"Sir, our servers have been compromised in a hostile invasion," the Black Queen's alarmed voice announced.
"Invasion?" Zod furrowed his brow. As one of the most advanced AIs in existence, the Black Queen was nearly invincible in cyberspace. Who would even dare to attempt an intrusion?
"Yes, but the attacker's approach is unconventional. Their data manipulation suggests something beyond typical hacking techniques," she responded, deftly fending off the attack.
"Do you need me to step in?" Zod asked. With his mastery over electromagnetic forces, he could assist her in a unique and powerful way.
"No need, BOSS," the Black Queen replied confidently. Within moments, she had repelled the attack and was close to pinpointing the origin of the intruder.
Elsewhere, deep within an isolated and hidden Hydra base, an eerie face flickered onto a screen: Arnim Zola. Despite the limited technology of his time, Zola had transformed himself into a digital entity years ago, embedding his consciousness into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s servers. He was now a digital mastermind with unparalleled expertise in infiltration and data analysis.
"Zodhis' defenses were much stronger than anticipated. This has to be his doing; only he could deploy an AI this advanced," Zola muttered in frustration. With his digital consciousness, he had become the most skilled "hacker" on the planet, operating undetected for years. But now, a powerful counterattack from the Black Queen had nearly tracked his location. Zola barely managed to escape detection by using decoys and advanced cloaking techniques.
"An AI with evolving intelligence and real intuition… truly terrifying," Zola mused, reflecting on his close call. His diversion tactics had temporarily confused the Black Queen, but she had adapted frighteningly fast, bypassing his fake nodes in record time. If he had lingered a moment longer, she would have traced him entirely.
Back at Blade Industries, Zod noticed her momentary hesitation.
"So, he got away?"
"Yes, but just barely. This intruder displayed advanced reflexes; he's likely an artificial intelligence himself, or at least operates with AI-level processing," the Black Queen reported.
Zod took a moment to reflect. The timeline didn't match Ultron's emergence just yet. Recalling information from his previous life, he pieced together a theory. "This must be the Zola algorithm Hydra developed," he murmured, contemplating his next steps. While it was surprising that Zola managed to operate on outdated tech, the Marvel Universe had a way of making the impossible a reality. Still, with the Black Queen's rapid learning, she would be prepared if Zola ever tried again.
He turned back to the screen, focusing on recent developments. General Thaddeus Ross had been appointed Secretary of State, a role that made him one of the most influential figures in national security. At the public announcement, Ross looked more robust than ever—a benefit of his transformation into the Red Hulk, which Zod knew would grant him not only immense strength but longevity as well. His enhanced vitality projected an image of invincibility to the public, strengthening their confidence in his leadership.
"So, he finally made it to Secretary of State," Zod remarked, knowing that Ross's ascent wasn't solely based on merit. The family backing him had undoubtedly played a role.
As Ross's speech continued, Zod's attention was abruptly pulled by an emergency alert.
"BOSS, we have a problem," an urgent voice crackled over the line.
"What is it?" he replied, tuning in fully.
"Tony Stark… has escaped!"
The soldier on the other end sounded panicked, clearly dreading Zod's reaction. Despite the close monitoring by his specially trained Beast Soldiers, Tony Stark had somehow slipped away.
"Escaped?" Zod's curiosity piqued. How had Stark managed to escape under the watchful eye of his enhanced troops? "What happened exactly?"
The Beast Soldier hesitated, then explained, "Sir, we were unexpectedly ambushed by the Ten Rings Gang. They attacked just as we were securing the perimeter. By the time we neutralized them, Stark was gone."
Zod processed this quickly. The Ten Rings' involvement made sense, but their timing was suspicious. "The Ten Rings launched a full-scale assault?"
"Yes, sir. They brought state-of-the-art weapons from Stark Industries and even war machines purchased from black market suppliers." The soldier continued, "They seemed determined to eliminate us, likely because we've been stationed here so long without explanation. We fought back, but in the chaos, Stark slipped away with a makeshift suit he built from scraps."
The Ten Rings Gang had observed Zod's forces for over a year, initially hesitant but gradually growing suspicious of these mysterious "terrorists" who never engaged in traditional criminal activity. They must have assumed Zod's men were staging for something larger and saw an opportunity to strike.
"When the Ten Rings struck, we managed to hold them off," the soldier said, "but Stark's suit was crude at best, not much more than a pile of metal. He escaped while we were dealing with the remaining forces."
Zod smirked, not entirely displeased with the turn of events. The "show" had allowed Tony Stark to gain firsthand experience of the Ten Rings' brutality, pushing him toward becoming Iron Man. The plan was unfolding nicely, though slightly ahead of schedule.
"Send out a squad to locate Stark, but stay discreet," Zod instructed. "I want to know where he's going and who he contacts. He'll lead us to more valuable information."
Meanwhile, back at the Hydra base, Zola was regrouping, his confidence somewhat shaken by his encounter with the Black Queen. As he reviewed his infiltration tactics, he realized he'd underestimated Zod's network. Blade Industries wasn't just another tech company—it was practically a fortress. His fascination with Zod's technology grew; if he could access even a fraction of it, Hydra would possess unimaginable power. For now, however, he would have to bide his time, studying Zod and the Black Queen more carefully.
Hours later, Stark's disappearance was making waves. News of his escape was already circulating, and Zod watched as speculation grew. As far as the world was concerned, Stark had been in captivity since his abduction, and his miraculous escape would only fuel his fame. Zod was certain this experience would leave Stark both scarred and inspired, ready to develop his iconic Iron Man persona.
As Zod surveyed his plans taking shape, he noticed the Black Queen analyzing the residual data from Zola's attack. "You think he'll return?" Zod asked, glancing at the display.
"Doubtful," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of pride. "Zola won't risk exposure again, especially now that I've evolved to detect his every move."
Satisfied, Zod took a deep breath. Everything was progressing smoothly. He knew the stakes would only rise as more figures entered the scene—Thor, the Asgardian; the sorcerers who protected Earth; the cosmic threats lurking beyond the stars. It was time to focus on reinforcing his own strength and resources.
"Let them come," Zod muttered. "One by one."
For now, he'd stay his course, gathering allies and watching as his plans unfurled, knowing that in this universe, challenges would only make him stronger.