"I have something to tell you."
Loren looked at her, the corner of his mouth curving faintly upward.
"I know what you want to say. You want me to deal with the threat posed by the Celestial Embryo, don't you?"
Tina's eyes widened slightly.
"You know?"
"Of course. The Earth is trembling. I can feel it. A massive life-form is awakening at its core—I can feel that too."
He walked over from the window, sat down in a high-backed chair, and lightly tapped a finger against its armrest.
"You came to find me because you want me to stop it."
Tina took a deep breath.
"Yes. The Celestial Embryo's power exceeds what the Avengers can fight against.
It exceeds anything I have ever seen capable of being fought against. But you are the only one who might succeed."
Loren looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
"Do your people know you came here?"
Tina pressed her lips together.
"They do."
"They won't stop you?"
"I think some of them will try."
"You betrayed them."
Tina's jaw tightened slightly.
"Yes. But I don't believe protecting an embryo that will kill billions is right, no matter whose order it is, no matter what the mission may be."
Loren rose from his chair and walked to the window, turning his back to everyone.
Moonlight fell across his hair, casting a sharp shadow onto the wooden floor of the study.
"The Celestial Embryo—if it fully awakens, Earth will be consumed within hours.
Billions of lives will vanish into ashes, and human civilization will disappear from the universe.
Nothing will remain. Not even a stone. Not even an atom."
He turned around, his gray eyes fixed on Tina.
"I can stop it, but I need to know one thing."
"What?"
"Why would you,