Day 12 Before Invasion
The Stark equipment changed everything.
The armor was lightweight but incredibly durable—nanomesh weave incorporating Chitauri alloys that could stop energy weapons while remaining flexible enough for full range of motion. Each of us spent hours in the fabrication lab getting fitted, customizing the gear to our specific combat styles.
"This is insane," Maya signed, testing the armor's flexibility with a series of complex martial arts forms. "I can barely feel I'm wearing it."
"That's the point," I said, examining my own suit. Mine was designed with extra neural interface points—allowing me to channel my telepathy more efficiently while protected. "Tony knows his stuff."
Elektra was particularly impressed with the weapons. "These sai have monomolecular edges. They'll cut through Dominator armor like paper." She ran through attack sequences, the weapons moving like extensions of her body. "We might actually have a chance."
Over the next three days, we trained relentlessly with the new equipment. Eight hours of combat drills daily, two hours of tactical planning, another four hours practicing coordination and communication.
We were becoming a precision instrument.
But the strain was showing. Everyone was exhausted, running on determination and coffee. We needed a break.
Day 9 Before Invasion
"Everyone stop," I commanded during a particularly grueling training session.
The team looked at me, confused.
"We've been pushing nonstop for days. We're exhausted, making mistakes, and getting sloppy. That's how people die." I set down my practice weapons. "We're taking tonight off. Real food, actual rest, and no talk of aliens or invasions."
"Marcus—" Jessica started.
"That's an order. We're no good to Earth if we burn out before the fight even starts."
Reluctantly, everyone agreed.
That evening, we gathered in the common area—not the training room or war room, just the comfortable space where we actually lived. Felicia ordered enough Chinese food to feed an army. We sprawled across couches and chairs, eating and talking about anything except the coming invasion.
"Remember when our biggest problem was Kingpin?" Felicia said, stealing a dumpling from my plate. "Good times."
"Hey, Kingpin was terrifying," I protested.
"Compared to an alien invasion? He's practically quaint now."
"Fair point."
Jessica stretched, her back popping. "I joined SHIELD to make a difference. Never thought 'making a difference' would involve fighting actual aliens."
"None of us did," Elektra said quietly. "But here we are anyway."
"Here we are," I agreed, raising my beer. "To facing impossible odds with the best team I could ask for."
"To family," Rogue added, clinking her bottle against mine.
"To family," everyone echoed.
The evening stretched on with easy conversation and gentle ribbing. Maya told stories in sign language about some of her more ridiculous heists before joining us. Jessica shared embarrassing SHIELD training stories. Even Elektra cracked a few smiles.
It was normal. Human. Exactly what we needed.
Day 7 Before Invasion
SHIELD called an all-hands meeting at the Triskelion.
Every major hero was there—the full Avengers roster, X-Men leadership, Fantastic Four, even some independents like Doctor Strange. The room thrummed with power and tension.
Fury stood at the front, his expression grave.
"Intelligence suggests the Dominator fleet will arrive in exactly seven days. They'll enter orbit and immediately begin landing operations in major population centers—New York, London, Beijing, Mumbai, São Paulo." He pulled up tactical displays. "We're looking at simultaneous attacks across the globe."
"How do we coordinate a defense across multiple continents?" Captain America asked.
"Each region gets a primary response team," Fury explained. "Avengers take New York. X-Men handle Europe. Fantastic Four coordinate with international heroes for Asia. Everyone else fills gaps as needed."
"And us?" I asked.
"Your team is special operations. You'll be embedded with the New York defense but operating independently. Your targets are high-value—Dominator command ships, communication hubs, anything that disrupts their coordination."
Thor leaned forward. "You would send six warriors against their command structure? Is that not suicide?"
"Probably," Fury admitted bluntly. "But they're our best shot at creating chaos the Dominators can't predict. Every other team, they've studied for years. Cole's team? They don't even know exists."
"We can handle it," I said with more confidence than I felt.
After the meeting, Steve Rogers pulled me aside.
"Cole, I need to know—are you really prepared for this? I've read your file. You've been operating for less than a year. This is planetary defense."
"I know what it is, Captain. And yes, we're ready. We might not have your experience, but we have skills, powers, and most importantly, we have something to fight for."
Steve studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Good. Because we're going to need everyone at their best. Fury's right—you're our wildcard. Use that advantage."
"We will."
As I left, I noticed Natasha Romanoff watching me. She approached smoothly.
"Marcus Cole. The telepath who came out of nowhere." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "I've been investigating you. Very thoroughly."
"Find anything interesting?"
"Lots of things. Suspicious wealth, convenient connections, people who seem very eager to help you with no clear reason why." She moved closer. "But nothing concrete. You're either very good at covering your tracks, or you're actually legitimate."
"Can't it be both?"
She almost smiled. "Fair. Look, I don't trust you. But Fury does, and Steve's willing to give you a chance. So here's the deal—you do your job, keep your team alive, and help us win. Do that, and we'll sort out our trust issues later."
"Sounds fair."
"One more thing." Her expression turned serious. "If you're playing us, if this is some elaborate scheme… I will find out. And I will end you. Understood?"
"Crystal clear."
"Good." She walked away, leaving me with the distinct impression I'd just been threatened by one of the world's most dangerous women.
Day 5 Before Invasion
The team was falling apart.
Not literally—we were training well, equipment was ready, plans were solid. But emotionally, the stress was crushing us.
Maya had become withdrawn, communicating only when necessary. Jessica was snapping at everyone, her SHIELD duties and team obligations pulling her in multiple directions. Even Felicia's usual confidence was cracking, replaced by nervous energy she couldn't quite hide.
I found Elektra in the training room at 3 AM, pushing herself through brutal exercises despite obvious exhaustion.
"You should be sleeping," I said.
"Can't sleep." She didn't stop moving. "Every time I close my eyes, I see us failing. See people dying because we weren't good enough."
"Elektra—"
"I've seen what happens when heroes fail, Marcus. I was there when Hydra fell. When SHIELD collapsed. When the Hand nearly conquered everything." She finally stopped, breathing hard. "And now aliens are coming, and I keep thinking—what if we're not enough?"
I moved to her, placing my hands on her shoulders. "We might not be. But we're going to try anyway. That's all anyone can do."
"Is it enough?"
"It has to be."
She sagged against me, all her legendary composure crumbling. "I'm scared. I haven't been truly scared in years, but I'm terrified we're going to lose everything."
I held her, letting her vulnerability show without judgment. "Me too. But we face it together. All of us."
"Promise me something," she said quietly. "If it comes down to it, if one of us can save the others by sacrificing themselves—"
"No."
"Marcus—"
"No. We all come home, or none of us do. That's the deal. I'm not losing any of you."
"You can't promise that."
"Watch me." I pulled back, meeting her eyes. "I have telepathy, absorbed skills from all of you, Stark technology, and the best team on the planet. We're going to win because failure isn't an option."
She almost smiled. "Your confidence is inspiring. Possibly delusional, but inspiring."
"I'll take it."
Day 3 Before Invasion
Doctor Strange requested a private meeting.
I met him at the Sanctum Sanctorum, that impossible building in Greenwich Village. He greeted me at the door, his expression unreadable.
"Marcus Cole. The telepath who appeared from nowhere with surprising power." He gestured me inside. "Tea?"
"Sure."
We sat in his study, surrounded by mystical artifacts and ancient texts. Strange poured tea with practiced precision.
"I wanted to talk to you because I've seen something troubling," he said finally. "The future is in flux—that's normal before major events. But there's an anomaly centered on you."
"What kind of anomaly?"
"I can't read you. At all. Every other person on this planet, I can glimpse their potential futures, their possible paths. But you?" He shook his head. "You're a blank. As if you don't exist in the timeline."
My blood ran cold. "What does that mean?"
"I'm not certain. Possibly you're protected by some force I can't perceive. Possibly you're from outside this reality—a traveler from another dimension or timeline." He sipped his tea. "Or possibly you're going to die in three days and cease to exist."
"Encouraging."
"I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm warning you that something about you is… different. And different can be either humanity's salvation or its doom."
"Which do you think I am?"
"I don't know. That's what concerns me." He set down his cup. "But I'll say this—whatever you are, whatever brought you here, you've built something worth protecting. Your team, your family. That's real, even if your origin isn't."
"Are you going to tell anyone?"
"No. Your secrets are your own. I just wanted you to know that I'm watching. And if you become a threat…" He let the implication hang.
"Understood."
As I left the Sanctum, my mind raced. Strange knew—or suspected—that I wasn't from this reality. How many others had figured it out? And more importantly, what would they do with that knowledge?
Day 1 Before Invasion
The calm before the storm.
We gathered at the base one final time before deployment. Tomorrow, the Dominators would arrive. Tomorrow, everything changed.
"I want to say something," I announced. Everyone turned to me. "I know we're all scared. I know the odds are against us. But I also know that I wouldn't want to face this with anyone else."
"Sappy," Felicia teased, but her eyes were bright.
"Let me finish. We've built something incredible here. Not just a team, but a family. And no matter what happens tomorrow, no matter how bad it gets, we face it together."
"Together," everyone repeated.
"Now get some sleep. Tomorrow, we show these alien bastards why Earth doesn't roll over for invaders."
As everyone dispersed to their quarters, Rogue caught my arm.
"Marcus? Can Ah talk to you? Privately?"
"Of course."
We went to my room. Rogue seemed nervous, uncharacteristically hesitant.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong. It's just… tomorrow might be our last day. And there's something Ah need to tell you." She took a breath. "Ah love you. Not just as part of the team, but specifically you. And Ah wanted you to know before… before whatever happens."
I pulled her close. "I love you too, Rogue. All of you—each of you individually and all of you together. You're my family."
"Good." She smiled, then kissed me softly. "Now take me to bed. Not for anything fancy. Just… hold me tonight?"
"Always."
We lay together in the darkness, just holding each other, drawing comfort from physical closeness. Eventually, her breathing evened out in sleep.
I lay awake longer, thinking about tomorrow. About the invasion, the impossible odds, the very real possibility we might not survive.
But I also thought about what we'd built. The family we'd become. The love we shared.
Whatever tomorrow brought, we'd face it together.
And somehow, that made even an alien invasion seem survivable.