Introducing everyone else
Dinner went exactly as Coulson expected. It was a basic fun-fest for the Avengers and nothing but trouble for him. They were all gathered around the table by the time the four SHIELD agents come home. Steve and Bruce had made lasagna and Tony was complaining about being made to wait before he could have any. Pepper just smiled at him
“Oh, hey. The Coulson twins return!” Tony turns his attention on the people coming through the door.
Dr. Addy looked at his brother questioningly. “We’re not twins. Do people think we look alike?”
Tony blinked for a second. When he realized that the young man was serious he changed tactics. “Hi, you must be Phil’s brother.” Tony held out his hand.
Dr. Addy didn’t even pause before he took the billionaires hand but he didn’t really shake it as much as touch and then let go. “Must I be? I am. I just wasn’t aware that it was necessary.” He looked at Tony for a few minutes then cracked a really big smile. “Hi, I’m Zack, your new resident bondservant.”
Clint started to shake like he was trying not to giggle. Coulson smiled. “Everyone, this is Dr. Zack Addy. Yes, we share a father. Since I don't use it, Tony has been gracious enough to allow him to move into my floor. Zack this is Tony Stark, Ms. Pepper Potts, Elias Stark, Dr. Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, Captain Steve Rogers, and you already know Clint Barton.”
Everyone shook hands as they were introduced. Even Elias. When it was done Zack subconsciously rubbed his hands on his pants but he was smiling. “You have a lot of friends,” he said to his brother. “I like them.”
“Glad to hear it,” Phil smiled back.
There was a small sound of a throat clearing. Zack looked around but could not see where it was coming from. This time it was Tony's turn to smile. “Don’t worry, we didn’t forget you. JARVIS, Dr. Zack Addy. Dr. Zack Addy, JARVIS. He’s an AI that controls the building.”
“Um, Hi Jarvis.” Zack said.
“Good Evening, Dr. Addy. Very pleasant to meet you,” The voice said with an English accent.
“Is your name an anagram?” Zack asked while looking around until Tony pointed to a camera set almost invisibly in the wall.
“Sir named me ‘Just A Rather Very Intelligent System’ but based it on his childhood butler.”
Bruce decided to interrupt the conversation, “I think we better eat now before the food gets cold.”
Dr. Addy’s eyes sparkled at the lasagna. “Whoever made that is my new best friend.”
XXX
Dinner was the normal exchange of information. Where did you grow up? what are you doing now? Are you really the Hulk? Stuff like that. Zack managed to keep up with both Clint and Tony’s teasing but refused to delve too much into his own recent history. Yes, he has 7 siblings being the youngest. His father adopted him after he found out that his mother was pregnant with a fourth son by a different man due to a sex pollen incident. Turns out the Grominites had a vendetta against Agent K and his mother was passing him in the street at just the wrong time. The two had only had enough sense to find an alleyway before they lost all control.
Right after the explanation JARVIS informed the group that there was an Agent K, Agent Sciuto and a Colonel Casey in the lobby asking for permission to see Dr. Addy. Zack jumped up excited. “Did you invite them?” He said while looking at his brother.
“Well, no one has been able to see you in years due to their jobs so I figured it was time for a little family reunion.” Phil smiled while Tony gave JARVIS permission to allow the visitors into the elevator.
By the time the elevator arrived the food was cleared from the table and most of the Avengers had excused themselves into the living room where they could see the visitors but also give them space.
The doors opened and a very pale lady with black braids ran out and hugged Zack. If there was a word to describe her black and white clothes and makeup it would be goth but she was smiling like it was the happiest day of her life. “Zack! I haven't seen you in over six years. You look amazing. Have you even aged during that time?”
Dr. Addy smiled back, “I missed you too Abby.”
The next person came out and shook Zack’s and Phil’s hands with a simple “Hello”. He was tall with black hair and a very clean shaven face. He settled into a parade rest as Agent K came onto the floor and said, “Finally left one nuthouse to move into another.”
Zack looked nervously up at his father. “Deemed no longer non compos mentis, Sir”
K continued to look down, keeping himself a few feet from his son. “And now a slave. I know you were raised better. Your mom is the smartest woman I ever met. Explain.”
His brown eyes darkened as his eyebrows went down. “and what do you care? You allowed some off world scum to hurt mom, you impregnated her and then disappeared for fifteen years. I highly doubt the last thirteen years make up for it.”
“You watch your mouth. I am still your father and you wouldn’t know half of what you know without my help. I am ashamed at how you turned out.” Agent K growled.
The others had stepped back to allow the two space but couldn’t allow this to continue.
“Dad, he made a mistake and is paying for it. Leave him alone!” Abby said at the same time that Phil said, “Then why did you come?”
Agent K turned around and headed right back into the elevator but it didn’t close. Colonel Casey looked at the situation and then reached into the elevator and pulled K back out. “You taught us that some situations don’t have explanation. Treat him like your son.”
“My children are not slaves,” was all that K would say.
“Obviously one is, sir,” Zack said. “I made a mistake and now am getting what I deserve. If you think I am going to allow you to look down upon me because of one error, a big one but just an error in my life, you are sorely mistaken.”
“Boy, you have yet to prove to me that you deserve my respect but since we are not here on a social call I will allow you a chance to change my mind.”
“What is the mission?” Phil asked
“I am,” growled Colonel Casey.
“John? You?” Phil said in surprise.
“Yeah. My charge disappeared a month ago. If I don’t find Charles Bartowski or evidence that he is dead I am looking at a dishonorable discharge. The CIA has exhausted all of it’s resources. We found the body of one of the men we thought took him but I’m thinking that a man being given cement shoes sorta shows he isn’t the boss.”
Dr. Addy got right into work mode. “And where is the body now?”
“We gave it to SHIELD’s forensic department. It should be arriving now.” Casey answered. His voice was deep and steady.
“I managed to get permission to join SHIELD on this and will be helping you,” Abby said. “It will be like we were in college.”
Zack smiled over at his sister. She was a couple of years older than him but they did take a few biology classes together and helped each other out. He was very close to her even though he didn’t even know about this family until he turned fifteen.
“What’s this guy got that’s so important?” asked Phil as he pulled out his cell phone and started taking notes.
“He’s been programmed by Orion.”
“Orion,” Natasha said. The Avengers had moved closer and were all piled around the doorway to the entryway. “This Bartowski was given the Intersect?”
Colonel Casey eyed her for a second, “I don’t even want to know how you know about that but not only was he given the Intersect but was updated a few years back right before Orion died.”
“And what is the Intersect?” Phil asked.
“It’s a downloadable program that entails all knowledge on every known bad guy and event in existence.”
“Then we just need to find out where this Bartowski guy keeps it...” Phil was interrupted.
“No, Phil.” said John. “It doesn’t download into a computer. It’s a direct download into the brain.”
“So we either find this guy and save him or kill him before the bad guys manage to use him or worse, learn how to program others,” Agent K said calmly.
“This isn’t exactly going to be easy if the CIA couldn’t get a lead,” Abby said.
“No, but no one beats our ability to find the needle in a haystack. Hey, JARVIS,” Tony yelled.
“You bellowed?” came the reply.
“Yeah, download everything you can get on this Charles Bartowski”
Tony was cut off with Colonel Casey saying, “And Fulcrum. That is who we believe is holding him. They are in relations with Hydra and have recently received technology that shouldn’t be possible at this time on earth. I’ll make sure that you receive the stuff that isn’t on digital file.”
“Thanks,” Tony said as he tapped on his StarkTab.
The group split up: Pepper went back to work. Bruce, Abby and Zack joined Natasha and Clint as they left for SHIELD. Phil, K and John joined Tony in his lab to continue researching possible connections and to use Tony's tech to recreate the abduction scene.
Steve looked around and sighed. He hated to be the man out of time. Not knowing the tech or scientific jargon would just get him in the way. At least his job was extremely important in it’s own right. He reached for Elias’ hand and asked if he wanted to go to the park. The boy had been sitting quietly in a corner absorbing as much information as he could. When everyone had left he looked upset for a minute but the mention of the park shook him out of his stupor and they both left with a smile.