S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, the Triskelion, within the highest-level secure meeting room.
The thick, blast-proof glass doors slid open slowly. Alexander Pierce adjusted the cuff of his suit, his face set in the specific, impeccable expression of grief and resolve that only a seasoned politician could master, and strode inside.
Waiting for him were two Black men in distinctly African attire that hinted at high-tech sophistication.
The elder man was King T'Chaka of Wakanda. Standing slightly behind him was the young Prince T'Challa.
"King T'Chaka, Prince T'Challa."
Pierce extended his hand, his voice laced with the perfect amount of respect and gratitude. "To have friends from Wakanda join us in this, the Earth's darkest hour, is not only S.H.I.E.L.D.'s honor, but the hope of all humanity."
It had to be said, Pierce's acting skills were so good it was a shame he wasn't winning Oscars.
However, King T'Chaka was in no mood for pleasantries. His face was grim. He didn't take Pierce's hand, offering only a slight nod.
"Secretary Pierce, let's skip the small talk."
T'Chaka's voice was deep and commanding. "Though we are a hidden nation, that does not mean we are deaf or blind. We have seen the actions of this man who calls himself Frieza in New York, and his declaration that he views all life as insects."
Prince T'Challa stepped forward and added, "This is no longer a crisis for a single nation, but an extinction-level event targeting all Earth civilization. If we do not unite, Wakanda cannot stand alone."
A sharp glint flashed in Pierce's eye. He retracted his hand, adjusted his glasses, and said soberly, "Your Majesty speaks the absolute truth. Director Nick Fury was tragically killed in the line of duty, and now we must rally every resource. That demon's power is simply beyond this dimension."
"So, Wakanda has chosen to step out of the shadows."
T'Chaka looked directly into Pierce's eyes. "We will provide Wakanda's most advanced technological support, and Vibranium. On this planet, perhaps only weapons forged from Vibranium stand a chance of cracking that monster's defenses."
At the word "Vibranium," Pierce's heart pounded wildly. That was the strategic resource Hydra had always coveted! But he maintained his righteous demeanor.
"Thank you for Wakanda's generosity! I thank you on behalf of all mankind!"
"Don't thank us yet." T'Chaka looked around the room. "Where is Tony Stark? I'm told he is one of the brightest minds in this world."
"Stark is still in the strategic conference room, in a state of... well, acute anxiety," Pierce replied. "Are you looking for him?"
"Yes." T'Chaka nodded. "Wakanda has the Vibranium, but Stark has the design genius to convert materials into ultimate, individual fighting power. If we can use Vibranium to custom-build an 'Anti-Frieza Armor' for him, coupled with our energy shield technology, perhaps... we will have a fighting chance."
A full Vibranium Iron Man suit?
Pierce sucked in a breath. How strong would that be?
That was absolutely the ultimate weapon for Hydra's world conquest!
"That idea is absolutely brilliant!" Pierce restrained his internal euphoria and put on a look of sincere relief. He immediately turned to the agent by the door. "Quick! Go summon Mr. Stark! Tell him we have the trump card we need to turn this around!"
Meanwhile.
On the highway leading from Manhattan to Long Island, a black, extended Rolls-Royce Phantom was cruising smoothly.
The luxurious cabin was quiet, the starlight ceiling glowing softly, and the leather seats as soft as clouds.
Frieza swirled a glass of Bordeaux, watching the night scenery fly past, in a rather excellent mood.
Sitting across from him, Loki, still wearing that ridiculously embarrassing Ginyu Force-style spandex, sat bolt upright, his two hands neatly resting on his knees like a first-grader.
"Loki."
Frieza took a sip of wine and spoke slowly.
"Yes! Master! I'm here!" Loki jumped slightly, answering reflexively.
"Don't be so tense," Frieza waved his hand with a smile. "You see, I am always very generous to my subordinates. Look, even though the employees in that old building were just powerless Earth monkeys, as long as they work hard, I'm still willing to pay them and keep them around."
"After all, as the Emperor of the Universe, I can't be doing every little thing myself, can I? Sweeping floors, cleaning windows, piloting ships—those grunt tasks require people, right?"
"You are benevolent, Master!" Loki quickly buttered him up. "To sweep floors for you is the great fortune they have built up over several lifetimes!"
"The same goes for you."
Frieza's crimson eyes fixed on Loki with deep meaning. "While your current Power Level is no different from those gun-toting Earth monkeys in my eyes, still..."
"You are a god, and your mind is reasonably sharp."
Frieza held up a single finger and wiggled it in front of Loki.
"As long as you are completely loyal to me, put away your petty schemes, and act as my faithful guard dog. Once I have completely conquered these Nine Realms, and even taken over this sector of the universe..."
"I wouldn't mind rewarding you with that little place, Asgard, for you to manage."
"In fact, appointing you the 'King of Asgard' is not out of the question, either."
The King of Asgard!
That was the position Loki had dreamed of! His lifelong obsession!
He could already picture it: sitting on the throne, with his arrogant brother Thor kneeling at his feet...
Loki's breathing instantly quickened. The fear in his eyes was replaced by a look of fervent excitement and greed.
"M-Master! Are you serious?!" Loki's voice was distorted with excitement.
"Do I need to lie to an insect like you?" Frieza sneered dismissively. "Of course, the condition is..."
He tapped his temple. "You understand."
"I understand! I understand!" Loki nodded frantically, his eyes wild. "I, Loki, swear on my divinity as the God of Lies, that from this day forward, I am your most loyal servant! Anyone who dares oppose you, I will stab them in the kidney!"
In this moment, Loki had an epiphany.
Who was he working for anyway? Working for Thanos meant constant threats. Working for Frieza also meant constant threats, but Frieza was generous! He was offering actual real estate!
The night deepened.
Dark and windy.
The lights in the mansion gradually went out, leaving only a few streetlights casting a dim, yellow glow.
Second-floor master bedroom.
Frieza took off his expensive suit and casually hung it on the clothes rack by the bed.
He changed into a silk robe, ready to lie down.
Suddenly.
His movement paused for about a hundredth of a second.
A flicker of playful amusement crossed his otherwise calm eyes.
"Oh?"
Frieza tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing the wall toward the main gate of the mansion.
In his energy sense, three "Ki" signatures, weak as mosquitos, were sneaking closer.
In his perception, the three Ki signatures were as conspicuous as three bright floodlights in the dark night.
"Oh ho ho, beauties are coming right to my doorstep already?"
A cruel yet elegant curve appeared on Frieza's lips.
So late, and uninvited guests.
How intriguing.
"I was planning to get my beauty sleep early, but it seems I have some late-night entertainment."
Frieza didn't alert anyone, not even Loki downstairs.
He simply walked casually to the bed, pulled back the covers, and lay down.
He closed his eyes, and his breathing became slow and even.
He seemed to be a completely defenseless, wealthy young man, sound asleep.
Outside the mansion perimeter.
Maria Hill, Natasha Romanoff, and Sharon Carter were crouched in the bushes.
"The guards at the gate are dealt with," Natasha whispered, putting away her tranquilizer gun. "They were Loki's illusions; a little tricky, but done."
"The target is still in the master bedroom. Vitals are stable, in deep sleep." Hill checked the thermal scanner on her wrist; the terrifying heat signature was completely motionless.
"Move out!"
The three women moved like ghosts in the night, using grapple guns to lightly scale the wall to the second-floor balcony.
They landed without a sound.
Hill pulled out a high-tech cutter, drew a circle on the French window glass, and gently pushed.
The glass segment fell inward silently.
The three women slipped inside, holding their breath, every step cautious, terrified of making a noise that might wake the demon.
Illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the window,
They saw the suit hanging on the clothes rack next to the bed.
Hill scanned it quickly. Her eyes instantly widened with excitement.
"It's there!"
She signaled to her teammates.
The inner pocket of the suit was radiating two extremely powerful energy signatures.
The Space Stone and the Mind Stone!
Easier than they had hoped!
Natasha and Sharon exchanged a look and immediately fanned out, raising their specialized weapons, aiming at the figure under the covers, ready to shoot at any moment.
If Frieza made a single move, they would pull the trigger without hesitation.
Hill took a deep breath, gripped her Vibranium dagger, and tiptoed toward the suit.
Closer.
Even closer.
Fifteen feet... ten feet... three feet...
Hill's fingers had already brushed against the expensive fabric of the suit.
Just grab the Stones, and their mission was complete! Earth would be saved!
The instant Hill's hand was about to slip into the pocket,
"Well, well, well..."
A lazy, mocking, yet bone-chillingly cold voice suddenly cut through the silent bedroom.
It wasn't loud, but it sounded like a sonic boom to the three female agents' ears!
Hill's hand froze mid-air.
Natasha and Sharon's hearts nearly stopped beating.
On the bed.
Frieza, who had been supposedly "sound asleep," had opened his eyes at some point.
His crimson eyes glowed eerily in the darkness, and he watched Hill, who was frozen next to the clothes rack, with a teasing smirk.
"Three beautiful ladies sneak into my bedroom late at night..."
Frieza slowly sat up, leaning against the headboard.
"Instead of coming to me in bed, you're more interested in my clothes?"
"Or is it..."
Frieza extended a single finger, pointing at Hill's paralyzed hand.
"Did you really think that with your 'playtime' stealth skills, you could successfully steal something from the Emperor of the Universe?"
We're done for!
He found us!
Only one thought remained in Hill's mind.
"Attack!!!"
She roared, lunging for the pocket, simultaneously plunging her Vibranium dagger toward Frieza.
BANG! BANG!
Natasha and Sharon pulled their triggers at the exact same moment!
However.
"Too slow."
Frieza sighed, his voice filled with disappointment.
"What a bunch of suicidal little mice."
"Looks like the Emperor still has to develop you all, oh ho ho..."