, and gently pulled back the comforter.
"What time is it?" the feminine voice asked again as she looked around the room from behind a tangled mess of dark brown hair. Clint only got a glimpse of one of her deep brown eyes, and smiled broadly to find that she still wasn't wearing anything.
"Still too early," Clint said as he kissed her on the forehead. The woman grinned, and kissed Clint eagerly.
Inside the UN building, the gala was something to behold. People were all over the place, scientists from all walks of life tittered endlessly about their newest and greatest invention while reporters tirelessly flittered around the building tracking the hottest story of the summit.
Just like any such gathering, however, Clint Barton felt more than just a little out of place. He took a glass of champaign from a passing waiter, quickly downed it, and put the glass on the edge of a table. Clint then took a handful of little finger sandwiches left on the table, and stuffed one in his mouth. He shook his head.
"Give me a pair of blue jeans and a seedy bar any day," he muttered to himself as a thin woman in a slinky dress walked passed him. He raised one eyebrow and smirked as he stuffed another sandwich in his mouth. "But this does have its advantages."
"Clint!" a voice said from behind him, almost causing him to choke on the sandwich. He turned around and saw a tall man with short-cropped black hair and a neatly trimmed moustache. His tuxedo must have cost more than Clint's whole wardrobe. He held a half empty glass of water in his left hand.
"Tony," Clint said, grasping Tony Stark's hand firmly. "How are ya?"
"Good," Tony said with a nod. "A little nervous, though."
"Nervous? You?" Clint exclaimed. "How can Tony Stark be nervous?"
"I have a lot riding on the Heart," Tony said with his typical smile. "If it doesn't work, then there will be a lot of unhappy people – including me."
"Is there a chance that it won't?" Clint asked.
"Always," Tony said, taking a drink of water. A flurry of activity started occurring from the main chambers. "I think they will be starting soon."
"Yup. Looks like that," Clint said. "Ready?"
"As ready as I'll be," Tony said as the two drifted with the flow of the crowd.
"Ladies and gentleman," the ancient looking old man said in a raspy voice. Wisps of white hair jutted out from his head, and he glared at the audience from behind thick spectacles. "I am Professor Jospeh Morin, and I would like to welcome you to the summit tonight. We have many renowned inventors here tonight from all parts of the globe to present their ideas for a better, more peaceful, tomorrow for us all. These inventions range from prototypes for flying cars to life saving medical devices."
"Man," Clint said, sitting next to Tony. "Morin likes to hear himself talk. I mean, how could someone who is, what – a hundred- contain so much hot air?"
"Be nice Clint," Tony said. "Dr. Morin is a renown physicist and a former colleague of mine, and he's earned his spot. He's also only 87," Tony said with a smirk. Clint laughed at that last part.
"He still looks like an extra from 'Night of the Living Dead'," Clint said as Morin prattled on.
"It looks like someone is gesturing at me," Morin said, squinting. "Oh yes! We must be moving on. Dear me, I can get going sometimes!" Polite laughter echoed throughout the room. "And now, let me introduce our first inventor, Dr. Mary Allman." The audience clapped as a slender middle-aged woman walked up to the podium, a covered cart being rolled up onto stage.
"How many flying cars do you expect to see tonight, Tony?" Clint asked with a smirk.
"I would guess thirty – and there are only twenty six inventors here," Tony said.
"What, you planning one?" Clint asked.
"I had one built when I was ten," Tony said with a smile.
"Why am I not surprised?" Clint said.
One hour and ten flying cars later (each saying they were better than the last), Morin walked up to the podium again.
"And now I would like to give a special welcome to our next guest. He is an inventor, playboy, and supporter of the Avengers. Give a nice round of applause for Anthony Stark and his Vulcan's Heart!" The room exploded with applause.
"Showtime," Tony said.
"You'll do fine," Clint nodded.
"Thank you," Tony said as he walked up to the stage. The room was hushed as a young male assistant wheeled out a covered cart. Tony waited for it to be in place before he began. Compared to the other inventors, his cart was relatively small, and he could see the puzzled expressions on the faces of people expecting to see the next Iron Man armor from Tony Stark.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Tony started. "Thank you all again for being here tonight. It means a lot to the scientific community to be able to share our inventions in such a friendly environment. That said, you did not come here to hear me prattle on," laughter sprinkled the room. Many, including Clint, looked towards Morin.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Esteemed scientists, and members of the press, I give you the Vulcan's Heart!" He quickly removed the cover from the cart and revealed a slender gold box that was pristine in the fact that it had no markings, and only one panel with one wire sticking out from the bottom of the small gold box. A hushed silence went around the room, followed by small bits of conversation.
"The Vulcan's Heart," Tony continued. "Is a portable power device that perpetually generates power, a perfect energy source that never runs out." Clint could hear grunts of 'that is not possible' from people around him. Tony then went into a long technical discussion of the Heart that went well over Clint's head. After about ten minutes, Tony was nearing the end of his presentation. "Are there any questions?" Tony concluded.
"I have one," Morin said, raising his hand.
"Yes, Dr. Morin," Tony said.
"Mr. Stark, you have given a convincing discussion of how, in theory, such a thing is possible, but the question remains: does it work?"
"I was hoping someone would ask that," Tony said with a smirk. "Turn out the lights," Tony motioned to the assistant, who promptly followed suit, and the room went dark. Loud rumblings swirled around the room like a spring tide. A small pinprick of light – a flashlight – was all that remained, and that was focused on Tony. "I know many of you are wondering why I had the lights turned off." The grumblings affirmed this. Clint just sat there shaking his head with a wide grin.
"What do you have planned for us, Tony?" He asked to himself.
"The reason for this is to hook the Heart up to the building's electrical system to prove that it works." Tony paused, and nodded. "Now you will see the Vulcan's Heart at work!" He walked over to the Heart, flipped on a switch, and the whole room went up in a blaze of brilliance, and astounded gasps flooded the room. Clint squinted in the light as Tony dimmed them using the Heart. "I hope this alleviates doubt in the Heart's ability. This is, of course, a small prototype, and larger devices will be able to power entire cities, severing our need from other sources of energy. The Heart could solve all of our energy problems and bring a new era for mankind. Thank you."
The whole room was in shock, but then stood up and applauded loudly as Tony left the stage.
"You've done it again," Clint said to himself as Tony walked back to his seat.
A stunned Morin hobbled up onto stage.
"A hard act to follow indeed," he said in a hushed voice. "Our next inventor will be Hoshi Yakora of Japan."
The night air was cool, a slight breeze blowing in the still air. Lights from the city drowned out the countless stars that would normally dot the sky. The steady sounds of traffic could be heard below on the street. On the roof of the UN building, under the slim crescent moon, Tony Stark stood, leaning over the building's wall. Clint Barton walked up onto the room, finishing his third drink of the evening.
"People are looking for you downstairs you know," Clint asked as he walked up next to Tony. He looked down at the street and watched the cars driving by.
"I know," Tony said. "I just needed some fresh air."
"The Heart was a success," Clint said. "You have nothing to hide from."
"Who says I'm hiding?"
"Okay, maybe you're not hiding," Clint said. "But there is something on your mind. What is it?"
"Samus," Tony said, looking at the traffic below.
"You're still going on about that?" Clint asked, a bit shocked. "Come on Tony, you're hung up on some woman from the future, who, as far as I'm concerned may not exist."
"She exists Clint," Tony said sternly. "Or, will exist I guess I should say."
"Sorry Tony," Clint said after a short pause. "I've had my share of drinks tonight, I didn't mean to pick at ya. I just want to make sure you're not driving yourself off of a short road here."
"I'm fine Clint. Thanks."
"For what?"
"For coming."
"Hey, no prob, buddy," Clint said. At that point, a loud roar came over the hush of the city, and the two Avengers perked up at the sound. From the streets of New York, a hulking form walked out of the shadows. It was a large beast, standing as tall as some of he smaller skyscrapers of New York. The beast was reptilian, with a large, dragon like head and green scales. Its eyes were red in the lights of the city, and huge horns stood on top of its head. Large spines protruded from its yellow underbelly. The beast bellowed again.
"Kraid," Tony said stunned. "What is he doing here?"
"Friend of yours?" Clint asked.
"Very close," Tony said dryly.
"Meet you there in ten minutes?" Clint asked with a wry grin.
"See you there," Tony smiled back.
Eight minutes later…Kraid bellowed as the flash bang arrow burst in front of its face and repulser blasts hit it square in the belly. Iron Man flew quickly by, dodging a swat from the large reptilian hulk. Kraid thrashed around, stepping on a car.
"This thing ain't slowing down Shellhead," Hawkeye said as he loaded up another arrow, and fired. This one exploded on the beast's armored hide.
"So Kraid, haven't seen you in a while," Iron Man said as he unleashed another repulser volley into Kraid. "You and Ridley need to send me postcards every once in a while. Speaking of which, where is your boyfriend Ridley?"
"Right here, Samus-lite," a voice hissed from behind him. Iron Man turned to see a sinewy, crimson creature with a long head with rows of sharp teeth and long hands tipped with sharp talons. It floated on leathery wings. Ridley dove close to Iron Man, but did not attack.
"Hold it right there, bulb head!" Hawkeye yelled as he notched a razor arrow.
"Look, Iron Man brought a friend," Ridley said as the purple clad Avenger fired the arrow. Ridley nimbly dodged, while Kraid continued his march through the streets.
"Bastard," Hawkeye said as Iron Man crashed into Ridley from behind. The two crashed into the ground in one massive heap on the pavement. Iron Man quickly disengaged himself as Hawkeye readied another arrow and fired at the swiftly moving Ridley. The sinewy beast laughed at Hawkeye, but his expression turned into one of shock as the net arrow opened up and enveloped Ridley in fine mesh. He hissed as he hit the ground.
"Thanks," Iron Man said dryly. "He was getting more than a little annoying."
"Anytime Shellhead," Hawkeye said with a grin. He readied another arrow at Kraid, who continued to advance.
"Lights out big boy," Hawkeye said when another, louder voice echoed in the night:
"Stop!"