Chapter 200 — Curious
The command deck of the Helicarrier was quieter than usual.
Large screens filled the room, each showing a different angle of New York City. Fires burned across several blocks. Smoke rose between buildings like dark pillars. The portal above Stark Tower shone bright even through satellite view, its blue light pulsing steadily as more alien forces poured through.
Technicians worked quickly at their stations, voices low, movements sharp and controlled. No one wasted energy speaking unless necessary.
At the center of the room stood Nick Fury.
His hands rested behind his back as he watched the battle unfold.
Thor streaked across one screen in flashes of lightning. Iron Man fought near the tower. Small figures moved through streets below, Captain America and Black Widow among them.
And still, the invasion continued.
A sharp tone echoed across the command deck.
"Incoming transmission," a technician announced.
Fury didn't turn. "Put it through."
Five holograms appeared around him, glowing blue figures forming in midair. The members of the World Security Council stood projected before him, their faces serious, their posture rigid.
One spoke immediately.
"Director Fury, the situation is escalating beyond acceptable limits."
Another hologram gestured toward the battlefield displays.
"Alien forces continue to increase. Civilian casualties are rising."
Fury said nothing. He simply watched the footage.
A Leviathan pushed through the portal on one screen, followed by dozens of smaller craft.
A third council member spoke, voice firm.
"Your team cannot contain this indefinitely."
The words hung in the air.
Then came the decision.
"We are authorizing a nuclear strike."
Several technicians froze briefly at their stations but continued working.
Fury finally turned to face the holograms.
He studied each of them carefully before speaking.
"I will not order a nuclear strike on a civilian population," Fury said calmly. "Not until my team and I can't hold it."
Silence followed.
One council member leaned forward slightly.
"But if they can't hold it," the figure said, "then we'll lose everything."
Fury's expression did not change.
"If I send that bird out," he replied evenly, "we already have."
The meaning was clear.
The council members began speaking over one another, voices rising with urgency.
"Director—"
"You are risking the planet—"
"This decision is not yours alone—"
Fury reached forward and pressed a control on the console.
The holograms vanished instantly.
The room fell silent again.
No one questioned him.
Fury turned back toward the screens, watching New York burn and fight at the same time.
He didn't speak, but the thought was clear behind his steady gaze.
He was betting the world on the people down there.
Though hidden within his robe, his hand rested on a small device, one capable of transmitting and contacting someone from across a galaxy.
Far below, New York's sky was alive with motion.
Thunder rolled between buildings as Thor smashed through a formation of Chitauri, lightning scattering their vehicles like broken glass.
Nearby, the Quinjet cut through smoke-filled air.
Inside the cockpit, Steve Rogers held the controls steady while Natasha Romanoff operated the weapons system beside him.
Energy blasts flashed past the windows.
"More incoming," Natasha said, already firing.
The Quinjet cannons roared, tearing through several alien chariots. Explosions bloomed in the sky ahead, briefly clearing their path.
Then Steve noticed movement farther out.
"…Nat," he said quietly.
She followed his gaze.
A small figure moved through the air.
At first it looked like debris.
Then it fired.
One precise shot struck a Chitauri vehicle. The craft exploded instantly, taking several others with it.
The figure turned smoothly, avoiding incoming energy beams with effortless motion.
Tanya.
She flew as if the sky belonged to her.
Her rifle flashed again and again. Every shot found a target. Enemies fell one after another, unable to track her movements.
She wasn't rushing.
She wasn't struggling.
She was calculating.
Thor passed nearby in a streak of lightning, slowing slightly as he watched her dismantle an entire formation alone.
The child with Tony and Gaius isn't really ordinary, Thor thought silently.
Steve stared for a moment longer before speaking.
"That girl…" he said, almost in disbelief. "She's basically a one-person air force."
Natasha watched Tanya weave through enemy fire, returning shots without hesitation.
"You're right," she said.
Another Chitauri exploded under Tanya's fire.
Natasha shook her head slightly, impressed despite herself.
"She's quite an amazing little girl."
Before Steve could reply, alarms sounded inside the Quinjet.
A large Chitauri formation appeared directly ahead, filling their flight path.
"Got company," Natasha said.
She opened fire immediately.
The Quinjet's guns thundered, destroying several enemies. Wreckage spun away through the air.
But the remaining Chitauri fired back.
Bright energy beams streaked toward them.
One struck the Quinjet's wing.
The aircraft lurched violently.
Warning lights flashed red across the cockpit.
"Wing's hit!" Natasha said.
Steve fought the controls as the jet lost stability.
Smoke poured past the window.
"We're not staying airborne," Natasha said quickly. "Put her down!"
Steve nodded.
He guided the damaged Quinjet toward the street below.
The landing was rough.
The jet slammed onto asphalt, skidding across the road, sparks spraying behind them before finally grinding to a halt.
Silence lasted only a second.
Then Chitauri descended.
Civilians ran between abandoned cars. Some were trapped, frozen in fear.
Steve grabbed his shield.
"Let's move."
They exited the jet immediately.
Chitauri opened fire.
Steve stepped forward, shield raised, blocking incoming blasts while guiding civilians behind cover.
Natasha fired precise shots, targeting weak points and buying people time to escape.
Their weapons weren't ideal for an alien army.
But they didn't stop moving.
Protection came first.
A Chitauri vehicle swooped low, weapons charging toward them—
Then something hit it.
A thunderous explosion tore through the craft.
A massive hole appeared in its body before it detonated completely.
Steve looked toward the source.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the street.
A towering figure in blue armor walked forward through drifting smoke.
Lieutenant Titus.
Heavy bolter in hand.
The weapon roared again, each shot obliterating another alien in the distance.
The ground seemed to tremble slightly with every step he took.
A Chitauri raised a glowing spear toward him and fired.
Steve reacted instantly.
His shield flew through the air, intercepting the attack before it reached Titus.
The shield struck the ground near another alien.
Titus turned toward the movement.
He raised his heavy bolter.
The alien vanished under explosive fire.
Another Chitauri lunged at him from the side, spear glowing.
Titus moved faster than expected for someone his size.
He sidestepped easily, grabbed the attacker with one hand, and slammed it into the pavement.
His armored boot came down.
The alien stopped moving instantly.
Steve and Natasha paused briefly, watching.
Smoke drifted between them.
Titus scanned the area, weapon lowering slightly.
For a moment, there was silence.
Steve stepped forward.
"…Thanks," he said. "That was good timing."
Titus turned his helmet toward him.
"I require no thanks," he said in a deep, steady voice. "The enemy of mankind is my enemy."
Steve blinked once.
That sounded familiar.
"Yeah," Steve said, gripping his shield again. "I can work with that."
Natasha gave Titus a brief, assessing glance. Knowing they were from the future, she couldn't help but feel a quiet curiosity about them and the world they came from.
She had heard enough to know humanity fought constant wars there, against aliens, rebellions, and something they called "Chaos," though she still didn't clearly understand what that meant. Seeing Titus in person, someone who had actually lived through that future, made her wonder what kind of life he had endured to become who he was now.
Steve nodded toward her.
"I'm Steve Rogers. Captain America. And she is—"
"I'm Natasha Romanoff," she said. "Agent."
Titus answered immediately.
"I am Lieutenant Titus of the Ultramarines."
A screech cut through the air.
More Chitauri descended, weapons charging.
Steve shifted into stance.
"Then let's keep fighting."
Titus stepped forward instead.
"Stay behind me."
Before Steve could respond, the heavy bolter opened fire.
The weapon's roar filled the street.
Each round tore through multiple enemies at once, armor offering no protection.
Steve adapted instantly.
He charged forward, timing his movements with Titus's fire.
A shield throw dropped one alien.
A ricochet struck another.
Natasha moved between them like a shadow, finishing enemies that slipped through.
They began to move as a unit without discussion.
Above them, another wave descended toward Titus
A streak crossed the sky.
Explosions followed immediately.
The formation shattered midair.
Tanya hovered overhead, rifle blazing as she maneuvered effortlessly between enemy shots.
Titus glanced upward briefly.
Then continued advancing, firing steadily.
Steve looked at Natasha.
She gave a small nod.
They followed Titus forward.
End of Chapter 200
~~~
If you're enjoying the story, want to read more, and want to support me in creating more, you can check out my Patreon here:
patreon.com/ZanderLee
Every bit of support means a lot and helps me keep writing!