At Avengers Headquarters, alarms echoed through the corridors, and red lights flickered across the white walls.
Tony Stark rushed out of the laboratory.
The nanites of the Mark LII Armor surged out from the Arc Reactor in his chest as he ran.
They covered his entire body.
The faceplate snapped shut, and its red eyes lit up.
"JARVIS, give me the data. What is that thing?"
"Unable to identify it for the moment, sir. The object's surface is covered in an unknown biological tissue, and its mass is continuously changing.
Its projected trajectory points toward Manhattan. It is expected to make ground contact in five minutes."
Steve Rogers rushed out of the training room, his shield strapped to his back, his combat suit still damp with sweat.
His blue eyes fixed on the black object falling across the holographic display, his brow tightly furrowed.
"Everyone, assemble!"
Natasha Romanoff emerged from the communications room, her red hair bouncing against her shoulders, stun batons in hand.
Her green eyes remained fixed on the holographic display, her expression cold.
"Clint is already on his way. Bruce is coming from Wakanda.
Carol is in Earth's orbit. She saw that thing.
She says its energy signature is unlike any known alien life-form."
Thor stepped out of the Bifrost, Stormbreaker gripped in his hand.
His left arm was still wrapped in bandages, but his blue eyes shone, and a grim, battle-ready curve touched his lips.
"Whatever it is, Asgard will not stand by and watch."
Hela followed behind him, her green eyes on the black object in the holographic display, her brow faintly creased.
"Symbiotes." Her voice was low, carrying a vigilance only she could recognize.
"I have seen them in the cracks of Hel. They are Knull's creations, parasites of the darkness.
They attach themselves