The Iron Mandalorian and the Siege of Earth - Chapter 37

Thank you CCSakuraforever for your review.

Here it is, the final chapter. I hope you all enjoyed this tale, its been fun to play in the sandbox of Avengers.

There was no time for greetings as the small group crashed onto the landing pad of the tower, Tony stumbled to his feet staggering into the penthouse.

"FRIDAY is everyone inside."

"Yess Boss, all employees and rescued individuals reporting in."

"Then activate Phoenix Home, begin launch procedures."

The room filled with a humming which permeated the air, the room began glowing an arc reactor blue. If Thanos or the avengers had looked up from Central Park they would have witnessed the Clan Stark Tower lifting into the air above Manhattan, a glistening shard of durasteel and transparisteel (Kalevalan star yacht in style with far more windows). With a burst of blue engines Phoenix Home shot into space leaving the atmosphere in minutes.

"This is acting Grand Admiral Anthony Stark, Iron Man, calling for the activation of all Ark ships, code phrase Ba'slan shev'la. (Strategic disappearance), the Council is dead, earth's destruction could be imminent. Ten seconds after this message terminates the bunkers will seal and the Arks will launch. We are to hold on the dark side of the moon to survive the potential destruction. May the force be with us."

_LINEBREAK_

On the ground Steve stood beside Bucky, Wanda, T'Challa, Quill, Nebula and Natasha as they kept Thanos' attention on the ground and away from the escaping humans.

"Told you I'd be with you till the end of the line," said Steve sending a grenade at the Titans feet.

"Yeah well at least this time I'll be with you to stop you doing anything stupid."

"Hey," shouted Peter, "if we spread the power out we might be able to mitigate the damage."

"how d'you plan on doing that?" asked Natasha.

"Painfully," grimaced Quill as he took a running jump at Thanos, he latched onto the titan and held for all he was worth as the power of the cosmos channelled through him. Steve saw a slight dimming of the energy and followed the guardians example gripping his hand, slowly the former avenger built a chain to siphon energy from the Mad Titan, this didn't go unnoticed and with an angry bellow Thanos released the energy prematurely trying to destroy the humans so he could resume. As he released the energy it channelled through the heroes and into Singularity who made up the final link, she siphoned as much as she could as quickly as possible but the speed rapidly became too much and it had to go somewhere. With an atomic boom the air was vaporised and the ground scorched from Manhattan to San Francisco.

_LINEBREAK_

Across the globe as Tony spoke bunkers sealed with resolute thuds, inside then villages of people rushed to strap themselves into seats, small children cried as the lights flickered.

"Pym particles activated shrinking now," said the pilot pulling down on a large red lever beside his seat in what became clear was the bunkers cockpit. The city scale bunkers shrank to the size of a family hatchback each escaping their mountain homes and flying into formation beside Phoenix Home. The Big Hero 6's silver Nubian ship flew beside Tony's Ghost, on their port flew the West-Coast Avengers heavily modified Lancer class pursuit craft. Flying around them the remaining X and A-wings of the shattered Starfleet defence force circled the fleet.

Peter felt a shiver up his spine and rushed to the back windows of Phoenix Home, he watched as the earth glowed purple before the entire American landmass shattered into pieces thrown skywards by the explosion, the shockwave pushed the fleet into the abyss of space as Tony rapidly issued orders to raise shields and brace for impact.

EPILOGUE 1

The destruction of Thanos and in the process the majority of America hit the occupants of earth in a range of ways. Despite the new lagoon where Manhattan had stood the majority of the states was merely scorched, the population of the once great nation was reduced to living in the bunkers while they rebuilt their country. Across the globe more countries were doing likewise each suffering from the alien's onslaught, technology previously created by aliens stars away was introduced by Clan Stark to revolutionise the planet. Within five years the planet could compete with those across the galaxy with innovations in the technology leading to increased security and peace planet-wide. At the centre of these advancements was Clan Stark headed by Tony and Pepper Stark, futurist and negotiator the pair commanded the worlds respect for more than their role in the alien invasion.

"So Mr Stark it's been five years nearly to the day since you saved the earth from the Mad Titan Thanos." It seemed to be just Tony's luck that one of the surviving journalists and his interviewer was Christine Everhart, his unofficial biographer.

"Yes five years this Friday. I have to mention though that placing sole credit on my shoulders is ignoring the countless people who contributed millions of man hours to the construction of the bunkers. It ignores the countless soldiers and hero's who fought and died to defend our planet, and it ignores the thousands who died in chasing the last few aliens from our system."

"Certainly their sacrifices cannot be ignored but without your pivotal role in readying the world and your role in the battle itself, it would have had a drastically different end."

"Well I couldn't let earth be destroyed," smirked Tony, "I'm rather fond of it."

"Since the destruction of America your company has advanced the technology of earth hundredfold."

"Was there a question," smiled Tony.

"Yes, how were you able to bring about such a seismic shift in technology?"

"Well, following what the media dubbed the civil war I received a pen drive from my godmother Agent Margaret Carter." Watching Tony Stark reveal more about himself than ever before, Christine admitted grudgingly respecting the man. She heard his passion as he spoke of gravity defying technology and faster than light travel, while the majority of the science flew over her head she'd spoken to enough scientists to know that the technology was world changing and his enthusiasm spoke to his unique intellect.

"... the destruction of the alien fleet brought with it a huge amount of material which enabled us to make most of the previously theoretical designs."

"Unfortunately this will have to be the last question. On the topic of designs, what is this project Outbound Flight we've been hearing about?"

"Aaaah, well I've made no secret of my alien heritage, my mother came from a planet across the galaxy. The Outbound Flight Project is designed to visit that planet and learn more about the wider galaxy. With the aim of beginning to widen our influence past our own solar system."

"Thank you Dr Stark, as always it's been a pleasure speaking to you," smiled Christine for a change meaning it as she stood and took Tony's hand.

"Likewise," nodded the genius.

_LINEBREAK_

Despite the billions saved, it was the few who died that kept him up, no matter the circumstances his guilt complex was too overactive to let him forgive himself. As he had for the last five years Tony stood watching the sun rise remembering those who had joined the force. With a deep and heavy sigh he began the ritual he'd taken up as his penance for failing to protect everyone. "Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum, Vision, Abigail, Wanda, Steve, T'Challa." He felt the moisture collect in his eyes blurring the golden light seeping through the windows.

The padding of small feet roused him from his concentration making him turn.

"Dad?" A small brunette girl stumbled into the room reaching out for Tony who obliged, picking the small four year old up he rested her on his hip.

"Hey there Morgoona what'cha doing up?"

"Mummy said to rescue you," said the girl rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Well then consider me rescued," Tony kissed her brow as he pulled her head into his neck walking back to bed.

"I see you managed to find him," mumbled Pepper as Morgan Stark climbed into bed to rest between her parents.

"Mmmhmm," she nodded going to sleep giving the two adults little choice but to do the same, smiles adorning their faces. Just before allowing himself to sleep Tony looked across and sighed contentedly, he'd make sure to live for those who didn't.

EPILOGUE 2

"Peter if we're late for the ceremony I'm not going to be happy," came a voice through Peter's helmet. He was sat at the summit of Clan Stark Tower surveying the buildings beneath him, most finished after five years but some still in the process of being built. Between them flew speeders of all sizes some taxis others family cars spread across multiple levels.

"We've still got half an hour and it only takes five minutes to get to city hall."

"None the less Jess and May are probably already there."

"Aww alright then," grumbled Peter, he dropped from the hangar and allowed himself to free fall before thwipping out a web to send him swinging through the flying traffic.

"On your left," Peter looked to his left and saw a black and white suited figure flying beside him. Donned in a black suit with web designs across it MJ had taken up the moniker of Silk and kept Peter's Iron Spider suit designed by Tony. The pair had become the most famous heroes of New New York and with some small adjustments to their suits, they were the most recognisable ones by far. (Peter's suit is the white Spider-Man 2099 one and MJ's is a more reinforced Silk costume, both with masks like Mandalorian helmets)

"What are you doing swinging you've got a jetpack?"

"Well sometimes I feel nostalgic," defended Peter.

"Yeah well we're gonna be late if you keep dawdling, loser."

Peter allowed himself to smile, "fine bossy," falling he caught himself with his jetpack before racing of towards city hall, "keep up slow coach."

_LINEBREAK_

Landing at the entrance to New New York's city hall Peter looked around before letting his suit collapse into a smart suit beneath. There was a short burst of jetpacks and MJ and Jess landed, behind them May landed a flying car with Gerry in the passenger seat, in the back the three musketeers looked crammed in and leapt out the car as soon as it touched down. From across the square Ned came running dragging Honey Lemon of Big Hero 6 behind him, that had been a big surprise to the New New York hero's when they'd stumbled in on Ned and Honey in a compromising position in one of the laboratory's in Clan Stark Tower. They were followed by Hiro and Gogo, Baymax, Seoul Hee (Luna Snow) and Ami Han (White Fox) who they'd become close to when Peter and MJ had taken up more involved self defence.

"So how are you feeling mate?" Asked Ned as soon as he pulled Peter into a hug.

"Ok I think," admitted Peter nervously.

"You're marrying the most amazing woman in New New York," said MJ coming to stand by the pair, "face it Tiger, you hit the jackpot."

"You sure can pick em kid," said Tony arriving fashionably late as usual flanked either side by Pepper and Morgan.

"My soon to be husbands excellent taste in wife aside, can we go in I've got a bloke to pin down," snarked MJ grabbing Peter's arm.

_LINEBREAK_

Looking back Peter couldn't honestly say he remembered much of his wedding day, at some point Tony was complaining about not being allowed to build Morgan a suit of armour yet, Ned spent the majority of the evening stuck between watching the ceremony and staring lovingly into Honey's eyes. Beside them Jess and May were busy remembering their own wedding day with more than a few tears, Gerry was left trying to pretend he didn't know the two women or leaning into the hugs a teary Jess was doling out to anyone in arm range. There was a small party afterwards where a few more heroes attended, like Scott, Hope, Ava and Cassie who had not been able to make it in time for the wedding or Thor, Loki, Valkyrie and Bruce who made looks of respect appear in both freshly married Parker-Jones'.

At some point Seoul made an ice chute which was used heavily till Scott managed to put his foot through a wall and cause a collapse, there were swings of webbing set up at some point which led to just as many adventures before the group slowly calmed down splitting into their own smaller groups.

"I have to say Loser, despite the institution being a sham I'm pretty glad I took pity on you and asked you to marry me," smiled MJ sleepily resting a head on Peter's shoulder.

"I'm happy you did, and glad I said yes," grinned Peter.

"Well how could you say no to all this," she motioned towards all of herself.

"Well you got me there Mrs Parker-Jones," beamed Peter reaching down to kiss MJ's lips.

Across the room a cheer erupted as Baymax beat Rhodey in an arm wrestling match suit and all.

As the pair lay dozing on the Towers communal sofa they both felt content it may have taken them a lot to get here but neither would change it for the world.

THE END