Chapter 23: The Cosmic Chase Begins

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The ship, The Vanguard, hurtled through the vastness of space, leaving Earth far behind. Its sleek design cut through the cosmic void with ease, powered by a combination of Stark's technology, Wakandan vibranium, and Reed Richards' quantum stabilizers. Inside, the newly formed team, the Vanguards, stood at their stations, each hero focused on the mission ahead.

In the main control room, Tony Stark sat at the helm, monitoring the ship's navigation system. He glanced over at Steve Rogers, who was reviewing mission details on a nearby holo-display.

"We're officially in uncharted territory," Tony said, his voice calm but focused. "Faster-than-light travel's working like a charm, but we've got no idea what we'll run into."

Steve nodded, his face serious as always. "As long as we stick together, we can handle whatever comes our way."

Beside them, Reed Richards was deep in thought, analyzing the energy signatures they'd been tracking. "The quantum disturbances Ethan's been causing are scattered, but they all seem to be pointing toward a singular location. Based on what we've gathered, he's likely heading to Xandar."

Bruce Banner, standing behind them, looked thoughtful. "Xandar's one of the most advanced civilizations in the universe. If Ethan's looking for specific materials to complete his cosmic tracker, he'll find what he needs there."

"Which means we've got to get there first," Tony said, his fingers tapping rapidly on his wrist-mounted interface. "We can't afford to let him complete that device. If he does, he'll be able to track and harness any energy source in the universe, and we all know how that ends."

Spider-Man, seated near the back, fidgeted nervously. "So, we're basically chasing a guy who can open portals to anywhere and is about to get his hands on unlimited cosmic power?"

"Pretty much, kid," Tony replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. "But don't worry. We've got a few tricks of our own."

The team continued their preparations as The Vanguard sped toward its destination. Each member of the Vanguards knew the stakes were higher than ever, but there was an unspoken determination among them. They were Earth's best, and now they were the universe's only hope.

....

Inside Tony's workshop on the ship, he stood before the Iron Spider suit, now complete. The new and improved design glistened under the bright lights, a fusion of sleek red and gold vibranium armor, integrated with Stark's signature nanotech. Peter Parker stood beside him, wide-eyed as Tony explained the upgrades.

"Alright, kid," Tony began, gesturing to the suit, "this is the new and improved Iron Spider. It's not just about defense anymore. This suit's got the works: energy-absorbing plating, cloaking tech, and, of course, my favorite, nano-weave construction. It can adapt and repair itself in real-time. You'll be able to handle anything Ethan throws at us."

Peter's eyes widened as he examined the suit. "This is insane… it's like something out of a dream!"

Tony chuckled. "Don't get too excited. You're still going to need to focus out there. Ethan's not your average villain, and this suit's going to help you keep up."

As Peter tried the suit on, he marveled at how the nanotech fused around his body, adjusting to his movements seamlessly. The arms extended from his back, sharper and more efficient than before. He could feel the enhanced strength and agility coursing through him.

"This… is awesome," Peter muttered, moving with newfound ease.

Tony clapped him on the back. "Welcome to the big leagues, kid. Now, let's go save the universe."

....

Elsewhere on the ship, Bruce Banner was sitting in a quiet corner, his eyes closed in meditation. For months, he had been working on his relationship with the Hulk, trying to bridge the gap between his two halves. Now, more than ever, he needed the Hulk's strength, but also his own mind's clarity.

In the silence of his thoughts, Bruce reached out. Come on, big guy. We need to talk.

The familiar, deep voice of the Hulk rumbled within his mind: "Hulk… listens."

Bruce took a deep breath, feeling the connection between them growing stronger. "I know we've had our differences, but we're stronger together. You feel it too, right? The Spot's not just another fight. He's a threat to everything. We can't do this separately anymore. We have to become one."

There was a long pause, then the Hulk's voice rumbled again, softer this time. "Hulk… and Banner… together."

A calm washed over Bruce as he felt the unity within himself solidify. He wasn't just Bruce Banner anymore. He wasn't just the Hulk. They were one.

....

As The Vanguard sped through the stars, the team gathered in the main room, reviewing their strategy. Tony pulled up a holographic display of their target.

"This is Xandar," he said, pointing to the glowing image of the planet. "It's a hub of cosmic power, and the Nova Corps are stationed there. If Ethan's looking for anything to complete his cosmic tracker, Xandar's where he'll find it."

"We need to warn them," Steve said, crossing his arms. "If he gets to them before we do."

"We'll be too late," Natasha finished. "We can't let that happen."

Reed Richards spoke up. "I've been monitoring the cosmic disturbances. They've been getting more frequent. If Ethan's experiments continue, he could tear open rifts across the universe. We're already seeing the effects, small dimensional rifts opening and closing randomly."

Thor's grip tightened on Mjölnir. "We must act swiftly. Every delay brings the universe closer to destruction."

Suddenly, Doctor Strange's voice echoed through the room, though his presence was unseen. "You're correct, Asgardian."

The team turned to see a glowing, golden portal opening near the far wall. Doctor Strange stepped through, his expression grim.

"I've been monitoring the fabric of reality," Strange continued. "Ethan's experiments are destabilizing entire regions of space. If this continues, we won't just be dealing with dimensional rifts. We'll be facing the collapse of entire universes."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "So, you've been watching the whole time, huh? Could've used a hand sooner."

Strange's eyes flickered with a hint of frustration. "My responsibilities lie with the protection of the multiverse. I couldn't intervene until the threat became… unavoidable."

"And now it's unavoidable," Steve said, stepping forward. "You're with us then?"

Strange nodded. "For now. But know this, if we fail, it won't just be Earth that suffers. The multiverse itself could be at stake."

The weight of his words settled over the team, but there was no hesitation in their resolve. They had faced impossible odds before. They would face them again.

Tony glanced around at the team, the newly-formed Vanguards, each one ready for the battle ahead.

"Alright," Tony said, his voice calm but determined. "We've got our team. We've got our target. Let's go save the universe."

With the ship's engines humming to life, The Vanguard shot forward, faster than light, toward Xandar, and toward Ethan.

The chase was on.

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Did i glaze Tony and Peter too much? Fuck yeah! Duh.

They are my favorite characters.

Fight me by throwing stones, they might hurt me 😮‍💨