"A diversion? A feint?"
Anton frowned. "The Skrulls have shapeshifting abilities. So why are you so sure Nick Fury really left?"
"Because I've been tracking his location through surveillance," Tony said, spreading his hands.
"Come on, you really think I wouldn't consider that possibility?"
He paused, then added confidently,
"J.A.R.V.I.S. processes data faster than any supercomputer on Earth.
By analyzing the entire New York surveillance network, cross-referencing facial recognition data and population tracking,
I can pinpoint the one person who shouldn't be here."
As he spoke, a holographic projection from J.A.R.V.I.S. surrounded Anton, continuously shifting between various facial profiles.
Yet no matter the transformation, one particular individual remained marked—a red ring hovering over their head, much like an enemy marker in a video game.
"So, you know where this fake Nick Fury is?"
Anton eyes lit up.
"That right," Tony nodded.
"He in an apartment building in Brooklyn—it most likely one of their safe houses."
"Send me the location. I'll verify your theory."
Anton said firmly.
"No."
Tony shook his head. "I'm coming with you."
"Fine. Suit yourself."
Anton turned and walked away, with Tony following close behind.
The two took the elevator down to the garage.
"We're taking my car."
Tony slid into the driver seat, glancing at Anton. "Your ride isn't as fast as mine."
"..."
Anton shrugged, deciding not to argue. He simply opened the passenger door and got in.
VROOOM—!
In the next second, Tony custom-modified Audi sports car roared to life, launching forward at breakneck speed.
A trail of exhaust flames burst from the rear as they sped off into the night.
Meanwhile…
The second-in-command of the Men in Black, Agent Z, had arrived to meet Maria Rambeau.
In the spacious interrogation room, only Z and Maria sat facing each other.
"I am Agent Z of the Men in Black organization. Maria Rambeau, I believe you already know why I'm here."
After introducing himself, Z got straight to the point.
"The Skrulls pose a massive threat to humanity.
"Despite your claims that Nick Fury took all of them off-world, our intel suggests otherwise."
"I don't know anything."
Maria Rambeau shook her head.
"But you should know this—the Skrulls are far smarter than you think.
"Their fear of humanity is far greater than you can imagine. That why I don't believe they would make a reckless move."
"Fear of humanity?"
Z frowned slightly, struggling to grasp her point.
"I don't mean to argue with you, but… if what I'm saying is true, what would you suggest we do?"
He paused, then pressed further.
"I can't offer you much advice," Maria replied.
"Despite their years on Earth, neither Nick Fury nor I have ever fully trusted them as much as you might assume."
"At the very least, under our supervision, the Skrulls have always followed orders."
"Have you ever considered that perhaps… only the Skrulls you've been dealing with are obedient?"
Z countered.
"From what I understand, the Skrulls are a race of cosmic refugees. Their homeworld was destroyed, and every Skrull left in the universe is now a wanderer.
"It entirely possible that other exiled Skrulls—ones not under your watch—were brought to Earth with a different agenda."
"..."
Maria fell silent.
She realized she couldn't refute his argument.
After all, with their natural shapeshifting ability, every Skrull was inherently the perfect infiltrator.
"You're aware that I have a daughter."
Maria suddenly spoke.
Z nodded.
"Yes. Monica Rambeau. I know of her. Why?"
"I can't give you any more answers—but Monica can."
With that, Maria stood up and left, escorted by security guards back to her solitary confinement cell.
Z made no move to stop her, watching in silence as she departed.
He had already gotten what he came for.
"Monica Rambeau…"
He muttered the name under his breath, his face calm, but a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes.
Just as he suspected—Maria Rambeau had always been cautious.
She had never fully trusted the Skrulls.
New York
Brooklyn
A seemingly ordinary apartment building.
Tony flashy sports car roared down the street, its thunderous exhaust echoing through the entire neighborhood.
Pedestrians turned their heads, watching the spectacle with curiosity.
Anton sighed, exasperated.
"With the way you're driving, the entire building probably knows we're here."
"So what?"
Tony shrugged.
"I have J.A.R.V.I.S. monitoring this entire building. That guy hasn't left since he entered."
"Hasn't left at all?"
Anton expression suddenly darkened—a bad feeling creeping in.
"Move. Something wrong."
The moment Tony pulled into a parking spot, Anton threw the door open and rushed into the building.
"Hurry. Something isn't right."
"Not right?"
Tony blinked, frowning.
He hadn't noticed anything off yet, but still followed Anton inside without hesitation.
Anton stormed through the building, following the apartment number Tony had provided.
With a swift kick, he burst open the door—only to be met with the stench of decay.
A Skrull corpse, its body already starting to rot, lay lifeless in the small living room.
"He dead."
Anton stood over the body, exhaling slowly.
"We're too late."
"How?"
Tony brows furrowed deeply, his face filled with disbelief.
"J.A.R.V.I.S. was watching him the entire time.
"Since the moment he entered this room, no one has gone in or out.
"How the hell does someone just die in a locked apartment?"
Tony muttered, half to himself.
"Suicide?"
"No. It murder."
Anton sharp gaze scanned the corpse, quickly noticing a tiny, barely visible puncture wound on the Skrull neck.
"Injected poison."
His expression darkened.
"Someone sneaked into this room and killed him with a lethal injection."
"But why?"
Tony still couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Who would want him dead?"
"Unless… this was a Skrull civil war?"
"A civil war…?"
Anton eyes lit up with realization.
"Exactly. A Skrull civil war."
"Explain."
Tony turned to him, intrigued.
"Think about it. What if this dead Skrull was actually one of Nick Fury people?"
Anton theorized.
"The Skrulls on Earth are split into two factions.
One faction wants to infiltrate and secretly conquer Earth.The other faction supports Nick Fury and seeks peaceful coexistence.
"But for some unknown reason, Nick Fury decided that leaving Earth with his loyal Skrulls was the best option, trying to avoid an all-out conflict.
"However…"
Anton paused, his voice low and thoughtful.
"What if he left behind a few Skrulls to secretly keep an eye on things—to warn humanity if anything went wrong?"