The War Machine.
Originally based on the Mark II Iron Man armor, it had been upgraded by the U.S. military into a heavily armed, single-soldier combat system.
Although some details had shifted due to Kagura Hitomi's presence, in this world, the Mark II suit was still handed over to the military and assigned to a special response unit.
Now, after a long silence, War Machine had suddenly appeared—clearly representing the military's interests.
'Sigh… these people sat on the sidelines during the entire Battle of New York, but now that the fight is over, they all crawl out of the woodwork to claim the spoils.'
Kagura Hitomi wasn't surprised, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
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Aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier – Bridge Conference Room
"Rhodey! Long time no see!"
Tony Stark spread his arms wide, greeting his old friend.
"Good to see you, Tony." James "Rhodey" Rhodes returned the embrace.
"Sorry I was late. The military spent ages arguing over whether to deploy troops here. In the end, my job was to protect the President, so I couldn't join the fight."
"No hard feelings. Honestly, the fact that the military didn't nuke the place is already a win." Tony smirked.
"So, you bringing us good news?"
"Well… not exactly." Rhodey hesitated before turning to face the rest of the Avengers.
"This is a direct order from the President. Loki's scepter—the one with the Mind Stone—must be handed over to the U.S. military."
"The government will take custody of it."
Silence.
A deep, heavy silence filled the room.
"…Is that supposed to be a good idea?"
Bruce Banner glanced around awkwardly. Judging by everyone's grim expressions, it definitely wasn't.
"Oh boy. Judging by your faces, I take it this idea is even dumber than handing it over to Fury or Stark."
"I know this isn't ideal," Rhodey admitted. "But I'm just the messenger. The order came straight from the top—there's no room for negotiation."
"And how exactly does the military plan to ensure the scepter's security?"
For the first time, Kagura Hitomi put down her phone and joined the discussion.
"This isn't just some high-tech gadget—it's an artifact on par with the Tesseract. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be global."
The Mind Stone embedded in the scepter could influence thoughts, control minds, and even serve as an endless power source.
Clearly, the military had seized the opportunity—knowing that S.H.I.E.L.D. was too distrusted to claim the scepter, and that no other organization had a strong enough justification to take it.
Kagura didn't deny that the military had a reasonable claim, but she also knew they were completely unprepared for the risks.
"Colonel Rhodes," she said, "does the military really have the means to keep the scepter completely secure?"
"Miss Kagura, that's a very good question." Rhodey nodded. "And honestly? If you're asking me—I'd say it's a very tough problem."
"How about this?" Tony spoke up.
"If the scepter has to be locked away, why don't we make it a joint operation?"
"The military can provide the facility, Stark Industries can supply the security surveillance, and Rhodes Island Industries can handle the containment system."
"That way, we cover all bases."
Kagura's eyes lit up.
"Now that is a solid plan, Mr. Stark."
If they wanted to keep the scepter safe, the worst thing they could do was hand it over to a single organization.
The military wasn't the Ancient One or Vision—they couldn't just wear the Mind Stone and safeguard it with sheer power.
They also weren't equipped to handle supervillains who might come after it.
But if Stark Industries and Rhode Island Industries collaborated to build a high-security containment system, the scepter's safety would be overseen by three different parties—military, Tony Stark, and Kagura Hitomi.
That way, all potential risks—both external and internal—could be kept in check.
A triangle was the most stable shape, after all.
The room was quiet for a moment before the others started nodding in agreement.
Even Nick Fury, who had been sulking the entire meeting, reluctantly conceded.
And just like that, the final problem left behind by Loki was resolved.
Loki was taken back to Asgard.
The Tesseract would be sealed in Odin's treasure vault, where—at least for the time being—no one would be able to mess with it.
The Mind Stone, as per the agreement, was sent to a classified National Security facility in North Carolina.
It was sealed inside a containment unit made of pure vibranium.
Outside that, Stark Industries had installed an independent, automated surveillance network—one that could detect the slightest disturbance and trigger immediate alerts.
Meanwhile, Rhodes Island Industries had provided defensive measures, weaponized security, and a pure energy-based containment shield.
In short, the facility was now the most fortified and least penetrable place on Earth.
With that final loose end tied up, everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Watching as Rhodey departed in his War Machine armor—carrying a secure case containing the Mind Stone—Kagura Hitomi let out a long sigh and collapsed back into her seat.
"Phew! Now all the unfinished business is finally taken care of!"
"No kidding. That was one hell of a ride," Tony said.
"But hey—at least we won. Now it's time for some well-earned rest."
He turned to the group.
"So, how about some kebabs? I found this new Turkish grill place—no idea if it's any good, but I say we give it a shot."
"Kebabs?!"
Kagura's eyes practically sparkled.
"Mr. Stark! You said kebabs, right?!"
"…Kebabs?"
Unlike Kagura's enthusiasm, Natasha, Clint, Steve, and Bruce gave Tony a skeptical look.
'Sigh. Too bad Thor's already gone. He would've loved this…'
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