Chapter 8

"All systems are go."

"Copy that," Stark replied.

"Pepper, are you good on your end?"

"All set," she replied from Tony's penthouse.

"Stark, how's it going out there?"

"Ready to dive now."

Stark was flying in his Iron Man suit somewhere over the Atlantic.

That was the night I put my energy formula to the test. Years of work and research and experiments had all lead up to that moment. The moment I would find if my hard work had really paid off.

And it doubled as a date night for Stark and Pepper Potts.

Stark's job was to place the Energy Reactor over the power line that ran on the ocean floor, using his Iron Man suit to complete the task. Pepper and I are awaiting his update in our mandated positions. I sat and waited in my lab, my hand hovered eagerly over the activate switch. The one switch that would determine my success, or failure - most likely success though.

"You're good on this end Jack," he suddenly announced. "The rest is up to you."

"You disconnected the transition lines?" I asked, getting ready to start up the power.

"Are we off the grid?" Pepper asked on the other end.

"Stark Tower is about to become a beacon of self-sustaining energy," Tony comments, looking through his own helmet at the power progress.

"Wow. So maybe our reactor takes over and it actually works?"

"I assume."

"That's my reactor, Pepper," I corrected her, my hand trembling as it awaited to slam down on my future. "And of course it will work. After all, I did make it."

"Are you becoming little Stark now? Taking all the credit?" she teased me.

"Maybe..." I smirked. It is my project.

"She did learn from the best," Stark added in. "Alright, light her up."

"Activating."

My hand slammed down on the switch, a soft, electric hum followed after, beaming throughout the lab and other parts of the tower. The lights dimmed on to full power. My equipment sparked back to life. Across my multiple computer screens, it showed all systems and power levels running at full length. With it came a feeling of relief and excitement, warmth spread through my veins as steadily as my power level grid. I could feel the warmth of light begin to take effect as my entire being began to glow.

"It works." I ran to the window, beaming as I pressed my palms against the glass. "How does it look?" I asked, hardly able to contain my excitement.

"Like Christmas, but with more... me."

This would be great for the public to see. "Gotta go wider on the public awareness campaign. You need to do some press," I suggested.

Pepper stepped in on the line. "I can do some more tomorrow. I'm working on the zoning for the next billboards."

"Jackie, you're killing me remember?" Stark sighed, landing on his platform. "We're supposed to be celebrating."

Pepper's line suddenly became breathy as she muttered words of love to Tony. "If she won't, then get in here and I will."

"OK... That's signal for time for me to sign off." Before an awkward moment becomes moreso.

His red and gold suit appeared in the night as he flew onto his Iron Man platform. A successful mission.

"Sir," Jarvis chimed in, "Agent Coulson from SHIELD is on the line."

I stopped for a moment, my brow furrowed from this sudden news as confusion settled in. Agent Coulson? What does he want? I thought to myself, wondering what he could possibly want at that time of night. Then again I learned quickly, many years before, SHIELD agents never tend to sleep. Back then I wouldn't be surprised if they were to tell me they weren't familiar with such a word.

"I'm not in. I'm actually out," Stark replied, his machinery removing the last of his Iron Man suit as he entered the penthouse.

"Sir, I'm afraid he's insisting."

"Close the line. Actually," he paused, "give it to Jack."

My jaw dropped at this sudden order. "Why drop it on me? I got work to do!"

"And I have a lady to entertain. Signing off."

"Ugh..." I groaned, spinning once in my chair as I swiped out my phone, transferring the call. "Stark Industries. This is Jackie Stark," I answered.

"Jack, where is Stark?" he asked in a subtly urgent manner.

"Entertaining a guest. But I can take a message."

He sighed on the other end.

One of my computer screens suddenly flashed, alerting me of someone ascending in the elevator. Checking the security cameras I discovered Coulson behind its doors. Quickly I worked to override the system, only to find my tactics were useless.

Why isn't this working? "Coulson, what are you doing to my system?"

"Overriding it."

I put my hand to the computer screen, using my techno senses to read his overriding password, or somehow find a loophole around his SHIELD tactics. It was no good. Not even my technopath power could get past his technology. That was a first.

"Jarvis, override his overriding with your overriding protocol." That was a mouthful.

"I'm afraid I can't Miss Stark. He is overriding my protocol."

I raised my brow, pursing my lips. "Stark is not gonna be happy.

"Like I said," Coulson repeated, "it's urgent."

"Alright..." I sighed in surrender. "Do what you wish. I got work to do."

"Actually, I need you up here as well."

Me? Suspicion suddenly settled in my head, but the thought was overridden by business. "Coulson I can't. I'm working."

"I need you up here. Now," he repeated sternly. From the sound of his tone, it was urgent. Nonetheless, my mind was buzzing too much with work and excitement to process the entirety of the situation.

But with a roll of my eyes, I leaped off my chair and defiantly entered the elevator. "On my way..."

...

Whatever Coulson wanted with me it had better be good. I had my victory in the succession of my experiment, now I had to get back to work on other projects. One of my newest ones that night: how to override SHIELD systems and make sure they didn't mess with my tower again.

Aside from that, I was merely an intern with Stark Tower, under Tony Stark. Indeed I had accomplished many inventions in my years there, but I had never been hugely recognized by the main public. Mostly I inspired teenagers and college students who wished they had an intelligence span as vast and complex as mine.

Not many were knowledgeable of my power, other than Stark, Pepper and few SHIELD agents. Otherwise, it remained anonymous.

Those thoughts forced my skepticism deeper into the answer to this perplexing situation. Whatever the case may be, I was about to find out.

The elevator halted and opened on the first penthouse floor, Coulson himself, just exiting Stark's elevator upon my arrival.

"Mr. Stark."

"Phil," Pepper exclaimed upon his entering. "Come in."

I stepped into the room near the bar scene as the greeting took place.

Stark followed Pepper eagerly, a bit confused as to how he was able to bypass the security, and rather upset with being interrupted.

"That's on you, by the way, Miss Potts."

Blaming Miss Potts for a flaw in his system. No surprise there.

"Phil, come on in. We're celebrating."

"Which is why he can't stay."

Coulson held out a large black file in which Stark was reluctant in taking. "I need you to look at this."

"I don't like being handed things," he commented quickly. "Why don't you take it to Jackie? She loves to be handed things."

"Sure," I beamed from across the room, strolling further in. "Dump everything on me. It's not like I'm busy or anything."

"See?" he pointed to me.

My eyes could not roll any further than they had.

"This is for both of you to look at."

Both of us? I pondered quietly.

Stark attempted to continue. "Like I said..."

Pepper stepped into the rescue. "That's alright. Cause' I love being handed things. Let's trade." Pepper handed off her champagne glass to Coulson, in return took the file and handed it off to Stark, removing his champagne glass from his hand.

Pepper to the rescue, I rolled my eyes, heading towards Stark's desk.

"Just so you know, consultation hours are... when Jackie?" he whirled around to ask me.

"Between eight and five every other Thursday."

"That's why she's my intern."

"This isn't a consultation," Coulson snapped in a stern reply.

Something was up. Not only could I hear it, I saw it.

Stark strolled to the desk, myself heading the same direction so as to look into this file, supposedly, meant for both of us. Why? I was about to find out.

"Is this about the Avengers?" Pepper asked, quickly adding after, "Which I know nothing about."

"It can't be," I replied. "The Avengers Initiative was scrapped, I thought."

Stark chimed in with his own response. "I didn't even qualify."

"I didn't know that either," Pepper added.

"Apparently, I'm volatile, self-obsessed, don't play well with others."

A chuckle meant to be kept in slipped through my lips with a remark. "That we both knew."

But I could see Coulson was not amused. At least, not in his usual manner. His stiff posture, hands holding each other... Something was definitely going on.

"This isn't about personality files anymore," he warned.

"Whatever," Stark stated plainly. "Jackie, plug this into the database. Miss Potts, a word."

As Pepper excused herself from Coulson's side, I went to collect the file from Stark and started connecting it to the database, having to go through more passwords than I was able to count. Whatever this was, it must have been top-level security secret, something for mine and Stark's eyes alone.

"What is this?" I muttered, typing in the final password.

With a swipe of my hands and the expansion of my arms, the images from the screen became multiple holographic profiles. So far, I was not liking what I saw. And that opinion came from a mere glance.

"Stark," I called, unable to tear my eyes away, "you better take a look at this."

He joined my side immediately after hearing my tone of urgency. Soon his eyes became as wide and filled with worry as mine.

On one screen, we witnessed the Hulk attacking an army at Culver University. Captain America was in action somewhere in a city. Thor was fighting the destroyer, but none of these caught my eye as much as one. An unknown character with dark hair, piercing blue, green eyes had possession of a small blue cube. One I had seen when Captain America was first found. The name was in my head, but it couldn't possibly be...

The Tesseract.

"Who is this character? How did he claim possession over the Tesseract?"

"The Tesseract was activated and he appeared through a portal," Coulson explained. "He killed over eighty people in his escape."

My throat coiled into a knot, suppressing any words. Eighty people...

From the looks of him, he definitely did not resemble some of the villains the Avengers had taken on from the past. In fact, he looked... mischievous. And not in a good way.

"Whatever this is... whatever he wants it for... " I shook my head, hardly able to keep my voice from breaking, "it can't be good."

"Which is why we need you."

Huh? Whether it was the shock or excitement of the previous moment, or the shock of the images before me, I wasn't sure I had processed that phrase right. I whirled around on my heel, facing him full on for confirmation. "What? You said... what?"

"SHIELD is requesting you to take on this mission with us."

What? "Me?"

"Her?" Stark added.

Am I hearing right or am I in a dream about to wake up? "SHIELD is requesting me?"

"Affirmative."

Now I definitely needed an explanation. "Wha- how? Why?"

"Director Fury recommended you to the council, accessing them all knowledge of your fight skills and supernatural abilities, deeming you necessity to the victory of this assignment. You have been requested to undertake a particular part of this mission."

"And what role would I undergo in this?"

"An advantage."

I snuck a glance towards Tony, not sure if my mind was still stunned, or it refused to put the picture together. "Meaning?"

"This personage is not one we ever have had to face. Our oppressor is a powerful being. One of magic."

I lifted my palm, igniting it briefly. Magic... Now the picture was clear. "So you need me as an advantage against this character because he possesses magical qualities?"

He nodded.

"And with my being on your side you would have an equal oppressor, as well as a minor understanding of magic."

"Conclusively."

Whoa... That was a lot to take in.

They needed me. Me! An intern! An advantage against this being of great power. A powerful force they had never faced before and they needed my help. Of all people, they called on me: Jackie Stark.

It was like my prayers had been answered.

And yet, why was I hesitating to accept?

"Coulson, does Director Fury really think I am an acceptable component to this mission?"

"He's never wrong."

That didn't seem to diminish my doubt. Coulson appeared to be reading me like a book.

"If you need some motivation, maybe this will help."

He handed me a different file, this one in a manilla folder with a few pages of resumes and profile pictures. "Who are these people?"

"The ones that have been manipulated by our oppressor."

"Manipulated?" I questioned, peering up quickly. "How so?"

"We don't have details. But we know it wasn't by choice."

Flipping through the pages, there was only one that was familiar to me, and even his identity was hardly a clear picture. Dr. Eric Selvig, a scientist of great intelligence in which I had the pleasure of meeting many years ago. Still, it didn't explain what it had to do with me.

"What do these have to do with me?" I asked, confused.

"Turn to the last page."

As I turned to the last page... I froze.

My heart skipped a beat. The world went silent. My blood began to boil. I could feel my hands threaten to ignite. The person I saw was the last person I ever wanted to be unwillingly condoned to the service of a criminal. Let alone, a wicked one.

I was not one to cry but seeing his face put me on the verge of tears, ripping my heart in two.

The shock barely allowed me to say his name. But I managed an utter of the smallest sound.

"Hawkeye..."