Chapter 211 — The Glove
The night passed.
The Avengers facility remained quiet, but it was no longer the same kind of silence as before. Yesterday, it had been heavy with grief. Now, it felt like something waiting, not calm, not peaceful, just still, like the moment before something important begins.
In a quieter section of the compound, far from the hangar, a reinforced warehouse door stood closed.
Rocket approached it slowly.
He stopped just a few steps away, looking up at the tall metal surface. Compared to him, the door already looked oversized. But he knew what was behind it, and that made it feel even bigger.
He raised his hand, about to knock.
Before his knuckles could touch the door—
A figure was already there.
Rocket froze.
Standing to the side of the entrance, as if he had always been there, was Metaurus.
The Space Marine stood in full armor, towering and still. His helmet was not on, revealing a calm, unreadable face. His eyes rested on Rocket, steady and without emotion.
Rocket lowered his hand slowly.
"Uh… okay," Rocket said, trying to sound casual. "Guess knocking is optional."
Metaurus didn't react.
Rocket shifted his weight slightly, then scratched the side of his head.
"Tony sent me," he added. "He's starting the plan. The glove. Said to get your boss and the others."
Metaurus continued to stare at him for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"Wait here."
That was all.
No explanation. No tone. Just simple instruction.
Metaurus turned without another word and stepped through the door.
It closed behind him.
Rocket was left standing there.
He stared at the closed door for a few seconds.
Then he leaned back slightly and crossed his arms.
"Yeah… that's good," he muttered. "I can wait."
He let out a small breath through his nose.
To be honest, he wasn't in a hurry to be inside.
The memory of yesterday in the hangar was still fresh.
Weapons raised. Tension high. Then, before anyone could react, they had been completely overpowered.
Rocket shook his head slightly.
"They didn't even try," he said under his breath. "That's the part I don't like."
He shifted again, glancing at the door.
"They weren't even trying."
That thought stayed with him.
It wasn't fear, exactly.
Just awareness.
After a short moment, the door opened again.
Rocket straightened slightly.
Gaius stepped out first.
Even without his helmet, he looked imposing. The full auramite armor covered his body in gold, each piece fitted perfectly, reflecting the light around him. His presence alone seemed to fill the space.
His steps were heavy but controlled, each one producing a low, solid sound against the floor.
Behind him, the four Ultramarines followed in formation.
Their movements were precise, disciplined. Their armor, though not gold, still carried weight and presence. Blue ceramite plates locked into place, each one marked by use but maintained perfectly.
Behind them came the Sister of Silence.
She walked quietly, her presence sharp in a different way. There was something about her that made the air feel… still.
Rocket noticed it immediately.
And instinctively, he took a step back.
"Okay," Rocket said quickly, raising his hands a little. "Yep. Everyone's ready. That's great."
He glanced at the Sister of Silence again. Thinking about the information Tony had shared earlier, he couldn't help but shake his head.
He looked away just as quickly.
"Real great," he muttered.
He turned and started walking ahead of them.
"Follow me."
As he walked, he couldn't help but think.
If these guys had been around when they fought Thanos…
He let out a short breath.
"…yeah," he muttered. "That would've gone different."
The group moved through the corridors of the facility.
Rocket walked ahead, guiding them, while Gaius and his warriors followed without question.
After a short walk, they reached a large workshop area.
The doors slid open.
Inside, Tony stood near a central workstation. Smart Hulk was beside him, looking down at a secured case resting on a table.
Both of them looked up as the group entered.
Gaius stepped inside.
Before going further, he spoke calmly.
"You all stay here."
Titus and the others stopped immediately.
They remained near the entrance, forming a quiet guard without needing to be told anything else.
Gaius walked forward alone.
As he moved deeper into the room, a familiar voice echoed softly from above.
"Boss, Sir Gaius has entered," F.R.I.D.A.Y. announced.
Tony didn't look surprised.
"Good," he said simply.
He stepped forward to meet Gaius halfway.
No hesitation.
No distance.
Just direct.
"Gaius," Tony said, "I'm building the glove. It's going to hold all six Infinity Stones."
He gestured toward the workstation behind him.
"And we're going to use it to bring everyone back in the universe."
Gaius listened in silence, his expression unchanged.
He understood the objective, though he didn't agree with all of it, especially the part about bringing everyone back. That would include the xenos.
But this was not his world.
He did not voice his objection.
Instead, he looked at the device inside the transparent box
The gauntlet.
It was red, its structure sleek and solid, made of nanotechnology. But even at a glance, Gaius could tell it had limits.
"Will this glove withstand the energy of all six Stones?" Gaius asked.
Tony blinked slightly.
The question caught him off guard, not because it was unexpected, but because of how direct it was.
He nodded.
"Yes," Tony said. "It will work."
He paused, then added honestly,
"But it won't last forever. The tech is solid. The design works. But the material…" he shrugged slightly. "That's the weak part."
Gaius considered that.
He was about to speak.
Then he stopped.
Something shifted.
Not around him.
Inside him.
A presence he recognized instantly.
The Emperor.
The voice was calm. Quiet. But clear.
"Gaius. Give your right power fist to the human before you."
Gaius did not question it.
"Understood," he answered silently.
For a brief moment, a thought crossed his mind.
Did the Emperor already know this moment would come?
Was this planned?
The thought passed quickly.
He acted.
Without explanation, Gaius raised his right arm.
The massive power fist, larger than Tony's head, detached cleanly.
Tony stepped back slightly.
Hulk did the same.
They both watched carefully.
Then Golden energy flowed from Gaius.
Not violent.
Not wild.
Controlled.
It moved into the power fist, surrounding it like a calm flame.
Then—
The red gems embedded within the weapon began to melt.
They dissolved smoothly, like metal turning into liquid under heat.
As they vanished, something else was revealed.
Six empty slots.
Perfectly shaped.
Tony's eyes widened slightly.
Hulk frowned.
Both of them understood what they were looking at.
A gauntlet.
One that could hold all six stones.
Tony shook his head.
"I don't mean this in a bad way," he said carefully. "But no."
He took a step forward.
"I can't use that."
He looked directly at Gaius.
"I don't know you well enough. I'm not putting everything on something I didn't build myself."
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't disrespect.
It was caution.
Gaius understood that.
He was about to speak
But the Emperor's voice returned.
"No need. Wear it for now. It will be used."
Gaius paused.
Then he simply nodded to himself.
Without argument, he reattached the power fist.
The golden energy faded.
The weapon locked back into place as if nothing had happened.
Tony let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Hulk relaxed slightly as well.
Neither of them wanted that situation to turn into something else.
Tony nodded once.
"Alright," he said. "Let's move forward."
He turned back toward the workstation.
Hulk stepped forward and placed the secured case onto the table.
The case opened.
Inside,
The Infinity Stones.
Each one glowing faintly.
Each one carrying power beyond anything else in the room.
Even Gaius watched them carefully.
Tony activated the system.
Mechanical arms moved into position around the gauntlet.
A transparent shield lowered around the working area.
Tony raised his hands slightly.
Holographic controls appeared in front of him.
He began guiding the process.
One by one, the stones lifted from the case.
They floated in the air, held by controlled energy fields.
Then
Slowly
Each one moved toward the gauntlet.
Precise.
Careful.
The first stone settled into place.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Each connection triggered a faint pulse of energy.
Tony didn't rush.
He adjusted every movement.
Every angle.
Every alignment.
Hulk stood beside him, watching closely.
Gaius remained still, observing.
Finally,
The last stone moved into position.
It locked into place.
For a moment,
Nothing happened.
Then,
A low hum filled the room.
Energy flowed through the gauntlet.
All six stones active.
Connected.
Working together.
Tony lowered his hands slowly.
He let out a long breath.
"…okay," he said quietly.
Hulk looked at him.
Tony looked back.
Both of them understood.
It worked.
Tony turned slightly.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y.," he said.
"Yes, boss."
"Call everyone."
"Right away."
The message went out.
~~~
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