Reincarnation

By Cluelessreader

He had failed. He failed and because of that, everyone everywhere disappeared into dust. He had to watch the guardians turn to dust. He had to watch the wizard turn to dust. Worst of all. The one he tried so hard to protect turned to dust in his arms. The kid had died and it had been all his fault. The genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist… Iron man… had failed.

Now he was stuck in space. On a ship with low oxygen. WIth a blue android women who wasn't the best company. But at least it was someone. Tony Stark had to sit. Sit and watch as they floated aimlessly in space. He had to sit there and only think about how he had failed.

It was a regular day, because floating, waiting to die, had become the regular, Tony was by the big window while Nebula was off somewhere trying to find food. She didn't need food, or so she says, but Tony did. He was getting skinnier and weaker. Only watching the void as they pass by.

The vast colors were beautiful and once very scary to him. For he had seen it once before. Back in 2012 when he almost died saving New York. Back when he won. No! No… he can't think that way. He had seen space and now it was so somber to him. Who would have guessed space gets old.

He was sitting as he always did. Oxygen levels about to run out. Maybe another night before he suffocates in space. He made one last message to the woman he loved. Pepper. He tried not thinking of her. Tried not thinking of the "what if's".

He clicked on his broken helmet. If it ever reached earth, maybe she could see it. He tried to fix himself up for his last message. The helmet glew blue and he knew he could start.

"Hey, Ms. Potts. If you find this recording." Which he prayed she does. "Don't post it on social media. It's gonna be a real tearjerker." Would anyone really cry for the super hero who failed earth? "I don't know if you're ever gonna see these. I don't even know if you're still…" No! You can't think that way! "Oh, god. I hope so. Today's day 21? No, uh… 22?" He doesn't even know anymore. It feels like an eternity. "You know, if it wasn't for the existential terror or steering into the literal void of space, I'd say I'm feeling a little better today." He couldn't lie, he's come to a peace of sorts. "The infection's run its course. Thanks to the blue meanie back there. Oh, you would love her. Very practical. Only a tiny bit sadistic." But who isn't just a little?

"So, the fuel cells were cracked, during battle," Because of course they were. "And we figured out a way to reserve the iron charge. Bought ourselves about 48 hours of flight time. Uh, but it's now dead in the water. About 1,000 light years away from the nearest 7-11." Heh. Still got it. "Oxygen will run out tomorrow morning, and that will be it." The end of Iron Man and Tony Stark. "And Pepp, I… I know I said no more surprises, but I gotta say, I was really hoping to pull off one last one. But it looks like…" Like i ruined everything. "Well, you know what it looks like. Don't feel bad about this. I mean, actually, if you grovel for a couple weeks… and then… move on with enormous guilt." Because he knows she will.

"I should probably lie down for a minute, rest my eyes. Please know. When I drift off and be like everything lately, I'm fine," He knows he's lying. "I'm totally fine. I dream about you. Because it's always you…"

The blue light recording him flickers. Its dying then. Tony shuts it off. One last message for Pepp. At least he said everything. He could die in his sleep. He Pepper one last time and fade away. For lack of a better term. He heard more clicking… which wasn't his helmet? "What the..?" Slowly he rose. Looking around the cabin he was in to find the clicking.

No, that word was wrong. It wasn't clicking. It was more beeping. Like a… "Oh my god!" Like a sonar! Tony ran to the end of the cabin. Looking toward the circle device engraved in the table. He heard footsteps running toward him. "Neb! Look at this!" he exclaimed, seeing a green dot on the screen. Slowly getting closer. "What is it." The blue women asked leaning to see the screen.

"I don't know! But maybe its help!" He said optimistically. "I wouldn't hold your breath. It's too small to be a ship." She said matter a factly. A little part of Tony's hope shriveled away. He has to stay hopeful. It could be something. The beeping started to get faster. Which means whatever it is, is getting closer. Tony pushed pass nebula to see out the window. Maybe he would see something other than space.

He struggled. Looking everywhere he could. He saw space, space, and mor- wait. "What is that? Nebula can you see that?" He asked not taking his eyes off the black spot in the distance. He heard her shuffle next to him. Seeing her in his peripheral vision. "It can't be." She muttered. "What is-" he tried asking before she was running. Quickly he followed. She ran to the top of the ship. A small door keeping them alive. Or him, did she need oxygen? Tony didn't know. "Neb, what is it?" He tried asking again. Once more she ignored him. "Go back, im oping the hatch." She said. Tony looked at her like a mad man. "Why? What is it?" Tony asked not leaving. "I will tell once I get back. Now leave before you are sucked out into space." She warned tying a rope around her waist. Slowly he backed out. A door closed in front of him as she secured the rope.

Tony walked back to the cockpit, hoping to see what she was going to get. Either he walked to slow or she worked quick. By the time he made it back to the window the black spot was gone and so was she. "Damn."

Tony Stark was never going to admit he jumped and yelled a bit when only seconds after he made to the window, nebula was behind him. Carrying some… thing?… in her arms. "So?" He started. But once more she ignored him and walked behind him. The thing was wrapped in an emerald green cloth. Tony couldn't see what it was. Why wasn't she telling him! "You need to leave." Her voice came suddenly. Tony focused back to what was going on, not being stuck in his head. "You said you were gonna tell-" He started. "I know what I said. I must treat him first. Then I can tell you who he is." She answered swiftly.

Well Tony couldn't really argue with- WAIT! WHAT? HE? "Did you just say he!?" Tony yelled. Nebula didn't even react. "Nebula, i'm on this ship too! I need to know what- who it is! Especially since we're running out of oxygen already!" Tony yelled. Why was he all of a sudden not allowed to know things? Who was this person. Why were they floating in space? Whos to say their not already dead!? His mind was running. Different things going through his head about what was happening. "Stark." What if this person was dangerous, if alive. "Stark." If they are alive, they only have so much supplies. What if they can't help this person. "Stark!" He would fail someone again! He would lose another life because he can't do anything! "Tony!"

That got his attention. Nebula never calls him tony. It's always stark. Very practical after all. "I need you to go and get medical supplies and any food or water you can find. Any scraps. Anything Tony. I'm gonna work on him and once you get back I will tell you what is going on. Just get out for a little bit. I need to check his wounds." She explained very calmly. Like she always did. Tony slowly nodded. Nebula got to work and unwrapped the person. Tony turned back to see before the door closed.

It was a child.