"You don't look so good," Pepper said. "You need to sleep, Tony. The program can wait."
"They are not gonna wait," Tony said.
"You've been at it for weeks now," Pepper said. "You haven't come out of your lab. You haven't showed your face to the world, far less on a news channel for anything."
"And why does that seem so important?" Tony asked, staring at the complicated lines of the program that he was working on.
"Because the world roots for you?" Pepper said. "The share prices of Stark Industries have taken a dive ever since you locked yourself inside your lab. The board need to know that you are alright. You own the company after all and there hasn't been any new improvements recently in any of our technological products. The lack of updates and you not showing yourselves have the investors pulling back their money."
"I've got that covered," Bruce said.
"And how is that?" she asked.
"Bruce offered to help me out," Tony said.
"I get that he is the second majority shareholder in your company but he has his own one to run and unlike you he actually runs the company," Pepper said in annoyance. "Where you just play with your toys all day long. I am the one who has to manage everything! I am the one who is currently the face of the company and no one on board seems to take me seriously because I am not you! I am just a secretary to them who flaunted you to get a hold of your big pockets! They never listen to me."
"I'll talk to them," Tony said, not paying much attention.
"Are you even listening to me?" Pepper asked. "I'm breaking down here, Tony! I don't know what decisions to take, what targets to set! The company is in chaos!"
"The world would be in chaos!" Tony shouted looking directly at her.
Pepper was shocked to see Tony like this. There was pure anger and annoyance in his eyes and they were currently directed at her. Those looks, however, subsided down as he looked away apologetically.
"I'm sorry," Tony apologized. "It's just that the New York invasion has me stressed out a little bit."
"Tony that danger has been dealt with," Pepper said, coming closer to him and enveloping him in a warm hug.
"There's no guarantee, though," Tony said. "They just came, Pepper. Pouring down from the sky like an endless rain while we just stood on the ground like tiny insects, watching the destruction helplessly. What happens the next time something like that invades us?"
"Then you all will fight again, together," Pepper said.
"What if we are not together?" Tony asked.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I hate to admit it but Fury was the one who brought us together," Tony said. "He's dead now and Rogers seems to not take it that well. After all Fury was the one who had introduced Steve to this time, too the present world and had given him a purpose after the New York incident. His death has shaken him and not to mention the death of Peggy Carter a month after that. Steve is not in contact with anyone anymore. No one knows where or how he is. Thor's gone. There's no telling when or if he will come back. We don't have any means to contact him. Banner's always hesitant. He is afraid of his alter ego, so afraid that he made me built a contingency for that purpose."
"Is that what it is inside the LA hanger of our property?" Pepper asked. "Tony nodded his head. "I wondered what it was since everything was kept so quiet about it. Not even the board members knew and they were asking me about it."
"Nothing that is happening right now is supporting the fact that the Avengers will be there when the next attack like that happens. Count the dead, Pepper! Not to mention the losses we took in injured people and structural damage. The later can be ignored, though. And now with Fury gone and SHIELD with no apparent leader to manage it I don't think it can provide us with enough resources to prevent from another such attack."
"Is that what you've been working on?" she asked.
"I thought of it with Banner once not long after the attacks," he said. "I am working on an AI program. I will link it to the many mechanical bots. I am programming it to face such an attack the next time it happens. I don't want to feel outnumbered when it happens again."
"I don't like the idea of having an AI controlling such large power," Pepper said. "What's wrong with Jarvis taking the control?"
"Jarvis' mainframe program is not designed to handle such large data processing power. He will malfunction doing the task," Tony said. "Besides, Jarvis serves me. Not even Rhodey but me alone."
"You make him sound like your slave," Pepper said.
Tony snorted before laughing lightly. He hugged Pepper back sniggling more into her as he was sitting on a chair and she was standing. "I'll have a talk with the board and will conduct a press conference soon. So, any ideas what new product should Stark Industries work upon next?"
"Don't drag me into this one, Tony. You know I am not a technical person like you are," she said.
"Jarvis, a little help here?" Tony said before Pepper pulled his face into hers for a long passionate kiss.
00000
He hadn't been here ever since Gotham lost the Narrows when Ra's Al Ghul had attacked the city along with the help of Jonathan Crane. After the attacks had been stopped and the problem was dealt with the police and the authority still failed to secure the Narrows. It was completely lost and a lesson was learned by the city that day. Walking among the streets of the almost abandoned part of it now served no purpose but Bruce had nothing to do and he wanted some air. He didn't know why he chose this place of all the city but it definitely brought back memories of him being the Batman the first time. The Narrows was the part of town from where the criminals originated before the city was introduced to the vigilante. It wasn't much now but still the slum part of town. Nothing apart from the Arkham Asylum stood any longer. The slums were all in ruins. Streets were abandoned and whoever was left was living on the streets or in dark, dungy alleys.
Bruce stopped at the only tall building of the area that was still functional even today. The Arkham Asylum held the most criminally insane criminals Gotham and Bruce had ever seen. Some of it Bruce had dealt with before he had worn the cape and cowl. As he circled the campus from the outside, his eyes fixed on every window of every room a part of him tingled with a different sort of excitement.
"I wonder if I'll hear you again," Bruce said, looking at one particular window that was on the topmost, isolated part of the building. It had strong barricading even on the outside. Bruce knew exactly who was inside that room. It wouldn't surprise him if he was just now a prisoner there as Bruce had deduced it beforehand when he had confronted him – there was no medicine, nothing that could change that man. He was an agent of chaos. Just like Alfred had said. This had given Bruce at least an idea of what kind of a man he was but still, stopping a man who had no agenda in crime world but who only wanted to watch the world burn was difficult. You cannot formulate a plan to stop guys like that because you don't know what or when they will make a move. No wonder Gotham fell his victim when he first attacked it. While Bane planned for almost eight years for the reckoning of Gotham the Joker had done it in just a few days' time and with no one on his side.
Bruce wondered if he could take him now if Joker managed to escape. But then he would also be old. How much Bruce didn't know but he definitely was older than him. This would give Bruce at least an edge against him in matters of physical strength. But then again with a guy like Joker one couldn't rely or predict upon anything. Everything was a gamble with him, making a plan and hoping that the Joker would fall for it. He was the perfect example of how weak and unorganized the human civilization was. Just a single man and he managed to shake the authority from its throne.
"My, my. If it isn't Bruce Wayne himself on the streets of the Narrows."
Bruce turned around to see a bald man with spikes wearing shades and a dress that made him look like a member of rock band. Bruce however, did notice the knife in that man's hand and he definitely knew how to use it with the way it floated amongst his fingers. There were also a few of his friends, probably, beside and behind him, all looking at him with hungry eyes.
"Wonder how much that watch's gonna sell for, TJ," one of them said.
"Perhaps more than what your mother would sell for," the man called TJ replied. The others laughed. "Come on, Mr Prince, why don't you give us everything you have on you and we can settle this like civilized people."
"Civilized?" Bruce said, giving them a full look. He wondered whether these people really thought they could take on him. He didn't move at all. He just looked at them with an expressionless face.
"Well, maybe grandpa likes a little persuasion," one of them said.
"Maybe he's got a hearing problem," TJ said. "Hey, Connor, try a little high voice."
One of them stepped forward, towards Bruce. "Let's see if he understands this," the man said, shining the knife in his hand as he approached Bruce.
Bruce was ready as he swiftly dodged the knife that was aimed very poorly at him and caught the man's armed arm, using his momentum pushing him forward and then throwing him off his feet to a good ten yards away from himself and the rest of the gang. The man fell rather hard on the bins, scattering rotten garbage everywhere.
"Grandpa got moves," TJ said.
Bruce didn't want to admit it but that single move had him in pain. His body was now home to many internal damages, not to mention quite a few on the outside, too. He could feel that he was old in the most literal sense now. He tried to maintain his composure but failed terrible as he fell on his knees and breathed hard. His back and knees were paining like anything.
The goons saw this as an opening and their fists and kicks didn't miss their target as after a minute a bloodied Bruce laid painting on the wet ground with everything on him removed.
"What about his clothes?" one of them said. "I wonder how much they cost."
"You wanna smell is underwear then be my guest, Butch," TJ said. "Whatever we've got from him would probably set us for life anyway."
Bruce heard as their voices vanished with the distance they put between themselves and him. He tried to get up but the pain in his legs and back had come again and with more force now. The goons' kicks and punches hadn't hurt Bruce as much as his own physical pain. As he tried to get himself up he saw a boy approaching him. His vision was blurry because of the pain and he lost consciousness, falling back on the wet, cold streets of the Narrows.
00000
Steve was glad he had someone on his side. He had also found a formidable friend and possibly an ally in one Sam Wilson. Currently only the three knew what was happening inside SHIELD but Steve was already distracted enough with the recent death of Peggy. He wasn't in the game and that had required Natasha to take leads on several occasions. This had slowed them down because with Natasha it was a case of trust issues. She had admitted she was still working on it because apparently being born and trained as a spy a whole life tends to do such things too one's brain. Sam was completely new to this. He was just a trainee as a field agent after he had retired from the military rescue operations. He didn't know what HYDRA was or how much had it infiltrated SHIELD. Well, the later part wasn't such assurance to any of the three. None of them knew how deep had HYDRA infiltrated and had taken control of the SHIELD so when help arrived in the form of Maria Hill they were much relieved. There wasn't anyone more loyal to Nick than Hill. She had supplied them with enough resources that had given them a lead which had turned out to be a former military training ground where Steve had trained when he had applied for the army. It was there that the three had come to know the true intentions if HYDRA – the control of the world at a gun point. A short version of a modified plan of Nick. The three carriers designed to keep watch and protect the world had their mainframe program modified and using a special algorithm designed by Red Skull's advisor and technical expert. To realize that they only had much time left made the situation even worse.
"Have you tried calling the other Avengers?" Sam had suggested.
"Thor's gone and Banner won't engage. We all agree on that one," Natasha said. "What about Tony?" she asked, looking at Steve.
"He hasn't talked to anyone after the attack on New York," Steve said. "Last I heard from Banner, Tony had isolated himself as he was working on some secret project."
"Clint won't mind lending a hand," Natasha said. "Who else do we have?"
"What about Superman?" Sam asked.
"He is not a member of the Avengers," Natasha said.
"But he did agree to help us whenever we needed it," Steve said. "But how do we contact him?"
"Well, as far as we know he operates in Metropolis," Natasha said. "That means he resides in that city. Can we spare valuable time to go fetch him?"
"We have no choice," Steve said. "If we don't find a way to stop those ships from carrying out HYDRA's dirty work then his strength is the only thing that will be of some help."
"Try all the help," Sam said. "I don't know how big those carriers are but they can't be as big as those Chitauri ships that he just grabbed by the tail and threw off. Everyone saw that clip."
"Those carriers are not as big as those Chitauri ships," Steve said. "We are going to Metropolis."
00000
Peter surfed through the internet. While the local news didn't have anything on him the YouTube definitely did. It had started after an amateur had recorded him hanging some muggers upside down on a light pole and from then on there were quite some videos posted on YouTube about Spiderman. Peter had to agree with the fact that those bio-cables from OsCorp were a real deal. With a little bit of modification Peter had managed to use them as 'webs' on which he could swing like a real spider. They were the perfect thing for him – for his superhero alter ego. He had also started to use the abandoned half-constructed building as his apparent base of operations. A working police radio that Peter had managed to repair served as his informant. He usually worked at night because at morning and evening he was real busy with school and work. He was very much thankful to these new abilities of his. One of the many plus sides of them was that he didn't feel much tired. This was the very reason that he was getting about a mere three-hour sleep every night and still feel fresh. He didn't feel much tired and all of this helped distract him from pretty much nothing that was going back at his home.
He would only see his aunt at breakfast and during dinner. Apart from that they both were busy. May had taken a job at a neighboring diner. The owner knew the Parkers so he was kind enough to offer her one. She had taken it just to distract herself because the pay was minimum wage. It hardly would've helped but the distraction from missing Ben was welcomed.
As Peter listened closely to the police radio as he hung upside down from the top of the unfinished building he heard a robbery going on in one of the department stores. It was one o'clock at night which meant that most of the patrol cars weren't available. Also, the nearest one was several blocks away. Turning off the radio he jumped off of the building, firing up a strand from his 'web-shooter' which caught hold of a light pole nearby as Peter swung himself, using his body as a pendulum weight to push himself high up in the air before being ready to fire another one.
00000
Bruce woke up with an aching body. With everything that he had given up after he gave up being the Batman, instincts weren't one of them so before making a sound he, as per habit, slowly opened his eyes, careful enough to not let anyone notice his consciousness because he knew he was at a different place as whatever he was lying on felt different – unlike the mattress of his penthouse.
This place looked more like a slum house. The sound of water dripping said that it was also uncared for. There was darkness inside the room. That meant either it was night or this room didn't have any window or a source of light.
"You're awake."
Bruce turned towards the source of sound. It didn't help him in any manner when he realized it was the sound of a kid, a teenager, mostly. The boy looked to be about twelve years old. He was thin and had a boney structure so guessing the boy's age could've been wrong. Bruce knew, from the boy's appearance that he was a resident of the Narrows.
"You are Bruce Wayne, aren't you?" the boy said. Bruce tried to get up but his injuries didn't let him. A shot of pain ran throughout his body forcing him to let out a painful groan. "You shouldn't try to move. Your wounds haven't healed properly yet and you haven't eaten anything," the boy said.
Bruce wondered what the boy meant by mentioning his appetite when he realized something. "How long was I out?" Bruce asked.
"Four days," the boy said.
Bruce couldn't believe he was unconscious for four days. He looked at the boy carefully and then around. "Where am I?" he asked.
"At the Narrows, in my house," the boy said. "Well, it's not much but it's a lot better than most people living here."
"What's your name, kid?" Bruce asked.
"Jason. Jason Todd," the boy said.
"Where are your parents?" Bruce asked.
"They aren't here," Jason said with a sad face. Bruce knew that look. Something immediately connected him to the boy's emotions. The boy was an orphan, just like he was.
"How long?" Bruce asked.
"When I was four," the boy replied. "But it wasn't that bad. Ms Kyle's people helped us a lot when the city's people and the mayor gave up on us. If it wasn't for her I don't know what would've happened to us."
Bruce knew Selina ran many programs for the welfare of the city's homeless and the needy people. She was doing a better job than the authorities of Gotham and the state. This was why Bruce had her a huge financial backing. Guess he would meet Selina after he got out of here.
"I know Selina. If she is still working like she used to before then you all shouldn't be in this condition," Bruce said.
"It's the Mutants," Jason said.
"Who? A new gang?" Bruce asked. "Never heard of them."
"Because they operate in the Narrows," Jason said. "We are completely cut out from the rest of the city. Make it the rest of the world. We get what little supplies come through the only bridge and whatever Ms Kyle manages to provide to us people. Other than that we have no electricity. No contact with anyone outside. You wouldn't know about us or the Mutants because the media hasn't been operating in the Narrows."
"I can only presume that this gang is stealing the resources that are given to the people of the Narrows," Bruce said.
"Not just stealing," Jason said. "They sabotage the vehicles that enter the area and take everything in them. They then sell it to us people in exchange for us working for them. They have a leader. No one has seen him but he controls and operates the Mutants. They say he is a very powerful man. No one has seen him but he knows us all."
"Didn't you people try to fight?" Bruce asked although he knew the answer.
"We can't," Jason replied. "The Mutants have almost all the people on their side. Whatever little of us are left we are just surviving. It is lucky enough that we are alive as it is. The Mutants are not kind towards those who aren't working for them in the Narrows."
"And what about you?" Bruce asked, looking at the ceiling instead of the boy.
"Well, I am just a fifteen year old boy living on my own," Jason replied. "I manage to sometimes sneak something for myself. Sometimes being alone is good for you. That way you can't be leveraged."
"I have to say I couldn't agree more," Bruce said. So the boy was older than he thought. Perhaps he wasn't getting enough to eat. This explained his physique. "I have to go back but I do need to ask you a question."
"Which is?" Jason said with no interest in his voice.
"What do you know about the vigilante?"
"Who? The Batman?" Jason asked.
"I thought the Batman didn't exist," Bruce said.
"He did!" Jason said. "Although he existed long before I was born but my father often told me his stories. How he would fly through the darkness of the night, saving the people of Gotham from its dangers. Catching and beating up criminals. The new Vigilante isn't like him. Although I don't know who or what the Batman was but I am sure he wasn't like this new vigilante."
Bruce looked at the boy. So Blake had also left the Narrows. It was explainable. Bruce had, too but hearing what was going on in here worried him. If it wasn't checked then Gotham could be in danger once more and a big one this time.
"Tell me, kid, what do you know about the history of this part of town?" Bruce asked.
"How old?" Jason asked.
"When it was cut off from the rest of the city?"
"Father said that out of nowhere a fog had come and then people went crazy," Jason said. "They started hitting and killing each other and that there was Batman. He helped save us but at the end the Narrows was lost."
Bruce knew with the way things had went down that night when Ra's had attacked Gotham it was impossible to bring back Narrows from the brink of collapse but now Bruce felt guilty about not doing anything at all to help save it. He could've done something times later than that. He had not and he felt like a complete failure. Many nights. There were many nights in his life as the Batman where he didn't catch a criminal or tailed a mob boss. He could've used those nights to help save the Narrows. He wondered whether it could be saved now. If this Mutant gang was what Jason was telling him then he doubted the GCPD would do anything about it. With Gordon retired Bruce had no one inside the GCPD to rely in for assistance. Blake wouldn't be able to do much. Even though he had been a vigilante for about twenty years now he had not faced the dangers that Bruce had. Blake lacked the experience. He would not be able to pull out a successful mission of saving the Narrows. But then Bruce had to try. He would try to talk him into this or more probably the police department. Not as Batman but as Bruce Wayne. He had the wounds and scars to show them. The city was much more stable right now. Bruce knew no matter how organized a city or a system was if an uncalled threat came upon then the city would destabilize in no time. Bruce didn't want to give these Mutants such a chance to attack Gotham without a notice. He had seen the effects of it when Bane had attacked Gotham out of nowhere.
"Do you know a safe way out of here?" Bruce asked.
Jason reluctantly nodded.
00000
Clark sat in his cabin, looking at the computer screen. It didn't work. He knew he would have to ask Tony for help because he couldn't ask Fury. There were two reasons. One was that he was dead and the second was that even if he could the SHIELD was gone now.
It had been the headline of all the papers that day when three ships were destroyed by the Superman and Captain American along with his team. It was revealed that the SHIELD was infiltrated by HYDRA ever since the time it was founded. People and the government itself were shocked when some of the very trusted people were revealed to be members of HYDRA. The media had thanked Captain America, Natasha Romanoff, the arrow guy and the guy with the mechanical wings but the main attraction had been Superman who had actually saved the day. It was him who had flown through the ships, disabling them and then gracefully putting them on the ground before they could wreak havoc.
This had also kept everyone busy at the planet. Finally the media had gotten something exciting other than the New York invasion. Perry was right. Nobody read the papers these days. People bought it out of old habits. This was why no one noticed when a paper printed the same news almost every day with little bit of changes. Well, majority of it was bullshit and Clark couldn't believe the papers didn't get a negative feedback.
But he had more pressing matters to handle. With the new knowledge of him having a cousin was discovered by him Clark wanted to find her. With his powers he thought maybe he could but what if she was not on Earth? But then where would she go? There weren't many habitable planets in this 'area' as Thor had once said when Tony had, out of curiosity, asked a question. This made things hard. Clark needed to find her. She was his only family left, perhaps the only Kryptonian, too. Clark needed her and he knew she needed him.
This was why he thought of involving Tony into this. The guy was a tech expert and he had the resources but Clark thought how much he could reveal to the guy. The guy was carefree but he was also sensible and mature. He had learnt from Steve and others that Tony was working hard to prevent another attack like the one on New York. The attack had clearly traumatized him. Clark knew because the stock prices of Stark Industries had taken a huge dive and only organizations like the Wayne Enterprises and Lex Corp were preventing the company from going public with those share prices. Those two corporations were major shareholders of Stark Industries. The three companies had taken in many projects in the past as a joint venture. Together they were one strong team and any and everyone believed that the three companies, when combined, could achieve anything they set their eyes on.
Clark had made up his mind. He needed someone other than his mother and Lois with whom he could share a little more about his alien heritage. Tony seemed like the right guy. The others would come but for now Tony would have to do because he needed Tony's help.
He took out his phone and dialed his personal number – the number Tony had given to the members of the Avengers. Clark was surprised when Tony had given him his personal number since he wasn't a member of the Avengers. "You said you would be available when we called you for help," was all tony had said before giving him his number.
The call connected and it rang on the other side.
"Kal!" Tony's voice came from the other side.
"Tony. Sorry to bother you in your busy days but can we talk?" Clark asked.
"Sure. What's up?" Tony said.
"Not on the phone. I was thinking of a more private conversation," Clark said. "Can we meet?"
"Sure. You know my place. Tell me the time and I'll be waiting."
00000
"Did you get it?" Silas asked.
"Damn! It took forever to get the clearance for this thing," his assistance said. "What is it anyway?"
"A relic," Silas said. "One probably older than any civilization on earth."
"With the security this thing had I thought the government wouldn't allow us to have this," the assistant said. "Turns out it was just buried deep underground. It just holds a historic value. The officials said that it emitted a near negligible level of radiation not harmful for us or anything. They think of it as a bomb of the First World War era. I am surprised they gave it to us. Only the paperwork took time. A lot of time!"
"Have lunch on me for the next full week," Silas said.
"Oh, I can live with that, sir," the assistant replied. "So what is it? Doesn't look like a bomb to me and even if it is, it is not from that period. It is way too tiny for that."
"It is a relic, of course," Silas said, already scanning the fossilized cube. "But it is just as much advanced as any of us can think."
00000
Clark stood at the door. He was in his suit. He still hadn't told anyone of the Avengers his true identity and he thought no one cared. With Fury dead there wasn't much to stress upon in hiding his identity. If they cared about it they'd have asked him or would've pulled a move.
The door opened not even a second later as Clark flew to the top of the Avengers' Tower, former Stark Tower now undergoing some changes. Clark had only been here once, that was when New York had been attacked. He hadn't seen it all but whatever he had were undergoing change. He could see a great deal of improvement and upgrade in the security systems, too.
"Got to say, I am impressed you avoided my secretary and guards," Tony said as he entered the room where Clark was at the moment. "So simple isn't it? Flying? I enjoy it, too, when I am in my suit, that is. I see you are here on business?"
"Somewhat, yes," Clark said. "I heard what happened to Fury."
"We all did. I don't want to say this but I kind of miss him. Well, miss his rattling," Tony said. "You want anything to drink?"
"Water would be fine. Thank you," Clark said. Tony made an unimpressed face but clapped his hands. A moment later a girl entered the room with a glass of water.
"So, what is it?" Tony asked.
"Before I begin," Clark said, "I need to know this from you – I will be trusting you with a very vital information that is very close to me. The reason I chose not to reveal my identity was because of my lack of trust in Nick. I hope you would understand that?"
"Of course I do," Tony said. "We all have our secrets. But it is not a good thing to not share those secrets if it affects others. Fury did something like that when he hid the fact that he intended to use the teserract as a weapon. It didn't sit well with any of us and this was why only Captain chose to still work for SHIELD along with Natasha and Clint, which is an irony in itself because he was the one who had found out about it and was against it the most. I suppose I will respect your secrets."
"I need a confirmed answer," Clark said.
"And you have it, my friend," Tony said with a serious face, something that Clark hadn't seen the man do. "After everything that's happened I really need people to trust me, to be on our side too fight back whenever something like the New York attack happens again."
Steve was right, as Clark thought. Tony definitely was affected the most from the New York attack. "I can understand your emotional reaction towards the attacks," Clark said. "As you know I am also an alien on this planet. I didn't want it to be revealed the way Thor did but it wasn't his mistake either. My real name, well, my earthly name is Clark Kent. When my ship crashed it did so in a small town called Smallville, in Kansas. A couple took me in. Both were farmers. Ever since I took a hold of my senses I am as much a human as anyone else. Although I always knew I was different than others when I realized I could see through objects, could hear things that were very far or very faint and had super strength. I only came to know about me being an alien was after my father showed me the ship in which I arrived in when I was fourteen. There had been an accident when I was coming back from the school. Our bus went into the water and I took it out with the students in it. They all saw me. It was then that I saw how afraid of me they were…"
"Why are you telling me your life's story, Clark?" Tony asked. "I am not a therapist. I thought you were going to tell me something important."
"I thought maybe you'd want to know who I actually am before we got to the point," Clark said.
"Nobody cares about that," Tony said. "And I mean it in a good way. Tell me, how much do you now about me other than the facts that the media has spread. How much do you know about Steve other than the fact that he is a guy out of his time? How much do you know about Bruce? His life conditions? We don't share our life's stories because we can't. We choose not to. So if you want to do so then go ahead but you will be the only one like that and just between you and me I don't trust Romanoff. She gives me a different sort of vibe. Trust me, if you tell me your life story she will come to know of it somehow. Damn she knows more about me then I do myself. So, let's get to business."
"I need you to find someone," Clark said. "It is a long shot and the person may probably not be here but I still want you to give it a try because you have the resources to do so."
"And who is this person?" Tony asked.
"My cousin," Clark said. Tony was visibly shaken.
"There's another Kryptonian on earth?" he asked.
"I am not totally sure but I think there is a possibility," Clark said. "What I am about to tell you I want you to tell no one." Tony nodded. "This involves some history about my people that I managed to gather." Tony nodded again. Clark took in a long breath and exhaled out. "Thousands of years ago the Kryptonians began voyaging through the galaxies in search of new worlds to live in they would send scout ships in the distant space. One of those ships landed here, on Earth. You might've heard about a secret government expedition about the possible discovery of something very ancient hidden beneath the ice of Antarctica."
"Don't tell me it was the scout ship of your people," Tony said. Clark only nodded. "How old was it?"
"What I could manage to gather from working sort of undercover for the people there, the RCD dated it to be more than twenty thousand years old," Clark said.
"And you have that ship with you at the moment?" Tony asked.
"I do but I won't let anyone be near it," Clark said in a serious tone. "That ship was the reason my father, my real father could find this planet. The scout ships were sent to those planets whose atmosphere could sustain Kryptonian lives. Earth was one of them and with the little time our planet had my father tracked the scout ship of this planet. But that was not it."
"What else is there?" Tony asked.
"I wasn't the only one who was supposed to be sent away from Krypton on that fateful night," Clark said.
"It was you and your cousin," Tony said, understanding.
"From what I've been able to gather, our ships were fed with the same data," Clark said. "We were to land where the scout ship was but with the planet on the brink of collapse there fights and riots happening all around. My cousin's ship got caught in one and hence her trajectory changed as far as I think. My ship's trajectory was slightly changed due to the shock generated from my planet's explosion."
"This was why you landed on a farm and not in the Antarctic," Tony said. "So you think that your cousin might've also landed on earth?"
"There is a very slight possibility of that but yes, I think," Clark said. "If she is on this planet then I want to find her."
"You're cousin's a she?" Tony asked. Clark raised a brow at him. "Just asking. So, is she older than you or younger?"
"Older," Clark said. "She was in her teen years, how much, I don't know exactly but that would make her to be almost in her late thirties to early forties, I think."
"I will program my satellites to track her but I would need to scan you first," Tony said. "I don't need to invade your privacy but I would need Banner's help on this one."
"Why?" Clark asked.
"Because I need to program your heat signatures, your DNA codes and stuff like that in my satellites and only Banner can get those processed, if you co-operate, that is."
Clark thought for a minute but then nodded his head. "No one else."
"No one else," Tony said.
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Lex understood Tony's reasons but he was going a bit too far with his obsession or rather pressing down his fear. The man was clearly afraid. The attack on New York had definitely affected Tony as he had become a bit less of what he was character wise. Lex could see that. This had caused Stark Industries to take a downfall in the stock market and so Lex had to do everything in his power to prevent the company from suffering a complete downfall.
Although he didn't want it but the similar aid from Wayne Enterprises was clearly welcomed. He had wanted to talk to Bruce personally about the help but it had appeared that the man was on a vacation somewhere. "Enjoy your old age, Bruce," Lex had said in his message to the old friend.
After managing the things he had needed to do his part in saving Stark Industries from downfall Lex had continued on his personal projects. He had recently gained access to even more of the alien techs from the government. He knew there was a fault in this security system as many were getting their hands on the alien technologies that the New York attack had brought on. It had finally turned out that the complete authority of licensing those technologies had lied in the hands of SHIELD which was being operated by HYDRA agents who had authorized the rather easy access to the alien tech. While Lex was glad that HYDRA was completely broken down the alien technology had definitely reached to a lot of hands in this time. Also, he had seen the news footages of Superman helping Captain and his friends stop HYDRA. This had not sit well with Lex, mostly because there was no telling how that man possessed so much strength, let alone the ability to fly.
He knew who were the Avengers. Tony had his suit. There was the guy with anger issues and then a man with the super soldier formula. The others were normal humans except for that alien with the hammer. This Superman didn't fit in the category of humans. There was no information of him being a subject of some kind of an experiment or something else. A single man with that much strength was dangerous. Human mind was a delicate thing and even if this guy had good tendencies, as Lex had seen from the news of Metropolis where Superman was a frequent, if someone got control of him and then used it against earth at all then the human race would be doomed.
This had allowed Lex to conclude that whoever this Superman was he lived in Metropolis because of his frequent activeness in that city. The people of Metropolis had now started to be dependent on him. It had outraged him even more when one time there was an article about Superman saving a cat out of a tree. He remembered the days when newspapers were worth reading.
A beep distracted him as Lex looked at the monitor in front of him. He smiled but not much. The data he had gathered from the alien technologies was not enough. It was good progress, though, but not enough. He needed more information and he doubted he would get any of it from anymore of those alien remains from the battle of New York. Besides, the government had full control of it now except for the staff that Loki had used to open the portal. Someone had managed to get their hands on it. Had Luthor knew about that he'd have gotten it before anyone else. That staff clearly was more valuable than any of these alien remains. These were pawns. That staff was the weapon of a leader – Loki. That itself made it a very important thing to be acquired. But Lex had no leads on anyone who would've taken that staff. Unlike Stark Industries his company didn't specialized in much technological feats although it did held some markets in that field. If Lex publicly showed an interest in these alien remains then there would be questions asked. Questions he didn't have any intention or mood to answer. It would also give his name and company an unwanted attention and possible annoyance, something he very much hated, especially at these moments when he was working completely alone, along with his secretary. He wondered how the world would react if they came to know that Lex Corp had created a bio mechanical android that looked and functioned exactly like a human. Not even Tony had achieved a feat like that. With his lack in the area of bio engineering it was a very plausible reason. Lex was especially proud of Mercie, his bio android secretary but it was a feat he could share with no one. Everyone knew how close the two were professionally. Wherever he'd go she went. She was always seen with him, in all the events, in every board meetings, in every party, everywhere.
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"Are you sure you have to do it tonight? You just woke up today and your wounds haven't healed yet."
"Four days is enough," Bruce said.
"Those were the days you were unconscious!" Jason said. "Please, Mr Wayne."
"I have to go, kid," Bruce said.
"Sure! Why won't you? You just want to go back inside your cozy manor and cuddle in your comfortable bed. Not even your injuries can stop you from doing that."
Bruce looked at the boy who wasn't maintaining eye contact with him. "If you think it that way then let me tell you that I no longer live in my family manor," Bruce said. "I gave it away for the city's homeless and orphaned children."
Jason looked up at him, unfolding his hands. "Why give away something your family built?" he asked.
"Because the city needed it more than one old rich guy like me," Bruce said, a little smile on his scratched face. "I need you to understand this, Jason. I need to go."
"But it is dangerous to go just now!" Jason said. "There's still word around that Bruce Wayne is in the Narrows. The members of the Mutant gang are still looking for you."
"Which reminds me," Bruce said, remembering something, "how did I end up at your place?"
Jason looked at the ground, turning his back Towards Bruce. "I saved you," he mumbled.
"You saved me," Bruce repeated in a monotonous tone, clearly letting the kid knew he didn't believe him.
"Of course you wouldn't believe me!" Jason said. "No one ever does! Fine! Do what you have to do. There's rubble of the bridge the Gotham authorities blew up that night when the Narrows came down. It's not deep if you carefully tread your way on the water. You'll find your step on them. It's not far from here. It's south of here."
"Are you leaving an old guy alone?" Bruce asked.
"Why? You too afraid to fight?" Jason asked. "You looked pretty fine to me when you were preparing yourself to fight those gang members. Be prepared. You'll need it. Since that path is the only way out of this part of town the members of Mutant gang frequently patrol that area."
Bruce watched as Jason walked away, vanishing into the fog of the cold night, leaving Bruce alone there. He knew the kid wasn't lying when he'd said he had saved him. Bruce had regained some of his consciousness for a moment or two when he had slightly caught a glimpse of a small boy rescuing him by tricking those goons by who knew what but it had definitely saved Bruce's life.
"I know what you'd say now Alfred," Bruce said as he kept looking towards where Jason had disappeared. "I think of it too but I think that is a small matter when I've discovered something this big. Blake would want to know about it."
Bruce got up from behind the crashed shipping container and walked towards the southern direction.
It wasn't long enough when he heard the sound of water. So he was nearing the limits of the Narrows. He then also heard sounds of people. Hiding in the shadows he slowly moved forward. When he was near enough he could see there were about eight people patrolling the path. None of them were doing it seriously and that made Bruce smile. He crept down and slowly started to make his way forward. There were many things to hide behind and these people were clearly not meant for a patrolling job.
It wasn't long before Bruce was on the bank of the land and he could see what Jason meant. There was ruble of the blown up ship. But crossing the water by walking up on them would clearly make him an easy target. He looked at the water. It was still and cold but he had been through a lot worse. Carefully opening his clothes he put them in his jacket which was water proof and made a small bag of it. making sure he wasn't noticed by the gang people he jumped into the water.
"What was that?" one of the gang members asked.
"You heard something?" the other one asked.
"Someone just jumped into the water," the first one said. "Go take a look."
The second guy nodded and walked towards where Bruce was a moment ago. "No one's here!" he shouted back to them.
"Is the water moving?" the first guy said.
'He's got brains,' Bruce thought as he swam through the water rather deep. He was sure this way his move wouldn't be noticed and he was right.
"Yes but only a little," the guy said.
"Must be wind," a third guy said. "Come back, Jack."
Bruce got out of the water on the other side. He was in pain. His wounds were open and he was cold. His hands barely worked because of the cold. He somehow managed to put on his clothes. It helped but not much. He looked around. There weren't any taxis but a patrol car. He walked towards it. There was just one officer sitting inside it, having a hot dog. Bruce knocked the window of the patrol car.
"Yes?" the officer asked, rolling down the window. Bruce just looked closer at him and the cop recognized him. "Mr Wayne? What are you doing here?"
"Just taking a walk through the town," Bruce said. "Clearing my head. If it is not too much to ask officer, can you give me a ride?"
"Not at all," the cop said as he prepared to come out to hold the gate for the billionaire.
"Don't trouble yourself," Bruce said. He walked around and sat on the passenger side. "You have my gratitude, officer."
"Oh, don't mention it," the cop said as he started the car. "So, Wayne Tower?"
"Actually, no," Bruce said. "I suppose you know Ms Kyle's establishment?"
"What do you got to do in a place like that?" the officer asked as the car started to move.
"Just some business," Bruce said.
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As the cop car moved away the dark figure looked at it and smiled. It rose up high into the dark sky of the moonless night and then looked at the earth from a distance. The Batman was necessary in the grand plan. This world would do. There were some great potentials on this planet. "Let's begin the next part of our plan, shall we?" the figure said and something buzzed beside it.
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