Arinya always took Tony Stark's successes as a challenge. Sure he was fictional but that didn't make a difference.
Her mother always had instilled in her no one was truly fictional. Slightly ominous but it just fueled her more.
Her father was more down to earth but both supported her ventures.
They got her into the best vocational schools, then helped her get into the colleges of her dreams and when the time came and she wanted to go off-the-grid her parents supported even that.
Her mother kissed her on the cheek, "Have fun."
Then her parents disappeared too. She could find no trace of them. No matter where she hacked into, it was like they ceased to exist.
Then one day a screen popped up like some sort of game interface.
[Agent 177 and 225's progeny found. The Agent would like to give you a gift for your mother and father's efforts in the field.]
"Oh so you are the Agency Mom used to tell me about."
She had thought them just stories but she'd learned not to believe anything was impossible not when she herself had seemed to create life in the form of V.I.T.A.
"Am I being recruited now? There's still much I'd like to explore and create."
[The Agency merely wishes to connect you with another individual of great potential.]
Arinya chuckled, "Oh is the Agency matchmaking now?"
[We merely provide the connection. You and the other will have to decide the rest.]
"I see." She shrugged her shoulders, before looking at VITA's bird form. "What do you think VITA?"
"I cannot hear what you have, however you have been without a mate. Perhaps it's time you take a chance."
"Alright, Agency, let's do this."
[Prepare to be bound to the Red String System...]
Arinya chuckled even as she grew dizzy as the connection was made. Red String= soulmates. She was really doing this.
The screen changed to show a Status profile icon in the top left, then a Chat option below, followed by Quests and Store.
Curious about her Status she clicked on that first.
[Name: Arinya Wright
Title(s): Progeny of Agents 177 225
Genetic Enhancements: Enhanced Body/Senses, Polyglot, Photographic Memory
Skills:
- Master Programmer (Level 80)
- Master Engineer (Level 70)
- Elite Hacker (Level 80)
Stats
-Stamina: 80/100
-Strength: 70/100
-Agility: 60/100
-Intelligence: 90/100
-Luck: 70/100]
She knew she was a genius but wasn't this all a bit overpowered. She blinked, 'who cares' she shrugged.
Going back to the main 'screen', she clicked on the Chat curious to see if she recognized the name of the Agency's pick.
There was a message already and she couldn't help the booming laugh that came from her throat when she saw who it was from.
Tony Stark: So who's my mystery soulmate?
Arinya: It might be too quick to assume we are soulmates.
Tony Stark: I'll have you know I'm quite the catch.
Arinya: Billionaire, philanthropist and playboy?
Tony Stark: Oh you've heard of me then.
Arinya: You can say that. So where are you in your timeline, before kidnapping or after kidnapping?
Tony Stark: How did you know I am kidnapped?
Arinya: Right now? What weird timing to get a system...
Arinya: Or maybe the right one, I have a feeling the quest rewards will probably give us points to the Store. There might be something in there to help you escape.
Tony Stark: You didn't answer my question.
Arinya: It's quite unbelievable.
Tony Stark: Right...more unbelievable than a system administrator?
Arinya: I come from a different universe where your life is part of a series of movies and comics.
Arinya: My mum used to always say that no one is really fictional and I guess she might have been right.
His status bubble underneath is name went from green (available) to gray (unavailable). She hoped it was just because he was processing and not because he was about to be tortured by his captors.
Heading to the main screen she decided to check her quests.
[Current Level: 1
Current EXP: 40/100
Quests
- Chat with Tony () 40
- Get at least 4 hours of sleep (X) 20
- Begin crafting new identity
for MCU universe (X) 20
- Clean up workspace (X) 20
Quest Rewards: 1,000 points, $10k, Level Up]
At least it was aware of her pay anything below $10k would have been pushing it. She no longer worked small potatoe jobs and this would be no different.
Adding the new tasks to her schedule with allotted time slots she got cleaning up her workspace. First clearing out trash, then taking plates and cups to her studio's kitchen and placing them in the dishwasher. Then she dusted down the desk and the equipment.
A chime signaled the completion of the task.
Deciding that if she eventually moved to the MCU-verse she'd like to keep something from home she kept her identity similar. Only change being she was orphan since she didn't want to make a trail for her parents too. Self-employed, self-taught hacker and programmer. When she got the bare basics of identity down, a chime was heard. After checking her own businesses, and side hustle she decided to try to get those 5 hours asleep.
She couldn't help her mind drifting off to how Tony Stark was doing, during one of the worst moments of his life.