Chapter 121: Receiving the Starship

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The Collector returned to his own ship, started the engines, and left the Earth's outer space. There, a massive starship drifted quietly, waiting for its new owners.

Link took a seat in the captain's chair. The ship had an active gravity system, and since he was familiar with the ship's operation—being part of its design with the Collector—he was more than capable of piloting it.

"Everyone ready?" Link asked, casually operating the controls. "How about we take it for a spin?"

The Avengers quickly found seats, strapping themselves in as Stark took the captain's chair, grandly proclaiming, "Pilot, take us out!"

Link rolled his eyes at Stark's theatrics, then engaged the ship's thrusters. The rear engines flared to life with a powerful hum.

*Boom…*

The starship surged forward, smoothly gaining momentum. Link steered it deftly, maneuvering the vessel into orbit around Earth, keeping their journey close. As they soared, he activated the ship's advanced scanning system, searching for a specific ship—the hidden Kree vessel left behind by Wendy Lawson.

Though the ship was cloaked, it couldn't escape the detection of the highly advanced scanners integrated into the Avenger's new starship. After all, this was one of the most sophisticated systems in the universe, developed with the power of the Infinity Stone.

Speaking of which, how much is an Infinity Stone worth?

When the Guardians of the Galaxy sold the Power Stone, the Collector had offered 4 billion units. But Link wasn't willing to sell it for anything less than 10 billion units. A portion of that fortune had been used to create this starship, built with top-tier materials and the best technology the galaxy had to offer. The Collector, being one of the wealthiest beings in the universe, had no problem with the cost.

The Power Stone had the capacity to destroy entire planets. Even at 10 billion units, it was a steal. And while the Collector had no intent of using it for such destruction, Link's reputation ensured the transaction remained aboveboard. The Collector dared not deceive someone of Link's power, knowing that the consequences could be fatal.

As Link piloted the starship around Earth, its speed remained moderate. He didn't rush, allowing everyone to familiarize themselves with the surroundings. The command center was not sealed off, allowing a breathtaking view of the silent, infinite expanse of space.

Suddenly, the scanner beeped—there it was. A hidden vessel appeared on the display, though it remained invisible to the naked eye. Link chose not to initiate contact, merely passing it by. His massive starship bore the Avengers insignia, standing out in stark contrast to the blackness of space. He'd deal with Fury and the Kree ship another day.

For now, the priority was building the Avengers' space headquarters and gathering the necessary personnel—not hashing things out with Nick Fury.

The Skrulls' predicament was not solely due to the Kree-Skrull War. Their shapeshifting abilities had made other civilizations wary of them, preferring to keep their distance. And Fury, along with Carol Danvers, had gone as far as to bring them to Earth. Link couldn't help but wonder if they were overconfident or simply didn't understand the potential consequences. Carol was reliable, but unpredictable.

Link kept these thoughts to himself as he circled Earth once more and then brought the ship to a halt.

"Everyone, how about we have a quick meeting?" Link suggested. "We can discuss while continuing the tour."

He led the Avengers on a walkthrough of their new starship. Each major member had their own personal quarters, awaiting their unique touches. The ship housed crew quarters, hangars for their jets, repair bays, storerooms, and an armory packed with ammunition.

As they explored, Link outlined the plan: "Two key matters are pressing. First, the construction of the space headquarters. Tony's already finished the designs."

"There's no problem building it. We can fabricate the modules on Earth and transport them up here to assemble. The energy core will be powered by nuclear fusion."

"Nuclear fusion?" Bruce asked, surprised. "You have that?"

"Yes," Link nodded. "It's hot fusion, a massive energy source. It'll power everything, from energy weapons to shields. The technology's solid enough."

He paused before continuing, "Tony and I also plan to visit Wakanda. It's a seemingly simple agricultural country in Africa—but that's just the surface."

"In reality, they possess vast amounts of vibranium, the same material as Cap's shield, and their technology is far ahead of any other nation on Earth."

Bruce was taken aback. "No way! A place like that exists on Earth? That's insane. If they were here during the Chitauri invasion, I doubt the aliens would've stood a chance, even without us."

Link chuckled. "True. Even without Asgard's intervention, Earth has its own hidden protectors. Wakanda could've easily crushed them, and don't forget the Earth Guardians, though I haven't confirmed their presence yet."

He continued, "Loki was just a pawn, after all. The Chitauri were merely a probing force for Thanos, trying to gauge Earth's defenses. And all he found was SHIELD and the Avengers. If he had attacked in full force back then, he'd have been in for a bad time."

Things were different now. Odin's time was nearing its end, and the Ancient One had already lived long enough. Both of their departures were inevitable.

Link had no grounds to judge them. Odin's life cycle had come full circle, and the Ancient One had protected Earth for centuries. Who was he to criticize?

In truth, it was the Avengers who needed to be held accountable. Had they not splintered, would they really fear Thanos?

And then there was Wakanda. Their arrogance might just be their downfall.

When dealing with Wakanda, breaking through their pride was crucial. This ship would serve as a perfect tool for that purpose.

"You're right. But, do we even need to form the Avengers?" Steve asked.

He wasn't wrong. The Avengers were flawed, with most members bearing their own personal baggage. No one was perfect. Even Link hid his true capabilities. After all, being too powerful can be just as much of a curse. Link understood that if he managed to control just a few Infinity Stones, he would have done enough for the universe.

"Absolutely!" Link affirmed. "At the end of the day, would you or your loved ones feel safe relying entirely on someone else?"

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(End of Chapter)