First Mission
"Life's so cruel, don't you think, Professor Banner?" Owen asked, sprawled on the couch, staring at the ceiling with a visibly disheartened aura.
"It's rare to see you down. You're usually far more laid-back," Banner replied, observing him with genuine interest.
"Well, I guess I got rejected. And I was just innocently flirting... but apparently, I'm a 'distraction' to her work. What a shame... and here I was, already planning to introduce her to my kids," Owen said with a convincingly feigned sadness.
"You have kids?" Banner asked, clearly confused.
Owen stared at him silently, an eyebrow arched. "Sometimes you're just so innocent..." he murmured before getting up from the couch.
Just then, the door swung open, and Tony Stark strode in, accompanied by a couple of soldiers carrying boxes, metal, and various tech components.
"What's up, my favorite minions?" Tony greeted with his classic arrogant, mocking grin.
"What's all that?" Banner asked, recognizing some familiar pieces with growing curiosity.
"A particle accelerator," Tony replied as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Pepper kicked me out of the house when I suggested demolishing a wall. And the ceiling. But I'm serious, Banner, if this were centuries ago, gifting her a company would count as a dowry. Like offering her five hundred cows to marry me."
Banner looked at him in disbelief, and Owen simply let out a dry chuckle.
"And what are you going to do with this?" Banner pressed, pointing at the boxes.
"If all goes as I expect... I'll create a new element. And you, my loyal minions, will help me. Come on! Aren't you excited?" Tony exclaimed with overflowing enthusiasm.
"Yeah, woo-hoo," Owen muttered, his tone so dry it sounded like sandpaper.
"I am interested," Banner said, straightening up.
"That's the spirit, Brainiac!" Tony cheered, immediately starting to issue instructions.
With the help of a few soldiers, the trio quickly assembled a makeshift particle accelerator in the courtyard of a military base. For safety, they set it up in a more secluded area.
"Everything's aligned. Just plug it in, and we can begin," Tony instructed, after meticulously checking every component of the system.
Owen simply plugged in the thick cable Tony pointed to, and a laser beam shot out violently, piercing the nearby ground. Fortunately, they had kept their distance.
With a wrench, Tony adjusted the beam's direction until it aimed at a metallic triangle, which began to glow intensely, absorbing the emitted energy. After a few seconds, Tony gestured for Owen to shut down the system.
The three approached the energized triangle cautiously, while a scanner placed beneath it rapidly analyzed it.
"Congratulations, sir. You have created a new element," Jarvis announced in his calm, impeccable tone.
Tony held it with tongs, while Banner and Owen observed with scientific curiosity and a hint of awe.
"Am I the only one who really wants to eat that?" Owen asked, half-seriously.
The two geniuses looked at him as if he'd just suggested eating a plutonium battery.
"I mean... it looks small, chewable... like a glowing taffy," Owen added with an innocent expression.
"Yeah, I'd better get this away from you and hook it up to the new reactor before you do something crazy," Tony replied, quickly moving towards a nearby table where he had a reactor prepared with a perfectly sized space in the center for the new element. He carefully inserted it.
"I will analyze the structure and create safety protocols," Jarvis informed him.
But Tony was already looking at Owen and Banner, who were casually discussing their "strange cravings."
"Let's just do this," Tony declared, resolute, as he removed the old arc reactor from his chest.
"Sir, it is advisable to create safety protocols. The energy contained could—"
"It's fine, Jarvis. Anyway, if something goes wrong, I've got these two lunatics to back me up," Tony interrupted, placing the new reactor into his chest.
Owen and Banner approached with serious expressions, but before Banner could speak, Owen stopped him with a gesture.
Immediately, the dark marks on Tony's chest—caused by palladium poisoning—began to vanish at high speed.
"Wow..." Tony exhaled, feeling a surge of energy course through his body.
"Apparently, the new element is eliminating the palladium from your system, sir," Jarvis stated while scanning his vital signs. "No anomalies detected. It appears you've been fortunate."
"Congratulations! You no longer need injections with my—"
"Don't say it!" Tony cut him off sharply, pointing a finger at Owen. "If you do, I'm uploading all your information online. I think, since your last appearance, there's a group of divorced women very interested in testing a supersoldier's stamina."
Owen threw his hands up in surrender. "Touché."
"I see Terminator has been playing with dangerous science again," a firm voice said, one the three recognized immediately.
It was General Nathaniel, observing them with his typical stern expression.
"You're not dying anymore, Stark. Great. Get ready for your first mission," he ordered before turning away.
The three exchanged brief glances before following him. But before leaving, Tony approached the computer and pressed a button that activated the cleanup protocol: all data and blueprints were deleted. Only Jarvis would retain a copy in his encrypted memory.
For his part, Owen walked over to the makeshift accelerator structure and gave it a light kick. It collapsed like a house of cards.
"Something that took us hours to assemble, destroyed with one kick?" Tony asked, incredulous.
"Would you rather leave it here? Even with the General's men nearby, he'd destroy anything related to the three of us," Owen replied calmly.
"A particle accelerator... you know what, forget it," Tony said, giving up.
…
"A hammer?" Banner questioned, his gaze fixed on the image on the screen, a wrinkle of astonishment creasing his brow.
"A few weeks ago, this hammer fell from the sky," Nathaniel began, his voice grave, cutting the air like a blade. "But, apparently, it's made of an unknown material. No one's been able to lift it." A pause thick with implications. "SHIELD should be there right now, but since this is our country, I'd like the three of you to investigate. I need firsthand information, something better than what those idiots at SHIELD send us: 'It's a strange material, we'll do our part to see if it's safe for the planet,'" Nathaniel mimicked the SHIELD agents' voice, his contempt evident.
"A hammer made of extraterrestrial material? I'm interested," Tony blurted out, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "We just go, see what the hell it is, and come back. I've got an expo to attend," he added with a smile, his usual nonchalance.
"It's good you're interested. By the way, Stark, that Vanko guy has been released from prison. Looks like Hammer has something to do with it. Be careful, just in case," Nathaniel said with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the news.
"Hammer and Vanko? Why?" Tony asked, his smile fading.
"Are you seriously asking?" Owen looked at him with sarcasm, his eyebrow arched.
"One guy who wants to copy you and another who sort of succeeded," Banner summarized, irony in his voice.
"It's so painful to be this famous and popular," Tony shook his head with an exaggerated sigh. "Let's go. I want to see what those guys will do," he added. "First mission of... Curriculum," he added with a smug smile.
But the general didn't flinch, not a hint of amusement on his face at the mockery of his group's name.
"Let's go before he shoots you. And if I were you, Stark, I'd be careful. He's a good shot; he taught me," Owen joked, pulling Banner and Tony out of the room.
As Nathaniel watched them leave, a calm smile spread across his lips. Though they had different and slightly rebellious personalities, it was the beginning of a good team, one that could save the world if needed.
For a long time, Nathaniel kept a close eye on Banner and Tony. Owen didn't need his scrutiny; he knew his protégé well. Banner didn't disappoint him; though a bit fearful of anything related to Hulk, if it was to help, he'd be there. His counterpart, Hulk, was like a child who needed gentle correction. But he wasn't inherently evil, just violent—very violent. And Stark, despite a very complex and even annoying personality, narcissistic and not taking anything seriously, created armor to protect, not to destroy, as many in the arms market would. Though he definitely needed to improve his personality.
"All that's left is to call that insolent brat. And maybe we can add another soldier to our group of misfits," Nathaniel said before turning, carrying two folders under his arm.
One was named Nicolas Hawthorne, and the other was James Rhodes. For days, generals from other divisions had been trying to attack Nathaniel, so accepting a man from another branch might give him a breather. And James seemed reliable. After all, he's Tony Stark's friend and spent a month in the desert with Owen, so he knew him quite well.
"I hope they don't mess up their first mission," Nathaniel said before stepping out the door, the shadow of an expectation, or perhaps a warning, in his voice.