Earth, New York
There was a bright light in an Alley and we see the bodies of light form into human like figure Rex had a look around and saw people in the street. He knew he was home.
Rex: YEAH!!! Earth! I'm back! You smell that?
Rex was being overly dramatic but he enjoyed every second of being back but he remembered the danger earth was in as he needed to get back to the Mansion and warn Hulk, Hawkeye, and Wasp about Captain Skrull.
Rex: Listen I just want to say thank you for not telling your boss. I owe you one.
Ann-Fel: Your welcome. What are you going to do now?
Rex: Well, we need to go tell my friends and SHIELD and SWORD that Their in trouble and Skrulls have infiltrated our world.
Ann-Fel: Except they already have. I've been monitoring transmissions from SHIELD, SWORD, and a few places around the world everyone in a high value place. In each of your world governments is a Skrull. I also received information that the Skrull ships are arriving to earth today here in New York and a place called D.C. They will use these two places to land majority of their troops.
Rex knew Cap was a Skrull and Mockingbird was a Queen Skrull and everyone around the world in high value locations if he couldn't tell SHIELD or SWORD he will tell the people he trust the most, the Avengers.
Rex: Then I'll go to the Avengers if they haven't been Swapped out with a Skrull yet. That's what I gotta do...
Rex turned to face her but didn't see Ann anymore she just left him there as he felt bad he didn't thank her enough for doing this but was stopped as he hears a familiar beeping coming from Generator.
Generator: An Avengers Assemble recall coming from... Africa?
Rex: Africa? Is it T'Challa?
Generator: No it's from Miss Marvel... she needs help.
Rex: Then let's go save her first!
Generator: Wait, what if this is a trap?
Generator was right it might be a Skrull posing as Miss Marvel that didn't matter to Rex. Miss Marvel is his friend and he would do everything he can to help a friend and if Miss Marvel is in trouble then it was up to the two to help out in anyway they can.
Rex: Either Miss Marvel is a Skrull or not she's still an Avenger and our friend. Friends don't quit on each other. FLIGHT MODE!
Rex went into Flight mode as he smirks under his helmet as he feels like getting the Band back together but unaware that Ann-Fel was watching over him as she pulled out his Avengers ID card as it had his Hero face and a A with an Arrow going towards his own.
Now the question is this: What was she planning to do with that Avengers ID card?
A Few minutes earlier...
Near the heart of downtown New York, Carol Danvers (better known as the mighty Miss Marvel) sat forlornly in her personal apartment in a quiet, broody state. Ever since the breaking of the Avengers, and Tony's divisive news about the shape-shifting alien impersonators, she had returned full-time to her SWORD duties but always felt an uncomfortable nagging in the back of her mind that she couldn't trust anyone. A veteran of the Air Force and something of a military brat herself, she knew the value of a cohesive unit where every component trusted the other to get the job done. but now she found herself shooting her colleagues and her subordinates, the agents under her command, a secondary questioning glance. She wondered if the Skrulls were here. And if they were here the invaders were right under her very nose, taking the clever guise of friends and allies.
Her mind was a mess and she was desperate to alleviate it.
Glancing out her window, dozens of pedestrians milled up and down the sidewalks and either side of the street beyond her. She envied them. They had no clue about the things she was privy to, and sometimes Carol deeply wished she could go back to a simpler time. When Earth was the only populated by Humans and she was around with her best friends in the universe.
Carol: What're you gonna do, Danvers?
Then another device started chirping and Carol groaned.
Carol: Now what?
She complained. Standing up, she picked up a pager from her dinner table, suddenly realizing it was a direct communication from Damocles base as it orbited above Earth. With that understood, she answered right away.
SWORD Agent: (On Communicator) Major Danvers! An unidentified spacecraft has just arrived in Earth's atmosphere, grid coordinates point-seven-one!
The duty sergeant on the other end hurriedly reported. That sounded serious, enough to banish her conundrum of who to trust...
Miss Marvel: I'm on my way!
She responded. With superhuman speed, she stripped out of her civvies and donned her Miss Marvel costume in the blink of an eye.
Cracking open a window, she bolted out and took flight, shooting through the air with blistering speed until she broke the sound barrier...
Space...
As the Clouds and blue sky gave way to the dark canvas of space as Miss Marvel bolted around the curvature of the other.
Having memorized the grid mapping system used by Damocles, she knew exactly where to be... and her skills were proven when she found a spaceship of a very alien design barreling through the atmosphere with a superheated aura about it. Her commlink crackled.
SWORD Agent: SWORD to Miss Marvel, we have confirmation. The ship hyperjumped right into the atmosphere, location of origin unknown. They're ignoring all attempts at contact. Looks like they took damage too.
A SWORD techie informed her.
Miss Marvel: Any luck with ID?
She asked.
SWORD Agent: We're getting in recognition data from both Damocles Base, and the captured Kree vessel. Hang on...
Miss Marvel waited in silence, patiently pursuing the alien craft past the speed of sound.
SWORD Agent: They're saying it's a Skull ship, I repeat, a Skrull ship.
The name made her pause, hovering in place as the ship grew smaller and smaller.
Miss Marvel: Skrull...?
She repeated under her breath.
SWORD Agent: Miss Marvel, report. What is your status?
The tech demanded. Carol ignored him, watching the Skrull ship move towards the African continent. It occurred to her that this situation could unfold not something far bigger, given the known threat at hand. And if this instance was at all related to the larger problem they all faced, Carol knew that (despite her misgivings) she would need help from the people best suited to handle an alien invasion.
With drawing her ID card from the little nook in her belt, Miss Marvel's thumb lingered over the call button as she hesitated to summon the team. Her mistrust of them continued to chain her course of action. In the end, the heroine reasoned that, even if she couldn't trust their persons, she could trust their skills. Her thumb pressed the icon, the card lighting up her distress call.
Miss Marvel: Avengers assemble!
She called out. Tucking the card away, she bolted after the crashing Skrull ship, obliterating the sound barrier once more in hot pursuit as Africa loomed largely beneath her.
In Africa...
By the time she caught up with it, the craft had wrecked a portion of thickly-overgrown jungle, sending flocks of birds scattering left and right while wild animals howled as their peaceful home was rudely disturbed. Miss Marvel made landfall just beyond the wrecksite, her boots coming to rest atop upturned dirt just beyond a deep, grooving trench.
She carefully advanced, searching the exterior of the ship carefully for signs of potential threats.
The sudden rush of pneumatics were startling, followed by a hiss of atmospheric breach as a panel on the rearmost part of the craft began to lower.
Carol tensed, balling her hands into fists as they began to glow with photon energy build-up. A blinding glow from within backlit nine figures standing at the edge of the boarding ramp and, as her eyes adjusted, Miss Marvel realized to her shocked astonishment that she recognized them.
Miss Marvel: No...
It was the Avengers. All of the Avengers.
Iron Man: We made it.
Iron Man breathed.
Iron Man: Finally, we made it home...
Carol couldn't belleve it. Emerging from the skrull vessel was the entire Avengers team; Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Panther, Hawkeye, and Generator Rex. They looked slightly different, their costumes older and less updated versus the last time she'd seen them. Still tense, but now frozen in shock, the heroine remained wordless as the team of heroes approached her. Iron Man flipped up his golden faceplate, revealing the familiar face of Tony Stark behind it. A buzzing caught her attention, revealed to be Janet hovering in very close proximity to her. She looked the same as the Janet she last saw several weeks ago.
Wasp: Carol? Is that you?
The diminutive Wasp wondered, circling slowly around her front.
Wasp: What are you wearing? Because you look great!
She complimented. She sounded like Janet, even talked like her friend. Carol remained bewildered.
Miss Marvel: What is going on?
She demanded, not dropping her fists and prepared to launch photon blasts at any given second.
Miss Marvel: You made it home f-from where?
Hawkeye: Do we know the glowing chick?
Hawkeye asked aloud.
Rex: Her name is Major Carol Danvers. Last time we saw her she was in a hospital.
Rex explained.
Rex: Nice to see you're up and about again.
He added, tilting his head towards Carol as he retracts his helmet as we see the brown hair and Blue eyes.
Iron Man: You would know that Hawkeye, if you ever read the mission reports.
Iron Man snidely added. Hawkeye frowned in retort as the armored Avenger stepped forwird
Iron Man: Carol, it's a little complicated. The Avengers were pulled into a place called Asgard. Things got crazy, but we pretty much saved all reality. When we got back, though, we were attacked. Attacked by Skrulls.
Behind him, Thor flung several unconscious bodies of the green-skinned aliens into a pile on the ground as he finished clearing out the shuttle.
Rex: It happened just as Hank was about to take his leave. He and I were ambushed first, right in the Mansion foyer.
Iron Man: We were all exhausted. Some of us were already wounded. They took us by surprise. Thor lasted the longest, but he fell too. We only found out where they were keeping us at the very end; they had a prison ship parked behind Titan, one of Saturn's moons. It could've been months.….. it all blurred together. They kept us restrained. They kept Thor unconscious. But eventually, the Hulk got mad enough, and he sprung us from captivity. We hijacked a shuttle and made our way back home.
Miss Marvel relaxed, lowering her arms as she stood in stiff disbelief and stared incredulously. And yet... it seemed so likely and believable.
Wasp: For real, how long have we been gone?
Wasp inquired as she grew to full size.
Wasp: What's been happening this whole time?
Carol stammered, struggling to reply. Here before her was the team she knew, whole and united. It seemed too good to be true. The heroine glanced at her ID card, still aglow and beeping to indicate the call had gone out. But had it gone to the right people...?
Miss Marvel: Uh... I-I don't even know where to begin...
She confessed, dropping her guard and drawing closer to them.
Little did she realize that they were being watched... by the Wakanda people in full body armor and Vibranium Spears as they look at each other and leave the area...
Elsewhere on the planet...
Night had fallen. Dark waves lapped against sheer cliffs of rock, kicking up spray as squawking seagulls flew long lazy arcs around the ragged edge where land met sea. High above them, Tony Stark's Malibu mansion was brightly lit, casting a golden glow across the rocky point. Deep in his basement workshop the billionaire sat silently at a desk, looking bedraggled and unkempt. Totally focused on the tech scattered before him (and within his hands) he ignored his beeping ID card as well as his ringing cellphone, which slowly trundled across his desk with each vibration.
Jarvis: Sir, Miss Potts is attempting to contact you again. She has left multiple messages over the last three weeks.
His personal AI, JARVIS, informed him.
Jarvis: I might add that you haven't taken off your armor in that time either... or showered.
Tony ignored him, slotting a disc-shaped power cell into a machine no bigger than a coffee-maker.
Iron Man: Fire it up.
He ordered.
Iron Man: Yes sir. Attempt Forty-Seven in progress.
JARVIS dutifully replied as white energy filled the device, expanding outwards to form a slow-turning ring. A blue hologram of the Earth appeared within.
Jarvis: Collecting data... data inconclusive.
JARVIS announced after a few seconds.
Jarvis: No extraterrestrial bio-signatures detected within the continental United States.
Slumping in his chair, Tony rubbed his temples in defeat as the energy cycle powered down.
Jarvis: Sir, might I remind you that without a test subject-
Iron Man: I know.
Tony cut him off with a sigh.
Iron Man: So I've either failed again or turned into a crazy paranoid. I'm not sure which is worse.
Jarvis: The latter, sir.
JARVIS stated and Tony deadpanned. His phone rang again and Tony let his aggravation get the better of him, turning and blasting the desk clear with a repulsor ray.
The past few weeks had been frought with a desperate search to identity who was a Skull and who wasn't. Every project, every upgrade, every tweak and enhancement was getting him nowhere.
Failure was wearing on him...
A gentle sizzling caught his ear and Tony whirled around to see a cutting torch burning through his exterior wall. Someone was trying to break in! He dove for his Iron Man helmet, only for a pulse of green energy to knock it out of his reach and he went clattering across the floor. Picking himself up, Tony found himself staring down a cloaked figure hovering just beyond the new hole in his wall. Armor overlayed a dark fabric and a hood hid most of his features... but nearly as well as his metal mask did.
He hovered poised with arms crossed, holding himself superior and pompously aloof.
Doctor Doom: I would like a word with you, Stark.
Doctor Doom growled.
Back in Africa...
As Carol gave them a brief introduction to what was happening in the world as most had shocked faces as Rex then became annoyed and angry at how much time has passed.
Rex: Two months?!
Generator Rex cried in dismay.
Rex: Man! This means I missed the Movie premiere i was going to take T'Challa on!
Black Panther: Movies aside, that is a very long time to be gone for. Long enough for our true enemy to have caused significant damage.
Black Panther cut in.
Thor: Aye. The Skulls have been using their time well.
Thor agreed.
Ant-Man: The amount of damage they could've caused... it's unthinkable!
Ant-Man added worriedly.
Miss Marvel: What do you mean? Did you hear something? What do you know?
She asked anxiously.
Iron Man: The Skulls, we think they've replaced us all. They're trying to weaken Earth's defences for a full scale invasion. We learned their primary target, though, the reason we had to get to Wakanda-
Black Panther: The Skrulls want the Vibranium mound. Wakanda is their true target.
That seemed to make sense to the heroine.
Vibranium was immensely powerful, and no doubt the Skrulls would put it to use in their siege engines and war machines to make an already terrible conquest even worse.
Wasp: So, how about it?
Wasp inquired, shrinking down and buzzing next to Carol's face.
Wasp: You've got you fancy powers and cool costume now. Will you help us?
It had been a long time since she'd worked with the Avengers. And to tell the truth, Carol was craving the action and comraderie.
Miss Marvel: Yeah. Yeah, of course.
She answered with a relieved breath.
Miss Marvel: I thought I was going crazy. I didn't know who to trust.
Rex: (Chuckle) That's understandable, given the rather unsettling nature of these freaks.
Rex assured her with a chuckle, nudging the pile of unconscious Skulls with his foot.
Captain America: You won't have to worry any more, Major.
Captain America promised.
Iron Man: We're back now, Carol. The Avengers are back.
Iron Man added, closing up his helmet. The Avengers had assembled... and were ready for war.
Meanwhile...
Within his private safehouse, Nick Fury stood before a whiteboard littered with mugshots of dozens of people. His work to root out the Skull invaders had racked up quite the tally of the potentially-replaced.
Nick was not about to leave anything to chance and wanted to be aggressively through with his study, hence the reason for so many targets drawn up in front of him.
The nine primary Avengers were on it, along with dozens of other individuals. Some were close associates of the team; like Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's ever-faithful secretary. Major Carol Danvers, AKA Miss Marvel. Scott Lang, the new Ant-Man. The Paramedic Jane Foster.
Others were fellow superheroes who operated in and around the New York area; including Reed Richards, AKA Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. Benjamin Grimm, aka the Thing. Johnny Storm, AKA the Human Torch. Susan Storm, AKA the Invisible Woman. Tyrone Johnson, also known as 'Cloak' of the heroic duo Cloak and Dagger. The New York vigilante Spider-Man. Luke Cage, formerly 'Power Man' of the Heroes for Hire. Daniel Rand, AKA Iron Fist of the Heroes for Hire. As well as Delroy Garrett Jr., or '3-D Man'.
Some were even people he knew personally; such as Bobbi Morse, AKA Mockingbird and a member of his 'Secret Warriors'. Agent Abigail Brand of SWORD.
Agent Phil Coulson of SHIELD. Agent Jimmy Woo of SHIELD. Agent Clay Quartermain of SHIELD. Agent Jamie Rhys of SHIELD. And Agent Maria Hill of SHIELD.
A handful were people not commonly seen in the hero circles, but Fury was aware of them too and did not neglect to consider them as possible targets;
Doctor Hank McCoy, better known as 'Beast' of the X-Men. Wanda Maximoff, the 'Scarlet Witch' of the Brotherhood of Mutants. Logan or 'Wolverine' of the X-Men. Scott Summers, the mutant called 'Cyclops' and leader of the X-Men. And Erik Lehnsherr, the mutant 'Magneto' and leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants. Not to mention Walter Langkowski, a mutant called 'Sasquatch' and a member of the Alpha Flight team based out of Canada.
The rest were a mixture of villains, government-types, outliers, and overall -factors who Fury was only distantly considering; including Doctor Leonard Samson. Defence Secretary Dell Rusk. General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross. Jerome Beechman, the Mandrill. Baron Wolfgang von Strucker of Hydra.
George Tarlton, or MODOK. Ophelia Sarkissian, AKA 'Madame Viper' of Hydra. Raymond 'Piranha' Jones.
Antonio Rodriguez, the Armadillo. Frank Payne, better known as 'Constrictor' of the Serpent Society. Klaus Voorhees, or 'King Cobra' of the Serpent Society. Gustav Krueger, or 'Rattler' of the Serpent Society. Doctor Arnim Zola. Emil Blonsky, AKA Abomination of the incarcerated Masters of Evil. Curtis Carr, AKA Chemistro of the incarcerated Masters of Evil. And the retired Darren Cross, AKA Crossfire.
Every single mugshot had been noted, circled for further engagement, affirmed with an X that they were not an alien invader, tagged with a question mark to suggest unknown status, or checked off to confirm that they had indeed been replaced and were currently a Skrull.
Footsteps could be heard approaching him from behind, but Nick Fury did not stir, remained transfixed on his board.
Quake: Director Fury.
Daisy Johnson (the mutant Quake) greeted him.
Fury: I'm not director of SHIELD anymore, Daisy.
Quake: Understood, Director.
She stubbornly responded.
Quake: I've got intel, something SHIELD's been keeping quiet. The Incredible Hulk was captured by Ross' Hulkbuster four days ago, but there's been no trace of him. He's off the grid. Gone.
She revealed. Nick frowned with his good eye, the news enough to tear his gaze away from his roster of suspects.
Fury: Show me.
He ordered.
Back in Wakanda..
The Avengers gathered outside the perimeter of Wakanda's capitol... where T'Challa and his armored
Dora Milaje honor guard were waiting.
Miss Marvel: Is that. Black Panther?
Miss Marvel wondered aloud. He was clad in the regal cape that his father, King T'Chaka, had once worn as well as a necklace of claws and teeth.
Black Panther: No outsider may set foot within Wakanda!
He shouted to them.
Black Panther: Turn back or be destroyed.
Black Panther: It is a Skrull.
The Black Panther with the Avengers said.
Miss Marvel: T'Challa?
Carol trailed off warily...
Black Panther: Avengers, some of you may be human, others may not be. But hear me now; I will do what I must to protect Wakanda. For your own sakes, turn back.
He commanded them.
Iron Man: That's not going to happen, Skrull.
Iron Man retorted as the Avengers collectively readied for battle.
Iron Man: We're not going to let you have the Vibranium mound.
Seeing battle looming, Carol's doubts began to rise again. Were they doing the right thing? Was she certain this T'Challa was a Skrull and not the same man who had departed Avengers Mansion?
Miss Marvel: Wait! Just wait!
She called out, coming between the two sides with her fists aglow.
Miss Marvel: We can figure this out. Everyone, just-
Black Panther: Khusela Wakanda!
T'Challa ordered in his native tongue. At once, a dozen more members of his royal honor guard stood up from the tall grass, each one armed with a Vibranium power spear pointed right at the team.
Iron Man: We've taken on Wakanda's warriors before, skull.I
Iron Man sneered, referring to the incident where they fight against the entire Wakandan army.
Iron Man: Vibranium spears aren't going to-
He was interrupted as multiple antipersonnel turrets and cluster-missile launchers popped out of the ground, their double barrels swinging down to target the team.
Iron Man: ...stop us.
At once, smoke plumes signalled the launch of a volley of missiles just as violet bolts erupted from the anti-personnel turrets. The team dove in multiple directions as fire and flame detonated where they had been standing...
Back at Tony Stark's home...
Tony had gone on the immediate offensive and was trading shots with Doom, the loud SHRAAAK-RAKKKK-RAKKKK of concussive repulsor volleys filling the room as they impacted Doom's forcefield harmlessly.
Iron Man: I don't have time for whatever petty grudge you're holding against me, Doom!
Tony growled as he unleashed a volley of micromissiles. To his dismay, Doom held up his hand and triggered an inertia field that held the warheads at bay until they dropped harmlessly to the floor. Tony barrelled in with his jets at full blast, slamming into Doctor Doom and driving him into a far wall. He started wailing on him, composite armor struck repeatedly by his armored fists.
Doctor Doom: Enough!
Victor bellowed, generating a repulsion field that sent Tony flying across the width of his workshop, where he slammed into several very expensive cars on display.
Doctor Doom: None lay hands on Doom.
The Latverian growled, dusting himself off and slowly striding towards the downed Avenger.
Doctor Doom: I know what you've been doing here, Stark. Working on your little toy. Searching for the Skulls hidden among us.
The term caught Tony by surprise and he picked himself up, wary but willing to prolong fighting.
Doctor Doom: What do you know about the Skrulls?
He demanded.
Doctor Doom: That which you do not, Avenger.
Doom scornfully replied.
Doctor Doom: I know how to find them.
Flexing his hands, magnets pulled the discarded Iron Man helmet into his grip. He studied the red-gold visage for a moment.
Doctor Doom: I would have had their genetic key sooner, but you chose to destroy my scanner like an angry child.
Iron Man: So, what? You're here to help me out of the goodness of your heart?
Tony pried, snatching his helmet back and slipping it on.
Doctor Doom: No. This world is mind to rule, and mine alone. These reptiles may not have it.
Doom retorted as he then reached into his belt and withdrew a microchip the size of his palm.
Doctor Doom: This has been designed to work in conjunction with your detection device. It will allow you to perform a genetic reset on the Skrulls, exposing their true forms.
Doom stated as Tony looked at the device for a moment and then chuckled.
Iron Man: You couldn't do it alone, could you? You needed my tech to make your little key work.
Doctor Doom: Doom needs no one.
Victor coldly responded as Tony took the chip.
Iron Man: So now what? You're going to fight them with me?
The armored Avenger inquired.
Doctor Doom: That would be beneath me.
Doom replied as he took flight.
Doctor Doom: Such chores are what people like you are for.
With that derisive remark, he left the same way he entered, leaving Tony alone to take his words in stride... and, more importantly, to study the new piece of tech he'd been given.
At Fury's safehouse...
We see Fury as he stares at a monitor as it was fuzzy before we see Captain America and the Hulk were both stopped short by the rumble of machinery approaching from behind. It was the Hulkbuster unit. Tanks, helicopters, APCs, armed and armored soldiers convened on them, surrounding the Avengers as they trained their weapons on Hulk. Major Glenn Talbot emerged in front.
Talbot: (On monitor) Hulk! By the authority of SHIELD and the US Army, you are under arrest for the attack on the SHIELD Helicarrier! Surrender!
Hulk snarled, flexing his muscles as he prepared to defend himself. But Captain America intervened.
Captain America: Hulk, no.
The jade giant turned to him.
Hulk: I didn't attack the Helicarrier, we both know it.
He growled.
Captain America: I know. I'll talk to Maria Hill.
Cap stated calmly.
Captain America: We'll prove your innocence. But, right now, fighting the Hulkbusters will only make you look guilty.
Hulk softened. He looked in Cap's eyes and saw that the man did not want to do this, but the situation dictated otherwise.
Captain America: Turn to Banner. Go with them. We'll sort it all out.Trust me.
Hulk did. And he relinquished control with a sigh. He shrank down, losing height and weight as well as his verdant color, transforming back into the mild-mannered Bruce Banner. Bruce clutched his head with a groan as Cap steadied him, a pair of Hulkbuster troopers approaching to apprehend him.
Steve stepped back with no choice as Bruce was taken into custody.
Bruce: No...
He gasped, seeing General Ross step out of the APC, grinning like a madman.
Bruce: Don't let them take-
A collar was snapped around his neck that shocked him into submission and his wrists were cuffed to deny any further struggle. Bruce Banner was carted off and all Cap could do was watch with a grim look in his eyes...
Nick Fury watched the recording with an equally grim look as he specifically studied Captain America.
Fury: He told the Hulk to surrender even though the Hulk claimed he was innocent of the Helicarrier attack... and then he hung him out to dry?
He questioned out loud.
Quake: Not very 'Captain America' of him, is it?
Quake mused.
Fury: Funnily enough, that's not the first time something hasn't been 'very 'Captain America' of him.
Nick continued, switching to a new recording reel. This one was of the day the Avengers had their stand-off with Ronan the Accuser and his Kree forces at the United Nations Plaza.
Mar-Vell: Iron Man, please. Just do as Ronan asks!
Mar-Vell begged him.
Mar-Vell: Surrender. Surrender and we can work something out.
Cap glanced up at Ronan, spying energy veins pulsing within the hammerhead of his universal weapon. With grit teeth, he made to open negotiations his way.
Captain America: Avengers, attack!
He cried out, hurling his shield hard enough to make Ronan wobbled atop his stand as the projectile zipped past him.
Iron Man: Cap?!
Tony cried out in surprise, hoping to de-escalate things.
Fury paused the footage, cycling back to Captain America's grit teeth and the noticeable angry look in his eyes. For a man making first contact with the species, he seemed to particularly hate the Kree..
Quake: Hmm. Doesn't seem like a very 'Captain America' thing to do.
The two remained to watch and study while Fury strode back over to his board. He zeroed in on Captain America's mugshot, which had been X-ed out a long time ago.
Fury: Just when I thought I had him figured out.
Fury muttered angrily, slamming his fist into the board.
Fury: Contact Widow. I want her to bring in Iron Man. Tell him... I found his Skrull.
Back in Wakanda...
The Wakandan mechanized division had joined in, and now mainline tanks and battle walkers were assaulting the Avengers in addition to T'Challa's honor guard. Thunder boomed overhead, lightning flashing above the chaotic scene of the Avengers brawling with the Wakandan army. On the sidelines, Miss Marvel watched as tanks were flung around like toys, energy discharges sizzled through the air, and superhumans battled armored militants back and forth in a scene that left her stupified. Her trust and her certainty was wavering. The Avengers were brawling without thought or care, bound and determined to be victorious.
Hulk and Generator Rex dismantled the auto-turrets one by one, the former with brute force and the latter by hopping onto one and using his technopathic powers to force the turret to open fire on the others. Captain America, Black Panther, Thor, Hawkeye, Wasp, and Ant-Man kept dismantling the Dora Milaje, while Iron Man went toe-to-toe with the other T'Challa.
Vibranium daggers ripped through his armor, forcing Tony to back off as other Avengers took his place. The Wakandan battle mechs promptly opened fire with gatling guns and Vibranium-based laser turrets. Forced to act to save Wasp, Miss Marvel flung herself into the line of fire, her energized aura allowing her to withstand the barrage. A single punch from her dismantled the battle mech and drew the attention of two more. A single rocket detonated in close proximity, knocking Carol out of the sky with a cry as she crashed into the ground.
Hawkeye and Wasp were joined by Captain America, and the three quickly subdued T'Challa, allowing Rex to sneak up on him and grab his neck and hold him at bay as he struggled and choked unable to breathe, Rex with his hand glowing ready to punch him through his head. Miss Mavel managed to pick herself up just in time to see the Rex ready to deliver the killing blow.
Rex: Game over.
Rex growled, showing no hesitation to kill him.
Miss Marvel: Rex, wait!
Carol cried.
Rex: No.
He retorted. Suddenly coming in at High speed as they heard a sonic boom coming as they were distracted to see a blue streak and it was... Generator Rex as he flew down and flew over the grass and Shoved 'Generator Rex' and leaving a dirt road as the Other Avengers and Carol confused by Two Rex's as was T'Challa as he was able to breathe and stare at the Rex who saved him.
Rex: Get away from my friends, Skrull!
Hawkeye: You?! But you're dead we heard that–
Suddenly 'Hawkeye' let lose those words as he realized what he said. Carol looked at Hawkeye in confusion as did T'Challa under his mask without saying anything else the Hawkeye Skrull prepared to fire a Arrow at Generator Rex's head to kill him but then an arrow struck him in the back and shocked him into unconsciousness with 20,000 volts of electricity. Hawkeye down for the count, Carol, T'Challa, Rex, Captain America and Wasp looked up to see who was interfering.
Much to Carol's shock and Rex's happiness, the Quinjet deposited Janet onto the battlefield, with Clint arriving aboard his Avenge-cycle. His bow was at the ready and another arrow was fitted against his bowstring.
Wasp: Avengers, assemble!
Janet cried out.
Wasp: But only the human ones!
Back in Malibu...
Having hung up his armor for construction, Tony pried apart the chest plate and opened the lid on the central ARC reactor magnification array. With carefully soldered circuits in place, he slowly inserted Doctor Doom's microchip into the centre, taking his time to make sure his Stark tech was properly meshed with Doom tech. The Latverian used a different setup than he, so Tony needed to find a way to merge the two.
He did so successfully, the ARC reactor sparking to life and glowing brightly as the Doomtech was integrated into his armor's broader systems. Tony was impressed.
Iron Man: Huh, JARVIS, I think we might need to put Doctor Doom on the Christmas card list.
He said aloud.
Jarvis: Duly noted, sir.
His Al answered.
???: Iron Man.
A new feminine voice called out. Tony whirled, raising the gauntlets he still wore with the repulsors primed just in case. There behind him stood Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, her silent entrance having gone undetected by even his security system.
Black Widow: Fury needs to see you. Now.
She stated, leaving no room for debate.
Back in Wakanda...
We see the lightning from Thor's Thunder take out all the Wakandan defenses as Carol and Rex stand side by side as Rex was back in Base mode ready to fight as Carol had no idea what is happening and Wasp stared at Rex next to Carol as she was wary of this was the Human Rex or a Skrull Rex. It was understandable she saw Rex supposedly die in a grenade blast.
Wasp: Rex? Your alive?
Rex: Yeah.
Wasp: But-But we saw you explode and there was nothing there and–
Rex: We'll talk about what happened that night later right now I'm just glad to see you.
Rex said in a way that made Janet happy as she accepted that for now as she looks at Carol.
Wasp: Carol, we got your call. Cap sent us to help. And you really need to work on your battle cry.
Wasp cheekily continued. Carol was stunned.
Miss Marvel: Jan, how am I supposed to know it's really you?
She begged her. Janet snorted in amusement.
Wasp: Because I'm the awesome one! Duh!
She replied, as if there was any doubt. Suddenly, a biostings struck her shoulder.
Wasp: YEOUCH!
She darted out of the line of fire, just in time for the other Wasp to arrive.
Wasp#1: Don't listen to her, Carol! She's an imposter!
She cried, taking flight after the other.
Rex: Speaking of which, where's our doppelgänger..
Rex wondered as he turned his head from side to side and spot him trying to stand up in the high grass.
Rex: Gonna show him the consequences of identity theft.
He huffed, bolting towards the other Generator Rex.
Carol turned back to the fracas. Hawkeye and Hawkeye were down to an archery duel, trading arrows back and forth. Black Panther and Black Panther were squaring off in a display of equal martial arts prowess, their strikes measured and blocked in a fluid nature. The other 'Avengers' were still fighting the Wakandan army... and Miss Marvel was left alone, stuck with her doubts, her questions, and her confusion. She needed an answer-
Iron Man: Avengers. Everyone target the Panther!"
Iron Man ordered. Thor was the first to move to his aid. Carol knew she needed to figure out who to help and quick. She needed a straight answer.
Miss Marvel: Rex!
She called out, flying over to the two dueling Generator Rex's.
Rex's: What?
they both asked in unison.
Miss Marvel: Please, just... I need to know.
She implored them, alighting between the two.
Miss Marvel: Tell me something only you and I would know.
The first and dirty Generator Rex scratched the back of his head.
Rex#1: Well, you started floating out of your bed uncontrollably when your powers first manifested.
He proffered. That was true. He and Janet had been the only ones to view the debut of her powers and had managed to get her back in bed before any doctors were summoned. She looked to the newcomer for his response, and he looked her straight in the eye.
Rex#2: Watched all six Star Wars movies from 1-6 and titled in order... The Phantom Menace, The Clone Wars, The Revenge of the Sith, A new hope, The Empire strikes back and Return of the Jedi. I heard that there was another coming out soon and I'm excited to go and see it!
Carol knew that this Rex was right and had the same level of enthusiasm to the Star Wars movies but would this Skrull fake this enthusiasm? Or had the other been lying this whole time?
Rex#2: Also I have Generator...
Generator pops out of Rex as he shows himself to Carol.
Generator: Hi, Carol!
As Carol stares at Generator the other simply looks at Rex and stares at Generator as he then stares at Carol... she realizes that Generator wasn't coming out of the first Rex's chest as to show itself but before she could figure it out something happened...
A deafening boom rattled the area and all eyes turned to see Thor fall from the sky as one of the tanks shot him down... but his hammer, Mjolnir, had been cracked open... revealing advanced technology within allowing it to control the stormy weather.
Thor and 'Mjolnir' fell atop another tank, and a blinding explosion consumed all with a brilliant blue glow. It drew everyone's attention, everyone shielding themselves from the shockwaves that rippled out.
Miss Marvel darted over to the crater left behind.
There was no sign of a tank. Only Thor had been left behind. She rolled him over... and recoiled in horror to see his skin had turned a shade of deep green, his ears had grown long and pointed, and his chin was riddled with bumpy striations.
He was a Skrull!
Standing shocked for a moment longer, realizing the jig was up, Miss Marvel was soon joined by a caped T'Challa who had his unconscious duplicate draped over one shoulder. He hopped down into the crater and peeled off the other Panther's mask... revealing the face of yet another Skrull underneath. The grave error now recognized, Carol's heart sank.
She got mad and tried to attack the fake avengers.
Then the Skrull Iron Man powered his unibeam and sent Carol back in the dirt as Skrull Rex then Tackled Rex to the ground as they fight once more.
Generator: REX!
As the Real Rex used his powers to his legs as he kicked him off him and the Imposter Rex fell to the ground before getting back up as the rest of the Skrull Avengers stand together as Skrull Iron Man ordered his Skrull Avengers to attack.
Iron Man (Skrull Imposter): Destroy them all.
As they charge to attack the real Avengers we see Black Panther the real one in the Cape help out Miss Marvel as Hawkeye arrived to help and so did Rex, Generator and Wasp.
Miss Marvel: T'Challa... I'm sorry. I-I didn't know.
She apologized.
Miss Marvel: I didn't know what to do.
Black Panther: I assume you do now.
The real Black Panther said.
Looking towards the remaining Skrull imposters, wearing the faces of their friends and allies. Carol's brow furrowed, she grit her teeth, and golden energy glowed brighter than ever from her clenched fists.
Miss Marvel: Oh, Yeah...
She ground out, madder than ever, and charged the Skulls with a shrieking war cry as she blasted at Iron Man as he was flying through the sky.
Generator Rex was currently beating the stuffings out of his Skrull imposter, using fists glowed in cosmic energy to beat the alien black and blue as he slugged him relentlessly across the face.
Rex: I've had it with these damn aliens taking our damn faces.
He growled, punching the Skrull so hard that the Skrull imposter helmet cracked and we see blood erupted from his mouth.
His duplicate staggered and Rex lunged ahead with a shout, delivering a powerful overhead blow that drove the Skull face-first into the dirt, knocking him out cold.
Wasp dove in to attack the Ant-Man Skrull with her biostings, keeping him distracted just long enough for her to grow to normal size and knockout Hank's lookalike with one punch. She smiled as she wrung out her wrist, looking down upon his comatose form with a proud smirk.
Wasp: That felt kinda good.
She remarked.
One Hawkeye knocked down the other with a lunge kick, his bow flung from the arhcer's grip. The Hawkeye wasted no time fitting and arrow and letting fly, believing he had the other down for the count. But in a sudden display of superior skill and deft agility, the other Hawkeye snatched the arrow out of the air, spurn around and sent it hurtling back towards its owner. Shocked, that Hawkeye ducked as the electro-arrow knocked out the Skrull Wasp behind him. He looked on in shock.
Hawkeye (Skrull Imposter): No... n-no one's that good.
He stammered, shocked beyond words by the feat.
Hawkeye: Guess what? I am.
Hawkeye retorted, landing a massive haymaker that knocked out his duplicate for good.
Miss Marvel had singlehandledy mollywhopped the Hulk into submission and Black Panther had just finished off Captain America. Only Iron Man remained.
T'Challa went on all fours to close the distance to Iron Man as he used his repulsor blasts but missed him each time as he moved closer and when he was ontop of him he used his claws and sliced through his armor as he breathed heavy and was beaten but he wasn't done yet as Carol called out to him.
Miss Marvel: Hey, Skrull! I'm not done with you yet!
Carol roared, shooting in like a meteorite and planting a punch so hard, the faux Iron Man armor shattered into billions of metal shards and sent the imposter careening through Wakanda's long grass.
The other Avengers gathered around as Miss Marvel planted her boot against the Skull's chest and crushed his ARC reactor underfoot.
Miss Marvel: Do yourself a favour. Stay down.
She growled. The Skull coughed and spluttered, peeling off his ruined helmet to reveal his alien features.
Iron Man (Skrull Imposter): You believe this is over? It hasn't even begun.
He retorted.
Miss Marvel: What do you want? Why are you doing this?
Carol demanded.
Iron Man (Skrull Imposter): This is our world. It was promised to us, as it is written in the Skull prophecies.
The alien stated, shoving her boot off as he made to stand. He picked himself up, determined to look the Avengers in the eye.
Iron Man (Skrull Imposter): We are only taking what's ours.
Hawkeye: Who else?
Hawkeye snapped.
Hawkeye: Who else is a Skrull? And where are they?
The Skrull merely chuckled as Rex looked at Hawkeye and Wasp and Miss Marvel and Black Panther as he had confirmation on who the Skrulls are.
Iron Man (Skrull Imposter): We are everywhere. You will see.
He answered with a smug grin.
Rex: And when we do, you're gonna be wishing you never even heard of Earth...
Rex threatened. The Skrull wasted no time raising his repulsors, still ready to fight... But Rex grabbed Generator and aimed at the Skrull imposter and fired a blue energy, Miss Marvel blasted his photons, Wasp fired her biostings, Hawkeye loosed an arrow, and Black Panther threw a dagger, putting the alien down for good.
Little Later...
The battlefield was a smoking desolation. In the middle of scorched and upturned earth, the Avengers laid the Skull team in an unconscious heap, satisfied with another job done. Somewhat.
Rex: At least they're pushovers. I didn't even get to use any other modes...
Suddenly Wasp hugs Rex as she was happy he was alive as he then reciprocated the Hug as he taps her back a few times.
Rex: This is nice.
Then Janet then punched Rex in the shoulder as he felt that pain.
Rex: OW!!! What was that for?!
Wasp: That was for making me think you were dead! Did you know how hard it was for us! For me!
Rex: Uh... sorry?
Rex said as he looks down in sadness as he could understand why they can be upset by him returning from beyond the grave.
Hawkeye: Sorry? Sorry, ain't gonna cut it! How are are you alive? We saw you get atomized or something.
Clint chimed in both angry and happy that Rex was alive.
Miss Marvel: Wait he was killed?
Carol was shocked to hear that it actually happened.
Wasp: Yeah... at least we thought he was what happened?
Rex: Listen, I'll tell you all along the way but you have to trust me.
As they listen to Rex he seemed to have an Idea on what's happening and knows what's going to happen next.
Rex: Ok here's what I found out. The Skrulls are here and are all over the World and switched with humans that are of High value in governments and in key locations around the world. As soon as the Skrull invasion force arrives their staging grounds will be Manhattan, New York and Washington, D.C. It's a good thing you called Carol if a you didn't then the results here would be even worse for the rest of the world.
As they hear his whole story on how the Skrulls are going to take over the World leaving out about Captain America and Mockingbird both being Skrulls as the latter was the Skrull Queen he needed to tell them but he needs them sit down on this then right now.
Miss Marvel: Well, this is bad.
Miss Marvel noted as she sized up the situation.
Hawkeye: Yeah. We need to get back to New York, like yesterday.
Hawkeye echoed.
Wasp: All of us. Together, as Avengers.
Wasp agreed.
Rex: Can one of you fly the Quinjet? I need to reserve my energy for the big fight that is about to take place in New York.
Rex stated, and glancing at the distant Black Panther.
Rex: T'Challa? We could really use your help.
He asked, hopeful.
Black Panther: No. My duty is here.
The Wakandan replied, turning his back to them.
Hawkeye: Are you kidding me?!
Hawkeye grumbled in disbelief.
Black Panther: What has changed? Even now, we can trust no one. Not even each other.
T'Challa responded.
Hawkeye: What changed is that we just came in and saved Wakanda from an alien invasion!
Hawkeye retorted.
Hawkeye: You're welcome, by the way.
Miss Marvel stepped between them.
Miss Marvel: Knock it off, both of you.
She ordered crisply.
Miss Marvel: I don't care who we can trust. Earth's in trouble. It's our job to save it. That's what Avengers do, right?
She looked to Black Panther, who stayed silent.
Without another word, his stance already made clear, he turned and took his lead in order to tend to Wakanda.
Rex watched him go, shoulders slumping dejectedly as his former-friend once again turned his back on them. He still felt it much more acutely on a personal level. He inhaled sharply, looking forlorn.
Wasp stepped closer, squeezing his hand sympathetically as the two shared a nod. He offered a nod of acceptance and she smiled, feeling a bit better about being there for him. At least their shared trust managed to build a far stronger bond throughout this whole ordeal...
Elsewhere...
Iron Man: You're a lucky man, Fury. Guess who's got a Skrull detector installed in his armor?
Tony boasted proudly as he stood behind Nick Fury in his safehouse. The director had not budged from in front of his wall of suspects since Iron Man arrived.
Iron Man: I'll give you a hint-
Fury: She should have told me.
He part-muttered and part-growled.
Iron Man: No, that's not... wait, what?
A confused Iron Man wondered aloud.
Iron Man: Who should've told you what?
Nick stayed silent for a moment, his gaze focused on Mockingbird, her mugshot X-ed out as he believed her to be clean...
Fury: She was in charge of surveillance on SHIELD.
He continued, putting the pieces together.
Fury: She should have told me about the Hulk's attack on the Helicarrier. She didn't.
He turned around to Tony, finding Black Widow and Quake close by.
Fury: We've been infiltrated.
He ordered them.
Fury: Mockingbird, she-
A sudden rifle round knocked Fury to the ground, out cold.
Successive rounds echoed in the small space and soon Black Widow and Quake fell too, ambushed from behind. Emerging from the shadows,
Mockingbird had a SHIELD-issue rifle in hand and was holding Iron Man at gunpoint.
Iron Man: You know, hun, you're more likely to hurt yourself than me if you fire that.
The Avenger promised.
Mockingbird: I know.
She answered calmly, lowering her weapon.
Mockingbird: You see, I know everything there is to know about you and your armor, Iron Man. That's how we were able to upload the virus.
Iron Man: What vi-
He was cut off as an electromagnetic shocked ripped through his ARC reactor, causing him to scream in agony as his life-support functions ran haywire. He collapsed as armor subsystems shut down one by one, effectively trapping him in his own alloy coffin.
Iron Man: J-JARVIS-!
He ground out.
Jarvis: Warning. Alien virus detected. All systems compromised. ARC reactor compromised. Biological systems compromised.
Iron Man managed to snap open his faceplate, grinding his teeth together as he sporadically groaned and moaned in severe pain as his very heart was attacked. Through the pain, he realized the truth... that had not been Doctor Doom who paid him a visit and that had not been the key to identifying Skrulls he had installed into his armor.
Mockingbird: You are a dangerous man, Anthony. Of all the humans, you were the one that could have found a way to see us for what we were. You were their leader. We have no wish for you to suffer. But these things, they are as it is written.
Mockingbird purred in a silken, regal voice as she knelt before his rigid form, locked in place on the ground. She reached out to caress his cheek with her hand and Tony watched in shock as pale skin turned green.
Queen Veranke: It won't be long now.
He looked up, into the face of the Skull behind the Mockingbird disguise.
Queen Veranke: This is Queen Veranke. Iron Man and Nick Fury have been dealt with.
She reported into a commlink.
Queen Veranke: Commence with the invasion.
As she kneels down in front of Iron Man we go to space...
In Outerspace
We see the Skrull Ship on their way to Earth as they plan to make Earth their new planet...