Location: Malibu, California - Stark Mansion
Several Hours Later
The press conference had been... chaotic.
Tony Stark stood on the cliff-side balcony of his Malibu mansion, a glass of whiskey in hand, staring out at the Pacific Ocean as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. The waves crashed against the rocks below with their eternal rhythm, completely indifferent to the fact that the world had just changed.
"I am Iron Man."
Four words. That's all it had taken to throw the carefully prepared statement cards out the window and rewrite his entire future. Rhodey had looked like he wanted to strangle him. Pepper had put her face in her hands. The reporters had erupted like he'd just announced aliens were real.
Actually, given everything he'd seen in the past few months, aliens probably were real.
"Sir, might I remind you that you have seventeen interview requests, forty-three calls from various government agencies, and Ms. Potts has asked me to inform you—and I quote—'What the hell were you thinking?'" JARVIS's smooth British accent cut through his thoughts.
Tony smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "Tell Pepper I was thinking that I'm terrible at reading from cards. Also, tell those government agencies they can get in line. Alphabetically. Actually, reverse alphabetically. Make them work for it."
"Very well, sir. Though I should mention there is one other matter requiring your attention."
"Unless it's another terrorist organization or a board meeting, it can wait. I just publicly declared myself a superhero, J. I think I've earned five minutes of—"
"Sir, there appears to be a strange turtle on the property."
Tony paused mid-sip. "I'm sorry, did you just say 'strange turtle'?"
"Indeed, sir. Sensors detected an unusual energy signature approximately four minutes ago, emanating from the clifftop garden. Upon visual investigation, I discovered what appears to be a juvenile turtle. However, sir, there are several anomalies."
Tony set down his glass. After the cave, after Obadiah, after everything—JARVIS didn't use the word 'anomalies' lightly. "Define 'anomalies.'"
"The creature appeared to materialize from within a stone formation in the garden. Said stone has been present on the property for approximately eight months, part of the landscaping Ms. Potts commissioned. However, approximately thirty minutes ago, it began exhibiting unusual thermal signatures and minor seismic activity. It has since fractured completely."
"A turtle... came out of a rock."
"To be precise, sir, a turtle-like creature emerged from what appeared to be an egg-like stone. The creature is approximately 1 foot 8 inches in height, bipedal, blue in coloration with a brown shell, and its tail appears to be—and this is quite unusual—shaped in a manner resembling ocean waves."
Tony's engineer brain immediately started cataloging possibilities. Genetic experiment? Government project? Alien life form? "JARVIS, is it dangerous?"
"Unknown, sir. However, it has made no aggressive movements. In fact, it appears to be... observing the ocean. And occasionally making what can only be described as curious chirping sounds."
"Chirping."
"Yes, sir. Rather melodic, actually."
Tony stood there for a moment, glass in hand, staring at the AI's camera fixture. Then he laughed—a genuine, bewildered laugh. "You know what? Why not. I just told the world I'm Iron Man. Might as well meet the magic turtle. Pull up the garden camera feed."
A holographic display flickered to life in front of him, showing the clifftop garden. The stone—or what remained of it—lay in pieces around a small raised bed of succulents. And there, sitting at the edge of the garden wall with its little legs dangling over the side, was the creature.
JARVIS had been accurate. It was roughly the size of a large housecat, covered in brilliant blue skin that seemed to shimmer slightly in the fading sunlight. Its shell was a warm brown, perfectly round and smooth. The tail was the strangest part—it really did curl at the end like a wave, almost decorative. Large eyes stared out at the ocean with what Tony could only describe as wonder.
As he watched, the creature raised one tiny hand—three fingers, he noted—and made a small gesture. Water vapor in the air seemed to respond, gathering briefly before dispersing.
"Okay," Tony muttered. "That's new."
"Shall I alert Ms. Potts, sir? Or perhaps SHIELD?"
"SHIELD?" Tony snorted. "Fury would probably try to recruit it. No, let's... let's keep this quiet for now. I'm going up there."
"Sir, might I suggest bringing the Mark III? Just as a precaution?"
Tony considered, then shook his head. "If I show up in the suit, I look hostile. Besides, it's a turtle, J. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Sir, it materialized from a stone and appears to manipulate water vapor. I could compile quite an extensive list of 'worst case scenarios.'"
"Noted. But I'm going anyway. Keep scanners on it, and if it so much as looks like it's going to shoot lasers or something, give me a heads up."
"Very well, sir. I shall add 'laser-firing turtle' to my threat assessment parameters."
Tony grabbed his glass and headed for the garden stairs. Behind him, the sun continued its descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and red.
Neither Tony nor JARVIS noticed the way the shadows seemed to ripple strangely as he walked. Or how, for just a moment, the air itself seemed to shimmer with potential—as if reality had thinned, ever so slightly.
In the garden, the small blue turtle turned its head, large eyes focusing on the approaching human with surprising intelligence.
The first meeting was about to occur.