Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek or Marvel.

This chapter was inspired by "Star Trek: DS9" S4, E7, "Avengers: Age of Ultron", "Cyberchase", and Britt Nicole's "Glow". I will try to make this year's version more coherant than the last two. Why am I writing this in the first place? Good question.

...

"Who's that?" asks the professor, curious about Odo's sudden appearance and unique abilities.

Quark smiles, for once happy to see the constable. "My hero." He answers.

"Can we please go now?" gripes Odo.

The ferangi and humans agree and pile into a military jeep. It was smooth sailing from there to the hanger where their ship, Quark's Treasure, was parked.

Goodbyes were quick. The human professor and his fiancée watch in awe as the Ferangi ship flies away.

"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" Nurse Garland asks.

"Who knows." Jeff, her fiance, shrugs.

After one last glance in the direction the aliens left, the two hop back into the jeep and drive away.

Unaware the entire time of the man in black watching them from the shadows.

...

"Now, tell me again", Odo started once they'd exited Earth's atmosphere, his judgmental gaze aimed at Rom, "What's going to happen when we get there?"

"We fly straight into the atomic explosion, expose the kemacite to the beta radiation, and engage the warp engines." He answers, a bit nervous, but in his element, "If we have enough kemacite, we should be able to create a reverse time warp and ride it home."

"My dad- always thinking!" Nog cheers.

Turning to Quark, Odo says, "If this doesn't work, I'm holding you personally responsible."

"I don't remember inviting you on this trip." snarks Quark.

Rom piloted the ship to the target site and began the process of exposing the kemacite to the radiation of the atomic bomb.

The ship shook as four entered the anomaly. The trip was nerve racking, but thankfully short.

So was the crash for that matter.

.

.

One week later, 1947

Ms. Garland, practicing nurse of the United States Army Air Force, couldn't believe the week she was having. After she and her fiancé helped the aliens escape, they decided they needed to lie low for a while. While their superiors thankfully bought the 'alien mind control' story, there was still the chance of being caught if they weren't careful.

The other day Ms. Garland could have sworn there was someone following from the shops to her home. Someone dressed in black, just in the corner of her eye. They were always gone when she turned. She would have thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but Jeff told her he was being followed as well.

It seemed obvious to them that someone in the government didn't believe their cover story.

Ms. Garland sighed, sitting down in her favorite café. There wasn't anything they could do about it. They just had to keep their heads down and do their jobs as if nothing was wrong. Hopefully the heat would die down soon.

Ms. Garland picked up the menu just as a waitress set a steaming mug in front of her. Startled, she stared at the drink. It was a milky green, hot beverage. It had the faint smell of green tea, one of her favorites.

She didn't order this.

"Excuse me, I didn't order this", she called to the waitress.

"True, but I did."

Ms. Garland turned around and found a young man in his late twenties. He had messy ginger hair and wore a light green sweater and jeans.

He sat down across from her and extended a hand. He smiled nervously. "Hello again."

Ms. Garland wracked her brain for a name for this man. She's seen him somewhere before. Where?

He awkwardly retracted his hand when she didn't shake it. He rubbed his neck. "You might not remember me, but we bumped into each other at the grocery store yesterday."

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't recognize you. I apologize for your apples again."

"Its fine, no problem. I'm just sorry about your eggs."

She sighed. That had been disappointing. She had been planning on using some of those in a cake for Jeff. "That's alright. Thank you again for buying me new ones."

"You're welcome!" His smile brightened and he nodded to the mug in front of her. "What do you think of the drink?"

She took a sip, discovering it was a green tea blend. It had a warm flavor, a hint of spice to it.

"Its nice. What is it?"

"A green tea chai latte."

She raised her brows. That sounded too fancy for anything sold around here. "I've never heard of it. Its good though, thank you."

"I wouldn't expect you to have. It won't be invented for another fifty years or so."

Two weeks ago, Ms. Garland would have laughed a statement like that off. But after what she's seen… "What do you mean by that?" She asks slowly.

The man smiles and hands her a card she hadn't noticed him holding before. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Matt, and I'm here to invite you and your fiancé somewhere safe."

"What?"

"Ma'am, you're in danger. In two days, a man in a black suit will come to your home. He will recruit you to protect the Earth from hostile forces. In five years, you will die in the line of duty."

"What?"

"Please ma'am, accept my offer."

.

.

Two Years Later, 2015

So, the four unwitting time travelers had enough contraband to leave 1947. Just not enough to get past 2013.

Quark's Treasure crashed landed in a little no-where town where they met a certain Anthony Stark. After helping Stark out of a jam- the kind Quark was all too familiar with -he set the aliens up in his tower as thanks.

Rom and the multibillionaire hit it off surprisingly well. They often worked late into the night working on various projects or just talking. Nog went on to make friends with the local bugs and birds of the hero variety. And even Odo, surprisingly enough, was settling into 21st century life. He'd found a kindred spirit in the hero of a neighboring city. He spent much of his time there with his new friend. Of course, he still kept tabs on his favorite criminal, even going so far as to ask Rom to keep him updated.

Everyone was enjoying themselves, in no hurry to return to their own time. Not like they had a time machine anyway.

Everyone except Quark.

Because of their non-human appearances, they couldn't leave the tower without unnerving the local hu-mons.

There was only so much staring the businessman could take. He was getting really tired of primitive hu-mons gawking at him. And many had decided staring wasn't enough and went out of their was to harrass the ferangi.

Quark still wasn't over the attempted robbery at his new bar. The thief had taken one look at him and dropped her knife and ran.

Rude.

So, after a rough week at his new bar, Stark invited Quark and the others to his party to relax. It wasn't long before Quark was sulking over his drink.

"I could have been rich!" He whined, "I could have ruled this whole place. Could of had it all."

Never one to miss an opportunity to be annoying, Tony sidled up to the barkeep and said, "That's rough buddy. Tell me more about it."

Hardly noticing the billionaire inventor's presence, but continuing anyway, Quark says, "You want to know the worst part? I miss my bar. That stupid bar on that stupid space station. I never thought I'd miss it." Spinning around in his seat, his unsteadiness a tribute to the number of drinks he'd had. "You know, I never really appreciated how much money that dump brought in. All that latinum. I can see it now. I'm walking down the promenade, lights shining off my brand new golden threaded suit with latinum buttons and Rigelian fleamegem cufflinks. The whole ensemble shines so bright, I'm blinding from head to toe." He flailed his arms out, as though to gesture to his imagined wealth.

"Impressive", says a new voice.

Spinning around on his barstool, Quark is faced with a dark haired hu-mon male in his early thirties. "And you are...?"

Flashing a smile and holding out his hand the stranger introduces himself, "Bruce Wayne. I hear you're a persuasive businessman."

Even in his current state Quark knows when he's being flattered. He shrugs, takes the man's hand and chuckles. "I don't like to brag, but... How can I help you?"

Stepping back, Bruce gestures toward the hallway. "Let's discuss this somewhere a little more private. I have a business proposition you won't be able to refuse."

Ever the opportunist, Quark agrees.

Nodding to Tony in farewell, Bruce says, "Stark."

Nodding back with a smirk, "Batsy."

Long used to the other billianare's antics, Bruce simply ignored the comment and herded the alien away.

Tony leans back against the bar top, looking quite pleased with himself as he watches them leave. He knows the real reason Wayne wants to start a business relationship with the greedy alien, but that doesn't mean he won't enjoy watching drama unfold.

Spotting Odo, who's gotten much better at mimicking human appearance, trail after the two only makes Tony's anticipation rise.

"This should be interesting."