Earth-717: Iron Maiden Vol 2
Chapter 6: Repercussions
Standing inside of her personal shuttle, Sunset watched as the glowing pink arc reactor was placed inside of a large containment unit. Once the unit was completely sealed, she turned to look at DeWitt, who was sitting at a console next to her. Brandt was standing on her other side, and she was looking at her datapad.
"The helicarrier's gone," said Brandt. "So is Air Force One. All remaining Risk Control forces have fallen back to rendezvous co-ordinates and are ready for reassignment."
"Good," replied Sunset.
She then turned to look at DeWitt.
"Are we ready?"
"Containment unit will hold," said DeWitt. "Won't be able to move without your say so."
"Let's pull him out."
DeWitt typed in a command string on his console, and the containment unit started charging with electrical energy. Several arcs of miniscule blue lightning all struck the arc reactor at the same time, and once the core cracked, a loud, distorted shout was heard. Within moments, the humanoid form of the Living Laser materialized, hovering inside of the containment unit.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh."
Brandt took a step back in fear. Sunset grinned ear to ear.
"Mister Parks."
"Who . . . . who are . . . . no . . . . that's . . . ."
"Mister Parks?"
"That's not . . . . MY NAME ANYMORE!"
Arthur pulled in his limbs and then fired a pulse of energy from his body, but it was halted by the containment unit. The feedback from the imploded energy left him writhing in pain.
"GYRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAGHHHHH!"
Sunset scoffed, unimpressed with the display.
"What . . . . did you do?"
"Mister Parks, I would advise that you not try that again," said Sunset. "I'd also advise that you not try my patience, considering what I'm about to offer you."
Arthur was silent for a minute. Sunset didn't let her gaze break off of him for a single second.
"Who are you?"
"That's better. My name is Sunset Bain, and I am the leader of Advanced Idea Mechanics, an organization which I believe shares a particular interest with you, Mister Parks."
"And . . . . what . . . . would that be?"
"Tasha Stark."
"RRYYYYYYYYYYRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUGH!"
Ripples of white energy surged along all the appendages of Arthur's body. Brandt breathed in and out a few times as she kept her eyes on the powered being before her. While she was unable to stop the quivering in her hands, Sunset was utterly unmoved.
"Iron Maiden . . . ."
"Yes, Mister Parks. I was told that she defeated you in your last encounter."
"Defeated?! She . . . . TRICKED ME! Said she was my friend . . . . but she only wanted to control me . . . . confine me . . . . because she was . . . . scared . . . . of . . . . MY POWER!"
"Indeed," replied Sunset. "That appears to be what she does best, doesn't it? She claims to be a woman who wants what's best for her friends . . . . but she always ends up betraying them in the end."
"Yes."
"She hurt you."
"Yes."
"She humiliated you."
"Yes."
Arthur's entire body glowed brighter and brighter with each affirmative response.
"She did the same to me, Mister Parks . . . . but her betrayal goes further."
"How?"
"She stole from you," continued Sunset. "My allies tell me that she was showing off her latest project . . . . a Proton Cannon, with a laser matrix based on your design."
"WHAT?!"
"She stole your ideas . . . . used them for herself when she said that she would help you."
"RYYYYYYYYYRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"
"You and I have both been wronged by Stark . . . . but I have a plan to get vengeance for both of us."
"How?! Tell me HOW!"
Sunset clenched her right fist and slammed it into her left palm.
"We're going to run her through the gauntlet! She bested you last time only through trickery, you say? Well . . . . she's been battling my allies all day. She's weak. She's tired. And this time, you won't be alone. You're going to find her. Draw her in. And then, once we've worn her out, once we've drained every last ounce of energy she has . . . . then, then . . . . then we're going to shatter her!"
"Yes . . . . yeeeeesssss . . . . YES!"
"I knew you were a smart man, Mister Parks."
"Please . . . . call me . . . . Living Laser."
Sunset gave a small, respectful bow.
"Very well."
Sunset turned to face Brandt.
"And the others?"
"They're ready. We'll be in Los Angeles airspace in ten minutes."
"Excellent."
Sunset chuckled with malicious glee as she felt the pieces fall into place.
"Dead?"
"Yes, ma'am. Miss Arbogast and three of the security personnel. I am still trying to piece together the reason for the attack. The only location that was broken into was the containment lab, but all on-record items are still in stock."
"O-Okay."
"Shall I make preparations for funerals and calls to the families?"
"Do it. Tell them . . . . t-tell . . . . tell the families that I'll pay for everything. Charge all expenses to my personal account. Let them keep the life insurance. They lost enough as it is."
"As you say, ma'am. As well, Mister Hogan, Miss Potts and Mister Stane have all arrived back at Stark Tower safely via the private jet. They'll be ready to meet you once you've finished your business with SHIELD."
"Thanks, Jan."
Having taken off her armour and left it to the side in idle mode, Tasha turned her attention to the room she was standing in. The helicarrier's command centre housed four rows of data terminals, all situated around the central hub, which was a circular platform with an eagle logo emblazoned on the floor. The front end of the room was formed of a transparent glass wall, looking out into the clouds that the flying aircraft carrier was currently wading through.
Fury was standing on the central hub, with his hands behind his back. Several other agents were also in the room, performing their duties. Fury himself was looking at a holographic video screen playing from his main terminal. Looking side to side, Tasha then clicked her tongue and put her hands in her front pockets. Rhodes was standing behind her, with his arms folded.
"And how are you now?" asked Fury.
"Fine, all things considered," responded Ellis, whose face was displayed on Fury's terminal. "The plane is secure. We're lucky those madmen didn't cause it any harm."
"Fly safe, Mister President."
"You too, Director."
The video screen shut off, and Fury got off the central hub and approached Tasha.
"So . . . . big place you got . . . ."
"And just what the hell did you think you were doing?!"
Tasha's eyes widened in response to what Fury said.
"What do you . . . ."
"For a woman who prides herself on her intelligence, you sure pull some pretty stupid stunts."
"Excuse me, I'm pretty sure I just helped save the Pres . . . ."
"I'm not talking about the President, although you handled that like a damn amateur. I'm talking about how you almost caused a diplomatic incident that could have set one hell of a fire under the ass of the whole country!"
"I . . . ."
Tasha turned to look at Rhodes and shrugged before turning back to Fury.
"I really don't know what you're talking about. Did I take the wrong person's lunch money?"
"Can the glib, Stark. I'm talking about your little confrontation with Victor Von Doom. Sound familiar?"
"Uh . . . . o-oh."
Tasha guiltily scratched the back of her head before letting out a weak laugh. Fury had both of his hands on his hips, and was giving her an extremely stern glare.
"Yeah . . . . about that . . . . well, he was, he was . . . . he was taking my tech from AIM, and . . . . wait, why are you mad about this? Doom is the bad guy!"
"You really have no idea what you've waded into, have you?"
Rhodes unfolded his arms and walked up to Tasha, standing beside her.
"Doctor Doom is the ruler of his own country," explained Rhodes. "He has diplomatic immunity. Attacking him, especially on American soil, is a violation of international law."
"Wait, what?!" blurted Tasha. "International . . . . and him leading an army of robots into the UN wasn't?!"
"In case you haven't noticed, the UN doesn't exist anymore," said Fury. "Tensions are at an all time high. But despite Doom's transgressions, Latveria is still one of the most technologically advanced superpowers on the planet, and he has strong military alliances with several important nations. We cannot afford open war with Latveria right now. That's why the US has granted him extended access to the country via the Latverian embassy in New York."
"Uh, okay . . . ."
"Without the UN, international relations are up to the governments of each individual country, and we're trying very hard to keep the peace amongst all the political fallout . . . . and you nearly jeopardized everything!"
Tasha frowned, and made a pleading face at Rhodes.
"He's right, Tasha," said Rhodes.
"Well . . . . sorry? Wait, no . . . . no, I'm not sorry. While you're up here in your ivory . . . . helicarrier . . . . whatever, while you're busy serving lemonade to dictators who want to level entire cities, I'm out there trying to stop them! I went after Doom because he was trying to get his tin fists on my technology from AIM, who, I might add, happen to be international terrorists who just tried to kill the fucking President!"
Fury moved his head slightly to the side in a suspicious gesture.
"AIM? This again?"
"Look, I know my appeal got tossed out, but listen to me, alright?" said Tasha. "They were behind the attack on my Tower, and they were behind the attack today. They had the exact same shuttles, exact same tech, just . . . . improved. I'm telling you, they're the bad guys here. Okay, I know, I know they're considered a legitimate business, but they've been after me since day one, and I would stake everything I own on them being the real force behind all this."
Fury considered what she said for a few seconds before looking upwards.
"Hill?"
"Yes, Director?" replied Maria Hill's voice through the intercom.
"Tell Romanova to get up here."
"She's on her way."
Within a minute, Natalia walked into the room, wearing her tactical gear.
"You called?"
Tasha took a step back upon seeing Natalia.
"You . . . . you look just like her!"
Natalia shrugged.
"Like who?"
"Like the woman who was leading the AIM army that just ransacked San Fran International! She had the same style of suit, but it was white instead of black, and she was blonde . . . ."
Natalia's face flushed of all colour.
"Tasha," said Rhodes. "Where are you going with . . . ."
"Did she have a sword?" asked Natalia. "A katana strapped to her back?"
"Yeah!"
Natalia rushed over to one of the terminal consoles and typed in a few keys. An image of Yelena appeared on the display.
"Her. Is this her?"
"Yeah, yeah!" answered Tasha. "Who is she?"
"An old enemy," replied Natalia. "A very old enemy."
"Did you see her, Colonel?" asked Fury.
"Yes sir," responded Rhodes. "Fought her personally when she attacked the President's limousine. She nearly killed us all."
Tasha looked back to Natalia.
"You two go to the same high school or something?"
"Something like that."
"Yelena Belova," said Fury, sneering as he looked at the screen. "Haven't seen her for a while. Well, Miss Stark, I believe your theory may have just been given a bit more weight."
"Why? We all friends now?"
"Not necessarily, but Agent Romanova here has done investigations in the past that have caused her to run into some of AIM's shady dealings. We could never get anything solid, but I knew they weren't completely legitimate."
"Belova has been rumoured to have had ties with AIM for years now, via a mutual associate . . . ."
Natalia tapped a button on the keyboard, and the image changed into a profile for Sunset Bain.
"Sunset Bain."
Tasha pointed at the image.
"Hold on a tick . . . . Sunset Bain? Who is she?"
"A very elusive businesswoman," said Natalia. "Former CEO of a small technology firm named Baintronics, which was bought by AIM after two years of business. She's relatively disappeared from the public sphere, but has been continuously followed by allegations of underground arms dealing and manufacturing. Nothing was ever proven."
"Well tip me over and screw me sideways," said Tasha. "Cause that's our girl, right there."
"What do you mean?"
"Because your blonde beauty buddy? Belova? She specifically said to me during our scrap that Miss Bain sent her regards."
Fury and Natalia looked at each other.
"And when I was fighting the Soviet lolita death-bot? One that hit the expo? She said AIM had a new leader. If Aldrich Killian is gone . . . . I'd say dear little Sunset must be his replacement."
Natalia blinked a couple times as everyone let the information sink in.
"I'd say she's right. It makes sense."
"I know," replied Fury. "That's what irks me."
Maria Hill's voice was heard over the intercom again.
"Director."
"What is it, Hill?"
"Science Team has something. They said they need to speak to you."
"Put them up on screen."
Tasha, Fury, Natalia and Rhodes all turned to face the transparent glass wall, over which a massive holographic display appeared. It showed a laboratory inside of another segment of the helicarrier, with the bodies of two Risk Control troopers on medical tables. The only things in the room that were moving were the two scientists, a man and a woman: Fitz and Simmons.
Fitz was scanning the head of one of the Risk Control troopers, and Simmons was staring right into the display.
"What do you got for me?" asked Fury.
Tasha leaned towards Rhodes' ear.
"That's SHIELD's Science Team?" whispered Tasha. "Look like they just got off the set of Buffy."
Rhodes rolled his eyes, with a tiny smile on his face.
"Sir," said Simmons. "We've analyzed all of the raw data, and as far as we can ascertain, the brains of the subjects have been radically altered."
"She sounds just like Janice," said Tasha.
"I don't acknowledge the resemblance, ma'am," said Janice via the sensor link.
"Altered how?" asked Fury.
"Well, I'm not sure we can even classify them as organic anymore. There are a multitude of technological components that have been integrated into every facet of the brain's chemistry."
"Tell him about the explodey thing," said Fitz.
"Right. Unfortunately right now we only have a hypothesis, because we can't verify all our findings. When we tried to perform an autopsy, most of the technological components self-destructed, leaving . . . . a bit of a mess, actually."
"Crazy bugger nearly took off my whole hand!" yelled Fitz.
"So what are we looking at?" asked Fury.
"Sir, I can tell you that I have never seen anything like this," answered Simmons. "But given the amount of modification made to the brain, even from the small amount of it we were able to see . . . . these people were not able to think for themselves. The only possible explanation I can think of is that whatever was injected into their brains essentially turned them into programmable machines. It's . . . . horrifying, sir."
"Alright," said Fury, allowing the information to digest for a moment. "Good work. Keep doing what you're doing and let me know if you find anything else."
"Will do, sir."
The display screen turned off.
"Programmable human beings?" asked Rhodes. "What kind of sick crap is AIM doing?"
"I don't know," replied Fury. "But we've got to . . . ."
"Oh no," said Tasha.
Tasha was still staring at the transparent glass wall. With the display screen gone, she could see the Los Angeles skyline clearly, and the pink energy storm that was surging between some of the buildings.
"What is that?" asked Natalia.
"Something terrible," answered Tasha.
