Tony led Peter through the sprawling corridors of the Helicarrier, their footsteps echoing against the metallic walls as they descended toward the ship's vast cargo containment area. An array of distant sounds filled the air: the rhythmic thuds of training exercises mingled with explosive blasts, creating a symphony of activity that heightened Peter's curiosity.
"Uh, where are we going?" Peter asked, glancing around with a mix of confusion and anticipation.
"I thought you'd like to see this," Tony replied, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes as he approached a massive containment unit. "Back when we first met, I took your measurements—not just to figure out who you were, but because Bruce wanted me to craft something special for you." With a flourish, he revealed a sleek, high-tech remote and pressed a button that activated a crate emblazoned with the iconic STARK logo.
Peter's heart raced as the container whirred and unlocked, revealing its precious cargo. Inside lay an extraordinary armored suit designed specifically for him. The suit gleamed with a metallic red finish that caught the light, accented by a striking golden spider emblem emblazoned across the chest. The eye lenses glimmered like polished gemstones, and its bracers and boots shimmered in radiant gold. A blue arc reactor pulsed softly at its center, echoing the heart of Iron Man's armor, while repulsors glinted menacingly on the gauntlets and boots.
Peter stared in awe, his jaw droppped at what he saw. "Wait, you made this… for me?" His voice trembled with disbelief as he took in the technological marvel.
"For battles that call for a little more kick," Tony grinned, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. "What do you say? Ready to give it a shot?"
Steve was currently training with Courtney. He raised his shield to block off an attack from Courtney's Cosmic Staff before throwing it towards her. Courtney used the Cosmic Staff to block the shield before blasting it away and slamming it into the floor, raising the staff to Steve's neck.
"Ha!" Courtney cheered. "I got ya!"
"Not exactly..." Steve said, gesturing behind her.
"Huh?" Courtney turned and saw the shield was coming right for her. "Eek!" She raised the Staff again to block the shield, giving Steve an opening to ger her down and catch the shield easily. "I almost had you!"
"You've come a long way, Courtney," Steve commented as he placed the shield on his back but you've still got ways to go."
Natasha stood at the shooting range, the rhythmic crack of gunfire echoing around her as she focused intently on the target downrange. Each shot rang out like a heartbeat, and she felt the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. After a few rounds, she expertly holstered her weapon, feeling the tension in her muscles from the concentrated training.
"Been a while since I've had an audience," Natasha called out, glancing over her shoulder to see Mary and her daughter Teresa framed in the doorway. A sly smile curved her lips. "What brings you two here?"
Mary looked fondly at her daughter before responding, "Just giving Teresa a little tour. Figured it might break up the monotony while everyone else is busy with their training."
Teresa crossed her arms, a hint of frustration evident in her voice. "Yeah, I feel kind of useless here."
"Do you think because you don't have powers you have nothing to contribute?" Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow. "Look at me. No superhuman abilities here."
"True, but you've got years of battle experience behind you," Teresa replied, her tone heavy with self-doubt. "Me? I feel like a damsel waiting to be rescued."
"Is that so?" Natasha mused, casting a knowing glance at Mary, who shrugged nonchalantly, intrigued by the exchange. "Let's put that theory to the test."
With a swift motion, Natasha executed a roundhouse kick, but Teresa responded with a quick block that was unexpectedly effective. "What the hell?!"
"Fast reflexes," Natasha said, lowering her foot in surprise. "Very interesting."
"I took self-defense classes with May," Teresa explained, a hint of pride creeping into her voice. "I picked it up pretty quickly. I guess I'm just a fast learner."
"And you think that's not a valuable skill?" Natasha replied, her gaze drifting toward Courtney, who was passing through the hallway. "Hey, Stargirl!" she called out.
Courtney paused mid-stride, turning back with curiosity. "Yeah?"
"Teresa here is looking for someone to spar with. Mind giving her a hand?" Natasha asked, her tone encouraging.
"Uh... sure?" Courtney said, gesturing excitedly for Teresa to follow. "Come on, let's see what you've got."
"See, they're not going to bite. Go on," Mary encouraged, nudging her daughter forward with a smile. Turning back to Natasha, she asked, "What's got you so amused?"
"Your daughter thinks heroes need powers to be effective," Natasha replied with a chuckle, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let's see what she has to show when Steve gets a load of her training session with Courtney."
"Hm, clever," Mary remarked, her gaze following Teresa as she joined the other girls, a newfound confidence blooming within her.
"Hey, did you find anything?" Caitlin asked as she approached Cisco who was working on the computers.
"Nah, working with this tech is... well, it's almost foreign. They have stuff here that I thought was only a theory. We have the most advanced equipment in all the world and these guys still beat us."
"Impressive, I know," Reed said as he approached them and greeted them. "Sorry, introductions were a little rushed. Reed Richards of- "
"The Batxter Foundation," Cisco finished as he shook his hand. "This is... wow, an honor. I read your theories on cosmic radiation waves, and it was something we used as a basis for our work against the Metahumans to create the chambers we used to destabilize their powers to contain them."
"Really?" Reed asked in surprise. "You know, that thought never occurred to me." He said in disbelief, making a mental note for later. "Hey, you ever think about a different career? I heard you used to work for STAR Labs, but it's been inoperable for about almost three years."
"Reed, no recruiting people during a mission," Susan said as she stepped into the room with her uniform on. "Hi, sorry about him, he's a little overexcited to learn about extraterrestrial life."
"Dr. Storm," Caitlin said in shock. "This... wow. This is how other people feel meeting the guys."
"Yeah, we're used to this kind of attention," Susan promised. "You should meet my brother, Johnny. But he and Ben are keeping an eye on New York while we're out here helping out."
That was when they heard a loud bang, causing them to flinch. "What was that?" Cisco asks.
"I think someone is testing out their new armor," Reed took a guess.
Peter let out a whoop of exhilaration as he tried to acclimate to the thrusters of the Iron Spider suit. He soared through the air, stumbling slightly before crashing into a wall with a dull thud, the impact sending a jolt through his body. But determination surged within him, and he began to navigate the space with increasing confidence, performing loops and sharp turns in mid-air.
"Alright, alright, I think I'm finally getting the hang of this!" he muttered nervously to himself, a mix of thrill and anxiety coursing through him.
"Yep, definitely," Tony Stark replied, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk, his tone laced with irony. He leaned back, sipping a drink leisurely, his eyes glinting with amusement as he observed Peter's chaotic flight path.
"What the hell is that?" Barry exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock as he caught sight of the sleek, metallic suit glinting in the light.
"I call it the Iron Spider," Stark declared with a hint of pride. He waved a hand towards Peter, who was still maneuvering awkwardly above them. "What do you think?"
"Uh, I'd really like to know if he's safe in that," Barry replied, his brow furrowing with concern, his gaze darting between Stark and the chaotic figure of Peter.
"Oh, absolutely," Stark reassured him, confidence etched on his face. "The suit will keep him safe, 100%."
"He'd better be," Barry warned, crossing his arms, a serious expression settling on his features. "Or you're going to have to deal with his super secret agent mom."
As Steve strolled through the dimly lit corridors of the ship, the muffled sounds of grunting and the clash of bodies caught his attention. Curiosity piqued, he moved closer and encountered Courtney and Teresa engaged in an intense training session. The two women were locked in a dance of strength and strategy, their movements fluid yet powerful.
Steve observed with a mix of admiration and surprise. Teresa's skills were quite impressive—notably adept at countering Courtney's aggressive techniques. With a swift and precise motion, Courtney lunged to throw a punch, but Teresa anticipated the attack, deftly blocking it. Then, with an elegant pivot, she performed a soaring roundhouse kick that sent Courtney crashing to the mat, the thud echoing in the training room.
"Want to go again?" Teresa asked, her breath coming in quick bursts, a playful edge to her voice.
Courtney lay sprawled on the mat, a groan escaping her lips, but laughter sparkled in her eyes. "Wow, you can still keep going?"
"Oh, I can do this all day," Teresa replied, extending a hand to help Courtney back to her feet, her cheeks flushed with exertion and pride.
Steve couldn't resist chiming in, "You've got some impressive skills." His voice broke through their moment, capturing their attention. "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
"Me and May signed up for self-defense classes after Peter became Spider-Man—safety first!" Teresa explained, a hint of bashfulness coloring her cheeks as she realized she was being watched.
Steve offered a warm smile. "It's fine, Teresa. You know, Courtney regularly trains with Diana. She's been honing her groundwork, but you seemed to instinctively adapt to every move."
Teresa shrugged, a flicker of modesty crossing her face. "I guess it just comes naturally."
"I think you're a natural fighter," Steve encouraged, his tone earnest.
"Still feel a bit useless here," Teresa admitted, a shadow of insecurity creeping into her voice. "We're facing aliens, and I'm just surrounded by heroes as the useless."
Steve leaned a little closer, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Or maybe you're just a hero waiting for someone to recognize your potential. I was just a scrawny kid from Brooklyn before someone saw something in me."
"Yeah, we saw the movie in school," Teresa said with a hint of teasing.
"Movie?" Steve's eyebrows shot up, glancing over at Diana, bemusement etched on his face. "I have a movie?"
"It was a musical," Diana interjected with a playful laugh.
Steve turned his focus back to Teresa, the gravity of his words settling in the air between them. "So… do you think fighting is the only thing that makes someone a hero?"
"No," Teresa said with a slight shrug, her voice growing softer. "But it definitely helps. I… I just don't want to be the weak link. I want to be more—do more. Prove that I have what it takes to help the people."
As he listened, a swell of pride unfurled in Steve's chest; he recognized a spark of determination in her that mirrored his own past. "How about this—let's go a few rounds together?" he proposed, a glimmer of excitement flaring in Teresa's eyes while Courtney looked on in surprise. "I can share some techniques I picked up when I was small and skinny."
With a mix of shock and enthusiasm, Teresa stammered, "Uh… wow, okay, uh, yes—yes sir." She snapped a half-hearted salute, her shyness only amplifying the moment's warmth.
Cisco was trying to focus on his work when Lisa approached him. Cisco was doing everything he could to avoid her but she kept appearing.
"How come you haven't given me a codename?" Lisa asks. "I heard you came up with Captain Cold. What do you think I should be called?"
"Female inmate?" Cisco asks.
"Come on, you made my gun, you could at least give me a name," Lisa said.
Cisco sighed and decided to actually try. "Okay, fine, how about... Golden Glider?"
Lisa smiled as she liked the name. "Smart and sexy, Cisco."
At a secure hanger, Nick Fury was talking with the president and the other World Security Council about what they were supposed to do. He was being shown the footage of the fight from the last time that the Kree showed up.
"So this is, what, your way of advising me to do nothing?" The president asks them.
"The Kree have yet to engage in an act of aggression, sir," Waller stated.
What does S.H.I.E.L.D. think?" He asks Fury.
"I think us being passive is exactly what they want, Mr. President," Fury stated. "From our intel, the last time they came here it was basically to study our weaknesses. We need to strike before they strike. And a strike is coming.
"Well, finally, someone here with balls." He complimented Furt. "Ike ignored all the signs and waited until it was too late. I'm not gonna make that same mistake."
"You saw what happened the last time we engaged them. That's a lot of casualties to be remembered for."
"Four dropships landed on this planet, all of them sent to gather intel." President reminded him. "If we do nothing and they attack, that's what I'll be remembered for. Proceed as instructed, Director Fury."
Fury nodded as the president made his way towards the vehicles to leave. "You know, Director, you really should learn how to follow someone else's lead. You're putting the fate of all humanity in your freaks."
"My 'freaks' as you oh so subtly call them, save the world more times than you have had your diaper changed combined," Fury stated with a sigh. "I'm putting faith in them because they earned my faith. And I sure as hell would like to be remembered for the idiot who tried to stand up to alien oppressors rather than let them kidnap whoever they wish on their terms than remembered as the director who stood by as their loved ones were abducted."
The World Council member didn't respond and just walked off.
Amidst the electrifying energy of the HARM room, the heroes were deeply immersed in their training, honing their powers in a simulated battleground. Blue Beetle soared into the azure sky, a dynamic figure against the holographic backdrop of a bustling cityscape. As he ascended, his gauntlets hummed with energy, morphing into a massive sonic cannon that crackled with raw power, ready to unleash chaos.
"Let's show them what we've got, Kanji," Jaime called out, his voice filled with a blend of determination and excitement.
Without hesitation, Blue Beetle unleashed a barrage of sonic blasts, the sonic boom reverberating like thunder through the urban environment. The shockwaves rippled outward, sending Jessica and Bobby tumbling as they dove for cover beneath the crumbling debris of a simulated building. Dust and particles swirled around them, creating a cloud of chaos as they huddled together, strategizing their next move.
In the corner of the holographic city, Logan surveyed the scene with a relaxed demeanor, a smirk playing on his lips. His healing factor afforded him a carefree attitude toward the exercise, and he seemed almost amused by the extravagant display as he used a nearby fire to light a cigar. The clamor of the simulated destruction contrasted sharply with his laid-back presence, making him a striking figure against the frenetic backdrop of training and combat.
Back with the heroes, they were still training to use their abilities together. Blue Beetle flew into the air as he created a large sonic cannon in his fists. They were inside what they called the HARM room. Which was a holographic projection that created any type of scenario they wanted. This one was a scene of a city where Blue Beetle was their target to hit, training for the real thing going against the Kree.
"Let's show them what we've got, Kanji," Jaime said.
Blue Beetle then opened fire, shooting sonic blasts that sent Jessica and Bobby flying as he hid under some rubble. Logan was also there, reaching over and using one of the fires to light his cigar, considering his healing factor, he didn't seem to take this whole scenario seriously.
"The whole world is going to hell, and you are just going to sit there?" Logan asked Bobby. "Come on, let's go."
Bobby got back up and ran through the battlefield, seeing a missile coming in, and quickly shot out a blast of ice to freeze the missile, causing it to crash and slam into the ground.
Artemis got herself an advantage from one of the buildings that aimed at Blue Beetle and shot the arrow. The arrow flew through the air and made its way towards the back of the Beetle, but he created a shield using his wings and blocked the strike. Jaime then turned around and sent a sonic blast towards Artemis' location.
That however didn't work out as that's when Wonder Girl came in flying as she punched Jaime into the ground. "Done and done!"
That however was when Jaime came out of the ground and aimed a larger cannon, shooting a sonic blast to send Cassie flying. The exercise was meant to be extreme, but he also wasn't trying to harm his friends, so he took it easy on them.
"You guys good?" Jaime wonders.
That was when White Tiger came from behind with Bombshell, using Bombshell to launch her ahead and Ava sliced at the backpack, causing Jaime to wince a little as he kneeled.
"Okay! I give! Truce!" Jaime knew he couldn't damage the Scarab too badly before the real threat. "End simulation!"
The holograms around them then finally turned off, allowing them to leave the room and head for the exit. "Class dismissed," Logan said with a snicker.
"The whole world is going to nightmare, and you are just going to sit there?" Logan asked Bobby. "Come on, let's go."
Bobby got back up and ran through the battlefield, seeing a missile coming in, and quickly shot out a blast of ice to freeze the missile, causing it to crash and slam into the ground.
Artemis got herself an advantage from one of the buildings that aimed at Blue Beetle and shot the arrow. The arrow flew through the air and made its way towards the back of the Beetle, but he created a shield using his wings and blocked the strike. Jaime then turned around and sent a sonic blast towards Artemis' location.
That however didn't work out as that's when Wonder Girl came in flying as she punched Jaime into the ground. "Done and done!"
That however was when Jaime came out of the ground and aimed a larger cannon, shooting a sonic blast to send Cassie flying. The exercise was meant to be extreme, but he also wasn't trying to harm his friends, so he took it easy on them.
"You guys good?" Jaime wonders.
That was when White Tiger came from behind with Bombshell, using Bombshell to launch her ahead and Ava sliced at the backpack, causing Jaime to wince a little as he kneeled.
"Okay! I give! Truce!" Jaime knew he couldn't damage the Scarab too badly before the real threat. "End simulation!"
The holograms around them then finally turned off, allowing them to leave the room and head for the exit. "Class dismissed," Logan said with a snicker.
Reed was still trying to see if he could try and pinpoint where the Kree were going when suddenly he got an alert of the same signature that came from the crashed ships. Reed looked at the computers and wondered what was going on and looked afraid when he saw where they were heading.
"We've got a situation!" Reed cried, running through the halls and racing to the command area. "Brace for impact! We've got-"
There was a strike on the ship, causing the whole place to begin to shift and shake, causing everyone amongst the crew to be shaken up as well. Dozens of Kree assault ships began to attack the Helicarrier, causing everyone to fray into a panic.
"How do they even know about this place?!" Susan wonders.
"I don't know, but we can't lose it!" Reed said as he raced for the communications. "All Metahumans! This is a priority alert! The Helicarrier is under attack!"
Racing onto the deck, Steve, Jaime, Peter, Logan, Stark, and Lana raced outside as they saw the chaos being caused by the ships. Steve taking command quickly began to figure out what to do.
"Stark, Beetle, take out those gunships!" Steve said, getting Stark and Jaime to fly off to protect the Helicarrier. "Spider-Man, draw them towards the stern!"
"Sure thing!" Peter said, looking to the back and the front of the ship. "Which way is stern?" Steve gave him an annoyed look, which Peter recognized. "Never mind, I will figure it out!" he then raced off he shot out a web to latch onto one of the ships where he cheered, making his way around the ship. "Lana, I need you to help me on the ground, keeping these Kree off deck."
"Roger, Captain!" Lana said with a salute and raced off, sending small projectiles that exploded on impact.
"Logan, I need you-"
"You don't tell me what to do, boy scout," Logan told Steve, racing off and using his claws to imbed himself in one of the ships to begin to strike.
"I never could," Steve smiled as he raced off, raising his shield to defend the Helicarrier.
Peter sighed as he shot off dozens of webs to latch onto the ships. "I just love being the target."
Inside the Carrier, a dozen or so Kree already made their way inside and were met with a helping surprise of heroes ready for them. Several Kree soldiers marched their way down towards the controls of their ship, but that was when the defense came to strike. Several smoke bombs were released and released smoke that covered their advantages as the Dark Knight came rushing through the hallway, tackling one of the Kree soldiers. The Kree opened fire, trying to hit the Dark Knight.
That was when Wonder Woman came into the scene, quickly utilizing her Lasso of Truth to wrap around the soldiers, slamming them into the wall to knock them out. Diana then came flying in as they opened fire, allowing her to use her bracelets to block off the attacks. The Kree thought that they had her cornered but Courtney came flying in, using the Cosmic Staff to shoot a beam of light to send the Kree flying into the wall, knocking them out.
Batman then came back into the scene, throwing several batarangs to harm the Kree's soldier's hand to allow Diana to knock the last soldier against the wall.
Bobby shot ice down a corridor to shield off the Kree invaders. Some of them were trying to shoot him to stop the barrier, but Jessica used her bio-electricity to shoot off lighting to send them flying backward. When a few of them managed to get through the barrier they shot Jessica, causing her to wince as they scratched her arm. That was where Artemis came in, shooting arrows to attack the Kree.
Once the barrier was created, they watched a flash of red lightning make its way through and knock out the Kree soldiers.
Back on the outside, Logan was leaping through the front of one of the Kree ships, slicing the pilot and then attacking his co-pilot. Blue Beetle came flying and was being shot at, causing him to spin around and aim his plasma cannons.
"Boo-ya!" Jaime cried.
Peter watched the explosion from a distance and scoffed. "Show off." He then crawled his way up and used his mechanical legs to rip through the roof. "Hey, is this the ferry?" Then Peter leaped his way inside and struck the soldiers inside, getting him to miss the ship. He was on a collision course with the Carrier. "Uh-oh!"
Peter then abandoned the ship as it crashed into the carrier, getting him to shoot off his thrusters to get him back up to the top of the carrier. Stark came flying in and shot a few of the ships when he then saw that Steve was surrounded. He flew down and landed behind him.
"Hey, Cap, looks like you can use some-" That was when Steve threw his shield, and Stark flinched to dodge it as it smacked into dozens of Kree soldiers before they could even get one shot off. "Uh... never mind!"
That was when Peter screamed as he came flying down, landing as gently as he could on the Carrier. "I'm okay!"
Jaime came flying down after fending off the ships and they watched as Logan came crashing onto the Carrier while laughing.
"That dude... scares me," Lana admitted as she approached.
"You should have seen him during the war," Steve laughed.
Logan snarled as he exited the wreckage and his skin healed easily. "That was great." He then walked over and saw everyone looking at him. "What are you girls looking at?"
Cassie and Oliver were working with Hawkeye as they were fending off the armory. Cassie was giving the archers some cover as she used her bracelets similarly to Diana to block the blaster fire and allow the archers to counterattack. Hawkeye shot out a trick arrow that split into three separate arrows that then knocked out three soldiers at once.
Oliver seemed to take that as a sort of threat, and drew his own trick arrow, shooting an ensnarement arrow which wrapped around the Kree soldier. Clint seemed to recognize the challenge as he drew another arrow, this one shooting off and ensnaring one of the Kree, followed by it shooting off tiny projectiles that then exploded, causing a smoke screen that gave Cassie the chance to speed in, using some of the debris and throwing it towards the Kree.
Clint smirked at Oliver, waiting to see what kind of arrow he had to top that one. Oliver saw one last Kree soldier coming and quickly drew one last arrow, shooting it down the hall and smacking into the wall which then sent off an electrical charge that knocked out the last of the Kree.
It was now Oliver's turn to smirk at Clint. "Nobody likes a showoff," Clint informed the Green Arrow.
"Yes, they do," Oliver said with a grin. "As long as you show up the other guy."
Clint didn't respond as Oliver walked away. "Damnit, it's true."
Natasha was helping defend the labs with Reed and Sue as they seemed to be confronting their assault there. It was like they knew the advantage points of the Helicarrier and knew where to strike first. Captain Cold, Heatwave, and Golden Glider were using their guns to hold off the Kree, shooting fire, ice, and gold at them.
Susan put up a force field and tried to keep it up as Reed was working on something. "Reed, anytime now!"
"Just a little longer, Susie," Reed said, working on something he hoped would help."
"Work faster!" Mick cried. "I am not dying to a bunch of space pigs!"
That was when a shockwave went off from Reed's invention that knocked out the Kree's weapons. "It worked! I managed to analyze the Kree's weapon seismology so I was able to create a feedback loop that-"
"I didn't ask for the science lesson!" Snart cried, shooting off the ice to finish off the Kree.
Ava was trying to fend off the bridge as she rushed into the hallway area, throwing her claws to slice through the Kree weapon, giving her small audience, Ant-Man to fend off the hoard. He enlarged and punched a Kree before shrinking back down as the Kree shot the open space where Scott once stood. That was when Red Tornado came flying in, sending a whirlwind that sent the Kree flying down the hallway.
"Ant-Man, White Tiger, protect the bridge in my absence!" Red Tornado said, flying out the front window to then use all of his power to send the Kree ships flying and even a few crashing into the ocean.
"Well, that was something," Peter said as they all returned to the control room.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say this: What the hell was that?!" Bobby asked everyone.
"It's like they knew we were here," Diana was just as confused.
"How could they possibly know?" Artemis questioned.
"A number of ways," Bruce stated with a sigh, marching ahead and removing his helmet. "But the simplest is the most likely."
"A mole." Diana knew what he was saying. She crossed her arms and sighed. "War is always the same. Traitors on both sides."
"And this one was high enough to know we would be stationed on this carrier and they wanted us to be taken out," Tony said with a sigh. "Can things get worse?"
"He... did not just say that," Jaime said with a sigh. "Did he just say that?"
"He just said that," Cassie confirmed. "Come on, Stark, that's the number one thing you never say!"
That was when there was an alert came on the screens. "Oh, god. Guys, I am officially a genius!" He brought up what he found on the screens. "With the invention from Reed that warned us, we uploaded it to a satellite during the attack, and we found a residual energy signature on the Kree starship that crashed, so I ran it through the satellite's alignment, and found this. A whole cluster of the same signature above some region in sub-Saharan Africa."
"What region?" Steve asks in confusion.
"Whakanada? Wak- Wakanda." Cisco answered.
That seemed to spark interest in Red Tornado, Steve, and Diana. "It can't be," Steve said.
"They couldn't possibly know about..." Diana whispered.
"I feel like you two know something that should be shared with the class," Clint tells them.
"Yeah, I dont get it, what's so special that comes out of Wakanda?" Bobby wonders.
Steve and Diana looked over at Steve's shield in worry. "The strongest metal on Earth."
"I think it safe to say the universe if they're coming for it," Red Tornado said.
On the outskirts of the hidden city of Wakanda, a lone figure sneaked through the forest. Several Kree soldiers landed and scanned the area.
"Traces of Vibranium are in the area," one Kree soldier said. "We have found the right place." He then dusted off the ground and found a strand of Vibranium. "This is the landing sight. As suspected, it's spread outside the borders."
"Then get to work," their commander demanded.
The soldiers brought out a large sonic weapon with a laser attached and began to drill for the Vibranium. He took a bit of a walk away as he searched the area. Hearing the branches rustle above him, he looked upward just for a figure drenched in black to strike.
His screams filled the air, causing the Kree soldiers to stop drilling and spin around, searching for the source. They wondered where the commander was and looked around.
"Commander?" The Kree soldier called, searching around.
They then found the commander missing but his blaster was on the ground and approached. They saw he was unconscious and searched the area for who could have done it. That was when they were attacked. The commander was flung from the trees, slamming into their ship. The explosion set off a large explosion and caused the area to light up and the Kree soldiers to be blinded.
The lone figure took that as a chance to advance, fighting his way through two soldiers with ease before they opened fire. But it was like all of their weapons only bounced off the fight as he tore through them. He rushed at them like an animal and slashed their weapons out of the Kree's hands. Quickly he moved on and flipped over and knocked the last gun out of the soldier's hands as he then shoved him against a tree.
One of the Kree tried to make a run for it, but the figure stood as a Black Panther came out of the trees, roaring at the Kree soldier, causing him to back off. The lone figure approached the panther and petted its back as he approached the Kree soldier.
"You stepped on Wakandan soil!" The man told him. "You came to take the property of Wakanda. How many of you are there!?"
"Long live the Kree Empire!" The Kree soldier said, taking his own life before the figure could interrogate him.
This figure was none other than the King of Wakanda. King T'Challa. "Shuri, we're being invaded." He contacted his sister. "Set the satellites to scan the upper atmosphere. We must learn if he has any friends."
"Speaking of, brother, we have several ships inbound," Shuri warned him.
T'Challa rushed to the border of Wakanda, he saw dozens of ships made it through the barrier and began to attack the capital. "How did they penetrate the shield?"
"I am not sure," Shuri said. "But there are others inbound."
"Others?" T'Challa asked, confused. That was when a Quinjet came flying in, carrying the heroes. "Who let them in the barrier?"
"They had an overpass key... from our father," Shuri said in shock.
"I will deal with the outsiders after we deal with these alien invaders," T'Challa said, rushing to deal with the soldiers.
T'Challa found a squad of troops exiting a ship and rushed to fend them off from reaching Wakanda. He rushed in and struck them down, only for a large cannon to come from the ship and send him flying with a sonic blast. Tumbling backward, T'Challa activated the Black Panther's claws to drag himself before he fell off the ledge.
The suit was damaged by the sonic blast, so T'Challa waited to try and allow it to heal before climbing back up. The Kree came to take advantage of his predicament when suddenly a shield came flying, knocking the Kree soldiers down. It went flying back towards the owner and revealed Captain America.
They heard explosions and looked up to see Star Girl, Blue Beetle, Iron Man, and Iron Spider flying around to shoot down the Kree ships before they could descend.
Steve approached the ledge and held a hand out. "Your Highness."
T'Challa recognized the soldier and reached out, grabbing his hand and allowing him to yank him up. "Captain Rogers."
"You must be T'Chaka's son," Steve greeted. "It's an honor to meet you."
A handful of the heroes were brought into the throne room where they were met with the Dora Milaje and Princess Shuri. They stepped ahead and saw King T'Challa sitting on the throne.
"King T'Challa, its-" Diana was speaking when T'Challa raised his hand to silence her.
"Do you know why these outsiders have taken a sudden interest in my country?" T'Challa asks.
"It would seem that it's because they see it as a threat," Steve answered. "They're called the Kree. Say they're here for 'experiments', but they've begun wreaking havoc around the world. We fear that they are here to steal your Vibranium."
"We've been swatting them like flies for the last few days," Shuri said as she stepped forward. "Their attack ships, their soldiers, none of them would surrender or talk. All we get is the same thing over and over..."
"Long Live the Kree Empire," T'Challa repeated the phrase. "I sense that they are not here for experimentation. I believe that is their false pretense."
"We came to the same conclusion," Diana said as she stepped forward. "We believe that they came here to abduct and harm those like us: Metahumans."
"That coincides with why they have been spotted around our Herb gardens," Shuri confirmed.
"They're studying your strengths," Steve remembered that the Herbs gave them their powers. "Just like the rest of us. This was just the recon crew, meaning we've made it in time. A full-scale invasion might be imminent. And they will be coming for you."
"And you come to offer help?" T'Challa asks.
"To ask for yours," Steve said. "Now we know that they are after your Vibranium, then we can offer assistance and information, but Vibranium is your specialty. We have our teams on standby and ready to hear you out."
T'Challa nodded and knew he could use more resources to protect his people. "Give them the locations of the drop ship locations, and where the spies have been spotted. See where they are likely to strike."
"Thank you," Steve said as they followed Shuri.
Kyle was nestled inside the sleek confines of the Milano, a vibrant starship bustling with energy and history. As he watched swirling images flash across the screens, his eyes widened in disbelief at the rich tapestry of the Green Lantern Corps' history. Each clip revealed tales of daring and valor, and he felt a surge of awe when he realized just how much knew about these interstellar guardians.
"This planet," Gamora's voice cut through his reverie, rich with authority, "is called Oa, and it serves as the eternal home of the Green Lantern Corps." Her eyes sparkled with passion as she animatedly explained their legacy. "Oa has been their sanctuary for countless millennia. It was forged for us by the Guardians." She paused, gauging his reaction.
"Guardians?" Kyle echoed, curiosity piquing his interest.
"They're ancient beings who possess immense power and immortality," Gamora elaborated, her voice taking on a reverent tone. "They are the architects of the Green Lanterns' power and bear the weight of their responsibilities."
"And that would be...?" Kyle inquired, his mind racing to grasp the enormity of their role.
"Since time immemorial, the Green Lantern Corps has been the stalwart protectors of peace, order, and justice throughout the universe," she continued, weaving through the centuries of their illustrious history. Vivid images played before them, showcasing the ever-evolving uniforms and the bravery of those who wore them. "To be chosen as one of their ranks, you must embody fearlessness, strength of heart, and boundless kindness—a burden of the highest order."
"Okay, but... why green?" Kyle asked, tilting his head, a hint of confusion mingling with intrigue.
"Because it looks dumb," Rocket quipped irreverently, a smirk plastered across his furry face.
"The Guardians believe it represents Will," Drax interjected, his voice deep and resonant, lending weight to the conversation. "The true power of the universe."
Gamora gestured toward the Lantern Battery pack resting beside Kyle, its enigmatic glow casting a soft light in the dim cabin. "The ring draws its power from the Central Battery on Oa, which in turn charges your battery. That energy is what fuels your ring."
"She is correct," the Ring chimed in, its voice echoing with a mechanical clarity that left no room for doubt.
"And right now," Quill chimed in as he descended from the cockpit, urgency evident in his stance, "your world is on the brink. We need a Green Lantern to stand against this threat. The Kree are mobilizing, and their forces are somewhere in Africa. We have to move fast if we want to thwart their attack."
Nodding seriously, Gamora turned her gaze to Kyle, determination radiating from her. "It's time to teach you how to wield that ring, kid. Your world needs you to rise and be its hero."