Chapter 87 - Plan - 2

He covered his eyes, thinking back to when he confidently told Tifa and Aerith that they must be able to hide System's presence and even gave them a demonstration. He breathed in, steeling his resolve, 'They never have to know.'

"You are staring," These words weren't for Cloud, and Fury looked over to Denver, who had said that. He laughingly said, "How can I not? He can't hide what he's thinking! It's all visible on his face. Look, look, he was just embarrassed, and now he heard us talking, and he's even more embarrassed."

"Don't you have anything better to do?"

"I have…not."

Cloud sighed and waited until Fury finally went to sleep, and slowly the bridge was empty. He was busy taking Lucrecia's help, trying to figure out the Kree Systems. He figured out a few signs' meanings, but nothing substantial—only the bare minimum.

"Seriously, boy, do you have a plan? This is not the time to be prideful," Fury watched the numerous ships, and from what he heard from Danvers, there was a deeper defence system. None of which they would pass without alerting the security, and if they did, then all they'd find was an army waiting for them on the ground.

"Now, I do," Cloud stood up, putting the sling ring on his fingers, opening a portal.

"So…we are going with the portal? Not complaining here," Fury shrugged, looking over to Danvers.

"Yeah, it is the safest way to reach inside Hala. I am unsure if they could detect it; they should be able to," Danvers said when she saw who was on the other side.

It was someone she was familiar with, her Mentor, "Wendy?!"

"Carol?" Wendy was holding her gun up, which she put down, shooting a look at Cloud, "You need to stop appearing out of nowhere."

"I'll think about it," Cloud stepped on the other side of the portal, "Can you inform them?"

Wendy ordered one of the Skrulls, operating the system on the bridge, calling for others while she stepped over, hugging Carol, "You are ok! I was so worried!"

"I thought you were dead! Well…I forgot about you at first, but when I remembered, I thought you died!"

Wendy pressed her lips and pulled away, "I know…I am sorry we couldn't make it to you sooner."

"No…you tired," Danvers shook her head, "I have been part of the Starforce. I know Kree Empires might and reach. I understand how easy it's for them to destroy a planet like Earth… I thought it was."

"You thought?"

"Yeah, there are magicians, sorcerers. Who knows what else is hiding on that planet," She shook her head.

"Sorcerer's…are they different from magicians," Wendy looked over to Cloud, asking.

Cloud shrugged, "Sorcerer Supreme said she protects Earth from Other Dimensional Threats. So…yeah."

"Huh, it has even one of those," Wendy muttered when Fury introduced himself, "Hello. Nicklos Joseph Fury, from Earth, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistic Division."

"Shield? Why is Shield here? You know they are untrustworthy," Wendy worriedly frowned.

"Only to our enemies."

"To your allies," Wendy scowled, looking towards Cloud, who shook his head.

"This one is okay. Don't worry."

"I am not worried. Ever thought how others would react to the news of Shield being here?"

"Shield, I like that," Fury nodded, "I'll suggest it when I get back. And by others…you mean the Skrulls?"

"Cloud!"

Cloud felt a push when a woman wrapped her hands around his shoulder, kissing his cheek, "My boy! You didn't tell us you were coming."

Cloud visibly mellowed down, kissing the cheek of the woman, "Maria."

She stroked his hair, smiling, "Oh sweet boy. You have grown so much. You should come to visit us more like the girls."

"You know you are the reason why he doesn't come around? Now, don't embarrass him. He already has thin skin."

"Like you are doing it any less, and you boy. You should stop getting so embarrassed all the time."

Cloud looked over at the men, one had white hair, and the other was still middle-aged. He shook his hands with Pym while Howard hugged him, "How are you doing? Did you have any recent tests to check the encroachment?"

"Yeah. It's at 50 Percent."

"50? It doesn't seem to be showing any signs?"

"I am hiding it," Cloud answered since Howard was his doctor.

Howard patted his shoulder, "Ok. Show me later."

Fury cleared his throat, seeing them whisper, "Sorry. Are you…Howard Stark? Aren't you supposed to be dead? And you are Hank Pym? What are you doing here?"

"You are?"

"Nick Fury, from the Bureau of Shields? You were the founder there?"

He didn't think he would get a glowering look from the organisation's founders, but that is what he got.

"Why is an Agent of Shield here," Maria was especially fuming.

Howard patted her back, "You know everyone is not like that in Shield. If Cloud brought him, then he must have done the vetting."

"He's a spy, so he's as trustworthy as possible."

"Thank you!" Fury said, pointing at Cloud, wondering what was going on.

"Blah-blah, Why are you here?" Pym walked over to the portal, "And what is this?"

"Tesseract. Inter-dimensional Portal."

"Good. Great," Pym watched the portal with fascination, watching the sparks as it moved, wondering if he should even try to touch it.

"Touch it if you want to lose your fingers," Cloud stepped inside the Kree Ship, "Come on. I need your help."

"When do you not?" Pym moved over, "What is it this time?"

"Take Tesseract Back. Destroy all Research," Cloud answered.

"You do know that Supreme Intelligence would have all the research?"

"Can it?" Fury asked Danvers, who grudgingly nodded, "Most likely."

Cloud stopped, looking at Howard and Mar-Vell, "We made this ship. You have the technology. You can make another, right?"

"Easily," Howard nodded, "Why do you want it?"

"I have my reasons. Just. Use the clay."

"Clay? Oh, makes sense," Howard nodded, "Ok. Let's go and see what we are dealing with."

"It doesn't make sense to me," Maria raised her eyebrows, and Howard explained.

"Well, Tesseract possesses immense energy and very pure energy. I tried to make Arc Reactor, a source of clean energy inspired by it, but at that time, I didn't have the technology to miniaturise it. To make it feasible. But, even if they managed to harness Tesseract's Energy, they'd need a similar power source to power them. Without that? They'd need something like Arc Reactor to power a single gun. Basically. It's not cost-effective, but possible for an Empire that big."

"I have a plan to deal with that outcome, but I need the Tesseract for that."

"Then let's get the Tesseract."

"Open the portal? And We can have the Tesseract, can't we?"

"No. Then they might move the research. First, we have to destroy the results and then take the Source. That's your line of thought, right," Fury raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah. It is."

"You are smart. Ever thought of becoming a spy?"

"I am not that incompetent."

Maria let out a suppressed laugh, patting his back, "That's my boy. You never change."