Chapter 23
“No.” Scott said.
“You’re not in much of a position to bargain, Agent Riley”
“I will get you everything else… but no. You’re out of your mind if you think…”
“I told you, you’re going to give me everything I want, and you’re going to go home. What’s a few small sacrifices…?”
“How about you look me in the eye and say that, stop hiding behind your metal suit.”
“Well then, if that’s what it takes…”
Stark’s helmet opened and Scott got a good look at his face.
The sheer shock of what he saw froze him in place, enough that he didn’t notice that he had some someone behind him. Scott felt himself get blasted from behind, and it wasn’t the floor.
Stark’s helmet quickly snapped shut.
“Sorry I’m late, daddy.” A voice said.
“No, dear, you’re right on time.”
“No…”
Scott looked where the blast had come from. There stood Johnson, alive, out of her SHIELD uniform and instead wearing a variant of the uniforms worn by the infected, in this case all white.
“What the fuck?” Scott yelled “Why is this never straight forward?” he asked no one in particular.
He looked at the girl who shared a face with both the woman he loved and his best friend.
“Let me take a shot in the dark… He adopted you.”
“wow, you’re really good a paying attention.”
“Kept me alive so far…”
“I’ll give you some time to think over my offer, Agent Riley.”
“Take him.” Stark told the drones. “Put him in the with the others.”
“So?” He asked as she led him down the corridor. “What level are you?”
“Level? You think I’m infected” ‘Johnson’ said “Daddy would never do something like that to me. Besides, we’re immune.”
“We?”
“Inhumans… the mutants two, but I doubt that asshole will survive his little fight. Always bit off more than he could chew…”
“Here we are…” She said, unlocking a door and shoving him in.
“SCOTT!” Daisy screamed. She bolted from her bed and practically tackled him.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She repeated over and over.
“Hey…Hey… It’s ok…” He said, kissing her “I’m here…. I’m here…”
“I never gave up hope you were coming.” She said, tears running down her cheeks “I know my persistent idiot…”
“What’s all the… SCOTT?” Skye yelled, coming around a corner from another room. And older woman followed behind her.
“So… this is the famous Scott… Your fiancée wouldn’t stop talking about you.” She said.
Scott, Daisy and Skye’s pockets all beeped. Their phones were doing something on their own.
“I guess he’s ready.” The woman said.
They pulled out their phones, and the face of Stark’s suit appeared.
“People of the world. Your King requests your attention. For some time now… I have been searching for a way to complete my goal, of making all men one. To spread my gift to the four winds. Today, I think I’ve found just the way.”
The image changed to the Stark devices surrounding the box.
“With this machine” Stark continued “I shall be able to reach out to the minds of every man, woman and child, anywhere and everywhere. I am Tomorrow, and Tomorrow SHALL COME!”
“Well, I guess this is it.” The older woman said as the video ended.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Scott said, rolling up his sleeve.
“It’s about time Master.” Tallus said “And next time, please don’t leave me in that lock box like I’m some sort of jewelry.”
“So you have a talking bracelet…” The woman said “Is that all you’ve got? How can you be so confident?”
“Because… They also don’t know about this.” He said, pulling small device from his coat pocket. “This was part of the suit I wore here. I was able to sneak it off.”
“What is it?” Daisy asked
“It’s called a Driver.”
“What does it do?”
“Oh, you’re gonna love it…”
To be concluded in
Agents of SHIELD – Rise of the Iron Rider
Volume 2: “Be the One”