Is the Cosmic Virus Connected to the Celestials?

Lin Yi raised his eyes.

"If you know, tell me. I can guarantee that today's conversation will stay in this room. None of it will get out."

"I know you came here for help. We need to share what we know, don't we?"

Lin Yi shook his head. "You misunderstand. I'm hesitating... because I'm not sure this is the same thing I know."

"Tell me anyway," Tony said noncommittally.

"That outfit reminds me of a race—the Celestials."

"The Celestials?" Tony looked up. JARVIS quickly supplied what he had found. "Sir, I checked the portion of the Cosmic Network database we obtained before it went offline. This race does exist, but there's no further information."

When disaster had erupted across the universe, Tony had downloaded part of the Cosmic Network database with Rocket's help before it went down.

Lin Yi continued. "The Celestials I know of predate the Infinity Stones."

"They're enormous beings with nearly limitless power and knowledge."

"They seeded planets throughout the universe as experiments and observed how life evolved."

"On Blue Star, they created the Eternals. They also introduced the Mutants' X-Gene."

"But I got that information through unusual channels. There's no way to verify it."

"The only thing I can say for certain is that the Celestials exist. Whether they have anything to do with this, I don't know."

Lin Yi's information came from comics and movies he had seen before.

But reality had long since taught him not to assume this universe followed those stories exactly. If he did, it would teach him a harsh lesson.

That was why he hesitated. He was afraid of giving Tony bad information.

"JARVIS, record what Lin Yi said and add it to the unnamed file."

"Lin, do the Eternals have any other distinguishing traits?" Tony asked.

Lin Yi thought for a moment. "I've never met them, but I heard the Celestials performed genetic experiments on early Homo sapiens. I'll leave out one of the possible results. The other two were the Eternals and the Anomalies."

"The Anomalies are unstable, mutated monsters. They're enemies of the Eternals."

"The Eternals generally live for a very long time, and they're far stronger than humans. At least several times stronger than Steve."

Of course, Steve had the advantage of movie logic. His knack for holding his own against anyone could only be counted as an exception.

"Oh, and most Eternals attack using Energy Manipulation. Some can also use Matter Transmutation and Telepathy."

The Eternals' backstory had been altered somewhat for the movie. Lin Yi hadn't been very interested before crossing over—he hadn't even watched the Eternals film. That was all the information he could give.

Bang! Tony shot to his feet, veins bulging on his forehead. The sudden look of realization on his face startled Lin Yi.

"Of course! If that's true, it all makes sense. Those monsters are Anomalies!"

"Those tin cans are Celestials. They brought the Cosmic Virus here. They're using the universe—using Blue Star—as a test subject, as fuel! Fuel for the monsters they created in their experiments!"

"Yes. I've had a similar idea for a while. It fits. It has to..."

Tony kept muttering, almost lost in the thought. Lin Yi hurried forward to stop him.

"Tony, I'll say it again. There's no way to verify any of this. Don't let it mislead you!"

Tony took several deep breaths before gradually calming down. He nodded heavily.

"I understand. But what you've told me is plausible. The logic fits from beginning to end."

"Whether it's true or not, we have to prepare for the worst as if it already happened."

"JARVIS, record the distinguishing traits of the Eternals and the Celestials. Search all historical records for anything that matches."

"And add Anomaly as the species designation for all the monsters."

JARVIS responded quickly, completing the files in a second.

"Sir, I've reorganized the files as requested and am searching all available sources, including historical records, for relevant information."

After that exchange, JARVIS fell silent and devoted his resources to searching for the information Lin Yi had described. Quiet settled over the room again.

"All right. Now that we've discussed your problem, let's discuss mine."

The two of them had finally laid their cards on the table.

"I need technology to contain the Cosmic Virus."

"I don't know whether the Celestials we're speculating about are also responsible for the Cosmic Virus infecting my universe. Either way, I need to restore it as soon as possible," Lin Yi said plainly.

"You can't sense the countless eyes watching Blue Star from beyond it, can you?"

"No, I can't sense them. But I know they're there." Tony's answer caught Lin Yi off guard.

"Can you see the future? Or is it a superpower?"

"Neither. The Ancient One told me." Tony shook his head, revealing something he hadn't mentioned before.

The Ancient One... Why would she tell Tony? Shouldn't Strange have been the one to tell him?

Lin Yi asked, and the answer took him by surprise.

"Strange died. Those monsters... the Anomalies are probably much stronger than you're imagining."

"As for those watching us, that's why I said they're using Blue Star—maybe even the entire universe—as a test subject."

"At first, I thought the Cosmic Virus only affected Blue Star. But Rocket told me it had spread to every inhabited planet and race he could contact."

"Not long after that, the Cosmic Network connecting life across the universe went down completely. I captured part of its data stream just before it shut off."

"I know what you're getting at. The Celestials we suspect may not be the only ones involved. Other races in the universe could be part of this too, right?"

Tony's eyes gleamed. He felt as though he had reached the door to the truth.

But what lay in front of that door had already pushed him to his limits. Beyond it waited the Anomalies' master. They couldn't even handle the Anomalies—how could they fight their master?

Tony leaned forward slightly. "I can give you the containment technology you want. Even a complete set of equipment."

"But I need you to meet one condition!"

Lin Yi's gaze sharpened. "What is it?"

"I need..."

Before Tony could finish, red lights began flashing throughout the room, followed by a piercing alarm.

"Sir, I've detected the heat signatures of Anomalies 78 and 79, formerly twin bone-blade monsters 78 and 79! Number 78 is entering the atmosphere."

Thud!

Crash!

Tony sprang to his feet, hatred blazing in his eyes. His whole body trembled with rage.

Shit, why is he so worked up all of a sudden? Lin Yi quickly backed away two steps.

According to Tony, this wasn't the first time Anomalies had attacked Blue Star. Why was he so agitated? Unless...

"Sync the coordinates!" Tony gritted his teeth and turned his bloodshot eyes toward Lin Yi.

"Anomalies 78 and 79 are two monsters that look almost identical. Pepper saved Morgan from their attack, but the injuries she suffered that day... took her from us forever."