The team sprang into action immediately.
Within five minutes, the jet was prepped for takeoff, roaring as it streaked toward Washington, D.C.
Back in the sprawling laboratory, only Pepper, Happy, and Natasha remained. The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant. Happy silently stepped in front of Pepper, subtly creating a safe distance between her and Natasha. His eyes were filled with wariness and disappointment; he had always thought this assistant, "Natalie," was capable and beautiful—he never expected her to be a spy.
Finally, Pepper broke the silence. She walked slowly toward Natasha, the initial anger and pain of betrayal having faded. As a corporate leader, she knew how to calm herself quickly.
"So, Natalie," she spoke softly. "From the first day you arrived at Stark Industries, everything was just an act, wasn't it?"
Natasha looked at Pepper, her gaze complicated. "The mission was real," she began, her voice sounding somewhat unnatural. "But the respect for you and the dedication to this job were also real, Miss Potts. You are the most outstanding CEO I have ever seen."
That was the truth. During her time at Stark Industries, she had witnessed how Pepper, through sheer will, managed two impulsive geniuses and a massive commercial empire with perfect order. It was a capability she sincerely admired. Though, primarily, she simply felt the benefits here were much better than at S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Thank you for the compliment, Agent Romanoff," Pepper replied, her tone unreadable. "Now that your identity is exposed and the mission is over, what do you plan to do? Call your boss immediately and tell him the Stark brothers are coming to blow up his headquarters?"
Natasha remained silent. This was the very conflict raging in her heart.
"Before you make a decision," Pepper continued, watching her, "I'll say three things."
"First, Henry and Tony might be arrogant bastards, but everything they do—whether wiping out HYDRA or challenging S.H.I.E.L.D.—is ultimately to protect this family and this world. Their methods might be extreme sometimes, but I believe in them."
"Second, regarding what Henry said about the Skrulls and Project PEGASUS, I don't know if it's true. But I know Henry. He never says things without evidence. If he is telling the truth, then the organization you serve and the man you follow are not as honorable as you think."
"Third," Pepper's gaze became incredibly firm. "No matter what happens next, I, Pepper Potts, will forever stand with the Stark family. Right now, there is a spy in my lab who might be a liar. Happy," she didn't look at Natasha again, merely stating the final words coldly, "Show her out."
"Yes, Miss Potts." Happy stepped forward, making a gesture for Natasha to leave.
...
Natasha drove down California's Highway 1. The afternoon sun sparkled on the sea, the scenery as beautiful as a painting. But her mind was a tempest. She pulled into a scenic overlook, cut the engine, and sat silently watching the blue horizon, letting the sea breeze mess up her hair.
Her thoughts were a tangled mess. Nick Fury. This man was her mentor, the only person she had trusted and served for years. He had given her a new identity and work she believed was meaningful. She had always thought she was fighting for justice, guarding world peace.
But... Skrulls?
The word was like a poisoned thorn embedded in her heart. If Henry was right—if Fury had secretly collaborated with a dangerous alien race for the "greater good," even letting them infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. and global governments—then what did her years of justice mean? Were she and the other agents kept in the dark just pawns used to maintain appearances?
Then there was Henry Stark. That playboy with the cynical smile and a tongue sharp enough to kill. Natasha recalled the look on his face in the lab when he revealed everything. His eyes were cold and decisive, showing utter contempt for Nick Fury's order. He called Fury a "race traitor." It was a crude term, but it cut straight to the point.
He was arrogant, conceited, and looked down on everything. Yet, he shared the power to change the world with his family and his team without hesitation. He would hunt the truth for a stranger and offer them sanctuary. He would take on the whole world to protect those he loved. His actions were chaotic and destructive, but his purpose was simple: Protection.
Natasha remembered the last look Pepper gave her. There was no anger, only disappointment and pity. Suddenly, she felt lost. Who was she fighting for? Did the justice she believed in even exist?
She slowly pulled out her encrypted communicator. Regardless, she was an agent. Reporting intelligence to her superior was her duty. As for the road ahead... She looked at where the sea met the sky, feeling that the path forward was long and shrouded in mist.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, The Triskelion.
Inside Nick Fury's office, the atmosphere was oppressive.
"What did you say?!" Fury's lone eye stared intensely at the holographic projection of Natasha's solemn face. "Repeat that!"
"Sir," Natasha's voice came through the encrypted line. "Henry Stark knows everything. Project PEGASUS, the Tesseract, even the Skrulls. He exposed my identity in front of everyone."
Fury leaned back into his chair. The office fell into a dead silence.
How did he know?! The existence of the Skrulls was a top-secret known only to himself and a few involved parties! Who exactly was Henry Stark?! He thought of Henry's iron-fisted methods and his glowing eyes. A cold chill ran from the soles of Fury's feet to the top of his head. For the first time, he felt things slipping out of his control.
"What do they want?" Fury asked in a low voice.
"They want to take the Tesseract," Natasha replied plainly. She didn't say "steal" or "borrow," she used the objective term: "take."
"Is he crazy?!"
"I don't know, sir," Natasha paused. "But I know they are serious. Their whole team has already departed. Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, the two powered twins, and that monster Emil Blonsky. Their target is the Triskelion."
"And Henry Stark told me to give you a message."
"He said he's going to send you to hell."
Without waiting for Fury's orders, she cut the communication. Nick Fury stared at the dark screen, his expression turning ugly. He knew a storm capable of toppling S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world order had arrived.
"Hill!" Fury's voice roared through the office.
Maria Hill appeared at the door within seconds. Seeing Fury's grim face, her heart sank. She knew something massive had happened.
"Highest level war alert!" Fury ordered decisively. "Recall all strike teams to the Triskelion! All field agents are to abort missions and stand by! Activate the Citadel Protocol and lock down all entrances! I don't care how you do it, turn this place into an iron fortress not even a fly can get into!"
"Sir," Hill was shocked. "What's happening? Is it a major HYDRA move?"
"Worse." Fury stared out the window at the deceptively calm sky. "It's the Stark brothers. They're coming."
The Stark brothers? Hill was stunned. Those names were practically taboo within S.H.I.E.L.D. now. They were like two hawks circling above, ready to dive and tear off a piece of bloody meat at any moment. But a direct attack on headquarters?
"What are they after?"
"The Tesseract," Fury's voice was raspy. "Henry Stark... he knows everything."
Hill's pupils contracted. She knew what those words meant.
"Execute the order immediately!" Fury barked.
"Yes, sir!" Hill didn't hesitate further, turning and leaving at a fast pace.
The entire Triskelion erupted into chaos. Alarms blared in every corner. Countless agents scurried through the building, assembling. Layer after layer of blast doors descended with heavy thuds. Fury watched all of this, but he felt no sense of security. He knew the Citadel Protocol might stop tanks and missiles, but it wouldn't stop that monster.
Henry Stark. How did he know about the Skrulls? Had something gone wrong with Talos? The thought made him latch onto the most problematic point. He had to confirm it immediately.
He walked to his desk and opened a hidden communication device—a private line not connected to any S.H.I.E.L.D. network. He pressed a button. A few seconds later, a holographic projection appeared. It was an alien with green skin and pointed ears—Talos, leader of the Skrulls on Earth, currently disguised as a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
"Fury," Talos sounded somewhat lazy. "Why are you looking for me so late? Want me to steal another secret file from some poor sap's office?"
"Shut up, Talos!" Fury's voice was ice. "I'm asking you: regarding our agreement, who else knows besides you and me?!"
Talos froze, sensing something wrong in Fury's tone. "No one," he said, his playful expression turning serious. "This is the highest secret between our two races. I wouldn't tell anyone."
"Are you sure?"
"I swear it on my life," Talos said firmly. "Fury, what's going on?"
Fury remained silent. If Talos hadn't leaked it, then... how did Henry Stark know? Could he be...? A thought flashed through Fury's mind. Was he an alien?! No, no, he was Howard's son!
"It's nothing," Fury eventually suppressed the crazy thought. Now wasn't the time for an inquest. "Listen, Talos. Gather all your people and come to the Triskelion immediately. We have big trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"The Stark brothers."
On the other end of the projection, Talos went silent. After a moment, he nodded gravely. "I'll be there."
Closing the channel, Fury's anxiety didn't lessen. He knew that even with the Skrulls, the odds were slim. He needed a true trump card. He walked to a wall at the back of his office and entered a complex code. The wall opened, revealing an old... pager?
Fury picked it up, his finger hovering over the red send button for a long time. This was his final card—one he swore never to use unless it was the end of the world. Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel. That woman with overwhelming power. But she was far away in the depths of space, fighting for the galaxy. Was it worth calling her back for this "little trouble" on Earth?
Fury's heart struggled. But when he pictured Henry's smiling face and the way he had effortlessly crushed the Destroyer into a ball, he gritted his teeth and pressed the button.
A colorful star logo—Captain Marvel's insignia—began to blink, sending out a distress signal. The signal pierced the atmosphere, cleared the solar system, and flew toward the endless depths of the universe. Fury didn't know if Carol would receive it, or how long it would take her to return. He only knew he had done everything he could. The rest was up to fate.
...
Meanwhile, inside a jet flying at high speed toward Washington, the atmosphere was relaxed.
"Hey, Tony! Are you sure our operation code name should really be 'Sending Warmth'?" Henry leaned back in the pilot's seat, eating a donut while mocking Tony, who was operating the holographic screens. "It sounds too charitable. People will think we're delivering lunch to S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."
"It's called tactical deception, you muscle-head," Tony retorted without looking back. "Think about it: what will Fury's face look like when he hears the code name is 'Sending Warmth'? It'll be worse than swallowing a fly. That's the effect I want."
He turned and winked at Henry. "Besides, aren't we going there to give them warmth? The warmth of sending them to hell."
"Pfft!" Pietro couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"You two..." Wanda shook her head helplessly. She felt her sense of humor was deteriorating just by being around them. Dr. Banner sat nearby, silently calibrating a strange-looking device—a disc-shaped instrument covered in complex wiring and energy nodes.
"Bruce, how's the Gamma Energy Stabilizer coming along?" Henry leaned over curiously.
"Almost done." Banner adjusted his glasses, a hint of excitement on his face. "Theoretically, it can absorb and convert the excess gamma radiation produced during Hulk's transformation, allowing me to stay conscious and stable in a semi-transformed state for longer. I haven't tested it in combat yet, though."
"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances today," Henry patted his shoulder. "Trust me, you're going to love the feeling."
"Alright."
"Okay, everyone." Henry stood up and clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Jarvis, report our progress."
"Sir, we will enter the Triskelion's airspace in ten minutes," Jarvis's voice rang out. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has activated the highest defense protocols; all external networks are cut. However, I have already left a backdoor in their internal network for us."
"Nice work, Jarvis," Henry nodded with satisfaction. "Now, everyone..." He looked at his team—the strongest line-up in the world. "Let's go deliver some unforgettable 'warmth' to that self-righteous one-eyed bastard!"
Ten minutes later. Washington, D.C., above the Potomac River.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters stood silently in the middle of the river like a dormant steel beast. Now, the beast had bared all its fangs. Countless anti-air turrets emerged from every corner of the building, their black muzzles pointing at the sky. A visible energy shield, like a giant inverted bowl, enveloped the entire facility.
"Tsk, quite a show they're putting on." Suspended high in the air, Henry looked down at the heavily guarded fortress. "Has Fury brought out all his hidden treasures? I wonder if this turtle shell is tough enough."
"We'll find out soon enough," Tony smiled confidently. He stood up, and his brand-new armor instantly covered his body.
"Banner, Blonsky." His voice echoed through the armor's speakers. "You two take the front gate! Remember, the louder the noise, the better!"
"ROAR!"
Banner's body expanded rapidly—green skin, bulging muscles. He didn't hesitate, transforming directly into the Hulk! Beside him, Blonsky transformed into the Abomination!
"Pietro, Wanda. You take out their external defenses. Those anti-air guns are an eyesore."
"No problem!" Pietro was eager to start.
"Leave it to us," Wanda said, red flames igniting in her hands.
"Alright, then..." Tony turned back to his brother, who was the only one still sitting. "What about you, Mr. Commander-in-Chief? Planning to stay on the plane, sip coffee, and enjoy the show?"
Henry laughed. He stood up slowly as his armor silently covered his frame. He walked to the open hatch, looking down at the impregnable fortress. His smile was one of pure confidence and arrogance.
"Me? I'm going to find their boss and have a chat about resignation and retirement."
"Let's go, demolition crew, assemble!"
With that, he leaped! He plummeted straight down toward the base. Behind him, the Hulk, the Abomination, Iron Man, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch followed! The strongest super-human legion on the planet descended upon the Triskelion!
Today was doomsday for S.H.I.E.L.D.!!