Chapter 02: Again? sigh

Disclaimer:

Greetings (hopefully kind) readers. This is my first attempt at publically submitted fan fiction. It is written as a form of therapy against my depression and to keep my brain somewhat active. It is not written to replace the originals of these works, to make financial profit or to do anything criminal.

Another thing. This is fan fiction. This means I can take the base idea in a creation and play with it. I am doing so with the X Men. The rating is a matter of safety as I truly do not know where the long term plot will end up.

Reviews. I would like them, but only if they are supportive. Supportive does not mean gushing with praise (although I would love them ). Polite assistance in guiding me to better do this is eagerly desired.

Finally. I have no beta. The chapters with this paragraph in it have not been betaed. I would like to correct that. As things stand, uploads will vary in time depending on writing and betaing. Chapters will be of varying length, written to story, rather than set number of pages or words.

To recap, my work, no money, need beta, hope you enjoy, please give helpful reviews.

Thanks all

Chapter 02: Again? sigh

Tony Stark was having the amount of fun the average man would have. That is, the average man who found out there was no way to escape castration. For the fifth time that day he wondered why he had not figured out how to make his suit space capable. Especially as he saw the moon pass by. The oversized mammoth ship in lunar orbit was not helping his happiness much. It was spitting out robotic invaders uninhibitedly. "Cap? I may have a problem here."

"What?" Captain America's voice was breaking up. "I was dragged out her and tossed. I have no momentum control. The suit can keep me alive about 15 minutes if I shut down everything else."

"Darn. And we are doing so well down here. I'll see if Fury has any way to reach you."

"Never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait to see the one eye."

"Stay safe please."

Then Iron Man saw something that had him run a diagnostic run. The suit reported functional given his circumstances. "Jarvis. Tell me I'm not delusional or dead yet."

"No sir. Neither."

"Then give me a readout on the craft that just appeared in outer Martian orbit."

"Unknown. No comparison. Power reading is off the scales. One thing though. It does not appear to be the same group as are attacking. Oh dear."

"What now Jarvis?"

"Some sort of molecular field has surrounded us. It seems to be destabilizing us."

Stark frowned.

Space disappeared.

Something else appeared around him.

"Zadig? Report?" A voice came from the speaker.

Iron Man looked around. It looked like a very advanced med bay. He was on some sort of bed. There were restraints, but it was obvious that this was more for sudden reactions than a deliberate attempt to contain him.

A computerized tone answered. "Person is rescued. Metallic shell appears to be outer container. Human life signs inside."

"I see. Can the shell be removed?"

"I'm not sure. It seems a different thought path of development created it."

"Actually, I would prefer you not do that."

A hologram appeared. It appeared to be an ancient philosopher in appearance. He checked the time piece on the wall. "Good evening. My name is Zadig. Welcome to the med bay. May I ask your name?"

Tony was flabbergasted. Somebody had not heard of his alter ego? "Please call me Iron Man."

"Iron man? The instruments register very little iron here."

The voice on the speaker muttered a rude curse. "Iron man? As in Tony Stark, the obscenely brilliant scientist? Of all the fates! Change nothing. I'll be there immediately."

Stark stayed still. It was obvious it could break out, but he'd still be someplace in space. He needed answers.

What happened next only gave him more questions.

A young man walked in. A kid really. And he looked very concerned. He walked over to a machine. "Zadig. A full scan on myself, down to genetic and quantum signatures."

A blue cone of energy appeared. It was bright and obscured the child. Then it ended sharply. The child stared at the readout with a frightening intensity. "The multiverse was only a theory I was toying with. I only expected a shift of a few galaxies at most. This borders on … annoying."

Tony well understood how it felt with things shattered expectations like this. "Can I help?"

The child came over. He looked over the Iron Man shell as if he was looking for flaws. "Perhaps. Zadig. Check his quantum signature against my base reality as well as oh, I do not know, Mars out there.

While that is being done, can you answer me two questions."

"Well…"

"I intend to avoid your secrets as much as I can."

"Very well. But I'd like a few answers myself."

"Indeed. Fair enough. Question one should confirm that you are who I think I am seeing. What two things did the arc reactor project cost you?"

Iron Man decided to be direct. If this kid could get him back to the battle, it was worth it. "A close friend in the cave, and for a time, my chairmanship in Stark International."

The kid nodded. "And now for next question. Does the Avengers initiative exist here?"

"Yes."

"Zadig?"

"His signature matches Mars. Yours differs from both."

"I was afraid of that. Iron Man, do you consider yourself healthy enough now?"

"I have to be."

"Very well. Welcome to the Zarchov 4." He released the restraints. "Please follow me." He led Iron Man to the bridge.

Stark looked around, plainly fascinated.

"In time, you'll prob do better. But now is not the time to play tourist. He sat in the main chair. Zadig!"

"Yes?"

"Full scan, Mars to Earth, holo display please."

Tony found himself inside the sort of display he imagined a commander should have. "Impressive. How did you get this level of resolution?"

"Now, now. Prying later. What can you tell me about this mess?"

"I need to speak to the Cap first."

"Captain America?"

"That's the one."

"Right. Zadig! Boost his com channel, put on screen unless he asks for privacy. Respect all such requests."

"Done."

The battle scene the Avengers were in was shown. "Tony! You alright?"

"Better than I should be. I even found us an ally."

"An ally?" The last wave was beaten back and the Avengers gathered around Steve. "Explain."

"This young fellow here is in command of the Zarchov Four. It is, as far as I have been able to glean. A lifetime project of his that ended up in our neck of the woods."

"Fury's not going to like that." The Black Widow told him.

"Fury can bite it as far as I care. Thor might have made it to me. Maybe. No insult to the big fellow, but I've never seen him in space. This kid saved my life. I'm all for not inflicting Fury on him."

"We can go over that another time. Where is he?"

"Checking a few calculations he told me. Something about varying realities and more laws of science to be rewritten."

"Oh dear." Churchill's voice was full of disgust. "Just what I did not need."

"You seem concerned." Stark remarked in his trademarked 'I care enough to provoke you' tone.

"I am. But it matters not, for now is not the time to deal with it. Besides, the tachyon drive is in no state to deal with it. How you talked with your team mate?"

"Yep. Let me introduce you. This is Captain Steve Rogers, aka captain America. He's our leader."

"Greetings. I am Charles Churchill, commander of the Zarchov 4."

"Thank you for helping my friend."

"I help those I can."

"And Earth needs you. Tony told me that you are aware of the situation."

"Somewhat. There appears to be a significant force doing repeated attempts to gain a beachhead there. Given your resistance, and the apparent forces they command, why so interested in that spot?"

"Classified." A new voice broke into the conversation.

Stark frowned. "Aww, Fury, not now. We're doing well enough."

"Then get back to work. Tell him only the basics and have him brought to me afterwards."

"Oh no. He just saved my life. I'm not handing him to anybody."

The computer beeped. "Excuse me." The ship's owner said. He went over and looked at a screen. Then he frowned as he hit several keys. His frown deepened. "Confirm, anaylize and research it."

Stark saw this. "Problem?"

"It could well be. Not only do I appear to have regressed decades in youth, I seem to have mutated. Nonetheless, there are other problems to solve. Capt America, I believe?"

"Yes?"

"You seemed to have a question?"

"What's the military capacity of that thing?" Fury's voice was back.

Now Churchill glared. "Not another idiot who thinks all science should serve the military, rupturing global balances to national pride." That was said with increasing disgust.

"Don't call him an idiot!" A female voice contributed to the conversation.

Churchill sat in the command chair. He took on a stern demeanor. "And whom in the multiple hells are you?"

"Hill, not now." Fury responded. "I'm asking because sensors are showing a massive deployment of droids incoming."

Churchill stroked his chin. "I designed it to be able to defend itself, yes. I've not had to use it so yet."

"No time like the present." Stark commented.

"Do it." The now identified Hill commanded. "I order you to."

He turned to Iron Man. You seem a loner type. And yet you are involved willingly. Whom has command and control authority for this group?"

"Capt. Rogers, aka Capt. America."

Churchill turned to Rodgers. "Very well. We can ally ourselves temporarily. There is a lot yet to learn about this universe and its Earth, yet I must make berth someplace. If for no other reason, I must act. Time to access skills I thought I'd never want again."

Thor meanwhile had a stroke of odd inspiration. Now he just needed to wait until the right moment to put this plan into effect.

The rest of the Avengers finished hatching out their plan.

Stark turned again to Churchill. "This is what we would like you to do." The explanation took eight minutes.

"Agreed. Zadig. Set Condition Crimson throughout the ship. Drop shields. Engage cloak. Disengage Orphan Protocols. Have tachyon drive do a leap to Waypoint Canaveral. Power up all engines to battle maximum, and prepare for full offensive activities. Upon arrival move to alternate position seven. Shift Stark back to his assigned location. Standby for further instruction."

Stark put on his helmet again. "You sound far more experienced than I expected."

"You do not become a member of the Boffin Brigade by being unprepared for what could happen."

Aboard SHEILD's helicarrier many, many people went around doing their tasks as usual. Even upon the bridge. The people selected for these tasks were the most stoic beings the human race had ever developed. Wars could break out and they would twitch. Maybe. Ninety percent of all equipment aboard the craft go behave in impossible ways and maybe they might show a little concern.

It would take the imminent cracking of the planetary core for them to consider panic.

So it would come as no surprise that nobody at all paid any attention to the shouting match at the center raised deck.

"And what, Hill, do you think you were doing?"

"Giving orders."

"Giving orders." If Fury's tone before bordered on ticked off, now it sped past enraged. "Giving orders not just to the most tempermental group of beings this planet has yet seen, but to a complete wild card. A wild card that if any of these readings are accurate, can do things no craft we control can match. And you want to annoy him?"

"It is my job. All beings that can threaten us must be controlled by us. Your orders exactly."

"We know nothing about him. How can you declare him a threat so fast? What about protocols? You may have created a greater threat."

Hill stared back. Barely repentant.

Fury nodded. Be grateful I know you cared for SHEILD. We will have to discuss your diplomacy training though.

Maria Hill swore she would prove herself right about that brat.

Fury decided to finish this later. "Report!"

Coalson turned to him. "On visual."

The sight on the screen looked out of a seventies science fiction show. The type where the good guys faced overwhelming odds and always returned from the mission. Occasionally they were wounded, but that was only when it served the plot.

Fury frowned.

The ship, the Zharchov four, he recalled seemed to be blasting things out of the air with near reckless abandon. It was not dodging and taking the hits like they were minor annoyances.

The opposing drones on the other hand were taking the sort of losses usually reserved for a simple shoot them up video game. They just kept coming.

"Alert!" A watch officer called out. "The mother ship is now re orienting their attack. Forecasting says they are going for San Francisco."

"Move us in towards the track."

Hill meanwhile sent a signal to Iron Man.

Iron man could not believe it. "You sure?"

"Fury ordered it. These things must die. For earth's sake. What is one brat's feelings compared to that?"

"More important than you. He saved me when he could have stayed out of it."

Hill snarled. Why did nobody understand the danger? Nobody should have this power. Outside the NID. she thought. "Do it. Or Pepper will pay for it."

Stark's thoughts were not fit for repeating. "Never come within my reach again." He snarled. He opened a channel to the Zharchov.

"Yes?"

"I need you to take out the mothership."

"I thought the Avengers were not into killing."

"We're not. But Pepper's life is in danger if I do not get you to destroy it."

"Pepper is that important?"

"Pretty much my life."

"Then pray I do not learn who was the source of that threat. Zharchov out."

Fury watched the screen when the ship stopping firing on all the drones. He started targeting a select path though. Straight to the mothership. "What the hell is going on here!" He demanded.

Hill put a hand on his arm. "Relax. Justice is happening."

"Massive energy spike!"

"Source?"

"The Zharchov."

"Target?"

"The mothership."

"What?"

Churchill's voice came on the system. His tone bordered between cold and unemotional. "I am preparing to carry out Fury's order to obliterate the mothership and all life aboard. He had best pray I never encounter him or his group for the blackmail applied to force this action. Zarchov out."

Fury's mouth dropped. "No! Don't. I never ordered any genocide! Stop it!"

Coalson shook his head. "Too late."

The screen told the whole story. The Zharchov advanced to point blank range. Then a slam pulse of energy struck out forming a corridor linking the two. Then a small probe like ball shot through the corridor into the mothership. The corridor snapped out of existence. The Zharchov pulled back.

Then the blast occurred. It was huge, powerful and fried everything watching it.

Thor was grateful for the drinking sessions on Asgard. Nothing else could have prepared him for the shock to his system that the blast caused. Then he swung.