In the lab of Brainchild Tony Stark, the Invincible Iron Man tried to figure out how he had gotten ton this point.
ôHow could this happen? How did the Skrulls manage to catch everyone off guard?ö Tony Stark thought while looking through BrainchildÆs base for anything useful. The battle that Deadpool had with the Savage Land Mutates had done heavy damage to it.
Iron Man hoped that Rhodey would be able to deal with whatever the Skrulls were up to. They were always up to something. Usually conquering or blowing things up.
Suddenly a table covered in all sorts of devices appeared in the room. Stark found the note attached to it.
ôThought you could use this.-Cableö
ôGreat I got Skrulls, and now the wild card of the X-family gets involved.ö Tony muttered.
To be honest Tony never liked Cable at all. He was thankful they were in completely different circles of the world and in the super hero community.
ôHeÆs an enigmaö Stark thought ôAnd keeps changing his MO every so often, making nearly impossible to predict. Though gun trotting warrior, or psychic messiah, leader of X-Force or a member of the X-Menàhe always makes a mark and is up to something.ö
It was near instinctive for Stark to understand the equipment. It was partly due to Extremis, which the Skrull virus didnÆt destroy, and the fact this equipment was based off his own designs.
ôThese are upgrades to the device Reed and I made to expose that imposter Captain America should work on the current batch of Skrulls.ö Tony thought as he went to work. Tony remembered how a stranded Skrull turned Captain America into an even bigger super star so he could take Steve's form and use that status to cause everyone to think anything 'different' was really a Skrull in disguise and have America rip itself to shreds.
Whatever CableÆs reasons for giving out this technology it was quite possible that it would save the world from the Skrulls. Tony knew that their taking over the world was not in CableÆs plans.
It was one of the few things Tony was sure of involving Cable. And he noted that not even Cannonball, Domino or Cyclops could honestly understand what Cable's plans were all the time.
ôEnough thinking about enigmatic mutants.ö Tony thought ôI got bigger problems.ö
-
In the Savage Land a star ship had crashed and it was filled with metahumans, living and some considered dead wearing older versions of their costumes. Their story was that they were the real articles and had managed to escape from the Skrulls.
With their minds filled with paranoia and having encountered Skrulls that could hide themselves as humans so well that not even people with a sense of smell like Wolverine and Daredevil could tell them from the original article the two teams of Avengers dealt with the matter in usual super hero fashion.
Beat the crap out them all and sort out who is what later.
Flying overhead Sentry, who claimed to have the power of a million exploding suns confronted the Vision that came out of the star ship. The Vision didn't want to discuss why he was the real Vision with the Guardian of Good.
ôIÆm Void and it is all your fault.ö Vision said as his body shifted to look more like the Void.
Sentry recoiled in fear and self loathing. Void/Vision found this amusing, and extremely easy. He wondered why KÆlurt never used his powers this way on Sentry. It wasnÆt a challenge at all.
The incredibly powerful super heroÆs mind was as malleable as Skrullian flesh. It was frankly amusing to play with.
Then suddenly Void/Vision was slammed in the back of the head and his eye contact with Sentry was shattered. The false Vision was then blasted into the ground with an energy blast.
ôI donÆt know who you are, but you arenÆt the Vision or Void.ö Ms. Marvel snarled.
Suddenly Ms. Marvel was hit with a blast of ice from ôVoidö. Vision looked enraged at having been knocked out of the sky and his fun interrupted.
ôNo I am notö Vision said and suddenly shifted ôI am Paibok the Power Skrull! And while he might love you, I hate every one of your kind!ö
ôFinally something simple to deal with.ö Luke Cage said as he slugged Paibok in the jaw. The force of the blow knocked the super powered Skrull back a few steps.
Paibok armored up like the X-Man Colossus. Luke CageÆs eyes widened as PaibokÆs punch sent the former Power Man flying. Luke Cage was driven through several trees before stopping. Even for someone with skin as hard as steel it was painful.
ôYeah someone we know is the enemy for the first time in this messö Ronin said as he fired off some arrows he got from the fallen imposter Hawkeye. As odd as that was, Clint felt like he was coming home again with a bow in hand and arrows flying at the bad guys.
ôHawkeye blind him with a flashbang arrow, Ms. Marvel blast him while heÆs blinded.ö Wasp ordered.
ôOn it.ö Ronin said as he cocked his bow.
ôHey IÆm the team leader.ö Luke Cage said as he got up.
Wasp gave Luke Cage a withering glare. The steel tough skinned super hero flinched even though Wasp was only a few inches tall. Janet had a slight smile showing the former Hero for Hire that here was more to being a leader then saying you were.
Hawkeye fired his flashbang arrow. Paibok seemed amused that anyone thought mere arrows could hurt him. Then there was a massive flash of light and a loud bang. The Power Skrull covered his eyes.
Ms. Marvel let loose an energy blast at the stunned Skrull. Paibok fired electric blasts at random. Suddenly a red and white shield slammed into PaibokÆs knees. He was knocked off his feet.
Wasp began to hope against hope that Captain America really was alive and had exited that starship. The world needed the real Captain America more then ever. She had no idea what to make of the current Captain America, supposedly Bucky. The original Bucky who had been found by the Soviets, made into a cyborg and kept on ice until they needed him for an assignment.
Janet then felt strange at how willing to accept such a story she was. And for it to be something she felt was plausible. Yet she'd lived through a lot weirder like when she was turned into a wasp-like being during a crisis that turned out to a lord of time trying to keep them on Earth and busy before Onslaught showed up.
ôFoolish Knave!ö Thor yelled as he drove Paibok into the ground with his uru hammer. It sounded like a blacksmith hammering on a piece of metal every time Thor struck the Power Skrull.
ôClint I.ö Mockingbird said as Hawkeye bore through her with an enraged look on his face. He knew this couldnÆt be Bobbi. Bobbi was killed way before this Skrull invasion started. Yet she was the one person that hadnÆt come back. Hell even he had come back two or three times now. BobbiÆs soul was in Hell and the Skrulls werenÆt going to take her soul for this Invasion. This imposter couldnÆt be her!
ôWhat do you want?ö Hawkeye snapped at Mockingbird. She gave him the same angry expression Bobbi would give him when he did something stupid. That made Clint even more pissed off at the Skrulls for what they had done.
ôIÆm here to help and hurt that heàhe was a fake.ö Mockingbird said. She was surprised when that Hawkeye was killed by a dinosaur and he was a Skrull.
Clint was about to give an angry and sarcastic comment when Captain America held up a hand.
ôWe can discuss whatever problems we have after the fight.ö Captain America said a calm and firm tone. He didnÆt have to speak up to get his command across.
Suddenly Thor was sent flying with a massive blast of ice. The Norse God of Thunder looked enraged at that.
ôYou dare stand against me?ö Paibok said ôThen you will die as well.ö
Suddenly Paibok was hit in the face with webbing. The webbing grew cold and brittle and shattered.
ôLike you werenÆt going to kill us anyway?ö Spider-Man joked ôPlease itÆs always ækillÆ or æiceÆ or ædestroyÆ with you guys.ö
ôAvengers Assemble!ö Captain America yelled out as the group rushed at Paibok.
Wasp blasted Paibok inside his ears. With Paibok distracted by the pain, Thor, and Luke Cage hammered on him with their fists. Spider-Man used his strength and agility to hit the Power Skrull where Luke and Thor werenÆt. With PaibokÆs attention on them and his earache, Ms. Marvel flew behind The Power Skrull and blasted his unguarded back.
Paibok howled in pain. He let out a massive burst of electricity to drive off Thor and Luke Cage. Captain AmericaÆs shield hit PaibokÆs jaw so hard even in its armed state there was a loud crack.
As soon as Captain AmericaÆs shield was out of the wound, Mockingbird hit the same spot with her battle stave. PaibokÆs bloodlust reached even more incredible heights as this ad hoc group was making him look like an embarrassment.
The team broke off their assault. Paibok charged for the archer. Hawkeye fired an arrow that didnÆt hit the Power Skrull. Paibok thought for a moment it was in fear that the archer missed.
It was then Paibok lost his footing as it was slippery grease arrow that Hawkeye fired. Paibok was once again introduced to the ground. The grease froze sold and Paibok staggered to his feet.
Suddenly a yellow blur flew at Paibok. Sentry drove his fist into PaibokÆs armored gut, and the sound of metal being crushed filled the air.
ôIÆve had it with people messing with my head.ö Sentry snarled. Golden energy crackled around the enraged hero.
His next punch sent Paibok flying through the air and through a mountain of ice outside the Savage Land.
ôWowö Spiderman said ôHeÆs super pissed.ö
ôThere's some hope for him yet.ö Ares said holding up the severed head of ôPower Manö. Luke Cage gave Ares a dirty look but the Greek God of War didn't care.
ôYou know it really isn't looking like any of the people on that star ship are who they say they are.ö Ronin commented.
ôI am Captain America.ö Steve Rogers said ôI was captured years ago and only now have we managed to escape.ö
ôI say we just kill them all and get this over with.ö Ares commented.
ôI don't care what you think.ö Ronin snapped getting into Ares face ôWe're the Avengers and I don't know if that means anything to you but that means we don't go around slaughtering people!ö
ôYou have guts Clint Barton.ö Ares noted ôAnd no common sense. No wonder my brother considers you one of his friends.ö
ôYou two done yet?!ö Wolverine yelled as he fought off a raptor. A huge pack of them and other dinosaurs were coming. They were attracted by the smell of meat and blood the dead Skrulls were giving off.
Ares loaded his guns and opened fire the raptors. The gleeful expression on his face didn't sit well with Wasp or Captain America. Janet wondered what the hell Tony was thinking considering Ares to be an Avenger. Especially since he'd tried to kill them several times in the past.
Sentry smashed the skull of a T-Rex. A fire had been awakened inside of the gold clad hero. He was tired of having his mind messed with and being the weakest link in the Avengers when he should be the strongest.
Thor caused gale force winds and lightning to deal with the various dinosaurs coming at them.
ôShow off.ö Ares thought.
-
As Tony worked on his armor he heard the sounds of battle outside. There was an ominous crack not long before Spider-Woman entered the base.
ôTony.ö Spider-Woman said ôYou are a Skrull.ö
"I'm a Skrull?" Iron Man asked sounded more confused and annoyed then anything.
ôYes you are.ö Spider-Woman said after shifting her body to a Skrullian form ôOne of our finest generals.ö
ôExplain the whole mess that destroyed Force Works to when Onslaught attacked and the return of the heroes.ö Tony said ôReally IÆd love to hear how that fits with your plan.ö
ôIà.ö The Skrull Queen hesitated. Even she didnÆt know what the hell was going on when she read about that series of events. Of all the things she ever expected him to do asking about that mess was never even on the list.
ôSee being a Skrull would make that easy to explain.ö Tony said ôA pat answer to deal with a total mess. But life is messy.ö
ôYou should be quaking in fear.ö Spider-Woman snarled ôA complete wreck!ö
Tony rolled his eyes at her. This was her master plan to deal with him personally? How pathetic did she think he was? He knew he had been the butt of many jokes since the Civil War mess but honestly.
ôYeah some Skrull Queen taking nonsense should hurt me after all the other things that have happened to me.ö Tony said sarcastically.
Phoenix and Beast walked into Brain ChildÆs lab. The two stood behind the Skrull Queen. A malevolent sneer was on the face of the Skrull Queen. Tony nearly rolled his eyes. The Skrulls seemed to love the X-MenÆs forms and powers. The War Skrulls, the fact that one of them had been pretending to be Wolverine before ironically being slain by the real Wolverine.
ôYou are out numbered Stark.ö The Skrull Queen said ôAnd He loves you.ö
Suddenly Iron Man let loose a barrage of repulsor fire and blew PheonixÆs head off. He didnÆt want anything even a quarter as powerful as that running out. Yet it seemed soàeasy.
ôYou really couldnÆt make a decent Primal Force of the Universe copy could you?ö Iron Man noted as he pulled down his faceplate.
The Skrull Queen had a ôdeer in headlightsö expression on her face at this turn of events. Iron Man decked her with a single punch. She dropped to the ground with all the grace of a sack of bricks.
Faster then the Skrull Beast could see, Iron Man turned and sent him flying out a hole in a wall and into a tree. There was a loud crack heard and a scream of pain.
Recalling what happened earlier Iron Man flew out and found Echo bandaging her left arm. She looked tense as she stared at Iron Man.
Tony lifted his faceplate. He knew Echo wonÆt be able to understand him other wise.
ôI had to deal with Spiderwomanàor whoever she really is.ö Tony said ôI donÆt have any way on hand to prove I am a Skrull or not.ö
ôThatÆs more then she gave me.ö Echo said.
ôWe know have a means to deal with these Skrulls.ö Iron Man said ôAnd did Daredevil ever tell you about the X-Men?ö
ôNo he didn't.ö Echo replied.
ôWell one of them is a time traveler and he wanted to help me for some reason. Remember when everyone on Earth turned pink for a little while? Well he's the one who gave me some technology.ö
ôThere are days I wonder if I should have told Ma...Daredevil to leave me alone or if I should have never become an Avenger.ö Echo said ôGiven the outlandish events that far from what I am used to dealing with.ö
ôAnd I didn't even tell you the backstory of that X-Man.ö Iron Man commented ôTrust me that whole incident on turning everyone pink is tame compared to that.ö
ôI really don't want to know.ö Echo replied.
Tony put down his faceplate and chuckled.
The two heroes entered Brainchild's laboratory and Tony finished up his device. Echo did her best to bandage and make a splint for her broken arm. The former assassin looked at the Skrull Queen and wondered how long she had been among the Avengers.
Echo kicked the Skrull Queen in the head as the alien tried to get up. The shape shifter slammed into the ground.
ôWe need to find the others.ö Iron Man said ôNow we can find out who is a Skrull and who isn't.ö
Iron Man then picked up what looked like a pair of Skrullian hand cuffs and put them on the Skrull Queen.
The two heroes then followed the sounds of battle to find the Avengers.
Iron Man turned on his device and all the Skrulls reverted to their natural forms. The only people left unchanged were Wolverine, Wasp, Ares, Wonder Man, Sentry, Ms. Marvel, Echo, Ronin and Iron Man.
Formerly disguised Skrulls had various reactions. Some looked completely shocked, others screamed they were the real deal and this was a trick, and some looked annoyed, and others showed exactly how many powers they really had.
ôCaptain Americaö snapped and charged at the Avengers. Ares gutted the Skrull with his claymore and then beheaded the faux hero. The God of War then eyed the shield of the fallen imposter.
ôClint I...ö the Skrull Mockingbird said.
ôI knew it.ö Ronin snapped looking at the imposter Mockingbird ôMy wife is dead.ö
Suddenly the Skrull Thor spun his hammer. In a flash the Skrull Jewel, Skrull Mockingbird and the faux Thor all vanished.
Iron Man pressed a button on his device and all the Skrulls changed shape. Now they were all cows.
ôDonÆt you think this a bit much?ö Clint Barton asked as he watched a Skrull eat some grass.
ôIt worked well enough for Reed.ö Iron Man said ôTheyÆre docile, and wonÆt be hurting anyone. WhatÆs wrong with it?ö
A T-Rex walked by and ate the Skrull Queen in a single bite.
ôThatÆs whyö Ronin said.
ôHey I didnÆt kill them.ö Iron Man said with his hands up and palms open.
ôWe need to find a way out of here.ö Wasp stated.
ôSure let's go find a super villain base and hotwire a jet.ö Clint commented ôGiven nearly everyone has a base down here we're sure to find something.ö
At the first base the Avengers explored they found something completely surprising. It was the Quintjet the New Warriors hijacked and managed to lose. It only took Iron Man a minute to purge it of any traces of the Skrull computer virus.
ôNow it doesn't matter what side you were on in Civil War.ö Wasp said ôRight now we are the Avengers. And we have a world to save.ö
ôYeah Avengers Assemble!ö Clint said ôNow let's go kick some Skrulls off Earth.ö
ôHow could this happen? How did the Skrulls manage to catch everyone off guard?ö Tony Stark thought while looking through BrainchildÆs base for anything useful. The battle that Deadpool had with the Savage Land Mutates had done heavy damage to it.
Iron Man hoped that Rhodey would be able to deal with whatever the Skrulls were up to. They were always up to something. Usually conquering or blowing things up.
Suddenly a table covered in all sorts of devices appeared in the room. Stark found the note attached to it.
ôThought you could use this.-Cableö
ôGreat I got Skrulls, and now the wild card of the X-family gets involved.ö Tony muttered.
To be honest Tony never liked Cable at all. He was thankful they were in completely different circles of the world and in the super hero community.
ôHeÆs an enigmaö Stark thought ôAnd keeps changing his MO every so often, making nearly impossible to predict. Though gun trotting warrior, or psychic messiah, leader of X-Force or a member of the X-Menàhe always makes a mark and is up to something.ö
It was near instinctive for Stark to understand the equipment. It was partly due to Extremis, which the Skrull virus didnÆt destroy, and the fact this equipment was based off his own designs.
ôThese are upgrades to the device Reed and I made to expose that imposter Captain America should work on the current batch of Skrulls.ö Tony thought as he went to work. Tony remembered how a stranded Skrull turned Captain America into an even bigger super star so he could take Steve's form and use that status to cause everyone to think anything 'different' was really a Skrull in disguise and have America rip itself to shreds.
Whatever CableÆs reasons for giving out this technology it was quite possible that it would save the world from the Skrulls. Tony knew that their taking over the world was not in CableÆs plans.
It was one of the few things Tony was sure of involving Cable. And he noted that not even Cannonball, Domino or Cyclops could honestly understand what Cable's plans were all the time.
ôEnough thinking about enigmatic mutants.ö Tony thought ôI got bigger problems.ö
-
In the Savage Land a star ship had crashed and it was filled with metahumans, living and some considered dead wearing older versions of their costumes. Their story was that they were the real articles and had managed to escape from the Skrulls.
With their minds filled with paranoia and having encountered Skrulls that could hide themselves as humans so well that not even people with a sense of smell like Wolverine and Daredevil could tell them from the original article the two teams of Avengers dealt with the matter in usual super hero fashion.
Beat the crap out them all and sort out who is what later.
Flying overhead Sentry, who claimed to have the power of a million exploding suns confronted the Vision that came out of the star ship. The Vision didn't want to discuss why he was the real Vision with the Guardian of Good.
ôIÆm Void and it is all your fault.ö Vision said as his body shifted to look more like the Void.
Sentry recoiled in fear and self loathing. Void/Vision found this amusing, and extremely easy. He wondered why KÆlurt never used his powers this way on Sentry. It wasnÆt a challenge at all.
The incredibly powerful super heroÆs mind was as malleable as Skrullian flesh. It was frankly amusing to play with.
Then suddenly Void/Vision was slammed in the back of the head and his eye contact with Sentry was shattered. The false Vision was then blasted into the ground with an energy blast.
ôI donÆt know who you are, but you arenÆt the Vision or Void.ö Ms. Marvel snarled.
Suddenly Ms. Marvel was hit with a blast of ice from ôVoidö. Vision looked enraged at having been knocked out of the sky and his fun interrupted.
ôNo I am notö Vision said and suddenly shifted ôI am Paibok the Power Skrull! And while he might love you, I hate every one of your kind!ö
ôFinally something simple to deal with.ö Luke Cage said as he slugged Paibok in the jaw. The force of the blow knocked the super powered Skrull back a few steps.
Paibok armored up like the X-Man Colossus. Luke CageÆs eyes widened as PaibokÆs punch sent the former Power Man flying. Luke Cage was driven through several trees before stopping. Even for someone with skin as hard as steel it was painful.
ôYeah someone we know is the enemy for the first time in this messö Ronin said as he fired off some arrows he got from the fallen imposter Hawkeye. As odd as that was, Clint felt like he was coming home again with a bow in hand and arrows flying at the bad guys.
ôHawkeye blind him with a flashbang arrow, Ms. Marvel blast him while heÆs blinded.ö Wasp ordered.
ôOn it.ö Ronin said as he cocked his bow.
ôHey IÆm the team leader.ö Luke Cage said as he got up.
Wasp gave Luke Cage a withering glare. The steel tough skinned super hero flinched even though Wasp was only a few inches tall. Janet had a slight smile showing the former Hero for Hire that here was more to being a leader then saying you were.
Hawkeye fired his flashbang arrow. Paibok seemed amused that anyone thought mere arrows could hurt him. Then there was a massive flash of light and a loud bang. The Power Skrull covered his eyes.
Ms. Marvel let loose an energy blast at the stunned Skrull. Paibok fired electric blasts at random. Suddenly a red and white shield slammed into PaibokÆs knees. He was knocked off his feet.
Wasp began to hope against hope that Captain America really was alive and had exited that starship. The world needed the real Captain America more then ever. She had no idea what to make of the current Captain America, supposedly Bucky. The original Bucky who had been found by the Soviets, made into a cyborg and kept on ice until they needed him for an assignment.
Janet then felt strange at how willing to accept such a story she was. And for it to be something she felt was plausible. Yet she'd lived through a lot weirder like when she was turned into a wasp-like being during a crisis that turned out to a lord of time trying to keep them on Earth and busy before Onslaught showed up.
ôFoolish Knave!ö Thor yelled as he drove Paibok into the ground with his uru hammer. It sounded like a blacksmith hammering on a piece of metal every time Thor struck the Power Skrull.
ôClint I.ö Mockingbird said as Hawkeye bore through her with an enraged look on his face. He knew this couldnÆt be Bobbi. Bobbi was killed way before this Skrull invasion started. Yet she was the one person that hadnÆt come back. Hell even he had come back two or three times now. BobbiÆs soul was in Hell and the Skrulls werenÆt going to take her soul for this Invasion. This imposter couldnÆt be her!
ôWhat do you want?ö Hawkeye snapped at Mockingbird. She gave him the same angry expression Bobbi would give him when he did something stupid. That made Clint even more pissed off at the Skrulls for what they had done.
ôIÆm here to help and hurt that heàhe was a fake.ö Mockingbird said. She was surprised when that Hawkeye was killed by a dinosaur and he was a Skrull.
Clint was about to give an angry and sarcastic comment when Captain America held up a hand.
ôWe can discuss whatever problems we have after the fight.ö Captain America said a calm and firm tone. He didnÆt have to speak up to get his command across.
Suddenly Thor was sent flying with a massive blast of ice. The Norse God of Thunder looked enraged at that.
ôYou dare stand against me?ö Paibok said ôThen you will die as well.ö
Suddenly Paibok was hit in the face with webbing. The webbing grew cold and brittle and shattered.
ôLike you werenÆt going to kill us anyway?ö Spider-Man joked ôPlease itÆs always ækillÆ or æiceÆ or ædestroyÆ with you guys.ö
ôAvengers Assemble!ö Captain America yelled out as the group rushed at Paibok.
Wasp blasted Paibok inside his ears. With Paibok distracted by the pain, Thor, and Luke Cage hammered on him with their fists. Spider-Man used his strength and agility to hit the Power Skrull where Luke and Thor werenÆt. With PaibokÆs attention on them and his earache, Ms. Marvel flew behind The Power Skrull and blasted his unguarded back.
Paibok howled in pain. He let out a massive burst of electricity to drive off Thor and Luke Cage. Captain AmericaÆs shield hit PaibokÆs jaw so hard even in its armed state there was a loud crack.
As soon as Captain AmericaÆs shield was out of the wound, Mockingbird hit the same spot with her battle stave. PaibokÆs bloodlust reached even more incredible heights as this ad hoc group was making him look like an embarrassment.
The team broke off their assault. Paibok charged for the archer. Hawkeye fired an arrow that didnÆt hit the Power Skrull. Paibok thought for a moment it was in fear that the archer missed.
It was then Paibok lost his footing as it was slippery grease arrow that Hawkeye fired. Paibok was once again introduced to the ground. The grease froze sold and Paibok staggered to his feet.
Suddenly a yellow blur flew at Paibok. Sentry drove his fist into PaibokÆs armored gut, and the sound of metal being crushed filled the air.
ôIÆve had it with people messing with my head.ö Sentry snarled. Golden energy crackled around the enraged hero.
His next punch sent Paibok flying through the air and through a mountain of ice outside the Savage Land.
ôWowö Spiderman said ôHeÆs super pissed.ö
ôThere's some hope for him yet.ö Ares said holding up the severed head of ôPower Manö. Luke Cage gave Ares a dirty look but the Greek God of War didn't care.
ôYou know it really isn't looking like any of the people on that star ship are who they say they are.ö Ronin commented.
ôI am Captain America.ö Steve Rogers said ôI was captured years ago and only now have we managed to escape.ö
ôI say we just kill them all and get this over with.ö Ares commented.
ôI don't care what you think.ö Ronin snapped getting into Ares face ôWe're the Avengers and I don't know if that means anything to you but that means we don't go around slaughtering people!ö
ôYou have guts Clint Barton.ö Ares noted ôAnd no common sense. No wonder my brother considers you one of his friends.ö
ôYou two done yet?!ö Wolverine yelled as he fought off a raptor. A huge pack of them and other dinosaurs were coming. They were attracted by the smell of meat and blood the dead Skrulls were giving off.
Ares loaded his guns and opened fire the raptors. The gleeful expression on his face didn't sit well with Wasp or Captain America. Janet wondered what the hell Tony was thinking considering Ares to be an Avenger. Especially since he'd tried to kill them several times in the past.
Sentry smashed the skull of a T-Rex. A fire had been awakened inside of the gold clad hero. He was tired of having his mind messed with and being the weakest link in the Avengers when he should be the strongest.
Thor caused gale force winds and lightning to deal with the various dinosaurs coming at them.
ôShow off.ö Ares thought.
-
As Tony worked on his armor he heard the sounds of battle outside. There was an ominous crack not long before Spider-Woman entered the base.
ôTony.ö Spider-Woman said ôYou are a Skrull.ö
"I'm a Skrull?" Iron Man asked sounded more confused and annoyed then anything.
ôYes you are.ö Spider-Woman said after shifting her body to a Skrullian form ôOne of our finest generals.ö
ôExplain the whole mess that destroyed Force Works to when Onslaught attacked and the return of the heroes.ö Tony said ôReally IÆd love to hear how that fits with your plan.ö
ôIà.ö The Skrull Queen hesitated. Even she didnÆt know what the hell was going on when she read about that series of events. Of all the things she ever expected him to do asking about that mess was never even on the list.
ôSee being a Skrull would make that easy to explain.ö Tony said ôA pat answer to deal with a total mess. But life is messy.ö
ôYou should be quaking in fear.ö Spider-Woman snarled ôA complete wreck!ö
Tony rolled his eyes at her. This was her master plan to deal with him personally? How pathetic did she think he was? He knew he had been the butt of many jokes since the Civil War mess but honestly.
ôYeah some Skrull Queen taking nonsense should hurt me after all the other things that have happened to me.ö Tony said sarcastically.
Phoenix and Beast walked into Brain ChildÆs lab. The two stood behind the Skrull Queen. A malevolent sneer was on the face of the Skrull Queen. Tony nearly rolled his eyes. The Skrulls seemed to love the X-MenÆs forms and powers. The War Skrulls, the fact that one of them had been pretending to be Wolverine before ironically being slain by the real Wolverine.
ôYou are out numbered Stark.ö The Skrull Queen said ôAnd He loves you.ö
Suddenly Iron Man let loose a barrage of repulsor fire and blew PheonixÆs head off. He didnÆt want anything even a quarter as powerful as that running out. Yet it seemed soàeasy.
ôYou really couldnÆt make a decent Primal Force of the Universe copy could you?ö Iron Man noted as he pulled down his faceplate.
The Skrull Queen had a ôdeer in headlightsö expression on her face at this turn of events. Iron Man decked her with a single punch. She dropped to the ground with all the grace of a sack of bricks.
Faster then the Skrull Beast could see, Iron Man turned and sent him flying out a hole in a wall and into a tree. There was a loud crack heard and a scream of pain.
Recalling what happened earlier Iron Man flew out and found Echo bandaging her left arm. She looked tense as she stared at Iron Man.
Tony lifted his faceplate. He knew Echo wonÆt be able to understand him other wise.
ôI had to deal with Spiderwomanàor whoever she really is.ö Tony said ôI donÆt have any way on hand to prove I am a Skrull or not.ö
ôThatÆs more then she gave me.ö Echo said.
ôWe know have a means to deal with these Skrulls.ö Iron Man said ôAnd did Daredevil ever tell you about the X-Men?ö
ôNo he didn't.ö Echo replied.
ôWell one of them is a time traveler and he wanted to help me for some reason. Remember when everyone on Earth turned pink for a little while? Well he's the one who gave me some technology.ö
ôThere are days I wonder if I should have told Ma...Daredevil to leave me alone or if I should have never become an Avenger.ö Echo said ôGiven the outlandish events that far from what I am used to dealing with.ö
ôAnd I didn't even tell you the backstory of that X-Man.ö Iron Man commented ôTrust me that whole incident on turning everyone pink is tame compared to that.ö
ôI really don't want to know.ö Echo replied.
Tony put down his faceplate and chuckled.
The two heroes entered Brainchild's laboratory and Tony finished up his device. Echo did her best to bandage and make a splint for her broken arm. The former assassin looked at the Skrull Queen and wondered how long she had been among the Avengers.
Echo kicked the Skrull Queen in the head as the alien tried to get up. The shape shifter slammed into the ground.
ôWe need to find the others.ö Iron Man said ôNow we can find out who is a Skrull and who isn't.ö
Iron Man then picked up what looked like a pair of Skrullian hand cuffs and put them on the Skrull Queen.
The two heroes then followed the sounds of battle to find the Avengers.
Iron Man turned on his device and all the Skrulls reverted to their natural forms. The only people left unchanged were Wolverine, Wasp, Ares, Wonder Man, Sentry, Ms. Marvel, Echo, Ronin and Iron Man.
Formerly disguised Skrulls had various reactions. Some looked completely shocked, others screamed they were the real deal and this was a trick, and some looked annoyed, and others showed exactly how many powers they really had.
ôCaptain Americaö snapped and charged at the Avengers. Ares gutted the Skrull with his claymore and then beheaded the faux hero. The God of War then eyed the shield of the fallen imposter.
ôClint I...ö the Skrull Mockingbird said.
ôI knew it.ö Ronin snapped looking at the imposter Mockingbird ôMy wife is dead.ö
Suddenly the Skrull Thor spun his hammer. In a flash the Skrull Jewel, Skrull Mockingbird and the faux Thor all vanished.
Iron Man pressed a button on his device and all the Skrulls changed shape. Now they were all cows.
ôDonÆt you think this a bit much?ö Clint Barton asked as he watched a Skrull eat some grass.
ôIt worked well enough for Reed.ö Iron Man said ôTheyÆre docile, and wonÆt be hurting anyone. WhatÆs wrong with it?ö
A T-Rex walked by and ate the Skrull Queen in a single bite.
ôThatÆs whyö Ronin said.
ôHey I didnÆt kill them.ö Iron Man said with his hands up and palms open.
ôWe need to find a way out of here.ö Wasp stated.
ôSure let's go find a super villain base and hotwire a jet.ö Clint commented ôGiven nearly everyone has a base down here we're sure to find something.ö
At the first base the Avengers explored they found something completely surprising. It was the Quintjet the New Warriors hijacked and managed to lose. It only took Iron Man a minute to purge it of any traces of the Skrull computer virus.
ôNow it doesn't matter what side you were on in Civil War.ö Wasp said ôRight now we are the Avengers. And we have a world to save.ö
ôYeah Avengers Assemble!ö Clint said ôNow let's go kick some Skrulls off Earth.ö