##
Time: April 12, 2004 — 9:30 AM
Location: SHIELD Research Vessel Arctic Reach, Near Antarctica
##
The prototype Quinjet hissed as it landed on the steel platform, jets cooling with a soft whine. The hatch opened smoothly, and out stepped Director Nick Fury, long black coat fluttering against the frigid wind, followed by Agent Maria Hill in full tactical attire.
"Report," Fury said without missing a step, eyes scanning the ship's deck like a predator checking for weak spots.
An awaiting SHIELD field agent snapped to attention. "Sir. We've successfully recovered all relevant passengers of The Marvel.."
Fury gave a short nod, his boots clanking against the metal floor as they entered the ship's main corridor. "Medical status?"
The agent hesitated for half a second, just enough to raise Hill's brow.
"Alive and Stable. " he replied. "But... there's something else. Something strange."
Fury glanced sideways at him. "Strange how?"
The agent swallowed. "They're... changing, sir. All of them. Reed's body is elasticizing beyond natural parameters. Susan can vanish into thin air and project some kind of energy field. Johnny... caught fire. And didn't burn. Grimm's skin has turned into something like living stone. And Doom..."
Fury stopped.
The agent froze mid-step, thinking he had said too much.
"Doom?" Fury repeated, slowly turning around.
"He—he's awake. But he hasn't spoken. Just stares menacingly and refusing to cooperate. His vitals are off the charts. There's... energy readings around him that short-circuit basic equipment."
Fury stared, one eye narrowed. The agent's heart skipped a beat.
"I know it sounds ridiculous, Director, but I swear—"
Fury raised a hand, silencing him. "Relax. I believe you."
"You do?" the agent asked, surprised.
"What's hard to believe though" Fury narrowed his eyes and muttered "is that five people went to space once and all came back with powers. That's not evolution. That's either a divine miracle... or a potential hazardous problem."
They continued walking.
Hill leaned in. "Should we bring in specialists for a consultation?"
"Not yet. I want to see what we're dealing with first."
The agent cleared his throat nervously. "There's... more, sir."
Fury didn't stop this time. "Of course there is. Say it."
"Well, the space shuttle they returned in—it wasn't just automated systems. There were humanoid robots aboard. They're the ones who rescued the subjects and ensured their survival."
Fury finally halted, again.
Robots?
"You're telling me we just let a bunch of sentient metal bodies walk onto my ship?"
"They didn't resist protocol, Sir. They handed over the recovery pods as they call it, submitted the scans and remained near the subjects for protection."
Fury's eye narrowed. "Whose tech?"
"That's the weird part, sir. They say they belong to an American company called Lionheart Investments."
Fury turned slowly, finding that name familiar. "A what now?"
"They claim to be company property. One of them already contacted their owner."
Maria Hill's fingers twitched near her holster. "And this... owner is?"
"On the way," the agent replied with a nervous smile. "He'll be here within the hour."
Fury stared at the agent for a long second. Then he let out a slow, frustrated sigh and turned back toward the control room.
"Of course he is."
"Sir?" Hill asked cautiously.
Fury pushed the doors open and walked in.
"Fucking' fantastic!" Nick cursed out loud.
##
The cabin of the sleek, matte-black private jet hummed with quiet, focused energy. Screens glowed soft blue, casting light against the carbon-steel interior. Outside, a blanket of cloud parted to reveal the frigid ocean below—and, nestled among the drifting ice, the enormous SHIELD research ship.
A monitor flickered to life near the cockpit as a calm, feminine voice echoed through the overhead speakers
"Leo." Friday's voice chimed gently "We are now approaching the SHIELD vessel Arctic Reach. Altitude decreasing."
A curved monitor flickered to life in front of Leo. The nearly nine-year-old redhead sat cross-legged in a plush chair, surrounded by gadgets and holographic interfaces. His eyes flicked toward the screen with calm precision while he drank his steamed Austrian Goat milk with a pinch of salt and sugar.
"Thanks, Friday," he replied, brushing a stray lock of hair out of his face.
After a brief pause.
"Would you like me to override their systems now? I can take full control of the vessel's functions within 3.7 seconds."
Leo leaned back in his chair and smiled. "No need. If we do that, we'll blow our backdoor access. Besides…" He paused, lips curling mischievously. "SHIELD already knows way too much about me."
He took a sip through the straw, then tilted his head thoughtfully. "But... tell you what—let's pretend to hack them. Make it look fancy. I want to see Fury's face twitch when he thinks he's getting cyber-attacked by a nine-year-old."
FRIDAY's tone shifted subtly, almost like she was smiling. "Understood. Initiating fake breach protocol with 'casual mischief' subroutine."
"Now, let's go wake up the Young Padawan"
Leo chuckled at his joke and stood up, stretching his arms. He glanced toward the hallway, then made his way quietly to a nearby door—one .
He raised a hand to knock… but paused.
Soft sobs, barely audible, drifted through the door.
He hesitated, his hand hovering, then knocked gently. "Valeria? You awake?"
The sobbing stilled. A few quiet seconds passed before the door slowly creaked open. Valeria stood there, blonde hair tangled from sleep, eyes slightly red and shadowed with exhaustion. Still, she smiled instinctively when she saw him.
Leo gave her a concerned look "Can I come in?"
She nodded and stepped aside. Leo entered, glancing around the cozy space she had claimed as her room aboard the jet. He walked over and sat beside her on the bed.
"It's gonna be alright," he said gently. "My droids already checked. Your parents were rescued. They're stable. Everything's under control."
Valeria pulled her knees to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them. "I know," she murmured, voice soft. "I know they're safe. But... I still feel scared. I've been scared since they left to study that cosmic storm."
She sniffled, then let out a shaky laugh—half-bitter, half-sad.
"I was so mad when they didn't take me. Said it was too dangerous for a kid. I threw a tantrum. Told them... some things I wish I hadn't." Her voice cracked slightly. "Then I came here. To visit you. but I was just trying to forget. I'm sorry, Leo. I wasn't honest about why I came"
Leo sat silently, listening.
When she finished, he gave a small smile.
"So let me get this straight—you came to see your close friend because you felt safe around him, and now you're apologizing for it?"
Valeria blinked, unsure how to respond.
He continued, "Why should you feel bad about visiting a close friend? Honestly, I'm flattered."
She blinked again. "Flattered?"
He turned to her with a small grin. "It means you trust me. It means you feel safe around me. And that, Val… that means a lot. Kinda makes me feel special, actually."
She stared at him in surprise. Then, slowly, her lips turned up into a gentle smile. "I never thought about it like that."
She leaned onto his shoulder, her voice a soft murmur. "Thanks for talking to me..."
Leo wrapped one arm around her like a gentle older brother. "Anytime," he said. Then, after a beat, "That's what best friends are for, right?"
Valeria turned her head quickly, eyes wide. "Best friends?"
Leo glanced down at her, then smirked. With a gentle flick, he tapped her forehead with two fingers.
"Of course, silly. What else would you call us?"
She sat up straight, eyes sparkling. "We're best friends now?"
Leo gave a mock-dramatic sigh. "You didn't think we were?"
Valeria gasped, then beamed, her smile almost goofy and bright. She threw a small fist into the air like she'd won a prize—then blushed and pulled her hand down in embarrassment. "Ugh, sorry! That was so childish—"
Leo rolled his eyes, grinning. "At this rate, you should start a business called Valeria Apologies Inc."
Valeria burst into a laugh and lightly punched his shoulder. "Hey!"
He clutched his arm. "Ow! I take it back! Don't sue me!"
They both laughed—laughter that cleared the room like fresh air through an open window.
Valeria looked at him again, her eyes warm now, her smile sweet and peaceful.
"Thanks, Leo." she whispered.
He smiled back. "Always."
##
Time: April 12th, 2004 — 10:30 AM
Location: Main Control Room, Antarctic Research Vessel – SHIELD Classified Operations
##
The wind howled outside, muffled by reinforced hull plating, but inside the control room, the air was thick with tension and quiet urgency. A dozen agents sat at their consoles, flickering displays lighting up stoic faces. Everything was routine until one agent stiffened and turned in his chair.
"Director Fury," the agent called. "Incoming landing request. It's Leo Howard Stark."
Seated in the central command chair, Nick Fury raised a single brow. He tilted his head toward the monitor where Leo's encrypted signature flickered in the corner, then gave a small, dismissive wave. "Let him land."
The agent nodded and relayed the approval. Fury leaned back, folding his gloved hands beneath his chin as he stared blankly at the monitors. But his mind was already pondering.
'Troublesome...'
Fury had hoped to keep the situation under wraps —. SHIELD needed data, DNA samples and more time but Now, Leo Stark was swooping in like a thunderclap.
'Ten hours...'
That thought stuck. Fury narrowed his eyes.
'Ten hours to reach this frozen wasteland? The last time I checked it only came from a Prototype Quinjet — one that hadn't cleared testing...'
'Impressive? Absolutely.' But it had also made Fury feel a sense of uneasiness and foreboding.
Fury turned his head toward the sleek, composed figure standing nearby. "Hill."
"Sir?"
"Run an intermediate-level background check on Leo Stark. Quietly."
Maria Hill blinked, surprised by the request. "Intermediate? With all due respect, Director, Leo Stark's file is already very clear."
"Doesn't matter. Something feels off, I want a fresh report on my desk by next week."
She gave a curt nod. "Understood."
No sooner had she spoken than every screen in the room shimmered, blinking once—twice—before being swallowed in a glowing hues of Deep Purple, Blue and Green. The control room stilled. Conversations cut off like a blade through ice.
"What the hell just happened?" Fury asked, sitting forward, his gaze alarmed but measured.
The lead tech spun around, voice pitching. "Director! We're being overridden—someone's hacking our systems!"
"Can you trace it?" Fury demanded.
The agent paled, eyes scanning lines of code spilling across his screen. "Sir… it's not that we can't rather We're the ones at risk. They're too fast, too assertive—we're are barely able to put up a Resistance."
Fury's face darkened, his eyes narrowing. 'Hydra? No. Not their style. they would try to everything discretely but This—this was bold. Brazen.. as though it's intentional.'
Another second passed. Then another. A hush fell again.
The monitors, now uniform in their royal green display, flickered. A new image blinked into existence: a chimera, mechanical and regal, its lion's head unmistakable like a tattored stamp from the legends.
Fury's spine straightened. The symbol had already been burned into almost every American's brain. A brand that was simply a household name now.
"Leo…" Fury muttered under his breath with mild intrigue and annoyance.
Then came the voice.
"Hello, everyone." said a smooth, feminine tone — elegant, pleasant, with an unmistakable rhythm. The screens shimmered again. On the central display, a glowing red hologram of a woman's face came into view.
Fury's eyes widen in surprised and confusion. The resemblance was uncanny. A face he has worked with countless times in the past few years.
'Friday…?'
The room tensed. Maria Hill looked toward Fury with a silent question.
Friday glanced at Fury and smiled. "You must be Director Fury. A pleasure. I'm Friday, personal assistant to Leo Howard Stark. Please forgive the intrusion."
Fury stood now, slowly, eyes locked onto the hologram. "You sound… familiar."
"Understandable," Friday said politely. "Leo modeled me after his late mother. you might have met her in the past, If you are willing, then He would be delighted if you could provide any information regarding Her."
'That explains it.' Fury felt relaxed for a moment then next moment his mind worked overtime 'But... From what Friday told me.. She left before Leo was barely past four months old. Wait.. The Genonis serum.. Fuck! It all makes sense now. Everything is connected.'
Fury was already feeling a headache after his mind tried to connect all the dots.
Meanwhile Friday continued without pause. "I've temporarily seized control of your systems—Fret not, I am not here to harm, but to ensure a safe and undisturbed experience for Leo. The area's security, logistics, and environmental controls are now optimized."
"You couldn't have called ahead?" Fury snapped back out of his pondering and asked sharply, crossing his arms.
"I did," Friday replied with a small smile. "Through the landing request. But your encryption is several years outdated. I took the liberty of… speeding things along."
One of the techs whispered under his breath, "She's not wrong…"
Friday's eyes flicked toward him. "Thank you."
Fury rubbed his temple. "So this is what we're dealing with now… AI with attitude."
Friday's face softened. "Treat me as though I'm not here, Director. I'll return full control once Leo has safely left. Until then—please, don't be alarmed."
The screens steadied, the chimera logo fading back into the monitor's background. The red hologram winked out.
The room remained silent, uncertain.
Nick Fury stared at the monitor screen for several long seconds, then slowly sat back down.
'This feels... odd.' Fury internally muttered. 'As though this was a deliberate move done by Leo to grab my attention... Leo. It seems I need to hasten our meeting.'
Fury briefly glanced at Hill and Said "Hill, Increase the investigation grade to the highest. I want to know everything as much as possible. Also schedule a meeting with Him."
"Understood sir" Agent Hill replied after a pause.
##
Word count: 2354
Author's note:
I think I am experiencing a writer's block like I had in all my previous fanfics.
Don't think, I uploaded only two fanfics so far, I have written multiple already and have deleted them to save space for a new fanfic.
Every single time, I face a writer's block after around chapter 15. I don't know why but that just happens.
Anyways, The next chapter is probably gonna be an exciting one, one of the few chapters I am looking forward to write. But before that I will go take a mild break, No worrying about writing and just relaxing so I can write it in the best state.
For now, I will need to think more about Leo's Superhero suit. The primary colors I can select from are neutral colors, specifically Royal Purple, Green and Blue because according to google, those colors would suit Leo's red hair.
I was recently contemplating that why does Leo even need a superhero suit like Iron man or spiderman? What if Leo just wears the same kinda clothes as Neo did in the matrix but more towards Dark royal purple. Or What Sato Kaiba wears. Basically something that would be a blend of normal clothes and superhero suits.
Give me names or show me pictures of who's suit should he feel "inspired" by.
For now, sorry for not uploading three chapters two weeks in a row. I am just not feeling as enthusiastic as I was about the fanfic when I initially begin. If you have any recommendations to get rid of this feeling, do let me know. I don't know what's wrong with me.
If you want to get pinged when I drop a chapter or if you want to have a more direct conversation with me, you can consider joining my discord server: https://discord.gg/GqMKJsCUNN