New York, Midnight
Rain shrouded the city, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s glass tower glowing. Tony exited, wind whipping his coat. "Lousy weather," he muttered, heading to a black sedan.
Happy Hogan leaned out. "Boss, get in. Rain's bad."
Tony slid into the backseat, shaking wet hair. "Thanks, Happy. Those Hydra spies are slipperier than I thought."
Happy drove off. "Europe's nearly done, right?"
"Yeah, Adam's efficient," Tony said, leaning back. "But Hydra won't quit."
Tires splashed through puddles, neon lights blurring. Suddenly, screech! Happy braked hard. Tony steadied himself, reflexes sharp. "What the hell?"
Happy stared ahead, tense. "Someone's there."
In the rain, a tall figure blocked the road, masked, eyes cold, blonde hair wet, a metal arm gleaming.
"Hydra," Tony muttered.
Happy reached for his gun. "I'll check—"
"No," Tony stopped him. "Stay here."
"But—"
"Trust me." Tony stepped into the rain, facing the Winter Soldier. "Who are you? Hydra's errand boy? Want money? Freedom? I can deal."
The figure raised his metal arm, a long knife gleaming. Tony sighed, tapping his watch, nano-armor coating his arm. "Talks failed."
Bang! The Winter Soldier lunged, knife slashing. Tony caught it, his mechanical hand locking it tight. "Not sharp enough," he mocked.
The Soldier tried to pull free, but the blade wouldn't budge. His eyes narrowed—Tony's strength was wrong. Without pause, he swung his metal fist.
Bang! Tony caught it, shockwaves scattering rain. The Soldier froze. His arm, Hydra's pinnacle tech, could rip tanks apart, yet Tony held it.
"Surprised?" Tony smirked. "I'm not the guy hiding in armor anymore."
The Soldier kneed Tony's gut, but Tony was faster, grabbing his throat, lifting him. "Game over."
Boom! Tony slammed him into the pavement, cracking it. Fists rained down, shattering the Soldier's mask, revealing a stranger's face.
Tony paused, then resumed until the Soldier passed out. "Jarvis, scan him."
"No match, sir," Jarvis replied.
Tony pressed his comm. "Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. now. I was attacked—Hydra."
"Ten minutes," Natasha replied.
Tony glared at the unconscious Soldier. "What else you got, Hydra?"
Long Island Villa, Lab
James stood at a console, super vision dissecting a Skrull gene sample, molecular structures clear. "Their plasticity surpasses humans," he murmured, analyzing DNA.
A hologram played Tony's attack. James had overheard Hydra's meeting but didn't intervene. If Tony couldn't handle this, he wasn't fit for director.
His focus returned to the data. "Gene recombination, memory replication, Kryptonian cell compatibility."
Hours passed, the lab glowing. James held a vial of golden serum, fusing Kryptonian cells to mimic abilities with limits—no magic or external powers, only genetic ones.
He injected it, feeling nothing—no pain, no heat. "Figures," he said, frowning, then relaxing. "Kryptonian cells are too strong for rejection."
Turing interrupted. "Sir, call from Mr. Stark."
A hologram showed Tony in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s meeting room, grim. "James, I was attacked."
"I know," James said calmly.
Tony blinked. "You knew?"
James nodded. "Hydra's pawn, a sacrificial lamb."
Tony exhaled. "He's out, locked up. No ID yet."
"Kill him," James said.
Tony froze. "What?"
"He's one of your parents' killers," James revealed.
Tony's pupils shrank, breath catching. "You… what?"
"December 16, 1991, Howard and Maria Stark died in a 'crash,'" James said, eyes locked. "It was Hydra's hit. That man was the assassin."
Tony's fists whitened. "You knew?"
"Ten minutes ago," James lied.
"Is it true?"
"Absolutely, Tony."
Tony's chest heaved. After a long silence, he said, "Thanks, James. I get it."
The call ended. James shook his head, gazing at his palm. A faint golden glow flickered—serum activated.
"Time to test this," he murmured.
--------------------------------------------
The plans are now available.
Rank A: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
Rank S: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu
patreon.com/The_Fool007