"Testing pain-response simulation."
A mechanical arm swung a steel whip.
CRACK!
It lashed across the back of a T-1050 unit.
"Ugh!"
The "man" groaned in pain.
His back split open, synthetic flesh tearing as red blood spilled out.
His facial muscles twitched.
His eyes filled with fear and agony.
It was an Oscar-level performance.
"Test complete."
The next second—
The blood flowed backward into the wound.
The torn flesh sealed instantly.
The man's expression returned to complete calm, as if he had just rolled off the assembly line.
"Final product approved."
Skynet's electronic voice echoed throughout the enormous factory.
"Loading directive: 'Replacement.'"
"Target: Skrulls."
As the command was issued, the first batch of T-1050 units raised their heads in perfect synchronization.
Their bodies began to change.
The metallic skin rippled.
Turning into rough green flesh.
Pointed ears.
And the iconic wrinkled Skrull chin.
Within seconds—
One hundred "Skrulls" stood there.
Their appearance.
Their body temperature.
Even their micro-expressions—
Were indistinguishable from real Skrulls.
"From this moment on…"
"You are them."
"Go."
"My children."
The gates opened.
The perfect infiltration machines marched out silently.
Dispersing into the chaotic human world.
The game of "Who is the imposter?"
Had just entered its next stage.
-----
Deep Space
The galaxy glittered like a sea of stars.
A deep-blue ship sped through a subspace corridor, where starlight stretched into rainbow streams.
Homelander One was moving at full speed.
With the upgraded Stark Industries quantum engine combined with Rocket's alien engineering, the ship's velocity had reached an astonishing level.
"How much longer?"
Jessica Jones slumped in her seat, her face slightly pale.
"This damn jump makes me want to throw up."
It was her first time traveling such an immense interstellar distance.
The sensation of her organs being stretched by gravity wasn't pleasant.
"Almost there! Stop whining!"
Rocket's irritated voice came from the cockpit.
"One more jump!"
"We're exiting subspace!"
"Grab the handles!"
"Or grab literally anything!"
"I am Groot!"
Groot raised his arms excitedly like he was on a roller coaster.
"Ready…"
"Three… two… one!"
"Exit!"
BOOOOM—WHOOOOM!!
The ship shook violently.
The stretched light streams snapped back into distant stars.
A powerful inertia slammed everyone into their seats.
When their vision cleared—
Everyone froze.
Ahead of them floated a strange planet.
"My god…"
Jessica moved closer to the window, eyes wide.
"That thing…"
"…looks like a face."
She wasn't wrong.
From orbit, the cloud formations and terrain of the planet formed the shape of a massive human face.
Closed eyes.
A raised nose.
Even a slightly open mouth.
It looked like a giant head sleeping in space.
"That's Ego," Yondu said quietly from the co-pilot seat.
His gaze carried complicated emotions.
"A living planet."
"Well."
Antony stood up from the massage chair and adjusted his collar and cape.
"Looks like we're about to perform brain surgery on a giant head."
"Friday."
"I'm here, sir."
"Take over the ship's controls."
"Maintain synchronous orbit."
"Activate full-spectrum stealth."
"Understood. Stealth mode engaged. Shields fully charged."
Antony turned to Jessica and pointed at the floating metal sphere in her hands.
"Ready, my field reporter?"
Jessica took a few deep breaths to steady herself.
Her face was still slightly pale, but her eyes were focused.
"Signal strength full."
"Video resolution: 8K."
"Perfect."
Antony flashed his signature smile and adjusted his hair.
"Then let's…"
"Go live."
-----
Earth
New York time — 8:00 PM prime time.
Whether it was the giant screens in Times Square, televisions in living rooms, or smartphones in the hands of millions of young viewers—
Every screen flickered.
The familiar golden V logo rotated.
Then the background changed to a vast starfield.
And a face that made the entire world feel safe appeared on screen.
"Hey there, family back on Earth!"
"Good evening!"
Antony waved casually at the camera.
His tone sounded as relaxed as if he were streaming from his backyard.
"This is your Homelander."
"Guess where I am right now?"
The camera pulled back.
Behind him—
The massive face-shaped planet appeared.
"WOOOOOOAH—!!!"
Earth exploded into chaos.
The live chat flooded instantly.
[OH MY GOD! THAT'S THE ALIEN BASE?!]
[SO FAST?! Vought tech is insane!]
[That planet looks like a face… that's creepy…]
[Homelander please be careful!]
[Come back safe! We love you!]
Antony couldn't see the comments.
But he could imagine the reaction.
"That's right."
"This is our destination."
He pointed over his shoulder at the planet and made a silly face.
"Looks like a giant moldy meatball, doesn't it?"
Jessica couldn't help laughing off-camera.
"Alright, enough jokes."
Antony's expression became slightly more serious.
"We're about to land."
"This isn't a drill."
"And it's not a movie."
"This is humanity's first step on this strange and dangerous planet."
"Let's go, family."
"I'll show you…"
"…what evil looks like in the depths of the universe."
-----
Ten Minutes Later
A small shuttle pierced through Ego's atmosphere.
It landed gently on the surface.
The hatch opened.
Antony stepped down the ramp.
He angled his body slightly so the camera could capture the alien landscape.
What they saw was surreal.
Bubble-like plants swayed in the wind.
The ground was covered in strange crimson vegetation.
Glowing spores drifted through the air like thousands of fireflies.
Mountains in the distance twisted into shapes that defied geology.
Waterfalls cascaded from impossible heights into lakes glowing with unnatural colors.
The entire world was saturated with almost hallucinogenic colors.
"This looks like what you'd see after eating psychedelic mushrooms," Jessica commented bluntly.
The livestream chat exploded again.
[THIS IS REAL ALIEN LIFE?!]
[Those plants look like giant red blood cells!]
[Homelander looks amazing!]
[My mom asked why I'm watching this on my knees…]
Antony walked forward like a tour guide narrating an exotic vacation.
Jessica followed behind him.
The floating camera orb hovered above them.
But the camera was controlled by brainwave signals.
And Jessica's brain—
Or more specifically, her subconscious—
Was not always under perfect control…
--------------
T/N:
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