8 Chapter 8: Acquisitions and Preparations.

Ward was sitting across from Killian and Garrett and a woman with dark hair, inside the VIP conference office of a secure research facility that A.I.M. had purchased around nine months ago. They were currently discussing various business-related matters, after having recruited most PRIDE's members.

All but two agreed. It was to be expected, as even with Tina vouching for him… Dr. Victor Stein and Leslie Dean refused to so much as hear him out. After a bit of thought, however, Ward decided to bring all the members of PRIDE on a weekend trip to observe all the research that A.I.M. was currently conducting… and to present the two that declined to join him, one final offer.

"You really think they'll go for it, kid?"

"I mean… they already refused, didn't they?"

Sitting in a dark-blue business suit, Ward responded to Garrett, who had asked him a question.

"Garrett… you hogtied Doctor Stein."

"Who in their right mind, would that not upset?"

Lightly tapping the table with his finger, Ward continued.

"As for Mrs. Dean… that will be a much more complicated situation to resolve."

"Especially so, since I have no intention of allowing her… 'church' to continue operating."

Still looking at Garrett, Ward questioned.

"Where are we on that?"

Garrett rose from his seat and handed Ward a sealed folder that he had brought with him, then responded.

"Following an 'anonymous tip', S.H.I.E.L.D. seized the Gibborim facility, codename 'Crater'."

"Only light resistance on contact, with all assets being safely extracted."

Garrett moved to sit back down, while continuing.

"The assets are currently inbound… ETA looks to be two hours."

Nodding his head, Ward finished reading the classified information contained in the folder. Alongside Garrett's explanation, he now had a thorough understanding of the situation. Using S.H.I.E.L.D. had been a wise move on Ward's part. Ward was able to shut down the "Church of the Gibborim", while acquiring a few "things" that might just help him resolve his situation with Mrs. Dean.

"Good…"

"Killian, where are we regarding the acquisition of Momentum Labs and Cybertek Incorporated?"

Hearing Ward speak to him, Killian who had been quietly conversing with the dark-haired woman, replied.

"Cybertek has been successfully purchased, so all is well on that front."

Killian scratched his head before continuing.

"Momentum Labs, on the other hand…"

"Well… they are now demanding an additional fifteen million before accepting."

Ward sighed, before responding.

"They've been upping the price for months..."

Taking a moment to think, Ward soon continued speaking.

"If they want to keep playing games, then let them."

"Offer them an additional twenty-five million… but be certain to add in the stipulation of signing over all of their researchers' pre-existing contracts, as well."

Killian grimaced, before replying.

"Are you certain you want to take it that far?"

Ward nodded while speaking.

"Yes."

"If they want to try and bleed us dry, then I don't just want their projects anymore."

"I want their people, too."

Killian paused, before speaking.

"Alright… preparations will need to be made, but I'll get it done."

Ward smiled, responding.

"You always do Killian, and I appreciate it."

Turning his head towards the dark-haired woman, Ward continued speaking.

"Dr. Hansen, you mentioned that your most recent formula appeared stable, correct?"

Clearly excited, Doctor Maya Hansen, a scientist who Ward had actively encouraged Killian to recruit, replied.

"Yes… my team has even begun animal testing."

"And from what we've seen of our early results, it looks to be extremely promising."

Dr. Hansen provided him with a data sheet containing projected time frames for testing.

"As you can see, we'll be ready to move on to human trials within two years… providing everything goes well, that is."

Nodding his head, Ward smiled. This was unexpected news. The project Hansen was working on, was one she had started. It was a formula known as "Extremis", and it was by far, the project that Ward was most interested in.

Extremis' purpose, just as in the MCU, was to grant the human body the ability to heal and regenerate from physical damages, deformities, and even psychological damages. It did so through advanced genetic manipulation, which granted the formula even greater possible applications. Ward spoke in a jovial tone.

"This is wonderful news Doctor."

Looking towards Garrett and Killian, Ward continued.

"I'm sure our friends here, will agree."

Killian and Garrett were both in need of something like Extremis. Killian to deal with a series of physical disabilities he'd had since young and Garrett to deal with critical injuries received during a mission to Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Extremis could treat both, especially since the "glitch" in the formula had been solved.

That glitch, was something that could cause widespread genetic instability, triggering a rejection reaction that caused an extreme thermal response in the subject. In short, the subject would explode. So, it was one hell of a glitch… one that needed fixing.

With that in mind, Ward had personally aided Hansen in doing so… though he wasn't able to take all the credit, as both Dr. Killian and Tony Stark, had contributed. The latter had done so… mostly unknowingly… and with minimal effort. In a moment of deep thought, Ward sighed, then spoke in a much more serious tone.

"Well then, since things are going much better than expected… it's time I clue you all in."

That got everyone's attention. Ward reached over and pressed a red button beneath the table.

"I didn't think we'd reach this point so soon, but with Dr. Hansen so clearly ahead of schedule…"

"Then there is much the four of us need to discuss… about the future of this world and the many things which I've been keeping from you."

As Ward spoke, the room they were in was slowly closed off from the rest of the facility. Magical wards sprang into place, with sound-proof, armored shielding raising up from the floor. Once he was certain that no one outside the room could eavesdrop, Ward looked around at the only three people he fully trusted amongst those he sought out these last two years.

"Do you remember what I said to you when we met Killian?"

"When I asked you to help me build a foundation for the betterment of humanities future?"

Killian nodded, as Ward continued.

"That wasn't hyperbole, Doctor."

"I want to build a literal 'foundation'."

"A group of free-thinking individuals to help plan for a better future for all of humanity and Earth."

"A group not bound to any government, or single corporation."

"A group that doesn't forget its purpose."

"And to create such a group… I need people."

Looking towards both Killian and Hansen, he carried on.

"Scientists, doctors, engineers… and any others who can come up with 'real' solutions to the world's problems."

Looking over at Garrett, Ward continued.

"Soldiers, strategists, spies… any who can help to safeguard humanity against the threats they can't see coming."

Looking down to stare at the table, Ward finished speaking.

"It's an idealistic plan… with near-impossible goals, I know… but it IS necessary."

Bringing up the holo-display at center of the table, Ward spoke a key-phrase, unlocking sensitive information regarding the future that he'd programmed to release if something happened to him. Image after image began to appear, revealing to the other three, a small glimpse of what was coming.

"As you can each see… the world may well need such idealism."

It was information that anyone who knew what to look for could uncover, but it was enough to change things. So long as it was placed in the right hands, that is. Roughly two hours later, Killian, Garrett, and Hansen walked out of the VIP room alongside Ward, each with the same tense expression.

---

Nearly two months later, Ward was sitting alone in a tech lab outfitted for his personal use. The members of PRIDE had come and gone. All of them had reaffirmed their desire to join him. And without the need for fear tactics this time around, which was a plus in Wards opinion.

Even the two that had refused were now willing to work with him. Of the two, Stein hadn't taken that much convincing. He was practically giddy at the chance of playing with some of the "toys" that A.I.M. had at their disposal. He completely forgot about being hogtied. It made the effort of having him come to the facility well worth it.

Mrs. Dean on the other hand… took a great deal more convincing. Fortunately, Ward understood that. He had Garrett send in some of the men they had placed in S.H.E.I.L.D. join the infiltration team sent to seize the "Crater", one of the Church of the Gibborim's "re-indoctrination facilities".

They were to extract one of the people being held there, alongside any technology that might be misused by S.H.I.E.L.D., or more accurately… those hidden amongst them. They had succeeded in both tasks. The tech was interesting, but ultimately unimportant, the person however, was of immediate importance to Ward's plans.

Susan Ellerh, wife to David Ellerh and mother of Mrs. Leslie Dean. She co-founded the Church of the Gibborim alongside her husband, only to be locked away when she became wary of Jonah who had taken an… "unhealthy interest" in her young daughter. Sickeningly enough, it was her own husband that locked her away. Once the man saw Jonah's powers, he wanted him to "get to know" his daughter.

'He allowed Jonah to groom his daughter…'

"Sick bastard."

Ward felt ill just thinking about it. How any man could call himself a father, while doing things like that, was something he had no desire to even attempt understanding. The worst part was that Mrs. Dean had no idea.

Her father's betrayal's, Jonah's manipulations, her mother's suffering… she didn't know about any of it. That was one of reasons he had Susan extracted, because it was the only way to change her perspective. Another was for his own piece of mind. Ward could never live with himself if such truths remained buried.

'Besides…'

'With Mrs. Dean having given birth to Jonah's daughter, she'll need real support.'

'The kind that only someone who loves you, can provide.'

That was the downside to revealing such truths, finding out you had been manipulated your whole life was difficult. Ward knew that better than most, but to birth the child of the one doing the manipulating… well, that was a breakdown waiting to happen.

Ward even used his powers to help Susan overcome the brainwashing she had been subjected to for years. It was a small thing on his part, but it proved to be necessary. Susan hadn't even been a person to her captors, not even being allowed to use her own name. Undergoing escalating sessions of phycological degradation. It eventually broke her.

'Fanatical fucks!'

One of the reasons that he steered clear of religion in his original life, had been because of stories like Susan's. Any ideology that could trick a person into believing something that wasn't based in fact, was inherently dangerous. And when the worst parts of human nature were added into the mix… how could it not end up as a recipe for abuse.

'At least all the members of PRIDE have joined me.'

'Some will bear watching, but I can worry over that later.'

Shaking his head, Ward turned his attention back to his current work. He was examining the book he'd obtained from PRIDE when he interrupted their "Rite of Blood". It was a black, leather-bound tome, known as the Abstract.

Inside, was the accumulated knowledge of the Gibborim as a species. Granted, it was it was thousands of years old… it was valuable knowledge nonetheless, especially for a world like Earth. After thorough examination using the "wave equation", as was done in the "Runaways", Ward had fully deciphered the text.

"Sigh."

'We truly are behind technologically.'

'Still, this will give humanity a fighting chance.'

Placing the book down, Ward looked at the other things that lined his lab. A mannequin wearing a strange black suit, a pair of sleek, silver gauntlets, and a luminescent-red cube surrounded by magical wards. His eyes settling upon the cube, Ward got up and walked towards it, a few words spilling from his lips.

"I still need to figure out what the 'Pandemonium Cube' was doing inside the 'Casket of Darkness'…"

"It was clearly controlling the 'All-Dark'… and it was after me… that was no accident."

Coming out of his musings, Ward sat back down at his desk. Looking at the date, he sighed while thinking about his family in this reality. He wanted to keep his powers a secret for a while longer, but it was looking to be impossible.

Something was about to happen, something that happened in his old world, a certain event that he wanted to prevent. To do so however, he would have to show himself to the world… and that meant that remaining hidden afterwards would be an impossibility.

'If only they had listened…'

Ward had tried warning various authorities about what was coming. He had tried tracking down those that would be responsible for it, but his warnings were ignored, and memory of the event was hazy, at best. Ward also suspected that there were people deliberately interfering with his warnings.

So, with his only real option being to threaten those that could act regarding such things, which would undeniably turn the world against him… not to mention divert attention away from the issue at hand, he chose to personally act. That meant that certain precautions needed to be taken. Sighing again, he took out his cell and dialed his brother's number.

"Christian… it's Ward."

"Listen… there's no easy way to say this, but… I'm about to do something a bit reckless."

"It might put you and our other siblings in danger, so I'm sending someone to pick the three of you up."

Hearing his brother begin to get upset, Ward quickly continued.

"I'm sorry Christian… this isn't the way I wanted this to play out, but people will die if I do nothing."

"I can only hope you'll understand afterwards."

Pausing for a moment, Ward spoke a set of words that he never thought he'd say to Christian.

"I love you."

Hanging up, Ward rose from his seat and walked over to the mannequin that was wearing a strange, black suit.

"Well… at least it doesn't have a cape."

Donning the suit… and the gauntlets, Ward walked out of the room, nodding to Garrett, who had been waiting for him outside the door. Together, they walked to the roof of the facility, where Killian, Hansen, and the members of PRIDE were waiting for them. Ward nodded to all of them.

"Thank you for coming, everyone."

"You each know what's about to happen, and what I intend to do about it."

"Time doesn't permit fanciful speeches… so, with that said… let's get done."

Finished speaking, Ward rose into the air and flew off at astounding speed… the date, was currently September 10, 2001.