Heroes of the Storm
Author Notes: I know many of you are hoping for the X-Men, and yes, they will be in this story. Given Professor Xavier's need for secrecy, they won't make an appearance till later.
Chapter 24: A.I.M.
Harry stands in the room watching as Cassie Cage brings in a girl up the ramp with a black hood on her face. Though Cassie was dragging the girl indicating she was unconscious.
Harry follows Cassie inside the plan where Agent Coulson was waiting.
"You do work fast," said Coulson.
"I'm good at what I do," said Cassie as she removes the hood.
The girl had to be a teenager or in her early twenties.
Cassie places some sodium salt and releases it under the girl's nose. She stirs as she wakes up and looks around.
"You guys are making a big mistake," said the girl.
"I've seen 'big mistakes,'" said Cassie. "You're not big."
"Sorry for the lack of finesse," said Coulson. "Agent Cage and Ward has had 'tough' tough with your little group, the Rising Tide."
"I don't know what you're…" began the girl.
"There are two ways we can do this," said Ward.
"Oh," said the girl mockingly. "is one of them the 'easy way'?"
"No," said Ward.
She looks away nervously.
"Oh," said the girl.
"What's your name?" asked Coulson.
"Skye," said Skye.
"What's your real name?" asked Ward.
"That's not important," said Coulson. "It's another name we need, a certain gifted individual."
"What makes you think I know that?" said Skye.
"Well, you made a few mistakes. The phone you filed the hooded hero with had the same cryptographic signature as a few other postings from a certain member from the Rising Tide," said Coulson dropping a folder of pictures with a serial id label on them.
"Wow. Yeah," said Skye, smirking. "Was that a mistake, or am I now sitting in your secret headquarters? What is this? A plane? I got inside, and I'm betting by now you can't beat the encryption in my equipment, so you got nothing."
"We have enough," said Coulson. "It's no coincidence of you being on the scene, right before it ended up flames. Someone like you isn't there by sheer happenstance."
"In other words, we know you were staking the place out," said Cassie.
"We sent a team there," said Coulson. "Want to tell me what they are going to find? How did you know the hooded man was in the building?"
"Did you blow it up to draw him out?" asked Ward.
"Did you?" said Skye looking at Ward.
"That's not our style," said Coulson.
"I was kidnapped by your style," said Skye loudly. "S.H.I.E.L.D. covered up New Mexico and Project Pegasus. Of course, you'd be covering up Centipede."
Everyone in the rooms looks at one another, all asking themselves and each other the same question. What is Centipede?
"Guys," said Jacqui in their coms. "I'm looking up all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current and past projects in the past five years. There is no Project Centipede."
Skye apparently guessed the truth as she looks at all four of them.
"No way," said Skye chuckling. "You guys don't know what that is, do you? Billions of dollars' worth of equipment at your disposal, and I bet you with a laptop that I won in a bet?"
"Maybe you should stop mocking us and start thinking about the situation," said Harry, speaking for the first time. "We're not the only ones who are looking into him. I prefer S.H.I.E.L.D. reaches him first before the D.O.D. or any other third parties. We want to talk to him and see where he stands. Some will want to exploit him. Some want to cut him open – others who will dissect him."
"What's Centipede?" asked Ward.
"Centipede," said Skye. "it was mention briefly on the web before it suddenly disappeared. I mean without a trace. I had recorded the accept-point M.A.C. address to that building."
"What were you after?" asked Ward.
"The truth," said Skye. "What are you after?"
"Peace," said Harry. "you're the type who loves to throw a hornet's nest into a crowd but are never around to see the fallout or damage you cause to others. You have no idea the damage you've done with the information you're releasing for others to see."
"Well, just because you're reasonable and," said Skype trying to push Harry in the chest only for her to touch his chest in response. "firm. Doesn't mean you're not an evil, faceless government tool bag."
"I'm not a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Skye," said Harry. "and I don't work for the government. I'm here as a consultant to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Just give us your guys name," said Ward impatiently.
"He's not my guy," protested Skye.
"You understand he's in danger," said Coulson watching in amusement.
"Then let me go," said Skye. "let me talk to him. Not Mr. Robocop here."
"You want to be alone with him, of course," said Ward. "She's a groupie. All this hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D., tracking powers, she might as well be one of those sweaty cosplay girls crowding around Stark Tower and Avengers Island."
"What?!" said Skye. "I would…" Skye breaks off before she looks away. "It was one time."
"Everyone out," said Coulson as he opens the door. Everyone follows Coulson as he walks down the plane.
"Is it the girl?" said Coulson. "Is she getting under your skin?"
"Sir?" said Ward.
"Or is it the assignment?" said Coulson. "Are you so determined to get reassigned that you're deliberately sabotaging a simple interview?"
"Give me a minute alone with her, and you'll have all your answers," said Ward.
"She's an asset," said Coulson as he opens a hidden compartment.
"She is such an ass…" said Ward before he breaks off. "Wait? Asset?"
"We don't know anything about her," said Agent Coulson. "Can you take a moment to think about how often that happens? That never happens. We need what she knows."
Coulson opens the small briefcase revealing an injection gun.
Ten minutes later, the trio was all walking away as Skye was talking to Agent Ward.
"You sure this is a good idea," said Cassie.
"She needs to trust us," said Coulson. "Ward also needs to understand that this team isn't a one-time thing."
"You think he'll be a team player?" said Cassie.
"Very much so," said Coulson.
"Interesting strategy," said Harry.
"Do you think she can be trusted?" asked Coulson.
"Hard to say," said Harry. "She's a complete unknown. She might be willing to work with us, but she could also spy on us, especially with your equipment. The Argus Alliance isn't so sure about this girl, yet."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. will ensure she doesn't know who you are or any else for that matter," said Coulson.
"How many in S.H.I.E.L.D., know who I am?" asked Harry.
"Along with myself, Director Fury, Commander Hill, Agents Barton, Romanoff, and Drew," said Coulson. "So, six of us total. As far as anyone is concerned, you're an envoy from the Argus Alliance and the Edenian Empire."
"Where's Doctor Foster?" asked Harry.
"We transferred her to Oslo, Norway," said Coulson. "A lot of Asgardian myths and legends come from there. She's serving as a consultant to a S.H.I.E.L.D. research team on dark matter and deep space research."
"Not to mention anything, Asgardian," said Harry.
"A lot of people are now looking into her on what else she can discover," said Coulson. "Thor's information on how the galaxy works may help us develop interstellar travel."
"The Argus Alliance doesn't want me out here alone with S.H.I.E.L.D.," said Harry.
"Who are they sending?" asked Coulson.
"Backup," said Harry.
They turn to see Kassandra walking on the plane wearing a black S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform like Romanoff's and Drew's.
"That's some serious backup," said Cassie.
"I trust this won't be a problem," said Kassandra.
"Not at all," said Coulson. "I saw what you did in New York. It's good to have someone like you with us."
"Good," said Kassandra as she turns around, looking at her rear. "How does Romanoff wear this?"
"Is it tight?" asked Harry.
"Skin-tight," said Kassandra. "My breast are so tight; I feel like I'm going to suffocate."
"Well, you can't wear anything from Argus, because we can't risk it falling into anyone's hands," said Harry.
"I should ask Diana if Themiscyria can make me anything similar to her suit," said Kassandra. Kassandra pauses before she pulls off her shirt. "Sorry I can't wear that shirt anymore. Too tight."
"You got a bunk for her?" asked Harry.
"I'll show you the bunks," said Cassie. "You can be my neighbor."
An hour later, Harry and Coulson were watching the news of the 'Hooded Hero' attacking a factory and putting the foreman into the hospital in critical condition. They change the screen towards Agent Ward sleeping on the desk. Skye walks out of the interrogation cell and walks towards Coulson.
"What did Agent Ward tell you?" asked Coulson.
"He told me he's been to Paris, tracking Vanchat and stolen Chitauri neural link, but he's never seen it," said Skye. "And that he wished you had stayed in Tahiti."
"It's a magical place," said Coulson.
"Yeah," said Skye. "He doesn't like your style. I think I do."
"Do you like his style?" said Coulson moving the news channel onto the main screen showing the news.
Skye watches live reports of a factory that suffered thousands of dollars of damage, and the foreman was currently in the hospital in critical condition.
"This isn't the same guy I talked to," said Skye. "He just needs a break."
"Then help us find him," said Harry. "Before someone else does or take matters into their own hands."
Skye looks at them before she finally agrees. She hands over his driver's license as they place it on the table.
"Michael Peterson," said Coulson to everyone who had gathered in the room. "factory worker, married, one kid. Gets injured, gets laid off, wife jumps ship. Good guy, tough life. Best guess is, someone learned of his injured, approaches him with a deal to heal him, make him stronger."
"Who has the tech to do that?" asked May. "And why would they want to?"
"Fitz, what did you got from the security footage, before the blast?" said Coulson.
"What are we seeing?" asked May.
"Well, the man is angry at the other man," said Fitz.
Everyone looks at him at the obvious statement.
"The data is very corrupt,' said Simmons, covering for Fitz.
"Yeah, like Cold War Russia corrupt," said Fitz.
"Is there anything unusual in the security footage?" asked Harry.
"Um," said Fitz.
"Play the footage," said Kassandra.
"I'm sorry," said Fitz. "Who are you?"
"She's an envoy from the Argus Alliance," said Coulson. "She isn't a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, but she is considered to be a Level 8 agent."
"You're Level 8?" said Ward in surprise.
"I'm a part of the Imperial Secret Service," said Kassandra. "The Royal family wishes to learn more of S.H.I.E.L.D. before we allow S.H.I.E.L.D. to operate within our territories."
"What if you had the audio files?" said Skye.
Everyone turns to look at her.
"I was running surveillance on the lab," said Skye. "I had my shotgun mic pointed at the window before the blast, the digital files in my van. There's too much background noise for me, but if you could remove the noise."
Fitz-Simmons began chatting on the possibility of using Skye's audio files.
Harry watched and listen to the two and had a feeling the two were a lot like Hermione.
"Yeah, that would work," said Fitz-Simmons.
"Agent Cage will escort you," said Coulson. "On your way out, wake up, Ward, will you."
Harry said nothing as he looks at the image of the man and the doctor. After reading Tony's report, he had a feeling he knew who these people were.
"Do you have any idea who they are?" asked Coulson.
"I have my theories," said Harry. Harry places his Avengers ID Card on the table as it shows Tony's latest report. "Two days ago, Iron Man was attacked by several highly advance 'probes.' More Advance that what anyone else currently has in their arsenal. These probes manage to destroy his Mark VIII."
"Then we may have a problem," said Coulson.
"Very much so," said Harry. "Stark has already analyzed and salvaged the metal. It's definitely a third party not known to any business. These might be the same people."
"That's disturbing," said Coulson.
"Once Skye sends us that audio file, we should have a better picture of what is going on," said Kassandra.
"Skye has sent her decrypted audio files to Fitz," said Coulson. "Let's see what really happened."
They walk downstairs to see Fitz setting up a pole while working on a hand device.
"Fitz, what do you got?" asked Coulson.
"Okay, so thanks to Skye's audio and some digital re-engineering, and I mean by unappreciated genius, I've been able to reconstruct the scene before the explosion," said Fitz.
"Show us what you got," said Harry.
Fitz turns to look at him but froze upon seeing the look on Harry's face.
"Here you go," said Fitz.
The image shows the man placing a briefcase on the table, and he was furious.
"Someone's unhappy," said Jacqui.
"I'll say," said Ward. "is the bomb in the briefcase?"
"No explosive device was found on-site," said Fitz.
"Meaning?" asked Ward.
"Meaning there is no chemical compound or explosive device found in the building," said Fitz.
"Sir," said Simmons. "You need to see this."
Simmons walks over, holding the metal plate.
"Did you find its origins?" asked Coulson.
"That's the thing, sir," said Simmons. "Whatever this thing is – didn't come from Earth."
"That's a Chitauri neural plate," said Jacqui coming over to look at the metal plate.
"You're telling me that this stuff came from New York?" said Ward.
"There were a lot of looters and scavengers after the battle," said Coulson. "I can't even begin to tell you how much of that stuff ended up on the black market. What caused the explosion?"
"Well, sir, if you take a look at the person's arm, what do you see?" said Fitz as he freezes the holographic image.
"A centipede," said Ward.
"He didn't bring a bomb, he was the bomb," said Jacqui.
"Sir, there is chemical reading, I'm not sure I understand that I found inside the Chitauri plate," said Simmons.
"Extremis," said Coulson. "Very new, extremely unstable. Created by Doctor Maya Hansen to create Super Soldiers. She went missing ten years ago. It's unclear who she's working for, or who had her."
"A.I.M.," said Harry.
"We still haven't found their aim," said Ward.
"Not aim the objective," said Harry. "A.I.M. It stands for Advance Ideas Mechanics. Iron Man had a run-in with them a couple of days ago over the Pacific Ocean. They destroyed his Mark Eight with new prototype drones that no one else is using."
"Who is A.I.M.?" asked Jacqui.
"They're a lot like Fitz-Simmons," said Harry looking at the two science geeks. "Brilliant scientists, engineers, doctors, technicians, who create and sell their products on the black market. They don't have any value for human life and don't believe in any safety measure. They use a lot of shell companies as their fronts to operate around the globe, according to Colonel Rhodes and the D.O.D. There have been nine other bombings like what happened in that secret lab."
"I don't get it," said Ward. "Where are they finding recruits to test their products?"
"They are everywhere," said Harry. "Wounded soldiers. People down on their luck who can't pay their mortgage and debts. People who suffer life-altering injuries that throw them in the gutter. People who need a solution that no one else is offering them."
"The broken," said Kassandra. "It's the easiest way to find any subjects. Those who are seeking to become whole again, no matter the means."
"Have S.H.I.E.L.D. look for that woman who Mike Peterson rescued," said Harry. "It's no coincidence that she was there nor Mike Peterson. I'm guessing she has strong ties with A.I.M."
Coulson's phone rings as he looks at it and answers the caller.
"Agent Cage," said Coulson.
"Peterson took Skye," said Cassie. "Got the drop on me and took her inside her van."
"Sir," said Simmons. "Mike has the Extremis Virus inside of him as well. Perhaps more than the last guy."
"How big will this explosion be?" asked Jacqui.
"Enough to take out two square blocks," said Simmons.
"You wanted a bomb," said Coulson looking at Ward, who looks uneasy. "Solutions?"
"Well, sir, you could," said Simmons nervously. "put a bullet in his head. That should end the threat immediately."
"How about a solution that doesn't result in killing Mr. Peterson?" said Coulson.
"Well, Extremis causes the human body to overheat, doesn't it," said Fitz.
"So, we need to keep Mr. Peterson's body temperature normal," said Simmons. "Perhaps cryofreeze Mr. Peterson."
"Then find a solution," said Coulson. "We'll move in and get the people out of harm's way."
"Best use weapons base off cryo-technology," said Harry.
"We have minimal weapons base off that technology," said Coulson.
"Should really consider investing in that technology," said Kassandra.
"Any idea where they will be going?" asked May.
"I'm going to reroute traffic cameras to keep an eye out for Skye's van," said Coulson.
Gotham City, Wayne Towers
Bruce Wayne stood in his office overlooking Gotham City. He loved Gotham and did what he could for Gotham City and its people. Bruce didn't like it when others could use reverse psychology on him. He generally did reverse psychology on everyone to control them. Morgan's words echo in the back of his head.
'For staying your hand on your enemies, the blood they have quenched themselves in is on your head.'
Bruce didn't want to think about it but knew Morgan was right. The Joker had the most kills in Gotham's history. Others like Harvey Dent Two-Face, and Black Mask, had racked up a serious body count.
The buzzer on his desk told him his guest had arrived.
"Mr. Wayne, your final appointment has arrived," said his receptionist.
"Thank you, Jessica," said Bruce into his earpiece. "you can let them in and take the rest of the evening off."
The doors open as Amanda Waller, and Secretary Calvin Swanwick walks inside Bruce's office.
The doors close as the two walked inside and sit down before Bruce's desk.
"Thank you both for coming," said Bruce as he turns and sits down before them.
"Things have been interesting this week," said Secretary Swanwick.
"I wish it was only the three of us talking," said Bruce.
"Who else is joining us?" asked Amanda Waller.
"That would be me," said a voice behind.
They turn to see a tall bald black man with an eyepatch over his left eye in a black coat standing there.
"Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," said Nick Fury.
"Is that a code name or a real name?" asked Amanda Waller with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't be so paranoid," said Nick Fury. "You're going to make me look social."
Amanda Waller said nothing as she looks at Nick Fury with a raised eyebrow.
"He knows about Project Cadmus," said Bruce.
Amanda looks at Bruce and knew at once Bruce didn't tell him, he came here because he figured it out on his own.
"Mind telling me how you knew about Project Cadmus?" asked Waller.
"I wasn't the only one looking into Project Cadmus, other third parties were poking around your servers as well," said Fury. "The Rising Tide being one of them."
Amanda Waller's eyes open in alarm knowing that The Rising Tide hacked into government files and released the files to the public.
"Any reason why you're telling me?" said Amanda Waller. Trying to appear like her usual self, that appeared in control, and wasn't going to be intimidated.
"I thought you would want to know that some of your data produce this particular show," said Fury.
They look at the monitor showing the 'hooded hero' in Los Angeles.
Amanda Waller turned pale, realizing this would be a problem is there was a leak, she would lose her head.
"Why are you here?" asked Swanwick.
"You should terminate Project Cadmus," said Fury. "That technology is far too dangerous if it ends up in the wrong hands. Not to mention, highly illegal. Not even I can save you when this goes south."
"I agree," said Bruce. "The Rising Tides hack into the Argus files have released sensitive information regarding 'Super Soldiers' and our methods of researching them. We should pull the plug now before any political and public backlash."
Amanda didn't want to pull the plug when the Project was getting ready to enter Phase One. Still, she knew Bruce Wayne wouldn't have put this meeting together, and wouldn't have said those words unless he was serious regarding their positions.
"Fine, it's over," said Waller. "Anything else?"
"Yes," said Fury. "Leave the Avengers alone."
"Unexpectable," said Waller. "They are a threat to national security."
"Only if you force them to be," said Fury. "I'm doing what I can to keep Agent Drew from releasing NATO's and Argus information to your enemies. If you keep breathing down the Avenger's neck, she will act on her own accord. She has an extreme hatred towards government officials, and it would bring a smile to her face, to release classified intelligence, to the public."
Nick Fury looks at Amanda Waller sharply with his one eye, and Amanda Waller knew he had come well prepared for this meeting.
'Bastard knows how to push me,' thought Amanda bitterly.
"I'm not one who would generally agree with leaving the Avengers alone, but I do partially agree with Nick Fury on this," said Bruce. "The Avengers is far too public for any of us to move against the Avengers. If the United States Government, say Argus moves on the Avengers into working under Argus, what do you think the rest of the world would do?"
"Militarize," said Swanwick.
"That's right," said Fury. "There are a lot of countries, including our allies, who are very nervous if the U.S. Government in any way has any means of control over the Avengers."
"If the United Nations were to get involved, how do you think the Argus Alliance would respond?" said Bruce.
"They would take it as an act of war," said Swanwick.
Amanda Waller slowly begins to realize the scenario playing out. Any means of government control would result in a world war.
"Either action that forces the Avengers into government control or oversight will have negative repercussions and fallouts that won't save us once they go south," said Bruce. "We know there is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent with sensitive government information, who is looking for any excuse to release said information publicly and to our enemies. Whether we like it or not, we have to make some compartmentalization and rethink our position."
Amanda Waller truly appreciated Bruce Wayne for thinking ahead.
"What do you have in mind?" asked Amanda Waller.
"We need to approach the Avengers," said Bruce. "We keep going on about them going rogue, but the truth is – they are not government agents. Even if a group of superpowered individuals is reason to have concerns. By making them the enemy, we only give them justification to take actions against the government. We should set up a liaison within Argus to find a way to work with the Avengers."
"What do you have in mind?" asked Swanwick.
"Several other of our colleagues don't have the best relations with certain members of the Avengers," said Bruce wisely. "Justin Hammer's theft of Stark's property has left that relation sour. General Ross's relations with Dr. Banner isn't healthy. It's safe to say these two can't even be in the same room. Not without the other guy destroying everything in his path to get to Ross. The worse would have to be Luthor's relationship with Superman, which is well known. Luthor may be walking free, but how many times has Luthor spent millions on super-criminals and equipment to kill the Man of Steel? Even if he's been cleared, that doesn't mean the public trusts Luthor."
"If the Avengers go," began Waller but stops seeing the look Fury's face as a warning. "If the Avengers turn on the world, what's to stop them?"
"Themselves," said Fury. "The Avengers isn't set up, so one person has power over the other. I can tell you this, if the government or United Nations gets involved, it will divide the Avengers and push them into a Civil War. If the Avengers get pushed into a Civil War, how many cities do you think will get destroyed before any truce is called?"
Fury looks at Waller and Swanwick with that one eye causing them to think of that scenario.
The Argus Alliance demanded the United Nations and its countries disarm all technology and weapons that were nuclear or consider to be weapons of Mass Destruction.
Every government agreed, even the American and Russian Governments. Even now, every nuke has been disarmed and was unable to launch. The United still had a hundred nukes left to be decommissioned.
Waller knew nukes weren't valuable anymore as the emergence of metahumans and the researching on creating them was far more valuable.
"What do you propose?" asked Swanwick.
"Secretary Swanwick, you should approach the Avengers," said Fury. "You've had experience in dealing with Superman. You can handle the situation to your liking. As for you, Waller, I will allow you to put together your 'Task Force X.' In fact, I'll help you under some conditions."
"Conditions?" repeated Waller glaring at Fury.
"Humanitarian conditions," said Bruce. "He's even given us a list of possible candidates for Task Force X."
Bruce hands Waller a specialized briefcase and looks at the list of known criminals with either skills or abilities that would be useful to Task Force X.
"I'll take my leave," said Fury. "Till next time, and remember, I got my eye on you."
Waller glares at Fury's retreating back, knowing he had her this time. The next time they meet, it would be Waller who would have Fury to do her bidding.