Aside from the three little tyrants on the jet, Coulson, Natasha, and Barton also disembarked and followed Lucas down into the office on the first floor.
Lucas had the system modify part of the office and apartment layout—an exclusive elevator was installed inside the firm, allowing direct access to every floor without stepping outside. It could only be activated with a crystal, making it strictly for their group.
"You all came together?"
Lucas raised a brow. The girls had been flying around nonstop—had they ended up joyriding at S.H.I.E.L.D.?
His guess wasn't far off.
While the trio were soaring around the city, they received a call from Natasha telling them to pick her up from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. So Skye casually changed course and flew straight there.
Fortunately, S.H.I.E.L.D. acted generously. They didn't restrict or interrogate them—Lucas's Quinjet had an official clearance record allowing unrestricted access to any S.H.I.E.L.D. airport or landing pad. This discovery delighted the three girls beyond expectation.
"I picked Natasha and the others up. Figured I'd take a little tour of S.H.I.E.L.D. while I was at it."
Skye winked at Lucas.
Lucas immediately understood. She must have hacked their system again, probably planting a dozen new backdoors.
He discreetly gave her a thumbs-up.
Skye smirked proudly.
The two understood each other perfectly.
"When we arrived, the Director briefed us on the situation. We've already deployed around Hell's Kitchen. Once those vampires show themselves again, they won't get away."
Coulson held up a tablet displaying a map of Hell's Kitchen covered with densely packed red markers.
"It'll be a tough few nights. Don't sleep too deeply. The moment there's a lead, we move."
He distributed bone-conduction earpieces to everyone—encrypted S.H.I.E.L.D. comm units, perfect for rapid coordination.
"Hell yeah! I can finally go on a real mission with everyone again!"
Gwen clenched her fist excitedly.
Aside from the vampire incident last time, she had been stuck attending classes. A rare chance like this was precious.
Lucas understood the subtext and turned to the group.
"Let's call Peter over. He's combat-ready, and this time the enemy's a bit troublesome."
His last sentence immediately drew everyone's attention—
not because Peter was joining,
but because Lucas said the enemy was troublesome.
"How do you know they're troublesome?"
Frank picked up on it quickly.
Clear as day—Lucas knew something they didn't.
Lucas didn't hide anything; he planned to explain once everyone arrived anyway.
"Call Peter first."
Gwen phoned him.
Peter, currently cuddling with Felicia, answered instantly without thinking.
"Do you need Felicia to request another leave for you?"
His first reaction was about school leave. Gwen had already taken several days off, all easily approved—the privilege of being the top student.
"No, this time you need to take the day off. We need your help."
Peter perked up immediately.
He hadn't worn the Spider-Man suit since starting college—finally he had a chance to get back into action.
"No problem. I'm heading over now."
After hanging up, he looked at Felicia. She'd obviously heard everything.
"Be careful. I'll be waiting for you."
Felicia didn't protest.
Ever since learning Peter was Spider-Man, she had mentally prepared herself.
Spider-Man protected New York.
He couldn't stay by her side every moment.
"Got it!"
Peter gave a mock salute, changed into his suit, and used a crystal to enter the Chocobo space.
After he left, Felicia stared out the window silently.
Eventually, she seemed to make a decision, picked up her phone, dialed a number, and said:
"I agree to what you proposed."
She hung up immediately and lay back on the bed in a daze.
---
Peter returned from the Chocobo space and appeared in the office.
Felicia would handle the leave request—he didn't need to worry.
"Hey guys, what's the emergency?"
He didn't wear his mask—everyone here knew each other's identities, so it didn't matter.
"Vampires again. And this time it's different. Lucas insisted on waiting for you."
Gwen explained.
Lucas nodded.
"I received new information—these vampires are from another universe."
The statement hit the room like a bomb.
Everyone froze, stunned, unsure they'd heard correctly.
"You mean they're aliens?"
Coulson frowned.
As Fury's top agent, he knew secrets even Natasha and Barton didn't—especially regarding extraterrestrials.
He even knew the woman constantly patrolling outer space.
Lucas shook his head.
"Not aliens. They're from a different universe. A parallel Earth."
"Parallel universe? There are really parallel universes?"
Coulson couldn't help asking.
Until now, parallel universes were only theoretical—no one had ever truly traveled to one.
"They exist. And from what I know, there's even an organization specifically tasked with handling parallel universe affairs."
He was talking about the TVA from Loki—that bunch of fools.
"Then why aren't they stopping these vampires? Isn't that their job?"
Skye raised her hand like she was answering a question in class.
"I have no idea. None of them are normal.
You can't expect competence from a group of idiots."
Lucas scoffed.
The TVA was a mess—intervening where they shouldn't, ignoring what they should.
Typical malfunctioning bureaucrats.
"How do you even know they exist? Did they tell you all this?"
Coulson fired off two questions in a row.
His attention had already shifted from vampires to the TVA.
The organization's duties overlapped with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s in certain areas.
A seasoned agent like Coulson naturally felt the urge to gather intel.
Lucas shook his head.
"No. I've never met the TVA.
The person who told me this was someone else."
"Who?"
Coulson pressed on, fully in interrogator mode.
"I can't tell you yet. When the time is right, they'll reveal themselves.
Once we confirm the vampires' stronghold, they'll show up to help."
Lucas didn't mention the sorcerers.
He knew exactly what S.H.I.E.L.D. would do if they learned about Kamar-Taj—
coercion, surveillance, pressure, manipulation.
They would stop at nothing to control such power.
Lucas had no intention of letting that happen.