Chapter 218: Across the Spider-Verse (42)     

 In the Sanctum Sanctorum, the atmosphere was filled with tension, but it was the kind that came from concern rather than impending doom. Mark Taylor, known as Nightwing, and his wife, Emily Taylor, aka Lady Vamp, stood quietly in the corner, listening to the conversation. Across the room, Loe Halloway, the current director of S.H.I.E.L.D., was seated with his wife, Mindy, who clung to his arm with a mixture of worry and affection. Their son, Thomas Halloway, stood nearby, silently observing his parents, his face shadowed by unease.

Loe, his hand gently resting over Mindy's, tried to comfort her. "I'm fine, love," Loe reassured her softly, looking from her to Wong and Dr. Strange. "They healed me. I'm not going anywhere."

Mindy, however, wasn't convinced. "I know, I know... but I can't help this gut feeling." Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her deep concern.

Loe raised an eyebrow. "Gut feeling?"

Mindy nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering. "You know my instincts are never wrong. That's why Thomas and I came here—to make sure you're okay. I don't trust this situation."

Loe smiled softly, trying to ease her worry. "Love, I'm not going to die. I've made it through worse."

Mindy, however, wasn't having it. "But still... I don't want to see you hurt again. I don't want to lose you, Loe." Her voice was soft, but the weight of her emotions was clear.

Thomas watched the exchange in silence, his expression somber. He had seen his parents go through many battles, both literal and emotional, and while Loe had always been strong, there was something about his mother's fear that unsettled him.

Loe, glancing at his son, turned back to Mindy with a chuckle. "I may look like I'm in my 30s, but I'm already in my 60s. It's embarrassing having to be protected by my wife and son."

Mindy's eyes softened, but her tone remained resolute. "It's because you've always been reckless, Loe. Bold and fearless. And I'm afraid that one day... one day, you won't come back." She squeezed his arm, her voice wavering slightly. "That's why I want to protect you, no matter what."

There was a moment of silence as Loe looked into her eyes, realizing just how deep her fear ran. He knew she was right—despite always strategizing and calculating his opponents back when he was in his prime, now, in his old age, he had become bold and often reckless. But he had never considered the toll it took on those who loved him. He glanced at Mark, who was talking with...

Before Loe could respond, Doctor Strange stepped forward, breaking the quiet tension in the room. "Mindy's instincts might be onto something," he said, his voice grave. "We've detected a disturbance, and I believe Thanos is on his way here. The Sanctum won't be safe for long."

The room remained tense, each person grappling with the implications of their roles and the threats they faced. The mention of Thanos had cast a dark shadow over their meeting, and now, Bruce Banner's struggle with his transformation added another layer of urgency.

Mark, ever pragmatic, suggested, "We should find Michael first. He's crucial to our fight."

Dr. Stephen Strange, however, shook his head decisively. "No, there's no time for that. We need to act now. Thanos isn't waiting for us to sort out personal issues."

Bruce Banner, visibly frustrated and anxious, interjected, "What about me? I'm becoming a monster. I can't control it."

Mark's eyes darted to Bruce. "Do you remember what you did?"

Bruce shook his head, confusion written all over his face. "No, not clearly... just fragments. Images. It's like a mess in my head—there's too much noise, and I can't make sense of it."

Dr. Strange's gaze was steady, his voice measured and calm. "Bruce, what you're experiencing is a profound change, triggered by exposure to gamma radiation. Your body is undergoing a transformation that enhances your physical capabilities dramatically. When you feel overwhelmed, angry, or stressed, this transformation activates, giving you incredible strength and resilience."

Bruce looked bewildered. "What do you mean?"

Dr. Strange sighed deeply, clearly troubled. "You injected those vials, right?

Bruce's eyes widened with realization. "You mean that experiment? Well...I used the power stone to create those vials. I thought it would amplify strength, make us all stronger."

Dr. Strange nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, the power stone you used, even though it's weakened here, still emits gamma radiation. Combining it with your experiments created something unpredictable. The strength amplifier you intended has unintended consequences."

Bruce ran a hand through his hair, clearly distressed. "I didn't foresee those side effects. So, how do I control this power? I can't keep losing control."

Dr. Strange stepped closer, his demeanor both authoritative and sympathetic. "The transformation is part of your inherent nature now, but it's not insurmountable. You need to learn to harness it. Meditation and mental focus can help you control the Monster's impulses. It's not just about brute strength but about mastering your own mind."

Bruce looked around, searching for support. "And if I can't control it? What happens if that Green guy takes over during the fight?"

Stephen's eyes were firm. "Then we'll need to have contingency plans. After all we need both of you. But for now, focus on understanding the transformation. We'll need all the help we can get."

Suddenly the tension in the room spiked instantly at Mindy's sudden outburst. Everyone turned towards her, their expressions a mix of shock and readiness.

"They're here!" Mindy shouted, her voice filled with urgency. Through her telepathy, she had sensed Thanos, Corvus Glaive, and Ebony Maw approaching. The reality of the looming danger hit them all like a crashing wave.

Dr. Stephen Strange's face hardened. "Shit! We're out of time." His hands already glowing with magical energy as he prepared for what was coming.

Emily Taylor, her half-vampire instincts kicking in, narrowed her eyes. "I can smell them too. It's the same scent as before." Her vampiric abilities heightened her senses, and she could pinpoint the presence of their enemies with unnerving accuracy. "These three—they're close."

Dr. Strange stepped forward, casting a portal spell, its glowing rings forming in mid-air. "There's no time to wait for perfect clarity. We need to move now and defend the Sanctum. We cannot let Thanos or his lackeys find what they're looking for."

Wong nodded and prepared his own defensive spells, while Emily's eyes glowed faintly as she tapped into her vampire instincts. "They won't find anything if we stop them first."

Mindy, still gripping her husband Loe's arm, focused her telepathy to track the enemies' exact positions. "They're getting closer. We've got minutes, maybe less."

Wong began forming protective wards around the Sanctum Sanctorum, his hands moving rapidly through complex magical gestures. "We need to hold them off long enough to come up with a plan."

Mark's eyes met Emily's, and they shared a silent understanding. "Emily, Stay close to me..." Mark said, his voice low but firm.

"Always!" Emily replied, her vampiric fangs flashing slightly as her combat instincts kicked in.

Bruce Banner, despite the turmoil inside, clenched his fists. "I'll do what I can... but if that Monster comes out—"

Loe Halloway, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., stepped forward, his tone serious. "It doesn't matter. We have to be ready now. Thanos is after the power stone, and we can't let him get any closer. Everyone, take your positions."

Outside, the skies began to darken, and the air grew heavy. The ominous presence of Thanos and his lieutenants drew closer with each passing second. The battle was about to begin, and the fate of the universe once again hung in the balance.

Everyone braced themselves, knowing that they would soon be facing one of the greatest threats to ever walk the cosmos.

........

Peter Quill slowly sat up, his head throbbing as he surveyed the destruction around him. Groot stood at his side, his large wooden frame covered in scorch marks, and Rocket Raccoon was fiddling with a weapon. The chaos of the recent battle against the Chitauri was all too clear in the ruined halls of the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

"What happened?" Peter asked, rubbing the back of his head, trying to shake off the dizziness.

Rocket didn't look up from his weapon. "After we ran away from Thanos, things got pretty bad. Chitauri swarmed in, and a bunch of them started tearing up the place. You lost a lot of blood, Quill. Passed out like a wimp."

Peter nodded slowly, trying to piece it together. "Yeah, I remember seeing Thanos…"

Rocket interrupted, "And then you got yourself knocked out cold. Me and Groot tried to keep you alive. We had to kill a whole lot of those damn Chitauri, and if it weren't—"

Suddenly, a voice cut in from behind them.

"For us," said Agent Phil Coulson, stepping into the room with a slight smirk on his face. "If it weren't for us, Mr. Star-Lord, you'd be space dust right now."

Peter's eyes lit up with recognition, and he jumped up, albeit a bit shakily. "Phil! No way! You're alive?!" he said, surprised and relieved to see the agent who fight with him side by side back then was standing in front of him.

Phil gave a small smile. "Yeah, it's been a long time, Quill. You've seen better days." His gaze briefly swept over Peter's bloodied clothes.

Before Peter could respond, another voice chimed in.

"Don't bother the injured, sir." Agent Jemma Simmons stepped forward, her medical gear in hand as she examined Peter. "You need to rest, Mr. Quill."

Peter looked over at her and immediately recognized the young agent. "Jemma! You're still with here? I didn't think I'd see you here."

Jemma gave a tight smile while inspecting Peter's injuries. "Yes, still here. And by the looks of it, so are you, despite the odds." She continued to bandage his wounds, making sure he was stabilized.

Rocket glanced between them, his voice sarcastic. "Great, a reunion. Can we focus on the fact that we've still got Thanos to deal with? And by the way, Quill, you owe me for dragging your sorry butt through that fight."

Peter smirked at Rocket, but his expression quickly turned serious as he realized what was at stake. "Thanos… is he still here?"

Phil shook his head with a small sigh smile. "Nope, we didn't see anything."

Peter looked at Phil, a mix of confusion and suspicion in his eyes.

Phil, picking up on Peter's expression, chuckled lightly. "You're wondering how I knew, aren't you?"

Before Peter could respond, Rocket piped up from beside him, rolling his eyes. "I told them, dumbass. Thought it'd be useful for them to know why Thanos and his merry band of psychos decided to drop in."

Peter sighed, clearly frustrated but too exhausted to argue. He turned back to Phil. "So, you already knew it's because of us that Thanos is here?"

Phil crossed his arms, his expression turning more serious. "We had our suspicions. But when Rocket filled in the details, it all started to make sense. Thanos isn't just here for any reason. It's personal—connected to you guys."

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the room. "We don't need any of your sorry excuses."

Peter turned, startled, and found himself looking at a beautiful woman. He blinked, unsure of who she was.

Phil Coulson, standing nearby, cleared his throat with a slight grin. "Oh, you haven't met her yet, huh? Peter Quill, this is Natasha Romanoff. But you probably know her as Black Widow."

Peter blinked, momentarily taken aback by her intensity. "Black Widow…? Uh, nice to meet you?" 

Natasha's icy gaze remained locked on Peter, completely unfazed by his attempt at pleasantries. "Let's skip the introductions, big boy," she said, her tone cool and cutting. "The raccoon here"—she gestured toward Rocket—"already gave us the story. And from what I hear, it's your mess that brought Thanos and his army here."

Rocket crossed his arms and smirked. "Yeah, I told her everything. Figured she should know who we're up against."

Peter gulped, feeling the weight of her judgment bearing down on him. "I mean... yeah, things got a little out of hand…"

Natasha wasn't having it. She stepped closer, her boots softly hitting the debris-covered floor, her posture all business. "Out of hand? That's putting it lightly. Your little escapades here have brought an intergalactic war to Earth, and now we're all targets. We don't even know where the director is after you left them behind."Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "So here's how this is going to go: either you help us fix this, or you die by my hands."

Her words hung in the air like a threat Peter couldn't ignore. His heart raced as he processed her ultimatum, the room suddenly feeling much smaller. He glanced at Rocket, who simply shrugged as if to say, Told you she doesn't mess around.

[In Michael's group of friends, someone is going to die.]

To be continue