Stark Tower hummed with activity. Heroes, scientists, and strategists from multiple universes moved through the halls, preparing for the unknown. The X-Men had arrived in full force, joining the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and other allies Tony Stark had gathered. The energy in the air was a mix of anticipation and anxiety—everyone knew they were heading into a confrontation with an enemy that transcended dimensions.
In one of the larger meeting rooms, Tony, Doctor Strange, Reed Richards, Professor Charles Xavier, and Cyclops stood around a holographic projection of the multiverse, the energy signatures of the rifts glowing red across various points in space.
"We've managed to locate the source of the rifts," Reed began, gesturing to the largest energy spike on the map. "It's deep in uncharted space, possibly even beyond our known universe. The energy there is pulling in fragments from different realities and causing the multiversal destabilization."
Professor Xavier's expression was thoughtful as he studied the projection. "And what can we expect to find once we arrive? Whoever is behind this has been manipulating forces far beyond what we've encountered before."
"Whatever it is, it's no friend," Tony replied, folding his arms. "It's targeting the multiverse, but the real question is why. What's the endgame here?"
Cyclops, his hands resting on the table, nodded. "And how do we stop it? We've dealt with cosmic threats before, but this… this feels different. Bigger."
Doctor Strange stepped forward, his voice calm but serious. "This is bigger, Scott. The entity we face isn't just cosmic—it's primordial. I've consulted with beings older than the universe itself, and even they are wary of intervening directly. Whatever is behind this has access to powers that existed before time and space. We must approach with caution."
Sue Storm, standing beside Johnny, raised a question that had been lingering in everyone's minds. "What do we do if this is something we can't defeat? I mean, we're strong—but we're still mortals."
Strange met her gaze, his tone steady. "That's why we're not going in blind. We'll use our combined strengths—magic, science, and power—to weaken whatever force is causing this. And if that doesn't work, we'll have contingency plans."
Wolverine, who had been leaning against the wall, snorted. "Yeah, well, I'm not one for fancy magic talk. Just tell me where to hit, and I'll hit it."
Tony smirked. "Don't worry, Logan. There'll be plenty of things to smash. But this isn't just a brawl—we're going to need brains too."
Reed adjusted the projection, zooming in on the focal point of the rifts. "I've been working on a device that can help us. It's designed to stabilize the energy in the rifts and potentially reverse the pull. It's risky, but it could give us a fighting chance."
Peter Parker, who had been silently observing from the corner of the room, spoke up. "And what about the people in those other realities? Are they safe, or are we going to have to deal with more incursions?"
Tony's face hardened. "That's the other part of this mission. While we're dealing with the source, I need teams on the ground handling any new rifts. That means Peter, Johnny, Ben, and the X-Men. You'll be our first line of defense back here on Earth. If anything else tries to slip through while we're away, it's your job to contain it."
Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, gave a cocky grin. "Sounds like a job for the Fantastic Four."
Cyclops, always the strategist, glanced at Tony. "We'll coordinate with your teams. The X-Men can handle anything that comes through. But I hope you have a plan for us to communicate if things go south."
Tony tapped his chestplate, revealing a holographic communicator. "I've already worked that out. You'll all have access to a multiversal comm-link. It'll let us stay connected across dimensions, but keep in mind, the further out we go, the less stable the connection will be. If we lose contact, we'll be on our own."
---
Preparation for the Mission
In the hours that followed, the heroes prepared for the impending journey. Stark Tower's lower levels had been transformed into an impromptu command center. The X-Men had set up a section of the room with their own equipment, led by Beast, who was working closely with Reed Richards on final adjustments to the rift-stabilizing device.
Across the room, Wolverine sharpened his claws while exchanging a few words with Ben Grimm. The two seemed to have struck up a sort of camaraderie, both preferring brute strength over high-tech solutions.
"You ready for this?" Wolverine asked gruffly.
Ben cracked his knuckles, the sound like boulders grinding together. "I was born ready, bub. Just don't get in my way when the fists start flying."
Jean Grey, ever the mediator, smiled as she walked past them. "Let's try to avoid unnecessary brawls before the actual battle, okay?"
Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the room, Professor Xavier was in deep conversation with Doctor Strange. They were discussing the possible metaphysical implications of their journey—how meddling with primordial forces could lead to unintended consequences.
"Even if we succeed in closing the rifts," Xavier said, his tone serious, "we may find ourselves facing a new kind of reality. One where the boundaries of space and time are no longer stable."
Strange nodded. "That's a risk we have to take. But I believe we can contain the fallout—if we act quickly enough."
Peter Parker, ever the youthful presence, bounded over to Tony as he adjusted his gauntlets. "Mr. Stark, do you really think we're going to be able to pull this off? I mean, it's the whole multiverse."
Tony looked down at Peter, a rare moment of seriousness crossing his face. "Honestly, kid? I don't know. But what I do know is that we've got the best minds, the best magic, and the best fighters from across every dimension. If anyone can save the multiverse, it's us."
Peter nodded, bolstered by the confidence in Tony's voice. "Alright. Just tell me what you need me to do."
Tony placed a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Keep an eye on New York while we're gone. It's going to be ground zero for any rift anomalies while we're out in the field."
Peter gave a mock salute. "You got it."
---
The Departure
Finally, the time came to leave. In the main hangar of Stark Tower, Doctor Strange had opened the portal that would take the strike team into the depths of the multiverse, to the source of the rift energy. The portal glowed with an eerie blue light, rippling as it hovered in the air, swirling with ancient magic.
Tony, clad in his armor, stood at the forefront, flanked by Reed, Strange, and a handful of select heroes who would accompany them on the mission—Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Sue Storm.
"We're going in hot," Tony said, addressing the group. "This is a one-way trip, so once we're on the other side, there's no turning back until we've dealt with whatever's causing these rifts. Everyone clear?"
Cyclops tightened his visor. "Crystal clear."
Wolverine's claws extended with a snikt. "Let's get this over with."
With a final nod, Tony turned toward the glowing portal. "Let's go save the multiverse."
As the team stepped through the portal, the air shimmered, and the swirling energy enveloped them, pulling them into the unknown.