Chapter 71: Lucky Earth
"On planets controlled by major galactic empires, the security is indeed relatively good," Harvey explained. "But outside those empire-controlled worlds, the universe is far more chaotic than you might imagine."
"After all, with so many planets out there, some are more advanced than Earth, while others are less developed. When power exceeds the defenses and offensive capabilities of a planet, there's nothing they can do if their world is destroyed."
"Furthermore, because of the vastness of space, some planets and species might be destroyed without anyone ever knowing who the destroyer was."
"Not every planet is as lucky as Earth, with Odin and the Sorcerer Supreme protecting it."
Harvey could understand why Tony felt this way and patiently elaborated.
"It sounds like the universe isn't as glamorous as I thought," Tony said, his gaze growing more contemplative. The idea that an entire planet could be wiped out and no one would even know was a sobering thought.
For any intelligent being, there's a desire to build something that endures, leaving a mark even after they're gone. The thought that an entire planet's existence could be erased without a trace was indeed melancholic.
"The beauty of the universe is determined by whether you have enough strength to ensure your survival and that of your planet," Harvey stated. "Without that, the universe can be far from beautiful."
Harvey nodded slightly. Compared to many other planets, Earth was indeed fortunate. It had powerful guardians to ward off extraterrestrial threats. Even if those threats did come, they wouldn't dare cause major destruction, knowing that the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, and Odin would intervene.
For Earth, most of its dangers came not from outer space but from internal conflicts. Even without alien invasions, if a world war broke out again, Earth would see nuclear explosions everywhere. For a planet with a long history like Earth, it might just face a mass extinction event and then eventually return to a new state of equilibrium.
But for humanity, such explosions would be catastrophic, potentially leading to their extinction.
Tony's eyes flickered with concern. He agreed that Earth was lucky, but such luck was only temporary. Harvey had mentioned that in 2017, Earth would face a formidable enemy requiring cooperation with extraterrestrials. So Tony needed to prepare thoroughly before the crisis arrived.
"Speaking of which…" Tony picked up the galactic communicator, but before he could ask how to use it, the transparent screen on the device lit up automatically, halting his question.
"Instead of asking me, you should let Jarvis analyze these things. He'll be able to provide more detailed insights," Harvey suggested with a smile.
"Good idea. I'll have him take a look," Tony agreed, his eyes brightening as he took off the wristband and other items. He quickly moved to his underground lab.
Within seconds, Tony was back in the living room on the second floor.
"Care for a drink?" Tony offered casually, pulling out a bottle of fine wine. Despite his evolution through forty-eight iterations, alcohol no longer affected him. Yet, it remained a cherished habit he wasn't ready to give up easily.
"Sure," Harvey responded with a smile.
"So, how long are you planning to stay on Earth this time?" Tony asked as he settled on the couch with two glasses of wine. He knew Harvey wouldn't linger if there was nothing on Earth that caught his interest.
"I'll stay for about three or four days," Harvey said, taking a sip of his wine. "Space food is fine, but Earth's cuisine has its unique charm."
"Has anything interesting happened on Earth lately?" Harvey inquired, casually chatting like friends.
"Interesting? I'm not sure," Tony said with a shrug. "But my Iron Man suit keeps getting upgraded and getting stronger. SHIELD contacted me again, hoping I'd join the Avengers."
"What do you think? Should I join them?" Tony asked, swirling his wine glass.
It seemed SHIELD, having been humbled by Harvey's previous lesson or perhaps by Tony's powerful suit, was now approaching him with a friendlier tone, avoiding their former arrogant demeanor.
"Tony, even though you've joined the Void, it doesn't mean I control your actions," Harvey replied nonchalantly. "So, this is a decision for you to make."
"I thought you hated SHIELD?" Tony was surprised by Harvey's laid-back response. Despite SHIELD's apparent need to form the Avengers to deal with potential future threats, their previous arrogance had left a bad taste.
"For me, as long as SHIELD's actions don't interfere with what I want to do, I'm not concerned with them," Harvey said calmly. "But if you think you need to get involved for Earth's future, then that's your choice."
Tony relaxed a bit, realizing that Earth was his home, and he felt a responsibility to contribute when necessary.
"Any advice you'd give me?"
Harvey considered Tony's situation and offered a piece of advice. "Not everyone within SHIELD is truly loyal. With your newfound technology and the galactic translator, if you get too entangled with SHIELD, it could benefit Hydra."
Tony nodded, understanding the implication that there might be internal traitors within SHIELD, meaning it was not entirely under Director Nick Fury's control.
"Just be aware of that and do what you think is right," Harvey said, nodding in agreement.
"Thanks for the advice," Tony replied. "I'll keep that in mind."