Inside the tower, a deadly game of hide-and-seek was in full swing.
"BOOM!"
A micro-missile detonated at the end of the corridor. The shockwave hurled Silas Lawton into the wall like a rag doll.
"Cough—cough—!"
"Natasha! I can't keep this up!"
He stared in horror at the Iron Legion drones crisscrossing the hallway like mechanical hornets.
"They've sealed the stairwells! Elevators are dead! I'm trapped!"
"Stay calm, Silas." Natasha Romanoff replied, voice steady as ever. "F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s algorithm runs on logic. Do something illogical."
"Illogical? Like strip naked and start dancing?!"
"Can anyone see you?!"
"Biological respiration detected. Target locked."
An Iron Legion unit's voice echoed outside the door where Silas crouched.
"THUD. THUD."
Two armored drones advanced, palms raised—repulsors charging, blue light building to lethal intensity.
"Guess I'm using the needle…"
Silas clenched his teeth, preparing to gamble.
Suddenly—
"Whrrrr—"
The wall behind him slid open without warning, revealing a concealed chamber.
Silas froze.
"Get in!"
A woman's voice.
No time to think.
He dove inside just as—
"BOOM!!"
The hallway exploded behind him.
The hidden door sealed shut with a clean metallic click—seamless, invisible once more.
…
Silas leaned against the wall, chest heaving.
"Where the hell am I?"
He ran his hands across smooth panels.
"This space isn't on the schematics," Natasha muttered. "It doesn't exist in the Avengers Tower layout."
The room was roughly twenty square meters. No windows. Independent ventilation. Emergency power humming quietly.
Monitors covered one wall—live feeds from every level of Avengers Tower. Including the throne room. Including Tony's lab.
And standing in the center—
Pepper Potts.
Gray business suit. Hair slightly disheveled. Eyes sharp despite the tension.
"JARVIS, loop that corridor feed."
"Yes, Miss Potts. Replacing stream. F.R.I.D.A.Y. will not detect this room."
The calm, British voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. answered.
So that was it.
When Lorelei seized control, JARVIS had detected Tony's mental compromise and immediately alerted Pepper—then buried fragments of his core code.
Pepper turned slowly.
She couldn't see Silas.
But she knew he was there.
"Who are you?"
"Are you with Vought?"
"Yes. Super Seven. Invisible Man—Silas Lawton." He cleared his throat. "Here to save everyone. Though right now, I'm the one needing saving."
Pepper exhaled in relief.
"Thank God."
She gestured to a monitor showing Tony Stark hunched obsessively over the Mind Scepter array.
"That woman… that devil."
Her voice trembled—but held steel beneath it.
"She's making Tony build something catastrophic."
"I know." Silas leaned closer to the screen. "We're here to stop it. Shame my partner folded faster than cheap lawn furniture."
"We still have a chance."
Pepper picked up a portable drive from the desk.
"JARVIS lost primary control, but he still manages the lower-level energy core."
"Energy core?"
"The Arc Reactor at the foundation. That device upstairs requires enormous power. If we cut main power at the right moment…"
Her meaning hung in the air.
-----
Back at V.G.D. headquarters—
A phone rang sharply.
"Ashley, get me Homelander. Now!"
Click.
"What is it, Natasha? Crisis resolved and you're inviting me out for a late-night victory dinner?"
"No time. Pietro's compromised. Silas is missing. Thor just went in headfirst."
A pause.
"I'm going in too. If you don't want to collect our bodies, you'd better get here."
The line went dead.
Homelander leaned back on the sofa, thoughtful.
"Interesting."
"Ashley."
"Yes, sir!" Ashley Barrett rushed in.
"Wake up PR. Draft a statement. Push it to every outlet."
He smiled faintly.
"Headline: 'Avengers Civil War: Who Should Protect Our City?'"
"And tell the Mayor of New York I expect his call shortly. Lock down next year's contract."
"Yes, sir."
…
Across from Avengers Tower—perched atop the gargoyle of the Chrysler Building—
Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly.
"I knew we could not rely on Midgard's subtle tricks."
He glanced at Natasha adjusting her glider harness.
"Still no contact with the invisible one?"
"Not yet," she replied. "He may be compromised."
"I am done waiting."
Thor rose, cape snapping violently in the wind.
"Asgardians do not skulk in shadows."
"Thor!" Natasha called. "If she controls you too, we're finished!"
Thor laughed proudly, lifting Mjolnir high.
"I am the son of Odin! The God of Thunder! I will not fall for her tricks again!"
He spun the hammer.
"There is only one ancient solution."
Lightning gathered.
"Knock them all flat."
"BOOOOM—!"
Thor became a thunderbolt incarnate—slamming straight toward Avengers Tower.
"Damn it…"
Natasha sighed, leaping from the ledge. Her black glider wings unfurled silently as she followed the storm.
…
"CRASH—!!"
The penthouse windows exploded inward.
Thor struck the marble floor in a storm of lightning, shockwave overturning furniture. Even the Iron Throne shuddered.
"Lorelei!!" he roared. "Your farce ends now!"
Music cut mid-note.
Lorelei reclined lazily on her throne, cheeks flushed, eyes glinting.
She smiled.
"How crude. Couldn't you try a new line?"
She waved dismissively.
"The noise irritates me. Silence him, my champions."
"As you command, my Queen."
Tony Stark stood fully armored in Mark 43.
"I really didn't want to ruin the rug I just installed."
Repulsors flared.
"But a Queen's order is absolute."
The thrusters roared as Iron Man launched first strike.
"Sorry, Thor. I'm afraid I'll have to throw you out."
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals