Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been five years since the incident with Diagon, Vilgax, Sir George, and the war between the Forever Knights and the Esoterica. At the time, Ben had proven his development into a proper young adult. As a sign of approval, Azmuth had gifted Ben with a brand new Omnitrix. The Ultimatix was, in Azmuth's word's, "an inferior copy." Instead of a gauntlet, the new Omnitrix was back to a wristwatch. Its faceplate was now square instead of round and had a white and green color scheme. The faceplate was black with two green stripes forming an outline for the hourglass of the intergalactic peace symbol. When the faceplate slid back, the Omnitrix revealed the core. Ben was ecstatic that Azmuth trusted him with the final product. This was a new dawn in his hero career.

Five years have passed since that day. Ben continued to fulfill all of his social roles as a family member, friend, and boyfriend. The cousins graduated from their respective high schools thanks to a mutual understanding of the duo's responsibilities. Max made sure that Ben and Gwen were only brought in only when necessary, and both of their parents made sure that they were not skipping out on schoolwork. The parents knew they were heroes, but they didn't want them to be high school dropouts. Gwen graduated with honors, and Ben graduated within the top twenty. Soon after, they went to different colleges. Ben wanted to continue hero work, but he promised his parents that he would make it into his full career after graduating from college. He attended a local university to at least get his Criminal Justice degree. Gwen, on the other hand, fulfilled her childhood goal of attending an Ivy League school. Friedkin University was where Gwen studies the mystic arts. It was located east of Bellwood, and it was the best Ivy League college among all the colleges around Bellwood. Given the fact that Ben 10,000 was able to perform some magic, Ben had asked Gwen to help him in that area.

Ben had also spent the last five years doing some part-time Plumber work with his new partner Rook during breaks. After many exciting adventures, he unlocked new aliens and sharpened his combat and mental skills at the Plumber Academy. In honor of Ben's eighteenth birthday, Azmuth gave a software update to his Omnitrix. This added new features and improved old ones. Initially, Azmuth believed that the evolutionary function that Albedo previously developed was asking for trouble. Then again, he made a sword and a watch that could allow a being to conquer galaxies. In the end, it all comes down to how power was used and how stable the power is. Azmuth was well-regarded as the smartest being in the universe. He was often referred to by his Galvan peers as the "First Thinker." Along with his intelligence, Azmuth was gifted with years of experience and knowledge. It was evident that if anyone could improve the evolutionary function, it would be Azmuth, and he did.

One of the initial problems of the evolutionary function was the lack of safeguards in the evolutionary process. Previously, the ultimate forms in the Omnitrix became unstable and conscious, and they tried to escape while possibly trying to kill Ben in the process. Another problem was the issue of a stable mental state. The evolution feature worked by placing the selected species in a simulation, right down to the DNA, for an extended period, about a million years or so, in what was described as a "worst-case scenario"; the actual DNA was then modified to match the new DNA. This survival of the fittest routine explains why the evolutions are more combat-centered than their standard forms. One would assume that a species spending a million years in 'hell' could cause possible mental problems. The new safeguards Azmuth placed in would slow the development of evolved DNA. Each genome would be analyzed to meet Azmuth's requirements before the form would be allowed for use.

Earth had changed a lot in the last several years. Things had finally calmed down not only on Earth but throughout most of the universe. The Plumbers, an intergalactic police force dedicated to preserving peace throughout the cosmos, had been granted powerful new technologies developed by the Galvan.

New weapons, new armor; basically, everything they needed to combat threats that previously required the aid of Ben and his team. Azmuth made sure to regulate the level of technology that was distributed in the organization; in fact, he was made the leader of research and development. The Plumbers would be well equipped to handle low to mid-level threats, but the Tennyson family would be on call whenever extreme danger arrived, which was not often.

Ben was mature enough to know this change was a good thing. There was peace, crime was down, and life was good. But still, there was a part of him that missed turning into an alien every day and fighting some criminal or giant monster. He didn't do any of his heroics for the fame; or at least, not anymore he didn't. He enjoys the feeling of helping others. Ben even got back into soccer along with other hobbies.

With the new-found peace, Ben was better able to strengthen his social bonds. He kept close ties with his best friend Kevin and his family. His relationship with Julie Yamamoto only strengthened thanks to the peace. They were finally able to spend quality time together without the worry of danger. Both of them attended university together. Ben and Julie moved in together in an apartment not far from campus. Luckily, they were still able to keep Ship as their pet. Julie continued to pursue a career as a professional tennis player, and Ben fully supported her. He did anything he could to keep her happy. After the situation with Esoterica, Ben knew that he had to be more supportive, considerate, and understanding. They shared a very loving and intimate relationship. All in all, life was good.

Five years after Diagon

Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour Finals

Ben, Kevin, Gwen, Ship, and Zed are currently spectating Julie in the last match of the tournament. Ship was lying on Ben's lap while Zed was curled up against Kevin's leg. Winning this tournament would be a big step in Julie's career. The final match was between Julie Yamamoto and Donna Vekic. So far, the first two sets have led to a tie, and the score had Julie at an advantage. To win the match, Julie had to score one more point.

"The game is cutting close. Do you think Julie can win Ben?" asked Gwen.

"She's been practicing for months. I know she can do this. I have faith in her." His eyes were full of confidence toward Julie.

"Ship, Ship," Ship 'said.'

"That's nice to hear coming from you Tennyson," commented Kevin.

"I'm not the same guy as before, and today is gonna be a big milestone for us." Ben kept watching the match.

"I know. It's so sweet that you guys have been together for four years today," added Gwen.

"I have you to thank for all this, Gwen. You made this all possible when you helped me ask her out to the pier."

"Which you ended up wrecking," remarked Kevin.

"Ship…" Ship 'said' in a much lower and embarrassed tone.

Ben cringed at that memory of the date, sighed, and smiled. "I'll be honest. It could have gone better, but it all worked out in the end. An alien was saved, we met Ship, and Julie and I walked home safe and sound." He began to stroke Ship's head as Ship purred.

"Even though walking a few miles home isn't the most romantic, it did let you two get closer. I saw you two walk past my house holding hands," replied Gwen with a slightly teasing smile.

Ben blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I remember that. When I escorted her to her house, her dad gave me a menacing glare for bringing her home the next morning. I ended up getting interrogated to find out what exactly happened. Luckily, Julie was there to confirm my lie that the car broke down, and we got lost. He was suspicious, but in the end, all he cared about was that Julie was safe. When I got home, I ended up having an awkward conversation about my innocence, 'feelings' with girls, and safety." He let out a sigh on that memory.

Kevin tried to hold in his laugh until Gwen elbowed her boyfriend to get him to stop, and she pointed toward the court.

It was Julie's turn to serve, and Donna was on the other side in a ready stance. Julie bounced the tennis ball twice, threw the ball up, and swung an overhand serve. The ball soared to the other side as Donna made her move. The ball bounced once, and just as it was going to make its second bounce, Donna stretched her racket arm in time to underhand swing the ball back to Julie's court. The awkward body movement made her stumble a bit. Julie was prepared for that, and she quickly knocked the ball to the opposite end of the court. It landed just before the line, and Donna couldn't make it in time, scoring the winning point for Julie.

"The tournament is over, and we have a winner! A first-time winner, Julie Yamamoto. Congratulations on your victory!" yelled the announcer.

Julie walked toward Donna and shook her hand. "Good game."

Donna took a deep breath. "You too." She gave a congratulatory hug.

Julie beamed a smile toward the crowd, taking in her hard-earned victory. The announcer walked up to Julie. "Julie, you are now the new WTA champion. What do you have to say to everyone out there."

"I want to thank all of my friends and family. I especially want to thank my boyfriend of four years, Ben Tennyson. He supported me in my dream. Meeting him is one of the best moments of my life. I love you."

Ben jumped from the stands and ran to his girlfriend and the announcer. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her tender lips. They both had a blush, but Ben continued. "I love you too, Julie. Congratulations on winning. I knew you could do it."

"You were with me every step of the way. I could always count on you."

"Thanks, but there's something important that I have to ask you."

"Anything, Ben."

The announcer stepped off to the side while still maintaining the camera view and audio of the conversation.

Ben got down on one knee.

Julie, Gwen, the announcer, and all the women in the crowd covered their mouths in expectation.

"The life of a superhero is filled with danger, adventure, and excitement; however, I want to spend every moment of it with you by my side." He proceeds to pull out a small black box from his back pocket. He holds it in one hand and opens it with the other, revealing a gold ring with a sizeable taydenite gem in the center. "Will you marry me?"

The crowd swooned at the proposal.

"Oh my god!" Julie immediately broke into tears of joy at what was happening to her.

Gwen was jumping up and down squealing in excitement while latching onto Kevin.

The announcer turned to the camera "We have it here first folks. The hero of Earth, Ben 10, has officially proposed to his longtime girlfriend."

'While I'm happy for you bro, you raised Gwen's expectations for me." He gave his best friend a big smile with a small sweatdrop.

"Ben! I can't believe this is happening!" exclaimed Julie with such enthusiasm and excitement.

"The world is waiting for your answer, Julie," stated the announcer.

She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves. She opens her mouth, and just as she was about to give the obvious answer,

BTOOOM, a massive explosion occurred in the background.

While all of the civilians screamed in shock at the development, Ben had a different reaction.

Ben groaned in irritation and anger. "Why! Why! Why! Why now! Can't the universe see that I'm busy here!" He screamed into the sky. He sighed and looked at his love. "I'll be right back for your answer, honey. I want this moment to be free of any more distractions." He turned toward the cameraman. "Keep the camera rolling, this would make an interesting family video in the future."

Julie blushed at what that statement implied. The thought of them together at home with a young baby sleeping her arms caused her to go completely red.

"Gwen, Kevin, I'll meet you there!" The two and Zed ran toward the site. The faceplate of the Omnitrix opened, and Ben began scrolling through his aliens. He found the right one. "It's hero time!" He slammed down on the core, instantly transforming him in a flash of emerald green light. What replaced him was a blue-skinned, green-eyed, semi-armored Velociraptor wearing a helmet that was black, long, elliptical, and pointed at the top. The creature had black wheels on his feet, five blue stripes on his tail, arms that ended in three-fingered hands, black lips, black facial markings, black rings around their eyes, and had the Omnitrix symbol on its chest. "XLR8!"

He looked at the camera. "Gotta go fast!" He proceeded to run to the battle. 'Always wanted to say that.'

Downtown Bellwood

XLR8 finally reached the area which turned out to be the Plumber outpost downtown. Gwen, Kevin, and Zed were currently assisting civilians outside of the danger zone. He zipped toward Gwen and Kevin and asked, "What's the current situation?"

Gwen turned to him and replied. "The civilians have all been moved, but the intruder is still inside."

XLR8 acknowledged. "Kevin and I will take point while you take our six and give support." Both nodded, and the trio headed toward the outpost entrance. Ben pressed his Omnitrix symbol and released another burst of emerald light. XLR8 was replaced with a humanoid crystalline-rock being wearing a green and black jumpsuit with an Omnitrix belt buckle.

"Diamondhead. Not holding back, huh." Diamondhead was one of the first aliens that Ben transformed into, and the form had become one of his favorites.

With a hint of anger and annoyance, he gave a devilish grin. "Whoever interrupted my marriage proposal is so going to pay for that." 'The world can interrupt my first date. It can ruin prom night. It can even crash my high school graduation. But interrupting a milestone in my life such as this crosses the line.' "You guys ready?"

Gwen placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We're a family Ben. We stick together, no matter what."

"Consider this your early wedding gift from us." Kevin received another blow to his side.

"Don't worry, Ben. After this is all over, I'll be picking out the present. Kevin will just be paying for it. Isn't that right babe?" Gwen gleamed a look to her boyfriend for approval. Kevin was such a softie for Gwen that even if he were in charge of the relationship, Gwen would tell him when to put it on. Kevin nodded nervously.

'There's nothing worse than a woman scorned, especially if she's an Anodite.' Kevin remembered the time when he almost forgot their anniversary. Luckily, Ben was able to distract her long enough for Kevin to prepare everything. Kevin shook his head of these thoughts as he genuinely loved Gwen, and he would go through a lot to be with her, even the fallout from his mistakes.

"Thanks. You guys are the best. Let's move out."

"Zed, stay. We'll take it from here," ordered Kevin.

"Bark."

Plumber Outpost

The hallways to the facility were significantly dimmed. "Whoever broke in cut off all the power except the auxiliary." Gwen proceeded to raise the palm of her hand, creating three purple glowing orbs of mana. She had the spheres lead the way about 10 feet ahead.

Kevin gave his thoughts on the situation. "If I remember correctly, the only systems that should be on right now are emergency lighting, life support, and high-level security. Many of the Plumbers stationed here escaped with minor to moderate injuries. The baddy is hostile. Does anyone know what this section housed? It might give us a clue on who we're dealing with." The other two shrugged as both had no clue. Most of the time, they had to deal with off-planet issues. It was more comfortable to allow the Earth Plumbers to manage the local stations. The group came across a computer terminal in what appeared to be the receptionist area. Kevin logged in with his Plumber authorization. "From the looks of it, this facility was in charge of storing confiscated items until disposal transport."

"I have a bad feeling that today is going to be one of those days," resigned Gwen.

Ben let out a sigh. "Great just what I need. Even more drama with the possibility of big explosions."

5 Minutes Later

They heard a loud crash, and Diamondhead's hulking crystal figure speed up to the sound, with Gwen and Kevin following. Diamondhead reached a level 8 security door with a giant hole cut out. Alarms were going off signaling said break-in. He whistled at the sight. Gwen and Kevin caught up and gave a similar response.

Kevin stepped forward and examined the metal door. "It's coltan. Whoever did this was able to heat this to the melting point at about 3000 degrees Celsius."

Diamondhead replied."We're getting close. Keep an eye out." After they went through the hole in the security door, they saw that the walls lined with security boxes. "Wow. Look at all this. These must have been here for years."

Kevin explained. "Due to the amount of paperwork, Plumbers tend to keep them in storage for much longer than intended."

Gwen stopped. "Wait. Do you hear that?"

"Yeah. It's this way!" Kevin exclaimed as he ran toward the source.

BTOOOM

A door flew off of its hinges, revealing a helmeted figure in a black cloak with purple lining.

"Well, if it isn't the pest, himself: Ben Tennyson and company. What an unpleasant surprise."

"Yeah, and it's all cinnamon and spice for us seeing you, Eon," stated Diamondhead sarcastically.

"What are you even doing here?" Gwen demanded.

"Uh... isn't he stealing confiscated alien tech?" Kevin whispered to his girlfriend. Gwen sweatdropped as the answer to her question was pretty obvious.

In an attempt to salvage herself, she whispered, "It was a rhetorical question."

"What could you possibly want from here anyway?" Diamondhead cut in.

"Ah, but telling you would be too easy. As people say, it's for me to know and for you to find out. Now it's time that I get going." Eon reached into his pocket, grabbed a remote, and pressed a button. "Why don't I introduce you to my entourage while I continue with without you people in the way?" Eon stepped aside, revealing approaching figures. As they left the shadows, it was clear who the enemies were: Techadon robots. "These five have been custom made to hold you off. Ta ta." The Techadons jumped and landed in front of the team.

The Alien Force took their battle stances, and Ben looked towards the retreating figure and said, "Once we finish these tin cans, I'll be coming after you."

"Yes. Yes. Whatever you say. I have much work to do" Eon ran off into the shadows.

"Let's get this over with." Kevin absorbed the steel from a support beam, and Gwen charged up her hands.

The room turned into an all-out brawl. It didn't take long for the trio to breakthrough several walls to bring the fight outside.

Diamond held off the machine and glanced at the others. Gwen and Kevin were doing well holding off one Techadon each, but the two extras were pushing them back. "Looks like we're gonna have to even the odds." Diamondhead punched the machine straight at the chest, pushing it back about 20 feet. Diamond pressed the Omnitrix symbol on his cheek, and he was once again engulfed in emerald light. When the light show ended, a small white humanoid stood. One of his most noticeable features was a square appendage resembling an MP3 player behind his back with a port on it. The alien appeared to have cassette tapes on his lower legs. He wore a pair of headphones around his head, and he had green circle-shaped indents on the back of his hands. The inside of his mouth was green with lines that give it the appearance of an amplifier. "ECHO ECHO!" His voice sounded high-pitched and electronic.

He immediately split into three copies. "Help them."

"Got it." The two ran off.

Echo Echo faced the staggering robot and glared. "Wall…." He split into three copies. "of…" The three turned into nine. "Sound!" All nine copies reverberated the last word in sync of one another. The sound waves amplified each other into a single devastating blow through constructive interference. The Techadon was still standing, but it was sparking in places. 'Thank you, physics.' Echo Echo thought.

Meanwhile

"Lay off the family, rust buckets!" The two Echo Echos attracted the attention of the two extra Techadons. The two Echo Echos nodded at each other and stood at opposite sides of the robots. "Echo Chamber!" In a flash, the two robots were surrounded by copies, bearing down the force of multiple amplified sonic attacks and sparking like the others.

Suddenly, the Techadons grabbed Gwen and Kevin and pinned them down. The remaining three grabbed onto the Echos. "Ben!"

"Hey, let us go you oversized action figures!" They yelled in unison.

"Yes. Thank you for the distraction, my minions. I have finally completed the device."

"What's it going to do? Destroy me? Just like every other time, someone tried that on me?" Echo Echo said sarcastically.

"As much as I would love to destroy you, I believe that I have found a much better solution to prevent your further hindrance." A machine with a large ring was wheeled into view. "Through my many travels, I had seen many alternate timelines when I battled the Tennysons and the Omnitrix." His eye made a glance at Gwen before turning his attention back to Ben

Echo Echo didn't know why he used his family name, so he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. "So? That means I'll always be there to kick your butt one way or another." He replied in a mocking tone.

"That's where you're wrong. I know that I can't kill you." He looked at the Omnitrix symbol remembering the Omniverse timeline. Echo Echo gave a confused look. "Since I can't do that, I'll just have to move you." Eon pressed a button on his wrist, and the device lit up and activated. Inside the ring was a distortion of colors. "It brings me great pleasure that I have the opportunity to cast you out, forever lost within the expanding multiverse."

"What!?" Gwen and Kevin called out.

"How is that even possible for you? I thought you could only move through time." Gwen still struggling to get free.

"Ah. Yes. I still haven't gotten to that part yet." He turned back to Ben and asked, "Do you remember that interview you had a few years ago?"

Echo Echo thought back and remembered. He hoped he wasn't right. "Yes," said the alien, reluctantly.

"You disappeared on national television, so it was obvious for me to find out about your...predicament."

"What did you do?!" Echo Echo shouted. Ben knew Eon was referring to the time he went into Rex's Earth, but what happened while he was gone.

"While you were on the other side of that thing doing who knows what, I decided to do a little digging. That little light show that appeared was an event horizon. The energy particles were able to tear through the boundaries of the multiverse. I tried to close the anomaly before you could return to no avail. That was when I realized that this was my opportunity to get rid of you. I just needed to bide my time to get the necessary equipment and set the trap."

The three Echo Echos struggled to get free from the robotic grips, but their small form didn't give them the necessary strength. "Don't make me do something I might regret Eon. Surrender now and maybe I won't punch you in the face."

Eon scoffed. "A tempting offer, but I must get started." He turned around to run some diagnostic checks.

The three Echo Echos looked at each other and nodded. 3...2...1

SCHREEEEEEECH

Each Echo aimed at a different target. Two aimed at the two Techadons holding down Gwen and Kevin, and One was aimed right at Eon and the control panel.

"AAAAAHHHHHHH" Eon yelled in pain. He needed to get out of range, so he jumped away to safety as the console began to spark and the machine shutting down.

Gwen and Kevin were able to break free from the Techadon's holds, and they proceeded to bash their helmets.

The three Echo Echos tried to blast sound waves at their captors, but they were able to shut him up. How? They shoved their fists into his mouths. Gross.

With Ben incapacitated and Gwen and Kevin still distracted, Eon needed to act fast. He ran to the console and pulled the manual override activating the machine once again. "I need you gone now!" The device powered on, but something was off. It was too unstable, and it began to pull in the surroundings. "Goodbye, Ben. I'll see you never." In an instant, Eon jumped out of the current timeline.

This was bad. The Techadons were still holding onto Ben, and he needed to get out. He never tried this move before, but now was a good time as any. The three Echo Echos closed their eyes and focused. Suddenly all three exploded into multiple clones, causing the robots to lose their grip.

The multiple clones unleashed multiple sonic attacks shattering the three robots to scrap. What the clones didn't know was that the pull of the machine was getting stronger. The Echos tried to run for it, but the pull was too strong. Some recombined, and then they became a line of 5 clones each hanging on to the other with one hanging onto a nearby railing.

"Somebody, stop this crazy thing!" all five of them screamed in sync. The duplicates couldn't focus enough to recombine.

"I'm slipping!" yelled the one in the far end.

"Just hold on a little longer" the one-fourth in line yelled back.

Number five looked ahead to the struggling Echo slowly losing his grip on the railing. He looked back to copy number 4 "At least one of us needs to survive this and get married, we need to let go."

"Are you crazy? We can't do that. We don't know what's on the other side."

"We can't wait for the others any longer, and the pull is getting stronger."

"I don't want Julie to be a widow before she even gets married. I know I'm going to regret this but fine. The original is the priority."

"Follow my lead." Both clones let go allowing the leading Echo to reaffirm his grip. The two flew through the air toward the hole. Five gave a hard look at 4, and they both nodded. Both opened their mouths and unleashed a combined sonic attack at the ring. The machine began to break down, and the hole started to shrink slowly. Unfortunately, the pull was still active. "Hopefully, I'll see you on the other side. Stay safe" 5 saluted to 4.

"Who knows? Maybe we'll make it back home," replied number four. They both smiled at each other as they both flew into the tear.

Seconds later, the tear closed, and Echo Echo 1 was finally able to let go and recombine. Gwen and Kevin made it back to Ben and saw the broken robots at the destroyed machine.

"What happened here, Ben?" Gwen asked.

Echo Echo pressed the symbol on his chest and reverted to Ben. He had a somber expression. "I couldn't recombine, and I couldn't hold onto all five of us. 2 of my clones decided to let go so one of us could live." The hero sat down to absorb today's events.

Gwen placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ben, we can mourn for their loss later. Don't let their sacrifice be in vain. You still haven't heard Julie's answer yet." Ben's expression perked up at the mention of Julie. They began walking back to the tournament to find Julie.

Kevin took his other shoulder. "Don't worry Ben. I'm sure they're in a better place."

Elsewhere

Echo Echo opened his eyes as he felt a massive gust of wind blowing on his face. That's when he realized he was falling from the sky.

"Oh, geez! What the–?!" Echo Echo tried to say as he kept falling. He immediately slapped the Omnitrix symbol once again transformed. In place was a hulking, broad-shouldered alien covered in natural, yellow armor plating on his back, shoulders, and the backs of his arms. The alien was mostly white, with four claws on both of his hands. This was Cannonbolt.

He rolled up into a ball and crashed on the ground, creating a sizable crater. He turns back to human form and lies down on the same hole. "Ow..."

Chapter Text

10:23 am

"Wake up Tennyson," a voice said.

"No Mom. I don't want to go to school today. I just want to stay home and bake cookies with you.

"Ugh… Benjamin K. Tennyson, you wake up this instant!" it yelled in annoyance.

"Aaaah." Ben woke up instantly to the yell.

"Finally," it said in relief.

It appeared that Ben was in the shade of a large plateau somewhere in a desert. Ben looked around for the source of the voice but found none. "Who said that?"

"I did," the voice replied back.

Ben looked at the Omnitrix in confusion. "What?" Suddenly, the faceplate opened up and projected a hologram of a small frog-like being.

"I've been trying to wake you for about an hour now." It sighed in relief.

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Azmuth? What are you doing here?"

"I'm not actually Azmuth. I'm the AI that runs the Omnitrix. Azmuth 10. Who do you think says all those indications to you?"

Ben just blinked. "I'm surprised about seeing an AI besides Eunice."

Azmuth 10 decided to explain. "The Omnitrix uses quantum computing to analyze all the DNA stored within along with monitoring the various functions. Azmuth couldn't trust any AI except one he made himself."

"So, why are you here now? You haven't shown up before."

"I was given this feature with the latest update you received. Whenever you lost connection to Primus, things tend to go poorly, so he allowed me to speak to you in such cases."

"Well, that's good because I happen to be in a bit of a pickle."

Azmuth sighed in annoyance. "What happened this time?"

Ben relayed the events prior to his arrival here.

"So you're one of the Sonosarian clones. Interesting."

"Interesting? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Remember when you split yourself using the Sonosarian DNA a while back."

"Yeah. I ended up causing trouble because of the different personalities."

"After you told me that, I was programmed to reduce mental side effects. At the moment, your mental state should be about equal to the originals. "

"Well, that sounds good. If we're able to get back home, do you think that we could recombine."

"I'm not so sure about that"

"Why?"

"Do you know how Sonosarians reproduce?"

Ben thought about Echo Echo. "Isn't the species just living sound in a suit?"

"Exactly. When Sonosarian clones are separated for long periods of time, their brain waves come out of sync. The clone becomes its own distinct consciousness. That's how they reproduce."

"So if I don't get home soon, I won't be able to recombine with the original Ben."

Azmuth nodded "That is correct."

Ben sighed in relief. "That's not too bad. I'm alive. He's alive. Not the worse thing to happen."

Azmuth smirked at the response. "I'm glad to see such optimism in our current situation."

Ben shrugged. "Since we're pretty much stuck here with no way back, we should probably look for civilization."

"Indeed. I may be able to help you in that regard. Raise the Omnitrix above your head."

Ben did as requested. The hologram turned off, and an energy emitted. Confused, Ben asked, "What was that?"

Azmuth began to explain. "I used a small pulse to locate large concentrations of sentient life. From where we are right now, their is a large city due west, but there are a few structures much closer. Due to the current environment, I highly recommend finding your bearings as well as some water and food."

Ben nodded. "Thanks for the help."

"I also report small traces of gamma radiation in the area"

"Radiation?! I'm not gonna grow another arm or get cancer am I?"

"There's no need to get worried, Ben. We are too far from the actual source for it to cause any damage."

"That's a relief, I guess."

"It's what I was made to do. If radiation levels become hazardous, safety protocols will be engaged. Call me again if you need further assistance."

"No problem." Azmuth closed the hologram function. 'Since I'm in the middle of nowhere, and it's still hours till nightfall, I better take the express path."

He scrolled through the watch and pressed the core. In a green flash, he became a yellow-armored alien. His head is similar to a Greek Corinthian helmet with two ears on it giving him the appearance of an armadillo. The most prominent features are the pistons in both arms.

"Armodrillo!" 'I hope this place has smoothies. It will be a long dig…' "Engage Lifeform lock."

"Lifeform Lock Engaged"

'Let's go.' Armodrillo jumps and begins digging his way across the wasteland.

Near the Las Vegas Strip (1 Hour After Arrival)

The occasional car passed the dusty road leading to Sin City. However, the average driver and passengers paid no attention to the yellow creature bursting from the ground. "Ah, nothing like feeling the sun after crawling through the darkness." Seeing the road, he moved behind some large boulders and reverted to normal.

Azmuth's hologram projected from the Omnitrix. "If you had followed my directions, we would have made it here is less than thirty minutes."

"You know what they say, Azmuth. It's all about the journey rather than the destination."

"Yes, but if that destination has the necessary supplies to survive, it will be best to get there quickly."

Ben nodded. "Point taken. I could go for some food."

"I highly recommend that you find your bearings."

Ben raised a brow at the nearby sign with an amused smile. "Would you look at that?"

"What?"

"We're on Earth and in Las Vegas. Sin City. The place of rags to riches and sometimes the other way around too."

"I take it that you've been here before?"

"Yeah. Back home, Kevin and I came here after my eighteenth birthday. I'm glad that they lowered the gambling age. We made a killing, figuratively speaking."

"You have a plan for acquiring funds for residence?"

"Yup. Right after we stop by to 'take care' of our paperwork, I'll take care of our starting money and work our way from there."

"Should I ask where this starting money is coming from?"

"I'd rather not describe it, but I will say that I'm gonna need some popcorn. Good thing I always keep cash on hand. Hopefully, this Earth has the same presidents."

Two Days Later at Mirage Hotel and Casino

A silver-haired woman sat at the poker machines, tapping away. Sadly, luck just wasn't on her side. A few feet away from her, a young man played, and the device paid out. It happened numerous times before she took an interest. "Looks like you got a loose one." She got up and slid into the seat next to him.

Ben looked up and smiled. "In this case, there's no such thing," he said.

She raised an amused brow. "What do you mean?"

"These machines run on random number generators." Ben tapped at his temple. "No brain, no bias. Technically, they are the best odds in the house though."

A wry smile appeared on her face. "I always thought Craps had the best odds," she said.

Ben slowly nodded before he focused on the machine in front of him. "True, poker odds are slightly worse at .7%, but if you apply simple strategy and mathematics and always draw for the royal flush, you can push those odds to 2%."

"Look at you, Mr. Highroller," she complimented. "How did you learn all that?"

"A friend of mine was interested in beating the house in the least inconspicuous way possible. He was trying to earn quick money for his girlfriend's anniversary. By the way, I never caught your name?"

"Pardon my manners. I'm Silver, Silver Sablinova." She held out her gloved hand tipped downward.

"A pleasure, Miss Sablinova." He held her hand gently and gave it a light kiss. "I'm Ben, Ben Tennyson."

"A man with manners is certainly hard to find these days. You've certainly caught my interest."

Meanwhile at Army Command

"Report, soldier," ordered General Ross.

The lackey replied, "Local police reported that a man fitting the description was sighted. They pursued but lost him."

The general's eyes narrowed. "It's him. The Hulk is in Vegas. Radio Samson at the Cube. Tell him to get a containment cell ready."

"Uh, General Ross, sir," another soldier called. "Why would Dr. Banner come here? He's stayed away from populated places for months now. He's stayed out of the country. Why come back now?"

Ross shook his head. "Right now, I don't know, and I don't care. We can get all the answers we want when he's locked away."

Highway 99 (1 Day Later)

A crimson Nissan 370Z sped down the open road. "See, Azmuth. I told you that Vegas was a good idea."

Azmuth's hologram on the dashboard rolled his eyes. "I never doubted that you would achieve your goal. Although, I must ask. Where are you headed?"

"I'm considering making a little road trip before settling somewhere on the east coast."

"I see. Also, I'm surprised that you picked up that hitchhiker about an hour ago."

"What can I say? The guy looked so thin and ragged. When he said that he needed a ride to a diner up the road, it seemed harmless. Besides-" Ben was cut off by silver and green behemoths jumping in front of his car. He narrowly braked and slid out of the way before they jumped off again. Taking a minute to breathe, Ben asked, "What the heck was that?"

"I'm not sure, but one thing is certain. The two are generating large amounts of Gamma radiation."

Ben sighed. "Looks like we're taking a detour."

Monument Valley (10 Minutes Later)

"HB-1 to Command. Target is in sight. It's touching down in Monument Valley. We are en route."

Two beings flew through the air as the green one smacked the silver one with the Las Vega sign. They crashed into the ground leaving a large crater behind. The silver man turned back into flesh, but he began absorbing the desert sand. To stabilize himself, he raced for the metal sign, becoming metallic blue. Immediately after, the green Hulk sent a fist right into his gut, leaving a fist indentation. He quickly repaired the damage. "Everything they said about you in the Cube was true. You've gone soft. " The metallic man proceeded to knock the Hulk around. "Is that it? Are you trying to be some kind of hero? Is that why you took us out here, to protect people? Well, I've got news for you, Hulk. Those people you're protecting, they think you're more of a monster than me!"

The Absorbing Man sent another fist only for the Hulk to catch and crush it. The Hulk then headbutted him several meters. Finally, he launched the blue being into the air with a seismic stomp and sucked punched him into the nearby plateau.

The Absorbing Man got back to his feet, standing in front of the Hulk. "Idiot monster. I can absorb anything, even rock." His body changed to the surrounding sandstone.

The Hulk only grinned before he blew his left arm into rubble. His opponent cowered in fear. "Hulk smash rock, Einstein."

Backing into the plateau, Absorbing Man pleaded, "Wait! Wait! You can't do this!"

Hulk grabbed him by the face. He slammed the rock man into the ground. "Watch me." Suddenly a strange beeping led their eyes to a missile headed right for them. An explosion rocked the entire area, launching both parties away. The Hulk was relatively okay, nothing severe. The Absorbing Man, however, was left as just a rock head.

As the Hulk stood up, another figure jumped onto the scene and looked at the Hulk. "Finally, made it. Now, what the heck is going on here?"

Hulk looked away from the reptilian man and glared a the oncoming machines. "Ross..."

"Ross? Who the heck is Ross? You're not a bad guy are you?"

Hulk scoffed. "Don't know you, but long story short, army general takes people like us and turns them into weapons."

"Ah…" Humungousaur glared at the oncoming army. 'Just like that scientist on Malacor.' Humungousaur's eyes drifted and widened at the severed head. "Please tell me you didn't kill that guy?"

Hulk raised a brow. "Him? Nah. He'll live. He can regenerate back to normal."

In turn, the head responded. "Don't just stand there! Help me up, you ass!"

"That's good, I guess." 'He kinda reminds me of Kevin, but I don't think Kevin can grow back limbs.' The two remaining giants looked at the oncoming tanks. "Any biosignatures there?" he whispered.

"Scans come up negative for all except the one in the rear," replied Azmuth from the Omnitrix

Humungousaur chuckled. "Good news, big green. The infantry is just empty robots. By the way, name's Humungousaur."

"Hulk. It's time I let loose," he said while cracking his knuckles.

Inside the command center, Ross ordered, "All Hulkbuster units, open fire!"

Several artillery shells fired at Hulk and Humungousaur, and the two dodged or deflected them in return. One of the drone choppers shot down the Hulk while he was airborne. Machine gun fire rained down on both of them, creating a small dust storm, but they weren't strong enough to pierce either of their skins. The two drones stopped firing only to have the Hulk jump through the dust cloud and rip a cannon from its frame. Humungousaur launched several boulders at the second one, sending it crashing to the cliffside. Hulk climbed out of a crater and began to fire rockets at the ground forces. When he ran out of ammo, Hulk threw the cannon at another stray air drone. Meanwhile, Humungousaur started fighting off several Bulk-busters. He grabbed one by the barrel and began swinging it around like a Warhammer.

Back inside the command vehicle, Ross ordered, "Keep firing. Don't let him get away."

Suddenly, a strange voice comes over the speakers. "General Ross, withdraw your men now."

"This is a secure channel! Who is this?"

Hundreds of meters in the air, the ruby-haired spy responded. "Your superior, tovarich. Now back off."

"Time to target: two minutes. We have eyes on the target along with one unknown. Think you can handle it?" the pilot called over the loudspeaker.

Meanwhile, one of the soldiers in the ship readied a bow. "We've had worse."

The two goliaths below continued to decimate the robotic forces. Hulk looked straight at the command vehicles. "Don't think I forgot about you."

Humungousaur just finished off another H-buster and called out to his green ally. "Good job, man. We got all of 'em."

Hulk was still wary of the dino-man before him, but he seemed trustworthy for now. "Yeah…"

"Now we have to speak to this Ross character you mentioned. Civilly, of course."

"Only if he feels the same way…" muttered Hulk as the two walked toward Ross.

After only a few steps, a large ship casts a shadow over them. "Now, who are these guys?" asked Humungousaur. Hulk simply growled.

An arrow with cable is fired at the ground in front of them followed by two bolts to both of their chests. From the ship, an archer in purple rides to the ground while his female companion drops. Facing the two beasts, he smirks. "Tick, tick, boom." The arrows sound before exploding in both of their faces. Fire and smoke engulf Hulk and Humungousaur. To the agents' disappointment, they were completely unharmed.

Hulk glared at the two. "You should both run now, 'cause you just made me angry."

Humungousaur crossed his arms. "Yeah, and you won't like us when we're angry."

While Black Widow adjusted her gauntlets, Hawkeye continued the banter. "Really? 'Cause from where I'm standing, you look more beat up than angry." He slung another arrow from his quiver.

Hulk was about to charge in before Humungousaur held him back. "If we're going to do this, we take them down, not out, Hulk. I may be helping you, but we're not murdering government agents. That only proves their point about us being monsters."

"I know," he replied.

Hawkeye fired an explosive arrowhead on, and Black Widow dove in, After dodging his fists, she shot her stingers at Hulk's bareback. Hulk tried to hit her, but she was too agile.

Humungousaur went after Hawkeye, as he kept firing arrows at the Hulk. Neither reinforced nets, electricity, or ice could stop him. Hulk managed to catch another arrow only for it to explode in his face.

"Remember Hawkeye, Hulk is the main priority," Widow called.

The archer attempted to evade Humungousaurs attacks. "I know, but a giant lizard man makes things a lot more difficult." Before he could fire another shot, a tail whips the breath out of him.

Humungousaur glared at the downed archer. "Stop this attack now, and no one needs to get hurt. More than they are now anyway. Leave the guy alone."

"Not gonna happen." Hawkeye dodged another punch. "We got orders to get you monsters on lockdown."

In the agent's comms, Ross exclaimed, "I told Fury to stay out of this! I've been chasing the Hulk since day one!"

"The chase is over, General," replied Black Widow. She fired another array of stingers at the Hulk. "Sit back and let us do your job for you."

On the other line, Ross gruffed. He turned to his subordinate. "Open fire on the Hulk."

The soldier hesitated. "But, sir, the SHIELD agents- they're right there. That's friendly fire."

The general glared at the defiance. "That's a direct order, soldier. They knew what they were getting into when they took the job. We need results now! Fire!"

The soldier reluctantly began the launch sequence.

Back on the battlefield, Black Widow noticed the movements of the command vehicle. "No. Ross, you are ordered to stand down! Do you hear me? Stand down!"

"That you for your service, agents," Ross simply replied.

Hulk grabbed Hawkeye by the face while Black Widow backed from Ross in slight fear. Humungousaur followed her eyes to see a missile launch straight for them. In a desperate move to save them, he rushed forward in an attempt to tank the blast; however, he underestimated its characteristics.

Luckily, someone did. Time slowed to a crawl. The Azmuth hologram materialized and began to asses the situation. Both Humungousaur and the missile were in mid-air and close to impact. "It's never a dull moment with you, Tennyson." He sighed. "Let's see what we have here." With a wave of his hands, he digitally disassembled the payload. "Interesting, this contains numerous gamma attributes with high potency in a limited blast radius. This Earth has reached level four technology, both commendable yet concerning." He looked back at Humungousaur for a second. "Ben will survive, and he will contain the initial blast. However, the ionizing gamma radiation will go right through him and damage any human tissue nearby." He shook his head. "No. No. This form won't do at all. Initiate DNA override. Activate Ultimate protocol." With that, his hologram disappeared.

Finally, the two object collided and resulted in a burst of blue and green energy. The giant flew out of the smoke, but he looked much different. He became more buff and muscular than before with a green hide. Several armor pieces and spines covered his body. Even his tail looked like a mace. Ultimate Humungousaur crashed and lodged into a nearby rock plateau.

Seeing the structure's instability, Hawkeye shouted in concern to his friend. "Morse, move out of there now!"

His warning came too late as the plateau toppled over and damaged the ships aerial stabilizers. Morse tried to regain control, but it came to no avail. "I'm comin' down!"

Hulk noticed that everyone had eyes either on Humungousaur or the ship. His mind told him that this was his chance to leave; however, a small part of him knew what he had to do.

Hawkeye and Blackwidow watched helplessly as their friend began crashing down. Morse closed her eyes and braced for impact, only it never came. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the Hulk holding the entire ship from its nose. Next thing she saw was the green dinosaur drop from the rock wall.

"I'm back," Ultimate Humungousaur bellowed. "Nice save, Hulk." Ultimate Humungousaur got into position and caught the other end of the ship. The two giant lowered the jet to the ground. "Okay. Easy, does it." He peered through the windshield "Hey, you okay in there?"

She looked back at the giant green bipedal dinosaur through her window. "Uh. Yeah. Thanks. I guess."

Ross narrowed his eyes at the now green Humungousaur on his monitor. "We've got another gamma beast!"

Hulk closed his eyes to take a breath only to be blasted by another stinger at the base of his neck. He collapsed to the ground and reverted to Bruce Banner.

Ultimate Humungousaur turned in shock at his new friend. "Hulk!" He ran to his body to check his vitals, but the two agents blocked him. "What the heck, man. We saved you guys and your friend, and this is how you treat us in return."

"We're following SHIELD orders for his capture," stated lack Widow.

"Yeah… so stand down, gamma beast or else."

"Gamma beast? What the heck are you guys talking about?"

Before they could answer, Bruce spoke. "You need to go… now. I'll be fine. Save yourself."

"I'm not just gonna leave you with these guys."

"You have to. At this point, it's the only way I can get my answers about the Cube."

'Cube?' "But…" Ben didn't understand why he wanted this.

"Don't worry. No prison can hold me for long. Go! Be free!" At that, he passed out.

While Black Widow secured Bruce, Hawkeye targeted Humungousaur. "You're not going anywhere, freak of nature."

'I can't just leave Hulk to these guys, but he wants to go with them, now. If that's the case, there's only one thing I can do.' "Look over there, a distraction."

The two agents blinked at the attempt. "Did you think that we would fall for that?"

Ben shrugged "Eh, it was worth a shot." He then extended both arms out in a flashy manner. "Alakazam!" In a flash of green light, he disappeared.

The everyone nearby blinked at the scene before Hawkeye spoke up. "Please tell, me that didn't happen."

"That the dino-man was a wizard and teleported away?" asked Morse from the jet.

Hawkeye scoured the distance but found nothing. "Damn… we lost him!"

Widow shook her head before she lifted Banner onto her back. "Forget it, Clint. We've got Banner, and that's all that matters."

"Fine. Let's get this over with." On the way to the jet, Clint looked at the unconscious banner couldn't help but have questions about the Hulk. He was supposed to be a monster, but he willingly saved Morse. 'This day gets weirder and weirder.

Soon, all military personnel began to vacate the area. If the agents had a microscope, they would have noticed that the unknown creature never left. From behind a small stone, a metallic insectoid flew up and grew a few inches. 'Looks like it's time for me to play spy for a change.' With that, Nanomech flew in the direction of the SHIELD convoy.

Please leave a review with any suggestions for plot elements like characters, powers, events, and items. I hope you enjoyed the second chapter. If you did, please favorite, follow, and review. See you guys next chapter.

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Armodrillo

Species: Talpaedan

Home World: Terraexcava

Powers and Abilities:

Armodrillo has incredible digging capabilities and enhanced strength, and, due to his armor, Armodrillo has incredible durability. Armodrillo can create destructive earthquakes by placing his hands on the ground and pumping the jackhammer pistons on his elbows. Armodrillo is able to create fissures in the ground. Armodrillo can turn his hands into drills. Using his jackhammer arms, he can create shock waves and can launch objects he is holding

Name: Humungousaur

Species: Vaxasaurian

Home World: Terradino

Powers and Abilities:

Vaxasaurians possess incredible strength and a thick layer of armor-like skin which provides vast resistance to injury and damage. According to Eugene, Vaxasaurians are strong enough to lift To'kustars. Vaxasaurians have the power to increase their body size and mass, which increases their strength and durability further. They can also grow Stegosaur-like plates on their back, a crest on their forehead and spikes on their tail. Vaxasaurians can survive in space for a few minutes. Vaxasaurians are quite agile for their size.

Name: Nanomech

Species: Human, Nanochip

Home World: Unknown

Powers and Abilities:

Nanomech can reduce his size at will, even to microscopic scales. He can return to his original size, but cannot grow any larger. Nanomech can launch green bioelectrical energy from his hands and eye, ranging in forms from beams to orbs. Nanomech can adapt to his opponents very fast, such as sprouting energy tentacles after encountering the Decoy Queen.

Chapter Text

Nevada

A jet touches down at the facility with Nanomech on its tail. Ben had followed the military convoy for a few hours before they finally reached their destination. "Well, look what we have here." In the distance, Ben saw a large building in the middle of the desert shaped like a cube.

An unconscious Absorbing Man aka Carl "Crusher" Creel, was wheeled in a protective chamber led by various security members. It was a relief that the guy didn't die. The next cart to come out of the cargo bay has a large platform with four metal pillars. Each pillar held a thick chain all connected to the shackles of the being locked in the middle: Bruce Banner.

Nanomech focused his eye lens on him. Bruce looked so defeated. "Sheesh. Why don't they gag his mouth too."

Azmuth chimed in. "I am detecting numerous sources of Gamma Radiation from the facility."

Nanomech nodded. Still microscopic size, he landed on Bruce's cart before the entrance doors closed behind them. As they made their way through the facility, Ben slightly shocked by the diversity of their prisoners. 'Who knew Gamma Radiation had this effect on people."

Later

A blond man was taking a blood sample from a restrained Banner. "You have to believe me, Bruce. With the resources I have here, I will find a cure for you."

"Leonard, don't." Bruce shook his head. "I stopped trying to cure the Hulk a long time ago. I reached out to him. There's a place in this world for the Hulk, but this isn't it."

Leonard placed the blood sample in a metal case. He sighed. "I'm not going to give up, Bruce, even if you have."

As he walked out of the room, the man in purple from the desert walked in. Seeing Bruce's current state, he raised a brow.

Bruce noticed his expression. "Let me guess. You thought I'd be bigger?"

"Funny." Hawkeye placed both hands behind his back. "The Hulk- he's a monster, right? I mean, that's what they told us. That's what everyone thinks. Military and SHIELD have been chasing him for years. He's caused untold destruction. He's a monster."

Bruce glared at him. "What do you think?"

"Why did the Hulk save that ship? I don't know anything about that dinosaur thing that helped after, but the Hulk could've just escaped." Hawkeye sounded unsure of himself. "I saw it. He had a way out, but he saved my crew instead. Why?"

"You're a SHIELD agent, right?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Maybe the question you should be asking is what SHIELD and the Hulkbusters want the Hulk for. Open your eyes. Look around this place. Look at the monsters here. Do you really think the Cube is a jail? And now they have samples of my blood- the Hulk's blood. You think they want to cure me? They don't. They want to make more of me."

Hawkeye wasn't sure how to respond. On one hand, this man was accusing the military of crimes against humanity. On the other hand, the evidence seemed to be pointing that direction. He nodded at Bruce before locking his cell.

Banner sighed. It's been a while since he's been captured. He was about to drift into his own thoughts until he heard someone speak.

"Psst. Hey."

Bruce raised his head in alert and looked around his cell for the source. "Hello? Who's there?" he called out.

A passing guard walked to his cell. "Quite in there!" He continued to do his rounds after Bruce shut up.

The voice came back. "Keep it down. It's enough that they think you're a menace, we don't need them thinking that you're crazy."

"You didn't answer my question," he whispered back. "Who are you? Where are you?" Bruce continued to look around."

"It's me the guy from the Desert. We fought off those shady government guys together."

"Humungousaur?"

"Yes, but not really. You can call me Nanomech. As for where I am, I'm currently inside your ear."

Bruce went wide-eyed. He attempted to reach his ear only to remember that his arms and legs were restrained. "What?" Thinking for a second, he remembered reading an article about a scientist in the states working on shrinking technology. 'Is this guy connected to him?' "How did you get through? We went through numerous security scanners."

Nanomech shrugged. "It helps when you can shrink to a size they can't detect."

Bruce gave up. "So, why are you here?"

"What, you thought that I'd just leave you here to rot or be part of some mad scientist experiment?"

Banner sighed. "I don't want other people involved with my problems. They just keep getting hurt in the end."

"You sound like that happens a lot. You wanna talk about it?"

"No, not really."

"Are you sure? If anything, I can start first. Technically, I'm an alien."

Bruce paused. "You can't be serious?"

"Not joking. I'm been around the galaxy a few times. How else can you me being a dinosaur and now being in your ear?"

"Science does say that there's a high probability of alien life in the universe."

"And it's thanks to science that I can do what I do?"

"And you're on Earth because?"

"An alien can't hang out with the locals? If anything, I help you guys out from time to time. Take your situation before for instance."

After hearing Nanomech's likely true story, Bruce decided to inform him of his situation to an extent. "To put it plainly, I was a scientist working on a Gamma Bomb for the US military. Due to an accident, I turn into to the Hulk when under intense stress."

Nanomech nodded. "Fighting with Hulk, I can tell he's not a bad guy. That agent in purple seems to think so too."

"Yeah, but not a lot of people think the same way." Bruce looked downcast. "They see the Hulk as a weapon they can control and recreate for their agenda. The Hulk just wants to live without getting hunted down. I've been on the run for a long time."

"You miss someone, don't you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"I've seen that look on a dragon looking alien." He could feel Bruce's skepticism. "Don't ask. Anyways, he's been held captive by a fanatical group for over a thousand years, the entire time trying to kill him. When I got his translator and his ship, he wanted nothing more than to kill all of them for revenge."

Bruce was surprised that another being withstood a thousand years of what is essentially torture. Revenge seemed completely reasonable. "Did he?"

Nanomech shook his head. "He almost did, but I simply blocked his way."

"And it worked?" Bruce didn't seem convinced. 'All that anger and rage turned away?'

"I understood why he was angry. Those people stole from him. Kept him from his home, his family. He even mentioned a baby."

Bruce felt a few stabs in his heart as his mind drifted to happier times. He missed her.

"I could have turned into Humongousaur or another alien, but I didn't. I was a human, like you."

'Wait, he's human? Is he some alien-human hybrid?' Bruce saved that thought for later. "Considering you're here to tell the tale, you obviously survived."

"Thing is, he didn't have the heart to hurt me. He's not a monster. He's a mapmaker. He's a man who just wants to go home."

"I see where you're going with this." Bruce sighed. "There is someone I left behind. I'm sure she misses me just as much as I miss her." A brunette figure lingered in his head.

Nanomech nodded appreciatively. "That's the stuff. So, are we just going to stay here or what?"

Banner looked past his cell to the other prisoners and scientists. "Sorry, Nanomech. I can't leave. Not yet."

"Why not?"

"There's more going on here that I need to know. I can't leave this unfinished."

"So, you want me to just leave and probably never see you again?"

"Not exactly." Bruce checked to make sure the guards were far enough away. "If you really are here to help me, then I have a favor to ask."

"What do you need?"

"During my times on the run, I've spent a lot of time researching a cure for my condition. These research notes are stored in caches that only I know about. If they get in the wrong hands, there's not telling what could happen."

"They are that important, huh. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I need to know if I can trust you. As an alien, you're the fourth person I can trust my condition with."

"Fourth? You really have a limited circle of friends. If you're trusting me."

"If you hadn't noticed, I'm very far from them and without contact to the outside world."

"Good point."

"Like I said before, I wanted to limit my contact with others. The head officers here will likely interrogate me on my research first hand. I won't give anything to them, but they have already started investigating my previous hideouts. I need you to find those notes and destroy them."

Nanomech smirked. "Save the world from a possible gamma weapons arms race? That I can do. Where do I start?"

Later

Finishing his chat with Banner and recording his locations, Nanomech flew out of the cell. "Azmuth, can you believe that they would lock up these guys just to get more power?"

The Omnitrix Azmuth replied back. "After the many years that I have experienced, no, I am not. I have seen civilizations fall due to their own hubris. I'm afraid that the Earth may become one of them."

Nanomech smirked. "Not if we have anything to say about it."

"Before we leave, Benjamin, could you take us to the nearest computer terminal. I will admit that I have not spent much time researching the effects of Gamma radiation. In light of recent developments, I would like to see what they have discovered. Hopefully, we can keep them from destroying themselves."

"Sounds fine to me." It took a while before Ben could reach the lab area. He had to tag along the scientists to get past security. Reaching the lab, Nanomech, went inside one of several terminals. Azmuth took over from there. While this base had state of the art security software, it had nothing on Galvan Quantum computing. With the data recovered, Nanomech made his exit out of the facility.

Outside

Nanomech waited behind the front entrance for the next person to walk through. When they did, he was greeted to the sight of the Purple Archer from before unconscious and restrained. "Whoa. What happened here?" he whispered to himself.

One of the superior officers spoke to his subordinates. "Remember Black Widow's orders. We are to take him to the Vault and in solitary. She will personally interrogate the man. The next prisoner transfer is tomorrow, "

Nanomech didn't understand the situation enough. The archer seemed okay when he was talking to Bruce. He ended up shrugging it off for later. Flying through the Nevada desert, Ben needed to make his way to New York. After a few kilometers, he realized that he forgot something. "Where did I park my car again?"

Chapter Text

2 Weeks Later,  New York

Ben walked through the streets of New York. He had already dealt with several many houses on his journey through the United States. Along the way, Ben met several interesting characters, but that is a story for another day. According to Bruce's information, the last few safe-houses were here in New York. 'This New York is quite different from my own.' As Ben walked around the corner, the smell of food caught his attention. His stomach rumbled in hunger. 'It's been a while since breakfast.' Walking inside,

"Next!" The owner called out as Ben walked up to the counter. "Welcome to Joe's Pizza! What can I get for ya?"

After looking at the menu for a few seconds, Ben shrugged. "I'll have a slice of Pepperoni and Bacon, breadsticks, and a medium Coke."

The older man nodded. "That'll be five ninety-nine dollars."

After Ben paying and receiving his food, he took a seat in front of the shop. He took in the ambiance of the busy streets. 'Today is going to be a good day.'

Suddenly, a large explosion in the distance shakes the entire block. Several people, including Ben, lost their balance. While some people stared at the smoke in the distance, others were checking online to find out what happened.

In the middle of all that, the Alien Hero stared at his food spilled all over the sidewalk. "Dammit..." Looking in the direction of the explosion, Ben narrowed his eyes. "Hello, stress relief."

United Nations, New York Office

Several vehicles have been turned on their sides. Security forces have been pinned down by Hydra agents. In the background, a massive skull mech approaches. Upon arrival, the soldiers look on in fear as their heavy guns begin targeting them. Just as the gun begins charging, a blue repulsor beam impacts it's hull straight on. The heat and force of the attack allowed it to pierce all the way through, causing all of its engines to overload and erupt in fire and smoke.

Iron Man floated in the air, admiring his handiwork. "Timber." As the Skulls tentacles gave away, the main body tumbled into the ocean. With that Tony scanned the battlefield. "What do we got, Jarvis?"

Jarvis answered. "Armor is down to 40% after using the uni-beam which I recommended against."

Tony rolled his eyes. "I meant on the ground."

The Heads-Up-Display highlighted the enemy footsoldiers. "Ah, yes. fourteen HYDRA targets all heavily armed, sir."

"Huh. Maybe I should have brought Rhodey along." He shrugged. "Jarvis, activate external speakers." The Iron Man armor hovered as he gave a message to them all. "Attention, HYDRA goons. You've been trying to take over the world for 60 years. It's not happening."

One of the ground agents lifts up his launcher and fires at the red target.

Tony leans to his left, narrowly missing the rocket. His eyes widened in surprise, "He actually shot at me." All the agents firing on the armor. Tony glared at them "Fine. We'll do it the hard way." Maneuvering through the projectiles, Tony fired an object that soo split into 12 pieces. Each of them quickly latched onto their rifles.

HYDRA soldiers yell in surprise as the devices beeped before detonating and knocking them out. Two agents took cover behind an overturned car before their cover began to rise, revealing Iron Man.

"Hi, there." Tony raised his free hand and blasted the two of them. Still holding the vehicle, he looked over his handiwork. "Wow, they don't make bad guys the way they used to." He threw the vehicle away casually.

"Warning, incoming projectile," Jarvis spoke.

Looking up, Tony saw three strange metal spheres come crashing down around him. Iron Man groaned from the impact. Through the smoke, the strange object took on a different shape. Iron Man recovered in confused. "What was- Jarvis?"

Jarvis interrupted him. "Armor power down to 32%. Recommend recharging."

As the dust cleared, three large Armored Hydra Suits towered over Iron Man, readying their weapons. "Target acquired. Designation: Iron Man. Destroy."

Tony narrowed his eyes at the new enemy.

SHIELD Helicarrier, 5 Minutes Earlier.

A stern black man looked at the screens of the Helicarrier's observation deck. "Update," he ordered.

At a terminal to his right, a young woman complied as she read over the reports. "The Helicarrier is roughly five minutes out at this speed. Our local SHIELD units are under attack and unable to respond."

Director Fury frowned. "That's five minutes too long, Hill. You got any news that's actually useful for us."

"I- I-" Maria Hill stuttered for a moment before more radio chatter came in on her comms. "Sir, Iron Man has arrived on the scene. Wait, we have reports of another bogey approaching the area."

At the mention of Tony and an unknown variable, Fury narrowed his eyes in the distance.

Stark Tower

Tony Stark's loyal secretary and friends Pepper Potts looked out the window to the battle with worry.

"I'm sure he's gonna be fine, Pepper. That armor, it's invincible," Coronel Rhodes assured her.

"I'm not worried about the armor, Rhodey." She sighed. "I'm worried about him. He's all alone out there against the people who stole his technology. Tony is out there all by himself and there's nothing that we can do to help him. I understand why he feels he has to do this. I just don't understand why he has to do it alone."

United Nations, Present

Tony groaned in pain from several energy blasts knocking him to the ground. He managed to push himself back up. "Jarvis, talk to me. Divert all power to shields And analyze that blast."

"Shields not responding."

Tony looked back at the incoming drones. "That's not good." Just as a drill punch came down, Iron Man went airborne, dodging at the last second. At the rear, the Hydra Drone launches five homing missiles. With little maneuvers and repulsor blasts, Tony detonated them all before they made contact. The inventor sighed in relief.

"Alert, new contacts," Jarvis warned.

In the corner of his vision, a purple blur entered the fray. Before Tony could respond, a Drone jumped high enough to tackle the armored genius into the building before landing in the fountain. The Drone recovered first and drove his drill toward's Tony's head. Reacting in time, Tony holds back the rotating arm. "Don't know how much longer I can keep this up, Jarvis." In the background, he noted several explosions and flashes of light. The drill slowly neared his forehead, before a technicolor blast knocks the robot off balance. With the opening, Iron Man rears both fists and punches straight to its torso, launching the enemy into a wall. Tony breathed a sigh of relief as a new form came running up to him.

The strange purple crystalline being extended a hand to help him up. "Sup."

The genius inventor accepted the hand with hesitation. "Thanks for the help, but who the heck are you? A relative of The Thing?"

Not getting the reference, Chromastone grumbled. "Listen, this thing is named Chromastone. I helped save your butt, and as much as I would like to chat, we still have to deal with those things." Chromastone gestured to the robots.

As one was pulling itself out of a building, the other two were pulling themselves out of a crater.

Tony nodded. "Good point."

Over the external speakers, Jarvis chimed in. "Blast analysis completed, sir."

"Really. Now?" Iron Man huffed. "I was almost skewed."

Chromastone interjected. "A friend of yours?"

"Something like that," Tony smirked from under his helmet.

Jarvis continued on. "The targets are HYDRA Dreadnought class robots, but they've been upgraded with repulsor tech weapons."

All joy fell from the genius' face and turned into anger. "That's my tech. HYDRA's using my technology against me?"

"Woah, that's rough." Ben had heard about Hydra during his web searches. It was disturbing how the organization still thrived from World War Two.

"Prep an EMP," Stark sternly ordered.

"Not enough power," answered Jarvis.

The man growled. "Fine, divert power to repulsors."

Chromastone reached out to the armored man. "Dude, you gotta calm down. We need to make a plan."

"This is my plan, Mr. Rubbles" Marching toward the robots, he fired high-intensity repulsor rays. However, before they could impact, a translucent green sphere formed around them, protecting them from the blasts. Stark widened his eyes. "You've got to be kidding me. That's my shielding."

One of the robots managed to flank Tony and readied a punch. However, an energy beam from behind knocked the fist off course. Next thing Tony saw was the Crystal creature grabbing the drone from behind and suplexing it into the ground. "If you're done with your tantrum, maybe we can finally finish this."

Stark ignored him, glared at the other two, and gave another command. "Uni-beam."

Jarvis didn't comply. "That's Ill-advised. I recommend listening to your new companion. Your current operating power is not sufficient to energize the uni-beam." Not ready in time, the other drone grabbed onto him and threw him into an overturned APV.

Chromastone grappled with a drone once more. "Sheesh. Was I ever that stubborn?"

Azmuth scoffed. "Believe me, you were."

Tony recovered from the crash. "I need those shields, Jarvis."

Jarvis relayed the information. "Repulsor shield re-boot sequence already in progress."

"Fine." Iron Man flew above the two drones. "Come on, you pieces of junk. Show me what else you got. Because you probably stole it from me, too."

"Even I wasn't that obsessed about others stealing my work," commented Azmuth.

Chromastone stuck his crystal hand into shielding and absorbed its power. Charged up, he jabbed into the metal hull and pulled out several servos and wires. "Didn't you become a hermit for the longest time."

"That was because of a completely different reason," the Galvan AI rebutted.

Ben rolled his eyes. "Sure." With his free arm, he stuck into the armor and managed to locate its vital circuitry. Powering up his fist, the robot exploded in a rainbow fashion from the inside out. "Onto the next one."

One of the drones started firing optic blasts at Iron Man. He ducked out of the way fast enough for the beams to destroy the second drone's drill arm.

Noticing its damage, the drone activated its flamethrower, scorching the armor red hot.

Strained to compose himself, Iron Man jettisoned himself out of the flames towards the enemy. He grabbed the armor's thick hull before tossing into the concrete.

Tony's armor started scanning the downed armor for something. It's HUD then displayed a device within the robot with the Stark logo. Visibly upset, Tony landed on the robot, jabbed his arm into its chest and yanked it out. The lights of the bot's eyes went out. "Mine."

"Look out!" Chromastone called.

Iron Man turned his head to avoid another optic blast and flew upwards. As Chromastone ran over to assist, Iron Man grumbled as more of his repulsors were deflected by the shielding.

Meanwhile, on an overpass, a Hydra Agent managed to regain consciousness. Seeing a blaster and another downed agent next to him, he picked it up and got ready to fire ar Iron Man. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, another shot was heard, and he felt searing pain across his back before falling back to the floor.

The downed Hydra Agent from before crouched with his pistol smoking. He looked at the injured lackey. "Not yet."

Tony grunted in frustration. He tried an energized punch only for it to be blocked by the shields.

Immediately, Chromastone charged into the robot and grabbed hold. As soon as the shield made contact, it began losing power and faded away. The metallic eyes shined at it blasted the stone creature at point-blank range. Chromastone didn't falter; in fact, his strength grew firmer. The crystals in his body glowed brightly. With enhanced strength, the alien hero crushed the metal torso. "Melt this freak!"

Seeing the opening, Iron Man diverted power to his arms, grabbed a hold of its head, and unleashed it all.

With his hands inside the machine, Chromastone unleashed the stored energy as well. The combined forced caused a massive explosion leaving the heroic duo in a cloud of smoke and rubble.

Chromastone dusted his hands in amusement. "That's the last of them."

Tony stretched his arms. "Yeah. Thanks, I guess."

The alien waved it off. "No prob. I always say, when lives are on the line, it's hero time."

Tony chuckled. "Cheesy, but a bit catchy."

The two shared a laugh before loud engines filled the block. Chromastone blinked in surprise. "Uh. What is that?" He pointed upward.

High in the sky, a large airship cast a shadow over the United Nations building.

Tony rolled his eyes at it. "Sure, now you finally get here."

It didn't take long for armored troops to drop from above and surround the heroes. While Iron Man stood ready to fight, Chromastone stood in the sideline, hoping not to provoke anyone.

The apparent leader of the armored squad spoke with authority. "Iron Man and unknown associate, by the authority of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, you are hereby ordered to stand down."

Chromastone crossed his arms and ignore the threat. "Wow. That is a mouthful."

Iron Man shrugged. "I keep telling them that."

The soldier repeated his message. "Both of you, I repeat, stand down, by order of SHIELD."

Helicarrier

The main monitor in the flight desk displayed both individuals. While one screen displayed information about the Iron Man armor, the second screen had numerous errors about the unknown crystal being. However, the screen took note of the hourglass symbol and connected it to reports of the earlier Hulk containment mission.

"Your orders, sir?" asked Maria Hill.

Fury simply raised a brow in interest.

United Nations

Tony sighed in annoyance. "Jarvis, make a note. Remind me not to wake up in the morning ever again."

"Noted, sir," the AI replied.

"How's the uni-beam power level?"

"26.2%. Recharge in progress. With no further energy expenditure, the uni-beam will be available in 2 minutes 42 seconds."

Chromastone walked slowly to Iron Man and tapped his shoulder. "What's their problem?"

Tony gave a hollow laugh. "Hell if I know."

"This is your last warning. Stand down," the commander ordered.

Iron Man scoffed. "Unless you guys are here to thank me for doing your job for you, I'm not in the mood for this."

"Yeah, we just kicked Nazi ass," argued the Alien.

"You'll need to come with us, Iron Man. The same goes for the creature."

"I have a name, you know," grumbled Chromastone.

"I don't think so." Tony narrowed his eyes.

"Are you sure, you know what you're doing?" asked the Alien.

"Uni-beam power is at 52%," the AI updated.

"Jarvis, scan the Mandroids."

The HUD of the Armor scanned several layers of the SHIELD armor before highlighting several pieces. "Alert- seven components of the Mandroid armor are derived from Stark Industries Technology."

"That's some nice armor you got there. Who's your tailor?" Tony mocked.

Helicarrier

"Director Fury, Iron Man just scanned the Mandroid armor. Why would he do that?" reported Hill.

Fury sighed. "Call them back. Tell the Mandroids to stand down. We did not come here to fight Iron Man and his accomplice."

"Sir?" she questioned.

"Do it," commanded Fury.

United Nations

Tony repeated himself and got into a fighting position. "Where did you get that armor?"

"Back away." The troops also got into battle formation.

Chromastone was getting annoyed by these goons only for him to spot movement in the rubble behind them. A familiar green drill raised up high.

Jarvis highlighted the movement as well. "Warning."

"Look out!" "Watch out!" the two heroes warned.

Chromastone and Iron Man quickly charged their hands with energy.

Provoked, the SHIELD operatives retaliated. "Open fire."

While the SHIELD weaponry peppered Iron Man as he raised his arms in defense, Chromastone continued to absorb the energy of the blasts, gathering more energy into his arms. "Get ready!"

Tony strained from the incoming fire. With a free hand, he knocked down two soldiers. "Fire!"

On command, both heroes unleashed massive beams of energy directly into the Hydra Robot. It's metal shell warped from the heat before erupting in a huge explosion, forcing anyone nearby away. The two continued to fire until another explosion occurred. When the light-show stopped, Iron Man got on one knee with his chest smoking. The lights of his eyes dimming.

Chromastone ran to him and supported him to his feet. "You okay, man."

The Armors eyes flickered before he was standing on his own, his system finally rebooted. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

"Good, because I think it's time I made my exit. What about you?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm staying. I've got business to settle with SHIELD." Tony walked to a downed agent. "You all right?" He received only groans of pain. "Good. I need to borrow this." He grabbed onto the helmet and yanked it off cleanly.

"Good luck with that. I'll see you around." Chromastone gave him a thumbs up before flying out of the scene and into obscurity.

It didn't take long for Ben reintegrate with the public and attempt lunch again. He dug into his chicken parma with vigor. Suddenly, the music through his headphones cut off as Azmuth spoke with worry. "I don't like this Ben. This Earth is progressing far faster than it should."

Ben swallowed and wiped his mouth. "I know. Those weapons. That armor. They are level four, possibly level five tech."

"Combine that with their research into Gamma radiation. It seems our suspicions are true that world powers are in the middle of an underground arms race."

Ben nodded solemnly. "Yeah, and I know we're caught in the middle of it."

Stark Tower Labs, Later

Tony stood in his armor on the maintenance platform. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Rhodey. There were three robots this time and guys in robot suits. There was even this crystal guy backing me up. I think he's a relative of The Thing."

Rhodey placed his hands on his waist. "I tried to watch it on TV, but Pepper wouldn't let me.

"She never watches," he said with a shrug.

"I don't need to," she replied smoothly. "I already know you're gonna be late for your meeting."

As Tony walked away from his friends, Rhodey spoke up. "You don't have to do it alone, you know?"

"Do what?" Stark paused.

"All this. Taking on SHIELD. Giant robots. Super-villains. The whole world doesn't have to rest on your shoulders."

"Yeah, it does. I mean, I know you guys are always there for me, but against this?" Tony closed his eyes. "Who's gonna help me?"

"You're not the only one out there protecting others, you know. You said it yourself, that you had help today. Hell, if you gave me armor, I would be out there with you too."

Tony shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe it was only today, but with the way things are going with SHIELD and the world, I can't help but think the only one I can trust to protect you guys is myself." With that, he walked back to his office.

If any of you have any thoughts, please leave it in a review.

Chapter Text

Ben closed the door to his latest search as he'd finally taken care of all Bruce's safehouses. He felt a little guilty of letting Azmuth read the notes, but it was all towards a possible cure for the gamma scientist. Frankly, Ben couldn't trust the information with anyone better. After leaving the building, the hero started his drive home. Unfortunately for him, he was in the middle of rush hour traffic. Ben pressed his forehead against the steering wheel as he had been on the same block for the past 15 minutes. "Why didn't I just fly there?" he muttered.

In the Omnitrix, Azmuth was overlooking a model of Bruce's DNA. "Because that would be an irresponsible use of my greatest creation. Also, you mentioned wanting to use the car to relax."

"It's counterproductive at this point. I am regretting myself already." He reached for the radio to search for any music to pass the time. Over the static, he heard a subtle thump, raising a brow when the sound grew louder. Eyes shifted to the rear-view mirror before widening at the scene. One by one, cars were being launched into the air, and the cause was heading towards him. "Oh, crap!" Thinking quickly, he dived out of the car door before his Nissan suffered the same fate as the others.

The aggressor turned out to be a green tornado, not even slowing down. "Out of the way, jackasses!" a male voice called out. He wasn't remotely trying to be subtle.

Ben glared at the person. He was about to go after him until he heard moaning behind him. Turning around, he saw the aftermath of the tornado's warpath. Unfortunately, a number of people were still trapped in their overturned vehicles. Some of the pedestrians either ran away or tried to help the people out of their vehicles. As much as Ben wanted to chase after him, there were more important things at stake. Making a quick detour to an alleyway, Ben went into action.

With an emerald flash, a large winged creature hovered into the street. It was a green insect-like body with four legs and two arms. The most distinguishing features were the has four yellow pedunculated eyes from the sides of his head and the large black stinger. It wore a green sleeveless jumpsuit with black lining with the Omnitrix symbol on the top of his forehead. "Hang on, Stinkfly coming to the rescue. Azmuth, contact EMTs to our location."

"Calls in progress now," the AI replied back.

The Omnitrix Weilder touched down at the nearest overturned car. Unsurprisingly, the appearance of a giant green bug scared away some of those trying to help. "Well, that could have been handled better." Wafting away the smoke, he looked inside to see the disoriented driver. Stinkfly attempted to open the door, but the locks were jammed. Not wanting to rip the door off its hinged, he raised his stinger to smash through the window.

It seemed that the breaking glass was enough for the woman inside to snap out of it. She turned her head to the sound. Her eyes widened in fear, and she began screaming hysterically. "Ahhh! What the hell! Stay back!."

Caught off guard, Stinkfly took a step back with his hand up in a defensive manner. "Woah. Woah. Calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you." As expected, she continued to scream. He sighed in annoyance and slowly reached into the vehicle. "Stay still."

The woman froze but mostly in fear of the approaching creature. A black clawed hand went by her face, so she closed her eyes, hoping for a quick death. Said eyes immediately snapped open at a clicking sound and her body dropping.

Stinkfly had unbuckled her seatbelt and carried her out of the vehicle and onto the sidewalk. When he put her down, she scooted away while still staring at the alien hero. He sighed once more. "Listen. No one is going to hurt you. You're safe, now. Stay here. Medics are on the way."

She slowly nodded, dumbfounded by her current situation.

To his left, a siren wailed as an ambulance arrived, and the crew exited the vehicle. While a few were wary of the green insect handling one of the injured, one of them wasn't even fazed and walked to the two. "I can take care of her from here..."

Ben moved to the side to let her do her magic. "Thanks. Stinkfly by the way."

"Jane Foster." She brought a light to the woman's eyes to check her dilation. "We received a call about a Code blue. I take it that the supervillain hasn't been stopped yet."

He shook his head. "I saw him, but I had to stay behind to help those who were trapped."

"Thank you for your assistance. Continue to open the other cars." She turned to her crew "Jake, bring out the Jaws of Life!"

With that taken care of, Ben moved onto the next vehicle. "One down. Several more to go."

Meanwhile at the Cornell University, NYC Division, Entomology Building

The campus bell rang through the university as a brunette looks at butterflies in a cage. She walked through the quiet room glancing at even more insects for studies. Janet sighed. "This is sad, Hank. I'm the one that makes all this possible, you know?" She held her hand to the room. "This- This-"

"Science," the blonde man in a lab coat interjected. His eyes never left the microscope in front of him.

"Right. All the business arrangements. The grants." Her tone became more dejected. "I manage your entire life so you can do this. And it's so boring. So boring," she relented with a frown.

"Jan." Hank pointed to his work. "I'm mapping insect genomes." He went back to work. "What could be better?"

Before Janet could answer, the building shook. She looked out the window for the source. "Did you hear something?"

Down below, a man was walking down the sidewalk when the double doors next to him burst open with a green tornado speeding through.

The interruption was big enough to pause Hank's work, removing his eyes from the microscope. "What was that?" He turned around to ask his girlfriend only to find her empty suitcase and her clothes strewn on the desk by the open window. "Jan?"

Outside

The green tornado continues its destructive path, sending cars flying out of the street. From behind, Janet comes flying in a black and yellow suit, much small than before.

Her comm rang with Hank on the other line. "Jan, where did you go? I just replicated an ant chromosome. It's amazing."

"That's awesome, Hank," she replied sarcastically. "Got to fly now!" Janet chased the disturbance. Both of her hands glowed with yellow energy. Brining her fists together unleashed a beam at the tornado. Unfortunately, it managed to dodge out of the way and began weaving around the traffic. After a minute, Janet hovered to catch her breath, noticing a shadow cast over her. Looking up, her eyes widened in shock. "That is one big bug."

"Look out, bumblebee!"

The giant green insect descended down and grabbed one of the cars flying in her direction. As it settled the vehicle and its driver on the sidewalk, the green tornado started attacking Janet. She held her arms up. Both her and Stinkfly tried to resist the tremendous gale winds.

Puckering, the Alien hero shot globs of green slime from his eyestalks at the center of the tornado's cone.

Finally, the winds died down. The tornado dissipated, revealing a green armored being with several blades. He wiped the slime off his armor in disgust. "Gross!" He narrowed his eyes at Janet. "Did you just shoot this crap at me?"

"Uh, it was that guy." She pointed behind the crook.

Turning around, he finally got a good look at the green insect. "What the hell is that?!"

Janet chimed in at the ready. "Not gonna lie. I was asking myself the same thing."

The newcomer shrugged at the cute heroine and the criminal. "For the record, the name's Stinkfly. What? You've never seen a hero before?"

Wasp raised a brow. "Forgive me if I say you stand out from the rest. By the way, it's Wasp, not Bumblebee."

The armored man huffed and started laughing at the absurdity of the situation before pointing at them. "Really, this is the best the world can throw at me. Literal bugs?! Facing me was a mistake." He got up close to Wasp, causing her to back away. "Nobody messes with Whirlwind."

Janet glared at him back. She charged both of her hands and flew around him taking potshots at his armor.

"Whirlwind? So what, you just woke up and thought you'd trash some college lab?"

Stinkfly cocked an eyestalk. "Really? This entire mess was about him attacking a school?"

She fired another blast and nodded to him. "Yup. Gotta say, not very ambitious. I was expecting a bank robbery or something."

The wind stirred around Whirlwind's lower half as he dodged several of their attacks. "Not very ambitious? Trashing that lab just made me a millionaire."

Stinkfly smirked. "Would you look at that? We got a confession and a hint to an accomplice." He tapped the Omnitrix, and Whirlwind's words replayed.

Janet smirked. "Nice job, Stinky. He just saved the cops the trouble of interrogation after we take him down."

Realizing his slip up, Whirlwind attempted to grab her, but she slipped through his grasp.

Stinkfly shot more slime, slowing Whirlwind's movements even more. "Light him up!"

Wasp raised both arms and sent multiple bolts at the sluggish crook. As soon as the energy came into contact with the slime, it exploded into flames. Being at the center sent him flying into the asphalt.

Stinkfly flew to her and raised his claw in a high five gesture. "Nice one." She returned it in kind. He then went down and attempted to restrain the man with more goop and his legs. Unfortunately, for Ben, Whirlwind regained his bearings start spinning again, sending Stinkfly away.

Wasp flew higher to get a better vantage. She was about to ignite the remaining sludge only to look down in shock. Whirlwind was flying right at her, putting her in the blast zone.

From behind, Stinkfly managed to recover and slammed his stinger into his side, allowing Wasp to maneuver out of the way. Seeing the crook stagger, she found her opening. With another energy blast, she aimed it at the only unarmored part of his body: his eyes.

A bright light filled his vision as Whirlwind yelled in pain and fell to the ground on his back.

"That's gonna leave a mark," grunted Stinkfly.

Janet laned on his face mask. "He's fine, relatively speaking."

The crook pushed himself back up. "If that's how you want to play? Let's play!" The fight went mobile again as Whirlwind chased down Wasp through the streets with Stinkfly not far behind.

As the fight was happening, an NYPD squad car drove down the street to the disturbance. "This is unit 4-10, en route to a possible code blue, over." The officers gasped at the incoming supers.

"Get out of the way!" yelled Stinkfly. The vehicled broke hard and turned left. While Wasp pulled upward, Whirlwind pushed forward full force. His rotating body cut right through the engine block like butter without even fazing.

Seeing that they were alright, Stinkfly waved an apology to the frozen officers. "Sorry!"

Wasp turned to her pursuer with Stinkfly attempting to grab him. "Look at you. You're blowing it. You can do so much more with your powers. You can blend giant drinks. Or cool people off in hot weather."

"I was thinking more along the lines of powering wind turbines." Stinkfly thrust his stinger to his arm. "But, I would totally pay to have someone blend a smoothie with his bare hands." Thinking of a new plan, he flew to the rooftops.

"See? So many uses. Instead, you're just going to the big house," concluded Wasp. She turned a corner and paused. "Whoa." Wasp quickly got out of the way.

Whirlwind turned his head back in confusion until he got a good look in front of him. "Huh? Hah? What? What is that?" He was heading right into a large swarm of bugs enough to make a cloud. Immediately, the swarm bit him all over his body as he screamed in pain.

Knowing exactly who was responsible, Wasp looked behind to the person in question. "Let me guess. An ant told you what was going on."

In front of her, Hank in his super suit was riding an ant. "A termite, actually. He was in the sonics lab when it happened."

Hearing the screams, Stinkfly flew back down to Wasp. "Looks like you got it handled. Thanks, ant-person. Name's Stinkfly." Ben was really intrigued at how the heroes in front of him could shrink like Nanomech.

"Yeah, Hank finally got out of the lab." Turning back to her boyfriend, she asked, "Why was he in the sonics lab? Did this guy steal something?" Stinkfly took note of the possibility.

She received no reply as Hank simply stared at the alien hero. "My God! You are a magnificent specimen!" He flew grew back to normal size and began picking and prodding his newest discovery. He pulled out a tape measure from his belt and started examining Stinkfly. "The wingspan. The antenna-like eyes. How did you evolve to be quadruped? Where have you been hiding all my life."

Stinkfly blanched. "This got uncomfortable real fast."

"You really are sapient!" Hank exclaimed. "Tell me, are you gamma induced or naturally evolved?"

"Natural?" Stinkfly answered warily.

Janet snapped her fingers in Ant-Man's face. "Hank, focus. You can talk to Stinkfly later."

In the background, Whirlwind shook his head as a swarm of ants attacked having him let out a scream.

He sighed at having to forcefully push back his scientific enthusiasm. With a deep breath, he got his mind back on the situation at hand. "Listen, Jan, we don't need to be here. We should leave this to the authorities. They can rehabilitate him, he could be a valuable member of society."

Stinkfly gestured behind them. "The dude sliced through a cop car and left then in the dust."

Wasp rolled her eyes at Hank. "I'm not saying we won't give him to the police after to be rehabilitated. As Stinkfly said, I'm saying that the police can't handle him while he's loose. Hank, it's up to people like us to stop him and then let the professionals poke his brain."

Stinkfly interjected. "I highly doubt that New York is equipped with a Superhuman Swat Team for these situations."

Hank forced his questions for Stinkfly down his throat. "That's why we have SHIELD."

"And if no one arrives on time?" asked Janet.

Hank didn't answer. "Regardless, this isn't the best use of our time."

Stinkfly crossed his arms. "The civilians who got their stuff wrecked would beg to differ."

Wasp did the same. "You're wrong. This is the best use of our time. This is what we should be doing. Using our abilities, your inventions, to help people."

"Science helps people. Not fighting," Hank retorted.

"I mean, you're not wrong, but someone still needs to neutralize the threat." the Alien asked.

Hank groaned in annoyance.

Janet huffed in frustration. "Ugh! You're not getting it!"

Stinkfly turned his head back to Whirlwind to see him get more agitated with the wind picking up. "Uh, guys." He spat out more of his goop, only for the cook to move even faster.

The other two were too heated in their conversation to notice. Hank frowned at Janet. "No, I am getting it. You're not trained for this kind of thing, and I don't want you to get hurt. This isn't a-"

"Will everyone just shut up!" A large gust blew away the swam, revealing the enraged man. "Buzzblade Blast!" He extended his arms and rotated, releasing several buzzsaw-like blades at supersonic speeds.

Stinkfly did a 180 and used his stinger as a makeshift shield to deflect each hit.

Hank shrunk down, narrowly missing. He looked to his girlfriend in fear. "Jan!"

Wasp took things a step further and took them head-on. Wasp expertly dodged the first two and smashed through the last ones. Satisfied, Wasp flew to a cab and grew to normal size unscathed.

"No way," muttered Whirlwind in disbelief. That was his fastest attack.

Hank stared at his girlfriend. "Whoa." Stinkfly nodded in approval.

Whirlwind dashed to her. Her hand glowed yellow before bringing it up to Whirlwind's helmet. "Aah!" A yellow blast hits him hard, forcing him on his back.

Stinkfly and Ant-Man to them before facing Wasp.

"I know it's not a game, Hank. But I can do more than make money and take meetings. Together we can do more. And we can have fun doing it," Wasp said as her wings came up and she hovered as she shrank.

Stinkfly smiled. "Wow. What a woman."

Hank smirked. "Yup..."

The alien bent over and started patting down Whirl Wind. He eventually found a pop-out compartment and pulled out a strange device. "Huh. Think this came from the university?" He handed it to Wasp.

She looked it over but couldn't make heads or tails of it before giving it to Hank.

"Hm..." The man was making connections in his head regarding it and the sonics lab. It reminded him of the rifle he encountered in Africa. Hank decided to set it aside for later when he had more resources. It took him a moment to realize that he was free to talk to their insect associate. "Now that distractions are out of the way, I can get down to business." He grinned in excitement at Stinkfly and began examining his clawed hands. "Where are you from? Does your species lay eggs or produce larvae? What reproductive organs do you have?"

"Hank?!" chastised Janet at his invasive actions.

Stinkfly backed up and stared at the overeager scientist before clicking his tongue. "And that's my cue to leave."

Hank's eyes widened in fear of losing his opportunity. "No! Wait! I need to study you!"

"Really not helping your case. Later Ant-Man, Wasp!" With a gust of air, the alien hero took to the skies.

"Come back!" Hank yelled to the retreating form. He shrunk down and hopped back onto an ant. "Follow that quadruped!" he commanded.

Seeing Hank's obsessive behavior surface again, Janet sighed. "Dammit, Hank. Leave the talking bug alone!" 'Huh. Never thought I'd have to say that.'

"Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of science!" With that, Ant-Man flew away in pursuit of his curiosity.

Wasp looked down at the knocked out Whirlwind and sighed. "Fine. I guess I'll be the one to call SHIELD. He so owes me for this."

SHIELD Helicarrier, 1 Hour Later

Nick Fury walked into the room. "Dr. Pym, SHIELD thanks you for lending a hand in taking Whirlwind down."

Hank looked to Fury. "Uh, well, I-"

"Ahem." Wasp cleared her throat bumping her hip into Hank's.

"Well, actually, it was Jan and a sentient insect who took him down." Hank frowned. "I still can't believe I let him escape. An entirely new species fell into my lap, and I lose him."

Fury made a contemplative expression. "I see... We have received similar reports about the creature earlier today. He was assisting EMTs with civilians." He pressed a button for the nearby screen. "Tell me. Do either of you recognize this symbol?"

Janet raised a brow and nodded. "Yeah. Stinkfly, the bug guy, had it on his forehead. Why?"

Fury noted that. "I'm sure the two of you had heard of Iron Man's confrontation with Hydra at the UN building."

Hank shrugged. "Mr. Stark may not be in my field, but his work is impressive."

"I heard that The Thing helped fight them off," added Janet

Fury shook his head. "Not exactly." The screen changed to show a purple rock and crystalline being along with a large bipedal reptile. "I contacted the Baxter Building, and Mr. Grimm denied any relation. As you can see, these strange creatures have something in common: said symbol."

"So, what? You think there's some sort of Monster Association?" scoffed Wasp.

"Well, from what Jan and I saw, the insect seemed nice," added Hank.

"Yeah, when you weren't picking at prodding his wings and claws."

"Maybe they do mean well, but I don't like unknowns. With the abilities I've seen these creatures perform, it's better for us to be safe than sorry. One of them was associating with the Hulk before his detainment."

The two heroes were surprised by the fact.

Fury smirked as he turned around. "Maybe you should come work for me and look into this matter, Ms. Van Dyne. The Wasp, agent of SHIELD."

Wasp smiled. "I like it. Maybe we'll get to see more of these guys."

"Sorry, but I have to decline that offer." Hank sighed at that as they made their way to the front of the Heli-Carrier.

"Hey, I think I can see my penthouse from here," Wasp said looking out the glass front.

"I appreciate the information, Director, but I'd like to get a status report on the Big House Facility," Hank said as he turned to face Fury. "I'm a little concerned, frankly."

The Director waved it off. "The Big House is secure, Doctor. Everything is fine."

"I'm sure we have different definitions of 'fine' for it. I created it to help people whose genetics have been altered. They need cures, and criminals need rehabilitation, not punishment. I can't help, but notice that not a single person has been discharged yet."

"This is simply SHIELD policy. I'm not against helping these people, but help is a two-way street. If they aren't willing to try and get better, it's out of my hands. You have to trust us. With what these guys are capable of, containment is the only option left. In any case, I would much rather talk about the two of you."

Elsewhere

Ben gave Ant-Man the slip by transforming into Nanomech out of sight. Thankfully, he got his car towed back to his storage unit. It had been a long day, so he kicked back and relaxed in his apartment. "Hey, Azmuth, what did you think of those guys today?"

The Omnitrix projected his mentor's image. "From what I observed, the duo displayed intriguing shrinking abilities. While the male's appeared to be from an outside source, the female's seemed to come from her own body."

"So like Nanomech?"

"Not exactly. I would need more time to look over the data I collected to understand their process. I would assume a form of body modification given her wings."

"What about that Whirlwind guy?"

"It appears we encountered another meta-human that this Earth designates as Mutants. I found similar genetic markers in him to those we encountered on our journey here. The variety of its effects is staggering."

Ben frowned. "They really have a bad rep. I hope Emma is doing alright."

"Based on what little she's told you, she has been through a lot in her life. In any case, I am concerned with the device that was stolen.

"Why? What was it?"

"During the brief time that you held it, I got a preliminary scan." He projected the small device with a round end. "In layman's terms, it's a Sonic Weapon. My diagnosis indicates it absorbs sound and can release it in a variety of concentrations.

"So, they practically made a Sonorosian."

"Indeed," lamented Azmuth. Ben looked at the window, and the AI lightened up. "Dark times may be ahead for this Earth, but I trust you will make the right decisions."

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Stinkfly

Species: Lepidopterran A

Home World: Lepidopterra

Powers and Abilities:

Lepidopterran type A's possesses four insectoid wings that allow quick and agile flying. They can excrete high pressured streams of liquid from the pollen ducts located inside of his eyestalks and mouth. These liquids can be both a flammable toxin or an immobilizing adhesive. In some cases, they can emit a powerful herbicide. Their black stinger-like tail can tear and rend through steel near effortlessly. Their eyestalks allow 360-degree vision. The exoskeletal body is also fairly strong, allowing him to survive above-average situations. Similar to insects on Earth, they have great strength in proportion to his body, even while flying.

Chapter Text

The Garage

It's been a few days since the Whirlwind incident, and Ben finally had time to renovate his new home and work on other projects. At this moment, the alien hero was finalizing the repairs and upgrades on his car. A small red goblin-like alien was working on the engine block. He wore an aviator's outfit with an ascot and the Omnitrix symbol is now on his waist. "FIX FIX FIX FIX FIX!" Nuts and bolts flew everywhere in the gremlin's excitement.

"I believe you should stop while you are ahead," chastised Azmuth.

"Aw. Come on," groaned Juryrigg. "A little more, and I can double energy efficiency."

"While I admire the creativity and utility of your work, estimated stability would drop below 80%." Azmuth sighed. "I would have preferred if you had used your Greymatter transformation. Call it bias, but I trust Galvan ingenuity more."

"Greymatter is great with science and other high-tech stuff, but this guy is good for immediate results. This is just the prototype, and I'll revise the design later. Besides, Juryrigg is more fun." The Goblin cackled with glee.

Azmuth looked around the room at the various other experiments and prototypes. "I've noticed."

With one final adjustment, Juryrigg stood with glee. "Pull the lever, Azmuth!"

The AI rolled his digital eyes and sent the respective console commands.

The car's dashboard lit up as its fusion engine went online. A few seconds later, the wheels glowed neon blue and rotated to face the ground. The elevation of the car stabilized, completing the hover conversion.

The red devil jumped in glee. "Hell yeah!"

Azmuth simply chuckled. "While this form of propulsion is still primitive to most off-world civilizations, you did well with the resources at hand." The Omnitrix sounded with a ping. "Hmm. I'm detecting reports of superhuman criminal activities."

Juryrigg dropped what he was doing and looked at him in anticipation. "Where's it at?"

The screen on the wall lit up with a map of the city and its target location. "About 7 miles due south."

The red devil grinned at his devices. "Looks like it's time for a test run!"

The Docks

Several workers were strewn around the area. The laborers and security didn't put up any resistance.

A wrecking ball swings at a wooden shipping crate, opening it without damaging the contents. "Uh, this is it. This is what the boss wanted." Thunderball says to Wrecker. "A Gamma Energy Emitter. Stark may have stopped making weapons, but he still makes all kinds of good stuff." The wrecker is interrupted by the sirens.

Wrecker looks down to see they have police and S.W.A.T. arriving. "Get your toy, Thunderball. It's time to go," he orders.

SWAT vans and police cruisers screeched to a halt. Many officers deployed in a defensive formation, waiting for the threat to appear. "Spread out. Weapons hot." To their surprise, they didn't expect someone coming from above.

Piledriver jumped onto a police car, crushing it easily.

"Contact!"

The villain proceeded to tear off its hood and throw it at a SWAT member.

"Officer down!" called out the Captain of the squad. In the corner of his eye, another threat came. "We've got another one!"

Out of nowhere, Bulldozer began charging towards them.

The squad fired at the man, but the bullets just bounced off his body. "Out of the way!"

The man in orange rammed headfirst into two cruisers, sending them flying through the air.

In a similar fashion, Wrecker comes in, unfazed by their weapons. He swung his custom crowbar at an officer and SWAT, launching them into nearby walls. With another overhead swing, he demolishes another car taking our three more officers. Whoever was left standing tried to retreat to no avail.

Just as Wrecker was about to crack a few more skulls, he heard something. [All aboard! Hahahahaha.] It was faint music in the background. The drums and guitar riffs grew louder by the second. "Is that ?" Following it, their eyes widened at the sight of a bloody demon using a gun as an air guitar while riding a rocket that was headed right toward them.

"I'm going off the rails on a crazy train!" Juryrigg screamed. With the trajectory set, he backflipped off, activating a glider jetpack hybrid.

Acting fast, Thunderball whipped out his chains to divert the attack. He managed to strike it, but that was what the little imp wanted as the resulting explosion filled the area with smoke. They heard a loud cackling from all around.

"Hahahaha." As the air cleared, Juryriigg stood atop a shipping container with his own bootleg Proto-Tool. He looked at all the downed officers and frowned. Medics were already on route, but he needed to stall them from hurting anyone else on their escape. "Guess I'll have to bring you guys in." He strapped on a set of combat goggles and primed his gun. "It's showtime!"

Wrecker grit his teeth at their new nuisance. "Get the bastard!"

Piledriver sprinted to the alien, hands ready to strangle him as the alien shot a flurry of energy blasts. He expected to run through them with ease, but Piledriver was caught off guard when his arm and leg muscles started to spasm, sending him crashing into a wall. The man struggled to look up at the laughing devil.

"Hehehehe. It took me a while to get the right taser voltage." Juryrigg jumped to the ground and flipped a switch before firing his rifle, trapping the thug in an energy net. "Hope this will hold."

Bulldozer dug his feet into the concrete. "The hell is that thing?"

Wrecker jumped onto a roof. "Don't know. Don't care."

"Isn't it obvious it's a demon. I've seen a tall blue one just like him on the internet." The green-clad Thunderball took aim with the Gamma Energy Emitter and fired. "Bye. Bye."

With wide eyes, the imp held up his tool in defense, projecting a yellow shield. Tilting back, he managed to redirect the energy to the sky. Any clouds that made contact with the beam were re-evaporated, leaving a distinct hole in the middle. Regaining composure, Jurryrigg dove left and took to the air. He continued to evade the Gamma emissions, positioning himself so the open ocean would be behind him. Once he was in range, he aimed his rifle.

Thunderball dropped the gun and wound up his ball and chain. Timing it just right, he sent out his weapon like an oversized yo-yo, slamming it into the little monster's armored stomach and launching him into a distant shipping crate. After freeing Piledriver, the four converged on the brat's trail only to find nothing.

The metal head crushed a nearby container. "Where'd he go?"

Wrecker growled in frustration. "Forget him. We've wasted enough time. Thunderball, get the package. We're getting out of here."

Meanwhile, Juryrigg crawled behind a pile of wrecked police cars, rubbing his side. "Oh... Gonna feel that later." In the corner of his eye, he saw the various mechanical internals, and his imagination went wild. "Ooh." Ignoring the pain, the little devil pulled out various tools and parts from his pack and quickly got to work. "Reassemble! FIX FIX FIX FIX FIX!"

Hearing the commotion, Thunderball turned the corner, ready for a fight with the rest of the crew not far behind. However, they were not expecting what he found. They didn't know how, but somehow, the little prick was controlling a walker with clawed arm guns, a mini makeshift ED-209 with police decal. The digitized voice caught them off guard.

"Please put down your weapons. You have twenty seconds to comply. Come quietly or there will be... trouble." The mech with its devil pilot took a stance, ready for attack.

"You gotta be kidding me..." Thunderball stared dumbfounded.

Ben cackled with laughter. "Time to protect and serve."

"He's just messing with us. There's no way that thing actually works." Wrecker jumped into the air, gaining momentum, before slamming his crowbar toward the hull. "Suck on this!"

With speed and precision, the mechanized construction grabbed the other end of the weapon. Moving with the momentum of the swing and applying his superior leverage, he diverted the attack, sending the man crashing into Piledriver. "Thank you for your cooperation." Raising both arms, he fired a volley of rockets and energy blasts going in their direction, knocking away the crew.

"You're having too much fun with this," his Omnitrix voiced quietly.

"Oh, relax, Azmuth. I got this." He made several hits, but two of the crew were trying to power through. Bulldozer tanked as many hits as he could with Thunderball tailing behind him, causing Juryrigg to hit all the buttons at once. "I need more power!"

Bulldozer weaved through as best he could. As they came close, Thunderball jumped off his shoulders while Bulldozer went full charge.

Juryrigg took to the controls with the mech trying to grapple onto the man, but the just kept pushing through, digging metal shoes into the road. At the same time, Thunderball swung his wrecking ball downward. Pulling a ripcord, Juryrigg narrowly ejected to safety. The metal sphere crushed the cockpit, and Bulldozer smashed it into the side of a building. The little devil scurried the shipping crates. "Ugh. Me and my fat mouth." He pulled out his proto-tool and adjusted the settings once more. Hearing a siren in the distance, he knew where he needed to be.

At that moment, an ambulance pulled into the scene. A brunette EMT quickly exited the vehicle and bravely began to treat wounded officers. She looked at the scene. The officers didn't stand a chance against the superpowered individuals. Many of them were injured. She took out her medical kit and moved to the closest officer. She applied a neck brace and turned to her assistant for help. "I need your help. Come on."

The other EMT wasn't in the same calm mindset, refusing to leave the vehicle. "No. No way. This is crazy."

Wrecker and his crew soon crossed paths with the pair on their way out. Seeing her try to help the cops, he crossed his arms. "Would you look at that, more witnesses." He turned to the others. "Take care of 'em."

Thunderball smirked and aimed the Gamma Energy Emitter right at them and the wounded. "Let's see what this thing can do." He chuckled as the emitter powers up.

Ben needed to act fast or else the entire emergency response crew would be vaporized. He prepped his grappler, only for them all to flinch at the sudden crash of thunder. "Huh?" He turned to the Wrecking crew only to see an object shooting through the air and striking the emitter. However, it didn't stop there. The object continued to ram Thunderball into several shipping containers. As the dust clouds cleared, he could clearly see a hammer flying back to its owner, buff blond warrior in strange armor.

A clap of thunder sounds once more. "Move back mortals!" the newcomer bellows. "Thor the Thunderer will deal with these villains."

"This is unexpected," noted Azmuth. "I've read reports, but I held my reservations on the matter."

Juryrigg blinked at the appearance of the god of thunder. "Huh. A real-life Deus ex machine."

"That would depend on your definition of a god. He has DNA. That much I can tell."

Dropping to the ground, Thor backhanded Bulldozer into a stack of containers with his hammer, cracking the criminal's helmet.

Seeing this, the rest of the Wrecking Crew split up.

"Well, he certainly fits the description to me." Juryrigg dropped to the floor ground near the supposed god. "Uh... Thanks for the help."

With the crew on the run, Thor looked to his left and met eyes with the alien hero with curiosity. "Worry not, creature. I saw your earlier fray against the ne'er-do-wells along with the Midgardian's work." He gestured to the woman working with the others. "I must say, I was not aware Goblins lived in this part of Midgard."

Juryrigg looked up at the thunder god in return. "Eh, it's an okay place to live. Personally, I'm surprised you're blond. I thought you had red hair?"

Thor shook his head at the reason in his head and didn't answer. "Regardless, Thor will handle it from here." As he went back into the fray, he mumbled the name of the man in question.

As much as Ben wanted to see Thor in action, there were more important tasks at hand. Scampering his way to the ambulance, he accidentally caused a bit of a scare.

"Oh, Jesus!" The EMT flinched at the sight of the red devil, haphazardly forming her arms in a cross shape. "Stay back, demon. He's not dead yet."

Her assistant still in the vehicle quickly locked the doors and hugged the medical kit. "

Juryrigg held his hands up in a placating manner. "Woah, woah, woah! I'm not a demon, I swear."

"Isn't that what a demon would say?" She steadied herself and calmed down a bit. She was skeptical of the being before her. She scanned the little imp until her eyes landed on his belt buckle. "Wait a minute. That symbol. You're with that giant talking bug, Stinkfly!"

The alien shrugged to ease the tension. "Yeah. He and I are friends of sorts."

She eyed him critically for any sign of maliciousness only to find nothing. Sighed in relief, she continued to work on her patient. "That's somewhat comforting." The woman rubbed her forehead. "Sorry. I've seen a lot in this city, but you're a first."

He pointed in the distance. "You've seen Norse Gods before?"

"Point taken." She applied a splint to the man's broken arm after setting the bones. "So, what's you're name?"

"Just call me Juryrigg, Jane."

She gave him a confused look. "Did Stinkfly mention me to you?"

"Something like that, but the real giveaway was your ID badge." His gaze drifted to the man curled up in the ambulance. "Uh, is your friend gonna be okay."

Jane finished applying gauze to a thigh. "He's in a little shock on his first superhuman assignment. He'll be fine in a few hours."

"If you say so. Anyways, I'll help get everyone prepped for your care. I think I saw a few of them trapped in their vans."

She nodded in approval before they heard a loud crash deeper into the shipyard. "Thanks, but aren't you gonna help that Thor guy with the Wrecking Crew."

Juryrigg waved off her concern. "These guys are more urgent. Besides, I'm sure Thor has everything under control."

Meanwhile

"Sit your ass down, pretty boy!" Piledriver ran up to him and landed a series of heavy punches on the Thunderer's abdomen.

However, Thor wasn't going down that easy. He countered the next swing with his hammer ramming against the Piledriver's stomach, leaving him to crumble to his knees wheezing. While he downed one wrecker, a crowbar met his back, knocking Thor to his knees.

The Wreckers are known for beating their victims while they're down, and it was no surprise that Wrecker griped his crowbar and bashed Thor flying out of view. The man laughed. "We won't be seeing him again."

Thunderball pointed in the direction Thor went. "Uh, we might have to try something else." To their surprise, Thor didn't stay down for long.

A sudden thought came to Bulldozer as he ran back to the ship. "Keep em busy, guys. I've got an idea."

The God of Thunder flew back into the battle in full force, raising his hammer crackling with lightning. Seeing his targets, he swung his ancient weapon against the mortals. As Thunderball crashed into another set of shipping containers, Wrecker barely reacted in time to block the strike with his crowbar. The two glared at each other as they pressed forward, neither willing to give the other an inch.

"Surrender now, and I will show mercy," Thor grunted.

"That makes one of us!" Wrecker jammed a knee into Thor's gut. He swung his crowbar with more force than last time, sending Thor crashing against the base of a loading crane.

Thunderball got back to his feet, recovering from Thor's attack. He looked back at the combatants, seeing Thor getting throttled by Wrecker. Taking a good look at the environment, he saw his golden opportunity. He swung his wrecking ball into the nearby crane's support beam. Metal creaked and cables snapped as a shipping container and the crane itself falls on top of the hero, him raising his hands to support the debris

The rogue's attack didn't let up. Surprising the rest of the crew, Bulldozer descended from the sky with a large vehicle in his grasps. "You think you can beat Bulldozer? But can you handle the Road Rollah!" The large yellow machine crashed atop of Thor and everything else with a resounding boom.

"Urgh!" Thor huffed at the added force as he attempted to push it back.

Bulldozer snarled at the resistance. "It's too late! You cannot escape!. It's useless!" His Gamma enhanced strength and speed rushed against the vehicle, effectively compacting the metal and man below. "Dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada! I'll flatten you!" With a final punch, the engine of the road roller explodes. The cylinders press down on the metal, compacting it several feet and engulfing the Thunder God beneath with smoke billowing in the wind.

The area went silent as they all started to process what happened.

"Holy crap!" exclaimed Piledriver.

Bulldozer jumped off and breathed raggedly. "I did it. It's over."

Wrecker smiled in shock. "I can't believe that worked."

"Thanks. I just thought of it just now, really."

"Where'd you even find that thing?" asked Thunderball.

"Spotted it while we were going through the shipping crates earlier."

With that, the gang laughed at their apparent victory. "The dud was such a blowhard. The Mighty Thor? Ha!. More like a mighty big idi-" Wrecker was cut off as the pile of flattened metal exploded into pieces. "God damn!"

A Hammer shot from the rubble and struck Bulldozer and Thunderball. Not even the others were spared as the impact shockwave affected them too.

By the time Thor cleared himself of the debris, he was face to face with the leader once more. However, he wasn't alone. "Back off, blondie or Florence Nightingale here is gonna get the worst headache of her life." Wrecker held Jane Foster in a chokehold, edges of his crowbar pressed against her neck.

Thor glared at the thug willing to use a civilians life to save his own. "Have you no honor?"

Wrecker smirked and pressed the weapon a little harder. "Not even a little."

Thor crossed his arms. "Then you should be familiar with attacking a foe from behind."

"Huh?" Wrecker turned his head, to see the flying hammer closing in on him. He released the woman to get out of the way, but his body was soon stunned and filled with pain. With no escape, the hammer slammed into his face, sending him flying and knocking out against a wall.

Jane breathed in relief with a strange device in her left hand. "I guess he was right about that." She got back to her feet walked up to Thor. "Thank you. I don't know what else I could have done there."

From around the corner, Juryrigg ran into the two while lifting a man over his shoulders. "Hey, I got the last one here." Getting a clearer view, he blinked at the sight of Thor and the unconscious criminal. "Oh, crap. You okay?"

She waved off his concern and gestured to the god. "Don't worry. I'm fine thanks to him."

Thor decided to interject. "I appreciate your gratitude, but I am confused. Unlike the creature, you have no powers, no armor, no weapons, and yet I saw you risk your life to help the wounded. Why?"

The EMT was amused by his reaction "Because they needed my help, so I helped them." She gestured to herself. "I'm a paramedic. It's what I do. I'm Jane. Jane Foster."

Juryrigg knew that look in Thor's eye, and he smirked, letting the two have their moment.

The Thunderer admired her conviction. "I- I am-"

Suddenly, Thor is interrupted by a booming voice and a bright blue light. "Thor!" The light swirls to form some sort of portal above the two. The portal revealed a man dressed similarly to Thor, but with a horned helmet and wielded an axe.

Ben blinked at the appearance of another Norse figure. "I was not expecting more to show up."

Seeing his longtime friend, Thor stood up straighter. "What news do you bring, Heimdall?"

"I bring a grim message from thy father, Odin!" Heimdall bellowed. "He calls you home! Asgard is under siege!" He points behind him to a city beyond what looks to be a rainbow bridge.

Before Thor could reply, Juryrigg interjected. "Hold up. Is he talking about Asgard, the real Asgard?!"

The God of Thunder gave him a confused look. "Yes?"

"Isn't that the place with Valkyries and endless feats with mutton?"

"Um. Yes. Valhalla is one of the many halls of our kingdom, reserved for the mightiest of warriors."

Juryrigg licked his lips at the thought of god-tier food. "Mightiest warriors, huh? Hm... Say, if this is a round trip, you need some help with those invaders?"

Heimdall raised a brow at the interruption. "Thor, who is this imp?"

"I have only met him today, not even knowing his name, but the gremlin has a good heart." Thor smiled. "From the sound of it, he wishes to prove his valor in the defense of our home." Thor bent a knee to look at the small alien on an even level. "While I admire your vigor, I don't believe someone of your capabilities is up to the task."

Ben crossed his arms in a challenging posture. "Oh, really?" A flash of green light instantly engulfs the imp and soon fades away. In gremlin's place was a large sasquatch-like creature with yellow and black fur. The most surprising thing was that he was already posing. His arms were horizontal above his head, emphasizing his bicep and abdominal muscles. He grinned in delight. "How about now?"

Jane Foster's eyes blinked in shock for more reasons than one. First there was a ripped thunder god. Then a new god-like person coming from a hole in the sky. Now there was cut sasquatch posing while wearing a green scarf with yellow lightning stripes. Soon, her gaze rested on the hourglass symbol once more. "Wait a minute. You're not friends with Stinkfly. You are... were Stinkfly." The being in front of her could change into different creatures. The news report of the rock creature with Iron Man at the United Nations came to mind.

"Hehe." Ben scratched his cheek sheepily. "Do me a favor and keep that little secret between us. I don't need that kind of attention right now. I'm your friendly neighborhood shapeshifter."

Jane took a breath to calm herself. "Consider all the help you're doing in the city, I at least owe you that much. I also owe Stinkfly my thanks."

He grinned at her back. "In any case, I am 『Shocksquatch』." His muscles flexed once more as electrical currents traveled across his body.

The Asgardians were surprised at the development.

Standing tall, Thor got a good look at the alien. "Hmm. A changeling. I have not encountered your kind in many years; although, you seem to be a unique one. I can also see that you are able to control heaven's wrath as well."

"We must make haste, Thor," interrupted Heimdal. "If the mortal wishes to risk his life for our people, I will not stop him, but he will be your responsibility while he is in our realm."

Thor raised his hammer. "Very well. I agree to those terms."

Socksquatch positioned his left arm over his right bicep and stretched his right hand raised. "Alright, let's go to Asgard!"

"Indeed." Thor turned to the brunette. "Fare thee well, Jane Foster. I am sorry that we could not talk more."

Jane placed her right hand on her left arm. "Well, if you do come back from saving your home, you can find me at the state hospital. You can't miss it."

"I look forward to our next meeting." With all said and done, 『Shocksquatch』and Thor leaped through the portal as it closed behind them.

Back on the ground, Jane looked to the sky in wonder. "Huh. Bye."

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Juryrigg

Species: Planchaküle

Home World: Aul-Turrhen

Powers and Abilities:

Planchaküle have the ability to completely disassemble any kind of machinery in mere seconds, fitting to their Gremlin appearance. In contrast, they can also construct complex machinery from scratch at a similar rate. Despite their small size, they have enhanced strength and durability compared to humans. As in accordance with his break it/fix it attributes, Juryrigg boasts an impressive intellect, describing himself as "smart and stubborn". The Planchaküle's small size makes him unsuitable for hand-to-hand combat against larger opponents, unless they happen to be machines, in which case, he can dismantle them in seconds. Planchaküles tend to have a habit of breaking and assembling machinery. Most of the devices Planchaküle creates are basically on-the-fly or 'jury-rigged'. They are not normally meant to last and will eventually fail. A Planchaküle's creations can also be unstable and hard to control

Chapter Text

Thor and Shocksquach exited the portal and landed beside Heimdall on the Rainbow Bridge. Ben looked to the sky. All sorts of planets and stars were around the Rainbow Bridge. At the end of the bridge was a magnificent city of gold and stone. "The kingdom of Asgard certainly lives up to the legends."

"It is indeed a magical place, mortal. However, some would like to take it for themselves." Heimdall gestured to the distance. "The Frost Giants march for Odin's palace. With the Odinsleep nearly upon him, our king is weakened." His grip tightened on his axe, and he looked at Thor. "I would join you and your new comrade in battle, but I'm sworn to forever protect the Bifrost bridge."

Thor places a hand in comfort upon the gatekeeper's shoulder. "Worry not, Heimdall. We shall fell a Frost Giant in your name." He begins swinging his hammer, ready to take flight. "To battle, Sir Shocksquatch!"

The Alien hero deadpanned at the god flying with a massive head start. Shocksquatch looked to Heimdall. "Is he always like that?"

He chuckled. "Better than before, but he still means well."

"Go figure." Ben sprinted after him. "Wait up!" He charged his fist, pulling out an electrical tether. With a thrust of his arm, the energy stretched toward the walls.

15 Minutes Earlier, Asgard

As the gatekeepers of Asguard stood watch, several figures appeared in the distance. Suddenly, a large boulder comes flying toward them. It soars overhead as it collapses one of the watchtowers. Two more are launched at the walls.

Just as the warriors of Asguard were feasting and enjoying their merriment, another stone crashed through the stained glass windows, ruining their festivities.

From across the bridge, the Ice Giants continue their assault on the outer wall. One with a spear vaulted toward the main entrance. After knocking the guards into the moat, it sliced the drawbridge open for the rest of his brethren.

As the common people evacuated from the area, they looked in fear at their attackers breaking through the main gate.

As the dust cleared, a man in green clothing and a golden horned helmet stepped forward. "Forward, my Frost Giants." He pointed toward the castle as the Giants walked ahead. "Strike deep. Do not stop until the throne of Asgard belongs to its rightful lord, Loki."

The giants continued to destroy many of the buildings and homes in their wake.

Within the city, the Frost Giants ignored the citizens below them as they had their sights set on a bigger prize, the central palace. However, Asgard was not without protection. Several warriors fought valiantly to protect their fair city.

A swordsman in purple armor dodged a massive sword strike before he ran up the body to Giant's head. Sword outstretched, he leaped from its shoulder and stabbed the frost giant in the eye. The Frost Giant wreathed in pain, dropping his weapon before getting down.

On the other side of the palace, a portly warrior leaped from the palace walls and kicked a Frost Giant in the face. Simultaneously on the ground, two of his allies on horseback with a rope pulled the Giant's feet out from under it, bringing it down and out.

Savoring his victory, he didn't have time to react to another giant's ice axe. His body soared through the air and slammed into the high walls around the palace before succumbing to gravity. Nearby, a Frost Giant clubbed away the two on the ground.

Sprinting through the snow, a dark-haired female warrior in red dodges a sword slash as her ally in purple is sent crashing by another attacker. He tries to retrieve his blade, but the enemy stomps him.

The woman looked at her friend in concern before focusing on her opponent, crossing her blades. The swing of the Frost Giant's axe came down onto her, leaving her dazed and defeated in the middle of a crater.

Just as the rotund Frost Giant was about to finish her off, something smashed through the weapon like glass. Thor was the first on the scene, ready to confront the Frost Giants. Little did he realize that his arrival was being observed through the eyes of a raven. A tired man on this throne closes his eyes in relief. "My son. Finally."

At about the same time, Shocksquatch made it to the nearby snowbank. Poking his head from cover, he got the gist of the current situation. People were strewn around the battlefield. Thor distracted some of the giants, but more were still coming through the kingdom gates. He needed to act fast for everyone to regroup and recover.

Shocksquatch sprinted out into the open and began helping as many downed warriors as he could. He bent over the one in blue, not far from the other. The man was groaning face into the snow. The alien quickly sat him up and patted him on the cheek, but his eyes were still dazed. "Hey, man. The cavalry's here. You still good?" Only receiving a moaning reply, Shocksquatch touched his forehead and released a mild controlled shock.

The man's eyes snapped open, letting out a gurgle of surprise. Seeing the strange beast, he tried to prepare an attack only to freeze in pain."

"Easy there. Thor's got the giants occupied, but we need to get you and the others out of here."

"Odinson is here?" The warrior looked into the distance to see the God of Thunder in battle. He sighed in relief before his gaze shifted to the downed Fandral. The man sent a stern gaze at the beast. "If you truly are an ally of Thor, help our brothers in arms so we may stand for our land once more." He pointed to his friend. "Help Fandral."

"That's the spirit." Shocksquatch walked over to the other. "So, you got a name?"

"Hogun. Hogun the Grim."

He blinked at the strange title and nodded. "Shocksquatch. Shocksquatch the uh..." The alien shrugged. "I got nothing. Just Shocksquatch" Ben kneeled and examined Fandral. The man was unconscious but still breathing.

Same as before, a minor shock to the skull was enough to jumpstart him. "Gahhh!"

Shocksquatch patted the blond on the back. "Haha. Your friend's still kicking."

Hogun stopped his friend from attacking their new ally and brought him up to speed.

Fandral nodded. "To protect Asgard, we must prevent more reinforcements."

Hogun agreed. "I will find Balder. You two get Sif. We'll regroup and attack as one at the main gate."

The group split up and made haste. The southeast was the last place Fandral spotted Sif before he was knocked out. Unsurprisingly, they came across a massive hole in the ground.

"I think I see someone," stated Shocksquatch. "Black hair with crimson armor?"

"That's her."

"Come on." The alien started sliding to the bottom. "She doesn't look so good." Finally getting a better view of the warrior, he immediately noticed the arms and legs pointed in sickening directions.

Not far behind, Fandral grit his teeth at the state of his friend. "Dear Odin... Is she?"

Ben quickly checked her vitals. "She's breathing, but it's faint."

"She's in no condition to fight. We must bring her to the healers."

Ben shook his head. "No need. If everything goes right, she'll be fighting right alongside us, but we'll have to reset her broken bones."

Fandral hesitated but put faith in the creature. They each took a limb and manipulated the broken ends of the bone into their original position "Now what?"

A smirking Shocksquatch raised both hands, one glowing blue and the other in yellow. 'Mana in one hand. Bioelectricity in the other.' He clapped both hands infusing the energy into a leafy green. "Plenum restituet!" He quickly brought it down on Sif's abdomen, causing the woman to spasm and cry out from the surge.

Fandral's eyes widened at the act. "Sif!" He quickly pushed the alien away. "She's injured! What are you doing?!"

Ben got back up and dusted the snow off him. "Sheesh. There's nothing to worry about." He bent down over Sif as she contested the transfer. "Don't force out. Feel the energy. Let it flow through you." He noticed her take deep breaths as her body stopped struggling.

Fandral was about to retort until her eyes fluttered open.

Sif's head waved left and right, noticing her friend and a stranger. "Who are you? What happened to me?"

Shocksquatch crossed his arms with a smile. "I'm a friend, and you got crushed by the invaders. Also, you'll be feeling it in a few seconds."

"What do you mean?" Suddenly, her body glowed in bright green sparkles. In a final burst, her entire body emitted a glow before disappearing. "W-What's happening to my body?! I feel amazing. The pain, it's more than gone."

Fandral gawked at the speed of the spell. "What magic is this?"

A growl escaped from Sif's stomach. "And why do I feel like I could feast for hours?"

Ben smirked in amusement. "Heh. Kind of a mix. It took me years to refine it with my cousin, but I managed to get the frequency just right."

Sif slowly stood up, adjusting to the effects. She gave Fandral a hearty hug before examining their supposed ally. A few seconds later, her gaze softened. "In any case, whoever you are, I thank you!"

Clumps of snow soon fall to their level, signaling new arrivals. Looking up, the group smirked at the Hogun's and Balder's descent.

The warrior in purple immediately checked the wellbeing of his friends before turning to the alien. "You must be the ally Hogun mentioned. Everyone, we must close off their reinforcements."

Hogun nodded. "Thor was doing well against the initial forces until Loki entered the fight against him."

Shocksquath raised a brow at the familiar Norse name. "You mean, the trickster?"

Fandral huffed. "Loki might have had that title in his early years but been nothing but a nuisance."

Sif grit her teeth. "He's gone too far this time. Helping the Frost Giants overrun our home? It's treason of the highest order!"

Balder placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thankfully, the families weren't targeted. Rest assured, once the threat has been dealt with, the All-Father shall serve his punishment accordingly."

"If we're to end this battle soon, we need to start here." Hogun pulled out a map from his knapsack and pointed at the South Gate. "If we cut off their main entry, then we can start pushing them back."

"Well, what are we waiting for? We're not gonna let them just walk in here and usurp the lives of your friends and family." Shocksquatch crouched and backflipped to the top of the hole. "Let's kick these guys back to Jotunheim. For Asgard!"

The natives grinned at the beast's enthusiasm. "For Asgard!"

The South Gate

Heavy footsteps echoed outside the golden city. While the invasion had help from an inside source, they knew better than to fully rely on the trickster. Seeing storm clouds overhead did not ease their concerns. The thunder had returned. The captain of the second squad raised his weapon to their target. "Forward my brethren! Jotunheim will not fall!" The rest of his troops cheered in succession. It didn't take long to cross the enemy's drawbridge, but that's when the locals retaliated.

A volley of arrows and electrified masses suddenly rained down from above. Several giants raised their shields in defense only for the attacks to travel right over them. They were about to laugh at the error until they realized that they weren't the intended target. The drawbridge as well as the existing bridge exploded, fractured, and fell into the deep waters below.

"Attack!" he commanded. Suddenly, a glowing spear slammed into his shoulder, causing him to yell in pain. Upon contact, the object discharges its energy through its target, sending his body collapsing to the ground. He attempted to get back up, but he had trouble even moving or feeling his limbs.

High on the defensive walls, Shocksquatch took several breaths to regain his stamina. , he raised his right arm into the air. Electricity concentrated in his fist before it spread out into a line forming a javelin-like construct. Taking aim, he reared back and launched it through the air at his target.

At the same time, Balder, Sif, and Hogun teamed up on the next closest Giant. Their three blades damaged the ankles, shoulder, and chest.

Finally out of explosive arrows, Fandral pulled out a pair of daggers and made his way to the battle below. "With me, sir Shocksquatch!"

Nodding, Ben leaped into the air. As he descended on a target, he collected the natural electrons around him, building up a charge. By the time he was a foot from impact, he was in a blaze of energy. The final contact dealt immense damage to the Giant's stomach, leaving it on the ground and stunned.

To follow up, Hogun brought up a mace and slammed it into the side of its head, knocking it out.

Shocksquatch gave him a thumbs up and looked at Balder. He got cut off from them and was now engaging two at once. He immediately ran over to cover his left as one of the giants ripped a portion of stone from the wall and threw it at the duo. Instinctively, Shocksquatch swung his arms to fire an electromagnetic shockwave at the projectile. The wave pushed the object back into the air and into the other unsuspecting enemy. Exchanging looks with Baldur, the two made coordinated attacks. Positioning the two giants in a way that they would continuously do friendly fire. In less than a minute, the attackers were down. The two soon rejoined on the other end, as Fandral and Sif took care of another pair.

After a few minutes, the five of them had put a massive dent in the remaining forces. Just as things were looking up, an earth-shattering explosion went off at the palace.

Balder glared into the distance. "Dammit. Loki is proving more troublesome than expected. If Thor isn't careful about his sorcery, we may need to aid him."

Shocksquatch surveyed their current situation. There was about a quarter left of the second wave. He turned to Sif, Fandral, and Hogun as he punched the shin of another giant. "Think you can handle it from here?"

Sif backflipped to avoid a "Both of you, get to Thor! We'll be fine." She reached out a hand, grabbing onto Fandral and swinging him to an opponent's shoulder.

The Palace Walls

A long-bearded Frost Giant pushes his arm back into its socket while glaring at his attacker. "Thunderer?!" he bellowed. "First, we'll crush you and then we'll crush Odin!"

The god in question aimed "You shall do no such thing, not while I live and breathe."

Several giants brandished their weapons. "That can change."

Thor huffed at the statement. "Have at thee!" He swung his hammer only to strike the Giant's icy weapon. The force behind both blows created powerful shockwaves, shaking the snow off nearby rooftops. Their weapons crossed once more as both combatants grit their teeth. "I say thee nay. Thor will not fall by your hand, monster."

"Oh, I think not." As Thor was focused on the leader, the subordinates came at him from all sides. Taking deep breaths, they sent streams of frost bathing the flying Norse god. Immobilized, the block of ice fell helplessly to the ground in a thud. They shared a laugh as they prepared to end Thor with a halberd. The blade fell to execute with explosive force.

To Thor, the world slowed. As the milliseconds passed, the metal pierced through the magical ice. Just as the edge was a centimeter from his chest, the ice fractured just enough to give Thor an opening. The minute flex of his arms was enough to expand and break out of the ice. In a burst of speed, he narrowly placed Mjolnir in the path of the attack, diverting it to the left and into another enemy.

Thor was not given a reprieve as an icy hand wrapped around him and threw him into the walls and onto the snowbank. The three giants each struck him with a club, mace, and sword respectively before finishing it off with a series of stomps. Seeing their target finally stop moving, their commander saw fit to savor the first victory. He picked up the defeated god and plopped him into his mouth. He closed his jaw in mirth, feeling the armor grind on his teeth. His joy quickly flipped as he felt nothing but pain.

Inside his mouth, Thor was pinned by the massive teeth. As one of his arms held against the jaw, he swung Mjolnir against the molars, shattering them like glass. With a yell, Thor broke out of the biological trap, leaving the giant literally bloody furious.

The leader spat out a mix of bloody and teeth fragments. "Bastard!"

The Thunder floated above the group. "I have felt your wrath, Frost Giants." Mjolnir glowed as it was held to the sky. "Now, you shall feel mine!" Dark clouds formed from the Asgardian enchantment. "For Asgard!" Bringing the hammer down brought forth a massive blast of electricity descending from the storm.

Predicting their impending defeat, the Giants made the meaningless attempt to defend against the attack.

"Oh, I don't think so." A man in green waved his staff at his allies. The Giants dissipated into dust as the attack struck. The intense blast destroyed the stone and dirt while glassing the surrounding area. The giants safely reappeared nearby ready to fight once more. The newcomer then blasted the confused thunder god, sending Thor through the palace walls. Loki crossed his arms and smirked. "Welcome home, brother. You've had this coming for a long time, of course. But you know this." More of the magic gathered in his hand.

The Thunderer charged at Loki, but the Frost Giants struck him once more.

Loki grinned as he attacked with more black energy. The hero cried out in pain as they both are forced into the ground and back. He floated towards Thor with his magic forming a golden trident with a green jewel. "You and Odin deserve what's coming."

"I do not wish to fight you, Loki." Thor groaned as he pushed himself from his crater. "Once we were brothers. We were friends. We fought side by side, the sons of Odin, together. It could be that way again!"

A sick grin plastered on Loki's face. "You made your choice, Thor. Always the dutiful son. You chose to remain blind by Odin's lies, and for that choice suffer." Loki kicks Thor in the face knocking him back once more. He was about to order the Giants to continue the fight, but he was cut off by a small glowing ball dropped at his feet. "What?" The traitor was too late as the object exploded and electrocuted the man, cutting off his concentration.

Giant Commander turned to the possible attacker only to be met with a blade to the face.

To the right, the alien hero quickly scaled the enemy with a static grip. Upon reaching the shoulder, he raises an arm and yells. "Thunder Punch!" An electrified fist dives into the foreign muscle at the base of the next. Like a puppet whose strings have been cut, the Frost Giant collapsed to the ground. Ben chuckled at his gamble. "Got the right nerve cluster." Another foe came rushing toward him. He narrowly dodged the charge and fired two masses of energy to the sky. He summoned a shockwave to stun the invader and sent bolts to the chest. Just as the enemy started to recover, he was struck in the same spot by the two redirected aerial blasts prior, knocking it out.

Balder dropped to his cousin and pulled him to his feet. "Keep moving!" He tried to dodge a massive mace only to be blasted from behind.

Recovered from the surprise attack, Loki had summoned his staff and enchanted it into a trident.

Thor narrowly dodges Loki's trident. "To me, Mjolnir!" His weapons flew into his grasp just in time to block the next strike. The two brothers proceeded to cross push against each other. "You cannot beat me, brother. You never could," Thor said.

"Things change," Loki retorted. He stepped back to launch a spell only for a green and purple scarf to tie around his mouth, dropping his staff.

Shocksquatch smirked. "But the more they stay the same!" An electric current through the foreign cloth caused it to go rigid, keeping its hold. "Thor! We need you to get rid of the grunts and fast!" While not his forte, Loki pulled against the scarf with his halfling strength.

"You and Balder may be harmed."

"Do it!" his two allies yelled. One separately pulling against Loki while Balder pushed back a stomp.

Loki looked up to see Thor charging up Mjolnir. Dark clouds loom overhead with lightning crackling around his eyes and his hammer. The many bolts chained to Mjolnir, concentrating the energy to extreme levels. Now ready, he brought his hammer down on his brother. Enormous electromagnetic shockwaves dispersed from the main attack. Everywhere in a mile radius succumbed to the blast.

As the smoke began to clear, each and every Frost Giant following Loki lay defeated. Balder was worse wear, earning several burn marks all over his skin and armor. He clawed through the rubble to see if they had won. The Western tower laid in ruins, neither Loki nor Shocksquatch to be seen.

As Thor surveyed the aftermath, he didn't notice purple butterflies gather from behind and reform as Loki. He had one again fooled the thunder. Loki slammed his fists of Dark Magic onto Thor's shoulders, sending him to his knees. "Once again, you have failed." Loki continued to attack until Thor overcame it, yanking Loki's hands off him before kicking him away.

Thor gets close enough to slam his hammer into his stomach, knocking Loki into another tower. Thor flew after him and is met with waves of his sorcery. He powered through with Mjolnir and headbutts Loki, sending him falling to a lower arch.

Thor got to his level. "Surrender, brother. It need not be this way."

More black energy swirled around Loki's hand. "I think it does." He shot two bolts, but he deflects his attack with ease. And yet, Loki doesn't show any sign of stopping. "So noble." Thor deflected another attack. "So brave." Thor diverted the next. "So gullible." He summoned a hand of shadows, grabbing onto the god and pressing him against the wall.

Suddenly, a deep voice groans and cuts into Loki's thoughts from behind. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."

Eyes widening, Loki swerved to see a new creature about to kick him from above. No, it was like the yellow one but much different. The blue beast was more muscular than before, covered in armored plating. Its horns were more pronounced, actively drawing power from the surrounding air. The most notable thing was the heavy magical lightning coursing through its veins. 'No. That's impossible!' The beast had seemingly absorbed the excess energy from Thor's blast, amplifying himself even further. He couldn't focus enough to cast another teleportation spell, forced to deal with the attack directly. Years of physical training from his youth raced in his mind for a solution. He raised both hands, hoping to stop his movements or divert the attack. What Loki didn't expect was the beast to go for his arms intentionally.

Using his Prehensile feet, Ultimate Shocksquatch grabbed onto Loki's hands and opened his legs, creating an opening. "You fell for it, fool!" Ultimate Shocksquach bellowed. Electrical energy concentrated into both of his arms as they came down in an X-formation. "Thunder Cross Split Attack!"

From the rubble, Balder laughed on the verge of their victory. 'Amazing! His technique is allowing him to attack and keep Loki from defending! It's a perfect stratagem!"

Thor managed to break out of the shadows thanks to the distraction. 'Sir Shocksquatch is using my magic, and there's no way Loki can escape it!'

'This was not part of the plan!' Loki helplessly watched the arms make contact with his chest, and the world went white only filled with his screams of pain. "Gaaaahhhh!"

When the light faded, Loki fell to the ground with a flop, smoking in defeat.

Ultimate Shocksquatch fell to his knees, dry heaving. 'God damn... I could barely keep all that power contained. No wonder Thor is the God of Thunder. I think I'm gonna throw up.' A firm hand fell on his shoulder. He looked back to see the smiling prince with Balder limping toward them.

"You fought valiantly, creature." He smirked at the beast's initial words. "You have certainly earned your seat in the feast hall." Thor then held up his other arm lifting the unconscious Loki by his neck. "But before we celebrate, my brother has much to answer for."

Ben fell on his back in relief and laughed "Hell yeah!"

Throne Room

Thor burst through the throne room's doors with Ultimate Shocksquatch and the others not far behind. Loki was locked in a stone pillory designed to nullify his magic when Thor threw him at Odin's feet causing the ravens to crow.

The Allfather, Odin was intimidating but calm. His white hair indicated old age, but he showed years of experience behind those eyes.

"You have gone too far, Loki. This is no game." Odin warned. "Soon I shall enter the Odinsleep, and Asgard will not have my power to protect it. To bring the Frost Giants here, to try to usurp your own father!"

"You are not my father!" the trickster spat. "Look at you. King of fools, of arrogance, of weakness and betrayal!"

Shocksquacth huffed at the god who attacked his own family and people. "Next, you'll say. 'Asgard will fall and I will be there to laugh in its ruins to see you and Thor in chains."

"Asgard will fall and I will be there to laugh in its ruins to see you and Thor in chains! ... Wait..." Loki turned his head to the large creature who felled him in battle.

The bandaged allies snorted but soon suppressed their amusement as the room grew cold.

ゴゴゴゴ The King of Asguard stood up from his throne and slammed his weapons against the floor. "ENOUGH!" Odin bellowed. His godly aura froze everyone in place. ゴゴゴゴ "You leave me no choice, Loki. You are hereby banished to the Isle of Silence, where no one will have to suffer your lies and deception."

The son's eyes widened in fear. "No. No!"

Odin raised his golden mace emitting white energy and surrounded the Trickster, glowing brighter and brighter until the light engulfed Loki and vanished from the throne room. Following the spell, Odin slumped in his throne from exhaustion.

"Father," Thor voiced his concern.

"Yeah... Are you okay?" added Shocksquatch.

Odin waves their worries. "Mortal, you have my thanks for helping Asgard in its time of need."

Ben smirked. "I couldn't have done it without Thor and your merry band of warriors." The Warriors Three and Sif bowed their heads to the King.

"I expect nothing less from their dedication. To answer your previous question. The Odin sleep nears. Once a year, I must slumber to regain my strength so that Asgard can live." The king looked to his son. "There is much for you to prepare."

"Balder and Sif will watch over Asgard while you sleep. I must attend to Midgard," Thor responds.

Balder and Sif look at each other in uncertainty.

"You need to be here," Odin asserts. "Asgard is your responsibility, not Midgard."

"The mortals need me, Father." Thor presses. "I return to Midgard again and again because their world is spawning dangers that mankind has never seen before: Evil that will consume them unless I am there to stop it."

Odin raised a brow. "Really? Not only did this Midgardian right here helped fight off the invasion, Balder tells me the humans are more capable than you give them credit for. You saw the valor in the human Jane Foster."

"And of course, you were watching me," Thor bemoaned. "I will always be here to protect Asgard, but I will not play this game. Loki is not wrong, Father. You toy with us all. Telling us whatever you need to in order to keep us under your heel. You could have stopped Loki's attack before it started."

"ENOUGH!" Odin interrupted. "You dare defy me?!"

Ben cringed at the familial tensions growing.

"Should Asgard be threatened, I will be here. But until then, I choose Earth." Thor walked out of the room, grabbing onto his mortal friend. "Let us eat, I'm famished."

Shocksquatch looked to the others who followed along. He would push the drama for another time. At least he got new DNA samples to experiment in the future. 'Man, I'm starving...'

Hours Later

The two stood at the Rainbow Bridge with Heimdall. The alien hero sighed. "For what it's worth. I'm sorry about you, your dad, and your brother."

The god shook his head. "I will be fine. This is not the first time I had this talk with him."

"He just wants what's best for you and his people. You are their prince."

"I've known that fact since the day I was born. Yet, I need to be on Earth."

"Need or want?"

Thor didn't answer.

The shapeshifting hero gave a solemn nod. "If you ever need help, I'll be there." With that, he leaped through the Bifrost portal back to the docks of New York. He waved to Thor through the portal, and he returned the gesture.

The Thunderer now stood alone between his home and the Bifrost. "Why won't you understand, let alone listen to me, Father?" Thor swung Mjolnir, taking off in flight away from Asgard and towards the Bifrost, unaware that a blonde-haired woman dressed in green was watching him leave. In a flash of toxic green wisps, she was gone.

Isle of Silence

Loki sat alone, going over his plan so far. He had tricked the Frost Giants into thinking that Asgard is preparing for war against them. Loki had the giants launch a preemptive strike. Disguised at The Leader, he hired the Wrecking Crew to attack the Stark Industries freighter. Allying with Loki, the Enchantress informed Thor of the attack. Disguised as Balder, he planted seeds of doubt in Odin regarding Thor's motives on Midgard. He continued to wait against a tree for the next step of his plan.

In bright light and green smoke, the Enchantress appeared on the Isle along with the Executioner. With a wave of her hands, a magical barrier forms and expands around the trio. "Did you miss the sound of your own voice?"

Loki was unimpressed. "How drone? Tell me."

"All transpires as you planned. Neither Thor nor Odin is aware of what is happening."

Loki stood up, hands to his sides. "Of course, they're not. It is my plan, after all. The creature's appearance was a surprise.

"I must say it was entertaining of him and Thor getting the drop on you."

Loki gritted his teeth at the memory. While being made a fool wasn't part of the plan, the end results were more or less the same. "No one is ready for what comes next." He grinned and laughed at his accomplishment.

Next Time: Breakout Part 1

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Shocksquatch

Species: Gimlinopithecus

Home World: Pattersonea

Powers and Abilities:

Gimlinopithecus have the ability to create and manipulate electric and electromagnet energy for a variety of uses including levitation, forcefields, and different forms of attacks. They have displayed above-average strength, agility, and acrobatic ability. By manipulating the bioelectricity in cells, they can enhance the physical characteristics of themselves or others. Thanks to their thick fur, they are able to live comfortably in cold climates.

Chapter Text

High Atmosphere

Tony Stark read over the police report regarding one of his shipments from New York. He arrived at the scene as soon as he was alerted of the matter. While he was thankful that someone was able to help the cops and the civilians at the time, he did not expect to see 'Thor' and 'the devil' in the final report. As much as he would like to look into that as well as the remains of the crude ED-209, he had bigger fish to fry. Apparently, the Wrecking crew attempted to steal his cargo. One that wasn't supposed to be on that freighter in the first place.

The Gamma Energy Emitter was a highly classified piece of tech in his Research and Development department. It used to be part of a joint Military contract until Stark decided to leave the weapons business. However, that didn't stop the government's own experiments which led to the creation of the Hulk and other radioactive weapons. Regardless, someone outside or inside his company was smuggling his tech, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

Jarvis updated his helmet's HUD. "The tracking signal has been located. Location: the Turlock Mountain Range in Slovakia."

"Eastern Europe? Ah, great. As if that shortens the list." Tony sighed. "I swear if it's the Russians again... " He shook his head. "Switch to Infrared." His sensors highlighted ambient energy emanating from his destination. "Got em."

Within an energy dome, numerous people set up operations on the mountain. The group wore yellow uniforms reminiscent of a beekeeper's suit. The commanding officer walked out of a tent with a woman with long black hair and purple eyes. "Just tell us Latveria's needs, Miss Varbartmis, and A.I.M can supply you with anything you desire." He gestured to an energy rifle on his left, "With any one of our weapons, you can crush an army." As a demonstration, the scientist targeted a distant boulder and fired. In an instant, the object was reduced to cinders.

Seeing the potential, the woman smirked. However, her thoughts were interrupted.

"Well good thing I didn't bring an army then." Everyone on the ground backed away as Ironman landed in front of them. Upon raising his head, Tony's HUD highlighted all the stolen technology in sight. "Wow. Some kind of sale you have going on here? There's a lot of neat stuff." The hero's voice grew stern. "Unfortunately, a lot of it has my name on it."

The armed soldiers quickly fired energy beams at the current threat.

Without worry, Iron Man erected a blue energy shield and laughed. "You know, for calling yourselves the Advanced Idea Mechanics, that was a really bad idea." Puffing out his chest, his suit's arc reactor unleashed repulsor waves, destroying the enemy's firearms. The resulting explosions knocked A.I.M out of commission, falling to the ground.

The woman glared at the defeat of her arms dealer.

Iron Man turned her, recognizing the robot's design. "Give your master a message for me. Buyer beware. You steal my tech, you answer to me, even him."

The woman's glare darkened before she walked off with her security forces.

Seeing the non-violent retreat, Iron Man relaxed, opening his faceplate. His gaze shifted to the defeated scientists. "Jarvis, contact the Vault. Let them know they're about to get a few new guests."

"Very well, sir! Also, Miss Potts called. She wished to know if you were out playing superhero or if you were going to come to the office to do some actual work."

"I am doing actual work. I'm securing private company property from a third-party." Iron Man smirked and closed his helmet before he took off.

The Cube

Leonard Samson walked past several cells containing various criminals.

Wrecker drove his fist into the wall before glaring at the doctor.

The electrical being known as Zzzax strained against his tesla coil bindings.

Carl Creel AKA the Absorbing Man floated helplessly in the middle of his cell unable to touch anything. "Samson? Samson! You can't do this to me! Do you hear?"

The doctor finally arrived at his destination, the Hulk's room. "And how are we today, Bruce?" He looked through his clipboard. "No episodes in the last thirty-six hours, I see."

Still shirtless and in torn pants, Bruce Banner frowned at him. "This is a disaster waiting to happen Leonard."

Leonard rolled his eyes, "I've told you, again and again, Bruce. We'll find a cure for the Hulk. SHIELD and Ross are still out there looking for that reptilian acquaintance of yours. How he escaped, I have no idea, but we will find it eventually. The data that would get from his growth and internal defense mechanisms would be invaluable. You've said it before, but are you sure that you don't know where he went."

Bruce scoffed. "We literally met each other for the first time that day. If he's smart enough to escape out of thin air, I don't count on that happening." In the back of his mind, the thought lingered on what would happen if they did.

The doctor shook his head and went over Bruce's X-Rays and CT scans. "The Cube is the most advanced Gamma Radiation Research Facility on the planet. The work we've done with Sterns and Bolonski is-."

Bruce cut him off, shaking his head. "You're wrong. SHIELD and Ross are lying to you. They don't want cures. They want to know how to control these monsters." When Leonard didn't say anything, Bruce continued. "Trust me, I have seen it happen. They will twist everything you do. You want to know what the Cube is really. It's a Gamma Bomb ready to go off."

Leonard sighed. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Bruce. I can only ask for your faith in us." With that, he left the cell while Bruce simmered in his worry.

New York

Thor waited atop a skyscraper when a portal opened behind him, and Balder walked out, "Hail Thor Odinson!"

Thor smiled, "Hail, Baldur the Brave!" They grasped each other's shoulders. "I see that you made a full recovery since the recent invasion."

"The friend of yours still has my regards for his service to our people. He still owes me a good tussle at the feast hall."

"Indeed. Now, what brings Asgard's shining light to Midgard?" At that Baldur's face fell a bit and Thor narrowed his eyes. "Or is the better question, who sent you?" He already knew the answer.

"You left Asgard without resolving things with your father, and now he has entered the Odin Sleep. Despite your words, he still had faith in you, asking for your return home before he faded to dream." He raised a fist. "You must defend Asgard while Odin replenishes his energy."

"Nay." Thor turned away from him to watch the city.

After a second, Baldur looked over the city with him, "Thor, you are like a brother to me. We have fought wars together, but I do not understand your connection to this place. Don't you care about the safety of our people?"

"Here, I can make a difference. In Asgard, the endless cycle of fighting, it is meaningless. On Earth, everything matters. I am needed here Baldur."

"You are saying that our people don't matter to you?"

Thor sighed. "No. Never. I will always cherish them, but there needs to be more than me just being a prince at my father's side."

"Nothing lasts forever, not even your father. You will eventually take the throne before Ragnarok will come for us all."

A smile came to Thor's face. "If I am destined to lead our people one day, perhaps it's best that I experience the outside realms as much as I can and understand it all better."

Balder smirked at Thor's logic. "Perhaps." Siren soon echoes through the streets, and they both looked down. "Troll?"

Thor shook his head. "Nay, Baldur. Just someone who needs help." He flew down to the gathering, leaving Baldur to return to Asgard.

Down below, a leaking oil tanker spilled its contents all over the road, causing several vehicles to pile up in the middle of the intersection. EMTs were the first to arrive on the scene.

Jane Foster rubbed antiseptic over a man's head injured. "Good news is that you're going to live." She pointed to the overturned green car. "Bad news, you better get used to taking the Subway."

Just as officers were on their way to secure the area and redirect traffic, an unlucky taxi driver was too late to try and stop. The cab's tired swerved into the pile-up, causing it to flip into the air towards the two.

Hearing the noise, Jane turned to see the oncoming car, diving herself over the patient to protect him in some way.

Much like before, the blond god of thunder came down, catching the cab in the nick of time and placing it down. "Are you alright, Jane Foster?"

Getting back up, Jane let out a sigh of relief. "I-I yeah. You just saved." Taking a moment to catch her thoughts, she realized something. "Hey." She raised a brow with a smirk at the god. "Have you been following me?"

Thor looked away and started feeling for his Hammer Mjolnir. "Uh… Perhaps… You intrigue me. Mortal lives they're so fragile." In a nearby car, a woman attempted to get out only to trigger the airbag. "Yet, you do not seem to accept that."

"Would you?"

Thor thought about that before smiling. "Nay."

Jane crossed her arms and smiled as well. "Say, Thor. Once I'm done here, would you like to go for a drink with me and the… changeling? He wanted to ask you before you split up after saving Asgard, but he forgot."

"Really? I'm surprised he didn't try to find me again on his own."

"He said that I would have a higher chance of seeing you again than he would."

Thor coughed into his fist. "I wonder why he would think that."

She rubbed her neck in a bit of embarrassment. "He had a gut feeling."

Chapter Text

The Vault

Iron Man flew while carrying a ship full of A.I.M prisoners. While approaching the facility, a voice came through on his comms. "Iron Man this is Vault Security. You are clear for landing." As Iron Man touched down on the platform, numerous armed SHIELD agents approached the ship, securing the prisoners.

An agent walked over to the armored hero. "Thanks, Stark. A.I.M's been a thorn in SHIELD's side for a long time."

Iron Man gave him a look. "Yeah. Well, helping SHIELD is not on my to-do list."

He nodded. "I've heard about the disagreement with Director Fury."

"There's a reason why I didn't like their newest addition to their arsenal. You saw what A.I.M's capable of. These guys are dangerous, and they used my tech to do it. I'm not a weapons dealer anymore. I took them down, and if SHIELD becomes the same, I'll do the same."

The agent sighed, "Should the day ever come when SHIELD becomes a danger to innocent civilians, I wouldn't stop you from telling us 'I told you so.' In any case, there's something else I need to talk to you about."

Stark rolled his eyes. "I don't know where the purple crystal guy went, so don't bother asking."

"Believe me, SHIELD has someone else looking into that matter. As for here, we've had an incident last week regarding the Hydra soldiers from the UN attack.

Tony frowned at the mention of Hydra. "What kind of incident?"

The agent shook his head. "I can't give you the full details, but Hydra losing at the UN was intentional. They wanted to get sent here, and they got their target out." He closed his eyes. "Not everyone from security came back."

Seeing the same look in the agent's eyes that he once had, Stark relented. "I see the problem. Whoever Hydra took must have been vital to their operations to pull a stunt like this." He sighed. "Listen, I have other stuff to do, but I can look over it tonight. Send Pepper documents with everything I need to know and what you want. We'll discuss the contract from there." With that Iron Man turned around and took off.

New York

SHIELD Helicarrier, The Big House, Level 5

The SHIELD Helicarrier flew above New York like a watchdog over the people. One would have thought that the object over them also contained many superpowered criminals. What appeared to be a model of a building on a table turned out to be the world's smallest super villain prison in the world: The Big House.

Hank Pym wore his hero suit under his white lab coat as he walked over to one of the prison cells.

Within the cell, a man with graying brown hair sat in a chair. This was the Mad Thinker. His past was as much a mystery to SHIELD as anyone else. He had a manic expression on his face seeing the doctor.

Hank leaned against the wall. "SHIELD monitored the conversation you had with Whirlwind." He grew concerned. "You said that something was going to happen? We would like to know what."

Mad Thinker chuckled, "Can you not feel it, Ant-Man?" he asked sarcastically. "The better question is not what but when?"

Ant-Man's expression continued to sour as he wrote down his response.

SHIELD Helicarrier, Level 3

Janet van Dyne and Maria Hill walked down a hallway. "Director Fury's offer was very serious, Wasp."

Wasp sighed. "Hank- uh Ant-Man is against it."

Maria huffed at the answer. "That's what he thinks, but I want to know what you think?"

After a few seconds, Wasp spoke. "All I want to do is help people, and I want to be able to do more."

The assistant smirked at Janet. "If that's what you want, SHIELD will let you do more. We can even help you and Ant-Man track down your mystery insect. We have suspicions, but nothing solid."

"I've heard rumors about a demon showing up too, but I think they're just exaggerating Also, I don't think Stinkfly wants that kind of attention, and Hank might give him a bad impression of humanity" Before Wasp could reply more, another woman with long red hair walked by them. "Who's that?"

Maria's tone turned dark. "I'm afraid that's classified."

Wasp rolled her eyes before glaring at her. "Ugh. I can appreciate SHIELD's goal of helping people, but I'd prefer more transparency. SHIELD might be a little too dramatic for me. Everything's always so mysterious." As soon as she said that, the lights flickered on and off before the red backup lights came on. "Kind of like that."

At that point, security all across four superhuman prisons went dark, releasing the criminals back into the world unchecked.

SHIELD Helicarrier, The Big House, Level 5

Just as Ant-Man finished his report, he noticed that all the cell's energy shields all shut off. One by one, villains were walking out. "Oh no."

Mad Thinker looked at him with a smile. "Boom."

For unknown reasons, the prison and people that once fit on a table expanded to full size, ripping through the walls, floors, and hull of the SHIELD Helicarrier.

SHIELD Helicarrier, Level 1

On the Bridge, Director Nick Fury glared at the static on-screen as alarms went off, "Someone, get the engineers and tell them to keep us in the air! And shut that damn alarm off!"

A SHIELD agent approached him. "Director Fury a report just came in from the Vault."

Fury frowned. "Does it look like I have time for this, Quartermain?"

He grabbed Fury's arm to get his attention. "Listen to me! Automated reports are coming in from the Vault and the Cube! Their systems have gone offline, and no one is responding from down in the Big House. Something is seriously wrong!"

Fury's one good eye narrowed at the news.

SHIELD Helicarrier, Level 3

Down below, SHIELD agents were still recovering from the explosion. Unfortunately, they didn't know about the prison break. From the shadows, the hand of the Grey Gargoyle grabbed an agent's shoulder, turning him into stone.

Whirlwind started attacking any agent he could on his way out.

A trio fire team shot at the chimeric supervillain Griffin, but two of them were taken down. The last one was grabbed by a laughing Constrictor. "Payback time." However, before he could even start, he was shot down by yellow bolts, releasing the man.

The Wasp and Maria bolted through the halls. "This is crazy. How did this happen?!"

"It doesn't matter! Right now we have to get to the bridge!"

Wasp stopped flying, "No! Ant-Man was in the Big House when the explosion happened. He was with all the Super-Villains. We have to help him now!"

Europe

Tony Stark flew through the air, and his helmet started ringing.

"Incoming, call from Potts, Pepper," answered Jarvis.

Picking up the line, he smirked. "Hey, Pepper. Guess who I ticked off this morning, Here's a hint. His name rhymes with 'boom.'"

Unfortunately, Pepper was not in the same light-hearted mood. "Tony, something has happened to the SHIELD Helicarrier, some kind of explosion. Tony, it's bad."

Jarvis spoke up. "Sir, there appears to be a problem at the Vault. They have stopped transmitting data."

Connecting the dots, Tony got serious. "Alright. Pepper, keep monitoring the Helicarrier Situation. I'm going to check on the Vault." He quickly made a U-turn.

New York

Ciro's Café, Earlier

Thor Odinson, Jane Foster, and the shapeshifter sat at an outside table, enjoying some snacks. The alien hero and thunder god just finished taking a picture with two teens.

The alien was a feline-like alien with a black suit-like color scheme There were spike-like blades on his arms and legs, and he had black sideburns and beard, He wore a dark green uniform with a thunderbolt-like design down his torso, leggings, and wristbands. (See FASTTRACK BY Artmachband196)

Seeing the teens leave, Jane couldn't help but ask the obvious question. "How are people so calm around you two?"

Fasttrack shrugged. "They think we're cosplaying."

Thor looked down at himself. "During my time on Midgard, people have said that 'I have it going on,' whatever that means."

"Her thought leaking out, Jane whispered. "You certainly do…" Realizing her words and the snickering Fasttrack, she coughed and softly kicked him in the shin, earning a hearty complaint.

Some young adults walked past the trio, looked to Ben for a moment, and whispered. "Woah, dude. Check out the furry."

Hearing the accusation, Fasttrack quickly retorted. "I'm not a furry!"

Realizing they've been caught, they turned away and continued walking down the street.

"To be fair, your coat is quite soft." Jane reached out and started lightly scratched under his chin, sending him into a brief blissful state.

Recovering from the action, he lightly swatted her hand away. "Stop that."

Thor blinked at the expression. "I do not understand. Are you not one of the fur. What is this furry they speak of?"

Ben quickly waved off his question. "Just forget them, Thor."

"It's nothing important," added Jane. "Anyways, let's go back to your dad. He sleeps for a week?"

Thor nodded solemnly. "The Odin's Sleep, once a year he replenishes his power which in turn gives life to Asgard."

"From what I heard around the castle, it's a big deal. It seems to be his only weakness," commented Ben.

Jane blinked. "Wow… Must be some sleep."

"Aye. It is but during its time both he and Asgard are vulnerable to attack." Thor looked to his left to see a little kid at another table looking at him with a confused expression.

Ben agreed. "I was surprised that the Frost Giants and Loki were able to push that far into the city against Balder and the others before we got there."

"My father chose not to intervene even though he could have stopped them easily. He wanted me to come home."

"It could be that he didn't want to collapse into the Odinsleep in the middle of a fight."

Jane raised a brow. "In any case, now that he is asleep, why aren't you there?"

"Yes. It seems to be a popular question for me," admitted Thor. "It is… complicated."

Jane tilted her head. "Really? Because it sounds like you're just mad at your dad. There's nothing less complicated than that."

Ben took a sip of his coffee. "Throw in a few of his future responsibilities, and I think that about covers his issues."

The thunder god scoffed at their deductions. "The mortals, you-." Thor coughed before crossing his arms, "I am needed here!"

"I'm not gonna lie and say that having a living deus ex machina is a bad thing, but you have to take care of your personal life too."

Janet smirked. "He's right, you know. Humanity has managed to survive up to now."

"I mean, we did have a few close calls in the 50s and the 80s," added Ben.

She slapped the alien on the arm before speaking calmly. "Nowadays, we have Police, Firemen, Paramedics, and even a few Superheroes of our own." She gestured to Fasttrack next to them "If you need to, take the week off and go see your family. I'm sure, Earth will still be here when you get back."

"Yeah, man. I can handle things over here till you get back. I've made friends all over the country. I'm sure they'll be willing to help out too.

Thor thought about that before an explosion caught their attention. They turned to see smoke rising from beyond some buildings.

From the Omnitrix, Azmuth reported on the situation. "Eyewitnesses are reporting that the SHIELD Helicarrier exploded over the harbor. We might be looking at a crash landing in the city."

Fasttrack's face turned sour. "Shit. Anything else?"

"The systems at the Cube Facility have gone dark."

Upon hearing that, Ben was conflicted for a moment before steeling himself. "It seems that Banner was right. I can only hope that he can cover things there until we can return."

Thor looked back at Jane. "What was it you said about the Earth still being here?"

Jane blinked. "Touché." She quickly started calling her hospital to report the emergency situation.

Thor twirled Mjolnir around before taking off into the air, and Fasttrack became a blue blur in the streets as the two made their way towards the explosion.

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Fasttrack

Species: Citrakayah

Home World: Chalybeas

Powers and Abilities:

Much like Kinecelerans, Citrakayahs have enhanced speed and agility. While Kinecelerans are quite known for their assassination skills, the Citrakayah are well known for their tracking, hunting, and close-quarter combat. To complement these skills, the Citrakayahs can manipulate their bone claws and possess enhanced strength to face much larger opponents.

Chapter Text

The Cube

The facility was in chaos. Prisoners were escaping, and Gamma Radiation Levels were rising. The most recent explosion released Bruce from his bindings, but he was currently trapped underneath the rubble. The drugs currently in his system prevented escaping on his own.

Doctor Leonard Hall coughed and struggled into the cell, moved towards the trapped Bruce.

Banner already noted his friend's physical changes, including his green hair. "Oh, no. NO! Leonard, listen to me, you have been exposed to Gamma Radiation!" Leonard got down to his knees. "We have to get you to a hospital!"

Leonard coughed in pain and opened his green eyes, "You were right, the prisoners, they're all free. It's a disaster."

Bruce thought about that, "Listen to me, Leonard. You have to help me because right now, the Hulk is the only hope we've got."

Understanding the severity of the situation, Leonard got back up and walked to the large slab of concrete. As if following his will, the radioactive energy within him flowed into all of his muscles. Leonard lifted the massive slab above his head with glowing eyes and smashed it to pieces against a wall. The doctor looked back at his hand, surprised by his feat. However, before the man could collect his thoughts, electricity struck, scaring him.

Bruce glared behind him at the yellow being of energy. "Zax!"

SHIELD Helicarrier, Level 3, The Big House

As the Helicarrier lost altitude, Wasp continued through the corridors before coming across the ruined Prison. "Oh, shit!"

Inside, Hank took an uppercut from Mandril, narrowly grabbing onto a ledge. Before pulling himself back up. Just as he reached relative safety, the reptilian snake man King Cobra fired rockets at Hank.

Meanwhile, three Ultron drones approached the Red Ghost. "This course of action is ill-advised. I hope you will be subdued now." They fired their lasers only for Red Ghost to phase right through them, destroying one of their own. Suddenly Super Apes of varying species descend on the group, destroying the remaining Ultrons.

Hank continued to run, but Cobra subdued him. Mandril caught up to the two, coming closer. The doctor struggled to get free. "This is really disappointing, Mandrill, and you have come so far in your counseling." The mammal replied in sign language before charging to attack. "Disappointing." Hank leaned back, using the momentum to kick the villain back before shrinking out of Cobra's grasp. Seeing the villain confused, he regrows in his uniform, landing a successful punch.

Hoping for a brief reprieve, Ant-Man looked up to see the Griffin flying towards him. "Aw nuts." Just as Griffin attacked him through a wall, Hank shrank and was now falling a few stories. He adjusted to normal size before impact, hitting the ground with a thud but still alive.

Before Griffin could attack, the entire ship shook, sending both into more rubble. SHIELD managed to land in the bay.

Helicarrier Bridge

Hill ran in, "Director Fury. The Big House is wide open. sir!" She reported as Fury looked at her, "Prisoners are reported on all levels, "Our agents are engaging, but- but, sir, containment is at 0%!"

"Forget about the Big House. Our priority is the Raft!" Fury looked at a trash barge not too far from them.

Hill's eyes widened in shock before she realized. "The Fourth Prison."

The Raft

Wendigo, Purple Man, and Baron Zemo left the confines of their cells.

In the deepest cell of the prison, the containment field shut down. Objects floated around him as the binding keeping him secured were molded into gloves and boots. A middle-aged man with long black hair and a very gruff beard in a blue jumpsuit awakened, eyes glowing silver.

The Cube

Zax electrocuted Bruce at full power, bringing the man to the ground. Unfortunately for Zax, the energy was enough to burn the leftover depressants in Bruce's blood.

Banner glared with emerald eyes. Immediately, Bruce's muscle mass increased, his grunts becoming screams. In a second, the Hulk stood in front of Zax and yelled in a fury.

In the security room, a short green man watched the videos of all the prisons, "Whatever occurred here at the Cube, seems to have occurred at the Vault and at the Big House as well. Intriguing."

Crusher Creel spoke up. "Yeah, it's a mystery, so how about we just get the hell out of here?"

The small man looked at him, "Leave? Why would we ever leave here? This is where I am going to change the world." The Leader heard a familiar roar getting close. "Our old friend." He turned to his cohorts. "Go. Deal with the Hulk once and for all."

New York City

A blue blur sped through the city streets, zipping through traffic while his godly ally flew above. Approaching the disturbance, he spotted crowds of people gathering on the waterfront. Both heroes witnessed the heavily damaged aircraft. "What the hell is going on?"

Thor spotted several SHIELD helicopters coming toward the shore compared to the others still in the bay. "Why would their vessels split off and come here?"

As soon as the helicopters made it to land, pandemonium struck. All sorts of villains jumped out of them and scrambled to leave the area, and no one would stand in their way of freedom. With fervor, the god of thunder took to the rooftops.

Breaking into action, Fasttrack narrowly pulled the panicking civilians out of danger. Villain attacks were thrown carelessly, hoping to cause enough chaos. "Get back! Get back!" The alien pushed every person in the area into nearby stores or apartments to take cover. A cry of a child wailed from outside. As soon as Fasttrack came to a stop on the street to find the source, someone rammed him into a brick wall. Recovering, Ben took note of the attacker, a white-furred beast with long ears.

The large beast snarled at the feline hero and sniffed the air. It had been locked up for so long and lusted for a fresh meal. His senses pointed to the end of the street, where a child was running for her life. Ignoring the blue alien, he charged at his easy prey.

Fasttrack glared, feeling the primal instinct emanating from the predator. He chased after the beast. To him, the world began to slow as he flexed his arms, the blades extending out with a sharp gleam. It would seem as if nothing happened when Fasttrack sprinted next to the creature to an outsider, but they would be wrong. The air shimmered with streams of light. The alien hero slowed down the instant the white beast sprayed red, cuts revealed throughout its body. Their surgical precision in location, depth, and length assured that the beast would be incapacitated for some time. The hero frowned at the creature. "What the hell was that?"

From the Omnitrix, Azmuth spoke. "Preliminary scans are upsetting, but it appears to be some modified human."

Fasttrack got down on one knee and examined its unconscious face. "Can we reverse the genetic changes?"

"Unfortunately, no. There seems to be strange energy permeating from within, maintaining the transformation. We would need further examination before we can intervene."

Ben closed his eyes and sighed. That would have to wait. He got back to his feet and continued to track down the criminals. "Contact the closest police precinct."

"Connecting now."

The other line picked up. Numerous officers were yelling in the background. "Captain George Stacy. Who the hell is calling at a time like this? We're flooded with reports from all over the city!"

"Listen, Sir. A friend of mine and I are handling the influx of supervillains coming in, but we need all hands on deck to help with crowd control. Worst-case scenario, we may need to evacuate the city."

The Big House

Whirlwind pummeled Ant-Man, sending him on his back. The mutant took his time stalking him. "And then, I'm going to find the Bug girl and tear her apart."

Ant-Man glared down below at the Griffin crawl out of a pile of rubble. so he smirked as Whirlwind picked him up, "I'd let you tell the Wasp yourself, but you're about to get knocked out." With that, Hank shrunk right as Griffin tackled Whirlwind."

He was falling until Wasp flew in and caught him, "So how's your day been?" She asked casually.

"Painful… But I don't think it's over yet." He muttered.

The Cube

Hulk put Leonard down and raised his fist and punched right through the facility walls revealing the Nevada Desert. He turned only to be grabbed and thrown by Abomination.

Abomination threw a right hook before Hulk returned the favor two-fold. The villain's surprise haymaker launched the green fury right into a metal wall.

Before Hulk could recover, arms grew from the metal and wrapped around him. The Absorbing Man had him in his grasp and smiled. "Payback time!"

Abomination charged at his trapped adversary, but he forced his way out of the grip and into the air, causing Crusher to take a face punch.

Hulk roared, ready to fight again, but the heaving of his friend cut off those thoughts. Seeing the two coming for him again, he ripped out a support pillar, raising dust into the air. With the distraction, Hulk grabbed Leonard and leaped out of the Cube.

Absorbing Man and Abomination were about to go after him when Stern's voice came through the speakers. "No, do not follow him. Let the Hulk go. We have work to do."

New York Bay, Shield Helicopter

With the Shield Helicarrier halfway in the water, all personnel was evacuated. Unfortunately, a few were hijacked by the prisoners, allowing them to escape in the chaos.

While the Big House was in Ruins, the Raft was still a high priority. Director Fury stood ready to deploy at the facility, speaking to Maria Hill on his communicator. "You are the acting director until I get back, Hill. Save who you can. Contain any escapees you see. I'll update you from The Raft."

"And if the Raft prisoners are free?"

"Then, you should enjoy being acting director while you can." The Helicopter soon landed on the Raft, all agents at the ready. "Look alive, boys. Shoot first, ask questions later." Suddenly, the floor shook, and the Raft started rising out of the water, carrying them along.

New York, Earlier

Thor landed next to his alien companion. "I have subdued several ner do wells, but there were too many as they escaped me."

"That's fine. The people are the prime concern. We can hunt them down when everything settles."

All around them, police and EMTs were assisting in getting people out of the crossfire. Everyone seemed to stop when the Earth quaked. A massive object seemed to rise out of the ocean in the distance, startling all the locals.

The alien narrowed his eyes. "What the hell?"

Thor simply blinked at the structure. "I take it that floating islands aren't common on Midgard."

Fasttrack kept staring at the rising hunk of metal. "No, Thor. It's not."

The Raft

Nick Fury ran to the edge to confirm his suspicion. Seeing the prison floating high above the waters, he looked up, finding the source of it all. The prisoner in blue held his hand out with glowing eyes. Steeling his nerves, Fury got to work. "Evac now! Abort the mission! Everyone off this barge!" The man attempted to retreat only to be lifted up into the air to the man in question, losing his rifle. Fury pulled out his pistol only for it to be ripped out of his hands. The director shifted his glare to the superhuman. "Graviton."

Chapter Text

10 years ago

S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Nick Fury sat at his desk, giving the man in front of him a stern look. "Are you familiar with the term Transhumanism, Doctor Hall?"

The Doctor nodded slowly. When the government reached out to him, he didn't expect it to be this division. "You're talking about modifying and enhancing humans to the next level, yes?"

"Indeed. If you recall, Germany was the first to break that barrier, and it was thanks to the defected Abraham Erskine that we perfected their process. You might know him as Captain America.

"I remember reading about Captain America in history class, but I didn't know he was a transhuman. I believed that he was just an above-average soldier but with added propaganda."

"Make no mistake. Captain Steve Rogers is as real as the eye patch on my face. He was the first and, unfortunately, the last successful attempt. For decades, the world powers have been researching how to tap into our latent human potential."

"I take it that the conspiracy theory that super soldiers took part during the Cuban missile crisis is false."

"Not entirely. The individuals you are referring to were not only a third party but the mutants that have been popping up more and more lately."

"Really? But aren't the mutants what you're looking for, though? An army of them would surely suffice."

"Perhaps, but there are too many uncontrollable variables in their origin and growth."

"Are their genetics really that complex?"

"Our agents discovered the Canadian government had tried a Weapons project with them in the past, but due to complications, the subjects and research are now lost."

"I guess those Canadians aren't as innocent as they portray themselves to be."

"There's always a dark underside to any human society. In any case, another branch of government is working on the mutant issue." Nick took a deep breath. "And all that leads up to here. S.H.I.E.L.D. wants to continue Abraham Erskine's supersoldier formula, and we want you on our team. We can provide unlimited resources and human test subjects. So, what do you say?"

Franklin Hall paused for a moment, taking it all in before smirking. "When do I start?" Little did he know where he would end up ten years later.

Present

Nick Fury glared at his captor. "What do you want, Hall?!"

In suppressed anger and glowing blue eyes, the former prisoner answered. "Really? You're going to say that name and ask me that? Is it not obvious to you? I helped you with your research, and this is how you repay me!"

"You were becoming a danger. Calm down."

"Calm down?! Calm down! Don't you dare tell me to calm down. I just woke up years in the future locked up at the bottom of the ocean. Do you not realize how much of my life you took away from me?"

The director raised a brow in confusion. "What life? You were a scientific shut-in with no other family."

"It was still my life! The world moved on without me. I missed the new millennium. I missed the new Star Wars Trilogy. I missed Friends season 6!"

He struggled to break free as he tried to stall. "Actually, Friends got renewed for 10 seasons."

"Really?" The prisoner raised a brow in interest before shaking his head. "Wait. Shut up! No more distractions. I'm going to take years off of your life!"

Fury rolled his eyes, remembering the incident at the Vault and his new gray hairs. "You wouldn't be the first." Before Fury could continue, gravity warped around Fury, pulling limbs in several directions.

"I could just take them all, but I want to savor this moment." Fury's neck slowly reared back as his insides gradually took a toll.

Hall was so absorbed in the torture that he didn't notice an energy beam and a hammer flying to his chest, releasing the unnatural force around Fury and the Raft.

Before the Director could impact the water, a prospective recruit from earlier came in and grabbed him by the scruff of his suit. "Wasp?"

She started pulling away from the battlefield. "Sorry. No time for small talk. We have to move." Behind them, the entire Raft sank back into the water all while citizens stared at the scene in shock.

Hall recovered and steadied himself. The intruders floated in front of him, both he did not recognize. One was a blond man in classical armor, and the other was some sort of red bipedal manta ray with yellow horns wearing some sort of visor.

Thor examined him carefully. "Your power is impressive… For a mortal."

Jetray continued as Azmuth conducted his analysis of the situation. "Yeah. You're basically on all the news channels now."

'How much has the world changed since I was gone? No matter.' The man scoffed at them. "I am no mere human, no mere mortal. Not anymore. Now, I am a God."

It was Thor's turn to huff. "My Father would think otherwise. Regardless, we are Midgard's protectors. Should you harm this city or its people, we will stop you."

Hall growled. "Do you think you have authority over me? I answer to no one! I can do anything!"

"I think not, villain." Thor charged first. "HAVE AT THEE!"

When Hall's eyes glowed brighter, Jetray's eyes widened at the incoming data. "Oh, shi-"

In an instant, the force of 1000 times Earth's gravity pulled the hero into the water below with Thor forcing himself to follow through the attack.

A trio stood on the nearby dock, seeing the chaos.

Wasp watched as Thor pushed through the added resistance to fight. In the corner of her eye, a dark blur passed underwater. "This is not good at all."

Ant-Man crossed his arms and turned to the Director. "Anything you'd like to tell us, Fury?"

Nick Fury waved off the question. "Not really." He put a hand to his comms. "S.H.I.E.L.D. command, this is Director Nick Fury. I am declaring an omega-level emergency. Every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, every Hulkbuster unit, the US Armed Forces, they are all now under my direct control."

Wasp and Ant-man exchanged looks. "I didn't know he had that much influence in the military, Hank. Not to mention that he's actually worried."

Ant-Man sighed. "Don't beat around the bush, Fury. This is serious. Who is he?"

Nick sighed in annoyance. "Dr. Franklin Hall. Designation: Graviton."

That caught Ant-Man off guard. "Wait, you mean the physicist? No one's heard from him in years. The last thing I heard about him was his new contract with... S.H.I.E.L.D."

Wasp stepped forward. "Seriously. This is exactly what I was concerned about. Fury, what the hell were you guys working on?"

Nick Fury turned away. "That's classified."

Wasp looked at the man dryly before gesturing to the conflict. "Really? Because the secret literally broke out and is threatening the city."

Above

"Enough. This ends now!" Thor threw Mjolnir, but Hall caused it to halt before impact with a wave of his hand. He smirked in victory only to wince at a burning feeling against his back.

Numerous green energy blasts continued to fire from below as a dark shadow jetted around its target like an underwater vulture.

Understanding his ally's tactic, Thor added on the pressure. He timed his assault, striking at every opportunity several times.

Unfortunately for them, Hall wasn't one to fall for the same trick forever. First, he focused his powers to cover him in all directions.

Thor attempted to strike Hall, but he couldn't break the invisible shield.

Then, Hall slammed both of his fists together, generating a massive gravity well. The distortion pulled both Thor and Jetray into range. The heroes struggled to escape his grasp to little effect. "I grow tired of you pests!" The space around them distorted once more.

"What magic is this?" rasped Thor.

"Magic?" Hall scoffed and thought about what he had become. "No. Science! I am beyond humanity! As SHIELD put it, I am Graviton!"

"Fitting," muttered Jetray under his breath.

Below

Wasp gestured to the abnormal scientist. "How is he even doing all of this?"

"I don't know exactly, but I assume he's manipulating the polarity and magnitude of gravity wells by altering the local gravitational constant," deduced Hank.

"He controls gravity!" she exclaimed. Wasp shook her head. "Well, we can't just stand here and watch. We have to do something. I've seen Thor in action, and he and the other thing can't stop him, he'll keep moving in-land."

Nick Fury slammed his fist against a steel container. "Dammit. Almost all our Heavy reinforcements are being held up out west. The Gamma escapees aren't letting up. I knew they shouldn't have given all of the Hulk-Busters to Ross."

"See!." The brunette started flying only for Hank to pull her back.

"Janet. It's too dangerous for us."

"You can't be serious, Hank. We're talking about millions of people in danger. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if they got hurt when I just sat back and did nothing. I'm not going to let that happen." She shrunk out of his grasp and flew away.

Ant-Man's eyes widened in concern. "Jan. Jan, wait!" Against his gut, he stayed behind.

Meanwhile, Graviton held Thor and Jetray in place. He growled at the two. "Can't your brutish minds understand what I'm telling you? I control one of the four fundamental forces of reality! I can remove gravity's effect on you, sending you hurtling into space." An idea popped into his head. "or I can drag you to the Earth's core!" This time, a stream of energy wrapped around Thor. As soon as it settled, a weight unlike any before to the god dragged him into the ocean. He lost his grasp on Mjolnir as his body began sinking below the sand further and further.

Jetray's eyes hardened at the act. "Thor!" In a flash of green light, Jetray was replaced with a large, bulky, reddish-brown alien with rocky skin. He wore black shorts with green stripes, a green belt with white stripes and the Omnitrix symbol. It curled his body to a planetoid sphere. It's natural abilities canceled out the current level of gravity attempting to hold him. "Gravattack!"

Graviton felt his opponent's manipulations of his gravity wells fluctuating back to normal. "What?! Impossible!" Once more, his energy surged, attempting to regain control of the battlefield.

The alien hero grunted at the increased resistance. "You're stronger than I thought."

"My revenge on Fury will not be denied!" A sudden sting to his side caught his attention. "What? More pests?!"

Wasp flies over the man's shoulders. "Thanks. I don't know how you became... whatever it is you are now, but you made it much easier getting up here." She glared at the escapee. "Franklin Hall, you give theoretical physicists a bad name. Now knock it off before we make you."

As the gravitational waves between Gravattack and Graviton canceled each other out, he laughed at this backup attempt. "Are you joking? With the power at my disposal, I- AHH!" He immediately covered his eye because of sharp pain. "You bitch!"

"Nice shot." Feeling the opening, Gravattack quickly dragged himself and Graviton toward the docks, temporarily throwing off his control. 'What even is this guy?'

All the while, Wasp continuously shot Graviton in the face, ears, and neck.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Aah!"

Unknown to the trio, a famous armored suit entered the fray. On Tony's HUD, he noticed a strange creature with a familiar hourglass symbol and an acquaintance fighting Graviton. "Janet?"

The gravity duo crash-landed into several walls and storage containers, now taking a short pause.

"Please tell me you're ready to give up?" Wasp put her hands on her waist only to be forced back.

From the corner of her vision, Iron Man charged in and socked Graviton in the jaw and then fired a repulsor blast, sending him into the ocean. "Hey, Janet. I knew we traveled in some of the same social circles, but I didn't know you came to parties like this." He turned to the third rock-like being he met in his life so far. "So, who are you and the crazy old guy?"

"Nice to see you too Tony. Been a while since we were at the UN. As for the other guy, he's a madman with the power to destroy the world," grunted the alien.

Wasp rolled her eyes. "Yeah, he's Some crazy physicist Nick Fury hired. Anyways, Tony, am I glad to see you. I wasn't sure if you were on the West Coast or... Wait." The two turned to Gravattack with suspicious looks. "You transformed from that red thing earlier, and you fought with Tony at the UN." She pointed to his belt. "SHIELD showed us that exact same symbol." Her eyes widened. "Are you telling me that you are that purple living crystal, Stinkfly, and the dinosaur thing?!"

Ben blinked at her conclusion before nodding. "Yes. Yes. I am."

She simply stared gobsmacked at the dry admission.

In contrast, Iron Man took it much more casually. "Huh, a shapeshifter. Cool."

Wasp pinched the bridge of her nose and slumped with a sigh. "Whatever. Hank was looking all over the city for you... Don't let him know just yet."

Gravattack shook his head. "I wasn't planning on it. He seemed too enthusiastic."

"Anyways, now that we're all here, we can.. Oh, no. Thor!"

Tony crossed his arms. "Who?"

"Thor. You know, the dude with the hammer? He's way below the ocean by now."

"That's actually his name? I thought he was just a superpowered cosplayer."

Gravattack interjected. "Thor will be fine. We just have to ease the focus off of him. Get ready for round two" He pointed in the direction of the gravitation distortions he was feeling. Pillars of water erupted as Graviton rose to the surface. As soon as the two met gazes, he curled into a planetoid. Several shipping containers floated around him, accelerating faster and faster than before. Only to slam against the invisible shields.

With a wave of Graviton's hands, the metal creaked as the sheets folded into themselves. The collective mass grew denser and denser into a shrinking black mass. Slowly, light started to distort around his creation.

Understanding what was happening, he acted fast, hoping to cancel out the growing well. As the two forces of nature clashed against each other, the light between them started to bend, leaving a black spot at the epicenter of their combined energy.

J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke from Tony's helmet. "Warning. The gravitational field is in flux. Extreme caution advised."

Iron Man's eyes widened at the readings. "Uh, Jan, the energy they're putting out, the only comparison is a black hole. That's not good."

"Come on!" Wasp and Iron Man quickly flew into range and fired bolts as many bolts as they could.

Feeling the pressure coming from all around him, the enemy screamed in rage. "I will crush you like the insects you all are." A small pulse emitted from him, striking Tony.

Immediately, Iron Man fell upward with no sign of slowing down. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Holy Crap!" Iron Man struggled as he hurled farther and farther into the upper atmosphere. "Don't let up!"

Graviton growled in the ongoing struggle. "That's one less pest to deal with."

Suddenly, a giant boot crashed down upon him. "That's for calling my girlfriend a bitch!"

Snapping out of their stupor, Wasp smirked as Gravattack breathed a sigh of relief, decompressing the sphere. "Thanks, Hank. I see you went big."

Ben looked up at the formerly small hero. "Heh. When he said his name was Ant-Man, he really meant Gi-Ant-Man. I was not expecting that."

Giant-Man looked at her in concern. "Janet, you need to get out of here. I'll handle Graviton."

"I have my doubts on that," frowned the alien.

Wasp stood her ground. "What? No. We're in this together."

Before Hank could retort, his entire body was uplifted, sending him back first into the water. Gravattack closed his eyes and focused on finding the physicist. "Get up, he's on the move."

Meanwhile, Nick Fury was attempting to regroup with SHIELD forces only to be stopped in his tracks once again. The Director was turned to face his old acquaintance once more. The trio of heroes was not far behind, coming across the confrontation.

"This is between us, Hall. Do what you want with me, Hall, but no one else needs to get hurt."

Graviton laughed. "No, you wanted me to create a Super Soldier, but I've become so much more. I'm beyond human now. I'm going to crush you and then show the world their new master's power." Then his eyes glowed, "Destroying the city would be a good demonstration. Goodbye, Nick Fury!" However, before Graviton could be satisfied, Nick Fury exploded, not of blood and gore but a burst of flames and sparks. "What?! Fury!" Crushed the remaining head. Realizing the deception, Graviton discarded the remains and flew towards Manhattan. He would commit to his threat.

Several hundred feet away, the real Fury watched from the shadows, detonator in hand. "That could've gone better," he muttered.

Ben nearly fell over just as he was about to transform again. "Uh… Was that supposed to happen?"

"I always called him an emotionless robot, but I didn't think I was right," snarked Hank.

Compared to ten years ago, Manhattan seemed to be missing something, but he pushed those thoughts away. Outstretching both arms, Graviton unleashed his power over the entire city.

The friendly neighborhood hero carried a mother and daughter back to the street just outside the city after webbing up some looters. A black-haired woman pulled her pillow and blanket over her head in a vain attempt to relieve a hangover. The leather jacket was still stained from the bar fight during the previous drinking binge. The Baxter Building was on automatic lockdown as a violet portal within a lab hummed from recent use. The vintage mansion of Greenwich Village glowed in mystic runes, invisible to the average mortal.

Everyone felt a rumbling. Seconds later, a shadow cast itself over the state below, to the civilians, heroes, and villains that evacuated or remained, one thought hung through the air. "Fuck..."

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Gravattack

Species: Galilean

Home World: Keplorr's Orbit

Powers and Abilities:

Galileans can control gravity to manipulate the weight and motion of objects, allowing them to suspend and levitate targets in the air, send them flying back or forth, or slam them down to the ground with hand gestures. Their control over gravity allows them to change its direction, allowing them to telekinetically send targets flying upwards or across the air as if they were falling. When using their powers, they emit an aura of hazy energy, which they can also form into walls, barriers, and domes. Galileans can use the laws of general relativity to their advantage and can reduce the speed of objects to nothing even if they were moving at the speed of light.

Chapter Text

All across the country, let alone the state, the public watched a chunk of New York be lifted into the air by a single man. All the villain had to do was let go, and the entire city, possibly the state, would be destroyed. Suffice to say, people panicked.

Hall smirked at the display of his power over the masses; however, his shift in focus allowed a certain God of Thunder to force his way back up through the crust. Bursting from the water, Thor made his return known to the enemy and allies.

After just sharing a look with his newfound allies, they knew what to do. So, with a nod, they went to action.

Gravattack activated his comm. "Wasp, help Thor in any way you can. Ant-Man and I need to bring that city down without breaking it." 'Not even my ultimate form will give me enough range.'

"Got it, Rocky. If we're lucky, Iron Man will be back." Janet gave him a thumbs up and flew off.

As the remaining duo flew, Hank turned to Gravattack. "I hope you aren't expecting me to make the entire city small. Unfortunately, this isn't an episode of Spongebob."

The alien laughed. "Kind of the opposite, actually. I need you on the West edge while I take the East."

Ant-Man deadpanned at him. "You are severely overestimating my strength if you think I can help you lift several city blocks."

Gravattack shook his head. "I don't expect you to. Trust me. I have a plan. I just need you to help guide me."

Thor flew forward and struck against his gravity barrier to no avail.

Hall stared at the god's attempt with indifference.

Not having any of the man's attitude, Thor charged his hammer with mystical lightning and far harder than before.

The sheer force of the blow sent Hall flying back into the floating mass of Earth with a resounding crash. Then, due to the loss of concentrated gravity, the stolen land began falling.

Suddenly, on opposite ends of the city, green and red lights burst simultaneously.

While one side had the familiar Giant-Man, the other was a bigger surprise.

There stood a larger gray humanoid creature with large red fins on its head and forearms. All across the globe, those watching the news stared in shock at the new giant's appearance. But, most notably, fans familiar with a certain Tokusatsu series cheered.

Tokyo

Yoga, City of Setagaya

A young child genius sat on the couch with his mother staring at the television. "Nanite kotoda! Urutoramandesu!" [Oh, my God! It's Ultraman!]

Behind the couch, a tall green, yellow, and white robot watched in interest as well.

Maemi Takachiho gave her boy a soft smile. It had been a while since she saw that genuine expression. He always had it when watching tv with his father on Saturday mornings. Turning back to the TV, she knew it would drag him into this new world of marvels sooner than later. 'Tabun, watashi wa kyasu ni adobaisu o motomerubekidesu.' [Maybe I should ask Cas for a favor.]

Both his fellow allies and even the villain paused the new transformation.

Hank heaved with his hands held onto the Earthly mass. "Wow… I was not expecting that."

Waybig gave a hearty laugh. "I get that a lot."

Seeing the familiar symbol again, the dots connected in his head, he beamed a bit. "You were Stinkfly, weren't you?"

Waybig sweatdropped a bit. "Heh. I was hoping you would find out after the battle."

"If we live through this, please let me examine your wing structure."

The alien groaned. "Fine, but you better buy lunch."

"Deal!"

"Good. Now, we gotta put this thing down easy." The city blocks slowly made their way back to the surface. "We're good. We're good. We're good. We're good. We're good."

"Wait. Move it to the left about five feet."

"... My left or yours?"

Thor briefly raised a brow. 'Must be one of the other Giant races father mentioned.' Then, turning back to his opponent, he grinned. "As you can see, I have impressive allies."

Hall scoffed. "Big or small, they shall fall all the same." He was about to strike, only to feel a familiar sting near his eyes, now rubbing them vigorously. "Agh! Son of a bitch!"

Wasp floated next to Thor with a smug expression. "Gotta say, as one of the small, you fall for that trick too easily."

Taking the opening, Thor threw an uppercut swing. "Believe me, little one. My brother did that to me more than I like to admit."

She smirked. "Let's keep up the pressure. Come on!"

As soon as the roads touched back down to the ground, people tried to get the hell out of there. People attempted to flee the chaos, packing the freeway. Sadly, their efforts were in vain as an explosion erupted in the medium, crashing several vehicles before lifting them in a gravity field. Graviton crashed, and he was pissed. Their only reprieve was a magical hammer smashing the intruder away. "Why can't you all just die!" Several abandoned semi-trucks launched at the Thunder God and Wasp.

Wasp sliced the closest one in half while Thor batted two of them away. "Yeah… How about, no. I still have more than a hundred items left on my bucket list."

Thor glared. "I suggest you stay down, mortal."

Graviton laughed. "You may slow me down, but do you think you two can stop me? The power of the universe flows through my veins. I've beaten you two before. I can do it again."

Wasp crossed her arms. "If it were just Thor and me, it would be a hard maybe."

Annoyed, Hall lept toward Thor, ready to strike.

A voice came through Janet's headset, and she smirked. "Then again, it never was only us."

Suddenly, a massive blue beam of energy struck Graviton down. Recovering, he glared at the assailant.

Iron Man hovered above the duo. "You should really listen to them. No one wrecks my city without getting an ass-whooping."

The familiar flying red manta ray and a swarm of ants arrived in the corner of their vision. "Sorry, we're late. Considering what happened so far, we had to rescue and evacuate the leftover people in the city."

Giant-Man looked at the former scientist with empathy. "You gotta stop this. You're sick, Franklin. You need help."

Wasp flew next to her boyfriend and narrowed her eyes, "I'd be more than happy to give a bit more zapping. I hear shock therapy is still legal in some states."

The stressed Graviton looked around him. He was surrounded. If he fell, he would likely never see the light of day again. He'll never get to ride the Skyway buckets and Motorboats at Disneyland. Worst of all, he would never know if Ross and Rachael got together. "NO!" He blasted them all back into the buildings and held them there. "I shall not be locked up again." Charging up, he seethed through each breath. "Don't you all see?! I'm stronger than all of you. I'm the strongest one there is!"

Almost all the heroes present rolled their eyes, getting ready for another round; however, a loud crash cut off their train of thought.

A large green beast had landed right on top of Hal, pinning him to the ground.

"You sure about that?!" Hulk lunged and tackled Graviton through a nearby building, leaving the others at a pause before quickly following behind.

"Huh. I did not realize that there are ogres on Midgard," Thor said aloud.

Iron Man shook his head. "That ain't an ogre, that's the Hulk. If he were, I'd be playing some Smash Mouth. My friend said that he was locked up, but it seems he escaped along with everyone else."

Wasp raised a brow at the Hulk grappling Hall to the edge of the city. "Why is he helping us? Isn't Hulk, you know, the bad guy?"

Ben made a face. "The Hulk is complicated. He just has a real problem with military types."

They see Hulk punt Graviton through another wall with a vicious roar. "Not to mention anger issues," remarked Tony.

Ant-Man interjected. "Still, shouldn't we be stopping Hulk and apprehending Hal."

Wasp shrugged. "Maybe after a few more punches on his dumb face."

They all followed the trail of destruction to the harbor, where Hulk was again attacking Graviton savagely.

Iron Man approved of the current beatdown. "I'll take any help we can get. Plus, he's good enough in my books."

The energy field around Graviton fluctuated, sinking Hulk into the concrete.

Seeing the readings, Iron Man widened his eyes. "Oh, shit. Quick, take him down!"

Jetray shot ahead toward their target before disappearing in a flash of green light. A large red humanoid with four arms and eyes appeared. With a wide swing in mid-air, all four arms reared back for four supersonic punches.

The fists clashed against the shield. Then, while two nearly penetrated through, a sudden burst launched him and the others into the ground. The increased gravity affected them all.

Graviton raised his fists, gathering more of the universal force. "Look at you fools! "All shall fall to my Gravity Bind! I possess the power of the universe itself" He flew up, "I AM POWER!" To prove his point, he raised his arms. Numerous buildings, shipping containers, and clouds swirled around the battlefield like a hurricane.

Iron Man's armor joints locked up. "Can anyone move?"

"Nay." Even Thor struggled against the overwhelming force.

As Four Arms struggled to move, Azmuth spoke through his headset. "If you wish to reduce its effect on you, I recommend reducing your mass."

Ben mentally slapped himself for not doing it sooner. He turned his head to Wasp and Ant-Man. "We gotta shrink!"

Hank's boys seemingly disappeared before a swarm of ants started to gather. "Already ahead of you."

After shrinking herself, Wasp stared at the sight before her. "Uh, I think Hulk found his own way."

True to her words, Hulk pressed on to Graviton. Each step resisting the weight of a mountain.

Hall snarked. Even if he was tired from earlier, the enemy should not resist him easily. With one thrust after another, the increased gravity did not deter the green beast. "Impossible!"

Hulk glared at him before smirking. "Is that all you got?!" He pulled himself out of the crater only for a hailstorm of shipping containers to rain down. He punched away the first wave, but he was soon buried under a pile of metal.

Not far behind, Nanomech and Ant-Man weaved through the battlefield for their target. "Gotta say. You get more and more interesting every minute." Then, finally, he caught a glance at the biomechanical insectoid marvel next to him.

Nanomech groaned. "Focus, dude. My eye is up here."

"Seriously, how many things can you turn into?" Wasp and Nanomech grouped with Ant-Man preparing his swarm.

"Less talking, more shooting." He and Wasp swerved around Graviton, firing numerous bursts as a distraction. Meanwhile, numerous flying ants latched onto the man's jumpsuit outside his field of view. It didn't take long for them to invade his clothes and lock their jaws on their target.

Hall's expression immediately shifted to one of pain, screaming out to the world as he grabbed his crotch.

The heroes in the know of the plan cringed at its success.

No longer held down, Hulk burst from his temporary prison and tackled Hall into the asphalt.

"This isn't possible!" Graviton yelled. He raised a hand, blocking several slams from the Hulk. Then, with a hard push, he sent the Mutate flying. Similar to before, he shot a barrage of Shipping containers. Suddenly, he was distracted by the arrival of the freed Iron Man.

Hulk punched through the first container, but the second was cut in half by yellow and green energy beams, allowing him to slip through. He turned his head to the person in question. "You're helping me?"

Wasp smirked. "Yeah, now hit him!"

"Just like last time, dude," declared Nanomech.

With the added support, Hulk traversed through the storm, gathering momentum to his target. Thanks to the cover from Iron Man, Hulk took his free shot, slamming himself and Graviton.

The villain recovered, pushing the behemoth away with a rising slab of Earth. However, Iron Man took the opportunity, unleashing a full-power Unibeam blasting him into a crater in a daze.

Nano-mech, Ant-Man, Thor were grouped, exchanging words before Thor flew to the clouds.

In a flash, the speedy bi-pedal feline re-appeared. "Giant-Man, set him up!" He quickly sped over the water.

Ant-Man grew and grabbed Graviton as fast as he could. Then, mimicking the Mets, he reared back and threw his own fastball. Needless to say, the added whiplash did not help in Graviton's recovery.

Far enough away from the mainland, the alien transformed once again into the gray titan. Timing himself just right, he swung his arms like a bat, launching Hall straight into the sky. For the follow-up, he quickly crossed his arms, increasingly glowing blue. 'Remember, not too much.'

Graviton screamed as he flew upward, unable to focus his power. Further above, Thor waved Mjolnir, summoning godly amounts of mystical lightning. "FOR MIDGARD!"

Waybig yelled out a breath of release. "SHOOTING STAR STREAM!"

Simultaneously, portions of Cosmic Power and the Odin Force clashed with the unfortunate victim in the middle of it all.

As the explosion of light faded, the heroes and the rest of the populace starred in brief shock at the finishing moves. They could see the smoking lug falling, landing like a rock on the remains of the Raft. An arm reached out toward the afternoon sun before falling from exhaustion.

Hulk leaped onto the floating piece of metal with a satisfied smirk. "Who's strongest now?"

Giant-Man, a newly changed Fasttrack, and the others made it to the Raft before reverting to his original size. Hank shook his head at the drained man. "Dammit, Hall, you had the power to change the world."

Wasp walked up to the man. "Yeah, and you chose to be a total dick about it." Then, wanting the last laugh, she zapped Hall in the crotch again for good measure, eliciting another groan of pain.

Happy with today's victory, Thor walked up and pulled everyone into a hug, "The day has been saved! Come! Let us celebrate with food and merriment!"

The brief smile on everyone's faces dropped a sudden interruption.

"FREEZE!" They all looked to see the SHIELD navy and the air force aiming at them, "Step away from the Hulk and the shapeshifter!"

Fasttrack deadpanned at the numerous soldiers. "Really. It's because I'm an alien, isn't it." A few soldiers on the ground gave nods and shrugs. "I swear movies like The Thing give people like me a bad rep… No relation to that orange rock guy."

Hulk snarled, ready to fight his way out alongside his alien friend; however, both he and Ben were surprised by their recent allies standing up for them.

Iron Man raised his helm to show his annoyance. "Seriously? They helped us stop the guy who nearly destroyed the whole state."

Janet pumped a fist in determination. "Yeah. If SHIELD wants you two, then they'll have to go through us!"

After being on his own for so long, it was heartening that more people cared at least a bit for him."

Thor gestured Mjolnir to the duo. "The blue one helped me defend my home from invasion. The Hulk did the same for the people of New York. They are both heroes as well as any of us!"

Fasttrack smiled at the support before turning to the agents. "If you hadn't noticed, we had to carry a bunch of your slack saving the people and stopping the bad guys. You need us."

"Stand down!" Fury pushed to the front of the military detail with a firm expression. "As much as I would like to take them in, we've got bigger problems. Seventy-Four Supervillains are now on the loose. Who knows where they are now? Canada? Mexico? Across the ocean?"

"How did this happen, Fury?" asked Iron Man.

Fury held in his irritation at not having an answer. "We don't know, but we can find out together." He held out his hand. "You can all come work for us. As SHIELD Agents, you can make a real difference."

It was Wasp's turn to deadpan. "You're actually gonna ask Hank and me that again after everything that's just happened today?"

Ant-Man walked forward. "My answer is the same as before, Fury. No, and now I have more of a reason why." The other heroes turned to him. "I do not doubt that 'this' was SHIELD's fault. SHIELD's recklessness gave Hall his powers, but it was your treatment of him that created Graviton. I won't stand for any more lies if it's going to endanger people."

Fasttrack raised his arms in exasperation. "Yeah. Thor and I were just having lunch with a friend, and all of a sudden, the city started exploding."

After hearing all that, Tony smirked. "You know what, Fury's right!"

Heads snapped to the armored hero.

"What?!" Wasp gaped. "You, of all people, are going to work for SHIELD?"

"Hell no! I'm talking about us making a difference together!" Iron Man said with fervor. "One-on-one, we can each take down a villain or two, but seventy-four and new ones popping up every day? None of us can do that alone. Together we have a chance. What we did here, we can change things. The world needs us-." Maria Hill went to interrupt, but Fury held her back, "-but not as SHIELD agents. Together we can avenge all the wrongs caused by all of these villains."

Wasp looked thrilled. "We can be Avengers."

Hulk grunted, "Good name."

Fasttrack smiled at the comradery. "You know what? That's not a bad idea. We can talk about it over food." His expression turned Cheshire. "In fact, it just so happens that Ant-Man here said he'd treat us all to lunch."

Hank's eyes widened. "Wait, that's not-."

Wasp grabbed onto his arm and beamed. "Awe, thanks, Hank. This is the first step for the future. I know this great place on Twenty-fifth street."

Thor cheered. "Huzzah. A round of ale for us all, Man of Ants."

Tony laughed along. "Normally, I pay for my own food, but if Hank's offering, who am I to say no.."

Hank slumped in defeat with a nervous smile. "Yeah… Huzzah…"

Fury watched the heroes go off to eat as Maria Hill walked up to him. "Director Fury, we have the security footage online. Graviton didn't wake until after the security systems shut down." She frowned. "He couldn't have been responsible."

A hollow feeling grew in his stomach. "And if he wasn't, who was?"

Chapter Text

High above Earth

Year 40XX

A man in a Victorian lab coat appeared in a flash of light in space. Not far from him, a large ship orbited the Earth. "The new mechanics of this multiverse have been insightful. Seeing Earth-616's evolving timeline is simply fascinating." After readjusting his tie, he smirked, noticing a presence. "I know you are there."

From behind, a bald man in blue and white robes materialized into view. "You should not be here, Time Walker."

Professor Paradox crossed his arms. "Perhaps, Watcher. However, unlike you and others like you, I prefer to nudge history to a preferable path."

"The Watchers are aware of the possible consequences of interference."

"And from my experience," Paradox retorted. "I have seen the results of both action and inaction." Paradox's expression turned grave. "We both know what is coming for this timeline. We can feel it is already progressing."

The cosmic watcher paused. "I will admit that the final fate of the timestream is in flux." The watcher turned to the present Earth before turning back to Paradox. "This Tennyson of yours will have many trials to face." He huffed. "This new branching of Earth-8096 may intersect with Earth-555326."

"Call me optimistic. A near-dead world like that one needs its heroes."

"You wouldn't happen to know about a new branch of Earth-199999 appearing due to another visitor from outside my reality?"

Paradox raised a brow. "I can't say I do. Not a danger to everyone, I hope."

"For a lack of better words, this red-head has the word sword written all over him."

Paradox blinked. "Can't say I follow the metaphor. We can stop by there in a bit. I'd like to catch up on a little history. Care to join?"

The Watcher rolled his eyes. "If only to keep you out of trouble."

The two extra-temporal beings reappeared in a crystal-filled room and its unique owner. By shifting to a different dimensional frequency, they could observe without being seen.

There, a being wore a green uniform with purple gauntlets and a helmet. He stared intensely at the crystal display before him. On a golden throne, he put his hands together. "Display chronal archive 001944. Keyword: Rogers."

"Loading," a computerized voice replied. The crystalline display began to play back to an ancient recording dating back to Earth's second world war.

Paradox turned nostalgic. "Oh, I remember seeing these kinds of films all the time in my youth."

A long-forgotten announcer started. "News from the front. As the Hydra war machine expands its reach, one by one, the nations of Europe fall under its shadow." An emblem of a skull with tentacles stretches across Europe from the East. "None so far have withstood the onslaught." Civilian buildings were set ablaze as Hydra Flags were held high with their army raising fists.

"While my original timeline had its own World War 2, it's disturbing to see such an organization from the German science division publicly show themselves."

"Unfortunately, Hydra is a constant in many realities here," added the Watcher.

"But Allied soldiers from across the globe stand together, and as the world goes to war, we recount the tale of Steve Rogers, the man who would become Captain America." A lanky young man stands on a scale, seemingly unfit for duty. A doctor is soon shown with a large syringe in hand. "Although young Rogers was too frail for combat, his fighting spirit wouldn't give up. He volunteered for a secret military experiment and, with the help of the country's finest scientists, was transformed into the world's first super-soldier." The lanky shadow bulked into a new form.

He smiled. "But with Hydra comes the Captain, one of the infinite variations."

The new and improved Steve Rogers suits up and stands alongside another masked soldier and their allied forces. "And now he fights alongside the Allies as a symbol of freedom and liberty for all the world."

A headline spins into view, showing various victories during their campaign. "Even now, Cap is leading the charge against the dreaded Red Skull and his Hydra forces. Good luck, Captain America, wherever you are."

Another recording queued, this time showing a monument of the late Captain. "Today, Earth's mightiest hero fell in the line of duty. Farewell, Captain America, wherever you are."

"No. Not where. When." With the recordings concluded, the blue-skinned ruler stood up. It was time to begin his investigations.

Paradox clapped his hands. "Time for our little field trip."

The Watcher sighed. "Please refrain from altering the timeline."

The professor waved it off and gestured to the man known as Kang. "As you can see, Earthlings are more than capable of doing that themselves. Then again, I am an Earthling."

Northern Germany

1944

The time-traveling trio appeared in the past, above and out of sight.

Rain was pouring, and thunder was roaring. An infantry vessel made its way toward the shallow waters outside their objective, a large castle in the distance. These soldiers, known as the Howling Commandos, slowly but surely trekked their way, eventually reaching a cemetery, but they would not be alone.

A bright flare lights the storming sky, notifying them of their discovery by Hydra soldiers.

Jack Fury yelled. "Howling Commandos, move!" The two forces took cover and exchanged fire, but the Allies were at a disadvantage. "We're sitting ducks out here. Howlett, I need recon!"

James Howlet held his helmet down as another bullet nearly grazed him. "I'm working on it, bub."

On the hill, the Hydra Machine Gun raining down on the Commandos jams. Just as the enemy agent attempted to fix it, a red and blue blur zoomed by, slicing the gun apart. Like a boomerang, the round shield came back to its wielder.

"Oh, if only I had access to Vibranium in my younger years," Paradox mused. "Who knows what I could have invented at the time?"

"I'd like to see your reaction to the various Wakandas," replied the Watcher. "They've made significant developments with the material."

Atop a gravestone, Captain America stood proudly. "This is the end of the line, boys. Our job is to take down Hydra's science base, and we've already got a man on the inside to get us in." The Howling Commandos gathered around the American Super Soldier. "Now let's go show the Red Skull that his day is over!" With that, his allies cheered.

Paradox chuckled. "I can see how he is such a charismatic icon."

Later

The howling commandos charged toward the base at the herald of a brass trumpet.

Captain America took out a watchtower and the surrounding guards.

Co-commander Dum Dum Dugan easily barged through a trio of unarmed operatives caught off guard.

Near the mist-covered water, an armed soldier backs up at the ready. He never noticed James "Logan" Howlett rising from the deep, pouncing on the unsuspecting man with his bone claws extended.

Ever the gentleman, Pinky Pinkerton easily dispatched a group with his fists and a trusty umbrella.

Paradox brightened. "Fascinating. To see mutants appear at this point in history."

The Watcher smirked. "He's far older than he looks. James has been around since the Civil War?"

He raised a brow. "Some form of Longevity?"

"Technically. He has very potent cellular regeneration."

"Simply marvelous what your realities offer. I haven't had a chance to delve into history before the 20th century."

Meanwhile, Jack Fury and Steve Rogers push to the castle entrance. Bullets and fists fly, taking down more Hydra goons. The trusty shield kocks a trio into the chasm below with ease.

Jack whistled in admiration. "They should make that thing standard issue."

Steve smirked as he caught the iconic weapon. "Sorry, Sarge. It's one of a kind."

Suddenly out of the corner of their eyes, a grenade falls toward them. Steve narrowly blocks it with his shield in time, the explosion knocking him to the ground. As the smoke cleared, he tried to get his bearings. "Jack?" The shockwave also brought down the Sergeant. "Jack!" Before he could help his ally, he is struck in the head by the butt of a gun. Before the Hydra agent could even fire, Steve sweeps his leg, sending him off the edge. Unfortunately for the Captain, a second soldier arrived, rifle cocked.

Unknown to both of them, the drawbridge entrance to the castle came crashing down, crushing the enemy. Leaving the castle was a young masked man in a red and blue uniform. "Uh… You're late."

From behind, the other Howling Commandos regroup and help their Sergeant up. "Cap! We're falling back to patch up and report to command. Will you two be okay?"

"We'll manage, Sarge." Captain America chuckled at the victory so far. "Any trouble inside, Bucky?"

"There are Hydra soldiers everywhere. I couldn't get into the lower levels on my own without raising the alarm, but I know the way."

"Not a problem. The stealth portion of this mission is officially over." The two walk inside and face a giant wooden door.

Buck tosses around an advanced grenade. "I'll knock." With a clean throw, it attaches itself to the door before detonating. As the doors fall to the ground, they feel the rumbling of giant footsteps."Must be the welcoming committee." The boy smirked. "I've got this covered."

From the shadows, a humongous one-eyed yellow monster growled and stomped into view. The beast wielded a mallet in its left hand.

"You know what, Cap?" Buck chuckled nervously. "I changed my mind. You get this one."

Paradox turned to the Watcher. "A cyclops… in World War Two?"

"Indeed. If you saw the previous battles, it got weird."

The two Americans dodge the oncoming hammer blow that cratered the brick floor. Bucky backed away carefully. "Okay, we've seen some weird stuff in this war, but what is that?"

Steve shook his head. "I don't know. One of Zola's experiments, maybe. Whatever it is, it's angry." Cap's shield took a hammer blow, skidding himself across the room.

"Back off, ugly!" Bucky jumped on the beast's back and covered its lone eye. It attempted to remove the boy with no immediate success. "Cap!"

With its right arm, it manages to grab the young he could chimp on the boy. Cap's shield batted its head away, freeing Bucky. When its vision cleared, he saw the lone captain at the entrance.

"You want me, monster?" Steve taunted. "Here I am."

Without thinking much, the monster rushed at the captain and slammed his hammer arm down. Unfortunately, this is what Steve wanted. Steve jumped and grabbed onto the drawbridge chains. The wooden bridge couldn't take the stress, breaking apart, bringing the beast to the depth below.

Swinging back to the castle, Steve got ready once again. "Let's keep moving."

Bucky looked down at the chasm and back to Steve. "Yeah. Sure. No use dwelling on the big monster that almost ate us." With that, the two made their way into the depths of the base.

Below the two cosmic watchers, Kang grew impatient. "Forward to time index 3.2."

Paradox shook his head. "Not a patient one, is he."

"And a sloppy time jump at that," added the Watcher.

Bucky had turned around, seemingly hearing the future human but missing it at the last moment.

Approaching the bowels of the research facility, the duo came across numerous documents and specimens. A folder labeled Project Nova described a test site located outside the municipality of Poland. Due to heavy bombing, the project was moved to a different location. Several photos of yellow barrels with an "N6" symbol were found. This new chemical was proposed to be armed on a battery of V2 and experimental V3 rockets.

Paradox narrowed his eyes at a periodic table showing three elements circled: neodymium, rhenium, and sulfur. "To think the axis powers here were up to such dangerous developments."

The Watcher sighed. "It is unfortunate that Hydra is responsible for several mortal tragedies across timelines."

Another folder showed the insignia of a fist grasping the number 935 with electron orbits around it.

Captain America put down the documents with a forlorn expression. "Smart bombs. Nerve gas. Germ warfare. I've heard rumors of German Wonder Weapons, and my fears may be realized."

"Yeah, this is creeping me out. Hydra's been working on this stuff for years. Any one of these things could mean big trouble for the Allies."

"That's why we're here, Bucky. No matter what, we're taking down the Skull once and for all."

The two walked into another room, finding many strange creatures contained below them. "What in the world is this, Cap?"

"I'm not so sure this is from our world."

Below, a man with a Red Skull chuckled. "You may come out now, Captain. I know you are here. You have arrived just in time to witness history."

From the duo's left and right, weapons cocked at them. Bucky groaned at his friend. "Ah, you always get me caught." The two got in a fighting stance but were interrupted by Red Skull

"Oh, please, Captain. Even if you were to survive, your partner would not."

Understanding their current situation, Steve allowed a Hydra soldier to take his shield.

Bucky gaped at his friend's surrender before feeling resentment toward himself, knowing he was holding the Captain back.

The two were brought to the ground level of the lab. "Still doing Zemo's dirty work, Skull?

"No. No." Red Skull chuckled. "I have stopped looking for the relics of this world. Today, I take the power of another one." He gestured to the containment units. "Ancient Norse mythology told of a realm of supernaturally powerful beings. And all myths have some basis in truth. This cave was the location of one gateway to that realm. The Norse called it Bifrost- the Rainbow Bridge."

"In some realities, the Bifrost simply connects distant planets. For others like this one, it links to places outside of normal space," elaborated Watcher.

"There are other dimensions and pockets of space that are part of the same timestream. I am familiar with the concept," replied the Professor.

"Picture an army of mythological beasts unleashed upon the battlefield. The Allies won't even comprehend the forces that are destroying them." From behind the glass, a wolf-like creature growled in defiance."

"Looks like your doggy there would rather gnaw on you than us, Skull," snarked Bucky.

"We have ways of guiding their choices." Skull pulled out a remote that silenced the beast and made it shiver in fear.

"What have you done?" toned Steve.

Skull chuckled. "What have I done? I have won this war, Captain." "Open the portal!"

The device managed to lock on to a specimen, increasing the power to bring it through. Just as the figure of a large blue being appeared, the courageous duo sprang into action, taking down their nearby guards and reclaiming the Shield. Steve blocked a flurry of bullets, allowing strays to fire at the consoles, damaging the portal.

Steve tackled a now enraged Red skull.

With several spinning kicks of Taekwon-do, Bucky took down more hydra goons.

The power in the room flickered, disabling the containers of the numerous Asgardian creatures and setting them free.

With a building rage against its captors, the wolf tore the Hydra Soldiers to shreds.

Steve skidded back on the floor against a blow from a large brown-horned beast.

A white minotaur-like creature took out more Hydra gunners.

The multi-colored fairies flew back into the portal home.

Bucky squared off against a green ogre more than twice his size, kicking it back into an electrical box before it exploded. When the wolf tried to pounce on the lad, a flying shield knocked it away.

With the creatures still distracting the enemy, Buck ran to disable the portal, dodging threats gracefully until he came to face the swordsman Strucker.

"I had hoped to test this blade on the great Captain America. You are not worthy to face me."

"Is it because I have more hair than you? Don't feel bad, Strucker. Maybe when you get older, it'll grow in."

Bucky continued to dodge the sword swings and thrusts with ease. "Sloppy technique. You shave your head with that thing, too? That would explain a lot."

Paradox chuckled at the banter. "The boy certainly reminds me of my friend."

Watcher nodded. "I can say the same about a certain spider avatar."

With a final dodge, he tricked Strucker into stabbing another machine of the portal, electrifying him much like the green beast from before.

With most Hydra agents down or retreated, Captain America was left alone to fight the Asgardian Beasts. Seeing himself outmatched, he checked his surroundings before hatching an idea. He ran to a fuel line, slicing it open and igniting it into a makeshift flamethrower.

Deterred by the flame, the creatures decided to retreat home through the portal, all except the wolf. Just as Steve raised his shield to protect himself, no attack came. From the portal came the upper half of a crystal blue giant, one hand wrapped around the wolf.

"An Ice Giant. Jotunheim, then." Paradox got a better look at the symbol on the runestone.

The other giant hand reached for the Captain as he called to close the portal.

Using Strucker's sword, Bucky cut power from the Nordic rune stone. As the energy stopped flowing, so did the giant sent through the closing portal.

Watcher blinked. "It seems our blue friend just arrived." Above, Kang returned in a flash.

One objective down, but the job wasn't done yet. As the lab started to self-destruct, an evacuating Red Skull seethed. "No! You have destroyed everything! I will have my revenge on you and the world!"

"We have to get out of here!" exclaimed Bucky.

"Not this time, partner. We're not letting him get away again." Steve wanted to end their fight with Skull once and for all.

Kang was nearing his goal. "Ahead 7.25."

Outside, a castle spires shed its outer bricks, revealing an escape rocket.

The heroic duo followed Skull to the roof just as he entered the cockpit.

Unseen by the soldiers. Kang continued.

Steve turned to his friend. "Bucky, stay here. Secure the fortress."

The young man didn't seem satisfied with that order.

Before the rocket launched, Captain America grabbed onto its outer ladder. With that, the transport lifted off.

Steve started climbing, but he got cut off. "I got your back, Cap!" Behind him, Bucky Barnes also grabbed onto the shuttle.

Now in his hoverchair, Kang traveled again. "Ahead .39."

"Bucky, I told you to st-"

"Yeah, I know. But we're partners, right?"

Steve could reprimand him for not following his orders, but if he were in Bucky's shoes, he would have done the same. He smiled softly at his oldest friend. "Let's finish this."

Red Skull managed to travel to the Arctic Circle before a shield bashed through his windshield, and Steve grabbed him by the uniform. "It's over, Skull."

Instead of fear, the Red Skull laughed sinisterly. "Finally, we agree." His right hand reached out and pressed a yellow button. "Goodbye, Captain America!" A countdown clock started and Reed Skull was ejected with his seat to safety.

"A pity he escaped," sighed Paradox.

The Watcher turned solemn. "He will be back."

"No!" Seeing Skull's getaway boiled the soldier's blood. He looked back into the cockpit, and they only had less than thirty seconds to get to safety. "There's not enough time! Bucky, jump for it!"

Unfortunately, Bucky's foot got caught in a bent ladder rung when rushing to meet Steve. "I can't! Cap!"

"Hang on, Bucky!" He made his way to him, ready to help, but Bucky had other plans.

"Sorry, Cap."

Steve continued to try and pry Bucky free. "Stow that talk. We'll make it."

"No, I mean, sorry, but the world needs Captain America more than Bucky." Using his free leg, he kicked Captain America off the shuttle.

Steve looked on as he fell. His closest friend sacrificed his life to save him and, in turn, the world. "No! No! Bucky!"

With a final salute, Bucky and the shuttle exploded in a massive burst. The shockwave crashed against the captain, knocking him out and into the icy water below.

"The lad seems like a true friend." Paradox pocketed his hands.

Watcher nodded. "It is unfortunate that his fate here is also in flux, as is the Captain's."

Kang hovered over the water, searching for any sign of the Captain's survival. He was unsatisfied "Mmm. Manual control." With his console, the area fast-forwarded in time around him with two unseen compatriots tagging along for the ride. Even after twenty years observed, nothing had seemed to change with the Captain's place of "death."

A male voice on the radio sounded. "Time disturbance in progress."

Kang's "present" was now at risk. He needed to return. "Initiate chronal jump to Damocles base."

"It seems our little field trip is over." The temporal duo followed Kang back to a branched future.

Damocles Base

Year 40XX

Kang sat in the crystal room again, preparing for the imminent. "Report."

The computer answered. "Temporal disturbances reaching critical levels. The fabric of time-space is in the process of rupturing."

"Show me."

The futuristic cities on Earth began to fade away in white light, leaving only a barren wasteland behind.

"My entire timeline- all of reality is being wiped out, and it's all because of you." He glared at a hologram of Captain America. "My travels into the past suggest that you are the link, Captain America. Some moment in your past heralds the end of the future. Something to do with you. But I saw you meet your end in the 20th century. How can you be responsible? Unless… Damocles, scan all surviving records from the 21st century."

"Executing."

A flash of documents appeared. "Freeze image." He read the news article and glared once more. "Of course. I did not conquer the Earth just to see it wiped from existence. Damocles, prepare the fleet for a time jump."

Outside, the rewriting or reality was slowly reaching them.

Kang stood straight on the bridge. "All ships begin trans-temporal jump."

One of his men answered. "Sir, we don't have the coordinates. There's not enough time to-"

Kang grabbed him by the uniform. "Never tell me there's not enough time." He pulled out a hard light console and did it himself."

"Time coordinates accepted. Jump in progress."

"Where is Princess Ravonna?"

"She's boarding now, my Lord."

A dark-skinned woman in a blue royal garb walked onto the bridge. "My love, what is happening? Why are we leaving?"

Just as she asked, the reality rewrite reached them, catching several men. The princess ran as best she could, but even she knew she would get caught.

At seemingly the last microsecond, she felt a sudden push against her back, escaping the white light and into her lover's arms.

"I've got you, Ravonna. Damocles, now!"

The ship disappeared from the future in a blue flash as the rest of the Earth, and soon the universe was altered."

High above Earth

Year 2010

Kang breathed a sigh of relief as he held Ravonna close. "I thought I lost you."

Ravonna returned the embrace. "I thought so as well. It was miraculous that I survived. It was like some otherworldly force saved me."

"We can talk about that later. I'm just glad you're safe." Kang turned to the computer. "Update."

"We have arrived at our destination."

"Don't worry, love. I'll save our entire timeline, even if I have to conquer this time to do it."

Ravonna gave a hesitant nod. She had never seen him so tense before. Only time would tell if things would get better.

The Moon

The Watcher sat in his chair, upset at his recent companion. "Why did you interfere?"

Paradox shrugged. "Call me a romantic, but I'd rather not get rid of the man's only emotional connection while he's going back in time to save humanity. As I said before, I prefer to nudge history on a better path."

The watcher sighed. "Even a simple push can lead to unprecedented consequences."

Paradox rolled his eyes. "Considering the future Earth turned into a literal wasteland, I believe we have a better chance of a happy ending now."

He turned away. "I don't condone your actions, but I see your point."

"We both know he is wrong. Whether Captain America died during this event should not have affected his branch of history this way."

"I know… Let us leave this place. I will see how well you and your ally's actions make a difference."

The scientist smiled. "I hear Earth-91119 is quite amusing to see."

Chapter Text

Twenty-fifth Street

1 Hour After Graviton's Arrest

Six heroes sat around tables with a Norse God and a Gamma Superhuman taking up an entire side.

Fastrack took another bite of his burger before narrowing his eyes in confusion toward Tony Stark. "So you basically invented stable cold fusion."

"Yup. Didn't really think much of it until I got kidnapped." Tony sighed at the memory. "A friend and I built one in a cave with a box of scraps."

Hulk huffed. "The power of the sun in the palm of your hand."

Iron Man stroked his chin. "Ooh. That's a good one. I could definitely use that for PR. I'll make a note of that for later."

Thor crossed his arms. "I will admit that the power is reminiscent of the forges of Nidavellir. The very energy of a dying star was used to forge my mighty Mjolnir."

The Norse god received several looks in disbelief at the method of forging used for his weapon. They would have to circle back to that later.

"I recall a potential thesis paper on Fusion Power a few years beach from an MIT graduate. Too bad he ever went through with it. Joined the U.S. Atomic Research Center instead. I think his name was Octo or something."

Within Hulk, Banner sighed at the mention of his former workplace. They were more interested in developing weaponry than the quality of life developments.

The alien put his food down and gestured to Iron Man. "How are you not the richest man on Earth yet?"

"I was honestly thinking the same thing," admitted Wasp. She sipped from a champagne glass. "Doesn't the Arc Reactor put an end to fossil fuels?"

Tony huffed. "Arc Reactor Technology is a trade secret to my company and me. I'm not planning to start mass-producing them for the public. Not yet anyway."

Fastrack rolled his eyes. "From what we saw, that hasn't really stopped the government from taking your designs. What did they call their suits?"

"Ugh… Mandroids. They can't even come up with a good name." He downed his glass. "I swear my legal team is gonna be on their asses for violating my intellectual property."

Hank cut into his chicken. "While I'm glad that you aren't willingly selling weapons to the military anymore, Tony, there are alternatives for your tech."

"No one said you had to mass produce them," added Janet. "You could make privately owned power plants around the country and sell the power at a competitive price. Heck, I'm sure you could go global with the idea."

Tony paused, letting the thought soak in. "...That's actually not a bad idea. Might have to work out some stuff for privacy concerns, but I'm sure the board would finally shut up if I bring it up."

Hank sighed. "Unlike you, Tony, I try to avoid the business politics in my science advancements."

"Yeah, you just let me handle all of it," snarked Janet.

Tony held his hands up in defense. "I'm working on it. We're still converting from a weapons manufacturing company."

Fastrack smirked. "If it does go global, those oil countries might hate you for that."

He waved off the concern. "Eh. They already do. I've canceled all military contracts in those regions."

Janet smirked. "You're just like Hank. I keep telling him he could do so much more with his particles."

Hank took a sip of his lemonade. "Janet, I've told you many times. Giant hot dogs aren't the solution to world hunger."

"Yeah. Yeah. I know, but you get what I mean."

Both Thor and Hulk paused eating their roast beef. "Are you saying you could turn this one meal into one that can feed an entire village?"

Ignoring the glint in their eyes, Hank answered. "Well, yes, but the long-term effects of consuming altered food haven't been tested yet."

"Hulk willing to take the risk."

"As am I," cheered Thor.

Janet grinned wide. "Would you look at that, willing participants?"

The scientist groaned. "I am against human test subjects, but then again, you guys are more resilient than the average human."

Fasttrack offered an option. "Ignoring meat products, maybe you can run some tests on growing larger crops."

"That is a possible route. I'll have to run it by the staff, but I should be able to get a testing group set up."

Tapping his glass, Fastrack spoke again. "How small can you go with your Pym particles anyways?"

Hank and Wasp shared a look, reminiscing their first discovery of the place between atoms and subatomic particles. "Very," answered the two of them.

Feeling there was more to that vague answer, the table decided to move on. "Considering you guys already worked on that Micro-prison, I take it that you considered the use for transportation and storage?"

"Yup!" answered Wasp. "If it weren't for us working with some of the major distributors once in a while, Hank here would have blown through his grants and savings within a few months."

Her boyfriend coughed. "In my defense, it's all in the name of science."

"That's what all planets say." Fasttrack took a sip. "With all you super geniuses running around, it's absurd that you're still a level 3 planet on average. Then again, one could argue that's for the best."

"Level 3?" questioned the others.

Seeing their confusion, Fasttrack blinked before correcting himself. "Think the Kardashev scale but more specific. Level 1 is just simple machines with Level 3 including nuclear fission."

Tony and Hank grew more interested.

"If that's the case, who has a higher level, Iron Man or Ant-Man?" inquired Wasp.

The alien narrowed his eyes in thought. "Well, armored suits vary depending on capabilities. I've fought ones that are Level 12. As for Iron Man, Nuclear fusion counts as level 4. Energy projection weapons are at least level 5."

Hulk was intrigued that general nuclear research was in the level 3 to 4 range. He supposed that it mattered more in how that energy was used."

"As for Ant-Man… how far are you into nanotechnology? Have you reached the stereotypical gray goo scenario?"

Hank waved off the question. "Nothing like that, but I am working on nanoscopic CPUs."

"You might be level 5 as well, depending."

Iron Man huffed. "If we're level 5, why are we still a level 3 planet?"

An alien brow raised. "I did say average. Do either of you plan on having this technology available to the public?"

The two stayed silent as Wasp put her hands in the air. "I knew it!"

The blue alien rolled his eyes. "As expected. All planets have their outlier geniuses, but rarely do they ever share it with the masses."

Wanting to move from this topic, Tony turned to the local god. "So, Thor, if that is your real name, what's Asgard like?"

Ignoring the man's skepticism, Thor "It's a fantastical place far beyond your segment of time and space."

The hero smirked. "If any of you are wondering, Asgard is technically a level 5 planet."

Eyes widened and turned back and forth from the God of Thunder. "What? How?"

"Faster than light travel available to the public."

Tony and Hank cringed. "... Dammit."

Thor brightened at the compliments to his home. "Yes. The Bifrost Rainbow Bridge is a sight to behold."

With a shake of his head, the alien turned to the green giant. "Bruce… Hulk? How's it feel to be free… in an extra-legal sort of way?"

The giant took a breath. "No more running is good."

"Yeah, well. You've got a new home with us, big guy," smirked Janet.

Hank blinked. "Which is where exactly? If SHIELD has their Hellicarrier, what do we have? Where would we even have it."

Eyes drifted to Tony. "I have some thoughts."

Hank placed his head in his hands. "Please tell me your first thought wasn't to buy out a skyscraper for us in the middle of the city."

Tony's silence spoke volumes. "... Maybe."

"You're just trying to one-up Richards, aren't you?" accused Wasp.

"No!" replied Tony.

"Really? So hypothetically, if we were to have an Avenger's Tower, where would it be?"

"...Across from the Baxter Building."

Hank and Wasp deadpanned at the answer. "You do know that property values have dropped in that area significantly. No one wants to live around the guy who gets attacked by Doctor Doom or the occasional lab accident."

"Or the guy that shoots fire."

"Exactly. It'll be cheap!" argued Tony.

"That doesn't paint a good picture either."

Ben gestured to their heavy hitters. "Considering who's on the team, we'll need some buffer space. No offense, Hulk."

The giant simply shrugged. "More space is good.".

"Okay. Okay." Tony held his hands up in defeat. "Taking that all into account, I think I have just the place. I'll let you guys know as soon as possible." The others reluctantly agreed to see what Tony would produce. "Enough about us. I think it's time we talk about you, Mr. Whiskers. I've seen the Green giant and the Goldie on the news occasionally, but you're new."

Thor beamed at his companion. "The Changeling and I have fought alongside each other against the coup by my brother. I can attest to his character."

Janet blinked. "I'm sorry, what? Asgard was attacked?"

Thor chuckled. "Attacks happen more often than you think, but our forces handle them most of the time."

Tony brought up holograms of Stinkfly, Chromastone, Humungousaur, and Way Big. "I don't know exactly what a changeling is, but the name fits. What are you anyways?"

Hank was too busy writing notes on a napkin after analyzing the hologram of Stinkfly. 'Just ask him to turn into that insect again.'

The foreign hero shook his head. "In short, I'm kinda like Thor, technically an alien. Well, part alien."

Janet raised a brow. "Part?"

Ben shrugged. "My Grandpa married one."

Tony grew a bit more interested. "Really?"

Ben rolled his eyes. "Do you believe the people wondering about intelligent life out there didn't even consider the possibility of having sex with them?"

Mouths opened to rebuke only to close, unable to deny the thought.

Thor coughed into his fist awkwardly. "I have met my fair share of maidens throughout the realms in my early years."

Ben waved off that topic. "In any case, regarding what I can do, it's a gift." 'In more ways than one.'

"Does it have anything to do with that green symbol you always have?" asked Janet.

"Kinda. This is a peace symbol."

Tony raised a brow. "How many-"

A waiter interrupted their conversation and placed a slip of paper on the table. "Here's the check."

Looking at the amount before tax, tip, and convenience charge, Ben whistled before patting Hank on the back. "Well, it's getting late. We can continue this another time. I'm sure you got this covered." The only reply he got from the good doctor was an exasperated sigh.

Chapter Text

New York City

Only a few days had passed since what could be considered the biggest criminal breakout in modern history. The state of New York was still recovering from the damage. While life went on, people were justifiably on edge.

As a reminder of this recovery, the destroyed Helicarrier was still being lifted out of the bay. Throughout the city, Damage Control employees repaired the damage to the civil infrastructure. Some would consider this damaged state an opportunity to loot while security recuperating.

From the third floor of a Bank of America building, high-strength glass shattered from the force of a criminal busting out. To the civilians, they witnessed what appeared to be a humanoid named after their resemblance, Mandrill, descending from his escape. Normally, Mandrill would have gone the more stealthy approach, but time was limited. He needed cash and fast to start his trek out of the state. He swung onto a street light to the street with his boon over his shoulder.

Just as he was about to sprint down an alleyway, a lone female officer arrived on the scene. "Freeze!" She aimed her pistol, but instead of the typical bullets, it glowed blue as it primed. Due to recent events, local law enforcement received an upgrade courtesy of Hammer Industries. With the number of superhuman criminals unleashed, the city responded in kind. Unfortunately, this officer was a bad match for this encounter.

Mandrill turned toward the woman and focused. His golden iris swirled, causing the woman's eyes to do the same and halting her movement. Now that she was stunned, his facial pores released gas in her direction. Upon contact, she passed out. Without missing a beat, Mandrill ran to a manhole cover to escape. Just as he got his hands on the edges, an electrical shock to his ass made his fingers slip.

"Mandrill, right? Baboon guy, pheromone powers," a female voice asked.

The villain spun around, looking for his attacker until his eyes fell on the small form of the Wasp on the ground a short distance from him.

Her expression was more resigned, with her hands on her hips. "I'm gonna have to ask you to put down the money and surrender, or else you will be beat up."

Feeling a sense of superiority from the size difference, Mandrill just laughed. "Wasp? Do you think I'm scared of you?" He brought his face to her level. "I'll tear those wings off, and then I'll pin you to a corkboard."

Red and gold boots stepped into his field of vision behind Wasp, and his gaze drew upward to see Iron Man. "I could say the same thing about that fur of yours and then toss you in the Gowanus Canal."

Wasp floated up to hover next to his shoulder. "Come on, Tony. That place is dirty enough as it is without him in there."

"Fair point."

Wasp, he could handle her. Iron Man was slightly above his weight class. Now, he was nervous, backflipping away from the two. He couldn't look weak. "It doesn't matter. I can take both of you."

From behind, a green flash went off. Looking over his shoulder, he paled, finding his evolutionary superior counterpart.

A few times Mandrill's size, a large gorilla with black fur and three pairs of eyes glared at him. Two pairs of retractable spider legs from his waist raised his body to dwarf the mutant criminal. "Return to monkey!" A primal howl escaped his mouth, further intimidating the escapee instinctually, even peeing a little.

Mandrill's legs buckled to the ground when the ground shook. A pair of massive footsteps signaled the arrival of the Gi-Ant Man. A large shadow fell over him, fists resting on his hips in a cocky manner.

It was like getting slapped one after the other. A loud thunderclap echoed from above. Thor touched down from above before playing with his hammer.

Fear made Mandrill unconsciously back away from the heroes. Emotions skyrocketed when he backed up into something. Unfortunately, it wasn't a brick wall. It was a wall of muscle. The Hulk growled down at him with his arms crossed, seemingly annoyed at Mandrill's very existence.

Feeling like an ant, Mandrill stuttered and stammered at the sight of the heroes. Their voices seemed to overlap. His breathing grew rapid. Overwhelmed, Mandrill's eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he fainted. Suffice it to say, he soiled himself.

"Well, that was easy," Wasp grinned.

Ultimate Spidermonkey chuckled. "We might have gone a bit overkill against one guy." His face contorted at the smell. "Ugh. Let the police get him a change of pants."

Thor scowled. "He brings shame to all monkeys with his cowardice. I had hoped he would put up more of a fight. What say you, Iron Man?"

Iron Man shrugged. "I say one down, seventy-three to go."

Ultimate Spidermonkey held up a hand. "Trust me, Thor. There's a list of people that would give you a decent fight. We'll get there eventually."

Hulk sighed and started walking back to his temporary place of residence. He wouldn't be getting any stress relief today.

Hank shrank down to normal size and pulled out a tablet. "Well, according to Mandrill's file, he's a mutant. He was supposed to be handed to the Mutant Response Division before everyone escaped. I've also notified the nearby hospital of Mandrill's pheromone victim. It's highly addictive."

Tony cringed. "I've had my fair share of withdrawal in my early years. Not fun."

Janet finished detaining Mandrill and shook her head. "I do not like the recent uptick in mutant crime. While his options may have been more limited compared to that Whirlwind guy, I could see him as a good jungle zoologist."

"A bit on the nose there." Ben had some words for the MRD after an earlier encounter with them out of state, but that was for another time. He looked down at the unconscious criminal. "I've met others who had powers since birth. A good social support system for natural superhumans would make good change."

Hank smiled. "I'm glad you think the same way. Maybe we can make a charity out of it."

A Few Days Later

The city of Manhattan bustled about under the midday sun. People walked about doing their usual activities. However, some gave some weary looks as they passed a particular group of people.

Pepper Potts read over a data pad in her hand. Next to her was the Hulk and the shapeshifter, now referring to himself as Four Arms. A fitting name since this form was a red muscular biped with four arms and eyes. At the moment, all three were sipping on smoothies courtesy of the Alien Hero.

It was a lucky choice as the trio had been waiting for the others for the past twenty minutes since the requested time. The three stood at the gate of a large mansion. Tony Stark had asked the team to gather. Considering their lunch chat, this was their new base of operations. Idle chitchat managed to stave off the boredom and distract themselves from the afternoon sun.

Fourarms held up a hand. "I'm just saying that General Ross needs to get his priorities straight. He had better things to do than hunt Superhumans down if Nazi organizations were still running around. From what Bruce said, you intentionally isolated yourself in the desert and rainforests to try and not hurt the people around you."

Pepper nodded. "I have to agree." She turned to their new ally. "For what it's worth, Hulk. I'm sorry that you had to go through all that. A lot of people believed the stories from the military put out about you, but I'm hoping we can change that."

Hulk turned away from them, looking at the families walking across the street. "It's a start," taking another sip of his Strawberry Guava drink.

"Would having a room in the mansion make you comfortable? We can make other arrangements if need be."

He looked back at the mansion. "Dislike cramped spaces."

Pepper pulled up some photos. "Perhaps we can set up something for you by the Botanical gardens or the koi pond. We can get more into it when Tony gives the tour." She received a shrug but not one of indifference. Checking her watch again, she sighed. "Thank you two for actually being on time. Unlike the others. Sorry again for the wait."

Four Arms pulled out his phone. "In hindsight, we should have made a group chat or something. At the very least, they would have told us they were running late. Well, that's not including Thor, maybe."

Hulk shrugged. "Kept losing phones." Getting new burner phones got too inconvenient at a point. He grunted in annoyance with his arms crossed and scowled.

"You alright?"

Cars passed by them, honking to get their attention. "... Not used to the city."

"Understandable… I don't think anyone expected that out of the gate."

"I'm sorry that you're getting a bad first impression. I would have led us inside and out of the sun, but Tony decided to hold onto the keys."

Hulk raised a fist, gesturing to knock down the gate.

Four Arms held up a hand. "Let's not resort to breaking things. Wanna hop the fence and chill on the front lawn?"

The giant considered the idea, but some called his name.

"Oh, my goodness. Are you the Hulk?" The trio turned to see a blonde woman in an emerald dress and light green jacket smile at the giant. Next to her was a mustachioed burly man in a dark blue overcoat. "You're one of the heroes who saved the city. Can I have a picture?"

The alien hero smiled. "See, Hulk. I told you your image was improving."

Hulk blinked for a moment. This was the first time a stranger praised him for heroism. "Sure?" It was a foreign feeling.

"Thanks!" She gave her phone to her friend before standing beside Hulk. She gave a Chesire smile to the camera. "Say cheese!"

The burly man grumbled before taking the picture.

"The name's Leena." She turned to the red hero with an analytical appraisal. "So, who are you supposed to be?"

"Call me Four Arms. It's self-explanatory."

"Quite." Her gaze seemed to rest on the hourglass symbol before turning away. She blew a kiss to the Hulk before walking off again. "Hope to see you again soon!" The friend sent the Hulk a dry look before following after Leena.

Four Arms patted him on the shoulder. "Now, that wasn't so bad, right?"

Hulk watched the two strangers walk away, but he couldn't help but get a weird feeling. It only grew stronger when she left. Maybe it was nothing. Before he could think on it deeply, the outline of a familiar Asgardian warrior flew down.

With a huge grin, Thor landed on the sidewalk. "Ho, Miss Potts! Hulk and Changeling. 'Tis good to see you again. Are you ready for the upcoming battles?" Thor asked with joyful enthusiasm

Unfortunately, the Hulk did not share the same enthusiasm. "You're late..."

Four Arms gave the god a dry look. "Yeah, man. We've been standing here for half an hour."

Pepper frowned. "What took you so long, Thor? I would have thought a man like yourself would be more punctual."

The words struck him deeply. The God of Thunder looked away and thumbed at his hammer. "Apologies to you all. I am not used to your city's mapping. Many roads and turns may have led me astray. In the end, I scouted until I found our friend, Hulk."

The trio considered Thor for a moment before relenting. Giving a Norse god a modern address and expecting him to understand how to use it was a big ask in hindsight. Thor was likely too ashamed or proud to ask for directions from strangers.

Four Arms groaned to himself. "Yeah, we should have seen that coming."

Pepper opened up her calendar. "We'll give you a proper tour around the city so you can direct yourself better."

"Much thanks. I appreciate your efforts," nodded Thor.

A tired voice sounded. "We're here!" A shrunken Wasp flew to the center of the group. "Sorry, we're late. I had to tear Hank away from his lab. We also had a disagreement on how to get here."

Ant-Man then appeared in normal size in a yellow light, a stray any now flying away. "First off, it was an important experiment. Also, you know how I feel about getting into uniform just for travel. We could have taken the Lexus."

"Breaking down the grasshopper genome can wait. Your sponsor in Japan gave you a modest time limit. Besides, this is Hero work!" She gestured to the others on their team. "Everyone else did. Besides, we dodged the traffic near midtown."

Hank rolled his eyes. "I guess..."

"Friend Pym, it is good to see you." Thor raised a brow. "Although, I expected you to be a giant."

"Really? Why?" Ant-Man asked in confusion.

"Thy giant self seems more useful."

"Time and place, Thor," answered Janet. "We don't need a giant walking the streets unless there's something to smash."

"You could say the same thing about those Ice Giants around the palace," offered Four Arms.

"A wise decision then," acknowledged the god.

Having run out of smoothies, Hulk tossed his cup away in annoyance. "Where's Stark!?"

A few seconds later, they heard the familiar jet boosters. "Sorry. Sorry, everyone." Iron Man landed near them before taking off his helmet. "I got caught up in a meeting."

Pepper tapped her boss on the shoulder before showing a list of messages from disgruntled business associates asking where Tony was.

"Uh, actually, I missed that meeting, too," he guiltily admitted.

"I've been messaging you for the past hour while also covering for your absence."

"And you are great for doing that. You deserve another raise."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "If you keep this up, I'll be getting paid more than you do."

"But it would be deserving." Tony turned to the rest of his allies. "Anyway, thanks for coming, and welcome to Avengers' Mansion." Iron Man gestured to the gated mansion in front of them.

"That's what we're calling it?" asked Four Arms.

"It's a placeholder until the group calls it something else. Anyways, this was my-" Iron Man got cut off by Hulk jumping over the gates and walking underneath a tree's shade.

Four Arms shrugged and did the same. "We've been waiting since high noon, Tony. Let's not waste any more time."

Iron Man checked the time again and cringed. Even Pepper seemed more annoyed than usual, thanks to waiting in the sun. "Fair enough." The Iron Avenger sent a command and unlocked the gate for the others to follow.

The mansion's main hall was massive, with a checkered floor and white marble columns leading to a grand staircase. Everyone gazed at the spacious interior. Thor started looking at a strange terminal in the wall.

A light scanned over the god's eye, and a British voice spoke, "Greetings, Thor Odinson. May I offer you a drink?"

Ben raised a brow at what he assumed was an AI's terminal. The general shape looked oddly familiar.

The Asgardian stepped back in confusion. "What manner of palace is this?"

Tony smirked. "This was a museum for the Maria Stark Foundation, my mother's home. I've had it upgraded since the breakout. I thought this could be our headquarters."

"Swanky." Wasp flew to the rafters of the room.

"The mansion is run by J.A.R.V.I.S, my personal artificial intelligence. Anything you need, J.A.R.V.I.S will provide. Say hi, J.A.R.V.I.S."

"Indeed," answered the AI.

Seeing Thor's wariness, Four Arms explained it another way. "Just think of it as an enchanted home that helps you out."

"It's a real Smart House." Wasp paused before turning to Tony. "It's not gonna turn into a Terminator situation, right?"

Four Arms snapped his fingers at the panel. "That's it. It looks like HAL 9000."

Several pairs of eyes looked at Tony for an answer a moment later.

The Armored Avenger got a good look at the panel and frowned. "Remind me to change the design." He held up a hand to the others. "I know it looks bad, but I can assure you, J.A.R.V.I.S is only at level 3 of AI theory. He's not Self-Aware yet."

"Yet?" repeated Janet.

Tony deadpanned. "You know what I mean. We're not gonna have a robot apocalypse from me getting a digital assistant."

The rest of the room, who have seen the genre of movies, shook their heads, hoping this wouldn't bite them in the ass in the future.

Tony started the tour of the mansion, the first being the kitchen.

"We've got a full kitchen. Chef on call." Tony explained.

Now out of the sun, Hulk and Four Arms started indulging themselves in the fridge and the microwave. Hulk started biting into a watermelon while Ben started snacking on heated chili cheese fries.

Wasp flew over to the Hulk and landed on his shoulder. She got a front-row seat of bits of fruit flying and falling to the floor, a look of disgust growing.

Upstairs, Stark showed the living quarters. "There are 12 bedrooms, maid service, laundry, room service, a theater/lounge, satellite TV and movies, every form of video entertainment on the planet."

Thor and Ben tried out king-size beds, but they still felt cramped. "I don't think Hulk and I will fit these well. Would it be possible to adjust our living arrangements?" asked the god.

Ben could revert to human to get more space, but he wasn't going to turn down the chance to get a bigger bed.

Tony's lips thinned. "I probably should have taken your measurements beforehand. Don't worry. I'll get everything fixed within the week." Tony turned to the Hulk. "Pepper told me you wanted to camp outside near the gardens. Any bed preference?"

The giant contemplated before answering. "Sandstone."

Tony blinked before shrugging. "Must really like it firm."

The Avengers entered the lounge area with chairs, couches, and a fireplace. Wasp and Four Arms hopped on the couch and raced for the remote. Janet got it first, sticking her tongue at the sour alien. The remote caused a painting above the fireplace to slide, revealing a large TV taking up half a wall. The two beamed, sharing the same brain cell. This would be great for movie nights.

Not everyone seemed thrilled. "Are you serious, Stark?" asked Ant-Man. "This is what you wanted to show us?"

"Uh, no, I haven't gotten to the good stuff yet. You're going to need these." Tony replied. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out cards with a large blue A on the left side and a small black screen on the right. "These ID cards are linked to the Stark entry satellite network and will keep us in audio and video communication anywhere in the world. They also give you full access and control of the mansion."

Four Arms examined his card. "I don't suppose this also works as a credit card," he joked. Was he short on money? No, but it's always more fun spending other people's money.

Iron Man rolled his eyes. "Ha. Ha. Pepper's the only one getting paid, but depending on your request, I'm willing to help you guys if it's important."

"Does spending an entire day at Legoland count as important?" asked the Alien Hero.

A coy smile appeared. "Perhaps."

As the other Avengers examined their cards, Pepper held one out to the Hulk. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

Hulk's voice raised a bit, a small flash of yellow in his eyes. "I can-" He cut himself off along with the glow. That... didn't feel right. Compared to the others, Pepper had been nothing but flexible with him. Maybe he needed to clear his head a bit. "I... Thanks..." He slowly picked the card out of the woman's hand, wanting to end the interaction quickly.

"No problem," she replied with a smile.

Across the room, Ben nodded in approval of the interaction. It was nice to see Hulk get more acquainted with regular people. Just like home, the battle for good publicity will be a long and hard journey. Checking a few radio stations earlier this week introduced him to quite the character. This Jameson guy had a real hate boner for Superheroes, especially this Spider-Man guy. Ben made a mental note to try and meet him.

Thor, didn't miss the Hulk's slip, but since he reeled himself back, he decided to put it off for now. Although, he would keep a closer eye for any more slips of anger.

Iron Man cleared his throat to get everyone's attention as he walked to a terminal and held up his ID card. Machinery moved the fireplace, revealing a hidden elevator entrance.

Four Arms smirked. "Aren't you being fancy with secret doors?"

Wasp brightened, shrinking and flying towards the elevator. "Nifty. Anymore around the mansion?"

"That's something you learn yourself," snarked Tony.

In the elevator, the team descended underground. "And voilà, the sublevels," Iron Man gestured. Moments later, they reached a large pyramid structure. They entered a laboratory filled with sophisticated machines and gadgets. "The mansion's got a beyond state-of-the-art science lab, space for Hank's modular labs and my armory."

Despite his initial reservations, Ant-Man had to admire the workspace. This place had a much higher budget than his university lab. 'Perhaps this place won't be so bad,' he thought.

The Avengers reached a large platform over a body of water.

"Wow, big pool," Wasp commented.

Ben agreed. "You could probably fit a lake monster or two."

Tony raised a brow. "Met some?"

"Met some. Fought some. Babysat for some," Four Arms playfully yet truthfully stated.

Iron Man dismissed it as a joke. "Well, the pool's on the roof." Machinery moved, splitting the water in half. From below, a large red and white aircraft rose into view. "This is a full-functional hangar with two prototype high-speed aerial shuttles. The Quinjets." Several panels on the Quinjet opened, revealing many missiles and laser weapons. A moment later, a distorted force field surrounded it. "Top of the line weapons and shields"

"I can see why you ended your contract with the military. You would have promoted an international arms race." Ben tapped against the field. "How'd you develop the forcefields, anyways?"

Tony coughed into his fist. "I may have had some input from an associate."

Hank deadpanned. "You asked Reed for his data on Susan?"

"... I'm not answering that." He disabled the shield and patted the hull. "This baby reaches an airspeed of Mach 8, only getting faster with my future upgrades. Perfect for those of us who can't fly long distances." This earned him a look from the others even though they didn't do international travel regularly. "They are also space ready, too."

Four Arms shook his head. "Another item on the list of private innovation keeping your planet at level 3. How are you not contracted with NASA for this stuff?"

Tony stood straighter. "Actually, after our little lunch talk, I'm currently in talks regarding energy distribution. Unfortunately, the G-Men are stonewalling NASA talks unless I help out with the military."

"Well, you wouldn't be the first," commented Ben. "Even General Electric works with the military."

Wasp blinked in confusion. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, General Electric made the GAU-8 Avenger Machine Gun," remarked Tony. "Even my dad threw his hat into the ring for that contract."

"You're telling me the same people that make washing machines are the same people that make machine guns."

Ben shrugged. "One spins to make something clean, and the other one spins to make something disappear. It's really not that complicated."

Wasp turned to Hank. "You don't find it weird that the same company that makes toasters also makes stuff that vaporizes people?"

Her boyfriend didn't seem to mind. "Toasters and machine guns, it's all just engineering."

"This is the world I live in, I guess." She shook herself of those thoughts. "What's next, Tony?"

"Well, there's the training room." He said as he turned and began to walk out of the room.

Four Arms looked back at Thor and Hulk. "Do you have stuff for our weight class?"

Stark crossed his arms and chuckled. "After seeing Graviton, I have a decent gauge. I got the suggestion from another associate, but I call mine the Danger Zone."

There were a few smirks. "Of course you did, Tony."

Omnitrix DNA Entry

Name: Spidermonkey

Species: Arachnichimp

Home World: Aranhascimmia

Powers and Abilities:

Arachnichimps can expel webbing from their tail, which was once stated to be as strong as steel. Their webbing is very sticky, meaning they can use it to trap opponents or blind them by shooting webbing in their face. Arachnichimps can also shape their webs into slings or swing across vast distances. An Arachnichimp's paws can stick to and be used to scale vertical surfaces. Arachnichimps are highly skilled in hand-to-hand with enhanced strength, agility, and acrobatic skills.

Name: Four Arms

Species: Tetramand

Home World: Khoros

Powers and Abilities:

Tetramand are strong and durable aliens with the ability to create shock waves and jump several stories high in a single bound. They are resistant to fire and can swim and climb walls. They become stronger as they age. Tetramand have enhanced reflexes, catching and redirecting projectiles, and tough, thorny skin that can withstand explosions and slashes without pain.

Chapter Text

New York

Avenger's Mansion

The Danger Zone

As soon as Tony told them the name, Ben had some idea of what he was getting into. Tony guided the group to a room with blank wall panels. The room began to shift with a few button presses, separating the group and creating new hallways. Since they were superheroes, Tony programmed superhuman threats, living up to the name. While not designed to kill, if you got hit, it would hurt... a lot.

Wasp found herself in a dark corridor with neon green lights. When she took a few steps forward, the sounds of shifting panels caused her to freeze and turn in their direction. Several guns were deployed from the wall. With little warning, they fired several missiles fired at her. Shrinking down, she narrowly dodged the first one. As the second approached, she flew upward and away. Stinger blasts made some detonate away from her. However, one of the remaining missiles exploded a bit too close, the blast sending her into the wall.

Pulling herself to one knee, Wasp took a breath. The guns reloaded before launching another volley of rockets. As she was about to fire again, several repulsor blasts destroyed them. Iron Man landed before Wasp and raised an arm at the guns. The armored gauntlet flipped open, revealing its own small missile. With a smirk, Tony fired, destroying the obstacle with relative ease. Before Tony could boast, more weapons were deployed at their location. Not wanting to stick around, they made a tactical retreat.

Ant-Man walked through the darkness cautiously. In an instant, fluorescent lights shined. Metal tentacles extended out from the floor and wrapped themselves around the hero's legs. When strength failed to free him, Ant-man pressed a button on his belt. His Pym particles activated, shrinking the hero out of their possible grasp. His escape was cut short when floor panels flipped up, dropping him below before closing. The room rumbled as the floor exploded, revealing an irritated Giant-Man.

Thor held his enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, in one hand and his cape billowing behind him. In a test of agility, he flew through a long corridor with rotating arms and wrecking balls. Despite the Asgardian's strength, his overconfidence in this mortal test got him. A wrecking ball managed to get into his blind spot and struck him into the wall. Like a domino effect, this slip was enough for him to get battered one after another before landing on the ground. His godly rage started to simmer, unamused by his lackluster failure. Thor raised his hammer and smashed one of the arms. With a throw of Mjolnir, it destroyed several walls, leaving a relieved Thor behind.

The Hulk casually walked around the room. In his mind, anything that Stark would throw at him shouldn't be as bad as what the military threw at him to kill or capture. He knew it was for training, but this wasn't something Hulk actively did. For the most part, he was locked away inside Banner until the stresses of life caused him to come out again. Now, he held the reigns. He was technically a hero now, trying, at least. The shift between survival and heroism would be difficult to get used to.

It didn't take long to reach an empty hallway. A floor panel lit up as she stepped on it. About fifty feet away, opposite walls extended out and pressed against each other. One by one, they closed toward the Hulk. An unlucky drone that tried to attack Hulk was grabbed and thrown into the wall compactors. Unbothered, Hulk waited for it to reach him, and when it did, he held both arms out. Instead of crushing its victim, the metal creaked against gamma-enhanced muscle. Hulk felt the strain as the pressure grew. Growling, he gave a forceful shove to both sides, destroying them and opening up the next room.

There, Hulk stood before a large armored robot several feet taller than him. As soon as the simulation began, the robot launched a powerful energy blast at the Hulk, who quickly charged toward the robot with incredible speed. The armor was no match for the Hulk's strength, and he quickly smashed through it, causing it to stumble back against the wall.

The robot regained its footing and launched several more energy blasts at the Hulk, who easily tanked them and continued his attack. The Hulk unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks on the robot, each one causing the machine to crunch and spark. Using its advanced AI, it began to electrify itself and grapple the Hulk.

The Hulk, however, was not intimidated. The electricity coursing through him only fueled his rage, allowing him to fight back even harder. Despite what others may think, the Hulk was not simple-minded. He was smart enough to determine the location of critical systems and exploit them to his advantage. Ultimately, the Hulk emerged victorious, destroying it with a powerful smash.

In the next chamber, Four Arms was ready to test his abilities and combat skills. His four massive arms flexed in anticipation. Robots and drones emerged from all sides, firing energy blasts and launching projectiles at him. Four Arms quickly responded, using his incredible strength to punch and smash the machines.

Four Arms broke through another barrier, a destroyed drone in each hand. Turrets turned to his location and fired a barrage of bullets and missiles. "You weren't kidding about getting on our level!" Ben charged at the wall, shutting down those defenses. As the simulation progressed, the difficulty level increased. Four Arms found himself facing multiple opponents at once. When he dodged an energy beam, the roof above came down on him, and his arms raised to catch it.

The weight pressing down on the alien hero started increasing dramatically, reaching several million metric tons and more. It got to the point that Four Arms was brought down to one knee. Seeing that he was reaching his base limit, the alien hero yelled out, focusing on going even further beyond. He pushed himself to the limit, pushing his muscles to the max. In a flash of green light, the red alien changed. He grew larger and blue compared to the standard Tetramand. There were purple muscle fibers exposed across his body, and he wore black overalls with white stripes. Surprisingly, there were only two arms, but they looked a bit peculiar. With greater ease, Ultimate Four Arms pushed himself back up. The strain of the press was reaching its limit now. With a definitive upward shove, the entire roof section exploded.

Similar to the Hulk, another Robot Titan came for him. Four Arms stepped into the metaphorical ring. The fight began, and Ultimate Four Arms immediately used his footwork to close the distance on the robot before it could respond. This dash speed was proving to be an effective weapon.

The robot responded by punching at Four Arms, but he bobbed his head to dodge and used the momentum to retaliate with a quick combination of compact punches in succession. The alien's enhanced flexibility allowed attacks from seemingly impossible angles and positions while also pivoting on his legs and fighting in both the orthodox and southpaw stances.

As the fight continued, the robot increased its speed. Slowly, dodging and countering became more difficult. Seeing this, Ultimate Four Arms kicked it up a notch.

Using his advanced muscle fiber control, his two arms split down the middle, now matching his namesake. While his arms were now half their size, his flurry punches were four times faster than before while still stronger.

Despite the robot's advanced technology, Ultimate Four Arms still had the advantage. The match was intense, with both fighters pushing themselves to the limit. In the end, Ultimate Four Arms emerged victorious, having successfully defeated the robot with a powerful punch to its central processor, causing it to malfunction and shut down.

As things settled, Ultimate Four Arms met up with the others in an adjacent room. Understandably, the more human teammates showed signs of exhaustion. "Heh. You know how to go big, don't you, Tony?"

The armored avenger laughed. "Damn right." He got a better look at the evolved Tetramand. "Gotta say. I'm liking the color."

Wasp flew over and landed on Ultimate Four Arm's shoulder. "Is this normal from that red form?"

"Kinda. You can consider it a bit of an upgrade: stronger, faster, more control." With a thought, he reverted back to his base red form. "It's not something to use casually." Four Arms turned to the rest of the heavy hitters on their team.

On the side, Hulk rolled his shoulders while Thor stretched his arm. "Seemed a bit soft. Is that the best you've got?" Hulk crossed his arms in a bit of pride.

"You're all lucky that this room is self-repairing." Iron Man then smirked under his helmet. "By the way, that was level 1 of 10."

Four Arms turned to Wasp on his shoulder. "When's our cheat day?"

Wasp panted. "Hopefully, tomorrow."

"Kinda reminds me of the Perplexahedron."

"The what?"

"Uh, ever watch the movie Cube?"

"Yeah."

"Well, imagine that but the size of a planet with armed drones and traps."

Wasp looked back at the Danger Zone. "I'll stick with this."

Later

Most of the team took a break before moving on to the next portion of the tour. Hulk and Thor managed to make some small talk with each other regarding the training room. They entered a room with glass-like walls. At the center of the room was a large round table with a large A, matching their Avengers ID cards.

Tony gestured to the operations room. "And this is the assembly hall."

"Ooh." Wasp flew in to explore.

Ant-Man sighed."All the money you've thrown into this is very impressive, Tony. Were you bored? Are we your new pet project? Why are we here?"

"Come on, Hank. There's no need to be so negative," chimed Janet.

"Yeah." Four Arms walked and took a seat at the table. "He made it pretty clear after the whole Graviton thing." Hulk took a seat next to him.

"That's right, red." Tony turned back to the scientist. "You bring up a good question. You seemed kind of angry, but that's okay." Iron Man and the team gathered around the table. "JARVIS, bring up the most wanted list." The table projected a hologram of various criminal faces. While some were familiar to Ben, like Graviton and Mandrill, he'd have to read their profiles when there was time. "Seventy-Four supervillains escaped on the day of the breakout. Graviton is being held by SHIELD. We caught Mandrill, but we've got more work to do. Technically, Hulk was one of them, but I'm working with the legal team to get the big guy an official pardon."

Four Arms and the others agreed. "Thank god, you're handling that stuff. We don't need to be getting caught up in the bureaucracy in the middle of saving people."

A figurative weight lifted off the Hulk's shoulders after hearing that. For a brief moment, Hulk's eyes flashed yellow again. He could have sworn he heard someone else speaking to him. It came out muddled.

"Did SHIELD get back to us on how all the systems failed?" asked Four Arms. Four supervillain prisons failing was definitely not a coincidence. Someone felt that they would benefit from unleashing all this chaos.

Iron Man sighed and shook his head. "Sorry, but SHIELD hasn't gotten back to us. Not even the big news organizations have been answered. It's all being kept hush-hush for now. Either Fury's keeping a tight lid on the situation, or he doesn't know. Either way leaves more work for us."

"Well, that sucks. Hopefully, they give us something." Four Arms started going down the line of villains.

Thor pointed to a group of faces. "I know many of these villains. The Wrecker and his crew are formidable. His weapon is of unearthly might."

Ant-Man put up a hand. "If we do recapture them all, where do we put them? The Big House is destroyed. The Vault is destroyed. We haven't heard anything about the Cube."

"Wait. Where did they put Mandril?" asked the Alien. "I would hope locked in a cell with male-only jailers." This brought the room to a pause.

Tony quickly messaged the local station that took Mandril in. A few seconds later, he sighed in relief. He was secure and followed the containment procedure provided by SHIELD. "We're good for now. In any case, I'm working with a colleague on something now. Reed Richards has proposed a prison that is actually outside this dimension. In a place, he calls the Negative Zone."

"I have not heard of such a place." Thor believed that maybe Heimdall was familiar with it.

This idea caused the Alien hero to pause. This was the second time a sentient species decided on an extra-dimensional prison. It's not a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. "To clarify, did you guys discover or create this dimension?"

"Discovered. Why?" asked Tony.

Four Arms blinked. "Don't you think there should be a little more research done there before we start chucking people out of the universe?"

"I have to agree with him, Tony," remarked Ant-Man. "Do we know if there are any negative long-term effects or even native inhabitants? We're not trying to be inhumane."

Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, not yet, but we're working on it."

Hank sighed. "It pains me to say this, but we may need to ask the MRD to use their facilities temporarily."

Four Arms cringed at the name. "Oh, god. Not those guys..."

"Too much talking," Hulk groaned. "We should just go get these guys." He punched his fist into his hand for emphasis. "Figure everything else out later."

Ant-Man sighed. "As much as some of us may like to, Hulk, we need a solution afterward. Furthermore, we don't even know what caused the breakout in the first place. What's to stop it from happening again?"

Wasp started dosing off on her side of the table. "You know, maybe we should call it a day. It's getting late, and we all need some time to recollect ourselves. Let's get some rest and concentrate on beating up some bad guys tomorrow."

The others agreed as well.

"I can get behind that, at least," Hulk said tiredly. Maybe the stress of the past few days was getting to him.

Night

After an eventful evening, it was decided that everyone go their separate ways and recuperate. While Wasp wanted to go back to their penthouse, Ant-Man convinced her to come back with him to Grayburn College. There were several reports that he had to finish for the board. As for Iron Man, there was a bunch more paperwork and legal he had to finish up with Pepper at Stark Tower to get the Avengers project off the ground. Hulk and Thor remained at the mansion, with the former making his way to the backyard. In comparison, the god of thunder relaxed before the familiar fireplace.

As for Four Arms, he hadn't prepared anything for short terms stays here at the mansion, so he was wandering about the halls alone, save for the Azmuth AI.

From his earpiece, he gave his thoughts on today. "As far as official meetings go, today was still productive."

Ben shrugged. "True. It could have been worse. What are your thoughts on the Breakout and stuff?"

"It is unfortunate, but my connection with the Cube was left moot when all major power systems were physically cut off. I'm as in the dark as you."

"Yeah. I was expecting that. Do you think we should teach them how to make their own prison dimension?"

"While it is interesting to see that some circles here have already discovered inter-dimensional travel, I'm a bit disappointed that their first instinct is to place their prisoners there before exploring and cataloging it. There's a reason I created the Null Void, less unknown factors."

"I'm concerned about this Negative Zone too. Who knows what's in there?"

"In any case, there is another issue I'd like to bring up. I've been picking up some strange energy readings throughout the day, but I couldn't make it out. If I had to guess, it would be magic related." Life energy was not his strong suit.

"Maybe it's just Thor."

"It's not. I had already taken his ambient energy, and the source appears to be coming from outside the Mansion."

Four Arms blinked. "That's not good."

"It's not. And it's only grown stronger as the day went on. I don't know why, but whatever it's trying to do, it's not working. I advise caution tonight."

Arms slumped. "With my luck, it'll blow up in my face soon. Better to make the most of it and have it outside the house."

Mansion Garden

The Hulk sat in the moonlight, surrounded by various plants before the koi pond. After taking a breath, he dipped a finger in the water, sending a ripple to all corners. Through the distortion, he could barely see the image of Banner. "- making a -, Hulk. They will - on -." Before Hulk could ask what he was saying, he heard a knocking. Turning his head, he found Four Arms leaning against a wooden post.

"You doing alright, Hulk?"

The giant turned back to the water to find nothing. He shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

Four Arms pulled out his Avengers card. "How about we get something to eat and take a trip to the park, take our mind off of things?"

Hulk looked at the brick walls around the property and the metal gate. This place was still uncomfortable for him. Maybe in time, it would change. "I'd like that."

Chapter Text

Grayburn College

Hank's Laboratory

Across town, Hank worked on one of his Ultron sentry heads. Most of them had been destroyed when the Helicarrier and the Big House went down. At the moment, he was in the process of optimizing them for the next model. Preoccupied with his tinkering, he barely noticed Jan ranting to him until she shrank down and flew right into his field of vision.

"You never listen to me. I can't believe you don't think this is cool!"

"Wait, what? Oh, I do think this is cool," Hank replied, completely missing her point. He gestured to the Ultron head. "The modifications I've made to the AI are very exciting."

Wasp sighed at this. "Ugh, not stupid Ultron, the Avengers! We're superheroes now!"

Hank wasn't as enthusiastic. "I'm a scientist."

"With Superpowers! On a superhero team!" Wasp got in Hank's face.

Hank pushed himself away from his worktable, Ultron robot head in hand. "Look, I applaud the idea. But just because Iron Man says we're a team doesn't make it so. We're six strangers," He clarified. "It takes time to form a team. It takes trust."
"Hank, how can you expect us to build trust if we don't even try? This is no different than one of your collaborative projects."

"I suppose…"

"All I'm asking from you is a chance. The main goal of this group is to help people. You love helping people! Can't you just give it a try, for me?"

Hank took a breath. "I owe you that much, at the very least. We don't guarantee it'll work, but we'll have some experience with this sort of thing moving forward."

Jan stopped to ponder. "I wonder where Thor slept before now. Does he even sleep? I bet Hulk just slept wherever he wanted." She gasped with an epiphany.
"That's it! I'm moving into the mansion!"

"What?!" Hank gasped, whirling around and staring. "You have a penthouse apartment in the city," Hank tried to argue. "Y-You don't have to—."

Jan flew up to his face again. "Firemen sleep in the firehouse," she reasoned before flying off to prepare her things. With that, she was gone.

Hank sighed deeply and spoke to the Ultron head in his hands. "She's very excited."

Stark Industries

Tony's Office

Tony sat at his desk, looking at Fury, who had his back turned. He looked to Pepper. "I don't remember him on the schedule."

Potts shrugged. "He's Nick Fury. He wanted a meeting. What was I supposed to do? He's already stonewalling our government permits and contract proposals." Her piece said, she left the room.

Tony glanced back to Fury. "Let me guess. S.H.I.E.L.D. needs weapons, you want to recruit Iron Man, and you need my help."

Nick huffed in amusement. "Not this time. This time, I came to help you. You see, believe it or not... I want your little Avengers Project to succeed."

Behind his desk, Tony raised a brow at the bold declaration.

Avengers Mansion

Four Arms and Hulk closed the front door. "Hey, J.A.R.V.I.S! Hulk and I are going to grab a bite to eat and hand at the park. That cool?"

From a nearby Terminal, J.A.R.V.I.S replied. "You are free to come and go just as any other Avenger. I shall take care of Thor in your absences."

Pepper, having received the notification from J.A.R.V.I.S, added on. "Please don't break anything while you're gone. I'm also in charge of your PR."

Four Arms and Hulk huffed in amusement. "Trust me and Hulk to know how to handle ourselves in public. Worst-case scenario, another escapee shows up.

"That's an inevitable concern, but still, take care.

"Thanks!" With that, the duo hit the streets of New York.

Later

In the mansion, Thor sat alone in the lounge, staring at the fireplace, lost in the dancing flames as he reflected. While Thor was familiar with the television, growing up in a magical land gave the Asgardian little interest in watching right now. Instead, he contemplated on the events of the day. When he showed interest in joining the Avengers, he expected training and the occasional fights. However, today showed that there were a lot of logistics involved in being a hero of Earth. 'Not too dissimilar to the responsibilities of a King and managing Asgard.' He felt the bitter taste of his father's words from before. Knowing that the mansion had something like an enchanted spirit, he spoke. "Ethereal Voice? J.A.R.V.I.S?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Would you say that being an Avenger involves a lot of responsibilities and planning, like managing prisoner holdings and relations with the government?"

"Most definitely. For the Avengers to perform their duties smoothly, there needs to be a proper support system under them. Does Asgard not experience similar situations?"

Thor was silent before speaking. "I would be lying to say that my activities at home were not supported by others. I was never great at diplomacy and managing the kingdom. My father and his advisors maintained Asgard while I and others were on missions." The thunder god sighed. "Perhaps I was wrong about my home's need of me."

New York Central Park

Four Arms and Hulk laid back against a grassy hill, each of them with stacks of pizzas. The occasional jogger gave them looks but continued on their way. Some people were wary, but seeing the two giants wait in line for food upturned their impressions.

"They were not wrong, Hulk. There are, like, 30 Ray's Pizzas. They all claim to be the original, but the real one's in Little Italy."

Hulk ate a slice whole. "Boston style is more filling.

"Aren't those like inches thick?"

"Yup." He turned to the alien. "Never had Chicago pizza."

"I dunno. From what I saw, they seem more like a casserole in a bread bowl. Isn't the cheese below the sauce?"

Hulk shrugged. "Still good. Buttery crust. Layers of cheese and meat."

"Meh. I like my crust and extra cheese, but I think needing to eat it with a spoon is a bit much." Four Arms bit another slice. "Maybe we can hitch a ride on the jet to Chicago and try it out next week."

The giant paused another bit. "Not sure if I'm still here."

The other hero raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

Hulk put down his food and laid back. "Hard to trust strangers, even you."

Four Arms frowned. "This have anything to do with Bruce?"

Hulk groaned. "Bruce has… issues. I deal with them. He's… vulnerable."

"Bruce gave the abridged version of what happened. Not hard to believe your bosses turned on their employees. Look at what happened to Graviton. Grated, he was super obsessed with his powers. You're not, preferring to isolate yourself."

"Never know when they hurt me, or I hurt them. Easier to be alone."

The alien took a breath. "Is that really what you want?"

Hulk opened his mouth to say yes, only to say otherwise. "I… don't know."

"You think everyone's afraid of you, that they either want to use or destroy you."

Hulk nodded. "Can't trust anyone. Everyone has their guard up for the monster."

Four Arms stared out into the park. Their appearance had already caused people to leave. "Not everyone."

As soon as Hulk heard that, the alien next to him released a bright green light. Familiar with the glow, he covered his eyes. When he put them down, he blinked at the form before him. It was a brown-haired human with green eyes wearing a white jacket and brown slacks.

Ben smirked at the green giant. "You're not a monster, Hulk. Monsters have no reason, morals, or motive. I've already met Bruce, and it's only fair that you meet the person behind the transformations. Name's Ben. Ben Tennyson."

Hulk made a confused face. "Human?"

Ben laughed. "I didn't lie about being part alien."

The giant wasn't really sure what to say. This was definitely a first outside of Rick Jones, let alone another Super. However, before Hulk could open his mouth, Ben's eyes widened in shock.

"Look out!" Ben dove to his left as a blast of green energy reduced his area and pizza boxes to slag. "Not the pizza!" Behind the crest of the hill, another flash of green appeared.

The new transformation had a large black-haired muscular being with bolts on each side of his neck and torso and two tower-shaped conductor coil-like generators on his back. Frankenstrike growled alongside the Hulk. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

From the tree line, a pair of people who looked awfully familiar stomped onto the scene.

The first was an extremely beautiful woman with fair skin, green eyes, and long blonde hair which reaches down to her waist. The voluptuous woman wore a skin-tight green suit, a matching mini-skirt, and a tiara.

The second wielded a giant axe. He was bald and as big as the hulk with a handlebar mustache. He wore red chainmail, shoulder plates, and brown boots and gloves.

The blonde grumbled and pointed another glowing finger at the alien. "I have been trying all day to get that green oaf to listen to me, but you keep getting in my way!"

Frankenstrike blinked. "I did?" His mind recalled his earlier conversation with Azmuth. "Oh… Still have no idea what I did."

Stark Industries

Fury walked up to Stark's desk "Officially, SHIELD tolerates superheroes, but just barely. A team of super-powered vigilantes, rounding up criminals makes many people uneasy. I believe in what you're doing, Tony. I believe the Avengers are important. And behind the scenes, I'll do whatever I can to help you."

Tony huffed. "Wow, I almost believed you." Tony leaned back in his chair. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I know you'll only help us when you're not trying to manipulate us."

Fury chuckled and turned to Stark. "Take the good with the bad. Your team and I both have something we want. Depending on how things go, everybody wins. You're a businessman, Tony. You want the lawyers to draft an agreement?"

Tony crossed his arms. "Maybe I'd like it all in writing and notarized. That way, I can shove it in your face when you break the deal. Then again, you guys aren't too keen on following the law yourselves. You guys stole my designs for those Mandroids, my trade secrets.

Fury frowned. "If you haven't noticed, we're fighting Nazis who also stole your technology. We're just evening the playing field."

Tony threw his hands in the air. "You couldn't have just asked like a normal person?"

"Would you have said yes?"

"And leave you alone with my tech? Hell, no. Although, I would have considered a subcontract of me leading the strike team with a lease of my tech that would be returned after each mission.

The director huffed. "Perhaps I acted too harshly. I'm sure you can speak to the rest of the team on some kind of common ground with SHIELD. Additionally, I've seen your recent proposals, including those private power stations and pardon. My pull can help make things easier for the both of us."

Tony put his hands together and hummed in contemplation. "The last thing I want is to have you guys ordering us around. However, I won't deny the need for legal help." He sighed. "I'll see what the others think. Any update on containment moving forward?"

Fury sighed. "With several superhuman prisons out of commission, we are currently in talks with the MRD to use their facilities."

Tony clapped his hands. "Well, I have some plans in the works, but I'll get back to you on that." He was about to ask about Hydra, but his Avengers ID card was activated.

"Everybody, wake up!" shouted a strange voice, identified by an A06 username. "I don't know if they're on the list, but Hulk and I got a witch and her axe-wielding lackey on our ass in Central Park! Get here ASAP!"

Tony looked to Fury, wondering if he knew, but the SHIELD director just shrugged.

"It's your team, hero. I'm sure you can deal with it."

The playboy scoffed at his answer. Tony pulled out his ID card and pressed a small button on the right corner. The A lit up in a blue light, and an alarm sounded from the card. "Avengers, assemble!" An alarm was sent to all Avenger cards.

Central Park

Massive muscles rippling with power, Hulk took a stance against the Executioner. The opponent charged at Hulk with a fierce yell, swinging his massive battle axe.

Unfazed, the Hulk caught the axe with one hand and punched his chest with the other.

Hulk swung a massive fist at the Executioner, but the axe-wielder could dodge it and strike back with a powerful blow to Hulk's chest. Hulk barely flinched, but the Executioner's strength was undeniable. Hulk quickly closed the gap between them and grabbed the Executioner by the throat, lifting him off the ground. The Executioner struggled to free himself, but Hulk's grip is too strong.

Rearing his head back, the Executioner slammed his head into the Hulk, freeing him from his grasp. Surprised by the Hulk's strength, The Executioner activates a rune on his weapon, releasing an ominous glow. He jumps into the air and brings down the axe with tremendous force.

Hulk put of his arms against the attack and yelled as the magic-enhanced blade pierced his skin. Rage grew stronger. Steam rose from the injuries as his enhanced regeneration activated. Faster than the Executioner could react, he grabbed the axe and chucked it across the park.

The two fighters started to exchange blows, each one trying to gain the upper hand. Hulk's incredible strength and durability were matched by the Executioner's speed and agility.

Meanwhile

Frankenstrike launched a series of electrical blasts at the Enchantress, but she easily deflected them with a wave of her hand. The Enchantress then unleashed a green wave that sent Frankenstrike flying backward.

The alien hero would not be stopped so easily. He quickly recovered and charged his body through his coils, cackling with lightning. From between the protrusions of his back, a mighty bolt of purple lightning shot toward the witch.

At the last moment, she erected a barrier, diffusing the energy over its surface. The Enchantress then unleashed a barrage of dark energy blasts at Frankenstrike, but he could dodge and block with his gauntlets.

After baiting her with a few fake-out punches, he managed to grab her by the arm and unleash a powerful electric shock that temporarily stunned the Enchantress. Frankenstrike took advantage of the opportunity and kicked the Enchantress. What he didn't expect was her body exploding into a plume of smoke. It was a ruse.

From behind, Enchantress dropped her invisibility and grabbed Frankenstrike's head. Green tendrils attempted to probe into the alien's mind to corrupt it into another puppet of hers. Sadly for her, Transylians had different biology regarding the brain. Not even Corrodium could break them.

Large hands grabbed at the woman's shoulders, but before he could retaliate, the body of the Hulk slammed into his back, dropping the witch.

Thanks to the distraction, the Enchantress teleported back to her bodyguard. "Loki will not be pleased by these developments, but I still have one trick left." She started reciting an incantation, not noticing the small change to the night sky. Clouds darkened, signaling the arrival of their lord and master.

#

Name: Frankenstrike

Species: Transylian

Home World: Anur Transyl

Powers and Abilities:

Transylians can generate and control lightning and electromagnetism. They can also shoot concentrated energy beams and conduct electricity throughout their body. They have enhanced strength, durability, reflexes, and jumping abilities. They are immune to Corrodium, can see in the dark, is resistant to fire and extreme heat, and has technokinesis. They can emit magnetism from their hands or feet, and can survive in space. When plugged into technology, their technokinesis becomes greatly enhanced.

Chapter Text

Central Park

In an ancient Norwegian dialect, Enchantress continued her chant. Threads of emerald magic swirled around her before seeping into the Executioner and the ground. Skurge roared as he increased in size about two-fold. Meanwhile, the soil and rock around them coalesced into bipedal magical golems.

Frankenstrike blinked at the arrival of the makeshift army. "Now that's a bit much."

"Here we go again," grumbled Hulk.

Suddenly, the storm clouds above struck a blue lightning bolt onto the park. There, the four were interrupted by the arrival of an Asgardian Prince, creating a massive cloud of dust from the impact.

"Thor, thank... Odin?" Frankenstrike breathed a sigh. "Whatever, you're here!"

Thor glared at the magical duo in front of him. "Amora and Skurge. Why are you here?"

"Wait, wait, wait. You know these people?" Frankenstrike got up and stood by Thor.

"Aye, the Enchantress and her Executioner. They are Asgardians." Thor replied with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Amora winked at the Thunder God. "Hello, Golden Boy. It's been a while."

"Is this another attempt to gain my favor?" Thor twirled his hammer at the ready.

Frankenstrike's shoulders slagged. "Are you telling me we're fighting your ex?"

The Executioner growled and gripped his axe. "They never courted each other!"

"She was using me for the throne!" groaned Thor.

The Enchantress crossed her arms. "Is that so bad?"

"God, I'm getting flashbacks." Frankenstrike shook his head at those memories.

Thor's eyes narrowed as he diverted his attention back to the pair. "Why have you come here, Amora?" he demanded.

"Oh, you love Midgard so much, Thunderer," The Enchantress taunted as she raised her hand, which then covered itself in magical green energy. "We thought we would come and see what all the fuss is about."

Hulk spat. "Crazy bitch..."

Unfortunately, Skurge did not take the insult to his love kindly, his enlarged form sprinting at the green giant. However, his pursuit was abruptly halted when Thor charged forward with a battle cry with Mjolnir raised high. He struck Skurge in the face with the hammer, causing disorientation and sending Skurge flying into a statue.

Despite this, Skurge became more furious as he marched forward, letting out a roar before diving at Thor and tackling him mid-flight. Both of them crashed into the forest with Hulk in close pursuit. The collision left a trench over half the park in its wake.

#

Frankenstrike attempted to subdue Amore, but he was fooled once more. His body phased through another illusionary construct. "Dammit!" Another spell allowed her to slip through his grasp and disappear. As much as he wanted to assist with Skurge, the alien hero could see the numerous golems entering the city. It was an obvious distraction, but it still worked.

Two more huge creatures emerged from the ground, towering over him, ready to attack.

When the Golems started to charge at him, Frankenstrike instinctively shot a blast of purple electricity at one of them. As expected, the electricity was grounded into the dirt and rock, causing no damage.

The Golem roared and punched at Frankenstrike, but he dodged and punched the Golem in the face with his metallic hand. The Golem stumbled back but quickly regained its balance.

The second, Golem joined the fight and attacked Frankenstrike from behind.

In a flash, now Four Arms quickly turned around and grabbed the Golem's arm, dropping it into a suplex. The Golem lost chunks of itself but didn't let go. Instead, it used its other hand to punch Four Arms, sending him flying through the air.

Four Arms landed on his feet and got back up, ready for more. He looked at the two Golems, now charging at him fully. He quickly jumped into the air and clapped all four hands simultaneously, releasing a thunderclap air burst. The Golems ran into the shot, and they were thrown back.

Four Arms walked towards the Golems and slammed all four fists down, obliterating them. The other Golem started to attack Four Arms, but he was too quick. He dodged the Golem's punches and kicked it in the stomach, causing it to stumble back.

Four Arms threw a right hook, causing it to fall to the ground. The Golem tried to get back up, but Four Arms jumped on the Golem's chest and inflicted a flurry of straight punches. The Golem couldn't stop Four Arms. Eventually, it exploded into pieces, leaving nothing but dust behind.

Unfortunately, there were still more in the area.

Meanwhile

Skurge and Thor grappled on the ground, wrestling to one-up the other to a standstill. With Skurge distracted, he failed to notice Hulk's incoming fist until it collided with his jaw, sending him a few meters away.

Not willing to lose ground, Skurge advanced on the heroes.

The thunderous sound of Mjolnir echoed throughout the park. Thor charges forward, swinging Mjolnir with all his might. The Executioner parries the blow with his axe, sparks flying as the weapons collide. The two warriors circled each other, sizing each other up.

The god strikes again, this time with a lightning-fast uppercut. The Executioner ducks under the blow and retaliates with a powerful overhead swing. Thor jumps back, dodging the attack and launching a barrage of lightning bolts.

Skurge deflects the bolts with his axe, his massive strength and skill matched by Thor's godly powers. The two warriors clash again and again, neither gaining the upper hand.

Suddenly, Thor stumbles as the Executioner lands a heavy blow to his ribs. Thor grunts in pain but quickly regains his footing and retaliates with a mighty thunderclap that shakes the ground.

The Executioner staggered but stayed on his feet. He roars with rage and charges forward, swinging his axe in a wide arc. Thor blocks the blow with Mjolnir and counters with a massive lightning strike that envelops the Executioner.

As the dust cleared, he could hear the warrior's chuckle. As expected of Amora, the enchantment of Skurge gave him resistance to Thor's main attack element.

The fight was interrupted when Wasp entered the scene. Before Skurge could attack again, yellow blasts pelted Skurge. The surprise attack was enough to force Skurge back for a moment.

Wasp fires another barrage of energy blasts from her suit's blasters, but Skurge deftly dodges and counters with a sweeping strike from his axe.

At that moment, Iron Man appeared, soaring towards Skurge to hinder his progress. Despite Iron Man's jet boots applying pressure, Skurge continued moving forward, his gaze fixed on Thor with deadly intention. But Tony was suddenly disrupted when an alarm blared within his helmet.

J.A.R.V.I.S. had completed his scan of the Skurge. "Alert, unknown energy detected."

Looking back, Tony could see some green energy surrounding him. "Ugh. Magic," he complained sarcastically. However, Iron Man never finished his thoughts, so Skurge grabbed Iron Man by the head with his massive hand and slammed Iron Avenger into the ground.

Wasp darted around Skurge, shrinking to her smaller size and stinging him. Skurge bellowed in pain at his more sensitive spots but quickly regained his composure. She grew to full size and flew into the air, raining down stinging shots upon Skurge. Skurge swings his axe with all his might, but Wasp is too quick and agile, darting and weaving through the air.

Thor ran over and helped Iron Man to his feet.

"There's some kind of weird energy around the guy." Iron reoriented himself. "Mr. Alien said there was a witch here, and it's similar to what your hammer gives off."

The Asgardian face hardened. "Tis dark magic. Skurge has been enchanted to fight on my level."

Wasp then landed next to them with a thud. "Less talking, more hitting, please."

The trio saw Hulk trying to push back against the weight of a fist.

Wasp stood back up and charged towards Skurge, firing her blasters and unleashing a barrage of stinging shots. Skurge held his ground, swinging his enchanted axe to deflect Wasp's attacks. Skurge tanked more of Wasp's attacks and was about to reengage.

Before Skurge could get too close, Giant-Man arrived on the scene, slamming a giant hand down on the green giant and pinning him to the ground. The heroes looked up to see Giant-Man with a confident grin, holding Skurge in place. "I don't think this is a team-building exercise," he quipped.

Before anyone could respond, Giant-Man flipped over the heroes and landed on his back.

Skurge released his hold on the giant hero's foot and jumped into the air. Skurge merely backhanded the others away and landed on Giant Man's head. The warrior raised his axe, intending to bisect Giant Mans's head, but Skurge saw movement out of the corner of his eye and saw Thor heading right towards him, his hammer raised.

The Asgardian swung his hammer, but Skurge was quick to dodge it. The missed attack caused Thor to stumble and lose his balance, allowing Skurge to grab his cape and spin him around with increasing velocity before sending him flying away.

Iron Man attempted to fly in and tackle Skurge, but the villain was one step ahead. He saw Iron Man approaching and used his powers to hurl him into some trees in the distance.

Skurge gracefully jumped off Giant Man's head and landed skillfully on his shoulder. When the size-changing hero turned to face him, Skurge swiftly punched him unconscious.

"Hey, Ugly. Get a load of me." The Four Arms transformed once again into Ultimate Four Arms.

Ultimate Four Arms dove in, launching a barrage of punches at the Executioner, who managed to dodge a decent amount of the blows. Still, Skurge could feel the sheer power behind them.

The Executioner began to strike at the alien, only for each purple limb to parry and counter each move.

Wasp shot multiple stingers at the Asgardian wielding an axe, but to no avail, as the enhanced foe was occupied with a more pressing danger.

Ben continued his attack, hoping to keep the man's attention.

Skurge soon got annoyed. Drawing back both arms, he slammed his hands together, releasing a massive shock wave. In the corner of his eye, he saw the red-armored man flying toward him. With a flick of his wrist, the magical axe embedded itself into Iron Man's chest plate. The Iron Avenger landed on the ground with a thud.

Ultimate Four Arms was caught off guard by the Skurge's attack and was left stunned, allowing the Skurge to strike with both fists.

When the alien hero and Thor tried to cover for their friend, green magic bolts blasted them away, causing Mjolnir to fall.

"The Avengers." Amora had revealed herself once more. "As annoying as you may be, you had better hope someone more capable chooses to avenge you."

"Found the Witch..." The two stood over Iron Man, whose systems had been shut down due to the damage from the axe still embedded in his chest plate. "J.A.R.V.I.S.? J.A.R.V.I.S., raise the shields, now."

"Not possible, sir." The A.I. responded, "Armor systems are in critical condition and are losing power."

Iron Man then felt a jerk within his armor as Skurge pulled his battle axe out of his armored chest, leaving a large gash.

Angered, Thor reached for his weapon, only to hit a magical barrier. He even tried calling it, but his weapon would not budge.

Iron Man's armor was damaged, and Thor was weaponless and unable to defend himself, leaving the Asgardian prince vulnerable to his opponent's attacks.

Meanwhile, seeing that her attacks barely did anything to the two beings, Wasp flew over to the downed Iron Man.

"Iron Man. Now might be a good time for some kind of- Something." She said urgently.

Iron Man groaned within his depowered armor as sparks and fluid leaked. "Armor's leaking energy faster than I can recharge. Unless you got some spare batteries lying around or an electrical socket."

Before he could finish, a green ring of mist encased Wasp, dragging her away and positioning her next to Thor, who was also immobilized.

Hulk, Ultimate Four Arms, and Hank were the only ones standing. However, the Executioner and Amora soon threw the former two across the park.

Giant Man attempted to punch the Executioner several times, but the Asgardian proved far more agile than he appeared, effortlessly dodging each fist. The Executioner's axe glowed red and swung, launching a massive fireball, colliding with Giant Mans's head. Unfortunately, the magical fire didn't mix well with the Pym Particles, reverting the giant to standard size.

The Executioner advanced on Ant-Man with a predatory smile and pinned him to the ground.

"The giant man first," Amora ordered. "His head will make a good trophy on my wall."

Executioner nodded, then raised his axe to its zenith, ready to decapitate the man.

"Hank." Wasp choked as a tear threatened to fall.

When the blade was inches away from the neck, Skurge's body froze. "What?!" Moments ago, he felt a stinging sensation, and now he was helpless.

The others, however, noticed a small object embedded in the man's back. It was a metal bolt.

"Made it just in time," sounded a voice. Everyone turned to see the Hulk and a different form of Frankenstrike. He stood at 12 feet with grayish skin, scar tissue, and purple stitches across his body. His eyes are green, which resemble protective goggles. His bumpy left arm had cracks, generating a purple glow. The right arm had a Tesla coil on the elbow, protruding from his metallic, bolted gauntlet where the energy travels through.

"What did you do?!" demanded Enchantress. Not even her influence over Skurge could make him budge.

Ultimate Frankenstrike gestured to the bolts on his neck, matching the one on Skurge. "You may affect his mind, but I control his body now." Bolts ejected from his arm onto others gave him control of their motor functions.

Next to him, Hulk cracked his knuckles, ready to beat an easy target. "Game over."

Amora tried harder to help Skurge but to no avail. "To think I tried to convince a green brute like you to work under my control."

Suddenly, all the strange events from the past day started to click. "That was you?" Hulk's fists clenched. "Not Banner?"

Ultimate Frankenstrike was just as surprised. "She was gaslighting you to leave us?!"

The ambient Gamma Radiation in the park increased. "She lit something!"

Hulk raised both fists and Ultimate Frankenstrike supercharged his left arm's muscle fibers in his left arm. The two struck the ground simultaneously, generating a pseudo-earthquake and emitting electric shock waves.

The sheer intensity threw the Executioner and Enchantress away from the others, breaking the Enchantress's concentration.

The Avengers were now free from the witch's spell. Thor held out his hand, summoning Mjolnir to him. Then, he held his mighty hammer aloft, calling a lightning bolt, which sparked and crackled in every direction.

The Enchantress got back up and stood her ground, opposing the prince. "I do not fear your lightning, Odinson. Your magic is nothing against mine."

"You are not my target, witch." Thor stood aside, revealing Iron Man.

Lighting sparks across his armor. "Armor energy reserves at 214%," J.A.R.V.I.S. announced.

The Iron Avenger grinned. Activating his thrusters, he narrowly avoided a slash from a sluggish Executioner, desperately trying to overcome the bolt's control over him.

Tony fired a repulsor blast to his chest, knocking him back to be next to his mistress. Iron Man landed and regrouped with the Avengers. "Take them down." Iron Man ordered as the Avengers charged at their enemies.

Iron Man activated his weapons and charged forward at Skurge. Skurge swung his axe with incredible force, but Iron Man quickly dodged each blow and launched missiles at Skurge.

Skurge, however, was not one to be underestimated. He deftly dodged the missiles and lunged forward, his axe slamming into Iron Man's armor. The impact was tremendous, sending Iron Man flying backward, but he quickly recovered and fired his repulsors at Skurge. Unfortunately, Skurge was hit by the force of the repulsors, sending him flying backward and crashing into a building.

Wasp fired several stingers at the Enchantress, who blocked the attack with a magical shield; she jumped away from Thor's hammer strike before she could counter.

Iron Man took the opportunity to advance, charging at Skurge with a barrage of energy blasts.

Skurge stood up, his armor damaged but still intact, and blocked Iron Man's punches with his axe. The two warriors continued to exchange blows, their weapons clashing in a symphony of destruction.

Iron Man's missiles and repulsors were met with Skurge's massive swings of his axe, and both were determined to come out on top. However, as the fight continued, Skurge gained the upper hand, and his strength and size gave him the advantage. Iron Man was pushed back, his armor taking heavy damage, but he refused to give up.

With those words, Iron Man activated his Unibeam, unleashing a massive blast of energy at Skurge. The beam hit Skurge head-on, his armor taking heavy damage, but he refused to fall. Instead, he lunged forward at Iron Man, swinging his axe with all his might.

Iron Man, however, was ready. He used his repulsors to deflect the axe and punch Skurge in the chest. The impact was enough to send Skurge flying backward, crashing before finally coming to a stop. Then, the inventor refocused his attention on the witch.

At the last moment, the Executioner raised his axe to block a punch from the Hulk, but the green giant's strength proved too strong for the brute, and he was sent sliding back a few meters. Wasp flew forward, firing her stingers at the Executioner's face, but the brute blocked them.

The Asgardian then slammed his blue axe into the ground, causing an icy wave to spread across the floor and freeze Hulk and Ultimate Frankenstrike in place as they charged forward.

Before the two could break out, the Executioner swung his axe again, shattering the ice and sending both heroes flying across the field.

#

Iron Man and Thor struggled against Enchantress, whose magic proved too strong for them. She blocked Thor's blows with a shield, evaded his attacks, and then blasted him with magic, causing him to crash into Giant-Man, who had just woken up, sending them into a lake.

Iron Man attempted to attack with his repulsors, but Enchantress teleported away each time, taunting him. Finally, after another failed attempt, she surrounded Iron Man with green magic and sent him flying into a statue.

Wasp taunted the Executioner while flying around and stinging him, easily avoiding his axe due to her quickness. However, this was a distraction as Hulk appeared and punched the Executioner, sending him flying over the trees.

The Enchantress witnessed the situation and realized that the Avengers were already at an advantage due to their large number. She aimed to balance the playing field, and while she would have preferred to control the shapeshifter, she began with the Hulk instead. The Hulk's head was engulfed in a green glow, and he was under her control, looking directly at her and causing her to smile. "Destroy them all, my creature."

However, the Hulk abruptly halted and shook his head, breaking free from her spell as his gamma energy overpowered the foreign magic. He looked at the Enchantress with wrathful eyes, a clear mind now in control. "No one controls the Hulk!" he declared and slammed his foot into the ground, sending an earthquake straight to the Enchantress, throwing her off balance.

The Avengers seized the opportunity as the Enchantress was down. Iron Man unleashed his Unibeam, while Thor and Ultimate Frankenstrike released lightning bolts. All the strikes converged on the Enchantress's location, resulting in a massive blast.

After the dust settled, Iron Man, Thor, and Ultimate Frankenstrike gathered around the unconscious Enchantress. Despite her bruises and scratches, she was still intact, which only fueled Ultimate Frankenstrike's resentment towards Asgardian invincibility.

As the heroes turned their attention, they were drawn to Giant-Man's moans, who Wasp was helping.

"Watch out!" Wasp suddenly screamed.

The others tried to turn, but the Executioner's axe swiftly swatted them aside. Then, the Asgardian powerhouse lifted the Enchantress onto his shoulder and, with a swift swipe of his axe, opened a portal for their escape before anyone could react.

Giant-Man and Wasp stepped forward as the others struggled to regain footing from the unexpected attack.

"Aah, does somebody want to explain what that was all about?" Giant Man asked, his voice expressing his injuries.

"Ex-girlfriend," answered Frankenstrike, now out of the evolved state.

Thor glared at his friend. "I can assure you, no. They are old enemies from Asgard. The Enchantress finds joy in causing me pain."

Wasp deadpanned. "That sounds just like an Ex."

Ignoring the chuckles from the others, Thor walked up to the Hulk, who stood to the side. "You have won the day, friend Hulk. Truly thou art a warrior to be reckoned with, for few can resist the Enchantress' charms." He held his hand for the Hulk to shake, but the green giant was apprehensive.

Hulk looked over to Ben, and the alien hero could already tell what the giant wanted. Ben gave him a nod and gestured to accept the hand.

The green giant took the offered hand. "Wasn't easy."

"It never is," chuckled Thor.

Iron Man looked at the others, clearly tired and dirty. "Let's head back to the mansion. I think we can all agree that we need some rest."

Frankenstrike and Hulk were the last to leave the area. The former turned to Hulk. "You coming? I'm sure you want to see everyone's faces."

A smirk escaped Hulk's lips. "Yeah..."

Avenger's Mansion

Main Hall

When everyone arrived at the mansion, the others were prepared to get cleaned up and rest. However, they were all stopped by their resident alien hybrid. "Hey, guys. Gather up. I've got something to show you guys."

Wasp wiped her brow. "Can't it wait until after we shower?"

"Trust me. It's better to get this out of the way now." Frankenstrike turned into the same brown-haired human with green eyes back at the park in a flash of green light.

Hulk was amused. Judging by the expression on the other's faces, they were confused. "So you can turn into a human?"

"Isn't that what you always do?" asked Thor.

The cogs in Hank's and Janet's brains turned. "Wait. You said that you're part human. That means-"

Ben smirked. "Yup. This is my birth form. Name's Ben. Ben Tennyson."

Hank apprehensively approached, inspecting his limbs. "You look indistinguishable from a normal human."

The hero gestured to Thor, and they nodded in acceptance. "Considering that everyone here doesn't have a secret identity between us, I figured that this was only fair." Ben turned to the Hulk. "Besides, who can I trust if I can't show a little vulnerability with the people I'm hanging out with trying to save the world?"

The green giant sighed in relief. Perhaps this could turn out better than he thought.

Thor bellowed. "It is good to know you value us so much, dear Ben."

Suffice it to say everyone had some new questions about their new teammate. However, that would have to wait for later. It was getting late.

Ben smirked at his team. "In case you guys are interested, Hulk and I are doing authentic Chicago-style pizza next week."

After hearing voices of agreement and suggestions for another food place the week after, Tony got a notification on his phone. After reading the message, he beamed to the others. "Good news, Hulk. We got your pardon."

The Avengers voiced their surprise. "How'd you pull that off?" asked Hank.

Tony scratched his cheek in embarrassment. "Uh... I may or may not have agreed for us to make some compromise with SHIELD to help with legal matters." He held up both hands in defense of the Hulk's expression change. "Rest assured. You'll have the best lawyers money can buy to ensure our rights and independence."

At this point, the others groaned at more paperwork being added to their plate. Wasp pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine. We'll talk about it after lunch tomorrow. I'm done with today. As far as first days go, this wasn't so bad."

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: Lesser of Two Evils

Damocles Base

High above Earth

Year 2010

Following his ship's emergency temporal displacement into the past, Kang ordered his crew to spend the next few days taking note of their current resources and performing  reconnaissance .

Small probes were sent  to the surface below to document and analyze. The  denizens  of the 41st  century  were amazed by their time's stark differences. The sky was blue, the sun  was shining , and a sense of calmness was in the air. They quickly got to work, setting up their research stations and equipment.

As they worked, they couldn't help but  be struck  by the stark differences between their time and the Earth of 2010. The technology was primitive, the buildings were outdated, and the people seemed livelier.

One of the scientists, Dr. Maya Patel, was fascinated by the various plant life that had long gone extinct. "This is incredible," she said, "It's like being in a completely different world." Others agreed regarding the land and sea. In some ways, the megacities of the 41st  century  felt colder and more distant than the suburban land here.

For some that didn't have any real ties to their old reality, settling down here wasn't a bad option. In any case, they continued the work for their lord, hoping  that  they  would be rewarded  handsomely for their efforts.

Meanwhile

Kang  spent time contemplating his plans moving forward .  Time travel was a fickle thing. Only beings outside of time's domain understood its  true  rules and limitations.

He, a man from the 30th  century , accidentally traveled to the 40th  Century . He found a war-torn Earth where barbarians battled with technology from past eras of which they did not know how they worked.  This  was the dawn of Kang's legacy. First, Kang conquered the Earth, then began conquering the galaxy, taking over entire empires. Humanity was at the apex of power in the universe.

From his experiences, the slightest push, the  smallest  touch, echoes throughout time. Even an act of kindness may have more severe repercussions than one can know or can see. An older era coined the term, Many-worlds interpretation. All decisions lead to a new branch of reality. To rewrite an existing history was unheard of to him.

Regarding time travelers like himself, the timeline resists change in some capacity. Going back in time to make your past self wear a different shirt would cause the start of a new branch. Still, if changes are insignificant in the long run, the branch's history will eventually merge  back  with its source branch, correcting any possible paradoxes.

Kang's initial travel to the 1940s caused a new branch, but those changes were recombined with his current history. The 41st  century  still suffered the same fate. At some point, humanity  was extinguished , retroactively erasing his  Empire . It was only thanks to Damocles Base that he and the remains of his people escaped the erasure of their timeline. The  Emperor  sighed. He needed more information. "Computer, display our current chronal coordinates?"

A nearby crystal display outputted a long string of numbers and symbols. Kang's brow furrowed. "That can't be right..." However, even after a manual check, the result was the same. According to the Fourth Dimensional coordinates, his timeline was approximately three deviations from his original target. If the numbers were accurate, then history was changed by a third party between 1940 and the present 2010. "I've gone through the historical records numerous times. There shouldn't have been any instances of previous time travel not already accounted for before my first trip."

A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts. His wife, Princess Ravonna Renslayer, had opened the door.

Kang got up from his chair and walked to her. "Love, you should be resting."

She walked to him and leaned on his chair. "I know, but so much has happened in the past few days. It's a lot to process."

Kang's features softened. "I can't even imagine how you  are handling  this whole ordeal."

"Our entire planet, our home, was erased from history. How was this possible?"

"I'm sorry." The man took a breath.   " I don't have all the answers, but I'm not going to give up on us ,  on them."  He gestured to the next room, where several of their people continued to work.

Suddenly, one of his men approached their door. "Excuse me, my lord. There are new developments in our research that you must be aware of. With a nod, Kang and Ravonna followed their officer to the bridge. Several images appeared on the screen. "It took little time to connect and extract information from this period's global communication network. We confirmed the local time and started working on world events." The images of a statue of Captain America in front of the Statue of Liberty and a ceremonial tombstone were displayed. "We have confirmed that Captain America is still deceased according to the public records."

"Is that good?" asked Ravonna.  This  was the first time hearing about the man.

Kang frowned. "That's both fortunate yet concerning. My initial calculations and theories indicated that Captain Roger's actions in the 21st  century  were the first dominos to fall, leading to armageddon."

Ravonna's eyes widened. "This dead man caused our home to  be destroyed ?"

Kantg shook his head. "It's not that simple, my love. From what I've determined, some outside force rewrote our history. The Captain was just the catalyst of a long series of events."

The officer seemed unsure of himself. "I do not doubt your intellect, sir. However, you may not have had all the variables. After cross-referencing public figures from the records we had on file, we discovered ...  an anomaly."

The Conqueror didn't like where this was going, his irritation growing. What variable did he miss? It seemed impossible. "Explain!" Ravonna did her best to soothe her husband and gestured for the officer to keep going.

"According to our records, the Avengers at this time consisted of Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, and Ant-Man. When going through recent news, we found contradictions." The screen showed a recent news article and mainstream news segment describing a battle between the Avengers and individuals labeled as The Enchantress and Skurge. "Our history says that Hulk temporarily left the team due to irreconcilable differences. In this  time period , the opposite happened. The screen showed an amateur photo of the Hulk and a red being with four arms in the park eating pizza.

Ravonna blinked at the mundane scene. "Earth was much stranger in the past."

Kang's eyes widened on the other hand. "Who the hell is that?"

"We... aren't sure, sir. There is nothing about it in our database. Following the incident at the park, the Hulk remained with the Avengers."

Kang closed his eyes and started going through his calculations again. "He was supposed to leave and return after an incident in Las Vegas." Eyes narrowed on the anomaly. "What do we know about the new variable?"

"From what we discovered, the being is some  sort of  shapeshifter, capable of transforming into many creatures with varying abilities.  Its origin is currently unknown. The first sightings occurred west of North America before moving toward the East Coast.

His  emperor  seethed, and all the points were starting to connect. "It seems that I have found my third party."

"Sir?"

Kang dismissed the officer. "You did well in informing me of these developments. I have much to consider moving forward." His shoulders seemed to sag for a moment. "Keep up the work, and I assure you we will all go home soon."

Ravonna smiled at her husband. People would see Kang's stern personality and assume the worst. She even refused his hand in marriage when Kang first allowed her father to rule his kingdom under Kang's  empire , pressuring Ravonna to marry him. The brief moments of compassion  revealed  the man that came before Kang.

With a salute, the officer went back to his research. "As expected. Thank you, sir. "

Kang and Ravonna walked back to his lab. "Things have gotten more complicated than I anticipated." At a console, Kang input the new information regarding the shape-shifting variable.

His version of machine learning allowed him to consider past and present variables. The future was not a fixed, predetermined thing but rather a set of probabilities that  could be calculated  based on the present.

"Computer, bring up the most probable scenarios should Captain America remain deceased."

82% | Humanity's Extinction

18% | Humanity's Survival

"And if Captain America were to return?" asked Ravonna.

45% | Humanity's Extinction

55% | Humanity's Survival

Kang grits his teeth. History had changed to reach this point. "Humanity won't likely survive past the 22nd century if Captain America doesn't return to the world, but he may cause humanity to end before the 40th century." It was practically a coin flip. The likely future had become too clouded.

"I  was told  Captain America was deceased," stated his wife. "Is this not the case?"

"History says that he returned somehow, but I ensured he  was lost  in the Arctic."

Ravonna raised a brow. "How did you check?"

"Even after twenty years, Captain Rogers was still lost in the sea. Even with his Super Human Physiology, it's near impossible that he survived all these years."

"Near impossible or definitively impossible."

The man stayed silent, not wanting to accept that his bias affected him more than he wanted to admit.

Ravonna wrapped her arms around her husband. "Nathaniel... You know  I don't like  it when you get this way. Will you throw away our chance at going home?"

Kang sighed.  She was the only one  that  knew the truth about him.  His  only anchor in a time, not his own.  "Come, let us find our catalyst."

The Arctic Circle

Kang the Conqueror stood atop a mountain in the Arctic Circle, his gaze fixed on the endless white expanse. The bitter wind whipped around him, lashing his armor and sending his cape billowing out behind him. Captain America's frozen body was somewhere in the Arctic Circle, buried deep beneath the ice. And so he had come, determined to find it at any cost. Beside him, Ravonna touched the snowfall. It was a rare experience to see this type of weather. The world succumbed to global warming centuries ago. Only recently was Kang trying to stabilize the Earth's conditions to expand his  empire   across the planet .

Kang began to descend the mountain, crossing the  frozen  tundra. He had come prepared, with all the technology and resources  at his disposal . His armor protected him from the harsh elements, and his energy weapons were fully charged. He had also brought a team of his most loyal soldiers, trained and equipped with the latest technology.

As they made their way deeper into the Arctic wilderness, Kang couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within him.

The team stopped in front of a massive glacier towering high above them. Kang scanned the area.  This  was definitely where he last watched the man fall into the waters. He searched for any sign of the Captain's body on the surface, but it was a pipe dream. The man was likely several feet below. Then again, the ice caps have been shrinking in recent years.

As he searched, Kang's soldiers began to dig through the ice with their tools. They worked tirelessly, chipping away at the glacier with incredible speed. Kang watched them; his eyes narrowed in determination. He knew the Captain's body was buried deep beneath the ice. And he would find it, no matter what it took.

Finally, after hours of digging, one of the soldiers called out to Kang. "Sir, we've found something!" he shouted.

Kang rushed over. As the soldiers cleared the ice, a body emerged beneath the glacier. Kang's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized Captain America's familiar red, white, and blue costume.  It was frozen  solid, its features twisted in a look of agony.

Ravonna stared at the man who was both their savior and their damnation. "I can't imagine he still alive after all this time."

A scientist attached a device to the ice near the Captain's chest and head. "I'm still detecting brain activity, but it's low. Based on the heart readings, his physiology induced an artificial hibernation to preserve itself in the subzero waters."

Kang reached out and touched the icy surface. The soldiers began to load the frozen body onto a transport vehicle, preparing to take it back to Kang's time ship. Kang sighed at the frozen body. "Likely damned if I don't. Possibly damned if I do."

"What do we plan to do now?" asked Ravonna.

Kang crossed his arms. "If I'm bringing back Captain America, I'm doing it on my terms."

Chapter Text

Captain America's eyes fluttered open, the sunlight piercing through the thin veil of his eyelids. He was lying on the ground, and his senses sharpened. He could hear the rhythmic sound of waves crashing nearby. Confusion washed over him as he blinked away the disorientation, trying to understand how he had gotten here.

He first noticed the sky, an expanse of blue dotted with fluffy white clouds. Then, soft voices drew his attention to a couple sitting a few feet away on a weathered blanket. Their backs turned to him. They were an older pair, their faces creased with age. The man was tall, his hair a mix of silver and white, while the woman had short, curly hair the color of autumn leaves, her eyes sparkling like emeralds.

They were whispering. The man noticed Captain America's movement first and gently nudged his partner. Both turned to face him, their expressions shifting from mild curiosity to concern.

"Are you alright, son?" the man asked, his voice steady, with a hint of a Canadian accent.

Captain America pushed himself onto his elbows, feeling the grains of sand beneath his fingers. "I... I'm not sure," he replied, his voice rough from disuse. He glanced around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "Where am I?"

The woman offered a kind smile. "You're on a beach near Vancouver Island. We found you washed up on the shore a little while ago. Do you remember how you got here?"

His mind raced, fragments of memories flashing through his head—an icy plunge, darkness, a feeling of being trapped. "I was... on a mission. How long was I out?"

The couple exchanged a glance, and the man gave a slight shrug. "It's hard to say. When we found you, you were frozen solid, but you started to thaw out pretty quickly in the sun. We thought you were dead until you started breathing. You're more sturdier than I thought. We were just about to call for help when you woke up."

Captain America looked down at himself, noticing his uniform and shield lying nearby, half-buried in the sand. He reached for it instinctively, feeling a sense of grounding as his fingers wrapped around the familiar metal.

"What's your name?" the woman asked gently, sensing his turmoil.

"Steve," he replied after a moment. "Steve Rogers. But most people know me as Captain America." His status as America's poster boy wasn't exactly a secret.  

Recognition dawned on their faces, and the man nodded slowly. "Well, Steve, you've certainly been through quite an ordeal. Let's get you dried up, and we'll help you figure out what to do next."

Captain America managed a grateful smile, still trying to process everything. "Thank you... for finding me."

The woman patted his shoulder reassuringly. "You're welcome, Steve. You're safe now. We'll make sure of it."

#

Nathan and Donna guided Captain America away from the beach, each holding one of his arms to steady him as they walked up a gentle slope covered in wildflowers. The sun's warmth was soothing, but Steve Rogers' mind was still racing, trying to reconcile what happened to him.

"Thank you," he said quietly, looking from Nathan to Donna. "I appreciate your help. It's all a bit ...  overwhelming."

Nathan gave him a reassuring nod. "It's the least we can do, Steve. We're just glad we found you when we did."

With her warm smile, Donna added, "You must have been through a lot. Let's get you inside and make sure you're alright."

As they crested the hill, a quaint cottage came into view. Nestled among the trees, it had a small garden out front. It was a charming, rustic home that radiated hospitality.

Nathan led the way to the front door, opening it to reveal a cozy interior with wooden floors, comfortable furniture, and an array of family photos adorning the walls.

"Welcome to our home," Donna said, gesturing for Steve to sit on a plush sofa. "I'm Donna, by the way, and this is my husband, Nathan."

Steve sat down, feeling the softness of the cushions against his back. "Thank you, Donna and Nathan. I don't know how to repay you for your kindness."

Nathan waved off the comment with a smile. "No need to worry about that now. Let's focus on getting you settled and figuring out what's next."

Donna disappeared into the kitchen momentarily, returning with a steaming cup of tea and a plate of sandwiches. She placed them on the coffee table in front of Steve. "Here, have something to eat. You must be starving."

Steve realized how hungry he was as he reached for a sandwich. He sipped the tea, savoring its warmth.

"So, Steve," Nathan began, sitting opposite him, "what do you remember doing before you woke up here?"

Steve hesitated, the question bringing a flood of memories. "The last thing I remember was the war. Is it still going on? I have to report to the General.

"The couple looked at each other before answering. "If you're talking about World War 2, it's over, son. It's been over for a while."

"What? It couldn't have been that long. I was on a mission. There was a rocket, and then I hit the ocean. Everything went dark."

Nathan and Donna exchanged a look, their expressions a mix of sympathy and surprise.

"Steve," Donna said gently, "I'm not sure how to break this easier, but it's 2010."

Steve went still. "That can't..."

"You've been... asleep for a very long time."

Steve felt a lump form in his throat as he processed the information. Sixty-five years. Almost a lifetime. He looked around the room, taking in the modern touches mingled with the rustic charm. It was a different world, yet somehow, the kindness of these strangers made it feel less alien.

"I understand that it might sound unbelievable." Nathan scratched his head. "Frankly, I'm unsure how else to prove it to you. We have some newspapers, but I suppose a trip to town would be more convincing.

"I see," he said slowly, trying to keep his composure. 

"How about we do that after getting some food in you and a night's rest."

"I'd like that... Thank you. "

Nathan leaned forward, his voice steady and comforting. "Don't worry. We'll help you however we can. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need."

Tears pricked at the corners of Steve's eyes, and he blinked them away, so many things possibly left behind left unsaid. "I don't know what to say."

Donna reached out and placed a hand on his. "You don't need to say anything, Steve. We'll take it one step at a time together."

Days Later

The small town near Nathan and Donna's home was a picturesque snapshot of rural life. Quaint shops lined the main street, colorful awnings fluttering in the gentle breeze.  The air was filled  with the scent of fresh pine. As they walked through the town, Steve Rogers, dressed in Nathan's old flannel shirt and jeans, tried to absorb the reality of his new era.

Nathan and Donna led the way, their pace leisurely. Steve felt strange emotions at the subtle yet profound changes that had shaped the world during his absence. Nathan glanced over at Steve, noticing how his eyes scanned everything, absorbing details.

"How are you holding up, Steve?" Nathan asked gently, his tone filled with genuine concern.

Steve managed a small smile. "It's a lot to take in. Everything's familiar but different." A Honda Civic drove past them. 'I imagined that Stark's flying cars would have taken off by now.' "I appreciate you both showing me around."

Donna pointed to a charming little diner on the corner. "That place has the best coffee in town. Thought we could start there, get you a taste of 2010's finest brew."

They entered the diner and were greeted by the friendly chime of a bell above the door. The interior was cozy with checkered tablecloths. The waitress, a cheerful woman in her mid-fifties, welcomed them warmly and led them to a booth by the window.

As they sat down, Steve took in the bustling atmosphere. People chatted animatedly, some tapping away on small, rectangular devices that he quickly learned were called smartphones. The technology fascinated him, a far cry from his time's rotary phones and radios.

Nathan ordered coffee for all three of them, and soon, the waitress returned with steaming mugs.

Steve took a sip, savoring the rich, robust flavor. "This is good," he admitted, a genuine smile spreading.

Donna chuckled. "Told you. Some things get better with time."

They spent the next hour walking through the town, stopping at various shops and points of interest. At the bookstore, Steve marveled at the sheer number of titles available, many covering events he had missed. Nathan explained some significant historical moments while Donna pointed out the latest bestsellers.

They watched children play on swings at the park, and couples stroll hand-in-hand. The simplicity brought a sense of peace to Steve's mind. 

Weeks Later

A few weeks  passed  in the cozy warmth of Nathan and Donna's home. Steve Rogers, gradually acclimating to the modern world, found solace in the peaceful surroundings. He spent his days helping Nathan with chores around the house, learning more about the changes in the world, and occasionally catching glimpses of news broadcasts that hinted at a world still in need of heroes. Hearing about major metahuman breakouts across the globe seemed to cement choice. Seeing the mugshot and name  Baron Heinrich Zemo  across the TV on the list of most wanted almost made him shatter his mug.

The following day, Steve decided it was time to move on. He knew he couldn't impose on Nathan and Donna forever, and there was a pull inside him to find his place in this new era. After breakfast, he approached Nathan and Donna, sitting on the porch, enjoying their coffee.

"Nathan, Donna," he began, his voice steady. "I want to thank you for everything you've done for me, but I think it's time for me to go."

Donna looked up. "We knew this day would come, Steve. You're not just a soldier but also a good man. From what the news has been lately, the world needs you."

Nathan nodded in agreement. "Do you have a plan?"

Steve nodded, adjusting the straps of the sturdy backpack Nathan had given him. "I'm going to head south and return to the United States. There's unfinished business with an old enemy. I'm not sure how the government will react when they see me. Maybe I'll meet those Avengers."

Donna stood up and embraced him. "Take care of yourself, Steve. And remember, you always have a home here with us."

Nathan shook Steve's hand firmly, then pulled him into a brief, heartfelt hug. "Stay safe out there, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything." They helped Steve get  a basic  satellite phone with only calling available. His odd jobs around town helped him earn enough cash for the journey.

With his shield in a knapsack, Steve set off down the winding road that led away from the cottage. 

The Next Morning

Nathan and Donna sat at their kitchen table, the warmth of the early sun filtering through the lace curtains. The remnants of breakfast lay on the table. Now that they were alone and secured, they pressed a button on their watches, revealing the actual forms of Nathaniel Richards, aka Kang, and Queen Ravonna Renslayer.

Kang leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The first phase is complete."

Ravonna sipped her coffee, a serene smile playing on her lips. "This was much more enjoyable than we anticipated."

"The adjustments we've made to the timestream seem to be integrating well," Nathaniel said. Steve is on his way to the US. If my calculations are correct, he will meet with an old friend."

Ravonna nodded. "Despite his involvement in destroying humanity, he's a kind young man, just as history said." She set her cup down and reached across the table to take Nathaniel's hand. "I must say, this rural home, this era… it's a wonderful respite from the constant chaos of our Empire Flagship. There's something about it that soothes the soul."

Nathaniel smiled, squeezing her hand gently. "Steve Rogers would make a fine soldier in my empire, but that's not what he needs to be right now. In any case, I can agree with the atmosphere. It makes me forget about the wasteland from which I had to bring humanity. The silence here isn't oppressive; it's tranquil. I've found i t…  grounding."

Ravonna's gaze wandered to the window, where the garden they had tended together bloomed vibrantly. "Do you think we'll ever grow tired of this simplicity?"

Nathaniel followed her gaze, his expression thoughtful. "Time has a way of making even the most extraordinary things feel ordinary. But this place, this life we've carved out for ourselves—it's a rare kind of ordinary. One that's filled with small, meaningful moments."

Ravonna looked back at him, her eyes filled with affection. "I cherish these moments with you, Nathaniel. Whether tending the garden, watching the sunrise, or simply sharing a meal. It's a different adventure I wouldn't trade for anything."

Nathaniel's smile widened, and he leaned forward to kiss her hand. "Nor would I, Ravonna. I suppose you are right in some way.  This  feels like a home, and I will do anything to ensure our future continues."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, savoring the peace. The sound of birds chirping outside and the distant hum of the ocean waves filled the air.

"Do you think Steve will be alright?" Ravonna asked softly, her concern for the man evident.

"He'll be fine," Nathaniel replied. "Besides the implants, we have a scouting team behind him."

Ravonna nodded, reassured. "Now that Steve is on his own, I suppose it's time for us to return to our ship."

Nathaniel stood, pulling her to her feet and into a warm embrace. "Well, there's no need to rush. Steve left the cottage a few days ahead of our estimates."

Ravonna giggled and dragged the man to the couch to relax.

Elsewhere

Steve traversed Canada with a mix of hitchhiking and walking.  Nights were spent  under the stars, the crackling of campfires comforting. His funds  were better spent  on food than lodging. Time in the military gave him sufficient survival skills in the wilderness. He passed through small towns and bustling cities, meeting people kind enough to offer directions, a warm meal, or a resting place. He worked odd jobs, helped a local farmer with his harvest, and even lent a hand at a community center.

He encountered travelers, and each conversation added a piece to the puzzle of this new world. Soon, he would know that the world was still as strange as it used to be.

#

The small town of Elkford was quiet. Its residents went about their daily lives, enjoying the peaceful ambiance surrounding them. Steve Rogers walked through in a simple flannel shirt and jeans. As he strolled down the main street, he noticed the friendly faces of the townspeople. Children played in the park, and shopkeepers chatted with customers. 

Suddenly, a blood-curdling roar shattered the tranquility. Steve's senses went on high alert as he turned to see a massive white beast tearing through the town, its fury unleashed upon everything in its path. Cars  were overturned , windows shattered, and people screamed in terror as the beast rampaged.

Instinctively, Steve sprang into action. He dashed toward a group of children frozen in fear near the park, scooping them up and carrying them to safety behind a sturdy brick wall. "Stay here, stay low,"  he  instructed, calm but authoritative. Turning back to face the chaos, he saw a group of figures emerging from the treeline.

The first had a primal appearance. He stood over 6' with a heavily muscled physique. His most distinguishing feature was his wild, mane-like blond hair and sideburns, giving him a distinctly feral look. He wore a tan and black bodysuit with fur accents.

The second was covered in a red and black full-body suit with black patches around his eyes, sides, and shoulders. Only his white, expressive eyes were visible, conveying a surprising range of emotions despite the lack of a visible mouth or eyebrows. He had katanas strapped to his back, various firearms, and an assortment of grenades and pouches. 

The third also had a towering figure with a monstrous physique. His skin was unnaturally pale, contrasting starkly with his long, flowing blond hair. His costume was primarily red with silver accents, including a prominent red chest harness and shoulder pads that add to his intimidating presence. The most distinctive feature was the retractable carbonadium tentacles from his wrists. 

The last was a tall, slender woman with an athletic build. Her most recognizable feature was her extendable, razor-sharp adamantium fingernails. Her costume resembled traditional Japanese attire with modern combat gear. Her long, dark hair flowed freely, styled in a high ponytail.

"Out of the way!" Sabretooth growled, his eyes gleaming with predatory excitement. He lunged at the Wendigo, claws extended, while Deadpool fired his guns recklessly, bullets ricocheting off walls and cars.

Omega Red unleashed his lethal carbonadium coils, lashing out at the beast, while Lady Deathstrike's adamantium claws sliced through the air. The Wendigo roared in pain, its attacks becoming more frenzied as it fought back against its attackers. Cars overturned, and walls came crumbling down.

Steve moved swiftly, focused on protecting the townspeople. He guided a panicked couple out of the line of fire, then shielded a group of elderly residents with his own body from an explosion, ushering them into the safety of a nearby building. "Stay inside and keep away from the windows," he ordered.

As Steve rushed back into the fray, Deadpool's distinctive voice rang out above the chaos. "Hey, ugly! Over here!" Deadpool paused mid-shootout to strike a dramatic pose, then resumed firing with gusto.

Steve managed a tight smile despite the situation. He needed to draw the Wendigo away from the civilians. He grabbed a piece of rubble and hurled it at the beast, shouting to get its attention. "Over here, you big brute!"

The Wendigo turned its blood-red eyes toward Steve, growling menacingly. It charged at him, and Steve braced himself, ready to dodge at the last second. Just as the creature reached him, he rolled to the side, causing the Wendigo to crash into a parked truck, buying precious seconds for more townspeople to escape.

Weapon X continued their assault, keeping the Wendigo occupied, but their collateral damage was immense. Buildings crumbled, and the town square  was left  in ruins.

Deadpool somersaulted off a rooftop, landing beside Steve. "Nice move, dude!  You should consider  a career in monster baiting. It's all the rage."

Steve shot him a look. "I don't know who you are. Just focus on taking that thing down without hurting anyone else."

"Aw, you do care!" Deadpool responded with mock affection. "Don't worry, I'm a professional. Sort of."

His eyes gleamed with predatory excitement. Sabretooth growled, "Time to bring this beast down." His claws extended, and he lunged at the Wendigo, slashing at its thick fur and drawing first blood. The Wendigo howled in pain and fury, swiping back with its massive paws.

Deadpool, perched on a nearby rooftop, fired his guns with reckless abandon. "Hey! Have you ever considered therapy? It's great for anger issues!" His bullets peppered the Wendigo's hide, causing little more than irritation to the giant creature. "Come on, big guy, just take a little tranquilizer nap, and we can all go home!"

Omega Red moved in with deadly precision, his carbonadium coils extending and wrapping around the Wendigo's limbs. "Hold still, beast," he hissed, his grip tightening. The Wendigo thrashed, pulling Omega Red off his feet and slamming him into a wall, but the Russian mutant held on, his eyes filled with cold determination.

Lady Deathstrike darted in with lightning speed, her adamantium claws slicing through the Wendigo's flesh. "We need to weaken it," she called out, dodging a swipe from the creature and countering with a slash of her own. Her claws aimed at vital points. Passing out from blood loss was also on the table. 

The Wendigo roared, driven into a frenzy by the relentless assault. It lashed out wildly, its powerful blows sending Sabretooth flying into a parked car, crumpling the metal like paper. Sabretooth shook it off with a snarl, leaping back into the fray. "You're gonna pay for that, furball!"

Deadpool somersaulted off the rooftop, landing beside Omega Red. "Need a hand, comrade?" he quipped, slicing at the Wendigo's tendons with his katana. "Or maybe a coil? Those things are nifty!"

Omega Red grunted, tightening his grip. "Just keep it distracted."

Lady Deathstrike seized the opportunity, her claws flashing as she attacked the Wendigo's arms. The beast howled, its movements growing more sluggish as blood poured from its wounds. "It's slowing down," she said, her eyes narrowing. "We're close."

The Wendigo, sensing its impending defeat, let out a final, desperate roar and lashed out with a ferocity born of survival instinct. It broke free from Omega Red's coils and charged through the town square, scattering debris in its wake. The beast crashed through a line of trees, retreating into the dense forest that bordered the town.

"It's getting away!" Sabretooth roared, shaking off the remnants of the car he had  been thrown  into.

Deadpool turned to the others, his eyes gleaming behind his mask. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go, X-Force!" He took off after the Wendigo, his swords at the ready.

"Not our name!"

Omega Red and Lady Deathstrike followed close behind, their eyes locked on the retreating form of the Wendigo. "This isn't over," Omega Red muttered, his coils retracting as he ran. "Not by a long shot."

The four mutants plunged into the forest, their pursuit relentless. Should Weapon X have killed everyone to get rid of witnesses? Maybe, but  they weren't explicitly told  to do that. They just needed to catch the Wendigo. In any case, they were sure Department H would get involved and commence phase 2. 

Breathing heavily, Steve looked around at the devastation. The town was in ruins, but miraculously, there were few fatalities. He had managed to protect the townspeople from the worst of the chaos. As he helped a group of firefighters extinguish a burning building, the townspeople emerged from their hiding places with gratitude and relief evident on their faces.

One of the town's elders approached Steve, her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, young man. You saved us all."

Steve nodded, his expression solemn. "Just doing what I could. Ensure everyone gets to safety and that the injured are cared for." Despite better judgment, he promised to follow them and stop the creature after he tended to the people.

Chapter Text

Stark Industries Tower

Morning

The CEO, Tony Stark, was working on a device in his office while meeting with another CEO. To the visitor's left sat Ben in his green-accented suit. Tony had asked the alien hero to sit in the meeting as a consultant. It seemed that the Iron Avenger was dead set on being the scientist who increased Earth's technology level rating.

In front of Tony, the CEO of Williams Innovations, Sanford Williams, wore a beige business suit and red tie. He got right to the point. "I don't need to tell you that Stark Industries is crushing us. Energy was our main innovation, but we've had nothing to compete ever since you came out with the arc reactor technology."

Ben nodded. "To be fair, cold fusion is a major milestone in energy production. I think the next nuclear advancement after this is a Dyson sphere."

Sanford sighed. "I'm aware of that. But there are still so many other projects and fields in development in my company. I just need more time, but we're going under," Sanford informed, lightly slamming his hands on the table.

Meanwhile, Tony was reviewing a spherical device. The armored Avenger flipped a switch, which got a response from Jarvis. "Security image not found. Error," Jarvis informed Tony, to Tony's hidden frustration.

Ben pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tony, don't you think you should talk to the guy who took the time to set up this meeting with you, which you agreed with?"

Tony took his eyes off his work and looked at Sanford for the first time during the meeting. "Well, yeah. I've been buying company shares while others have sold theirs. They lost faith, but I know you guys have potential. I could have easily bought you guys out entirely, but I didn't. Isn't the extra capital investment helping you guys stay afloat?"

Sanford frowned. "It is, but I can't help but feel control over my own company is slipping through my fingers. We don't know each other, but I came to ask you personally, don't do this." He asked in a slightly pleading tone. "I built Williams Innovations from nothing." He lowered his head a bit somberly. "Not even my sons want to speak with me. It's all I have."

Tony cringed a bit. "Oh... If that's the case, you were a bit too late."

Simmon looked at him in slight alarm and disbelief. "What?"

"I became the majority shareholder about 15 minutes ago," Tony answered.

Simmon stood up in anger. "No… I'm not going to let you do this. You hear me, Stark!" he raised his voice as he turned and began to walk out of the room.

Ben frowned and quickly pulled the man back into his seat. "Hold on, Williams. Why are you saying that? Aren't you still the CEO whether or not Tony holds majority shares?"

Williams simmered. "A major or even a majority shareholder will have more power than a CEO, but their power is limited mostly to shareholder meetings. If they do have a majority, they can exercise this within limits to do things. They can also pressure the board or the CEO to do certain things. I'm not going to let Tony destroy my entire life!"

"Destroy?"

"You make it sound like Tony was abusing his influence during the meetings." The hero blinked. "Was he?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "No, I was not! I don't even show up to those meetings. Pepper or another assistant does and gives me the TLDR on what's happening."

"Sanford, what exactly are you scared of happening anyways?" asked Ben. "I think we're all on the wrong page about what's happening."

"I just know that Tony is going to conspire with the board and push me out of office only for him to take over."

Tony stared at Simmon with his mouth open. "Why the hell would I do that?! I already got my hands full with Start Industries and being an Avenger. Why would I add the CEO of your company on top of that?!"

William's emotions seemed to settle down. "You aren't?"

Ben sighed. "Frankly, if the board saw you acting like this, they'd probably do it themselves."

Tony dropped everything to free his hands. "Let me explain. Even as a majority shareholder, business Williams Innovations would continue as usual. I'm trying to save your company, not take it over. You said it yourself that it wasn't going to survive. I know you have brilliant tech in development. I want to work with you to save what you built. All I wanted to do was help."

Ben turned to the visitor. "I'm sorry, Sanford, but Tony sounds pretty hands-off with the investment into your company."

Sanford slumped in his seat. "You're... not going to do anything?"

Tony mimicked the posture. "Sanford, you're overestimating my business prowess. I'm not a tech mogul buying up all the smaller start-ups."

Ben pulled out his phone for a quick web search. "Your public image says otherwise."

"Note to self: Speak with the PR department." Tony groaned. "Sanford, would it make you feel better if I signed something? The lawyers can draft something to ensure my involvement stays strictly financial."

The man perked up, hope in his heart. "You... You mean it?"

Tony pulled out a card and handed it to Sanford. "Speak to my legal department, and we'll square up something this week. I guarantee it."

"I... I'm sorry, Mr. Stark. I guess I got ahead of myself there." He stood up and started walking out of the office. "You won't regret it! Williams Innovations can stand independently; just wait and see!"

"Well, that turned out better than I expected, Tony," Ant-Man spoke out as he climbed up from inside the machine Tony had been working on. "Things would have gone south if Ben didn't encourage you two to talk during the meeting."

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah." Tony told the fellow scientist in his usual tone.

Ben rolled his eyes. "I feel so appreciated."

"Is this how most of your meetings with other companies go?" Hank continued. "I would have assumed Pepper would be taking Ben's place as a mediator.

"Pepper was busy with another department contract." Tony changed the topic. "Did you find something on the hard drive or not?"

"You could have crushed that guy, Tony. What kind of man callously disregards another human being like that?" Ant-Man continued to pry on the matter, not liking what he had seen and heard.

"You were acting like kind of a dick, Tony." Ben gestured to the device. "I know whatever this is is important, but come on. This could have been settled in less than five minutes of a sincere business talk. The dude was about to storm out of here."

Tony rubbed his forehead. "Look, I had a plan you guys wouldn't understand."

Hank slumped his shoulders. "I would like to think communication is important in business relations. We aren't psychic. Sanford had all these fears building up because he wasn't in the loop of your plan."

Ben nodded. "This also applies to being an avenger, man. If we save the world, we must be on the same page." He started walking out the door as well. "I need some air. Let me know if something comes up."

Later

Skies over New York

"Come on, they're getting away," Wasp shouted over the air currents blowing around her,

Thor and Wasp chased after a small, sphere-shaped AIM probe. The two patrolled the city that day when they encountered a business deal between the supervillain science organization and an unknown buyer. They immediately intervened since they knew that if AIM was involved, it meant something in the area of weapons, and that led them to where they were now.

"They seem to be of little threat," Thor scoffed as he flew alongside Janet on her left.

As the AIM agents fled, their last desperate shot was a strange black orb that sped toward Thor and Wasp. The orb expanded into a swirling vortex, pulling them in with a force that defied comprehension.

"Thor! What is this thing?" Wasp screamed, her voice strained as she felt herself pulled into the void. "It's like a black hole!"

Thor growled, his voice a deep rumble even through the chaos. He could see Wasp stretched, her body elongating as if she were made of rubber. He, too, could feel the immense forces trying to pull him apart.

Wasp's eyes widened in terror as she experienced spaghettification, her body stretched vertically and compressed horizontally. The pain was excruciating, her every atom feeling the strain of the tidal forces.

Thinking quickly, Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir. "Hold on, Janet!" he roared. Summoning every ounce of his divine strength, he called forth the storm's power. The sky above them darkened, thunder rolling ominously. With a mighty cry, he directed a lightning bolt toward his hammer.

The magical lightning struck Mjolnir, and Thor felt the power surge coursing through him. He aimed the hammer toward the heart of the vortex, channeling the storm's energy into the black hole. A brilliant flash of light erupted from Mjolnir, the energy bursting outward in a powerful wave.

The black hole shuddered, its pull weakening as the energy disrupted its core. The gravitational forces around them began to waver, and Thor unleashed a massive burst of lightning with one final push. The bolt struck the vortex, causing it to implode in a spectacular explosion of energy.

Wasp felt the pressure easing, her body slowly returning to normal. She gasped for breath, her limbs trembling from the ordeal. Thor, too, felt the release of the immense forces as the vortex disintegrated.

The two Avengers hovered in the air, the storm's remnants crackling around them.

"That's crazier than I was thinking," Wasp commented as she rested her hands on her knees for a minute as she caught her breath.

Thor looked over at Wasp, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright, Janet?" he asked, his voice gentle despite the thunderous power he had just unleashed.

Wasp nodded weakly, a determined smile forming on her lips. "Yeah, I think so. That was... intense. It reminded me of Graviton." Wasp chuckled, her strength returning. "Thanks for the save, Thor."

"Anytime," Thor replied, his eyes twinkling with camaraderie. "Now, let us return the favor to AIM. I tire of these geeks," Thor then scowled. "Should we not call the other Avengers?"

"They'll only slow us down, big guy. Think you can clip their wings?"

"Aye," Thor smirked in excited reply. He then returned his hammer and threw it hard at the AIM ship. It hit dead on and damaged the ship just enough to leave a part of it billowing smoke but still keep on flying.

Thor grabbed his hammer as it returned to his hand. He was about to pursue it when Wasp cut him off, shouting, "Hold up!"

"But they will escape," Thor argued.

"They'll think they're escaping, but they're gonna lead us right to their secret base, where we'll beat them all up," Wasp explained as she indicated the smoke trail the ship was leaving. Thor stared for a moment before his smirk of excitement returned at the prospect of a greater challenge.

Thor grinned. "Verily."

Suddenly, a streak of bright light flashed across the sky, drawing their attention. A figure emerged with wings shimmering with cosmic energy. Its body was slim and aerodynamic, covered in a smooth, dark blue exoskeleton with bright, luminescent green accents that ran along its limbs and torso. His head was elongated and angular, with a prominent beak-like snout and piercing, glowing green eyes. The most distinctive feature was the large, membranous wings extending from his shoulders and laced with bioluminescent veins. It swooped down towards the two Avengers.

Wasp raised a brow at the pterosaur-like being with the familiar hourglass symbol. "Ben? What form is this?"

The alien hero smirked. "Astrodactyl."

Wasp chuckled. "A bit on the nose, but I like it."

"It is good to see you, Ben," regarded Thor. He turned to Wasp. "And you said it would take too long."

"Yeah, I was hard not to notice-" Astrodactyl gestured to the sky. "-the black hole, the massive storm, and all that." He shrugged. "At this point, I see the spontaneous storms and lightning as the Thor signal."

Thor chuckled. "I'm flattered."

Wasp blinked. "That's not a bad idea."

Astrodactyl chuckled. "Thanks. I'm thinking of more for the others. So, what happened here?"

"We were patrolling when we encountered suspicious vagrants." Thor turned Janet. "What was this deal we interrupted? Something about weapons?"

"Yeah, big ones. From what Iron Man told me, these AIM science geeks specialize in making some pretty crazy stuff. You were right about it being a black hole launcher." Wasp, still catching her breath, smiled at Ben. "They tried to trap us, but Thor managed to disrupt it with a powerful lightning strike. We're lucky to be in one piece."

Astrodactyl's eyes widened. "Man, AIM doesn't hold back. Glad you two are okay."

Wasp smirked and started following a smoke trail. "Come on! The three of us shouldn't have any trouble at their base."

Astrodactyl flared his thrusters alongside Thor. "I'm down for that."

Stark Tower

Tony and Hank had moved into the Iron Man armory so that the former could work on his armor, and Hank had taken that moment to broach the topic he was discussing earlier.

"We're not judging you. We're just saying that you need to learn how to connect with people," Hank tried to insist.

"How is that not judging," Tony asked skeptically.

"Because I've been down this road before," Hank retorted solemnly.

"Alright, enough! You've been glaring at me for weeks ever since the Breakout. This isn't about Sanford. This is about Ultron," Tony finally snapped as he stood up to throw his glare at Hank.

"It's part of a bigger problem you have. Ultron was just another example," Hank argued. "Five years ago, you asked me to help you change the world. Your tech with my ideas for mapping a human mind onto a machine."

Tony had to turn away in shame at that memory. "I know what I did, Hank." He was getting close to shouting at the size changer.

"Making weapons was not what I agreed to!" Hank growled. "Were you even going to tell me you were shopping Ultron around to the military?"

"Fine. I should have told you before talking to them. I was wrong. I'm a different person now!"

Hank huffed in skepticism. "Right. You say you've changed, and maybe you're not making weapons anymore, but you're still only thinking about yourself." The man turned away. "You said yourself that you didn't trust SHIELD for being secretive. I thought the same when I saw what was happening to the inmates."

"Hank, if you know what's good for you, you'll shut up right now," Tony growled.

"With your lack of transparency, maybe Iron Man and SHIELD are a good fit."

Elsewhere

The sleek, black limousine glided smoothly through the city streets, its tinted windows obscuring the tense scene. Simon Williams sat across from his brother, Eric, the tension palpable in the confined space. The plush leather seats and the soft hum of the engine did little to ease Simon's nerves as he fidgeted. Eric, leaning back, studied his younger brother with a calculating gaze.

The first wore red aviators, boots, and a leather jacket over a black turtleneck and slacks. Simon Williams sighed. "Thanks for meeting up with me, Eric."

The other man sat in the shadows in front of him. "Well, that's what brothers are for. What can I do for the favorite son."

"That's not..." Simon slumped in his seat.

"Drink?" Eric asked, already pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

Simon shook his head, declining the offer. He knew he needed to stay clear-headed for this conversation.

Eric raised an eyebrow but didn't push, settling into his leather seat.

"I need some money," Simon blurted out, unable to find a more tactful way to broach the subject. He saw the glint of amusement in Eric's eyes.

"Straight to the point, as always," Eric said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

"You and Dad were right. The acting scene in Hollywood didn't work out. I'm in deep debt, and occasional gigs can't keep me afloat. I'm on my last legs."

"Why not ask Father? He's always been more generous with you."

"I don't want to ask Dad for money. I won't! I need help, Eric."

Simon stiffened, the mention of their father striking a nerve. "You know why, Eric. I can't... I just can't go to him for this. He wasn't fair to you."

'Perhaps they were right.' "Well, what are brothers for?" Eric Williams, aka Grim Reaper, smirked. "Gotta say, I'm surprised to hear from you after all these years since you cut off from the family like I did."

"After what the news stations said about me, I figured you didn't want to associate with people like me. You were always mother's favorite, loving you while I was born bad." He huffed. "Father always had a heavy hand."

"Eric… I know we didn't always see eye to eye growing up. That's why I left. I didn't want to be that kind of man."

Eric's expression softened, but it was a façade. "Alright, Simon, how much do you need?"

Taking a deep breath, Simon forced himself to maintain eye contact. "Twenty thousand. My business—it's on the brink. One good investment and I can turn it around. I just need a little help to get there."

Eric's eyes narrowed. "Twenty grand is a lot of money, little brother. And you want it with no strings? You must think highly of my generosity."

Simon clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. "I'm not asking for charity, Eric."

Eric leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So what's in it for me?"

Simon bristled at the implication. "I'll pay you back, with interest, if you want. This isn't a handout, Eric. Just a loan."

Eric chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent chills down Simon's spine. "Of course, it's a loan. But I don't need the money, Simon. What I need is... loyalty."

A long silence stretched between them, filled only by the hum of the car and the distant sounds of the city outside.

"What kind?"

Finally, Eric leaned back again, a sly smile curving his lips. "Don't worry. It's nothing personal. I do know people who can help you."

The limo pulled into a warehouse, and Grim Reaper led Simon down an elevator. "These people have a lot of funds, but it won't be for free. You'll have to do something for us."

Simon's heart sank. He knew what Eric was asking. "I don't know," Simon said in uncertainty.

"Trust me. You're in good hands," the Grim Reaper said as they approached a large room with AIM scientists working on various equipment.

"Welcome." A voice said, getting Simon to look to his left.

"GUH!" Simon yelled out, seeing the… man in front of him.

The being had a big head, small arms and legs, brown eyes and hair, and he moved around in a floating chair.

"To AIM."

Meanwhile

Canada

The helicopter's rotors sliced through the crisp Canadian air, carrying two passengers over the vast, untamed wilderness below. Inside, a young soldier sat nervously across from another man, his features obscured by the shadows cast by his brown Stetson hat. The soldier glanced repeatedly at the imposing figure, finally gathering the courage to speak.

"Sir, I-I know I'm not supposed to ask questions... but who are you?" His voice wavered with unease.

The man lifted his head slightly, revealing piercing eyes beneath the brim of his hat. "No one you wanna know, kid," he replied, his tone gruff and dismissive.

Minutes later, the helicopter descended over a small town, smoke curling up from several buildings. As the chopper touched down, the scene of devastation became clear: emergency services swarmed the area, fires still being extinguished.

The stranger stepped out, revealing brown leather boots, blue jeans, a black leather jacket over a yellow undershirt, and a brown duffle bag slung over his shoulder. Logan took in the scene with a critical eye, his face stern. "Looks like someone had a bad day," he muttered.

Nearby, an officer spoke into their radio. "Copy. About 95% of the population has been accounted for."

A general in a green uniform approached Logan, motioning for him to walk. The two made their way through the chaotic streets. "It happened about 4 hours ago, just before noon," the general began. "A creature was sighted crossing the US-Canadian border. This is what happened when it reached civilization."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Creature?"

The general nodded. "The Americans call it the Wendigo. Intel is sketchy. Department H thinks the US military is covering up their major breakout earlier this month."

Logan sniffed the air, his keen senses picking up more than just smoke. In his mind's eye, he saw a monstrous figure roaring and attacking a car. "He smells unnatural. Gunpowder, too." He moved a piece of rubble, uncovering a sign that read, "Welcome to Elkford," among a pile of spent bullet casings. "Well... someone tried to fight back."

The general continued, "The survivors reported that a group of individuals followed the creature into their town, where they confronted it. When asked about their descriptions, the townsfolk were too scared and focused on the creature to care and ran for their lives. The monster and the gunmen came and went like a storm."

Logan surveyed the damage. "Not as many casualties as I expected."

"We were told that a young man intervened and did what he could to evacuate the people to safety. Damn, good job if you ask me."

Logan's eyes narrowed. "Any word from him about the attack?"

The general shook his head. "The people said that as soon as he got everyone to safety, he set out to chase them down."

Logan smirked. "Ballsy son of a bitch."

The general's expression turned serious. "Department H wants you to find these possible mercenaries and stop the Wendigo before he reaches another town or city. And if you can't stop it, kill it!"

Logan's smirk widened into a grin. "Sounds like fun."

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Astrodactyl

Species: Pturbosaurian

Home World: Terradino

Powers and Abilities:

Astrodactyl can fly with his 'jetpack,' and his retractable wings prove stability for this ability. He can create a propulsion blast from his jetpack using internalized star power to enhance his flight. Astrodactyl's star power can be used to create different weapons, the most common being energy whips. Astrodactyl can use his star power to fire an energy beam from his mouth. Astrodactyl possesses enhanced strength, strong enough to carry and lift a Cerebrocrustacean with his prehensile feet. Astrodactyl can survive in the vacuum of space.

Chapter Text

AIM Compound - Lower Floor

The large head grinned. "I have been told of your financial struggles, Simon. We alleviate them for a price."

Simon steeled himself. "Yeah. Eric mentioned that. What kind of price?"

"You will participate in our experiment in exchange for a hefty sum. We can remake you, Simon Williams, into something powerful," MODOC declared.

Simon glanced between his brother and MODOC, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief. "That is more than I was expecting. Also, you said something. Are you saying that I won't be human anymore?

MODOC's lips curled into a thin smile. "Human? Why would you want to be human when you can be more?"

"For one, I'd like to have my career options open. Becoming a monstrosity like the Hulk or the Thing would be very limiting."

"MODOC," Eric interrupted, drawing the creature's attention.

"Yes, humanity is relative," MODOC continued, undeterred. "You will retain everything that makes you Simon Williams." MODOC rolled his eyes. "I can assure you that you won't become a brute. We aim for precise control of superhuman powers, not a blunt hammer."

"Superpowers." Simon nodded. "Okay. I can work with that." So long as he didn't commit crimes, he could still be a celebrity, right? Maybe have his superhero brand, like Iron Man. "So, what kind of powers are we working with?"

"I am pleased to hear your cooperation. We will use zeta beams to imbue your living matter with ionic energy. You will become a wonder of science. The power at your disposal will be incalculable."

"So, I'll be able to shoot lasers from my hands or something?"

MODOC paused. "Yes, you will." 'And so much more,' he thought.

Simon shrugged. "I guess I'm in."

"A good choice," MODOC said, motioning to the drones. "Prep him."

The scientists took Simon, cleaned him, put him in a containment suit, and placed him in a box before MODOC turned the beam on. The mechanical drones swarmed around Simon, their precise, automated movements preparing him for the radical procedure.

As they worked, MODOC turned to Eric, his tone deceptively casual. "You do understand that no one has actually survived this process, correct?"

Eric's response was a sardonic huff accompanied by a smile. "That's life."

With a dismissive wave, Eric turned his attention to a group of AIM scientists laboring over a strange blue cube. "Strucker wants an update on the weapon he's paying you to create."

MODOC glided between Eric and the enigmatic cube, his expression stern. "HYDRA may be eager to take over the world, but they need the science of the Advanced Idea Mechanics to do it. When there is an update, I'll inform Baron Strucker personally."

Eric shrugged, his interest waning. "Let me know if my brother survives," he said as he left the ominous chamber behind.

Outside, Eric slipped into the backseat of his sleek, waiting limo. As the vehicle pulled from the facility, an AIM ship, billowing smoke from recent damage, descended toward the base.

AIM Compound - Upper Floor

The roof to the AIM base rumbled open, revealing a smoking AIM ship descending into the hidden lair. The acrid smell of burnt electronics filled the air as the ship touched down, its landing gear struggling under the weight of the damage it had sustained.

"What happened?!" an AIM scientist demanded, rushing to the figures who emerged from the jet, their faces smudged with soot and their uniforms torn.

"We were in the middle of the Maggia sale when two Avengers burst in!" one of the agents panted, his eyes wide with lingering fear. "Thor and Wasp chased us, but we managed to shake them..."

The first scientist's eyes widened in panic. "The Avengers were chasing you, and you came here?! What were you thinking?"

A small voice chirped from his shoulder. "Yeah, you guys. What were you thinking?"

The scientist froze, his eyes slowly turning to see Wasp, in her diminutive form, perched casually on his shoulder. "Hi," she greeted with a sweet smile before blasting him with a bio-electric sting that sent him sprawling to the ground, unconscious.

The two AIM agents turned to run, but they didn't get far. Wasp flitted off the downed scientist's shoulder, growing to full size as she landed before the fleeing men. Her hands crackled with bio-electric energy, and with swift, precise movements, she released twin stings that struck one in the back. The agent convulsed as the energy coursed through his body, then collapsed to the ground, knocked out cold.

The last of the three ran without looking, crashing into the chest of a Norse god and knocking himself out.

"Looks like the welcoming committee is a bit understaffed," Wasp quipped, brushing her hands off.

Thor smiled at her. "Well done, Wasp."

Astrodactyl landed next to the ship. "Yeah, not bad."

Wasp smirked. "I know."

"We gotta move before more of AIM's lackeys arrive."

Wasp nodded. "Let's try to keep it quiet for now."

The Alien hero kept at a steady hover. "We don't want to rattle the nest too much and make them scatter to escape."

Thor chuckled. "And I shall be there to shepherd the flock."

With that, the three Avengers moved deeper into the base.

#

Two aim scientists place Simon Williams in a metal sarcophagus-like chamber. Slowly, the chamber cover began to lower over him.

Above, a spherical device lowered itself from the ceiling within a yard of the chamber. Its surface was adorned with glowing circuits, pulsating as it aligned directly above Simon.

An AIM scientist reached for a lever. With a final glance at the readouts on his monitor, he pulled the lever down, activating the procedure with an ominous click.

The chamber filled with a low, throbbing hum as the zeta beams powered up. Simon's breath quickened, his eyes darting around the confined space. Suddenly, brilliant beams of purple light burst from the spherical device, enveloping him in a dazzling display of energy. The ionic energy surged through his body, every cell igniting excruciatingly.

"ARGH!" Simon's scream pierced the air, raw and primal. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced, a searing agony that seemed to tear at his very essence. He writhed within the chamber, muscles spasming uncontrollably as the ionic energy coursed through him, reshaping his living matter on a molecular level.

Outside, the scientists watched with clinical detachment, monitoring the data as Simon's transformation progressed. The purple light within the chamber intensified, casting eerie shadows across their faces. Simon's screams continued.

Seconds felt like hours as the procedure dragged on, the relentless energy waves assaulting Simon's senses. His vision blurred, his world dissolving into a haze of light.

Meanwhile

Thor, Astrodactyl, and Wasp stood before the reinforced wall of the AIM testing lab. With a roar, Thor swung Mjolnir, now crackling with electrified energy, and shattered the wall, sending debris flying. They entered the room in a cloud of dust and sparks.

Inside, they found a vast lab filled with strange devices and the eerie hum of machinery. In the center, Simon Williams was strapped to a table, writhing under the effect of a purple Ionic Zeta Beam. Standing nearby was MODOC, flanked by three AIM scientists, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.

Wasp pointed directly at MODOC. "Okay, stop. What is that?"

Thor blinked, trying to make sense of the grotesque figure before them. "'Tis some kind of... of... That is a very big head."

Astrodactyl tilted his head, studying MODOC's disproportionate form. "Its limbs are like toothpicks compared to his head."

"I am MODOC! I am the ultimate human-machine interface! I am designed only for conquest!" the creature proclaimed, his voice filled with mechanical malice. "Mental Organism Designed Only for Conquest!"

"Whatever you say, freakshow," Wasp retorted, crossing her arms under her chest.

MODOC's face twisted in rage. "BE SILENT!"

Thor laughed, shaking his head. "It looks like a Frost Giant's head on an infant's body."

Astrodactyl chuckled. "It's like someone used a shriveled-up Mr. Potatohead."

MODOC snarled, raising a glowing appendage. "RAH!" A beam of energy shot from his headpiece, striking Thor in the chest and sending him hurtling out of the hole they had just made.

"THOR!" Wasp and Astrodactyl shouted as the Asgardian flew backward. They dodged another beam aimed at them, darting with agility and speed through the lab.

Thor's arm emerged from the wreckage, and Mjolnir charged with lightning. With a fierce battle cry, he sent a shockwave that knocked the three approaching AIM scientists away, their bodies tumbling through the air like ragdolls.

Wasp and Astrodactyl executed evasive maneuvers, peppering MODOC with energy blasts. Their attacks were swift, a coordinated dance around the enraged creature. In the chaos, MODOC's beam crossed streams with the one radiating over Simon, causing a massive buildup of Ionic Energy. The purple beam fizzled out before a surge of energy flooded Simon's chamber below.

Astrodactyl glanced at the chamber, his eyes widening. "Uh, what were you guys working on?"

"Whatever it is, I think you broke it," Wasp said, her voice tinged with concern.

As the smoke cleared, the testing chamber lay in ruins. In the center stood Simon, his body now composed entirely of purple energy, his eyes glowing red, and his hair gone.

"He survived!" MODOC exclaimed in surprise. "The mental bolt must have changed the algorithm."

Thor got back on his feet, shaking off the debris. "Another villain?"

Wasp shrugged. "Probably. You want to hit him, or do you want me to?"

Astrodactyl raised a hand. "How about we wait for him to make the first move?"

Simon wavered, his hands on his knees as he struggled to regain his bearings. "What... What happened? Where am I? Who am I?"

MODOC's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Incredible! I have created a being of pure ionic energy! I am science. I am genius!" His gloating was cut short as Mjolnir smashed into his face, sending him sprawling backward.

Wasp and Astrodactyl slowly floated down to the man composed of purple energy, their movements cautious as they approached him. Simon grabbed at his head, his expression pained and confused as he looked at them. "Who- Who are you?"

Astrodactyl held up his hands in a calming gesture. "Woah. Take it easy, man."

Wasp nodded, her voice gentle. "Let's all just stay calm. What's your name?"

Simon struggled to concentrate, his chest rising and falling as if he needed to breathe despite his new form. "I... My name? My name is..." Suddenly, a green mystical haze enveloped his eyes, and his tone went flat. "I am but a tool for a greater purpose." His arms shot up, and with a surge of power, he fired a massive beam at his would-be rescuers.

Astrodactyl and Wasp narrowly dodged the attack, their eyes widening in shock. They turned around to see the beam had vaporized several layers of steel and concrete, creating a gaping hole that opened up to the surface above.

Astrodactyl looked back at Wasp, his expression serious. "Yeah, I think it's time we called for backup."

Wasp nodded, her eyes fixed on Simon, who stood rigid, the green haze still glowing in his eyes. "Agreed. We need to contain him before he causes any more damage."

Stark Tower

Tony Stark was fastening the final piece of his Iron Man suit. The armor clicked into place. He turned to face Hank Pym, a mix of exasperation in his eyes. "What else am I supposed to do, Hank? Tell me."

Hank Pym stood across from him, his stance rigid with frustration. "Try being an actual team player. Stop being so ego-centric."

Tony's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "Have you not seen the Avengers Mansion facility I provided us?" His tone was defensive, bordering on accusatory.

Hank's jaw tightened. "That's being a sponsor, Tony. We save the world together or not at all."

Before Tony could respond, both their Avengers Cards began to vibrate and emit a soft, insistent beeping. Tony glanced at his card, then at Hank, his expression closing off. "We're done with this conversation."

As Tony turned away, Hank shook his head, a resolute look in his eyes. "This isn't over, Tony." The words hung in the air as the two heroes prepared to face the latest crisis, their unresolved conflict simmering beneath the surface.

Avengers Mansion

The Garden of Avengers Mansion was personally designed by Tony's mother. The Koi Pond, in particular, was nestled amidst vibrant flowers and towering trees and was a sanctuary where even Hulk could find a moment of peace. Hulk knelt by the water's edge, his immense form casting a shadow over the pond. He watched the colorful koi fish swim lazily.

Hulk breathed softly and leaned closer, his reflection becoming sharper in the still water.

From the ripples emerged Bruce Banner's face, looking up at him with a soft, understanding expression. "We needed this, didn't we?" Bruce's voice echoed in Hulk's mind, familiar yet distant.

Hulk huffed in agreement, gruff but softer than usual. "Quiet. No fighting."

Bruce's reflection nodded. "I'm glad you appreciate these moments too. You may like proving yourself to be the strongest, but even that can get tiring."

Hulk grunted, his massive hands gently stirring the water. The koi fish darted away, then slowly returned, curious about the giant who disturbed their world. "Hard sometimes."

"I know," Bruce said, his reflection rippling as a breeze stirred the pond. "But that's the life we live." Banner paused. "What Ben mentioned before at The Cube, do you think we can ever see Betty again? Do you want to?"

Hulk's green eyes softened as he gazed at Bruce. "Yes." His eyes narrowed. "But not with Ross in the way."

"Yeah, I figured," Bruce's reflection replied. "Do you think the Avengers can pull some strings for us?"

The giant was quiet. "Hulk can hope." Hulk sends another ripple through the water. The koi fish swam closer, seemingly unafraid now. Hulk sighed, blending with the gentle rustling of the leaves around them. "Will ask."

The sudden buzz of his Avengers Membership Card shattered the serenity. Hulk's brow furrowed as he reached into his tattered shorts and pulled out the card.

"Emergency alert," the card's display flashed in bold red.

Hulk growled softly, his relaxation interrupted. He tapped the card's screen with a massive finger, and a map of the city was displayed with a beacon at the target location.

He glanced back at the pond, where Bruce's reflection had vanished, replaced by his hulking visage. The koi fish scattered, sensing the shift in his mood.

His movement caused the ground to tremble slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to hold onto a sliver of the calm he had felt moments ago.

"Will be back, Banner," Hulk muttered, slipping the card back into his pocket.

AIM Compound - Upper Floor

Wasp hovered in the air, her hands crackling with energy as she fired her electrical stingers at Simon. Astrodactyl joined in, unleashing his powerful energy breath. The combined force pushed Simon back, but his new form remained mostly unharmed. His eyes glowed with an intense green haze as he floated upward, retaliating with blasts of ionic energy.

Wasp and Astrodactyl dodged with agile aerial maneuvers, their movements precise and coordinated. Just then, MODOC rose from the ground, his eyes gleaming with twisted pride. "This man is a wonder of science! He is not something so easily taken down by energy-based attacks."

Thor advanced, Mjolnir glowing with magical lightning. He swung the empowered hammer at Simon, who crossed his arms to block the blow. The sheer force pushed Simon's legs several inches into the floor, cracking the concrete beneath him.

With a yell of rage, Simon tackled Thor, both crashing into the next room. They traded blow, and Thor's magical lightning seemed to have an effect, sizzling against Simon's ionic form. Simon retaliated with an uppercut, but Thor caught the next punch and headbutted him.

Simon unleashed eye lasers, but Thor blocked them with Mjolnir, the beams reflecting harmlessly off the enchanted weapon. Simon roared, his body surging with power. He launched himself at Thor with blinding speed, throwing a punch.

Thor blocked with Mjolnir, and the impact sent shockwaves through the room.

Simon followed up with an arm swipe.

Thor parried and swung Mjolnir in a wide arc, releasing a bolt of lightning that struck Simon square in the chest, momentarily stunning him.

Recovering quickly, Simon retaliated with an energy blast from his hands.

Thor barely had time to brace as the blast hit him, sending him skidding across the floor. With a grimace, Thor rose, the aura of lightning around him intensifying.

Simon flew upward, his eyes glowing. He unleashed twin beams from his eyes, cutting through the air.

Thor raised Mjolnir, deflecting the beams with the enchanted hammer, and the reflected energy scorched the walls around them.

Thor closed the distance between them with a mighty leap, swinging Mjolnir in a devastating overhead strike.

Simon crossed his arms to block, but unlike last time, the force drove him into the ground, creating a crater beneath his feet. Enraged, Simon surged upward, tackling Thor and smashing him through several walls and into the city streets.

Immediately, civilians ran for safety.

Thor's lightning seared Simon's ionic form and caused him to falter.

Simon roared, delivering an uppercut that sent Thor sprawling. As Thor rose, Simon followed with a barrage of energy blasts from his hands.

Thor gritted his teeth, enduring the onslaught, then summoned a massive lightning bolt from the sky. The bolt struck Mjolnir and then arced toward Simon, enveloping him in a blinding surge.

Simon screamed, the lightning coursing through his body. He stood still, his form flickering as if caught between two states.

Thor saw the opening and charged, swinging Mjolnir with all his might. The hammer connected with Simon's midsection, sending him crashing through the streets.

Simon struggled to his feet, shaking off the debris. "You cannot stop me!"

Thor landed before him. "We can and we will."

Meanwhile

AIM soldiers swarmed to confront the intruders. MODOC, hovering above, directed his forces.

Astrodactyl and Wasp exchanged a quick glance.

Wasp shot into the air, her tiny form darting around. She unleashed her electrical stingers, hitting several AIM soldiers in the face, causing them to convulse and drop their weapons. "I got this side!"

Astrodactyl nodded, "And I got the others." He took a deep breath and unleashed an energy blast from his mouth. The beam tore through a group of soldiers, sending them flying across the lab. He spread his wings wide and took to the air, swooping down to knock over more AIM agents with his talons.

MODOC sneered. Whatever energy that strange creature used was unfamiliar to him. His scanners noted that it was foreign. "Curious..."

Meanwhile, AIM soldiers regrouped and began firing their energy rifles at Astrodactyl. He dodged and weaved through the air, returning fire. Explosions rocked the lab as the soldiers fell one by one.

Moving from the grunts, Astrodactyl fired an energy blast at MODOC, but the villain activated a force field, deflecting the attack. "I was designed for conquest!" MODOC roared, retaliating with a barrage of energy beams from his headpiece.

Astrodactyl twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the beams. "The hell is that supposed to mean anyways!"

In the corner of his vision, a rocket whistled through the air and exploded, sending Astrodactyl crashing into a nearby room. As he moved the rubble off himself, the Omnitrix beeped.

Azmus voiced concern. "I don't know why, but I'm detecting a large concentration of extra-dimensional cosmic energy nearby."

Turning his head, Astrodactyl saw a glowing blue cube suspended in a strange glass container. "What the hell is that?!"

Canada

The small plane buzzed low over the vast expanse of the Canadian wilderness, its shadow skimming across the snow-covered treetops. Clad in his rugged leather gear, Wolverine peered out of the small window, his keen eyes scanning the landscape below. The pilot's voice crackled through the headset.

"Sir, I think we got something," the pilot called out, pointing to a swath of forest where trees lay splintered and toppled.

Wolverine leaned closer to the window, eyes narrowing as he saw the signs of heavy destruction. Entire trees were ripped from the ground, and a dark scar marred the pristine white of the snow.

"Do you want us to try for a landing?" the pilot asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Don't bother," Wolverine replied, his voice a low growl.

He stood up, sliding his mask over his face, and moved to the plane's rear. The pilot opened the door, cold wind whipping through the cabin. Without hesitation, Wolverine leaped out, the wind roaring in his ears as he plummeted towards the earth.

Adjusting his body mid-air, Wolverine aimed for the side of a snowy mountain. He hit the slope with a thud, the impact jarring but manageable. Claws extended, he dug into the snow and rock, using the momentum to slide down the mountainside. Snow sprayed around him as he deftly navigated the descent, finally coming to a halt near the base.

Rising to his feet, Wolverine sniffed the air, catching a familiar scent mixed with something foul and unnatural. He followed it to an impact crater, where the snow had been blasted away to reveal the dark earth beneath. Kneeling, he inhaled deeply, the scent of the Wendigo unmistakable.

He took off into the trees without wasting another moment, moving with a predator's grace and speed. Branches snapped underfoot, and the cold air stung his face, but he pressed on, following the scent trail through the dense forest.

Reaching the edge of a cliff, he paused, scanning the expanse below. A frozen lake spread out beneath him, bordered by more forest. Far below, he could see a waterfall cascading down, its roar faint but distinct.

Descending the cliffside with practiced ease, Wolverine reached the waterfall's base. He knelt by the stream, cupping his hands to drink the icy water. As he drank, a grey wolf emerged from the trees, approaching the stream cautiously. The wolf eyed Wolverine but sensed no threat, joining him for a drink before slipping back into the forest's shadows.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the trees. Wolverine's head snapped up, ears pricking at the sound. Rising to his feet, he followed the noise, weaving through the trees with relentless determination.

He found the tracks in the snow, massive footprints leading deeper into the wilderness. Wolverine crouched, examining the prints closely. The Wendigo was close.

#

As Wolverine began closing in on the Wendigo, he picked up another scent ahead. It was... oddly familiar. Frowning, he stayed low, minimizing the crunch of the snow beneath his feet as he crept toward the possible threat.

Drawing closer past a thick brush, he spotted a broad man leaning against a tree. Strands of blonde hair stuck out from his hood, and he was scanning the forest intently. It would seem this man was also after the Wendigo. If the General was anything to go by, it might have been the civilian from town trying to be a hero.

Moving silently, Wolverine sneaked up behind the man. However, he didn't expect the stranger to whirl around with lightning speed, grapple him, and slam him into the snow. The man was stronger than Wolverine anticipated.

With a snarl, Wolverine forced himself out of the grapple and pinned the man to the tree, extending a claw to keep him in place.

"What the hell was that for? Who are you?!" Wolverine growled.

The blonde man's eyes widened at the sight of Wolverine's face. "James?" He didn't expect to meet a familiar face after all these years. Had he been frozen as well?

Wolverine narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening. "Who the fuck is James?"

The man hesitated, shock etched across his features. "It's me, Steve. Steve Rogers."

Wolverine's scowl deepened as he tried to piece together the fragments of his past. The name stirred something, but it was like grasping at smoke. "Steve...?" He studied the man's face, recognition dawning slowly but obscured by the fog of lost memories.

"Yeah, it's me," Steve confirmed, his voice softer now, though the tension between them remained. "After all we've been through, don't tell me you forgot your Captain."

Wolverine didn't answer but kept his claws up.

Steve faltered. "James, what happened to you?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 23: Second Chances

Tony blasted off from the basement, leaving Hank behind in a cloud of dust. His suit's systems were buzzing with activity, directing him toward the source of the alert. Within a minute, he spotted a massive blue lightning bolt striking across town, carving a massive hole into an office building.

"Okay... Someone certainly hates the nine-to-five," Tony quipped, his voice masking the seriousness of the situation.

His sensors detected an unusual energy reading as he scanned the ruined office. "What the hell? That can't be right," he muttered. His eyes locked onto the figure of Simon, now transformed into a being of pure energy, sprawled against a pile of broken office desks.

Iron Man cautiously approached the recovering energy humanoid. Before Tony could react, Simon sprang to his feet, gripping the billionaire by his armor with his bare hands. "Another insect to my queen," Simon growled.

"Who?" Tony managed to ask, but Simon didn't answer. Instead, he began to tear off Tony's armor like tissue paper. The sheer force of Simon's blows made Tony cry out in pain as pieces of his suit were ripped away.

Simon's strength was overwhelming. He slammed Tony's head through several concrete walls, each impact causing Tony to see stars. Fortunately, his helmet absorbed some shock, but the suit barely held together. Simon then slammed Tony against a plastic trout hanging on the office wall before chucking him through the window.

Tony plummeted to the streets below, crashing into the pavement. Every part of his body ached, and he struggled to move, his suit's systems flickering.

As Simon was about to follow, a massive shadow loomed over him. He looked up just in time to see a green giant in shorts—Hulk. Simon barely had time to react before Hulk's massive fist connected with his face, sending him backward.

"Gwaaargh!" Simon's vision blacked out momentarily as he crashed into the opposite side of the office.

Hulk turned his attention to Tony, who was trying to get back on his feet. "Okay?"

Tony managed a weak smile; his helmet cracked but still functional. "I've had better days, but I've also had worse."

Hulk nodded, then turned back to Simon. "You ruin Hulk's day, Hulk smash you!"

Simon roared. "Defiance shall be punished!"

Hulk's response was a thunderous roar of his own as he charged.

"Thank god for insurance." Tony, watching from below, activated his emergency repair systems. "Avengers: Assemble"

AIM Laboratory 5

Turning his head, Astrodactyl locked eyes with a glowing blue cube suspended in a strange glass container. "What the hell is that?!"

"I'm not sure," answered Azmuth. "It appears stable. Try and remove it from the casing." Meanwhile, a beam of green light washed over a nearby terminal. Azmuth sifted through files while also leaving a few surprises of his own.

Without hesitation, Astrodactyl smashed the glass case and picked up the cube.

"Real gentle," Azmuth rolled his eyes. The Omnitrix began to scan the object. "It's some sort of Containment Unit. Extra-dimensional energy from somewhere seems to flow into it."

"Is that bad?"

Azmuth hummed thoughtfully. "This level of technology is up there with the Naljians."

"Definitely bad," Ben replied, his voice tinged with concern.

As the scan continued, a sudden arc of anomalous energy from the cube struck the Omnitrix. Ben yelped in surprise and dropped the cube, which seemed dimmer than before. "Is the Omnitrix okay, Azmuth?"

Azmuth's voice was stunned. "There haven't been any changes to the core systems, but it seemed to accelerate the scan. You could say that it uploaded something into the database."

Ben blinked in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not sure. I can't even make heads or tails of it yet. The complexity of the information is greater than I expected." Azmuth's tone suggested they had stumbled into something far beyond their understanding.

As Astrodactyl bent down to grab the cube again, an alarm echoed through the facility. The cube seemed to react, teleporting out of the room in a flash of light.

"Well, crap," groaned Ben, watching as the cube disappeared. "That can't be good."

Azmuth's voice was grave. "Indeed."

AIM Laboratory 1

"You're a disgrace to real scientists!" Wasp shouted as she darted towards MODOC, aiming a kick at his oversized head.

"Agh!" MODOC grunted as her kick connected, sending him into a nearby wall.

AIM soldiers flooded into the room, firing their weapons. Wasp expertly weaved between the laser fire, her tiny form darting and dodging easily. "So, tell me the truth. Your boss, he freaks you out, right?" she asked, firing off her stingers at the soldiers. Each shot found its mark, and the downed soldiers groaned in pain. "I mean, look at him! Why would somebody do that?"

MODOC picked himself up, his eyes glaring with rage. "Not that it is of any concern to you, but my creation was not voluntary."

Suddenly, Astrodactyl flew into the room, and a green flash engulfed him. In his place stood a humanoid made of extremely durable stone and crystal. The impact of his landing generated a shockwave, sending the AIM soldiers stumbling. His body was overall indigo, with several dark lines and spots. His hands and face were magenta, and he also sported six magenta shards on his back, two on his chest, and one on the top of his head that resembled a horn. His face had a mouth and one large green eye at the center.

Laser fire from the soldiers simply absorbed into his body, making him glow like a rainbow. With a raised hand, Chromastone fired twice the energy, knocking out half the AIM soldiers in a single blast.

Chromastone then grabbed hold of MODOC, lifting him effortlessly. "Who's the purple guy? Did you do sick and twisted experiments on him too?"

MODOC struggled in his grasp, his mechanical limbs flailing. "Simon Williams consented to the experiment in exchange for monetary compensation. His current mental state was not anticipated."

Chromastone frowned, the name ringing a bell. "Seriously?" He paused, thinking. "Wait. Is he related to—"

MODOC's thrusters activated, slipping him out of Chromastone's grasp. "And you! The alarms indicated that you made contact with our unfinished project."

"That cube thing?" Chromastone glared. "How did clowns like you get your hands on something like that anyway? Do you know what kind of power you're playing with?!"

"You dared to lay a hand on our Cosmic Cube and question our intelligence?!" MODOC seethed. "That cube shall be my magnum opus, far away from prying eyes like yourself!"

Wasp ducked another attack before blasting an AIM soldier. "Uh, Ben, what are you guys talking about?"

Chromastone kicked away an AIM soldier who was charging at him. "I'll tell you later."

"Silence! Get out of my laboratory!" MODOC then fired the thrusters on his chair to their maximum, slamming Chromastone through the wall of the AIM headquarters and into the side of the building that housed it. "My mental rays will tear your mind apart!"

When Chromastone saw red streaks of light headed his way, he paid no mind, believing he could absorb them like the others. He was sorely mistaken; on contact, he felt like throwing up. It was like the worst hangover multiplied by ten, with church bells around him. The hero fell to his knees, clutching his head. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" While Chromastone was highly resistant to typical energy projections, psychic attacks differed entirely. He started banging his head against the floor. "FUCK!" BANG "YOU!" BANG "Psychic Damage!"

"No mind is a match for MODOC," the AIM leader smirked.

"Yeah? Well, the moon is no match for your head!" A shrunken Wasp sneaked up behind MODOC and fired stingers into the gem on his forehead.

With MODOC's concentration broken, Chromastone managed to stand back up. "You are so paying for that!" Chromastone placed both hands to his side and began charging up an attack. Any remaining laser fire from AIM soldiers who fired on him only added to his power. With a shout, Chromastone unleashed a prismatic beam at MODOC, sending him back into the lab.

MODOC crashed into a bank of computers, sparks flying everywhere. He struggled to rise, his systems malfunctioning. MODOC was barely floating, his chair sparking and sputtering. "Substantial damage sustained. Defeat is unacceptable! Begin self-preservation subroutine," MODOC commanded, typing furiously on his control panel. A second later, the entire complex went on lockdown, heavy metal doors slamming shut and locking the heroes out.

Chromastone pounded on the doors, leaving massive dents and minuscule holes, but his efforts were futile. Suddenly, the entire building began to shake violently. "Oh no..."

"The entire base..." Wasp began, eyes wide with realization.

"Is a ship," Chromastone finished in surprise as he saw the thrusters moving directly over them.

"Man, would Hank love that," Wasp commented with glee. Then, the thrusters began to start up. "Uh…this seems bad!"

Chromastone quickly flew to Wasp and pulled her into his chest. Not wasting any more time, he and Wasp blasted through the building, punching through several walls until they reached the city's open air. Inside, the AIM base's thrusters roared to life, propelling the entire structure upward and destroying the building as it did. Smoke filled the city blocks, obscuring visibility.

It took a minute or two for the air to clear, and by that time, the AIM base had rocketed away, leaving only a trail of smoke behind. Chromastone and Wasp landed on a rooftop a safe distance away. Chromastone gently set Wasp down, allowing her to catch her breath.

"Not that I'm ungrateful, but how does a crystally-rock alien fly?" Wasp asked, still slightly breathless.

Chromastone chuckled. "It's a long story. I'll tell you later."

Wasp shook her head in amusement. "We kinda lost the bad guys. Think the others will be upset?"

"A little bit, but I think they'll be happy to know about some malware I uploaded into one of their computers. If they connect to the wider net, we should be able to get something." He huffed. "I don't trust them with that Cube."

Wasp chuckled. "Alright, some good news then. So, how do you think the others are handling that weird purple guy?"

Barely a second after she asked that question, their Avengers ID cards began beeping, indicating that someone was calling the team into action. Wasp pulled hers out, seeing its alarm flashing.

Chromastone sighed. "Not great."

Wasp tapped her ID card, bringing up the emergency alert. "Looks like Hank is in trouble. We need to regroup with the others."

"Right. Before we go, let me make a call. I think I have a lead."

Meanwhile

Simon fired beams of ionic energy from his eyes. The blasts struck Hulk, pushing him back but failing to penetrate his thick skin.

Hulk roared and charged forward. With a speed that belied his size, Hulk closed the distance and swung a massive fist at Simon. The blow connected, sending Simon crashing through a row of abandoned cars. The vehicles crumpled like tin cans under the impact.

Simon quickly recovered, hovering back into the air. He sneered, his voice echoing with an otherworldly timbre. "I am beyond human!"

Hulk leaped into the air, bringing both fists down in a hammer strike. Simon met him halfway, intercepting the blow with a barrier of ionic energy. The collision unleashed a shockwave that shattered windows and sent debris flying.

The two were locked in a stalemate, raw strength against raw energy for a moment. Then, with a surge of power, Simon pushed Hulk back, sending him skidding across the asphalt.

Hulk dug his feet in, leaving deep gouges in the road as he came to a stop.

Simon unleashed another barrage of energy blasts.

Hulk shielded himself with his massive forearms, gritting his teeth against the onslaught. With a growl, he pushed through the pain and charged again, dodging to avoid the blasts. He reached Simon in a heartbeat, grabbing him by the torso and slamming him into the ground.

The impact created a crater, and Hulk didn't let up. He pummeled Simon with relentless blows, each one shaking the surrounding buildings.

But Simon wasn't done yet. He gathered his energy and released a pulse of ionic force, throwing Hulk off him and into the side of a nearby skyscraper.

Hulk recovered quickly, shaking off the debris, and charged once more. Simon rose from the crater, his form glowing brighter with accumulated energy. The two met in a titanic clash, exchanging blows that could level entire buildings.

Simon delivered a powerful uppercut that lifted Hulk off his feet. Hulk retaliated with a thunderous clap of his hands, the shockwave disorienting Simon. Taking advantage, Hulk grabbed Simon by the leg and swung him around, smashing him into the ground repeatedly before tossing him back into the building. Before Hulk could advance further, a shrunken Hank flew in front of the green giant. "Hold on, Hulk. I just got a call from Ben and Janet. I know this guy, kinda.

Hulk looked back at their battle damage and raised a skeptical brow.

Hank slacked. "I know. I know. The others might have a plan, but we must restrain or keep him calm. Hulk could hear Thor land close by.

Simon seemed haggard, reeled back from the last attack.

Hank flew closer to the man before returning to normal size. "Simon, please calm down. I know your father. I can't even imagine how you ended up as ionic energy."

The green haze around Simon's head flickered but remained. "S-Shut up!"

He charged at Hank, tackling him and crashing through the window. Simon first crashed into the pavement below, while Hank turned into Giant-Man to break his fall.

However, being slammed into concrete and up against a titan-sized Hank Pym doesn't deter Simon.

Hank held up a hand to the others to stay back. "Please, stay down, Simon. We want to help you." Hank used his massive hand to pin him down.

Simon struggled and forced Hank's giant hand off him. To top things off, Simon's body grew to outmatch Giant-Man's. "You're able to expand the ionic energy? That's amazing!" Hank's pupils shrunk as he took a sucker punch, sending him into a building.

"Should we do something?" asked Thor.

Hulk shrugged.

Iron Man waved a hand. "Eh. He can take a bit more."

Hank caught Simon's fist before it could meet his face again. Hank tries to pin him, but Simon grows even bigger to break free, throwing Hank over his shoulder onto some more buildings. "A little help, please!"

The trio stared up at the enemy, now twice the size of Giant-Man. "Okay, now we intervene."

Behind Iron Man, a large pod landed, opening to reveal a large suit.

Hulk glared at the rather familiar design. "You mad the Hulkbusters?!"

Tony paused, looking back at his heavy-duty suit and Hulk. "I know it looks bad, but I swear it's not what you think."

#

As Ant-Man approached, Simon turned and fired a beam of ionic energy at him. Hank shrank just in time, the blast passing harmlessly over his head. He grew back to his normal size, leaping onto a nearby car and using it as a springboard to launch himself at Simon. Ant-Man aimed a punch at Simon's midsection.

Simon caught his fist effortlessly, his grip like iron. He flung Ant-Man aside, sending him skidding across the pavement. Hank grunted, trying to right himself as Hulk charged in, delivering a powerful punch to Simon's leg. The impact knocked Simon off balance, and he staggered.

Thor seized the opportunity, flying in and striking Simon's back with Mjolnir. The blow sent a lightning surge through Simon, causing him to roar in pain. Hank quickly righted himself, using his suit to shrink down and avoid a follow-up blast from Simon. He darted forward, weaving through Simon's attacks with agility and precision. Growing to full size, he delivered a powerful kick to Simon's chest, pushing him back a few steps.

Hulk followed up with a mighty uppercut, his fists connecting with Simon's jaw. Simon reeled from the blow, and Thor conjured lightning, blasting Simon with a powerful bolt that crackled and sizzled around him. Ant-Man took advantage of the distraction, growing to giant size and bringing a massive fist down on Simon.

Simon caught the punch again, but this time, the sheer force of the blow drove him into the ground, creating a small crater. Hank didn't let up, using his size to his advantage and pummeling Simon with a barrage of giant punches.

With a surge of energy, Simon pushed back, sending Ant-Man stumbling. He flew into the air, firing down a concentrated beam of ionic energy. Hank dodged, shrinking to avoid the blast and growing again to deliver another powerful strike. Simon countered with a punch of his own, the impact sending shockwaves through the surrounding buildings. Hank rolled with the blow, using his momentum to flip over Simon and land behind him.

Hulk seized the moment, grabbing Simon by the neck and pulling him to the ground. Simon struggled, his ionic energy flaring wildly, but Hulk's grip was unyielding. Thor landed beside them, placing Mjolnir on Simon's chest.

"Stay down," Thor commanded, his voice thunderous.

Simon thrashed beneath Mjolnir's enchantment. His strength was immense but not enough to lift the enchanted hammer. The ionic energy around him cracked and sparked, but with Hulk holding him down and Thor's hammer restraining him, his resistance waned.

A beam of light shone directly down on Simon.

Now armed with his Hulkbuster Armor, Tony covered Simon in a forcefield emanating from the giant gauntlet. "That should keep him from phasing out."

Hank, returning to normal size, stood beside his teammates. "Think that'll hold him?"

Thor nodded. "It will. For now."

Simon glared up at them, his eyes glowing with anger and confusion.

"You're not yourself, Simon," Ant-Man said, his tone firm but empathetic. "We're here to help you."

Simon continued to struggle, but the fight was leaving him, slowly shrinking to human size.

Chromastone Arrives

"Alright, we're here," called a voice.

Alongside Wasp, Chromastone soared through the sky, carrying Stanford Williams gently but swiftly toward the street.

As they landed nearby, Stanford's eyes widened in shock and horror. "My God, Simon... what have they done to you?" he whispered, barely able to believe his eyes.

Chromastone set Stanford down gently. "You need to talk to him, Mr. Williams. He's not completely gone. Your voice might reach him."

"Mr. Williams?" Iron Man turned to Chromastone. "Why did you bring him here?!"

Chromastone and Wasp pointed ahead. "That."

Stanford's feet felt weighted as he walked toward the being the Avengers called his son. The energy flickered around Simon, unstable and erratic. "Simon. Son, is that you?"

Simon's eyes flickered with recognition, the green haze of mind control dimming slightly. "Dad?" he muttered, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.

Stanford nodded, swallowing hard. He approached his son cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. "Simon... it's me. What... What happened to you?" Shock filled Stanford's chest.

"Y-You were right, Dad. I just wanted to pursue my dreams, but I failed." Simon ached. "To pay off my massive debts, I went to Eric. They promised payment..."

"Eric?!" Stanford faltered at the mention of his estranged son. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you!"

"Not because you cared! You never cared about my dreams. All you cared about was the family business."

Sanford had wanted Simon to learn the business. "Your future would have been secured."

"But would I have been happy? You weren't the greatest father, but I tried to see things your way. But no matter what I did, you still weren't satisfied. I even learned chess for us."

Sanford was a hard and stern father to both of his sons, never satisfied with their achievements, and even prone to physically punishing them. "What I did to you was wrong!" Sanford offered only a frown at Simon's A-minus result in math. "I never meant to..."

"I couldn't bear admitting you were right about me. I was a failure." Tears welled up in Simon's eyes as he struggled to sit up. "You pushed me away. You made me feel like I was never good enough."

Stanford's eyes filled with regret. "I know, Simon. I know I failed you. I was so focused on my business and legacy that I didn't see what was right in front of me. I didn't see you."

Simon's expression twisted with pain and anger. "You were never there for me, Dad. All you cared about was your company. You never supported my dreams, my acting career."

Stanford reached out, placing a trembling hand on Simon's shoulder. "I'm sorry, son. I'm so sorry. I should have supported you and encouraged you. I should have been the father you needed."

Simon shook his head, the energy around him fluctuating. "It's too late, Dad. Look at me. Look at what I've become."

"It's not too late, Simon," Stanford insisted. "We can still fix this. We can find a way to help you. Let me make it up to you. Let me be the father you deserve."

Simon's eyes softened, the anger giving way to sorrow. "I... I wanted you to be proud of me."

"I am proud of you, Simon," Stanford said, his voice breaking. "I always have been, even if I never showed it. You're my son, and nothing will ever change that."

The mind control over Simon continued to wane, the green haze dissipating completely. He reached out and embraced his father, the energy around him stabilizing. "I... I don't know what to do, Dad. I'm scared."

"We'll figure it out together," Stanford promised, holding his son tightly. "We'll get through this. You're not alone anymore."

Suddenly, Simon cried, doubling over as his body flickered with unstable ionic energy. Sparks flew from him, his form convulsing and destabilizing.

Ant-Man saw bursts of ionic energy coming from Simon's form. "Something's not right."

"Warning: Energy flux detected," JARVIS warned. Simon's body began to lose its humanoid shape, becoming more like wisps of smoke being lost to the wind.

"Simon...Oh, no. Simon, your energy! It's destabilizing!" Stanford warned. "Whatever you did to become this, it's tearing you apart!"

At the same time, Simon's body continued to lose its shape.

"Simon's ionic field is unstable; I think he's going into critical," Tony explained. "Hank, we've got to save him."

"I-I don't know if we can. Look at the ions; he's too far—"

"We have to do something! We can't just let him die!" urged Wasp.

"Okay. We need something to contain the energy, to stabilize it."

"Got it." Iron Man affirmed. Looking over his shoulder back to Stark Tower, he immediately took hold of Simon's destabilizing form, busting down the wall into his tower's basement to the Arc reactor.

Simon's arm completely lost its form, becoming nothing but wisping energy from a stub at the end of his arm. "Wait. What's... What's happening to me?" The continued loss of ionic energy from Simon's body caused his body to lose the ability to stand.

"Simon, listen," Tony urged, leaving no room for arguments. "The Arc reactor can absorb your energy. It can keep you alive!"

The others arrived in tow.

"Listen to him, Simon," Stanford insisted. "If you don't let us help, you'll—"

"Help me get him into the reactor!" Tony called out.

"Come on, Son. Hold it together. We'll figure out a way to save you."

Simon's body flickered more violently, beams of energy shooting out uncontrollably.

"He's not gonna make it!" Stanford shouted, panic in his voice. "Do something, please!"

Chromastone made a split-second decision. "I have an idea, but it's risky. Trust me." He positioned himself before Simon, energy resonating with the unstable ionic waves.

"What are you doing?" Stanford asked, his voice filled with urgency.

"Something drastic," Chromastone replied. He reached out, his crystalline hand glowing intensely. He placed his hand on Simon's chest, focusing all his energy. He began absorbing Simon's ionic essence, drawing it into his body.

Simon cried out in pain and fear, but Chromastone didn't waver. He concentrated fiercely, using his Crystalsapien abilities to carve Simon's mind and body into the molecular lattice of his backup crystal.

Stanford watched in shock, his heart in his throat. "Please... please let this work."

Chromastone's body glowed brightly, and his energy shifted and stabilized as he absorbed more of Simon's essence. This was a delicate process, and any mistake could mean the end for Simon.

Finally, with a surge of power, Chromastone absorbed the last of Simon's ionic form. The glow around him intensified briefly before slowly fading, leaving only a soft, steady energy pulse within his crystalline structure.

Stanford rushed forward, his eyes wide with hope and fear. "Simon? Can you hear me?"

Chromastone nodded, his voice calm but strained. "He's in here. I can feel him. He's safe... for now."

Tony let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "We need to get you both to the labs immediately. We can work on a more permanent solution there."

Stanford kept his hand on Chromastone's shoulder, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you. Thank you for saving my son."

Chromastone gave a small, reassuring smile. "We'll get him back, Mr. Williams. I promise."

Meanwhile

Amora the Enchantress stood in her lair, thick with the scent of exotic herbs and the glow of enchanted candles. Her frustration was palpable as she paced back and forth, her emerald eyes flashing with anger. The loss of Simon Williams was a significant setback.

"Damn those Avengers," she muttered, her voice dripping with venom. "Simon was supposed to be my tool to keep them occupied while Loki carried out our plan." At first, she wanted to have a test drive of the new lackey, but she got carried away.

She stopped before a large, ornate mirror, its surface rippling like water. With a flick of her wrist, the mirror showed images of the recent battle, highlighting the moment Simon was freed from her control and absorbed into Chromastone's crystal form. Her delicate fingers clenched into fists.

"I need more allies," she declared, echoing in the chamber. "Thor and his team must be kept distracted at all costs."

Omnitrix DNA Entry:

Name: Chromastone

Species: Crystalsapien

Home World: Petropia

Powers and Abilities:

Chromastone can produce rainbow-colored energy from inside his body. He can then expel it out as powerful beams from either his hands, the shards on his body, or his eye, but only to a limited extent, as he will eventually run out of energy until he absorbs more. Chromastone also has dynakinesis, allowing him to control the direction of his energy with extreme precision. Chromastone can also use its energy to corrupt and manipulate external energy sources. Chromastone can allow nearly any kind of energy, including lasers, electricity, mana, and any type of electromagnetic radiation, from ultraviolet light to cosmic rays, to collect within or phase through his body without harm; which he can then convert into his rainbow energy. Absorbing external energy will supercharge Chromastone's beams, making them more powerful depending on what was absorbed. Chromastone can redirect energy attacks instead of absorbing them. In addition to being immune to electricity, Chromastone can conduct it back at the attacker. Chromastone is capable of instant levitation and flight. Chromastone can survive in the vacuum of space. Due to him being made of super dense silicon-based crystals, Chromastone is immune to possession from a Xenocite. Chromastone has the power to generate focused gamma rays and prismatic explosions.

Chapter Text

Steve's eyes widened at the sight of Wolverine's face. "James?" He didn't expect to meet a familiar face after all these years. Had he been frozen as well?

Wolverine narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening. "Who the fuck is James?"

The man hesitated, shock etched across his features. "It's me, Steve. Steve Rogers."

Wolverine's scowl deepened as he tried to piece together the fragments of his past. The name stirred something, but it was like grasping at smoke. "Steve...?" He studied the man's face, recognition dawning slowly but obscured by the fog of lost memories.

"Yeah, it's me," Steve confirmed, his voice softer now, though the tension between them remained. "After all we've been through, don't tell me you forgot your Captain."

Wolverine didn't answer but kept his claws up.

Steve faltered. "James, what happened to you?"

"I ain't James," Wolverine snapped. "I go by Logan."

Steve's brow furrowed in confusion. "Logan, you know me. I was your squad Captain. I'm Captain America."

Wolverine shook his head. "Captain America? That can't be right. Everything I read said Captain America was dead."

Steve took a step closer, his eyes pleading. "We fought together in World War II, remember? We took down those Hydra bases and battled the Red Skull... You were always different from the rest of the squad, but not like me, not a super soldier. You were always willing to put yourself on the front line and take a bullet. It's like you knew you would be fine. I respected your privacy and waited for you to share your secrets."

Wolverine's eyes flickered with uncertainty, his resolve wavering. Fleeting memories of a past life, of battles fought and comrades lost, swirled in the back of his mind. But he shook his head, pushing the thoughts away. "I don't remember any of that. Besides, you're way too young to be a World War Two Vet."

Steve seemed to make a strange face. "Yeah... About that... I know this sounds weird, but I've been frozen in ice for over 60 years, and I just defrosted this month.

Wolverine raised a skeptical brow. "Right..."

Steve's expression softened. "James, Logan, whoever you think you are now, you're still the same man. The same fighter. Something must've happened to you."

Wolverine growled, frustration evident in his voice. "I ain't James, and even if I was, I ain't your soldier anymore." He paused, changing the subject. "What are you doing here, Steve? Why are you chasing the Wendigo?"

"It's my duty to protect the innocent, no matter what country I'm in," Steve replied firmly. "I was there when it attacked the town. I won't allow any more of that to happen.

"Well, the Wendigo is my target, and my target alone," Wolverine insisted. "I don't play well with others."

Steve huffed, a hint of a smile on his lips. "You used to act like that during the war, too, but you always came around. The squad wore you down eventually."

Rolling his eyes, Wolverine sighed. "You're gonna be a problem whether I like it or not. Fine. We'll work together. But don't expect any team-building exercises, got it?"

Steve chuckled. "Fine by me."

#

Wolverine and Steve crept through the wilderness, the snow crunching softly beneath their feet. The dense forest around them was silent, save for the faint whisper of the wind. Wolverine led the way, his keen senses locked onto the scent of the Wendigo.

As they moved, Wolverine broke the silence. "So, what happened with the Wendigo in town?"

Steve's expression darkened slightly. "I tried to protect the civilians. It was chaotic. Suddenly, four armed people showed up and started shooting and attacking the beast."

Wolverine's brow furrowed. "Four? You remember what they looked like?"

Steve nodded, his mind replaying the scene. "The first was a man in a tan and black bodysuit with fur accents. The second was a woman with razor-sharp fingernails. The third was a man dressed in red, with whips coming from his wrists. The last one was covered in a red and black full-body suit."

Wolverine groaned, shaking his head. "Did the red and black one talk your head off?"

Steve nodded, a hint of a wry smile on his lips. "Nonstop."

Wolverine sighed deeply. "Great. Deadpool. Just what we need." He glanced at Steve, his expression serious. "Be on the lookout. We aren't the only ones hunting the Wendigo. And we need to get to it first.

#

They approached a cliffside, peering over the edge. There, nestled in a patch of snow by a large rock, lay the Wendigo. The creature was bloodied and curled up, seemingly taking a nap. Its massive, hulking form was still intimidating even in repose.

Wolverine tensed, ready to launch himself at the beast. But just as he was about to move, Steve grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back.

"Wait," Steve whispered, his voice calm but firm. He reached into his knapsack and pulled out his iconic shield, the star and stripes gleaming in the dim light.

For a moment, Wolverine stared at the shield, an inkling of neurons firing in his brain. A fading image of a man in blue bashing an enemy soldier flashed in his mind. But he dismissed the thoughts, focusing back on the present.

Steve met his eyes, understanding and determination in his gaze. "We need to play this smart. If we charge in, it could escape or hurt more people. Let's cover the possible escape routes."

Wolverine nodded, albeit grudgingly. He knew Steve was right, even if his instincts screamed for immediate action. "Fine. You take the left. I'll take the right."

Steve nodded, his grip tightening on his shield. "Alright. On my signal."

They moved into position, silently flanking the sleeping Wendigo. Steve crouched behind a fallen log, his shield ready. Wolverine positioned himself on the opposite side, his claws extended and his senses on high alert.

Steve raised his hand, signaling Wolverine to get ready. They shared a brief nod, understanding passing between them. Steve then brought his hand down sharply.

Logan's eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a feral snarl. His claws extended with a familiar "snikt" as they emerged from his knuckles.

They moved in perfect synchrony. Steve hurled his shield, the vibranium disc slicing through the air and striking the Wendigo's head. The creature jolted awake, roaring in pain and fury.

As the Wendigo scrambled to its feet, Wolverine leaped from his hiding spot, claws gleaming, drawing the beast's attention.

Steve followed suit, charging in with his shield raised. The Wendigo turned at the arrival, but it was too late. Wolverine and Steve had it cornered, cutting off its escape routes. "Here it comes!" Steve shouted, bracing himself.

The Wendigo swung a massive claw at Logan, who ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a swipe.

Wolverine countered with a slash of his own, his adamantium claws cutting through the Wendigo's fur and flesh. The creature howled in pain and fury.

Captain America flanked the Wendigo. He hurled his shield, striking the beast in the shoulder and causing it to stagger. The shield ricocheted back into his hand as he sprinted forward, aiming a powerful punch at the creature's midsection.

One well-placed hit sent Logan sprawling into the snow, but he quickly scrambled to his feet, his healing factor already working to mend the damage.

With a roar, the Wendigo lunged again, but this time Logan was ready. He sidestepped the charge, slashing at the creature's side as it barreled past him.

Steve saw an opening and threw his shield again, aiming for the Wendigo's head. The shield struck true, dazing the monster.

The Wendigo stumbled, blood staining the snow beneath it. In a last-ditch attempt, the Wendigo swung its massive arms at Steve.

Steve raised his shield in time to take the blow. The sheer force of it launched Steve into the tree line.

Logan seized the opportunity, launching onto the creature's back and driving his claws deep into its neck. "Stay down, you ugly son of a—" he growled, but the Wendigo bucked wildly, trying to throw Wolverine off. Logan held on tight, his claws digging deeper into the beast's flesh. The Wendigo thrashed violently, desperate to dislodge its attacker. Logan's muscles strained against the beast's powerful movements, every sinew taut as he fought to maintain his grip.

With a final, desperate roar, the Wendigo swung its massive arm back, managing to claw at Wolverine's side. Pain shot through Logan's body, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to let go. Suddenly, the sharp sting of multiple tranquilizer darts pierced their skin. Both combatants faltered, the potent tranquilizers working quickly to subdue them.

Wolverine and the Wendigo started to fall to the ground, their bodies heavy and unresponsive. Logan's vision began to fade, the edges of his sight blurring into darkness. Before he blacked out, he saw the figures of Sabretooth, Deadpool, Omega Red, and Lady Deathstrike emerging from the shadows. Wolverine struggled to stay conscious, his eyes narrowing at the sight of his old enemies.

Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike moved in swiftly, beginning to restrain the Wendigo. Sabretooth glanced at Wolverine with a sinister grin. "Thanks, runt. We've been trying to take him down for weeks," he said, satisfaction evident.

Deadpool, ever the showman, waved enthusiastically at Wolverine. "Logan, buddy! It's me, Deadpool! I shot you!" he exclaimed, his tone a mix of mockery and glee. As the last vestiges of consciousness slipped away, Wolverine could only glare at Deadpool, the irony of the situation not lost on him.

#

The Weapon-X team had finished tranquilizing the Wendigo and Wolverine. Sabretooth sniffed the air, his feral senses picking up something unusual. He crouched down, examining additional footprints in the snow. "There was someone else here," he growled, "Someone with the Wendigo and Wolverine."

Deadpool, leaning casually against a tree, dismissed it with a wave. "Probably another one of the Wendigo's victims that tried to run away. No big deal," he said casually.

As if on cue, the sound of rotor blades slicing through the air grew louder. A helicopter descended through the canopy, sending snow and leaves swirling. Omega Red began securing the Wendigo in the cargo hold, his tentacles coiling around the beast to ensure it was firmly in place.

Lady Deathstrike, her expression unreadable, knelt beside the unconscious Wolverine. She gently caressed his face with her adamantium claws, a dark promise in her eyes. "We've completed both objectives," she said to the others. "We have both the Wendigo and Wolverine. We shall waste no more time and return to base."

Standing up, she glanced down at Wolverine one last time, her lips curling into a cold smile. "I will have fun with him yet," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the helicopter's roar.

Sabretooth's eyes lingered on the distant treeline. Suspicion was etched into his features. But after a moment, he turned away and relented, joining the others as they began loading into the helicopter. The aircraft lifted off, leaving the serene wilderness behind.

As the helicopter flew away, a certain blonde man stood hidden among the trees, following its trajectory with keen eyes. He didn't think about it at first, but it started to click. He had met one of them in the Italian Alps. He grumbled under his breath, his expression one of frustration and concern. "Dammit, James. What have you gotten into?" he muttered before disappearing into the forest shadows, determined to follow.

Years Ago

The bar door swung open, spilling light onto the snowy street as James staggered out, clutching a nearly empty bottle of vodka. He downed the last of it, tossing the bottle aside and watching it shatter against the icy pavement. The night was cold, but the alcohol coursing through his veins kept him warm. He stumbled towards his car, his footsteps crunching in the fresh snow.

A bald man in glasses and a heavy coat followed James, his presence unnoticed in the haze of drunkenness. As James fumbled for his keys, he turned around, bleary eyes locking onto the man.

"What do you want?" James slurred, his voice thick with alcohol.

Before he could react, two soldiers appeared from behind him. One of them swiftly struck James with the butt of his rifle, sending him crumpling to the ground.

"Prepare the lab. We are on our way."

Unconscious, James was lifted and carried into a waiting black van, its doors slamming shut.

#

"His vital signs are increasing. He's waking up."

James awoke to the sensation of cold liquid enveloping his body. He was submerged in a test tank, tubes and wires attached to his shaved head and body, monitoring his vital signs. Panic surged through him as he realized where he was. His heart rate spiked, and he struggled against the restraints.

"Now, Mrs. Hynes, begin the adamantium bonding process."

"Yes, professor."

"Commencing infusion," a voice crackled through the intercom. Clad in a lab coat, the scientist watched with clinical detachment as the adamantium bonding process began.

Liquid metal coursed through James' veins, causing his body to convulse in excruciating pain. Blood seeped from his pores as the adamantium fused with his skeleton, bone spikes erupting from his body in a grotesque display.

"Vitals are erratic but holding," another scientist reported.

"Excellent! Increase to the maximum."

Adjusting the settings, the infusion was pushed to maximum, amplifying James' agony. His screams echoed through the laboratory, the sound muffled by the thick glass of the tank.

#

James was locked in a cell, chained to the floor. His body still suffered from the brutal experiment, too weak to break free. He lay on the cold concrete, his breaths ragged and shallow. Pain wracked his body as his bones contorted, adamantium claws slowly and painfully extending from his knuckles. He roared in pain and frustration, reverberating off the cell walls.

#

Amid a raging snowstorm, James stood in the wilderness, with infrared headgear strapped to his head. The scientists monitored his readings from a nearby control center, their faces illuminated by the glow of their screens. He faced a massive brown bear, its breath visible in the frigid air as it rose on its hind legs, towering over him.

"Initiating mental conditioning and reprogramming," one of the scientists announced. "Begin combat assessment."

James' mind was a fog, but instinct took over. His claws extended with a metallic snikt, and he lunged at the bear.

#

Sabretooth leaned against a railing, his eyes scanning the row of fetuses growing in tanks, each marked with a letter and number. The eerie, dim light cast long shadows across the room, making the scene even more unsettling. "I don't care how long you had him, Professor; this is a mistake. I know him. He can't be controlled. You have his DNA, so just let me kill him," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Professor Truett Hudson raised a flashlight at their new member, who was restrained nearby. "I'll take that under advisement, Sabretooth. Prepare your team for the mission," he said, his tone dismissive.

Sabretooth crossed his arms, his expression one of disdain. "Your funeral," he muttered before walking out of the room.

As he left, the newly named Logan turned his gaze to a tank labeled X-23, seeing a reflection of himself in a gray uniform. The sight stirred something deep within him, a mix of confusion and anger.

#

In the hangar, Deadpool, clad in a gray and black uniform, pulled a gun off the racks. "What do you say after the mission we kill all those floating babies?" he suggested with a twisted grin.

Omega Red groaned in annoyance. "Do you ever shut up, Wilson?"

Deadpool shrugged nonchalantly. "What? Babies creep me out." He aimed the rifle playfully. "Rock a bye, bamm!"

#

Logan was once more submerged in a tank for testing, the cold water surrounding him as he struggled against his restraints. Bubbles rose rapidly as he thrashed, fighting against the programming.

A scientist typed away frantically on a computer. "He's fighting the programming," she warned.

From behind safety glass, Professor Truett Hudson gritted his teeth. "We are losing control! Increase the dosage! Initiate lockdown procedures, and someone activate Sabretooth!"

Logan punched against the tank's glass, his adamantium claws cutting through it like butter. Water began to leak out, and with a final, mighty push, Logan shattered the tank, breaking free. Soaked and enraged, he slashed at an assistant, cutting him down before throwing another into the safety glass and cracking it.

Professor Truett Hudson backed away in fear. "Guards! Guards!" he shouted.

A feral Logan broke through the safety glass, sending Professor Truett Hudson to the floor. He extended his claws, advancing menacingly.

Professor Truett Hudson struggled to his feet as two soldiers burst through the door, guns at the ready. Hudson scrambled to the corner, but Logan was relentless. With a swift motion, he severed Hudson's right hand, causing the Professor to scream in pain as he gripped his bleeding stump.

The soldiers opened fire, but Logan was too quick. He lunged at them, stabbing both in the chest before they could react. With a feral snarl, he tore his way through the facility, leaving a trail of blood and broken bodies in his wake.

#

Logan finally burst through the last door of the facility and into the wilderness. The cold air hit him, but it was a welcome relief from the sterile confines of the lab. He paused momentarily, taking in his surroundings, before sprinting into the forest, finally free from his captors and the torment.

#

Sabretooth grinned as he repeatedly punched an unconscious and bound Wolverine, the force of his blows shaking the metal frame. "Wakey-wakey time," he growled. Logan groaned, his vision slowly coming back. He was in a large, cold room, his arms and legs strapped to a wall, and he was only in his underwear. The cold air made his skin prickle.

Off to the side, Deadpool leaned against a wall, twirling a bullet between his fingers. "Logan. Buddy. We missed you. Weapon X just hasn't been the same without you. Nobody calls me 'bub' anymore. And Omega Red's a bed wetter."

The door opened, and two figures entered the room. One was Professor Truett Hudson, his right arm now a mechanical three-pronged claw. The other was Omega Red.

"One day, I will tear out your flippant tongue, Wilson," Omega Red growled in his thick Russian accent.

"He's very ashamed," Deadpool whispered to Logan, his eyes wide with mock sympathy.

"Despite Deadpool's idiocy, Weapon X is indeed pleased to have you back, Logan," Professor Truett Hudson said, approaching him. "We put considerable time and money into you."

"And pointy things!" Deadpool added, twirling the bullet before tossing it away.

"You were our best operative, Wolverine. So disappointing. But you did lead us to Homocervus. Of course, you know him better as... The Wendigo," the Professor said.

"I shot him in the ass. With one of these," Deadpool said with a laugh, holding up one of his darts.

Everyone looked at Deadpool with varying degrees of annoyance and confusion.

"What? I did," Deadpool retorted, shrugging.

Ignoring the lunatic, the Professor returned his attention to Logan. "Weapon X has been pursuing the Wendigo for weeks. Unfortunately, there was some... collateral damage. If only Department H had sent you in sooner, who knows how much destruction could have been avoided?"

"What do you want with the Wendigo?" Wolverine asked, his voice a low growl.

Deadpool twirled his gun and placed it back in its holster. "We just wanna see what makes it tick. We could use some new pets around here."

Deadpool gasped as Omega Red wrapped one of his tendrils around Deadpool's neck, hoisting him off the ground.

"We want the same thing we wanted with you, Logan: a weapon," the Professor said. "I'll reprogram him, just like I did you. And then Weapon X will have one of the most powerful creatures on the planet at our disposal."

Logan just stared at the Professor for several seconds before growling, "You should have killed me when you had the chance. Because I'm gonna get out of here. I'm gonna kill all of them. And then I'm gonna cut out your heart."

The Professor stepped back, intimidated by Logan's fury. "Wolverine, after I'm done with you... you won't even remember this conversation. I've erased your life before, and I'm gonna do it again." He turned to walk away. "All you'll know is that you belong to Weapon X. Now and forever."

Omega Red released Deadpool and followed the Professor out of the room.

On his knees, Deadpool rubbed his neck from the strain. "That was so not cool. I hate that guy." He narrowed his eyes at Logan and walked up to him. "Ah, Wolverine. You look so sad. Hey, if it makes you feel any better, Lady Deathstrike tried to kill you while you were asleep."

Logan glared at Deadpool. "Better than having to listen to you."

Deadpool unholstered his pistol. "Man, she hates you. I mean, we all hate you. But Deathstrike really, really, really hates you. Hey, still have that unbreakable skull?"

Logan smiled, blinking slowly.

Deadpool put his gun to Logan's forehead and pulled the trigger. As expected, the bullet ricocheted and hit Deadpool in the shoulder. "Ow, damn it!" he yelped, clutching his arm.

#

Steve Rogers had spent days tracking the helicopter's path, driven by his determination to find James. The journey took him deep into the mountains, where the air was thin, and the cold was biting. Eventually, he came across an imposing compound nestled among the peaks. It was a fortress, well hidden from prying eyes and protected by rugged terrain.

From his vantage point on a rocky outcrop, Steve observed the compound. Several armed guards patrolled the grounds with disciplined precision, their eyes scanning the area with practiced vigilance. Tall fences topped with razor wire surrounded the perimeter, and numerous cameras were mounted on the walls and fence posts, their lenses sweeping back and forth like mechanical sentinels. The setup reminded Steve of the surveillance equipment he had seen in shops when he first woke up in the modern world. Only these were far more sophisticated.

He pulled out a pair of binoculars, adjusting the focus to get a better look. The guards were well-equipped, carrying assault rifles and wearing body armor. They moved in coordinated patterns, covering each other's blind spots. Steve knew he would have to be careful. This wasn't a place he could just charge into without a plan.

Scanning the compound, he noticed several key features: a main gate heavily fortified and constantly watched, guard towers at strategic points, and a large central building that seemed to be the hub of activity. Smaller structures dotted the area, some appearing to be barracks or storage units. There were no obvious weak points, but Steve had faced worse odds before.

Steve shifted his gaze to the cameras again. They were positioned to cover every angle, making approaching nearly impossible without being seen. He needed to disable or avoid them to infiltrate the compound undetected. His mind raced, formulating a strategy. He would have to move quickly and silently, using the cover of night and the natural terrain to his advantage. Times may have changed, but the art of war stayed the same.

Taking a deep breath, Steve steeled himself. He would find a way in. He would find James. And he would bring him back.

Chapter Text

New York

Tony Stark and Hank Pym stood side by side in the lab at Stark Tower. Before them was a specially designed containment chamber built to safely house Simon Williams in his ionic energy form. The sleek, cylindrical chamber hummed softly.

Nearby, Stanford Williams watched with a mixture of hope and fear. His gaze was fixed on Chromastone, who stood before the chamber. Chromastone's hands were already gripping two of the chamber's nodes.

"This is it," Tony murmured, adjusting a final dial on the control panel. "You sure you're ready for this?"

Chromastone nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready. Let's do this."

Stanford moved closer.

Hank assured the father. "Simon is in good hands."

Chromastone closed his eyes, focusing his energy inward. He could feel Simon's essence within him, the ionic energy swirling like a storm within his crystalline structure. Carefully, he began to channel that energy, guiding it toward the nodes.

The containment chamber responded immediately, its systems coming to life with a soft hum. Stanford watched in awe as Chromastone's glow intensified, the light pulsing in time with the energy transfer. Slowly but surely, Simon's mind and energy body began to coalesce within the tube, the swirling energy taking on a more defined shape.

Inside the chamber, the ionic energy began to stabilize, gradually forming into the familiar silhouette of Simon Williams. His body flickered briefly, a sign of its immense strain, but the containment chamber held steady, absorbing the wild fluctuations and stabilizing his form.

Stanford held his breath as the process neared completion. Finally, with a final surge of energy, Simon's dormant form fully emerged within the chamber. The swirling energy settled, and Simon's body appeared to be in a state of suspended animation.

Chromastone exhaled deeply, releasing the nodes and stepping back. "He's… he's in there," Chromastone said. "He's safe."

Stanford rushed forward, placing his hands on the glass of the containment chamber. "Simon… You're going to be okay. We're going to figure this out."

Tony placed a reassuring hand on Stanford's shoulder. "We'll do everything we can to help him, Mr. Williams. Hank and I have already started working on ways to stabilize his condition permanently."

Hank nodded in agreement. "It'll take time, but we won't stop until we find a solution. Simon's in good hands here."

Stanford nodded, tears of relief welling up in his eyes. "Thank you… both of you."

Meanwhile, Azmuth observed the situation within the Omnitrix. He had been monitoring the energy transfer closely, and his expression was thoughtful.

Azmuth spoke. "This situation is delicate, but I believe Simon can be fully restored. I will offer my assistance in any way I can."

Chromastone heard Azmuth's words echo in his earpiece. "Thank you."

#

Thor, Hulk, and Ben sat around a large dining table, a spread of Earthly food laid out before them. The others decided to have different dinner plans. Thor, ever the jovial eater, tore into a roasted leg, while Hulk focused on an enormous bowl of steak, and Ben casually picked at his meal.

Ben finally broke the silence, pushing his plate aside. "You know," he began, glancing at Thor, "I couldn't help but notice something when we were dealing with Simon earlier."

Thor looked up, a brow raised as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "What is it, friend Ben?"

"There was this green haze," Ben said, leaning forward. "I've seen it before when we've faced off against the Enchantress. You think she had something to do with Simon losing control?"

Thor froze for a split second, just enough for both Ben and Hulk to notice. The Asgardian cleared his throat, trying to appear nonchalant. "I… cannot deny that I sensed a familiar magic during the battle. Amora's presence was… palpable."

Hulk grunted, pausing in his meal. "What's the deal with her anyway?

Ben nodded. "Yeah. It seems personal. What happened between you two?"

Thor sighed, setting down his food and resting his arms on the table. His expression was more somber than usual, a hint of regret in his eyes. "It is a long story, but one that deserves telling, I suppose."

The Asgardian warrior took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Before I was banished to Earth by my father, Odin, I was in a relationship with Sif. She is a fierce warrior and a loyal friend. Our bond was strong, forged in countless battles. But, as fate would have it when my father sent me to Midgard, my path diverged from hers."

He paused, recalling memories from another age. "Amora, the Enchantress, was smitten with me long before that. She is… complicated and full of desire and ambition. When she saw me with Sif, she became jealous, though she hid it well."

Ben listened intently, nodding along. "So what happened when you got to Earth?"

"While on Earth," Thor continued, "I met Jane Foster. She was unlike anyone I had known—a mortal, yes, but brave, intelligent, and kind. I was… smitten, as you say." A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "By the time I was allowed to return to Asgard, Sif and I parted on mutual terms. We knew our paths had changed, and my heart was with Jane."

Thor's face darkened slightly. "But when Amora learned of my split with Sif, she thought it was her chance. She believed I would choose her… When I told her of Jane, she was furious. Her love turned to hatred, and she has never forgiven me for choosing a mortal over her."

"Thor," Ben began, "do you hate Amora?"

Thor looked up, the question catching him off guard. He paused, considering his words carefully. Finally, he shook his head. "No, Ben, I do not hate her. Amora is… complex. She is indeed very beautiful, but I have learned that there is more to a woman than outward appearance. Beauty, while captivating, is not enough to make a person truly worthy."

Ben nodded, waiting for Thor to continue. The Asgardian prince sighed, running a hand through his long blond hair as he reflected on his past with Amora.

"There is good in her," Thor admitted with a hint of sadness. "But it is buried beneath layers of vanity and greed, traits that have twisted her heart. In many ways, she is as I was in my younger years—arrogant, reckless, and too blinded by her own desires to see the harm she causes."

He leaned back in his chair. "I can see in her the potential for something greater. Perhaps, in a few centuries from now, if she were able to change—if she could overcome her vanity and embrace the goodness within her—I might consider giving her a chance."

Thor's words hung in the air, filled with a mix of hope and melancholy. It was clear that he saw beyond Amora's flaws, recognizing the person she could become, even if she was far from it now.

Ben listened intently, respecting Thor's perspective. "You really believe she could change?"

Thor nodded slowly. "I do. People can change, Ben. It took time, humility, and pain, but I changed. If I can, so can she. But that choice must be hers and hers alone."

Ben let out a low whistle. "That's some heavy stuff, Thor. But, uh, there's something else I gotta ask. How long do Asgardians live?"

Thor looked at Ben. "We live for thousands of years. My father, Odin, is much older than I am, and still, he remains strong."

Ben and Hulk exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Ben spoke up again. "Thor, does Jane know that?"

Thor hesitated the weight of the question hanging in the air. "I… I have not mentioned it to her," he admitted. "It did not seem important in the beginning, but now…"

Ben leaned forward. "If you want any sort of long-term relationship with Jane, she needs to know. She's gonna grow old, Thor, while you're still in your prime. That's not something you can hide from her."

Thor looked down at the table, the truth of Ben's words sinking in. He had always known, deep down, that this conversation would come. But hearing it spoken aloud made it all the more real.

"I… I suppose you are right, Ben," Thor said, finally lifting his gaze to meet his friends. "She deserves to know the truth. I only hope… she can accept it."

Hulk, who had been quietly listening, placed a large hand on Thor's shoulder. "If she loves you, she will. Be honest." Lord knows what he would give to have the same conversation with Betty.

Thor nodded, the resolve returning to his eyes. "Thank you, my friends. Your counsel is wise. I will speak to Jane, and I will face whatever comes, as I always have—with courage and honor."

The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Then, Ben clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Alright, enough of the heavy stuff. Let's finish eating before Hulk clears the table!"

Wakanda

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the ceremonial grounds of Wakanda. The air was thick with tension as the people of Wakanda gathered in silence. The rhythmic beat of drums echoed in the distance, reverberating through the hearts of all who watched.

M'Baku, leader of the White Gorilla Tribe, stood at the center of the arena, his massive form towering above the others. His voice boomed across the grounds, filled with challenge and anticipation. "Face me! Come, Black Panther, and face the Man-Ape!"

Seated on the ornate throne was King T'Chaka Udaku, the current Black Panther. He was dressed in his traditional royal attire. By his side stood his family: Queen Ramonda; Princess Shuri; and Prince T'Challa, as he looked upon his father.

T'Chaka rose from his throne. One of the Dora Milaje stepped forward, silently removing the king's cape with a fluid motion, revealing the powerful physique of a seasoned warrior.

T'Challa stepped forward. "Father, please. Do not do this."

T'Chaka turned to his son. "It is the law, my son. This is how the kings of Wakanda have chosen to rule. This is how it was written, and we will respect it."

"But the White Gorilla tribe, they cannot claim what is ours," T'Challa argued.

The shaman, standing nearby, spoke in a voice that carried the weight of tradition. "M'Baku has made a challenge to the throne of Wakanda. It is your father's duty as king and Black Panther to meet it."

T'Challa's concern deepened. "Father, if you lose, you know what he will do to this country."

T'Chaka's eyes softened as he looked at his son. "And that is why I will not lose. Our family has protected Wakanda and its treasures for generations. The Black Panther's reign will not end on this day."

Before stepping into the arena, T'Chaka turned to his wife and daughter.

Ramonda met his gaze. "Do well, my love."

T'Chaka took her hand, pressing it to his lips. "I will, and if I don't, just know that I will always love you and our children."

Ramonda nodded, tears threatening to spill as they shared a tender kiss. T'Chaka then knelt before Shuri, who looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Baba, do you have to do this?" she asked.

T'Chaka's expression softened further as he placed a hand on her cheek. "I do, Shuri. Just like I told your brother, it is the law. That is the way it's always been."

Shuri couldn't hold back her tears as she hugged her father tightly. "I love you, baba."

T'Chaka hugged her back, his voice filled with warmth and pride. "I love you too, Shuri." He kissed the top of her head, lingering for just a moment before pulling away.

As T'Chaka descended the steps toward the arena, Ramonda held Shuri close, whispering words of comfort as the first drops of rain began to fall, quickly turning into a steady downpour.

Facing M'Baku, T'Chaka's voice carried through the rain. "Turn back, M'Baku. There is no shame."

M'Baku's eyes blazed with determination as he pounded his chest. "I have been waiting for this moment for years, T'Chaka. The White Gorilla tribe has been ignored for centuries. No longer!" With a thunderous roar, M'Baku charged at T'Chaka, his fists raised to strike.

But T'Chaka was ready. With the agility and grace that came from years of experience, he executed a flawless front flip, evading M'Baku's double-fisted attack and landing several feet away. M'Baku charged again, his powerful fists swinging in rapid succession—a left cross, a right cross, a strike to the head, another right cross, and a final downward strike. Each blow was dodged with precision, T'Chaka moving back with each attack.

The storm intensified as the thunder roared in the sky. T'Chaka seized the moment, leaping toward M'Baku and driving his knee into the Man-Ape's face. M'Baku roared in a fury, charging once more with a wild swing, but T'Chaka ducked under the blow and backflipped away, his movements swift and calculated.

T'Chaka then dashed toward M'Baku, targeting a vital spot under his arm with a precise strike. M'Baku grunted in pain as T'Chaka followed up with an uppercut to his stomach, followed by a right cross to his face. Without hesitation, T'Chaka leaped into the air, delivering a powerful kick to M'Baku's face with his left foot, spinning him around.

The final blow came as T'Chaka executed a roundhouse kick, followed by a spinning 180 kick that connected with M'Baku's face. The force of the impact sent the Man-Ape crashing to the ground, where he lay on his back, dazed.

"It was a mistake to come here, M'Baku. The White Gorilla tribe was exiled long ago. Your mere existence is forbidden. But still, I have respected you and your lands," T'Chaka declared. As he spoke, a small device emerged aimed directly at T'Chaka. "This is how you repay me?"

M'Baku's expression twisted into a dark smile. "No, Panther. This is."

Suddenly, a piercing screech erupted from the device, a sound so sharp and agonizing that only T'Chaka could hear it. He cried out in pain, his hands flying to his ears as he dropped to his knees, writhing under the assault. M'Baku seized the moment, rising to his feet with a victorious grin.

Ramonda and her children looked on in horroras they watched T'Chaka suffer. M'Baku's smile grew wider, savoring the sight of the mighty Black Panther brought low. He approached T'Chaka, who was still struggling to stand, and with a savage kick, sent him sprawling several feet away.

T'Chaka, weakened by the sonic attack, struggled to rise. M'Baku moved in with deliberate slowness, enjoying every second of his triumph. He delivered a crushing punch to T'Chaka's face, the force of the blow sending him sliding back across the wet ground. The impact knocked the Black Panther's mask off, shattering it as it hit the Earth.

"Father!" T'Challa's voice rang out, filled with desperation. He tried to rush forward, but one of the Dora Milaje grabbed his wrist, holding him back. "Let me go! We have to help him!"

The shaman stepped in front of T'Challa, blocking his path. "No. We cannot. This is the law."

In the arena, M'Baku roared in triumph, gripping T'Chaka's head with his massive hand and lifting him off the ground. The shaman's voice was solemn as he continued, "Your father respects it, and so must you."

T'Challa bowed his head, tears mixing with the rain that streamed down his face. He watched helplessly as M'Baku released his father, only to strike him again with a powerful right cross while he was still in the air. The blow sent T'Chaka crashing to the ground.

T'Chaka struggled to stand. His vision blurred as the sonic weapon's screeching noise began again, tearing through his mind. He fell to his knees.

M'Baku loomed over him. "So arrogant, T'Chaka. That is your downfall. I never wanted your respect. Can you hear me?" T'Chaka, barely conscious, looked up at M'Baku. "I wanted your hide."

With a final, devastating uppercut, M'Baku sent T'Chaka flying backward. Ramonda and Shuri screamed in anguish as they saw T'Chaka land heavily on his back. T'Challa, overcome with grief, could only watch as his father took his last, shuddering breath.

M'Baku roared in victory. "Bow to your new king! Bow to M'Baku, the Man-Ape!"

The people of Wakanda slowly knelt before him. The sight was too much for T'Challa, who felt a mix of sorrow and rage boiling within him. M'Baku's gaze met his, the conqueror's eyes filled with malice and satisfaction.

Unable to bear it any longer, T'Challa turned and ran, tears streaming down his face as he left behind his mother and sister, who watched him go with worried eyes. The rain continued to pour as if the very heavens wept for the fallen king.

Canada

Nightfall cloaked the mountains in darkness as Steve Rogers made his move. He had spent hours watching the guards' patrol patterns, noting the timings and gaps. With the cover of night, he knew this was his best chance to infiltrate the facility.

Steve approached the compound from the east, where the terrain was rougher and less patrolled. He used the natural cover of rocks and trees to avoid detection. The cold air stung his lungs, but he pushed the discomfort aside.

As he neared the perimeter, he spotted a section of the fence partially obscured by a dense thicket of trees. The cameras were positioned to cover most of the area, but there was a narrow blind spot where the foliage provided temporary cover. Steve waited for the camera to sweep past before darting forward, reaching the fence in a matter of seconds.

He used a survival knife to create an opening. The sound of the metal snapping was barely audible over the wind. Once he had a gap large enough to slip through, he paused to ensure no guards were nearby. Seeing the coast was clear, he squeezed through and pressed himself flat against the ground on the other side.

Steve crawled towards the nearest building, staying low to avoid the sweeping beams of light from the guard towers. He reached a shadowy corner and took a moment to assess his surroundings. The central building, which he had identified as the hub, was still some distance away, and he needed a way to get closer without triggering any alarms.

His eyes fell on a maintenance hatch near the base of the building he was hiding behind. It was small, likely for access to utility lines or ventilation shafts, but it could serve as an entry point. Steve pried it open and slipped inside, finding himself in a narrow crawlspace filled with pipes and wires. The air was damp and musty, but it provided a concealed path into the heart of the facility.

Navigating through the tight space, Steve moved carefully, listening for any signs of activity above. The crawlspace led him to an access panel inside the main building. He pushed it open slowly, peering out into an empty corridor. The fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting an eerie glow on the metal walls.

Steve exited the crawlspace and silently closed the panel behind him. He stuck to the shadows and avoided the main thoroughfares.

His footsteps barely made a sound on the cold, metallic floor. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic. The place was a maze of steel and concrete, designed to keep things in, not out.

As he rounded a corner, he spotted a pair of guards standing outside a door. They were armed, but they weren't expecting trouble. Moving quickly, Steve slipped into the shadows and approached from behind. He grabbed the first guard by the neck, applying just enough pressure to knock him out. The second guard barely had time to react before Steve's fist connected with his jaw, sending him crumpling to the floor.

Steve dragged their unconscious bodies into a nearby storage room, ensuring they wouldn't be discovered anytime soon. He then turned his attention to the door they had been guarding. It led to a small surveillance room filled with screens displaying live feeds from various parts of the facility. Steve's eyes scanned the monitors, taking in the array of rooms and corridors.

His gaze finally landed on a screen that showed a large room. There, suspended in a tube, was James. Just as Steve was about to leave the surveillance room, something else caught his eye.

In the corner of the wall of screens was a white room. The room itself was bare, save for a young girl in cuffs being led inside. The soldier grits his teeth. What were these monsters up to?

#

The young girl was woken up and led to another room by several guards as she was bound in restraints. The fluorescent lights above hummed quietly. Her expression was unreadable.

High above, behind reinforced glass, Professor Thorton observed the most promising specimen. He adjusted a dial on the control panel in front of him. His gaze remained fixed on the young girl below, scrutinizing her every movement.

"X-23, begin the test," he ordered.

With a loud hiss, a heavy door on the far side of the room slid open. From the darkness beyond, the sound of guttural growls and shuffling footsteps filled the air. The first creature emerged, its pale, monstrous form unmistakably reminiscent of the Wendigo. Its eyes glowed with a feral hunger as it snarled, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Behind it, more creatures followed, crowding into the chamber

X-23 remained still, her small hands clenched into fists at her sides. There was no fear in her eyes, only a cold, determined focus. She had been trained for this, conditioned to face whatever horror was thrown her way.

The creatures hesitated for only a moment before they charged. X-23 moved in a blur, her instincts taking over. With a swift motion, two gleaming adamantium claws extended from her forearms, slicing through the air as she leaped at the nearest Wendigo-like beast.

The first creature fell, its throat slashed open by her claws. Blood sprayed across the chamber, but there was no time to pause. Another creature lunged at her, its massive hands swinging down to crush her. She ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the strike, then drove her claws deep into its side, tearing through muscle and bone.

Despite her skill and speed, the numbers were overwhelming. The creatures swarmed her, claws and teeth ripping into her flesh. X-23 fought back with everything she had. She slashed, stabbed, and tore through the horde, each strike precise and lethal. But for every creature she brought down, two more seemed to take its place.

Blood soaked the chamber floor, both hers and the creatures'. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she fought against the tide. One of the beasts managed to clamp its jaws around her arm, its teeth sinking deep into her flesh. With a scream of rage, she wrenched her arm free, severing the creature's head with a brutal slash.

The relentless assault had taken its toll. Her body was small and not fully developed. The wounds she sustained began to accumulate, slowing her movements and sapping her strength. Still, she fought with a will to survive.

Finally, the last of the creatures fell, its body crumpling to the floor with a sickening thud. X-23 stood in the center of the carnage. Blood dripped from her claws. She was covered in cuts and bruises. She took a step forward, but her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

Above, Professor Thorton watched impassively as the girl lay amidst the remains of the creatures. Her wounds, though grievous, began to heal rapidly, the torn flesh knitting itself back together with astonishing speed. The sight brought a twisted smile to his lips. "Impressive," he murmured to himself. "The secondary Wendigo infected will serve as excellent training partners. She's stronger than expected."

He leaned closer to the glass, watching as X-23 slowly pushed herself up, her eyes burning fierce despite the agony. "Yes, she'll do just fine."

As the chamber doors opened once more and medical personnel rushed in to retrieve the girl, Professor Thorton turned away, already thinking of the next test, the next trial. There was much more to be done before X-23 could become the weapon they desired. Perhaps the Wendigo infection can be further hybridized.

#

Steve smashed a nearby desk. He had seen enough. They were creating living weapons here. This place was likely the reason why James didn't remember him. Now, seeing that girl, it was clear she was related to James by blood in some way. She was trained as a weapon like James was probably put through. He wasn't having that. Steve quickly studied the layout on the monitors, mapping out the quickest route to both Logan and the girl. He couldn't just abandon a child in this place, let alone James's potential family.

Chapter Text

Months Earlier

Boston, Massachusetts

It had been a few days into Ben's journey East from Las Vegas. Taking a break, Ben was enjoying a meal at a restaurant called Manok Andok. The quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted.

"Roxie!" the maître d' called out sharply.

The female server, a young woman with a worried expression, walked over to him. "Yes, Vincent?"

"What was that just now?" Vincent demanded, his eyes narrowing.

Roxie blinked, clearly confused. "Pardon?"

"You were collecting the bill, and all you got was a slip of paper. We don't have gift certificates."

Roxie looked down at her hand and saw a strip of newspaper instead of the hundred-dollar bill she thought she'd collected. "But... I thought it was..."

"Well, it obviously wasn't. Roxie, now get back to work while I take care of this."

As the situation unfolded, Ben noticed a brunette rising from her table, trying to inconspicuously make her way to the exit. Unfortunately for her, security was stationed at the door. She hovered nervously near his table, clearly anxious.

Vincent approached the woman. "Excuse me, Miss, can you please explain why you handed your server a strip of newspaper?"

The brunette clutched her left arm. "Uh..."

Vincent's shoulders sagged in exasperation. "Are you able to pay for your meal?"

"I don't..."

Vincent's expression hardened. "You know, I ought to call the police."

The woman's eyes widened in fear. "Please, don't!"

Ben decided it was time to step in. "Excuse me, sir."

Vincent turned to Ben, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

"How much is her bill?" Ben asked calmly.

"$49.45, not including tip," Vincent replied.

Ben looked at the young woman. "Miss...?"

"Frost..." she responded hesitantly.

"Miss Frost, when was the last time you had a proper meal?" Ben asked gently.

"A while..." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ben turned back to the maître d'. "Vincent, was it?"

"Yes?"

"I'll cover her tab." Ben slid $60 across the table to the man.

Vincent was surprised by the gesture. "Are you sure, sir?"

Even Frost seemed taken aback by the act.

"It's fine. Consider it an act of goodwill," Ben said with a smile.

Vincent accepted the money. "Very well." He turned to Frost. "Today is your lucky day. Don't push it."

Frost stared at Ben. "I... Uh... Thanks."

"Name's Ben. You?"

"Emma."

Ben gestured to the seat across from him. "Well, Emma, have a seat. Feel free to get dessert or order takeout."

Emma hesitated. "Are you sure? I couldn't..."

Ben rolled his eyes, his expression one of mild exasperation. "I'd rather not leave someone hungry for the rest of the week if I can help it." Part of what he's accumulated in the market was alread going to a various charity organizations.

Emma cautiously reached out with her telepathy, trying to gauge Ben's intentions. To her shock, all she encountered was white noise. That was new.

Ben raised a brow at her brief stare. "Is there something on my face?"

"Oh, no. I was just thinking." Emma quickly shook her head and took a seat, grabbing a menu.

Present

Wakanda

T'Challa's footsteps echoed through the ancient halls of the Black Panther's Temple. His heart pounded with grief. The temple was silent, save for the distant rumble of thunder outside. A black panther statue stood at the end of the hall, bathed in the dim light. Beneath it, a stand held the Black Panther suit. Two Vibranium daggers lay crossed beneath the suit.

With each step up the stone stairs, T'Challa felt the weight of his father's legacy pressing down on him. When he reached the top, he knelt before the suit, bowing his head respectfully. His fingers trembled as he reached out, lifting the mask from its stand. He simply held it for a moment, pressing his forehead against the cold metal. Despite his age, he was still a boy seeking comfort from his father's spirit.

T'Challa raised his head. He locked onto the panther statue above him. His grief transformed into a resolve to avenge his father.

A soft voice broke the silence behind him. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

T'Challa turned to see his mother, Ramonda, standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were filled with understanding. She had always known her son's heart better than anyone.

"I have to, mama," T'Challa replied. "I know it is wrong—"

Ramonda interrupted gently. "It's alright. I support your decision. Just do the right thing when the time comes."

T'Challa nodded with gratitude. He descended the stairs, embracing his mother tightly. She held him close.

"I love you, mama," T'Challa whispered.

Ramonda kissed his forehead. "I love you too. Don't forget to tell your sister."

"I won't," T'Challa promised, pulling away reluctantly.

As they parted, T'Challa took one last look at the suit before carefully placing the mask in his bag. With a final, determined glance at the panther statue, he turned to leave the temple.

Back at the Palace

Shuri sat alone in her room, tears streaming down her face as she replayed the brutal scene of her father's death in her mind. The pain was raw, a deep wound torn open by M'Baku's cruelty. She was also consumed with worry for her brother, who had disappeared after the battle. Fear gripped her heart—fear of losing him too.

"Shuri."

The sound of T'Challa's voice made her head snap up. She saw him standing in the doorway, a bag slung over his shoulder, somber.

"Brother!" Shuri ran to him and threw her arms around him. "I was so worried about you. Why did you run off?"

T'Challa knelt in front of her, holding her tightly. "I have to go."

Shuri pulled back slightly in disbelief. "What? Why?"

"I need to go and get help," T'Challa explained, his voice steady. "I can't fight this battle alone. I need to find allies, people who can help me avenge Baba and bring justice to Wakanda."

Tears welled up in Shuri's eyes as she clutched his arms. "Please don't leave. I can't lose you too."

T'Challa placed a gentle hand on her cheek. "You'll never lose me. I'll be back before you know it with the help we need. I promise you that."

Shuri sniffled, nodding despite the tears. "I love you, brother."

"I love you too, little sister."

They held each other for a moment longer before T'Challa stood up, ready to leave. He gave Shuri one last reassuring smile before turning away. The rain fell heavily as he stepped outside. He paused and looked back at the palace. His mother and sister watched him with tear-filled eyes.

T'Challa turned and ran into the night. He knew he would return, for Wakanda needed him.

The Mines

The ancient mines echoed with machinery deep beneath Wakanda's surface. The tunnels, carved out over centuries, were lined with the precious metal that had fueled Wakanda's secret rise to power.

M'Baku, the new king by ritual combat, surveyed his reward with satisfaction. Around him, members of the White Gorilla tribe worked diligently, extracting the Vibranium under his command.

"For generations, the Black Panther tribe ruled Wakanda," M'Baku began. "They crushed my people under their heels. But no more."

"What of the Black Panther's son? Will he return?" asked a voice from the shadows.

M'Baku turned to Ulysses Klaue, the infamous arms dealer. The left side of his face bore the scars from his previous encounters with Wakanda, but it was his right hand that drew the most attention. The appendage had been replaced with a high-tech disruptor.

"It does not matter," M'Baku replied dismissively. "That Panther is defeated, and the kings of Wakanda do not ask for him. Even if he did return, who could help him?"

Klaue chuckled darkly. "Well, I'm glad I could be of assistance. But I'll be taking my payment now." He raised his right hand. "I've got men ready."

M'Baku regarded Klaue for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Very well. As promised, the Vibranium is yours to take, Klaue."

Klaue's looked around at the rich deposits of Vibranium. "It's always good to go right to the source."

As Klaue's men began moving in to take their share of the Vibranium, M'Baku watched them with an expression unreadable. One could argue that he had made a pact with a devil, but in his mind, it was a necessary evil to ensure the return of the old ways of Wakanda. The White Gorilla tribe would remove the weakness that the Black Panther's lineage had wrought for many years.

Outside the Village

T'Challa, now donning the Black Panther suit, crouched silently on a thick branch of a towering tree just beyond the village. The suit fit him like a second skin. The mask covered his face, but his eyes scanned the village below.

He had seen enough. M'Baku had not only taken his father's life but had also sold Wakanda's most precious resource to a foreign invader. The weight of his mission pressed heavily on him, but T'Challa knew what he had to do. He could not face M'Baku and Klaue alone—not yet. He needed allies, time to plan, and, most of all, to keep Wakanda's secrets out of Klaue's hands.

With one final look at his home, T'Challa turned and leaped from the tree, disappearing into the night. His heart ached to leave Wakanda in the hands of a tyrant, but he knew that to save it, he would have to leave. He would find the strength, the allies, and the means to return and reclaim his father's throne. He vanished into the darkness.

Weapon X Facility

Steve Rogers had left the surveillance room and started moving toward Sector 5 to find the child.

As he rounded a corner, the sound of voices reached his ears. He froze, quickly pressing himself against the wall and slipping into a nearby alcove. From down the hall, two figures were conversing. He recognized the voices immediately from the attack on the town. The one clad in red and black had his usual manic energy. Steve listened intently.

Deadpool's voice echoed through the corridor, filled with his usual bravado. "I'm just saying, I have the same if not better regeneration than Wolverine. I could totally go through the adamantium skeleton process. Think about it—adamantium swords and bones. I'd be unstoppable."

Steve grimaced. If this man had the same level of healing as James, he would be hard to put down. Steve doubted that a bullet to the head would work if his memories of James on the frontline of the war were accurate.

Omega Red grew weary and sighed. "If you recall the doctor's words, adamantium is toxic to the body. It will handicap you further than you already are."

Deadpool paused, seemingly puzzled. "What handicap?"

There was a brief silence, followed by Omega Red's blunt explanation. "Wade... You are literally a walking tumor... Do you really want to throw toxic metal into the mix?"

"Hmm... Point taken," Deadpool conceded, and Steve could almost hear the gears turning in the mercenary's head.

Omega Red's patience was wearing thin. "Is there a reason you are here with me and not following the doctor's orders?"

Deadpool's tone shifted to something more casual, almost flippant. "What? Friends can't hang out together from time to time?"

"We are friends?" Omega Red sounded genuinely surprised, if not a little skeptical.

Deadpool didn't miss a beat. "Okay. Fine. We're more like begrudging co-workers."

Omega Red huffed. "Get to the point."

Deadpool's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, though it still carried easily in the quiet hall. "I was thinking that since Wolvie's back, we can tease him with his kid. He finally came back home with the milk and cigarettes he promised."

Steve's heart skipped a beat. His intuition was right.

Omega Red, however, was not amused. "The girl has much potential and doesn't need distractions from the defector before he gets reprogrammed."

"Come on," Deadpool argued, "growing kids need social interaction. Remember when I played catch with her?"

Steve could practically hear Omega Red's exasperation. "You were shooting her, hoping that she would cut or block the bullets in mid-flight."

"Exactly," Deadpool said, as if that made perfect sense. "You should have seen me in action when I was still sexy. There was this one time I was in an elevator surrounded by gunmen..."

Omega Red cut him off with a warning growl. "Wade..."

Deadpool wasn't deterred. "The point is that the kid could learn a lot from her Uncle Deadpool and Uncle Omega."

Omega Red's voice dropped to a low, threatening rumble. "One of the saving graces of that child is that she doesn't talk much. So that she doesn't get that mouth of yours, I would appreciate it if you didn't meddle with her training more than you already have."

As the two continued to walk away, Steve himself quietly moved from his hiding spot. A pit formed in his stomach of how much the girl had been affected by her experiences here.

#

Professor Thorton sat in his office revising the day's data entries. A heavy folder of data spread across his desk. His weary eyes scanned the documents before him, reviewing the progress and setbacks of the Weapon X Program. The Wolverine was back in their possession.

Thorton leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. He had come a long way since the U.S. Army. To think it all started when he found Nathaniel Essex's laboratory hidden within a Nazi concentration camp. It was a goldmine of genetic research.

The U.S. Government quickly absorbed Essex's work into its clandestine operations. Thorton was recruited into what would become known as the Weapon Plus Program to create super-soldiers. It would be the successor to Project: Rebirth. That was America's first step into the future: Captain America, aka Weapon I.

Weapon Plus expanded its operations, co-sponsoring with the CIA the formation of Team X. Thorton became the head scientist, responsible for the continuous conditioning that kept the operatives in line. Team X was a success, but it was only the beginning.

Thorton was later appointed Director of the Weapon X Program. The capture of Logan, codenamed Wolverine, had been vital. Logan was the perfect subject. His healing factor made him suited to survive the adamantium bonding process. The ultimate weapon had a body laced with unbreakable metal and a mind conditioned into a killing machine.

Sadly, free will got in his way. Despite all of Thorton's efforts to control him, Wolverine had broken free. The escape nearly brought the entire Weapon X Program to its knees. For a time, it seemed like everything Thorton had worked for would be lost.

Even as his superiors moved to shut down Weapon X, Thorton kept the program alive.

As he leaned back in his chair to stretch, a small red notification box appeared. His brow furrowed as he read the alert: "Subject Lady Deathstrike - Entered Containment Room: Subject Logan."

Thorton's eyes narrowed. "Damn it." He quickly set aside the paperwork. He knew how volatile Lady Deathstrike could be when it came to Logan. Their shared history was a powder keg. The last thing he needed was a confrontation that could jeopardize years of work. Thorton moved quickly toward the containment area.

#

Steve moved through the corridors as he approached Sector 5. Steve eventually came across an observation window and saw the girl again. She was bound in metal restraints that held her hands and feet. The girl lay on a narrow bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her expression was seemingly devoid of emotion.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly moved to a shadowed corner, watching as a scientist appeared carrying a tray of food. The man stopped at the door to the girl's room, pulling out a keycard and sliding it through the reader. The door hissed open.

The scientist stepped inside, his voice a condescending drone. "Okay, X-23. It's dinner time. Let's refrain from any messes this—"

Steve was on him in an instant, knocking the scientist out with a precise blow to the head. The man crumpled to the ground, the tray clattering beside him. Steve caught the keycard before it could hit the floor and moved into the room.

The girl blinked, breaking free of her trance-like state. She sat up, her eyes locking onto Steve. She tilted her head slightly, trying to understand this new situation. The last time someone unexpectedly entered her room was Deadpool, with one of his bizarre ideas of fun. She didn't like playing catch with him. It hurt. This was different. The man standing before her was new. Instead of the usual cold detachment, there was a warmth that she hadn't seen in a while.

Steve approached her slowly. "Sorry about that. Hello, there. My name is Steve. I'm here to help."

Laura pulled her legs to her chest.

"Don't worry," Steve continued, keeping his movements. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Do you understand me?"

Laura hesitated, then gave a small nod.

"That's good." Steve smiled reassuringly. "Do you have a name?"

Memories of Doctor Kinney flashed through her mind. She was the only other person who had ever shown her any semblance of kindness in this place. They had talked and read books together. The other people in white coats disapproved. The name the doctor had called her surfaced in her mind. "Laura..."

"Laura," Steve repeated, his smile widening. "That's a beautiful name."

She liked the name, too, but she should have been a better subject. Doctor Kinney was gone now. The professor promised that they would get a new teacher to properly discipline her from then on.

"Listen, Laura, I know where your father is. I can get you out of here and take you to him if you want."

Laura's brow furrowed. Father? The concept was foreign to her, but then she remembered the original Weapon X, the man whose genetic material had been used to create her. Doctor Kinney had mentioned him once. "Logan?"

Steve exhaled slowly. "That's... That's close enough." He gestured to her restraints. "Do you know how to get out of here?"

Laura nodded slightly and pointed toward a control panel at the edge of the room. She had seen the scientists manipulate it whenever they moved her from one sector to another.

Steve followed her gaze. He tightened his grip on his shield. When he broke those restraints, alarms would likely go off, and they'd have to move fast. He turned back to Laura. "Are you ready to get out of here?"

Laura took a deep breath. Kinney had talked about what she would do in the outside world. "Yes..."

Chapter Text

Months Earlier

Boston, Massachusetts

Emma sat across from Ben, still processing his unexpected kindness. She wasn't used to people stepping in without wanting something in return, but how he looked at her threw her off.

"You're... different," he said cautiously.

Her voice wavered. "What do you mean?"

"Back with the waitress... The 'money.'" he paused. "It wasn't real."

Emma looked away. "What are you implying?"

Ben rolled his eyes and sighed. "To put it frankly, you've got powers. Illusions if I had to guess."

'I can work with that.' She raised a brow. "You're not... freaked out or anything?"

He shook his head. "I've seen a lot of stuff in my life. Plus, with billionaires with super suits and giant green men walking about, it's pretty tame in comparison.

"I suppose... But, yeah. I made her see what I wanted her to see."

Ben nodded thoughtfully, showing no judgment.

Emma blinked. "It's not exactly something I'm proud of, but..." she trailed off, her gaze drifting to the table. "It helps sometimes. Some people won't understand."

Ben nodded. "People do what they can to get by." He paused, carefully choosing his next words. "You've been struggling financially, haven't you?"

Emma's eyes darted up to meet his, and for a moment, she looked like she might deny it. But then, she sighed, lowering her gaze. "Yeah... I've been trying to make it on my own. I don't want to be associated with my family anymore. They were... unkind to my brother. I just needed to get out, you know? But it's harder than I thought."

Ben's expression softened. "So, what did you want to do in the world? If money wasn't an issue."

Emma hesitated, surprised by the question. She'd never been asked that before. "Don't laugh, but the reason is a bit stupid."

Ben held his hands up. "Have at it."

"Back in high school, things were hard. The only one who seemed to care was my teacher. I had a bit of a crush. I suppose that got me interested in wanting to be one, too. I... I want to finish college. I was studying for a teaching degree before... everything happened. Wanted to go to Empire State in New York." She sighed. "But it feels impossible now."

Ben nodded thoughtfully. "Teaching, huh? Questionable relationships aside. I guess you wanted to be the person you needed at the time."

Emma rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. He didn't need to know about her kissing Ian Kendall.

"So, you like working with kids?"

Emma smiled slightly for the first time since they'd started talking. "Yeah... I think I do. I always thought I could make a difference that way. Help them learn things I had to figure out the hard way."

Ben grinned. "That's a good reason. The world could use more people like that."

Emma looked at him, still uncertain but warming up. "So, why are you doing this? Helping me?"

Ben shrugged. "Everyone needs a little help sometimes. I've had my fair share of people looking out for me, so I like to pay it forward when possible. If you haven't noticed, I'm familiar with the above-average side of society." He leaned back in his chair. "With that in mind, you seem like someone worth supporting."

Emma raised a brow. "An investment?"

Ben smirked. "Maybe not like that. Yeah. Think of it as my small contribution to getting you back on track. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll be teaching a class full of kids, and one of them will turn out to be the next genius who saves the world."

Emma seemed a little lighter. "That's some expectations, Ben." She still wasn't sure what to make of the situation

"Maybe, but if every person with superpowers can live a fulfilling life, there would be fewer supervillains out in the world." He huffed. "Could you see yourself as someone like that Victor Von Doom Character?

She chortled. "I don't think I could handle wearing some tacky costume if the other villains I've seen on the news are true."

Ben leaned back in his chair, casually swirling the last bit of his drink in the glass. "In any case, I'll be heading to New York later this week. Ever been?"

Emma raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more. "I can't say I have."

Ben smiled. "Well, I'm going. If you want, you could come with me. Enroll in that university you were talking about and get that degree."

Emma blinked, caught off guard. "Come with you? I—" She stopped herself, the careful side of her kicking in. "Paying my check is one thing, but traveling with you is more personal than I would like."

Ben shrugged. "It's less traveling with me and more both of us going in the same direction. We'll be going our separate ways in New York."

"This isn't a quid pro quo or something, right? I had an uncomfortable conversation with my landlord about that."

He cringed at the implication. "Yeah... I'm not asking for any of that."

Emma sighed. "How am I supposed to deal with the expenses?"

Ben shrugged. "I've got some connections. You'll be fine. Trust me."

Emma went quiet, her fingers fidgeting with the napkin before her. She was silent for a long moment before looking up at him, suspicion clouding her blue eyes. "Why would you do that? For me?" She narrowed her gaze. "You're basically a stranger?" She shook her head, the uncertainty and distrust bubbling to the surface. "It seems too good to be true." 'And the fact that I can't read your mind isn't exactly helping me trust you.'

Ben stared at her. He didn't immediately respond, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer at all. But then, he sighed, leaning forward, resting his arms on the table. "I get it. It does sound fishy. Out of the blue. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably be just as suspicious." He ran a hand through his hair. "The thing is... I've met a lot of people with incredible abilities over the years. People like you." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "It starts small, like getting a free meal, but it can eventually snowball into something you can't take back. And I've seen what happens when society bears down on them. When the pressure becomes too much, they break. And when they break... those gifts, those powers? They turn against the world."

Emma's eyes softened. She didn't want to think about what she would do if things got desperate.

"You've got potential, Emma. Real potential. You could use your gifts to benefit everyone—including yourself. But that won't happen if you're stuck fighting to survive daily. I'm considering doing some work similar to this FEAST thing I've read about. I want to help people get back on their feet."

Emma sat there, processing everything. His words hung in the air. She still didn't fully understand why he cared so much and was so willing to help her. But there was a hope that he wasn't lying. "And what if I say no?"

Ben shrugged. "That's up to you. I won't force you. But the offer stands. No strings attached."

Emma looked away for a moment. She had no idea what she was walking into, but at the same time, what did she have to lose? A chance like this didn't come along often. Maybe... just maybe, he was telling the truth. She finally met his gaze again. "I'll think about it."

Ben smiled warmly. "That's all I ask."

As they finished their meal, Ben reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small wad of cash, placing it gently on the table in front of Emma. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight, her initial instinct to push it away.

"This should cover you for the next week," Ben said calmly. "Food, shelter—whatever you need while you figure things out."

Emma stared at the cash, her hand twitching slightly as if unsure whether to take it or not. "I— I don't know if I can accept this…"

Ben smiled softly, pulling a pen from his pocket. "No strings, Emma. It's just to ensure you don't go hungry or end up on the streets while you decide."

He picked up a napkin, scribbling something down in quick, neat handwriting before sliding it across the table to her. "Here's the address and time. If you've decided, meet me at the train station in a week."

Emma looked at the napkin, the address and time standing out starkly against the crisp white cloth. There was so much happening at once, and part of her still wasn't convinced this wasn't some elaborate trick.

Ben gave her a knowing look, leaning back in his chair. "You've got your own path to follow."

Emma hesitated, then slowly reached for the cash, her fingers brushing the worn bills before pulling them toward her. She folded them carefully, slipping them into her pocket as if they were a lifeline of sorts.

Ben stood up, sliding his chair back as he prepared to leave. "Take care of yourself, Emma. I hope I'll see you at that station."

She watched him walk out of the restaurant. She just sat there for a moment, staring down at the napkin and the cash in her pocket.

Weapon X Facility

Earlier

Steve turned and hurled his shield at the control panel. The impact shattered the device, and the restraints binding Laura's limbs instantly disengaged.

She slipped off the bed, feeling the freedom in her movements for the first time in as long as she could remember.

But there was no time to savor it. As expected, alarms blared throughout the facility, and red lights flashed ominously.

Steve took carefully took Laura's hand. "Stay close to me, Laura. We're getting out of here."

They bolted out of the small room, Steve leading the way as they sprinted down the corridor. The sound of heavy boots pounding against the floor and muffled shouts echoed from all directions. Steve knew they had little time before the facility's guards closed in on them.

"We have to get to James," Steve said, his voice firm as he guided Laura through the maze of hallways. His mind raced, recalling the quickest path to where he had seen James on the surveillance screens.

They rounded a corner just as a group of guards appeared from the opposite direction, guns raised. Steve didn't hesitate. With a powerful throw, he sent his shield flying down the hall. It struck the first guard square in the chest, knocking him out instantly, and ricocheted off the wall to take down two more. Before the remaining guards could react, Steve was on them.

Laura watched as Steve disabled the guards. She had seen plenty of violence in her short life, and despite her reservations, she wanted to live, just like what happened with those strange beast men.

"Come on!" Steve called out to Laura, retrieving his shield as the last guard fell.

It didn't take long for another squad of armed soldiers to come rushing around the corner. Laura instinctively dropped low, her claws unsheathing from her hands with a distinctivesnikt. Steve's shield flew from his hand, bouncing off the wall and smashing into the lead soldier's rifle, sending the weapon flying.

Laura darted ahead. Before the soldiers could fully react, she slashed through a riot shield with her razor-sharp claws. A soldier swung his rifle to fire, but she ducked beneath the barrel and thrust upward, her claws sinking into his armor as she tossed him aside like a rag doll, bleeding from the torso.

Steve caught his shield as it ricocheted back into his hand. He slammed it into the chest of another soldier, knocking him to the ground. The soldier reached for a sidearm, but Laura was already there, slashing it from his hand before delivering a swift kick that sent him crashing into the wall.

"More coming!" Steve shouted as he heard more boots echoing down the hall.

Laura nodded and positioned herself beside Steve. Bullets poured into the hallway. Steve raised his shield, deflecting a hail as he charged forward. He bashed the first soldier in the face with the edge of his shield, following up with a spinning kick that sent another stumbling back.

Laura, meanwhile, darted through like a shadow. A soldier aimed his rifle at her, but before he could pull the trigger, she leaped into the air, somersaulting over him and driving her claws into his back as she landed behind him.

"How many of these guys are there?" Steve muttered, knocking out another soldier with a brutal shield bash.

"Enough," Laura answered. She spun around and sliced through the legs of another enemy.

Steve smashed through another wave, using his shield to create openings for Laura. Every time a soldier raised their weapon, Steve was already there, deflecting bullets and creating an opportunity for her to close the distance and strike.

Despite her age and size, Laura's claws slashed through the soldiers like they were nothing more than paper.

Steve took down another group with a series of punches and shield strikes before glancing at Laura. She was already dispatching the last few soldiers. Blood stained her clothes and hands.

As the last soldier fell, the hallway was littered with unconscious and dead bodies. Steve could hear the faint crackle of radio chatter from one of the fallen soldier's helmets. More reinforcements were coming.

He placed a hand on Laura's shoulder. "You okay?"

Laura blinked up at him, her claws retracting with a softsnikt. She nodded, wiping some blood from her face with the back of her hand. "I'm fine..."

"You don't need to kill if you don't want to, Laura. I've fought in the war for years. I've already got blood on my hands and seen what it does to the new recruits. I can't imagine what it must have been like for you..."

She pondered those words. Doctor Kinney was her first kill, and it's felt wrong ever since.

#

"Sector Five lockdown in progress," a mechanical voice announced over the intercom. "All personnel report to designated stations."

Steve's grip on Laura's hand tightened. As they neared a junction, Steve suddenly halted, pulling Laura into a small alcove just as another patrol rushed past them, oblivious to their presence. He waited, counting the seconds until the footsteps faded into the distance, then exhaled sharply.

Despite her young age, Steve knew what she was capable of, but a child didn't deserve to fight the battles of adults. A child shouldn't have to kill to survive, but this one had to.

They moved out of the alcove and continued out of Sector Five. Steve could see more soldiers at the end of the hall. He paused, assessing the situation. There were too many of them to take out quietly, and he didn't want to risk Laura getting caught in the crossfire.

He turned to her, his voice low but steady. "Laura, I need you to stay back while I handle this. Can you do that?"

Laura's eyes flicked to the guards, then back to Steve. Her claws urged to come out. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

Steve offered her a reassuring smile before stepping forward. The guards spotted him immediately, their guns snapping up. Steve charged down the corridor, his shield deflecting the first barrage of bullets. With a powerful leap, he crashed into the midst of the guards. Within moments, they were incapacitated, and the path was clear.

They reached a corner, and Steve raised a hand, signaling Laura to stop. He pressed his back against the wall, peeking around the corner. A pair of guards stood by a door ahead. He turned back to Laura, motioning with two fingers and nodding toward the guards.

She understood immediately and kept in mind what he told her earlier.

Without a sound, Laura slipped around Steve.

Steve watched her approach the guards, who remained oblivious.

She crouched low, and her claws extended. Before either guard could react, she sprang forward.

Laura swept the legs out from one guard with a single strike, sending him crashing to the floor, while her other clawed hand slashed upward, disarming the second guard before he could even blink. Steve returned with a right hook and a stomp, leaving them unconscious on the ground.

Steve nodded his approval as Laura retracted her claws.

Steve turned back to her, breathing heavily. He looked up and saw a large enough vent hatch. "I think it's time we try the quiet route," he said.

Earlier

Lady Deathstrike stood before the submerged Wolverine, her mechanical claws twitching. The man who had haunted her every thought for years was now at her mercy. Her father's voice echoed in her mind, urging her to finish what she had started so long ago. She had sacrificed everything to get this opportunity. She would finally kill Logan and reclaim her honor.

"You will die today, Logan-san," she hissed. "It does not matter what the professor says. These are your last breaths."

Wolverine glared at her. There was defiance, but Lady Deathstrike didn't care. She wanted only his death. She brought her adamantium claws to the tank. The tips of her claws began to press into it.

Just as she was about to break it, a voice cut through. "Deathstrike, what are you doing here?" Professor Thorton stepped into the room. "I'm about to start Wolverine's reprogramming!"

Lady Deathstrike's claws froze in place. She turned her head slightly at the professor. "He has to die! This ends today!"

Thorton's expression hardened. "How many times do we have to have this conversation, Yuriko? He's more valuable alive than—"

From behind, Sabretooth was just about to slash the man's back when the facility's alarm blared.

"Alert: Security Breach in Sector 5."

Before he could finish his sentence, Sabretooth, who had been silently lurking in the shadows, made his move. His feral grin spread wide as he prepared to slash at Thorton's back.

But before the strike could land, the facility's alarm blared loudly.

"Alert: Security Breach in Sector 5."

Sabertooth dropped his arm. "Huh?"

Thorton instinctively flinched, turning around to see Sabretooth. "What are you doing? You nearly gave me a heart attack."

The man kept a blank expression. "Uh, nothing... Never mind that. The alarm?!"

Even Lady Deathstrike stopped what she was doing.

Thorton quickly recovered. "Subject 23 must be trying to escape! We must secure the exits! Get me Omega and Deadpool!"

Sabretooth huffed. "Finally. I was waiting to have a shot at the welp."

Lady Deathstrike seethed. "This isn't over, Logan." With that, she turned to follow Thorton out of the room. At least she could take her anger out on his spawn.

Sabretooth cast one last glance at Wolverine before following the others.

Later

Wolverine floated in his containment chamber. He had finally been left alone.

About a minute passed before he noticed a strange banging from above. His eyes flicked upward to the source. The banging grew louder until the air vent duct above the chamber suddenly crashed to the floor.

Wolverine tensed as a familiar figure dropped from the vent.

"Steve?" Logan asked, muffled.

Steve Rogers dusted himself off before his eyes settled on Logan. "Nice to see you again, James." A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Logan rolled his eyes, though a sense of relief washed over him. However, before he could process the reunion, another figure dropped down from the vent—a little girl.

She was thin, with raven-black hair that fell in messy strands around her face. The girl turned slowly, her dark eyes meeting Logan's. For a moment, she stood still.

Logan's brow furrowed. Who was this girl? Did Steve free her?

Steve chuckled. "I'm sure you have questions."

Logan watched the girl step forward. A small hand reached out to touch the glass.

Before he could piece it together, the girl did something that made his heart skip. She extended two adamantium claws from each of her hands, just like him.

His eyes widened. 'What the hell!?'

Laura brought her claws to the reinforced glass and began to cut through.

As the chamber emptied, Logan felt the restraints loosen. He collapsed forward, gasping for breath.

Steve helped him to his feet. "Take it easy. Quick introductions: James, meet Laura. Laura, meet James. We need to get out of here before they realize what's going on."

Chapter Text

Months Before Breakout

Boston, Massachusetts

Ben stood near the platform at the train station. His eyes scanned the crowd. Various people came and went, but there was no sign of Emma. He pulled out his phone. Had she decided to come with him, she had less than fifteen minutes before the train left the station.

He sighed softly and leaned against a post. "Maybe she had changed her mind..." Ben wouldn't blame her if she did. His offer wasn't exactly the most tactful. It basically came out of nowhere after he kept her from getting security involved. He turned toward the tracks. The sign above said that the train would be arriving soon.

Just as Ben was about to chalk it up as a no-show, a voice called out to him.

"Ben!"

Turning to the voice, he caught a familiar figure emerging from the far side of the platform.

Emma slowed down from a jog toward him. She had a large suitcase in one hand and a duffle bag in the other. She made her way through the crowd.

Ben stood straight and smiled back, waving her over.

Emma wiped away a bead of sweat as she stopped before him. "Sorry, I'm late. I had a bit of an issue getting my stuff together."

"It's no problem."

I thought about your offer... a lot, actually. And I figured… what do I have to lose now?"

"Not how I would put it, but you're one step closer to your goal."

"Hard to believe, to be honest."

"That's totally normal. It's a new start, Emma."

Her expression softened. "I just... I've been living well off under my parents for most of my life before thrusting myself into the real world. Being alone was a struggle, and it feels strange to have someone reach out."

"I get it. When I first moved out, I lived off instant ramen because it was cheap." He shook his head. "Don't even get me started on taxes. Still, a little help can go a long way. I had cousins and friends to get advice from."

Emma sighed. "Yeah... I wasn't very popular at school, and I basically cut myself off from my family."

Ben's mouth thinned. "For what it's worth. I'm sorry you've had to go through it alone for some time."

"The months have not been kind..."

"Well, that ends today. In just a few weeks or so, you'll be back at school, meeting all sorts of new people. A chance to make up for before."

Emma looked back at him, feeling a little more at ease. "That's the hope."

The train soon came to the station and screeched to a stop.

Ben crossed his arms and smirked. "So, nervous?"

Emma hesitated only for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Very."

As the train began to board, Ben stowed his luggage in the overhead bin and went to a random window seat. Emma followed behind. He settled in, watching passengers as they filed down the aisle. Without hesitation, she loaded her bags into the bin above and slid into the seat beside him.

Ben raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to sit next to me, you know. If you're uncomfortable, there are plenty of other seats."

Emma shook her head with a small smile. "It's fine. It's better if we stay nearby. Don't want to lose each other by the time we reach New York, right?" She took out a magazine and started reading. "Besides, I'm holding onto your word that you can help me with enrollment."

Ben nodded in understanding with a chuckle. "Fair enough. I'm a man of my word. Just want you to be comfortable."

What Emma didn't mention, however, was the real reason she had chosen to sit with him. Emma didn't like being in crowds due to less-than-desired control over her powers. From the moment she had boarded the train, the thoughts of the other passengers pestered her. Unless she focused on someone in particular, fragments of conversations, random worries, and stray emotions would cloud her thoughts. It was very easy for her to get overwhelmed in a space like this. It happened back in high school and on the subway sometimes.

From the day she met him, Emme knew that Ben wasn't conventionally normal. Not only was he familiar with other "superhumans," but when she tuned to his mind, she would not hear thoughts but a soothing white noise instead. It was an anomaly compared to others she listened to, and it contrasted with the usual chaos. It doesn't take much effort to 'latch' onto someone's surface thoughts, but hearing someone else's thoughts in one's mind can aggravate over time. Unlike her previous attempts at public transport, she could finally focus, breathe, and relax within her own headspace.

#

Ben scrolled through an article on his phone. The headline caught his eye: "The Rise of Superhumans: Heroes and Villains in Our Modern World." It was a deep dive into the emergence of superpowered individuals.

The article began with referencing old World War II propaganda films that had been uploaded to the internet. According to these films, the first public "hero" was none other than Captain America, the star-spangled soldier who fought against Hydra and the Nazis. Ben raised an eyebrow as he read. That was a significant point of divergence from his home timestream. The idea that the U.S. government had created the first super soldier during the 1940s and then, supposedly, none since was a little hard to swallow. He chalked it up to government secrets, classified projects that never saw the light of day.

The article then fast-forwarded to more recent times, mentioning the Fantastic Four as the first publicly known superhumans of the modern era. The group had debuted in New York. Their leader, Dr. Reed Richards, claimed that their abilities resulted from cosmic rays encountered during a space flight project. Azmuth would want to learn more about that later.

Ben's eyes flicked down to the next section, describing a New Jersey man who could supposedly communicate with ants. That wasn't at all strange compared to what Ben encountered in life.

Further down, the article seemed to describe the Hulk. However, it said he was gray when he first appeared in the Southwest compared to the current green. Ben couldn't help but wonder if the transformation process had been incomplete then.

He continued scrolling. There was a spread of word and photos of a vigilante known as Spider-Man swinging through the streets of New York. Public opinion was split if the quote from one James Jonah Jameson meant something.

Then, there was the alleged God, who had also made his grand entrance in none other than New York. After seeing so many powerful aliens and higher dimensional entities, Ben was more strict on what the definition of a god should be.

Finally, the article touched on Tony Stark, a billionaire tech mogul. He had publicly outed himself as the armored hero, Iron Man. And where was he based? Of course—New York. It was starting to feel like the Big Apple was becoming a hub for superhuman activity.

Ben leaned back in his seat. There was something almost surreal about the pattern. So many people seemed to appear in New York. And it wasn't just heroes. The villains were there too.

Ben couldn't help but think about Bruce Banner's list of safe houses. They were all trailing toward New York, another data point in this growing pattern. It didn't help that he was currently assisting Emma, another superhuman, in coming to New York.

Was it just a coincidence? Or was there something larger at play? Only time would tell whether that was a good or bad thing.

Suddenly, Ben felt a weight on his right shoulder.

About three hours into the train ride, the combination of a stressful past week with restless sleep, the train rocking, and the ambient white noise finally took its toll on the woman. Emma grew drowsy. She leaned back into her seat before her eyes fluttered shut. Before long, she had drifted off, her head gradually coming to rest against Ben.

As she breathed softly, Ben smiled. Carefully not to wake her, he reached up and grabbed the complimentary blanket from the seat in front of him. He draped it over her, tucking it in lightly, before returning to his phone.

There seemed to be a large public divide on what people called 'Mutants.'

Present

Weapon X Facility

Steve, Laura, and Logan made a run for the nearest exit. Logan had just been freed from his containment, but there was no time for questions or explanations. He retrieved his belongings and his suit.

Logan glanced over at the young girl—Laura, Steve had called her. She was basically a miniature version of himself, right down to the adamantium claws. A million questions ran through his mind, but he knew they'd have to wait. For now, the mission was simple: get out alive.

They turned a sharp corner and suddenly found themselves face-to-face with a squad of heavily armed guards. The soldiers were ready, rifles aimed.

Steve narrowed his eyes. The last thing he wanted was to expose Laura to more violence. Without hesitation, he stepped in front of her, raising his shield. "Stay back," Steve ordered. "Logan and I will handle this."

Logan didn't need to be told twice. His claws extended with a sharp snikt. He grinned. "Let's make this quick."

Laura hesitated. She didn't like fighting people, but this burning sensation was deep inside. It came out whenever she had to fight to survive. Despite her instincts, she stepped back and kept her claws retracted. She turned to the back of Logan, her biological father. Did he have these same feelings?

Steve charged forward with his shield raised. The guards opened fire, but the bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the vibranium. Steve slammed his shield into the first guard, knocking him out cold. He spun, the shield catching another guard across the jaw, sending him crumpling to the floor.

Logan lived up to his namesake. He barreled into the remaining guards. Claws slashed through body armor and flesh. The guards didn't stand a chance. One by one, they fell. Much like the old days, Steve and Logan moved in sync. For a moment, Steve was reminiscent of the Howling Commandos storming a Nazi stronghold. Despite the bloodlust, he could still see the framework of Jame's combat style during the war. There was a reason Steve didn't question how James fought his way back to the squad when his parachute sent him behind enemy lines and without a weapon.

A soldier lunged at Steve, rifle raised, but Steve was faster. He grabbed the man by the throat. He hurled the soldier through a nearby door. The door splintered, and the man crashed into the wall behind it, crumpling to the ground.

Steve ducked instinctively under gunfire behind him. He was on his feet again, sprinting toward the shooter. The guard didn't have a chance to react. Steve shoved the gun barrel upward with one hand, redirecting the next shot into the ceiling, and with the other, he delivered a powerful punch that knocked the man out cold.

Before the soldier could hit the ground, Steve whipped his shield from his back and flung it backward. The shield spun through the air, striking another guard squarely in the stomach. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of him, and he doubled over, his weapon clattering to the ground.

Steve heard the telltale click of a pistol being drawn and turned just in time to see another guard aiming at him. Steve spun around the guard and twisting his pistol hand. The gun dropped to the floor, and Steve followed up with a powerful uppercut that sent the guard sprawling.

Another guard, thinking he had an opening, aimed a pistol at Steve's back. Steve dropped to the floor, supporting himself with one hand, and swung his body around in a sweeping kick. His right foot knocked the gun out of the guard's hand, and in the same motion, his left foot struck the man in the stomach with a solid thud. The guard staggered back, gasping for air, before collapsing to the ground.

Within moments, the corridor was littered with dead and unconscious guards. The few who were still conscious groaned in pain.

Breathing heavily, Steve glanced back at Laura.

She was watching them with wide, unblinking eyes. There was no fear in her gaze.

Logan wiped the blood from his claws, retracting them with a low grunt. "You okay, kid?"

Laura nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. She hesitated for a moment before looking back up at Logan. “Does… Does killing get easier… for us?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, both Logan and Steve were silent. It was a question neither of them had an easy answer to, one that had no simple truth.

Logan's gaze turned distant, sifting through a lifetime of memories. He took a deep breath. "Easier? Maybe. But it don't make it right. You learn to live with it, 'cause you gotta. You do what you gotta do to survive, to protect the people you care about. But it always sticks with you, every face, every life. You don't forget."

Steve could see the truth in Logan's words. It was a burden they all shared, but one that was uniquely difficult for someone like Laura, so young yet thrust into this violent world.

Logan continued. "You're gonna have to make choices, Laura. And some of 'em… they're gonna haunt you." He looked into her eyes. There was the same expression that he'd seen in the mirror at times. "Maybe they already are, but you can't let it turn you into somethin' you don't want to be."

Laura nodded slowly, absorbing his words. She had seen and done so much already.

Steve finally spoke. "You're not alone in this, Laura. People like James and I." Logan rolled his eyes at his alleged name. "We fight so kids like you don't have to. That's what makes us different from the monsters we fight." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Killing might get easier, but it's not something you should ever take lightly."

Laura looked between the two of them. "Okay," she said softly, the word a promise to herself as much as to them.

#

Deadpool glanced over at Professor Thorton. "Are you sure they're heading this way?"

Thorton huffed, adjusting his glasses in irritation. "This is the only access door to the surface levels. Additionally, I've already lost several security squads. Their last positions were each leading toward our location."

Deadpool chuckled. "Talk about some Battleship-level surveillance."

Thorton grumbled. "Unfortunately, someone had destroyed the servers during their escape.

Sabretooth growled. "I told you we needed to kill Wolverine. Now, he and the brat are on the prowl."

Lady Deathstrike nodded in agreement. "They are more trouble than they are worth."

Thorton pinched his nose. "I've already told you—he's worth more alive than dead."

Deadpool leaned casually against the wall, twirling one of his katanas. "Look at the opportunity for a bring-your-daughter-to-work day, guys. Oh, she grows up so fast. It feels like yesterday when I was playing catch the dagger with her. I was winning, of course."

Omega Red responded flatly, "That was yesterday."

Deadpool paused, his head tilting as if in thought. "Oh, right."

Thorton sighed, the stress evident. "Begin scouting the beginning sectors."

The group started moving, but their pace slowed as soon as they were out of the professor's earshot. They exchanged a series of knowing glances and turned into a secluded room,

Omega Red broke the silence. "We kill Wolverine and the kid. That is all that matters."

Sabretooth bared his teeth in a predatory grin. Lady Deathstrike nodded sharply. "Agreed."

Deadpool shrugged and drew his guns. "Whatever you say, ponytail. Who am I to say no to a little murder?" He spun the guns theatrically before pointing them toward the door. "Strike a pose!"

#

As Steve, Logan, and Laura turned a corner, they came upon a large, reinforced door with a small observation window. They heard faint, low growls and shuffling. Steve peered through the glass, eyes widening at the sight.

The room was filled with cages, each holding a hulking mass of muscle and fur with glowing red eyes—wendigos. There were more than just one. Dozens of secondary infected Wendigos crowded the containment room.

Logan joined Steve at the window and looked at the larger white one. "This was the target we were tracking. Didn't expect to find a whole damn horde of 'em."

Steve glanced at Logan before looking back at Laura, who stood silently, her gaze fixed on the creatures. "Logan, Laura was forced to fight the smaller ones as some kind of sick training."

Logan clenched his fists. "Department H sent me after the Wendigo, told me to take it down dead or alive. But seeing this, there's more going on here than they let on. If this many are infected here, how many more are out there? Unaccounted for?"

Steve nodded. "So, what's the plan? Eliminate and detain all hostiles?"

Logan's eyes narrowed. "That's one way to put it." He turned to Laura, who hadn't taken her eyes off the Wendigos since they arrived. "But there's more to it."

Laura's gaze seemed lost. She was tense. Clearly, the memories of their earlier training session today were still on her mind.

Logan leaned closer to Steve, lowering his voice. "Listen, someone has to stay behind when the G-Men come to clean this mess up. And I don't want any of the experiments they've got going on here to continue."

Steve looked at Logan. "What are you asking of me, James?"

"If we leave here alive, I need you to take the girl back to the States. I know a guy who can help her. He's… got experience with kids like her." Logan reached into a hidden pocket, pulled out a small, worn business card, and handed it to Steve.

Steve glanced at the card, reading the address. "Westchester County, New York?"

"Yeah. The guy there… he'll know what to do with her. But I can't leave this place standing. I need to stay and make sure everything usable gets destroyed. I don't want Department H getting the same ideas as these bastards."

Steve looked at the card again, then back at Logan. "James… are you sure about this?"

Logan nodded. "It'll take some time, but I should be able to meet back up with you after."

Steve's grip tightened on the card. He looked at Laura, who was still watching the Wendigos. "Alright. I'll get her out of here. But you better come back in one piece."

Logan smirked, the hint of his old self showing through. "You know me. I'm hard to kill."

#

As the trio ran, Logan paused and held up a hand before sniffing the air.

Steve reacted immediately, raising his shield and tackling Laura to the ground just as bullets whizzed through the air, barely missing them.

A wall burst open from metal cables, latching onto Logan's torso and lifting him into the air. When the dust cleared, Omega Red emerged. His cold eyes locked on Logan as he yanked the man into the air.

Logan struggled to free himself as he was pulled closer to his former teammate to no avail.

Omega Red huffed in amusement. "Please, struggle... It'll make your death taste so much sweeter." Omega Red's tendrils pumped energy into his body. Logan was now suspended and convulsing from the energy surging through his body, yelling in pain.

"No!" Steve shouted. As he prepared to charge, he felt the cold press of a gun barrel against the side of his head. He slowly raised his hands, slightly turning to see who had gotten the drop on him.

Deadpool grinned at him. "Yes, as in yes. You're going to die." His finger twitched on the trigger, but Steve remained calm.

Logan, however, was far from calm. Omega Red slammed Wolverine against the walls of the corridor.

Deadpool squinted at Steve, a hint of recognition. "Wait... Are you the same guy from the town we last fought Wendy at?"

Steve didn't say anything.

Deadpool's gaze darted from Steve to Laura, who was holding the familiar star-spangled shield, then back to Steve again. "Now you're here with the Kid and Wolvie? Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?" He paused, narrowing his eyes at the shield again. "Wait... that looks oddly familiar..."

Logan managed to plant his feet against the corridor wall. Using it for leverage, he kicked both legs out, slamming them into Omega Red's face. The impact sent the larger man staggering back, momentarily loosening the grip of his tendrils and allowing Logan to break free.

At the same moment, Steve made his move. He twisted sharply to the right, moving his head out of the gun's line of fire, and grabbed Deadpool's gun arm with his right hand. He struck Deadpool across the face with a powerful left hook, sending the mercenary stumbling back. Before Deadpool could recover, Steve disarmed him, quickly turning the weapon on its owner and firing two shots into Deadpool's legs.

Suddenly, Deadpool's right arm fell off. Steve turned to see that Laura had dropped the shield and drew her claws on the man.

Deadpool didn't scream in pain; instead, he looked at the smoking holes in his legs and whined, "No! That was my favorite gun."

Steve shook his head, exasperated. Even with two bullets in his legs and a missing arm, this Deadpool wasn't out of the fight. But at least he was slowed down. Steve knew there was no point in killing him; the mercenary would just regenerate. His priority now was getting Logan and Laura out of there.

Laura hurried to his side and handed the shield back to him. "Did… Did I do good?"

Steve took a breath and patted her on the back. "You did okay. You were trying to protect me, but I had it handled. Just don't let it get to your head."

"Okay…"

Their brief moment of respite was shattered by the sound of boots clattering down the corridor. The others were catching up, and they were closing in fast.

"Move!" Steve barked, taking the lead. Laura and Logan didn't need to be told twice—they fell in behind him, sprinting toward the exit as fast as they could.

Omega Red groaned. "You won't escape this time, Logan!".

Deadpool, still on the floor with his legs regenerating, called after them, "You know, you guys could just surrender! I promise not to kill you... much!"

#

Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike rounded the corner, skidding to a stop just as they caught sight of the other half of the team. Omega Red was sprawled against a wall, and Deadpool was still sitting on the ground, his legs halfway through regenerating.

"What the hell happened here?" Lady Deathstrike demanded.

Omega Red wiped the blood from his mouth. "Wolverine and X-23… they weren't alone."

Deadpool groaned, pushing himself up on one arm. "Yeah, about that. It's some guy I saw back in that little town where the Wendigo tore things up."

Sabretooth's brow furrowed. "What did he look like?"

Grabbing his dismembered arm, Deadpool paused for a moment, thinking. "Blonde hair, blue eyes, built like a brick house. Kinda looks like a soldier, you know?"

Sabretooth's face darkened. "Go on."

Deadpool continued, oblivious. "Oh, and he's got this snazzy shield. It's really retro-looking. Red, white, and blue, with a star in the center. Classic American vi-"

Before Deadpool could finish, Sabretooth lunged forward, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the nearest wall.

Deadpool's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, whoa! What gives?"

Sabretooth glared. "Are you sure? The shield... the man. Are you sure?"

Deadpool gurgled for a second. "Yeah, yeah! What's the big deal?"

With a growl, Sabretooth released his grip, letting Deadpool fall to the floor in a heap. He paced for a second before he turned to face the others. "I think that man you just described… is Captain America."

His words hit them like a punch to the gut. Lady Deathstrike's eyes widened in shock. "Project Rebirth?"

Omega Red stiffened.

Even Deadpool, now massaging his bruised throat, seemed genuinely thrown off.

"Captain America?" Omega Red repeated, frowning. "Isn't he dead?"

"Yeah. Wasn't he blown up during the war or something?" added Deadpool. "You sound as if you met him before."

"That's because I did." Sabretooth shook his head. "I fought him during World War II. I was sent to the Italian Alps. I fought Captain America… and Wolverine. I don't easily forget the Shield that cracked my skull."

"World War Two? How old are you guys?"

Sabretooth deadpanned. "I fought in the Civil War."

That got another reaction from the rest of the team.

"About 150? Damn." Deadpool whistled. "Healing factors, huh."

"How does this explain the Captain?" questioned Deathstrike.

Sabretooth hummed. "If I had to guess, the Rebirth serum might have given him the same longevity perks Wolverine and I got."

His legs finally healed, and Deadpool jumped to his feet. "Ooh! Maybe he was frozen and thawed in the future like Buck Rogers and Walt Disney under the Matterhorn!"

Omega got up and smacked the man in the back of the head. "Wade… Shut up."

Lady Deathstrike crossed her arms. "If that is truly Captain America, our situation became far more complicated."

Sabretooth growled low in his throat. "Doesn't matter if he's Cap or not. He's still in our way. But this means he's not gonna be easy to kill." Sabretooth sniffed and started following the lingering scent. Perhaps that scene from the woods wasn't wrong after all.

Deadpool's arms drooped. "Well, shit." The group followed, but Deadpool paused. "Wait. If you fought Captain America during World War 2, were you a Nazi? Because if you were, I might have to start reconsidering my employment options."

Sabretooth groaned. "I was hired as a mercenary. I didn't care for the politics."

Deadpool rolled his eyes. "Right… Now that I think about it, which side of the Civil War were you on?"

Sabretooth and the others continued to walk away.

"You're not answering..."

"..."

"Which side were you on, Sabey?!"

"..."

"Sabey?!"

Chapter Text

New York, Earlier

The train pulled into Grand Central Station, jolting Ben from his thoughts. He glanced out the window as the iconic station's vaulted ceiling appeared. He could tell the hustle and bustle of New York City from the crowded platforms.

"Welcome to New York," he muttered, tucking his phone into his pocket and nudging Emma awake. 

Emma stirred, blinking groggily. It didn't take long for her to realize the support on the left side of her head. She quickly sat up and looked down at herself, wrapped in the blanket he'd given her. "Sorry for falling asleep on you… literally."

Ben waved it off. "It's cool. It looked like you needed a good rest anyway. Are you feeling better?"

Emma was thankful she couldn't reach out to other minds while sleeping. That would make dreaming more complicated than it needed to be. Now that she was awake, there were familiar echoes from the people around her, and it was much louder than  it was  in Boston.  'That's what I get for moving to New York , I suppose .'  Emma quickly latched onto Ben's white noise and breathed a sigh of relief. "It was one of my nicer ones. So, already here?"

Ben smiled. "Yep. We've arrived."

The two stood up, grabbed their bags, and exited the train. 

The grand expanse of Grand Central unfolded before them—the high, arched ceiling, the massive chandeliers, the marble floors.

Ben couldn't help but notice Emma looking up at the ceiling, momentarily mesmerized by the station's grandeur. He chuckled softly. "Pretty impressive, huh?"

Emma nodded as she took in the sight. "Yeah..."

They walked side by side through the  throng  of people. 

Compared to Boston, this was all new for Emma. 

"So," Ben glanced at her. "First impressions?"

"Loud, "  Emma smirked. "But... exciting. "

"That's New York for you. It's full of surprises." Ben had been to New York on his prior Earth, and it seemed the atmosphere was the same.

They reached the main terminal and read the time on the iconic center clock.

"So, what's the plan now? "  she asked.

"We've got time to drop off our stuff before lunch. Any preference?"

" Uh, just anything simple. "

" Signature New York pizza it is!"

Emma rolled her eyes in amusement. Granted, she was in the mood for it now that he brought it up. "So, what do we do first? "  Despite having moved out of her parent's home, the transition was  rather  haphazard. "There's a lot of things I have to do, from exams to applications."

Ben stopped beside her and gave a slight nudge. "Calm down. You don't have to do everything all at once. When we get settled, you can start planning your schedule. One step at a time, okay? We've got a whole city to explore.""

Emma nodded slowly. "Yeah... one step at a time."

Ben smiled reassuringly. "Exactly.  First  step, drop off our bags. Then we'll go from there."

Emma took a breath. "Right... So, what hotel are we staying at?"

He smirked. "You'll like it. Real modern."

Emma blinked. "Oh, okay. "  

Ben and Emma exited the station and hailed a cab. He held the door open for her. "Ladies first."

She glanced at the cab and then back at Ben. "Why, thank you."

Ben patted the top of the cab. "Edison, Times Square. "

" You got it!"

Emma smirked. "Center of the action. Nice."

They  both  climbed in and looked out the window as they traveled through the city. As expected of the busy New York streets, there were honking cars and distant chatter. Ben sat in the back seat, one arm resting against the door as he looked out the window. Emma sat beside him, focused on the blur of buildings. The cab driver barely acknowledged them as he hummed  along  to a classic rock radio station.

"I think that's the fourth variation of Ray's Pizza, "  Ben said. "Finding the best one might take time."

Emma chuckled. "I'm sure you'll get through them eventually.  You know,  even though my family is  rich , they never listened to me about wanting to visit New York.   

"I guess I can understand. Not all of it is the high society type. "  Ben smiled faintly. "It's got a charm if what I've seen in movies is true. "

"Let's hope. "  Emma leaned her arm against the door. "Ever heard that rumor about dropping a penny over the side of the Empire State Building? "

" Yeah, but there's no way that's true. "

" What makes you say that? "

" That place has got to have thousands of visitors a week. "  He rolled his eyes. "If even a tenth of the people tried chucking coins over the side, we would have gotten major news stories by now."

She smirked. "True. So what you're saying is. You'd be more than willing to do that with me without feeling guilty."

He smirked. "You could have just asked, and I would have said yes. Never been to the building either."

Emma rested her head back against the seat. "I could, but that would be the easy way."

#

Eventually, the cab pulled up to the curb in front of a modest hotel, and Ben reached into his pocket to pay the driver. 

Ben grabbed his bag from the trunk and nodded toward the entrance. "Come on, let's get checked in."

Emma followed as they walked up the steps. When they stepped into the lobby,  there were  a few other guests milled around, but it was mostly quiet. 

The front desk clerk, a middle-aged woman with a polite smile, greeted them as they approached. "Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"

Ben nodded and pulled out his phone, showing her the details. "Yeah, two adjacent rooms under Tennyson."

The clerk glanced at the screen, typing something into the computer. "Alright, I see it here. Two rooms. You'll be on the fifth floor. "  The clerk handed them two key cards and smiled. "Here you go. Room 510 for you, "  she said, looking at Ben, "and room 509 for your friend. "  She glanced over at Emma with a friendly nod.

"Thanks, "  Ben said, taking both cards before handing one to Emma. "Separate rooms, "  he added with a chuckle. "Didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

Emma looked at the key card in her hand and  gave a small, appreciative smile .  "Thanks. I  really  appreciate that. "

" Yeah, I figured you'd want some privacy after everything. No pressure to eat out and hang out tonight."

They reached the elevator, and the car began its slow ascent. When the elevator chimed and the doors opened, they stepped into a quiet hallway. Ben led the way to their rooms. 

"So, here we are, "  Ben said, leaning against the doorframe. "Your room's right next to mine, so if you need anything, just knock."

Emma gave him a nod, her fingers still playing with the key card in her hand. "I think I can manage for the most part."

Emma unlocked her door first. She opened it to find a cozy, furnished room.  Emma took in the space—clean, simple, and private .  It  was way better than the alternative: wandering around New York without a plan.

Emma dropped her bags by the door and plopped right onto the mattress. "So soft. "

" I take it that you like the place."

Her voice  was muffled  into a pillow, but the thumbs up said it all.

"I'll leave you to get settled, "  Ben said, stepping back toward the door. "If you need anything, I'll be next door."

Emma rolled over to face him. "Thanks, Ben... For everything. Really. "

"Don't mention it, "  he replied with a casual wave before exiting.

#

Emma sat hunched over a stack of textbooks.  This  had become her routine for the past few weeks: poring over practice exams, brushing up on math and reading comprehension, and tackling essay prompts. She was preparing for her GED before she could even think about applying to Empire State University.

Ben walked into the room, his phone and a bottle of water in the other. He raised a brow at the sight of her buried in books. "Still going at it, huh?"

Emma glanced up from her notebook. "Yeah... I've been stuck on this section for an hour now. Math was never my strong suit."

He set the bottle down on the table beside her and sat on the couch. "I hear you.  School  was rough for me, too."

She set her pencil down. "It doesn't feel like it sometimes. I just want to pass this stupid test and get on with the application."

Ben chuckled. "Trust me, you're making progress. The GED's just the first step."

Emma stretched her arms. "You sound so sure about that. "

" Because I've seen it happen before. "  Ben gave her a reassuring smile. "It's not easy, but you've already proven you've got the determination. Now it's just a matter of keeping at it."

Emma studied him for a moment. Despite everything, Ben had been nothing but supportive. "I just... I don't want to mess this up... This  chance , I mean. It feels like my only shot at something better."

Ben nodded. "I get that. But you're not going to mess it up. You've already gotten this far, right? "  Ben glanced at the clock on the wall. "Well, you've been at it for hours. Maybe it's time for a break? You could use some fresh air, maybe clear your head before diving back into it."

She considered it for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, maybe you're right. A break sounds good."

As she stood up, Ben grabbed his jacket. "Come on, I'll walk with you. We can grab some coffee or something."

Emma smiled and grabbed her coat. "Okay. Just as long as we don't talk about school."

Ben chuckled as they stepped out. "Deal. Just coffee."

A Week Later

A Week Later

Emma paced back and forth across the living room, her hands clutching the unopened letter from Empire State University like it was a bomb about to go off. Her breath was shallow, and her mind raced with good and bad possibilities.  She glanced at the envelope for the hundredth time ,  but  she  couldn't bring herself to tear it open.

Ben sat on the couch. "You know, the letter isn't going to open itself. "

Emma shot him a nervous look. "What if it's a rejection? I've put so much into this, and if it's a 'no, '  I don't know what I'll do. "

Ben's expression softened. "Emma, you've worked your butt off for this. There's no reason to think it's bad news.  You've  been studying nonstop, aced the GED, and  you've  got  the  high school grades.  You've earned this. "

Emma stopped pacing and turned to face him. "But what if I'm not good enough? What if... I don't belong there? "

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Come on. You didn't do all this just to doubt yourself now. You belong there, Emma.  This  is just the part where you have to believe it. "

She stared at the letter. It was hard to shake the nagging voice in her head.

Ben stood up from the couch, walked over to her, and gently  placed a hand on  her shoulder. "Look, no matter what's in that envelope, it's not the  end of the world . If  it's  a yes, you will start an amazing new chapter in your life. And if it's not... we figure it out. We'll find another way. You've got options. "

Emma looked up at him . She  took a deep breath and nodded.  "Okay... okay. "  She slowly tore open the envelope. Her eyes scanned the words as her heart pounded in her chest. For a moment, she said nothing.

Ben waited.

Then, a small smile crept onto her face as she looked up at him. "I got in."

Ben broke into a grin, too. "I told you. "

Emma laughed. Relief washed over her. She clutched the letter to her chest. "I can't believe it. I  actually  got in. "

Ben clapped her on the shoulder. "Congrats, Emma. You earned it. "

She laughed again, this time more freely. "Thank you. "  She pulled him into a hug. "For everything. "

Ben waved her thanks off with a smile. "It was all you in the end. "

Emma's nerves finally settled.

Canada

Weapon X Facility

The corridors echoed with footsteps as Wolverine, Steve, and Laura sprinted through the hallway.

"Faster, kid! "  Logan glanced over his shoulder at Laura. She kept pace easily, her eyes darting around.

Steve was in the lead, his shield strapped tightly to his arm. "There's gotta be another exit! "  

Suddenly, a door at the far end of the corridor slammed open, and more soldiers flooded in. All were in tactical gear, each armed with automatic rifles drawn. "They've cut us off! Get behind me! "  Steve shouted, raising his shield. Vibranium absorbed the impact, sparks flying. He pushed forward, acting as a barrier for the others.

Wolverine's claws extended as he crouched low beside Steve. "Get me close, Cap. I'll take care of these tin cans."

The man smirked. "Thanks for using my title."

Logan wasn't sure why that slipped from his mouth. "Oh, shut up and do it."

Steve nodded, bracing himself as they advanced. "On my mark."

The girl crept next to Steve. "I'll make your opening. "  

"Laura… "

" Trust me. Please… I'm…fighting for my freedom. "

" Okay…"

Laura darted forward. The soldiers barely had time to react before she was up close, slicing through rifles.

"Go! "  Steve shouted, slamming his shield into one of the soldiers, knocking him out cold.

Logan leaped over Steve's shoulder and landed in the middle of the remaining guards. Bullets riddled his torso but failed to slow him down, thanks to his healing factor. He plowed into them.  Claws  slicing through their armor, sending them to the floor. 

Steve smirked as he threw his shield, watching it ricochet off two guards and return to his hand. "You haven't lost your edge."

A few soldiers tried to retreat, but Laura flipped over a soldier's head and landed behind him. Before the guard could raise his gun, Laura's claws were already embedded in his side. She kicked off the wall, launching herself into another group and cutting down two more soldiers.

"You're doing great, Laura! "  Steve called out as more soldiers swarmed into the hallway. He moved right behind her, deflecting shots. "Keep going! "  he barked at Laura, who nodded and darted  to the side . When one came toward her, she sliced their gun in half before kicking him into a wall.

"Not bad yourself, "  Wolverine grunted, ripping a soldier's helmet off and slamming his head into the wall. Wolverine tore a soldier's rifle in half, tossing the pieces aside like garbage. "The kid's a natural. That sounds like a bad thing. "

" It is, but like father, like daughter. "  Two soldiers came at Steve, swinging their bayonets, but Steve parried with his shield and delivered a crushing punch to the first man's jaw, knocking him out cold. He turned to the second soldier and slammed the edge of his shield into his gut, sending him sprawling. 

"Says you…"

Laura landed on one of the soldiers and disarmed him. Another soldier lunged at her with a taser, but Laura's foot connected with his chest, sending him crashing into the ceiling.

Logan slashed through another soldier. 

Steve slammed his shield into another soldier, disarming him with a swift uppercut and knocking him out with a backhand from the shield. 

"Get to the door! "  Steve shouted, deflecting more gunfire. He grabbed a fallen soldier's grenade, yanked the pin out with his teeth, and lobbed it. The blast spread their enemy out, allowing the trio to break through.

Wolverine ripped through the remaining guards in a fury. Steve, already clearing a path with his shield, sprinted for the door. Laura, covered in cuts and bruises, was the first to reach the heavy metal door. She slammed her claws into the control panel, sparks flying as it short-circuited the lock, forcing the door open.

Steve and Logan dove through the open door as more soldiers rounded the corner behind them, unloading more gunfire. After Laura dived through, Steve slammed the door shut, ripping off a nearby pipe to bar the door closed.

They  thought they had gained some distance  for a brief moment , but the echoing shout down the hall shattered that hope.

"GAIJIN! "  Lady Deathstrike's unmistakeable voice rang out

Laura tensed. Steve's grip tightened on his shield. Logan growled low in his throat.  They were backed  into a corner. The only way out was through the entire Weapon X Team, all waiting for blood.

"End of the line, runts! "  Sabretooth cracked his knuckles with a predatory grin. "Got any last words? "

Wolverine's claws extended with a metallic  SNIKT , the sound a promise of violence. "Yeah... TWO! "

Sabretooth's feral grin widened as he shifted his gaze to Steve. "I've got unfinished business with you, Captain, "  he said, his tone dripping with menace.

Steve's eyes narrowed. He knew he recognized that voice, that facial structure. "I thought you looked familiar... "  His brow furrowed as memories from years ago flashed in his mind. "Italy?"

Sabretooth let out a dark chuckle. "Yeah... Italy. I owe you a lot more than you think, old man."

Deadpool twirled his katanas with flair. "For the record, none of us are Nazis!  I mean,  sure, questionable choices  were made , but let's not get crazy with the accusations. "

Omega Red glared at him. "Shut up, Deadpool."

Deadpool huffed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine, I'll shut up. Let's just dance! "  He flipped his katanas into an offensive stance, bouncing on his heels like a man about to start a boxing match.

The two groups stared each other down. Then, without another word, the charge began.

Steve hurled his shield through the air as it ricocheted off the walls, aimed directly at Sabretooth. 

Sabretooth ducked, but the shield clipped his shoulder, sending him stumbling back. 

Logan lunged toward him and met Sabretooth in a clash of their claws.

Laura went straight for Lady Deathstrike. The older woman's claws swiped down, but Laura anticipated the move. She swerved, slashing upward at Deathstrike's midsection, their blades colliding  as well .

Deadpool cackled as he ran straight for Steve, swords drawn. "Oh, Captain! I know you were in Europe, but let's see how well you go against the skills from the rising sun! Go  katana  action!"

Steve blocked the first with his shield and rolled out of the way of the second. Steve grunted as he ducked a strike and countered with a punch to Deadpool's gut, sending him staggering back.

Deadpool groaned. "Oof! Looks like Captain's still got it! "  He swirled around, flailing one katana in Steve's direction. "Settle an argument for me. How did you survive up to now? Super soldier formula? Cryogenically frozen? Deal with Lady Death?"

Steve deflected another swing and shoved Deadpool backward. "Well, you got one of them correct."

Deadpool paused. "Wait. Which one. "  He got no reply.

Meanwhile, Wolverine and Sabretooth's battle was a savage blur. Claws ripped through flesh and bone, only for it to heal seconds later. 

Sabretooth snarled. "I'm gonna rip your guts out, Logan! "  His claws swiped at Wolverine's torso, but Logan ducked and countered with a brutal slash across Sabretooth's chest, spraying blood across the floor.

"You've been saying that for years, Creed. Still waiting! "  Wolverine spat back. He tackled Sabretooth into the wall.

Laura was fast, but Lady Deathstrike had experience. Every time Laura tried to land a blow, Deathstrike parried.

"You're good, child. "  Deathstrike hissed. "Were you not the blood of my enemy, I would have taken you into the clan myself. Sadly, a blood daughter is very unlikely for me."

Laura narrowed and thought of Sarah Kinney. "You would have been a terrible mother. "  She faked a low strike, causing Deathstrike to lunge downward. Laura used the opening to leap onto Deathstrike's shoulders, slashing at her neck and sending her reeling back in pain.

Seeing an opening, Omega Red jumped in, and coils lashed out toward Steve, wrapping around his shield arm. "You cannot stop us, Captain, "  Omega Red tried to pull Steve off balance.

Steve gritted his teeth, muscles straining against the pull of Omega Red's coils. "I've heard that before, "  Steve muttered before yanking his arm back with all his strength, pulling Omega Red forward just enough to slam his shield into Omega Red's face, breaking the man's nose with a sickening  crack .

Elsewhere

Doctor Thorton sat in a secured room. He leaned toward monitors. For the past several minutes, he had watched the scuffle unfold. It wasn't good news that the escapees were holding their ground.

But it wasn't the chaos of the battle that had Thorton on edge. It was the man fighting alongside Wolverine and the girl . The  tall blonde with the shield. 

"Impossible... "  he muttered  to himself , leaning closer to the screen.

On the feed, the man moved like the ideal soldier. His shield deflected bullets while his fists knocked soldiers unconscious with single blows. The shield... It was the iconic red, white, and blue with a star. It couldn't be.

Thorton's fingers quickly tapped his keyboard, pulling up a different set of files. He brought up archived footage from decades ago—footage he had studied countless times in his research. The same man, the same shield, fought in World War II's European theater.

"Project Rebirth... "  Thorton whispered, disbelief setting in.

He watched the cams again. The man expertly parried Deadpool's sword and headbutted him. There was no mistaking it.  This  had to be Captain America. The first Super Soldier.  Weapon I.

He had no idea how it was possible, but he didn't care about the whys. The pieces fell into place. He had dedicated his life to the Weapon X project, creating the perfect weapon. Wolverine, Deadpool, and even Omega Red. All were products of the same ambition, modeled after a single original source.

But now... Steve Rogers, Captain America, the original experiment—the man who had inspired the entire program—was alive.

The official records said he had vanished at the end of World War II, presumed dead. How could he have survived? And more importantly—why now? Why was he here, fighting alongside Wolverine and that girl?

Thorton clenched his fists. "Of all people…"

The implications were enormous. Captain America wasn't just some outdated experiment. He was the pinnacle of everything Weapon X sought to replicate. 

And now, he was standing in the way of everything.

He couldn't let Rogers leave the facility. If the world learned he was still with us, the race for a new super-soldier generation would  be restarted  with a target painted on Rogers' back.

Thorton tapped a button on his desk, opening a secure line to his remaining operatives. "Listen carefully. The blonde man you're fighting, he's Captain America. Weapon I."

Judging by the expressions on their faces, it seemed that they already figured it out before him. And they decided not to tell him… 

"Change of plans. Do not kill the Captain. I repeat, you are to capture him alive."

A brief silence was on the other end before Deadpool's voice came through. "Wait, wait, wait—you're telling us we can't kill Captain America? Come on, Doc, you're asking a lot. "

Sabretooth's growl cut in. "Alive? What the hell are you talking about, Thorton? You know what he's capable of. "

Thorton's jaw clenched. "I don't care. He's more valuable to us alive than dead. He's the original source of the program. The Super Soldier serum runs through his veins. Do you understand what that means? He is the key to perfecting the next generation of soldiers. We cannot afford to lose this opportunity."

Lady Deathstrike joined the conversation. "He caused this entire mess, and you want him unharmed? "

" I never said unharmed, "  Thorton replied. "Incapacitate him. I don't care how you do it—just make sure he's breathing when you bring him in."

Omega Red's grumbled, trying to grapple the Captain. "And the other two? "

Sabretooth's growl deepened. "Yeah. What about Wolverine and the kid? "

Thorton's eyes flicked, watching Logan uppercut Sabretooth, who legswept back. "They still have value, but Rogers is the priority, non-negotiable. "  The doctor chuckled. "It would be interesting to see how well the Super Serum interacts with mutant DNA."

Deadpool pumped a fist as he dodged a shield throw. "I'm getting an upgrade baby."

Sabretooth braced as a rebounded shield struck him from the left, and Wolverine came in from the right. "Like hell, you'll be getting juiced first. "

" Understand this—if you capture him, you'll have proven yourselves invaluable to the future of Weapon X."

Deadpool grinned. "So, no killing the star-spangled man.  Got it.  That's not confusing at all. "

Thorton's patience was wearing thin. "If we can get Rogers  back  under control, we'll be unstoppable. The serum in his blood could give us the edge we've been looking for.  Every failure we've encountered in this program could be fixed  with him. Do not kill Captain America."

A tense silence followed before Sabretooth spoke again. "Fine. We'll take him down and bring him to you. "

" Understood, "  Thorton replied. "Do your job. "  He cut the line, exhaling slowly. His eyes returned to the screens. 

Steve Rogers jumped toward X-23 and protected her from Deadpool's sidearm. Laura took the opportunity to help the man and slice off Deadpool's right arm.

"Seriously? Again, kid? What did I ever do to you?"

Laura grumbled. "I hated 'Catch the Bullet '! "

" Oh, right. How about we play a new game?!  

"Captain America, "  Thorton muttered to himself. "You may have been the first, but soon, you'll be just another asset. "  Everything was now riding on this. If they captured Rogers, Weapon X would reach heights it had never dreamed of. But if they failed… Thorton shook his head. Failure wasn't an option.  Not this time.

Chapter Text

New York, Times Square

Ben stood outside Emma's door, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. A bunch of luggage sat at his feet. He checked his phone out of habit while waiting for her to finish inside.

A few days ago, they had gone shopping for all the college dorm essentials. It had been a busy day, but Emma seemed more excited than nervous, which was a good sign.

As Ben wondered if she needed help, the door clicked open. He turned his head—and immediately froze.

Emma stepped out, grinning widely, and her new look surprised him. Her dark hair was now bright blonde. She adjusted a new pair of stylish glasses on her nose, and her freshly painted pink nails matched her trendy outfit. She wore a denim jacket over a fitted blouse, gray jeans, and black heels.

For a second, Ben just stared, completely surprised.

Emma noticed, her grin widening as she teased, "You like?"

Ben coughed awkwardly into his fist, trying to regain his composure. "You definitely look... confident."

"Yup!" Emma twirled around, enjoying his reaction. "New school year, new me."

Ben smirked. "Well, it suits you."

Emma adjusted her bag strap. "Thanks. I figured, if I'm going to do this, I might as well look good doing it, right?"

Ben nodded. "You're owning it, that's for sure."

Emma's grin softened. "Thanks, Ben. It... feels nice to be free like this. My parents would have hated this."

Ben smiled warmly. "Glad to hear it. Now, ready to haul these over to campus?"

Emma rolled her eyes but kept her grin. "Let's do it."

Ben and Emma each grabbed a piece of large luggage and made their way toward the elevator.

Empire State University

Exiting the cab, Ben and Emma arrived on campus with all her stuff and started heading toward the dorms. The campus was bustling with students, everyone moving in for the start of a new semester. Emma looked around, her eyes wide as she took in the excitement and energy all around her. It felt surreal—she had worked so hard to get here, and now it was finally happening.

"Thanks again for helping with the move." Emma glanced at Ben.

Ben shook his head with a smile. "Nah, it's fine. You have enough on your plate without worrying about throwing your back out on the first day."

Emma half-smiled, her eyes scanning the campus, taking it all in. The whole thing felt surreal. After all the studying, the tests, and the stress of waiting for that acceptance letter, she was finally here.

Ben nudged her with his elbow. "You okay?"

"It feels like it was just yesterday I was trying to find another retail job." Emma let out a small breath. "I don't even know what I'm more nervous about," Emma admitted. "Meeting new people? Keeping up with classes? Or trying to live in a dorm with a total stranger."

"You'll be fine."

Emma considered how much she had relied on Ben over the past few weeks. The steady white noise she sensed in his mind had been a comfort, keeping her grounded. As they approached the dorms, she realized that being alone meant adjusting and finding her way without Ben constantly by her side. The thought scared her, but this was her chance to grow and prove she could live independently.

They finally reached the courtyard near the dormitory, and Ben set down the luggage, wiping his forehead. "We're almost there."

Emma nodded, her gaze drifting around the courtyard. Students were everywhere—some chatting in groups, others sitting on benches, absorbed in their books or phones. She knew she needed to take a step and let herself experience everything without the crutch of Ben's presence in her mind.

She took a deep breath, focusing inward, and slowly allowed herself to disconnect from the comforting white noise that Ben provided. Immediately, she felt a flood of thoughts and emotions hit her: anxiety, excitement, curiosity, lust... It was overwhelming initially, but she took another deep breath, letting it wash over her. 'Don't tune into the thoughts.'

Ben noticed her expression. "You okay?"

Emma looked at him and smiled. "Yeah... just getting my thoughts in order."

#

Ben and Emma entered the dorm and down the hallway. The building buzzed with students moving in.

Emma checked her room number and led them to the third floor. "You know, I was kind of hoping my roommate wouldn't show up for at least another hour so I could settle in," she said.

Ben laughed. "Hey, you never know. She might turn out to be cool."

"Yeah, maybe," Emma said with a shrug.

When they finally reached the designated room, they noticed a brunette in a pink sweater standing at the doorway, apparently trying to push out two people—unmistakably her parents.

"Your father and I think this room should be asbestos-proofed, chipmunk!" her mom insisted, looking around with a worried expression.

"Mom! Dad! Will you go to the airport already?!" the girl snapped, her face scrunched in frustration. "You're driving me—"

The father turned and noticed Ben and Emma standing behind them. He raised an eyebrow. "And who's this?"

The girl threw her hands up. "How should I know? I just got here, Dad! Now, will you two please leave?!"

Emma stepped forward with a polite smile, holding out her hand to him. "I'm Emma. I think I'm your daughter's roommate."

Ben put down one of the luggages to free up a hand and did the same. "Ben. Emma's friend, just helping her settle in."

The father shook both their hands with a wide smile. "Jack McDermott. And this is my wife, Jill. Just like the nursery rhyme. It's a panic, ain't it?"

Ben and Emma shared a quick look, both forcing polite smiles. "We suppose," Ben replied.

Jack turned back to Emma, his tone shifting to something more inquisitive. "So, you're going to be sharing living quarters with our little chipmunk, hmm?"

Emma and Ben blinked at the nickname. "Chip...?" Emma started, confused.

The daughter had clearly reached her limit. "Enough!" she shouted before grabbing Emma by the arm and pulling her into the room. She also allowed Ben to enter before slamming the door behind them with a heavy thud.

Once the door was closed, the girl took a deep breath, her frustration visibly melting away. She then extended her hand toward Emma, finally offering a proper introduction. "Christie McDermott."

Emma shook her hand, smiling warmly. "Emma Frost." She set her suitcases down at the foot of the bed, looking around the room.

Ben, still holding a box, gave a small nod. "Ben Tennyson."

Christie raised an eyebrow at Ben, her lips curving into a smirk. Then she turned back to Emma, giving her an appraising look. "So, we're roomies. Tell me, do you like scented candles?" she asked, her tone lighter now as if already trying to bond.

Emma blinked at the sudden change of topic but then smiled. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Christie clapped her hands together. "Great! Because I have a few, and I figured we'd set the vibe, you know?" She motioned around the small, undecorated room. "We've got a lot of work to make this place livable."

Emma chuckled. "Yeah, I'm definitely on board with that."

Ben cleared his throat. "Alright, where should I put all this?"

Christie waved a hand toward an empty corner. "Over there is fine, thanks. Wow, Emma, nice of your boyfriend to come along, huh?" she teased.

Emma and Ben show a light blush before looking away from each other.

Ben rubbed the back of his neck with a chuckle. "We're actually not like that..."

Emma scratched her cheek. "But we are good friends."

Christie giggled mischievously. "Right..." They dropped the subject. Christie gave him a mock salute. "I'm sure she appreciates the assist, hero."

Later

After spending about a half hour unpacking, it was time for him to leave.

Emma turned to Ben. "Thanks for helping me move in."

Ben flashed a warm smile. "Anytime. You two have fun getting settled." He pointed at Christie. "And take care of my friend, alright?"

Christie put a hand over her heart, giving a dramatic nod. "Cross my heart."

Emma walked up to him. This was it. This was what she was aiming for. She couldn't help but miss Ben. As far as she knew, he was one of the few people who didn't discriminate after learning about her powers. She wouldn't admit it, but it helped that he was kinda cute.

"Well, I guess this is it," Ben started.

Emma nodded, her smile faltering slightly. "Yeah... I guess so." She looked down at her hands, fidgeting slightly. "It's going to feel... different without you here."

He chuckled. "We'll still be in the same city, Emma."

"I know," Emma interrupted. "You're just a call away... I want to say thank you, Ben. For everything. I don't know how I'd have managed all this without you." Her imagination went to something like using her illusions and mind reading to cheat people out of money on the street.

Ben shook his head. "Don't think about the what-ifs. Think about what you're going to do moving forward." He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and pulled her into a gentle hug. "I'm proud of you," he said quietly.

Emma hugged him back tightly, closing her eyes. "Thank you. I don't think I could ever repay you for everything you've done."

Ben pulled back slightly, looking at her with a reassuring smile. "You don't owe me anything, Emma. Just go be amazing, okay? If anything, pay it forward to someone else who needs a pick me up."

Emma nodded, her smile growing as she quickly wiped her eyes. "I'll do my best," she said.

Just as Ben was about to leave, he took out a small envelope from his jacket and handed it to her. "Here. It's not much, but it'll help if you need anything while settling in."

Emma blinked, surprised. "You've already done so much, Ben. I... I can't keep taking from you like this."

"Hey, I'm just ensuring you have what you need. It's not a handout. Think of it as an investment in your future. You still have to buy your textbooks, no?"

"Oh, right..." Emma's lips curved into a small, grateful smile. She nodded, sliding the envelope into her bag. "Thanks. Really. You're kind of a real catch." Emma kissed the hero on the cheek before nudging him out the door.

Meanwhile, Christie stood there with a shit-eating grin. "I fucking knew it..."

#

Over the next week, Emma's college life seemed to go as expected. She quickly earned a reputation as the "smart" one in her classes, always having the right answers. Even the professors wanted someone besides her to answer.

It wasn't long before a basketball player started trying to woo her, showing up after class and trying to impress her. Emma found it flattering on some level, but she focused more on her studies after everything she went through. Granted, the guy's initial plan to bump into her while she was carrying a bunch of papers to ask her out didn't help.

What surprised her more was seeing her old high school teacher and first love, Ian Kendall, on campus. He was tutoring Christie, who seemed to be crushing on him hard. That brought up... complicated feelings...

One afternoon, Emma was walking back from class when she came across a protest against mutants. A group of people had gathered near one of the campus buildings, holding signs that read things like "Mutants Are Dangerous" and "Keep Our Schools Safe." Emma felt her stomach twist as she watched them chant. Was she one of these mutants? It would explain her powers.

Emotions started to build as she mindread the anti-mutant sentiment from students and professors. Christie started lying about dating Ian. A house party turned violent because a rival sports team accused them of having mutants. This all culminated with her first meeting with another mutant telepath: Astrid Bloom.

Perhaps she should finally give Ben a call.

Canada

Weapon X Facility

Professor Thorton watched multiple screens with a grim expression. Since giving the order he saw the battle taking place, and what he saw was not encouraging.

The fight between Wolverine and Sabretooth was a bloody struggle. Wolverine's claws clashed against Sabretooth's as they tore into each other. They were evenly matched. Professor Thorton watched as neither could gain the upper hand.

With Wolverine

Sabretooth's claws slashed at Logan's torso, but Logan plunged his claws into Sabretooth's side.

Blood spattered the walls. He gripped Logan by the throat, lifting him off the ground and slamming him into the wall.

The concrete cracked behind Logan as he swung his claws into Sabretooth's arm.

Sabretooth snarled and threw him to the floor.

Logan got back to his feet, blood dripping from his wounds, but his healing factor was already kicking in. He grinned, wiping blood from his mouth.

With a feral growl, Wolverine lunged at Sabretooth, slashing wildly. Sabretooth blocked the first strike with his forearm, but Logan was relentless, twisting and stabbing his claws into Sabretooth's ribs. The bigger man howled, his claws grazing Logan's face, leaving deep gashes across his cheek.

Wolverine barely flinched. He'd felt worse.

Sabretooth kicked Logan in the chest, sending him sprawling across the floor, but Logan quickly rolled to his feet, crouched low like a predator.

Wolverine charged forward again, claws aimed for Sabretooth's throat. Sabretooth sidestepped, grabbing Logan by the waist and slamming him into the ground. He raised his hand to deliver a fatal strike, but Logan was quicker, thrusting his claws upward and sinking them deep into Sabretooth's chest.

Sabretooth staggered back, clutching the wound, but his healing factor kicked in almost immediately, closing the wound as fast as it had been made. He smiled through the pain.

Sabretooth lunged again, claws aiming for Logan's heart, but Wolverine was ready. He sidestepped at the last moment, slashing Sabretooth across the back, sending him crashing into the wall. Logan was on him before Sabretooth could recover, driving his claws into his stomach with a savage growl.

Sabretooth roared, trying to shake him off, but Logan twisted the blades deeper, his face inches from Sabretooth's.

#

Thorton grimaced. He knew how strong Logan was. Seeing him hold his own against Sabretooth only reminded him of why Wolverine had been such an asset.

"Come on, Creed," Thorton muttered under his breath. He turned to the other screen.

With Steve

Lady Deathstrike moved first, her razor-sharp claws surging forward with deadly precision.

Steve raised his shield to block, but the impact sent him skidding back.

Omega Red's coils shot toward him, trying to ensnare his body.

Steve ducked under the first coil to block Lady Deathstrike's next flurry of attacks.

A flurry of claws aimed to kill, and Steve deflected her strikes using his shield.

She slashed for his head, but Steve moved under her arm to deliver a powerful kick to her midsection.

Lady Deathstrike staggered back, wiping blood from her mouth. "I can see why my father wanted his ultimate soldiers after the war," she sneered. "Your reputation preceded you, Captain."

Steve tightened his grip on his shield, keeping an eye on Omega Red's movements. "Unfortunately for me, I only served in Europe."

Omega Red's coils snaked forward with terrifying speed.

Steve dodged to the side, raising his shield to deflect one of the tendrils. Lady Deathstrike lunged at him again, her claws slicing across his side. The blow tore through his uniform, drawing blood. Steve winced but remained focused.

Lady Deathstrike leaped forward to strike at Steve's neck. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding her deadly claws, and countered with a spinning strike of his shield. The edge caught her across the jaw.

Omega Red's coils managed to wrap around Steve's leg. Omega Red yanked Steve off his feet and slammed him into the ground. Steve's shield clattered beside him, but he wasn't finished. He grabbed his shield and swung it down, striking the coil that held his leg. The force was enough to loosen the grip slightly, and Steve kicked out with his free leg to knock Omega Red back.

He quickly got back to his feet, just in time to see Lady Deathstrike lunging. Steve sidestepped her attack, slamming his shield into her back. She crashed into a wall, dazed.

Omega Red's coils came at him from the other side. Steve spun on his heel, ducking under one tendril while slamming his shield into the other, deflecting it away. He used the momentum to close the distance between himself and Omega Red, charging forward. Steve swung his shield with all his strength, the vibranium edge slamming into Omega Red's midsection, forcing the air from his lungs.

With Laura

Deadpool hurtled out of nowhere, yelling, "BANZAI!" as he launched himself at Laura, his katanas raised above his head. Laura's instincts took over, her eyes narrowing as she moved with lightning speed. With a sharp snikt, her adamantium claws extended, and she swung them upward, slicing clean through Deadpool's arm.

"AAH! Ow!" Deadpool tumbled to the ground. He looked down at the stump, then turned to see his severed parts lying a few meters away. "Dude, that is just not cool!"

Laura glared at him.

Deadpool looked between her and his arm with a grin. "Wow! Look at that! Could you give me a hand?" He giggled to himself. "Get it? A hand?"

Laura's expression was something between annoyance and disbelief. "I hate you..."

Deadpool was unfazed. "Just kidding! All right... I'll go get it." He casually jogged over to his severed limb. "Yep, still good!"

The girl ignored the idiot and moved to support Steve.

#

Professor Thorton pinched the bridge of his nose. "Perhaps I should have sewn his mouth shut..." Wait. Where were Wolverine and Sabretooth headed?

#

As Wolverine continued to fight against Sabretooth, they started crashing through several walls. They'd been trading blows for what felt like hours. When Wolverine was through another wall, he felt something sparking behind him. Looking back, he found a damaged security terminal with several screens on the Wendigos they spotted earlier. Warning lights blared.

"Oh no..."

Sabretooth lunged at him. Logan rolled away as Sabretooth crashed into the control console behind him. Sparks flew as Sabretooth's claws tore through the equipment.

Wolverine heard a low growl from the computer speakers.

"Asshole! Do you know what you've done?"

Sabretooth charged again, this time catching Logan in the chest with a brutal swipe.

Logan staggered back.

"You worried about something, Logan? You look distracted," Sabretooth mocked.

Wolverine pointed at the monitor.

They saw the containment glass cracking on the screen.

"Ah..."

The thick glass wall of the nearest Wendigo containment cage splintering. The infected beast inside let out a blood-curdling roar, its massive body pounding against the barrier.

"Great. You've done it now."

The glass eventually gave way. The Wendigo burst from its cage, howling and sniffing the air. It started running—in the same direction Logan traveled when he was there. The other cages began to crack and break as the infected Wendigos, sensing their freedom, tore their way out and followed their leader.

"Now we're in deep. It's got my scent."

Sabretooth grinned. "Is that supposed to be my problem?"

"Just wait till it finds yours again."

"Right..."

The facility's alarms suddenly blared to life, red emergency lights flashing across the room. "Security Breach: Containment Failure. All personnel evacuate immediately."

#

Deadpool eventually pieced himself together, eventually throwing himself into the fray of 3V2. Deadpool managed to separate the super soldier from the little gremlin with a few movements. Deathstrike and Omega could handle the brat, right? At some point, the lights changed, but he didn't know why. In any case, Deadpool focused on Steve Rogers and spun his katanas. "Cap! Buddy! You know, we could make this easy. Just lay down, let me tie you up, and we can chat about freedom and justice."

Steve raised an eyebrow and kept his shield up. "You really think that's going to happen?"

Deadpool sighed. "No, but a guy can dream." He lunged at Steve.

Steve backed away, swung his shield up, deflected Deadpool's blades, and shoved him back.

Deadpool stumbled. Any visible wounds quickly healed over. "Okay, okay, tough guy. I get it. No easy way out." Deadpool pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "Plan B: good old-fashioned restraints!"

Deadpool tried to grab his arm.

Steve twisted away, grabbed Deadpool's wrist, and shoved him against the wall.

The cuffs clattered to the ground, and Steve pinned him with his shield pressed against Deadpool's chest.

"You're not capturing me."

Deadpool looked down at the shield holding him in place. "Oh, come on, Cap! I want those upgrades, baby!"

Steve didn't respond. He pushed Deadpool back, trying to knock him out with a quick strike, but Deadpool ducked under the blow.

Deadpool slipped free, rolling across the floor, grabbing a length of wire from his belt as he popped back to his feet. He swung it toward Steve, trying to wrap it around his arm. Steve sidestepped, slamming his shield against Deadpool's wrist and knocking the wire away.

"Why are you making this so hard?!" Deadpool threw a punch that was easily blocked.

Steve twisted Deadpool's arm behind his back and slammed him into the wall. Deadpool was dazed for a moment.

"You should stay down."

Deadpool blinked up at him, his eyes rolling behind the mask. "Stay down? Cap, have you met me?" He pushed himself back up.

Steve readied his shield. "I was afraid of that."

Deadpool grinned. "You're really good at this, you know. Too good. But I've got one more trick up my sleeve!" He pulled out a small smoke grenade and dropped it on the floor.

The hallway filled with thick smoke. Steve raised his shield, trying to figure out where Deadpool was.

"Come on, Cap! Just give up! I promise I'll tie you up nicely. We can even talk about old war stories while we wait for the others."

Steve listening for any sound. Suddenly, he felt a hand from... behind.

"Wow. You could bounce a quarter off of these."

#

Laura and Lady Deathstrike's claws clashed, and Omega Red tried to ensnare Laura as she darted and dodged.

Lady Deathstrike lunged at Laura, her claws aimed directly at the young mutant's head, but

Laura sidestepped, slashing upward and forcing Lady Deathstrike back.

Omega Red's coils shoot out to catch Laura off guard. One tendril managed to wrap around her arm, and he pulled her toward him.

Laura gritted her teeth, her claws extending further as she fought against Omega Red's crushing grip. Lady Deathstrike advanced, her eyes narrowed with intent to kill.

Suddenly, a bone-chilling roar echoed through the hallway, freezing everyone in place. The Wendigo barreled into the narrow corridor, carrying a bloodied Sabretooth.

Across the room, Deadpool's eyes widened beneath his mask as he quickly released his grip on America's Ass. "Nope! Not today!" He was not dealing with that furball again.

Steve was about to chase after him, but then he saw a battered Wolverine return.

The Wendigo swung Sabretooth into the other Weapon X members like a club. When the beast realized his pseudo-weapon was rather ineffective, it was time to toss it. Sabretooth's body was swung in a circle like a slingshot.

"Oh, no! WAIT!" Sabretooth shouted. He tried to escape, but it was too late.

The Wendigo reared back and threw with full force, sending Sabretooth flying through the air like a ragdoll. He smashed up and out of the facility before disappearing into the woods beyond with a loud crash.

Watching the whole thing from behind a box, Deadpool whistled in awe. "Wow, that's gotta hurt," he said, tilting his head as if he was impressed. He then turned to Lady Deathstrike, who glared toward the Wendigo. "Looks like ol' Sabretooth went for an unexpected flight. Think he'll want frequent flyer miles for that?" Deadpool quipped, earning only a cold, annoyed glare from Lady Deathstrike in response.

Lady Deathstrike's eyes widened, and she immediately broke away from Laura, leaping to the side to avoid being crushed by the now-charging Wendigo. Omega Red barely had time to retract his coils before the Wendigo charged forward, smashing through the corridor walls. Laura saw her chance and sliced through Omega Red's coil, freeing herself to roll away.

The Wendigo roared again, swinging one massive arm in a wide arc. Lady Deathstrike leaped back, her agility barely saving her from being hit. The powerful swipe smashed into Omega Red, sending him crashing into the wall with a loud, bone-shaking impact. Omega Red gasped for breath. He tried to get up, but the Wendigo was already beating down on him. He was left on the floor, down for the count.

The Wendigo, seemingly uninterested in who it struck, continued its rampage. It roared again, charging at Lady Deathstrike, who barely dodged.

Laura ran toward Logan and Steve, not letting the distraction go to waste.

Lady Deathstrike slashed at its thick fur, drawing blood, but the Wendigo barely flinched. Instead, it seemed to grow even more enraged.

The Wendigo swung its arm toward her, sending her stumbling backward. The beast grabbed Lady Deathstrike's arm before she could react.

She struggled to free herself.

It lifted her off the ground with bone-crushing force.

Lady Deathstrike screamed, her bones bending under the impossible strength.

The Wendigo yanked hard, and Lady Deathstrike's arm was ripped clean off, sparks and wires spraying from the torn joint. She screamed in agony, but the Wendigo wasn't done. It grabbed her other arm. With another yank, it tore her second arm, leaving her a broken mess.

#

Thorton realized that the mission had failed. His dream was slipping away. His team was being overwhelmed.

With a frustrated growl, Thorton turned away from the screens. It was time to abandon the facility.

"Retreat..." He moved toward the exit. "Let them have their victory today. But this isn't over. Not by a long shot."

He glanced out the window where the helicopter was waiting, its blades already spinning, ready to take him to safety. He backed up the data, but he still had to do one last thing. He typed in a final command.

The screen flashed red, displaying a warning: "Initiate Self-Destruct Sequence: Y/N?"

Thorton hesitated briefly, but there was no salvaging this mess. Thorton pressed Y.

A mechanical voice echoed. "Self-Destruct Sequence Initiated. The facility will detonate in T-minus 10 minutes. Evacuate immediately."

The countdown flashed across the monitor as Thorton rose from his seat, grabbing his coat and briefcase. The alarms had changed now, the urgent klaxon signaling impending destruction. He hurried out of the control room, moving quickly down the narrow corridor toward the exit where his helicopter waited. As he walked, the floors beneath him vibrated with distant explosions as the destruct sequence began to power down sections of the facility.

He felt a grim satisfaction. If he couldn't have his research, no one would. Wolverine, Steve Rogers, that clone of Logan—they would all burn with this place. He would make sure of it.

Thorton pushed open the heavy doors leading to the helipad, the wind from the helicopter's blades tugging at his coat. The pilot glanced back at him with a questioning look, but Thorton simply waved him off.

"Get us out of here. Now."

The pilot nodded and pulled up on the controls, lifting the helicopter into the air as Thorton settled into his seat.

#

Hearing the announcement of a self-destruct over the intercom, Logan and Steve didn't question Deadpool following them and Laura as the pack of Wendigos chose them as their new targets.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Deadpool shouted, lagging behind the trio. In a burst of inspiration, Deadpool turned and leaped onto the back of a rampaging Wendigo.

"Who wants snacks? YOU do!" Deadpool shouted, yanking a grenade from his belt. He forced it down the Wendigo's throat, patting its head like it was a pet. Then Deadpool jumped off, rolling on the ground before landing alongside Wolverine, Steve, and Laura, who were still running ahead.

"Guys, I think we lost him!" Deadpool called over the thundering noise of footsteps. A second later, the grenade inside the Wendigo exploded, shaking the hallway with the force of the blast. Dust and debris filled the air, and Deadpool triumphantly raised his arms.

"And they all lived happily ever after, except the beast!" Deadpool announced, laughing.

Wolverine glared at him. "Bub... you just made them angrier!"

As the smoke cleared, it revealed about fifteen more infected Wendigo minions. They all turned their heads toward the red-suited mercenary.

"Oh, crap...!" Deadpool muttered.

Wolverine gave Deadpool a wicked smile. "It's time you take one for the team." He looked back at the horde. "He's all yours!" Without warning, Wolverine grabbed Deadpool by the collar and hurled him back.

"Logan?! We're friends! NO! NOOO!" Deadpool's arms flailed as he sailed through the air, straight into the waiting horde.

The Wendigos caught Deadpool and began chomping on his body. Deadpool let out a dramatic wail. "This is NOT how I wanted to go! You guys have terrible table manners!"

Wolverine, Steve, and Laura didn't waste the opportunity. While Deadpool was a distraction, they kept running, pushing towards the exit as the Wendigos munched on Deadpool.

Steve glanced back, concerned. He knew the man had a healing factor, but... "Is he going to be okay?"

Wolverine grunted with exasperation. "He's Deadpool. He'll be fine... eventually."

The rumbling beneath their feet intensified.

"T-minus 60 seconds until final detonation. Evacuate immediately."

Logan ran ahead, hacking through anything blocking their path.

"Just keep moving!" Steve used his shield to cover Laura.

The heat from the initial detonations licked at their heels.

Laura's breath came in ragged gasps as she ran. The raw survival instinct drove her forward. She had come too far to die here.

They turned a corner, and Logan snarled as an exit appeared. Logan slammed into the door, using his claws to pry it open, just as another explosion echoed. The floor beneath them shuddered violently.

"Go! Move!" Logan roared, holding the door open as Steve and Laura rushed past him, out into the cold air. The freezing wind hit them like a slap.

Steve pulled Logan through the doorway just as the final blast wave hit.

The facility behind them erupted in a massive explosion, fire and metal ripping through the building.

The shockwave slammed into them, sending all three lying in the snow.

Steve twisted in mid-air, using his shield to brace against the impact. He hit the ground hard and rolled several feet before stopping.

Logan tumbled beside him, his healing factor already knitting together whatever injuries the blast had caused.

Laura landed in a crouch, sinking into the snow.

For a moment, everything was silent except for the distant crackling of the fire.

Steve groaned, pulling himself up on one knee and wiping the dirt and ash from his face. He looked over to Logan, who was already getting to his feet.

"We made it," Laura said.

Steve nodded. "Barely."

They caught their breath. Looking back, the facility was basically gone, buried under rubble.

Wolverine stood on the edge of the wreckage. He scanned the distant treeline. The scent of the Wendigo was faint. The beast was out there, somewhere. With his previous deal with Department H, he couldn't leave it roaming free.

Steve approached, and Laura trailed behind. "You're staying behind, aren't you?" He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from Logan himself.

Logan gave a slow nod. "Yeah. The Wendigo's still out there. I've got a trail, and I'm not lettin' it disappear again."

Laura remained silent, watching her father.

Steve frowned. "You don't have to do this alone, James."

Logan shook his head. "No. This is somethin' I need to handle for the government." His voice softened as he looked at Laura. "She doesn't deserve to get caught up in this any more than she already has."

Steve followed his gaze, understanding what Logan was asking of him. "And where am I taking her?"

Steve took out the card from earlier. Below the address was a name: Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Steve raised a brow. "You're sure about this?"

Logan nodded. "If anyone can help her, it's him. Charles is... one of the good ones. He'll make sure she's taken care of."

Steve sighed. "And you?"

"I'll be fine. Will meet down there when I'm done."

Laura finally spoke up. "I don't want to leave you."

Logan's expression softened at her. "I know, kid. I have questions for you, but this isn't over yet."

Laura stared at the ground, fists clenched at her sides. "Are you… Are you going to be okay?"

Logan kneeled slightly to meet her gaze. "Kid, I've been through worse. This? This'll be nothin'." He rested a hand briefly on her shoulder, his voice unusually gentle. "You don't worry about me. You take care of yourself. You hear me?"

She looked torn, but something in his voice stopped her. She nodded, though reluctantly. She hesitated but nodded. There was a glimmer of something in her eyes—maybe concern, maybe fear—but she swallowed it down. "Okay… but you better come back. We're not done yet."

Logan made a cocky grin. "I ain't that easy to get rid of." He straightened up and turned to Steve. "Take care of her, Cap. She's tough, but…"

"I will," Steve said firmly. He glanced at Laura, who was still watching Logan, before stepping forward to shake Logan's hand. "You stay safe too. We'll handle things on our end."

Steve clapped a hand on Logan. "Once you've handled things here, you know where to find us."

Logan glanced at both of them one last time. "I'll see you in New York. Just don't expect me to be all touchy-feely when I get there."

Steve chuckled softly, the tension easing for a moment. "Wouldn't dream of it."

With that, Logan turned away, knowing he had a long hunt ahead.

Steve and Laura watched him disappear into the trees.

Laura's grip tightened on the super soldier's hand.

After a moment, Steve spoke, his voice quiet. "You ready?"

Laura took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah… Let's go."

"We've got a long way to New York."

Together, they set off to the States, leaving Wolverine to face the wilderness—and the Wendigo—alone once more.

Later

The entire base was in ruins.

Suddenly, a gloved hand burst out of the rock pile and pulled upwards. Deadpool slowly climbed out. He looked around, his mask half-torn, revealing part of his scarred face. He had finally regenerated all the bits those beasts took out of him. Thankfully, any of his cells with a trace of the Wendigo infection were quickly killed off by his cancer. You gotta look at the bright side sometimes. "Guys? Hey, Red! Deathstrike!"

No one answered, but the possibility was still there. He wasn't the only one with a healing factor.

He got to his feet. "I can't believe it. I'm alive! I'm ali..." Deadpool shouted dramatically to the sky, his voice filled with glee.

CRUNCH!

A large chunk of the remaining ceiling dislodged and fell straight onto Deadpool.

"Ouch!" he groaned weakly from under the chunk. He managed to move slightly, trying to lift the heavy piece but failing. Suddenly, unfamiliar voices spoke.

"Oh, I love comedic endings!"

"You really should have seen that trope coming."

Deadpool frowned beneath his mask, making a confused noise. "Uh... Who was that?" He looked around, his head struggling to turn beneath the weight. "Seriously, if this is some kind of weird ghost or spirit thing, at least help a guy out!"

He wiggled a bit. "At least tell me your name. I'm open to new friendships, you know!"

There was only silence

Deadpool groaned. "Great. I'm hearing voices in my head more than usual."

Chapter Text

Chapter 31: Adaptation

Present

New York

In the briefing room of Avengers Mansion, Ben sat alongside Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Hulk, and Wasp. The holographic display above the table projected a rotating list of faces, names, and last-known locations of escapees from the global breakout.

Tony cleared his throat. The hologram zoomed in on one of the faces. "All right, here's what we know. We are still waiting on the remaining list of high-priority escapees from the Raft at large from SHIELD."

So far, the only one crossed off the list was Graviton. Still, now that Graviton's existence was public, SHIELD was currently in discussions with the courts regarding Graviton's detainment and lack of a criminal conviction within the scope of SHIELD's jurisdiction for national security. Franklin Hall may have been driven mad, but the Avengers agreed that the man deserved a fair shake after being detained without a trial for so long.

They saw the faces and profiles of Baron Zemo, Purple Man, Wendigo, Lion God, and Baron Blood.

Tony huffed. "Unfortunately for us, both Baron Strucker and Baron Zemo, figureheads of Hydra, are on the loose."

Janet raised a brow, "What are the chances that they waste time and compete against each other for control?"

Tony hummed. "I'd say 60/40. And considering the recent Hydra Attack on the UN, I'd assume that there is a base somewhere on the East Coast.

Ben sighed as he pulled up the Wendigo profile. "I encountered the Wendigo back during the breakout and thought I had disarmed it. However, I had forgotten to take into account a healing factor."

Hank took a closer look at the profile. "Assuming that it follows animal instincts, I would assume it looked for a place to recuperate. Judging by the amount of fur and color, it likely went somewhere with a colder climate."

"So toward Maine or most of Canada… That's gonna suck."

Ben kept his focus. "Do we have any leads on Wendigo's last sighting?"

Tony nodded, switching to another file. "So, reconnaissance is priority one. We'll monitor where escapees were last sighted and possible targets."

Hank narrowed his eyes. "And how do you plan on doing this surveillance?"

"With Jarvis hacking into CCTV and some recon drones."

Ben, Janet, and Hank stared at the tech mogul. "And you don't see anything wrong with that?"

"What?..."

Janet crossed her arms. "Doesn't that seem a little, you know, big brother?"

Hulk was also not a fan of the pseudo-police state implication.

Meanwhile, Thor was trying to understand the metaphor.

Tony blinked. "I-. Uh… Hmm…"

Ben rubbed the back of his head. "It's not a good look if the public learns this is a standard practice."

Tony held up a hand. "That… is a good point. We'll put that back on the drawing board. Does anyone have better suggestions?"

Ben was about to speak up when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down, seeing Emma's name. Ben raised a hand. "Do you mind if I step out for a second? I gotta take this. It's important."

Tony shrugged. "Alright, fine. Five-minute break, everyone."

In the hallway, Ben answered.

"Ben!"

"Hey, Emma. Long time, no see."

"Are you busy right now?"

Ben peeked into the room to see Thor and Hulk distracted by something else. Meanwhile, Tony and Hank were discussing a prediction algorithm. "I'm good. How's college going?"

"It's been okay. I just wanted to catch up and let you know, but it's also very, very complicated."

Ben grew concerned. "Oh, I hope it's nothing bad. Do you want to talk about it now?"

Emma smiled. "Thanks, Ben. I appreciate the offer. I know I'd feel better talking to you about it. But it's kind of a sensitive topic. I'd rather not talk about it over the phone. Are you free this afternoon or tomorrow?"

Ben checked the time and considered tomorrow's plans. "Tomorrow afternoon should be fine. Are you okay with meeting up at my place?"

"You got an apartment?"

"Something like that."

"Alright then."

"No problem. I'll text you where to meet up."

"Thank you again for this."

"Anytime, Emma. You know I'm here for you."

"I know."

"We'll catch up soon, alright?"

"Alright. Bye, Ben."

The Next Day

Emma sat across from Ben at his dinner table. Emma had to admit that his home was on the larger end for something in the city. "Thanks for this. I'm sorry if I'm imposing or something."

Ben waved it off. "No worries. Thankfully, the city has been quiet recently."

Emma rubbed the back of her neck. "I know. I heard all about the breakout on the news. Thank God those Avengers guys kept Manhattan from sinking. Granted, classes were put on hold for a week."

Ben coughed into a fist. "Yup. They do what they can."

Emma laughed. "For what it's worth, when classes got started up again, I've now been labeled as the 'smart one' in class. Half the people are annoyed, and the other half is asking me for help. "

Ben chuckled. "Well, at least the professor won't be calling on you for a surprise gotcha question. How are your classmates?"

"They're okay." Emma sighed. "There's also this basketball player who's been hitting on me."

Ben gave Emma a teasing look. "Well, looks like you've got an admirer."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. The first thing he did when he saw me was try that old bump-and-fall cliche. And let's just say he got a mouthful when all my books and papers went flying everywhere."

Ben cringed sympathetically. "Oof. In hindsight, he really should have seen that coming."

Emma laughed. "Yeah. At the cafeteria, he tried balancing multiple lunch trays. Ended up spilling food everywhere."

"That sounds more like something out of high school."

"I know. It's kind of embarrassing. He's not bad-looking and pretty decent at sports, but… I'm not much of a sports fan either." Emma decided to hold off on talking about the migraine until later.

Ben leaned in with a grin. "So, did you tell him if you're interested or not?"

Emma shrugged. "I told him I'm focusing on getting my degree, not a relationship."

Ben nodded. "Nothing wrong with that."

Emma's smile faltered slightly, and she looked away. "Although… recent developments have made that harder."

Ben tilted his head, sensing something more serious. "What do you mean?"

Emma hesitated, then sighed. "Remember my high school teacher I had a huge crush on?"

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Oh no… Don't tell me…"

"It was… a moment, okay?" She looked at him, embarrassed. "We kissed. It was… technically legal," she added, seeing his expression.

Ben pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay… Um… fast forward. Why is that relevant now?"

Emma glanced down, her tone softening. "Well, Mr. Kendall is tutoring my roommate, Christie. And it's pretty obvious she has a crush on him."

Ben shrugged. "That's not so bad. Is he treating her poorly or something?"

"No, nothing like that…"

"Oh." Ben studied her face, piecing it together. "Are you… jealous of Christie?"

Emma's cheeks turned pink. "I-I… I don't know. Maybe? It's just that some old feelings resurfaced. It doesn't help that she's lying to my face about not dating him." Emma tapped her fingers idly on the table. "I know he was my teacher, and it was years ago. But… a part of me still feels that little crush."

"Hey, I get it. Feelings don't always make sense. It can be awkward seeing an old crush with someone else."

Emma shook her head. "I just wish she'd be honest. It's not like I'd go off on her or something. I just don't want to be lied to."

Ben reassuringly squeezed her shoulder. "If it's bothering you, you could confront her about… it." Ben's expression shifted from surprise to curiosity. "Wait. How do you know she's lying?"

Emma's eyes widened slightly. "That's actually… another can of worms. Ben… you know how I have powers, right?"

"Yeah. Illusions?"

"There's more." Emma's voice softened. "I want to get this out of the way first. My power… it isn't just illusions. It's something to do with the mind."

Ben raised his eyebrows but kept silent, waiting for her to continue.

Emma looked at him. "I can read minds, Ben."

Ben blinked. Instead of anger or fear, his gaze remained thoughtful. "I… wow. Telepathy, huh?"

Emma's voice shook as she finally let her question slip out. "Do… do you think I'm a mutant?"

Ben held up a hand before she could continue. "Before I answer that, let me say this. I've been reading up on the recent spike in superhumans, and I really don't like how the word mutant is being thrown around like some kind of scarlet letter." He gave a small, sympathetic smile. 'Don't even get me started on the times I've been called a 'filthy xeno' on some planets.'

"So… what do you think?"

"That depends. Emma, were you born with your powers, or did something… happen? Lab accident, radiation exposure, anything like that?"

Emma shook her head. "No… as far as I know, I've always been this way. My powers were there before I even understood what they were."

"In that case, you're naturally enhanced." Ben rolled his eyes. "Or a… biological mutant, if you will."

Emma groaned, her face dropping into her hands. "I knew it…" she murmured, her voice muffled by her hands. "I've kept it hidden for so long because… I didn't know what else to do. My parents thought I was a freak. They made that clear every time they saw me do something unusual. And it hasn't been any different with most people I've met. People whispering, calling mutants freaks, blaming us for things we didn't do…" Her voice grew strained.

I saw my first anti-mutant protest on campus earlier this month."

Ben's expression grew concerned. "What happened?"

Emma folded her hands tightly. "Apparently, one of the star athletes on a different campus was revealed to be a mutant. After that, it felt like everything went downhill. So many people came out to protest, shouting that mutants were a threat, agents of destruction, or cheaters… Like we're something to be feared or hated."

Ben's face softened as he listened. "Emma, I certainly can't imagine the woman I've known these past few months trying to take over the world. Maybe getting a free lunch here and there," he added with a small, reassuring smile, "but those protesters are just paranoid."

"Our school played a basketball game against another college, and I heard people accusing that there were mutants on our team and cheating. And then the protests…"

Ben's face softened. "Emma, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what you must've felt."

"There was so much hate," she whispered. "They wanted us all gone, Ben. Like… they thought the world would be better if we all just died. They wanted me to die." Her fingers tightened around her mug, her hands shaking as she fought to control the emotions surging up from her memories.

Ben reached out, placing a gentle hand over hers. "They're wrong, Emma. You're as much a part of this world as anyone else."

The pain was still visible in her eyes. "It's not just random people, Ben. It's everyone, even those who are supposed to help. Even my own professor… I heard her thinking that she wouldn't help any mutant students, that we're just… less than everyone else." She shook her head as though trying to shake away the sting of it. "It's like there's no place for people like me anywhere."

Ben stayed silent, letting her vent, knowing how much it must mean for her to finally say these things out loud.

Emma clenched her jaw as she struggled to hold back her emotions. "I get it if… if you're upset with me for hiding it. Or if you… don't want to be around someone like me." She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the response she was sure would come—rejection, judgment, maybe even anger.

But that reaction never came. Instead, she felt Ben's hand reach across the table, his fingers resting gently on hers. "Emma, I'm not mad at you. And I could never be angry with you for being who you are."

Her eyes fluttered open, struggling to believe what she was hearing.

"You're just… you," Ben continued, his voice calm and steady, grounding her. "You're smart, strong, and yeah, you have a gift—a power. But that doesn't make you any less. And it definitely doesn't make me want to stay away."

Emma quickly wiped her face, fighting to keep her composure. "That's easy for you to say. You're a human like everyone else."

Ben sighed and extended his hand fully, holding hers more firmly. "Actually…" He closed his eyes, focusing.

Emma's eyes widened as a soft blue glow began to gather in his palm, swirling like stardust before steadying into a calm, warm light.

When Ben opened his eyes and saw her gobsmacked expression, he smirked. "I never said I was just a regular human, did I?"

Emma's shoulders relaxed, and the tension that had been coiled tight in her chest for days finally began to unwind. "Then… you really understand," she said, her voice breaking softly. "You meant all that?"

Ben nodded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I do. Look, Emma, I know people can be awful. They can be judgmental and hurtful. But not everyone is like that, and not everyone sees you the way those protesters do." His gaze was warm, unwavering. "And you don't have to face it alone."

A small, grateful smile appeared on her face as she looked down at their joined hands. His reassurance filled her heart. "Thank you, Ben. I… I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that."

Ben nodded, squeezing her hand once more before letting go. "Anytime. And Emma… don't ever feel like you have to hide who you are around me. Not now, not ever."

Emma glanced over at Ben. "There's… something else I should probably tell you," she began, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her voice.

Ben raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What's that?"

"For what it's worth, when we first met… I, uh… I tried to read your mind." She peeked at him nervously, half-expecting annoyance or surprise.

To her surprise, Ben chuckled. "That sounds about right."

Emma blinked, caught off guard by his easy acceptance. "You aren't… mad?"

Ben shook his head, smiling. "Not at all. In retrospect, I don't blame you. If I had telepathy, I'd probably use it to get a read on strangers, too."

Emma sighed. "So… how did you manage to block me?"

Ben leaned back. "I've met telepaths before. So, I set up walls with my energy. Nothing too fancy."

Emma made a face. "That's fair, honestly."

Ben laughed. "I can only imagine what it must be like living with constant background thoughts."

"I try not to use my powers that way, but sometimes it's hard to control."

Ben's gaze was warm. "No judgment here."

Emma leaned forward. "It's actually kind of nice, you know. When I connect to your mind… it's just white noise. No thoughts, no feelings—just this constant, gentle hum."

Ben blinked. "I… never thought to ask anyone what my mind sounds like with those protections up. Guess it never came up."

Emma's smile softened. "It's comforting, really. Compared to the usual mess of thoughts I hear around me, yours is… calm. Like a blanket of static, just quiet enough to help me tune everything else out."

Ben tilted his head, taking that in. "Huh. I had no idea it'd be… helpful in that way."

Emma nodded. "Ever since we met again on the train, I kept a connection to your mind just to have that white noise. It helped me sleep, even if you were in the next room."

Ben felt his cheeks warm a bit. "I'm glad I could help… even if I didn't know I was."

Emma let out a soft sigh. "But now that I'm here at college, I've been training myself to manage all the noise around me independently, without needing that constant connection. It's… hard, but I'm getting there."

Ben nodded, impressed. "That's no small feat, Emma. Especially with how noisy college must be. But hey, if you ever need a little white noise, I'm still here."

Emma smiled at that, but then her expression grew thoughtful. "There's… something else. I met someone on campus. Someone like me—another telepath."

Ben's eyebrows shot up. "Another telepath? What are they like?"

"Her name's Astrid. Astrid Bloom," Emma explained. "She came up to me one day, speaking in my mind. I was projecting my thoughts, and she picked up on them. She wanted to be friends and offered to help me learn to control my powers better."

"She sounds… interesting. What did she say about herself?"

"She told me she'd read a few texts on human evolution and mutations," Emma continued, "and she mentioned a name—someone named Xavier. And she'd read articles in Scientific American, too. She seems to know a lot about… people like us."

Ben considered that. "Xavier, huh? Maybe he's some kind of researcher on mutants. It sounds like Astrid's done her homework."

Emma leaned forward. "Astrid… she could read my thoughts like they were on cue cards. When I tried to read her thoughts, it was like hitting a brick wall. Different than your mental shield, more… deliberate."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. A stronger telepathic block, maybe?"

Emma nodded, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Yeah. And she has some pretty intense views. For instance, she thinks humans hating mutants is like them envying birds for having wings."

Ben shrugged. "It's not exactly untrue for some people. Envy and fear go hand in hand."

"We spent more time together, and I saw just how skilled she is. She can read so much about a person with just a glance. It takes physical contact for me to get that much insight."

Ben frowned. "That's… well, questionable. Reading random people on the street like that? It doesn't sit right with me."

Emma let out a breath. "I said the same thing. Diving that deeply into someone's mind and pulling out their most private memories feels more invasive than surface thoughts. But Astrid sees it differently. She says it helps her 'experience the human condition' and makes her a better psychologist."

Ben shook his head. "I don't know about that. For someone pursuing psychology, I'd question her ethics. Knowing people's secrets without consent? It's a slippery slope."

Emma looked away, her expression conflicted. "She even projected her memories into my mind. It was… surreal."

Ben's expression softened, respectful of the privacy of those memories. "I won't ask what they were. That sounds… deeply personal."

Emma nodded, her voice quiet. "It was. She left home at a young age and had to use her abilities to survive. She showed me how she could sift through a sea of minds, drowning out the noise and finding one single thought and person. She taught me how and… I did it. First try. It felt natural, like tuning a radio to the right station."

"Emma, that's powerful, but… it sounds dangerous too. With that skill level, it's easy to go too far without realizing it."

"Yeah, it's more than I ever wanted to know about people, but with her showing me, it felt like… like the easiest thing in the world."

Ben's eyes held a gentle understanding as he looked at her. "You know, they say nature takes the path of least resistance. But is that what you want to rely on moving forward?"

Emma met his gaze, and for the first time in a while, she felt a clarity she hadn't had before. "No," she said softly. "I want to do this the right way. My way."

#

After a short break, Emma seemed to simmer on the name Xavier. It was oddly familiar. After a few moments, a memory finally surfaced.

"When my powers first manifested…" she began quietly, "it wasn't pretty. I was in high school, and I just… lost control one day. I had a really bad breakdown, and somehow, without even meaning to, I rendered the entire school unconscious. Just like that. Everyone—teachers, students… all of them."

Ben's eyes widened in surprise, but he stayed quiet, his expression gentle as he let her continue.

"I didn't know what was happening, didn't understand what I'd done," Emma said, her voice laced with an old sadness. "But not long after that, this man named Charles Xavier showed up. He said he could detect my presence and'd come to help. He spoke to my father and tried to convince him to let me go to his school."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "And did he?"

Emma shook her head, a faint, bitter smile on her lips. "Not a chance. My father wasn't interested in having a mutant daughter, let alone one that needed 'special schooling.' And at the time, I didn't want anything to do with it, either. I just wanted to forget what happened and pretend I was normal."

Ben nodded. "Do you remember the name of the school he mentioned?"

Emma tilted her head. "I think it was… some Institute."

Ben hummed. He quickly Googled the man's name. "According to the internet, he's the headmaster of his own Institution: the Xavier Institute."

Emma let out a laugh. "A rather straightforward name."

Ben grinned. "Maybe we should call them up and stop by sometime. We can check it out and see if they have any advice."

"You think so?"

"Why not?" Ben shrugged. "This guy seems to know a lot about evolution and mutations. If he was willing to help you back then, maybe you can still learn something from him now. Plus, I wouldn't mind checking out what could be a superpower school."

Emma managed a small smile. "I never really thought I'd want to revisit that part of my life, but… maybe you're right. Maybe it's time to face it."

Ben's smile widened. "You've got nothing to lose. And I'll be right there with you."

Later that Week

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Seeing modern-day New York was... difficult for Steve.

Laura and Steve walked along the quiet backroads on the outskirts. It had been a long journey, and as they approached, Steve could see the slight awe in Laura's eyes as she gazed at the distant skyscrapers.

"Welcome to New York. My... old home." Steve still couldn't help but have a sad smile. In some parts, it was comforting. It was where he had grown up.

Laura nodded. "It's... bigger than I thought." She had been raised underground for years. When she finally got out, even the small town she visited moving south filled her with awe, and this metropolis even more so.

Steve glanced down at her. "It can be a lot to take in."

Steve Rogers and Laura stepped off the bus. Steve had insisted on making a quick detour before heading to Westchester, and now they were standing in Steve's old neighborhood in Brooklyn. It had changed in many ways—new buildings, new people—but there were still pieces of the past.

Laura looked around. She wasn't used to cities, especially ones as busy as New York, but the neighborhood they were in had a certain calm—a lived-in feeling that made it different from the rest of the city.

Steve scanned the row of brick buildings and the old streets. He could remember running through these very sidewalks, playing stickball with the other kids, his best friend Bucky by his side. The memories were vivid in his mind. He led Laura down the street as he took it all in.

"Where are we going?" Laura asked.

Steve smiled. "I just wanted to see my old home. It's not far from here. I grew up in this neighborhood," he explained.

They walked a little further until they reached a narrow building that looked like it had seen better days. The brick was worn, and the paint on the door chipped and faded. Steve's eyes softened as he looked at the building. It felt strange to be back here, to see the place that had once been his home.

"This is it," Steve said quietly.

"It looks... old." She was blunt but not unkind.

Steve let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, it was old even back then." He pointed towards one of the windows on the second floor. "That was my room up there."

Laura followed his gaze. She wondered what it would have been like to have a place to call home like that—where she felt safe.

Steve's expression softened. "You know, my mom worked hard to keep us going. She was a nurse and never gave up, no matter how tough things got. She taught me to always stand up for what's right, even when it's hard."

Laura nodded slowly. "She sounds nice."

Steve smiled, nodding. "She was. Even more, she was stronger than anyone I knew."

They stood there for a while longer. There was no doubt that someone new was living there. More than likely, the military had taken his belongings to storage.

"Come on. We should get going. There's still a place we need to be."

Laura nodded, and they turned away from the old building, walking back towards the bus stop. Steve took one last look at his old home, a small smile on his lips. It was good to see it again, to remember where he came from. But now, he had a new purpose and was determined to help Laura find a place she could call home too.

As they walked away, Laura looked up at Steve. "Do you miss it?"

Steve thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I do. But I think it's more about the people than the place. I was hoping we could all celebrate after the war. Maybe even get one dance."

Laura was quiet. She wasn't sure if she understood completely. Maybe one day, she'd have that too—a place and people who made her feel like she belonged.

Soon, they boarded the next bus and made their way towards Westchester.

Chapter Text

Emma sat nervously on the couch with a phone in her hand. She glanced at Ben sitting across from her. "Are you sure about this?"

Ben nodded. "Absolutely. We're just calling to see if they're open to visitors."

Emma took a deep breath. "Okay. Here goes."

She dialed the number they had found online for the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. After a few rings, a calm, warm voice answered.

"Hello, you've reached the Xavier Institute. This is Ororo Munroe speaking. How can I assist you?"

Emma hesitated for just a moment before responding. "Hi, um… my name is Emma Frost, and I… I'm calling to ask about arranging an appointment. I'd like to learn more about your school."

"Of course, Emma," Ororo replied, her tone gentle and professional. "Are you calling on behalf of a student, or would you be the one seeking enrollment information?"

Emma swallowed and straightened up. "It's for me. I have, um… abilities. And I've heard about the institute and its focus on helping people like me learn to control them."

Ororo's voice brightened slightly as though she were smiling. "You've called the right place, Emma. We specialize in helping people understand their gifts. When would you be available to visit the school?"

Emma glanced at Ben, who mouthed Ask about tomorrow. She nodded and spoke into the phone. "Would tomorrow work? I'd really like to see the school in person and meet with someone to discuss everything."

"Tomorrow should be fine," Ororo said after a brief pause. "I'll arrange for a meeting with Professor Xavier. Does late morning or early afternoon work better for you?"

Emma looked at Ben, who gave her a thumbs-up for either option. "Early afternoon would be great," Emma said.

"Perfect. I'll schedule you for a 1:00 PM appointment," Ororo said smoothly. "When you arrive, you'll find the gates to the estate open. Just drive through and park near the main building. Someone will greet you and show you to the Professor's office."

"Thank you so much," Emma said, relief clear in her voice. "I really appreciate it."

"It's our pleasure, Emma. We look forward to meeting you," Ororo said warmly. "Is there anything else I can help you with today?"

Emma hesitated, then added, "I'll… I'll bring a friend if that's okay. He's been really supportive through all of this."

"Of course. We understand that support is important, and we welcome those who are willing to stand by us. Friends and family are welcome to accompany you," Ororo reassured her. "We'll see you both tomorrow."

"Thank you, Miss Munroe. I appreciate it. Really."" Emma said again, her voice soft but sincere.

"It's no trouble at all, Emma," Ororo replied. "We look forward to meeting you both. Have a good evening."

As she hung up, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Well, that's done," she said, glancing at Ben.

He grinned. "See? That wasn't so bad."

Emma rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, yeah."

The Next Day

Ben drove their car down the country road. Emma sat in the passenger seat, as she stared out the window.

"You okay over there?" Ben asked.

Emma sighed and folded her arms, leaning back into her seat. "I suppose it makes sense that a place that helps mutants would be outside the city. Less chance of accidents and facing angry citizens."

Ben gave her a reassuring smile. "Keeping away from those protestors would be for the best. In any case, you're going to learn more about yourself and maybe even find some people who get it. That's huge."

Emma's expression softened slightly. "Yeah, I know. It's just… I don't know what to expect. What if it's all a bit too much?"

Ben shrugged. "Then we bail. But something tells me you're going to do just fine."

Emma chuckled. "I hope you're right."

The GPS chimed. Ben slowed the car as the trees opened up to reveal a grand iron gate. It was wide open, leading to a sprawling estate. The words Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters were engraved on a brass plaque nearby.

"Wow." Emma took in the sight. "This place is… a lot bigger than I imagined."

"Yeah, not exactly a run-of-the-mill school," Ben said with a low whistle. "Looks more like a mansion."

He drove through the gates and followed the curved driveway up to the main building, where a few other cars were parked. Ben pulled into a spot and turned off the engine. He glanced over at Emma, who was staring out the windshield with a mix of awe and nerves.

"Hey," Ben said, his voice soft. "You ready?"

Emma took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yeah. Let's do this."

The two of them stepped out of the car, the crunch of gravel under their shoes as they made their way to the large front doors. Before they could knock, the door opened, and a woman with striking white hair and a serene demeanor greeted them.

"Emma Frost and Ben Tennyson, I presume?" the woman said, her voice warm and welcoming.

Emma nodded, her voice steady despite her nerves. "That's us. And you must be…"

"Ororo Munroe," the woman said with a kind smile. "Welcome to the Xavier Institute. We've been expecting you."

Ben offered a polite nod. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Ororo said. "Professor Xavier is waiting for you in his office."

Before Ororo could lead Ben and Emma into the mansion, the crunch of gravel announced the arrival of a taxi cab pulling into the circular driveway. She turned, her expression shifting from calm to curious. She hadn't been expecting another visitor today.

The cab door opened, and an unknown blonde man and a young girl stepped from the back. The tall and broad-shouldered man adjusted his knapsack while the girl, who couldn't have been more than 10 or 11, clutched a small backpack.

"Thanks for the ride," the man said to the driver, his tone friendly but firm. "I know it's outside of the city."

The driver waved it off. "No problem, my guy. Good luck."

The man gave a small wave before turning to the mansion. He spotted Ororo approaching and offered a polite smile.

Ororo tilted her head slightly, her calm curiosity growing. "Good afternoon. What brings you to the estate?"

"Hello there, ma'am," the man replied, pulling a small card from his pocket and glancing at it. "Is this the… Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters?"

"It is," Ororo confirmed, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "May I ask who referred you to us, Mr.…?"

"Steve," he said, extending a hand. "Name's Steve. And this is Laura."

The young girl beside him gave a small wave. "Hello," she said softly, her tone guarded but polite.

Steve continued, his voice steady. "James—sorry, I mean, Logan—referred us. He said you help people who have… gifts."

Ororo's eyes widened ever so slightly at the mention of Logan. He had left the estate abruptly a few weeks ago without explanation. Whatever had drawn him away seemed to have led him to Steve and Laura. "Yes, of course," she said smoothly, regaining her composure. "You're in the right place." She gestured toward Ben and Emma. "It seems you aren't alone in seeking to learn about our mission here."

Steve nodded and walked over to Ben and Emma, Laura sticking close by his side. He offered his hand. "Steve."

Ben met the handshake. "Ben."

Emma offered a polite nod. "Emma."

Laura lingered by Steve, her small hand clutching the strap of her backpack. After a moment, she gave a shy introduction. "Laura."

Emma crouched slightly to meet her at eye level, her smile warm. "Hello there, Laura. Are you… gifted?"

Laura hesitated, glancing up at Steve, who gave her a reassuring nod. She turned back to Emma and gave a small, almost reluctant nod. "Yes."

Emma's smile grew, her voice soft and encouraging. "That's wonderful." She projected a gentle giggle into Laura's mind, just enough to make the girl's lips twitch upward in the hint of a smile. "Us too."

Laura tilted her head, her eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and tentative trust. "You are?"

Emma nodded, glancing back at Ben. "All of us."

Steve watched the exchange with quiet approval before turning to Ororo. "Logan said you'd be able to help Laura. That she'd be safe here."

Ororo's expression softened. "That's exactly what we're here for. You've come to the right place. If you'll all follow me, I'll take you to meet Professor Xavier. I'm sure he'll want to hear all of your stories."

The group nodded and stepped behind her.

Ororo led them down the decorated hallways of the Xavier Institute. As they walked, Emma and Ben kept close to one another, both observing their surroundings with keen interest. Steve stayed just behind them, with Laura clinging to his side, her wide eyes darting around to take everything in.

The first person they passed was a tall man wearing ruby-colored glasses. He gave Ororo a polite nod as they crossed paths. Ben's gaze lingered momentarily, curious about the distinctive eyewear, but he said nothing.

Emma tilted her head slightly as if trying to sense something. "He seems… composed," she murmured.

Ororo glanced at her with a small smile but didn't comment, continuing down the hall.

A little further along, they saw a young man and woman walking side by side. They gave the group a passing glance before returning to their discussion.

"Just regular people," Ben remarked.

"That's the point," Ororo said gently. "We are just like anyone else."

As they rounded another corner, they encountered a man with dark blue hair sitting on a bench. He was casually eating a bag of chips. He offered a quick wave with one hand, still holding the bag in the other.

Ben couldn't help but smirk. "Okay, that's not something you see every day."

Emma chuckled softly, her earlier tension easing slightly. "You're not wrong."

Ororo stopped briefly, acknowledging the blue-haired man with a nod. "Good afternoon."

"Afternoon," he replied, crunching on another chip.

Laura tugged lightly on Steve's sleeve, her voice quiet. "They're… like me?"

Steve crouched slightly to meet her gaze, his tone gentle. "Yeah, kiddo. Just like you."

Laura seemed to process this, her eyes lingering on each person they passed. Despite her natural wariness, there was a flicker of something in her expression—maybe hope.

As the group continued, Ororo glanced back at them. "Everyone here has a story. A past that brought them to this place. Some came looking for guidance, others for refuge, and some simply to understand who they are."

Steve nodded thoughtfully. "Logan mentioned this place was special. I can see why now."

They finally arrived at a large wooden door at the end of the hallway. Ororo placed her hand on the doorknob and turned to the group with a warm smile. "Professor Xavier is inside. He's eager to meet all of you."

She opened the door, gesturing for them to step inside. The room had bookshelves lining the walls and a large desk at the center. Seated behind the desk was a bald man in a wheelchair.

"Welcome," Professor Xavier said, his voice warm and inviting. "Please, come in. We have much to discuss."

The group stepped into Professor Xavier's office and its warm atmosphere.

Professor Xavier greeted them. "Emma Frost. I've been expecting you and your friend. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Ben nodded respectfully. "Thanks for having us."

Emma smiled politely, her nerves easing slightly under Xavier's calm presence. "We appreciate you taking the time."

Xavier's gaze shifted to Steve and Laura, curious. "However, it seems we have unexpected guests as well." He gestured toward the pair. "If both parties feel comfortable, I'd be happy to introduce my school and our mission to the group as a whole."

Steve glanced down at Laura. "What do you think, kiddo?"

Laura hesitated, her fingers curling slightly at her sides as she glanced at Emma. Emma caught her gaze and smiled warmly, crouching slightly to be at her level.

"I don't mind sharing my appointment with you," Emma said gently.

Laura's shoulders relaxed just a little. She rubbed the back of her neck, her voice quiet. "Okay…"

"Splendid," Xavier said, his tone pleased. He wheeled out from behind his desk, gesturing for everyone to sit in the chairs arranged in the room. "Allow me to explain the purpose of this school."

The group settled in, curious. Xavier folded his hands neatly in his lap, his voice steady and sincere as he spoke.

"I founded this Institution years ago to provide a sanctuary for people born with extraordinary abilities, commonly called mutants. Here, we aim to teach control and the ethical use of these gifts."

Ben hummed in approval. "That's something I can get behind for a superpower school."

Xavier smiled. "Our ultimate goal is fostering mutual respect and coexistence with humanity as a whole."

Emma leaned forward. "So it's both a school and a social movement?"

"Precisely," Xavier nodded. "We strive to help students embrace who they are, not as something to fear or hide, but as a part of their unique identity."

Ben crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Sounds like you're working against a lot of prejudice. I've seen how bad it can get."

Xavier's expression grew somber. "Indeed, the path is not easy. But change rarely is. We believe education, empathy, and understanding are the keys to progress."

Steve exchanged a glance with Laura, who seemed to absorb every word. He turned back to Xavier. "Logan said this place helps people like Laura. That it's safe here."

Xavier met Steve's gaze with a calm sincerity. "He spoke the truth. Laura, you would be welcome here should you choose to stay."

Laura's gaze moved between Xavier and Steve. Her expression softened slightly yet still unsure.

Xavier turned his gaze back to the group. "Now, are there any questions before we proceed? I'm here to help in any way I can."

After some hesitation, Emma finally spoke up again. "Professor… I wanted to ask you about something from years ago. You visited my home, didn't you?"

Xavier turned his wheelchair slightly to face her, his expression soft and understanding. "Yes, I did," he said with a gentle nod. "I detected your presence when your abilities first began to manifest. You were quite powerful, even then."

Emma blinked, surprised by the directness. "You… you knew? How?"

"I'm telepathic as well," Xavier said, his voice calm and steady. "I could sense the strength of your mind. I paid your father a visit alongside my colleague, Dr. Moira MacTaggart, hoping to invite you to our school."

Emma's expression darkened slightly, and she looked away. "Neither he nor I were interested at the time."

Xavier nodded in understanding. "I remember. Your father was… resistant to the idea, and you were understandably overwhelmed."

Emma exhaled softly. "I t all happened so fast. I didn't understand why everything was happening or what was wrong with me. I hurt people..."

"It was an accident, Miss Frost. There was nothing wrong with you," Xavier assured her. "What you felt is normal for someone developing their powers for the first time. It can be confusing, even frightening. There's no shame in that."

Emma's lips quirked into a faint smile. "A part of me wonders what would've happened if I had accepted your invitation back then."

Ben shruggeed. "You and I would have probably met under much different circumstances."

Xavier gestured around him. "It's not too late, Emma. If you're interested, you can still participate."

Emma shook her head. "It's tempting, but I'm in university. I have a plan, and I want to see it through."

Xavier nodded. "There's nothing wrong with that."

Emma looked up at him, her voice softer now. "Still… I wanted to come here to learn more. Even if I won't be living here, it's good to know there's a place like this. A place that can help."

Ben, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "I don't suppose remote counseling sessions are possible?"

Xavier chuckled. "Of course. The Xavier Institute is a resource for all, in person or from afar."

Emma smiled. "That's good to know. Thank you, Professor."

Xavier gave a kind nod. "The door is always open, Emma. Whenever you're ready."

Professor Xavier then wheeled forward, gesturing for the group and Ororo to follow him. "Now, if you'll allow me, I'd like to show you more of the Xavier Institute. This is not only a school but also a home for many."

The group followed behind. Walking beside Xavier, Ororo Munroe spoke softly to Laura, her voice calm and inviting. Emma stayed close to Ben as they moved through the hallways.

"We'll start with the heart of the mansion." Xavier led them to a common area. "This is where students often gather to relax or study."

The room had plush furniture, bookshelves, and a large window overlooking the grounds. A group of students were seated together, chatting. They glanced at the newcomers with polite curiosity but quickly returned to their conversations.

"Feels like any other school lounge," Ben remarked. "I don't suppose you guys have a cafeteria or something."

Xavier chuckled. "I am proud to say we have slightly higher food service quality at the Xavier institute. But overall, we want to provide and authentic experience just like any other educational institution." He then led them down a hallway filled with framed photographs and portraits. "These are snapshots of the many lives that this school has touched. Our alumni have achieved remarkable things in the world and their journeys."

Emma stopped briefly, examining one of the photographs. It depicted a young man with ruby-colored glasses standing beside a taller man with a confident smile.

"That's Scott Summers," Xavier said with pride. "One of our first students. He now leads many of our training exercises."

The next area they were led to had a state-of-the-art gymnasium. Compared to a standard gym on the street, it was outfitted with high-tech equipment and open spaces. A dark skinned young man with a bione spike protruding from his shoulder was was in the middle of a workout, pausing to wave at the group before returning to his routine.

"This is our training facility," Xavier explained. "Here, students learn to hone their abilities in a controlled environment."

Steve observed the gym, picking out the subtle reinforcements in the walls and equipment.

Ororo elaborated. "Our students' abilities vary greatly. The training rooms are designed to adapt to those needs."

Professor Xavier guided the group to an observation window at one wall of the room.

"This," Xavier began with a note of pride in his voice, "is our training facility—commonly referred to as the Danger Room."

Ben stopped mid-step, his brows lifting slightly. He glanced at Xavier, then back at the door. "Danger Room?" he repeated, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Xavier nodded as the door slid open, revealing a seemingly blank room.

"Here, we are able to simulate various scenarios."

Ben's mind snagged on a specific detail. "I don't suppose you're familiar with Tony Stark?"

Xavier smiled. "I am, in fact. Mr. Stark and I have collaborated on several occasions. His expertise was invaluable in the early stages of development regarding the custom equipment used here."

Ben chuckled. "That tracks. This setup reminds me of something he's got back at Avengers Mansion. He calls it the Danger Zone—because, of course, he does. Subtlety isn't exactly his strong suit."

Emma raised an eyebrow, looking between Ben and Xavier. "Wait, are you saying Tony Stark helped design this?"

"In part, yes," Xavier confirmed. "Though much of the room's functionality results from our research and development, Mr. Stark's contributions were indispensable."

Ben smirked, muttering, "Man, that guy's got his fingerprints on everything."

Steve stepped closer to the edge of the room. "Impressive. I've seen my fair share of training setups, but this… this is something else." He hummed in thought at the mention of Tony.

Laura's gaze darted around the room. "So, you mostly fight in here?"

Xavier turned to her. "In a manner of speaking. The Danger Room is mostly used for power testing and combat training."

Laura frowned. "My old home was similar... It was... cold."

Steve patted the girl on the should. "Everything is optional, yes?"

"Of course." Xavier placed a hand on his heart. "

The group entered the training room, its sleek, high-tech design glinting under the bright lights. Advanced equipment, from holographic simulators to heavy-duty exercise machines, filled the space.

Steve's eyes landed on a bench press setup that appeared far more advanced than anything he'd seen, even in modern gyms. He approached it, intrigued.

Turning to Professor Xavier, Steve gestured to the machine. "Mind if I give this a try?"

Xavier shook his head. "Not at all. Be my guest."

Steve settled onto the bench and began with a modest 100 kilograms. The group watched as he pressed the weight easily, completing a set of 10 reps without breaking a sweat.

He stood up, looking around. "Can we add more weight?"

Ororo raised an eyebrow but obliged, adjusting the hydralic load. Steve lay back down, this time pressing 150 kilograms with the same ease.

Another set. More weight.

By the tenth adjustment, every eye in the room was locked on him. The machine was now stacked with an unbelievable amount of weight. The room was silent except for the metal clinking and Steve's controlled breathing.

Xavier finally broke the silence, his voice calm but tinged with amazement. "Steve, you broke the previous record for the bench press a while ago. At this point, you are pressing the equivalent of most cars."

Steve set the bar down with a metallic clang and sat up, rolling his shoulders. "To be honest," he said with a small grin, "I feel like I could do more."

Ben blinked, still processing what he had just witnessed. "Steve… are you a mutant too?"

Steve chuckled, shaking his head. "If only. Maybe then they'd have let me into the army a little easier."

Emma tilted her head, curiosity clear in her gaze. "What do you mean?"

Steve leaned back slightly, resting his hands on his knees. "If Logan is friends with you all, maybe I can be too. But I realize I haven't told you my full name yet, have I?"

Xavier raised an eyebrow, his expression intrigued. "No, you haven't. Who are you, Steve?"

Steve's demeanor shifted slightly, a quiet pride settling in his voice. "The world will soon know again, but… my name is Steve Rogers. Rank: Captain." He reached into his knapsack, pulling out something round and metallic.

The group collectively leaned forward as he revealed his iconic shield, its vibranium surface gleaming under the lights.

Ben's eyes widened in recognition. "You're Captain America."