Timeless

Prologue

2010

"There has been a tragic accident today in downtown Chicago." Laura's ears perk at the mention of Chicago. Her mother is there right now for business.

"In a fight between Iron Man and Behemoth, an office building has collapsed." Laura looks up from her coloring and focuses on the television as a crumpled building is shown across the screen.

"Fortunately, most people had already vacated the streets before the structure collapsed, but there were many people still in the offices as the building fell to the ground," the news anchor allows a pregnant pause to hang in the air, "Rescue efforts are underway but if you have family or friends in the Harrison Building in Chicago, I suggest attempting a quick phone call to see if they're sa--"

Laura screams, "Daddy!" She dashes from couch to her father's office, "Daddy! Call Mommy, Now!"

"In a minute honey," her father drones as he types away at his novel.

"No, now Daddy! Mommy might be hurt." Her grave tone makes his eyes stray from the computer screen. Her watering eyes make him reach for his phone, "Why is Mommy hurt?" He asks the nine year old patiently.

Laura's tears slip down her cheeks, "A building crashed in Chicago," Her father's shoulders tense, "The Harrison building." Ben Hale's eyes snap to his daughter's. With new vigor he pushes in his wife's phone number.

It rings. Please pick up. It rings again. Please pick up. Again. Please pick up. A fourth time. Please pick up. Last time. She does not answer her phone.

With a dread feeling in his stomach he calls once more. Talia Hale does not answer.

"Laura, Honey."She raises her tearful head. "Go to your room for a moment and finish your homework, I'm sure your mother is fine." He lies.

Assuaged, Laura walks back to her room, ignoring the News Anchor who is now calling the names of the people missing. Ben walks into the living room, where the Tv eventually tells him his wife is gone.

"Talia Hale." Was what the Anchor said.

"Dead." Was what the morgue called.

"Funeral." Was what Ben's friends made.

"Alcoholic." Is what Laura now calls her father in her head.

Everything was different, now. There was an unspoken, stifled sadness. It drifted through the house, unattended. It had lost it's title in his grief, drowned in liquor. She remains on her own, her room an island to herself. An anger festers at Iron Man, so she does not acknowledge the pain in her heart. Have someone to blame, and Behemoth was now dead so all she had was a 'hero'. She learns his name, Tony Stark.

She no longer has to go to school, because no one takes her. She still carpools with her neighbor because her mother arranged it before she died. But school is no distraction. All there is left is the rage. She craves vengeance.

A fog clouds her mind. This is not happening. She stares at the television blankly. It is another day and she is dressed in black. They're talking about it again. The hero. Iron Man. He hadn't meant to. The television continues to detail their death.

Crushed by a building. Collateral damage. In a bigger fight. Their lost lives are unfortunate. But lost in a fight for the greater good. The News anchors feel sorry for her loss. They're not allowed to show the other side of the story. They've been bought off. Likely by Stark Industries. Their 'sponsor'.