I. The Ticking Clock (1985)
By 1985, Tony Stark was fourteen. His complex web of alliances and technologies—The Citadel secured by Pepper, the Nexus Academy operational, the Prometheus Protocol stabilizing Extremis, and the F-19 Raptor deployed—had placed him squarely on the Kree radar.
J.A.R.V.I.S.'s high-level atmospheric scans confirmed increasing frequency of non-terrestrial energy distortions near the P.E.G.A.S.U.S. facility, the secret research hub where Dr. Wendy Lawson (Mar-Vell) was conducting Tesseract-powered light-speed engine tests. Carol Danvers, now in her mid-twenties, was the lead test pilot, driven by her Alpha-Warrior ambition.
Tony knew the original timeline: Mar-Vell would be killed, the Light-Speed Engine would explode, and Carol would absorb the Tesseract/Kree energy, gaining immense power but suffering debilitating memory loss.
The goal: Intervene to secure Mar-Vell's knowledge, prevent the memory wipe, and ensure Carol's power integration is stable and controlled.
II. Operation Light-Speed Guardian
Tony launched Operation Light-Speed Guardian, a highly focused, two-part intervention:
Technological Insertion: Deploy a miniaturized, unmanned drone—the Sentinel I—to the P.E.G.A.S.U.S. facility under the cover of providing advanced Pulse Generator maintenance. The Sentinel I carried Tony's prototype Vibranium-Polymer Energy Sink—a device designed to absorb and stabilize volatile energy signatures, like a cosmic lightning rod.
Alpha Projection: Tony, accompanied by Pepper, flew to the remote facility under the pretense of observing the F-19's high-altitude performance, ensuring he was on site for the inevitable event.
Tony watched from a concealed SI observation bunker as Carol Danvers prepared for a test flight. She was a coiled spring of controlled energy, radiating the intense focus of a natural Alpha. .
"J.A.R.V.I.S., confirm Mar-Vell's current location and Kree infiltration activity," Tony commanded.
"Dr. Lawson is present in the hangar bay, Sir. Two non-human entities, Kree Accusers, have breached the perimeter. High probability of violent asset acquisition within the next ten minutes," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.
Tony activated the Aegis I under his clothes, feeling the familiar, warm hum of the Pulse Generator against his chest.
The chaos erupted instantly. The two Kree warriors—focused on capturing Mar-Vell and destroying the engine—engaged SHIELD (Hydra) security forces. Mar-Vell, attempting to evacuate, was fatally wounded. The Light-Speed Engine, powered by the Tesseract, was compromised, unleashing a catastrophic energy surge.
Carol Danvers rushed to Mar-Vell's side. As the Kree energy, fused with the Space Stone's power, began to wash over her, Tony acted.
Tony, moving faster than his fourteen-year-old body should allow (aided by the Aegis I's subtle kinetic assists), deployed the Sentinel I drone. The drone flew directly into the energy nexus—the Light-Speed Engine—positioning the Vibranium Energy Sink directly between the unstable engine and Carol.
The Sink did its job. It absorbed the initial, destructive wave of Tesseract energy, stabilizing the core reaction. However, a significant portion of the energy still slammed into Carol.
Tony reached Carol just as the surge hit. The small, high-frequency Pulse Generator in Carol's flight suit collar, installed by Tony, acted as a counter-stabilizer, preventing the energy from frying her brain and causing the crippling memory loss of the original timeline.
Tony was thrown back, his Aegis I momentarily overloaded, but intact. Carol lay unconscious, bathed in golden energy, the power of a Cosmic Alpha integrated, but stable.
III. The Cosmic Anchor is Secured
The Kree fled, believing the engine destroyed and the target neutralized. SHIELD (now fully alerted) flooded the scene.
Tony, recovering quickly, took command. He presented a flawless narrative: Mar-Vell sacrificed herself, and the explosion was contained by Stark Industries' experimental shielding technology. He protected Carol, claiming she was a victim of the explosion, but miraculously alive.
He immediately had Carol airlifted to a secret, medically shielded wing of The Citadel, far from SHIELD, Hydra, and the Kree's continued search.
In the sterile safety of The Citadel, Tony monitored Carol's integration. Her power was immense, but her memories were intact, thanks to his intervention. When Carol awoke, she was confused, but she knew her name, her history, and the face of the boy who saved her.
Tony didn't treat her like a patient; he treated her like a weapon he had just engineered.
"Welcome back, Lieutenant Danvers," Tony said, standing by her bed, his voice calm. "You are now functionally immortal, capable of intergalactic travel, and possess the power of a thousand suns. You are a Cosmic Alpha. You are also a ghost. The world believes you are recovering from a catastrophic accident."
Carol, recovering rapidly, sat up, her eyes glowing faintly with nascent energy. "The Kree. They were after the engine. Why am I alive?"
"Because I knew they were coming," Tony stated plainly. "I'm Anthony Stark. I have the ultimate spoiler sheet for this universe. You are now the single most powerful asset on Earth. You are a Pillar of Project Prometheus."
He showed her the Citadel, the Nexus Academy, the Omni-Core, and the plans for the Cosmic Shield. He laid out the truth of the Kree Empire, the Skrull conflict, and the looming shadow of Thanos.
Carol Danvers, the Alpha Warrior, realized the small, brilliant boy was not arrogant—he was simply correct. His confidence was justified. She felt the immediate, deep respect that only one Alpha can feel for another, and she sensed the deep, strategic, and protective energy of his surrounding infrastructure (Pepper, the Citadel).
"I am a soldier, Stark," Carol stated, her intensity unwavering. "I need a purpose. Who am I fighting for?"
"You are fighting for the Pack," Tony replied, using the Omegaverse term that resonated with her primal, protective instinct. "For Earth, for the collective we are building. You are now a co-Alpha, my equal in power and cosmic reach. You are the Cosmic Anchor of my future family."
The declaration of her future role—not as a lover yet, but as an Equal and Anchor—was accepted. Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel in embryo, was now under the protection and operational control of Project Prometheus.
IV. Re-engaging Maria Hill
The immediate disappearance of Carol Danvers (officially 'recovering in a secure facility') caused panic in SHIELD. Maria Hill, still monitoring the Stark file, was convinced Tony was hiding a critical national asset.
Maria confronted Tony at his public mansion, storming past security with her patented, efficient rage.
"Where is Danvers, Stark?" Maria demanded, her Alpha intensity matching his. "She is a US military asset. This is treason." .
Tony, calm, poured her a drink (non-alcoholic, naturally). "Lieutenant Hill, treason is selling an F-19 design with a planned flaw. I sold the best one I had. Lieutenant Danvers is safe. She requires a period of non-monitored recovery due to the unprecedented nature of the incident."
He gave Maria a gift: a perfectly encrypted flash drive containing the full technical logs of the Kree weapons signature detected during the incident.
"This is proof of non-terrestrial incursion," Tony explained. "Proof that SHIELD is compromised and incapable of handling Level-9 threats. Your loyalty is to Earth's security, not a compromised command structure. Protect this data. Use it to climb the ladder, Lieutenant. I need an Alpha I can trust at the top of SHIELD when the time comes."
Maria, pragmatic and intelligent, recognized the devastating truth in the data. Tony was challenging her to rise higher and clean up the mess. She accepted the evidence and the implicit alliance. She was now an active, if covert, asset in Project Prometheus—the Tactical Anchor. The relationship was forged in mutual respect for capability and a shared goal of Earth's defense.
V. The Nexus Academy: Expanding the Omegas
With Carol secured, Tony reinforced the Mutant Integration Initiative. The Nexus Academy was ready for expansion.
J.A.R.V.I.S. flagged two new emerging Omega-level signatures in Europe:
Emma Frost (The Cerebral Omega): A telepathic and telekinetic Omega, struggling with the ability to turn her skin into organic diamond—a massive, unstable power surge. Age: mid-twenties.
Raven Darkholme (Mystique - The Adaptive Omega): A highly advanced shape-shifter, using her power chaotically and fearfully to survive. Age: unknown, but active in intelligence circles.
Tony focused on Emma Frost. He needed her immense psychic power and her formidable intellect to assist Jean Grey in stabilizing the Cerebro.
Tony used the Vance Trust to acquire the struggling "Massachusetts Academy," near Emma's location. He appointed Emma Frost—already a brilliant, albeit morally grey, young woman—as the Headmistress, granting her full financial freedom and a concealed, Omni-Core lab.
Tony met her, treating her with the ultimate respect for her intellect and her sheer, icy composure. "I know your power, Miss Frost. I also know your talent for finance. I need you to run this academy as a brilliant, visible fortress. Beneath the visible, there is a secret. A sanctuary. I need your mind, and Jean needs your mentorship. Join my Pack, and I will ensure your safety and your absolute freedom."
Emma Frost, recognizing a fellow Alpha who saw her power as a resource, accepted. She was now the third psychic anchor in the MII.
Raven Darkholme (Mystique) required a different approach. She was a spy, and a fugitive. Tony began inserting subtle, encrypted messages into the Dark Web—a hidden communication channel—offering her a path to absolute freedom and security, provided she agreed to the terms of the Omegaverse collective: loyalty to the Pack and utilization of her skills only for defense.
VI. The Alpha's Burden and the Romance of Stability
The workload was immense. Tony, though only fourteen, was operating at the peak of global and cosmic strategy. The only relief was the presence of Pepper and the deepening emotional bond with his new recruits.
The romance with Pepper, now in her mid-twenties, evolved from emotional co-dependence to deep, profound love. Their interactions were marked by the "slice of life" intimacy Tony craved: late-night planning sessions, gentle hand-holding across the Omni-Core consoles, and quiet, stabilizing hugs.
One night, after finalizing the transfer of Emma Frost, Pepper found Tony asleep at his desk. She gently covered him with a blanket and leaned in, placing a soft, chaste kiss on his forehead—a gesture of pure, unconditional maternal and romantic love.
"You have the heaviest burden, my Alpha," she whispered. "But we are here. The Pack is forming."
Tony awoke instantly, his Aegis I shielding him from the sudden intrusion, but recognizing her touch. He reached for her hand, pulling her down for a long, silent hug.
"I am safe when you are here, Anchor," Tony murmured.
The first romantic seeds were fully matured: a deep, stabilizing love based on mutual protection and the shared destiny of saving a chaotic world. The Harem was forming, piece by piece, anchored by the brilliance and stability of Pepper Potts.
The next phase: accelerating the Pym Particle research and dealing with the now-active terrorist organizations, including the remnants of the Ten Rings and the burgeoning Hydra activity worldwide, all leading into the decade of the 1990s.