Circuit de Monaco, Grand Prix Race Track
The Mediterranean sun burned low over the harbor, glinting off yachts packed shoulder to shoulder. Engines roared, crowds screamed, and the narrow streets of Monaco thrummed with anticipation.
In the VIP box, Pepper Potts stood up in shock, watching in disbelief as Tony appeared on the starting grid in a white-and-blue driver's suit. "What is happening? Why is Tony driving?"
Happy Hogan sighed. "I knew he wouldn't follow the plan."
Alex Kane leaned on the railing, shades hiding the calculation in his eyes. He watched with sharp senses, ready to react to anything unexpected.
Down on the grid, Tony pulled on his gloves, tightened his helmet strap, and slid into his custom Stark R8 — a white-and-blue Formula 1 car gleaming under the sunlight. He gave the cameras a cocky wave before gripping the wheel.
Pepper turned to Natalie. "Did you know about this?"
Natasha kept her expression cool. "No. This is the first I've seen of it. Mr. Stark has a habit of improvising, but this… is reckless even for him."
Pepper's eyes narrowed and flicked toward Alex. He met her look and gave the smallest, guilty shrug, a gesture that said more than words. She sat down, resigned, as the race began.
It wasn't long before a commotion took place in a corner of the track. The race was in the second lap. The crowd screamed past the chicane as Tony pushed the R8 to the edge.
Then, Ivan Vanko stepped onto the pit straight without warning. His crude exoskeleton bristled with twin electrified whips, an arc reactor strapped to his chest. Sparks danced as his face twisted in cold fury.
He lashed out, slicing two cars apart in a heartbeat. When Tony's car reached him, he struck, cutting the R8 in half. The crowd's cheer turned into screams. Tony was scared as his sliced car slid through the track.
Alex noticed the commotion right away and leapt toward it. Suddenly the System reacted and the system screen came into his view.
[System Mission Issued: Capture or Kill Ivan Vanko.]
[Objective: Neutralize Ivan Vanko during the Monaco Grand Prix. Reward: 20,000 SP. Random Level 1 Superpower]
[Warning: Cosmic timeshift event detected. Host's participation is required.]
Alex reached the chaotic track, telekinesis flaring to shield fleeing civilians. He hurled debris at Vanko, who was advancing towards unarmed Tony. IVanko turned to look at the source and narrowed his eyes. Alex quickly reached Vanko and clashed with him, his Crescent Spear striking against crackling whips. Vanko locked the spear in his coils. Alex chose to release his hand and allowed Vanko to fling it away, but he summoned it back instantly, catching Vanko off guard.
"Suit up, Tony!" Alex yelled.
Happy screeched up with the Mark V suitcase. Tony activated it, armor plates sliding and locking into place in a seamless mechanical sequence.
Alex hurled debris in rapid bursts, forcing Vanko to split his focus and buying Tony time. Tony suited up in seconds, and they pressed the attack together—Tony's repulsors firing in quick succession, Alex's telekinesis twisting and pinning the whips to limit their arc.
Alex kept his abilities on a tight leash, careful not to draw further suspicion from SHIELD or any other organization already wary of him.
Vanko retaliated with vicious sweeps, sparks ripping across the asphalt. Alex countered with tight spear work and agile sidesteps. Tony's unibeam roared forward, forcing Vanko back a couple of steps. Alex lunged, the Crescent Spear piercing into the arc reactor at Vanko's chest. The impact unleashed a blinding shockwave that rippled through the track. The spark grazed Alex's arm, opening a burning wound, but it was healing almost as soon as it formed. Unlike the Extremis, his healing didn't show any trace other than its irregularity.
Vanko staggered, dropping to his knees before collapsing outright as SHIELD agents stormed onto the track, weapons trained and restraints ready.
[Mission Complete. Reward: 20,000 SP awarded.]
[New Ability Unlocked - Flight (Level 1): Utilizes internal electromagnetism to generate a localized gravity field for controlled flight. Maximum speed: 50 mph.]
Pepper stormed toward Tony, her voice sharp with anger and concern. "You... You promised me you wouldn't pull something like this!"
Tony disengaged the faceplate with a hiss and pulled off the helmet. "Technically, I was conducting field R&D," he said, forcing a crooked grin. But the bravado didn't hide the terror in his eyes.
He stepped past Pepper toward the line of SHIELD agents hauling Vanko upright. Coulson lifted a palm. "We'll take it from here, Stark."
Tony slowed but didn't stop until he was in the line of sight of Ivan Vanko.
Vanko looked up, blood at the corner of his mouth, and laughed. "You lose, Stark…you lose."
Tony's jaw tightened. "Get him out of here."
Coulson nodded to his team. As they dragged Vanko toward a transport van, Alex exhaled, the new power humming under his skin like a magnet finding purchase. Flight—filed away for later.
Pepper touched Tony's arm, softer now but firm. "We should get you checked. Now. And after that, we're going to talk."
Tony slid the helmet back under his arm. "Sure. I love talking. Preferably somewhere with coffee. And maybe a pastry."
Pepper shot him a look that ended the joke.
"I will escort him towards the Medics." Alex intervened. She turned to Alex. "Thank you, Alex. Don't encourage him."
Alex gave a small nod and smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Sirens wailed, cameras flashed, and the grandstands buzzed with shaken chatter as the chaos finally subsided. Pepper guided Tony toward the medical team, Happy fell in behind them, and Alex lingered a beat longer, eyes on the scorch mark where Vanko had stood.
---
Back at SHIELD headquarters, Fury's office buzzed with a tense atmosphere. His comm chimed softly; he tapped the receiver, and Natasha's voice came through.
"Kane's powers are confirmed," she said. "Super Soldier–level strength and agility, rapid regeneration, telekinesis. His weapon of choice appears to be a weird spear with some sort of teleportation ability."
Fury's features didn't change. He folded his hands under his chin. "Good work. Collect everything you can—feed me files, footage, anything that shows the limits of his abilities. But prioritize Stark. You can monitor Kane, but he's not our primary target right now."
"Understood," Natasha replied. "I'll get closer to Stark."
Fury ended the call and glanced at the war table. One screen showed a report from Willowdale, Virginia—sightings of a green giant. Another displayed a 0-8-4 alert about an alien object. He rubbed his temple and muttered, "One fire at a time."
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