Homelander: New Legacy

Roger had assumed that since Andrea had been a Sorcerer Supreme, her laboratory would be filled with magical artifacts.

In reality, the lab primarily contained technological devices, reflecting Andrea's early affinity with technology and her close relationship with Tony Stark. Most of the items stored here were Andrea's research outcomes, blending magic and technology.

At the center of the lab stood Andrea's crowning achievement, a suit of armor.

Crafted from vibranium, enhanced with magical materials and runes, it was a marvel of dual technological and magical protection. This armor had been Andrea's go-to equipment before becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.

And now... the armor belonged to Roger.

Though the armor appeared tailored for a woman, it had the ability to adapt its appearance. Once Roger bonded with it, the suit would automatically adjust to fit his body and alter its design and colors based on his preferences.

Moreover, it had none of the inconvenience of being cumbersome to carry. Andrea had paired it with another of her creations: a spatial bracelet.

This bracelet opened a magical pocket dimension linked to it, creating a stable, portable storage space. While the concept seemed simple, the creation process was anything but. 

Across Marvel's magical systems, portable spatial items were rare, with even the likes of the Ancient One and Doctor Strange never demonstrating such tools.

Roger wasn't sure if this was due to disdain for such items or limitations within Marvel's magical framework, but spatial bracelets were exceedingly rare. Andrea had poured considerable effort into crafting this one.

And now... the bracelet was his.

"Turns out, every good multiversal traveler needs a spatial bracelet," Roger muttered, marveling at the device.

In countless novels he had read, protagonists often had some form of spatial gear. While Roger didn't see himself as a protagonist, life without such a device had indeed been inconvenient. Many items he wanted to take with him, like gaming consoles, were simply impossible to carry before.

Now equipped with the spatial bracelet, Roger could bring along a tablet loaded with movies and anime, as well as game consoles. Even if he ended up in a barren world, he wouldn't have to worry about boredom.

"You said something similar once."

As Roger admired the bracelet, Athena spoke up, startling him.

It took Roger a moment to realize that Athena was referring to Andrea. Due to Andrea's contingency programming, Athena had come to equate Roger with her, making such comments unsurprising.

"Did Andrea... say that too?" Roger asked.

Athena, unfazed, replied, "Yes. It was for that exact reason that you created the spatial device."

"Well, I guess multiverse travelers tend to think alike."

Roger chuckled, reflecting on how he and this mysterious predecessor seemed to share similar priorities. It was a shame he hadn't crossed paths with her earlier; they likely would've had much to talk about.

"Wait a second..." Roger frowned as a realization struck him. "If Andrea had a spatial bracelet to store everything, why did she leave all of you here?"

His question left Athena silent for a long moment. It seemed as though she was processing something, but eventually, she replied:

"Insufficient data to provide an answer. Relevant information appears to be missing, likely erased through a deliberate backdoor in the system."

"...It wasn't me; it was Andrea," Roger clarified. "Athena, remember this: I am me, and Andrea is Andrea. We're completely different individuals. Don't refer to us as the same person."

"Understood. Information updated."

With Athena's terminology corrected, Roger returned to his musings. Andrea had the capability to take everything with her, yet she left the lab and its contents behind, almost as if... she intended for someone specific to find them.

Considering the clues Andrea had left at the Celestial burial ground, Roger couldn't help but wonder if all this had been meant for him.

But why? Why him?

The room fell into a contemplative silence as Roger tried to piece together Andrea's motives. After a while, Athena broke the quiet.

"Roger, should I prepare everything in the lab for removal?"

"Is that possible?" Roger asked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Aren't you integrated into the lab? Wouldn't I need to move your servers as well?"

"No need," Athena replied. "I am a fusion of technology and magic. All of my data and processing capabilities are stored here."

As she spoke, a small cylindrical pedestal extended from the floor in front of Roger. A smooth, glowing white orb floated above it, suspended by magnetic forces.

"This is my core," Athena continued. "You only need to store it in the spatial bracelet, and I can link to any of your electronic devices through the bracelet."

"Well, that's convenient."

Roger picked up the orb and, following the bracelet's instructions, stored Athena's core within it.

The fusion of magic and technology struck Roger as ingenious. It was clear Andrea had been ahead of her time, and now Roger had a Jarvis-like AI companion to aid him.

After packing up most of the lab's contents, leaving only the teleportation device and its energy system, Roger felt no guilt about dismantling the place. At first, he had hesitated, wondering if taking everything was the right thing to do. 

But the thought that Andrea had likely left it all for him erased any moral qualms. After all, the lab's security ensured no one else could access its treasures.

It took about twenty minutes for Roger to dismantle and pack away nearly everything. What had once been a cutting-edge laboratory blending magic and technology now looked like an empty shell, with only the teleportation device remaining.

If Andrea were alive to see Roger gutting her lab like this, she might have smacked him into oblivion.

But Alas, she wasn't here.

As if on cue, Roger's communicator buzzed with a call from Nebula.

"Are you done yet? Earthlings have noticed us."

"...Huh?" Roger froze, his newfound joy over the equipment momentarily forgotten. He had completely neglected Nebula and the Guardians of the Galaxy, leaving them hovering outside Earth's atmosphere without informing Nick Fury or anyone else.

Slapping his forehead, Roger quickly exited the lab and responded:

"Don't panic! Tell Star-Lord and the others not to make any sudden moves. If Earth's forces approach, just drop my name, they'll know who I am!"

Roger worried about the possibility of Nebula and the Guardians clashing with the Avengers. After all, Nebula wasn't exactly a Paragon of Virtue, and the Guardians were still a ragtag group of misfits freshly formed out of Star-Lord's separation from the Ravagers. Each member had their own... unique issues.

The likelihood of a misunderstanding escalating into a full-blown skirmish wasn't small.

To prevent such a scenario, Roger launched himself skyward at top speed, heading toward the Guardians' ship.

Mid-flight, however, he was intercepted by two armored figures.

One wore the familiar red-and-gold armor of Iron Man; the other was clad in a silver suit, War Machine.

"Hey, Superman," Tony Stark called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Care to explain why you returned to Earth unannounced... and why you've been sneaking out of my property?"

Both Tony and Rhodey had their weapons trained on Roger, their hostility evident.

Their wariness stemmed not just from Roger's unannounced arrival but also the two alien ships hovering outside Earth's atmosphere. If not for Nick Fury vouching for Roger's character, Tony and Rhodey's approach might have been far less restrained.

Understanding the tension his actions had caused, Roger didn't take offense. Instead, he smiled and said:

"Because I found something interesting. Tony, do you remember Andrea?"

"…You've found a lead on her?" Tony's expression shifted, the hostility replaced by curiosity.

"Not just a lead. Something big," Roger replied. "Want to hear about it?"

Roger knew Tony had always been curious about Andrea's disappearance. And he couldn't help but wonder, how would Tony react when he learned Andrea might have been his long-lost sister?

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