A Deepening Mystery


"This is J. Jonah Jameson reporting. We have reports coming in from our affiliates in Northeastern Russia, where it is said that armed mercenaries captured an unknown military device from a military base in the region. The government suspects that extremists are to blame. Not much more is certain at this time. Officials are meeting with the Russian foreign minister to discuss what exactly was stolen. Details to follow."


Late that evening, at the Triskelion…

The World Security Council reconvened late that night to discuss what had happened in Russia. The destruction of the base had caused mass panic in the region and some even feared that this was a plot to advance a possible nuclear conflict. However, S.H.I.E.L.D. teams were quickly dispatched to help the Russians investigate, albeit with limited means.

Fury spoke to the members alone, without Coulson or Hill in the room.

"Do we have any more details as to what occurred?" he sternly asked them, "If this is H.Y.D.R.A., then we can begin drafting counterattack plans to reacquire the device."

"Unlikely," Councilman Malick staunchly assured him, "Our intelligence suggests that it was the work of extremists."

"That's what the media thinks, councilman. You and I both know that the media distorts the truth."

"There is talk that they were attacked by professional mercenaries," Councilman Singh calmly suggested, "…for reasons unknown."

"What would mercenaries want with an EMP?" Malick skeptically asked, attempting to discredit the rumor.

"Mercenaries are paid warriors, councilman. Somebody is pulling their chain," Fury coolly pointed out, "If this is the case, then we can't rule out H.Y.D.R.A.'s possible involvement."

"If that is true," Councilwoman Hawley spoke up, "…then committing more resources to your campaign against H.Y.D.R.A. would be the right course of action."

"Now wait just a minute," Malick harshly interrupted, "We can't go into this with baseless assumptions. We haven't even received an update on whether or not the recent raid produced any evidence against H.Y.D.R.A."

Fury's expression grew grim and somewhat confused.

"I don't understand. You instructed me as director to focus our resources against this terrorist organization years ago, and now you're attempting to undermine your own mandate, councilman?"

"This isn't about undermining any sort of mandate, director. I simply want facts. We've poured more than enough of all our shares into this campaign and yet we still await capture of this Baron Strucker and his associates. Frankly, the United States is questioning whether or not H.Y.D.R.A. remains a verifiable threat."

"It's only been a few days," Hawley pointed out, "You've barely given them time to assess their evidence."

"And what of this 'iceman', director?" Singh curiously asked, "Have you made the decision to thaw him out yet?"

Fury eyed the councilmembers closely, subtly glancing outside of his window once more at the brightly-lit Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac.

He wasn't so sure of what to make of the events from earlier today, having thawed him out. Could he trust the council with this information? Could Malick be trusted? His doubts about him began to grow.

For his sake, he needed to find out more about their guest before giving the council an answer.

"I haven't made a decision yet, no."

"Well," Malick chuckled, "the longer you wait on that, the longer you restrict yourself from interfering with H.Y.D.R.A."

Without another word, the hologram-conference call ended, and the translucent apparitions of the members disappeared out of sight.

He briefly sighed to himself. It felt like he was being dragged around by the council, keeping his hands tied, all while they debate senselessly.

Having felt like he wasted enough time, he departed his office to return to the medical wing.


Minutes later, down at the medical wing of the Triskelion…

Agent Ayala observed the team of nurses tend to the man's care from behind the window looking into his room. She had changed out of her White Tiger suit and back into her S.H.I.E.L.D. jumper. In her left hand, she still grasped his mask, having not given it to anybody after she had yanked it off.

The man was still visibly unconscious, with his right side facing her as he lied in bed. A nurse checked his vitals, another took notes, and a third was checking the bandages on his chest. The slash she had made on his chest were deep, but it seemed to be healing remarkably fast from their last check.

She studied him. Something about him was strange… or was it unique? Surreal.

It had been a while since she fought someone that was that versatile who wasn't trying to actually kill her. It felt more like a sparring match between rivals. She actually kind of wished that he had gone after her much stronger, feeling as though he was holding back most of the time.

And what of his cat-like claws? What was that all about? She only knew a few superheroes, Black Panther and herself to name a few, who had her similar abilities. Was there another?

"Surprised to see you down here, Ayala," a familiar voice greeted.

She turned to see Director Fury approach her with his hands clasped at his back. She smiled in greeting and returned her gaze to the mysterious man.

"Just making sure he doesn't wake up and try to escape again, sir," she confidently answered.

He looked onwards with her.

"Good idea. I saw some of the footage from the training simulator. It looked like you two had an intense session down there."

"Well, he wasn't without his difficulties. The man is quick. He's agile."

"Catlike," Fury observed, "I'm beginning to have my suspicion that he might be the product of one of H.Y.D.R.A.'s many experiments that we're investigating."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely."

The nurse unraveled the bandages on his chest to exchange with a new one only to find that the wounds had completely healed over, leaving only faint scarring. She exchanged confused looks with her fellow nurses. She left his muscular chest exposed while she spoke with them.

"Where did they take his clothes?" Fury curiously asked.

"Forensics came down and took them. The doctors were looking him over so they felt it was better to take a hair or skin sample off his clothes to see if they can cross-examine it with records to identify him."

"Good on them for the initiative."

"Yeah. I just… I still can't believe it."

"What?"

"This guy was in ice yesterday, sir. It's crazy to think that any human can survive being frozen like that. I mean, I know Captain America did, but…"

"He had the super-soldier serum to help out with that. This guy? We know next to nothing about. If he really is one of our lost agents, and H.Y.D.R.A. was behind his disappearance, then his cooperation is our first priority."

"Yes, sir."

"Until then, shouldn't you be getting some rest, Ayala?"

"Yeah, I've got a chart full of sessions to mediate tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure all was well."

"Don't worry," Fury assured her, "We'll give you a holler if things go south again."

She bid him farewell and walked away, keeping the man's mask with her, unbeknownst to Fury. He just observed him from the window, watching as the nurses departed the room to report to the doctor.

"What a mystery you've turned out to be, 'iceman'," he sighed, "Who are you really?"