How I ended up with an alien supercomputer attached to my spine. (Marvel/DC Blue beetle) Pt 2

Things went downhill over the course of the months that followed. The public was up in arms against all superhumans, be it heroes or villains. The human torch got assaulted at a bar? Captain America was declared a fugitive, and Tony 7 Iron man made the New Director of SHIELD and immediately began a manhunt for the superhuman opposing the SHRA bill. Almost all of the superhuman community has begun choosing sides with some joining forces with Captain America while others joined Iron man and the SHRA.

And as time passed, the government began escalating their efforts as Captain America and his 'secret Avengers' remained ever elusive. Sentinels and armed SHIELD agents now littered the streets as did their airships that floated above us armed with enough weapons to level entire cities like a giant Swords of Damocles. They were officially living in a dystopian society.

And while this all was unfolding, Alex growing agitated day after day. She had once idolised heroes. The very heroes that were now being branded criminals and hunted by their own former allies and friends. Seeing them fall so low was heartbreaking for her especially since both she and her mother owe their lives to one particular hero. And it made her 'hate' Stark even more than she had done before.

She spent the days half expecting to get ambushed by SHIELD the moment she sets a foot outside. Even after Khadi Ja 's assurances and steps he had to keep himself hidden.

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Alex walked to her friend, Cassie's house after school was out. It had been weeks since she had seen Cassie attend classes and she was growing worried about her. She snuck in through the fire escape as she didn't want to interact with Cassie's mother and stepfather.

As she got closer and closer to Cassie's room and the window opening up to the fire escape, she heard muffled voices coming from it. She stopped near the window and peeked into her room only to audibly gasp in shock. Inside, she saw her friend Cassie and another girl in different states of undress wouldn't normally have been an issue, except they were both wearing costumes she recognised all too well.

Unfortunately, her gasp was audible enough for the pair of heroes to pick up as their heads simultaneously snapped towards Alex.

"Umm... Alex. This is not what it looks like." Cassie said while nervously chuckling.

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"Wow. You have been Stature this whole time? How did this even happen?" Alex asked while rubbing her forehead.

"Well you know how I occasionally went to the Avengers mansion to visit dad?" Cassie said.

"Yes. And I'm still mad you never tried to have them invite me." Alex added with a pout and she responded with a chuckle.

"Well I spent a lot of time with dad while he worked on his suit and I my hands on some of the Pym Particles and did my own experiments on them. And well, that's how I got my powers."

"So how long have you had them?"

"A while. They didn't really manifest until last year when we formed the young avengers team."

"Who else knows? If Stark knows then...." Alex said while panicking only to get interrupted by the other girl in the room. The new Hawkeye.

"He does. That's why she has been in hiding all this time. We only use this room to temporarily stash some of our gear before our missions." she said.

"Wouldn't SHIELD be keeping surveillance here them?"

"They are but we hijacked their frequencies and we are sending them an altered footage. Stark maybe smart, but we have Vision." Kate replied with a smirk as she said the last word.

Things fell into a comfortable silence afterwards until Alex spoke

"So what now?"

"We should make our way back to base. And 'you' should go home. The longer you stay the higher chances there are for someone to notice us. And I don't know what they'll do if they think that you're helping us. Even if you are a normal civilian". Kate said bluntly and Cassie nodded in affirmation sadly.

Alex thought about telling her about Khaji Da but hesitated at the last moment. She was all but willing to fight criminals but she was not ready to go against other heroes. Heroes who have the government's support. As much as she wanted to help Cassie, she also had to think about her family and how her choice will end up affecting them.

And so she said her goodbyes and went back home feeling despondent. And it seems that Khaji Da wasn't very fond of her decision either, not that she could blame him.

Suddenly she froze in place just as I walked up to my house. She saw an SUV with SHIELD's emblem on it parked right outside my home. She started inwardly panicking before making my way inside.

As she entered, she heard the sound of people talking and when she entered the living room, She saw her parents talking to none other than Tony Stark, the current Director of SHIELD, the CEO of Stark industries and the hero known as Iron man. He was accompanied Ms Marvel one of Alex's all time favorites. Stark wore a three piece suit while Ms Marvel was in costume.

"There you are Alex. Mr Stark wanted to ask you a few questions." Liara said politely but you could tell that she didn't want them here any more than Alex did.

Both her parents had been pro mutant activists in their youth and has been against the SHRA bill though they have been mostly protesting anonymously many relatives of the victims of Stanford have reportedly been harassing anyone who spoke against the SHRA.

"Please have a seat." Tony said with his billion dollar smile. Alex sat down on the couch across from his seat, right between her parents.

"May I ask why you are looking for me?" she asked as her heart pounded in my chest. Does he know that I'm the Blue Beetle? About Khaji Da? Or does he know that I met Cassie? A myriad of possible reasons went through her head each more bleak than the other.

"No need to be so stiff. I wanted to ask you a few questions.?" Tony said with a slight chuckle.

"What about?"

"Tell me, do you know Cassandra Lang?"

Alex felt her heartbeat quicken as she replied. "Yes. Why? Is she in trouble?"

"That remains to be seen. Now, why don't you tell me when you last saw her." Tony said, his voice and face now devoid of any humour and adorning a serious expression.

Alex stared panicking even more until I remembered Khaji Da. she sent him a telepathic command and gave him control of her body. She used him to regulate her heartbeat and the expressions on herface in an effort to try and fool the two heroes infront of her.

"Not for a few weeks. She hasn't been to school for a while."

"Do you know anyone she is acquainted with outside of school?"

"No sir. I don't think so. Cassie has never exactly been very outgoing and she only has a small circle of friends including me."

"Very then. How much do you know about her father."

"You mean Blake?"

"No her biological father, Scott Lang."

"Not much. I know he was an engineer of sort who also worked for the Fatastic Four."

Stark raised his eyebrow as he heard it before reaching into his pocket, and Alex knew that she had messed up.

"Mr and Mrs Bennet. Could we speak with Alexandra in private?" he asked.

Alex's parents looked her with concern but she nodded in assurance after which her parents left the living room.

Tony then let out a sigh as took out a bundle of letters.

"You know, I knew her. And her old man. She used to stay at the mansion with her father. But you knew about it didn't you?" He then placed a bundle of letters on the table. Letters I had Cassie give to the Avengers when we were young. Mostly her asking them to let her visit the Avengers mansion.

"Cassie always spoke about you, you know. How you wanted to visit the mansion. So I think you know exactly why I'm here.

You know about her and her little after-school club, don't you."

Alex nodded. Well, technically, she only found out earlier that day but he doesn't have to know that.

"You know, as hard as it is for you to believe, I don't enjoy doing this. Arresting my friends. Hunting others just because they are different because they have powers. But you have to understand that if not me someone else, someone much worse would have done it.

The more they resist, the more the government will escalate. What do you think will happen then? How many innocents will get caught in the crossfire when all out war breaks. How many heroes do you think would survive. Can you stomach the idea of Cassie being gunned down by an angry mob or an overzealous soldier? I don't. Which is why I'm doing this? So please Alex, help me.

If can help us in any way you can, we can bring her home and keep her safe." Tony looked at Alex straight in the eye as he finished.

Despite Khaji Das influence, Alex couldn't help but scoff at his words. Starks words had awoken something in her.

"Bullshit. You will ship her to the raft without a trial the moment she is in your custody like all the other enhanced who doesn't want to end up as the government's lap dogs."

"I am trying to keep them safe."

"You are trying to keep your life style safe." I mean look at how much you achieved ever since you became director. Stark enterprises stocks are going through the roof. You have your own personal army with both SHIELD and the 'Avengers'.

"That's not true..." Stark tried to speak only for me to interupt him.

"Then explain why there are sentinels at Xaviers academy. Those things were created for the sole purpose of killing mutants and you placed them in the one place where they were supposed to feel safe."

Stark tried to open his mouth only for Alex to raise her arm and interrupt him again.

"I do not know where she is. And even if I did, I would never tell you. Now, if there is nothing else, feel free to leave." she said pointing at the door.

Stark sighed as he left the house with Ms Marvel not far behind.

"Have a couple of agents keep an eye on the girl." Stark said to Ms Marvel.

"You think she's knows something?" Ms Marvel asked.

"No."

"But it doesn't hurt to be cautious."