"Didn't you set that up yourself before?" Malrick asked calmly.
"You said the Avengers would handle Earth-based affairs, and the n in Black would focus on extraterrestrial threats. So it should be fine if they act independently, right?"
Tony placed the wine bottle down with a soft clink. "Are you really asking that? Wow, you don't even share victories with your big brother anymore. Guess I'll just pack up and head back to the Kansas farm, harvest wheat, and cry into a tractor."
Malrick sighed, brow twitching. "Can you be serious for once? You said the Skrulls are collecting information on ?"
"Yeah," Tony nodded. "But you haven't heard anything because they're being smart about it."
Malrick's expression darkened. "So they're planning sothing. Or is Fury investigating again?" Even with his suppressed super hearing, anything concerning him always stood out like static in a clear signal. Yet he hadn't heard a thing.
"They're cautious. They won't ntion your na aloud. Everyone knows you can hear across continents and see through anything—except lead," Tony said, shaking his head. "If anyone wanted to move against you, they'd make sure to stay completely off your radar."
"Maybe you even have a codena among the Skrulls," Tony added with a smirk. "Like Voldemort. 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Nad.'"
He plopped onto the couch beside Malrick, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry. Jarvis and I already started digging into it. We'll have results soon."
Malrick shook his head with a low chuckle. "Actually, that lead limitation? Not a weakness anymore."
Tony blinked. "You serious?"
"Two days ago, I wiped out several underground military bases. They were shielded with lead to hide their activities from ," Malrick said flatly. "Now they're gone. Along with the people running them."
Tony whistled. "I did notice a couple of empty seats in the Senate this week…"
"I left other facilities alone—those using lead to protect confidential research. People still need to feel like they have privacy," Malrick added, hands open in a peaceful gesture. "No one wants to feel like they're being watched constantly."
"You're too generous," Tony muttered. "But when did you eliminate the lead problem? Don't tell you've been leveling up behind our backs again."
"It's from the Starry Sky World. I brought you a gift when I returned, rember? Didn't keep anything secret."
Tony nodded slowly. "Makes sense… That place really changed everything."
He was deep in thought again. Lately, he'd been buried in research, trying to dissect the optical computer tech from that world. It wasn't a full scientific system, more like a fragnted archive of weapon-based advancents—but it had been enough to consu Tony's every waking mont. No one understood that world's science and power better than he did now. Not even Malrick.
As Tony silently turned that over in his mind, Malrick's gaze shifted. Using his refined senses, he reached out across the city, scanning frequencies, whispers, and shielded zones. His brow furrowed.
"It's Fury," Malrick finally said.
Tony jerked up. "You already confird it?"
"He built a lead-lined chamber inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. space station. That's where he's been storing all his information about —my identity, growth, psychological profile, behavior patterns… even simulations of my decisions."
Malrick's voice cooled. "He knows better than you now."
"He's also running sothing called the New Avengers Initiative."
Malrick turned to face Tony. "The Skrulls infiltrated your team to gather more combat data on . He wants to recruit . Thinks I'll play ball."
"Wow," Tony said, genuinely stunned. "So the lead really doesn't work on you anymore. Good thing you're not a detective, or the whole profession would be obsolete."
He stood and paced. "That explains why so of Fury's old agents are still in contact with him. They're not reminiscing—they're laying groundwork for his next big move."
Tony suddenly pointed his finger in the air. "But hold on! You said sothing wrong back there."
"Oh?"
"You said Fury understands you better than ," Tony said, poking his chest. "Not true. I know you so well that if you even lift a finger, I can tell if you're about to pick your nose or scratch your chin."
Malrick blinked.
Then, without warning, he poked Tony squarely in the chest. A powerful force sent Tony flying into the couch cushions, wedging him so deep that only his head stuck out, dazed and blinking.
"Sorry," Malrick said dryly. "I wasn't doing either. I was thinking about poking you to death."
He stood and dusted off his hands. "Figure out how to get yourself out. I'm heading to the airborne base. The girls need new instructions."
Originally, the plan to uproot the Skrulls was ant to be gradual. But if Fury was making moves in space already, then the tiline needed adjusting. Better to force his hand now.
"Wait!" Tony shouted from inside the couch. "You still haven't explained why you want to destroy S.W.O.R.D.!"
Malrick paused at the doorway. "S.W.O.R.D. was founded by Maria Rambeau, with Fury's help, to handle interstellar affairs. It operates out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. space station. They're under the World Security Council—very secretive, but not as powerful as S.H.I.E.L.D."
He turned slightly. "Now that Fury's back up there, he's probably rounding up ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to build up S.W.O.R.D. again. You can investigate it further yourself."
Then, calling over his shoulder, Malrick said, "How long are you two going to eavesdrop? Ti to move out."
The door to the inner room opened. The Natasha sisters stepped out, fully suited in sleek black combat gear. After nodding briefly to Tony, they followed Malrick out without a word. Even if they were deeply asleep, the arrival of two unexpected guests had put them on alert. They'd been listening from inside the whole ti, waiting for Malrick to give the go-ahead. The door shut firmly behind them.
Tony remained wedged in the sofa. "S.W.O.R.D... S.H.I.E.L.D.'s space station?" he murmured. "Fury… how many contingency plans are you hiding?"
—Five Days Later
On a crisp New York morning, a shocking video shot to the top of every major platform's hopage.
The footage opened with a figure in jet-black armor standing before a monitor, voice calm and sharp. "Our world has suffered a covert invasion by an extraterrestrial force."
No theatrics. No long-winded build-up. The armored woman's voice cut to the chase. She followed her startling statent with proof—clear, verified, undeniable. Anyone who clicked the video imdiately recognized the uniform. It was one of the n in Black.
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