A Dream Realized, Drowned in Ideals

"Ready, everyone?"

"Since it hasn't been calibrated, the jump might be a little bumpy."

In Earth's outer space, Nebula sat in the pilot's seat, buckled her seat belt, rested a hand on the flight controls, and turned to ask the Avengers beside and behind her.

"Say, isn't this a little too hasty?" Rhodes, seated in the back, raised a hand and complained. "Blue girl, shouldn't you and this little raccoon be a bit more thorough?"

"Warmonger, you should have more faith in me. I'm way smarter than Tony, that guy. = =" Rocket Raccoon shot back from the co-pilot's seat.

Then he asked, "Anyone who's never been to space, raise your hand. Don't puke all over my ship. = ="

Natasha, Steve, and Rhodes, whose hand was still raised, silently lifted their hands.

"What do you mean, your ship? Tony funded this aircraft—"

"I'm the captain, so I make the rules. Otherwise, you wanna fly it?"

"..."

Rocket's single sentence left Rhodes, who had never ridden a spaceship before, speechless. He had no desire to become space debris.

Steve watched Rhodes, who loved to complain, bicker with Rocket, who loved talking trash, the entire time. He shook his head slightly with a helpless smile, then turned to Tony beside him, who was still breathing oxygen.

"Tony, your body hasn't recovered yet. Is it really okay for you to come with us?"

"Steve, if I don't see you chop that purple potato bastard's head off with my own eyes, I won't rest even in death. Besides, I have this."

Tony pointed to the Arc Reactor glowing blue in his chest. With a sufficient supply of nanomaterials, the Iron Man armor could support his movements and protect him to the fullest extent—as long as he did not deliberately get himself killed by