Chapter 5

Recreate the past

Universe B

(Richard's POV)

"Out of curiosity Winston. Why do you happen to have the parts to build a Particle accelerator just lying around here? These electro-magnets look pretty new to me. Right out off the Assembly line." I asked as we locked in the last segment into place. I tightened the nuts clamping the segments together. Can't let there even be a hair line crack between the segments. One miscalculation, and we create ourselves a mini black hole and damn most of the area to hell. I do not want to be around when it goes off. We were in a large empty warehouse style area, a large ring of electromagnets circled a central platform where I hope to re-energize my central power node. Only source of Vibranium I know of on the entire damn planet. Hoping it can get re-energized to preform cold fusion.

"I thought I could experiment a little bit with particle physics one of these days. Had extra money in the budget at the time and figured why not. Honestly, I forgot I had them here until a few hours ago." He explained. I can't say anything there, I've been in those moods plenty of times. Heaven knows how many tens of thousands I wasted trying to figure out baking. I didn't try just a few times and nearly burned down the kitchen, no I tried a few hundred times and nearly set fire to the entire house. Tell me to make a nuclear reactor that can power the entire eastern seaboard, I can have that built and fully operational in less than a month. Put a computer in front of me, I'll tear it apart and rebuild it again before the coffee is done brewing. Give me cake mix and they might as well tell me to make it a brick because I can not bake to save my life. Not even Thor would eat one of my cakes, and I've seen that man tear though an entire cow before, bloody rare. So rare that he might as well run up and take a bite out of the damn cow while it was still alive. Mercy left not too long ago to greet the guests at the Air pad. Apparently one of them is my long lost sister. It's a mega family reunion today, I find out about an entire side of the family I was never aware of, and now she has flown out here to meet me. Why do I get the feeling that it isn't because she wants to play some childish game siblings normally do. Winston and I were in a empty area of the facility working on the device. "So what do you need the particle accelerator for?"

"Energizing a power node. Need it to recreate an element that is capable of sustaining efficient cold fusion on a non-toxic level." I explained inspecting down the piece for any sign of possible containment failure. But we got two insanely intelligent super geniuses putting this together, room for error will be small but one can never be too safe when it comes to unstable and theoretical physics. I put a level on the top, bubble was perfectly in the middle. Well balanced, as all things should be. "That should do it on containment, we just need to set up the accelerator and somewhere to aim it. Damn I hope this works." I prayed, now I am not a man of any religion, but in this case I'll make an exception.

"Master Stark and Sir Winston. I believe Miss Song and Captain Amari are requesting Master Stark at the moment. I would suggest you don't keep the ladies waiting sir. I can only keep them entertained for so long before the Captain comes looking for you personally." ATHENA informed from the facility's speakers. I wiped sweat off my eyebrow as I looked around at the accelerator. It's done, just need something to power it and energize the node. I felt my heart for a second and took a deep breath. Still hurts when I breath, I can still feel pain with each heart beat. I'm still at emergency back up power, but I'll survive a little longer. Another hour minimum, two at the most. Maybe.

"What do you think Winston, five minute break to face the music." I replied looking up at the clock. half past three. We've been at this for a while. A short break is in order, just enough to great the guests and ask Hana if we can borrow her MECH power core for a minute. With how much power this machine is going to need, I believe the power core to her MECH is enough if it is what I think it is. Can't hook it up to the Spanish national power grid, it would suck up too much energy and backfire right into their grid. I don't have the funds to pay the power bill after something like this. Possibly destroying their power grid for weeks. An closed off power source is better because of the lack of grid failure, and a lot safer. If her core overloads or gets damaged, then the worst thing that would happen is it self destructs and exploded. Better a small area goes kaboom instead of the entire European coast. Call it personal experience if one will, but I don't want any attention drawn back to me unless it is 100% necessary. If this works the way I think it will, I'll be good on power for a while. A single rector assuming I'm smart about my power use, it should last me two years with moderate to heavy suit use. Maybe the rest of my life if I lie low and stay a civillian. Not like an alien invasion or robotic uprising will happen any time soon. I already had to deal with both, I do not want to deal with them again anytime soon. All though if given the choice, I rather deal with aliens again. They don't know my every move and won't try to hack my suit. Ultron tried but ATHENA was able to keep him at bay. I'll admit he did make a few good points, made a convincing argument to join his side. Sadly for him, I don't like being hit with a stick then offered the olive branch in the same minute. Such a shame though, He was a rather nice-ish guy when he wasn't trying to kill everyone. I'll admit I miss him a little bit . . . . okay I no longer miss him. I forgot he lied to me to get to my curse and tried to use me. I'm glad he's gone for good. . . . hopefully. Slim chance he escaped or is in hiding. Wouldn't be surprised in the lease.

"Sure, we'll get back to this project soon." Winston agreed as I laid down the tool box. Like he said, We'll get back to it later. High up on the priority list so we'll have it done by the end of today. Now, how will I keep Hana entertained while we're borrowing her MECH? I think ATHENA would be interested in a few rounds of PUBG or Fortnite with her. Oh lord that AI is just plain scary in battle royal type games. Ungodly aim and loves to snipe people's balls off at the end. On a side note, I am terrified of ATHENA after watching her play Fortnite, I am also keeping every shotgun I can find away from her. She's learned too much from Ninja.


Few minutes later

(Hana/Dva's POV)

"Yes, finally hatched you Eevee! About freaking time! And a Shiny as well." I proclaimed to no one in particular as I sat on a chair in the kitchen area playing my pokemon game. "Female, Modest nature, good beginner stats, level 1. I can work with this." Winston decided to drag my butt back over here for lord knows what reason, I'm bored as hell so I decided to pull out my handheld game and work on my team. Got my special wall, lead, and physical sweeper pokemon where I want them. Just need a special attacker, physical wall, and/or a utility to finish rounding my team. I am going to dominate the pokemon championship as well. Such a complex game with such a simple concept. So many stats and move pools for every pokemon I have to research, on top of perfect turn based timing and combos. Not an easy game, but that won't stop me from making the perfect team and dominate the league. Now how the hell does anyone breed any pokemon for the right IV's for hidden power they want, the right stats, and the right nature, and still keep their sanity intact? It is a huge pain in my ass.

"You know, when I was little I always said I'd be stationed at this base. How time flies over the years." An Egyptian woman replied sipping her cup of coffee. She looked a bit taller that Mercy, darker skin tone, eye of Horus tatoo under her eye. Weird. She was in a rather casual outfit. Simple white tank top with a brown vest, jeans, and some kind of shoes. I can't see them nor do I really care. She was sitting on a stool drinking a cup of coffee with Mercy as they were trying to entertain themselves while the boys worked on their science project. I left my MEKA back in the drop ship, no reason to have it out here right now.

"Time sure flies by quickly when you're not expecting it. Especially when bullets are flying all around you half the time." Angela joked, sipping her cup of tea. "Fareeha I'm curious on something, what do you remember about your younger brother, Ramses?" She asked.

"You know that is not a subject I like to talk about. I've come to terms with his passing." She replied setting her cup aside, obviously deep in thought. She now has my curiosity. I peeked an eye away from my screen and listened lightly to the two talk. Why does Angela want to know about the girl's dead brother? . . . unless he isn't dead or she has a sadistic side. I wouldn't put either out of the question."Last memory I have of him was us doing a puzzle together. I was babysitting at the time until Mom and Victor got home. Mom interrupted us half way though it to help me pick out a proper couch for my new apartment. When we got back, the house was completely destroyed, looked like a nuke went off dead center. No bodies were found, or that could have been found. You and Morrison told us that there was next to no way they could have survived it. That all happened not long before Mom never came back from her last mission. Three family members all died not even two weeks apart from each other." She said looking into her cup. Okay, now she has my attention. I smell a bombshell about to be dropped. Let me guess, her brother is alive somewhere.

"Lucky for you. I have some good news regarding the subject." She replied smiling and setting her cup aside. "As hard as it is to believe, but we found Ramses. Alive and seriously kicked butt." She said. Wow, did I call it or what? Fareeha looked at Angela with her best poker face, eyes squinted and over all complexion saying 'you got a sick sense of humor if that is a joke'.

"I'm calling your bullshit." She said still retaining her same look. "I respect you Angela, I admire your work and your services. But if you try a sick and twisted joke like that on me, I'm shoving a rocket up your arse, send you to the moon the fun way and letting the apes there do as they wish to you." Rather descriptive and a little scary. Note to self, don't get on her bad side. I've seen enough anime to get an idea where that is going to lead.

"I'm not trying to joke around here. I'm serious. Ramses is alive and in this very base right now." Mercy countered. Really? Only males in the base are Winston and Richard. I doubt Fareeha is related to Donkey Kong, so Richard would have to be the next best bet.

"Then where has he been for the last 16 years? If he's alive, how could he have survived such a massive explosion from point blank? If he's here now, then why didn't he try meeting me when I got off the Launch pad?" Fareeha asked starting to look a little angry now. Yikes, Mercy hit a sore spot there. And now I'm back to my game again.

"We don't know all the details exactly. But the man you were sent to investigate is your brother Ramses. I confirmed it myself. Hana helped bring him in after he destroyed the Omnic threat terrorizing her homeland." Athena countered from the speaker system around the base. Fareeha looked up at the ceiling speaker and raised an eyebrow. "If his AI is anything to go by, he has lived the last 16 years in a parallel universe. Good odds are that he doesn't even remember you, or any of us for that matter. How he survived, we don't have the faintest idea. We're still filling in all the blanks as we go."

"Back to the question at hand then. If he's alive and on this base right now, then why isn't his dumb ass here right now?" She asked waving her around the room. Well if my gut is correct and knowledge on drama like matters, I would say that Richard is either on his way right now or casually leaning on the doorway listening in to the entire rant.

"Because the dumb ass in question had to finish leveling a particle accelerator to recharge his main power reactor later. Not something you want to have even the slightest error or malfunction with." A male voice replied. Well, doesn't take a super genius to figure out exactly who that was. Called it again. Either I watch too many drama shows in my free time or I'm that good at guessing. I peeked up from my game screen to see what was going on. Richard was leaning against the door frame, grease coated his fingers and parts of his face. His chest light was dim and flickering. Low power maybe? I have no idea. . . . what happens if that light goes out? What does it power? His suit? something internal? I'm curious now. "Sorry it too so long to get here Angela, we had to re calibrate the electromagnetic rings to sync with one another before we got here. Better to do it sooner rather then at the last second. Particle physics are a rather fickle bitch you don't want to mess up with." I looked to him, and now to Fareeha, and back to him, and back to Fareeha. They do look similar, same eyes and facial pattern more or less.

"I can see a family resemblance here. Facial featured look similar." I said out loud earning a glare from the two, and back to not caring. My eyes went back to my game screen after I rolled them. "Just chipping in my opinion. Everyone ignore the gamer in the room."

"That's him? That's Ramses? My brother who I believed to be dead for the past 16 years. You're all not trying to pull some sick joke on me?!" Fareeha asked pointing to Richard. Oh, another drama bomb about to blow.

"His genetic genome is approximately 57% match to your mother's genome. So odds are pretty heavy that he is in fact Ramses." Athena replied from the speakers. I'm no expert, but 57% pretty much means they are related. I think, not my area of knowledge. Close enough in my book.

"Acually it is 56.472%, but who cares about technicalities anyway." Richard said as his heart light flickered some more. "So, you must be my long lost big sis." He says casually walking up to the Captain extending his hand. "Let's start off on the right foot. Hi, I'm Richard Stark. Genius, ex-billionare, playboy, weapons designer, nuclear physicist, and part time super hero." He introduced. His heart light flickered once more. Strange, my game screen glitched out a bit. Not again, curse these ancient gaming devices. This thing is two years older than my grandfather's ashes.

"Come on, work you old girl." I say to myself smacking the handheld, the screen adjusted itself. Eevee seemed to have reacted to me smacking the screen and did a weird bark, backing up from where I hit the handheld. . . . . that is beyond strange. I've had to smack this thing lord knows how many times, never once did I see any of the pokemon react to it in any sort of way. Old feature i just found?

"Captian Amari. " Fareeha introduced shaking her brother's hand. "How can we be certain that he is my brother?" What, the DNA check not good enough? You want to scan his memories for any trace of you?

"He still has a scar on his back near his spine from when he was three. You two were playing, you threw the ball too far and he chased after it. Getting hit by a car and skid twelve feet with a part of the bumper impaled in his back. I remember because you called me to fix him up." Mercy replied. The fact that he survived that is a wonder on it's own. How long ago was this?

" . . . I would try to argue but I can't come up with a better explanation on how that scar got there. I always assumed I landed on something wrong." Richard said felling his back. Well, that doesn't prove they ae related, I am out of ideas. Great, now the chair is glitching out . . . wait a minute. That isn't in my game. I looked beside to to see the chair looking like it was full of static, trying to stay in place but can't hold a form. I am no expert, but chairs are not suppose to do that.

"Umm. . . guys." I said trying to get their attention.

"Sir, reactor levels are critically low. Insignificant power to stabilizer nodes and restriction chips." Richard's ATHENA warned. Richard tried to say something but held his heart, screamed in agony as he collapsed to the ground. A hi pitch whine echoed though out the room as he cried in pain.

"Richard!" Mercy yelled jumping from her seat as did Fareeha and I. The chair jumped in and out of it's form, was a pile of bubbles for a second. I dropped my handheld as I ran to help him up. Eevee barked loudly trying to paw her way out of the screen. This is all beyond confusing. As soon as we touched him some black liquid burst out of him and knocked us all back. I went flying back into the bar, rolling over Mercy's coffee cup and shattering it. Fareeha and Mercy both landed on the other side of the room. I cried out in pain as I tried to get back up.

"Infinity surge incoming, I can't contain it any longer. Everyone duck for cover!" ATHENA warned as Richard looked out in horror as he brought a hand out as if he wanted help, then it started glowing yellow as the area around him flashed red and made everything go static. I've played enough RPG games to know this isn't good. I rolled across the bar top and behind it as another surge of energy burst form the young mans body. I covered my eyes and ears and curled up to try to limit the damage. A wave of electric static washed over me as I felt every hair in my body stand up at once as a ear damning boom echoed though out the room. Glass shattered, the whole building creaked and groaned under the stress. Several alarms went blaring though out the base. What the ever loving fuck just happened?!

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that." Richard said absolutely terrified. I uncovered my eyes and looked around me. The whole room looked like my MEKA exploded, scorch marks along the walls, a small crater where Richard stood holding his heart. Piles of some type of goo floated aimlessly around the room. Who in the hell did I save yesterday?

"What the hell?" I asked myself looking around the room. Richard's face was full of horror and grief as he backed up slowly out of the room. Mercy and Fareeha coughed up a storm as the goo floated past them and slowly reformed into a round American flag striped shield with a star in the center, only for it to melt back to the goo. That is beyond weird. Richard looked at Mercy and Fareeha with absolute guilt as he back out of the room farther.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't control it. I can't control it." He said. I couched up a but of dust before he bolted out of the room. The goo reformed into glass cups and all fell to the floor as he left, shattering all over the place. Okay, now I went from confused to curious.

"What in the world just happened!" Mercy asked loudly as she picked herself up, dusting off the broken bits of glass and rock dust off her. Fareeha coughed up dust as Mercy helped her up. Her healing staff in her hand ready to mend what damaged he could have caused to us unintentionally.

"Yeah, he is Victor's son alright. No doubt in my mind anymore. Only Victor could do something like that." Fareeha said as Mercy helped dust her off. I reached down to pick up my handheld. It vanished to goo in my finger tips as I picked it up. 300+ hours in that game all went down the drain. I say again, what the hell happened?!

"I was afraid that would happen. It was long overdue to happen." ATHENA said though the damaged speakers.

"Explain." Mercy ordered.

"The growth in his mind you were worried about, this was caused by it. Or rather a byproduct of it if you want to get technical. " ATHENA answered. What growth? Richard has cancer? Can't Mercy use her healing beam thingy to instantly cure him of it? or is that not how it works. "It is called a Infinity Stone, a source of nearly unlimited power and possibilities. There are six in total, each one controlling a different aspect of the Universe. Richard has one of these stones infused with his Medulla and Cerebellum, it can not be removed in any way without killing him. The stone he has in his brain controls reality around him and how it behaves. Snap of his fingers, anything around him can be what ever he wants. No matter how foolish or insane it may be. Alone it may not be the most powerful but it is the most dangerous and unpredictable of them all. Richard has a series of chips implanted into his head to help remain in control of the stone, instead of it controlling him." So . . . he is basically a god, kinda? Fareeha an Mercy looked to each other as if they were struck with a realization.

"Victor had some he called an Infinity Stone. Power or Reality i think it was? You don't think he . . . he couldn't be stupid enough to . . . his own son?!" Mercy asked.

"You got any better explanation on how he could do THIS like Victor could!" Fareeha answered pointing around the room. Who the hell is Victor? I read about a Victor that was in Over watch years before it got shut down. What was his full name again. Victor Van Dark, Vin Death? I can't remember.

"So, why did he explode like that?" I asked looking around the destroyed room. The goo reformed below me and unknowingly made a pokeball. Weird, looks exactly like a ultra-ball I used to catch the chain of Eevee's I breed. Looks so real, feels real. I wonder if it is a real pokeball?

"The Reality stone acts like a parasite, consumes it's host's life force from the inside. In Richard's case, it always went for his heart. He NEEDS a reactor to power the artificial heart his Father created. Not just to stay alive, but to help contain that much power." ATHENA explained. "Odin, the Norse god, personally took his father to Asgard to help build him a heart to contain that much raw cosmic power. His heart acts as a siphon, draws and expels the excess power his inhibitor chips can't contain. Without it, the Stone will consume him and move on to a new host. Odin figured it was best to have the stone contained to one trustworthy child for now, than risk all that power falling into the wrong hands. One could wipe out half the universe with the snap of their fingers if backed up by the other stones. At least this way the stone will always be moving and harder for the wrong people to find and abuse it's power." Wait. . . . . so he is dead if someone tries taking the stone out, dead if they leave it in, could destroy everything if he isn't careful. Talk about a living hell. Having to keep a close eye on your every thought, every action, every move, or else you will lose control.

Curiosity got the better of me as I only caught half of what the AI said. I held the ball in my hands and pushed the button. It opened up and burst free a shower of light. The light faded as a silver fox creature appered between me and the two adults in the room. Barely a foot tall. It stretched it's legs as it gave a cute yawn of a sort. I looked it at completely in shock as it looked around. Mercy and Fareeha were more along the lines of 'what the hell is that'. It looked at me with a curious expression.

"Vee?" It cried tilting it's head at me. HOLY SHIT! IT'S AN EEVEE! A MOTHER FUCKING REAL SHINY EEVEE! I've loved that pokemon since I was 6 years old! How the hell?! Why the hell?! What the hell?! I don't even know how to react to this honestly. Part of me is excited, other part is still confused.

"Well, that is something you don't see everyday." Fareeha said as Eevee walked up to me. I knelt down and let it sniff my hand. Help establish a good first contact bond if I can. So he destroyed my handheld, used it and sever other items around the room, to make this cute little pile of fluff real. I forgive him for destroying my ancient handheld, good trade off getting a living pokemon out of it. I am going to get some mad credit back at MEKA HQ for this one. I know D. mon loves Pokemon. I wonder what it eats. I doubt I can get it dog food or cat food. I might have to be sharing my meals if I want this pokemon to live.

"Amazing. He. . he created a brand new form of life at will. Tore apart the room to make a previously fictional being real." Mercy noted amazed as Eevee nuzzled my hand. Her fur was so soft, like I was petting silk or pure fluff. I am in heaven. I can die a happy woman now. I held out my arms as it jump in my hands. I picked it up as it still looked at me confused. I wonder what gender she is. . . she is female. Good guess she is female if the 'parts' are the same as with all mammals.

"Eevee." She said looking me dead in the eyes, god damn it those cute eyes can melt even the coldest of hearts. She needs a name. Let's see, I was going to make her a Vaporeon or Jolteon in the game, but seeing as how I can't get any evolution stones here. She will remain a Eevee.

"I'm going to call you Bliss." I said holding her in my arms, paws up againt my chest. She happily nuzzled my face as I pet her. This is amazing, a real pokemon. Oh is D. Mon going to be so jealous. I can see her begging me to let her hold her now.

"That is the power of the Reality Stone. Controls what is and isn't possible. It breaks the laws of time, space, physics, and everything." ATHENA explained. "Miss Song, I regret to inform you that Master Start has stolen your MEKA. He is really moving to get it to the accelerator. I fear he may be planning to start the thing up alone." She said. Wait, he stole my WHAT! I'm going to kill him!


Richard's POV

I can't believe what happened back there. My head is still pounding from the power surge. I can feel it, that little parasite, coursing though my veins like a poison. I can't wait any longer. Every second I wait, the higher the chance another surge is going to happen. I can not afford to lose it again. Who knows what they think of me now. I'm a monster, a mere child with ungodly power at his finger tips. I need my reactor back, something to get these damn voices out of my head. I got to work fast, and I need results now. No time for the calculations. I'll risk it and fire the damn thing up now if I have to. I had to hijack Hana's suit to get it to the accelerator faster. Surprisingly it looks and behaves a lot like the Hyper-Action-Responce-Equipment, or HARE or short. Looks just like a damn rabbit. Worked with the Korean army to build these damn things in my world. Seems like the over all design hasn't change a whole lot between universes. Mine are modular and cold fission reactor powered. Utilizing the same tech modular Dad uses in the Hulkbuster armor with the piloted variants. I try to make all my designs as adaptable as possible. I can already see several ways I can improve and buff out this suit alone. Maybe the cannons replaceable for starters.

"Sir, was it necessary to steal Miss Song's MEKA. She is rather upset you took her property." ATHENA replied.

"Technically I am not stealing this walking tank. I am borrowing it for a moment. I'll give it back . . . later." I said walking forward though the door the to accelerator. This thing handles pretty nicely, I like it. Runs on some type of sim-sustaining fission or fusion power I believe if I am reading the schematics ATHENA pulled up right. I had it pulled up on Hana's screen, which is cluttered with so much streaming apps and different games. This is the world most expensive and deadliest game console. I had to cross my legs as the hatch closed behind me. Surprisingly comfortable in here, even for my size. I am making my own some time soon once I get settled. Have a feeling I am going to be here a while. "I have no choice ATHENA. We need to stabilize that damn curse now. I can't risk another melt down." I said walking the tank up to the side of the reactor I will be focusing on. I flipped a few buttons and popped out with ease. I jumped out of the suit as it powered down, going up to the bulk of the back plate and pulling the panel off. Exposing the power supply and reactor. I need to be careful. One wrong move and the whole thing detonates. I jumped down to the accelerator power feed and pulled out two oversized jumper cables. Not the best but I do not have much time. I can feel my heart slowly die down with each passing second.

"Master, you know you want to use us." The voices cried out as I attached the jumper cables. I do not want to use that little shit, I hate using it. "Use us Stark, we can be gods in this world. No one can defeat us." No, I don't want to be a god. I want to be normal. I want to be a normal human being for once.

"ATHENA begin powering up the Accelerator now. We are going in hot. I don't care about the odds of failure right now, just do it." I said making my way to the energizing platform. Similar to what Dad used to fix his reactor. I calmly put my hand on my chest. I can feel the reactor slowly dying on me. It needs power now. "Siphon what last bits of power this thing had and direct it straight to the back up link in my heart." I said reaching under my shirt and holding the very thing still keeping me alive. I pull this thing out, there is no turning back till I'm done. I'll have a minute and a half before my batteries run out and I'm dead. Got to make every second count.

"Sir, I have rerouted the power. Are you sure you don't want to wait for the others. Hana and Angela will be here in a minute. Seems like you created something . . . unexpected back there." ATHENA warned. Just as I feared, I'm a monster. I need to regain control.

"Use us Stark. We can make it easier. Use us, or we'll force you again." The voiced begged. I need control NOW!

"No time." I said twisting on my reactor. A strong ping of pain shot though my body as I pulled out my very life source. I unhooked the wire underneath as a cold breeze fulled the cavity. I never thought I'd have to do this again, but I am left with no choice. I am on the clock. minute and a half starts now. The glass folded out and exposed the vibranium core underneath. Barely flickering, it needs re-energized. I pulled it out, ignoring the burning in my fingers as I hooked it to the podium. I put the Reactor beside it as I turned tail and bolted to the starting panel. "Start it up now ATHENA! No time for calulations, We're eye balling it." I ordered matching over to the exit modual. Minute ten. I can hear the enormous machine firing up, I can see the blue line spinning around the electromagnets. I jumped over them as I pulled up a pipe wrench from the ground and hooked it on the crystal node's control valve. Best one I can get a hold of right now. It will due.

"Powering up the Particle accelerator" ATHENA said as a loud rumble etched though out the room. I hooked the wrench to the circular valve control as the blue light spun faster and faster around the ring of magnets. The reactor in Hana's MEKA died down as the ring went faster. "Approching Maximum power." ATHENA warned as the room shook under the strain. I held on to that tool for dear life and took a deep breath. My head kept pounding in pain as my heart never stopped stinging. I summoned what little strength I had and pulled on the wrench. The line broke as it begun to exit the accelerator. Now for the dangerous part. One wrong move and I doom everyone in a hundred square miles. I forced myself to move that wrench, making the blue line cut it's way along the wall. I can hear the yelling now. I grunted and groaned in agony as I forced that line to move. Inch by inch it crawled it's way to the Vibranium node. I can hear Hana's reactor strain and whine as ATHENA forced it to pump out a little more juice. "Sir, the MEKA can't take much more on the strain." ATHENA warned. Just little closer, one more inch. I can feel my heart going out on me now. I wrapped my arm around the wrench as I forced it to move. Thirty seconds left, max. I cried out in pain as I forced the valve to turn more. The line cut though the housing unit and connected with the node. I held the line there as my node struggled to accept the charge.

"Come on you little shit. Charge damn it!" I swore giving the node death glares. It flickered and fluctuated as it debated on whether or not to allow the energy in to re-energize. Ten Seconds, cutting it close here. The node let out a large burst of light as everything around me begun to shut down. "Kill power!" I yelled letting go of the wrench. It went flying back as ATHENA forced Hana's MEKA to shut down. I jumped over the magnets as the blue line dissipated, only to fall face first on the ground as a huge wave of pain swept over me. I can't move, I can't breath. All I feel is deep, agonizing pain all over me as my heart felt like someone was slowly crushing it. ready to spill out from my chest cavity.

"Sir, your reserves are empty. Heart . . . is . . .powering . .down." ATHENA warned as her voice got slower. No, not now. Now when I'm so close. I forced myself to crawl forward as the area around me begun to get fuzzy and static filled. I dragged my pain riddled body across the ground I swear was made of fire to the node. My vision barely holding out as I crawled. Inch by painful inch, toward the Vibranium node. Can't quit Richard, not when you are so close. Not now, not today. I grabbed the podium and forced myself up. My legs were on fire as I grabbed my reactor, glass still folded back. I yanked the node off the housing unit, branding my fingers over the hot metal as I dropped it in the reactor. The glass folded back to closed as my reactor blinked and fluctuated. My vision growing dark as I held my salvation in my hands. I struggled to pull my shirt off to get it to my wire as i fell back to the floor. Head slamming on the hard floor as I begun to black out, with my reactor flashing bright in my eyes under a small pool of my blood. Teasing me at how close I came, yet how far I am.


(Hana's POV)

I kicked down the door to where ATHENA said was where Richard had my MEKA. Lightgun out and fully loaded as I looked around the room. My MEKA is here alright. He tore open the reactor panel and hooked some over sized wire up to it, with a huge ring going around the half burnt room. I am not happy about this. He took my MEKA, and used her to power some mad science device. Oh he is getting a ass kicking from me today. I don't care that he helped saved Korea from the Gwishin. I gave Bliss to Mercy to keep an eye on while I hunt down the thief.

"Hana, I highly suggest you put that thing away. Richard is in extremely serious trouble right now." Athena warned in a concerned tone. I looked around my MEKA to see if there way anything else wrong with my baby. Nothing obvious, her power is at 16%. I'll plug her in back at base when i get back. For now i need to find. . . . OH SHIT! Richard was inside the middle of the ring, shirt half off in a pool of blood. His reactor flashed the brightest I've ever seen it go not even two feet from his face. I ducked under the structure as i ran over to him. He doesn't look good. Skin already beginning to pale, no sign of him breathing. Now I see why he took my MEKA. He had no choice. I slid across the floor right over to him.

"Richard. Richard you there!" I yelled trying to get any form of response out of him as i turned him over into my lap. His chest had a large circular cavity in it leaking blood and puss, a lone wire hung out. Looked like a plug of some sort.

"His vitals have flat-lined. Hook his reactor back up, quickly!" Athena ordered. His reactor! I patted the ground around me as I looked hastily for it. My hand hit something metallic as I looked directly behind me. the metallic cylinder shined bright back at me. I grabbed it as I and looked under it. Plug that matched the one by his chest. I held him up as I reached for his cord. It was slimy, gooey, nasty, and covered in puss. I had to force myself from bringing back my lunch as I move down to the connection piece. I fumbled with it getting into the reactor as i tried to get it to plug in. This feels beyond strange. His life is literally in my hands. I'll forgive him for stealing my MEKA if he breaths damn it. I can't beat up a corpse. I hooked the plug into the reactor as I held my ear against his chest. I can hear his heart trying to start back up. Brief and erratic beating as it tries to come back to life. I closed my eyes and tried to listen.

"Come on. Beat." I begged listening closer. I literally have his life in my hands. He saved my people and gave Bliss life, only fair that I save his. I held him up more as I listened closer for any sign of life coming back.


That is it people. Year later and I finally got this done. As stated in Beyond the Black, life has been kicking my ass. Barely get any time to write. I will be scaling the Infinity stone's power to Richard's level on control over it. Unlike Thanos or Doctor Strange, he will take a while longer to figure out how to control his stone. We get some in site into the power he wields. I am pretty sure he can create life with the Reality stone without needing the Soul stone. If I am wrong, someone correct me on that. Because I am unsure what the MCU Soul stone even does. Others are either self explanatory or well portrayed. Maybe in Avengers 4 we will get a better look. I am off to bed. I'll edit this in the morning. See you all hopefully sooner. My gamer tag is Dgreen20 if anyone was wondering. I am a and Orisa main, Getting into Brigitte and Moira now as a back up. mostly in silver but plan on climbing higher next season. See you all on the payload or the point.

~Dgreen20