Survivors

Shake up

With us all sitting and eating with each other everyone quickly gets full from all three courses displayed, along with a small selection of alcohols. Sitting next to a silent Peter I ask him if he wants to talk somewhere quiet. He nods and pulls away from the table. I go to follow him and Tony gives me a knowing look. I roll my eyes at him as I follow him out the door. Standing on the bridge Peter, turns to me. 'Whats left of Earth?' He asks 'Not much, major cities are all destroyed, home is in ruins' I reply. 'We were Earths Mightiest Heroes and here we are looking over the remains of Earth, with nothing but a title', 'Peter-' I say but he cuts me off by saying. 'We should have died down there, on Earth there is nothing left to look for, sure we could rebuild but we would have no one to rebuild for, the earth is just a bit of scorched earth with us going to live on it.' He says. He looks out at Earth and cries.

'Come with me' I say. He walks next to me, down levels all the way to the basement. 'Why are we here?' He asks sheepishly. 'I want to show you something wonderful' I say as I pull the panels away to reveal the empty space. 'What am I meant to be looking at?' He asks.

'The way I see it, we survived. Nuclear missiles could have been launched at us in the sky, the oxygen could have failed, everyone in the pods could have just died in their sleep... but they didn't, we didn't die. We have lived so we can tell the tale. The end of the world, but not the end of humanity.' I lie down on the floor pulling Peter along with me, 'Jarvis can you turn out the lights please?' I ask. 'Yes Maria' He responds. As the lights go out the room Is light up with the light of the sun, and is projected around the room making it look as though we are floating in space.

'Whoa' Peter breathes out. 'Peter, we have never ever been alone. We have always had each other, through missions and madness, you have never been alone' I tell him, almost in a whisper, but loud enough for him to hear.

The silence was deafening. I almost fall asleep but it seems as though Peter has beat me to it. I stand up as he rolls to his side. My super eyesight is helping me to see he is actually suckling his thumb. I reach down and pick him up. I carry him in my arms and walk up to level four. I walk along to the room with his name on it, I flick my wrist and the door opens, I grin slightly as I flick the bed covers open. I drop him down, kiss his cheek and leave to go back upstairs. I go to the lunch room and find all the food gone and everyone sitting in their chairs almost asleep. I laugh and nod. 'Are you guys going to go to bed then?' I say loudly, making everyone jump up from their seats almost. Everyone slowly walks down to their rooms. 

Tony and Pepper are the last to go to their rooms. 'I almost forgot' Pepper says, 'we bought you this, for your twenty first, but I guess your hundredth and twenty first is just as important' Tony laughs whilst Pepper says. Tony places the necklace around my neck. 'Is that a glow in the dark miniature arc reactor pendant?!' I excitedly squeal. 'Yes, I ironed out the radiation and de-scaled it just for you', 'I know you can control the elements and what not but If you were to place a small piece of wood or candle tip it would light it for you' He says. 'Thanks mom and dad' I say whilst hugging them 'I've missed you lots' I whisper with tears coming to my eyes. Tony kisses me on the forehead and wipes away my tears. 'Love you too sweetheart' he says as he enters his room with Pepper.

I go to my room and say 'Jarvis can you put all the systems on standby and change the air filter please, also monitor if anyone leaves their room first. If they do, just let me know and turn the power on in the sections they enter alright?' 'Yes Maria, I understand. Are you glad everyone is back?' He asks. 'I am, I finally feel at home, even if it is almost one hundred years after getting here. I missed everyone' I reply. 'I am glad everyone is back too. When will they be notified of the arc?' He asks hastily. 'Once everyone has had a chance to settle down, a good lot of food, a goodnight's sleep and a shower is what they will all need and then I'll debrief key members only. Okay?' I ask 'Yes Maria, goodnight' He replies as all the lights turn off and everyone is soundly asleep.