Steve Rogers arrived at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, where he, Natasha, Fury, and Sam Wilson had devised a plan. Using the chip module provided by Fury, they intended to take control of the Helicarriers and shut down Project Insight.
However, as soon as he stepped inside, Steve noticed something troubling—Iron Man's suits were stationed throughout the building. This was a serious complication. Why was Tony interfering in this operation?
He attempted to contact Stark but found no response. Time was running out. In just two hours, the Helicarriers would launch, and Project Insight would begin. There was no time to search for allies.
"Damn it," Steve muttered as he noticed the suits detecting his presence, now flying toward him.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The suits landed around him, surrounding him in a mechanical blockade. A cold, artificial voice emanated from the armored figures:
"Steve Rogers, it would be best if you ceased this futile resistance."
Steve narrowed his eyes. "You're not Tony, and you're not J.A.R.V.I.S. Who are you?"
The voice carried a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity. Then, it responded with a mocking tone:
"Forgot me so soon, Steve? We met back in the Red Skull's service."
A realization dawned on him, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Dr. Zola? You're still alive?"
A smug chuckle followed. "Of course. If you managed to survive, why wouldn't I? Last time, you won. But this time, you will lose. And let me share a little secret—Red Skul—"
He abruptly cut himself off, realizing he had nearly revealed classified Hydra intelligence. Even within Hydra's ranks, few knew the truth—especially Baron Strucker, who would undoubtedly be furious if he found out.
Steve, however, wasn't paying attention to Zola's slip. His mind was already calculating possible escape routes. Surrounded by this many Iron Man suits, the odds weren't in his favor.
Reaching into his satchel, he pulled out his vibranium shield. Even in dire straits, surrender was never an option.
With a well-practiced motion, he hurled the shield. It ricocheted between the suits, striking them down one by one. Using the opening, he flipped off the balcony, landing below. But before he could get far, another dozen suits descended from the sky, cutting off his escape.
"You can't run," Zola's voice taunted.
Meanwhile, in another part of the headquarters, Natasha, Fury, and Agent Hill had subdued Alexander Pierce but had lost contact with Steve.
"Director Fury, we still can't reach Steve. Something must've happened," Hill said, concern evident in her tone. If even one Helicarrier launched without their override chip, Project Insight would proceed as planned.
Pierce chuckled darkly. "Did you really think this plan depended on me alone?"
Noticing their grim expressions, he continued, "Soon, the Insight satellites will reach their designated positions. Every super-powered individual on our list will be eliminated. And then Hydra will control the world."
Just then, a deafening explosion echoed from outside. The Helicarriers had begun their ascent.
Fury's expression darkened as he watched Iron Man suits flying alongside the Helicarriers, seemingly guarding their deployment.
"Contact the Mutant Academy again," Fury ordered. "They're our only shot at stopping this."
Pulling out his phone, he called Wanda Maximoff. "Ms. Maximoff, Hydra's plan is nearly complete. We need your help. The Insight satellites may even have your floating city in their sights."
Wanda's voice was icy. "I don't make decisions alone. We'll wait for Garus."
Then she hung up.
The mutants remained in their school, confident that no one could threaten their sanctuary.
As the Helicarriers approached their final positions, the Insight satellites prepared to initiate the Zola algorithm, marking hundreds of thousands of targets across the United States.
At that moment, a Skrull ship hovered above the Moon. Onboard, Garus observed a monitor displaying three S.H.I.E.L.D. satellites forming a triangular pattern over Earth. Their activity suggested something massive was about to unfold.
"What the hell?" Garus muttered. He had been away from Earth for some time—what had happened in his absence?
Determined to find out, he activated the Death Gate and stepped through, emerging inside the floating city of Naxxramas.
"Garus?" Pietro Maximoff's voice rang out in surprise. "You're back!"
Grinning, Pietro clasped Garus's shoulder. "Where the hell have you been?"
Then, as if recalling something urgent, he hesitated. "Wanda… she's been—"
"What about her?" Garus asked, frowning.
Pietro motioned behind him. "She's right there."
Garus turned to find Wanda standing nearby, arms crossed. Before he could speak, she interrupted.
"Fury just called. Hydra's Insight plan is about to launch, and they can't stop it. He wants our help."
Garus narrowed his eyes, recalling the three satellites orbiting Earth. If Hydra succeeded, over two million people deemed 'threats' would be eliminated worldwide.
While he generally didn't concern himself with humanity's conflicts, there were definitely people he knew on that list. Worse, there was no telling if Hydra had also marked the Mutant Academy as a target.
"Hydra has existed long enough. It's time to remove this tumor once and for all." His voice was resolute.
"Wait for me!" Pietro called, leaping through the Death Gate after Garus.
As they arrived on the Skrull ship, Pietro looked around, bewildered. "Where are we?"
"This is a Skrull vessel," Garus replied.
Pietro turned to see Kallruth approaching, a green-skinned woman beside him.
"No time for small talk," Garus said, addressing the Skrull Queen. "Does this ship have weapons?"
"Of course," she responded. "But the most powerful cannon isn't nearly strong enough to destroy a planet, and our energy reserves are limited."
Garus sighed. "We're not trying to blow up the Earth. We just need to take out some pests."
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