[ EU ] Howard Stark puts his son Tony on a spaceship which escapes the end of the Earth to Krypton . The red sun of their universe gives him powers his adoptive parents and brother , the Els , have not seen before .

“ *Mr. Stark, I am registering an exterior temperature increase of sixty point two-* “ 
 
 “ *Can it, Mistress. I know. How much time do we have? * ” 
 
 “ *Approximately nine minutes*, ” Mistress responded in her dull monotone. Howard never did finish upgrading her new vocal package. Not that it would matter at this point. 
 
 Maria rushed into the sub-basement, carrying Anthony in her arms. He was swaddled in the blanket they ’ d chosen while on vacation in Rome. The sky blue affair was riddled with childish pictograms of rockets, planes, and stars. 
 
 “ *Mr. Stark, the calculations for the flight are not yet complete. I ’ ve measured the odds of Anthony ’ s survival at no more than nine point eight percent*, ” Mistress pressed. 
 
 “ *Noted*, ” Howard sniped back. He took Anthony and stepped into a construction platform that surrounded the tip of his latest invention. The Saturn VI was much smaller than its predecessor, thanks to an innovation he made in the rocket motor. The Department of Defense would never see what they spent billions on, and there was no use in letting good tech go to waste. Especially not now. 
 
 He had spent the past forty-eight hours jury-rigging a capsule with life support, one that he would now trust with his infant son ’ s life. Maria bawled as he placed Anthony inside, securing him and running one last check on the computer ’ s cryogenic functions. She leaned inside the tiny capsule, giving their son one last kiss on the forehead. She placed a picture of the three of them in a small compartment, along with his birth certificate and a note that she and Howard had written. 
 
 Howard shut the door, pressurized air hissing at him. Anthony looked so peaceful behind the small glass porthole, which quickly frosted over. Within moments, his baby boy had stopped squirming. 
 
 They both stepped back off the platform, which Mistress had begun to move back as the launch sequence came to a close. Far above, the top of the missile silo opened, a blast of scorching air entering the small chamber. 
 
 “ *Mr. and Mrs. Stark, please find shelter immediately*. ” 
 
 “ *Suspend voice protocol*, ” Howard ordered. He looked down at his wife, who was a good foot shorter than he. Her mascara was running, and the heat had ruined her hair. He kissed her for a long moment. 
 
 “ *Will it be quick? * ” she asked between sobs. 
 He nodded, trying and failing to give his signature smirk. “ *That motor*, ” he gestured to the scaffolding below, “ *pulses so quickly that we won ’ t even feel it*. ” 
 
 He moved his hand down her blouse, stopping between her breasts. 
 
 “ *The vibrations will stop your heart before you even know it*, ” he said, his lip quivering and voice cracking. 
 
 “ *Howie…*, ” she cried as she leaned into his chest. He shut his eyes, cradling his wife. 
 
 Far below, the countdown ended, sparks flying to ignite excess fuel. Seconds later, the main engines ignited. Howard and Maria Stark disappeared in an inferno of light and sound as the Saturn VI roared skyward. 
 
 **THREE THOUSAND YEARS LATER** 
 
 
 “ *None of us have seen anything like what this…immigrant*, ” Rozan gestured to Tony, “ *can do. * ” 
 
 “ *My son is not a threat*, ” Jor-El exclaimed, slamming his fist the stone table. 
 
 “ *With all due respect, he is not your son*, ” Tyr-Us said. 
 
 “ *I have clothed him, fed him, and raised him to be a productive member of Kryptonian society. There is not much more to ask of him, or of me*, ” Jor-El said. 
 
 “ *He can construct and deconstruct matter with his mind*! ” Rozan yelled, losing his temper. “ *Look me in the eyes and tell me that his ability is not a threat! * ” 
 
 Jor-El sighed, leaning back in his chair. This was their sixth meeting regarding Tony in as many years. He had expected Razon to act more rationally, with a mindset expected of the Council Head. But he had always approached Tony with cold indifference, and what Jor-El suspected was fear. 
 
 Razon suddenly fell backwards, sprawling across the chamber floor. His headpiece clattered to the ground. The assistants quickly rushed in and helped him to his feet, his face red with embarrassment and indignation. 
 
 “ *That boy! * ” he shouted, pointing at Tony, who was trying his best to keep from snickering. Jor-El peered closer, and found that one of the chair legs had disintegrated into dust. He walked over to Tony and yanked him up by his arm, leading him out of the council chamber. 
 
 “ *Irritating the most powerful man on the planet doesn ’ t help your case, son*, ” Jor-El hissed as they exited the building. Kal, who had been waiting on the steps, noticed them and joined his father and brother ’ s hurried egress. 
 
 “ *Is Tony going to jail? * ” Kal asked, jabbing his brother in the side. Tony punched Kal in the arm, forgetting his strength. Kal went flying. He got up, giggling and returning the favor. Jor-El watched as their brotherly escapade continued into the air, smiling and shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 Boys will be boys. 

