"Congratulations," Tony said dryly, folding his arms. "We're officially on the interstellar map. Maybe throw a party later—assuming nobody nukes us into stardust first."
Steve's voice was heavier, more grounded, carrying the weight of leadership.
"This isn't rumor anymore. We've all seen them. We've fought them. That body on the stasis table is proof enough. Humanity isn't alone—and we're standing in the middle of something far bigger than anything we've ever faced."
All eyes turned back to the Kree commander, who sat tall in his chair despite the glowing cuffs holding him down. His expression was hard as stone, his blue eyes sharp with cold disdain.
"You speak as if you matter," the commander said evenly. "You are not participants. You are pawns. You were always pawns. The war between Kree and Skrulls has lasted for millennia. Whole worlds have risen and burned. Empires have bowed. And you?" His lip curled faintly. "You're nothing but an infant world, pretending to have power."
The words landed like a hammer, sinking the room into silence.
But Tony just laughed under his breath. He stepped closer, his helmet plates sliding back with a sharp metallic click. His eyes gleamed with challenge as his grin cut like a knife.
"Yeah, see—that's where you've got it wrong. Pawns don't shoot down your ships. Pawns don't get flagged 'extinction level' on your fancy scanners. And pawns?" He leaned forward slightly. "They don't cuff you and drag you into our house."
The commander's jaw tightened, and though he quickly masked it, doubt flickered in his eyes.
Steve's tone was steady, cutting through the tension.
"You underestimated Earth. That was your mistake. Now you're here, and you're going to give us answers. One way or another."
The commander gave a thin smile but stayed silent.
Tony sighed and glanced at Steve. "Fine. Guess we'll get creative with the interrogation. Don't worry—I've got toys that make lie detectors look like Etch A Sketches."
Steve didn't smile. He kept his eyes on the commander.
"Start with the basics. War or not, why Earth? Why now?"
The commander's eyes gleamed with pride and warning.
"Because your planet is not what you think it is. Earth is more than dirt, water, and sky. It is a keystone. A resource. And whether you resist or submit—it will be taken."
Tony snorted loudly. "Pffft—sorry, couldn't help it. Keystone, resource, extinction-level threat—make up your mind. If we're so dangerous, why do you think you get to dictate terms?"
The commander snarled faintly, his mask slipping. "Because, human, you will burn with your world. Planet Buster protocols leave nothing. No resistance. No remnants. No legacy. Only ash."
The chamber fell silent. Analysts exchanged tense glances. Even Shuri, usually sharp and confident, leaned forward with unease.
"I thought the Kree would be more impressive than this. All I see are bullies hiding behind weapons."
The commander's smile stretched thin. "Then you underestimate the weapons."
Steve's voice cut through again, clear and firm.
"You showed up here to make threats. Fine. But here's the reality—you're standing on Earth. Not orbiting above it. Not bombing from space. Standing. Here. Which means you're not untouchable."
Tony tilted his head toward Steve, smirking. "Translation: give us the coordinates to your 'Planet Buster,' or I rip them straight out of your ship's systems."
The commander let out a cold laugh. "You'll get nothing from me."
That's when Dave finally moved. He pushed his chair back slowly, the scrape echoing through the room. His eyes glinted with something dark, something that made even the hardened Kree soldiers tense.
"Why waste time talking?" he muttered. "Let's just kill them now and finish it. If a war starts here, it ends here."
The air froze. The commander's smirk died instantly when he realized Dave wasn't bluffing.
In a blink, a glowing blade formed in Dave's hand. With one swift strike, five of the eleven Kree captives fell lifeless to the floor.
"You… what have you done!?" the commander shouted, his composure shattering as half his subordinates died like insects.
Dave's gaze was sharp and merciless. "Didn't I say Tony could hack your ship and take the coordinates to your homeworld? You didn't listen. Now half your soldiers are corpses. The rest of you? You'll be live test subjects."
He dismissed the blade and raised his hand. Strange glowing marks spread across his skin and leapt onto the surviving Kree like burning chains. They screamed in pain as the sigils wrapped them, locking down their strength.
The commander's voice broke with fury and fear. "What did you do to them!?"
Dave's eyes were cold as stone.
"That seal will weaken you until you're no stronger than a toddler. So when our scientists examine you, you won't be able to resist at all."
He turned toward the soldiers. "Take them. Do whatever you want with them."
The guards surged forward eagerly. The blue-skinned Kree were dragged out one by one, powerless against the glowing seal, their pride stripped away as they were hauled toward the laboratories.
Tony folded his arms, frowning as he watched.
"You're really planning to go to their planet?"
Dave nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Who knows when they'll try another Planet Buster. I can stop it. You can stop it. But what if we're too late? One delay and Earth is gone. Billions dead."
His voice hardened, cutting like steel.
"It's better we take the fight to them—wipe them out at their core—than sit here waiting for them to come destroy us."
Tony leaned back in his chair, metal fingers tapping rhythmically against the table, his mask hiding the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"Alright, so let me get this straight," he said slowly. "Your plan is: one, take their soldiers apart in labs like they're some new brand of toaster. Two, follow the breadcrumbs back to their home turf. And three… wipe them out before they can even think about round two."
Dave didn't flinch. "Exactly."
Steve's jaw tightened. "That sounds less like defense and more like preemptive extermination."
Dave's gaze sharpened, his words heavy and deliberate. "You've seen the data, Steve. They didn't just come here scouting. They had planetary buster-class weapons queued and targeted. If we were a minute late, Earth would've been a cinder. They're not leaving us room for mercy."
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