Disclaimer: Kim Possible and all characters portrayed and/or implied inside that television animated program belong solely unto Walt Disney Productions.
X-Men, created by Stan Lea and Jack Kirby, and published by Marvel Comics.
A host of other villains appear: Ra's al Ghoul from Batman Series; Tony Stark (Iron Man), Captain America, Thor, and Hawkeye, from Avengers, created by Stan Lea and Jack Kirby, also published by Marvel Comics; Spider-Man, created by Stan Lea and Steve Ditko, and expanded by Brian Michael Bandis, and published by Marvel Comics under The Ultimate Spider-Man, along with Villains, Modok and Doctor Octopus, Otto Octavius.
S.H.I.E.L.D. created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, published by Marvel Comics.
Twists and Turns
"Sir," Romany dreaded this part of his job, "you have a Directorate-7 Call on the Shadow Line #4. It's them, Director".
"I'll take their call inside black-ops," he steps into the lift, pressing deck 17. The doors wisp shut and kicks into action lowering him several decks. The lift stops, and doors wisp open. Fury steps off the lift, turns right, and heads down a narrow, dimly lit corridor. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents recognize their boss clearing the way. Fury storms past them, locking himself inside the helicarrier's executive Black Op Room.
He'd attended so many of these 'Shadow Briefings'. True, each was a little different, but followed the same format. He knew what they'd expect. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Shadow Committee comprised exactly six members: three men and three women. S.H.I.E.L.D. divided the world into six 'power' zones. Each member appointed to represent a region. He didn't even know his bosses' individual names, only their aliases and avatars.
Fury couldn't alienate a single member. Doing so could undermine S.H.I.E.L.D.'s global intelligence network. Each member renounces his/her national allegiance. In theory, this would eliminate national, cultural, religious, and/or personal biases undermining global security. Fury wasn't so naïve.
He stood before a rounded table. Six monitors come alive. All at once. Fury stands in attention but relaxed. Hands interlinked behind his back. His eyes rake his bosses' avatars asking, "What can I do for this honorable committed?" He strokes their egos, conveying deep respect.
"We received disturbing news reporting someone the mutants led a preemptive strike against our helicarrier," Saran Maddox opened this emergency meeting. Saran served as Senior Chairman of this Shadow Committee. She offered extensive connections throughout Canada and the Americas.
"That's correct," Fury didn't deny the obvious. She was sly, not stupid. Every question posed with a secret agenda. He simply wasn't sure what yet, but would keep his eyes open.
Franklin Howard served on and affiliated with multiple intelligence committees in German, Russia, and Europe. He could sense his chairman wasn't getting anywhere. He tries to distract Fury by asking pointedly, "How extensive is your damage, Director?"
He'd shown him respect. Howard opposed his directorate, and usually omitted his title, addressing him by his last name. A silent way he put his subordinate in his place without seeming racist.
"75 dead and double that injured, maybe more. Our western section extending from Decks 11-22 decompressed, sucking an unaccounted number of crew members and contractors, a family of protected witnesses, even Captain America, Thorn, Hawkeye, and Iron Man into open air without parachutes. They're MIA at this point, Councilman Howard".
Philip Blackburn headed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Asia intelligence endeavors. He amassed the most extensive connection with all the ruling house within that region. He was a shrewd intelligence administrator, and knew a diversionary answer when he heard one.
Fury answered truthfully, even stressed their losses. An underhanded attempt to distract them with sympathy. "Sources say, the X-Met led this attack," he gets this briefing back on tract.
Fury didn't respond fast enough.
Fury was famous for half-truths. His delay arouses Blackburn's ire. He accesses his terminal playing a video. Every council member's avatars vanish, replaced by video surveillance of Wolverine leading this preemptive attack against the helicarrier, backed by stolen F-22s and F-35s. The videos end there, replaced again by each committee' member's individual avatars.
Likeminded
"My people observed the same thing…."
Lance Reuben headed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Philippian, Austrian, Australia, and neighboring island nation endeavors. He was a seasoned spy, and read people like open books. Fury was more difficult than most. He still sensed the enigmatic man's emanating doubts. "But…" He leaves his question open-ended.
He'd give him an opening. Fury didn't let it pass elucidating, "There's some doubt about the video's veracity, Sir".
Joanne Valentino dealt with upper Africa, India, and Arabian nations, mostly through a male associate. She abhorred sly, cogent administrators, like Fury, but couldn't deny the man's effectiveness at his job. "Like what?" She scoffs, demanding a straightforward answer.
Fury pulls out a USB flash drive, "May I?"
"Go ahead," the committee humors him, unsure but curious where this 'evidence' might lead.
Fury inserts the drive into the black-op's mainframe. A video auto-executes. Committee members observe the Dragon Phoenix's arrival on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s helicarrier.
Katheryn Shaw covered lower Africa, the Caribbean island chains, reinforcing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ops in the Philippians. She'd kept quiet until now. "Jean Grey?" She gasps in surging terror.
Fury pauses the video.
"Impossible," Saran Maddox seconds her colleague's doubts. "She's dead".
"I don't doubt that. We indeed neutralized the Dark Phoenix".
"Then, Director, who's this young woman?" Franklin Howard demands a direct answer.
Fury simply presses play. The Dragon Phoenix answers his question, "I'm Jean's daughter". He pauses the video again.
"Daughter?" Every member gasps in horror. All imagining the worse. Another Dark Phoenix had risen to take vengeance on those who murdered her mother.
"What's her name, Director?" Katheryn Shaw demands, having heavy ties within the NSC. Her core objective entailed knowing their newest target's name.
"I don't know".
"Don't know!" Shaw's monitor swivels, her avatar glares at her constituents, looking for support.
"What kind of Director are you?" Phillip Blackburn shared her outrage. He'd never witnessed such open dereliction of duty.
"A damn good one," Fury attest his proficiency. "My record speaks for itself".
"Maybe our definitions of competency are different..."
He ignores Councilman Reuben's veiled insult. "Point is," he clarifies his position then, "my carrier was under heavy assault. I had more pressing issues to worry about. Several key systems sabotaged. By who? We still don't know. Yet. But, we did uncover bio-sentinels…"
"That impossible," Saran Maddox refutes his outlandish claim, "S.H.I.E.L.D. was the only agency within the intelligence community to possess that technology. This committee scraped that program over a decade ago, per U.N. Directive § C7.23.45".
This So Isn't Your Style
"Well, someone stole your technology, and started reproducing their own…"
"Impossible," she attests ever stronger.
"No disrespect meant, Madam Chairman, but please explain, what are these?" Fury fast forwards his video. Several bridge crew jump up without warning. Their movement undeniably modal. Eyes glossed over, flashing crimson red. Their right forearm's skin peels back. Fresh blood runs down that limb pooling beneath their feet. The pain didn't even register in their minds. Class-13 laser rifles protrude from the same arm. Fury again pauses the video.
This revelation renders every committee member speechless. For nearly two minutes. Everyone lost in his/her own uncertainties.
Lance Reuben knew the implications here. They'd called this meeting to asperse Fury. And he'd shrewdly turned their own allegations against them. What irked? He'd done so with utmost respect. Councilman Reuben breaks the stalemate turning the tables, "Did you destroy those abominations?"
"No, Sir, I didn't".
"No? And why not?" Every council member voices their outrage over his blatant disregard for their precedential ruling on this matter.
Fury didn't immediately respond. Their own outrage turned council members one against another. Saran faced a dual dilemma. She must prevent him dividing this committee, and negate their liability in this matter. She also couldn't pass up the possibility of getting Fury replace with this committee's full blessing. Hydra was reward her handsomely over her unyielding loyalty.
"You've seldom disobey this committee's explicit orders without a damn good reason. That's the only reason you still hold your post". Maddox sets up one of her colleagues next line of inquiry.
"You'd best start explaining yourself, and quickly, Mr. Fury," Joanne Valentino drives home their chairman's point.
"Very well," he didn't bat an eye under their veiled threat. "Jean Grey's daughter said she could cure my people. Our directive was built upon the sole assumption they're beyond help. She knew about this agency's part in her mother's death. And yet, she still saved my helicarrier; not to mention thousands of lives below by preventing us from crashing in the heart of New York City".
Councilman Howard was a purist, also called a separatist. He despised all mutants, and didn't mind openly targeting mutant sympathizers, he classified as traitors. He double opposed Fury forming his new mutant squad, but was overruled by his fellow council members by a vote of 4 to 2. He asperse the man's loyalty to humanity challenging, "What are you doing about your situation?"
Fury wasn't an idiot. He perceived the man's tactic. He wanted to prove he relied on mutants too much; therefore, his disloyalty prevented his protecting humanity's future.
"The only thing I can, at this point, Councilman Howard," he replies with deep respect. "We must land near the bay. EMTs are sweeping all damaged decks and sections recovering our wounded and dead. Maintenance crews have already started the necessary repairs. They'll be able to work more efficiently, when this boat's resting on solid grounds, not about to fall out the sky".
"Our scans reveal you have heavy engine damage," Katheryn Shaw notes.
"How are you still airborne?" Joanne Valentino finishes her colleague's question.
"Phoenixes are carrying us," he deadpans.
"Phoenixes," several committee members scoff the very notion.
Fury wasn't intimidated the least bit riposting, "You saw how they phased our hull, when she first arrived. He presses play resuming the video. "Here," he narrates the creature's actions, "they phased these 'bio-sentinels' saving their lives, even shared how we can treat their conditioning".
He pauses the video, again, asking, "What's so hard to imagine about them being capable of upholding this helicarrier until we could land".
"This mutant has you snowed really good, hasn't she, Director? This so isn't the level of proficiency we expect from you". Saran Maddox contemns his recent gullibility.
Err On This Side Of Caution
"My motto is simple, Madam Chairman," he denounces her adjudication. "I'd rather err on this side of caution, than act on my own presumptions and turn myself and this agency into laughingstocks within the global intelligence community".
"Director, you're close to insubordination," Saran Maddox thunders behind gritted teeth.
"Maybe so, Madam Chairman. If so, I apologize, and beseech your indulgence. Truth is. You caught me when tensions are riding highest over this unprovoked attack. Even you must admit, we may've started this briefing on friendly terms, but it's devolved into something else.
Tempers are flared on both sides. Plus, your pointed questions and accusatory undertones are more characteristic of an official inquest, preceding filing official charges against a suspect. So, tell me, who are you accusing? And, if me, what am I supposedly charged with?"
"Fair enough," Saran Maddox concedes his point.
"Do you trust this mutant?" Phillip Blackburn evokes a straight 'yes' or 'no' answer.
"If you mean Jean Grey's alleged daughter, I'll must say. I honestly don't. Any good spy lives by one fundamental truth. In war, we must sometimes work with our vilest enemies. However, you never turn your back on them, even under the best of circumstances".
"Do you trust any mutant?" Franklin Howard senses something deeper behind that statement.
Fury, too, senses his superior's ulterior motive in asking this pointed question. Rumor was, Howard backed Stark and Trask in building these Mark-14 sentinels. "I don't unequivocally trust anyone, mutant or human," he answers the man's cryptically.
"Explain," Howard demands a straight answer. He wanted to know where Fury stood on this heated topic. It'd surely heat up more in the coming months.
"We can't deny. Both humans and mutants co-exist on this planet. Each species considers themselves superior, and perceives the other an imminent threat. Truth is, mutants are humans, too. A single gene mutation separates us, speaking from a scientific perspective. And besides, the world isn't always so black or white. S.H.I.E.L.D. employs mutant squads on select assignments, deemed too dangerous for human agents".
"Do you perceive humans as inferior unto these mutants, you so readily praise?" Lance Reuben probes the hidden meaning behind his straightforward but noncommittal reply.
"Not at all," Fury squashes such nepotistic insinuations. "I made my position quite clear last time this same trouble started between mutants and humans. This dilemma isn't new. I said it then, and will say the same thing again. Both species have strength and weaknesses. We can do certain things they can't; and vice versa. Why argue and fight among ourselves, when we could utilize these differences to benefit both species, and make the world a safer, better place?"
"Get ready, Director, I'm about to test your diplomatic stance".
"How's that, Madam Chairman?"
"We, and by we, I mean this whole committee, don't believe this mutant saved your helicarrier out of the goodness of her heart. She had an ulterior motive".
"Oh, I don't doubt that. Not one bit".
"Say what?" Phillip Blackburn stutters, not believing he'd treat such a statement so lightly.
"And why's that?" Joanne Valentino shared her colleague's concern.
"Simple," Fury doesn't miss a beat. "She told us why she saved this boat". He rewinds his video pressing play again. He waits several seconds pausing it. "See. She noted over 150 Mark-14 sentinels malfunctioning, launching themselves, and headed this way to slaughter both mutant and humans, alike. She hoped we could help stop this massacre, I assume, before this incident ignites another war between mutants and humans".
"Have you?"
"Helm is landing the carrier near the bay. Maintenance is busy with repairs, two-thirds of my crew is helping. A third are busy probing these sentinels' premature activation".
"What'd they uncover?"
"I haven't received their reports yet. Dr. Amanda Warshire isspearheading that assignment and will brief me when I'm done here, Madam Chairman".
Stating The Obvious
Chairman Maddox didn't comment. Fury couldn't see what's happened there. He could distinctly hear a secondary feminine voice over his superior's line. She mumbled something. He couldn't make out what was said. He clears his throat, getting a little nervous.
"Relax, Director," she rebukes him, interpreting his impatience as insubordination. "We're not done here yet. My people have proven their efficiency, because I now know what Dr. Warshire will inevitably uncover and reveal unto you later".
Fury held some reservations. They'd lied before, when it served their purposes. And, superiors or not, this whole 'discovery' seemed a little too convenient. His curiosity over what they might be pulling wins out. He asks what they intend, "And what would that be, Madam Chairman?" He challenges her techs' findings, not her authority.
"Simple. Our techs discovered, someone hacked Trask Industries' R&D mainframe. They no doubt intended on acquiring our sentinels' operational codes, quite possible to start a preemptive war between humans and mutants. You see, these hackers didn't understand our extensive security countermeasures. Trask Industries and Stark Industries may've built our Mark-14 sentinels. Only American DOD and S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed Operation Final Freedom's activation codes".
Fury stood there, caught completely off guard. He couldn't confirm or deny their INTEL. "Damn, no one alerted me about this breath, Ma'am," he admits being blindsided. "What else did your lab techs happened to uncover, Madam Chairman?"
"Would you believe this breach occurred exactly when that mutant boarded your helicarrier?"
Earlier he'd turned their accusations around, laying this mess at their doorsteps. She turns around and lays it right back. "That's impossible, Madam Chairman," he disputes her techs' findings. "My people detected the sentinels' activations 20-minutes before she set foot on my tub".
"No, Director, they didn't".
"Excuse my bluntness, Madam Chairman, what did my techs detect then?"
"Much of that information is still classified, way above even your clearance level. Suffice it to say, the Mark-14s are built with next-generation stealth tech. Each sentinel launches specially calibrated decoy beacons designed to mask its own unique energy signature. Ask yourself this. Did your mutant savior say where she was headed after leaving the helicarrier?"
"Only to save others living in New York City, Madam Chairman".
"Not likely," Phillip Blackburn condescends.
"What aren't you telling me without telling me, Councilman Blackburn?"
"Only this," Kathryn Shaw poses the committee's allegations, "we know where your mutant is most likely heading".
"Where?"
"Xavier Institute," Lance Reuben replies.
"Have you made the connection yet, Director?"
"Indeed, Madam Chairman, I have," he pieces together their scenario, not that he bought their line of reasoning. "She never intended on saving us, only delaying, until her mutant pals could acquire these sentinels' operational codes. The mission took longer than expected. Time constraints forced her to step in and save us, to save themselves and salvage their mission".
"Now that's stating the obvious," Saran Maddox applauds his incisiveness.
It seems, reader response hasn't been what I expected with this story. I don't blame you. I blame myself. As a write, I've failed to connect, to incite a response. Please comment, sharing what you liked or didn't like about this story. I work all comments, positive and negative, into my storyline, and without testy towards my critics. Sometimes, a writer can learn from his/her critics just as much, if not more, sometimes, than his fans. So, drop me a PM or review. It'd be appreciated, My Dear Readers.