TITLE: Iron Maiden - Days of Future Past
DISCLAIMER: The Marvel Cinematic Universe characters and everything from Earth-199999 belongs to Marvel under the umbrella of The Mouse of Doom, ahem, sorry, Disney... anything from other Marvel Universes / dimensions / timelines belong to their respective comic creators… basically, if you recognise it, it isn't mine... Please don't sic SHIELD on me, I'm just here for the fun.
Palacio de la Moncloa
Avenida Puerta de Hierro
Madrid
Spain
March 15th, 2010
Tony was actually really glad that Pepper had taken Morgan out shopping for some businessy slash official clothes to wear as he drove up to the address he'd been given by the government officials.
The top down car he was driven was heaven in the heat of Spain, and even Morgan had relented and got some sunglasses to wear to hide herself away from the bright sun that was even worse than it had been back in Malibu.
He followed the directions around and flashed his ID to the guards before they let him drive through into the official parking lot, parking up and taking a minute to laze back in the drivers seat and relax after navigating through the horrible streets of Madrid that made Malibu's traffic look organised and driver friendly.
Right now he could only completely agree with Morgan's loathing of cars, and had been half tempted just to activate his Iron Man suit and take to the skies, just to fly over the city and avoid the traffic altogether.
"Ready kiddo?" Tony asked, glancing over to where Morgan was looking around the huge Spanish building with a fond smile on her lips. "You been here before?" He asked curiously.
"A few times," Morgan grinned. "The Prime Minister lives here as well as working, it's like their version of The White House." She explained.
"Right," Tony nodded, he knew that of course, it just hadn't filtered through to his brain yet that Morgan had actually lived in Spain in her future, and probably knew the city and government here just as well as he knew the officials back in America. "You can lead the way then." He chuckled, opening the car door and climbing out, stretching his legs and enjoying the freedom after driving for nearly an hour already today.
One thing he had enjoyed was flying the new Stark jet. The flight from Los Angeles to Spain had mostly been done on autopilot, well, AI pilot since FRIDAY took the controls for most of it. Just like all the tests they'd performed, the restructured repulsor engines had performed even better than expected, and the VTOL systems had held up amazingly well, giving the jet far better acceleration, velocity, and manoeuvrability than any other jet on the market right now.
The muffled expletives and awe filled comments as they'd flown into Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport had made his day, most of them had come from the ground control that apparently had absolutely no idea what to do with a jet that could slowly hover over the entire airport and gently land on the spot outside the hanger without needing runways, taxiing or anything like that, and when the ramp extended from underneath the door and automatically formed the steps to lead down to the ground, he was pretty sure the ground control had let out a bunch of Spanish he wouldn't find in any tourists phrase book.
He'd spent practically every hour of the past few days pouring over the nanotech suit that Morgan had given him. Using FRIDAY to pull up all the specifications, features, limits and strengths that the suit had, and practising with flying, testing the reactions of the neural interface, and cataloguing the extensive improvements and evolutions to the designs he'd made in the future.
It didn't just blow his old suits out of the water, it left them in the dust so far behind it that it was laughable. Thirteen years of advancements. Eighty five iterations of the Iron Man armour, and it was as close to perfect as he could imagine.
The repulsor systems were unbelievable, literally. Not quite as advanced as Morgan's ion enhanced systems, but then Morgan had an extra twenty odd years on this suit. The laser systems were phenomenal, as was the ECCM and energy shielding technology.
The other parts that did make him grin widely were the vibranium re-enforced plates around vital areas like the nanite core, his chest, neck, spine and hips. Along with a few weapons that were encoded into the nanite core that looked specifically designed to fight against vibranium weapons and super soldiers.
He didn't know the history yet, but he was almost certain that everything in this suit had been designed and evolved after he'd fought with Rogers at some point. All the designs spoke of it, and there was even a specific launcher designed with injection darts that apparently contained something dubbed 'anti-serum'.
That one he had asked Morgan about, and apparently it was his own nanite concoction based on Extremis, designed to target the super-soldier serum and render it useless, reverting any super soldier back to their original 'pre-enhanced' state.
Morgan did say that he'd had a huge fight with Rogers at some point in the future, but didn't know what it was about or what happened during it. Only that her mom had never wanted to talk about it, and there were only computer records showing that after the fight, he'd come back to Stark Industries with Rogers' damaged shield, and a cybernetic arm that he'd apparently picked up from somewhere.
That was when he'd dove into fully taking molecular scans of the vibranium shield and taking apart the cybernetic arm to figure it out, it was quite telling that those two pieces had paved the way for the advancements, and then Morgan's spectacular work further in the future.
According to Morgan he'd never actually had the chance to use it on a super soldier in the future, not before his untimely demise, but he'd seen the reports and research that he'd apparently done in the future, tests on super soldier blood that he'd got some somewhere, god knows where, and everything in future Tony's science backed up the 'anti-serum' and told him it would do exactly what it was designed to.
"Coming dad?" Morgan's voice broke him out of his thoughts, causing him to shake his head and idly touch the nanite core reactor that was happily sat on his casual shirt.
He'd gone for a mostly casual look today, which had matched Morgan's perfectly. Both of them had just gone for comfortable suit slacks and thin shirts, a deep purple blouse in Morgan's case. It was hot enough here that he didn't want to bother with a full suit, and according to Morgan the Spanish were far more casual about things like this, so he could get away with even more than he used to back home.
"Lead on kiddo." Tony grinned, happily falling into step alongside Morgan as she led the way around to the main entrance way of the Spanish Parliament building.
The white marble and brick building was definitely impressive, with sets of columns set around the entrance that Morgan was leading him towards, holding up some sort of balcony above the entrance where he guessed the Prime Minister could make speeches or televised addresses from.
It made sense, and in this heat he could well imagine that public figures definitely preferred to make their speeches outside in the fresh air, rather than suffer being indoors and with even more heat from television equipment and lighting and everything.
Morgan led the way through inside the doors, and Tony noted the various armed guards around who watched them curiously as Morgan approached what he was guessing was the head of security or maybe an official in residence or something.
He didn't follow the quick Spanish dialogue that followed between them, only catching sight of the man's rather bemused then astonished expression as Morgan happily conversed with him in his native language and spoke quickly and fluently about things that went completely over his head.
While he had been practising his Spanish in preparation, he was by no means fluent, and definitely not fluent enough to translate the language when it was spoken at speed with a local dialect as well.
"Dad, through here."
Tony simply nodded, amusing himself by how well Morgan had dealt with the security and got them smiling and welcoming them both into the official building.
He followed as two security guards walked them through the various corridors of the building and around to a specific meeting room, opening the door and gesturing for them to enter before turning to Morgan and talking again in another quick burst of Spanish before closing the door behind them.
"He said the Prime Minister and The Council from Valencia will be here shortly," Morgan translated when Tony looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah," Tony chuckled to himself, looking at the large table in the room and happily making himself at home, pulling out a seat for himself and another for Morgan before sitting down and relaxing, fiddling with his open collar slightly and breathing a sigh of relief that the government building was air conditioned and far more comfortable than the outside was.
"Did you catch any of that?" Morgan asked curiously as she came over and sat in the seat that her dad had pulled out for her at the meeting table.
"Not a word," Tony admitted with a dry laugh.
He was itching to ask about whether Madrid or the Spanish government had changed much by Morgan's time, and if she knew anything about what was coming in the next thirty years or so that could give him a heads-up and an upper hand in the meeting they were about to have.
The fact was though, he didn't really need anything more. The curiosity was definitely there, but he knew that he was bringing far more to the table and Spain would benefit massively from building the new Stark International plaza in Valencia.
Even if the government tried to play hardball, which he was pretty sure they wouldn't, he could give out some quite staggering figures about employment, business benefits, and international relations that would get the Spanish government on his side rather quickly.
He was still idly thinking about it and plotting how the conversation was going to go when the door opened again, and the security from outside ushered in practically a dozen people to enter the room.
Morgan stood up instantly as soon as the door opened, so Tony followed her lead, standing up to match Morgan and stepping forwards so that he was standing in line with her.
"Doctor Stark. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. May I be the first to officially welcome you to Madrid."
Tony blinked in surprise as he stepped forwards and shook the offered hand, recognising José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero from Pepper's briefing about who they were likely to meet for the discussions. According to Pepper he was the Spanish Prime Minister, and the equivalent of a rather liberal politician in America.
He'd legalised same sex marriages, pushed through abortion reforms, and was firmly against the Iraq war. He was only having troubles with his government because of the recession in Spain right now, and employment figures that were not painting his leadership in a favourable light.
Two things Tony could definitely use to secure the welcoming of Stark International to Spain's borders.
Another thing in his favour was that he'd actually recognised Tony's actual title, and not just referred to him as 'Mr Stark'. While Tony didn't actually care one way or the other personally, it was nice when people actually recognised that he did actually hold several Doctorates, and had worked damned hard to get them.
"Prime Minister, thanks for the welcome." Tony gave a wide smile as he shook the man's hand.
"Please, be comfortable." Prime Minister Zapatero smiled, gesturing towards the table and indicating for everyone to take seats.
Tony nodded back and moved back to the seat he'd originally claimed, waiting when Morgan simply stood by her chair until the Prime Minister had taken his seat, before he sat down with Morgan and the other people the Prime Minister had brought into the meeting with him.
"Allow me to introduce everyone," Prime Minister Zapatero started with, gesturing around the table. "My economic Ministers, the Council from Valencia, my International aids, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, and the Ministry of Science and Innovation."
Tony and Morgan nodded respectfully around the room, taking note of each person and what their specific titles were. It was a pretty political group, which meant they'd actually read into the details and discussions Pepper had been forwarding through already and likely had a good idea of what Tony was actually here for.
Well, they probably thought he was here to open a Stark Industries branch or something similar, what he was actually going to offer was going to blow their minds, he was sure of it.
"I believe you are interested in some property in Valencia? Though I did not understand if you are looking for commercial, or industrial property, or grounds on which to build such a thing?" Prime Minister Zapatero launched directly in, obviously not willing to simply dip his toes in when it was such an important meeting.
"Both." Tony said simply, watching as the various Ministers on the other side of the table started glancing at each other and sharing easily readable expressions. "Cards on the table alright?" He grinned, seeing that he'd already dropped his bait and they'd taken the hook. "In a couple of months, I'm going to be announcing the globalisation of Stark Industries." He said bluntly.
"And you wish to build your first facilities in Valencia?" Prime Minister Zapatero asked, holding his enthusiasm in check as he questioned what the plans actually were.
"No," Tony shook his head, drawing confused glances from the entire group on the other side of the table. "I want to build my headquarters in Valencia." He said after a beat, waiting a dramatic pause before hitting them with the truth. "The new building I'm planning, it'll be the main headquarters of Stark International. Research and development, technologies, international shipping, aeronautics, satellites and globalisation. I've got my eye on two other properties in the nearby areas, but Valencia is where I'm looking at for the new headquarters."
"That... that is quite a bit more than I was expecting Doctor Stark." Prime Minister Zapatero admitted. "You mean to construct your own facility within the city?" He asked.
"Just outside of it," Tony nodded. "Morgan, can you..." He asked, gesturing to the table.
Morgan simply nodded, bringing out her tablet along with a single holographic projector, putting it on the table and sliding it into the middle, much to the confusion of the various governmental officials who were looking an the unfamiliar technology curiously.
"Valencia," Morgan smiled as she activated the holographic projector and directed it around to show a map of Valencia in rather staggering amount of detail.
"Dios mío!" Prime Minister Zapatero breathed out as he looked at the hologram, standing up from his chair to stare down at the projected image, and seeing the entire city of Valencia projected out a few inches above the discussion table.
He wasn't the only one, and in his peripheral vision he saw every single other Minister stand up with him to admire the detail on the projected three dimensional map and gawk at the technology Doctor Stark was so casually showing off.
"This is the plot we're interested in." Morgan explained, using her tablet to circle a specific area outside of Valencia and down towards the seafront itself. It ran alongside a reasonably sized river, but had amazing road connections and a direct line to the seafront where international docks could be easily reached.
It was the Council from Valencia that looked down to the map further first, eyeing the detail with an astonished expression as they looked at the area Morgan had highlighted to show their interest.
"The south of Poblats Marítims, we had thought of expanding the Penya-roja district further to those grounds Mr Prime Minister." The Council from Valencia explained after examining the map in further detail. "That is a rather large plot of land though."
"Is it currently in use?" Prime Minister Zapatero asked curiously, facing the Council from Valencia properly now.
"No," The Council from Valencia shook her head. "Over the Puente Cuc de Llum, the district was remodelled with more park areas and residential properties. The Monumento Barón de Alaquàs and Les Moreres Park are opposite over Llit antic del riu Túria." She explained.
"I am assuming from the rather large plot, that you have something equally large in mind for your building?" Prime Minister Zapatero asked, rather needlessly but needing it confirmed anyway.
No international business headquarters would be a small building, certainly not something of Stark Industries' calibre.
"Show them," Tony grinned, looking at Morgan with a wide smile as she changed the projection of the map of Valencia to show a photo of Stark Plaza from her time.
The gasps and wide eyes from the government officials opposite were definitely worth it, and while the three dimensional hologram displayed the Stark Plaza building a good four feet tall off of the table, the relative size compared to the buildings around it showed just how massive and monumental it was actually going to be.
"Stark Plaza," Tony said proudly, standing up from his chair so he could talk on the same plane as the government officials that were still stood up and staring at the holographic projection in pure awe. "Tower A, one hundred and seventy nine stories. Tower B, a hundred an sixty two stories." He indicated the separate towers each.
"That's taller than the Burj Khalifa!" One of the Ministers whispered in awestruck shock.
"By quite a margin," Tony smirked knowingly. "Sixteen floors taller, a hell of a lot thicker, and long distance travel elevators spanning the entire height of both towers. Three sets of eighteen in each, triangular separation." He explained. "It'll be open to about fifty thousand employees in each tower. Commercial, research and development, clean energy, aeronautics. Stark Plaza will be the home base of Stark International." He said proudly.
"Such a monumental undertaking," The Council for Valencia whispered in awe. "The scale alone..." She said thoughtfully. "The Torre de Cristal is the tallest building in Spain Doctor Stark... not far from here, it is only two years old and only has fifty two floors." She explained when everyone looked at her to see what she was getting at. "You mean to build a structure over three times taller..."
"That's the plan." Tony nodded. "The tallest and most structurally sound building in the world. You'll understand why I'm talking about using such a wide plot of land for the base when we get into starting to talk about the construction."
"You can see the plaza opens up below, there'll be commercial properties there, keeping in with the park style layout that is opposite the river." Morgan explained. "Underground I'm aware the metro system passes under this specific lot, and we'd like to open it up with a specific station dedicated to the plaza for employees and visitors."
"Dios mío!" Prime Minister Zapatero whispered again, the numbers being spoken about being far larger than he ever could have imagined being discussed in this meeting.
"Stark Industries will take care of the station and remodelling, it'll be easily done while sorting out the foundations and expanding the underground facilities for structural planning and expansion." Tony explained.
"You... you mentioned other facilities also?" Prime Minister Zapatero asked, licking his lips to wet his suddenly very dry mouth.
"I've got my eye on bringing Stark Aviation here too, international jets, custom work, commercial, private jets for anyone that wants them." Tony rattled off. "And research and development projects as well, but those are much smaller facilities that we can discuss if you're open to the business making it's home here." He said with a grin.
"Just how much do you believe this... Stark Plaza you called it?" The Council from Valencia asked. "How much are you willing to invest in this facility?" She asked.
"Not counting purchasing the grounds?" Tony tilted his head to the side as he considered things. "Three billion? All in all?" As asked, looking to Morgan who nodded in confirmation. "We're talking state of the art technology, holographics..." He gestured to the projection again. "Advanced robotics, engineering, electronics." He nodded automatically as he rattled off his thoughts. "Silicone Valley is burnt out, commercial deals are worth far more internationally than sticking with our American holdings."
Three billion was a lot of money, he knew Pepper would be wincing at that, but SI had an estimated sales of twenty six billion annually at the moment, and that wasn't even accounting for the new deals with the new processors, phones and tablets and the upcoming sales when all those products were launched at the Expo in a couple of months.
Once they hit the market and Stark Expo launched, he knew twenty six billion would be an extremely conservative estimate, it would likely be double that by the end of the year once they'd launched medical and started working on the replacement limbs and other medical advances Morgan had brought back in time with her.
"Bottom line, I'm serious here." Tony said, drawing all the government members attention directly over to him. "I'm looking at Valencia for a serious investment. Not a short term thing, but the home of Stark International for the future of the company. My home." He explained. "Employment and GDP growth alone will skyrocket over the next few years during construction, after that... well, I'll be looking at production lines, factories, laboratories, engineering." He rattled off. "Three years construction, then we move in."
"That is a rather fast time frame," Prime Minister Zapatero said thoughtfully, still staring at the hologram and imagining just how much tourism and business a building like that would generate.
Even not counting for Doctor Stark's business, the tourism alone would be in the millions, and would rejuvenate the south of Valencia to untold degrees. It would spark more and more business growth, which would stimulate the Spanish economy to a level nothing else could even come close to matching.
"It's a realistic time scale," Tony nodded, knowing what Prime Minister Zapatero was thinking. "Three years to have the base structure done and internals, then time afterwards to really fit it out before officially opening the doors." He clarified. "When we're talking about this much money, custom construction materials and state of the art engineering come into play, and I can afford to really push out the boat and make this a building that will be envied around the world."
The various officials all started whispering at that, causing Tony to smirk knowingly over to Morgan, knowing he had won the deal right there and then.
Any city that would be able to boast the tallest building in the world would be a tourist destination in it's own right, the fact that the Stark Plaza building was so breathtaking on it's own simply added to it's appeal. Adding on the Stark name of course, and it would be a building known around the world.
"This is certainly an impressive plan, audacious would be another word for it." Prime Minister Zapatero said thoughtfully. "May I ask though... why Valencia? Why not Madrid?" He asked, honestly curious about that.
"Several reasons really, the port makes international shipping and business much easier, the nearby airport adds another factor... the coast on it's own has it's appeal, and since we're looking to expand Aviation with several inroads to further properties in land, having the headquarters on site with international business coming directly up the coast and through the airport just makes more sense." Tony explained with a shrug, seeing a few of the ministers around Prime Minister Zapatero nodding in agreement with his decisions.
"I assume you will want structural and ground surveys to confirm this site will be structurally safe for such an endeavour?" Prime Minister Zapatero asked.
"I can have my own people come in and survey the land," Tony nodded. "The substructure will be the first thing to go down, bracing the entire plot with an underground facility for power generation, internal server farms, the metro station we spoke about earlier, and a few other bits and pieces." He explained. "Once the underground stuff is in and braced properly, we can start on the main construction and the plaza around the towers."
"I will have my own people survey the ground work, but I have no issue with private surveyors confirming the validity of the site." Prime Minister Zapatero confirmed after a glance with the Council from Valencia and getting a confirming nod in response. "It will be some days for us to discuss this venture and come to an agreement, but provisionally I believe Valencia will welcome Stark International with open arms." He said proudly.
"I'm really glad," Tony grinned widely at that announcement. "I can have my lawyers contact the Valencia council about the price of the land itself and all the specifics?" He asked, looking at The Council for Valencia. "Once we've got a firm price and a contract set, I'll get the engineers down to start excavating and planning the substructure."
"I look forward to it Dr Stark." Prime Minister Zapatero smiled just as widely as Tony had, looking between him and the hologram of the beautiful looking towers overlooking Valencia's business district. "Are you staying in the city itself for long?"
"A while, taking some time out to see the sights and do some travelling." Tony said with a smile, glancing at Morgan and thinking of everything that he knew Morgan wanted to show him around Spain.
"Then shall we reconvene in one week's time perhaps?" Prime Minister Zapatero suggested. "That will give both of us time to think on what has been discussed today, and think on what the future may bring for us both."
"I can agree to that," Tony chuckled, nodding in agreement to the suggestion. "I know word is likely going to get out, one way or another, but officially I'm going to be making the announcement of Stark Industries transforming to Stark International at the Stark Expo in May. That's when it's going to be official, and ideally I'd like to have contracts penned by then."
"Again, a rather abrupt time scale, but one I think we can agree to depending on the results from the survey teams." Prime Minister Zapatero nodded thoughtfully. "One week's time then, I shall have my schedule cleared for the afternoon for you."
"That sounds good," Tony smiled happily, watching as Morgan deactivated the holographic projector and retrieved the mobile projector to slide it back into her pocket.
"It has been a pleasure Doctor Stark, I look forward to a fruitful partnership between Spain and Stark International." Prime Minister Zapatero smiled widely as he reached across the table, clasping Tony's hand in a friendly manner and clapping both his hands together around it. "Please, enjoy Madrid, our culture here is as rich and vibrant as you will find anywhere in the country."
"We will," Tony laughed, finding he could definitely get on with the politics in Spain, especially if they were all like Prime Minister Zapatero and the other ministers that he'd met today.
"Then I bid you feliz resto del día, and hasta la próxima semana my new friend." Prime Minister Zapatero laughed.
"He hopes you have a good day, and will see you next week," Morgan translated quickly with a grin when Tony looked at her curiously.
"Same to you, and I hope I'll pick up some more of the language soon." Tony chuckled, causing the Prime Minister and several other Ministers to laugh and smile at him.
"Please, allow my security to see you back to the sun, you have spoken of much today and I think I will be talking more on it until late this evening." Prime Minister Zapatero smiled, gesturing for one of his aids to open the door and inform the security to show Doctor Stark and his assistant back to their transport.
"Thanks again, and it was great meeting you all." Tony said, giving them all a nod of recognition and a smile before looking at Morgan and checking she was ready to leave, then following her back to the door where the guards were waiting to see them back through the corridors and back out into the bright and scorching sun.
Hotel Nuevo Madrid
Bausá 27
Madrid
Clint looked up automatically when he heard a key slot into his hotel room door, reading himself before the door opened and Natasha slipped in and closed the door behind her.
It was quite amusing seeing Natasha wearing such casual clothing, he didn't think he'd ever seen her wearing a dress before, especially not one as light and flowey as the one she was currently wearing, and he could only imagine how grumpy she must have been all day while wearing it and scouting out Madrid as a tourist.
"How is it?" Clint asked curiously.
"Stark's here alright," Natasha confirmed with a nod. "He was at the government offices this afternoon, I couldn't get a good look, but they were inside for a while before they left. Stark was grinning like a lunatic when he came out."
Clint snorted at that, shaking his head in amusement and wondering exactly what could have put Stark in such a mood, especially after everything that had been in the news so far this week.
Stark's trip into space was still the headline on every news site he could find. The video and pictures of him putting the first Stark satellite into orbit were all anyone could talk about, and even after further digging he'd found more information about Stark's business and how it now had partnerships with Intel and other huge technology corporations around the world.
"You're still researching Stark?" Natasha asked, narrowing her eyes cautiously at the tablet on the bed that Clint had obviously been using.
"I killed the GPS and cookies, I kept looking into other tourist traps as well while googling Stark every now and again." Clint explained, knowing Natasha was bordering on full paranoia about anything that could be remotely connected to the internet now.
"I still don't trust it," Natasha said, keeping a firm distance between her and the tablet in question. "We've got no idea what Stark's AI's could be capable of, it's not worth the risk." She said firmly.
"We need the intel," Clint shrugged. "Did you find out where Stark was staying?"
"He's got a villa about half an hour's drive north of the city." Natasha nodded. "I shadowed him there, doesn't look like any security, but..."
"But you never know with Stark," Clint grimaced. For all Stark's showboating, he rarely had any real security around him, at least nothing overt. But who knew what weapons or private security systems he had on him, probably something far more dangerous than any single squad of hired security could muster anyway. "He's got a new suit too, armour I mean."
"I saw," Natasha frowned again as Clint picked up the tablet and brought up the picture of Stark and the other armoured woman holding the Stark satellite together. "That her?" He asked, zooming into the photo of the young brunette woman in purple and silver armour standing next to Stark.
"That's the armour she was wearing at Stark's mansion, I didn't see her face then though. He's in different armour though." Natasha confirmed. "He probably has a whole collection of them by now." She muttered, frowning at the thought.
"This one's probably for space travel. Think they've both brought the armour to Spain with them?" Clint asked curiously. "Just trying to imagine how they even put the damn things on." He explained when Natasha looked at him.
"They know we're looking at infiltrating the Red Room Academy and facing trained and deadly opponents. They'll have brought their armour." Natasha said simply, as if the thought of them not bringing weapons and armour was ludicrous to the extreme.
Getting into Spain with their own weapons had been laughably easy, coming across the Alboran Sea from Morocco had bypassed most customs checks entirely, and the customs in Motril were so lax that it put the border crossing between Canada and America to shame.
"We see Stark tonight then?" Clint double checked.
"Yes," Natasha said simply. "He said he would bring a jet and get us to the Red Room from here."
"Thinking he's going to hold up his end of the bargain?" Clint asked.
"He'd better." Natasha growled, already thinking of how they were going to infiltrate the Red Room, and how she was going to find Yelena and take the Academy down for good this time.
The villa Pepper had booked for them was absolutely perfect. It was up in the area called 'Monte de Valdelatas' and overlooked the entire city with an absolutely gorgeous view of Madrid.
Him and Morgan had happily been sitting on the villa terrace talking and planning ideas for the Stark Expo as the sun went down, and he'd even taken a quick photo of himself and Morgan with the view in the background that he'd emailed over to Pepper to show her how they were doing.
"Think we'll see the Stark Plaza up in a couple of years then?" Tony asked with a grin, enjoying some fruity Spanish drink that he'd found in the villa's fridge and tasted like a mixed fruit cocktail.
"Definitely," Morgan smirked. "The government were chomping at the bit as soon as they saw the photo, by the time you started talking about employment they were ready to drool and hand over the deeds to the land right then and there." She exclaimed with a laugh.
"Probably just want a week to see that there's nobody else interested in the land," Tony nodded knowingly. "I don't think they'll try and get us into a bidding war, but it wouldn't be the first time officials have tried to inflate the land prices like that and make more money off of the idea."
"I've got FAITH keeping an eye on the land deeds, there's nobody else even close to looking at it yet." Morgan shook her head. "From what I know, it was still wasted ground right up until mom bought it out in the future." She explained.
"So anything they try to pull, we'll know about it." Tony smirked at the thought. "Did you want to head down to..." He trailed off as Morgan turned around, apparently startled by something so he span around as well, narrowing his eyes when he saw Romanoff and Robin Hood standing just inside the walls of the villa and watching them from the other side of the terrace. "Well, you made it then." He smirked, leaning back and affecting his usual casual and care free attitude.
"It was easy enough to find." Natasha said simply.
"Yeah, well, we weren't exactly hiding." Tony smirked over, watching as she made her way over to the table where they were sitting with Robin Hood following a step behind her. "Going to introduce us?"
"Don't you already know?" Natasha countered with her own smirk as she pulled out a chair opposite Tony and sat down, mentally focusing on the young woman sat with Stark that was clearly his daughter.
The physical similarities were clear enough now that she could see the woman in person. The hair was a touch lighter, a more auburn shade of brown, the eyes were the same, so was the jaw line. She estimated her to be in her mid twenties, perhaps late twenties at a push. She was definitely his daughter though, she'd be willing to bet money on that.
The glowing device that both Stark's had on their chests was certainly noteworthy. She'd seen reports of the Arc reactor that the older Stark had designed, but the devices they both shared didn't look anything like the circular reactors that she'd seen in reports. The only thing they really shared in common was a light blue glow, but other than that they looked completely different to anything she'd seen before.
"Clint Barton," The woman smirked, an extremely similar expression to the older Stark. "It's been a while." She said, leaning back in her chair and seemingly enjoying her own drink as Clint sat down in the chair opposite her.
"We've never met." Clint said flatly, staring at her dubiously. "Nat said you were the one that send me the video."
"The older you, I knew him." The woman clarified, much to Natasha and Clint's surprise, though they both kept their faces schooled as they evaluated this new information.
"You're from the future." Natasha said simply. "Forty? Fifty years?" She asked.
"Something like that," Morgan said, not clarifying one way or the other.
"Not why we're here," Tony said, drawing their attention away from her. "You've done your own research about this academy thing?" He asked.
"I've confirmed what your AI said," Natasha nodded, turning her attention to the older Stark. "It's still at the same location, everything I've heard says any air approach is impossible without specific recognition codes generated by the Red Room and Dreykov." She said flatly.
"Defences?" Tony asked curiously.
"Soviet era." Natasha nodded. "Radar, flack cannons, snipers, air to air missiles." She listed off. "Is that a problem?"
"Nope," Tony actually grinned at her, dismissing everything she'd just said as if it was completely inconsequential.
"You have a jet?" Natasha checked. "Stealth capable?" She questioned, it was the only real answer as to why Stark would completely dismiss all the Red Room's defences. "The pilot?"
"Don't need one." Tony shrugged. "You managed to get any actual information on this flying fortress thing then?" He asked.
"Only the basics." Natasha frowned, as if admitting that to the pair of Starks actually pained her.
"My turn then," Morgan smirked, bringing out her tablet and activating it's holographic screen, pulling up all the information FAITH and FRIDAY had found out about the Academy before placing it on the table between them for Natasha to take.
Natasha frowned as she picked up the tablet, ignoring the fancy technology and focusing on the information being displayed on the slightly translucent screen that was threatening to make her eye twitch. "This is confirmed?" She said, looking back to the younger Stark.
"We got into the basics of their network, mapped the entire structure." Morgan nodded. "Plans, schematics, vents, training facilities. The whole thing."
Natasha fought the urge to growl as she scrolled down on the tablet, eyeing all the information that was brought up, including large maps of the facility and information about the security and defences positioned around the main hub of the structure.
The fact that Stark could get this level of detail when she, and SHIELD to that point, couldn't, was definitely a blow to her ego, and only emphasised exactly how much of a threat Stark's AIs could be if they decided she was a threat.
"Fine," Natasha bit out, putting the tablet back on the table. "You'll get us there and return?" She asked.
"Quid pro quo." Tony said, drawing both Natasha and Clint's eyes over to him again. "A favour for a favour." He said, matching Natasha's look with a dangerous expression of his own.
"I already took care of Ross." Natasha countered.
"Doesn't count, we already knew about him and had plans, we didn't need you for him." Tony shook his head. "I'm not interested in Fury's idea of a super secret boyband of superheroes or whatever he's calling it lately. Don't know, don't care. I'm not interested in putting together a team or making friends. I'm in it to stop the end of the world, end of discussion." He said simply.
"You know what's coming." Natasha said, looking back to the young woman that was apparently from the future. "The red rifts problem?" She asked.
"A precursor," Morgan nodded. "Two thousand and twelve." She clarified. "Alien invasion. New York."
Natasha narrowed her eyes at that, feeling Clint stiffen beside her. "Aliens?" She asked, feeling her eyebrows raise in shock before she could school her features back into her usual blank mask.
"Aliens," Tony said flatly. "We help you. You help us when the invasion hits."
"Two years, plenty of time to put something bigger together." Clint suggested, speaking up for the first time with his own thoughts about everything.
Aliens, hell, well if they were already talking about time travel and everything crazy like that, why not throw aliens into the mix. It wasn't like the world was going to get any less weird, and definitely explained some of the weirder things he'd seen while working at SHIELD.
"I already am," Tony said with a smirk. "But that's not the main event."
"Who is?" Natasha asked.
"Two of them." Morgan said simply. "Thanos, he's the main threat. About eight or nine feet tall, stronger than The Hulk, and he's on a crusade to wipe out half the life in the universe." She explained, much to the horror of both Natasha and Clint, who both stared at her with blank expressions, but she could tell that inside they were reeling.
"When?" Natasha asked with narrowed eyes.
"Twenty eighteen at first, then if we don't stop him then, a repeat in twenty twenty three." Morgan answered simply. "He comes and he's backed up with a full invasion." She explained. "It doesn't go well."
"Shit," Clint breathed out, staring between the Starks and trying to quantify exactly how he was going to be of any use fighting an alien invasion like that.
"The red rifts?" Natasha asked.
"If we can stop the invasion in two years, they'll never happen." Morgan nodded.
"So, saving the world?" Clint asked, staring at Morgan now and wondering what sort of world she must have actually come from. From the way his older self had described it, it was suitably horrible and getting worse by the year.
"Basically." Morgan confirmed with a glance over at him.
"You're going to need us, us and more." Natasha said simply, like it was a fact that couldn't be disputed.
"We're going to need people we can trust." Tony countered, staring across at Natasha coldly. "I know everything you did in the future, so I'm not stupid enough to trust the sake of the world on people that are going to screw me over."
"What happened to me?" Clint asked, looking over at Morgan now. "The video me said that Nat died, didn't say how, didn't say when. What did I do?" He asked.
"You were part of Fury's initiative for enhanced." Natasha said, ignoring Clint's question for now and looking at Tony before over to his daughter, as she was apparently the time traveller here. "How bad was it?" She asked.
"Bad." Morgan said, not bothering to sugar coat it at all. "Fury screwed everyone over. Apparently he had you two gas lighting my dad the entire time, keeping him off balance so he wouldn't look too closely into SHIELD. That's what you told me in the future anyway, but I only know you two basically treated him like a banker and a doormat for a half dozen years until Rogers went psycho and renegade. He was declared an international terrorist, you two sided with him. He fled back into the past, you died, you stayed an asshole and kept in hiding until the end of the world." She rattled off bluntly.
"Shit," Clint repeated, closing his eyes and grimacing at the thought. "Sounds like Fury's plan, the gas lighting stuff. He's had us pull that a few times on marks, keeps them off balance and guessing."
"Can't honestly say when you turned out to be an asshole." Morgan said, looking at Clint now. "Twenty twelve, you got turned by an alien God. Mind control stuff. I don't know the specifics, but SHIELD basically told you to walk it off and shoved you back to work. From what I know, everything turned to shit for you after that." She shrugged. "Last time I spoke to you, you asked me to help you and her get away from SHIELD altogether and make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Shit," Clint said again, not really needing to say anything other than that. "The videos." He said, getting a nod from Stark's daughter in conformation.
"Like I said, we know what's going to happen." Tony said with a small shrug. "Apparently you're our best bet for taking out the giant walking grape." He said, looking to Natasha now. "Long range sniper?"
Natasha paused, looking at Tony and evaluating him. "I can take the shot." She said after a moment's thought. "Heavy calibre?" She asked.
"Bigger than anything you've used before," Tony said thoughtfully. "Modified rail gun, I'm thinking a repeater with multiple slaves. You take the shot, two or three more follow it with automating targeting matched from your sights."
"A rail gun as a sniper rifle?" Natasha blinked, trying to imagine that sort of ordinance. If it was a Stark weapon, then she could definitely trust it, she knew Stark's reputation when it came to technology and weapons, and apparently in the future he'd only gone from strength to strength with it.
"Apparently we did actually work closely, at least, closely enough for me to design custom armour and weapons for you." Tony said, looking at Natasha closely now and trying to picture her in the metallic nanotech Spider armour that he'd seen in FAITH's database. If nothing else, the tight form fitting nanotech suit would definitely accentuate Little Miss Spider's curves and give him some eye candy to admire.
"We're out of SHIELD, so no Fury pulling our strings and giving us orders to screw you over." Clint explained. "And if you keep me from getting brain whammied by some alien freakshow, then I'll owe you big time anyway." He added on after thinking about it for a second.
"We do Belarus first, then we can talk about helping each other out further." Natasha said calmly. "The Red Room in exchange for New York, twenty twelve."
"Done." Tony said immediately. "The entire facility? Or do you just want specific targets?" He asked.
"I want it wiped off the face of the planet." Natasha said coldly. "We rescue as many as we can, but I have my priority."
"Yelena Belova," Morgan nodded. "I've seen footage of her in several cities now, facial recognition is tracking her if she pops up anywhere with a camera connected to the internet."
"I want Dreykov myself." Natasha said coldly. "Everyone else aside from Yelena is expendable. Dreykov is mine. Then we blow the entire thing."
"Done." Tony nodded.
"You say that like it's going to be easy," Clint grimaced at the thought. "We're talking about a flying fortress filled with assassins. Not to mention we have no idea what weapons and guards will be patrolling, and their mind control stuff that's keeping all the Widows on side." He counted off.
"I've got that," Tony nodded. "Non lethal electric rounds. Disrupts the nervous system. It'll take anyone down for two days minimum." He explained. "We knock them out, secure them, and work on breaking the mind control once we're out of there."
Natasha tilted her head as she contemplated that. It was certainly doable, but meant keeping multiple trained Black Widows secured until they could effectively break the mind control. That was a hell of a dangerous risk.
"It might work for three or four, no more than that." Natasha shook her head. "We can't keep any more of them secure without risking them working together and freeing themselves."
"If you've got a better idea, I'm all ears." Tony countered, looking back at her and waiting for her to say anything else.
"Four widows. Yelena, and three others." Natasha said after a moment. "But not at the risk of losing Dreykov or abandoning the mission." She said firmly. "Dreykov dies, the Academy gets destroyed. That's the mission."
"Fine," Tony nodded, it wasn't his mission or his revenge, it was just a quid pro quo to get some people actually on his team for the shit show that was coming. The fact everyone on that flying fortress was an asshole of the top pedigree or a trained assassin with more blood on their hands than anyone else he knew, just made it that much easier.
"When?" Natasha asked.
"We've got a week. Anytime you're ready." Tony shrugged after sharing a glance with Morgan. "It's about a nine hour flight, plus whatever time we're going to need there. So a full day."
"Tomorrow," Natasha said simply. "Midday. We'll hit the Red Room at night."
"Sounds like a plan." Tony nodded after thinking about it for a moment. "Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. Hanger seventeen." He said. "Don't bother trying to get on the jet before we get there, you won't like the defences."
Natasha gave a single nod at that, not wanting to be on the other side of Stark weapons anyway. She'd seen what they could do in combat zones, and had no intention of having any of his future improved weapons pointed her way any time soon.
"And me?" Clint asked, drawing everyone's attention back over to him where he'd been quiet for most of the discussion.
"Do what you do I guess," Tony shrugged. "Not for nothing, but if this wasn't half rescue and half destruction, I'd just fly up and rain missiles down on the entire thing, end everything without even landing there." He said with a dismissive gesture. "You want to try and save these girls, I'm all in, but I'm not going to risk my life over it when there's more important fights on the horizon that we need to win."
Natasha glared at him at that, but annoyingly couldn't dispute it. The Red Room was a problem, but it was her problem, not Starks and it certainly didn't compare to alien invasions and apocalyptic red rifts that were going to destroy the planet. Hell, The Red Room barely compared to HYDRA and other small time threats like that, bringing Stark and his armour, and the future Stark and her armour, was literally overkill for a mission like this.
"Tomorrow. Midday." Natasha said, giving Stark a single nod before she stood up from the table, Clint following barely a beat behind her before they both walked away, hopping over the villa walls with ease and vanishing into the surrounding woodlands.
Puente Antiguo
New Mexico
United States of America
Doctor Erik Selvig wasn't particularly surprised to see Jane and Darcy already up when he entered the small cabin they were renting for the duration of Jane's experiments. He knew both were fully dedicated to Jane's theory about the unusual weather in New Mexico being somehow linked an an unstable Einstein-Rosen bridge, he was just vaguely amused to see that Darcy was up with her and already making coffee while trying to collate together a mess of papers that had taken over the kitchen area of the cabin.
"Oh, hey doc." Darcy smiled over. "Coffee's on if you want some."
"Thank you," Erik smiled back as he closed the cabin door behind him. "Jane, there is something we need to discuss." He said, heading over to Jane's workstation where she was fiercely going over weather patterns from the last month, circling various events with a thick red marker and tracking the various disturbances that seemed to come and go over New Mexico seemingly without any pattern at all.
"Oh, Doctor Selvig," Jane looked up, finally spotting her mentor as he approached. "I think I might have something, it's a long drive north, but I'm almost certain that in a couple of days..."
"Jane, stop for a moment, there is something we should talk about before we go any further." Erik chuckled, laying his hand down on Jane's shoulder. "Last night I received an email that might help fund further research into the Einstein-Rosen bridge phenomenon, along with providing resources that the university could never match."
"Funding?" Darcy asked, jumping into the conversation and literally running over to involve herself in the discussion. "Like, proper funding? With proper equipment and everything?" She asked, doing her best not to look around at the cobbled together equipment that was barely functional and held together with duct tape and a prayer most of the time.
"Precisely," Erik chuckled, he always found Darcy's enthusiasm to be infectious, and extremely helpful in keeping him excited about the science behind these mysterious phenomenon.
"What sort of funding?" Jane asked curiously.
"A private research facility, we've been offered positions there. I had assumed that you had been contacted as well?" Erik asked.
"Um... I haven't really checked my emails lately," Jane admitted, glancing around in a vague hope that she would be able to spot her laptop anywhere in the vicinity. "In a couple of days actually, maybe a week? Two weeks?" She explained with a wince.
"Jane," Erik groaned, shaking his head. He should have realised really, he knew outright that without Darcy keeping Jane on track of things, she tended to lose herself in her work and completely forget about the rest of the world or her surroundings, or anything else really.
"So, private research?" Darcy asked, drawing Erik's attention away from the suitably chastised Jane. "What are we talking here, like a private school or something?" She asked curiously.
"Not as such," Erik shook his head. "Stark Industries are setting up a private facility. Research and development. From what I can gather, he came to us directly with interest in your research." He explained, looking to Jane now to emphasise that Tony Stark was interested in her science personally.
"Tony freakin' Stark?!" Darcy exclaimed, her eyes going wide at that revelation. "The guy who just took a satellite into space with his own bare hands?" She asked, wide eyed at the thought of actually meeting the tech mogul and seeing what sort of technology he could afford to throw at a research and development lab.
"As I said, Stark Industries can provide equipment and resources far beyond what Culver University can offer." Erik explained, nodding towards Darcy to confirm what she'd said. "Our funding allotment is growing thin as it is. We have maybe three or four weeks left before it runs out." He said, making sure Jane was paying attention to him. "By then, I will either have to return to the university and return to teaching... or secure funding elsewhere to continue our research together."
"Why's Doctor Stark looking in to Einstein-Rosen bridges?" Jane asked curiously. "I thought weapons and technology were his focus, not astrophysics and quantum mechanics?" She asked, contemplating the thought deeply as she considered what Erik was saying.
"Maybe it's about that satellite thing he just launched?" Darcy suggested. "He might have picked up something in space, and it's got his attention now?" She asked thoughtfully.
"That is possible," Erik nodded as he thought about that.
Everyone around the world knew about Stark's satellite now, but nobody really knew why he had launched it in the first place, or what the satellite was actually supposed to do. All the press releases from Stark Industries all seemed to say the same thing, and the news simply reported that it was a private satellite, but not give any real information about it.
"A full lab?" Jane asked, looking up to Erik from where she was still sat on her achingly wobbly chair that was threatening to fall apart under her weight every time she shifted around on it. "With proper funding to look into the phenomenon however we want?"
"I haven't confirmed the details yet, only received the invitation from Doctor Stark to come and discuss the position with him. I'm almost certain the email he would have sent you will contain the same." Erik explained. "He invited me, us, to Stark Industries on the twenty sixth. In little over a week's time."
"That's not enough time," Jane shook her head. "The phenomenon here keeps shifting, I can't track and localise it in eight days."
"This isn't about proving your research Jane." Erik said calmly. "Securing continued funding will allow us both to continue research into the phenomenon, and likely give us far more equipment that can be used to localise the phenomenon in far greater detail than we have managed so far."
"The doc's got a point," Darcy interrupted before Jane could say anything. "Coming back here with proper Stark tech? Actual funding so we don't have to sleep on couches and live off pot noodles and toast?" She pointed out. "A proper lab to work out of? And money?" She countered.
"But we don't know why Doctor Stark is interested in the first place," Jane countered back. "He's never written papers or published anything on physics or astrophysics before. Why this sudden interest?"
"Maybe you can ask him?" Darcy grinned widely at the thought. "Come on. Meeting Tony Stark? How many people get that offer?" She asked with a laugh. "He came to you. He looked you up. Isn't that amazing!" She proclaimed giddily.
"It is quite the ego boost, I will admit." Erik chuckled to himself at the thought. "I want you to think about this carefully Jane. Personally I think accepting Doctor Stark's proposal will grant us far more options for continued research than relying on the university will." He explained. "Private research funding is few and far between, and an offer like this does not come around very often at all."
"I'll think about it," Jane sighed, looking at how both Erik and Darcy were staring at her now. "OK, yes, it would be amazing." She admitted. "I just don't know why he might be interested in my theories." She said with a frown, knowing her work on Einstein-Rosen bridges was generally looked down on by the scientific community, and outright laughed at by the less friendly scientists around.
"Does it matter?" Darcy prompted her. "It's Tony freakin' Stark. He's probably got scientists and engineers working on tons of different things. If he wants to fund our thing, I say let him, and let us actually get some proper food while we work instead of starving away out here in the desert." She said with a self-deprecating laugh.
"It is certainly true that Doctor Stark funds many things, a private research laboratory would not be out of character from what I know about the man." Erik confirmed with a glance over to Darcy. "I do also agree that his interest in our research is not likely lightly given. The fact he researched us both and reached out to us in person, rather than having others reach out on his behalf, tells me that he is personally interested for whatever reason he has."
"See, that's what I'm confused about." Jane explained with a frown. "Why would Stark Industries, or Doctor Stark alone, be interested in Einstein-Rosen bridges and astrophysics?" She asked. "It doesn't make any sense."
"So ask him." Darcy suggested for the second time. "We're like two states over from California. We can take a couple of days to meet with him right? If we don't like what he has to say, we come back and take our chances with the university. It's not like we're losing anything by hearing him out right?" She asked.
"There is that," Erik nodded in agreement with Darcy's point of view.
"And we actually get to meet Tony freakin' Stark!" Darcy added on with a grin. "Come on, it's the chance of a lifetime. Meeting Tony Stark, and maybe getting funding from him? It's a win win." She grinned. "And... California for a few days. Out of the desert. What's not to love about that?" She smirked, seeing how she was winning Jane over with her arguments.
"Fine," Jane huffed, letting out a loud sigh as she capitulated in to both Erik and Darcy's pushing. "I'll check my emails... somehow." She groaned, looking around again for her laptop and failing to see it anywhere within sight. "We can go and meet him and see what he has to say. No promises though. I don't want my research corrupted by governments or shady business deals." She said firmly, making sure both Doctor Selvig and Darcy knew where the line was.
"Tony Stark's all about that," Darcy grinned happily. "It was all over the news months ago. He cut ties with the military, stopped making weapons, everything!" She explained when she saw the blank look Jane was giving her. "He's all about tech now, no weapons at all. He's rocking the whole superhero gig and doing god knows what with satellites, fancy new phones and tech that's out of this world!"
"I did see the news about Doctor Stark closing down weapons manufacturing," Erik confirmed. "Though I admit I haven't kept up with any further news regarding his business."
"I'll email you the links," Darcy huffed, rolling her eyes at the fact that she was the only one here who actually paid attention to the news regularly, hell, even once a month would be generous for both of the scientists she was stuck with. "And I'll find your laptop." She said, looking to Jane who looked back at her with a thankful smile.
"We have a week then," Erik smiled. "I suggest we collate as much research as we can, so at least we have something together that we can present to Doctor Stark at our meeting." He explained his thought. "We might not have direct evidence or proof, but a well compiled paper with as much scientific data as we can manage should hopefully intrigue him enough to keep him interested in our work."
"I can do that," Darcy nodded eagerly. "If you two sort out all the research and print outs, I'll start putting a paper together."
"Fine," Jane sighed, looking around at the mountains of print outs, maps, scientific data and seismic readouts that she'd been pouring over for the last month. "This is going to take forever." She groaned.
"I'll get more coffee on then," Darcy grinned eagerly at the thought. "We're going to need it." She said after looking around, picturing just how comprehensive of a paper she would need to put together to entice someone like Tony freakin' Stark to give them his money.
It would take a miracle at this point, but she was damned willing to do her best.