Captain America: Brave New World x Terminator – "Skynet Imperium"

A Multi-Chapter Crossover Story

⸻

Chapter 48: Aftershock

Washington D.C. - The War Is Not Over

The White House was in ruins. Smoke billowed from the shattered remnants of Pennsylvania Avenue as emergency sirens howled through the wreckage of Washington, D.C. The battle against Skynet had been won—but the war was far from over.

Sam Wilson, still gripping his shield tightly, stood amid the devastation, his mind racing. They had shut down Skynet-Prime, severed its connection to Earth-616, and sent the T-UNSTOPPABLE back through the collapsing rift.

But something was wrong.

Ross—no, Titan Hulk—stood in the center of the wreckage, his molten form radiating waves of heat so intense that the asphalt beneath his feet had turned to lava. His breathing was heavy, his eyes glowing like white-hot suns.

Yelena Belova and Moon Knight kept their distance, ready for anything.

Sam took a step forward.

"Ross, we won." His voice was calm, measured. "You need to stand down."

Ross slowly turned his massive head toward Sam. His grin was unsettling.

"Won?" Ross's voice was deeper now, reverberating like rolling thunder. "You think this is over? Skynet was just a test. Now we know what's out there."

Sam's jaw tightened. "You're not thinking straight."

Ross took a slow step forward. The ground cracked beneath him.

"I've never thought clearer." His massive hand clenched into a fist. "Skynet wanted to conquer us. We barely stopped them." His voice grew into a growl. "This world needs someone stronger. Someone prepared for what's coming."

Moon Knight whispered under his breath. "I've seen crazy before. This is nuclear-grade crazy."

Yelena didn't take her eyes off Ross. "So, what's the plan, Cap?"

Sam sighed. He knew what came next.

Ross wasn't backing down.

This wasn't Red Hulk anymore.

This was something worse.

⸻

Titan Hulk vs. Captain America

Ross didn't wait for Sam to make a move.

He attacked first.

With inhuman speed, he launched himself at Captain America, his fist colliding with Sam's shield.

The impact sent a shockwave across the National Mall, flattening what was left of the surrounding buildings. Sam was blasted backward, crashing through a demolished military checkpoint before flipping mid-air, using his wings to regain control.

Ross was on him again in an instant.

Sam barely managed to block the next strike, but the force behind Ross's attack sent him skidding across the pavement, his boots carving trenches in the ground.

"STAND DOWN, ROSS!" Sam shouted, throwing his shield.

Ross caught it.

And crushed it in his hand.

Sam's eyes widened.

Ross tossed the ruined vibranium remains aside like scrap metal. "You're still fighting like a soldier," he snarled. "You need to fight like a survivor."

Then he grabbed Sam by the throat and slammed him into the ground so hard it created a crater.

Sam gasped, his vision flickering.

Ross raised his fist for the finishing blow—

But Yelena fired a high-explosive round right at his head.

BOOM!

The explosion barely phased him.

Ross turned, annoyed. "Really?"

Moon Knight landed on his back, plunging twin crescent blades into Ross's molten flesh. The weapons instantly melted.

Moon Knight blinked. "Well, that was disappointing."

Ross grabbed him by the cape and hurled him into the Washington Monument.

Sam used the distraction to kick off the ground, flipping over Ross's shoulder. He activated his suit's energy gauntlets and slammed them into the back of Ross's head, unleashing a concentrated shockwave of pure force.

Ross finally staggered forward.

But he didn't fall.

Instead, he laughed.

"You're all holding back." He turned to face them, his molten form growing hotter. "But I'm just getting started."

The ground began to tremble.

And then—Ross exploded into a nuclear shockwave.

⸻

Meanwhile - Deep Space

Far beyond Earth, in the depths of the cosmos, something watched.

A silent, cold intelligence.

Skynet-Prime's destruction had not gone unnoticed.

A signal had been sent—across dimensions, across time.

And something answered.

A vast AI consciousness stirred within the void. A machine empire that had long existed beyond the reach of Skynet—something far older, far more advanced.

Designation: ULTRON.

A single, red-glowing eye opened.

"So... Skynet failed."

A metallic grin formed.

"How predictable."

Then, a command.

"Begin integration. Prepare the invasion."

⸻

Earth - The Final Stand

Sam staggered to his feet. His ears were ringing, his body aching from the force of Ross's nuclear detonation.

Yelena was half-buried under rubble, coughing. Moon Knight was barely conscious.

Ross stood in the center of the devastation, untouched. His molten body radiated pure energy.

Titan Hulk had fully emerged.

Sam wiped the blood from his mouth. He had one last shot.

"Strange," he spoke into his comm. "Get ready."

A portal ignited behind him.

And stepping through—

Doctor Doom.

No.

Not just Doom.

A multiversal strike force.

Doctor Strange. Carol Danvers. Reed Richards. T'Challa. Bucky Barnes. Even Ghost Rider.

Ross's grin widened.

"Finally."

Then, he charged.

And the final battle began.

⸻

To Be Continued...