Max remained wrapped in Maria Stark’s embrace, the tension draining from his small frame.
The silence of the forest was broken by a melodic, resonant voice that seemed to emanate from the canopy of the maple trees above them.
“As I suggested, Master,” the voice spoke, the tone warm and analytical, “moving the stasis pods to the forest environment proved far more optimal than initiating their awakening on the stone floors of the training grounds.”
Howard snapped his head up, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees.
He searched for hidden speakers or a mechanical drone, but found nothing.
Maria loosened her hold on Max, her expression mirroring her husband’s bewilderment as she looked around the empty clearing.
Max wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and took a step back.
He looked up at the canopy.
“That is Alpha,” Max explained, his voice regaining its usual steady cadence.
“She is the consciousness of this dimension.
She helps me manage the magic and the territory.
She is my best friend.”
“Greetings, Mr.
and Mrs.
Stark,” Alpha’s voice echoed through the leaves.
“It is a profound honor to welcome you to the sanctuary.”
Howard ran a hand through his hair, trying to process the concept of a sentient pocket dimension.
Before he could voice his questions, Max raised his hand.
The shimmering screen of condensed mana materialized in the air once more.
“Before we discuss the future, you need to understand the present state of the world,” Max said.
He instructed Alpha to project the events that had transpired over the past few weeks.
The screen displayed the arrival of Captain Marvel crashing through the roof of a Blockbuster video store.
The scenes shifted rapidly, showing the Skrull refugees, the shape-shifting battles, and the colossal Kree warships hovering in the upper atmosphere.
Max showed them the raw, blinding power of Carol Danvers as she tore through the extraterrestrial fleet.
Howard watched the footage with intense scrutiny.
His mind dissected the design of the Kree interceptors and the energy signatures of the orbital bombardments.
“The light surrounding that woman,” Howard murmured, stepping closer to the screen.
“That energy signature matches the readings I took decades ago.
It all leads back to the Tesseract.
It seems almost every major catastrophe on this planet originates from that blue cube.”
Max dismissed the projection.
“You are correct.
The Tesseract is a focal point.
But it is a fraction of the danger waiting in the universe.
Maria folded her arms, a chill running down her spine despite the mild temperature of the dimension.
“You said we were dead.
If we step outside, will we turn to dust?”
“Your bodies are healed, and your souls are tethered to them,” Max clarified.
“But the cosmic ledger recorded your deaths in 1991.
If you step outside my domain without proper magical shielding, you will light up like a beacon to entities you cannot comprehend.
The universe is governed by beings of immense, terrifying power.”
Max began to detail the hidden hierarchy of existence.
He spoke of Hell Lords like Mephisto and Satannish, ancient beings who ruled dimensions of fire and suffering and hungered for unbound human souls.
He described Dormammu, the conqueror of the Dark Dimension, who consumed entire realities.
He explained the concept of the cosmic Death Goddess, the abstract entity that claimed all life, and Eternity, the living embodiment of the universe itself.
He did not stop at abstract concepts.
Max outlined the existence of the pantheons.
He told them about Asgard, the realm of the Norse gods, and the City of Gods known as Omnipotence City, where deities from countless worlds gathered.
He mentioned Khonshu, the Egyptian god of the moon, who walked the Earth using human avatars.
Howard and Maria listened in stunned silence.
The scientific foundation of their reality crumbled, replaced by a vast, incomprehensible cosmos filled with monsters and deities.
“Until I am absolutely certain I can mask your resurrection from Death and the Hell Lords, you must remain here,” Max concluded.
He waved his hand again.
The magical screen reappeared, but this time, it displayed a series of newspaper clippings and tabloid covers.
The headlines flashed in rapid succession.
They showcased Tony Stark tumbling out of nightclubs, surrounded by throngs of people, a drink always in his hand.
The articles detailed his erratic behavior, his endless parties, and his downward spiral into debauchery in the years following their funeral.
Maria placed a hand over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.
Howard’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.
The sight of their son drowning in grief and alcohol cut deeper than the memory of the Winter Soldier.
“He is in pain,” Max said, letting the clippings fade.
“He believes he is alone.
But this pain will forge him into the man the universe needs him to be.
We cannot interfere with his path yet.”
Max turned his attention to Howard.
“To ensure we are ready for the threats to come, I need your mind.
I need to build defenses.”
Max snapped his fingers.
Several light blue Shadowkhan melted out of the tree trunks, carrying crates of dark, metallic equipment.
They set the crates on the grass and opened them, revealing the stash of Kree weaponry Max had collected during the skirmish at the Rambeau house.
There were standard issue energy rifles, gravity cuffs, and modular communication devices.
“I need you to study these,” Max told Howard. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“I need you to reverse-engineer their energy outputs and develop shields capable of repelling extraterrestrial blaster fire.
But I lack the proper scientific tools.
I will not resort to stealing equipment from active laboratories.
Tell me, do you have any off-the-books facilities?
Safehouses or hidden bunkers unknown to S.H.I.E.L.D.
or Obadiah Stane?”
Howard looked at the alien rifles, the gears in his head already turning.
“I was a paranoid man in a paranoid era.
Yes.
I have three hidden bunkers scattered across the country.
They contain fabrication units, raw materials, and high-level diagnostic computers.
Only I know the access codes.”
“Good,” Max said.
“Give Alpha the coordinates.
The Shadowkhan will retrieve everything and assemble a laboratory for you here.”
Max then looked at Maria.
He gestured to the vast, empty forest surrounding them.
“I ask that you consult with Alpha,” Max said to her.
“Design a home.
Plan out whatever living quarters, gardens, or amenities you desire.
Alpha will construct it using the resources of this dimension.
Make this place livable for yourselves and others to come.”
Maria offered a small, grateful smile and nodded.
Before ending the conversation, Max raised his hand one final time.
He connected to a Shadowkhan stationed far away in New York.
The screen materialized, projecting a live feed of a private cemetery on a snow-covered hill.
The date was December 16, 1995.
Howard and Maria stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the screen.
A lone figure stood in the falling snow, bundled in a heavy black coat.
Tony Stark stared down at two ornate headstones, a bouquet of flowers clutched in his gloved hand.
There were no cameras, no reporters, and no party guests.
He was just a son mourning the loss of his parents on the anniversary of their murder.
Howard reached out, wrapping his arm around Maria’s waist.
They watched their son in silence, bound to the shadows, preparing for the day they could finally step back into the light.