Avengers Compound, Hall
James reappeared, the Avengers rising, eyes awed. Steve stepped forward, hand extended. "James, thank you for saving Earth."
Tony nodded. "Hate to admit it, you're insanely strong."
James waved it off. "Just checking in so gods stop eyeing Earth." He paused, eyeing Tony. "But if you're grateful, share your latest armor tech. My universe's Tony could use an upgrade."
Tony blinked, then smirked. "Won't break anything… Deal!"
Strange approached, grave. "James, one more thing."
"What?" James asked.
"It's about Wanda," Strange whispered.
James raised a brow. "Tell me."
Strange explained: After James defeated Thanos, peace returned, but Vision died without the Mind Gem. Wanda, grieving, buried him. Then, Fury's distress signal led the Avengers to find him injured, hiding a secret. Steve pressed, uncovering Fury's covert S.W.O.R.D., researching Vision's body. Wanda, enraged, attacked S.W.O.R.D., defeated the Avengers with chaos magic, and vanished with Vision's remains.
James frowned. "The timeline's correcting fast."
Steve caught his tone. "Something off?"
"Fury's not that dumb," James said. "In my universe, he was replaced by a Skrull."
"Skrull?" the team gasped.
Thor stood. "Those shape-shifters who mimic memories and abilities?"
James nodded. "They copy everything."
Tony's face darkened. "Our Fury's a fake?"
"Let's find out," James said. Snap! He vanished, reappearing with a struggling Fury. "Let me go! You're insane!"
James snapped his fingers. Whoosh! Green light revealed a Skrull's green face.
"What?!" The Avengers bristled. Steve raised his shield, Tony's armor activated, Thor's axe sparked.
The Skrull, Talos, cowered. "It's not my fault! I worked with Fury!"
Tony glared. "Where's the real Fury? Did you plan Wanda's breakdown?"
Talos hesitated. "Fury's at S.W.O.R.D.'s space base."
"What?!" Scott laughed bitterly. "We're fighting, and he's playing space commander?"
Talos explained, "He said Earth's crises were minor. He's guarding bigger threats."
Tony clapped sarcastically. "What a sacrifice, treating us like pawns."
Steve glared. "How many Skrulls on Earth?"
Talos sweated. "One million."
"What?!" Sam stood. "A million aliens?"
Tony's cannon glowed. "Names. Now."
James grabbed Rhodey, suspending him midair. "James?!" Steve shouted.
Rhodey struggled. "Let me go!"
James snapped. Green light revealed another Skrull. "Damn!" Clint readied his bow.
Tony's face paled. "Rhodey's fake too?"
"Clearly," James said, opening a portal. The real Rhodey fell through, legs twisted, uniform tattered.
"Rhodey!" Tony rushed to him, trembling. "Your legs…"
"Locked… in the base…" Rhodey coughed.
Thor's axe sparked. "Despicable vermin!"
A golden light crashed outside. "Where's the enemy?!" Carol Danvers hovered, fists blazing. Seeing Talos, her face twisted. "Talos?! What did you do to Fury?!"
She grabbed him. Talos waved frantically. "Carol, calm down! It's Fury's plan!"
"Plan?" Carol's eyes blazed. "Fooling the Avengers?"
Steve stepped forward. "Carol, Fury left Earth, letting Talos pose as him for a secret organization."
Carol's anger shifted to disbelief. "He hid it from me?"
Tony smirked. "Our commander trusts no one."
-------------------------------------------
The plans are now available.
Rank A: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
Rank S: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu
patreon.com/The_Fool007