|
|
Post by argent2 on Apr 14, 2011 23:15:44 GMT -5
Anthony Edward Stark was having a great day. Not only did he finish a tune up on the Mark IV Iron Man suit, but he also finished his second particle accelerator and made an amazing cup of hot chocolate for the first time ever. Normally, Pepper would take care of that if he asked nicely.
He and Pepper Potts had an interesting relationship. She wasn't his assistant anymore, but she was sort of a long-term girlfriend. They spent time together, had dinner, and dates- interesting dates, as Tony was a millionaire- but it didn't seem to be progressing. Not that he wanted to go really fast... It gave him a headache to think this far into it.
In any case, he was on his way to Westchester county. He'd set off from New York to find Professor Charles Xavier. Word on the street was that a building which was theoretically a private school in Westchester was actually a school for mutants and the base of the X-Men. And having good money, his sources were usually right.
He was in a limousine- his personal limousine- and was being driven by a hand-picked chauffeur who Tony was sure wouldn't betray the true nature of the X-Mansion. Also with him was his bodyguard and close friend, Happy Hogan. Few words were exchanged; Tony had to speak with Xavier and Happy was there to watch over him. No more, no less.
Within the limousine, he had on his Iron Man suit. He could've flown, but Happy insisted on accompanying him; mutants were 'unpredictable.' Of course, that was the exact generalization Tony was trying to destroy, but he was to preoccupied to go into it at the time. So, he was driven.
The chauffeur got out in front of the school and opened the door for him. When he stepped out, the afternoon sun was nearly blinding, if he hadn't had a visor. There were a few students and staff members around, and most recognized him on sight. Few in the entire world didn't recognize the Iron Man armor. Happy got out beside him, with sunglasses on. He stood close by.
The CEO of Stark Industries strode towards the entrance of the school. He stopped in front of a staff member who immediately went to alert the Professor to his presence. It didn't take a rocket scientist to find out that Tony Stark's presence meant business.
|
|
|
|
Post by xavier on Apr 19, 2011 17:33:39 GMT -5
What surprised Xavier more than anything wasn't the fact that Tony Stark had graced his school, or the fact that he was dressed up in his Iron Man suit, but it was merely the fact that he came in a limo. When one of the students ran up and told him this bit of news, he couldn't help his rising curiosity.
He told the student to welcome Tony in and bring him up to his office. He waited and cleaned up his desk as he did. He knew that if a man like Tony entered his school it meant one of two things: Either there was some financial business he wanted to discuss, or something was up that required the X-Men to help out with. Though what the X-Men could help with that Iron Man could very well do alone was beyond him.
He heard a pair of footsteps coming up the hallway and he knew there was an extra man coming with Tony. Though he didn't scan the man's mind, he couldn't help but poke a little in Tony's. Something was bothering Mr. Stark, and it was something he needed to speak with Xavier about. This only peaked Xavier's interest more.
|
|
|
|
Post by argent2 on Apr 20, 2011 15:52:04 GMT -5
Tony Stark thanked the student and followed him into the school. It reminded him of his own old private school; albeit one without mutants. And his looked less like a mansion and more like a... well, school. And there was no alleged 'expert telepath' as the principal. As far as mutants went, Captain America was pretty much the first name on the mouth when you thought "super powers."
He walked down the hall, Happy at his side. Happy, of course, had a handgun in a belt holster, as well as one in a shoulder holster under his coat. Not that Happy would be able to do anything Tony couldn't, as Iron Man, but Tony needed his friend's support nowadays. You never knew.
The pair stopped in front of the doorway to Xavier's office. The man himself was finishing clearing off his desk. As Tony noticed, he was in a wheelchair. He didn't mind, of course, but it changed his inner eye's vision of the situation a bit. Happy was glancing around, making sure that there were no immediate threats to his employer.
Tony walked in. "Nice to meet you," he said. Walking up to the desk, he held his red, metal hand to the man. "Anthony Stark," he said. "This is my bodyguard, Harold Hogan." Happy nodded respectfully to the Professor. Tony sat down across from him, and Happy relocated himself to near the door, just in case.
De-activating his helmet, the front split and part went up and the other went down, revealing a business-like, clean-shaven face. One seen by many as 'the face of Stark Industries.' "No doubt you're wondering why I'm here, and uninvited. I'd apologize, but desperate times call for desperate measures, as I'm sure you well know.
"I understand that a mutant called Cain is terrorizing many places in Europe. If you don't mind, I'd like to know more about the situation." He sounded political and formal, but he was in S.H.E.I.L.D. mode right now, and his main goal at the moment was information.
|
|
|
|
Post by xavier on Apr 20, 2011 16:01:21 GMT -5
"Mr. Stark, I must say this is a pleasant surprise."
Xavier looked towards the young student, smiling and nodding his head. The boy smiled and closed the door. He watched as Tony's bodyguard walked over and stood by the door. Xavier looked him over then eyed his gun before looking back to the man. He turned and moved back behind his desk.
"I must ask your friend to remove his gun. This is a school and weapons are not allowed. I assure you if there were any danger I would know about it before hand."
He took Tony's hand in a firm shake, sitting back with his fingers clasped in his lap as he watched the helmet of Iron Man open to reveal Tony's true face. When Tony mentioned Cain, Xavier's smile seemed to fade. The mutant was indeed causing a problem, but what Tony didn't know was that there was something darker working in the shadows.
"I'll admit the threat of Cain is a problem, however there seems to be other things at work that even Cain might have a problem with."
Tony didn't know about the assault on the mansion months ago by men in black, or the fact that Magneto and Apocalypse were both now in his mansion and down in the infirmary, doing their best to remove whatever was killing Rose while Ian watched on the sidelines. The world was heading into dark times, and from the looks of things, it was heading full speed. He rolled over to the window and looked outside.
"What does S.H.I.E.L.D. know of a group called...the agency?"
|
|
|
|
Post by argent2 on Apr 22, 2011 11:22:15 GMT -5
Tony nodded at Happy, who removed the handgun and placed it on a nearby desk, well away from anyone. It was reluctant, but he still had the one hidden in the shoulder holster, and he could always leap for the one on the desk. He felt that his employer was moderately safe. Besides, Tony had the Iron Man suit on. There was almost no doubt that he could take on anyone in the room at this point.
Meanwhile, Tony saw the look on Xavier's face, and knew that Cain was bad news. Of that, there was no doubt. But to his response, Tony became intrigued. He left the statement hanging, though, which made Tony want to ask about it. However, Professor Xavier went on before Tony could.
"The Agency? Not a lot. Other than the fact that they're bent on world domination, but most people are nowadays. We're looking into it more, but we haven't got much information about them," He told the man. Of course, a lot of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources were going toward the Cain incident... which is why Tony was here.
"You see, Professor, a lot of our resources are going towards stopping Cain, so we're not focusing on much else at the moment. You said that Cain might be having a problem... What exactly did you mean by that?"
|
|
|
|
Post by xavier on May 8, 2011 14:56:21 GMT -5
"Unfortunately, Cain has become a minor problem compaired to all that's happened."
He wanted to comment on Happy's hidden gun, but he decided against it, not wanting to seem like an bad host. He turned his chair again and moved back behind the desk. He reached into his drawer and pulled out a couple files. One was for what he knew on the Agency, which wasn't much, and another was from Cain, which seemed larger than normal.
"These reports are from my students and a few members of The Alliance that have encountered over the months. I'm afraid that's all I have. However, there are two people in the infirmary who might be able to tell you more about Cain. I have a student who has encountered the Agency first hand, but I haven't seen him since he left to find Alex. I'm sorry Mr. Stark, but that's all I have. If you wish, I could summon the boy, though I'm sure he'll be reluctant to leave Rose's side."
Xavier sat and waited while Tony sifted through the files. He was sure that Stark's reaction to talk of a possible "Future Cain" would put both his and S.H.E.I.L.D.s attention on high alert.
|
|
