Chapter 20: The Time Heist
The Avengers gathered around a large, holographic table in the new headquarters that had been hastily assembled after the Snap. The room was tense, the weight of their mission hanging heavily in the air. Tony stood at the head of the table, wearing a look of focused determination, ready to explain the last piece of his plan. He had already presented his new armor and the upgrades for the rest of the team, but now came the biggest gamble of all: the Time Heist.
The plan had been a risky idea from the start. After learning about the Quantum Realm from Scott Lang and working out the details with Bruce Banner, they had pieced together a strategy. It was dangerous and unprecedented, but if it worked, it would allow them to retrieve the Infinity Stones before Thanos ever had a chance to get his hands on them. The plan involved traveling back to different points in time, collecting the Stones, and using them to undo the devastation caused by the Snap.
It was a long shot, but it was all they had.
"You're really sure about this?" Steve Rogers asked, his voice steady but lined with caution. His gaze was fixed on Tony, who was inputting final adjustments to the plan's display.
"As sure as I can be, Cap," Tony replied, his hands moving quickly over the holographic controls. "This isn't exactly a trip to the grocery store, but if everything goes right, we'll have the Stones in our hands before Thanos even knows what hit him."
Bruce Banner, now permanently in his Hulk form but with Bruce's mind, spoke up next. "We've mapped out the timeline carefully. We know when and where each Stone is. The Quantum Realm will let us move through time and space without affecting the present—at least not directly."
Natasha Romanoff, standing near Clint Barton, looked over the schematics. "And what happens if we mess up? What if we can't get the Stones?"
Tony met her eyes, his voice firm. "We can't afford to fail. That's why we've got to stick to the plan. No improvising, no detours. Get in, get the Stones, and get out."
Rocket, who had been leaning back in his chair, grinned. "You make it sound so simple. What could go wrong, right?"
Tony shot him a dry look. "Plenty, but that's why I'm making sure we've got the best gear possible for this. We're not just going back in time—we're going back prepared."
He tapped the control panel, and the display shifted, showing the new quantum suits he had designed for the team. Each suit was built specifically for time travel, capable of navigating the Quantum Realm safely while also being lightweight and adaptable to different time periods. The suits incorporated Wakandan vibranium and Stark's latest tech, making them versatile and virtually indestructible.
"Here's the deal," Tony continued. "Each suit is equipped with its own quantum GPS. Once you collect your Stone, it'll guide you back here. We're splitting into teams—each team goes to a different point in time to retrieve the Stone assigned to them."
Steve glanced at the map. "We're going to need to move fast."
Tony nodded. "Once we start, there's no stopping. Time moves differently in the Quantum Realm, but the longer we're out there, the more variables we introduce. We get the Stones, come back, and we'll use them to undo what Thanos did."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the enormity of what they were about to do. It was risky, dangerous, and had never been attempted before. But if it worked, they could bring back everyone they had lost.
The Avengers quickly divided into teams, each one assigned to retrieve one of the Infinity Stones from a specific point in the past. Tony would lead the team going after the Space Stone, which was located in 2012 New York during the battle with Loki. Steve Rogers would join Tony, along with Bruce and Scott Lang, who would assist with the logistics of moving through the Quantum Realm.
Clint Barton and Natasha were paired together for a far more difficult mission: retrieving the Soul Stone on Vormir. They didn't know what the process entailed yet, but the location was known. Clint had a somber look on his face, understanding that their mission might require more sacrifice than any of them could predict.
Thor and Rocket were tasked with retrieving the Reality Stone from 2013 Asgard, during the time of Thor's mother's death. Thor's discomfort was evident, but he nodded quietly, knowing that they couldn't afford to fail.
The final team—Rhodey, Nebula, and Gamora—was tasked with going back to 2014 to retrieve the Power Stone from Morag, just before Peter Quill would have gotten his hands on it.
It was a tight, coordinated operation. Everything had to go according to plan, or they risked being trapped in the past.
———
Tony took a deep breath as he activated his suit's quantum drive. The sleek white and red armor hummed to life, and he felt the familiar surge of power as the vibranium-enhanced systems synced with his neural interface. The Mark 90 had been a game-changer, but the Mark 100—his ultimate creation—was ready for this mission. Its quantum-phase capabilities were crucial for navigating the Quantum Realm.
The others followed suit, slipping into their quantum armor and syncing their systems with Tony's quantum tracker.
"This is it," Tony said, looking around at the team. "Everyone ready?"
A chorus of nods and affirmations followed, and Tony felt a flicker of hope. This was their chance—one last shot to set things right.
"FRIDAY, engage quantum travel," Tony commanded, his voice steady.
The room around them shimmered, and with a sudden jolt, the Avengers disappeared into the Quantum Realm.
The journey through the Quantum Realm was unlike anything Tony had ever experienced. Time and space twisted and warped around them, swirling in a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. It was both disorienting and exhilarating, but Tony's focus was sharp. He kept his team on track, guiding them through the ever-shifting currents of the Quantum Realm.
"This is... wild," Scott Lang muttered through the comms, his voice tinged with awe.
"Stay focused," Steve replied, his voice calm but commanding. "We don't want to get lost in here."
Tony navigated the quantum currents, his hands steady on the controls. They had one shot at this, and he wasn't going to let them miss their mark. As they neared their destination, Tony's HUD lit up with a bright blue marker.
"Approaching 2012 New York," Tony said. "Everyone hold tight."
With a final pulse of energy, the swirling colors of the Quantum Realm faded, and Tony and his team landed in the middle of a chaotic New York City—the exact moment of the Battle of New York, just as Loki's army of Chitauri began their invasion.
Tony stood up, the familiar sight of his younger self flying overhead in the Mark 7 armor filling the sky. He glanced at Steve, who stood beside him, his expression unreadable.
"We've got a job to do," Tony said, shaking off the strangeness of seeing his past self in action.
"Let's get it done," Steve replied, gripping his shield tightly.
As they moved through the battle-scarred streets of New York, Tony's mind raced. They needed to retrieve the Tesseract—the Space Stone—from the clutches of S.H.I.E.L.D. without disrupting the flow of time too much. It wasn't going to be easy, but they had prepared for this.
"Scott, you ready?" Tony asked through the comms.
"Yeah, I'll sneak in and disable their security," Scott replied. "You just get that cube."
Tony nodded. "Let's move."
The battle with Loki and the Chitauri raged on around them, but Tony, Steve, Bruce, and Scott moved quickly, using their suits to navigate the chaos. The past versions of themselves were locked in their own fight, unaware of the future Avengers slipping past them.
As they neared the location where the Tesseract was being held, Tony's heart pounded. This was it—the first Stone. If they could pull this off, they'd be one step closer to undoing the Snap.
But just as they were about to make their move, something unexpected happened. A flash of light filled the room, and Tony's heart dropped.
Loki, the 2012 version of the trickster god, had just disappeared—along with the Tesseract.