Chapter 4: Choices Amid Chaos

"Bang."

Ravion reappeared on the deck of the cruise ship, his metallic frame tense, carrying a large bundle slung over his back.

"Come to me, kids," Ravion said through telepathy.

In response, ten children—carefully chosen by Ravion—began moving toward him. His mental suggestions bypassed their fear, compelling them to follow his instructions. Adults attempting to stop them were subtly held back by Ravion's mental control, forced to step away without fully realizing why.

"Hey, big guy! What kind of cutting-edge tech is this? Care to share some notes? I think we'd have a lot to talk about!"

Floating nearby in his Iron Man suit, Tony Stark seemed genuinely intrigued. Ever the technophile, he couldn't resist admiring Ravion's capabilities, even under dire circumstances. Tony, however, had clearly not fully sobered up. His slightly flushed face and bloodshot eyes betrayed a lingering buzz.

Ravion glanced at Stark, scanning his mind in an instant.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but I don't think you having my technology would be a good idea," Ravion responded.

Tony scoffed, offended. "Did you just reject me? No one rejects Tony Stark. What do you want? Money? I've got more than most nations. Name your price."

But Ravion could see through Tony's bravado. This version of Stark was far more arrogant than the one John Lang remembered. His desire for Ravion's technology stemmed less from altruism and more from his ego.

As the ten children gathered around Ravion—seven boys and three girls, from a variety of ethnicities—Tony's demeanor shifted. His voice grew sharp as he aimed his repulsor at Ravion.

"What are you doing with those kids? Step back and put the baby down—slowly. Don't make me blast you into scrap metal."

Tony's concern for the children was genuine, despite his bluster. Ravion had already read his mind and knew Stark wouldn't fire unless absolutely necessary.

Ravion knelt slowly, reaching out to the nearest child. The others instinctively linked hands with him.

"Hey! I didn't say you could move!" Tony barked.

But before Stark could react further, Ravion teleported away with the children in a flash of light.

"Jarvis! What just happened?" Tony shouted, spinning in frustration.

Jarvis, his ever-faithful AI, responded calmly. "They've vanished, sir."

"No kidding! Didn't I ask you to analyze that walking toaster before he disappeared? What's the point of having you around?"

"Apologies, sir. The subject's body consists of non-metallic, polymer-based materials that block conventional scanning. Additionally, there appear to be... magical interferences."

Tony frowned. "Magic? You're telling me I got outplayed by an overgrown magician's assistant?"

"Sir," Jarvis interjected, "you may want to look at the sky. We are not where we should be."

Tony glanced upward. It was true. The usual indicators of their universe—stars, clouds, even the sun—were absent.

"Where's the sun?" Tony muttered.

Before Jarvis could answer, his attention was drawn to a growing storm cloud. It wasn't natural—it pulsed with an eerie, predatory energy.

"Uh, team? I think we've got a bigger problem," Tony said through his comms.

Captain America's voice came through, exasperated. "Took you long enough to notice, Stark. Now focus up—we're evacuating civilians to the garage."

Inside the cruise ship, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff herded survivors toward parked vehicles. They planned to use the cars to escape, despite the futility of their efforts in the endless void.

"Stark, have Jarvis start every car in the garage," Steve ordered. "We're getting out of here."

Meanwhile, Ravion reappeared a hundred miles away with the children. He scanned the surroundings telepathically to ensure no threats lingered before weaving a calming dream into the children's minds, lulling them to sleep.

Placing his bundle of supplies on the ground, Ravion turned to John Lang, who cradled the infant they had rescued earlier.

"John Lang, I think you should stay here with the children," Ravion said.

John Lang, however, shook his head. "I want to come with you. I need to understand what we're up against. If I stay sheltered forever, I'll never grow."

After a moment of contemplation, Ravion nodded. John Lang's mental resilience was sufficient to handle the dangers ahead.

"Bang."

The duo reappeared on the deck of the cruise ship.

Below them, chaos reigned. Vehicles poured out of a makeshift ramp Tony had cut into the ship's hull. Refugees clung to a fragile hope of escape, driving away from the storm cloud that loomed ever closer.

Watching the scene, Ravion turned to John Lang. "Their actions will only lead to greater suffering. Why do they continue this futile struggle?"

John Lang sighed. "It's what they do. They're heroes. Even if the odds are impossible, they'll keep fighting to save as many as they can. That's just how they're wired."

Ravion's eyes glowed faintly, indicating his processing of this explanation. "It seems... irrational."

"It is," John Lang admitted. "But that's what makes them human. Logic isn't always the driving force. It's hope, compassion, and sometimes stubbornness. Even if they know they'll fail, they'll try again and again, just for the chance to succeed."

Ravion remained silent, his mind analyzing John Lang's words.

Thor and Hulk's distant battle shook the ship, the echoes of thunder and roars mingling with the screams of frightened civilians. Above them, the storm cloud—the malevolent entity known as Alioth—drew nearer, its darkness consuming the horizon.

As Ravion prepared for his next move, John Lang's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Ravion, sometimes the rational choice isn't the right one. Sometimes, it's about making the choice you can live with."

Ravion's glowing eyes dimmed momentarily in acknowledgment. For a machine imbued with humanlike empathy, the concept was both alien and profound.

"Very well, John Lang. Let us see where this choice leads."

The storm loomed ever closer, and the fragile threads of hope clung to by the heroes and survivors strained against the encroaching void.