When you do, you will change the world…
Don't own the Avengers or the characters of Marvel Comics, but happy to play in their backyard.
"Sharing the world has never been humanities defining attribute."
Professor Xavier, X2
"I have to protect the one thing I can't live without."
-Tony Stark, Iron Man 3
Chapter 4—Divergence
Air Reserve Hanger in Nevada
Pepper and Maria walked out of the hanger and went to the Quintjet. Pepper took a seat in front of the passenger display console.
Fury was on with two separate windows. "We have a situation. And as you can probably surmise, I generally don't suggest one of the Council should attempt to quiet a dispute. But in this case, you seem to be well qualified."
While Fury turned to pull up another display, Pepper wondered whether Tony was wrong and Fury knew. Pepper had been reading the reports about Professor Munroe. She was really doing good work. But Pepper really did not want to get into the mix between Storm and her nemesis, The Brotherhood. She also knew that The Brotherhood of Mutants was now known as The Brotherhood had been defeated it seemed years ago. The location of Magneto, its leader was never established, although many believed he was killed in the last battle, there were several indications to the contrary. She had enough of a problem with the Mandarin, well with Killian. It was just. Then she took a deep breath and realized Fury was back.
A large open room was in the display with a runway to the middle staying at least two floors or move above the ground level. "Professor Munroe has requested your assistance with powering a new device. She said it was the follow-on to the Cerebro. She hopes it will allow her institution to provide a better and more comprehensive outreach to others."
Pepper knew without being told this was one of those twelve percenter problems. She knew the details of the arc reactor and could easily power any equipment that would fit into the room on the display. But then she did not know the true extent of the Cerebro replacement. She wondered if she would have problems with it.
Fury pointed to another display, "There have been some problems with this device. At least one of the Professor's students got into the room and attempted to use the device." The video showed a young teenager wondering back and forth in a padded room. "And we have reports that indicate The Brotherhood members are trying or will attempt to try to disable it."
Pepper thought about the challenge and the need to support the Professor. She knew Ororo was carrying on the work of Professor Xavier. She'd actually met Professor Xavier with Tony at the Stark Expo. The Professor had come to check on something about Tony's father and wanted to see a special lab that had been closed at the Expo for some years. Pepper remembered the feeling around him and he look that he gave her when they first met. It was like she had done something but all she did was smile at him. She knew there was something odd, but then he laughed about something she did to Tony and the wall disappeared. They got along quite well. When she was able to read the SHIELD reports, she realized he may have been trying to probe her, but failed. Or at least she thought that might have been it. Now that she was going to Westchester, she would have to check that theory.
Maria broke in at that point, "Sir, is she going to be alright out there? If The Brotherhood's forces try anything she could be in the crossfire or even be the target. Them killing or capturing a Council member, especially the only Council member would give them a lot of visibility in the press."
"Well, you got that, right?" Fury asked of Pepper. "Stark made you a suit, right?"
Pepper was a bit surprised at first thinking Fury had found out, but then he asked about the suit Tony made for her. It had an enhanced arc reactor. It also had a special electro-magnetic cushion inside so that the metal never really touched her. Together they pushed the technology to give her an extra energy shield around the suit. The idea was to protect her against any armor-piercing rounds. With that perfected, she made Tony add it to his new suit.
Maria was already answering, "But sir, even with a suit…"
"It's alright. With the suit, I can blast out of any situation and be free of it before The Brotherhood could try anything," Pepper intervened.
"Right. You may have to wear the suit most of the time, especially when you are at work in the Cerebro chamber. An attack could occur then. It would be the mostly likely scenario, to stop the Professor before it is powered up." Fury them looked at Pepper, "Do you have anything else?"
Pepper looked at him for a second. She was still concerned about Tony and the Avengers; they were going to another world. While they fought and won once, their job this time was to free that world and the others under the protection of Vanahiem. Last time while it seemed to be a battle for New York, it was a battle to save the world. But even with the Avengers, Rhodey, Sif and the Warriors Three adding Vyock and Heida and whatever force they could bring seemed a small. It was after all a full planet. That's when she decided and began her plan.
Pepper nodded and pushed a button on her wrist band, "Jarvis, I need Maria outfitted with a suit." Then looking back at Fury, "She'll go with Vyock and Heida to monitor the progress of the Avengers. If Vyock and Heida's forces are employed, she'll go with them and report on their progress." Next over to Maria, "Ask Jane and Selvig to establish an open line to any of the planets you and the Avengers go. Jarvis will then maintain communications between you, the team and I." She paused, "Go and be safe. I'll bring help," she pulled up the specs on the Cerebro, "in about a week."
"Yes ma'am," Maria saw Pepper shake her head, "Yes Pepper, you be safe too." She turned and left the Quintjet.
The Quintjet started its ascent soon after. Pepper was in the same seat going through as much information she could on the Professor and her associates. Pepper paused wondering whether it would be Storm, Professor or Ororo. But in any event, Westchester had been doing good deeds. They now had an approved program to teach and train young people with Mutant abilities. It had given many a new chance in life and a way to focus their abilities. She noted that SHIELD used many of them. The other program allowed people to chose whether they wanted to continue or take "the cure" and loose their mutant abilities. She knew the details about "the cure." Even with the modifications Tony made to it, "the cure" didn't completely eliminate the effects of Extremis. She knew what Tony used had no affect on her. Bruce had explained that it had no affect on him and was sure it would not change Steve either.
About midway in flight she switched over to The Brotherhood and reports on Magneto. Over the years, there had been many attempts to take the reins of The Brotherhood but it seemed too many of the members believed in himself or herself more than anyone else. Clashes seemed to be mostly on a gangland scale. There was a lot of in fighting and occasionally it was focused on the Professor and her activities. Then there did seem to be a pattern in the most recent activity from The Brotherhood. It seemed bent on keeping more people on "the path" by them staying mutants and focusing more and more on domination.
The news reports on Magneto had been investigated by many sources. SHIELD had collected the reputable reports and conducted a few of their own investigations. The conclusion of the more established intelligence sources was that someone was out there operating in a similar fashion to Magneto. The person had similar capabilities but was staying away from The Brotherhood. His overall intentions were not known.
Westchester
Pepper felt the descent starting and looked out the window to see the slush green woods and lakes near Westchester. The pilot came on the speakers and announced their landing approach. In just a few minutes the Quintjet was on the ground.
Pepper went to the cockpit, "Thank you both. Nice flight. Contact Director Fury and see what he wants you to do next. I'll call for assistance if necessary. Have a good day."
The pilot and co-pilot turned and returned their thanks.
As soon as Pepper exited the plane, JARVIS came online in her earphone, "Miss Potts, the HYDRA weapons arrived at the hanger. I have delivered the suit to Deputy Director Hill. You're suit and tools are being delivered to the mansion. We have to make a new reactor that will be delivered latter this evening. The estimate is eight o'clock. And Captain Rogers is calling."
"Steve?"
"Pepper? Hey I thought I'd call and say thanks for getting the weapons here so quick. We are working on them. Tony and Bruce got a little assembly line started. Thor and I are opening them. Tony and Bruce make the adjustment. The Sif and Fandral are putting them back together. Rhodey, Natasha and the others are testing them."
"Not on each other, right?"
"Oh no, of course not…" Steve ended as Tony broke in.
"Hey, everything alright there?" Tony asked.
"Yes, just got off the plane. Is the adjustment working?"
Tony answered, "Perfectly. Listen, you know…"
"I do, and you know too. Be careful." Pepper looked up toward the mansion, "They're coming. Call before you leave."
"Right."
The line went dead and Pepper walked to meet them. "Good afternoon, I'm Pepper Potts."
The three of them stood there for a second. Professor Munroe went first extending her hand, "Welcome, I'm Professor Munroe, but please call me Ororo. I am so happy you could come. And congratulations on your new appointment."
Pepper smiled, but was concerned at the same time. She could feel it now and could tell it was a little weaker than when she met Professor Xavier. Someone was trying to touch her mind. She knew she could not let that happened there were too many things, especially now with SHIELD's information. She shrugged slightly and responded, "Thank you every much. Please call me Pepper."
"I'm Logan. They're trying to call me Professor, but let's not go there," Logan smiled and tilted his head. He shook Pepper's offered hand.
Next a dark haired woman with a Japanese appearance and almost purple eyes announced, "I'm Betsy Braddock. I know you just began as the SHIELD Councilwoman, so you should know that I just joined the work here at Westchester. And you may remember me from the British STRIKE division of SHIELD."
Pepper remembered Phil Coulson talking about the brother and sister team in Great Britain. He was being called Captain Britain. She no longer looked like her brother as her mind had been transformed into a different body, a Japanese ninja assassin. Pepper remember that she had aligned with the Omegas but escaped the massacre at Jean Grey's hand by slipping through the shadows. After those events she had been working for the British STRIKE. Her reasoning for joining Westchester would be interesting.
"Yes, of course. I am glad to see you here." Pepper responded with a smile.
Ororo nodded and pointed to the mansion, "Please join us in my study. We'll explain a little more about why you're here and what we need to do."
Assembled in the study, Pepper sat at a table to the side of the study's desk. The others sat around the table. Ororo passed a file over to Pepper. Ororo began, "You can read the details in the file. But someone has lunched what we are calling a virus. It attacks the X-Gene."
"You mean something like the Worthington Lab suppression agent?" Pepper thought back to reports of the battle at the labs. She wondered if some of the serum could be made into a virus. "How could someone take a…wait, probably more important, is it contagious and how is it being passed?"
Ororo smiled. She was happy that Pepper recognized this as a threat and was not getting sidetracked. "We are concerned about the same thing. A representative of CDC is going to be here later today to provide a liaison in fighting this disease."
Pepper made the linkage, "So, the change in the Cerebro is going to provide a basis to counteract this? What will it do? Stop the disease from spreading? Or cure the disease in the individuals?"
Betsy looked at Pepper again and tried once more. She was interested in seeing whether Pepper was somehow getting through to them. She hit a wall again.
Pepper blinked, having that feeling again was getting annoying, but she thought this was more important. She had opened the file and saw the diagram, "So you need an arc reactor to power the Cerebro so you can reach everyone and reverse the effects?"
Ororo answered, "Yes, that is correct. Betsy has been able to use the Cerebro but we need the additional power to send out the antidote."
Pepper continued to look at the design and was able to determine how to connect the arc reactor. "The connection will take a little rewiring. I arranged to have the arc reactor delivered later today. I should be able to have it running tonight." She closed the file and looked at Logan, "So, please explain. I could imagine several scenarios where there would be major opposition."
Logan nodded and with almost a sneer, "Certainly, two main problems. First we don't know who started the virus. And then there are those who say that we are intruding once again."
Pepper wondered about that. The Worthington Lab inoculation was available to anyone though appropriate medical supervision. There had been some side effects, which was why the FDA stepped in and required testing. It was fast tracked and approval was given within the year. But forcing an antidote especially through someone's mind was certain to draw a reaction. And she noticed Logan glance at Betsy.
Pepper then wondered how they would control this, "Well then, other than Betsy running the Cerebro, what controls do you have and are you able to contact the patient and get agreement to the administration of the antidote?"
Ororo put her hand son the table and looked at Pepper, "Yes, those are the major areas of concern and really why we requested you."
Pepper winced at the implied idea that they did not want Tony for the job. But she was more than used to that with her work as the CEO of Stark Industries. There were more than enough problems here. And she decided to take the Tony approach, go work on the equipment and figure out the other problems along the way.
Pepper looked at the clock, "I should start working on the Cerebro to get it ready." She looked at Ororo, "Could you have someone show me the way?"
There was a knock at the study door and it opened to Bobby Drake holding what looked to be a red traveling case for tools. It was more like a suitcase than a toolbox.
"Oh Bobby, right on cue." Ororo smiled at Pepper, "Bobby can take you down there and knows where to get anything you'll need."
Pepper left the room and was shown the side sliding doors to the elevator by Bobby. He carried the tool case into the elevator.
Back in the study Ororo looked at the other two, "Well, what do you think?"
Betsy was the first to respond, "She's one of us. She can block my probe. I could not see any of her thoughts." She saw their surprised looks, "Well, she is the head of the most secretive espionage organizations there is, I guess it is good she can keep secrets."
"That should help us," Logan shrugged.
Ororo nodded, "Oh, I believe she will."
Down in the Cerebro chamber Pepper had opened the case that Bobby brought down. It contained her suit. Tony had made this suit so that it was portable and could be carried by Pepper. It fit in one side of the case. The other side of the case had a small set of tools.
Pepper looked at the tools and thought for a second. She decided first to make a few phone calls. She touched the phone bud in her ear, "JARVIS, I need to talk with Ambassador McCoy. Please get him on the phone. Then connect me with Dr. MacTaggert."
Pepper began to work on the problem while JARVIS put the calls through. She had been working on the power receptacle for a while when JARVIS finally got through to the ambassador. "Henry, how nice to talk with you. Thank you for talking my call."
"Pepper, it is a delight. I apologize for not getting with you quicker, but I was in the middle of a presentation at the assembly. But then, enough of my problems, what can I help you with?"
"I am here at Westchester."
"What? Are you working on that virus?"
Pepper was not that surprised that he knew about the virus, "Yes, I was wondering whether you have had any pressure to let the virus run it course, or worse try to contain it for analysis and then unleash it on the world?"
"Oh, you are well suited for this job." Henry smiled at the thought of a worthy woman at the helm of SHIELD, "There are elements that are supporting both the views you just expressed. And as you have likely surmised, there are those who have pointed accusations at various government bodies saying that they instigated the virus."
"Yes, well on that subject I have a call into Moria to cross check what SHIELD has been able to assemble. But first I wanted to ask you to work on those elements that are promoting the first two premises. If we can hold those elements at bay, then we may be able to get to stop the virus."
"Will you have Tony take care of the other problem then?"
"No, Tony and the Avengers are on another assignment. But if Moria does confirm what SHIELD has, we'll take care of it."
Henry knew, "Yes. You know that if you need help with that or anything, just call."
"Thank you Henry. I'll let you know." The line was closed and Pepper continued.
A/N Tip of the hat to phnxgrl, GetMoMoney-333, kahless21 and koolgirl1120 for the reviews.
Hope you enjoy. Continued reviews appreciated.
A little about 'Divergence,' wanted to include a sequence with the X-men and have Pepper on her own for a bit. Actually adds a bit to later chapters.
Looked for a known X-men with telepathic powers. Psylocke seemed to be the best choice. She was in the X-Men the Last Stand, and in the novelization avoids Jean's disintegration wave. Had to imagine how she would fit into the timeline of X-Men and Iron Man/Avengers.
Okay, also thought we would use Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert since she was in the CIA in the X-Men First Class, thought she would fit as the head of the CIA here.
