Point of No Return

Initialize and Approval

Tony's chest was hot and itchy but compared to how it had been feeling a few hours prior he would take it! The surgery was a success and Tony was already in his lab.

"So whatcha think honey bear?" Tony asked his best friend as he typed away on the projected keyboard.

Now that he had extremis in his body and the Nanobots were ready, he was booting up the system. His excitement surprised him. He hadn't felt this good or excited about anything in a long while, so now he'd be waiting for the other shoe to drop. The universe liked to stay balanced, but hopefully it would take its time.

"What the hell are you planning for Tones?" Rhodey asked the genius concerned etched on his face.

"End of the world type shit. I'm sorry if I sound crazy but something is coming, I know it, and I want Earth to be ready, and that means creating a New Avengers team, one that can actually work together." Tony explained still distracted by the projections in front on him and typing codes.

"I trust you Tony, you know that right?" Rhodey asked tentatively he wheeled over to where Tony was sitting and rested his hand on Tony's shoulder "I also got your back"

Tony flinched remembering Clint's words from the RAFT.

"Thanks Platypus" Tony's voice cracked with emotions. Tony shook his head slightly pushing off the prickle of tears. Later he could cry, right now he had work to do.

"So what's the game plan?" Rhodes asked.

Tony smiled at his best friend.

"Well first, now that I have the roster of candidates that I think will suffice I need to go meet with the UN And brief them on my plan, and then from what I'm seeing, Secretary Ross has officially gone off the deep end, especially since the Rogues have escaped him, I am thinking I might need to initiate KTS and retrieve Laura Barton and her kids, along with getting a hold of Hope Van Dyne, oh that conversation is going to be fun, to get Cassie, her mother and stepfather to safety." Tony explained, "Once I explain everything to the UN my hope is all the puzzle pieces I have prepared will fall into place, but knowing my luck there will be few bumps in the road"

Rhodey whistled, "Geez Tony, you just had a massive surgery maybe you should take a week or so"

"No can do platypus, first of all that what extremis is for, it gives me and amazing healing factor almost as good as Wolverines or Deadpool. Second I cannot wait because the UN needs direction, they need help getting traction and finding the correct path to take. And third the Older Ross is searching for the Rogues' family's and I need to stop him." Tony rambled

"Fine, fine I get it. But I get to help with the recruiting right?" Rhodey sounded hopeful

"Platypus, I wouldn't have it any other way"

*******

Tony's fingers hovered over the keyboard. This was it. All his planning, all the calculations came down to this.

Rhodey had left for physical therapy leaving Tony relatively alone. Since Vision had started taking some college courses, and everyone else in the vicinity were pre-occupied.

Tony pulled his hands away and rested his elbows on the table surface. Putting his face in his hands.

"This will work" He whispered to himself

"Boss, I've quadruple checked everything" FRIDAY spoke "and I am here if something were to happen, but don't doubt your calculations. We both know you got this"

"Thanks Baby Girl" Tony smiled and moved his had back over the keyboard, hey typed I the last bit of the code sequence and pressed 'Initialize'

Everything got warm, not hot thankfully. It was a warm sensation that covered him. "Whoa" Tony exhaled breathily at the sensation