Help

The room was silent, all eyes locked on the man who stood confidently at the center, calling himself Tony Stark—Iron Man, had left everyone in a collective daze. A flood of questions and realizations surged through their minds.

In that moment, weeks of debate about the mysterious hero were put to rest. Until now, most believed he was either a complex machine or even an extraterrestrial with a mechanical form. But here he was, undeniably human beneath that infamous red-and-gold armor.

Yet, seeing Iron Man as a human raised even more questions. How could a person, a mere mortal, survive in that armor? How did he withstand the superhuman forces generated by high-speed maneuvers, impacts that could level buildings, and energy blasts that seemed to defy physics—all in an armor that looked sleek and flexible rather than bulky and protective? Even if it was made from materials more advanced than they could fathom, how did the person inside remain intact? To endure such forces, one would have to be a monster of resilience or have some hidden superhuman ability.

But then, glancing at Tony's confident posture, some in the room reconsidered. Other heroes in his organization had displayed similarly impossible feats of strength and endurance. Maybe, they speculated, it wasn't just the armor's technology—perhaps Iron Man was superhuman after all, a being beyond their comprehension.

Then Tony broke the silence, addressing the unspoken questions in the room with a characteristic smirk. "I know what you're all thinking," he said. His voice, calm and sure, carried a note of humor, as though he enjoyed the mystery he was unraveling. "But no, I'm not an alien. I'm not some sort of superhuman either. I'm just a guy… from a different world."

Murmurs rippled through the room as Tony paused, letting the weight of his statement settle in. "I'm from Earth," he continued. "To be specific, I'm from Earth 616."

The audience fell into a stunned silence. They all understood what that implied. Scientists had long suggested the existence of a multiverse.

But, was he implying that he was truly from another version of their world?

"Multiverse theory?" a scientist, barely able to contain his excitement, spoke up, his face lighting up with fervor. "I knew it—I always believed it was real!"

The delegates were quick to grasp the concept. Parallel worlds were familiar enough to them in theory, but seeing a living, breathing example of it in front of them was another matter. For a brief moment, every preconception they had about the unknown felt shattered and rebuilt in a new, more astonishing form.

The audience's reactions were mixed, faces ranging from disbelief to awe. Some wondered aloud whether beings who could cross vast distances across the stars or those who could breach the dimensional barriers of the multiverse were more formidable. But it quickly became apparent that it didn't matter. Either way, humanity on their world was still primitive in comparison. To an outsider with technology like Tony's, they were akin to cave dwellers staring up at jets streaking across the sky. Whether interstellar or interdimensional, these beings were titans by comparison.

Still, there was a glimmer of comfort in knowing that Tony Stark was, ultimately, human—even if he was from another universe.

"Of course, I'm not the only one," Tony added. "There are others in our alliance, each from different universes. Many of them are human, but not all of them…"

Each word sent fresh waves of astonishment through the audience. Only now did they start to comprehend the vastness of Tony's organization. It wasn't just a group—it was an entity with the power to traverse entire dimensions. It was a colossal force spanning countless worlds, uniting extraordinary beings and technologies from across the multiverse. In their minds, they began to see it not just as an organization but as a force of nature itself.

And it wasn't hyperbole, either. Tony's team truly included diverse beings: Kryptonians with the power of gods, Martians with telepathic abilities, cosmic guardians patrolling the stars, Asgardian warriors wielding ancient magic, and alien symbiotes as adaptable as they were powerful. To say this was a cosmic force wasn't merely poetic—it was the truth.

For some of the delegates, skepticism lingered. But after witnessing the technology displayed before them, after seeing Tony's armor up close and feeling the gravitas of his words, their doubts began to dissolve. By now, no one dared question the power and reach of this "alliance."

Finally, Zidane, one of the bolder representatives, gathered the courage to speak. "If I may ask, Mr. Stark, is there a specific reason why your organization is here? Why have you come to our world?"

"Of course. We don't interfere unless a world needs help," Tony replied, his tone now serious. "You might have noticed signs of peace beginning to fade. Unusual events are emerging—strange things you probably can't explain. But to us, these are only the early warnings of something far worse. A much greater threat is on its way, one that could bring untold destruction to your world."

The delegates felt a collective chill. They recalled previous warnings of ancient "gods" descending from the stars, beings from distant realms or dimensions with powers beyond imagination.

Normally, they would have dismissed such tales as superstition or fantasy. But today, standing in the presence of someone like Tony, it was hard to ignore the possibility. They couldn't afford to be skeptical any longer.

"Mr. Stark…" Zidane's voice trembled as he spoke. "The image you showed us—that planet reduced to ruins—is it…"

"Yes," Tony confirmed. "Another civilization similar to yours. They were much more advanced, technologically speaking. But as you saw, even they couldn't withstand the threat that destroyed them. And by the time we arrived, it was too late. We couldn't save them. But we're here now, and we have a chance to help you prepare."

The room was filled with a mixture of fear and newfound hope. Though they had once thought of god-like enemies as inescapable, Tony's presence made them feel otherwise. He brought with him the possibility of survival—a chance to resist.

The delegates turned their attention to Tony, their expressions tense yet hopeful. They didn't need to voice their thoughts; Tony could read them easily.

"Yes, we're here to help," he reassured them. "And I believe what we've done so far should speak for our intentions. But don't get too excited. While our fighters and technology are strong, we have countless worlds to save, which limits the resources we can devote to each one."

Chai, the head representative, was the first to respond. "Mr. Stark, we understand that this is our world, our responsibility. But we must admit our limitations in the face of these new threats. Any guidance or assistance you could offer would mean the world to us."

Tony's confident smile returned. "Don't worry. We Avengers have saved more worlds than you could imagine," he said with a chuckle.

"Avengers? Is that the name of your organization?" one of the delegates asked.

"Technically, that's my division. We're split into two main factions, though we're led by one leader. But as I was saying, we've saved worlds countless times before. But our resources are limited. When I say 'cooperation,' I mean full cooperation. This includes intelligence sharing, tactical coordination, disaster control, and most importantly—resources."

Tony's tone grew more serious as he leaned forward, addressing the crowd intently. "Yes, we have advanced technology, as you've seen. But even our technology can only do so much without the proper materials."

Chai hesitated before responding, weighing his words carefully. "I can't make this decision alone," he finally admitted. "But I'm confident—80 percent sure—that we'll be ready to fully cooperate."

Tony smiled warmly, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. "Then I think we're off to a good start. Remember, as long as you work with us, we'll handle the rest. We've faced enemies like these before."

"Then, Mr. Stark," Chai said with a solemn nod, "we'll begin discussions with our leadership immediately."

Tony's smile widened. "Good. But remember, while we'll be here to help, the responsibility of defending your world still lies with you. Our help is a hand up, not a shield."

Chai nodded firmly, understanding that this alliance was not a mere rescue operation but a partnership. This was humanity's opportunity to rise to the occasion, to stand beside their allies and defend their world against forces unimaginable.

(end of chapter)

[TL Note - Bro finesse them, lol]