Kane: Awakening in the Marvel Universe with Supreme System

As soon as Alex pulled Pepper behind cover, he launched himself back into the fight.

The Iron Monger's fist cratered the asphalt where Tony had stood a moment earlier. Twin repulsor blasts fired at the same time—scoring the armor—but the metal beast barely flinched.

Alex's eyes narrowed. His eyes scanned the enemy, the left shoulder joint. A fracture in the armor.

He ripped a steel bar from a collapsed scaffold, telekinetically spearing it into the vulnerable joint.

CRUNCH!

Metal screamed. The Giant's arm went limp, sparking.

Inside the suit, Stane's voice rang out. "You think this ends with me? I carried Stark Industries when you were still a young kid!"

Stane looked straight at Alex through the cracked cockpit, coughing blood. "And you...I can't believe I hired those failures who couldn't even kill you...along with your father."

Tony tried to close in. He fired a blast at the joint of the other arm. 

Stane fired a spread of mini-rockets. Alex deflected two mid-air, while Tony also blasted one out of the two that came at him, but the other one slammed into Tony's chest, sending him flying.

BOOM!

"Tony!" Alex shouted.

"cough—I'm good, just pissed." Tony grunted, rolling to his feet. His HUD flickered. Power: 42%.

Alex, furious, charged at the metal giant. He kicked the steel bar protruding from Stane's chest, driving it all the way through the cockpit. Stane gasped as blood sprayed behind the cracked armor.

"I failed... to kill you... you..." he rasped as his final breath left his body.

"You didn't fail," Alex muttered coldly, "you were simply unlucky."

He ripped the steel bar back out in a shower of sparks and gore.

The Iron Monger collapsed.

Pepper staggered into view, dirt-streaked and trembling. Her eyes darted from Alex's bloodied hands to the motionless hulk of armor.

"Is it... over?"

Tony limped over, clutching his side, armor dented. "Yeah. Just in time for the feds."

Wee-Woo-Wee-Woo.

Phil Coulson's black sedan screeched to a halt. He stepped out calmly, sunglasses glinting.

"Explosions. Dead mercenaries. And two...armors?" He sighed. "This'll be a fun report."

Tony smirked. "Can we just say rogue robot?"

Coulson glanced at Tony for a brief second and turned to Alex.

"And you? Are you even human?"

Alex wiped his cheek, wounds already healing. "Human enough. Just... different."

Coulson showed no emotions. "Someone wants to have a word with you."

Alex stared. A beat later he nodded and turned away. He Knew it was inevitable. But he was no longer afraid. He is ready to come out of the shadows.

---

Night at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters

Nick Fury stood against the triskelion's glass walls, one on the railing. 

"Extraordinary ability like telekinesis. Enhanced physique that matches with the Super Soldier. And a private army with tendrils in seventeen countries."

He turned to Alex, his single eye locking onto Alex like a scope reticle.

"You are a growing file of 'impossible,' aren't you, Alexander Kane?"

Alex just lightly smiled at the dramatic entry. "Let's skip the drama, shall we? Tell me what you want."

Fury smirked and continued, "Earth's getting a little… complicated. I'm putting together a team." He stepped closer, voice lowered. "I want you on it."

Alex didn't blink. "I don't like the idea of working for anyone. But I think Kane International and SHIELD can come to an agreement."

Fury held his gaze for three seconds. Then—

"We'll see."

Fury watched from the window as Alex's car disappeared into the night. He turned toward his desk.

"Get me Agent Romanoff. It's time to give her a chance to get familiar with S.H.I.E.L.D."

---

Next day at Stark Industries Conference Hall.

James Rhodes stepped aside for Tony to take the stage. Tony, bruised and with his arm in a sling, adjusted the mic. "You all have questions about what happened. But there will be no questions. I am told to stick to cards this time."

Christine Everhart ignored that and began firing questions. "Mr. Stark, is it true that a robot went rogue? Why is everyone silent about the one who took down that robot? Was that a robot too? or is it Government forces? A prototype drone? Or some unknown vigilante playing hero?"

Tony began explaining, going off the script. Alex, who was with Pepper, was watching through the screen with an eager expression. 

Rhodey leaned toward Tony and whispered. Tony gave a nod.

Tony looked at the cards.

"The truth is…"

He paused for some time; a decision was made inside him. He met the crowd's gaze.

"I am Iron Man."

The room exploded. 

Pepper gasped. 

Alex's grin widened.

DING.

[System Mission Complete. Reward: 1500 Supremacy Points. Weapons Catalog Unlocked.]

[Future Clue Available. Host is recommended to be seated when ready to proceed.]

Alex sat down on the sofa behind him. 'Proceed.'

His vision blurred—

Sterile lights. Metal walls. A man strapped to a medical table. A brunette stood beside him, face filled with worry.

"Aldrich, we're not ready. Human trials—this could kill you."

Aldrich Killian stared at her. "Then let it kill me. If this works, we won't just cure disease—we'll redefine humanity."

She hesitated. He nodded.

"Do it."

She injected the glowing red serum into his veins.

He convulsed.

Glowed.

The process seems to last for five minutes. Then Aldrich's eyes snapped open.

Maya whispered, "Aldrich…?"

Killian stood. No crutches. No glasses. Perfect posture.

He looked into the mirror and smiled. "Never felt better."

Alex's eyes slowly open.

AIM. Extremis. Human experimentation.

'It's time Kane International evolved. Appreciate the boost, System.'

---

Later that day, in the surveillance room of S.H.I.E.L.D., a redhead woman stood with arms crossed. Fury was showing her Alex and Tony battling Stane.

"You want 'me' to kill them?" she asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

Fury gave a faint smile. "Oh please, Agent Natasha, I won't give you an impossible task. No. You're there to watch. I want eyes and ears inside Stark Industries. Closest to Stark. Closest to Kane. Find out what the hell they're planning."

Natasha let out a sigh of relief and studied the screen again, eyes wide with curiosity, as Tony declared, "I am Iron Man."

"Understood," she said. "I'll handle it."