Secret Invasion

After seeing Deadpool, everyone looked on in bewilderment at the other side, wondering why the voice of the pervert in the red bodysuit sounded so familiar—'Duck King' Wade.

As everyone knows, the world has returned to its original state.

But feelings are just feelings; we still need to verify them empirically.

So everyone rushed to the tactical conference room in the Arbitrator Tower.

No one spoke in the meeting room.

A dozen holographic screens floated in the air— Tony's fingers tapped rapidly, accessing the real-time data stream of the Watcher Platform, while F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s global news feed cascaded down like a blue waterfall.

No one spoke, only the faint hum of the equipment and Deadpool standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass, almost morbidly stroking his smooth cheek, occasionally breathing on it, wiping it with his fingers, and adjusting the curve of his smile to his reflection.

"Global satellite network signal is stable, with no abnormal interference," JARVIS's calm voice rang out.

"The New York Times headline: 'Arbitrator Alliance Successfully Destroys Superpowered Terrorist Organization,' accompanied by images of the Arbitrators battling in Washington District.," the report stated on F.R.I.D.A.Y..

"... All major cities reported good security." Tony stared at the data stream. "Social media... is full of discussions about this counterterrorism operation, and public support for the Arbitrators has risen by 15 percentage points."

"No trace of the organization's remaining activities has been found globally," Shuri added, swiping his finger across a screen displaying the Africa continent.

"No information found for Metropolis or Gotham City..." Natasha pointed to a screen displaying a global map.

Banner adjusted his glasses. "All surveillance data shows that this terrorist organization calling itself the Injustice's has been completely eliminated. Their base, equipment, personnel... have all been dealt with."

Pietro chewed his gum. "So... that's it? We succeeded? The beach BBQ party continues?"

Tony finally looked up from the screen. "Looks like it really worked this time. Chen Tian has modified everything regarding the Injustice." He pointed to the screens, "The data... is as clean as Captain America uniform that's just had a shower."

Steve glanced at Tony helplessly.

"However..." Tony changed the subject, tapping his finger on the table, "Friday, for the next 24 hours, continuously Search online and in the media for topics and news. JARVIS, keep the Watcher Platform on high alert, searching the entire Blue Planet for any remaining suspicious points."

At this moment, Chen Tian pushed open the door and walked into the conference room. Everyone looked at him. They all knew where Chen Tian had gone: to inquire about Uatu, the so-called cosmic-level powerhouse who claimed to 'only observe, not interfere'.

Chen Tian saw everyone looking at him and laughed out loud, "Uatu just told me that the 'Stitched World' created by Infinity Ultron has been completely restored, and our world has returned to normal."

As soon as Chen Tian said this, the entire conference room erupted in cheers.

Tony yelled, "Party! Friday! You heard me! Party!!"

Everyone was laughing and chatting, even Steve, who rarely responded to Tony's parties, said with a smile, "Tony, this time I'm going to add a touch of Brooklyn style to the party."

Tony laughed and said, "No problem! Brooklyn style! Academic style! Big Mao style! Let's do it all! We're going to party for three days and three nights!"

The entire conference room instantly transformed into a sea of joy.

"Friday! Party mode activated!" Tony snapped his the Snap. "Get the rooftop terrace of the Arbitrator Tower ready. I want to see a champagne tower, a laser show, and—"

"Wait!" Deadpool suddenly turned around from in front of the glass, interrupting Tony. He raised his hand with a serious expression. "A party is fine, but you have to agree to one condition."

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the strange man in the red and black bodysuit with a puzzled expression.

"What are the conditions?" Chen Tian asked, raising an eyebrow.

Deadpool suddenly produced a professional camera as if by magic, a fanatical smile spreading across his face, "I'm going to record every single angle of my flawless face at the party! Vanessa has to see it—"

"Get lost!" Tony grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.

Deadpool nimbly dodged, continuing to smugly stroke his cheek, "Oh~ this face deserves an Oscar! No, ten! I'm going to make a documentary called 'Deadpool: At His Peak'!"

Steve shook his head helplessly. Banner was already walking towards the door. "I'll go prepare some drinks... and find some earplugs while I'm at it."

"Ignore this narcissist," Natasha rolled her eyes. "Friday, stick to the party plans."

Amidst laughter, Deadpool continued striking exaggerated poses in front of the glass, muttering, "This face... tsk tsk, even I want to f*** myself..."

Chen Tian walked over and grabbed him by the back of his collar. "Come on, 'handsome guy,' the party needs your liveliness to liven things up."

"Wait! Let me admire it for five more minutes! Just five minutes!" Deadpool struggled, but Chen Tian had already dragged him towards the elevator. His wails echoed in the corridor, "My face! My work of art! You mortals have no concept of the value of beauty!"

In the conference room, everyone exchanged smiles and followed suit.

Tony glanced around the holographic screen one last time, making sure all the data was displayed correctly, then snapped his the Snap casually, "Let's party!"

The party was lively, but not as noisy as the parties Tony had thrown before.

According to him and Chen Tian, they went to the world of [Endgame] and saw the 'Iron Man' who was willing to sacrifice himself to protect the whole world.

He was somewhat moved. He spent a long time in the Iron Man's lakeside villa, thinking about whether he could do the same if he were in that situation.

Tony felt he could do it too, so in typical Tony terms, he said, "I'm not going to let anyone else have such a cool scene."

Chen Tian knew that his friend had matured, not in terms of age, but in his spirit.

Chen Tian believed that Tony would do this. Although Tony appeared cynical and unrestrained on the surface, his sense of justice was no less than that of Captain America.

The party lights shimmered, and the music was just right, not as deafening as before. Chen Tian's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Tony.

Tony leaned against the bar, a glass of whiskey swirling in his hand, but his gaze seemed to pierce through the champagne tower and laser show, fixed on a distant place—the battlefield of [Endgame].

Chen Tian knew what he was thinking: that "Iron Man" whose half-body had been charred into carbon by the energy of the Infinity Stones, yet who still stubbornly raised his arm to snap his the Snap.

Chen Tian walked over, stretched out his arm, and put a heavy arm around Tony's shoulder, interrupting his thoughts.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Chen Tian's voice wasn't loud, but it was teasing yet unusually confident. "Don't worry, you'll never have the chance to act out those tragic scenes with me."

Tony snapped back to reality, the force on his shoulder pulling him back to the present.

He turned his head to look at Chen Tian, the corners of his mouth habitually turning up into a signature, slightly arrogant smile, "Of course! If that kind of situation were to occur, you would definitely try to steal the spotlight. But don't worry, I'm best at this kind of attention-grabbing." His tone was the familiar Tony- style stubbornness, but a hint of relief flashed deep in his eyes.

Chen Tian laughed heartily, casually picked up a can of Coke next to him, and clinked it crisply against Tony's glass.

"Regardless of whether we steal the spotlight or not," Chen Tian took a swig of cola, "The job of dealing with the Soul Stone is now yours."

Tony's smile froze for a moment, then he grumbled, "Not again?! You're the one who saves the universe, and you dump all the errands and cleanup work on me? Chen Tian, are you hopelessly lazy?!"

Chen Tian just laughed even harder, patted him on the shoulder. "The capable should do more, Iron Man! Besides, it's good to let you relive your 'hero's journey'!"

"Get lost! You're trying to screw over your Uncle Tony!" Tony glared, but the "responsibility" that had been forcibly imposed on him strangely diluted the heavy gloom of the memories he had just recalled.

Chen Tian laughed heartily, then leaned close to Tony's ear and whispered, "Actually, you had a mission in the past."

Tony paused in his drinking, glancing at him sideways. "A mission? They've already taken care of Thanos over there, what do they need us for? Paying off debts counts as a mission?"

"The debt must be repaid, but there's another 'cut in line' involved." Chen Tian shook his head, his eyes turning serious. "Do you remember the Skrulls?"

Tony's brows furrowed immediately. "Of course I remember. After our S.H.I.E.L.D.. collapsed, you kept them firmly under control, and they're still on the Watcher Platform's monitoring list. What happened?" He vaguely guessed something.

"It's different over there," Chen Tian said, quickening his pace. "In the [Endgame] timeline, the Skrulls weren't effectively controlled. They used their transformation abilities and memory-reading skills to replace many key figures."

Tony's face darkened. "Who?"

"Many. But you must warn Iron Man," Chen Tian stared into Tony's eyes, enunciating each word clearly, "War Machine, Rhodes, is fake."

Tony's glass wobbled violently. "Rhodes?! Damn it!" he muttered, "How did they do that?"

"The specific details are unclear, but it's certain that Rhodes' identity has been replaced," Chen Tian said quickly. "When you go to return the gem, firstly, warn Iron Man Can to be wary of the Skrulls' full-scale infiltration, and secondly, tell him that your good brother Rhodes has been replaced. We need to find the real Rhodes as soon as possible and deal with the Skrulls trouble."

Tony downed the rest of his drink in one gulp, the empty glass slamming against the bar with a sharp crack, drawing a curious glance from Pietro beside him. The last trace of party ease vanished from his eyes, replaced by a cold sharpness and a hint of offended anger.

"That damn green shapeshifter... sticking his hands in the Avengers and messing with my brothers?" Tony's voice was chilling. He looked at Chen Tian, "Fine, this job was worthwhile. Perfect timing, deliver a 'gift package' to those Iron Man over there." He sneered, "Dealing with imposters? That's my 'arena'."

Chen Tian chuckled and patted Tony on the shoulder forcefully, "Alright, stop looking so serious. The Skrulls can't cause any trouble. You'll go with Captain America and make it quick."

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he said, "I'm really looking forward to seeing the amazing sight of two Tony Stark and two Captain America fighting side by side."

Tony rolled his eyes, but his tense shoulders relaxed a little.

He nodded without saying anything more, his gaze sweeping across the party crowd until he found Steve chatting with Falcon Sam.

Tony walked straight over and patted Captain America on the arm.

"Captain, Boss Chen called our names. We need to return a 'package.' Let's go now." He spoke casually, not saying much to Sam.

Steve, interrupted, looked at Tony with a hint of confusion. "Now? And the gems?"

His gaze unconsciously passed over Tony and landed on Chen Tian by the bar.

Chen Tian held up his can of Coke, pointing it towards Captain America with a knowing smile on his face, and gently shook it.

Steve glanced at Tony's obviously suspicious expression, then at Chen Tian's calm and collected hint.

He knew these two too well. Tony didn't want to talk about it, and Chen Tian felt there was no need to say it now, but the mission had to be carried out.

Without any hesitation, he nodded to Sam: "Sam, we'll talk later."

He then turned to Tony, and said decisively, "Let's go."

Without another word, the two walked side by side toward the private elevator leading to the underground laboratory amidst the background noise of a noisy party.

They blended into the crowd and quickly moved through, their figures flashing under the changing party lights before disappearing into the passageway leading to a more central area.

The elevator doors slid open silently, revealing a stark contrast between the cold, metallic sheen inside and the dazzling lights of the party outside.

Tony went in first, muttering to himself, "Hopefully, Pietro won't have knocked over my champagne tower by the time I get back..."

Steve followed steadily as the elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out the last vestiges of the party's noise.

The equipment room was coldly lit. Tony leaned against the doorframe, watching Steve methodically put on his classic red, blue, and white star-spangled combat suit.

"So," Steve fastened the last piece of armor, picked up the Vibranium Shield, and finally spoke, "You and Chen Tian were whispering at the bar for so long, it wasn't just about assigning the 'deliveryman' job, was it? And why the need for such a rush for the gems?"

Tony pursed his lips and said succinctly, "That kid sent a 'post-sales reminder.' Colonel Rhodes from that other world is Skrulls imposter."

Steve abruptly stopped, his brow furrowing instantly. "Rhodes? Confirmed?"

"What do you think of Mr. Chen's intelligence?" Tony shrugged, his tone laced with suppressed anger. "A bunch of green-skinned lizards, daring to touch my brother? Ha."

Steve paused for two seconds, then his eyes sharpened.

Without asking any further questions, he deftly slung the shield over his shoulder and strode toward a smooth alloy wall deep inside the room.

"Friday," he said in a steady voice.

A beam of blue light descended from the ceiling, precisely scanning Steve's entire body before finally focusing on his iris.

"Identity confirmed, Captain Rogers Steve Rogers. Access verified." F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s voice rang out.

The alloy wall in front of them slid silently to both sides, revealing a built-in safe.

Inside lay a simple, antique-looking metal box that shone with a sun-like radiance— the Leo Gold Cloth.

Steve reached for the Cloth Box, lifted it, and the weight and power it contained made his steps more steady. He turned to Tony: "Let's go."

Without further ado, the two strode through the corridor and arrived at the core platform of the quantum teleportation zone.

A subtle hum of energy filled the air.

On the platform, 2B stood quietly, holding a completely black metal box in its hands.

As the two approached, 2B stepped forward and handed the black box to Tony: "Master has sealed the Soul Stone in this container. Stability has been confirmed. I will be responsible for opening and stabilizing the Quantum Tunnel to escort you two to the designated spacetime coordinates."

Tony took the heavy black box, its surface cold to the touch. He weighed it in his hand for a moment, then habitually flashed 2B Stark's signature teasing smile, "Thanks, 2B. By the way, why does your Master always make you wear maid outfits?"

2B's expression remained unchanged. "Mission attire: general-purpose Battle Suit, Stark."

As she spoke, she walked towards the control panel, her fingers moving rapidly in the Void. A faint blue light began to glow around the quantum platform, and energy flowed like liquid through the pipes beneath it.

"Tsk, what a pity." Tony shrugged, feigning disappointment, and, carrying the Soul Stone box, he and Steve, who was carrying a shield and Cloth Box, stepped onto the center of the platform.

Steve glanced at Tony, ignoring his trash talk, and simply whispered, "Focus, Tony. This isn't a party."

"Relax, old popsicle," Tony adjusted his stance, looking at the increasingly bright energy around him. "It's just dropping by, delivering a package, and while we're at it... uh, cleaning up some counterfeit goods. We call this efficiency."

Quantum energy began to hum, and the light made the two figures appear somewhat blurry.

Tony took one last look at the black box in his hand that sealed the Soul Stone, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Ready, Captain? Let's go deliver a surprise gift to that 'Iron Man'!"

"Damn, are you serious?" Iron Man —the native Tony —opened his mouth in surprise, looking at the transmigrated Tony with disbelief.

"Do you think I would lie to you? Why don't we arrest Rhodes and give him a thorough check-up, then we'll know." Tony glanced at Rhodes, who was teasing the two Captain America.

Local Tony frowned. "If we make a move now, I reckon you'll be surrounded and attacked by the others."

Tony shrugged. "Then you come. Tell them you need to check if there's anything wrong with Rhodes's auxiliary equipment. After all, wasn't he buried inside when your Avengers Compound collapsed?"

Local Tony raised an eyebrow. "Good idea, leave it to me. But if we make a mistake, have you thought about how you're going to apologize?"

"Apologize? That's not like either of us, Iron Man," Tony joked.

The native Tony didn't say anything. He knew that the transmigrated Tony was right; apologizing wasn't Tony Stark's style.

Yes, the above dialogue is from when Tony Captain America traveled back to the world of [Endgame] and successfully arrived at Tony's lakeside villa on the mainland.

The timing was exactly one minute after Chen Tian and the others had left.

When they reappeared and returned the Soul Stone, the Avengers were initially somewhat apprehensive, were instantly dispelled by their fear that Chen Tian and his team wouldn't return the Soul Stone.

They became much warmer towards the two, especially when Captain America appeared, they teased him playfully.

Tony, on the other hand, traveled through time and found the native Tony, telling him about the Skrulls, which led to the previous conversation.

"Hey, Rhodes," Tony, a native, strolled over to Rhodes, who was chatting idly with Falcon, carrying a cup of coffee.

"Last time the park collapsed, your 'golden legs' were buried for half a day, and I still feel uneasy about it. Now that you have some free time, come to the lab and let me give them a deep clean. Otherwise, they might break down at a crucial moment, and you'll really have to crawl to the toilet."

Rhodes curled his lip and retorted, "Shut your jinx, Tony! My legs are way more reliable than your pile of junk... But a check-up wouldn't hurt."

He shrugged nonchalantly, greeted Falcon, and said, "Sam, wait a few minutes."

"I'm ready anytime, Colonel," Falcon replied with a smile.

Rhodes followed Tony into the lab and lay down on the gleaming, metallic testing bed with practiced ease. "Hurry up, don't keep me from discussing life with Sam," Rhodes urged.

"What's the rush? I'll make sure you walk with the wind..." The local Tony hadn't finished speaking.

Suddenly, a few crisp metallic clicking sounds rang out!

Several silver metal rings shot out from the edge of the examination table and gripped Rhodes's wrists, ankles, and waist! The cold touch made Rhodes stiffen.

"Tony?!" Rhodes looked at the native Tony in astonishment, trying to break free, but the Vibranium shackles that gleamed with their unique luster remained motionless.

"What the hell? What kind of new prank is this?" He asked, his tone a mix of annoyance and confusion at being teased by his friend.

"A prank?" A teasing voice came from a corner of the laboratory.

Tony slowly walked out. "Sorry, Rhodes. But this 'little toy' is a special gift I brought," he said, shaking the controller. "Wakanda specialty, Vibranium Restraint Device. Specially prepared for guests like you who might need a 'thorough check-up'."

Rhodes's gaze swept uncertainly between the two Tony, his relaxed expression vanishing completely, replaced by vigilance and panic.

"Tony!" He suddenly looked at the local Tony, his voice rising, "What the hell is wrong with you? What kind of spell did this guy cast on you?" He struggled violently, the Vibranium shackles scraping against each other.

The local Tony's face was no longer joking; his eyes were sharp.

Seeing Rhodes's intense reaction, especially his resistance to the "in-depth physical examination" and his almost reflexive aggressive accusations, the last glimmer of hope in his heart was completely extinguished.

A surge of cold anger instantly swept over him, but he forcibly suppressed it, his voice unusually calm, even somewhat soothing. "Relax, Rhodes. Don't get agitated. It's just a full-body scan, a 'thorough' check-up. For your safety."

"Safe?! I'm fucking safe!" Rhodes's roar echoed in the lab as he glared at Tony as they passed through. "Put me down! Tony! Don't listen to him! He's lying to you!"

The two Tony exchanged a glance—a glance that held no doubt, only cold confirmation and suppressed rage.

"Friday," Tony's voice was icy cold, "Initiate a full-body scan, highest priority. Scan me from head to toe, inside and out, 'thoroughly'! The focus is on... abnormal fluctuations in vital signs and biological tissue identification."

"Yes, Boss," F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s voice rang out.

A beam of blue light descended from the ceiling, enveloping Rhodes, who was firmly strapped to the examination bed.

Under the blue light, Rhodes' face turned deathly pale instantly, and he struggled even more violently. Deep in his eyes, a fear of being exposed could no longer be concealed.

"No! Stop! Tony! You can't do this!" His screams were now tinged with a desperate sharpness.

A blinding blue light enveloped "Rhodes" on the testing bed, and the holographic screen instantly displayed a dense array of analytical graphs, while a glaring red alarm flashed wildly!

"Warning: Abnormal fluctuations in vital signs exceed human thresholds!"

"Warning: Large-scale abnormal deformation of subcutaneous tissue detected!"

"Warning: Abnormal bone density, unnatural peristalsis in the fascia layer!"

"Warning: Biometric signature significantly deviates from James Rhodes' database! Match rate 0.7%!"

The cold, electronic voice pounded against Tony's heart.

On the screen, beneath Rhodes's familiar face, lay a layer of green fascia that constantly writhes and twists, trying to maintain its disguise but ultimately failing! Like a giant lizard whose skin has been peeled off!

"Bang!"

Local Tony slammed his Iron Fist down on the workbench, denting the hard surface!

His eyes were bloodshot as he rushed to the examination bed, staring intently at the monster that was flashing violently between its human form and green skin.

"Where is Rhodes?!"

The Skrulls disguise had been completely torn off, ceased his futile struggle. Rhodes' features, which had been covering his face, faded away like melted wax, revealing a wrinkled, green face with eyes that gleamed with resentment and madness.

"Rhodes?" It let out a hoarse, twisted laugh, full of mockery. "That stubborn toy soldier? Probably rotting in some dark corner! Hahahaha!"

It ignored the native Tony's almost spitting fire eyes, its gaze sweeping over the two Tony with a twisted sense of superiority:

"Your planet is destined to be our new cradle! The Skrull Empire will never..."

Before the words were even finished, its body suddenly stiffened, a strange "hoarse" sound came from its throat, its eyes instantly lost their luster, its entire body went limp like boneless mud, and its skin turned completely back to dark green, without a trace of human characteristics—it committed suicide without hesitation!

"NO--!" Tony's furious roar nearly lifted the roof off the lab, and he slammed his fist on the nearby equipment, sparks flying.

He spun around in place, his anger almost consuming his reason.

"Save your energy, Iron Man." Tony's voice was unusually calm as he walked over, looked at the Skrulls's corpse, and confirmed that it was completely dead.

"Roaring at a corpse won't solve the urgent problem of saving Rhodes."

He looked up, his eyes sharp. "Friday, immediately notify everyone, emergency assembly! Top-level threat leaked! Especially Carol Vers— "

He emphasized the name, his gaze shifting to the trembling, furious local Tony:

"The Skrulls are the trouble she brought to Earth. Now that she's made a huge mess, she has to be there! She has to take full responsibility for this!"

Tony's voice was resolute, echoing through the deathly silent laboratory. The Skrulls corpses lay on the ground like a huge, dark green warning.

The native Tony, panting heavily, stared intently at the corpse, then looked at the transmigrated Tony. Finally, the raging fury in his eyes was replaced by reason.

"You're right. The fact that the Skrulls have turned into Rhodes proves that they've been plotting this for a long time. Carol, who has the most contact with them, must handle this matter well! Otherwise..."

Tony's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "I wouldn't mind starting another war!"