Earth, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Nick Fury had practically made the Helicarrier his home lately. Unless something important came up, he wouldn't set foot off it. There was no particular reason; the new system at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters was still being installed, and he always felt uncomfortable in the office.
The mastermind behind the attack on S.H.I.E.L.D. still hadn't been found. It was a thorn in Nick Fury's side that would never go away.
Things seemed to be getting better, though. Hydra's stunt in Egypt had dragged several forces lurking in the shadows into the open. S.H.I.E.L.D. had thoroughly wiped them out this time, and the world's underbelly had shrunk considerably.
The world order seemed to be getting back on track, but Nick Fury hadn't been happy for long before the damn Frost Giants started causing trouble again.
News from Tony about Hell's Kitchen made the slight furrow in Nick Fury's brow deepen again.
Luo Xia had indeed mentioned that the Frost Giants would invade again, but Tony and the others had also said that, based on the current energy fluctuations, it would take at least a year for the Frost Giants to open another massive portal like the one before.
"Space is unstable, so large-scale transportation is impossible. But a small number of Frost Giants can still get through."
That was Tony's explanation to Nick Fury, but it didn't help him at all.
Nick Fury wanted a peaceful, prosperous world, not one where several towering monsters could pop up at any time and wreck a thriving city. Superheroes might not care, but how were ordinary people supposed to live like that?
If widespread panic took hold among the public, the city would be finished.
"Is there no way to stop them? Could we close the portal like we did last time?"