"Are you sure about this?"
Vision nodded, looking at Wanda, who was literally radiating her distress, and then at Tony.
"Yes."
They were in the workroom. Tony, Pepper, Wanda and Vision. Behind them the Rescue suit was still in the manufacturing unit, but the suit was finished, and was standing, waiting for whatever was to come.
Which was where Vision came in, of course. He presented himself to Tony as soon as Friday announced the suit was completed, right after breakfast. He was networked in with Friday, after all, and what Friday knew, he knew. Stark had barely finished telling Pepper and Peter what was going on, and Shuri had excitedly come almost to her feet, even though she knew nothing was going to happen for a while, since they still had to wait for T'Challa to arrive from Wakanda, and the AI to be integrated.
She'd been shocked to hear that Vision was going to be Rescue's AI, but she wasn't the only one. The word went through the Avengers quickly, because they knew Vision and worried about Wanda. Those visiting who didn't know weren't as interested as they didn't know the ramifications of Vision's decision. But they were all interested in seeing the preliminary test that was going to happen later that afternoon.
Once Tony had a chance to double check all of the systems in the new suit – and then have Friday go over them, as well. Even better, Vision was ready to network into the suit, even though he was still connected to the mind stone – and would be for as long as they could keep it where it belonged. Vision would be the third check of the systems before Tony allowed Pepper to actually be enclosed in it.
The billionaire looked at Wanda, too, his expression making it clear that he understood what she was going through. His words made it even more clear.
"He's going to be fine, Wanda," he assured her. "Integrated with Rescue, he'll still be accessible to you."
"Until the stone comes out."
"Even then. I'll make sure you have a way of communicating with him. A prioritized portal – except for times when Rescue's activated."
She gave him a smile, well aware that he was doing everything that he could to help her with what was – to her, especially – an impossible situation.
"Thank you, Tony."
He nodded, sliding his hand along her shoulder, giving her the support that Vision wasn't capable of giving her, but that she needed, so badly.
"You don't have to be here," he told her. "Peter's up on the roof, he could use the company…"
He knew the boy was a little anxious, as well, although he was trying to hide it from everyone – not wanting them to worry about him.
"I'll join him when the trial starts."
Tony looked at Vision, again, and then went to his display, pressing a spot and releasing the shielding around the manufacturing pod. The suit gleamed blue and silver, and Pepper walked over, looking it over with interest.
"It has breasts…" she suddenly realized – a feature that had been hidden by the pod.
Tony smirked.
"It's form fitting, honey. That isn't my fault."
"Do they have any specific features?" Wanda asked, walking over, as well.
"Are you trying to get me slapped?" Tony asked her, watching as a final diagnostic was completed, and the suit opened. "There is no correct way to answer that."
Pepper smiled.
"True."
Vision went to a chair that was beside the pod and seated himself, leaning back against the back of the chair, with the back of his head against the wall.
"Network is online," he said, his voice soft and his eyes closing. "The integration is commencing… now."
There was a silence in the room, and suddenly Rescue turned on, lights glowing faintly with power. Vision went dark, the stone in his head the only indication of any activation.
Stark looked at his wife.
"Ready?"
She nodded, and stood in front of the suit, her back to it, and a moment later the suit stepped up and folded itself around her, closing with the soft whirring and clicking that told Tony it was sealing itself. Feet, legs, hips, waist arms, chest and then finally the head. Tony tapped his display, and the HUD from Rescue was suddenly showing on it.
"You okay in there, Pep?"
"Yes."
"Vision?"
"Systems are coming online."
"The initial onset will take a few minutes," Tony told Wanda. "After this time, it'll be automatic. The helmet closes, she's online."
"Does it hurt?" Wanda asked.
"No." He frowned. "Pep?"
"We're fine, Tony," came the reassurance. "We'll warm up the systems, and then I'll try walking around before we do anything too extreme."
"Good choice. You need to crawl before you can walk…"
"That isn't how I remember you saying it," Vision said, through Rescue's com – and now Tony thought he could hear just the faintest memory of JARVIS. It made him smile, softly.
"Don't listen to him, Pep. He probably needs to have his systems checked, again."
She just chuckled at that and watched the readouts, getting familiar with them – and with the idea of being enfolded in metal. It would take some getting used to, she supposed.
OOOOOOO
Peter was on the roof. He and Shuri were working with Steve and Grady – as well as a few military guys – on the placement of the rail guns. Basically, he and Shuri were consulting the tablets that they'd used when deciding with Steve and Clint where exactly each would placed for maximum efficiency in fire lines.
Since neither of the teens knew diddly about line of fire and the other military terms, they had deferred to Steve, who had done preliminary scans, had then went over them with Grady and the higher ranking military commanders that were attached to the guard units, and had then suggested they use the morning to get the rail guns placed. The kids were the ones overseeing the installation, though, and Peter had already shown Grady, Lyle and their subordinates how the guns worked. There were simulators – which would be used to train the men and women who were going to be manning the guns.
They weren't too complicated, though.
Also on the roof were Quill and Rocket, who were watching with interest – Rocket always interested in anything that had the name 'gun in it and had invited himself onto the roof, as well.
"Are you certain you can trust something so important to a couple of kids?" an amused voice said, pulling everyone's attention toward the roof access door. "They look fairly inexperienced, if you ask my opinion…"
Shuri smiled, pleased at the arrival of her brother – who was watching her with pride as he walked over to where she and Peter were standing. With him were Stephen and Natasha – and Okoye, of course. Steve and Quill walked over to join them, while Rocket watched as one of the rail guns was secured to its couplings.
"No one asked you," Shuri told him, primly.
T'Challa laughed at that, his glance seeming nonchalant, but he was actually double-checking to make sure that she wasn't overworking herself or stressing under the responsibility that she'd been given. He wasn't surprised to see that she looked calm. Serious, but not overly concerned. Of course, he knew his sister thrived in technology and pressure situations.
"That is the benefit to being a king," he told his impudent sister. "I do not need to wait for someone to ask."
Peter wasn't the only one to smile at that, but before he could say anything, his watched alerted him and he looked at it, just a moment, and then walked to the edge of the roof.
"Heads up," he said, suddenly excited.
Shuri wasn't the only one to walk over, and she frowned when Peter activated his suit, the black armor washing over him and covering him, entirely.
"What-"
Before she could finish the question, there was a sudden roar of thrusters and Ironman was suddenly air bound, soaring by them as he shot into the sky, only to hover about seventy feet off the ground, obviously waiting.
Rocket walked over, looking up, as he stopped beside Peter.
"That's impressive," he said. "But what's he doing?"
A moment later, there was another streaking form – this time blue and silver, and an impromptu cheer went up from Peter's armored form as Rescue soared by the watchers on the roof and flew up to join Ironman, hovering in the sky near him. Ironman waited, clearly placing himself in a protective spot where he could be there if she needed him, but a moment later, Rescue shot into the sky, even further, until the suit was merely a small speck that the others lost in the sun.
Ironman followed, and Peter never wished more than just then that he could fly, too.