Chapter 20: The Guardians of the Galaxy
The alert of an unauthorised space ship entering the upper atmosphere sent the Accords Committee into a state of panic. Tony had been in a video conference call meeting with the committee when the alert had been sounded which enabled him to act quickly as he had suspicions on what the spaceship was and who it belonged to.
It had taken them long enough to arrive here.
With permission from the Committee to act, Tony instructed FRIDAY to open a broadcast signal which would allow him to send a message to the new arrivals. He intended to bring them down to Avenger's Facility at the best possible moment. However, coming down in broad daylight might cause panic and concern and he'd rather avoid the implications of that scenario.
Tony was clad in his Iron Man armour, hovering just below the oxygen layer of the planet. His suit was designed to allow him to breathe further out in space. He could deploy weapons in space if the spaceship proved to be hostile but he doubted it would be. He recognised the ship.
He spoke into his receiver, communicating with Natasha and Steve at the Avengers Compound. "They'll be in range shortly." He intended to send a message to them once they were in range. He had to do this properly. With the Accords in place, he had to follow the legislation, especially since he was part of the Committee.
"What will you do if they are hostile?" asked Steve over the communications unit.
"Threaten them," stated Tony in reply. "But they won't be hostile."
"You can't know that," said Steve.
"If they are who I think they are, they're allies," grimaced Tony, knowing it was likely now his and Natasha's secret was unlikely to stay hidden much longer.
Natasha's voice echoed over his earpiece. "Trust him, Steve. There is a lot you are unaware of."
"I've noticed you two have been working together a lot. Are you finally going to come clean?"
Tony swallowed. They hadn't been as secret as they thought but more people were finding out. Perhaps they were destined to do so. He sighed. "Now isn't the time, Steve. We do have a spaceship heading towards us."
"Allies, according to you." There was a hint of sarcasm in Steve's voice.
"They will be," grated Tony.
"Steve now isn't the time," Natasha butted in, sounding agitated. "We'll discuss it later."
Tony rolled his eyes. Steve could be so frustrating sometimes. "They're in range now. Transmitting communication message. This is Tony Stark representing Planet Earth, calling unidentified ship. Please respond."
There was a pause after he finished his message before he got a response. A female voice answered one he hadn't heard before when he'd met the Guardians before but he could guess who it belonged to.
"You wanted to speak to us, Tony Stark?"
"I did," he answered. He knew the female speaking was Gamora. He didn't recognise her voice but she had to be Gamora. She was the woman whose death had enraged Quill, ruining their plan to obtain the Gauntlet from Thanos.
"Why?"
"This isn't the place to discuss it," explained Tony. "I need you to land on Earth… I'll vouch for you. It's imperative we work together."
"We've come because we want to know how you have knowledge of us, considering your planet is not advanced enough to travel into space yet."
Tony grinned. "Earth has had its fair share of alien attacks over the years. If they have knowledge of us, it only seems fitting we would have knowledge of other things, doesn't it?"
"Possibly, Mr. Stark," returned the female voice. "Where do you want us to land?"
"I'll transmit the coordinates for you but wait until darkness. It'll be easier to disguise your arrival if you wait." He tapped his fingers over the keyboard, sending the codes across.
"Received and acknowledged," a male voice confirmed.
Tony was tempted to say the man's name but he was sure that would freak him out. He didn't want them to become hostile if they knew how much he knew. His knowledge was dangerous. "See you soon then." He switched the frequency back to the Avengers Compound. "I'm coming back. Don't say it, Steve. I know you heard the conversation. I'll explain when I get back."
Steve didn't respond though he suspected it was because Natasha was glaring at him.
"Let's go home," muttered Tony quietly, disengaging his thrusters and descended back towards the Facility.
When Tony arrived in his lab, Steve was waiting for him. Natasha stood off to the side, looking a bit wary. Raising his hands, Tony pre-empted anything Steve was about to say. "We all have secrets, Steve, and there are some things that do not concern you."
"I think it concerns me when you already know who these people are and they know you!" retorted Steve.
"It's… complicated." Because it was. He just didn't have the time now to fully explain it. "Look, Nat and I have been working together for a reason. A reason I'm sure you'll find hard to believe."
"I slept for seventy years and woke up with everyone I knew already gone. I've seen other life exist out there. How can anything you say surprise me, Stark?"
"Oh, we're back to surnames now are we?" accused Tony. Steve could be so stubborn sometimes.
"I'm not going to call you anything else am I, Stark, when I don't even know who the real – " Steve argued back, his hands balling into fists.
But Natasha stepped forward between them, hands raised. "We're from the future, Steve."
That shut Steve up straight away.
Tony glanced at Natasha. It was always going to happen, one way or another that Steve would find out the truth. He hadn't wanted it to be so soon though. He'd rather have kept their secret for longer but with so many people being in positions to know, soon the whole group would be aware of Tony and Natasha's secret. He wondered if it was worth it just telling them all. But could he trust them all? Heck, neither Rhodey or Happy had been informed. Only Pepper…
Steve shook his head. "Excuse me? The future? Come on, you really expect me to believe that?"
Tony shrugged. "It's the truth. Pepper, Fury, and Wanda all know. We've been trying to keep it quiet, attempting to prevent something bad from happening."
"Did you lose before?" Steve asked.
"You're taking this rather well," noted Natasha, her voice wary. "Tony and I survived what we're trying to stop but it took so many other lives. Including some of our team members. We're bringing in people who could be vital to our success this time. But you've been suspicious of us for a while, haven't you?"
Steve moved away. "I have. You seemed to know everything that could possibly go wrong. Lagos… That was my first clue but I let it slide… But you two kept sneaking off for meetings, spending more time with one another. The Accords. You worked together on the Accords. Presented them to us as a team… And Ross. You found Tony pretty quickly after he was taken." He fixed his eyes upon Natasha. "If you're really from the future…"
"Time travel is possible," replied Tony quietly. "We came back. And we've been changing things so all those people who lost their lives do not lose them this time. When we came back… things changed between Nat and I. Somehow we can find each other… We're not entirely sure why. But Nat found me because of that connection. We're not going to hide it anymore."
Steve sunk down into a chair. "It's hard to believe."
Tony shrugged. "It is the truth, the simplest one. Bringing the Guardians in is just one of the first steps we have been taking to ensure we are successful."
Natasha reached out for Steve's hand. He let her take it her smaller palm. "Steve, you have to trust us. What we're doing, what we've been doing is to save everyone, not just on the Earth, but in the universe. If we are to succeed, you have to trust us."
Steve pointed to the ceiling. "What is coming?"
Steve didn't mean the Guardians. He meant the threat Natasha and Tony were trying to stop.
"He's called Thanos," answered Tony. "He was behind the invasion of New York. Loki was just a tool to carry out his wishes. Remember what Thor told us before he left Earth about the Infinity Stones?"
Steve remembered. "They've been showing up."
"Haven't you noticed Vision's stone is gone?" asked Natasha.
"I had…" Steve frowned. "Vision said he found a way to have it safely removed and he was storing it elsewhere."
"And you believed it?" Tony felt surprised Steve hadn't questioned about the missing stone.
"I knew something was up. He told me you and Nat had it all under control."
"Great…" Tony sighed. "Thanos is after the Infinity Stones. Nat and I are attempting to destroy them before Thanos gets them. With all of them together he can destroy the whole universe with a click of his fingers. We've destroyed two. The rest are located on other planets which is why we are bringing the Guardians in to assist us. We need to leave Earth if we're going to get them all before Thanos does."
Steve's face hardened. "Count me in."
"What?" Tony stepped back in surprise. "You want to come with us?"
"You'll need me. And if I am to trust you, I need to follow your lead, right?" Folding his arms over his chest, Steve watched the two with interest.
"He's right, we do need him, Tony," interjected Natasha. "It can't be just us going. Even if we do go with the Guardians, we might need others with us. They need to be prepared and the best way to do it is to follow us."
"We cannot leave Earth undefended," pointed out Tony. "If Steve comes with us…"
"There are others," reminded Steve. "Tony, it isn't just you defending the Earth. There are others too. And if this is a threat that won before, you need as much help as you can get."
"Okay, fine," agreed Tony. "You can come."
In the middle of the night, a select group of the Avengers sat around the Conference table in a room safely secured underground with the Guardians of the Galaxy on one side of the table and a few members of the Avengers on the other. The Accords Committee had been informed of Tony's decision for them to land. He'd explained his reasoning and that they had come with information relevant to a wider threat affecting the entire universe, though that was a falsehood on Tony's part. He didn't want the Committee finding out he had sent someone to ask for them to come.
Tony had asked, in addition to Natasha and Steve, for Wanda, Pepper, and Fury to be there. None of the other Avengers were aware of the truth and didn't necessarily have to be in the room for this discussion. He did resolve to speak to Rhodey and Happy at some point and bring them into the fold.
Tony sat in the centre with Natasha to the right and Pepper to his left. Steve sat beside Natasha and Wanda next to Steve, with Fury on Pepper's left.
On the opposite side of the table sat the motley crew of the Benatar. Peter Quill faced Tony; his watchful eyes alight with suspicion, arms folded across his chest, straining the brown jacket he wore. To his right sat a green-skinned woman who had been introduced to them as Gamora. Then there was Mantis and a talking tree called Groot. Tony hadn't met Groot before as he'd been killed by Thanos' snap originally. In fact, Groot and Gamora were the only Guardian's Tony had not met before. Rocket positioned himself on Quill's left followed by Drax.
"Welcome to Earth," began Tony. "I requested an ally of ours to find you and ask you to come here. We have much to discuss."
"Interesting how an Earth-man could have knowledge of us," stated Quill. "You're out of range of anything going on in the wider galaxy."
"It doesn't mean we do not have our resources," replied Tony carefully. "We did successfully defeat an alien army a few years back."
"It doesn't explain how you know about us though, does it?" Gamora pointed out. "The woman who sought us out, she's from here, got mixed up in something and got given powers. We know of her and her exploits. She's feared across the universe for what she's been doing and yet…" She tilted her head to the side slightly, "And yet my father chooses to fear you, Tony Stark."
Tony grimaced. "Your father being Thanos?" He sought clarification, already knowing the answer.
"He raised me," she answered quietly. "But he wasn't much of a father. Your friend mentioned you were trying to stop him from getting the Infinity Stones."
It seemed Carol had given the Guardians more information than they had thought she might. Still, it at least made things a lot simpler.
"We are," confirmed Tony, already guessing what the next question would be.
"How do you know of him?" asked Gamora.
Natasha answered: "Loki. After he lost in New York he did tell us a few things." That last part was a lie however Tony was determined to not inform the Guardians of his and Nat's unique circumstances and knowledge of the future. "We know he was sent by Thanos to obtain the Infinity Stone which was here. He failed."
Gamora didn't probe further but she leaned back in her chair.
"Why did you call us here?" asked Quill. "You're not going to tell us how you know about us…"
"I pick up communications," revealed Tony. It was another little stretch of a lie. But he did have satellites up in orbit, set on different frequencies to catch any transmissions. "I have satellites programmed to search for wavelengths and frequencies. It occasionally picks up transmissions. One mentioned your group, having stopped Thanos' minions at a planet called Xandar." Thankfully Rocket had been extremely helpful in telling them all about his own history with the Guardians during the five years after the Snap. It helped they were able to collate this information. "And Carol, Fury here is able to summon her back to Earth. We asked her back and enquired if she could reach you for us. It was the only way of getting our message to you."
He'd already discussed with the others what he had been planning to say to their guests. It seemed only right to stay on the same page so none of them would be surprised when a little fib came out.
"You can build communication devices to pick up signals from lightyears away, yet you are incapable of creating a spaceship?" Rocket laughed.
Tony had forgotten what a dick the Racoon had been but he let it pass. "Technology is advancing. It won't be long before we take our first steps out into the stars."
"I am Groot!" the tree spoke up.
"What did he say?" Fury queried.
"He asked why you wanted to speak to us," translated Quill.
"As I said, the Infinity Stones. We've found and destroyed two of them already." Tony nodded towards Wanda. "Wanda was a great aid in that regard."
"You destroyed them?" Gamora seemed surprised. "How?"
Wanda flicked her fingers, red traces floating up towards the ceiling. "My powers originate from the Mind Stone. I am capable of destroying them."
"We know there are another four," continued Natasha. "Our friend, Thor, intimated as much. We can't reach him at the moment."
"What we'd like," added Tony, "is for you to take me and a small team to the various locations of where the Infinity Stones are hidden and enable us to destroy them, therefore preventing Thanos from gaining even one of them."
Gamora and Quill exchanged glances before she spoke up. They'd clearly discussed this in advance, anticipating already what Tony had wanted to speak to them about based on Carol's discussion with them when she'd tracked them down.
"We can only take you to one of them," said Gamora. "We only know the location of one."
They'd discussed the probability of Gamora hiding the fact she had known where the Soul Stone was located. They'd have to think of a way to ensure she divulged it to them without gaining her suspicions. They couldn't exactly ask to take them to Vormir – that could prove disastrous for them if they named the place without being able to explain how they knew of its existence.
"What one can you lead us to?" asked Steve.
Once again the Guardians exchanged looks. Tony was surprised how quiet Drax was being.
"There is one on Xandar," admitted Gamora. "The Nova Corps will not give it up easily. We may have to steal it. Convincing them to release it back to us might be problematic."
Pity they couldn't use time travel to go back in time and take it from another point but every part of Tony's being was telling them they had to take them from their locations where they were situated right now.
"I'm sure we can work on a plan which will work for all of us," said Steve.
The Guardians didn't know where the Reality Stone was currently held. Tony considered whether it would be a good idea to reveal it; however, he did know Thor knew where it was.
"We know where another is because Thor's people placed it there," said Tony.
"Where?" asked Gamora.
"A place called… Knowhere, with a man called The Collector?" Tony phrased it as a question.
"That man is an idiot!" Quill nearly launched into a tirade but a calming hand from Gamora soothed him.
"Thor may not have known that…" pointed out Natasha. "Can you take us there?"
"We could," replied Gamora.
"But what's in it for us?" interrupted Rocket. "Money?"
"I thought helping save the universe would be enough," said Steve, his voice slightly tinged with frustration.
"Then we're not interested!" stated Rocket, already starting to slide off his seat but noticed Quill and Gamora were not following his lead. "What? You two aren't seriously thinking of doing this for free, are you?"
"Rocket… if Thanos gets any of the Infinity Stones he'll be invincible… We have to stop him and if we have to do this for free, then I am volunteering my services whether you like it or not." Gamora explained. "We can't let him get any of the Stones." She raised her gaze to look at Quill. "Peter?"
Quill glanced towards Tony and then back at Gamora. It was clear a decision had already been made. "We'll help, but you'll do what we say when on our ship, alright?"
Tony smiled and nodded. "Agreed."
"I wondered if Gamora may have come back as well…" said Natasha quietly as they stood in the kitchen of the Compound. "But I don't think she has."
"What makes you say she hasn't?" asked Tony, lowering his voice so the others couldn't hear.
"Because when you came back the voice told me 'he has arrived'. I knew who I'd been waiting for, for two years was finally here. Nothing of the sort now with Gamora. And I think if she was back, she wouldn't be hiding Vormir from us. We need to convince her to tell us otherwise we won't be able to get to Vormir."
"I know," Tony bit his lower lip. "I think I have an idea but let's wait until we've got the other two."
Natasha nodded. "A good plan." She poured hot water into the teapot. "Who is coming with us to space?"
"Steve and Wanda… Pepper wants to come too." He fidgeted, not liking the idea of Pepper putting her life on the line. "I'm not sure I want her to."
"She's been in on this from the beginning," noted Natasha quietly. "I think we need her. And I know she's been training in the suit you designed for her. I know you want to protect her."
"I can't lose her, Nat… Morgan's life is on the line. I want my little girl. If Pepper comes with us and something happens to her…" Tony shook his head, trying to ignore the sensation of wetness in his eyes. Tony Stark never cried. He'd become a lot more emotional since becoming a father. God, he missed her.
"You'll have her. I promise you, Morgan will be born and she'll be the same little girl you love and adore. You'll see her grow up, Tony. I know you will." Natasha smiled.
Tony sighed. He wanted to believe but a part of him felt that there was a great loss still to come. He couldn't be this lucky, could he? "Alright, Pepper can come."
He hoped he was making the right decision.
Friday 7th April 2017
Two days after the Guardians of the Galaxy had arrived, Tony, Natasha, Wanda, Steve and Pepper were ready to leave Earth on the Benatar. Steve had handed the Avengers leadership over to Rhodey who was staying behind. Most of the other members of the team were unaware of why they needed to leave Earth, only it involved preventing a wider threat from reaching them. Pepper had handed the reins of Stark Industries over to her deputy who was keeping the company running in her place. All S.I knew was that Pepper was taking an extended vacation and wouldn't be available for a few months.
Tony and Natasha promised upon their return they would tell them everything.
They boarded the Benatar with a suitcase each, not knowing for how long they would be gone for. They hoped it would only be a few months though the trip could be longer.
As Quill engaged the engines, the Benatar lifted off under cover of darkness. Tilting the nose up, he engaged the thrusters and the spaceship shot up into the sky with speed.
Tony glanced out at the disappearing landscape of the Earth below him, a slight tingle of fear erupting in his chest of being back out in space again, but he knew he had to do this.
They were on their way.
First on their destination was Knowhere, followed by Xandar and finally Vormir, if they could convince Gamora to reveal its exact location.
Tony closed his eyes, leaning back against his seat. We can do this. We can beat Thanos.
They were well on their way to achieving that goal after all.
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