Johnny Arrived

Kino had once seen fan-made concept art for Avengers: Endgame.

In the picture, Pepper was pregnant, but Iron Man appeared before her only as a holographic AI. She would never see Tony again. All she had for comfort was a hologram of him to talk to...

For anyone unfamiliar with Marvel Comics, the image might not have meant much. For fans who knew the comics, though, it hit hard...

In the comics, Iron Man converted his brain into code and uploaded it to an AI, appearing afterward as a hologram.

It held all of Iron Man's thoughts, but it was no longer Iron Man himself. The real man had already...

The Avengers: Endgame trailer also showed Tony alone aboard a spacecraft, drifting through the endless reaches of space. He had even used that same helmet to leave Pepper a message.

"Pepper.

"When you hear this recording, don't be too sad.

"Death is part of life, too.

"To be honest, I'm drifting through space with no hope of rescue. It's more interesting than it sounds. The food and water ran out four days ago, and the oxygen will be gone tomorrow morning. Then it's over.

"When I go, I'll dream of you. It's always been you."

Back in Avengers: Infinity War, Tony had dreamed that Pepper was pregnant, but she had said she wasn't.

Which made the whole thing a little... hmm...

How had Pepper gotten pregnant?

Tony was gone.

(⊙o⊙)... Was someone else about to make him a father?

If so, Tony had it rough. And that fan's concept art was downright cruel.

That was why the sight of Tony now had stirred those feelings in Kino.

The group discussed their plans while waiting for the rest of their forces to arrive.

Professor X's arrival was uneventful.

Professor X, Psylocke,