In Pepper's apartment.
"Lay her on my bed and stay in the hall and can you transform back human?" asked Pepper as she led them inside.
Aron was possessing Mark 42. So anyone who saw them thought that pepper was with Tony who was wearing a new suit and had kidnapped a woman. Fortunately, no one 'normal' saw them.
"I can but I will be missing a limb."
"Then don't, just stay out of view, and can you do something about the armor?"
"I could hide it and here wear this" Said Aron as he gave her an earpiece which he just made.
"What is it?" Asked Pepper as she put it into her ear.
"It's a transmitter that lets us talk with our thoughts, Should I go fuse with the car, Just in case?" asked Aron.
Pepper was silent for a moment.
"Do what you think is best." Said Pepper.
Aron nodded and stored the suit in his inventory which he just realized he had and turned into electricity as he disappeared into the wiring. Which was becoming his favorite method of travel.
Pepper went to the kitchen for a glass of water and waited for Maya to wake up.
In the meantime, Aron had returned to the car and merged with it, and created a few drones that were monitoring the apartment and the surrounding area for danger.
A few minutes later.
Pepper was talking with Aron regarding the news that they should say to the media that somehow already had the news of the destroyed mansion when she heard movement and turned to see Maya getting up.
"Hi, How are you feeling?" asked Pepper.
Maya didn't respond but looked around and then started sobbing uncontrollably. Which led to Pepper hugging the poor woman and trying to comfort her.
After a few minutes.
"Sorry about that *sniff*," said Maya.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?" asked Pepper sounding concerned and genuinely worried.
Maya broke down and told Pepper everything because she needed an outlet and she wasn't thinking straight.
After she was done.
"Sorry, I needed to speak to someone about it. I hope you can forget it"
"It's kinda hard to forget the fact that your boyfriend has a kid he never knew about," said pepper with a wry smile.
"I am Virginia Potts you can call me Pepper. I am Tony's girlfriend" Said pepper introducing herself.
"I am so sorry" replied Maya feeling guilty.
"Don't be. I know how Tony was, well is. But I know a way through which Noah can be saved but you will have to trust me."
Maya nodded.
"Good, then come on! let's go to Noah," said Pepper confusing Maya.
"Aren't you going to explain?"
"It's a long and insane story. I will explain on the way. Come on" said pepper as she left.
"You seem more eager and anxious than I am," said Maya as she followed Pepper.
one hour later.
"I can't believe you got away with adopting an Alien," said Maya as the duo entered the AIM lab in LA
"Well technically he doesn't exist," said Pepper.
"It also helps that a prince of an alien civilization vouched for me" add Aron helpfully as he materialized inside the lab.
Maya just looked at him in surprise and caution.
"Relax, I am harmless unless you are tech in which case you are food. Now where is he?" assured Aron.
Maya hesitated for a moment and then made up her mind and led them further into the lab opening up a room that looked like a bunker mixed with a hospital ward. and there was only one patient.
He was a 13 year old with black hair and pale skin that was periodically glowing red almost white and then turning back normal. He was connected to all sorts of IV drips.
Aron took one look at him and walked out.
"What are you doing?" Asked Pepper startled.
"I need parts. I need to build, not become a life pod. Do you have any large pieces of metal here? Scrap will do too."
Maya nodded and led him to another room that had large pieces of metal riveted to the walls with scorch marks on them.
Aron didn't talk he at this point knew what was going on. Aron merged with part of the wall and tore the necessary amount of metal off them.
"Now we move to a secure location. I won't be able to do much/anything once we start the procedure," said Aron as he started building a stasis pod to transfer Noah around Noah.
"Let's move to 'that' warehouse. Steve and his friend moved out a few weeks ago". said Pepper looking at Maya who didn't say anything and just nodded.
"Got it". said Aron as he completed the stasis pod and then merged with it to move and the Trio left.
A few minutes later. In a warehouse
"Once I start I want you and Miss. Hansen to flee. Find Steve or Fury, I am getting a very bad feeling. Also, wear this," said Aron manifesting a modified and upgraded mark 42 to fit Pepper better.
Pepper looked at him and was about to refuse but she was interrupted.
"I can't protect you when I am in cradle form, Mom. Most if not all of my resources will be dedicated to keeping him stable and making sure he doesn't blow up or turn into a monster of some kind while maintaining a barrier so that nothing disrupts us. At most I will only be able of communicating to you and Tony" said Aron through the telepathic earpiece.
The mother and son had a small staring contest which ended with Aaron having his face squished and brought down to Pepper's eye level.
"Stay safe," said Pepper in all seriousness.
"I will, You should too and please wear the armor."
Pepper sighed and nodded moving towards the armor and entering it.
As soon as she did the armor 'Collapsed' turning more streamlined and advanced until it looked like it was made for her (Pepper's armor from infinity war but red and gold) after it was done optimizing itself it collapsed again turning into an almost skin-tight suit that looked like a flashier and high-tech version of black widow's suit.
"How is it?" asked Aron.
"It's ... comfortable" replied pepper to which Aron just hummed.
During all this Maya was just standing next to the stasis pod that contained her son feeling a little scared and honestly reflecting on a lot of things and feeling a little regret.
"Maya, let's go they are going to be fine," said Pepper gesturing to Maya.
Maya just nodded whispered something to Noah and left.
"Well let's get to it," Said Aron fusing with the stasis pod turning and becoming a life pod which was soon filled with a greenish liquid of some kind.
An hour later.
"That's about what happened. Mom just informed me that they reached the airport should I connect you?" asked Aron.
"Yeah, sure" replied Tony
"How is Tony?" asked Pepper.
"I am fine Pepper" answered Tony causing pepper who was about to enter the airport to freeze and almost cry tears of joy.
"I hate job hunting"
"I know"
"Then don't go disappearing on me"
"I'll try"
"That's the be..."
"Pepper?" "Mom?"
With Pepper and Maya at the same time.
Pepper was on the ground unconscious and out of her armor(She is at an airport, she had to take it off and put it on standby) a faith also shared by Maya, and both of them were surrounded by soldiers both the normal kind and the Extremis kind who quickly took the two ladies and left.
With Tony.
Tony punched a tree in anger and knocked it over.
"...Dad" came Aron's voice tinged with fear.
"What's wrong?" asked a panicked Tony. Aron never calls him dad.
"I am being transported." Came Aron's voice sounding like he was about to hit the flight or fight button.
"Aron, Buddy. Focus on my voice. You are going to be fine and so is Pepper she is strong far stronger than any of us give her credit for okay. Know that I will always come and get you no matter what okay."
"... You are really bad at giving speeches or reassuring people, Dad," said Aron sounding a little better.
"Well it worked didn't it?" said Tony.
Aron didn't answer which worried Tony.
"Dad, I... I don't want you to be an Avenger. I want you to be a Protector."
"...Yeah. I understand"
"Is Jarvis there?"
"Not yet. Why?"
"When he returns can you tell him to show you the comunicpur?"
"The what?"
"The comunicpur. It's something I built on accident when I was grounded. I use it to talk to a friend I made in space. He is part of a Mercenary group. I am sorry I didn't tell you until now. I wanted to keep it as a surprise" said a guilty-sounding Aron.
"...Does Pepper know?"
"She does"
"And the two of you were hiding it from me?" asked Tony mock hurt.
"You would have taken it away and gotten into a fight with their captain. He is like you a Narcissist" answered Aron sounding strangely confident.
"Well, I definitely would have taken it away," admitted Tony.
"Dad, I need to go, Noah is entering a critical cycle and I need to stabilize him. I am moving at nearly 90 Km/h and in a straight line, I think we entered a Highway. I will try and keep you updated on the changes in my state and contact you if I can contact Mom again. Find a power source and Please stay calm. You are at your best when you are calm".
"No promises Buddy, and the same goes for you stay calm and know that I am coming to get you both."
"See you later, Dad"
"See you later, buddy"
Standing in the snowfield and thinking of allies Tony realized something very important.
He was alone.