Genesis watched them pull the frightened man out of the hole. She looked away from his nakedness, and told them she would bring clothes. Stephen helped brush off as much debris as he could and was shocked to see no form of injury of the man. Wong stared at him, curiously, waiting for him to speak.
"Who are you?" Stephen demanded.
"I...uh, I'm Dr. Banner."
Stephen grimaced. "Doctor?"
"Where do you come from?" Wong asked.
This Dr. Banner kept glancing up at the ceiling he had just fallen through, breathing heavier and heavier. Traces of green on his skin were slowly vanishing, as Genesis returned with the clothes. He thanked her, shaking madly.
"Is he okay?" Genesis asked Wong.
"He seems to be uninjured."
"You have to c-call the Avengers. Thanos is coming. He has...the stones." Banner pleaded.
Wong's eyes filled with horror at that.
Genesis raised an eyebrow. "Who's Thanos?"
The name gave Banner a paler face by the minute. "He's coming. He's a..."
Stephen grew impatient but spoke calmly. "Just tell us what to do."
"Call the Avengers, the universe is in serious trouble!"
Genesis shook her head. "But, the Avengers-"
Wong cut in. "You must tell us who you are. Who do you serve?"
Banner kept shaking and shaking. "Tony Stark. Yeah, Tony! You have to call Tony!"
Stephen shook his head. "We don't call anyone, until-"
Genesis gasped. "Oh my God! He's amazing. He just got engaged recently!"
Bruce and Stephen grimaced. "Who?"
"Tony Stark, of course. Do either of you watch the news anymore?"
"Can we stay focused, please? We aren't going to-"
Genesis put a hand on Banner's shoulder and shushed him gently as he kept shaking. "Stephen, just find him. I think I know who this guy is. Angering him isn't going to help."
Curious, Wong asked, "Who is he?"
"Bruce Banner, right?" Genesis asked.
Banner nodded as Stephen watched them talk. Genesis looked somewhat excited, but kept a straight face. She chose her words carefully. "Bruce, what did you see? You can tell us."
He said nothing. He kept an unsteady eye on Stephen. Genesis urged Stephen with her eyes to leave them be. Sighing, Stephen turned and opened a portal to leave. Wong and Genesis remained with Bruce as he tried to speak.
Wong put a hand around Genesis and pulled her aside. "Who is this?"
"There's no time to talk about it, okay? Just don't anger him."
"Why?"
"Do you guys live under a rock? He's the Hulk," Genesis whispered, frantically.
He grimaced. "The what?"
Genesis went back with Bruce and spoke gently. "Hey. Feeling any better?"
"Thanos..."
"I know, I know. Thanos, okay? But, I want to know that you're alright."
"Where's Tony?"
She wasn't getting anywhere with this guy. Without any other ideas, she pulled Bruce into a hug as a portal opened. Stephen walked through and froze when he saw them hugging. Genesis gave him a shake of her head, and he swallowed.
"Any idea as to where he might be?"
Bruce shook his head.
"Okay, perfect. No help at all. I'll keep looking. Gen, you keep...keep talking to him," Stephen said as he left through another portal.
Genesis called out to him. "Wait, Stephen! I think you should take Bruce with you."
Bruce pulled from her and kept shaking. "No..no.."
Stephen motioned a hand at Bruce. "Seems more comfortable here with you."
She gave him a look. "Just take him. Look, Bruce, I'll come to."
"I will remain here. The Sanctum cannot be left empty and unprotected," Wong said, standing up straight.
Stephen nodded at him. "Finally, someone being helpful."
Bruce moved forward when Genesis put a hand on his shoulder. Stephen muttered to himself, and he motioned for them to follow him. The three of them stepped through the portal. Stephen glanced at Genesis as he got an idea.
"Why don't you try looking for him?"
She blinked. "Why me?"
"A lot of your power comes with the help of your mind. Maybe you can read minds too."
"I don't think that's possible, Stephen."
"Just try something. This guy's going to have a panic attack any second."
She exhaled and gave it a shot. Closing her eyes, she tried to think about Tony Stark. Stephen and Bruce stared as her hair started to turn purple as her mind expanded.
"What's she doing?" Bruce asked.
Stephen couldn't really put a finger on it himself. He tried to reach into her mind at that moment. Something inside him was eager to venture into her mind while it was at work. Within seconds, he was in. Several voices from within New York could be heard. He grunted and groaned as the very sound and energy gave him an enormous headache. Bruce stared, frightened a the two beings before him. Unsure of what to do, he stepped away and could only pray.
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Did you walk the dog?"
"When's the business meeting again?"
"Vamonos! Ya es tarde!"
"You got a cig?"
All these voices came to her mind. It was like surfing on an ocean of voices. Finally, one that was all too familiar came into her mind.
"No more surprises. We're gonna have a nice dinner tonight."
Her eyes opened and she gasped. "Central Park."
Stephen quickly opened the portal and the three of them could see Tony Stark and a young woman before them. Both were wearing sweatpants and were sweating immensely. Stephen glanced at Genesis and nodded. "Nice work."
He stepped through, saying, "Tony Stark. My name is Doctor Stephen Strange. I need you to come with me."
Genesis stepped through, as she shook her head. Tony stared at the two of them in complete shock and confusion. "I'm sorry, you giving out tickets to something?"
"Hey, big fan. We need your help," Genesis said, with a little wave. "And, congratulations on the wedding, by the way."
Tony was even more confused. Pepper, the woman at his side, held his arm as she shared his confusion.
"It's not overselling it to say that the fate of the universe is at stake," Stephen stated.
"And, who's we?" Tony asked, unconvinced.
Bruce stepped through the portal, quietly. "Hey, Tony."
Tony's face softened and his suspicions vanished. "Bruce."
Bruce walked up to the couple, and quickly hugged Tony. Tony hugged him back, glancing at Pepper. She looked at Bruce, sympathetically.
"Hey," she whispered to Bruce.
"You okay?" Tony asked, quietly.
Pepper placed a hand on his back as Tony looked back at Genesis and Stephen. Stephen leaned close to Genesis and said, "You sure calling this guy was a good idea?"
"Bruce seems to trust him. And, with the Avengers scattered, he's the only resource we have. Don't you think?"
Stephen kept his eye on Tony, but nodded. "We have to head back. Wong has to know what's happening. Maybe he can explain more of what's happening since this Bruce character is up to talking now."
Tony bid Pepper a small farewell as Stephen suggested they return to the Sanctum. People at the park had already began to stare at them. They all left through the portal as Pepper remained by herself. Back at the Sanctum, Wong greeted Stephen with several questions. Tony remained with Bruce as Genesis stared at the two of them.
"Where the hell have you been?" Tony asked Bruce.
"Space. Long story. Thor was-"
Genesis sparked up. "Thor?"
Tony turned towards her and asked, "Sorry, who are you?"
"I'm Genesis. I'm with..Stephen," she said, motioning to the doctor behind them.
"How do you know Thor?"
She smiled and grimaced at the same time. "Are you serious? He's gorgeous. I actually met him not too long ago."
Wong stepped in and looked at Bruce for answers. "This...Thanos...you mentioned he had the stones. All of them?"
Bruce shook his head. "No, I think he had about two of them."
A slight look of relief passed through Wong as he turned back to speak with Stephen. Tony was getting uneasy and frustrated as he spoke up. "Can we stop acting like third graders and spill the beans?"
Stephen narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. They all turned when they saw Wong casting a spell to reveal a small vision of the universe. Tony watched in awe at the fact that Wong didn't use any technology to create the image. Bruce stayed closed to him, and remained silent.
"At the dawn of the universe, there was nothing. Then, boom. The Big Bang sent 6 elemental crystals hurtling across the universe," Wong explained.
Stephen stared up at the six colored crystals, but Genesis could only recognize the time Stone. Its emerald color glowed in her mind.
"These Infinity Stones each control an essential aspect of existence," Wong continued, "Space, reality, power, soul, mind, and time."
Genesis looked at the Eye around Stephen's neck and held his hand. He held hers tightly, and the two of them continued listening. Tony, who was now sitting, stared at Wong and mumbled, "Tell me his name again."
Bruce spoke up. "Thanos. He's a plague, Tony. He invades planets. He takes what he wants. He wipes out half the population. He sent Loki. The attack of New York. That was Thanos."
Stephen remembered the attack on New York. Years ago. Many patients were brought to the hospital for weeks on end. Tony looked as if something had been made clear to him. He nodded, as if it all made sense. "This is it. What's our timeline?"
"No telling. He already has the Power and Space Stones."
Wong shook his head in disbelief and shock. "That already makes him the most powerful creature in the universe."
"If he gets his hands on all six, Tony..."
Tony had suddenly began to stretch. Stephen rolled his eyes at this. Genesis watched Tony lean on a large pot-looking object and stretch his legs.
"Thanos could destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamt of," Stephen said.
"Did you seriously say 'hitherto undreamt of'?" Tony asked.
"Are you seriously leaning on the Cauldron of the Cosmos?" Stephen scolded.
Tony grimaced. "Is that what this is-"
Stephen's cloak slapped Tony's grip off the Cauldron and Genesis stiffened along with Bruce. Tony looked at Stephen in disbelief, but remained calm. "I'm going to allow that."
Stephen stared at him, not phased and unamused. Tony stared at the glowing green Eye and shook his head. "If Thanos needs all six, why don't we just stick this one down a garbage disposal?"
Wong and Stephen shook their heads almost in unison. "No can do. We swore an oath to protect the Time Stone with our live."
Tony shrugged. "And I swore off dairy, but then...Ben & Jerry's named a flavor after me."
Genesis giggled a bit. "Stark Raving Hazelnuts."
"Not bad," Tony pointed at her.
Stephen looked back at Genesis and her smile vanished. "I...bit chalky."
"A Hunking Hulk of Burning Fudge is our favorite," Wong commented with a smile.
"That's a thing?" Tony asked.
"Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change. And this Stone may be our best chance at defeating Thanos," Stephen argued.
Tony stepped closer to Stephen's face and replied, "Yeah, and conversely, it , may be his best chance against us."
Stephen grinned at Tony's frustration. "Well, if we don't do our jobs."
"What is your job, exactly? Besides making balloon animals?"
Stephen smirked. "Protecting your reality, douchebag."