The Life of Veronica Stark

Chapter 1

Roni's POV:

0700, Paris, France-Mission- Intercept bioweapon on its way to terrorist group

I'm sitting in a small cafe, sipping a cup of coffee, waiting for my target to appear. Suddenly my phone goes off and I see Phil's face appear on my screen. I'm about to answer, when I see my target approach. "Sorry Phil, it'll have to wait." I say to myself, ignoring the call. 

I place my phone in my pocket and approach the seller. "Bonjour Monsieur." I say, walking up to his. "Huh?" He asks, turning to face me. Luckily for me no one is in the street and we're near an alleyway. I grab the man by his collar and drag him into the alley. 

When we get out of sight I kick him in the balls, grab the briefcase, and punch him in the head, knocking him out. Smirking to myself I grab my phone and contact local police that their seller is in the alley before heading back to the cafe. "Merci." I tell the waitress, paying my bill. 

I'm headed back to my hotel when Phil calls again. Rolling my eyes I answer. "What do you want Coulson?" I ask. "We need you to come in." He says. "I just finished the Caron mission and am headed back now. What's up?" I ask. 

"Barton's been compromised and the Tesseract was stolen." He says. I stop in my tacks. "What? How the hell did that happen?" I ask. "I'll explain everything tomorrow when you get here." He says. "I'll be there in a few hours." I say. "Roger that." With that he hangs up. 

I jog back to my hotel and grab my suitcases before heading to the airport in a taxi. "Sheila, get me a first class ticket to New York. I need to be there quick." I say. "Your plane takes off in 45 minutes Miss Stark." She replies. You see Sheila is the AI I created four years ago. 

Much like my brother's AI J.A.R.V.I.S., but less famous. I reach the airport and go through security just in time to catch my flight. With my S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts I am able to hand the bioweapon over to Interpol before I board my plane. 

The flight is long, but I am finally landing in New York's JFK airport. "A car is waiting outside for you Miss Stark." Sheila says. "Thanks She." I say, walking out of the airport. I easily see the black SUV waiting for me and go over to it, getting in. "What's the status Phil?" I ask. 

"We've got nothing. Romanoff is bringing in Bruce Banner to help look for the cube and I'm on my way to go talk to your brother-" "Why? Dr. Banner can find the cube without my asshat of a brother." I say cooly. "It's my orders Roni." He says. 

"Whatever. Can you drop me off at my apartment before you go to Stark Towers?" I ask. "Actually I'm taking you to Brooklyn. You're meeting Fury there. Read this." He says, handing me and a file. I open it and begin reading up on everything I missed with the Tesseract. 

By the time we reach the old, worn down gym Fury is meeting me at I've finished reading it. As soon as I'm out of the car, it takes off towards Stark Towers. "Agent Stark." Fury greets. "Fury, what are we doing here?" I ask, crossing my arms. 

"Visiting a friend of your father's." He says, walking into the old gym. Confused I follow him. When we get inside I immediately pick up on the sound of fists hitting a punching bag. When the main gym comes into view I see the thawed out Captain himself punching away at the bag.

"Trouble sleeping?" Fury asks. The punching halts for a second before continuing. "Slept for 70 years sir, I think I've had my fill." He says. "The you should be out celebrating, seeing the world." Fury says. 

"When I went under the world was at war. I wake up and they say we won. They didn't say what we lost." He says. "We've made some mistakes along the way. Some very recently." Fury says. "Here with a mission?" He asks. "I am." "Trying to get me back in the world?" "Trying to save it." 

Only when Fury says this does Steve Rogers turn to look at us, glancing at the file Fury  has in his hand. He walks over to us and grabs the file. "Hydra's secret weapon." He mutters. "Howard Stark fished that out of the ocean when he was looking for you." Fury says. 

My eyes shift to the floor at the mention of my deceased father's name. "He thought, well, we think, the Tesseract could be the key to unlimited, sustainable energy. That's something the world sorely needs." Fury explains. "Who took it from you?" Steve asks. 

"He's called Loki. He's not from around here. There's a lot we need to get you up to speed on if you're in. The world is even stranger than you remember." Fury says.

"At this point, I doubt anything could surprise me." Steve says, grabbing his stuff and standing up. "Ten bucks says you're wrong." I say, a smirk evident on my face. He glances at me before heading towards the exit. 

"There's a debriefing packet waiting for you at your apartment. Is there anything that you could tell us about the Tesseract that we ought to know now?" Fury asks. "You should have left it in the ocean." Steve says, exiting the gym. "Well, I think that went beautifully." I say. 

"I want you at the helicarrier tomorrow at 0800." He says, walking out of the gym. Grinning I follow him out. When I get outside there is a car waiting for me. "You know where." I tell the driver. The car then heads for my apartment. 

When I get there I thank the driver and head into my apartment. I quickly unpack and shower before heading to bed. Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.