AN: Last week, I got the most Powerstones ever, like over 1900 and top 13 rank. Thanks everyone. Well, this week, you'll get daily chapters. So, don't forget those PS.
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[Above Earth – Starfire Ship]
The Starfire blinked and stopped outside Earth. The FTL stopped, and the ship began to move again. The hull glowed faintly as it passed through the upper atmosphere, heat shielding in full effect.
Inside the ship, the crew stood ready. All of them wore sealed suits for containment.
Tony stood at the front of the bridge.
"Elena, bring us down to Starfire Base. Platform two."
"Course locked," Elena said. "ETA: two minutes."
Behind him, Sue, Johnny, and Ben stood silent.
Tony opened a channel to the base.
"Nat, we're coming in hot. I need the second floor sealed. Full containment protocols. Nobody enters without my say-so."
Natasha's voice came through fast.
"Already on it. The quarantine chamber is active. Airlocks primed. No one goes near it."
"Good. Keep it that way."
Outside, the desert came into view.
Soon, the ship landed without any problem. The nanites were humming and shifting on the surface, creating a faint energy field around it to prevent intruders.
[Inside Starfire Base – Landing Bay]
Tech crews were waiting behind the glass wall. So were scientists from NASA and several other observers. Among them stood Howard Stark. Behind him, NASA's lead astrophysicist and two data analysts whispered as the ship powered down.
The ramp lowered, then Tony's voice came over the speakers.
"No contact. We've been exposed to cosmic radiation with unknown effects. So, we're going into lockdown. And I know, many of you want data more than anything. I'll release it when I'm ready."
The crew walked down the ramp slowly. The scientists looked at them as the team passed through a sterilization field and moved to the secured elevator.
Inside, Tony tapped his wrist.
"Nat, doors?"
"Open," she replied.
The elevator dropped fast, then stopped at the second level. The doors opened into a large white room. It was clean and sterile. Every surface coated in decontamination panels. The door sealed behind them with a heavy thud. It was the first room on the floor.
The floor has all the required equipment and enough food supply to last a month. Plus, rooms and other necessary forms of entertainment.
Well, they were inside quarantine now.
Tony deactivated his suit. He looked tired, but alert.
"We stay here until we know what we're dealing with," he said. "No exceptions."
Ben sat on the couch with a heavy sigh after deactivating his nanite suit, his shoulders stiff. "Even if it takes weeks?"
"As long as it takes," Tony answered.
Sue deactivated her armor and walked straight to the bathroom. "Well, I'm going to take a nice cold bath."
Johnny went straight to the fridge and took out a soda can, popped it open, and took a swig. "Haaa. That hits the spot. Well, as long as you got food and drink..." His eyes fell on the gaming room. "...and that. I'm good." He pointed his finger toward the room.
[Above – Control Room]
Natasha assigned enough Widows and robots around the ship to prevent the intruders. Melina was leading the guards, so not even a mosquito would get past them.
Howard watched quietly. As she finished giving the last order, he walked up to her.
"You worried?" he asked.
Natasha didn't answer right away.
"Yes. Was actually. Now that he's back. I can finally let go of that stuffy feeling," she finally said. "But you were more worried than anyone. Even with your new enhanced body, your blood pressure was high."
"Yeah, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park. But... Phew!" Howard took a deep breath. "God, I'm glad they are back without any accident or anything like that."
Behind them, NASA officials started talking fast, asking for updates, access, and data. One of them stepped forward.
"We need to begin analysis. The world saw them land. The public knows the mission was a success. The President is requesting a full debrief."
Howard turned to face them.
"Tony will give you what he can. When it's safe. Until then, no one steps foot on that level."
"But this is a historic moment," one scientist said. "We have a right to know what happened."
Howard's voice was calm.
"Kid. Lower that tone and attitude. We've allowed you and your team here with zero contribution to this mission; that's all the right you get and have. So, be patient or the door's that way."
...
[Back to Tony]
Later that night.
Tony sat at a small table, a hot cup of tea in his hands, in his room.
He tapped the screen on the wall.
A moment passed.
Then Maria Stark's face appeared, blurry for a second, before the signal cleared. She looked tired but relieved the second she saw him.
"Tony," she said softly.
"Hey, Mom," he said, smiling a little. "Still awake?"
Maria nodded. "Of course. I couldn't sleep until I saw you."
On the other screen, Howard stepped into frame. He looked like he'd aged five years in the few days Tony had been gone. His expression was tense at first… then he exhaled and gave Tony a look only a father could give.
"You alright?" Howard asked.
Tony gave a small nod. "Yeah. We're all back in one piece."
Maria's voice was gentle. "We were so worried. The news caught on quickly. Everyone's talking about the ship. The landing. And then you just vanished into your base."
Tony chuckled. "Yeah. Typical Stark fashion. Big entrance, dramatic silence."
Howard leaned forward. "Did something happen out there?"
Tony hesitated for a second, then nodded.
"Let's just say we got caught in a cosmic storm and found some answers out there. I'll explain later. But we are alright. Just need to stay in lockdown for safety. You know how it is."
Maria nodded slowly. "Alright. You take the time you need. Just… don't keep us in the dark too long."
"I won't," Tony said. "I'll check in once we have more answers."
Howard looked like he wanted to say more, but he just nodded and stepped back. Maria smiled gently before the screen faded to black.
Tony sat there for a moment, holding his cup, staring at the wall. His thoughts were racing, but he kept his face calm. He took a sip, leaned back in his chair, and let the silence settle. Then, he decided to take a walk and maybe talk to Sue.
Down the hall, Johnny was already deep into a racing game, yelling at the screen. Ben had passed out on the couch with a half-eaten protein bar in his hand. Sue was in her room, reading through the ship logs on a tablet. The door was slightly open.
Tony knocked gently on the door. It creaked open a little more.
Sue looked up from the tablet, her hair still damp from the bath. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, wearing a plain black tee and sweats, the glow from the screen lighting up her face. She looked tired, but focused.
"Hey," Tony said, leaning on the doorframe.
"Hey," she replied, setting the tablet aside. "Couldn't sleep either?"
He shook his head. "Tried. Brain's still doing laps around the sun."
Sue gave him a small smile. "Figures. What's on your mind?"
Tony stepped in and sat in the chair by her desk. "Was going to ask you the same thing. You're still going through the logs?"
"Just making sure everything matches what Elena recorded. I keep thinking I missed something." She rubbed her forehead. "I mean, you said it before, but still... I just need to find out more. Like, it still doesn't make sense. That storm should've killed us."
"It didn't," Tony said. "Somehow, we adapted. Or maybe it changed to meet us halfway. Still working on that part."
Sue nodded slowly, then looked up at him. "Do you think this is permanent? This heightened energy level and this weirdly strong feeling?"
"I don't know," Tony said honestly. "But it feels stable. Doesn't feel like a power-up with a time limit. More like… a reset. Like our bodies are running on something new. Think of it as evolution."
She was quiet for a moment, then said, "That's what scares me."
Tony leaned forward a bit, resting his arms on his knees. "Sue… I know you're trying to keep everyone safe. Keep yourself grounded. But you don't have to carry all of it alone. Not tonight."
Sue looked at him for a long moment. Her shoulders dropped slightly, and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"You're right," she said quietly. "I just... I don't know how to switch it off sometimes."
"Same," Tony said with a tired grin. "But we made it back. Everyone's alive. And we have time to figure out what comes next."
He stood and nodded toward the bed. "Get some sleep. You earned it. We all did. Maybe not Johnny. He's in there yelling at a game like we didn't almost get cooked alive."
Sue chuckled softly. "That sounds about right."
Tony headed for the door, then paused. "If anything feels off... I mean, anything... You call me, alright?"
"I will," she said. "And Tony?"
He turned.
"Thanks. For not doing this alone and trusting me."
He gave her a soft look. "Anytime."
Then he stepped out and let the door close behind him.
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