"A Skrull? Talos?"
Heisenberg nodded, bidding farewell to Peter and Uncle Ben.
Following Hill, he left the crowd and headed toward the abandoned train station at the center of Liberty State Park.
Before it became a park, this was a barely used train station, eventually falling into disrepair.
In 1975, the abandoned station was transformed into a park, but the ruins were preserved as a unique attraction.
And today…
Approaching the station, Heisenberg was surprised to see a shirtless Thor!
The goofball was now sporting a slight beer belly, holding an M16 variant, excitedly dodging bullets fired from across the way!
"Haha, darling, I'm a god! No one can shoot a god in the face!"
He shouted, raising the rifle and firing a burst.
Eighty meters away, the sound of bullets striking steel echoed endlessly!
The target was Jane Foster, clad in Iron Man armor…
Meanwhile, in a nearby corner,
Tony Stark, also in Iron Man armor and holding a rifle, gave Thor a thumbs-up.
"Nice shot, Team Men +1!"
"Haha, of course, I'm Thor the—!!"
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Before Thor could finish, a barrage of bullets struck his slight belly fat.
Thor let out a pained scream.
"Ahhh, stop, stop! Okay, you win, it's too itchy, haha!"
Thor begged for mercy, raising his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright, Team Women +1. I'm out again. Stark, take them down!"
"No way, only Pepper's left. Do you think I'm you? I'm not shooting my woman!"
Seeing Thor eliminated, Stark immediately raised his gun in surrender, stepping out of the trench.
Even so, the last female warrior, Pepper, unloaded a full burst into Tony's armor.
Game over…
Lowering his gun, Tony patted his armor and glanced toward Heisenberg.
"Hey, buddy, want a round? I never thought my armor could be used for live-fire games!"
"Me neither!"
Heisenberg chuckled, walking over to embrace his old friend.
From afar, those participating in the game had varied expressions.
Thor's face was understandably grim. Even knowing his father's death was a choice, even understanding the sacredness of the throne's succession,
grief was still grief. He didn't want to see Heisenberg.
But Heisenberg didn't want to see him either—fair enough.
On the other side, Pepper opened her faceplate, waving at Heisenberg.
"Good morning, sir!"
"Hmm, good morning, Pepper."
Heisenberg released Tony and waved back, then surveyed the live-fire participants:
Thor, Tony, Coulson vs. Jane, Pepper, and Melinda…
Was this a live-fire game?
It seemed more like a couples' torture session!
Wait!
Watching Melinda open her faceplate, Heisenberg suddenly remembered something.
He glanced oddly at Coulson…
Melinda was married, right? Where was her husband?
Wasn't he that dark-skinned psychologist, a SHIELD advisor?!
Coulson, Coulson—despite your handsome features, you're even after a SHIELD advisor's wife?!
Shaking his head at the moral decline, Heisenberg bypassed the group, following Hill to SHIELD's secret base beneath the station ruins.
In key cities like New York, nearly every park hid HYDRA and SHIELD bases. No need to think—just search and find.
Now, descending via elevator, Heisenberg immediately spotted the waiting Skrull in the lounge.
Though Skrulls generally had wrinkled green skin, Heisenberg could tell them apart.
"Not Talos? Is he busy?"
Heisenberg asked casually. The Skrull quickly saluted.
After the salute, the Skrull nodded, explaining,
"I'm here on Talos's orders to deliver a message.
Twenty-six minutes ago, Talos received news from deep space!"
The Skrull glanced worriedly at Heisenberg, continuing,
"The Supreme Nova of the Kree Empire, Captain Marvel, has learned of the Chitauri's invasion of Earth.
Afterward, she contacted Talos and is en route to Earth."
Hearing this, Heisenberg smiled lightly, asking,
"That's all?"
"That's all!"
"Hmph, nothing to worry about. Tell Talos to handle it as needed.
I repelled the Chitauri—no need for her three-day-late help.
As for her friend Nick Fury's death, convey my condolences. Nick was a great man!"
With that, Heisenberg turned and left, returning to the surface to continue the banquet.
…
Two days later, near the Moon, outside Talos's hidden base, a glowing figure hovered.
Captain Marvel's strength was unknown, but her aura never faltered.
The base doors slowly opened, and Carol strode in, chin raised.
Guided by Skrulls, she soon reached Talos's command room.
"Long time no see, old friend. How've you been?"
Carol greeted from afar.
After all, she felt somewhat guilty toward Talos and his people.
She'd promised to find them a suitable planet to settle, but most habitable planets were already home to indigenous life.
Kind-hearted Carol didn't want the Skrulls' arrival to disrupt those lives.
But planets without indigenous life…
were either harsh environments or homes to powerful beings.
Like Ego…
Its scenery was paradise-like!
But who could live there?
Ego was a Celestial, a living planet!
In short, Carol's promise remained unfulfilled, making her hesitant to face Talos.
Of course, Talos held no grudge. He smiled, embracing Carol lightly.
"It's been too long, Captain Marvel. Sadly, this reunion brings painful news."
"What news?"
After the embrace, Carol frowned at Talos, sensing something ominous.
Talos's reply confirmed her fears.
He blinked painfully, regretfully saying,
"Our old friend Nick Fury… died three months ago."
Carol's eyes widened in shock.
"Impossible! We spoke recently. How could he…?!"
"I'm sorry, Carol. The tragedy occurred days after that call."
"Damn it! What happened? Was it that Superman?
Why didn't he contact me? I gave him a communicator. What stopped him from using it?"
Carol asked, slumping into a chair.
She had only two friends on Earth: Nick Fury and Maria Rambeau.
Now, only one remained.
Listening, Talos shook his head regretfully, sitting opposite Carol.
He pulled a card from his pocket, placing it on the table between them.
The table flickered rapidly, reading the card's data.
In the next instant, a projection appeared above the table.
"I'm sorry, Carol. It all happened too suddenly. As a friend, I could do nothing."
Talos and Carol watched the video of Nick's death.
Nick Fury charged toward a group of defeated young agents on the battlefield.
"Three months ago, HYDRA, hidden within SHIELD for over seventy years, staged a massive betrayal.
In the sudden war, Nick, saving young SHIELD students, was ambushed by a HYDRA agent, losing his life!"
As the video showed Nick's chest exploding,
Talos paused the projection, tracing the bullet back to the shooter.
"Pierre Claude, former SHIELD Level 6 agent, Nick's direct subordinate, and hidden HYDRA member.
He died in the war before I could act.
As a friend, I couldn't even avenge him. It's agonizing, but Nick is gone."
Talos patted Carol's arm, consoling,
"My condolences, friend."
"Yes, what else can I do but grieve? I returned too late…"
Carol shook her head, slumping on the sofa.
After a silence, she asked softly,
"What about Earth? The Chitauri—were they truly stopped by that Superman?"
"Yes, Carol."
Talos nodded.
"I must admit, even without you, Earth is full of miracles.
That heavenly warrior not only repelled the Chitauri and Supergiant but also defeated Odin, ruler of the Nine Realms for over five millennia!"
Saying this, Talos snapped his fingers, changing the projection.
Heisenberg's wave annihilating a million Chitauri in Denver appeared.
Watching, Carol nodded solemnly.
"I grew up on Captain America's stories. I know HYDRA, but they hid beside Nick…"
Carol rubbed her forehead, asking softly,
"Were HYDRA eliminated? Is there anything I can do? I want to…"
"Ah, friend, I know you want to honor Nick. I felt the same.
But sadly, that warrior already dealt with HYDRA. SHIELD is now led by Nick's most trusted secretary.
Admittedly, neither you nor I can do anything more for Nick…"
"Yes, I haven't done anything, yet nothing is needed of me. I seem… redundant…"
Carol murmured, standing sadly and leaving Talos's base in a daze.
Moments later, golden light flashed, and Carol vanished.
Even Talos didn't know where she went.