Ep 10 : Stalemate

Place: Avenger's Tower, New York

Time: 24 Nov 2013 7:53 pm Local time

"You sure about this?" Banner was hesitant.

"Yes." Fury replied as the sky lighted up with a thunderbolt and a howling sound was heard. "That would be sixth of those creatures. We must do this before these things becomes more frequent than Thor, Rhodes and Stark can handle."

"If it counts, I'm already tired." Tony's voice was heard.

"Keep a lid on it, Tony, will ya'?" Colonel James Rhodes scowled at his friend.

"Sir, the spectrometer indicates another two at your left." JARVIS notified.

"After all these conversation, I feel pretty much inclined... " said Banner as he carefully put the talisman into the stone box. Then he slid the lid into the hinge.

The loud squeaking of the spectrometer suddenly ceased. "What happened?" Fury asked.

Bruce wiped off his glasses. "There's no EMP flux anymore. This... this thing's radiations have been shut off."

Outside War Machine's uni-beam took care of the last hollow.

"I hope that's the last." Fury said.

So it was. 15 minutes pass without any new guests.

Fury heaved a sigh of satisfaction as he motioned the two agents standing nearby. They put the box inside another case.

"Agents, carry this object to the Slingshot." Fury said as the Baetylus was loaded into a quinjet.

"What? Why?" Dr. Banner asked.

"For security."

"Where on the earth you will get the better security than here, Fury, with all of us standing right here?" Banner was genuinely annoyed.

Fury looked outside. "I don't have a choice. The decision was made by the World Security Council to transport the object to the Slingshot, when I notified them of its existence. However they advised discretion, hence I have been waiting. Now that it can go undetected, I must follow orders.

Place : Underground Assembly Hall Entrance, Seireitei

Time : 24 Nov 2013 8:21 pm Eastern Seaboard time

Old man Yamamoto Genryusai got out of the Assembly Hall, grunting as the fluttering pink floral Kimono caught his sight.

"They sure took their sweet time, didn't they, Yama-jii?" Shunsui Kyoraku asked beneath his straw-hat.

The head-captain snarled. "Bickering idiots. 'Respecting the truce with Asgardians, a verbal request must be added before using force.', that's what they decided on after 11 hours of discussion. Intolerable!"

Kyoraku's face became grave. "So, that's what they said, huh? I hate to say, Yama-jii, but say I must. That 'using force' option has developed certain obstacles."

"Be clear."

Kyoraku sighed. "Almost half an hour now, the Sessho-Seki's Reiatsu has vanished from Mayuri's radar."

"WHAT?"

"Sadly yes. And the hollows have lost track of it too, it seems, since the hollow attacks are not following any pattern since. Random hollow scouts are appearing all over USA, but no clustering. It's not just us who has lost the track."

"What could this mean then?"

"Option 1, they have drained it off its Reishi, which verges on impossible. Option 2, the Sessho-Seki has left the World of the Living and gone into some other dimension. That has a low probability, because dimension portals if opened would be traced by 12th Division. Still it has got a better chance. Third, its energy has been masked. But that is not supposed to be possible by humans."

"HMM."

"Well, Yama-jii?"

"I cannot ignore the decision of the Central 46. Hence I will make a request and send an emissary to meet them to discuss the matter. And I will request very, very earnestly.

Kyoraku was startled. Then he smirked under his straw hat, "I see."

Place: Manhattan, New York

Time : 24 Nov 2013 9:05 pm Eastern Seaboard time

"So, you're gonna take the tube?"

"Yeah. What about you, Wasim?"

"Me too. Jackson Height is a long way from here, gotta run."

"Bye then Ashley, see you tomorrow."

The friends were about to part when suddenly all the display screens started to flicker."

"What is it, Joe?" Ashley said as she grabbed her Boyfriend's arm.

"Calm down, it's probably a Mandarin attack again." Wasim said.

"And why again we are supposed to calm down hearing that?" Ashley was panicking.

The screens showed now a face. An old man, bald, with a white beard and moustache, with two scars on his forehead, crossing each other in fashion of an X. White eyebrows hanged on each side of the wrinkled face like those of a typical old masters in those martial art movies. However it sent a chill down everyone's spine. It was the piercing glare, shot out from the menacing eyes, as if hidden in the creases of the wrinkles.

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division," the man spoke, "recently you have obtained an object that is ours, and hence I request you to return that. I will be more than obliged if you were to pay heed to my request, and will pay you back with our alliance. However, if you choose to ignore it, you will be solely responsible for the consequences. Our emissary will meet you tomorrow morning at 1200 hours GMT in your specified location. Set the venue and broadcast it in similar manner and we will get the message. Do not let our humility be wasted." The screens blipped and went back as they were.

"What was that?" Ashley was terrified.

"Well I know only as much as you in this matter." Joe replied.

"Well, Fury?" Captain America asked.

"First thing first. Hill, contact the carrier Quinjet. Confirm their location."

Maria hill was seen doing something on her computer, and then she looked perplexed. "What is the meaning of this?"

"What happened?" Fury was also anxious now.

"I can contact the neither the Quinjet nor the agents. Now I am checking the SHIELD ATC and the jet doesn't show up."

Fury muttered, "Shit!"

After a few seconds, Maria Hill's voice came up. "Sir we are getting something. I am sending it directly to you."

After a burst of static, a voice was heard. "Slingshot base, this is Agent Evans do you copy? …Hello?"

Fury replied. "This is Nick Fury. What happened?"

"Sir, we've been attacked, Jet U105's down sir. I think I am the only survivor."

"Do you have the case?"

"No sir, They... they took it."

"Who was it, agent?"

"The soldier, sir. The Winter Soldier." The transmission cut off.

Place: Karakura Town, Western Tokyo suburbs

Time : 25 Nov 2013 11:30 am Local time

"Seems Hiyori has measured you up."

"Next time I visit, make sure to build a gigai which dulls the pain." Hirako said, with his face hardly recognizable, a few broken teeth and a bleeding nose. "That snaggletooth bastard started with a treadmill. A fucking TREADMILL!"

"Hey Shinji." A woman with tanned skin and long ponytailed purple hair greeted him.

"So, you're back. How's your girl doing?" Hirako asked, wiping the blood of his nose.

"Good. She's almost cured. However, we've got better things to worry about. Head Captain's put an ultimatum on SHIELD."

Hirako stuttered, "Wh-what? When?"

"Some half an hour ago. Apparently 12th Division has lost the track of the object."

"No shit!" Hirako said.

"So what're we gonna do?"

Fury shook his head. "Dr. Banner, Stark, start a worldwide sweep for the energy signature of the stone. Rogers, can you tell us about the assailants you fought against?"

"One was a girl, she was skilled in martial arts and close combat techniques. She also had some rapid strength enhancement maneuvers. She's also very very agile. The other guy had ability to invert one's directional senses."

"I'd like to add something." Stark spoke up. "That chick has a freaking Missile Launcher, which she can whip out of nowhere. The other one, whips out a mask and can shoot huge blasts of energy."

"What're you exactly planning Sir?" Burton asked.

"I don't know. I must consult my higher-ups for determining the plan of action. We find the thing, all good, we have a bargaining chip. Otherwise, I don't know."

"What is with you people, always bargaining?" The Asgardian commented.

Fury brushed off the comment, "Hill, get me a quinjet. Captain, Agent Romanoff, Thor, you're coming with me."

"Wait, why?" Rogers exclaimed.

"First, you have the first-hand experience of engaging in a combat with them, hence your knowledge is important in planning a strategy. Secondly, I am apprehending an attack, so you must stand guard to the HQ. Stark, Banner, keep me posted if something comes up."

Place: Lincoln, Nebraska

Time : 24 Nov 2013 8:09 pm Local time

"Baron, it's time. Send the talisman to me here."

"You've shifted from your location."

"Yeah don't want to get caught in the crossfire. Send me the talisman within 8 hours."

"Will do."

"Are the pieces in their places?"

"Yes. New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami."

To Be Continued..

A/N : Hope You will enjoy. Please review.