In the southeastern corner of California, at the coastal Vandenberg Air Force Base's satellite launch site, the scene was bustling with activity.
Miss Stark was leaning against a railing, dressed in a striking red evening gown, admiring the massive rocket in front of her.
"I still can't figure it out—why are you so adamant about launching an unmanned space station up there?"
The one speaking was General Thaddeus Ross, standing beside Miss Stark in a sharp black suit. Being on Air Force territory, Ross, mindful of political optics, opted not to wear his Army general's uniform. Besides, this satellite launch was essentially a commercial endeavor, making it unnecessary for him to appear in full military regalia.
Had it not been for Ross's political connections, the satellite launch might not have proceeded as smoothly. Miss Stark had spent nearly half a year persuading her "convenient uncle" to approve this launch. During those months, Ross had continually brushed her off, citing potential political fallout.
Stark Industries could have pursued the launch through standard commercial channels, but the issue wasn't just about sending up a satellite; it was about launching an entire space station. To secure his cooperation, Miss Stark had shown Ross her subsonic weapon suppression system. As it turns out, even family ties are ultimately driven by interests.
"It's just about planning for the future—nothing more," Miss Stark replied nonchalantly.
Sure, she could have used the Space Stone's powers to directly send the satellite into orbit. But if nations saw an unmarked space station suddenly appear, it would cause quite a stir. That was why she sought her uncle's assistance in the first place.
The Veronica space station bore the American flag, naturally alongside the Stark Industries logo. While S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury had inquired about it, Miss Stark had managed to brush him off with a commercial and research excuse, leaving him none the wiser. That's why he had sent Agent Romanoff to investigate further—though what she reported back remained unclear.
The Veronica project represented the culmination of Stark Industries' top-tier technologies under Miss Stark's leadership. At its core, it consisted of 32 satellites forming a 24/7 global monitoring system that spanned all 24 time zones. Its scope allowed for unprecedented reach, precision, depth, communication capability, and data analysis. The orbital platform was designed to deploy Iron Man suits whenever necessary.
While Miss Stark no longer needed the suits to protect herself, she didn't want to reveal her mastery of the Infinity Stones just yet. And although she no longer required the suits for her own defense, there might come a time when someone else would. That's why Veronica existed.
Over the past six months, her various projects had flourished. Her online shopping platform, bolstered by the acquisition and restructuring of a logistics company, was gaining traction. Although full market penetration was still a year or two away due to computer usage rates and population size, it was progressing. Meanwhile, her disaster management company had matured, showcasing immense profit potential, and Stark Industries' renewable energy materials division continued to provide a steady flow of funds. All this allowed her to devote enough time to transforming Veronica into a massive orbital launch platform.
The platform was essentially a colossal space storage depot equipped with launch systems. The rocket now standing on the launch pad would send the critical components into orbit, where they would self-assemble into the space station. Afterward, Miss Stark would use the Space Stone to gradually transport the remaining parts to the platform. The Space Stone's power was incredibly convenient—not just as an energy source, but also for transporting materials.
Over the past six months, Miss Stark had also perfected Howard Stark's theoretical work on new elements derived from the Tesseract. She could synthesize the new element and add it to her reactor anytime she wished, though she hadn't yet felt the need to do so.
"Good evening, Natasha—I must say, I didn't expect to receive an invite from you," came a voice from behind her.
When Miss Stark turned around, she was greeted by the sight of a man in an Air Force general's dress uniform.
"Good evening, Rhodey. Are you upset that I dragged you out of your office?"
James "Rhodey" Rhodes, formerly of the Air Force and now head of the Army's weapons research and development division, was one of the rare individuals who was well-respected in both branches. He also served as the Pentagon's liaison with Stark Industries.
"Look at you—holed up in your office all day. Tell me, how much weight have you put on lately?" Miss Stark asked teasingly, her arms crossed behind her back, her expression playful.
"Now, that's not true—I've been working out... besides my office work, of course," Rhodey stammered awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. It seemed Miss Stark had hit a sensitive spot.
"Alright, maybe three... five pounds at most... why are you looking at me like that?" Rhodey protested, noticing Stark's skeptical gaze.
"Sir, command reports we're five minutes away from launch," said an Army officer in a dark uniform, stepping up beside General Ross just as Rhodey was about to retort.
"Relax, Colonel. While there are plenty of Army folks here, the satellite belongs to her," Ross said, introducing the officer to Miss Stark with a wave.
"This is Colonel Glenn Talbot."
The name Talbot rang a bell for Miss Stark. After a brief moment of thought, she realized why it sounded familiar. This was the future Army general who would relentlessly pursue Phil Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. team. When HYDRA was cornered, it was Talbot who supported the effort to take S.H.I.E.L.D. down. Later, through Coulson's mediation, Talbot rose to the rank of general under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leadership.
While Miss Stark wasn't particularly fond of him, she recognized his current usefulness. So, she smiled warmly at Talbot, signaling goodwill.
The observation deck of the launch pad was located outside the central control room on an open-air terrace. After exchanging pleasantries with the officials around her, Miss Stark slowly made her way into the control room.
Inside, she spotted a small child—not even waist-high—wearing a custom-tailored mini lab coat, one she had personally designed for him.
"How's your evening going, my little prophet?" she asked, crouching down beside the boy, her tone playful.
"I see a bunch of people corrupted by your capitalist empire showering you with praise," the boy replied coolly, sitting smugly in his chair, completely unfazed by her approach.
Miss Stark frowned slightly and flicked him lightly on the forehead.
Ezekiel—named after the biblical prophet of the same name, Ezekiel "Zeke" Stane was the son of Obadiah Stane, Stark Industries' former chairman.
After handing his son over to Miss Stark, Obadiah had fully immersed himself in the business world, only occasionally calling to check on the boy after discussing work.
It was actually Miss Stark who had offered to help raise Ezekiel, using the excuse that a nanny couldn't provide the warmth of a real home.
Miss Stark, of course, had other reasons—she was fully aware of what the boy's future would hold, and so she chose to raise him herself.
After considering it, Obadiah had agreed to let this childless woman care for his son—perhaps so she could gain experience for the day she had children of her own.
But Obadiah could never have guessed just how Miss Stark would go about raising Ezekiel.
She had recalled the brainwashing films Captain Steve Rogers had once participated in—propaganda reels that had practically become a cultural staple in America. Even Peter Parker had grown up idolizing Captain America thanks to these tapes.
When Stark was a child, she too had watched those films, which is why she decided to take a similar approach with Ezekiel. However, unlike the old tapes she had watched, Ezekiel Stane got to experience firsthand lessons—directly from her.
---
At the heart of the launch site stood a multimillion-dollar heavy-lift rocket carrying the space transport platform. Five minutes—a stretch of time both long and short—passed quickly, and soon, the rocket ascended into the night sky, trailing a bright yellow flame.
Watching the glowing streak disappear into the sky, Miss Stark held the small boy in her arms, lost once again in thought. It was the summer of 2007, and she had about six months left before officially taking over Stark Industries.
Soon, her uncle, General Ross, would likely go after the fugitive Dr. Bruce Banner, and she would begin her journey to Afghanistan. That trip would mark the true beginning of her story.
In the next six months, there was still so much she needed to accomplish.
But her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the vibration of her phone. She pulled it out and glanced at the message, feeling a sinking sensation.
"Uncle Ross, something's come up in New York. I need to head back immediately," she said, gently releasing the boy and walking over to General Ross on the observation deck. She whispered into his ear.
"Aren't you staying for the celebration? This is a big event for Stark Industries, after all," he replied.
"Sorry, Uncle, but I need you to handle it for me. It's urgent," Miss Stark said, her eyes pleading slightly. She knew all too well the consequences of the host leaving such a high-profile event prematurely, but the situation in New York demanded her immediate attention.
"I understand. I'll arrange for transport to the military airport. You can catch a plane there," Ross said, though his face showed signs of confusion. He wasn't going to push the issue, however.
"Colonel, would you please take her to the airport?" Ross said, turning to Colonel Talbot, who stood beside him.
"Yes, sir. I'll prepare the vehicle immediately," Talbot responded.
Soon after, Miss Stark and Ezekiel Stane were in a military Humvee driven by Colonel Talbot, speeding down the roads of the air force base towards the military airport. Talbot remained silent, playing the role of a proper driver without asking any questions. Meanwhile, Miss Stark glanced again at the message on her phone.
[Hi, Natasha, Reed and I are getting married. Are you coming? — Susan Storm]
"How could I forget about this? This is going to be a mess," Miss Stark muttered through clenched teeth, staring at her phone.
Miss Stark and Susan Storm had known each other since their university days. Additionally, Susan's father, Dr. Storm, had once been one of Miss Stark's professors. That was why Susan addressed Miss Stark so casually in the message.
The wedding between Invisible Woman Susan Storm and Mr. Fantastic Reed Richards wasn't an insignificant event. The weight of it, symbolically, demanded Miss Stark's attention.
Under her insistence, the Humvee picked up speed, and within minutes, they arrived at the military airport. Miss Stark personally escorted Ezekiel to her private jet waiting on the tarmac.
"Listen, sweetheart—you're flying back to L.A. Stay at my villa there," she said, affectionately tousling his short, golden hair at the plane's steps.
"I'll have Pepper come take care of you. Promise me you won't go wandering for the rest of the month, alright?"
Yet beneath her calm demeanor, she was anything but at ease.
"So, something's wrong, isn't it, sister?" Ezekiel asked, his sharp mind quickly detecting the forced smile on Miss Stark's face. Despite his young age, Ezekiel wasn't clueless.
"It's nothing. Now get on the plane. I'll call your father," Miss Stark replied, brushing off his concerns.
Once the plane received clearance, it took off and headed for Los Angeles International Airport. Meanwhile, Miss Stark remained behind, seemingly waiting for something. Seeing this, Colonel Talbot stayed by her side, understanding that something important was about to happen.
Perhaps sensing the unspoken bond between her and his superior officer, Talbot saw this as an opportunity to curry favor. Unfortunately, Miss Stark had no time for political posturing and ignored him.
In less than ten minutes, a massive aircraft descended from the clouds—a black C-17 military transport plane. However, this particular C-17 was unlike any other Talbot had seen.
"What the... what is that thing?" Talbot exclaimed in awe as the enormous black bird descended vertically, powered by six turbofan engines.
Talbot had seen plenty of C-17s before—after all, the U.S. Army was a frequent buyer—but this one defied all his expectations. Its unusual vertical descent alone was enough to shatter his understanding of the familiar aircraft.
As the plane landed, Talbot noticed the insignia of an eagle painted on its side. Even after it touched down, he was still trying to process what he had just witnessed and which division this plane could possibly belong to.
The rear hatch of the C-17 slowly opened, spilling light across the dimly lit tarmac. Through the haze of dust kicked up by the engines, a man in a black suit and sunglasses stepped out.
"Hello, Coulson. Nice to see you. Finally got out of the office, huh?" Miss Stark quipped.
"To be honest, if the situation weren't this bad, I wouldn't have come to meet you," Agent Coulson replied with a sheepish smile as he removed his sunglasses.
"I had no idea Fury trusted you with this big guy. You must be his favorite," Miss Stark joked.
"Actually... this was about all the agency had left. And who's this?" Coulson asked, tapping the steel floor of the aircraft lightly before turning his attention to Colonel Talbot.
"This is Glenn Talbot—technically, my uncle's protégé. He gave me a lift here," Miss Stark explained.
"Colonel, from here on out, this is a matter of national security. Your clearance won't get you any further," she said, her tone dismissive but polite as she lightly patted Talbot on the shoulder. It was clear she was asking him to leave—there was no reason for a Colonel to get involved in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s affairs.
"Understood, ma'am. I'll relay your message to General Ross," Talbot said, a hint of loyalty in his voice as he addressed her formally, acknowledging her status.
As Talbot drove off in the Humvee, Miss Stark turned back to Coulson.
"That Colonel doesn't seem like he'll go far in his career," Coulson commented, observing Talbot's departure.
"On the contrary, he's going to go very far, and even I'll have to deal with him," Miss Stark replied with a knowing smirk.
"So, be straight with me, Coulson—what's the situation now?" she asked, steering the conversation to more pressing matters.
"It's worse than you can imagine. Absolute chaos," Coulson responded with a weary smile, his voice laced with helplessness.
The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division—S.H.I.E.L.D.—had already detected the approaching crisis. The world's 233 countries and territories were under its watch and protection. The World Security Council, upon receiving the initial report, had immediately gone into panic mode.
The existence of extraterrestrial civilizations was something the top tiers of human society had long suspected, but no one had expected an unknown threat to head straight for Earth.
As a special consultant to S.H.I.E.L.D., Miss Stark had been recalled to duty by Nick Fury himself. The aircraft they were on, designated CXD-23, was a highly specialized jet equipped with six turbine engines, allowing it to travel at remarkable speeds. In just about two hours, they had crossed from the West Coast to the East Coast, arriving in Washington, D.C.
There, south of Theodore Roosevelt Island, a massive gate in a concealed dam slowly opened. The enormous black plane descended into the underground hangar of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, buried deep within the mountains.
After following Coulson off the aircraft, Miss Stark immediately noticed the palpable tension in the air. Even within the underground hangar, the staff exuded an air of apprehension and fear. It was clear to her that everyone, from S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives to the embedded HYDRA agents, was shaken by the impending crisis.
After all, HYDRA hadn't taken over the world yet. How could they, when the world itself might soon be gone?
Miss Stark smirked at the thought, amused by the irony, as she followed Coulson into the base. After Coulson left to carry out orders, she, as a consultant, headed to the research center for a meeting.
If it weren't for Susan Storm's message, she might have forgotten all about the looming threat of Galactus.
No one knew why Galactus was heading straight for Earth, but he was already at the edge of the solar system—a massive, world-eating swarm of gray-black nanomachines, so dense that even the Hubble Space Telescope struggled to see through it. S.H.I.E.L.D. had been swift in blinding most of Earth's satellites to prevent mass hysteria.
Miss Stark had just launched her satellite array into orbit and wasn't about to let Galactus destroy it.
As she walked down the long corridor outside the main conference room in the S.H.I.E.L.D. research center, she noticed the somber expressions on the faces of the white-coated technicians passing by. Despite the impending doom, they continued working diligently.
Through the glass window, she could see the chaotic scene inside the conference room. It was as noisy as a bustling New York street.
"Even the Hubble is struggling to get a clear picture, but it's destroying planets as it comes, heading straight for us."
"How big is it? How much time do we have?"
"Nukes won't work. That thing is bigger than Earth itself."
Miss Stark entered the room, which was abuzz with nervous energy. This was humanity's first confirmed encounter with an extinction-level event.
To be honest, even though she had expected this, Miss Stark was feeling a bit overwhelmed. In her mind, the knowledge granted by the Infinity Stones suggested that Galactus usually manifested as a physical entity.
However, what they were facing now was a mechanical swarm—a collective of nanomachine bioforms called the Star-Eater Swarm.
At this point in time, Earth's defense forces were woefully underprepared. Even Miss Stark couldn't guarantee she could handle the entire swarm.
The room was filled with a sense of hopelessness, as if all of humanity's technology was powerless to save the planet. The pressure in the room was suffocating.
Taking a deep breath, Miss Stark turned and left the research center's main conference room, her hands in her pockets, as she quietly made her way to the director's office on the executive floor of the Triskelion.
"Special Consultant Anthonia Natasha Stark, clearance granted."
After scanning her retina at the door, she entered Nick Fury's office. The room was empty, and the air conditioning hummed softly as it powered on when she entered.
It was obvious to anyone—even a blind person—that Fury wasn't in his office.
Miss Stark suspected that, at this very moment, Fury was probably upstairs, getting chewed out by Secretary Alexander Pierce.
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