Incoming

Tony sat in his sleek chair, eyes locked on the holographic screen before him as Nick Fury's grim face flickered into view.

The video was encrypted—meant for Tony's eyes only. He tapped a command on the armrest of his chair, and the message began to play.

Fury, as always, looked tired, but his voice carried a sharp edge of urgency.

"Stark, things have escalated. Hydra's infiltration into S.H.I.E.L.D. has been mostly dealt with. We've got control of our assets again, but we're not in the clear." He paused, rubbing a hand over his eye patch.

"New players have emerged. We've got intel that The Hand and The Mandarin's forces have surfaced. They're aligning with Hydra, and it looks like they're working toward something big—something that's going down in one week."

Fury leaned forward, his voice dropping to a growl. "We need to hit them hard, Stark. This isn't just about taking out Hydra anymore; it's about stopping a global catastrophe. Whatever this plan of theirs is, it's going to change everything. We need more power. We need you."

Tony leaned back, processing the weight of Fury's words.

Global catastrophe.

The Mandarin, The Hand, Hydra—these weren't your garden-variety villains. Each group was deadly on its own, but together? It was a force unlike anything they'd faced before.

"One week, huh?" Tony muttered to himself as the message continued.

Fury continued, his voice taking on a sharp note. "We need you to bring everything you've got. Suit up, bring your tech, whatever it takes. Our team isn't enough as it stands. We're gearing up for the final battle, and we're going to need every advantage."

The screen blinked off as the message ended, leaving Tony in silence.

He could feel the weight of the situation settling over him like a shroud. One week. That was all the time they had before everything hit the fan.

With his knowledge of the Marvel Universe he knew that 'small' can easily become an existential crisis.

But his new found abilities gave him some confidence of his future.

Tony's eyes narrowed. "M.A.R.V.E.L.," he called.

"Yes, sir?" the AI chimed in smoothly.

"Prepare to send the advanced tech suits to Fury's team. Make sure they're fully outfitted with the latest upgrades. Include enhanced repulsors and adaptive shielding—everything we've been working on."

"Affirmative, sir. Dispatching the packages now."b

Tony paused, staring at the screen where Fury's message had just been. "Tell Fury I'll be there for the final battle. But I've got something to take care of first."

"Message sent."

Tony rubbed a hand over his face. The serum coursing through his veins had transformed him, made him faster, stronger, and smarter than ever before, but that didn't mean the work was done.

If they were going to take down The Hand, Hydra, and The Mandarin in one blow, he needed to be at full strength. And that meant staying focused. No distractions.

Suddenly, M.A.R.V.E.L.'s voice cut through his thoughts. "Incoming message from J.A.R.V.I.S., sir. Urgent."

Tony's brows furrowed. "Play it."