Albedos Redemption

Albedo stood at the threshold of the hospital room, quietly observing the tableau within. Aunt May lay unconscious on the bed, pale and fragile, an array of tubes and monitors weaving a delicate tapestry of hope and fear around her. Across the small space, Peter Parker and Mary Jane sat close together. Mary Jane's head rested on Peter's shoulder, her red-rimmed eyes betraying the exhaustion of sleepless nights. Peter looked equally spent; his once-vibrant energy was replaced by a steady burn of worry and sorrow. Though he still wore a hooded sweatshirt over his street clothes, there was no mistaking the tension in the air that surrounded them.

Albedo took a careful step forward. He couldn't help but recall the frantic moments of racing Aunt May to the emergency room, the bullet from Bullseye lodged in her side, the hours of surgery that nearly claimed her life. She was stable now—but far from safe. Were the circumstances different, Peter might have stayed only briefly at her bedside, continuing his vigilante work in the chaotic city. But in the wake of so much loss, he and Mary Jane had vowed not to leave Aunt May's side until she was out of mortal danger.

Peter turned, sensing Albedo's presence. His eyes, though heavy with fatigue, held a flicker of warmth. "Hey," he said, voice hushed to avoid disturbing Aunt May. "Thanks for coming back."

Albedo gave a slow nod, stepping to the foot of the bed. "I wanted to see how she's doing. Any improvements?"

Mary Jane responded with a faint half-smile. "The doctors say she's stable. They… think she'll recover, but it could take a while. She's still too weak for surgery to remove every fragment; there's some risk of complications. For now, it's a waiting game."

A hush settled between them, filled only by the beep of medical equipment. The hospital corridor outside bustled with nurses and doctors, but in the bubble of that ICU room, time felt suspended. Finally, Peter exhaled, glancing at Albedo's black-and-white vigilante attire. "You're heading out again, aren't you?"

Albedo inclined his head. "Captain America reached out." The mention of Cap brought a small spark of recognition to Peter's eyes. "He's finalizing a plan to free the heroes Tony's imprisoned. Most are held in that newly constructed prison for unregistered vigilantes—somewhere, presumably, in the Negative Zone or a top-secret facility. Tony and Reed keep bragging it's inescapable. Cap's determined to prove otherwise."

Peter's jaw tightened. "He's been talking about that for a while. We suspected Tony built a high-tech prison just for heroes who refused to register. Locking them away without trial. It's monstrous."

"Exactly," Albedo said softly. "I'm going with Cap's team to infiltrate the place. If we succeed, we can free our friends, shift public opinion—maybe end this war."

Mary Jane's voice trembled. "I wish you luck. I just…" She cast a look at Aunt May's sleeping form. "We can't do more right now. Peter won't leave her side."

Peter nodded. "She needs me. And I'm not sure I trust Tony or S.H.I.E.L.D. not to try something, even in the hospital." His gaze flicked to Albedo, gratitude mixing with guilt. "I appreciate you picking up the baton, so to speak. I'm sorry I can't join you."

Albedo offered a reassuring half-smile. "You have every reason to stay. Family comes first." He placed a hand on Peter's shoulder. "I'll fight for us all."

Peter gave a curt nod. "Then go. Just… be careful. Tony's not playing around, especially after what happened to Aunt May. He's ramping up pressure."

Albedo agreed grimly. "We'll watch our backs."

He turned to Mary Jane. "If anything changes, if you need backup, call me. I'll come as soon as I can."

She forced a small smile. "Thank you. We'll be here." Her eyes flicked to Aunt May, voice catching. "And—thank you for saving her in the first place, Albedo."

Albedo inclined his head. "She saved herself with her strength. I just helped." With that, he left them, stepping into the hallway. The weight of the upcoming mission pressed on him, but at least he felt steadied by Peter's trust.

Outside, the hospital parking lot glowed under the midday sun. Albedo spotted an unmarked sedan waiting near the curb. The man leaning against it wore plain clothes but had the unmistakable poise of a trained operative. As Albedo approached, the man opened the passenger door. Albedo recognized him as Sam Wilson—Falcon—though in civilian attire to avoid drawing attention.

"Albedo," Sam greeted, eyes glancing over Albedo's suit. "Cap's waiting for you. We've got a small team assembled. You ready?"

Albedo took a breath, nodding. "Ready as I'll ever be."

They climbed into the sedan. Sam navigated the congested streets with a calm efficiency, weaving through traffic until they hit a quieter route leading to an old industrial district near the waterfront. The hush in the car spoke volumes. Everyone knew this infiltration carried massive risks: if Tony's team discovered them, the conflict could escalate to catastrophic proportions.

Eventually, Sam parked behind a deserted shipping warehouse. Metal doors clanged open to reveal an improvised base: crates of equipment, screens flickering with tactical data, and a handful of familiar faces. Captain America stood at a central table, arms crossed over his broad chest, conferring with Hawkeye and Wanda Maximoff. Daredevil lingered nearby, listening intently, while a few unregistered heroes milled around.

Cap looked up as Albedo entered, expression easing into a thin but genuine smile. "Good to see you."

Albedo stepped forward, giving a brief nod. "Likewise. So… how are we pulling this off?"

Cap exhaled, gesturing for Albedo to join them at the table. A holographic projection flickered to life, showing an overhead schematic of a facility. It resembled a massive metal complex suspended over a swirling cosmic void. "Tony and Reed built a prison in an extradimensional location—what we used to call the Negative Zone. We're not entirely sure if it's still in the Negative Zone or if they changed the architecture, but our intel says it's extremely secure. They've already locked up dozens of heroes who refused to register."

Wanda tapped a corner of the hologram, highlighting points of entry. "We suspect Reed designed it with advanced sensor grids, automated turrets, and force-field corridors. In short, a fortress. We have one advantage: an inside contact. They've arranged a window where some systems will be offline for maintenance. That's our best shot at infiltration."

Hawkeye frowned, arms folded. "We'll split into two teams. One hits the main gate, draws attention. The second team sneaks in through a ventilation shaft that leads to the central block. Once inside, we locate the detainees, disable the containment fields, and get out."

Cap nodded. "We're hoping to free as many as possible. If we pull this off, Tony's moral high ground crumbles. The public sees he's basically running a superhuman gulag."

Albedo studied the schematic, heart thudding. "How do we actually get there? Teleporter? Dimensional gate?"

Sam Wilson stepped in. "Dr. Strange gave us a single-use dimensional portal. It's not a sure bet—Tony might have wards in place. But it should get us close to the main gates. From there, we push forward."

Albedo allowed himself a grim smile. "All right. Let's do it."

Cap placed a reassuring hand on Albedo's shoulder. "I appreciate you stepping up. This might decide the fate of our movement."

Albedo thought of Aunt May, Peter's grief, the countless heroes locked away. "Then let's not fail."

Hours later, at twilight, the infiltration began. The Resistance gathered in the warehouse, tension crackling in the air. Captain America stood at the center, shield on one arm, addressing the group of around twenty heroes and allies. "We move in quietly. Once we're inside, minimal force if possible, but do not hesitate if Tony's guards engage. Our goal is to free, not to kill." Everyone nodded, acknowledging the delicate balance.

Dr. Strange, looking somewhat haggard from the endless battles and dimensional meddling, chanted quietly in a corner. A swirling portal formed in midair, the edges shimmering with kaleidoscopic energy. "This gateway remains open for a short period," Strange warned. "Make it count."

Cap led the first wave through. Hawkeye, Wanda, Daredevil, Sam Wilson, and Albedo followed, along with a handful of other unregistered heroes. They emerged into a surreal corridor of swirling cosmic dust—definitely the Negative Zone or a similar extradimensional realm. Ahead rose an imposing structure: the prison, an immense lattice of steel-like alloys and shimmering force-fields, perched on platforms jutting from black, swirling emptiness.

Albedo took a steadying breath. "So this is it."

Hawkeye whistled under his breath. "Ugly place. Let's hope it looks better inside."

Cap signaled for silence. They advanced across a narrow bridge that spanned the cosmic void, a swirling mass of energy below. The air crackled with static, or perhaps the dimensional fabric interfering with normal physics. Albedo's Ultimatrix hummed uncomfortably, a sign that this environment was outside typical Earth constraints. He pressed a hand over it, hoping it wouldn't malfunction.

As planned, the second team branched off to the left, forging a loud, direct assault. Albedo could hear distant booms and shouts, presumably drawing the attention of automated defenses. Meanwhile, Cap guided Albedo, Wanda, and Daredevil to the right, slipping behind a row of thick pipes that vented some strange, shimmering gas. They crawled through a half-concealed hatchway, descending into an inner corridor.

Sparks flickered from overhead lights, the architecture a blend of S.H.I.E.L.D. design and Reed's advanced engineering. Wanda's scarlet energies danced around her hands, ready to reshape reality if needed. Daredevil led with heightened senses, ensuring they avoided patrolling drones.

Before long, an alarm blared. "Intruders detected in Sector Alpha," a mechanical voice droned. "Seal all corridors. Deploy response units."

"Time's up," Cap muttered. "We push forward."

They rushed through a hallway lined with thick metal doors. On either side, small viewing windows revealed locked cells, each containing superhuman prisoners. Some were minor vigilantes Albedo recognized from occasional news mentions, others had resisted Tony's demands from the start. Many pressed their faces to the windows, eyes widening at the sight of rescuers.

"We'll free you!" Albedo called, scanning for a control panel. Wanda unleashed a hex that shorted out the locking mechanisms, and one by one, the heavy cell doors hissed open. Captives emerged, rubbing wrists, blinking in disbelief. Some were battered or drained from power dampeners.

"Stay close," Cap ordered them. "We'll get you out. Arm yourselves if needed." He tossed a spare shield-like disc to one of the freed heroes, who nodded gratefully.

They advanced further, freeing more detainees. The corridor branched, revealing a larger security door labeled "High-Level Detention." Daredevil's ear twitched. "Guards behind that door. At least six, armed with energy rifles."

Cap nodded. "Wanda, can you handle the door?"

She raised her hands, scarlet light swirling. The door shimmered, then melted away as if turned to liquid. Beyond, a squad of armed S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers reacted in shock. Cap's shield flew, clanging off rifles. Albedo lunged with his baton, incapacitating two troopers before they could fire. Wanda cast a hex that entangled the last pair in twisting metal. The troopers yelled, pinned.

With the corridor secured, Daredevil listened for more reinforcements. "We're clear for the moment."

Cap turned to Albedo. "Check the high-level cells. That's probably where Tony stuffed big-name refusers."

Albedo nodded, sprinting down a side passage. He found a row of heavy reinforced cells, each door sealed with advanced biometrics. The occupant of the third cell hammered on the door window. Albedo recognized him—Luke Cage, famously bulletproof but powerless to break out if the cell used specialized power dampeners. His eyes widened with relief seeing Albedo.

"Man, about time someone came," Luke barked. "Get me out of here!"

Albedo located the control panel, pressing the Ultimatrix dial just enough to generate Grey Matter's intelligence for a quick hack. A swirl of red condensed him into the tiny, frog-like alien with an oversized brain. Luke gawked, but Albedo ignored it, tapping frantically at the console. In seconds, the cell door slid open, and Luke stepped out, flexing muscles.

"That's new," Luke commented, glancing at Albedo's minuscule form.

"Long story," Grey Matter-Albedo squeaked. He tapped the Ultimatrix to revert to normal, then tossed Luke a baton. "We're freeing everyone. Let's go."

Luke cracked a grin. "Gladly."

More cells opened. Familiar faces tumbled out—heroes like Tigra, Nighthawk, and a couple of X-Men who'd been snatched by Tony's forces. Their gratitude was overshadowed by the urgency to escape before more reinforcements arrived. The corridor filled with battered but determined heroes, all forming a ragtag army behind Cap's core team.

Suddenly, an explosion rattled the facility, nearly throwing Albedo off his feet. Sparks showered from the overhead. A klaxon blared, "Structural breach. Perimeter compromised."

Cap cursed. "The other team must have triggered a meltdown or something. Let's move. We have to regroup and open a dimensional gate out of here."

"On it," Hawkeye's voice crackled over a communicator. "We're pinned at the main corridor. Tony's big guns are here. Hurry."

Cap signaled everyone forward. "We fight our way to the main corridor. Once we're together, Strange or someone can reopen a portal to Earth."

Albedo tensed. "And if Tony tries to stop us?"

Cap's eyes hardened. "We'll do what we must."

They sprinted, leading the freed heroes through corridors lit by flickering emergency lights. Along the way, they skirmished with more troopers. Albedo toggled between baton strikes and short bursts from the Proto-Tool's blaster mode. Wanda's hex blasts dismantled automated turrets. Daredevil knocked aside groups of troopers with fluid martial arts. Cap's shield soared, clearing a path.

Finally, they reached the main corridor, a massive open space bridging the prison to its outer gates. Battles already raged there: the second infiltration team was pinned behind overturned crates, exchanging fire with a group of pro-registration heroes. Albedo spotted Ms. Marvel, flinging energy blasts. War Machine soared overhead, laying down suppressive fire. The entire structure rattled with the force of superhuman conflict.

Captain America led his combined group forward, splitting off to flank the pro-registration lines. For a moment, chaos reigned. Freed heroes clashed with Tony's loyal troopers. Ms. Marvel traded blows with Luke Cage. War Machine locked onto Daredevil, only to be harried by Hawkeye's trick arrows. Wanda squared off against a lesser-known but powerful S.H.I.E.L.D. enforcer. Albedo found himself face-to-face with an advanced Sentinel-like drone—a leftover from some mutant-hunting days, reprogrammed for the negative zone prison.

He clenched his teeth, pressing the Ultimatrix dial. Diamondhead's form emerged in a blaze of red. He crashed into the Sentinel-drone, crystal fists smashing metallic limbs. The drone's lasers scored scorch marks on his crystal plating, but Diamondhead shrugged them off. He pummeled the drone's torso, rending circuits. Sparks rained, and the machine toppled. Diamondhead roared, then reverted to normal to preserve energy.

In the swirling melee, Tony himself appeared, wearing the full Iron Man suit, repulsors blazing. Reed Richards followed, sporting a specialized harness that amplified his stretching powers—an exosuit reminiscent of what Albedo had seen in the Baxter Building. Together, they led the pro-registration lineup. Tony's voice boomed across the corridor: "Stand down, Cap! This ends now."

Captain America, shield battered, advanced, unyielding. "It ends when you free these heroes, Tony."

Reed stepped in, voice cracking with tension. "We can't free them. They broke the law."

"This law is unjust," Cap retorted, pointing his shield. "We won't bow to tyranny. Either let us go, or be prepared to fight."

Tony's eyes glowed behind his faceplate. "So be it."

The corridor erupted in a second wave of violence. Tony's repulsor beams hammered the freed heroes. Reed snaked elongated limbs around Wanda's ankles, trying to hamper her hexes. War Machine battered Luke Cage with sonic pulses. Ms. Marvel soared overhead, tangling with Sam Wilson. Albedo found himself trading blasts with a pair of troopers armed with intangible disruptors—technology once used to corner him. He glimpsed Goliath, the giant-sized hero who had sided with Cap, stomping around to hold back Ms. Marvel, trading massive punches.

But Tony had another ace up his sleeve. As the fight crescendoed, the facility's overhead compartments rumbled. A swirling energy portal formed at Tony's command. Cap's eyes widened. "No… he wouldn't."

A figure materialized, tall and thunderous, wielding a massive hammer. Long golden hair, a red cape, armor reminiscent of the Asgardian thunder god: Thor. Yet something about him seemed off. Albedo's heart skipped. Thor had been absent for a while, rumored lost or away from Earth. Why would he side with Tony so suddenly? And why was the energy around him so strange, like arcs of crackling electricity that seemed artificially produced?

"This is not the real Thor," Cap growled, a note of dread. "It's a clone or a cybernetic creation. Reed and Tony must have built it from old Asgardian genetics."

Tony hovered above the melee, addressing "Thor" through a secure channel. "Target the largest threats, subdue them. No lethal force, unless absolutely necessary."

"Thor" glowered, electricity dancing across his hammer. The puppet's face was vacant of real Asgardian spirit—like a machine wearing Thor's face. Goliath turned to face him, looming at thirty feet tall. "You're not the real Thor," he rumbled. "But you'll do as an opponent."

In a flash, Thor swung the hammer. A bolt of artificial lightning struck Goliath's chest. The giant roared, staggering. Before he could recover, "Thor" hurled the hammer straight at Goliath's head. The impact was thunderous, a resounding crack. Blood sprayed as Goliath's gargantuan form pitched forward. Time froze in the corridor. Everyone—pro-registration and resistance—gasped in horror.

Goliath collapsed, his giant heart stilled by the lethal blow. For a moment, the entire battle halted. The prison's alarms, the shouts, all receded into a stunned hush. Even Tony seemed shaken. "Thor" turned, eyes glowing eerily. Cap knelt by Goliath's colossal body, face etched in grief and disbelief. Wanda let out a cry. Hawkeye cursed under his breath, tears in his eyes.

Then "Thor" roared, lightning dancing around him. He spun the hammer, unleashing arcs of deadly energy indiscriminately across the battlefield. Heroes scrambled for cover, some struck down. Iron Man shouted, "Stand down! I said no lethal force!"

But "Thor" ignored him, a savage grin twisting his face. This was a mindless clone or android, clearly beyond control. He advanced, lightning scorching friend and foe alike. War Machine reeled as a bolt seared his armor. Ms. Marvel barely dodged another blast. Cap raised his shield, deflecting a lethal strike that threatened to fry half the freed heroes. The corridor exploded into chaos once more as "Thor" rampaged.

Albedo's mind whirled. A single unstoppable "god" might kill them all. He locked eyes with Captain America, who was pinned behind a half-collapsed console, shield raised. Cap's expression begged for a solution. Summoning his courage, Albedo stepped forward, pressing the Ultimatrix dial. This threat was too large for Diamondhead or Big Chill alone. He'd rarely used the ultimate forms, especially in this dimension, but "Thor" was unstoppable otherwise.

But a memory flickered—Atomix. The nuclear-powered alien form that had once been locked away in the Ultimatrix. The final ace up his sleeve, capable of generating enormous power. Usually he avoided it, fearing devastation. This time, the stakes were too high to hold back. If "Thor" wasn't stopped, more heroes would die. Goliath's blood was already on his hands.

He steadied himself, ignoring Tony's frantic shouts for "Thor" to stand down. "Here goes nothing," Albedo growled. He turned the Ultimatrix dial to the icon for Atomix, the swirling atomic symbol. A bright red flash enveloped him, raw cosmic power crackling in the air. As the glow faded, Albedo's form had morphed into a towering figure of glowing green armor-like plating, radiating pulses of nuclear energy around the edges—Atomix.

The air vibrated with tension. Atomix hovered a few inches off the ground, fists clenched. Every step hummed with unimaginable power. "Thor" paused, luminous eyes narrowing at this new challenger. Tony hovered overhead, torn between shutting down "Thor" and confronting Cap. The corridor's entire population watched, uncertain whether the clone "god" or the cosmic alien would dominate.

Albedo/Atomix regarded "Thor" calmly. "This ends here," he rumbled in a voice echoing with nuclear resonance.

"Thor" answered with a roar, hurling a lightning bolt. Atomix raised a glowing palm, generating a sphere of nuclear energy that absorbed the bolt. Sparks rained. The floor trembled. "Thor" lunged, hammer aimed for Atomix's chest.

Atomix slid aside with unexpected agility, rotating to deliver a nuclear-charged backhand. The resulting shockwave rattled the corridor, blowing troopers off their feet. "Thor" crashed backward through a cluster of half-ruined computer stations. He bellowed, lightning swirling around him, hammer flying back to his grip. Another wave of arcs blazed, scorching the floor. Atomix responded by forming a swirling aura of neon-green nuclear energy around his body, negating the worst of the lightning.

They clashed in the center of the corridor, hammer striking nuclear fists, each blow releasing shockwaves that rippled through the dimension. Goliath's fallen form cast a grim silhouette. At times, "Thor" seemed unstoppable, fueled by some twisted Asgardian clone power. But Atomix's raw cosmic might matched him strike for strike. Observers scrambled to avoid the area, huddling behind debris. Captain America shielded the wounded, while Tony, Reed, and War Machine gaped, uncertain whether to intervene or flee.

Lightning speared out from "Thor's" hammer, but Atomix condensed his power into a single radioactive beam from both palms—like twin nuclear streams uniting. The energies collided midair, crackling in a maelstrom of swirling light. The corridor's walls bent outward, alarms shrieked, and entire sections of the prison threatened to rupture. In that moment, the unstoppable force met the immovable object.

Atomix poured every ounce of will into channeling safe nuclear energy—enough to subdue, not annihilate. Slowly, his beam overcame the hammer's lightning. "Thor" howled, hammered backward by the unstoppable wave. The hammer sparked, cracking as if short-circuiting. The clone's face contorted in agony. Finally, with a deafening crack, the lightning fizzled, and "Thor" collapsed, the hammered illusions of Asgard flickering out. Smoke rose from the battered clone's body.

Atomix slumped, exhausted. He canceled the form, reverting to normal Albedo in a swirl of red. Panting, he nearly buckled, but Captain America rushed forward to steady him. The corridor was a wreck—sparks, debris, groaning walls.

Everyone stared at "Thor's" inert form, hammered by nuclear power, its chest plate shattered, revealing synthetic innards. A twisted fusion of technology and cloned tissue. Goliath's lifeless giant body lay only yards away, a stark reminder of the cost. Slowly, the pro-registration side retreated, horror etched on their faces.

Tony Stark floated down, heartbroken expression behind the faceplate. "What… what have we done?" he whispered, voice trembling. Reed Richards approached, arms limp, exosuit powered down. "This wasn't supposed to happen," Reed muttered, burying his face in one elongated palm. Ms. Marvel stared, shock draining the color from her face. War Machine hovered overhead, paralyzed by guilt.

Captain America's jaw set in grief. "You brought this on yourselves, Tony," he said quietly. "We came to free prisoners, not to kill. Your unstoppable 'Thor' clone took a life."

Tony started to speak, but Daredevil stepped forward, pointing. "Enough. People have died. We're leaving with our friends. Don't try to stop us."

The pro-registration heroes, battered and demoralized, held their fire. Tony remained speechless, gaze drifting to Goliath's corpse. A hush weighed down like a funeral. Albedo felt tears sting his eyes—so much for a mission of liberation without bloodshed. Yet the only reason more hadn't died was because Albedo overcame the rampaging clone. The tragedy overshadowed any sense of victory.

Cap signaled the freed heroes. "We're done here. Everyone, gather. Hawkeye, Wanda—call Dr. Strange to open an escape portal."

Hawkeye nodded, communicating with the second infiltration team via coms. Wanda's scarlet powers flared, stabilizing the corridor enough to prevent immediate collapse. Freed prisoners limped or carried each other across the debris, forging a path back toward the main gate. The pro-reg forces parted like a shamed guard of dishonor, none daring to reignite hostilities after Goliath's brutal death.

Reed sank to his knees beside the inert "Thor," tears glistening. "This wasn't the plan. We only wanted a deterrent, not…not murder."

Albedo gazed at him, sorrow and anger swirling. "Science without conscience leads to this, Reed. I begged you to see reason."

Reed didn't respond, hollow eyes fixed on the broken clone. Tony hovered, silent as well, grappling with the monstrous outcome. Ms. Marvel assisted War Machine, who was wounded, and they stepped aside. The short path to the exit was clear.

Captain America, flanked by Daredevil and Wanda, led the rescued heroes out, stepping gingerly around Goliath's body. Some paused to pay respects, tears streaming. A few scowled at Tony, others glared at Reed. The anguish was palpable.

At last, Albedo joined them. He glanced back, meeting Tony's sorrowful gaze once more. No words needed to be spoken. The events spoke for themselves. Then Albedo trudged away, rallying with Cap. They found Dr. Strange near the facility's outer gate, chanting a new dimensional incantation. The swirling portal flickered to life. Freed heroes poured through, returning to Earth, battered but liberated from the negative zone prison.

Before stepping through, Albedo turned to Captain America. "What about Goliath's body?"

Cap's eyes were haunted. "We'll try to retrieve him later. Right now, we can't risk it with the facility half-collapsing. We have to go."

Albedo nodded grimly, stepping into the portal. In a flash of swirling color, they emerged back on Earth in the battered warehouse that served as the Resistance's rally point. Triage teams and volunteers rushed to help the injured. The freed heroes stumbled around, some crying in relief, others murmuring about Goliath's end.

The triumphant infiltration was overshadowed by the tragedy. Captain America stood at the center, shoulders slumped. Albedo approached, placing a hand on his arm. "We did what we had to," Albedo offered quietly.

Cap exhaled, pained. "So many casualties in this war… Goliath's just the latest. I fear more to come."

Albedo clenched his fists. "Tony and Reed's moral ground is shattered now. Their clone killed a friend. The public must see this."

Cap nodded. "We'll ensure they do. But it won't bring Goliath back." His gaze drifted to the distance. "We gather our strength, bury the dead, and keep fighting for a better tomorrow."

Albedo swallowed the lump in his throat. Even the pressing worry about Aunt May, Peter's heartbreak, Tony's betrayal, all mingled into a single knot of grief. The lines were drawn deeper than ever. The cost was immeasurable.

He turned away from Cap, scanning the warehouse. Freed heroes were receiving medical attention. Some recognized Albedo and thanked him, but the thanks felt hollow against the backdrop of Goliath's death. Albedo forced a small nod, then stepped to a quiet corner, letting the weight of the day's events sink in. He remembered the unstoppable fury he unleashed as Atomix and shuddered. That power saved lives but also symbolized the destructive potential that haunted him—mirroring "Thor's" rampage.

In the coming days, news of the infiltration, Goliath's death at the hands of the "Thor" clone, and the subsequent rescue of imprisoned heroes would rock the hero community. For now, Albedo could only close his eyes and hope that one day, the chaos would recede, leaving enough room for families like Peter's to heal, for communities to rebuild trust, and for the soul of heroism to endure.

End of Chapter 8