When Dragon Balls Descend Upon Marvel

Since the house hadn't been cleaned up after last night's party, Tony led Nick Fury and the others to the villa's backyard.

Looking out toward the ocean, Fury said,

"The outside world isn't as calm as the sea looks. Beneath the surface, undercurrents are ready to erupt into waves at any moment."

Tony turned around, glanced at the bald, one-eyed man, and guessed the reason for this visit before speaking.

"If you're here to talk about the Avengers base plans, I'm not interested. So, what is it this time?"

Fury sat down on a lounge chair, crossing his legs.

"I remember you like to do everything yourself. And how's that been working out for you?"

Tony frowned. "What do you mean?"

At that moment, Natasha, back in her agent attire, walked in.

"The communications here are fully blocked. No one will disturb us for now," she reported.

Feigning surprise, Tony scoffed.

"So this is how you treat your own consultant, Fury? You send agents to infiltrate my life."

"No — you even sent her to spy on Fox."

"With behavior like that, you want to build a superhero team? That's pure fantasy."

"You're finished, Fury. Just for this, Smith Dole and I can decide to never let you be part of the game again."

Fury remained unbothered by Tony's outburst and thinly veiled threats. He believed what he was about to reveal would make Stark owe him a favor.

Pointing toward Natasha, Fury introduced,

"Tony Stark, this is Agent Romanoff."

Natasha spoke calmly.

"I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. undercover operative. When the agency learned you might be suffering from palladium poisoning, Director Fury sent me to keep an eye on you."

Tony raised his hands in mock defiance.

"I'm Iron Man. A little palladium poisoning isn't going to stop me."

"You'd better be ready to apologize — and compensate me — for this stunt."

Fury cut in,

"Your behavior hasn't been normal. You appointed Pepper Potts as CEO, started giving away your assets… If Rhodey hadn't failed to walk off with your suit, I'd be wondering if you were on your deathbed."

Clearly, Fury knew everything — even about Rhodey's failed attempt to take the armor last night.

Tony brushed it off.

"Donations are for tax avoidance."

"Pepper's doing a great job — I promoted her."

"As for the suit, there's no way anyone could just steal it from me."

But inside, Tony cursed himself for letting Fury control the conversation. This spymaster was no amateur.

"So that's why you're here? To give me a lecture?" Tony asked.

Fury stepped closer and pulled at Tony's shirt collar. The telltale signs of palladium poisoning on Tony's neck were gone. He glanced at Natasha.

She nodded once, then shook her head.

Understanding, Fury's tone shifted.

"Looks like your good friend Smith has more than just an EDTA bath up his sleeve. He's actually managed to suppress your palladium poisoning."

"But as a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant, we can't just ignore you. We've got something you've never tried before."

Tony stared at him.

"You mean the things you confiscated that should've been given to me when my father died?"

Fury's heart skipped a beat — how did Stark know? But he kept his composure.

"So, you know something."

"Yes. Your father was one of the founders of the Strategic Scientific Reserve — S.H.I.E.L.D.'s predecessor. As the organization he helped build and worked in, we naturally hold some of what he left behind."

"Before, you weren't ready for it. Giving it to you then would've only hurt you. But now… you're different. You've been through the fire and come out stronger. You're Iron Man — worthy of this other gift from your father."

Tony didn't bite at the flattery. He simply waited to hear more.

"That thing in your chest," Fury continued, "was built from unfinished technology. Your father said the Arc Reactor was just a stepping stone to something greater — something that would leave all competitors in the dust."

"His dream was far bigger. Compared to it, a nuclear reactor is like a double-A battery."

Tony interjected,

"And Anton Vanko? He was involved too."

"Vanko was the other side of the coin," Fury said. "He saw it as a way to get rich. Your father had him deported. When the Soviet government found he couldn't deliver, they exiled him to Siberia, where he wasted away for twenty years."

"But his son was lucky. He managed to miniaturize the Arc Reactor, gained Smith Dole's backing, and even got his investment."

"But under your father's research, that's nothing. If you master what I'm offering, Ivan Vanko will never catch up."

Fury clapped his hands. Two agents carried in a massive case and set it down in front of them.

"This is what your father left for you. He said that with your intellect, you'd one day create what he envisioned."

Tony eyed the case.

"Is this all? My father didn't leave me anything else?"

Clearly, he didn't believe this was everything.

Fury admitted,

"There's also connections. Many of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s weapons and tech were your father's designs. Those won't be handed to you outright — but once you're inside S.H.I.E.L.D., they'll be at your disposal."

"And if you're willing to go through S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy training, your path upward will be… very smooth. Who knows? Maybe the next director — or the one after — could be you."

(End of Chapter)

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