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When Tony heard that the Xandarians were here because of Nolan, he immediately patched through to Oscorp.
Within moments, Norman Osborn relayed the call, and a holographic projection of Nolan appeared in the chamber.
"Honored Sorcerer Supreme! Xandar's commander Irani Rael conveys her deepest respect!"
The Xandarian delegation bowed, pressing hands to their chests in salute.
Nolan inclined his head. "I didn't expect you so soon. I thought you would need more time to rebuild your world before coming here."
"Your concern is appreciated," Irani replied. "Xandar has stabilized. We're ready."
"Good. Work out the details with him." Nolan gestured toward Tony.
Tony blinked. "Wait—me? This is first-contact diplomacy! Why am I—"
"This is Earth's business," Nolan said flatly. "That's what the Illuminati exists for." And with that, his projection vanished.
"Sir," FRIDAY confirmed drily. "They hung up."
"I noticed," Tony muttered, rolling his eyes. Then, turning to the envoys, he plastered on his public smile. "Welcome to Earth. We've prepared accommodations so you can enjoy the… wonders of our planet."
---
The talks concluded smoothly. Xandar's people departed aboard their ships, leaving Tony exhaling in relief. "So Nolan's reputation really has spread off-world…"
The treaty surprised him. Xandar had been devastated by Thanos, yet Nolan had apparently saved them.
Out of gratitude, they sought alliance with Earth, technology exchange, resource sharing, and even wormhole travel.
In truth, Earth was centuries behind. Strip away StarkTech and Oscorp's bleeding-edge projects, and the planet was a backwater compared to Xandar's galactic infrastructure.
If not for Nolan's standing, Tony doubted they would have offered a handshake.
Still, Xandar's commander had marveled at Earth's cold fusion breakthroughs, Oscorp's bioengineering, and the sheer number of enhanced individuals. She had even called Earth "a jewel of the galaxy."
But she couldn't understand one thing: why Earth was still fractured into so many governments.
With a Sorcerer Supreme of Nolan's magnitude, why hadn't the world been unified under one banner?
Tony sidestepped the question with a smile. "He respects freedom of choice."
---
Later, as Tony reviewed schematics for integrating wormhole drive into Earth's starship designs, FRIDAY cut in.
"Sir, I believe there's something you need to see."
A screen lit up with a figure Tony knew all too well. Himself.
Except he was watching the imposter stroll through Stark Industries, casually greeting employees.
Tony froze. "Someone's impersonating me?"
"Scans confirm," FRIDAY said. "Body structure, gait, even fingerprints are an identical match."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "Mystique? She's the only one who could pull off a disguise like that."
But even Mystique couldn't replicate his tech. Unless…
---
Minutes later, Tony stormed through Stark Tower. Something gnawed at him something off.
The calendar.
"This isn't right," he muttered. "This is… the timeline of the Battle of New York?"
But it wasn't. The timestamps aligned with events years later, just before their first clash with Thanos by then, the Space Stone was already in Thanos' gauntlet.
His earpiece crackled.
"Tony," Scott Lang whispered, "you swore the targeting was precise!"
"You're the one who swore time travel wouldn't screw up," Tony snapped back.
"Uh, guys?" Steve Rogers' voice broke in. "We've got another problem."
"Define 'problem,'" Tony demanded.
"He calls himself the Sorcerer Supreme. Nolan."
Tony's jaw tightened. "Wait. What? The Sorcerer Supreme is supposed to be Strange. Who the hell is Nolan?"
---
An explosion of light rocked the lab corridor. Tony raised his palm, and across from him stood himself. Another Iron Man suit, glowing, repulsors primed.
"You enjoying my face, pal?" the new arrival sneered.
"Cute," Tony shot back. "You even brought one of my future suits. Except I haven't built that one yet."
Twin repulsor beams lit up, arcs crossing in a stalemate of raw force.
---
Meanwhile, Nolan stood before the new arrivals: Steve Rogers, Scott Lang, and their allies. He frowned.
He could feel the temporal bleed clinging to them. Wrong frequency. Wrong vibration. Their very wrist chronometers reeked of stolen time.
So that was it.
A multiversal strike team.
But in the wrong timeline.
Nolan folded his arms. Avengers from another reality… who came to the wrong universe at the wrong moment.
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