Author's Note: This is (hopefully) the start of a multi-chapter. I don't know when I'll get back to this, but I have plans.
Written for...
Hogwarts Auction 2021 - Prompt: Star Trek!AU
Back to School - Prompt: Intelligent
free as the night
438 words
"Sir, Admiral Fury is calling again."
From inside a maintenance chute, Tony groaned. He leaned back against the steel ladder bolted to the chute wall, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Tell him I got lost in a black hole."
"I don't think the Admiral will believe that, sir."
"Don't be so sure, J. He's not that intelligent."
The chute went silent, and Tony allowed himself a few seconds to believe Fury had hung up and the computer system was letting him go back to work. He should have known that was too much to hope for.
Beep.
The sound echoed down the chute.
"Jarvis…"
"He's not hanging up, sir."
Beep.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming." He shoved the scanner and mass adapter into his toolbelt and started climbing.
Beep.
"Remind me to change the ringtone on that thing, will you?"
"Yes, sir."
Tony hurried out of the chute, emerging on the ship's bridge. The access panel slid into place over the chute dutifully as he stripped off the tool belt and dropped it on the nearest console, rushing to the the cherry red high-backed chair in the center of the room.
He took a second to compose himself, fixing his hair and straightening his shirt, before relaxing and facing the view screen.
"J, put him on."
The somewhat imposing image of Admiral Nicholas J. Fury appeared larger than life on the screen, an unamused look on his face.
"Admiral, always a pleasure," Tony greeted.
"I'm a busy man, Stark."
"As am I, sir. You know, we really should schedule these little chats from now on. I'm sure it would save us both a lot of time." He grinned mischievously, only seeming to infuriate the admiral more.
"I don't think that will be necessary. I'm commandeering your ship."
Tony's face fell. "You want to run that by me again?"
"You knew it was only a matter of time before Starfleet got involved, Stark. We can't have civilians running all over the galaxy with that much firepower."
"This is a simple science vessel!"
"With eleven phaser arrays? Doubtful. In any case, we've been monitoring you for some time. You've gotten yourself in the middle of half a dozen quarrels in the last three months. This could have caused a lot of trouble Starfleet."
Tony scoffed. "I doubt stopping a few smugglers is going to tarnish Starfleet's reputation. If anything, you should be thanking me."
"Well, we're a little short on medals right now. How about a position?"
Tony squinted at the screen, leaning forward in his chair. "What did you say?"
"You're being conscripted, Stark. Welcome to Starfleet."