The Avengers had wasted no time in heading to Sokovia, determined to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the city. Tony Stark, however, had remained behind in his lab, too absorbed in his own work to join them.
The team combed through the barren streets, scanning every inch of the now-empty landscape, but there were no clues—no signs of struggle, no energy signatures that could explain what had happened. The absence of life made the city feel like a hollow shell. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the occasional rustling of debris carried by the wind. The overcast sky, a dull shade of gray, hung heavily over them, casting long, ominous shadows that only deepened the unsettling stillness.
After hours of fruitless searching, Bruce Banner finally took a detailed scan of the surroundings, collecting as much environmental and residual energy data as he could. But there was almost nothing to scan—because there was almost nothing left. The entire city had been reduced to a vast, desolate crater. Not a single building remained standing, no roads, no cars—just an endless expanse of scorched earth and shattered rubble. It was as if the city had never existed at all, its presence erased in an instant. The silence was overwhelming, the weight of absence pressing down on them like an invisible force. Every breath felt heavy, every step a reminder of the sheer scale of what had been lost. There was no struggle, no survivors, no clues—just emptiness. A hollow grave where a city once stood.
Natasha crossed her arms, her voice quiet but firm. "What happened to the people who lived here?"
Clint exhaled, shaking his head. "We don't know. The official statement given to the press is that there are no confirmed casualties... because there are no bodies. But looking at this place—" he gestured to the wasteland before them "—it's hard to believe. Feels like something they're saying just to keep people from panicking."
"This place gives me the creeps," Clint muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the empty roads. "It's like they just... vanished."
Steve exhaled, his expression unreadable. "And we still don't know why."
Bruce frowned as he studied his readings. "I don't like this. There are traces of something here—something unnatural. I'll need to run a deeper analysis back at the tower, but whatever happened here, it wasn't normal."
A heavy sense of unease settled over them as they exchanged glances. Sokovia, once bustling with life, now stood as a barren wasteland with no explanation for its sudden emptiness. With nothing else to pursue, the Avengers made their way back to the tower, hoping that a deeper analysis of the data would yield some answers.
......
Meanwhile, in his lab, Tony Stark barely noticed their absence. His focus remained unwavering, his mind deeply entrenched in the endless lines of data and glowing projections before him. The scepter pulsed softly in its containment unit, a silent reminder of the power it held. The blue glow cast eerie patterns across Tony's face, accentuating the dark circles under his eyes and the sharp intensity of his expression. His lab, usually a space filled with music and the occasional sarcastic remark, had grown unsettlingly quiet.
Bruce entered, stepping past the countless tools and scattered notes littering the lab.
"We need your help with something," Bruce said, rubbing his forehead.
Tony didn't even glance up. "Not now, I'm onto a breakthrough."
Bruce hesitated before stepping closer. "Tony—"
"Just—look at this." Tony cut him off, swiping at the holographic display in front of him. Instantly, a complex projection appeared, an intricate web of light shifting and pulsing like a living entity.
Bruce's breath caught as he took in the image. "What is this?"
"It's a mind," Tony explained, his voice carrying the weight of discovery. "Or at least, a visual representation of one. Think of it as a network of thoughts, constantly in motion. These bright clusters? Intense emotions—rage, fear, exhilaration. The softer hues? Moments of peace, reflection, subconscious thoughts drifting just beneath the surface."
Bruce studied the projection, fascinated. "And this?" He pointed to a red mass interwoven with the luminous threads, a chaotic swirl of energy coiling around the network like an invasive presence.
Tony exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "That's the problem. That's the reason Rin is still unconscious. Her consciousness and this… red energy have intertwined in a way that shouldn't be possible."
Bruce frowned. "You think this is connected to the scepter?"
"I don't think—I know," Tony said, his voice tinged with both excitement and frustration. "And if my calculations are correct—which, let's face it, they usually are—then I can fix this. A psychic operation, using the energy from the scepter to carefully separate Rin's mind from this foreign influence."
Bruce's eyebrows furrowed in concern. "That's… risky. You're talking about performing an unprecedented neurological procedure with an alien artifact."
"Exactly," Tony replied with a smirk. "Which is why it's going to work."
Bruce shook his head. "Tony—"
"If whatever you need help with is so important, ask JARVIS," Tony interrupted, his confidence unwavering. "But I'm not stopping. Not now. Because if I pull this off, Rin should be up and running by the end of it."
Bruce studied his friend for a moment. The exhaustion was still there, but for the first time in days, so was something else—a spark of life. A drive that had been missing since Rin fell unconscious.
Bruce sighed, shaking his head with a small chuckle. "You know, you're insufferable sometimes."
Tony shot him a lopsided grin. "Well, I am Tony Stark."
........
The news played once again in Avengers Tower, the steady voice of the reporter filling the common area with an eerie calm.
"In a shocking turn of events, all residents of the disappeared city have been found alive. According to testimonies, the entire population was abruptly transported miles away from the city in what can only be described as an instant, just seconds before Sokovia was reduced to rubble. This inexplicable event has given rise to a wave of theories—some speculating about alien involvement, while others suggest divine intervention."
The camera shifted back to the news anchor, who adjusted her glasses and continued, her expression unreadable. "Authorities remain baffled as to how such a large-scale event occurred with no clear source. Investigations are ongoing, but at this time, no official explanation has been provided."
The Avengers exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and concern. Steve folded his arms, his jaw tightening. Natasha leaned forward, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
"This doesn't make sense," Clint muttered. "People don't just disappear and reappear like that."
"Not unless someone—or something—made it happen," Bruce added, his tone grave.
Thor exhaled, gripping Mjolnir. "This is no ordinary magic. If such a feat was achieved, then it was the work of a force beyond our understanding."
There were too many unanswered questions, too many gaps they couldn't fill. And at the center of it all, an unshakable feeling gnawed at them—an unsettling certainty that something much bigger was at play, something they had yet to comprehend.