"You are right, Tony."
"That was not an accident."
Tony's body tensed, his fists clenched tight, fingernails digging deep into his palms.
He had never expected that the answer he sought would be such a direct confirmation.
Lynn walked up to him, meeting his gaze.
"But the official report must be an accident. Because the truth is far more terrifying than a car crash. Your father's talent was his greatest glory, but also his deadliest curse. In this World, there are too many people who crave his wisdom, and too many who fear his existence."
He deliberated over his choice of words.
"This hole-ridden accident report is not written for the World to see, Tony. It is a curtain protecting you. Before you can lift it, you must stay behind the scenes. Otherwise, the hyenas who hunted your father will not hesitate to pounce on you."
"What should I do?"
Tony's voice was somewhat hoarse with emotion.
"Grow up."
Lynn's answer was the same as before, but this time, the word was imbued with a whole new meaning.
"Become smarter and stronger than your father. Strong enough that all the enemies hiding in the Shadow will have nowhere to hide under your radiance. By then, you won't need to look for the truth; the truth will come looking for you."
He reached out and gently placed his hand on Tony's shoulder.
"I will help you. Until you are ready, I will be your strongest shield."
Tony looked at the man before him; his wariness and suspicion were replaced by a stronger goal.
He needed power, and this man had promised to give it to him.
"I understand, Uncle Lynn."
Lynn nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.
...
Four years passed in the blink of an eye.
1995.
The World had long since grown accustomed to the "New Order" defined by Vought.
Tony Stark had transformed from that sorrowful orphan into a playboy super-genius.
His name frequently appeared on the covers of tech magazines and in tabloid headlines, with no one knowing that beneath that uninhibited facade lay a heart of vengeance being forged in madness.
Lynn's appearance remained unchanged.
He sat in his office, listening to the report from his personal secretary, Tifa.
"Boss, there is an energy anomaly over Los Angeles. Data models show it is neither a meteoroid nor a spacecraft crash. The energy signature does not match any known super-powered individual in our database."
On the screen, a brilliant streak of light slammed into a point on the ground.
"Impact site: Los Angeles, a video store called Blockbuster."
"A Blockbuster store?"
Tifa Lockhart stood to the side with her hands down, waiting for instructions.
"Have Amanda Waller and Ada Wong come to my office."
Lynn issued the order.
Within two minutes, Amanda Waller, head of the Superpower Ethics and Threat Assessment Department, and Ada Wong, head of the Intelligence and Infiltration Department, walked into the CEO's office one after the other.
Amanda Waller was a robust Black woman with a serious, unsmiling expression.
Ada Wong was wearing a form-fitting, fire-red dress, swaying gracefully with every step.
"Boss."
The two greeted him in unison.
Lynn didn't bother with pleasantries and turned the screen toward them.
"Los Angeles, something that just happened."
On the screen, the spectral analysis of the energy readings and satellite images of the impact site were playing on a loop.
Amanda Waller took one look and gave her initial assessment.
"A high-energy cosmic ray aggregate, source unknown, nature unknown. But its decay rate is extremely fast; it is not a natural phenomenon."
"A visitor who fell from the sky."
Ada Wong took over, her voice carrying her characteristic languor.
"Interesting. The people from S.H.I.E.L.D. should be arriving soon."
"I don't want them to be arriving soon."
"I want our people to be there first."
He looked at Amanda.
"I want to know everything about this visitor. Her energy composition, physiological traits, weaknesses, and most importantly, her threat level."
"Understood."
Amanda nodded.
Lynn turned to Ada Wong.
"Ada, I want your people to secure the site. Not a physical blockade, but an information blockade."
"At the same time," Lynn added, "send your most elite tactical team. The objective is not combat, but assessment and contact. If possible, bring her back. Remember, I want her alive and intact."
"My deputy, Nina Williams, happens to be on the West Coast dealing with a little trouble regarding a 'wild hero' who refuses to follow orders."
Ada Wong provided a perfect candidate.
"She will handle it."
"Very well."
Lynn leaned back in his chair.
"Go. I want to see the first report before dawn."
...
Los Angeles, "Blockbuster" video store.
A blonde woman wearing a strange green uniform stood blankly amidst a mess of videotapes and posters.
"Who am I?"
"Why am I here?"
Outside the store, the first Police car had just pulled up; two Police officers drew their guns and cautiously approached.
"LAPD! Hands up, whoever is inside!"
Their warning was drowned out by the screeching sound of tires.
Three unmarked vehicles rammed into the side in an aggressive manner.
The doors popped open, and a dozen soldiers wearing black Vought tactical gear poured out in perfect unison.
Ignoring the two dumbfounded Police officers, they quickly established a new perimeter at the scene.
When the Police saw the familiar Vought logo on the soldiers' arms, he swallowed the rest of his words.
The crisp sound of tactical boots crunching on glass shards was exceptionally clear in the noisy environment.
Nina Williams walked in.
She was wearing a dark purple combat suit, her long blonde hair tied into a high ponytail, and every step she took carried a deadly elegance.
Nina's gaze locked onto the blonde woman.
[Energy readings off the charts. Unknown uniform material, possesses environmental adaptability. Muscles tensed, highly alert, consistent with the combat stance of an elite soldier.]
She completed her initial assessment in 0.5 seconds.
[Conclusion: This is not any super-powered individual registered on Earth.]
"Who are you?"
The blonde woman who had fallen from the sky focused her gaze on Nina and took a half-step back in wariness.
"I am Vers, an elite member of the Starforce of the Kree Empire."
"Kree Empire?"
"Some backwater place I've never heard of. What is your purpose on Earth?"
"I am hunting a group of dangerous shapeshifters called Skrulls."
Vers's expression grew serious.
"They can disguise themselves as any living creature; they have already infiltrated your Planet."
"Skrulls?"
"Infiltration?"
Nina's expression didn't change, but internally, she raised the threat level.
This was not a standard super-powered incident; this was a species invasion.
She calmly synced the information to the top floor of Vought Tower through the encrypted channel in her earpiece.
"Target identifies as an alien warrior of the 'Kree Empire', codename 'Vers'. Currently hunting a shapeshifting race called 'Skrulls'. Suggest initiating the 'First Contact' top-level contingency plan."
A nearly greedy excitement ignited in Amanda Waller's eyes.
"Aliens!"
This opened a whole new dimension for her super-powered threat assessment system.
"Ada."
Lynn's voice broke the silence.
"I've changed my mind. Do not bring her back."
Ada Wong was about to ask a question.
Lynn continued, "Help her."
"Help her?"
"Yes, help her find those so-called Skrulls."
Lynn tapped his fingertips lightly on the desktop.
"I want to see what kind of show these two bugs from outer space can put on. And while I'm at it, I want to see how our old friend, S.H.I.E.L.D., will handle a situation like this."
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