Inside the dim warehouse, Maya Hansen's hand froze mid-motion, her breath catching.
Killian's expression shifted, first confusion, then concern.
No one should be here.
This warehouse was supposed to be a secret lab, hidden from everyone. Only Maya, Killian, and a few trusted bodyguards even knew of its location.
And yet, just now, a sports car had pulled up with a roar that shattered the warehouse's silence.
Killian's first thought made his heart skip a beat.
'Could it be… Tony Stark?'
After all, Tony had a flair for drama, and a love for fast cars. And Killian had kept tabs on him for years.
But he immediately shook his head.
'No… Tony probably doesn't even remember I exist. And I haven't made a move yet. I've been careful.'
No leaks. No recklessness. Not until Extremis was perfected.
So who was it?
"Seven," Killian called out sharply, glancing toward the outer room. "Go check. Now."
A burly, bald man with a scar over one eye nodded silently and moved out with two others in tow. All of them were ex-military, handpicked by Killian. Highly loyal and disciplined.
Meanwhile, Killian and Maya exchanged a glance before quickly stashing the Extremis samples into a secure steel case tucked into a wall-mounted safe.
This version of the serum wasn't stable yet.
One wrong move could reduce this whole lab, and them along with it to smoldering ash.
…
Outside the Warehouse
The yellow Chevrolet Camaro screeched to a halt just beyond the warehouse gates.
The engine purred for a moment before cutting off entirely.
The first to step out was Sharon Carter, hammer in hand, Mjölnir crackling faintly in her grip.
Her sharp eyes scanned the perimeter.
Next came Wanda, clad in a flowing red dress, her gaze burning with quiet power as the air subtly shimmered around her.
Finally, Luke Yale climbed out from the driver's seat.
He shut the car door with a click and adjusted the collar of his jacket.
The two women instinctively moved to stand behind him, flanking him like elite bodyguards, one to his left, one to his right.
From the warehouse entrance, three armed men emerged with rifles and tense postures.
They took one look at the odd trio and paused.
Their expressions faltered.
Two beautiful women? A teenager in a hoodie? What kind of threat is this?
"Stop right there!" one of the guards barked, gun raised. "What are you doing here? Who are you?!"
Luke gave them a flat look.
Then, without turning his head, he spoke softly to the women behind him.
"Knock them out."
The guards barely had time to register what he said.
In the next instant, Wanda surged forward, a ribbon of scarlet magic swirling through her fingers, while Sharon raised her hammer, and brought it down with a clap of thunder.
A blinding red blast launched the three guards into the air, their weapons flying uselessly from their hands.
Electric arcs danced across their bodies mid-flight.
By the time they hit the ground, their eyes had rolled back and foam frothed from their mouths.
Thud. Thud. Thud~.
Luke didn't even look back. He strolled forward casually, hands in his pockets.
"Nice work," he said with a grin. "Better than hired muscle. And way easier on the eyes."
Sharon rolled her eyes.
"Want us to tie bows on them too?"
"No need. They should be asleep for a while."
…
Inside, the crash of bodies outside sent a jolt of panic through the warehouse.
Killian cursed under his breath and grabbed a handgun from the nearby table.
"Maya, get behind the shelf, now."
She hesitated, her face pale.
"Do you think it's S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"If it was, we'd already be surrounded."
They ducked low, hiding in a corner of the lab. The shadows wrapped around them as the tension climbed.
A few heartbeats later, the door creaked open.
Footsteps echoed on the concrete.
And then…
Luke stepped into the warehouse, his eyes scanning everything with calm precision.
The x-ray mode in his glasses lit up his vision with detail. He saw everything.
The layout. The scattered lab equipment. The subtle heat signatures behind the inner wall.
'Found you.'
Sharon and Wanda moved behind him, on alert but silent.
Compared to their cautious presence, Luke looked almost nonchalant, as if he were just dropping by a friend's house.
But the two women kept close anyway.
After all, Luke's no fighter. Not yet.
They didn't know about his mutation system. Luke had always played it off as the store's strange energy.
And so, they were his shield, always.
When the trio reached the innermost lab, Luke didn't hesitate.
He stopped just outside the door and raised his voice.
"Come out, Killian. I know you're in there."
From behind a metal table, Killian's brows furrowed.
The stranger not only knew his name, but sounded relaxed, even amused.
With a curse under his breath, he rose from his hiding spot, pistol in hand, and stepped into view.
He aimed directly at Luke's head.
Immediately, Sharon and Wanda stepped forward, placing themselves between Luke and the gun.
But they held their ground, waiting.
Waiting for Luke's command.
From the shadows, Maya Hansen slowly stood up as well, her eyes wide with confusion and alarm.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! First encounter with Dr. Aldrich Killian, Core Supporting Character. +1 Plot Point.]
[Congratulations, host! First encounter with Dr. Maya Hansen, Core Supporting Character. +1 Plot Point.]
Luke's grin widened.
'An unexpected bonus. Noice.'
Now he was already halfway to the next system upgrade.
"Who are you?" Killian growled. "How do you know my name? How did you find this place?"
His hand tightened on the gun.
But Luke didn't flinch.
He gently placed a hand on Sharon's shoulder and murmured, "It's fine. He can't hurt me."
The two women reluctantly stepped aside but remained within striking distance, their eyes never leaving Killian.
Luke took one casual step forward.
"Relax, I'm not here to rob you or shoot you in the head."
He raised both hands slightly in mock surrender, his smile as charming as ever.
"I'm here… to talk about the possibility of cooperation."
Killian didn't lower his weapon, but his eyes narrowed.
"Cooperation?"
"A partnership," Luke clarified. "Mutually beneficial."
He gestured around at the lab with mild amusement.
"Honestly, Killian, there's only one thing in here that I'm even remotely interested in."
His gaze sharpened.
"Extremis."
The moment the word left his mouth, the air shifted.
Maya stiffened like she'd been slapped.
Killian's face darkened instantly.
"How do you know about that?" he barked.
Luke shrugged with an easy smile.
"You'd be surprised how much I know."
He leaned in slightly, his tone cool.
"And before you start panicking, no, I'm not from S.H.I.E.L.D., and I'm not here to steal it. Otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned cooperation."
Killian hesitated.
He still had the upper hand, or so he thought.
But the confidence radiating off Luke made him pause.
…