"I don't have beer here, if you need it—"
Tony's words were cut short by Thor.
"Thank you for your kindness, my friend," Thor said, his expression serious as his gaze swept over the room. "But I have no time to spare. I need to find Wanda, Sergei, and Pietro." He paused, his tone resolute. "I need their help."
The gravity in his voice made everyone in the room exchange uneasy glances. Tony, Jean, and the others became solemn. For Thor, the future king of Asgard, to arrive on Earth with such urgency and concern, it could only mean one thing: this was no small matter.
Tony stayed silent and looked at Jean, who hesitated briefly before nodding. Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number that had gone unused for years. The line connected in three seconds, the call amplified for all to hear.
"Jean?" came a familiar, pleasant voice.
"Wanda, there's someone here who needs to see you," Jean said carefully.
"I think I know who it is," Wanda replied, her tone enigmatic. Without another word, she hung up.
Before anyone could comment, the air in the room shifted. A crisp sound, like glass shattering, echoed as the space before them fractured into transparent, folding prisms. From this kaleidoscope of light stepped Wanda, dressed casually in a gray sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers. The shards of space reassembled seamlessly behind her, leaving the room as it was.
Storm whispered, "Wow," unable to hide her amazement at the spectacle.
"Hey, Thor," Wanda greeted, smiling. "I sensed the Rainbow Bridge energy and got Jean's call. I figured it was you."
Thor grinned broadly. "Wanda, it's good to see you."
"So," she said, crossing her arms, "what's brought you to New York in such a hurry to find me?"
Thor's expression grew somber. "I need your help, Wanda."
"Help?" Wanda's brow furrowed.
Thor took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Since I returned to Asgard, Loki has vanished with the Eternal Spear. He's gone completely off the grid. Three hours ago, Heimdall detected Loki in the MX13 galaxy aboard a massive Chitauri mothership, surrounded by their army."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "I confronted him. We fought. He used a weapon I've never seen before, something powerful. During our brief exchange, it became clear: Loki and the Chitauri are preparing for war."
"A war against Asgard? Against Earth?" Tony frowned. Words like "alien army" and "war" never led to anything good.
Thor's face darkened. "It could be worse. The Chitauri are infamous for their atrocities, slaughtering countless civilizations. But they are not foolish. They wouldn't dare provoke Asgard unless something—or someone—gave them reason to."
The room grew tense. Jean, Scott, and the others exchanged uneasy glances.
"Do you think the Chitauri would willingly follow Loki?" Wanda asked, her tone skeptical. "And dare to start a war with Asgard? Is Loki mad?"
Thor shook his head. "Loki is many things, but mad isn't one of them. He's the smartest—and most cunning—person I've ever known. He doesn't embark on plans doomed to fail."
Thor's voice softened as he added, "But something about him felt... different. It was as if he wasn't himself. I believe someone else is behind this, someone manipulating Loki to ignite this war."
The weight of his words settled heavily over the room. Tony, arms crossed, rolled up his sleeves absentmindedly, his mind racing.
"If Loki leads the Chitauri against Asgard, what do you think the outcome will be?" Tony asked.
Thor's response was swift and confident. "The Chitauri are semi-mechanized beings with hive consciousness. While their technology is advanced, they are no match for Asgard. In an open war, they would lose decisively."
"But," Tony interjected, "if there's someone pulling the strings, why would they provoke a war they know the Chitauri can't win? What's the endgame? Chaos for the sake of chaos?"
He fell silent, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he snapped his fingers.
"Or," Tony said, looking around at the group, "maybe this isn't about winning a war. Maybe whoever's behind this wants to test something—to see how we respond. To measure our strength."
The room buzzed with realization. Jean nodded. "That makes sense. It would explain why they're provoking a conflict they can't win."
"And what are they afraid of?" Wanda asked, a faint smirk on her lips. "The answer's simple: Odin and the guardians of Earth."
...
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