The Quinjet soared through the night sky, cutting a path toward the desolate Siberian landscape below. The world beneath them was a frozen wasteland, an expanse of ice and snow that seemed to stretch endlessly. The coordinates Tony had pulled up on the screen pointed to an abandoned facility nestled deep within the mountains. But the energy readings suggested it was far from inactive.
Inside the jet, the team was silent, preparing for the inevitable confrontation that awaited them. Tony was in his suit, running final diagnostics on his systems. Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly, his gaze focused on the horizon. Steve was methodically checking his gear, his shield resting at his side. Natasha sharpened a small blade, her face expressionless, but her eyes flickered occasionally toward Metis, who sat at the far end of the cabin.
Metis was running through tactical simulations in his mind, the system feeding him different possible outcomes of the mission. The cold knot in his stomach hadn't gone away. Siberia felt like a trap. It was too obvious, too perfect—a facility in the middle of nowhere, drawing them in with its energy readings. But they had no choice. If they wanted answers, they had to go.
As the jet began its descent, Steve stood up, addressing the team. "We're going in quietly. We don't know what kind of resistance we're going to face, but we have the element of surprise. Tony will take out any tech defenses. Thor, you're on overwatch. Natasha and I will clear the ground level while Metis secures the data we're after."
Tony nodded, the visor of his suit flipping down. "I've got heat scans of the facility. It's colder than Hoth down there, but I'm detecting movement. Lots of it."
Natasha tucked the blade into her boot. "So much for abandoned."
Metis adjusted the gauntlets on his suit, the system scanning the terrain below as they approached the facility. "Whatever we find in there, we need to get in and out quickly. The longer we stay, the more likely we'll be spotted."
Steve nodded, tightening the straps on his shield. "Then let's move."
The Quinjet touched down on the snow-covered ground, a few miles away from the facility. The team disembarked, their footsteps muffled by the thick snow as they approached the base. It was an ominous structure, half-buried in the ice, with tall, looming towers that seemed to pierce the night sky. The walls were weathered and cracked, but there was a faint glow coming from within, indicating power still ran through its veins.
"Keep your comms open," Steve whispered. "And stay sharp."
They split into pairs—Steve and Natasha moved around the perimeter while Metis and Tony made their way toward a side entrance, Thor hovering above to keep an eye on the surroundings. The facility was quiet, too quiet, save for the occasional gust of wind that howled through the mountains.
Metis moved silently alongside Tony, his system mapping out the interior layout of the base based on what little intel they had. He could feel the tension in the air, the sense of being watched, but there was no sign of the enemy. Not yet.
"This place gives me the creeps," Tony muttered through the comms. "No sign of life, but I'm picking up residual energy signatures. They've been using Chitauri tech here."
"Any idea how many we're up against?" Metis asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Tony shook his head. "Too much interference. The whole place is shielded."
They reached the side door, and Metis crouched down to examine the locking mechanism. His system quickly deciphered the code, and with a soft click, the door slid open. Inside, the air was colder, more oppressive. The walls were lined with ancient, rusted equipment, but there were traces of more advanced technology woven in—an eerie blend of old and new.
They entered cautiously, weapons drawn. The interior of the facility was a maze of corridors, and the farther they went, the stronger the energy signatures became.
"I'm picking up something big in the lower levels," Tony said, his suit scanning the area ahead. "Whatever's down there, it's drawing a lot of power."
Metis nodded. "That's where we'll find what we're looking for. Let's move."
They descended deeper into the facility, the temperature dropping even further as they approached the heart of the base. The corridors were deserted, but there was a feeling of something lurking just out of sight. Every corner they turned, Metis expected an ambush, but it never came.
Finally, they reached a large, reinforced door at the end of the corridor. It pulsed faintly with energy, and the readings on Tony's suit spiked.
"This is it," Tony said, stepping forward to analyze the door's locking mechanism.
Before he could start, the sound of movement echoed from behind them.
"Hold up," Metis whispered, spinning around to face the darkness. His system flared to life, detecting multiple heat signatures closing in on their position.
"They're here," Natasha's voice came through the comms. "We've got company. Get that door open, now."
Tony worked quickly, overriding the security protocols as the sound of footsteps grew louder. Metis stood ready, his senses on high alert. Whoever was coming, they were closing in fast.
The door slid open just as the first wave of enemies appeared at the end of the corridor. They were heavily armed soldiers, their armor dark and reinforced with strange, glowing circuitry. They raised their weapons, but Metis was faster, firing off a volley of shots that took down the first few before they could react.
"Go!" Metis shouted, covering Tony as he moved into the chamber beyond the door. The soldiers opened fire, but Metis was already in motion, dodging and returning fire with precision. His system calculated every angle, every move, guiding him through the chaos.
Inside the chamber, Tony's eyes widened as he saw the source of the energy readings—a massive, alien device that pulsed with Chitauri energy. It was unlike anything they had seen before, a fusion of human and alien technology that seemed to thrum with life.
"This isn't just a power source," Tony muttered. "It's a weapon."
Outside, Metis continued to hold off the soldiers, but more kept coming. He ducked behind cover as a barrage of energy blasts tore through the walls. His system was feeding him constant alerts—too many enemies, not enough time.
"Tony, we need to shut it down," Metis called out. "Now."
Tony worked frantically, pulling up schematics on his suit's HUD. "I'm trying! But this thing is more complicated than I thought. It's not just powering the facility—it's connected to something bigger."
More soldiers poured into the corridor, and Metis was forced to fall back, his ammo running low. He could feel the pressure mounting, the system struggling to keep up with the onslaught of data.
"Thor, we need backup," Metis called into the comms, his voice strained.
"I am on my way!" Thor's voice boomed through the earpiece, and a moment later, the ceiling above the corridor exploded as Thor descended, Mjolnir crackling with electricity.
Thor slammed into the ground, unleashing a blast of lightning that sent the soldiers flying. He turned to Metis, a grin on his face. "Let us finish this battle together, brother!"
Metis smirked, his tension easing slightly as Thor's presence shifted the tide of the fight. Together, they pushed forward, taking down the remaining soldiers with a combination of brute force and precision.
Inside the chamber, Tony finally cracked the device's code, initiating a shutdown sequence. The energy pulsed once, twice, and then slowly faded, the lights dimming as the power drained from the facility.
"We're clear," Tony said, stepping back from the console. "For now."
Steve and Natasha joined them, both of them winded from the fight but unscathed. "What did we find?" Steve asked, his eyes scanning the chamber.
"A Chitauri power source," Tony replied, his voice grim. "But it's more than that. Whoever's behind this is building something big. And they're using alien tech to do it."
Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Then we need to find out who's pulling the strings. This isn't just another rogue group."
Metis nodded, the cold knot in his stomach returning. "And we're running out of time."