Chapter 13: The Thanos Threat

Weeks passed, and the Global Tech Initiative began to take shape. Tony and Shuri had teams working around the clock, developing cutting-edge solutions for clean energy, healthcare, and infrastructure. The world was starting to notice. Governments, organizations, and scientists reached out, eager to collaborate. It was everything Tony had dreamed of—a legacy that went beyond battlefields and technology, something that could truly change the world for the better.

But peace never lasted long for Tony Stark.

One morning, as Tony and Shuri were deep in discussion about the potential for space-based solar energy solutions, they were interrupted by a sudden, urgent alert. FRIDAY's voice came through the lab speakers, her tone tense.

"Boss, you have an incoming call from Doctor Strange and Thor. It's marked as urgent."

Tony's heart skipped a beat. Thor and Strange didn't call him unless something was seriously wrong. He exchanged a quick glance with Shuri, who immediately straightened, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.

"Patch them through," Tony said, his voice steady but his mind already racing with possibilities.

Within moments, a holographic display appeared in front of them, showing the concerned faces of Doctor Strange and Thor. The mood was somber, and Tony knew immediately that this wasn't just a friendly check-in.

"Stark," Strange said, his voice tight. "We have a problem."

Tony crossed his arms, bracing himself. "What's going on?"

Thor, his usual bravado replaced by a grim expression, spoke next. "Thanos. He's coming."

Tony's breath caught in his throat, the weight of those words crashing down on him like a hammer. He had heard the name before—Thanos, the Mad Titan, the being responsible for untold destruction across the universe. But now, it wasn't just rumors or distant stories. Thanos was coming for Earth.

"How do you know?" Tony asked, his mind already racing through the possibilities. He needed to know exactly what they were up against.

Strange's face was grave. "I've seen it. In the future. Thanos is after the Infinity Stones. He's coming for the Mind Stone and the Time Stone, both of which are still on Earth. If he gets them, we won't be able to stop him. We've already lost too much time."

Tony's stomach churned. The Infinity Stones—he had heard whispers about them, powerful objects scattered across the universe, each containing immense power. If Thanos got his hands on all of them...

"What are we dealing with?" Shuri asked, stepping forward, her tone calm but filled with urgency.

Thor's grip tightened on the handle of Stormbreaker, his jaw clenched. "Thanos is unlike any enemy we've faced before. His power is... unimaginable. He has already decimated entire planets, and with each Infinity Stone he acquires, he grows stronger."

Tony's mind raced. They weren't ready for this. They had been building suits, planning for the future—but they hadn't been preparing for a cosmic threat like Thanos.

"We need to prepare," Strange continued. "We don't have much time. Thanos already has the Power Stone and the Space Stone. He's on his way to get the others."

Tony's chest tightened as he processed the gravity of the situation. Thanos was coming for the Stones, and he wasn't going to stop until he had them all. The Mad Titan would tear the universe apart if he succeeded.

Tony exchanged a glance with Shuri, who nodded, already understanding what needed to be done.

"We'll be ready," Tony said, his voice filled with resolve. "Whatever it takes."

Strange and Thor nodded, and the call ended, leaving Tony and Shuri alone in the quiet lab. The weight of the coming battle pressed down on them like a storm waiting to break.

Shuri was the first to speak, her voice calm but steady. "We need to upgrade the suits. They'll need to be able to handle Thanos' power."

Tony nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. "We'll reinforce the Mark 80 and create new suits for the Avengers. Every enhancement, every bit of vibranium tech we've developed—it all goes into this."

Shuri's eyes narrowed, her focus sharpening. "I'll start working on integrating Wakanda's energy shields into the new designs. If Thanos is as powerful as they say, we'll need every advantage."

Tony felt the adrenaline kick in, the familiar sense of urgency surging through him. They had fought impossible battles before, but this? This felt different. Thanos wasn't just an enemy. He was a force of nature, and they were about to face him head-on.

"We'll need to work fast," Tony said, pulling up the blueprints for the Mark 85, the next iteration of the suit. "This time, no limits. We throw everything we've got into this."

Shuri nodded, already diving into the work. "We'll need to make sure the suits can withstand the power of the Stones. Vibranium should be able to absorb some of it, but we'll need to reinforce every system."

Tony's mind raced, the details of the plan already coming together. The suits would need to be stronger than anything they had ever built. They would need to be adaptable, capable of withstanding the sheer power of the Infinity Stones and whatever Thanos could throw at them.

"We'll create custom suits for the team," Tony said, his fingers flying over the holographic interface as he sketched out new designs. "Cap, Natasha, Clint—they'll all get upgrades. We're not going into this half-prepared."

Shuri's fingers moved just as quickly as Tony's, her focus unshakable. "We'll need to incorporate Wakanda's energy systems into the suits, make sure they can withstand cosmic-level attacks. And we'll need to create a contingency plan for the Stones."

Tony nodded, glancing at the design for the Mark 85. "We'll add energy absorption circuits, similar to what we did with the Mark 80, but stronger. The suit will need to redirect the Stones' power if Thanos tries to use them."

For the next several hours, the lab was filled with the sound of rapid planning, the hum of machinery, and the soft clatter of tools as Tony and Shuri worked side by side. The urgency of the situation had pushed them into overdrive, every minute counting as they raced to prepare for Thanos' arrival.

But even as they worked, the weight of what was coming pressed down on them. This wasn't just another battle. This was the fate of the universe hanging in the balance. And failure wasn't an option.

Later that night, after hours of intense work, Tony stepped out onto the balcony of the palace, needing a moment to clear his mind. The sky was dark, the stars twinkling overhead, but Tony couldn't shake the sense of impending doom that hung in the air.

Shuri joined him a few moments later, her expression as serious as his. "You okay?" she asked softly.

Tony sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. This... this is different. We're not just fighting some bad guy in a suit. This is Thanos. He's... unstoppable."

Shuri's gaze softened, and she stepped closer, her hand resting on his arm. "We'll be ready, Tony. We've faced impossible odds before, and we've always come out on top."

Tony looked at her, appreciating the confidence in her voice. Shuri had a way of grounding him, of reminding him that they had overcome so much already. But this... this was bigger than anything they had faced before.

"We're talking about the fate of the universe, Shuri," Tony said quietly. "I've seen what these Stones can do. If Thanos gets all of them..."

Shuri squeezed his arm gently, her voice firm but reassuring. "He won't. We won't let him."

Tony met her gaze, finding strength in her determination. He had always been the one to shoulder the burden of saving the world, but now, with Shuri by his side, it didn't feel so overwhelming.

"You're right," Tony said, his voice filled with resolve. "We won't let him."

They stood together in silence for a moment, watching the stars above. The battle with Thanos was coming, and it would be the greatest challenge they had ever faced. But Tony knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to face it alone.