Ron soared across the sky, the Tesseract floating behind him in a sealed magical sphere. Though he could barely control the magic surging through his veins, his instincts guided him like he'd used it for centuries. He couldn't explain how he knew to compress energy into shields, or manipulate time within a ten-second radius—it simply happened.
> "Silver Superman… Magic… Alien cubes… What the hell kind of world is this?" he muttered as he landed on a snowy cliffside, far from civilization.
He created a cave in the cliff face with a simple thought. A wave of dark magic hollowed the rock, and white magic warmed the air. Inside, he sat cross-legged, eyes closed, trying to meditate—trying to understand.
But peace didn't last.
A voice crackled to life around him.
> "Identify yourself. This is a SHIELD security protocol. You are in restricted territory. Stand down or face retaliation."
Ron opened his eyes, eyes glowing silver. A screen of light materialized—holographic, blue, with the image of a woman.
> "Who are you?" he asked, cautiously.
> "I am A.I. Carter. Based on the memories and intellect of Agent Margaret Carter. You've activated a dormant Hydra facility and stolen an object of strategic value. We need to talk."
Ron blinked. Peggy Carter? He vaguely recalled the name—Captain America's love interest, right? He stood, his expression firm.
> "I'm not your enemy. This cube is dangerous. I didn't take it—I saved it."
The AI studied him. "Your energy readings are unlike anything recorded. You are human… yet not. Your physiology reads as off-the-charts."
Ron sighed. "Yeah, I'm starting to notice."
> "You are not the first enhanced being SHIELD has encountered. But you may be the most powerful."
Ron stared into the hologram. "Then help me. I don't know where—or when—I am. But I know something big is coming. I've seen it."
Peggy's AI was silent for a moment, then said, "There is a secure site nearby—an old SSR safehouse. I will guide you."
Ron nodded.
Far away, in the shadows of Siberia, a cold chamber opened.
The Winter Soldier stepped out, eyes blank, mind fractured. Hydra operatives whispered a single order:
> "Find the Silver Man. Terminate or capture."
And in deep space, Thanos clenched his gauntlet.
> "One holds the cube already… this timeline is shifting."
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