After an unknown amount of time had passed, Natasha and Hill were finally satisfied. They straightened their clothes and returned to their serious, capable appearances.
Natasha then took a small holographic projector from her pocket, placed it on the desk, and pressed play.
Blue particles of light spread through the air, forming an image.
It showed the laboratory in Stark Tower: shattered glass all over the floor, fallen suits of armor, and two bloodied men.
Tony Stark leaned against the wall, his left arm hanging limp, the blood at the corner of his mouth already dry.
Steve Rogers stood at the doorway with his shield strapped to his back, his rigid silhouette like stone.
"This happened not long ago," Natasha said.
"Bucky Barnes died. Someone impersonated Tony and killed him, then framed Tony for it. Steve thought Tony had done it, stormed into Stark Tower, and the two fought."
Loren looked at the scene in the hologram, his black eyes utterly still.
"Fury arrived in time and stopped them from continuing," Natasha continued.
"But their relationship has completely broken down. Tony trusts no one, while Steve is consumed by grief and rage. Fury tried to mediate, but it was useless. The two have gone their separate ways for good."
Hill took over. "The Avengers' core has now split apart. If an external threat emerges at a time like this—"
"The one who impersonated Tony was a Skrull."
Loren interrupted Hill, his voice as calm as ever.
Yet when he spoke that name, something in the air seemed to tremble faintly.
Natasha's pupils contracted slightly.
"A Skrull?" she repeated.
"A green-skinned, pointy-eared alien race capable of shapeshifting." Loren leaned back in his chair and lightly tapped the tabletop twice with his fingers.
"Their homeworld is in a star system within the