Ellie Bishop: Tony's trying to take it step by step instead of rushing in head first, as that's what usually ends up blowing up in his face. But he'll tell Pepper about Coulson eventually. Indeed.
TW: Guess so.
Traveling Guest: Agreed. Well Ross showed in The Incredible Hulk he doesn't give a shit about violating laws, so that's pretty consistent for him. You'll see soon enough on Ross. She sure does.
Guest 1: Yes, yes he is. Typical Ross there. Yep. Glad to hear it.
Guest 2: To each their own.
Gallifrey 22.3: Neither of those events have happened at this point and I don't at this time plan to include any Netflix show characters.
Guest 3: I heard Guardians 3 was good and, while it's good for the MCU to get one last hurrah, I really just don't care, Disney and the MCU have burned me too many times. I also don't care about DC at this point, it hasn't been good in years tbh.
Hank Pym's house
Afternoon
Scott sat on the couch, watching as Hank and Hope exchanged weary glances before looking back at him.
"So, you really did travel through time it seems," Hank noted, looking like saying the words was physically painful.
"I told you," Scott said, trying not to sound too smug about it.
"Scott, you have to admit-" Hope started.
"The whole thing sounds like something you'd come up with after a few bottles of whiskey. Yeah, I know, but now you guys know I'm telling the truth," Scott pointed out.
"These Accords sound pretty bad, but as long as we avoid working with the Avengers, I don't think anyone will ever find out. I can go to Foster now and promise to help him find a way to save Ava. We don't need to involve the Avengers," Hank insisted.
"If it was just the Accords, I'd agree with you Hank, but it's not just about Foster or The Accords. Look, in a few years, this alien warlord named Thanos is going to come to earth. He's looking for these things called Infinity Stones and, when he has them all, he'll use them to wipe out half of all life. You two and Janet die, I end up trapped in the Quantum Realm for five years, and the world basically goes to Hell," Scott explained and the two looked at him in utter disbelief. "Look, I know you have your issues with the Starks Hank, but this isn't about you or him, it's bigger than any of us. It's gonna take all of us to stop him Hank."
"Dad…if Scott's right, we at least need to meet with them, listen to what they have to say," Hope pointed out and Hank seemed to wrestle with himself for a long moment.
"Fine," Hank said, looking unhappy but resigned. "Call them and set up a meeting."
"Thank you Hank," Scott said in relief before pulling out his Avengers phone.
"What is that?" Hope asked as she and Hank looked at it oddly.
"Long story, I'll tell you later," Scott said before dialing Steve.
Wakanda
Same time
In the throne room, T'Challa leaned back in his chair, having taken a few minutes of peace and quiet after the latest Council meeting. It was something he found brought him peace and recharged him mentally, taking a few minutes after each Council meeting to in the quiet, away from all the stresses of running Wakanda.
Knowing he couldn't stay here forever and that the Dora Milaje would come to fetch him if he stayed much longer, T'Challa rose from his chair and exited the throne room. As he did, he found someone waiting for him.
"I feared you had fallen asleep," M'Baku said with a smirk.
"It does the mind and soul well to take a few moments each day to relax before resuming the duty of ruling," T'Challa noted and M'Baku chuckled as he nodded his agreement. "I expected you to leave after the Council meeting."
"There were thing I wished to say, privately," M'Baku said and T'Challa nodded.
"Very well," T'Challa said, gesturing for M'Baku to continue.
"You contacted the Avengers when you received word that these terrorists would attack Lagos," M'Baku noted and T'Challa carefully measured his response, knowing it was something he needed to do cautiously with M'Baku.
"It seemed the best course of action. To send in our soldiers would cause panic and involve politics. The Avengers have much more freedom in that area and are used to dealing with such threats," T'Challa noted.
"Past kings would have merely withdrawn the War Dogs and let Lagos handle their own problems," M'Baku noted.
"I am not past kings. I am me," T'Challa said firmly and M'Baku eyed him for a moment before nodding.
"Aye. Perhaps now, Wakanda will finally have a worthy king," M'Baku said with a bit more trust and respect in his voice.
"That is all I'm trying to be," T'Challa said and M'Baku nodded.
"Time will tell if you succeed," M'Baku said although T'Challa noted pleased that he said it with very little hostility.
Perhaps he was finally making the much desired breakthrough with M'Baki.
Unseen by the pair, W'Kabi watched this from around a corner, unseen. As he saw the two talk, growing friendlier with each other as the conversation progressed, a dark look crossed W'Kabi's face.
Avengers Compound
Same time
"I shall return once the situation has settled," Sif told Steve and Natasha as the three made their way onto the lawn, Sif forcibly leading the Skrull who was wearing the Asgardian collar in front of her.
"And when do you think that will be?" Steve inquired.
"As long as it takes Thor to handle the situation with the Skrulls. They are deeply afraid of him, so that may work in our advantage," Sif said.
"Try and keep us in the loop," Natasha said and Sif looked at her confused. "Sorry, Earth slang. Let us know what's going on."
"I shall. Until I return," Sif said before looking up at the sky.
Steve and Natasha stepped back and, after a few moments, the beam of the Bi-Frost came down, consuming Sif and the Skrull. When it faded, Sif and the Skrull were gone, leaving only the burned Asgardian Symbol into the grass.
"If they're going to keep doing this, we should really ask Thor to have Sif come somewhere that won't keep destroying the lawn," Natasha noted and Steve smiled slightly.
"I'll keep that in mind," Steve said amused.
"You think Thor can really handle the Skrulls?" Natasha asked after a moment.
"I have to. Because I don't want to think what might happen if he can't," Steve said with a frown.
Asgard
Not long after
Heimdall closed the gate as Sif and her prisoner appeared on Asgard.
"Sif," Heimdall greeted. "It is good to see you."
"You as well my friend," Sig greeted before narrowing her eyes as she saw they were not alone. "Loki. What are you doing here?"
"My brother wishes for me to escort you and our prisoner to him," Loki said with a glance at the Skrull before looking back at Sif. "He has a…demonstration in mind."
Later that day, far away from the palace, Thor stood alone, looking up at a mountain. Hearing someone approaching, Thor turned around, seeing Loki leading Sif and the captured Skrull over to him.
"Thank you for bringing them Loki. Sif, you have done well," Thor complimented his brother and friend before looking at the Skrull, his face hardening. "Tell me Skrull, do you have a name?"
"Xavin, Lord Thor," Xavin identified itself, looking at Thor fearfully and Thor nodded.
"Tell me Xavin, do you know why I had you brought here?" Thor asked calmly.
"To kill me?" Xavin said fearfully and Thor smiled.
"On the contrary, if you cooperate, you will survive this, although you will be a prisoner for the time being. How well you are treated depends on your cooperation," Thor said as he pulled out Stormbreaker. "Do you know what this is?"
"Should I?" Xavin asked wearily as Sif looked at it wearily, wondering what it was.
"That is Stormbreaker, the most power weapon ever forged by Eitri and the Elves of Nidavellir. It is a weapon made for a king," Loki explained.
"My brother is correct. It is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. Allow me to give you a small sample of its power," Thor said.
The others all watched as Thor turned back to the mountain behind him, Stormbrekaer glowing briefly with lightning before Thor threw it. The weapon made contact with the mountain and the other three watched in utter disbelief as the mountain was reduced to rubble. Thor held out his hand calmly as Stormbreaker returned to his hand before turning back to the other.
"That is what Stormbreaker is capable of with a small portion of my own power. Imagine what I could do with a much larger portion," Thor said as he walked up to Xavin. "It is within your best interest to tell me what I want to know."
"What do you want to know?" Xavin asked and they could tell Thor had easily scared him into submission.
"How many Skrulls are on Earth? How many humans have been replaced?" Thor demanded.
"A few hundred at the moment," Xavin said and Thor frowned, displeased by this information.
"What are their positions?" Thor demanded.
"Politicians, military officers, and first responders mostly," Xavin explained and Thor nodded.
"People with influence, people who can respond when you invade," Thor noted and Xavin fearfully nodded his agreement. "Your leader, what is he waiting for? Why hasn't he attacked yet?"
"The Avengers. They have stopped invasions before, our leader fears they will do so again," Xavin explained.
"Why is why you attempted to take Colonel Rhodes," Sif realized. "To destroy the Avengers from the inside."
"Yes," Xavin said and Thor was silent for a long moment.
"You have a way to contact your people, yes?" Thor inquired and Xavin nodded. "Good. If you wish the majority of your people to survive, you will tell me how to do it. And where they are currently located."
Skull fleet, home ship
Later
The Skrull Talos was in his chambers on his ship, wondering why Xavin hadn't made contact just yet when the door opened and a Skrull soldier stepped inside.
"Sir, Xavin has made contact. I…think you should see this," the soldier said looking uncomfortable.
Not long after, Talos was led onto the bridge, stopping and staring at the holographic screen that showed Xavin, looking rathet uncomfortable and still in Skrull form.
This was not the plane, Talos thought with a sinking feeling. Xavin was supposed to contact them when he captured Rhodey before returning to the fleet with the captured Avenger. And he was supposed to do it all while in Rhodey's form.
"Xavin, what is going on?" Talos asked in a deathly calm voice.
"I'm sorry my Liege, but our plan was foiled. The Avengers had an Asgardian waiting," Xavin said to the horror of all the horrors. "They made me tell them everything. King Thor Odinson has a message and a demand for all Skrulls."
Talos, who had frozen at the mention of Thor, felt anger rise up in him.
"Thor Odinson thinks he can make demands of me?" Talos asked darkly.
"I suggest you look out at the fleet sir," Xavin said looking uncomfortable.
Angrily, Talos did so, looking out at the viewing port, at the ships that were out there. At first, he wasn't sure what he was looking at. Then, he saw it and his heart filled with dread.
Thor was floating in space, holding Stormbreaker in his hand. Thor seemed to look right at Talos before raising Stormbreaker. Thor threw the weapon and it crashed through the center of one of the ships with ease before going through another and another before Thor called it back to his hand. For a moment, there was silence before Talos watched in horror as those three ships exploded, taking out a third of their invasion force.
"King Thor would like you to know this was but a small taste of what awaits you unless you withdraw all Skrulls from Earth," Xavin said, shaking Talos out of his horror. "Earth is under the protection of Asgard. The Skrulls will not survive war against Asgard, but if the Skrulls invade earth, there will be war. This is King Thor's one and only warning. Withdraw now, go in peace or die in war."
The screen and the image of Xavin vanished. Talos stood there for a moment, staring at nothing as he went over his options in his head. Aside from giving in, which he refused to do (he had spent too long planning this, not even Thor would dissuade him from it), there was only one other option available to him.
It was time to call Carol Danvers.
Mostly a filler chapter to advance some of the plots, mostly the Skrull plot, but I hope you guys still enjoyed it.
Yes, Carol will be entering the story next chapter. Carol is not a character I like, so she won't be in the story that much, but considering that the Skrulls fooled her into thinking they allies, it would be weird if Talos didn't use that in the face of Thor's threat.