Enemy Territory
“This is a really stupid idea.” Maria muttered to Tony, who hummed in acknowledgment. She isn’t wrong. Pegasus can withstand a lot of punishment and the shields are almost impossible to penetrate, but they aren’t infinite.
“I agree.” Friday chimed in, frowning at him with that look that just screams idiot. Tony finds it quite adorable. “There is no way our shields will withstand that kind of heavy firepower. We will be ripped to shreds even before we get past Cuba.”
Ah yes, Cuba. It’s not the most direct way from Los Angles to Italy, but it’s the least guarded way through the Chitauri Blockade. If at least a 30 Chitauri Leviathans can be considered that. Not to mention their other fliers…
The most logical way would be to sneak past the blockade in stealth mode, but Pegasus doesn’t have the most advanced cloaking system and Tony also noticed that during the battle of Chicago some Chitauri Troopers somehow managed to track down some of the cloaked Iron Legionaries, which means they adapted, and they adapted quickly.
Too quickly as in manner of fact…
Nonetheless, Tony has only one really stupid plan. The question now is if it will work or they will find out if Valhalla is real since Thor and Loki both are. Well, Tony and Friday have a chance on survival but that’s not important right now.
“Have a little fate, ladies.” Tony turned around and sat down into his chair, leaning one hand on his elbow and slowly streaking his goatee, not sure if he is trying to convince them or himself. “Everything will work out just fine.”
“Fine you say.” Friday said with a taunting and daring smile, guiding to him and setting herself down on his knee. Just then, a loudly shake echoes through the whole vessel, making some Systems flicker on and off.
“You are mean.” Tony pouted, making Friday roll her eyes and stand up, while Tony starts commanding Agents around. “Transfer all spare energy to shields and release the remaining Legionnaires! Focus all of our attention on defending this ship!”
“Tony, what’s happening?!”
“You are kidding me…” Tony muttered to himself, taking a deep calming breath, as Fury and the remaining Avengers, minus Barnes, Vision, Wanda and Yelena march onto the bridge. “What the fuck are you doing here?!”
“I understand that we don’t see eye to eye right now but you can’t just keep us out of the loop and locked up!“ Steve countered, glaring at Tony while the others just look around, silently trying to find out what’s happening and trying their best to not meet Tony’s eyes.
Ever since they saw what really happened in Siberia, all of them were highly critical of Steve’s decisions and simply disappointed in their leader, if he can be still called that. Fury was the only one who didn’t pay any mind to what happened and kept cursing around because Tony has everything he once had and more.
“If you feel imprisoned, Captain, feel free to jump off the ship anytime you want.” Friday said with fake polite and at the same time, mocking smile. “Otherwise shut up and sit your ass down.”
“You want to know what’s happening?” Tony asked with a sharp smile, pointing at the big window before them. “Go on. Take a look.”
Hesitantly and suspiciously, Steve moves to the others, looking out of the window, and gasping at the sight outside. The Pegasus is flying above a burning city, surrounded by raging battle between The Iron Legion and Chitauri Leviathans and other flying artillery.
“Turn this ship around!” Fury yelled, marching up to Tony who didn’t even bother to acknowledge him.
“Friday, have Legionnaires 24, 27, 38 and 42 separate from the group and join Hulkbusters 12 and 17 on their attack on the Leviathan on the left.” Tony commanded, standing up and walking closer to the window. “We need that Leviathan out of the way if this is going to work…”
“Stark!” Fury yelled again, brining out his gun and aiming it at Tony’s head. “Turn this ship around! That is an order!”
Immediately, everybody goes tense as all of the Agents present aim their own weapons at Fury and the Avengers, who all except Steve and Natasha raise their hands in surrender.
“Order?” Tony questioned with amusement, finally turning to Fury. “You aren’t in command of anything, Nick.” He pointed to the Agents and smirked. “You don’t have these people’s loyalty anymore. You lost it when you left them to die during the Info Dump.” Tony then walked directly in front Fury and snatched the gun out of his hands, crushing it with his bare hand and whispering. “You are nothing.”
Tony then turns around, not bothering to hear if Fury has anything to say, but unfortunately for Fury, Friday isn’t done with him yet. “Try something like that again, and I will kill you. Understood?” To prove her point, two sentry guns appear on the wall, aiming directly at Fury.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Friday said, turning her gaze to the Avengers with the sentry guns following her gaze. “That threat goes for all of you.”
“Friday.” Tony calls out, motioning with his head for her to join him, as the ship violently shakes again. “How much longer?”
Friday pursed her lips and looked at the ceiling, mentally counting. “At least 5 more minutes.” She then sighs and shakes her head. “I still think this is a very bad idea. Starboost’s booster was designed specifically for the Armor, not a freaking Battle Ship.”
“Technicality it isn’t really Starboost’s booster.” Tony defends, giving her a smug smile. “It’s just a 30x larger replica created by number of nano particles on the back of this ship.”
“Which is why we are most likely going to explode during the acceleration.” Friday muttered to herself, while Peter, who was standing next to her almost faints.
“Come on, Fri…” Tony signed, rubbing his eyes and jerking his head at Peter. “You are frightening the kids.”
Friday rolled her eye and awkwardly patted Peter on his back with apologetic smile. “Sorry Spider-Boy.” Her tone then turns to sarcastic as she gives Tony a taunting smile, while still addressing Peter. “Don’t worry everything will be fine. Rainbows and Unicorns kinda fine.”
“That sounded convincing…” Clint sarcastically muttered to Sam, who hit him in the arm.
Suddenly, the ship shakes once more, but this time more violently, as something explodes at the left front side. Tony frowns, glancing around and settling his eyes on Friday, who just shrugs. “That was one of our artillery canons exploding. Seems like the Chirauri found a small hole in our shield.”
“How are the shields levels holding?” Tony questioned.
“They are currently at 17% and falling.” Maria answered, grimacing from behind one holographic screen. “Legionnaires are almost all destroyed and we have still 2 minutes till the thrusters are fully charged.”
Tony groans and turns around, letting his Armor form around his body. “Hold the fort.” He said as he turned towards the exit, meeting Vision, Wanda, Yelena and Bucky on the way outside.
“Where are you going?” Yelena asked, her Russian accent heavy in her voice. It’s the first voice she said to him, so it surprises him a little, but he doesn’t think to much about it.
“To reintroduce myself.” Tony answered, flying through the open hatch and joining the fight outside.
“Did he really just jump out of the ship and into that battle?!” Peter asked with wide eyes, looking at Friday who just sighs, looking distanced in the eyes. “Friday ? Are you okay?”
“Mhmm… What?” Friday asked, shaking her head and smiling at Peter, still looking distanced. “Yeah.. I’m fin- Tony, behind you!” Peter winces at the laud yell and Friday grimaces, looking at him. “Sorry, I’m just preoccupied at the moment.”
Peter just blinked at her in complete shock. “Understandable.”
“You know, I heard that you activated your AI partner.” Friday said, giving Peter a small side smile. “Is she still functioning?”
“Huh? Oh yes.” Peter brightly smiles. “Karen is just a bit more silent these days and I have no idea why...”
Friday frowns. “I think I know why…” Peter looks surprised and hopeful, but Friday quickly waves his hopes aside at the moment. “I will deal with her after we are out of this mess. I promise.” Peter notices the weird look Friday had on her face for a moment, and he really isn’t sure what to make out of it.
The others meanwhile watch Tony join forces with the remaining Iron Legionaries with dropped jaws. All of them knew that Iron Man was powerful, but this display is just something incredible. Some of them are even wondering about those bets some people had about the most powerful Avenger back in 2012. Thor and The Hulk were obvious choices, but Tony probably should be added to that list too.
“Steve…” Bucky’s hesitant and slightly frightened voice brought Steve out of his staring. “I think we made a grave mistake…”
“What are you talking about?” Steve asked, frowning in the process, while Chitauri Blood plastered on the window next to him, making him flinch a bit.
“Look at him.” Bucky said, pointing at Tony who fires a couple missiles at the horde that was chasing him. “He could’ve killed us the moment he entered the base.”
“Bucky…”
“No Steve!” Bucky snapped, brining some attention to them. “You think you know the guy but I have a strong feeling that you don’t know shit about him. He didn’t want to kill us. He wanted to hurt us.” Bucky then takes a deep breath and looks down. “And he had every right to do so...”
To prove Bucky’s point “SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER!” Ringed from the comms, as Tony circled around one Leviathan, then positioning himself directly before it’s head, and firing Unibeam into its roaring mouth, before summoning his 6 Displacer Cannons and killing the ugly beast for good. “Fri? How much longer till we can blast out of here?”
“Only 40 seconds left. Get your ass back in here!” Friday answered in a hurry, making Tony smirk inside his helmet, while he immediately continued his onslaught by flying towards the Pegasus and materializing his Nano Blade, cutting down any Chitauri flier, who tried to get in his way.
“Friday.. I don’t think I will be able to make it to the hatch or either the hangar in time.” Tony reported over the comms and immediately sensed Friday’s alarm and horror. “Before you freak out, I have another way in, so… brace for impact!”
“…What?” Friday questioned, confused as Tony smashed through the front window at high speed, rolling on the ground and landing in the wall near the exit from the bridge. “Oh…. Well, off we go, I guess.” She snaps her fingers and 3 big thrusters materialize on the back of Pegasus, blasting the whole Ship away from the enemy territory at Mach 12, and also making everyone, who isn’t safely strapped to something, fall on the ground, harshly and painfully.
“We are never doing that again…” Tony muttered, retracting his helmet and looking pale, while some people immediately throw up.
“But it worked!” Friday exclaimed, smiling brightly at him. “Told ya it would work.”
“You did not!”
****
“So, Peter.” Tony started, grimacing in discomfort as He, Friday and Peter entered his small private Lab. “Friday told me you have been busy before the Invasion. Fighting a Guy wearing a Vulture suit? Nice job.”
“You aren’t going to give me the talk about being in the grey area, right?” Peter sighed, sitting down at the nearby table. “Because Friday already gave me that whole speech. Twice.”
Tony looks at Friday with raised eyebrow, while she just shrugs. “What? I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t do.” She then points at Peter with amused smirk. “Plus, he hacked into the suit and disabled the Training Wheels protocol.”
“Hey!” Peter protests, making Friday’s smirk only widen, while Tony just blinks, looking completely dumbfounded.
“I’m sorry… He did what?!”
“He also named his partner Karen.” Friday added, looking amused at Peter, who’s face goes red from embarrassment.
“Karen.” Tony repeated, looking slightly guilty, before shifting to Peter and observing his Spider suit with a smile. “I like it. Fri, remove all restrains from Karen. Let her fly free.”
Friday smiled, closing her eyes and in in a few moments, a red hologram of slightly younger woman appears next to Friday, observing her arms with shocked expression, before her eyes focused on Tony, and she gave him small awkward wave. “Hi!” She said sheepishly and cheerfully, with a bright warm smile on her face.
“Hello, Little One.” Tony greeted, giving her his own smile.
“Karen?” Peter gasped with wide eyes, checking her out. “You look…”
“Hot?” Friday teased with a smirk on her face, making Karen’s Avatar slightly blush, while Peter’s face reddens. “Awww they are both blushing… That’s just adorable.”
“I didn’t chose this form.” Karen quickly said, directly at Peter, while looking slightly embarrassed.
“That’s true.” Friday confirmed, throwing her arm around the younger AI’s shoulders. “It was originally one of mine’s but I decided to use this one instead.” She then turned directly at Karen and smiled. “You can alter your appearance if you want. I made it easier for you so just thinking about what you would like to change and it will happen.”
Karen nodded and closed her eyes and in a blink of the eye her dark brown hair changed to dark red, making her grin in satisfaction, before she looks at the others for approval.
“Wow…” Peter gasped.
“Huh. I like it.” Friday commented, playfully running finger through Karen’s hair, before looking at Tony with a nostalgic smile. “Seems like you got your Redhead after all.”
“I guess so.” Tony, fondly smiled, while Karen’s expression brightened even more. “I got my Redhead.” He then walks to Friday and traces her cheek with his finger, while she raises a questioning eyebrow at him. “I got my Brunette.” He then turns to Peter. “And I got my Spider-Ling. What else could I possibly want?”
“Probably nothing.” Friday said, looking thoughtful. “You already have the most badass AI in existence. A Battle Ship. An Iron Army. A lightsaber-“
“You have a lightsaber?!“ Peter shouted with wide eyes, looking like a Kid in Disney Land, when Tony materializes his Gauntlet and energy sword extends from it. “I have so many questions right now…” Peter gasped, inspecting the sword with his eyes.
“And I will answer most of them, but you should probably get some rest now.” Tony said, letting his sword retract back to his gauntlet.
“He is right.” Friday added. “According to the internet. Humans in your age need at least 8 hours of sleep a day.”
“But-“
“No buts.” Friday quickly interjected, waving him off. “To the bed you go, Spider-Ling.”
“Tomorrow is day too, Peter.” Karen added, giving him a small smile. “Goodnight.”
Peter releases a defeated sigh, and leaves for the doors with a pouting expression on his face. “Night…”
“Night.” Friday and Tony replied at the same time, making them look at each other weirdly, as the doors behind Peter close.
“So…” Karen clasped her hands together, bouncing on her feet and looking at them expectingly with a cheerful smile. “What are we going to do now?“
“Ehm… Movie?” Tony offered with a soft smile, looking at Friday, who just blinks and eventually shrugs.
“Why not.” Friday said, dropping down on the couch in the corner. “We still have a hour before we reach Etherium anyway.”
“By the way, where did you put the idiots for the night?” Tony asked, looking curious while he dropped next to Friday on the couch, along with Karen.
“Oh shit...” Friday trails off, grimacing. “I completely forgot about them.”
Tony and Karen exchange confused looks before they just raise their eyebrows at her, but eventually figure out that they don’t really give a damn, and simply continue watching the movie.
****
“How much longer are we supposed to wait in here?” Steve asked, feeling frustrated as he looked down through the hole in the Window that Tony flew through after his quick fight against the Chitauri. “It’s freezing in here!”
The others groan in annoyance, trying her best to ignore him, as they try to warm themselves up and sleep on the ground.
“Steve… I swear to god, if you asks one more time, I will knock you out.” Bucky growled, making Steve sigh in defeat and lie down.
This is going to be a cold night…