Stark's Shadow

Chapter 23 - This Is Why You Don't Mix Your Friend Groups

I spent the night at SHIELD. Petunia's powers had no effect on me.

"Olive," Petunia says softly, "What's going to happen to me? I'm scared."

I turn around and look at her for the first time, she looked terrified. She was shaking so much I was mildly worried, "I'm not sure," I tell her honestly, "It depends on if you're lying about, well, everything."

She shakes her head, "I promise, I'm not,"

"We'll see," I tell her. The conversation ends there. I sense she wants to say more, but I don't think she will.

After a few long hours, Dr. Strange finally arrived.

"Hello, I'm Olive Stark," I greet, sticking my hand out, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

He grabs my hand, shaking it, "Likewise. What's the plan?"

I tell him the plan. I need him to do his whole knocking-people-into-the-astral-plane thing on Petunia. It was the only way to make sure she couldn't harm him during the surgery.

"Why does she need surgery?" He asks, "Surgery doesn't fix being brainwashed, Olive."

"She has a disk that was used to control her shattered near a major artery, doc," I tell him, "I'm sure you understand why that is a risk, no?"

He nods, "Yes, I do. And for the astral plane part?"

"Otherwise she could destroy you the second you're in the room with her,"

He nods again, "Can I meet her?"

"Yes, follow us," I tell him. We go to her cell with several armed SHEILD agents. Petunia and Strange talk. He doesn't tell her the plan. Only the procedure that he needs to do. Then after a few minutes, we're walking to the room where the operation will take place. Petunia walks with her face down and eyes shut, but she still has a dozen weapons pointed at her.

We reach the room and Strange punches her, "She's no longer a threat," He tells us. Thankfully an agent caught her. She gets prepped for surgery, so I leave.

"We'll inform you when she's done, Stark," Fury tells me as I leave.

I nod. "How about Datura? How is she?"

"Still trying to break out, she's bruised herself pretty badly in the process," He turns to me, "We're unsure what to do at the moment. We doubt she's broken her control disk, but we can't check without risking setting her free."

"Can't you use some sort of knock-out gas?"

"We've tried, but nothing works," He stops talking for a moment as some agents walk by, "You know her best, what do you think will work?"

"Petunia is the only one who can stop her without any risk,"

"Can't you do anything?"

"Not without causing mental harm or using my shadows," I yawn, "My shadows would stop anyone from knocking her out, and again, using my shadows for that could cause permanent harm."

He nods, "Then we'll have to hope things go well with Petunia. Now you go get some rest, you look half dead,"

"Honestly, that's how I usually look," I laugh, "I guess my makeup has been rubbed off."

With that, I leave back to the tower. I move through the shadows to the party deck. There's a good amount of shade, and it's closer to my room than the main door.

I get to my floor and open up my door. What do I see? A pair of fossils.

"Who let you two out of the museum?" I asked, flopping onto my bed.