[Steve Rogers (Combo Prince Who Wants to Dance With Her): Seventy years? Has it really been seventy years? I don't know what's going on, but I don't think I'm a ghost... right?]
[Nick Fury (Would Love a Vacation on the Moon): Uh... Captain, it has indeed been nearly seventy years since you crashed that plane into the glacier. As for whether you are a ghost, none of us can say. Can you briefly describe your situation over there?]
[Tony Stark (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): My god, this chatroom really is something. I'm also curious. Weren't you dead? Since when can the dead answer questions?]
[Stephen Strange (I'm Here to Negotiate): This violates basic science and clinical medicine. Lord, what is happening? And about the nickname after my name, who am I negotiating with?]
[Natasha (Stop Arguing, I'll Jump Off a Cliff): Who knows, and what's with making me jump off a cliff? What a joke.]
[Steve Rogers (Combo Prince Who Wants to Dance With Her): I can't tell what this place is. Everything's just white. Other than this thing titled Quiz Chatroom, there's nothing else.]
[Tony Stark (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): ....]
While everyone was baffled, a mechanical voice rang in every ear. "Attention, members. The quiz begins now."
"Question One: During the desert demonstration of Stark Industries' new weapons, who masterminds the plot to abduct Tony Stark?"
"Note: You have thirty minutes to answer. Wrong answers will result in random deductions of possessions, including but not limited to intellect, wealth, abilities, lifespan, and other assets."
"Those who answer correctly will receive the skill: Teleportation. This round lasts thirty minutes. If no one responds, the system will randomly designate one person to answer. Please watch the footage."
As the metallic voice faded, a video began to play in the chatroom.
Onscreen, a proud Tony Stark had just finished showcasing Stark Industries' latest weapon. He declined Colonel Rhodes's invitation to ride the Funvee, sat in a Humvee taking selfies with soldiers, and joked about cover models.
A violent explosion suddenly roared. Armed men charged in, heading straight for Tony's vehicle.
As the soldiers around him were shot, Tony flung the door open and dove behind a rock to hide. He grabbed his phone to call for help, but an instant later a bomb marked with the Stark Industries logo landed beside him.
Seeing it, Tony scrambled to his feet to run.
BOOM! The bomb detonated and blasted Tony through the air.
The footage cut off.
Everyone who saw it went silent. The scene felt too real, as if it were happening to them.
Tony, watching from his sofa, found it even harder to accept. Was this a video of the future?
In the clip, he was blown up by a missile stamped with his own company's name. He had already told Obadiah Stane that in five days, after the evening awards ceremony, he would head out to demonstrate the new weapon. For Stark Industries, that showcase was critical.
Would he be kidnapped? Would he die out there?
The clip froze at the moment he was hurled away by the blast. Was this chatroom warning him about his future?
Tony fell into a heavy silence.
The mechanical voice returned in the chatroom.
"Footage concluded. Please select the correct answer from the options below."
"1: Obadiah Stane."
"2: Hydra."
"3: Local forces."
"You have thirty minutes to consider. After thirty minutes, if no one responds, the system will forcibly designate a respondent."
With that, the once quiet chatroom erupted again.
[Wanda (Westview Moves As I Will): @Tony Stark, never thought you'd see the day. Call it karma.]
[Pietro (Keep That Bullet Away From Me): That's right, karma. Tony Stark, now you get to feel the power of the weapons you made.]
[Tony (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): ??? Who are you two supposed to be? What do you have to do with this? Damn it, are you actually gloating?]