Natasha stood opposite her shimmering, ethereal twin. The Widow's Echo mimicked her every move, a perfect reflection of her deadly grace. But as she trained, something strange began to happen. The Echo wasn't just copying her; it was anticipating her, moving with a knowledge that felt both familiar and alien. Flashes of memory, not her own, bled through their neural link. A desolate cliff on a world called Vormir. A final, desperate battle against an army of aliens. A life she had never lived.
She dismissed the Echo and leaned against the wall of the training room, breathing heavily. Tony entered, holding a tablet.
"The energy readings are stable," he said. "How does it feel?"
"It feels… loud," Natasha confessed, her voice strained. "Tony, the Echo… it knows more than I do. I'm seeing things, memories. Different lives. In some of them, I died."
Tony's expression became serious. He tapped on his tablet, analyzing the data streaming from the Echo's matrix. "It's possible," he mused. "When I perfected the link, I didn't just connect it to your subconscious; I connected it to your soul's quantum signature. It might be picking up echoes from… other Natasha Romanoffs across the multiverse." He looked at her, his usual flippancy gone. "That's a heavy burden, Nat. But it might also be a weapon. You should keep working on it. See what else you can learn."
He gave her a reassuring nod and left her to her training, her mind reeling with the impossible implications. On the other side of the Helicarrier, Bruce Banner was similarly occupied, his meditation chamber filled with the glowing, intricate patterns of the Nytic Rings as he tried to decipher their cosmic language.
In the main briefing room, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Nick Fury stood at the head of a large holographic table, flanked by Sharon Carter. On one side sat Steve Rogers, the dark, powerful hammer resting by his chair. On the other sat the Asgardians: Thor, Loki, Sylvie, and Jane Foster.
The doors slid open, and Tony Stark strode in, a glass of something expensive in his hand. He surveyed the room, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he looked at Steve. "Captain America. Or should I say Steve Rogers? It's good to see you're finally transforming into a modern person."
Steve met his gaze, a wry smile on his lips. "You can say that, Tony Stark. You're just like your father, Howard. Though he was more of a gentleman."
"I'm sorry, but I'm an upgrade," Tony shot back without missing a beat. His eyes then shifted to Loki and Sylvie. "And you two. I can't believe the TVA couldn't handle you, but then again, they probably couldn't handle your sister, Hela, the Goddess of Life, either. But still, congratulations on the wedding. It's… novel."
Sylvie offered a rare, small smile. "Thank you."
Loki inclined his head, a flicker of genuine appreciation in his eyes. "Your sentiment is… noted, Stark." He then leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "You're the Iron Supreme, then? The Sorcerer of this realm?"
"The one and only," Tony confirmed with a slight bow. "And I know all about you. The glorious purpose, the time-slipping, the romance with your own variant. It's been an interesting show to watch."
Sharon looked between them, bewildered. "So, this means they're… they're actual gods?"
"Yep," Tony said, popping the 'p'. "They are. But they're trying to live a normal life on a planet that still uses fossil fuels. The irony is delicious."
Thor, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "If you know so much, then perhaps you can tell us something."
"About Mjolnir?" Tony asked, gesturing to the hammer by Steve's feet. "That is Mjolnir. The one and only. Which makes the fact that Captain America here can lift it all the more impressive. It means what your sister said is true, Thor. He's worthy."
"No, not about the hammer," Thor said, though a look of respect crossed his face as he glanced at Steve.
Sylvie spoke next, her voice tight with concern. "We're fine with the Captain wielding that power, as long as he's worthy. But we want to know why our senses have been screaming in terror for the past few days."
"It feels like a storm gathering on the edge of reality," Loki added, his usual arrogance replaced by a grim seriousness. "Is someone coming?"
The lighthearted banter in the room died instantly. Tony's smile faded. He looked at Fury, then back at the Asgardians.
"It looks that way," Tony said. "The wards around the planet have been tripping for weeks. Faint signals, probes from dark dimensions. Mephisto paid me a visit just yesterday. Something is definitely coming." He looked directly at Thor. "The question is, are you here to help?"
Thor stood up, his vacation attire doing little to diminish his regal presence. He looked at Loki and Sylvie, who both gave him a firm nod. He looked at Jane, who gave him a look of unwavering support.
"We love Midgard," Thor declared, his voice resonating with power. "It has given us a home. It has given us love." He looked at Steve, then at Tony. "Of course, we will help you defend it."