It hadn't been even two months since the London attack, and the Stark family had gathered before the TV in the penthouse and were watching the news in shock once again. Only, this time, it had nothing to do with aliens. It was SHIELD falling apart, literally. The last remaining Insight Helicarrier was destroying the Triskelion. Ana knew about Project Insight, because her dad had designed those new engines. He had thought he was helping SHIELD protect the world, while in truth, he was helping HYDRA build the most effective weapons of mass destruction in history, according to the highly classified data that had just been dumped into the internet for all to rummage through. They also said Director Fury was dead. Ana didn't believe it for a second. Or rather, she didn't want to believe it. He was the one ally they had against the bigger threats out there.
JARVIS was busy going through the leaked files as quickly as his processors allowed him. "Project Insight uses an algorithm to determine who is a potential threat," he said. "You were all on the list."
Pepper sighed thoughtfully. "We owe Captain Rogers our lives, then."
"Who designed this algorithm?" her dad asked.
"Dr. Arnim Zola, sir."
"Zola? Didn't that guy died in the 70s?"
"In 1972, sir. It appears he'd successfully uploaded his consciousness into cyberspace before that. He was also one of the founders of the new HYDRA. I regret to say your father made a terrible mistake by approving Operation Paperclip and giving Dr. Zola and the other Nazi scientist a second chance at SHIELD."
"Yeah, so much for a visionary," Ana scoffed. This was Howard Stark's fault. But then, wasn't every bad thing that was happening to them? What sort of genius would leave so much mess in his wake for his family to deal with? Would they ever be able to catch a break?
"Does that mean you're going to have to come out of retirement?" Pepper asked him. She didn't sound happy about it.
"Yeah, as of… now. JARVIS, what's the status of the Fridge?"
"It's one of the few SHIELD facilities that haven't been taken over by HYDRA."
Ana exhaled a deep breath of relief. Of course, they didn't know for sure if the gravitonium was there, but still…
"Get ready, kid. We're leaving."
"Tony!" Pepper cried. "You can't go to a SHIELD facility right now, it's too dangerous!"
He cupped her face in his hands. "I know, honey. But do you know what's more dangerous? Gravitonium in the hands of HYDRA. Not to mention all the other toys being kept in that place."
"It's not even just for 'toys,'" Ana added. "There're enhanced people who are imprisoned in the Fridge."
A look of betrayal crossed Pepper's face. She must have hoped Ana would be with her on this. But Ana couldn't let the gravitonium slip through her fingers. Not again. Even though they weren't sure if it was really there, they had to go.
"Damage Control must secure everything that is in there. And I will personally supervise the operation," he made up his mind.
"Fine," Pepper gave in, and whipped out her phone. Yeah, she would be busy, too.
…
By the time they took off, the Starks had received the word that a team from Damage Control would meet them at the location. The military was sending Rhodey for back up. Which was good, because his was the only armored suit there was left.
Ana was pacing up and down, glad that they had at least a Quinjet. Not as fast as a suit, but still fast enough. Hopefully.
"Kid, relax," he said reassuringly. "We got this."
"It's not just that. There's still no word from Coulson's team. Fitz-Simmons gave me their SHIELD e-mails, so I can't contact them. HYDRA might still be monitoring all communication. Skye and I have our private backchannel, but she's not answering my messages either."
"I'm sure they're just busy hiding."
"From HYDRA, or the government?"
"Both."
Ana laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Just four days ago, Skye sent me a picture of her SHIELD badge. She was so excited to become an actual agent."
"You two really clicked…"
"We share a mutual understanding. I've been where she is."
"Has she been able to learn anything about her parents?"
"No. All she knows is that a lot of SHIELD agents died trying to protect her. Were her parents among them? Probably. Who wanted her, and why? No clue."
"Well, no secret remains buried forever. I'm sure she'll get her answers one day."
"At least she embraced SHIELD as her family. Her past inspired her to do some good, instead of turning her into a drama queen."
"Which almost got her killed, if I'm not mistaken?"
"True," Ana admitted. She knew Skye had been shot by Ian Quinn, but she didn't know the details. Skye had become completely loyal to SHIELD now. Which was okay. It was another mutual understanding they had. Ana wouldn't spill the secrets of Stark Industries just because they were friends either. Their respective jobs required being tight-lipped.
"I'm sure Skye's parents, wherever they are now, wouldn't want that," he said insinuatingly.
"Point taken."
"Good."
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For letting me come with you." She knew this must be hard for him, but he hadn't told her to stay behind, like he would have in the past. He acknowledged the fact that she had the right to be a part of this operation, and for that, she was grateful.
"Kid, ever since I found you on my doorstep, I've been trying to keep the world at bay. Doesn't really work, does it? If I'd chosen to prepare you for the fight instead, maybe…"
She came to sit down on the co-pilot's seat beside him, and took his hands. "Dad! Don't do this to yourself. These things… They don't keep happening because you leave me in the dark. They keep happening because your father left you in the dark. Also, there's something flattering about being on HYDRA's kill list."
"Excuse me, but what's flattering about being almost shot to death?" JARVIS broke in.
Her dad nodded. "He's right. You don't need to piss off the wrong people to prove yourself."
"But that's the thing: It wasn't about pissing people off. It was an algorithm, based on logical calculations. And those calculations came to the conclusion that I was dangerous… potentially. I'd like to explore that potential. What's wrong with that? I don't want to be a damsel in distress forever."
"Kid, you've never been a damsel in distress. But maybe, it's time to make it more obvious."
"You mean, I can't keep postponing my acrophobia therapy?"
"Well, if you're up for it…" He was reluctant to force her to do anything she didn't want to do, even if it was for her own good.
"Okay. Tomorrow, I'm starting to build myself a new suit. And you two are going to keep me accountable."
"Oh, looks like we're going to have so much fun," he said with a mischievous grin full of promises. Ana could only imagine what kind of plans he had for the two of them as an armored father-daughter duo.
"Ana," JARVIS said gravely. "I'm sorry, but… The Fridge is being raided by HYDRA agents as we speak."
"What? I thought it was being strictly guarded by the remaining SHIELD agents!"
"According to the satellite images I've gathered, it was infiltrated by Agent Grant Ward and his Supervising Officer, John Garret."
Grant Ward… Someone might as well have poured a bucket of scalding water over her head. "Ward? Ward was a member of Coulson's team!"
Her dad pulled her into a hug. He was whispering calming words, but Ana's ears were ringing so loudly that she barely heard his voice.
"W—what if… What if he killed them, Dad?" she asked. "Skye, Fitz-Simmons, Coulson…"
"I'm so sorry, baby girl."
"I'm sending Skye a warning through the encrypted channel," JARVIS informed her. "Perhaps it's not too late."
Ana wanted to thank him, but she couldn't find her voice. Then, she recalled something even more horrific. "H—he was… he was there, in the lab… when Fitz asked me if I wanted the gravitonium for time-travel! I've never confirmed it, but… Dad, what have I done?"
"It's okay," he said, stroking her hair. "They can't use it for time-travel without the generator you designed."
"Ana, please," JARVIS said. "I'll never let them get your designs, I promise. And considering the fact that the gravitonium is not officially registered in the Fridge, chances are HYDRA might never find it. If it's there, it must be located on a hidden level."
"He's right," her dad agreed. "There's still hope."
"I want to believe you guys," she said, hugging her dad tighter. She could now see why he so desperately wanted to create a global peacekeeping program that would command a network of drones and suits around the world. If they had Ultron, they could end that raid on the Fridge, and all the other HYDRA assaults going on right now, in less than five minutes. Instead, despite all that money, influence, and genius they had, they were sitting here, helpless, desperate, hoping for a miracle.
But then, even if they had the knowledge to create Ultron, would they be able to use it? Or, would they lock him away in a private server because they were too scared to threaten people's precious freedom? HYDRA might be a despicable, fascist death cult, but the reason they had come so close to a triumph today—and they had triumphed partially; SHIELD was destroyed—was because they didn't bother to be polite, while the good guys wasted too much time on morality debates. Sometimes, you had to learn from your enemies.
HYDRA was gone by the time they arrived. Rhodey and Damage Control were already here, but all they had found was dead SHIELD agents and empty vaults. They searched the entire facility, including the "hidden levels," twice. There was no sign of gravitonium. It was this moment of failure that cemented for her the notion that without a healthy amount of audacity, power was useless.
