AN: Late. Hope you saved some powerstones.
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[Horizon Island – Noon]
Tony sat in his office with a plate of sandwiches beside him. A dozen holo-screens are hovering around him. Each one displayed different reports, data feeds, and mission logs.
He leaned back in his chair, scrolling through the summaries. He was already recovered, but just in case, he decided to take a couple of days off and take it easy. Hermes has already completed the weapons infused with the space energy, thanks to the data Tony entered before. And three days were enough to complete the project.
Mystique had covered for him while he was out. For three straight days, she'd attended board meetings, diplomatic calls, and even a global health summit in Tony's place. She'd handled it all flawlessly, even the press conference with the World Health Council. The footage showed her wearing his face and mannerisms dead-on.
"Remind me to give Raven a week off," Tony muttered to himself. "Or take her out on a date. Haaa... I wonder if she had given it a thought. Humm... Should I give her some flowers and chocolates? That sounds good. Maybe I will."
Elena's holographic avatar flickered into view beside him. "Noted. Shall I schedule her rest period after her debriefing with Dr. McCoy?"
"Yeah, that works," Tony replied, scrolling through the next batch of files. "How's the world holding up?"
"Stabilizing. Infection rates remain at zero. The Raven Cure has successfully integrated into the biosphere without mutations. Public confidence is at record high."
"Good. What about the Ultimates?"
"Two incidents in the last forty-eight hours," Elena reported. "Both classified as superhuman rampages. One in Tokyo, another in São Paulo. Both neutralized with minimal casualties. Janet and Ghost led the teams. Situation resolved."
Tony nodded, tapping his fingers on the desk. "At least no one got hurt."
He switched to the next report. Construction updates from orbit filled the screen. Stark Industries logos rotated over schematics of massive space platforms and reactors. He looked at the old names.
"Let's update the names of the project since we are at Stage 2," Tony mumbled to himself as he started to update the directories. "Okay. Sounds nice."
The Helios Array: the new orbital weapon system, was nearing completion. Three platforms were already active, synchronized under Elena's control. The Eden-1 station in lunar orbit had finished its core reactor test. The Mars base, codenamed Ares Colony, had just received its fifteenth shipment of materials via trans-lift. Everything was progressing without a hitch.
"Finally," Tony murmured. "A project that isn't trying to kill me."
Elena's voice softened. "You might find that unusual, sir."
"Yeah, I'm starting to miss the chaos," Tony said dryly. "Almost."
He swiped to another file: Charles Xavier's encrypted transmission. Cerebro's latest scans glowed on the screen. Two massive psychic energy spikes had appeared in central Russia. The readings were off the charts, even for mutants.
Tony zoomed in on the spectral display. "Two power signatures that strong, this close together? Those must be Horsemen."
Elena processed the data. "Probability assessment confirms your hypothesis. Both signatures display genetic and energy anomalies consistent with Plague's former readings."
"They must be looking for something or someone there," Tony said quietly.
He sat back, rubbing his temples.
Elena tilted her head. "Shall I put a marker on them?"
"Be careful. That masked guy out there is hunting him. So, he might try to capture these horsemen to gain Apocalypse's location, and I don't want to alert him," Tony replied. "Let them fight it out. But if those two signatures start moving toward any population centers, I want instant updates."
"Understood," Elena said.
Tony finally picked up a sandwich and took a bite. He wasn't hungry anymore. His gaze drifted out the window toward the ocean horizon.
"Peaceful, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Yeah, that's how it always starts."
...
[New York – Stark Tower Lounge]
Mystique sank into the couch with a deep sigh, rolling her shoulders until they cracked. Her muscles ached in a way that fighting never caused. The past few days had been an endless loop of handshakes, polite smiles, and carefully worded statements. She had faced battles before, but this? Endless talking, cameras, and politics—it was a different kind of battlefield.
Across the room, a humanoid robot rolled up with perfect timing. "Margarita. Fresh lime. Salted rim," it said in a crisp tone, extending the drink toward her.
"Bless you," Mystique muttered, taking the glass. She leaned back and took a long sip, the tangy cold hitting her system like relief itself.
A few moments later, Pepper Potts walked in. She looked just as drained. A thick folder of paperwork sat under her arm. She set it on the table and practically collapsed into the seat beside Mystique.
"Still working?" Mystique asked without looking up.
Pepper let out a dry laugh. "I've just finished reviewing everything with Howard. I'm officially done for the day."
"Good for you," Mystique said, raising her glass. "You earned it. Want one?"
"God, yes," Pepper said. The robot rolled over again, and a second margarita materialized. She took it, exhaling in relief after the first sip. "Haaa... That hit the spot."
Mystique gave a small chuckle. "I was just wondering. Between the health summit, the press briefings, and the economic coordination call with the G20… my head's still spinning. Does he really go through all that every day?"
Pepper shook her head with a tired smile. "From what I've heard from Howard, not really. Tony used to skip most of it. Either he'd send Natasha or Yelena to handle the big ones, or he'd just… not show up at all."
Mystique raised an eyebrow. "Figures."
"Yeah," Pepper said, swirling her drink. "That's why Howard brought me in—to make sure Tony actually attends the meetings that matter. Or at least has someone responsible enough to take notes when he doesn't."
Mystique smirked. "So that's why you're here. The professional babysitter."
Pepper laughed. "Pretty much. Don't tell him I said that."
"Don't worry," Mystique said. "I'm great at keeping secrets."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds, enjoying their drinks.
Then Mystique spoke quietly. "It's strange, you know. All these people out there celebrating the cure, calling it a miracle. And it is. But there are still names on the list that didn't make it."
Pepper's expression softened. "Yeah. I've seen the reports. Even with the Raven Cure… some people were just too far gone before it reached them."
Mystique looked down at her drink, watching the condensation trail down the glass. "I keep thinking about that. For all the power, tech... for all the science in the world, there's always someone we can't save."
Pepper nodded slowly. "That's the part Tony doesn't talk about. He feels it. He'll joke, he'll work nonstop, but every casualty sticks. He hides it under all that bravado."
Mystique sighed. "He's not the only one."
Pepper glanced at her. "You too?"
"Yeah," Mystique said quietly. "I've spent my life pretending to be other people. It's easier than being myself. But this time, pretending to be him—sitting in those meetings, hearing what people had lost, what they had hoped for, and what Tony had done for them—it felt different. Like I could actually make a difference. Like maybe I wasn't just hiding anymore."
Pepper smiled faintly. "You did make a difference. You handled everything perfectly. Howard was impressed. So was everyone else."
"Howard?" Mystique snorted. "That man terrifies me."
Pepper laughed softly. "You get used to him. Eventually."
They both took another sip of their drinks, the silence between them lighter now.
Mystique leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment. "Still, next time Tony wants to play world leader, he's doing it himself."
Pepper chuckled. "Good luck telling him that."
"I'll make him listen," Mystique said. "Or I'll just shapeshift into him again and sign him up for a month of meetings."
Pepper nearly choked on her drink, laughing. "Now that, I'd pay to see."
Mystique smiled, eyes half-closed. "You just might."
...
[Meanwhile... Wakanda]
So far, Wakanda had remained untouched by the storms that ravaged the rest of the world. Hydra, the Skrulls, Sublime's infection, even the mutant conflicts and the Plague—none of it had breached their borders. Hidden beneath the shroud of their cloaking fields, they watched the world rebuild under Tony Stark's new technological age. The space stations, orbital weapons, and interplanetary colonies were matters they chose not to interfere with. Wakanda had always been self-reliant, proud, and cautious.
Until now.
For the first time in years, Wakanda was in crisis.
Across the golden plains, herds of livestock lay dead. The grass was brittle, the soil cracked and pale. Crops had wilted within days, their roots turned to ash. The rivers, once glowing blue from vibranium-rich sediments, had dulled to a lifeless gray.
In the Royal Lab, Shuri stood before a holographic projection of the nation's biosphere. Countless data streams ran in front of her eyes. None of them made sense.
"This is impossible," she muttered, zooming in on the readings. "There's no trace of toxin, no genetic contamination, no radiation leak. The soil should be fine."
T'Challa entered behind her, the soft echo of his footsteps barely audible. He wore no armor, just the plain robes of a king burdened by unseen troubles.
"Still no answers?" he asked.
Shuri shook her head, rubbing her temples. "Every analysis says the same thing. There's nothing wrong with the land. Nothing measurable. But everything is dying anyway."
T'Challa walked closer, looking at the holographic fields turning red one after another. "Could it be something biological? Something beyond our instruments?"
She hesitated. "I've already run genetic scans. The microorganisms in the soil are disintegrating. It's like they're starving for something that isn't there anymore. Most of the livestock also looks like they died due to starvation."
T'Challa frowned. "The energy signature?"
"Exactly." Shuri brought up another projection, showing the vibranium flow beneath the earth. "Our vibranium lattice has weakened. The energy pulses are fluctuating. It's as if the planet itself is starving beneath us."
"The Heart-Shaped Herb?"
"It's fading," Shuri admitted, her voice quiet. "It is safe for now, but whatever's happening, it's draining the lifeforce around us."
T'Challa was silent for a long time. The hum of the lab filled the space between them.
"This began after the Plague's fall," he said finally. "Do you think there's a connection?"
Shuri frowned. "I don't know. The Raven Cure is supposed to stabilize organic systems, not harm them. And from what we've seen, it hasn't affected anyone outside Wakanda."
He turned to her. "Then perhaps this is not the Cure's doing."
Her brow furrowed. "You think it's something else?"
T'Challa nodded slowly. "Something ancient. Wakanda has always been protected by the blessing of Bast and the vibranium beneath our feet, but perhaps… something or someone old has awakened. Or worse, something or someone has entered Wakanda and been feeding on our lands."
Shuri's eyes widened slightly. "Feeding?"
"Yes," T'Challa said quietly. "And if the earth itself hungers, then this famine is not a natural disaster. I must go to my chambers to meditate and connect to our ancestors for guidance. Then we'll decide what to do next." He sighed before leaving.
..[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS]...
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