The Thunderbolts' jet thrummed as it cut across the clouds, its interior filled with a silence so heavy it pressed against the chest. Aurora shifted uncomfortably in her seat, while Miles tried to lighten the mood with small talk that went ignored.
Juggernaut sat like a statue at the rear of the cabin, his massive frame dwarfing every other passenger. His helmet gleamed under the dim cabin lights, arms folded, a silent sentinel. Beside him, Vanessa adjusted her golden-blonde hair, her expression calm but thoughtful. Silvanna leaned against the wall, her crimson eyes studying the Thunderbolts one by one.
It was Vanessa who finally broke the silence. Her voice carried steady, cutting through the hum of the engines.
"You should know something before we land. Juggernaut—he's my father. And Silvanna is my aunt."
The reaction was instant.
Ghost phased halfway through her seat in shock before re-solidifying. "Juggernaut? Who the hell is that supposed to be?"
Bucky frowned, his metal fingers drumming on the armrest. "Never heard of him. And trust me, I've heard of everyone."
Red Guardian snorted. "With a name like Juggernaut, he sounds like bad news."
Yelena's knife twirled between her fingers, eyes narrowed on the towering man. "And yet we've never heard a single thing about him. Not in any file. Not in any mission report. Not even a whisper. That's… odd."
Juggernaut chuckled, the sound low and thunderous, making the walls vibrate. "What can I say? Different universes, different legends. Where I come from, everyone knows my name. Here? Guess I'm just the new guy."
Vanessa leaned forward, meeting their stares head-on. "He's not your enemy. He's my father. He's fought beside me, protected me, and yes—he's powerful enough to level cities. But he's here because Tony Stark trusted us to help. And because finding Spider-Man matters."
The words only deepened the unease.
"Different universes…" Bucky muttered, rubbing his jaw. His eyes flicked to Aurora and Silvanna. "So you're telling me not only do we have travelers from other worlds, but now we've got mystery powerhouses walking in like they own the place?"
Silvanna straightened, her voice razor-sharp. "You don't have to trust us. Just don't get in our way."
For a moment, the tension bristled like static, the room one breath away from erupting.
But Bucky finally leaned back, exhaling. "Fine. You want in on this op? Prove you can work with a team. Simple as that."
The onboard screens lit up with mission details: HYDRA remnants—experimental weapons transfer—abandoned Siberian outpost.
"Mission's straightforward," Bucky said firmly, seizing control of the room. "Hit hard, stop the transfer, secure the tech. No screw-ups."
Ghost muttered under her breath, "Simple never stays simple."
Juggernaut cracked his knuckles, the sound like grinding stone. "Good. I was getting bored."
Aurora looked around at the uneasy alliance—the Thunderbolts suspicious, Juggernaut an unknown, Vanessa standing defiant, and Silvanna bristling with quiet menace.
They weren't a team. Not yet. But they were about to find out if they could become one.
And the test would come in fire and steel.