Tony spent the next forty-five minutes with the two genius teenagers, once more reminded just how brilliant both of them were. Shuri had a device in her hand – a mixture of a GPS tracker, and some other tech that she told him was testing the location she pinged, and would advise if there were any objects that might interfere with the proper initial alignment of the shield when they brought it up.

"So far, though, it looks very promising."

The shield was going to cover more area than Tony had initially assumed. It could be much bigger, Shuri and Peter assured him, but the larger the distance covered, the less power they could command.

"The vibranium is going to be doing the crazy stuff," Peter told him – even though Tony already knew. "Since it can absorb the energy from the shield and reflect it back into itself, it'll magnify the power at a ridiculous amount, making it that much stronger – and not allowing that power to damage any of the relays."

"Because it only lets the power to one side," Shuri added. "Under the vibranium, nothing. On top, the power to light up Wakanda for a century."

"I like it," Tony approved.

It meant that they would be able to protect more area than he'd thought, giving them as much time as they needed to try and negotiate with the madman who thought that destroying half the universe was a good idea.

They were finishing their last relay when Peter turned, looking up at the empty sky. Shuri was looking at her readouts, so she didn't notice, but Tony turned, too, and a moment later saw a tiny dot in the sky, that eventually became a sleek helicopter. Olive green with the white ARMY emblazoned on it, there was no doubt that the military liaisons were arriving.

"That'll be the military guys," Tony said – mostly for Shuri's benefit, since Peter knew what the army's helicopters looked like.

"We are done, here," she said, smiling at him. "I will need a day or so to configure power fluctuation, and make sure that the actual relays are prepared – and protected."

"When will I have my shield, then?" he asked, as they headed back to the compound.

"A couple of days. It could be sooner, but I prefer to do a proper job."

"We prefer that, too," Tony assured her. "Do you need anything?"

"No." she flashed a somewhat apologetic look at Peter. "And I prefer to be alone, for this part. It is complicated, and a distraction could be problematic."

Tony chuckled, putting an arm around Peter's shoulders.

"I'll find something for my problematic distraction to do rather than pester you with 'now what are you doing?' and 'how does that work?'."

Peter smiled, too, well aware that he probably would be asking her a million questions – he already had been, after all. It didn't hurt his feelings that she didn't want him in the same room, just then.

"Do you want to come and meet the army guys?"

She shook her head.

"No. I will go to the workroom and begin my calculations."

"Lunch in two hours," Tony told her as he held the door open for them.

She frowned.

"We just had breakfast."

"And it wasn't a lot. Lunch in two hours. If you're late, I'll send the hounds."

Peter smiled.

"That's Jack, just so you know. Right now, he's the only hound we have – unless you consider Ironpig."

"Which we do not," the billionaire admitted.

"I will be there," she said, also smiling.

"I'll have Friday give you a reminder." Tony knew it was easy to forget everything around you when working on something that was tricky, or interesting. They stopped in an intersection of two corners. "We'll meet you in the lounge."

"If you need anything, just speak into the air," Peter reminded her. "Friday will replay to Tony and he can tell me."

"Ironman and Spider-man both at my beck and call?" she said, her eyes lit up with amusement (and maybe a little awe). "How lucky can a girl get?"

"We could always send Steve," Tony added, well aware of the girl's crush on Rogers.

Sure enough, she blushed – which made him smile.

"I accept."

With a chuckle, she turned one way, and Peter and Tony went the other, knowing that Rogers and Nick – and maybe a few others would meet the military folks at the landing pad and most likely invite them to the lounge, first, for something to refresh themselves before starting on any briefings. With his hand still on Peter's shoulder, that's where they went, as well.

OOOOOOO

The young woman was terrified. And with good reason – although she didn't know it.

Only days before, her master had come to her in the middle of the night. At first she'd been certain that he was walking into her tiny room for another reason, entirely, but had been surprised – and a little confused – when he'd handed her an odd sphere that was somewhat larger than her hand.

"I want you to take this from here," he'd told her.

"Where do you want me to take it, master?" she'd asked, assuming that he simply meant for her to move it to one of the other warehouses that were used to catalogue his infinite collection of items.

"Somewhere far from here," he'd said. "And don't even think of telling me where you're going – or even when you're leaving. There's a small shuttle craft – easily piloted by a single person. Even one as dull as yourself. Take the orb and disappear."

"For how long?"

"Until it's safe."

That had been confusing. Not surprisingly, really. And it had certainly shown on her expression.

"Where do I go?"

"There is a self-contained data base in the shuttle. I don't know any of the destinations within. And I don't want to know. Choose one at random and go there. All the worlds in the data base contain stable atmospheres and are safe. You will need to be careful, though, to hide yourself from any indigenous life forms while you hide."

"I can return, though?"

"Of course, my pretty." He gave her a forced smile. "That stone is one of my prized possessions. I'm going to want it back in my collection. Just not right now."

She had been told to pack a few things that she'd need, and to not tell anyone – including him – when she was leaving, and then he'd left her, holding the sphere and looking around somewhat wildly, trying to decide what to take with her.

Now she was in the emptiness of space. Not truly empty, of course, but terrifyingly huge, and scary to someone who had been around people almost her entire life. She thought that maybe she would die of loneliness long before she reached the random destination she had chosen. It was only two days, now, since she'd snuck away from her chore of dusting displays and had entered the shuttle, leaving without a word to anyone, and she was already feeling the ache of having no one to talk to and very little to do.

The ship took care of her; there was enough food to last a hundred years, and recycled air was something she was familiar with. It was the lack of people to talk to and the fact that she didn't know where she was going, or what would happen when she reached the destination that truly had her afraid. She looked at the orb, once more, wondering what was inside it – or if the orb itself was the Collector's prize – and swallowed hard, before returning her gaze to the display in front of her.

OOOOOOOO

The lounge was almost silent when Tony and Peter arrived.

Not empty. There were several people in it. Four dressed in the crisp green military outfits that Peter recognized as formal army uniforms, several dressed in SHIELD uniforms or a variation of them – including Steve, Carol and Clint – Nick Fury, of course, and Quill, Gamora, Rocket and Groot. Not surprisingly, the newcomers were staring at the guardians – mainly Rocket and Groot – and were having a lot of trouble hiding their silent amazement.

It was almost a standoff, even though Steve had made introductions, already, and the military folk were now aware that the odd people they were still staring at all spoke English. Including the talking racoon and the tree that had introduced itself as Groot and had gone back to petting the kitten that was sitting on its head, seemingly oblivious to the stares.

They all looked over as Peter and Tony entered, and the boy grinned, cheerfully, when he realized that he recognized the military people. Two of them he actually knew by name and the other two he'd seen before.

"Grady!"

The Colonel recognized Peter, too, of course, and he smiled, walking up to meet him and Tony as they crossed the room.

"Peter. I was hoping I'd have a chance to see you."

He offered the boy his hand, and Peter took it, pleased – and then hesitated.

"I didn't call you, did I?"

Grady chuckled – and so did Tony, recognizing the reference.

"Not this time. Which is annoying, by the way – since I know that you know my number. How hard would it be to pick up the phone and call me to say hello? And to invite me over for a weekend of fishing, or something?" The colonel turned to Tony, offering him his hand, as well. "Mr. Stark. Good to see you, again, sir."

"Tony," Tony corrected. "You're the liaison, colonel?"

"Part of it," he said, looking at the younger man who was standing next to him, also grinning. "This is-"

"Hey, Lyle." Peter offered the young captain his hand, and it was accepted, immediately.

"Good to see you, again, Peter."

Grady rolled his eyes at the lack of formality.

"This is Lyle Harris. General Baldwin's aide."

"And apparently already acquainted with my son?" Tony asked, offering the captain his hand, as well.

"We met in Phoenix," Peter said, smiling. "He showed me around and hung out with me since the others had to do their parachute thing."

"Good to meet you, captain."

"You, too, Mr. Stark."

"General Baldwin will be our point of contact?" Steve asked, easily joining the conversation.

Lyle nodded.

"He's responsible for the guard troops that are already being called up, and he's the one who will decide how and where to deploy them – and any regular army units."

"We'll have access to any other resources we need," Grady added. "But Lyle here is going to be the one with the direct access to General Baldwin and can save us a lot of go-betweens being here."

"If you tell me that you need it," Harris said, nodding. "I will tell General Baldwin and you'll get it. Immediately."

"We just need to know what you need."

Tony looked at Steve, allowing him to take over the conversation. The military was Rogers' specialty, not Tony's.

"Let's sit down," Steve suggested. "And we'll tell you what we have, so far – and what we're thinking. Then you can let us know what you'd do."

Peter went over to the guardians, who had watched the exchange.

"Do you know everyone?" Rocket asked, as the boy took his kitten when Groot offered him over to him.

"Not everyone," he said, smiling. "They probably brought Grady in because he's worked with the Avengers, before, and won't get too freaked out by you guys."

Gamora nodded her approval of that.

"He didn't run from the room screaming, anyway… that's a start."

Quill agreed.

"They came in a sweet looking helicopter. Think we can go check it out?"

The twelve-year old earthling that had always loved all things GI-Joe as a kid couldn't help but ask – even though he was an adult and much more experienced, now.

"I don't see why not," Nick said as he was getting ready to go join the briefing, and knew that they didn't all need to be there if they didn't want to be. "Don't touch anything that you shouldn't."

Quill left, with Rocket and Groot trailing him, but Gamora stayed, more interested in seeing what the newcomers would have to offer their situation.

"Where are Drax and Mantis?" Peter asked her, ignoring Nutmeg's paw that was suddenly interested in trying to go up his nostril.

"Drax learned of your Quinjet simulator and wanted to try it out. I think Mantis is just keeping him company to be apart from too many people, at once."

"Is she okay?"

Gamora smiled at the genuine concern she heard in Peter's tone.

"She's fine. She's just not used to new people, really. Let's go join the conversation, shall we? I'm curious what they can do."

"It's the army," Peter said. "They can do a lot."