Ben crouched beside Steve's unconscious form, rummaging through his utility belt before pulling out a small vial. "This should do the trick," he muttered, popping off the cap. A strong, acrid smell wafted through the air, making Tony recoil slightly.
"Ugh, what is that?" Tony grimaced, stepping back as Ben waved the vial under Steve's nose.
"Something that'll wake up Cap in no time," Ben replied.
Inside Steve's illusion, the world around him was warm and lively. He was back in a grand hall, the American flag draped proudly across the walls, the air filled with laughter and triumphant cheers. It was a celebration—the war was over.
Bucky clapped him on the back, grinning. "We did it, Steve. Hydra's finished."
"Took you long enough to knock some sense into 'em," Dum Dum Dugan added, raising a glass.
Peggy stood before him, radiant, eyes shining with pride. "You made it home, Steve. Just like you promised."
Steve blinked, a strange unease settling over him. Something about this didn't feel right. His eyes flickered across the room, taking in the familiar faces, the gleaming uniforms, the warmth in Peggy's touch. It all felt... perfect. Too perfect.
"Steve?" Peggy's voice was soft, concerned. "What's wrong?"
He opened his mouth to answer but hesitated. "This... this isn't real."
Bucky frowned. "Come on, pal, don't say that. We're here. It's over. You won."
But Steve wasn't convinced. The edges of the room felt hazy, dreamlike. The warmth started to fade as a sharp, pungent scent sliced through the air, stinging his nostrils. His vision blurred, the laughter around him distorting, and suddenly—
Steve gasped, jolting upright on the Helicarrier deck. He coughed, waving away the lingering scent. "What—?"
"You're welcome," Ben smirked, pocketing the vial. "Thought we lost you for a second."
Steve exhaled, rubbing his temple. "It was Loki. He had me trapped. It felt real."
"Yeah, illusions tend to do that." Ben
crossed his arms.
"Next time, maybe skip the dream sequence and get back in the fight quicker. Old man." Tony added on the side.
Ben couldn't help but rolling his eyes under his helmet. " Right, I you and I did any better Tin man. "
Before Tony could make a quippy remark, Steve shot him a look. Before, he activated his comm. "Romanoff, what's your status?"
Her voice crackled through the earpiece. "Still securing the Helicarrier, but we need to move. Loki's heading for New York. We need to get there fast."
"Think you can fly us there?"
"I can," Natasha replied. "But I'll need a co-pilot and his standing right in front of me."
Clint now longer under Loki's spell, wipes is face with a wet tallow. " Hey, you ready to get some payback. " Natasha asked, as turned her attention to the archer that never misses a target.
" Thought you'd never ask?" Clint smirked ready for a fight.
" Good suit we leave in 5," Natasha explained as she turned to leave the room to get ready for the battle a head.
With no time to waste, the five of them boarded the Quinjet. Tony took to the sky ahead of them, flying in his damaged armor, leading the way to New York. The battle was far from over, but together, they were ready to face whatever Loki had planned.
As the hum of the Quinjet's engines filled the cabin, Maria Hill's voice crackled through Nick Fury's earpiece.
"Sir, I believe Steve Rogers and the rest of the team have taken one off the Quinjet's."
Fury stood on the bridge of the Helicarrier, his grip tightening on Captain America trading cards he still held. His one eye remained fixed on the distant storm clouds rolling over the horizon. This mission had already cost lives. He had banked everything on the Avengers Initiative, but would it live up to the expectations he had placed upon it?
"Good," he said finally, his voice sharp and resolute. "Get our communications back online—whatever it takes. I want eyes on everything."
Hill gave a firm acknowledgment before breaking into a hurried stride, moving to restore order amidst the chaos. Fury exhaled slowly, still staring at the sky, unreadable in his expression. He wasn't a man prone to doubts, but even he knew that victory was never guaranteed.
Inside the Quinjet, Ben leaned against the cockpit door, watching as Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton piloted the aircraft. His gaze landed on Barton, his arms crossed as he spoke with casual curiosity.
"Hey, weren't you just working for Loki a little while ago?"
Barton didn't flinch, his sharp eyes remaining fixed on the controls. Natasha, seated beside him, turned slightly, giving Ben a pointed look.
"He's clear of Loki's control," she said, her voice even but carrying a note of finality. "I can vouch for him. I hope you don't have a problem with that."
Ben studied Clint for a moment, noting the lack of purple in his suit, which was a stark contrast to his comic book counterpart. There was no sign of hesitation or guilt in Barton's demeanor—just quiet resolve. After a beat, Ben gave a small nod and reached out, giving Barton's shoulder a firm pat.
"Well, then, I guess it's nice to have you on the team," Ben said, his tone light but his eyes still watchful. He knew what it meant to be manipulated, to have control stripped away. Clint hadn't acted of his own will, but still, Ben would be keeping an eye on him. Just in case.
Natasha observed the brief exchange, her gaze flicking between them before turning back to the controls. The air in the cabin settled, but the tension of the upcoming battle still loomed over them.
Toward the back of the jet, Steve Rogers sat in silence, observing the interaction. He let out a quiet sigh, feeling some relief at the developing camaraderie, however fragile it might be. He had seen enough fractured teams in the war to know that trust had to be built quickly in battle.
Ben, satisfied with the exchange, walked back and dropped into the seat opposite Steve. The two sat quietly for a moment, the weight of the mission pressing down on them. They were heading straight into the heart of the storm, and no one could say for sure if they'd all make it out.
"Think we'll catch Loki in time?" Ben finally asked.
Steve met his gaze, his expression firm and unwavering. "We have to."
" Well, like make grandpa. Always be ready for the worst. " Ben add, his fingers hovering over the Omnitrix dial.
Tennyson Industries – CEO's Office
Angela Green stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of her office, her tablet in one hand, her earpiece in the other. Below, the streets of New York pulsed with the evening rush—horns blaring, pedestrians weaving through traffic—but her focus was on something far bigger: progress.
"The first phase of the charging stations is ahead of schedule," she reported, scanning the latest data. "Our teams wrapped up installations across Brooklyn last week. Expansion into Queens starts Monday."
Over the line, Pepper Potts' voice came through, steady against the faint hum of Stark Industries' private jet. "That's good news. We've had minimal pushback from city officials so far. And Tony—well, you know how he is."
Angela smirked, stepping back toward her desk. "That's fine, as long as we can push to complete at least 70 percent across the city before October. We need to be ready for the first-gen EV launch."
Pepper let out a short laugh. "No promises."
Across the room, Angela's children, Josh and Juliana, sprawled across the couch, flipping through their schoolbooks. With classes done for the day, they waited patiently for their mother to wrap up before heading home.
Juliana, absentmindedly scrolling through her tablet, suddenly sat up, her brow furrowed. "Mom… what's that?"
Angela followed her daughter's gaze, turning back to the window. A few blocks away, at the peak of Stark Tower, a bright blue light pulsed against the skyline. Thin tendrils of energy spiraled outward, crackling like living lightning.
Her stomach tightened. That was *not* normal.
"Pepper…" Angela said slowly, her grip on the tablet tightening. "Are you putting on some kind of light show at Stark Tower?"
The line went quiet for half a second. Then Pepper's tone turned sharp. "No. What are you—?"
She didn't finish. Angela knew she had just seen it too.
"Oh, my god."
Angela stepped closer to the glass, her eyes narrowing. She wasn't an engineer like Ben or Tony, but she knew enough to recognize when something was happening that *shouldn't* be. And if Pepper had no clue either, then that meant *something* had gone very, very wrong.
The air changed.
A deep hum resonated through the city, vibrating through the glass. The lights flickered. Angela's holographic display glitched momentarily before stabilizing again.
Juliana gripped her tablet tightly. "Mom, I don't like this."
Angela barely heard her. Her instincts screamed that something big was coming.
"Pepper?" she tried again.
Pepper's voice was clipped, urgent. "Angela, I need to call you back."
The line went dead.
STARK TOWER
Dr. Erik Selvig looked skyward, his expression awash with awe and horror as the Tesseract's energy surged upward, splitting open the sky. The beam carved through the atmosphere, its intensity forming a vortex—
A Portal.
VASTNESS OF SPACE
A rift tore open in the void. From its depths, the Chitauri army emerged in waves, swarming through the cosmic breach. Their grotesque, insect-like flying chariots descended, their energy rifles glowing menacingly.
Angela exhaled sharply, forcing herself to remain calm as she turned to her children. "Stay close to me."
Before she could say another word, Olivia's voice rang across the office—clear, mechanical, and laced with urgency.
"Alert: Unusual anomaly detected. Engaging tower defense systems."
Outside, the building whirred to life.
Turrets sprang from hidden compartments along the exterior, sleek and automated, locking onto the disturbance. Even from her office, Angela could hear the deep *thunk* of heavy weaponry deploying.
A massive turret rose from her own balcony, its barrel swiveling toward the sky, aimed precisely at the now-gaping rift above Stark Tower.
Josh's eyes widened in awe. "Awesome!"
"Josh!" Angela snapped. But before she could reprimand him further, Juliana pointed to the portal, her face pale.
Angela turned—
ABOVE STARK TOWER
High above, Tony Stark—fully suited in his latest Iron Man armor—hovered before the portal, mouth slightly agape at the nightmare unfolding before him.
"Right. Army."
His shoulder-mounted missile system deployed with a click, launching a barrage toward the incoming swarm. Explosions erupted in the sky, taking out several Chitauri warriors. But more—*hundreds* more—poured through.
The missiles barely made a dent.
Tony's eyes darted to the city below as chaos began to unfold. This was just the beginning.
Manhattan – The Invasion Begins
The Chitauri unleash hell upon the city. Blasts rip through the streets, turning cars into fireballs and storefronts into raging infernos. New Yorkers, paralyzed by fear and disbelief, stare at the unfolding nightmare—an all-out war erupting above their heads.
BOOM! A Chitauri blast demolishes a taxi, sending debris raining down. The piercing screams of terrified civilians fill the air as they flee in all directions.
Tennyson Industries Tower – Two Blocks Away
"Mom, look! Iron Man!"
Josh's voice was filled with excitement, his small hands pressed against the glass. "He's fighting those things coming out of the hole in the sky!" He pointed at the distant figure of Tony Stark, weaving through the battlefield in his signature red and gold armor, repulsors blasting as he tore through the invaders.
"Mrs. Green, please retreat into the panic room," Olivia's voice rang out through the building's AI system, calm yet urgent.
Before Angela could respond, the automated turrets lining the tower's perimeter activated, their massive barrels swiveling toward the advancing Chitauri. A deafening roar followed as high-caliber rounds tore through the air, ripping into the alien soldiers, sending them spiraling to the ground in pieces.
Onboard the Quinjet –
"Hey, you two might want to see this," Natasha called from the cockpit, her voice grave. She gestured toward the windshield.
A pillar of searing blue light speared the sky from atop Stark Tower, ripping reality apart. The portal widened, and from within, an endless army of Chitauri poured forth.
Ben exhaled, the sight sending chills down his spine. Even after everything he'd read and imagined, seeing it firsthand was something else entirely.
Steve Rogers stood near the cockpit, his expression grim as he studied the blue light beam and portal in the sky. "Loki's staging this in the Middle of Manhattan. The light beam is coming from Stark Tower," he said.
"Of course it is," Ben muttered, not surprised. That's only a few blocks from Tennyson Industries company's headquarters. He had suspected New York would be ground zero—just like in the comics. The city had always been the battleground for Marvel's greatest conflicts. It was why he'd headquartered Tennyson Industries here in the first place—tax benefits, strategic location, influence. It made sense.
But now, those reasons felt irrelevant. His employees, friends, and thousands of civilians were in danger. His jaw tightened. Loki's wasn't getting away with this unscratched.
He turned without hesitation, heading to the Quinjet's rear ramp.
"Tennyson, what are you doing?" Steve called.
Ben glanced over his shoulder. "Providing Stark with backup."
Before Steve could object, Ben stepped off the ramp and plummeted.
The wind roared past him, the ocean below rushing up to meet him at a terrifying speed. His fingers found the Omnitrix, twisting the dial to Jetray.
Click. Slam.
A brilliant green flash erupted around him. His body morphed mid-fall—his skin turned crimson red, golden horns sprouted from his forehead, and massive manta-ray-like wings unfurled beneath his arms.
He pulled up mere feet above the waves, the sheer velocity splitting the water's surface apart in his wake. Then, with a burst of speed, he rocketed upward, breaking the sound barrier in an instant. Becoming a red and yellow streak cut across the sky, heading straight for Manhattan.
Steve stood at the Quinjet's edge, watching in stunned silence.
"Did you know he could move that fast. In this form too?" he asked.
Natasha, eyes still locked on Ben's disappearing figure, simply shook her head. "Nope."
SHIELD had records on Tennyson's transformations, but they'd only estimated Jetray's top speed. 400 miles per minute? Assuming his raptor like transformation to be his fastest transformation.
That was a gross underestimate.
Steve's focus snapped back to the city. The battle had already begun.
"Barton, Romanoff punch it. We need to catch up."
Tony barreled through the battlefield, blasting Chitauri left and right.
BOOM!
A Chitauri hovercraft exploded in midair, its flaming wreckage spiraling toward the streets below—directly toward an elderly couple.
The world seemed to slow. On the streets below Manhattan.
People screaming. An old man wrapped himself around his wife, shielding her. From an incoming car that had been launched into the air.
Suddenly a streak of red flashed across the sky and swapped down at break neck speeds.
BOOM!
A brilliant green energy blast smashed into the falling wreckage, redirecting it away from the couple. It crashed harmlessly into an abandoned car.
Gasps filled the street.
"What was that?"
Some had only seen the aftermath, but a few with sharper eyes had caught a glimpse—a red blur and gold blur streaking through the sky.
Inside a Nearby Building – Civilians in Fear
A group of survivors huddled inside a lobby-turned-shelter, watching the horror unfold through shattered windows.
A portly businessman in a ruined suit paced nervously. "What the hell is happening?!"
"How should we know?" a middle-aged woman snapped from behind an overturned couch. "Where's the Army?"
An older man with battle scars turned away from the window, fixing her with a weary stare. "You think the military is prepared for this?" He gestured toward the invading army, monstrous and relentless. "This isn't some terrorist attack. This is a goddamn alien invasion."
A little girl, barely eight, clutched her father's hand. Her tiny voice wavered. "Daddy… can Iron Man stop them?"
The father hesitated, then forced a smile. He knelt beside her, brushing her hair from her face. "Of course, sweetheart. He's a superhero. That's what they do."
The words were meant to reassure her.
But everyone in the room knew the truth.
Iron Man was strong. But could he do this alone?
The skyline of New York was a warzone. With CHITAURI soldiers being dropped down into the city streets below, with others limping into building and opening fire all over the place.
On top of Stark Tower, Loki's dressed in his Asgardian battle armor watch this scene with an amused expression. As he took in the sight of his impending victory over earth.
Chitauri hovered in swarms, firing energy blasts indiscriminately. Buildings burned. Explosions rattled the streets.
And ahead of it all—Iron Man, alone against an army.
Ben narrowed his glowing green eyes.
Not anymore.
He angled his wings, diving straight into the fray at supersonic speeds. His body crackled with charged energy, green lightning sparking around him.
Then, with a mighty roar, he unleashed twin energy beams, slicing through the Chitauri ranks.
The battle for New York had just begun.
Explosions rocked the streets as Chitauri forces rained destruction from above, their energy blasts setting vehicles ablaze and reducing entire buildings to rubble. Panicked civilians ran for cover, screaming as alien invaders on hover-chariots descended upon them.
Above the city, Ben soared through the skyline in his Jetray form, weaving between towering skyscrapers and firing off Neuroshock Blasts. His green energy beams blasting through the enemy ranks, sending Chitauri soldiers spiraling out of control.
As he neared Stark Tower, he caught sight of Thor and Loki now locked in battle on the platform below. Hovering mid-air, Ben assessed the situation. The portal in the sky was still wide open, spewing more and more Chitauri warriors into the city.
"Sir, Miss Green is trying to connect with you," Olivia's AI voice chimed through the Omnitrix.
"Put her through," Ben said, landing atop Stark Tower near the Tesseract-powered device. Dr. Selvig lay unconscious nearby, the machine pulsing with ominous blue energy.
Angela's frantic voice crackled through the Omnitrix. "Ben, where the hell are you?!"
Ben exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Trying to figure out a way to stop the portal in the sky."
In the Tennyson Industries panic room, Angela stood with Josh and Juliana, listening to the distant rumble of explosions. Through the reinforced glass, she could see the portal vomiting out an unending swarm of alien creatures.
Outside, Tennyson Industries' security systems had activated. Massive turrets and automated gun emplacements emerged from the rooftops and walls, unleashing a storm of high-caliber rounds at the approaching Chitauri. The defensive measures kept the building secure, preventing any enemy forces from landing.
"This isn't the time for jokes, and what the hell is up with your voice?" Angela snapped.
Ben sighed. His voice naturally altered in Jetray form, but now wasn't the time for that discussion.
"Look, I don't have time for this. Tell Olivia to unlock the doors—there are people in the building freaking out about their loved ones out there," Angela demanded.
Ben's eyes narrowed. "Are you insane? Letting them leave is a death sentence. The city's a war zone."
Even though Ben said, this he knew in his heart that under the same circumstances as his employees. He'd gladly risk his life to ensure no matter the case in this situation. And Angela would most definitely do the exact same thing.
"They're trapped, Ben! They have family members out there in all this chaos—"
"And I'm not risking their lives just because they're scared!" Ben interrupted, Angela's words.
Angela let out a frustrated groan, pacing. Meanwhile, outside, Ben launched back into the sky, his sharp claws slicing through a Chitauri that had been flying too close.
Ben tried once more to disable the Tesseract's machine, firing a Neuroshock Blast at the energy shield surrounding it—only for the attack to be absorbed. Gritting his teeth, he abandoned the attempt and dived back into the battle.
Angela's voice continued berating him through the Omnitrix.
"No, what's absurd is putting giant cannons on our building without telling me!" she yelled.
Mid-flight, Ben caught a Chitauri chariot by the reins with his hind legs, using sheer strength to swing it like a hammer. He hurled it into an oncoming hovercraft, causing an explosive mid-air collision. Flaming wreckage and alien bodies rained down onto the streets.
"Letting them walk outside right now would be suicide, Angela," Ben snapped back.
Still, as he glanced down at the city below, he felt a pang of guilt. He understood—better than anyone—how those trapped inside the building must be feeling, terrified for their loved ones.
"I get it," he admitted finally. "Look, tell them to use their Omi-Watches to connect their families members. And monitors their families vitals signs. That's the best we can do right now."
With that, he flicked his long tail, sending two precise Neuroshock Blasts at an incoming pair of Chitauri riders, knocking them clean off their hovercrafts.
Above the City – The Battle Rages
The Quinjet roared through the war-torn sky.
"Tennyson, Stark—we're heading northeast," Natasha's voice crackled over the comms.
"Finally," Ben muttered, firing another energy blast at a squad of Chitauri before glancing at the jet.
"What, did you stop for a drive-thru?" Tony's sarcastic voice cut in. "Swing up PARK, I'll line them up for you."
Iron Man swooped through the battlefield, luring a group of pursuing Chitauri into a trap. He doubled back toward the Quinjet, leading the enemy directly into Natasha's sights.
Inside, Natasha grabbed a machine gun, opening fire as the Chitauri lined up perfectly in her crosshairs. Bullets tore through their ranks, sending them plummeting toward the streets below.
"Tennyson, need a hand?" Natasha offered.
Before she could finish, a blazing red streak cut past the Quinjet at supersonic speed. A wave of Chitauri warriors suddenly dropped from the sky in the wake of the high-speed pass.
From the cockpit, Clint whistled.
"Yeah… I'm gonna guess that's a no," he said as he expertly maneuvered the Quinjet through the chaos.
Ben's voice rang out, slightly distorted from his alien form. "Nah, I've got things under control on my end."
"Yeah, we had a feeling," Clint smirked.
As the battle raged on, the city burned. The Avengers fought to push back the invasion. Ben, Iron Man, and the others stood between New York and complete annihilation.
But the Chitauri just kept coming.
And the real fight was only just beginning.