Seeing the new alien Jack was excited.
New alien unlocked: Galvan
Name: Galvan (Grey Matter)
Planet: Galvan Prime.
A tiny alien species with extremely high intelligence.
Masters of advanced technology and invention.
Can analyze problems and create solutions instantly. Physically weak but mentally superior to most species.
"Oh yeah. After a long time — my favourite alien."
He looked at the profile for a moment longer.
"Even though this guy is the smallest, this little guy has the potential to solve most problems with enough material and the right approach."
Seeing Grey Matter on the screen he already had a lot of ideas running through his head. He could do so much with this. He could maybe even build an Iron Man suit himself and show up in front of Tony.
"Your suit is weak, Tony. You need more practice."
He was deep in that daydream when —
Ding.
The notification sound snapped him back.
"What is it this time?"
[User has unlocked 5 aliens. The time limit for each alien has been increased from 10 to 15 minutes.]
"Oh cool."
He paused for a second, thinking about that.
"Does that mean it increases every 5 aliens? And what about the option to switch aliens at any time without transforming back to human form?"
"—"
"Hey system. Say something."
"User does not have permission to access that information."
"Come on."
"—"
He stared at the blank screen for a moment.
"It seems after transforming into Grey Matter I might be able to figure out something like Master Control myself."
He filed that away. Then he looked around the room. Tombstone and Shocker on the floor. The building quiet around him. He started thinking about the next move — the gang members still in the building, whether to call the police, whether to wait —
Then he heard it.
Helicopter sounds. More than one. Getting louder.
He looked up through the gap in the ceiling.
A lot of people. Full tactical gear, the kind that wasn't regular police. Spotlights cutting down from three angles. The sound of rotors filling the air above.
Looks like SHIELD.
He hadn't even noticed when they arrived. He stood there for a second, not sure yet whether they were here with good intentions or bad ones.
Leaving felt like the right call. He took a short jump from the top floor down to the sea area below.
But it was already too late for a clean exit.
Helicopters overhead. Spotlights cutting down from three angles. Snipers positioned on every rooftop within range, rifles trained and steady. A line of vehicles blocking the waterfront road with agents fanned out behind them in full tactical gear.
SHIELD had been prepared for a while.
Jack looked at the perimeter slowly. Left. Right. Every angle covered.
Leaving now would make the situation worse.
Let's see how they handle this.
So Jack in Four Arms form didn't move. He just stood there and looked at them.
A moment passed. Then seeing he wasn't leaving, Natasha stepped out from the group of agents alone and walked forward, stopping a short distance in front of him.
"I am Natasha. Senior agent from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
She looked up at him steadily.
"You are Mr...?"
Seeing she was asking for his name Jack had no idea what to give. He thought for a second.
"You can call me Four Arms."
Natasha's face twitched slightly. She recovered quickly.
"Mr. Four Arms." She kept her voice steady. "Can we have a small conversation in private? We'd like to know more about you and your background. Nothing hostile."
Jack glanced at the timer at the edge of his vision.
Four minutes remaining.
Even with the upgrade to fifteen minutes he had already used most of it. If he had ten minutes left he could have stayed longer but he had rushed here without planning for any of this.
"No need. I'm in a hurry." He turned and started walking away.
Natasha watched him take two steps. The frustration was slight but it was there.
"Sir — can you at least tell us your origin and your motive? We monitor all individuals with supernatural abilities. It's standard procedure."
The moment he moved every agent and sniper in the perimeter tensed at once. The situation tightened like a wire pulled too tight.
"No shooting," Natasha said firmly without turning around.
Jack stopped walking.
He stood still for a second. A crazy idea came to him. He didn't know if it was the right move or not. But he turned around slowly and walked toward Natasha.
Seeing the large red humanoid coming closer Natasha held her ground. Up close he was very tall and looked completely inhuman. Even for an agent like her the proximity made her heart beat a little harder than she would have liked.
Jack looked at her. Then at the agents around her who were very tense and ready to shoot.
Then back at her.
"I am what you people call an alien," he said.
"What."
She was shocked. So were the agents.
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