Chapter 193 — Summoning and Energy Spike
The Helicarrier was alive with motion. Agents scurried down the corridors, moving walls and heavy equipment under Fury's direct orders. For hours, the massive ship was rearranged to create wide, open spaces, corridors large enough to accommodate visitors far larger than any normal human. Fury coordinated the teams calmly, calculating the best layout for the ship.
Maria Hill assisted alongside him, directing staff. Every wall moved, every console shifted, all to create the spaces that might soon hold Gaius' soldiers. Fury kept one eye on the clock and another on the approaching moment when the summoned figures would arrive. The thought of what was coming made him slightly tense, though his expression remained composed.
Finally, after hours of effort and clearing the nearby agents, Fury led Gaius to the central area. He spoke plainly, without hesitation. "Gaius, you can now summon your men."
Gaius nodded. He took a steady breath and activated the shared Gate, his method of bringing his soldiers from his world into this one. Particles of light began to gather in the open space, spinning and shimmering like glass shards in sunlight. Slowly, the forms started to solidify.
The first figures to appear were Titus, Metaurus, and the two Bladeguards. They were massive, standing taller and broader than any human, their armor gleaming under the Helicarrier lights. Each moved with purpose, hands tight at their sides, bodies perfectly balanced. The moment their feet touched the floor, they all kneeled simultaneously to Gaius.
"Praetor," they said in unison. Their voices carried the same weight, calm yet commanding, echoing through the open space.
Gaius looked over them and calmly commanded, "Stand up."
Immediately, all four rose, their posture immaculate. Their movement was precise, every joint and muscle aligned with exacting discipline. Fury and Maria Hill watched closely, both impressed and unsettled by the sheer presence of these soldiers. Fury's mind ran through the possibilities, thinking, Gaius could really summon his men from the far future.
Then, another figure began to materialize. It was different. The air seemed to shift around her, almost like the temperature had changed. She appeared in a swirl of light, and as the glow faded, the Sister of Silence stood fully formed.
Her armor gleamed gold, polished to a mirror shine. A crimson cape draped behind her, falling straight and heavy. Her head was nearly bald, emphasizing sharp, austere features, with only a single long hair tightly bound into a topknot from the crown. Her expression was cold, almost unnatural in its severity.
The moment she stood fully visible, Fury felt it first, a creeping, heavy dread that wrapped around his chest. His stomach sank, and his instincts screamed at him. Maria Hill, standing beside him, reacted in the same way. Both of them reached toward their sidearms automatically, their movements slowed but deliberate. The oppressive presence was real, almost suffocating.
Gaius turned slowly toward them. His gaze was steady, commanding. "Stop."
The power in his voice carried an authority that froze Fury and Hill in place. Their hands hovered over their weapons, but they could not move further. The oppressive aura of the Sister of Silence combined with Gaius' presence created a strange balance, they could feel the danger but were restrained from acting rashly.
Fury forced himself to take a breath. "I apologize, Gaius. What was that?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying underlying tension. Both he and Hill were now able to control themselves, though the lingering unease remained.
Gaius explained quietly, "They are the Sisters of Silence. They are Blanks. They leave no imprint on the Warp, no soul signature. People nearby feel dread, discomfort, and fear. It is natural, it is not controlled."
Fury's eyes widened slightly as he absorbed the explanation. It all made sense now, the sudden nausea, the fear, the instinctive reactions. Maria nodded subtly beside him, realizing that their initial confusion had been due to the nature of the Sister of Silence.
Still, Fury remained cautious. "Since there haven't been any fights yet, could you have the Sister of Silence go to her room? Most people here are normal. If they're affected by the blankness, they might act irrationally."
Gaius nodded. He looked at the Sister and spoke simply, pointing to a secure room nearby. "Sister, you stay in this room for the time being. The fight has not begun."
The Sister responded with a series of rapid hand signals, precise and fluid. Gaius interpreted them immediately: "In your command." She turned and walked calmly toward the assigned room, closing the door behind her. The oppressive feeling lessened but did not vanish entirely. Fury and Maria both exhaled, relief evident on their faces.
Gaius then turned to the four Primaris Ultramarines who had been standing at attention. "I have brought you into this world. This is Earth once more. There will be war again. Until then, I want you to stand by on this ship."
The four Ultramarines responded in unison, their voices strong and clear. "Understood!"
Meanwhile, across the Helicarrier, Bruce Banner and Tony Stark were working side by side in the laboratory. The monitors flickered with live feeds, satellite scans, and energy readings. Banner's hands moved quickly across keyboards, adjusting parameters, linking gamma detectors and satellites.
Meanwhile, in the lab, Tony, Banner, and Tanya were stationed. Tanya sat quietly in an office chair, a small dessert in her hand that an agent had given her, a faint look of nostalgia on her face.
Tony and Banner worked together, monitoring the instruments and preparing for any sudden spikes in energy.
Suddenly, the readings jumped.
"Gamma energy levels are climbing sharply!" Banner's voice cut through the quiet.
Tony leaned forward, eyes scanning the monitors. "Where?"
Banner pinpointed the location immediately. "Stuttgart, Germany. Something's happening there."
Tony picked up a communication device. "Fury! Stuttgart. Energy spike detected. Could be Loki."
Nick Fury reacted instantly. Without hesitation, he called in a Quinjet team. The jet was small, so Gaius didn't join, and since the mission assigned through the Multiversal Chat didn't involve Loki, he stayed behind as well.
Captain America would handle the response. Fury gave the order succinctly, fully aware that time was critical.
Back on the command deck, Fury surveyed the room. The presence of Gaius' summoned soldiers had left a lasting impression. He noted how efficiently Gaius could deploy his men, if he could summon five at once, theoretically, he could summon an entire army. Fury silently hoped there was some limitation to Gaius' summoning
Maria Hill, still slightly tense from the Sister of Silence's presence, adjusted equipment and confirmed all systems were operational. Even standing in the same room as beings of such power required constant awareness, but both she and Fury were seasoned professionals. They had seen many strange things, yet Gaius and his men introduced a new level of scale and threat.
The Quinjet lifted off from the Helicarrier, carrying Captain America. Not far behind, Iron Man took to the air, keeping pace with the Quinjet effortlessly.
Tanya stood with Jemma Simmons, whom Nick Fury had assigned to stay near her, watching the Quinjet and Iron Man take off.
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