Stargazing • MCU/S. Rogers Fanfic•

2-27: Iconic Heroic Revision

Malibu, California

December 20, 2012

-☆-

"True story about fortune cookies." The Mandarin started off. "They look Chinese. They sound Chinese. But they're actually an American Invention. Which is why they're hollow, full of lies, and leave a bad taste in the mouth. My disciples just destroyed another cheap American knockoff. The Chinese theatre. Mr President, I know this must be getting frustrating. But this season of terror is drawing to a close. And don't worry, the big one is coming. Your graduation."

The clip stopped and the movie Chase and Astra were watching, Heathers, came back on.

"I don't think I can watch this anymore." Astra stated, getting up from the couch and walking to the kitchen. Chase turned off the TV and followed her. "It's sickening." She continued after a while. "How can someone kill innocent people and claim it's a lesson?" She got out a pop-tart and ripped the plastic off.

"It's a problem that will be fixed. Okay, babe." He said as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"You're right." She turned around to face him and leaned in for a kiss. Moments later, her phone rang. She groaned while leaning her head back. "My phone is always interrupting our good moments."

"Pepper?" She answered, her side leaning on the counter.

"Happy's in the hospital." Pepper immediately responded.

"Oh my God." The young female gasped, her hand finding its way to cover her mouth. "What happened?" She looked at Chase to see a worried expression.

"There was a bomb."

"Like," Her eyes knit together as she spoke. "The one in the-"

"Yes, it's the one you're thinking about." She interrupted.

"I- I need to go." She told her.

"Yeah. Bye." Pepper hung up the phone a second later.

"I do need to-" The brunette started to explain to her confused boyfriend.

"Go" He interrupted, clearly disappointed as he waved her off. "Yeah. You do what you need to do."

They gave each other a quick peck in the lips and Astra grabbed her keys and bag.

"Bye." She said quickly and left.

*****

"It's revenge, right?" She asked Tony as she stepped into the garage. "Those videos are continuing to happen. And," She paused for a moment. "Happy didn't deserve that. Or anyone else that was there. So I'm going to help."

Astra didn't really know what she was expecting. Maybe, it was along the lines of that iconic heroic revision that are superheroes get. Where there's music in the background and her brother would say 'Lets get to work.' Or some shit like that.

But instead what she got was, "No."

"What?" She asked, blinking a few times as she walked closer to him.

"This isn't your fight-" He started to reason.

"It sure is my damn fight!" She cut him off, slamming her hands on the metal table. "The Mandarin is threatening the lives of innocent people. Happy is in the hospital."

He looked at her, noticing her troubled and determined facial expressions. "There's not much stopping you, huh?"

"Don't know why you asked that." She stated as she walked over next to him.

"Jarvis." He signals the AI.

"I've compiled a Mandarine database for you, sir." Jarvis delivered. "Drawn form S.H.I.E.L.D, FBI, and CIA intercepts. Initiating virtual crime scene reconstruction."

"Okay. What have we got here?" Tony asked himself while looking down at some articles and reports.

"The name is an ancient Chinese war mantle meaning 'advisor to the king.'" Astra informed while pointing at an article. "South American Insurgency tactics."

"Talks like a baptist preacher." He added. "Lots of pageantry going on here. Lots of theatre. Close." The articles closed and all that was left was the virtual crime scene.

"The heat from the blast was an excess of 3,000 degrees Celsius." Jarvis informed the two playing detective. "Any subjects within 12.5 yarreds were vaporized instantly."

"No bomb parts found in a three-mile radius of the Chinese theatre?" Tony questioned.

"No, sir." Jarvis clarified.

"Talk to us, Happy." Astra voiced as Happy was virtually created. There were two lines to where he was looking and pointing.

Tony walked over to the object. "When is a bomb not a bomb?" He asked himself, noticing the dog tag.

Astra took it, isolating it from the rest of the scene and kept it suspended in the air. "Any military victims?" She knit her eyebrows together as she asked her question.

"Not according to public record, miss." Jarvis answered.

"Bring up the thermogenic signatures again." Astra ordered, getting on to something. The look on Tony's face said that he was on the same track as his sister. Astra used the stereos as stairs, Tony trailed behind her. "Factor in 3,000 degrees." The two took a seat at the top on looked down at the floor.

"The oracle cloud has completes analysis." Jarvis informed them. "Accessing satellites and plotting the last 12 months of thermogenic occurrences now."

"Take away everywhere that there has been a Mandarin attack." Tony ordered Jarvis.

A couple cities popped up in front of them and they looked through them. Rose Hill, Tennessee. "That one." She pointed to the city name. "Are you sure that's not one of his?"

"It predates any know Mandarin attack." Jarvis responded. "The incident was the use of a bomb to assist a suicide."

"Bring her around." Tony spoke.

"The heat signature is remarkably similar." Jarvis informed. "3,000 degrees Celsius."

A few more pictures are shown of the bombing. "That two military guys." Tony pointed out.

"What gave it away?" Astra said sarcastically. "The uniform or the fact that is says US Army?"

"Just stating my observations." He defended himself. "Ever been to Tennessee, Jarvis?"

"Creating a flight plan for Tennessee." Jarvis responded as Tony swiped everything away.

-☆-