Chapter Text
Prologue
The room was lit up by the emergency lights and a wall of screens, all of them flashing error messages that made his eyes hurt when he looked at them for too long. The stench of burnt electronics was hanging in the air, carried into the relay station’s control center from the server room next door, where a fire had raged until the station’s emergency system had reacted automatically and put it out.
As Phil Coulson looked away from the screens and towards the back of the room, he noticed that someone had made a home out of this place. There was a cot shoved into one corner, blankets and pillows in an untidy heap on top of it. A threadbare couch and a coffee table stood against the wall. Empty cups and plates littered every available surface. Phil wondered what could drive a person to live in a place like this, in a relay station the size of a standard cargo ship, floating in space, far away from any civilized world.
A lonely existence for sure.
“Captain Coulson, sir.” He turned to look at Fitz and Simmons, huddled together close enough that their shoulders were touching and clutching tablet computers in their hands. It was Ensign Fitz who had spoken, his face appearing pasty and haggard in the low lights. “The servers were destroyed, sir. It will be impossible to pull any kind of information from them. There is no way we’ll know what the hacker who lived here was looking for.”
Colonel Sitwell folded his hands on his back and looked around the room in obvious disgust. “We know what he was looking for. It would have been good to know how much he found out, though.”
Phil bit his tongue to avoid replying that they had, in fact, no clue what kind of information the hacker had stolen. All they knew was that it was top secret enough that not even Sitwell or Commander Fury were privy to details.
There was only one person onboard the Dresden who knew, and he was standing in front of the wall of monitors, staring at them, seemingly lost in thought; the operative sent by the parliament who’d been put in charge of the Dresden to find Peter Parker and Quentin Beck.
Winter was a tall man with dark, shoulder-length hair and piercing blue eyes. Unlike the rest of them, he didn’t wear uniform, but was dressed completely in black, the only splash of color a red start sown into the shoulder of his sleeve. Phil had seen little of him since he’d boarded a couple of days ago, and he was actually grateful. The man’s expression seemed stuck in a perpetual look of disinterest, but his presence alone was stifling. He spoke little, but when he did, it was to give orders. Operatives like him were an elusive group of SHIELD specialists. Nobody knew much about them, not even their real names. The only thing that was clear was that they took command wherever they went.
Winter tilted his head. “Relay stations scan every ship that passes by. Ensign Fitz, get records of the last 36 hours and distribute them to all SHIELD vessels. One of them must have picked up whoever lived here. I want them found.”
Fitz seemed startled to have been addressed and then quickly fumbled with his computer to salute. “Yes, sir.”
Sitwell frowned at Winter. “You don’t want to go after those ships yourself?”
Winter didn’t turn around to him. “The information they were looking for… they can’t have stumbled across it by accident. They were told what to look for. I want to know who told them.”
“We won’t have any footage of them coming to this station, sir,” Sitwell replied. “Any kind of video surveillance was disabled a long time ago as was the log of ships which docked.”
“I heard Ensign Simmons’s report as well, Colonel,” Winter said and he sent Sitwell a cold look over his shoulder.
Sitwell swallowed and ducked his head. “Of course, sir. Apologies.”
“Ensign Simmons,” Winter said and the young woman at Fitz’s side snapped to attention. “Get me the same records Ensign Fitz is looking into but go back two months. Cross-reference the results with ships that were also at Eavesdown Docks two months ago.”
She nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”
“Eavesdown?” Sitwell asked hesitantly. “Why Eavesdown?”
Phil grimaced at the glare Winter sent Sitwell’s way.
Sitwell should know the answer. Phil certainly did.
Folding his hands on his back, Winter turned away from the screens and made his way to the door, answering, “Because that’s where Parker and Beck were last seen.”
Chapter 1
Tony Stark prided himself on keeping a cool head in most situations. He’d fought in a war, been through hell and back, and he’d since not just taken up the dangerous life of a smuggler, but was also the captain of a boat that most people probably considered a waste of parts at this point, travelling between planets and moons for both legal and less legal jobs with a crew that he’d formed more by accident than with intention.
He was also harboring a teenager who was on the run from the government.
Given all that, there were plenty of ways that Tony could imagine himself to kick the bucket one day.
He’d never thought that a pair of shoes and a steep staircase could be his potential downfall.
Tony coughed, looking up at the ceiling of Serenity’s cargo bay in confusion as the aches of falling down several steps started to make themselves known. The bright lights of the cargo bay burned into his eyes and he quickly turned his head to the side, his gaze landing on a single combat boot. Its matching brethren was still perched innocently half-way down the stairs. Tony groaned and sat up slowly, cradling his head in his hands. “Peter!”
There was a thump and a shuffle of steps and when he looked up, Peter was standing in front of him, barefoot. For a moment, Tony wondered where he’d been hiding, before dismissing the thought. It wasn’t unusual for the kid to crawl into the small spaces between the cargo crates, vanishing for hours on end to read or just think. Now, he looked anxious, biting his lip as he stared at Tony with dark, wide eyes.
Tony glared at him. “What did I tell you about leaving your shoes lying around?”
Peter’s hands came up to grab onto the collar of his red sweater, his arms protecting his chest as if he expected a blow. “Don’t leave your shoes lying around,” he murmured.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“No.”
Tony got to his feet slowly, grunting when his knee refused to carry his weight for a moment. The sharp pain made him wince and he snapped, “Then don’t leave your shoes lying around for people to fall over!”
Peter flinched back a little and Tony paused, taking a closer look at his face. Peter looked miserable… and afraid.
Guilt settled heavy in Tony’s chest and he heaved a sigh. They were all careful not to raise their voices around Peter. The trauma of the academy, of whatever the Alliance had done to him there, ran deep. He didn’t like shouting, he skirted around Clint and Steve with wary glances at their guns and his head had been messed with badly enough that he sometimes acted more like a child than the sixteen-year-old he actually was.
Tony ducked his head. “Sorry, kid. I shouldn’t have shouted.”
Peter pulled his shoulders up. “I was bad, s’okay.”
Tony’s heart broke. He grabbed both of Peter’s shoulders despite him trying to pull away. Peter didn’t meet his eyes and Tony tightened his grip gently, saying, “No, you weren’t. You were incautious. But you weren’t bad.”
Peter looked up at him tentatively and Tony gave him a smile.
“There isn’t a bad bone in your body.”
“Tony,” he heard Nat say and looked up at her. She was leaning against the railing of the upper walkway. “We’re approaching Persephone. Will reach in Eavesdown in about thirty minutes.”
Squeezing Peter’s shoulders again before letting go, Tony turned around to her fully. “Finally. We desperately need a supply run.”
“Not just that,” she replied with a grin. “We were just hailed. Seems like we have a job.”
Tony frowned. “A job? Who called?”
Nat smirked. “The King.”
***
Eavesdown Docks was one of the busier spaceports. It was located in Eavesdown, a village on the outskirts of Persephone City. However, despite their closeness to the planet’s capital, neither Eavesdown nor the docks managed to reflect any of Persephone City’s stunning skyline architecture and elegant appeal.
Eavesdown was dusty and hot, largely featuring low-level sandstone buildings that just so managed to keep out the heat of the midday sun. Eavesdown Docks was a constant hubbub of activity, vendors selling food or ship parts on the paths snaking from the docking zone towards the market hall, squeezing their carts past passengers looking for a cheap fare to another planet or moon and SHIELD officers in black combat gear trying to keep up some sense of law and order while prostitutes and crews were milling from the market hall, pubs and shops towards the ships and back again. A steady stream of shuttles was making its way from and to the gleaming skyline of Persephone City, but wealthy citizens were never seen around the docks. They had their own, fancier spaceport closer to the city center.
Tony shrugged into his brown coat despite the heat outside, preferring to keep the six shooter slung around his hips hidden. Clint and Nat were less subtle, wearing their guns strapped to their thighs. Nat had braided her red hair to keep it out of her face, while Clint put on a cap to keep the sun out of his eyes. They were going to accompany Tony to pick up the job Loki had for them. In the meantime, Steve and Shuri were going to buy their supplies. Steve was already steering the mule down the cargo ramp while Shuri was busy logging their arrival time into the docking terminal. Tony made his way down the ramp next to the mule, reminding Steve, “Make sure not to get any of the yellow foodstuff. Peter hates it.”
“I know.” Steve stopped the mule and eyed a vendor who was pushing a cart with apples past them. “We’re going to check whether we’ll find some fresh produce.”
“Expensive,” Tony remarked.
“Necessary,” Steve replied, raising his brows. “I know funds are tight, but you know how much some fresh food helps the morale. We can’t always live off foodstuff.”
Tony knew that Steve was right. Foodstuff was filling but was infused with an artificial taste that was hard to enjoy. Money had always been a little tight for them but it had gotten worse since they’d decided to take Peter in. Taking on passengers to earn some extra cash had become impossible. The risk of Peter being recognized and sold out to the Alliance or SHIELD was too great. The only rent they were making at the moment was Pepper, who was paying for the usage of one of the shuttles. She was practically part of the crew at this point and just as determined as the rest of them to keep Peter hidden. Still, even with her contribution, it was hard to make ends meet. They needed money, so Tony was willing to at least hear what Loki had to offer. He was an arrogant jerk, but he paid well.
Tony led the way towards Loki’s base of operations, which was located just beyond the spaceport’s walls, Clint and Nat falling into step on either side of him.
“Will Bruce be okay alone with Peter?” Clint asked and shoved a bit of money at a passing vendor in exchange for a meat skewer.
“The kid and Bruce get along great,” Tony replied.
Nat nudged him with her elbow. “Tony, look.” She subtly pointed towards one corner of the enclosed docking zone where a cargo ship was parked. It was badly damaged by what appeared to have been a raging fire, its windows blown out and the hull breached in several places. Tony knew that ship and Nat had also recognized it. “Looks like Carl went out of business.”
Tony ground his teeth together. “He worked for the King.”
“You think Loki did this?” Nat asked.
Tony grimaced. It wasn’t unheard of. Loki didn’t respond kindly to failure and even less favorable to betrayal. Tony had never liked Carl, well aware just what kind of jobs he was running for Loki, so it was quite possible that he’d crossed a line with the King. Maybe he’d taken a job for a competitor. “Possible.”
They left the noise of the spaceport behind, ducking into the alley that would lead them to Loki’s base. It was cooler between the houses and Tony breathed a sigh of relief.
Clint was still munching on his skewer. “Maybe he wants us to take over some of Carl’s jobs.”
“That’s gonna be a big fat no,” Tony replied. “We may be crooks, but we won’t traffic people.”
A burly man with a poorly hidden gun was standing at the door to Loki’s base, watching them approach with a dark look on his face. He didn’t give them any trouble, however, stepping aside to let them through. It was cool inside the building. A couple of guards were lingering near the door that led to Loki’s office, but they also let them through unchecked.
It seemed the King was eager to talk.
Loki was sitting behind his huge wooden desk when they entered, studying his tablet computer. His suit was immaculate as always, his dark hair neatly slicked back. His eyes narrowed when he looked up at them. “Stark,” he said then and leaned back in his chair. “Finally.” He picked up an apple and started to peel it with slow, precise movements.
Tony crossed his arms. “Loki,” he replied, smiling when the hated name cause Loki’s grin to dim a little. Tony knew he preferred to be called by his self-given nickname “King”, but it was fun to rile him up a little. “You wanna tell me what job it is that you have for us?”
Loki turned his attention towards the apple. “It’s simple really, but a little delicate.”
“Delicate how?”
Loki pressed his lips together. “I need you to pick up a package and bring it to me.”
“That doesn’t sound too complicated.”
“Well,” Loki said with a smirk, “you see, the issue is that package doesn’t necessarily want to come here. However, he has quite a lot of merchandise in his possession that belongs to me, and I am growing tired of waiting. You’re good at fetching. Bring him here alive, though bodily damage will be excused.”
Tony shook his head. “I told you I don’t deal in people.”
Loki paused in his peeling, his eyes sharp as they met Tony’s. “I’m not asking you to. I got other people to deal with that kind of job.”
“Carl?” Tony asked, raising his brow. “We saw his ship at the docks.”
Heaving a deep sigh, Loki shrugged. “Ugly, really. Happened about two weeks ago. They say his engine caught fire and him and his crew died in their sleep.”
“Did they?”
Loki laughed. “What? You think I am responsible? Please, as if I would leave behind proof for SHIELD to pick through.” He leaned forward in his chair, pointing the knife at Tony. “There’s a rumor that Carl’s crew was dead before the fire even started. Some people claim they heard screams hours before. That a man visited the ship in the afternoon and was never seen leaving.”
Tony scoffed. “Sounds like a ghost story.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Loki asked. “Rumor also has it that Carl got drunk a few nights ago and was bragging quite loudly about being able to smuggle anyone out of anywhere. Even out of the core. Claimed he smuggled a kid out of Ariel City if you can believe that.” He chuckled. “It’s almost as if someone wanted to make sure he wouldn’t tell the same story ever again.”
Tony felt himself grow cold, remembering what Vision had told him just a couple of weeks ago. About the theft of an asset from an Alliance facility on Ariel. An asset that they assumed was Peter.
Loki turned back to his apple.
Tony cleared his throat. “Fire or murder, I don’t really care one way or another. Where’s your job sending us?”
“It’s a backwater moon that I would never set foot on. Disgusting place, really. You’ll feel right at home.” Loki gave a sharp grin. “Call it helping a friend in need.”
“We’re hardly friends,” Tony replied with a scoff.
“You misunderstand,” Loki said. “This isn’t exactly about me. This is about my brother.”
***
Steve and Shuri brought back take-away for dinner, and it wasn’t long before the scent of grilled meat, vegetables and lemon rice filled Serenity’s dining room. Several boxes worth of foodstuff and canned goods were standing in one corner, waiting to be unpacked. Even though Steve and Shuri hadn’t been able to buy a lot of fresh produce, Tony was happy to see that they would have at least a couple of days worth of fresh meals, maybe even longer considering Bruce was quite good at cooking delicious meals out of barely any ingredients. The crew enjoyed every chance they got to avoid eating the chemically flavored foodstuff and the mood around the table had lightened accordingly.
It didn’t take Tony long to update everyone about the job Loki had given them and about who they were about to pick up.
“Thor’s in prison?” Shuri asked, her eyes wide. “How did that happen?”
Tony shrugged. “Apparently, Loki sent him to relieve the magistrate of some gold bars and a large sum of cash and Thor got himself caught. They were able to recover most of the money, but Thor wouldn’t tell them where he left the gold bars.”
Steve put more rice on Peter’s plate. “And Loki wants us to break him out? A bit risky.”
“No, he’s out,” Tony replied.
“They let him go, despite part of his loot missing?” Steve asked. He sounded skeptical.
Tony could understand where he was coming from, but backwater worlds like the one they were travelling to sometimes had their own laws. Maybe they needed the space in jail for a worse criminal. He shrugged. “Served his time, I guess. We’re supposed to pick him and the gold up and bring them to Loki.”
Bruce had finished eating and was now just sipping on his tea. “This Thor person is a friend of yours?”
Nat nodded. “We worked a job for Loki with him a few years back and stayed in touch. Thor’s a good guy.”
“A thief,” Bruce said.
Clint smirked. “You gotta lower your standards, professor, you’re travelling with petty criminals.”
Shuri smiled. “I’m looking forward to seeing Thor again. He’s great.”
Clint drawled, “You think everybody’s great.”
“Not true. I think you’re just average.”
He sent her a mock-glare and she winked at him.
Peter tugged on her sleeve. “Do you think I am great?” He looked genuinely worried.
“You’re the greatest,” Shuri answered and got up to drop a sloppy kiss on his forehead before she went to the kitchenette to refill the water pitcher.
Peter looked at Tony. “I’m the greatest,” he whispered.
“’course you are,” Tony replied with a wink.
Peter smiled.
Pepper, who had eaten quietly up until now, cleared her throat to catch Tony’s attention. “So where does this job take us?”
Tony winced, knowing that she probably wouldn’t like the answer as their destination was sure to have no clients for her nearby. “Higgin’s Moon.”
Her eyes widened. “Higgin’s Moon?”
“You know it?”
“No, but there is a client on Higgin’s Moon looking for a Companion. It’s so far out that nobody has been able to take his request yet.”
Nat frowned. “Who on a world like Higgin’s Moon could possibly be looking for a Companion?”
“As it happens,” Pepper replied, “the magistrate.”
Tony laughed. “Well, seems to be our lucky day. We’re going to get Thor out while the Ambassador distracts the magistrate.”
***
“Commander,” Phil greeted Fury as they met up near the room Winter was using as his base of operations on the Dresden. “He called for you as well?”
Fury hummed a confirmation, his hands folded behind his back and his face set into a frown. He’d forgone wearing his service cap, so Phil took off his own as well. He tugged his uniform jacket into place and tucked the cap under one arm. Fury turned his head both ways, making sure they were alone, before he said, “I don’t like any of this.”
Phil was used to Fury speaking his mind and he knew that the presence of the operative sent by the parliament didn’t sit well with him. He hadn’t made a secret out of his annoyance with Colonel Sitwell, who had agreed to let Winter use the Dresden as he saw fit.
They started to make their way down the corridor. Fury continued, “Parliament sends an operative to hunt down a kid? Doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Trust the system, sir,” Phil answered. “Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”
“I haven’t trusted the system in a long time, Captain,” Fury answered. It was the most honest he’d ever been and Phil was taken aback for a moment, wondering where the sudden trust Fury was putting into him was coming from. He didn’t have time to ask, though, because they’d arrived.
The door to Winter’s office stood open.
A large window showed them a view of space as the Dresden was making its way through the ‘verse. Several empty plates and cups stood on the desk and Winter’s black jacket had been thrown down next to them carelessly. Winter was standing with his back to them, in front of the large display embedded in the wall, his arms crossed. A picture was taking up the screen; a man with short blond hair and blue eyes staring back at the operative.
Phil frowned. The man seemed familiar.
It took Winter speaking up to remember how he knew him. “You encountered the crew of the Serenity a couple of months ago, Commander.”
Fury gave a sharp nod. “Sir,” he confirmed. “They were looting what seemed to be an abandoned vessel.”
“You let them go.”
“The vessel wasn’t as abandoned as we’d thought, and we were attacked by a Reaver. The crew of the Serenity assisted us in taking him down. I decided to overlook the minor offense in return.”
Winter didn’t react, staring at the picture instead.
Phil cleared his throat. “We can get you the report, sir.”
“According to eyewitness accounts, the Serenity was on Persephone when Peter Parker and Quentin Beck managed to vanish,” Winter said. “We know that they left aboard a Firefly-class ship.”
Fury pressed his lips together in annoyance. “Yes, sir, we are aware. But other ships were docked at Eavesdown around the same time, other Firefly-class cargo ships. If the information that they boarded one of those is even correct.”
For a long moment, Winter didn’t say anything, then he asked, “Tell me about them.”
Fury nodded at Phil, who stepped forward to join Winter in front of the display and closed the picture of Rogers, Steve to return to the file they had compiled about the Serenity’s crew during their last encounter with them. It showed all their pictures as well as basic information about the ship itself. “Serenity is a Firefly class cargo ship. Pretty old model, pretty banged up. Her captain is Tony Stark.”
“The lost heir to Stark Industries,” Winter said.
Fury stepped up next to them. “You’re not exactly lost when you leave on your own terms, are you? He built weapons for the Alliance, was captured by the Independence during the Unification War and came out the other side wearing their coat.”
“The others?” Winter asked.
Phil continued, “Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton seem to be hired guns, additional security. Romanoff’s file is unremarkable. Born on Georgia, no job history in her file but we know that those rural worlds aren’t the best in keeping employment records. Barton is more interesting. He used to be a SHIELD agent. Born on Three Hills, banned from returning for another three years. He got off lightly considering he was arrested for homicide. Barton claimed it was self-defense, nobody could prove it was more than that, so he avoided the death penalty. Banishment seemed the easiest route to get rid of the problem for a while.”
Fury scoffed. “I can’t believe there are still worlds using exile.”
“Rim worlds are places where you want to be able to trust your neighbors,” Phil answered. “And where the official laws end, they invent their own.” He turned back to the display. “The mechanic is Shuri Udaku. Pretty unremarkable record. Lost her family at a young age and was probably hired by Stark afterwards. They have a professor travelling with them. His name is Bruce Banner. Seems pretty unremarkable, too. Virginia Potts, a certified Companion, is renting the shuttle. While it’s not typical for a Companion to be on the road all the time, it is not unheard of, either.”
Winter hummed and then nodded at Rogers again. “What about him?”
“Steve Rogers,” Phil supplied. “Fought for the Independence in the war together with Stark. Capable pilot.”
Winter stared at the picture.
“Sir?” Fury asked.
Winter didn’t react.
Fury frowned at Phil, who cleared his throat. “Sir.”
Winter blinked and shook his head. “Yes,” he said. “I’m listening.”
Fury crossed his arms. “We searched Serenity top to bottom. Parker and Beck weren’t there.”
There was a long moment of silence, then Winter said slowly, “The reason we know that Beck and Parker left on a Firefly-class ship is because Beck had help hauling the cryo unit he kept Parker in onboard the ship. The dock worker recalled the ship’s parking space and we were able to go through the records and see that a Firefly-class ship was parked there at that time. The ship didn’t have mandatory registration markings, so the terminal wasn’t able to pick up on its name. We thought Beck might switch ships, which is why I gave out an order to search all civilian transporters.” He turned around to them. “Several Firefly-class ships were near the relay station about two weeks ago when the hack occurred. One of them without mandatory registration markings.”
Fury shook his head. “I still don’t understand-”
“Your report, Commander,” Winter said, “includes a note about Serenity’s missing mandatory registration markings.” He smirked. “You never cited them for that.”
Phil remembered Fury mentioning the markings and he also remembered adding that detail into the report he’d written after the Reaver incident.
“Before I joined the Dresden,” Winter continued, “I paid a visit to an individual named Carl Lobitz. He helped Beck escape Ariel City and thought it wise to brag about it. So I paid him a visit to see whether he knew more. He says he recognized the ship Beck boarded as the Serenity.”
Phil glanced at Fury before he asked, “Do you want us to put out a warrant, sir?”
“No,” Winter replied. “The more people know that we are looking specifically for them, the greater is the risk that they will learn about it and will go into hiding.” He looked back at the crew pictures. “Between Stark and Rogers, they have enough allies among those who still believe in the Independence. Barton knows SHIELD inside-out, Potts has influential contacts, Udaku has the same potential that the Alliance saw in Parker. And Banner and Romanoff…” He smirked. “There is nothing unremarkable about those two.” He turned to walk past Fury and Phil. “Parker’s on the Serenity. All we have to do is figure out their next move.”