Rising decline and rescue

The facts are there, though," Fury went on. "Our energy sources, industry, and agriculture half are all but gone. The amount of civilian casualties is staggering. Armies around the world are engaging the Chitauri, winning minor victories but as long as the mecha go unchallenged, we are going to lose."

"Then we find a way to defeat those machines," Thor announced.

"We would if we could," Pollack said bravely. "We even tried an EMP. Sure, it looked like we gave the mecha a major headache but it still managed to walk away while it fried whatever we had left of the usable tech in the area."

"The Stark Industries weapons seem to be working best," Agent Hill summarized. "Thanks to Ms. Potts, we've had moderate success in mapping out weak spots and taking down more of the Chitauri, yet when we make bold moves, they move to counter-act. Last night three major hospitals were destroyed. Weapons depots have been under attack and the Chitauri have taken it upon themselves to breach prisons and let the convicts out. We have riots, people attacking each other over the most necessities and frankly, we've been handicapped from day one without noticing it until now. Since the beginning they made sure the people would turn against each other, that our technology – or lack of it – would throw humanity into chaos, making our efforts to protect ourselves twice as hard. They've moved too fast for us to react and know how to pull apart our forces."

Silence followed Hill's statement.

"Who told them all that?" Loki suddenly spoke and all eyes turned to him. He raised his hands slowly. "I didn't tell them," he said in his defense. "They gave me an army but never questioned how I would win the Earth – and my plans didn't work very well," he added dryly.

Bruce snorted with something that may have been a well-contained laugh. Maybe the other guy found it funny.

"What I meant," Loki went on, "is that the Chitauri had no knowledge of how Earth functioned, yet these attacks, as you put them, shot you in the knee from the beginning. They are using your weaknesses, exploiting them, and hitting where it hurts most in an indirect way. Where did they get that information?"

"Maybe they spied on us," Happy mused.

"While traveling across space?" Loki dismissed that idea at once.

"You think there is a leak?" Fury asked.

"One must consider it, although…" Loki pursed his lips. "Those machines… They are very adept at responding to everything you've tried attacking them with, correct?"

"Yes," Bruce nodded.

"Building such things takes time, and they didn't have those machines when I was planning on defeating you with their army," Loki finished.

"Could they have left spies here when we closed the portal?" Natasha asked.

"No," Loki refused again. "The Chitauri cannot survive in Earth's atmosphere for long. That is why, when you blew up their mothership, all of them fell. Their harness provided a connection to their world and without it…"

"They could not survive," Steve nodded. "Do you think they took captives, then, while being here?"

"I don't think they would have had the interest since they only had eyes for the Tesseract, yet that seems a very believable route to finding out ways to bring down the human race," Loki nodded.

Thor looked pleased his brother was helping, giving Steve a confident look. "Were any of your people reported missing?"

"People go missing all the time," Fury mused. "We'll cover that lead, though, just to be sure." His eye remained on Loki for a while longer. "I never knew you were so keen on helping anyone but yourself," he evaluated.

Loki snorted. "Don't doubt your opinion of me just yet, Director. I was brought here against my will and the last thing I want is to end in the hands of the Chitauri now that I'm here." He looked around the room as if to see if someone understood. Steve wasn't sure he did, nor did anyone else. Loki huffed. "I failed to hand them the Tesseract, and because of that they have a good reason to harm me severely."

"So you're just looking out for yourself," Clint narrowed his eyes.

"For now that benefits you as well," the trickster replied. "As long as you stand between me and the Chitauri, I'm happy to provide you with all the help I can to keep it that way."

"And here I thought he was just doing this out of the goodness of his heart," Bruce murmured with sarcasm lacing every word.

Steve guessed he wasn't the only one who blamed Loki for Tony's death, although for the time being allying themselves with the God of Lies would get them farther than throwing him to the wolves.

— 

The last Claire had heard, they were floating somewhere above Newfoundland. Amid clouds, it didn't matter where they were but she knew remaining undetected was their biggest strength so there was no cruising around to see the sights.

The end of world events truly sucked.

It wasn't that she didn't understand what was at stake. With each new devastating loss, it was clearer she might never see Benny again, and even if she did, for how long? Whatever these Chitauri were, they didn't intend to rule humanity but rather eradicate it from the face of the earth.

Agent Sitwell entered the room. She hoped he had news because Agent Blake was just as boring and unforthcoming as always. The other personnel looked up, perhaps sharing the same sentiment, and Agent Sitwell smiled. "We have good news; Thor has arrived on Earth."

A murmur of agreement went around.

Of what Claire knew, Thor was allegedly a Norse god of thunder and had helped the Avengers defeat the Chitauri the first time. Perhaps he would help them again and they would win this war. No one dared to say it out loud but they had to be thinking that their luck was turning.

Agent Blake checked his screen, probably finding a confirmation of the news. "About time," he decided then, only half-glowering for a change. "Has the message been sent out?"

Agent Sitwell nodded. "To all our S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives and allies across the world via safe networks. The Asgardians also have new approaches to find ways to win the war." He pointed at the screen and Agent Blake opened a file. Claire tried to peer at it but she was too far away.

"I trust this reached only the appropriate recipients?" Agent Blake mused.

"Of course. It's just as much guesswork as everything else, but we're finally –"

The lights flickered.

Claire sat up straight, listening, as did everyone else.

"A hiccup," one of the technicians guessed.

The lights flickered again, and then for two seconds everything shut down. Claire felt her stomach clench as she felt the entire ship being grabbed by gravity then catch itself again as the power came back on.

"A damn big hiccup," Agent Blake snarled. "Find out what's causing it!"

Several people sprung up from their chairs but no sooner had they reached the doors when a ship-wide alarm came to life, deafening and sudden yet pushing the rest of them into action.

"What's going on?" Claire asked, running along with the others before the entire mass of people stopped; they had hit a wall – or rather, a closed door. Claire turned back, to return the way they had come, but saw another door closing, blocking the way, trapping them in. She looked to the side frantically, wall on one side, a wide window on the other, and when she got the first glimpse of the outside world through the window, she froze along with others; above them, they could see an immense ship, easily twice the size of the Helicarrier.

Agent Sitwell halted beside her, looking out, and something in his stance changed. It was so alien it took Claire a while to process it and then realized it was defeat. Fear gripped her at that realization; there were only a few things she could think of that could cause a top agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. to give up, and certain death might be one of them.

She didn't want to die. Not like this. Not when the bottom of the alien ship began to open up and something shifted inside the newly exposed space. This was perhaps the closest anyone had gotten to see a mecha unfolding, staring down at them, perhaps through this very window at Claire's frightened eyes.

"They're hacking in!" a man's voice shouted from the side. "They're taking over our systems. We're getting feedback from the other Helicarriers… they've been compromised as well." The lights flickered again as if in confirmation.

Claire let out a pitiful little whimper, completely aware of it but unable to hold it back. She hadn't signed up for this and she couldn't grasp that fire inside her that said it would all be okay, that they would find a way out of this.

The mecha was moving, crawling out, hanging onto its ship yet clearly poising itself to drop on top of them.

Whether she was the first to initiate contact or it just happened, she felt a hand curl around hers, squeezing in comfort. Agent Sitwell was still looking out yet his grasp was firm. "Weapons status?" his voice called out.

"Nonresponsive," the same voice from before replied. "Outbound messages are being blocked. No more data coming in. Blast doors are being closed. They're sealing us in."

"Can you crack it?"

"I don't think we have time for that, sir."

Agent Sitwell nodded and then looked at Claire, who saw it from the corner of her eye. "Ms. Wise," he spoke up. "Somewhere out there Mr. Pollack is safe. He's a valuable asset and will be looked after. You should take comfort in that."

Claire nodded and tore her eyes off the ship. "I wish he was here."

"No, you don't; that would be selfish," Agent Sitwell replied.

It was hard to process but yes, she knew Benny was important and regardless of what happened today, he would continue to fight. No matter how much she didn't want to be alone right now, she loved him enough to not want him to go down with her, although it was hard to conclude that. "Thanks, Agent," she whispered back.

"Call me Jasper," Agent Sitwell smiled faintly.

The entire ship rocked under a new weight and the sound of metal tearing through metal echoed along the walls. The pressure of the air began to change and the lights started flickering at a rapid pace. An explosion rocked the floor, making it ripple, and the window beside them fractured slightly.

Claire bit her lip and watched the people shift uneasily, touching their weapons, and looking uncertain. No one was giving orders. Why was no one giving orders?

The corridor seemed to lurch and the sound of pieces being torn apart increased. It was getting harder to breathe.

"Should we do more?" Claire asked as another fracture almost split the window.

"This is a good place," Jasper Sitwell decided. "The blast doors are locked down and we can go no further. It doesn't matter." He looked at her. "I'm sorry, Claire. This isn't your place. You shouldn't be here."

"If I weren't, you would be alone," she noted, hysteria trying to grip her mind. The air was getting thinner and hotter and she smelled smoke. Not wanting to do this alone, she moved closer, releasing the hand of the man she barely knew, and hugged him instead. He hugged her back, holding tight as the window exploded beside them from the pressure and the wall began to bend under inhuman strength.

—

"Sir!" a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent rushed in, flushed in the face, something akin to terror in his eyes.

Fury turned from the table where schematics, calculations, news, and enemy movements were all spread around the virtual desk. "What is it?"

Steve looked up from the other side of the table where he had been focusing on some of the new intel. The other Avengers spread around the room with a few scientists and stopped their discussions as well.

"The Helicarriers, sir… They are being attacked," the agent delivered his message.

"Attacked?" Fury snapped.

"Yes, sir. All their locations have been compromised by the enemy. Their systems are being hacked and… Chitauri ships with a mecha have parked above each one. We've gotten confirmation from the satellites that the mecha are tearing the Helicarriers apart."

"Tell them to evacuate," Fury replied.

"All communications have been cut off. The last burst of data showed that the crew had been sealed in, the weapons deactivated."

Fury stood there numbly for a moment. "What about us?" he asked, voice almost adopting something that usually wasn't there.

Steve directed a look upward although he knew he wouldn't see anything but the ceiling.

"There's no indication that our position has been compromised," the agent said slowly. "We are monitoring the situation, though – with human eyes – and have taken the necessary steps to ensure our systems cannot be breached from the outside."

"Claire is on one of the other Helicarriers," Benjamin Pollack spoke up suddenly, standing up. "You have to do something."

"What are you suggesting we do?" Fury asked him, looking over his shoulder. "Those Helicarriers are all full of trained professionals –"

"Who according to the news have been sealed in like ants in a container!" Pollack shouted, shaking. "You have to go," he went on, looking at Steve. "The Avengers can stop them."

"Which ship is she on?" Steve asked slowly. He was sure he had met her, perhaps briefly, but he was unsure if they had the time.

"Ms. Wise was on a ship currently above Newfoundland, assigned there with Agent Blake," Fury dug from his memory.

"That ship was one of the first to go down," the agent who had brought the news said quietly.

Pollack stood there in shocked silence and then sat down, almost missing his chair; Clint pushed it beneath him just in time so that he wouldn't hit the floor.

"I'm sorry," Bruce was the first to offer his condolences, having spent more time with Pollack than the rest of the Avengers. He looked at Fury then. "Is there anything we can do? Are there any Helicarriers left that we can get to in time?"

Fury stepped over to his screen, tapped furiously at it and then just stared for a long moment. Steve knew the answer by then, sensing it but not wanting to say anything. "They're all gone," the Director finally announced. "Every single one of them, in a matter of minutes." He contemplated on that for a moment, dismissing the agent who had brought the news with an angry motion of his hand; the agent was happy to exit the room.

"How did this happen?" Daisy asked. "Why now? If they could find the Helicarriers, why wait until today to attack them? They were an important part of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operation from the beginning."

Steve wasn't certain if he could just jump right into solving this mystery from the fact that thousands of people had just died, unable to defend themselves. Perhaps they had tried, maybe they had fought until the last moment as a mecha destroyed the Helicarrier, but they were all dead now and the Avengers hadn't even had time to get out of their chairs to help them.

"They hacked the Helicarrier systems just before the attack," Bruce frowned. "They owned the ships, controlled them, and then all they needed to do was take them down."

"Effortless," Loki commented from the corner where he had mostly kept to himself. "It is amazing, isn't it, how easily they've secured their victories so far? Not even breaking a sweat."

"What are you saying, brother?" Thor snapped, standing up, sending his chair flying back to the floor in his haste. "Many good people died today. Our new friend lost someone important to him!" he pointed at Pollack who still sat with horror frozen on his face.

Loki leaned back in his chair, looking at Thor and then at Bruce. "Until now you've had control of your communications, true? Your… eyes in the sky?"

"Yes," Bruce frowned.

"You've been tracking the enemies, trading information between countries, planning attacks… Did it ever occur to you that such surveillance was not beneficial to the Chitauri?"

"Of course," Daisy snapped. "That is why we assumed they would have taken out those routes of communication when they first arrived."

"Well, there you have it," Loki spread his hands.

Clint frowned, fiddling with his bow the same way he always did when Loki got on his nerves – which was all the time. "When you want to cripple your enemy, you put out their eyes," he mused slowly, as if carefully adjusting each word in its place. "They didn't do this. Why? To toy with us?"

"To use it," Steve felt it snap into place. He wanted to spend a moment mourning those they had just lost – but their deaths shouldn't be in vain. "What is the likelihood they left us with our communications and satellites for a reason? Could they have watched us watching them the whole time? Our eyes become theirs?"

"There is no sign of that," Selvig started.

"They just hacked into multiple Helicarriers almost simultaneously," Fury's voice silenced the rest of them. "They did so with speed which suggests they may have infiltrated our systems before or had gained access to it without our notice. There is no possibility they didn't notice our satellites when they arrived."

"Why now? Why was this a good time to strike when they had let things be for so long?" Steve mused. It didn't seem like any better time than any other.

"Perhaps our arrival frightened them," Thor suggested.

Steve glanced at Loki for confirmation. Part of the time he wasn't certain whether Loki had insight into their enemy or if he merely had a sharp mind. He would take either of the two right now.

Loki pursed his lips. "Perhaps… Our arrival may have been unexpected and forced them to move their plans forward. Either that or it was simply time for them to make their next move. This makes it more difficult for S.H.I.E.L.D. to maneuver, yes?"

"It slows us down, but it won't cripple us," Fury straightened himself, looking at the far wall with a distant expression. "We need to make sure that our lines of communication are safe. Whatever their plan, we won't feed them information of our movements; we'll shoot down the satellites ourselves if we must."

There was resolve in Fury's voice, as well as a deep hurt; a mounting guilt of all the lives they had lost until now and an ugly doubt raising its head; how many of those had been in vain, caused by their carelessness?

——

As I sat on my bed I couldn't help but think about my next move, I mean I don't know the plot, and who the fuck were some of these characters like the USA avengers plus where the fuck is the black Widow is she not supposed to be in the avengers and is Tony Stark dead? Plus a second alien invasion by the chitauri that started two weeks ago makes me more concerned about this world because this is a Marvel universe the more interesting it is the more dangerous it is. 

Now I'm still truly happy about the ROB who put me in this world with such added advantages my company Acme's stellar is similar to BlackRock, Accenture, GE, and Vanguard but not even close to being the same as the company is not even close to famous but I not sure which is more powerful but it's awesome regardless and this alien invasion will bring major profits for my company in the long term assuming it ends like the last one, oh and with this situation it's easier for people to go missing so I can get physical goods.

Plus the UN has recognized 299 different countries with a population of 7.6 billion people this earth is getting scary why is Earth bigger and fuck countries are more powerful than ever and it's still 2004 how more can they progress in the future? but it is fine because I am in control, fuck focus, Douglas. Lines of code scrolled rapidly on one monitor as he delved into the virtual realm. The hum of high-performance hardware filled the room.

Douglas's fingers danced across the keyboard, executing intricate commands to exploit a zero-day vulnerability. Lines of code cascaded down the terminal like a waterfall of digital secrets. The screen flickered as he gained unauthorized access to a highly secure system, navigating through layers of defenses with the finesse of a skilled thief.

His eyes glinted with a mix of determination and excitement as he deployed a sophisticated virus, a digital creation designed to infiltrate without leaving a trace. The malware slithered through firewalls and encryption protocols, leaving a wake of compromised security.

As Douglas bypassed each layer, a bead of sweat formed on his forehead. The tension in the room heightened with every passing moment. The rhythmic sound of keystrokes and the occasional click of the mouse resonated, echoing his progression through the digital labyrinth.

Time seemed to freeze as he reached the climax, exploiting the final vulnerability. With a triumphant grin, Douglas gained control, his digital prowess solidifying his mastery over the virtual domain. The world outside the room remained oblivious to the unfolding cyber symphony, a clandestine dance of bits and bytes.

This was sad I just used great hacking skills to look for exotic drugs if this whole alien thing hadn't happened I would have just paid a lot of money and got it delivered things don't always go according to plans but at least I was able to get a few things before nonsense happened.

This whole thing about not being able to do anything about anything . . . or maybe it was just a mixed-up mixture of everything I was really angry when I wasn't sure what I was angry about — But my feebleness, the lack of power.

I could feel this pent-up anger seething away inside me, and I could feel the wound in my heart throbbing away, my skin glowing, my head tingling . . . and then, inside my head, I heard voices . . .

I could feel a smile forming on my lips, in that instant before the voices became clear to me, when they seemed to be part of a vast cloud of other voices.

Fucking useless why do you live.

You did nothing to earn your life.

You are a failure in every universe.

You are nothing but worthless just sit down and own it your life will be forever a disappointment.

the voices are like unpredictable narrators, constantly whispering conflicting thoughts.

Contrastingly, another voice, sharp and accusatory, cut through the reassurance. "You're a burden, Douglas. No one really cares. They're all pretending."

As these conflicting voices intensified, so did the hallucinations. A vivid apparition of a childhood friend materialized before him, speaking in cryptic riddles that only deepened the confusion. Simultaneously, distorted images flickered in his peripheral vision, distorting the reality of the room.

Douglas hands trembled as he tried to anchor himself, but the room seemed to warp and twist around him. The boundary between his thoughts and the external world blurred, leaving him suspended in a disorienting dreamscape.

In this surreal symphony of voices and hallucinations, Alex grappled with the challenge of distinguishing reality from the intricate web his mind had woven. The scene unfolded like a psychological drama, where the stage was both within and outside of his own consciousness.

A contrasting voice, sharp and disdainful, interjected, "He's weak. Can't even trust his own senses. Pathetic."

Fidgeting, Douglas responded to the conflicting counsel aloud, "I just want peace. I can't keep up with all this."

Simultaneously, a sinister whisper sneered, "No one cares. They're plotting against you, pretending to be allies."

Douglas, is torn between these opposing forces, clenched his fists, attempting to drown out the cacophony. "I can't tell what's real anymore. Why won't it stop?"

The accusatory voice scoffed, "Trust yourself? Your mind betrayed you long ago."

As the dialogue continued, the room transformed into a surreal battleground of conflicting voices, blurring the line between sanity and chaos. Douglas grappled with the internal debate, seeking an anchor in the disorienting storm of his own thoughts.

Douglas sank deeper into this world, his eyes darting around the room as the voices crescendoed into a dissonant symphony. The reassuring voice persisted, " I have the strength to break free from this labyrinth. I will Embrace it."

A derisive laughter echoed in response, "Strength? You? crumbling under the weight of your own mind. There's no escape."

Douglas, his brow furrowed in frustration, muttered, "I just need clarity, some semblance of reality."

" I should just focus on the present, Douglas is me now. I must Ground myself in the tangible."

Yet, a mocking whisper countered, "The present is an illusion. A façade concealing the real truths your avoiding."

A flicker in the dim light revealed a spectral figure resembling Douglas, speaking in fragmented sentences, "Remember, Douglas. Trust... yourself."

The antagonistic voice hissed, "Trust? That's a luxury he can't afford. Betrayal lurks in every shadow."

Amidst this auditory battleground, the room seemed to pulsate with unseen energy. Douglas, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, struggled to make sense of the conflicting advice. "Who can I trust? What's real?"

The voices intensified, creating a theatrical dialogue that mirrored the internal chaos of Alex's mind. The boundary between reality and imagination blurred, leaving him ensnared in a gripping psychological drama.

 __

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, are the only countries that make up Yugoslavia with a population of 23,939,000 million since the alien invasion Yugoslavia remained unharmed, when the aliens came, an event called the red winter unknown mist appeared from the capital Belgrade enveloped the country and since then Yugoslavia was completely safe no death or property damage was caused by the aliens. 

The government had no idea what the red mist protecting them was no they could not get out of the country but people outside the country could get in the country as long as they were citizens and had plenty of food, water, electricity, all of the Necessities. 

As the mysterious red mist continued to shroud Yugoslavia, its citizens found themselves living in an unexpected haven. Inside the mist, life flourished without the threat of death or damage to property. The government, perplexed by the origins of this protective barrier, scrambled to understand its nature.

In the capital, Belgrade, research teams worked tirelessly to analyze the red mist, but their efforts yielded no conclusive answers. The rest of the world watched with jealousy curiosity and bewilderment as Yugoslavia remained an enigma, seemingly impervious to any external threats.

While the government struggled with the unknown phenomenon, life within the mist took on a unique rhythm. People started to adapt to their secure environment, creating vibrant communities and fostering a sense of unity. The absence of external dangers allowed for a focus on cultural exchange and artistic expression, turning Yugoslavia into an unexpected sanctuary of creativity.

Outside the mist, foreign citizens with ties to Yugoslavia eagerly sought ways to enter the protected realm. A carefully regulated system emerged, allowing those who met specific criteria—citizenship, ample provisions, and a genuine connection to the country—to cross the mysterious threshold. This influx of people brought diverse perspectives and skills, contributing to the flourishing society within the mist.

As the weeks passed, the Red Winter became a defining chapter in Yugoslavian history. The once-isolated nation evolved into a beacon of safety and innovation, forever changed by the protective embrace of the enigmatic red mist.

__

USA New York state town of Aurora, three months ago

In the dimly lit room, my gaze lingered on the framed flag that once symbolized everything I believed in. Anger and betrayal boiled within me as memories of the policies that tore my loyalty apart flooded my mind. Demotions echoed through my career, stripping away the pride I once felt in serving my country.

One evening, after another rejection based on political whims, I found myself standing at the edge of a precipice, contemplating my allegiance. The disgust for my homeland's policies fueled a decision that would alter the course of my life forever.

__

Current day Vorozheika region Russia Centralnaya Agrooblast" (Центральная Агрообласть), 

Capital: Agrograd.

In the dimly lit room of the enemy nation, my general friend and I huddled in whispered conversation. The gravity of my decision hung in the air, each word laden with the weight of betrayal and defiance.

General Andre Rostov, his eyes reflecting understanding, spoke in hushed tones, "I never thought I'd see the day, but I've felt the same frustrations, the same sense of betrayal. Our countries may be enemies, but our shared disillusionment unites us."

I nodded, my jaw set with determination. "The policies back home have become a mockery of the ideals we swore to protect. It's time to use our skills for something greater, for a cause that transcends borders."

General Andre Rostov leaned forward, his gaze intense. "What can you offer, my friend? How can you aid us in this covert endeavor?"

With a sense of purpose, I outlined my plans, detailing the technological advancements I could develop to give the enemy nation a strategic advantage. As our dialogue unfolded, I could sense the significance of each proposal resonating in the room. The importance of my expertise in this new alliance became increasingly evident.

"The advancements you're proposing," General Andre Rostov said, his voice tinged with anticipation, "could shift the balance in ways we've only dreamed of. Your defection is not just a betrayal; it's a game-changer."

As the conversation progressed, my anger and resentment found an outlet in the collaborative plotting against my former homeland. The dialogue between us became a strategic symphony, orchestrating a plan that would echo through history. The room, though shadowed, crackled with the energy of a clandestine partnership forged in the crucible of shared discontent.

Amidst the echoes of our whispered conversation, I solidified my commitment to a cause born out of anger and betrayal—a cause that would redefine loyalty and allegiance on a global scale.

General Andre Rostov leaning in, eyes intent "I never thought I'd see the day, my friend. What drove you to make this decision?"

I couldn't help grimacing "It started with the erosion of civil liberties—the very freedoms we swore to protect. Surveillance programs, unchecked and invasive, turned our citizens into subjects of suspicion."

General Andre Rostov, nods knowingly. "The balance between security and personal freedom has indeed been a precarious one."

 "That was just the tip of the iceberg. The policies on international relations became increasingly myopic. Diplomacy was replaced with aggression, isolating us from potential allies and escalating tensions."

General Andre Rostov, raised an eyebrow. "Aggression without strategy is a dangerous game."

 "Exactly. And then there was the stifling of scientific progress. Research that could have propelled us forward was suppressed or redirected for political gain. I couldn't bear watching the stagnation of innovation."

General Andre Rostov frowned "A nation that hinders its progress is destined to fall behind."

"The final straw was the disregard for the welfare of our people. Social programs were slashed, leaving the vulnerable to fend for themselves. It was a betrayal of the very ideals we swore to uphold."

General Andre Rostov: leaned back, contemplating "So, it wasn't just one policy but a culmination of decisions that pushed you to this point."

"Precisely. I can't stand by and watch the ideals I dedicated my life to protect crumble under the weight of shortsighted policies. This defection is my way of making a stand, of saying enough is enough."

As the dialogue unfolded, the policies discussed painted a picture of a nation straying from its founding principles, creating a backdrop of discontent that fueled the Simon decision to defect.

Simon's fists were clenched to the point of turning red, "The policies back home, Andre, they've become a mockery of everything we swore to protect. I can't stand idly by while they tarnish the ideals we once held dear."

General Andre Rostov nods solemnly, "I've felt the same frustrations. Our countries may be enemies, but our shared disillusionment unites us."

 "That's why I'm here. I want to offer my skills, and my loyalty, to a cause that transcends borders. We can reshape the narrative."

General Andre Rostov leans forward, What can you bring to the table, my friend? How can you aid us in this covert endeavor?"

 "Technological advancements. I can develop innovations that will give your nation a strategic edge. From surveillance systems to encrypted communication, I have a plan."

General Andre Rostov: smirking, "The advancements you're proposing could shift the balance in ways we've only dreamed of. Your defection is not just a betrayal; it's a game-changer."

Simon's determination is filled with hatred, "That's the idea. It's time to turn the tables, to make them realize the consequences of pushing people like us to the brink."

As our dialogue unfolded, the room became a strategic hub, crackling with the energy of a clandestine partnership forged in the crucible of shared discontent. Each word exchanged held the weight of a decision that would echo through history, defining the path we had chosen in the metaphorically the heart of the enemy nation.

General Andre Rostov leans back, contemplating, "Your skills are formidable, my friend and your anger is justified. But we need to be cautious. This path is treacherous, and the consequences of discovery are severe."

Simon nods, "I understand the risks, Andre. I've weighed them carefully. The importance of this mission surpasses personal consequences. It's about making a stand against injustice."

General Andre Rostov stroking his chin, "We'll need a secure channel for communication, a network that can withstand scrutiny. Can you devise a system that ensures our secrecy?"

Simon returned smirking on his own, "I've been working on something just for that purpose. Encrypted communication protocols that will leave no trace. Our messages will be like whispers in the wind."

General Andre Rostov could not help but be impressed, "Good. This partnership will demand discretion and trust. The stakes are high, and we can't afford any missteps."

As the dialogue continued, we delved into the intricacies of our plan. General Andre Rostov raised concerns about potential leaks, and I assured him of the precautions I had taken. The room, once dimly lit, now flickered with the glow of computer screens displaying blueprints and schematics.

Simon looked at the plans one more time, "This is just the beginning. With your resources and my expertise, we can create something that will redefine the landscape of technological warfare."

General Andre nods approvingly, "Then let's proceed. Together, we'll show them the consequences of pushing their most loyal defenders away."

The dialogue between us solidified our alliance, laying the foundation for a covert operation that would shape the future. In the metaphorical heart of the enemy nation, our whispered words carried the weight of a rebellion, fueled by anger, betrayal, and a shared determination to change the course of history.

__

NYC Brooklyn

Spider-Man sat hunched over on the rooftop, his suit battered and torn from the recent alien invasion. The city skyline, once a backdrop for his triumphs, now mirrored the weariness etched across his masked face.

"Saving the city... it never gets easier," he sighed, his voice muffled by the mask. "I swing around, do my thing, but it feels like the weight just keeps piling up."

The city below buzzed with mild chaos, oblivious to the emotional toll on its masked guardian. Spider-Man continued, "People rely on me, but who's there when I need someone? It's a lonely gig, being a hero."

The distant sounds of sirens and distant cheers seemed to mock his solitude. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the skyscrapers, Spider-Man's fatigue became more palpable.

"I wonder if they even notice the person behind the mask," he mused, staring into the night sky. "But hey, I signed up for this, didn't I? With great power comes... great loneliness?"

The city's glow reflected in his tired eyes as he remained perched, a solitary figure caught between exhaustion and duty.

Spider-Man slumped against the rooftop's edge, his suit's tech flickering with residual energy. A soft hum emanated from his web-shooters as they recharged, while a holographic display materialized in the air, showing a series of alerts from his spider drones.

One of the drones whirred to life, projecting a holographic screen. "Spider-Man, multiple disturbances reported across the city," it chirped in a robotic tone. "Deaths, accidents, you name it. The city needs its hero."

Spidey rubbed his temples, fatigue evident. "Can't catch a break, can I?" he muttered, glancing at the holographic display. "I just barely repelled the alien invasion in this city, and now it's back to the grind."

Another drone buzzed, projecting a live feed of a mugging in progress. "Crime in progress, Sector 7," it informed. "Your swift intervention is crucial."

Spider-Man sighed, the weight of responsibility evident. "Guess the city doesn't sleep, huh?" he said, activating his web-shooters. "Alright, let's do this. Just another night in the life of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."

As he swung away into the night, the drones followed, their mechanical voices echoing in the distance, "Good luck, Spider-Man. The city is counting on you."

Spider-Man leaped off the rooftop, soaring through the night sky with a newfound determination. The city's neon lights reflected off his suit as the spider drones followed in a synchronized dance of support.

"Time to show these bad guys they can't mess with New York!" he exclaimed, web-swinging with a renewed sense of purpose. The city below became a sprawling canvas for his acrobatic prowess.

The holographic display on his wrist buzzed again. "Additional threats detected in Sector 5," one of the drones announced. "Stay sharp, Spidey."

With a confident smirk, Spider-Man replied, "Sharp as ever, my robotic friends. Let's make sure the bad guys regret crossing paths with the one and only Spider-Man!"

As he swung from skyscraper to skyscraper, the echoes of his quips mingled with the distant sounds of crime. The city might not rest, but neither did its web-slinging protector. The night was still young, and Spider-Man was ready to face whatever challenges it threw his way.

As Spider-Man swung through the city, he activated his suit's enhanced vision mode, scanning the streets below. The heads-up display in his mask highlighted potential threats and points of interest.

"Let's see what else we got in the bag of tricks," he muttered, tapping a button on his wrist. A set of recon drones deployed, hovering above the city and feeding real-time data to his display.

"Scanning for any unusual energy signatures," one of the drones reported. "We need to stay ahead of whatever might come next."

Spider-Man nodded, weaving effortlessly through the urban canyons. "Thanks for the heads up. Gotta make sure no surprises catch us off guard."

His suit's communication system crackled to life. "Incoming call from Nick Fury," another drone announced. "Shall I patch him through?"

"Absolutely," Spider-Man replied, his voice filled with warmth. Nick Fury voice echoed in his earpiece, providing updates on civilian safety and offering words of encouragement.

As he swung toward the next hotspot, Spider-Man activated his web wings, gliding gracefully between buildings. "Sometimes, it's not just about punching bad guys," he reflected. "It's about being the eyes, ears, and heart of the city."

The night unfolded with a symphony of action and technology, Spider-Man seamlessly blending his powers and gadgets to ensure the safety of the city he called home.

 ___

The mothership opens.The Chitauri flood through en masse. The initial wave starts firing on the streets and buildings in a "shock and awe" maneuver in order to clear out the natives and any potential threats that may be among them.

This feeds itself; as more Chitauri come out the cleared area grows larger, allowing for more Chitauri to safely arrive, which then allows the Chitauri to clear out more area, rinse and repeat.

As the Chitauri increase their occupied space outward it then becomes safer for more motherships to open more, thus allowing more Chitauri to come through at a faster pace. ("It's a stabilizing agent. It means the mothership would do what they did to SHIELD Helicarriers.

Also, it means the mothership can open as wide and stay open as long as Gunther wants.")The military police stated that it'll take an hour to get the National Guard on site. In that time the Chitauri did get several thousand (or several tens of thousands) troops and a number of Leviathans (the "flying snake things") into that area of Manhattan, expanding out as they go. Even if at that point the National Guard arrived they'd be overwhelmed.

While the Chitauri do have their flaws, the fact of several thousand flying Chitauri + Chitauri ground troops + Leviathans would make very short work out of any first response the military threw at them. By this point they would have the attention of the full US military; the National Guard looked like they were be regulated to crowd control and evacuation.

Fort Hamilton is the closest US military base but -- it's not really combat-capable, and even if they had a base in Brooklyn so it'd take a hot minute for them to get to Ground Zero. So the military's first official combat response was the Air Force and Navy jets and the Leviathans are to be the top targets.

The humans are tough so barring a lot of lucky shots at chitauri aren't going to have much effect on them.Collateral damage from the Chitauri's "shock and awe" actions and the response from the US military was heavy. Like, Cloverfield-level damage. Toppled buildings, heavy civilian casualties, demolished infrastructure.

By the time the US military musters a suitable response force, the island of Manhattan was looking like it is going to get occupied territory. All of the bridges and tunnels are steadily have been destroyed and Gunther will have several million civilian hostages at his disposal.

At this point Gunther was getting ready to institute a cease-fire and allowing the Chitauri time to form a perimeter around and above Manhattan. The Chitauri mothership enters low orbit above the eastern seaboard.

Enter the US diplomats, Gunther was planning to demand nothing less than the immediate surrender of the US government. When the government balks and tries to stall, the Chitauri mothership will take out the Pentagon from orbit.

The government will surrender; the United States becomes the territory of Gunther. Additional Chitauri motherships, full of troops, come through the leviathans.Using the United States' formidable arsenal backed up by the Chitauri, Gunther quickly subjugates the rest of the world. Nuclear-capable powers are given the option to surrender first, always with a Chitauri mothership overhead. 

As the Chitauri occupation solidified, Gunthers oppressive rule took hold. Resistance pockets formed, driven by the remnants of military forces, brave civilians, and a few unexpected allies. The skies over Manhattan were a constant battleground, with jets engaging Chitauri aerial units, leaving trails of smoke and fire in their wake.

Amidst the chaos, Spider-Man swung into action, weaving through the city's ruins. His suit, upgraded with Parker technology, granted him enhanced agility and devastating new weaponry. The once-friendly neighborhood Spider-Man had transformed into a lethal force against the alien invaders.

In the darkest corners of occupied Manhattan, horror unfolded. Chitauri patrols roamed the streets, abducting humans for unknown purposes. The air echoed with the distant screams of those taken captive. Spider-Man, with a hardened resolve, stalked the Chitauri, eliminating them one by one to save the helpless.

Aikku Jokinen, now leading the resistance, coordinated efforts to gather intel on Chitauri movements. The survivors, including some enhanced individuals and military veterans, underwent intense training to become a formidable guerrilla force.

In a desperate attempt to regain control, the United Nations devised a plan to infiltrate the Chitauri leviathan and disable its defenses. Phoenix Quiver, with his unmatched precision, spearheaded the mission. Aikku Jokinen, Black Captain, and Spider-Man joined the assault, infiltrating the island.

Inside the island, they encountered a horrifying sight—cages filled with captive humans, their life forces drained to power the Chitauri war machine. The heroes pressed forward, facing increasingly grotesque Chitauri experiments and the unnerving presence of the great one himself.

Spider-Man's enhanced senses detected a trap, but it was too late. The heroes were surrounded by Chitauri forces. Black Captain, holding his shield high, spoke with unwavering determination, "We may fall today, but humanity will rise again. We won't let you destroy our home."

A fierce battle ensued. Spider-Man, pushed to his limits, unleashed a torrent of destructive web-based attacks. Yet, the sheer numbers overwhelmed them. In a moment of desperation, Aikku Jokinen activated a device that disrupted the Chitauri's energy connections, creating a brief diversion.

As the heroes fought their way to more core areas of the island, a horrifying revelation awaited them—the Chitauri's true objective was unknown. (Odin's concern was that the chitauri were going to harness Earth's mystical energies for an even more devastating invasion.)

In a final confrontation with a chitauri captain, Black Captain told the others that he will buy time for them. His iconic shield was what he needed as the Chitauri overwhelmed him. In a moment of grief and fury, Spider-Man unleashed his full power, tearing through the Chitauri and facing the great general in a brutal showdown.

Despite their valiant efforts, the heroes were ultimately defeated. The Chitauri, now still trying to consolidate their gains for future preparations.

The resistance, now without its leaders, struggled to regroup. As the Chitauri tightened their grip on Manhattan, the survivors faced an uncertain future, knowing that the battle for humanity's survival was starting to look bad.

In the heart of the occupied city, the resistance engaged the Chitauri in intense firefights, the echoes of gunfire and explosions reverberating through the shattered streets. Iron Patriot, leading the charge, communicated tactical orders to her team over encrypted channels.

As Chitauri patrols advanced, the resistance fighters utilized guerrilla tactics, taking cover behind debris and abandoned vehicles. Phoenix Quiver, positioned on a rooftop, The Phoenix Quiver leaking a radiant glow of the sun, drew his golden bowstring with His eyes, gleaming with divine precision termination, fixed on the distant enemy horde. As he released the arrow skyward at a ninety degree angle.

The singular arrow unraveled in the heavens, fragmenting into countless shimmering facets. Each shard pulsed with an otherworldly energy, creating a cascade of golden light that painted the sky. The transformation echoed with a celestial melody, a symphony of arcane forces at play.

As the golden rain descended, the air crackled with the manifestation of a hundred ethereal arrows. Like a meteor shower of divine justice, they streaked down with unparalleled grace. The enemy ranks were engulfed in the luminous storm, the arrow seemed to be guided by cosmic forces, struck with breathtaking precision. It descended like a heavenly messenger, its gleaming tip piercing the chitauri's chest with an otherworldly grace. The once-singular arrow had become an overwhelming deluge, turning the battlefield into a canvas of golden retribution.

The arrows with precision, targeting Chitauri commanders and disrupting their coordinated attacks.

In a narrow alley, the spiderman still fired into action, firing web projectiles to incapacitate Chitauri soldiers. His drone brothers allowed him to have eyes everywhere enhancing his reflexes allowed him to dodge incoming fire, and with a swift acrobatic display, he disarmed foes with deadly efficiency.

The air resonated with the roar of military jets as the United States attempted to regain control of the skies. Dogfights ensued, with sleek fighter planes engaging Chitauri flying units. The night sky became a canvas of exploding ordinance and evasive maneuvers.

Amidst the chaos, Iron Patriot led a team of skilled marksmen, providing cover for ground forces. The resistance fighters, armed with a mix of salvaged weaponry and alien tech, engaged in hit-and-run skirmishes. Explosive charges planted strategically disrupted Chitauri advances, buying precious moments for civilians to escape.

As the battle raged on, the horrors intensified. Chitauri Leviathans loomed overhead, their colossal forms casting shadows on the devastated landscape. Resistance fighters faced the daunting challenge of taking down these behemoths with limited resources.

In the heart of the city, an abandoned subway station served as a makeshift command center. A diverse group of survivors gathered, determined to fight for their freedom. Medical personnel treated the wounded, and engineers jury-rigged makeshift explosives.

The resistance's communication network buzzed with updates and pleas for assistance. Spider-Man drones still and spider robots, swinging between buildings, responded to distress signals, providing a glimmer of hope to those trapped behind enemy lines.

The remnants of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives in area worked tirelessly to decrypt Chitauri communication frequencies. The goal: to anticipate the alien forces' movements and mount strategic counterattacks.

Each street corner became a battleground, each building a potential sniper's nest. The resistance fought not only for survival but to reclaim their home. The air filled with the acrid scent of burning rubble, a stark reminder of the high cost of defiance against Gunthers oppressive regime.

The firefights intensified, with heroes and ordinary citizens alike standing side by side, united in their determination to resist. The city, once a symbol of strength and resilience, now bore the scars of an otherworldly war. In the midst of the chaos, the heroes knew that the darkest hours were yet to come.

As the USA avengers where in the 'Oh-my-God-we're-gonna-die-if-we-don't-leave-right-now' kind of thing. 

___

In the midst of arriving to Midgard and finding out how truly in danger they all were, Thor had almost forgotten about Jane Foster.

Almost.

When the Helicarriers were destroyed and he witnessed the pain of the young man Benjamin Pollack, a new ally to the Avengers, he was reminded of what he should have thought the moment they came to Earth: he had not seen Jane yet. Erik Selvig had told him he last spoke to Jane before the mecha-creatures descended and that when S.H.I.E.L.D. troops finally arrived to her home at New Mexico, she was long gone.

Thor was confident she was alive. Jane was resourceful and smart. A fear gripped him, though, and he might have gone out searching for her had he known were to begin. If anything happened to her, he would readily blame himself, yet for the time being he vowed each and every member of S.H.I.E.L.D. to try and find her.

Perhaps that was why Maria Hill approached her on one morning as he ate breakfast. "We just received a call. Jane Foster has been found. She's in Missouri. Apparently she had memorized a few of Dr. Selvig's numbers and –"

Thor was already on his feet, grinning, and clapped her shoulder. "I thank you," he smiled at her and started out of the room. "Now tell me which way this Missouri lies."

"We're preparing a Quinjet," Agent Hill hurried after him. "War Machine is already on his way to her, to make sure the call wasn't intercepted by anyone."

"The Chitauri, you mean?" Thor's mood darkened at once. His fingers tightened around a handle that he wasn't currently holding, yet his will was making Mjolnir tremble in his quarters. He had been, however, asked not to summon the hammer while indoors, due to the damages it would cause, so he did not.

"Yes," the agent agreed tersely. After the enemy had penetrated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flying ships, no one trusted what they could or could not do, or whether they had any interest in their remaining means of communications.

"Tell the Machine of War that we shall join him soon," Thor said as he went to get his armor and gather his friends. He was going to see Jane soon and make sure she stayed safe from now on.

"Do you think it worked?" Darcy asked. They were seated on top of a RV that someone had managed to park about three miles from the nearest road. It had three of its tires missing and looked like no one had stayed in it for years. Higher than the rest of the landscape, it was a good vantage point.

Jane pursed her lips. She had tried all the numbers Erik had given her, whether they were in her memory or in her notebook. Finally one of them had connected and after many strange conversations, she had been talking to someone at S.H.I.E.L.D. She had managed to give little else than her name and possible location before the reception was lost and the battery died soon after. "I hope so," she finally sighed, hanging her legs over the edge of the RV's roof.

It had been a couple hours since the call, far as she could tell. The time felt like forever when they were uncertain what was happening – if anything at all.

A rumble reached their ears, first distant but coming steadily closer. Darcy glanced up warily, pushing hair back from her face to minimize any obstructions in her vision. Jane did the same, searching the skies. The clouds blocked most of the view, making her feel uncertain.

"Maybe we should hide," Darcy started.

"Yeah," Jane agreed. They hadn't seen any actual aliens themselves but it wasn't a good time to start when help might be on the way. As Darcy began to lower herself to the ground, Jane kept a steady watch, wanting to make the other woman go faster but knowing a broken ankle was something neither of them needed.

A glimpse caught his eye, piercing the cover of clouds, catching the sun before turning. Whatever it was, it was small and fast, turning slightly and aiming towards them.

"Go, go!" Jane shouted to Darcy who dropped to the ground, sprawling into the dust then climbing onto her feet. Jane followed her, landing roughly, her ankle flaring with pain but it wasn't bad, just a jar reminding her why exactly she had wanted Darcy to be careful in the first place.

"Where should we go?" Darcy asked. "What is it?"

"I don't know and I don't want to find out," Jane started, looking around, knowing that wherever they ran, the thing on the sky would spot them. "Inside," she decided and Darcy slid in through an open door of the RV, crouching low on the dirty floor, trying to see something through the dusty windows. Jane follower her, attempting to close the door but it was stuck in place, the hinges rusty and bent in wrong angles.

A roar passed over them, rattling a few items on the table, then a cloud of dust appeared as the gleaming shape landed on the ground in front of the RV. Jane ducked her head, Darcy doing the same, looks passing between them.

"Do you think its one of them?" Darcy asked in a whisper, no doubt meaning a mecha they had seen in a few news reports. "I thought they were bigger."

Jane had thought so too but if some of them were big, why couldn't there be smaller ones?

Footsteps approached the RV, making them jump. They were human in pace but sounded heavier and mechanical. They huddled closer together, looking for an out but there was only one door and suddenly there was a shadow landing across the floor; the thing was coming around towards the open doorway.

Jane looked for something to use as a weapon – anything that wouldn't make her feel so small and fragile.

A mechanical hand reached in, curling around the edge of the door, denting it and almost tearing off a piece. Darcy shifted backwards, eyes wide, panting breaths too loud in the silence.

"Jane Foster?" a voice called out. It was human although coming through some kind of filter.

"Why does it know your name?" Darcy hissed, even more alarmed now.

"I am Colonel James Rhodes with the U.S. Air Force, also known as War Machine. I'm here to protect you until the Avengers arrive to bring you in safety."

It was like the weight of the world had been taken from her shoulders and Jane crawled up to her feet, brushing off dust until she realized neither of them had showered since leaving home at New Mexico. Darcy also got up, although a bit hesitantly, then both of them moved towards the door.

Outside stood a man in an advanced piece of armor. It automatically reminded Jane of Iron Man, although with grayish colors and more bulk; heavily weaponized where Tony Stark's had been sleek. The red, glowing eyes and arc reactor met them and War Machine stepped away from the doorway, giving them a little room. Jane stepped out, trying not to seem cautious, Darcy following her in much the same manner.

"Are you unhurt?" War Machine asked.

"You could say that," Jane nodded carefully. "It's been a rough couple of weeks."

It was hard to tell what the facial response of the man inside the suit was, but he didn't argue. Instead he turned his head slightly, as if studying something normal eyes couldn't see and silence stretched between them.

"Cool armor," Darcy finally piped up.

The helmet's red eyes were directed towards her. "Thanks," came a rather strained reply.

"Does it get hot in there?" she went on and Jane tried not to smile. Maybe Darcy was really curious or just striking up a conversation to keep them occupied. It had been just the two of them for so long that they both needed a little outside communication.

Jane thought she heard something like sigh before War Machine spoke up again: "It has a built in ventilation, so no, it isn't hot, Ms. Lewis."

"You know my name, too?" Darcy jumped a bit.

Another sigh and then a face-plate popped up, showing them the man inside. James Rhodes' dark brown eyes and skin went rather well with the gray of the suit although his build wasn't wide like War Machine's. "Yes," he noted, voice no longer filtered by the suit. "We've all been looking for you and I was given a full update on who you are when I was sent to secure your location."

"Secure it from what?" Jane and Darcy asked as one.

"If we're lucky, the Chitauri," the man replied.

"And if we're unlucky?" Darcy pressed, looking nervous. "I'm not sure I'm feeling lucky."

"If we're unlucky, it will be a mecha." He looked around again, keeping the faceplate up. "Have you seen any of them in the area?"

"A… mecha? What is that?" Jane had to ask.

Rhodes looked at them again, narrowing his eyes just slightly. "Those big-ass robots that have been doing the heavy lifting for the Chitauri."

"We saw those on TV before we left New Mexico, and a few times after," Jane told him. "We haven't seen one in person."

There was a blink and a small huff which may have been one of disbelief or relief. "You've been fortunate."

"I wouldn't put it exactly like that," Jane argued. "Have you seen what's going on out there? The people are tearing each other apart."

Something like repressed shame and anger crossed the man's face. "We're fighting a war, Ms. Foster. If we had the resources and the manpower, we would keep this under control." Jane wondered if he would just leave them standing here after he said that.

"The war's not going very well, is it?" Darcy asked.

"No, it's not," the man admitted then cocked his head. "They're here."

"The Chitauri?" Darcy looked up jerkily, moving a bit closer to Jane. By now they had both realized that neither of them wanted to die alone; being left alone was the worst that could happen in this situation so they were adamant to stay together.

"No," a small, calming smile appeared on James Rhodes' lips. "The Avengers."

A dark plane cut through the clouds. It wasn't any type of aircraft Jane had seen before but it looked human as it circled the area, dropping lower then finally landed a safe distance from the RV. No sooner had the aircraft touched down than a familiar figure strode out, cape floating behind him as he ran closer. Jane couldn't believe it and raced towards him, pulled into a firm embrace when she finally reached Thor, pressed against his chest tightly.

"Jane," he murmured. "I was so worried." He let her far enough to look at her, then smiled at Darcy who was approaching beside Rhodes. "I thank you, War Machine, for keeping them safe."

"There was nothing to keep them safe from, but we shouldn't believe that will be the case for long," the dark-skinned man replied and looked around again, appearing nervous.

"Darcy," Thor smiled at the younger woman and pulled her into a one-armed embrace while still holding onto Jane, as if afraid they would disappear if he let go.

"You still look like… you," Darcy smirked.

"I wager you would like a warm shower and clean clothes," another voice cut in and Jane looked up to find a man in a blue uniform coming closer, red and white coloring it; Captain America.

"Food would be nice, too," Darcy smiled bashfully then peered at Thor again, whispering: "Your friend is kind of hot."

"It is warm out here, indeed," Thor replied.

Jane smiled and leaned against Thor's shoulder, feeling safe for the first time since Erik called them. Which reminded him… "How is Erik? Is he okay?" she asked.

"Dr. Selvig is waiting in a safe location. He's looking forward to seeing you again," Captain America replied.

A woman appeared from inside the aircraft. "We have incoming. A mecha."

"Get into the air," Rhodes ordered, snapping his faceplate shut. "I've got this."

"Just distract it and then follow us," Captain America ordered. "Save it for the next battle."

War Machine nodded and fell silent.

"I can assist our comrade," Thor offered.

"Only if you need to; we came here for Ms. Foster and Ms. Lewis and getting them to safety is our first priority. Stay with them."

Thor nodded and ushered them towards the plane. Inside were the pilot and another man who was tapping on a tablet. As they all sat down and the aircraft took off, Jane took a look around then landed on the man who looked too much like a scientist to be present on such a mission. He looked up, as if noticing them for the first time and shifted his glasses. "You're Jane, correct?"

Jane nodded.

"Bruce Banner," the man introduced himself but didn't extend his hand, instead focusing on the screen again. "Clint!" he shouted towards the pilot then, "put that pedal down. It's getting closer and while Rhodes can slow it down, I don't want to see whether the mecha has new tricks up its sleeve today."

"You just don't want to tear those new pants," the only other woman present said in what had to be half a joke.

"That, too," Bruce Banner shrugged. "I like these pants. Who's to say that in the coming days we won't run out of pants, seeing as almost half the factories around the world are shut down?"

The female Avenger considered this then tensed and put a finger to her ear, shifting the platinum blonde hair out of the way. "We have visual. It noticed us."

A screen came to life on the wall, a feed from above, perhaps a satellite. Everyone gathered closer to it and Jane and Darcy followed. Thor's strong arm came around her, steadying her as the aircraft seemed to speed up.

On the ground moved something that looked almost like a metal human, only when you realized the scale it was in, the thing was enormous. Another screen showed them in dots and one between them – War Machine.

"Rhodes' going to engage," the pilot told them.

"He knows what he's doing," Banner said in the general direction of Captain America, whose eyes seemed worried as he looked at the screen.

"I think we've already established he can't take one of those things out," the Captain replied.

"No, but his repulsors have had more impact than most of our weaponry combined," Banner replied.

"Weren't you supposed to look into that?" the pilot asked from the front.

"I was and I am," the man snapped. "Unless we get a sample, it's all theoretical."

"Then perhaps we should procure you this sample," Thor noted. "Between the two of us, we could defeat this metal beast."

Banner pursed his lips then sighed. "We're removed from the civilian population. We could try…"

"We have orders," Captain America argued.

"Steve, you know we need a piece of that tech to analyze it," Banner insisted. "We're bashing our heads against the wall right now, have been for weeks, and we're ready to snap. Not just this team or S.H.I.EL.D., but the humanity."

It was clear Captain America – Steve – didn't like it but determination came over his face. "Clint, take us around. Thor, get your hammer. Daisy, Clint and I will keep Ms. Foster and Ms. Lewis safe. Bruce, you better get out of those pants."

Bruce Banner smiled tiredly and put the tablet to a safe place then started undoing his shirt. The aircraft tilted and turned around, giving them a clear view a moment later of the robot that had been following them.

"Is this a good idea?" Darcy asked.

"No, ma'am," Captain America replied, "but Dr. Banner is right; we need a piece of that."

"And how exactly are you going to get that piece?" Jane asked, alarm in her voice. On the side Thor had lifted his hammer, Mjolnir, from the floor and had a rather determined look on his face. Like the time he almost killed himself to save everyone in Puente Antiguo.

"With brute force," Banner replied and shed his shirt, standing there only in his pants. He looked rather bashful for a moment, then craned his neck to get a better look at the enemy before them as the pilot took them lower. "Stay in the air, in a safe distance. I'm sure Thor and I can take it from here." With that a hatch on the back of the aircraft begun to open and Thor stepped over to Jane as wind began to whip around them.

"You will be safe here. The Avengers will protect you and I will return shortly," he promised.

"You had better," Jane told him, then felt his lips against hers, too brief and pulling back when she was just getting into it.

Bruce Banner had stepped over to the hatch, peering down then shaking his head. He undid his pants and threw them to the side, standing naked several hundred feet above the ground, and when Thor walked over to him, touching his shoulder briefly, it looked like the most natural thing.

"I don't get it," Darcy mumbled, staring.

"You will," the blonde-headed woman, Daisy, promised.

Thor jumped off and was soon flying across the air with Mjolnir in hand. The naked scientist followed him but he didn't fly. Jane was so shocked she didn't even have time to cry in alarm, and seeing as no one else did, maybe it was a good thing.

The pilot turned them around and kept hovering in the air, with a perfect view on unfolding events. The rest of them gathered around to see out of the wide front windows. Jane could see Thor and his red cape, War Machine with the red beams of energy trailing behind him, and then something green was moving on the ground, straight at the robot.

"Is that the Hulk?" Darcy pointed.

"Yeah," the pilot said then grimaced. "I'm just saying, even if the humanity runs out of pants, let's make sure he doesn't. The man deserves to wear pants."

Daisy gently cuffed him on the head then all of them followed the events, hopeful of the outcome yet clearly it wasn't a sure victory and Jane felt a different kind of fear in the pit of her stomach.

Rhodey had learned that things changed fast when with the Avengers. One minute they were here to find two women and bring them in, and the next they were determined to tear a piece off a mecha. They had tried before, prior to Thor's arrival, but it had never ended well. Right now there was just this one, no Chitauri in sight, and it was a perfect opportunity although they hadn't planned for it.

Which meant seizing the opportunity and going for it.

Thor and the Hulk joined him in the attempt to take down the machine. They didn't have time to agree on a plan – not that any plan was definite when the green rage monster was involved. "Hulk smashes metal giant!" was as good a plan as any, seeing as the Hulk's declaration was perfectly in synch with their actual aim. As the green beast launched itself up, Rhodey watched, waiting for the mecha's response.

The Hulk landed, tearing at the chest of the robot, pounding and trying to dig in for purchase and actual damage. The metal skin began to glow, charging up. Rhodey knew from experience it would be enough to throw the Hulk back and really hurt him. Instead of remembering that or anticipating it, the Hulk didn't relent, perhaps thinking this time he would be stronger.

Rhodey aimed and sent a repulsor blast that hit right next to where the Hulk was hanging on, not hurting the mecha but disrupting the energy build-up, giving the Hulk a little extra time.

Then Thor came swooping in and threw his hammer. The mecha tried to dodge, taking a hit in the shoulder. The metal twisted and sparked. Mjolnir flew back to Thor's hand and Rhodey knew the Asgardian was preparing for another strike. To join him in his efforts, Rhodey aimed the Minigun on his back and fired. Bullets hit the metallic surface, bouncing off it, leaving only minimal scratches. The mecha shifted, as if trying to shake off the Hulk, the surface beginning to charge up again.

"Take it," Rhodey muttered, activating the chest RT, aiming and then firing the robot in the chest, as close to the Hulk as he dared. At first it felt like it was working, that maybe the charge was being pushed back, but then the usual bluish tint changed into red and Rhodey felt a current run through him, brief like an electric shock. The suit powered down and he fell, disoriented and waiting for the impact.

Something grabbed him, tangling him like a toy, then Rhodey felt the gravity again and ended up lying on something solid, hopefully the ground. He couldn't see anything, nor could he hear anything for that matter. The suit wasn't coming back on, leaving him imprisoned inside it. He could either wait and hope for a reboot – or do for the emergency latches and let himself out.

He struggled to move, feeling the weight of the suit, going for the helmet first, figuring that if he popped the faceplate he might see something at least without leaving himself completely open to an attack.

When he managed that, dust was sprayed all over him, covering his face and forcing him to close his eyes before he felt the draft pass and dared to open them again. Thor hovering above him, looking up, cape majestic as it flapped behind him. Rhodey could see the mecha, too, towering over them with what looked like claw marks on its chest. The Hulk wasn't there anymore, though.

The machine stepped forward, striking out. Thor flew out to meet it, drabbing an arm, summoning lightning from a previously sunny sky which was suddenly turning very stormy. It hit the hammer and the moved onto the mecha, yet instead of frying it from the inside the machine seemed to embrace the shock, drawing it into itself then unleashing some of it and sending Thor flying across the air.

Rhodey could see how this was going to end very badly; the robot only needed to step on him and he might get crushed inside the armor like a snail in its shell.

However, the mecha turned and walked away, its injured shoulder still sparking, a mark of victory although it hadn't led anywhere.

It seemed like forever before Rhodey got himself out of the suit and into the open. By that time the Quinjet had landed and the Avengers had spilled out. Bruce Banner was back to himself, disoriented yet someone had put his pants back on. Thor's hair was floating in every direction and he kept muttering and glaring at the sandy ground. Rhodey felt the same; they had been so much closer this time. If only his chest RT had worked…

Rhodey looked at the suit, seeing the repulsors smoking faintly. He knew that couldn't be good, but then, it had been only been a matter of time before the armor took a serious hit and there was no one left to fix it.

__

The country of France was under attack. A colossal 64-foot robot, armed with an energy shield and advanced weaponry, rampaged through the streets, causing chaos and destruction. The citizens fled in fear as buildings crumbled under the robot's immense power. Les Héros de Paris, a team of extraordinary individuals dedicated to protecting the county, swiftly responded to the emergency. Led by their fearless leader, Adamantine, a handsome fearless man, they arrived at the scene ready for battle.

Adamantine soared through the air with incredible speed, his cape billowing behind him. His eyes glowed with determination as he assessed the situation. The towering robot stood before him, its energy shield crackling with power. With a burst of superhuman strength, Adamantine lunged towards the robot, his fists clenched. He delivered a powerful blow that sent shockwaves through the air. But the energy shield held strong, repelling his attack effortlessly.

Meanwhile, the other members of Les Héros de Paris joined the fight. La reine des chats( The queen of cats) leaped into action, her agility unmatched as she dodged the robot's laser beams and clawed at its metallic exterior.

(Le Vent)The wind was running so fast that he generated electric bolts from the robots blindspot, striking the robot with electrifying force.

( Le Vent) The wind's main priority was to minimize civilian casualties running through the city streets with unparalleled swiftness. Clad in a sleek, aerodynamic suit with hues of electric blue and silver, (Le Vent's) The wind's streamlined design offered enhanced protected, allowing him to traverse the urban landscape effortlessly.

As The wind's (Le Vent's) speeds through the city, using his keen eyesight and rapid reflexes detect trouble in an instant. A multi-car pileup on the freeway demands immediate attention. Le Vent zips to the scene, weaving between vehicles with precision. With a quick assessment, he decide to first secure the area, creating a protective barrier around the injured until emergency services arrive.

(Le Vent) The wind's is engaging in a high-speed duel, with death to see who would reach the most civilians first while the more making sure to shoot bolts of electricity at the robot from a far while attempting to save more people from the threat of death. The surrounding chaos intensifies as( les Vent) The wind's maneuvers with unmatched agility, showcasing a seamless blend of acrobatics and superhuman speed.

Amidst the the chaos, (Le Vent) The wind spots a trapped family in a teetering car. Without hesitation, he rescues the family, swiftly pulling them to safety he made sure to hold their heads properly to avoid whiplash with that unexpected acceleration sure the people he rescued could be seen puking but that is way better then dying, he could not stop and ran now this time towards the robot and unleashing a powerful surge of electrical energy. As the energy dissipates, (Le Vent) The wind saw the robot just resumed its fight with the rest of the Les Héros de Paris so he had to focused on his first mission civilians.

 Using his speed to outmaneuver the debris and create openings for strategic rescue operations.

He had got a lock down on this situation feeling himself fall into a rhythm but something brakes his flow, (Le Vent) The wind races towards the disturbance —a burning building. The fire department is their struggles to contain the blaze, but (Le vent ) The wind arrives in the blink of an eye. Using his speed, he creates a vortex of air to clear smoke, allowing firefighters to focus on extinguishing the flames.

In the aftermath of the building fire, (Le Vent) The wind helped the people affected by the chaos. His compassionate demeanor and unwavering commitment touched the residents but he couldn't stay long and ran. With a streak of blue lightning, Le Vent disappears into from their field of vision , responding to the other calls and screamings for help in the never-ending battle for the safety of of this city.

(Le Cowboy) The Cowboy his old western gun continued to spray a seemingly unlimited rain of bullets on to the robot with no seen damage.

As the battle raged on, Les Héros de Paris utilized their unique abilities to their fullest extent. Adamantine used his super strength to lift cars and debris, hurling them at the robot with precision.

La reine des chats( The queen of cats) cat-like reflexes allowed her to evade every strike from the massive machine while delivering swift and precise attacks. But despite their valiant efforts, the energy shield continued to protect the robot from harm. It seemed invincible, impervious to their combined strength and skills. The heroes knew they had to come up with a new strategy if they were to defeat this formidable opponent. With a burst of inspiration, Adamantine devised a plan. He signaled to his teammates, and they quickly regrouped, forming a coordinated attack. The Adamantine hit the robot upwards to throw it into orbit but beam hit him from chitauri mothership he fell back down.

A lone figure, battered and bruised, descends into the crater's depths. The air is thick with heat, and the ground beneath them is treacherous. The fallen Adamantine struggles to navigate the surreal landscape, their every step met with the crunch of displaced rocks. The eerie glow from the molten core casts long, ominous shadows, amplifying the sense of isolation. The surroundings echo with a haunting silence, broken only by distant rumblings from the aftermath of the celestial impact.

A good amount of blood came from his mouth this level of damage was something he never experienced before as he walked unfortunately he could not help but stumbled yet he didn't have the strength to stand back up.

Before he closed his eyes he got a slap it was Le Vent who slapped him into more alert state, "(Pourquoi m'as-tu giflé) Why did you slap me." Adamantine said confused. 

("Il me semblait que si tu t'endormais, tu ne te réveillerais plus.)"It seemed to me that if you fell asleep, you wouldn't wake up again." The wind spoke. 

("Bon sang, suis-je vraiment blessé à ce point.)Damn am I really hurt to that point." Adamantine spoke a bit down. 

As Adamantine injuries slowly began to mend, cuts, burns, and a costume torn could be seen but he nodded at his friends a stood up and soared through the air with incredible speed at the robot, and unleashed a torrent of cataclysmic energy upon the robot. The air crackled with dark energy as the force enveloped the metallic foe, causing its outer shell to disintegrate rapidly. Sparks flew, and the once-imposing machine began to crumble under the overwhelming power.

The Cataclysmic dark energy penetrated the robot's circuits, disrupting its functionality and causing chaotic malfunctions. It was as if the very essence of destruction had taken hold, eroding the robot's structural integrity. The ground beneath them quivered as the force of the of destruction resonated through the battlefield.

In the aftermath, the robot, now severely compromised, struggled to maintain its mechanical composure. And another robot came to save it from anymore damage leaving as if nothing had happened.

__

They stood around a table in a lab that was situated a few hundred feet below ground level. It had been used for something different before S.H.I.E.L.D. took over it several years ago, Rhodey had been told, and now housed one of the last fully functional labs that were on the ground and not on the last Helicarrier.

"I'm sorry, Colonel Rhodes," the head scientist was saying. "We may be able to fix the damage done to the War Machine armor in time, when we understand the technology well enough, but the power source cannot be replicated by anything we're familiar with."

Somewhere behind him, Pepper sighed. Both of them knew that only Tony's intellect would save the suit at this point; without the arc reactor it was just a pile of very expensive metal.

"So the arc reactor is dead?" Rhodey asked for a second time, just to be sure.

"Whatever the mecha did to it seemed to drain the power," Banner noted from the side, looking at the readings the scientists had pulled from the suit; this might not be his area of expertise but none of them got to complain about that with people dying all around them, leaving shoes to be filled.

"Why didn't they do that before?" Fury asked.

"Yeah, I want to know that, too," Rhodey nodded.

"Could be it adapted for the first time," Banner frowned at the screen then turned to them, playing with his glasses by tugging them off and touching one of the arms to his lips. "It has been clear the repulsors' energy sequence, for whatever reason, has been putting them off. Maybe this is the first time they could respond to it."

"So we just lost our only advantage?" Fury asked and sighed with annoyance. "If we can't fix the armor we have to move on, think of something else. Use what we have."

"There might be a spare," Pepper spoke up then stepped forward. "Tony may have had a spare. The first thing we should do is look around the Stark Tower at Manhattan. The building's still standing and a small group might be able to get in with me."

"I cannot send you out to a war zone, Ms. Potts," Fury declined at once.

"I helped design the building," Pepper was unfazed. "If someone's going to find anything there and navigate the building unnoticed, it is I and whoever I choose to take with me."

They stared at each other steadily for a long moment.

It was clear from the beginning who was going to win this one.

Stark Tower,

Manhattan, NYC, NY, USA

"I still can't believe you handed Director Fury's his balls," Happy Hogan chuckled.

"I have a way with men who believe they're in control," Pepper replied. She smiled then checked the particle detector in the sleeve of her protective suit. "Radiation levels are not alarming," she noted. "Don't take any risks, though."

They waded through the dark underground space; S.H.I.E.L.D.'s protective unit had guided them that far and were keeping watch. Thor and his friends were at the ready further away should a mecha make an appearance, yet so far there had been no sign of one.

It was quiet. They kept their lights dim, not wanting to call attention upon themselves. Rhodey was leading the way, looking small out of the armor yet Pepper knew not to count him out just because of that. Even as an airman Rhodey had more training than either herself or Happy and that was one reason why he was here.

Another was that he should be allowed to find a way to bring War Machine back to life so that he could put the armor back on and help make a difference in the decaying world.

To actually be back on Manhattan had been like entering a movie set of a disaster film; broken windows, partially collapsed buildings, fires that had burned themselves out days ago; empty streets and an unnatural silence that seemed to stretch out endlessly in every direction. If there was anyone left alive in the city, they were deep in hiding.

They found the stairs and started climbing, hoping they would find unblocked paths all the way to where Tony's workshop and Stark Tower armory had been. It hadn't been finished, none of it, but there might be something left. Perhaps parts for a spare suit, or even the Mark VI he had used just before the battle with the Chitauri; all that Pepper had put away and never looked at it again, like his workshop at Malibu.

Now she would have to go and find them, letting go of the pain and moving on, taking anything they could find as a last gift from the man who had left them too soon.

Those memories were a partial reason why Happy was with them; Pepper could trust him with her life and he had been through this with her. She wasn't blind to the changes in their relationship and knew it had started to evolve a long time ago. In the middle of all this they hadn't said the words but they both knew that with the world that might end tomorrow, they could be selfish and not spend the time they had left apart.

"Was this building always so tall?" Rhodey grunted and stopped on a floor that was as dark as everything else. It appeared almost untouched yet Pepper knew not to go exploring for supplies. She needed a break and wordlessly thanked Rhodey for the small respite. Happy found a chair from the next room and brought it back, allowing Pepper to sit down. Rhodey snorted but said nothing, and perhaps it was just the trick of their lights or he was smiling.

They rested for a moment then begun climbing again, passing floor after floor and it felt like an endless climb in semi-darkness.

"You didn't seem too impressed by our Asgardian allies," Rhodey spoke out during their third break.

"Oh, I'm sufficiently impressed. They are, after all, from another world and Thor is supposedly a god," Pepper replied, itching to push back an errand strand of hair from her face but the residual radiation made her want to keep the protective suit on. At least they hadn't been forced to make the climb in full hazmat gear of she would have demanded they fly her upstairs.

Rhodey nodded, looking around, then returned his gaze to her. "I've seen how you look at Loki," he deadpanned, calling her bluff.

"Well, I've seen the way you look at him, too," Pepper shot back.

There was a strained silence.

"He's responsible for Tony's death," Happy commented from between them. "How are we supposed to look at him?"

Exactly, Pepper thought.

"The other Avengers aren't thrilled about it either," Rhodey mused. "Yet Rogers said that as long as Loki can offer us something, he's less of a liability."

"He's insane and untrustworthy," Pepper noted. "Read one book of Norse mythology and you have a perfect analysis of his nature. Who's to say that he's not working with the Chitauri right now?"

"He seemed rather bent on the idea that if the Chitauri win, he's going to be toast," Rhodey recalled. "No matter how much a messed up Norse god, I say he was genuinely afraid. He doesn't want us to lose this war, or at least he doesn't want to be here when it happens, yet here he is, thanks to Thor."

"Let's hope that's enough motivation for him," Happy agreed dourly.

"I don't care if they take him," Pepper told both men and stood up from where she had been resting her feet on the floor. "We lost Tony because of him." Loki had opened the portal over Manhattan – over Stark Tower – and it was Loki who kept Pepper from ever saying goodbye to the man she had loved. Had she picked up that call… She hadn't, though, but it didn't lessen Loki's quilt – or his punishment in the end. Pepper wanted to believe he would pay for his crimes eventually.

"We're almost there," she went on, leading the way to the stairs and Rhodey took the lead once more.

Up there more windows were broken, wind howling through the gaps, curtains fluttering and long-forgotten papers moving across surfaces. The night had turned into early morning and the sun would be up soon. If it looked like there was activity, they would spend the day hidden in the building then exit when it was safe once more. They had radio but they would only communicate if necessary, not knowing if the mecha would be able to track the signal.

No one trusted the technology in their hands after the Helicarriers went down.

"Here it is," Pepper pointed at the door leading to one of the top floors and Rhodey and Happy opened it by force. It looked like a hurricane had been through there, pieces of furniture all over the place, broken and scattered. She looked around, wondering if the Chitauri had already been here. It was entirely possible yet the other floors had appeared untouched.

Maybe they had known what to look for.

They searched every inch, every upturned cabinet and broken shelf. Moving from one room to the next, they systematically browsed every surface for anything useful. There wasn't much. Broken pieces of tech long left alone, fragments of notes, tools and abandoned circuit boards. Certainly there was no arc reactor just waiting for them.

Pepper sighed. It hadn't been a sure thing to begin with but after the long climb she had been hopeful there would be something at least.

A flash caught her eye, brief and small. She imagined it was a glimpse of the others' lights in a reflective surface then turned towards a doorway next to her. She heard a sound, suddenly – something that had been absent in the whole building and which seemed loud although being barely above a whisper.

A machine.

She frowned and looked further, waving her light then pointing it at the floor. The sound intensified slightly without her moving and she saw a blink once again. Stepping further in, Pepper entered a room and looked around. Nothing. Perhaps just a trick of her eyes.

"Pepper?"

"Over here," she replied and Happy soon emerged in the doorway, Rhodey behind him.

"We found nothing," Happy said, disappointment marking his words. "Any luck?"

"No, although I thought I… Can you hear that?" she asked and they all fell silent.

"They told us they would call if a mecha was approaching," Rhodey started.

"It's not coming from the outside," Happy shook his head and looked around, moving his flashlight from side to side along the narrow, long room that had only one door and no windows. Just a lot of processors and empty screens.

"I saw a light blink at least twice," Pepper told them, not feeling so foolish now that they could hear the sound as well.

Rhodey also pushed into the room, looking around, keeping his light lowered towards the floor just like Pepper's was. "I can't see anything."

Happy lowered his light too, still watching for a source of light or the continuous sound. "There's no power in the building. There's no power in the city unless someone has a generator. The arc reactor was disengaged when the attacks begun, so there's no way –"

There was a blink of light, just a flicker, then one of the screen came to life. Pepper had no idea what the screen was saying, bits of data being processed too fast for her to follow. Rhodey stepped forward, cautiously, looking at the screen but appearing just as confused as the rest of them. "Is that possible?" he frowned.

"Maybe there's a back-up power," Pepper mused. Tony would install one, but why would it be active right now, after all this time? What kind of battery lasted for months?

The screen suddenly froze and went blank. Several more lights appeared on the processors.

"Data transfer completed," a voice announced, then everything went dark in a heartbeat.

Pepper gasped, pressing a hand to her mouth although the suit prevented her from actually finishing the gesture of shock.

"That was J.A.R.V.I.S.," Happy was the next to react.

It felt impossible, seeing as the AI had shut itself down years ago. There hadn't been a peep since, not when they had needed J.A.R.V.I.S. or when the AI had been likely to offer input. Yet here, in the abandoned building with no power, J.A.R.V.I.S. had emerged and had clearly been doing something.

"Data transfer?" Rhodey snapped out of it. "What data – and where was J.A.R.V.I.S. transferring it?"

 Author note hi guys I hope you like the story fi you want more comment and leave stones and please guys subscribe like and comment to my YouTube to get quicker updates https://youtube.com/@conspiracists6013?