At Charlie's insistence, Carter agreed to the fight.
"Dr. Banner, prep yourself," she said.
"Got it."
Banner watched Carter and Spider-Man leave, then began preparing the Hulk serum for the battle.
Meanwhile, Charlie and Carter strolled through a leisure park on the floating island.
"Something's off about you," Carter said.
Charlie smirked. "You noticed."
"Of course." Carter looked ahead. "You're not one for picking fights. What're you after?"
"He's not Banner."
Charlie's words stopped Carter in her tracks.
She quickly composed herself. "Didn't expect they'd infiltrated this deep."
Charlie nodded. "Exactly. So Reed must keep the soul magic secret. It's our ace."
"No problem. If he spills, he's off to the Thunderbolts," Carter said.
Both agreed the Fantastic Four were unreliable. Keeping them close was safer than firing them.
"Are you taking out the fake Banner now?" Carter asked.
Charlie shook his head. "No, we need him to sort out the real Tony."
Carter caught his plan. "I could be a Skrull mole too," she grinned.
Charlie looked surprised. "You read minds now?"
"So that's your plan?"
"Yup, but it'd end them too easily."
"We'll play it by ear."
"Mm."
Soon, on the sea island…
A portal sparked open. Charlie stepped into an open area.
Banner and Carter followed.
Banner's face twitched at the familiar place.
"This is your old island," Carter said, smiling. "Spider-Man picked it. Must bring back memories."
Banner cursed inwardly but feigned nostalgia. "Yeah, this is where I broke free of Hulk."
Charlie turned, grinning. "You seem happy with my choice. Let's get started."
Banner opened his mouth, but Carter helpfully shoved the serum in.
Banner: "…"
As the serum hit, green spread across his skin, muscles bulging. Immense power surged, and he roared involuntarily.
Roar!!
The beastly cry shook the island. Carter backed off.
She noted Banner's clothes predictably burst, but this "Hulk" wore stretchy shorts and wasn't berserk.
Charlie wasn't impressed. Without rage, this fake Hulk was weak.
He raised his little spider. "Dr. Banner, for you, this guy'll do."
Chomp~
The spider bit his hand, magic energy erupting.
Boom!!
Magic wrapped Charlie as he charged. Banner met him with a fist.
Boom!
Bang!!
Their fists collided, the deafening clash flattening the jungle behind them. Shockwaves forced Carter back.
The ground quaked, rattling the underground base. Skrulls paled.
"What's happening?"
"Look—Spider-Man!"
On monitors, a green giant and red-blue figure clashed, tearing the earth. Trees shattered, destruction spreading.
"Damn it, why no heads-up? Is that guy an idiot?"
"No time. If Spider-Man finds us, we evac."
"Hope our guy holds him off, or we're done."
As Skrulls watched, magic exploded. The green giant roared, blasted into a hill.
Rumble…
Debris buried Banner. Hundreds of meters away, Charlie lowered his fist.
"Too weak, Dr. Banner. You're disappointing me," he scoffed.
A hundred tons, temporary at that—boring.
Banner, shoving off rubble, saw Carter's disappointed look and raged.
No, he couldn't lose this badly. If Carter saw him as a sidekick, he'd never complete his mission.
Full power!
He chugged more serum, muscles swelling further.
Roar!!
Boom!!
The green giant charged, trampling the earth, leaving chaos to prove he wasn't weak.
But even boosted, he was no match for Charlie.
Boom!!
Bang bang bang~
Charlie blocked a punch, then unleashed elbows and knees. Cosmic military boxing overwhelmed Banner, who swayed like a leaf in a storm.
A basic combo ended with Banner spitting bile.
Bang!
A casual kick sent him flying to the coast. Charlie clapped, grinning. "Thanos's military boxing works great, especially on green giants."
He leaped high. "Friendly Neighborhood Nuclear Kick!!"
"What?"
Banner, battered, saw a blazing meteor descend. Terrified, he waved frantically. "I give up! I surrender! No more!"
"What'd you say? Wind's too loud!" Charlie shouted.
Banner despaired. He's gonna kill me? Did he figure it out? No way…
Boom!!
The meteor crashed, kicking up a sandstorm. Shockwaves shattered reefs, and magic razed the forest.
The underground base collapsed, wrecking the seabed production lines.
Pfft pfft pfft…
Zzzzt~
Boom!!
Sparks erupted from machinery, circuits smoked, and fire spread, plunging the base into chaos.
"Cut the power!"
"Quick!"
"Damn Spider-Man…"
Skrulls scrambled to contain the damage. In the coastal crater, fake Banner stared at the red-blue figure, terrified.
One hit, and he'd be done.
"You—"
"Just messing with ya," Charlie said, pulling him up. "We're pals. I'd never hurt you. Cute expression, though."
He pinched Banner's green face, turning to Carter. "Happy with the fight. Let's go."
Carter stared at the hundred-meter crater, stunned. His strength was under 300 tons, but the magic's destruction was unreal.
Overkill.
She noticed Charlie's stumble and rolled her eyes. Acting for one audience member? Really?
Well, there were more watchers below.
…
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D., the portal closed. Banner rushed to his room with an excuse.
Carter chuckled at his hasty retreat. "Might've scarred him."
Charlie shrugged. "Couldn't help it. The fake's too weak. Real Hulk would be raging—probably me getting beat."
"Hulk's not that crazy."
"Maybe not. This is the Spider-Man-centric universe, not 199999."
"What universe?" Carter blinked.
Charlie explained, "Universe codes. Learned it in Mephisto's Hell."
"Universe codes?" Carter marveled. "The multiverse is wild. Wonder if other Charlies are this strong."
"Oh!" She remembered. "Steve and others have multiverse variants, but Spider-Man's only Peter Parker. No one's heard of Charlie Parker."
"Weird?" Charlie grabbed juice from the fridge. "Some folks don't have variants. Like me. Invincible Spider-Man's destined to be a multiverse-level boss. Stick with me, you're set." He gave a thumbs-up.
Carter nodded halfheartedly. "Sure, sure. Multiverse boss. Salary's delayed two days—budget's tight."
"No!! How do I live without pay?!" Charlie wailed.
Carter smirked. "Multiverse boss needs money?"
"Stronger Spider-Man, poorer Spider-Man."
"Nah, some Spider-Men in other universes are loaded."
"Don't talk about those guys."
"So I'm right."
"Yup, you're a genius."
Their banter was cut short by a message.
Charlie read his phone, laughing. "Haha, my investment paid off! Quentin Beck got new funding. Villa time!"
Carter rolled her eyes. "Sure it's the real Quentin, not a Skrull Mysterio?"
Charlie: "…"
"Money's money. Who cares if he's a Skrull?"
He drew a portal and zipped through.
Buzz~
At a VFX company, in a meeting room, Charlie stepped out as Quentin sent off investors.
Seeing Charlie, Quentin locked the door, pumping his fist. "Spider-Man, I did it!" He hugged him.
Charlie patted his shoulder. "Congrats. But you seem more into being a star."
"Yup. I'm funding my own movie, starring me."
"Nice! Self-made star."
"Exactly."
After chatting, Quentin shared news. "Your request's done. William's daughter's stable, ready for nanotech heart surgery. I told William in prison—he's grateful."
"Good." Charlie contacted Helen. It was their deal.
He paused. "Actually, I'm broke."
Quentin: "…"
"No worries. Company made some cash. Take what you need."
Quentin's generosity touched Charlie. Good people still existed.
"Spider-Man, who're you helping with it? I can pitch in," Quentin offered.
Charlie, deadpan, said, "I'm gonna splurge."
Quentin: "…"
Leaving the VFX company, Charlie shed his nanotech suit.
"Hey, Harry, dinner's on me tonight."
…
Three days later, Banner "invented" a Skrull-detection device.
Carter didn't buy it.
Under scrutiny, the "fake" Tony was exposed.
"I'm real!" Tony protested, facing Banner, stone-faced.
Carter cut him off, ordering him taken away. "Thanks to Dr. Banner. I'll interrogate the imposter myself."
She nodded to the real Tony. "Rest up. I'll find you later."
Banner stepped forward. "Captain Carter, I'd like a word with Tony."
"No rush. You've got other tasks."
Carter sent Banner off, glancing at Charlie.
Charlie signaled. The "Tony" sensed trouble.
Three seconds later, he collapsed, reverting to Skrull form.
The real Tony returned. "Sure about me going undercover?" he asked warily.
Charlie patted his shoulder. "Your only shot at revenge."
Tony gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll make him pay."
Charlie briefed him. Tony headed to Banner's lab.
Carter, disgusted, said, "He's not after revenge. He's chasing thrills."
Charlie grinned, arms crossed. "Don't call it out. We're still pals."
Carter shook her head. "He'll die by a woman's hand someday."
"Maybe!"
Charlie dropped the topic.
By now, Tony should've noticed palladium poisoning. His interest in Skrulls likely tied to alien medicine.
Whether it could cure him was unclear.
But a new element could.
Charlie needed to confirm its existence. This wasn't the MCU—Howard might not have left Tony a new element. If not, Tony was on his own.
Carter got a message. "A new Spider-Man? A woman?" She lowered her communicator, eyes odd.
"Charlie, your Friendly Neighbor Mary Jane's a Spider-Man now. Check it out."
"Mary Jane?" Charlie's face was all question marks.
"No way. A real Friendly Neighbor?"