December arrived with the first snow of the season and a sense of impending chaos.
Tony had been uncharacteristically quiet since the Senate hearing—which, according to Natasha's SHIELD intel, meant he was working on something big. The new element had solved his palladium poisoning, but now he was refining the arc reactor technology and upgrading his suits.
"He's preparing for something," Natasha said over breakfast in my apartment. She'd spent the night—something that had become increasingly common—and was reviewing SHIELD reports on her tablet while eating cereal. "Multiple new suit designs, enhanced weapons systems, improved flight capabilities. Whatever he's building, it's more advanced than anything he's made before."
"Maybe he learned from Monaco. Realized he needs to be ready for bigger threats."
"Maybe." She didn't sound convinced. "Or maybe he knows something we don't."
I knew what was coming, of course. Justin Hammer had broken Ivan Vanko out of custody in France. Right now, Vanko was probably in some Hammer facility building an army of drones while Hammer thought he was getting the upper hand on Tony.
The Stark Expo finale was approaching. Drones would attack, War Machine would be compromised, and Tony would have to save the day while dealing with the collateral damage.
The question was: how much could I influence without revealing I knew too much?
"When's the Stark Expo showcase?" I asked casually.
"Next week. Tony's unveiling something big—probably the new suit designs he's been working on. Fury wants SHIELD presence there, just in case."
"Just in case of what?"
"With Tony? Anything." She looked at me over her tablet. "You're coming with me, by the way. Fury specifically requested you be there. Something about 'civilian consultant with proven crisis management skills in Stark-related incidents.'"
"I'm developing a specialty."
"Apparently. Tony also put you on his personal guest list, so you'll have access to the VIP areas." She smiled. "You're becoming quite popular in the superhero community, Mr. Carter."
"I'm a man of many talents."
"That you are."
The week leading up to the Stark Expo was busy with regular assignments. I handled a situation at NYU where a chemistry professor had created an unstable compound and was having a breakdown. Talked down a teenager who'd manifested minor teleportation abilities and was panicking about being a "freak." Helped SHIELD coordinate a civilian evacuation during a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax.
Routine work, mostly. But each assignment was building my reputation, my skills, and my standing with SHIELD.
═══════════════════════════════════════
WEEKLY SUMMARY
Assignments Completed: 3
Success Rate: 100%
Earnings: $11,500
SP Gained: +1,240
EXP Gained: +1,800
LEVEL UP! 11 → 12
Attribute Points Gained: +5
New Feature Unlocked: Emergency Response Protocol
When CP falls below 20%, automatically gain "Second Wind" buff
Temporarily boost all stats by 15% for 5 minutes
Once per day cooldown
Current Status: Level 12 - 21,340/30,000 EXP
SP: 18,830
═══════════════════════════════════════
I allocated my new attribute points with the upcoming Stark Expo in mind:
AGI +2 (57/100 - need better reflexes for drone attack) END +1 (53/100 - stamina for extended crisis) INT +1 (46/100 - tactical thinking) CHA +1 (61/100 - maintaining calm in others)
My training with Natasha had continued too, and I was genuinely impressed with my progress. Six months ago, I couldn't have lasted thirty seconds against her. Now I could hold out for almost three minutes before she inevitably got me in a submission hold.
"You're approaching the level where you could handle most trained combatants," she said after one session. "Not enhanced individuals, not people like me, but standard soldiers or thugs? You'd do fine."
"That's reassuring, I think."
"It should be. Most people train for years to reach your level. You did it in six months." She helped me up from the mat. "Though part of that is the system, isn't it?"
I tensed. "What?"
"Alex, I'm not an idiot. You improve too fast, you know things you shouldn't, and sometimes you get this look like you're reading a screen only you can see." She touched my face gently. "I don't know what it is exactly—some kind of enhancement, maybe a neural implant, something SHIELD gave you. But whatever it is, it's helping you. And I'm glad, because it keeps you safer."
She thought it was SHIELD tech. That was... actually a good cover story.
"It's complicated," I said carefully.
"I imagine it is. Classified?"
"Very."
"Then I won't push. Just know that whatever your secret is, it doesn't change how I feel about you." She kissed me softly. "I love you, augmented or not."
"I love you too."
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RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Natasha Romanoff
Status: She suspects you have an enhancement/augmentation
Theory: Believes it's SHIELD-issued technology
Reaction: Supportive, not threatened
Trust: Still Maximum (she trusts you despite secrets)
Note: Her theory gives you good cover. Don't correct it. Let her believe it's classified SHIELD tech—it's close enough to the truth and maintains operational security.
═══════════════════════════════════════
The night before the Stark Expo, Tony called me directly.
"Carter. You coming to my show tomorrow?"
"Planning on it. Natasha's dragging me along for SHIELD observation duty."
"Perfect. Listen, I need you to do something for me. There's going to be a lot of people there—military, government, competitors, media. I need someone watching the crowd, looking for anything off. Someone trying to sabotage things, plant a device, whatever."
"You expecting trouble?"
"Always. But especially tomorrow. Call it a gut feeling." He paused. "Rhodey's going to be there in the Mark II—well, it's the War Machine now, he repainted it and added guns because of course he did. If anything happens, I need you watching the civilian response. Make sure people get clear if things go sideways."
"You think things will go sideways?"
"With me? Odds are good." He tried to make it sound light, but I could hear the genuine concern. "Just... keep your eyes open, okay? And if I tell you to run, you run. Don't try to be a hero."
"Funny. Natasha said the same thing."
"Then listen to both of us. We're very smart people."
After he hung up, I sat in my apartment thinking. Tony suspected something was coming. Maybe he'd caught wind of Hammer's activities, or maybe his paranoia was justified for once.
Either way, tomorrow was going to be interesting.
The Stark Expo was everything you'd expect from Tony—ostentatious, expensive, and packed with cutting-edge technology. The venue in Flushing Meadows Corona Park was transformed into a futuristic showcase, with exhibits from dozens of companies displaying their latest innovations.
Tony's main stage was the centerpiece—a massive platform with huge screens, pyrotechnics, and a crowd of thousands waiting for his presentation.
Natasha and I had VIP access, which meant good seats and backstage clearance. She was in her Natalie Rushman persona—professional outfit, tablet in hand, every inch the competent assistant. I was dressed business casual, SHIELD consultant badge in my pocket, trying to look like I belonged.
"SHIELD has teams positioned throughout the venue," Natasha briefed me quietly. "Standard security protocol. But Fury's paranoid about this event. Too many high-value targets, too much advanced tech in one place."
"He's not wrong to be paranoid."
"No, he's not." She checked her tablet. "You'll stay with me during the presentation. If anything happens, we coordinate response and evacuate civilians."
"Understood."
The presentation began with typical Tony flair—explosions, music, and Iron Man flying onto stage in the new Mark VI suit. The crowd went wild. Tony removed his helmet, grinning at the reception.
"Thank you! Thank you! It's good to be here!" His voice boomed through the speakers. "Welcome to the Stark Expo, where we celebrate innovation, technology, and the future! Tonight, I want to talk about legacy, about protection, and about the world we're building together—"
He was cut off by explosions in the distance.
My Enhanced Danger Sense screamed. Multiple threats, incoming fast.
"Incoming!" I shouted to Natasha.
She was already moving, pulling out her phone to coordinate SHIELD response.
Drones—dozens of them—flew in from all directions. Sleek, military-grade, and bristling with weapons. They surrounded the stage, targeting systems locking onto Tony.
And leading them, in his own armor, was War Machine—Rhodey, but his suit had been compromised. You could see him fighting the controls, his faceplate open showing his panicked expression as his armor moved without his input.
"Hammer," Natasha hissed. "He weaponized the drones and hacked War Machine."
The crowd was screaming, running in all directions. Pure chaos.
"Get them out!" I told Natasha. "I'll help coordinate the evacuation!"
"Alex—"
"Go! I've got this!"
She nodded and disappeared into the crowd, already on her phone coordinating SHIELD teams.
I activated my Crisis Management skill and started moving through the panicking civilians, using my voice and presence to create order from chaos.
"Everyone, move toward the exits! Calmly but quickly! Don't push! Help anyone who falls!" My voice carried, amplified by confidence and training. "You're going to be okay! Keep moving!"
═══════════════════════════════════════
[Crisis Management - Active]
[Smooth Talker - Active]
[Emotional Support - Active]
CP Cost: -65
Situation Analysis:
Estimated 5,000+ civilians present
40+ armed drones active
War Machine compromised
Iron Man engaging hostiles
Mass panic in progress
Your Role:
Coordinate civilian evacuation
Prevent stampede casualties
Support SHIELD response teams
DO NOT engage drones directly
Success Conditions:
Minimize civilian casualties
Efficient evacuation
Maintain order in chaos
═══════════════════════════════════════
Above us, Tony was fighting. Drones swooped and fired, their weapons tearing through expo structures. Tony was fast, agile, taking them down one by one with repulsor blasts and precise strikes.
But there were too many.
War Machine was firing too, his weapons system out of his control, targeting Tony. Rhodey was clearly fighting the suit, his face showing the strain.
I focused on the ground. A woman had fallen, people were about to trample her. I rushed over, helping her up and creating a protective space around her.
"You're okay. I've got you. This way."
A piece of debris fell near a group of teenagers. I pulled them back just in time, redirecting them toward a clear exit.
SHIELD agents were arriving, their black SUVs screeching to a halt around the perimeter. They were setting up evacuation corridors, using loudspeakers to direct the crowd.
I spotted Coulson coordinating response teams. "Carter! Good, you're here! Take the east exit—there's a bottleneck forming. Clear it!"
I ran to the east exit where hundreds of people were trying to squeeze through at once. Classic choke point that would get people killed if it turned into a stampede.
I climbed onto a nearby barrier to get height. "Everyone! Listen to me! We're going to organize this! Front row, start moving through, one person at a time! Everyone else, take two steps back! Give them room!"
To my surprise, people listened. My Charisma, my Crisis Management skill, something about my presence made them trust me.
The crowd organized. The bottleneck cleared. People started flowing through the exit in an orderly fashion instead of a dangerous crush.
Above, the fight continued. Tony had taken down most of the drones, but War Machine was still compromised. They were fighting each other—Rhodey clearly not wanting to hurt Tony, Tony trying not to seriously damage his friend.
Then I saw it—another wave of drones incoming from the north. Bigger ones, heavier weapons.
"SHIELD, we've got more contacts incoming!" I shouted into my emergency communicator. "North perimeter!"
"Copy that," came Coulson's response. "All teams, prepare for second wave. Carter, finish evacuation and fall back."
"Working on it!"
The last civilians cleared the east exit just as the new drones arrived. These were different—bulkier, slower, but with significantly more firepower. They formed a perimeter around the area, targeting anyone still in range.
I dove behind a concrete barrier as weapons fire tore through where I'd been standing.
Okay. Evacuation complete. Now personal survival.
My danger sense was going crazy. I pulled out my smoke grenades—I'd started carrying them regularly after Monaco—and threw them to create cover.
Through the smoke, I saw Tony and Rhodey finally working together. Whatever hack had controlled War Machine was breaking down. They were coordinating now, taking down the heavy drones in tandem.
A drone spotted me through the smoke. Its targeting system locked on, weapons charging—
A repulsor blast from the side destroyed it before it could fire. Tony flew past, giving me a quick nod before engaging another target.
"Get clear, Carter!" his voice came through external speakers. "This is not your fight!"
He was right. I ran for the perimeter, keeping low, using destroyed expo structures for cover. SHIELD agents were there, maintaining a defensive line, making sure no drones got past to civilian areas.
"Carter!" Agent Morrison spotted me. "You get everyone out?"
"East exit is clear. Coordination with other teams cleared the other exits. Civilian casualties minimal from what I saw."
"Good work. Now stay behind the line and let the professionals handle the rest."
The fight lasted another ten minutes. Tony and Rhodey, working together, systematically destroyed every remaining drone. The heavy units fell, the light ones were picked off, and finally, silence.
Well, relative silence. Alarms were blaring, fires were burning, and the Stark Expo looked like a war zone. But the shooting had stopped.
Tony and Rhodey landed near the command center SHIELD had established. Both armors were damaged, scorched, and smoking. But they were alive.
Pepper rushed over, immediately checking on Tony. Happy was there too, looking relieved.
I spotted Natasha emerging from the chaos, looking perfectly composed despite having just helped evacuate thousands of people under fire.
"Status?" she asked me.
"Bruised, but fine. You?"
"Same. Good work on the east exit. Coulson said you prevented a stampede."
"Just did what I could."
Tony approached, his armor retracting. He looked exhausted but alive. "Carter. Romanoff. Tell me you got everyone out."
"Civilian casualties are minimal," Natasha reported. "Maybe a dozen injuries from the panic, none serious. Your warning gave us time to start evacuations before the drones arrived."
"Good. That's good." He looked at the destruction around him. "Hammer. This was all Hammer. He broke out that Russian, had him build the drones, tried to make me look dangerous so he could swoop in as the 'safer' option for military contracts."
"SHIELD is already en route to Hammer Industries," Coulson said, appearing beside us. "We'll have him in custody within the hour. The Russian too, if he's there."
"He won't be," I said quietly. Everyone looked at me. "Vanko's whole motivation was revenge against Tony. He wouldn't miss the finale. He's probably in a suit somewhere, waiting for his moment."
"Shit," Tony said. "He's right. Vanko wanted to face me personally. This was just the opening act."
As if on cue, my danger sense spiked again. A new signature, different from the drones.
"Incoming!" I shouted.
A figure in heavy armor flew out of the smoke—Vanko, in his own arc reactor-powered suit, whips crackling with energy.
"You lose, Stark!" Vanko's voice came through speakers. "You lose!"
He lashed out with both whips simultaneously. Tony and Rhodey barely dodged, their damaged suits struggling to respond quickly.
"Everyone back!" Coulson ordered. "Civilians clear the area!"
But I wasn't a regular civilian anymore. I was a SHIELD consultant who'd been training for months. Who had skills and enhancements. Who had smoke grenades and the element of surprise.
I pulled out my last two smoke grenades and threw them at Vanko's feet.
"Alex, no!" Natasha shouted.
Too late. The smoke erupted, and I activated everything I had—Practical Combat, Enhanced Danger Sense, Crisis Management for clarity under pressure.
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[EMERGENCY COMBAT MODE]
All combat skills activeCP Cost: -80Emergency Response Protocol: Standby
WARNING: This opponent is FAR beyond your capabilities
Threat Level: EXTREMESurvival Probability: 28%
Objective: Create opening for Iron Man, then RETREAT
Do NOT attempt direct engagement═══════════════════════════════════════
I wasn't trying to fight Vanko. I was trying to blind him, confuse his targeting, give Tony and Rhodey the second they needed.
It worked. Vanko's whips lashed through the smoke blindly. Tony and Rhodey, coordinating perfectly, hit him from both sides with simultaneous repulsor and weapon blasts.
The combined firepower staggered Vanko. His suit sparked, systems failing.
"Now!" Tony shouted.
They hit him again, maximum power, both targeting the arc reactor on his chest.
Vanko's suit exploded in a massive fireball. The shockwave threw me backward, slamming me into a concrete barrier hard enough to knock the wind out of me.
When the smoke cleared, Vanko was down. His suit was destroyed, the arc reactor shattered. He was still breathing but unconscious.
"Alex!" Natasha was at my side immediately, checking for injuries. "Are you insane? What were you thinking?"
"That... Tony needed... an opening," I gasped, trying to catch my breath.
"You could have been killed!"
"But I wasn't."
She looked like she wanted to yell at me and hug me simultaneously. She settled for helping me up while glaring.
Tony approached, Rhodey behind him. "Carter. That was either really brave or really stupid."
"Little of both," I managed.
"Thank you. Seriously. You gave us the opening we needed." He looked at the destruction around us. "Though next time, maybe let the guys in the armored suits handle the super-powered Russians?"
"Noted."
Coulson was coordinating medical response and Vanko's extraction. SHIELD agents swarmed the area, securing the scene.
"Carter, you need medical attention," he said firmly.
"I'm fine—"
"That's not a request. Medical. Now."
Two hours later, I was sitting in a SHIELD medical facility being checked for injuries. Bruised ribs, some scrapes, minor burns from the explosion, but nothing serious.
Natasha sat beside me, holding my hand tightly.
"You're reckless," she said quietly.
"I was helping."
"You were almost killed. Again." She looked at me, and I saw genuine fear in her eyes. "Alex, you can't keep doing this. You're not Iron Man. You're not enhanced. You're just a man, and one day your luck is going to run out."
"I know. But I also know that if I can help, if I can make a difference, I have to try."
"Even if it kills you?"
"I won't let it kill me. I promise." I squeezed her hand. "I'm careful, Nat. I don't take stupid risks. I just... I assess the situation and do what needs doing."
"Your assessment of 'not stupid risks' is very different from mine."
"Fair point."
Coulson entered, looking tired but satisfied. "Vanko's in custody. Hammer's in custody. The drones are all destroyed. Overall, could have been much worse."
"What about Tony?" I asked.
"Home with Pepper. Exhausted but fine. He asked me to tell you he owes you another drink." Coulson pulled up a chair. "That was good work today, Carter. Excellent evacuation coordination, smart tactical thinking with the smoke grenades, and showing impressive restraint by not directly engaging Vanko."
"I did throw smoke grenades at him."
"Creating a tactical advantage, not direct engagement. There's a difference." He pulled out his tablet. "Director Fury wants to bump you to Level 3 consultant. Higher clearance, better pay, access to more resources. Interested?"
I looked at Natasha, who sighed but nodded.
"Yes. I'm interested."
"Good. Welcome to Level 3. Try not to get yourself killed in your first week."