"Okay, so, after Mack and Coulson got us caught up on what was happening, Jemma, Vision and I analyzed A.I.M.'s Centipede serum from the sample Mr. Barnes ripped off some guy's arm to the Centipede serum in Deathlok's bloodstream, and we found something," Fitz explained to the crowd of assorted Avengers and high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
"The new Centipede serum isn't just more powerful, but it contains microscopic CRISPR nainites and trace amounts of Terrigen," Simmons continued, "Meaning…"
"...A.I.M. can take DNA from any person whose powers come from genetics…"
"...inject it into the Centipede filter…"
"...and merge the genetic markers that created those powers in their own DNA," Fitz finished.
"This is an unprecedented type of Super Soldier," Vision said, turning to the crowd and gesturing to the double-helix hologram they had built. "No longer do they just possess enhanced strength, but with this new technology, their powers are…" He trailed off as he turned back to the diagram.
"Their powers are what, Vision?" Rhodey prompted.
He spun back around, his cape flowing behind him. "With the amount of enhanced individuals on this planet these days, the potential of their powers is near limitless."
"But most of us here don't have powers from genetics, right?" Sam pointed out, looking around at the crowd in the room. Coulson knew where this was going, but given Sam and Bucky's resentment towards him, he figured refrain was best. "That means that they can't be stolen."
"A minor condolence, Captain," Vision replied. "Imagine if Mrs. Rodriguez's powers were taken. Or perhaps Wanda Maximoff's. Strength and suits of armor are strong, yes, but it took you and Mr. Barnes to resist a speedster's abilities, and I can guarantee you that all of us in this room combined couldn't possibly hope to defeat the powers of the Scarlet Witch."
"But they don't have any Inhuman powers yet. That means that we can still beat them now," Rhodey stated confidently. Then he saw the look Coulson wore on his face, followed by Mack's. "Unless I missed something."
"Not all Inhumans are under active S.H.I.E.L.D. protection," Mack responded. "Many of them we believed were more than capable of protecting themselves, but we weren't counting on A.I.M. having the strength they suddenly do. Several friendly, or at least, friendly-ish Inhumans have already gone missing. The two we know for sure have been captured so far are Joey Gutierrez, and JT James."
"Codenamed Meltdown and Hellfire," Coulson jumped in. He pressed a few buttons on his wrist, and two faces along with genetic profiles appeared on the hologram. "Gutierrez could manipulate the form and temperature of any metal in a nearby radius, including bullets, and, though we have yet to test it, vibranium," He summarized, "which would mean bye-bye wings, shield, fancy arm, metal suit, cybernetic gear, weapons, and my entire body should we come into close enough radius." Everyone in the room, save Yo-Yo, seemed to cast their gaze elsewhere. Coulson couldn't exactly blame them. Most of what let them fight so well against opponents like that was metal-based. Even he could be melted into a pool of slag if he wasn't careful.
"What about Hellfire?" Bucky asked.
"His abilities were fairly unorthodox," Coulson confessed. "Inanimate items he touched, he could turn into incendiary weapons, or, he could set them on fire. That includes balls, swords, shields, and most notably, a chain. As far as our records go, there's one person that could beat Hellfire's powers, but he's been MIA since 2016."
"What? He's been lost somewhere in the field?" Sam asked. "You could find him, right?"
"Yeah… no. We don't really know how," Coulson replied. He looked at Mack for permission to further disclose, and after an affirming nod, he continued, projecting a new image onto the board, a face he hadn't seen in a long time. "Robbie Reyes, better known as the urban legend Ghost Rider, had powers that no one could really explain, some of which included a flaming skull, relative immortality, and a homing beacon for people that have done something wrong. He didn't exactly get on our radar in a good way."
"But you can find him," Rhodey said. When he didn't respond instantly, he rephrased it. "You can find him, can't you?"
Fitz saved Coulson from having to take more heat than he already had. "Even if we could make a portal to try and find him, the chances he'd be somewhere we'd know are next to none," He explained, resting his hands on his back as his eyes fell to the floor. "The only person that might be able to find him quickly would be Stephen Strange, and unless I'm mistaken, he's not in this room."
"Well, there's one person in this room who has powers that don't rely on tech and can dodge Hellfire attacks," Sam recalled, looking at Yo-Yo. But she shook her head, rolling her sleeves up to her forearms and revealing the twin metal bands on either side.
"No can do, amigo. Los brazos. Metal arms."
"So we can't stop them?" Bucky asked. "Is that what you're saying?"
"Well, not exactly. The new formula still shares the weakness of the old one. If it is made unstable, the chemicals stop properly bonding with the cells and the Extremis component supercharges," Jemma said. Coulson looked at the reaction she was getting from the crowd. Overall, not good. "...turning them into-"
"-Ticking time bombs," Sam realized. "There has to be another way."
"I'm sorry, Sam, but this new formula grants them resistance to our I.C.E.R.s. There might not be any other way to stop them," She responded. Coulson didn't need his logic processors to know that this conversation was only going to go downhill. But in his current physical state, none of the Avengers, except maybe Rhodey, would listen to him.
"No. No, I'm not going to go about exploding soldiers that might not have wanted to even be soldiers in the first place," The Captain shot back. Then he pointed at the diagram. "Now you find another way to fix this, or you can count me, Bucky, and Rhodey out of this!" Then without another note, he stormed out of the room, shield glinting on his back. Bucky quickly followed. Rhodey was about to do the same, but Yo-Yo stopped him by the door.
"You know we're right," She stated. Rhodey sighed.
"That doesn't mean Sam is wrong," He replied kindly. Then he turned to the rest of them that were left in the room. "Look, I've had to make a tough call before. I know you're trying to do the right thing. Okay? I agree that at some point, you just have to stop something before it gets worse. But we aren't at that point yet. If there's anything that my years at Tony's side taught me, it's that there is always a better way to do the right thing." He then turned to FitzSimmons and Vision. "Let me know when you find it. I'll be waiting in my room." Then he turned around once more, following the other Avengers down to the lounge. Coulson, along with the others left in the room, looked to Vision.
"I agree with the sentiment, but I also know consequence. If this is the only way to win this fight, I'm standing with the Fitz-Simmonses, which means I stand with S.H.I.E.L.D.," Vision stated. Mack smiled.
"Thank you, Vision. I'm glad you understand," He said. The Director surveyed the room, his eyes crossing Yo-Yo, then Deathlok, then landing on Coulson. "Until it becomes absolutely necessary, you are to continue to try and find a non-lethal way to defeat the Centipede soldiers. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," Fitz responded. Mack gave them all one final commanding look, then swept out of the room, the coattails of his trench goat dragging their voices out with them. Coulson turned his attention back to the holographic displays. He had seen this problem before. Seen it coming this time too, actually. Not Centipede, necessarily, but people. Coulson, unlike Mack, had been there when the Avengers first came together. It hadn't been pretty. It had taken his death to get them all on a unified front, and even then things were still dicey. Now, as if it wouldn't have been hard enough to re-birth the Avengers, thanks to the Hydra infiltration of the old S.H.I.E.L.D., they all came aboard with a strong sense of distrust. Without someone they cared about paying the price for the cause, it would all fall like a house of cards.
It would seem that Mack and Fury's attempt to re-launch a new wave of Avengers was faltering. Sam would be of no help in concern with the extreme method they had, nor would Bucky. Mack was too caught up in administration to go into the field. Yo-Yo was too much on the extreme end of the spectrum, far too willing. As for Rhodes, there was somewhat of a wildcard there. Same with Deathlok. This led him to the only logical conclusion, one which, through his newfound ability to quickly calculate probabilities, he was able to verify was the only path that led to a success in the end. He was going to have to go in. Alone.
Paying the price... Coulson repeated in his head. Something about that line stuck with him, and he could feel his quantum processors firing as fast as they could to connect some dots. Wait. He thought. That's it. The price.
He quickly exited the briefing room, weaving his way through the hallways and staircases back to the lab, retrieving both the old and new samples of the Centipede serum. He slipped the two different toned orange vials into the folds of his blazer, then grabbed a small bottle of silicone sealant. Then it was back through the halls to the lift, up to the bridge, and to the door outside Mack's office. He blinked, glancing into the room with his infrared vision; finding it to be empty, he subtly made sure no one was watching, and proceeded inside, locking the door behind him. He made a noise like he was clearing his throat, and Mack's voice came out of his mouth: "F.R.I.D.A.Y., activate full isolation protocol."
"At once, Director," The female voice responded. The windows dimmed to a complete black, and a heavy hydraulic metal door covered the door that was already in place. A faint hum went out as the audio isolation activated, just in case all the other layers of soundproofing already in place weren't enough. There was one final click as the server connection in the room switched off, and a small panel opened in his desk, producing a black vibranium box. "All isolation systems enabled. The room is secure."
"Thank you," Coulson replied, still using Mack's voice. Without touching it, he proceeded over to the object, glancing at it, remembering when it opened for him. Very quickly as he tried to remember how to open it, an old conversation he once had with Fitz came through in perfect detail, a conversation that had taken place just after he had broken into the black box. The residual biometric signature is still present on the surface of the cube, through oils and such. If you use a silicone-like substance, along with a mild electrical current, you can replicate the biometric signature without too much trouble. It's alarming, really, that it's that simple, when we're talking about top-secret information.
Following Fitz's instructions to the letter, he applied the sealant onto the surface, then sent a small electrical spark onto it by snapping his fingers. He suddenly found himself surrounded by holograms, orbiting him in a semi-spherical pattern. "Ah, Fury," He said to himself. "The gift that keeps on giving."
Coulson spared no second marvelling at how powerful a tool Fury's black box was. Mack would be here soon. He needed to work quickly.
Gingerly removing the two vials of the Centipede serum, he set them before the black box, allowing a spectroscopic scanner to obtain a full digital replication of the substance in both vials. The holographic counterparts appeared in the cloud of holograms around him in seconds. Without a moment's hesitation, he selected both of them with his fingertips, speaking, "F.R.I.D.A.Y., run a simulation distillery of these two chemicals and isolate the unique compounds. Provide a list of average prices, public and otherwise, as well as origin locations and shipping routes."
"One moment…" F.R.I.D.A.Y. responded. A small processing wheel appeared by the vials. Coulson swept his eyes around the holograms until his eye caught on another one, presumably having been here since Mack first saw it in the data package from the Norco. A holographic cube of swirling, blurred code. The encrypted transmission log, Coulson recalled, selecting it and holding the image in his hand. He had made sense of it before, when he had discovered that the Fitz-Simmonses were under attack. He could do it again.
"Spectroscopic analysis complete," F.R.I.D.A.Y. stated. Coulson turned his attention back to the holograms of the two vials, focusing on the new compounds that had been added. Substitutions, He thought as he compared the list of unique chemicals in the mixtures. The new variant is using some of these in the place of the older chemicals. In most of the cases, this made sense. Some of the older ones were far inferior to the ones being used in the formula now. However, there was one exception: The quantities of Chitari metals in the construction was significantly less in the A.I.M. design than it was in the original model. The new design, rather, used something that F.R.I.D.A.Y. classified as vibranium.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y., show me this chemical compound," Coulson instructed. A hologram of it appeared in his hand, and he gazed at it intensely, his refined optical processors taking in even the most minute details. No, Coulson realized. Not vibranium. A synthesized attempt, maybe, but not real vibranium. It almost resembles… He stopped that train of thought as he pulled up a list of the materials used in Tony Stark's Iron Man suits, stopping short of the nanotech models. There it was, in every single model, a small sample of one element; one which Coulson had nearly witnessed the creation of firsthand, way back in 2010. Tony Stark's A.R.C. element. A synthetic vibranium. And there was another that synthesized this compound. Coulson remembered. Ivan Vanko. And when he did it he was working at Hammer Industries.
Justin Hammer. The name flew out at him like one of Deathlok's missiles. It all made sense. After Stark ruined Hammer by exposing his work with a criminal, Hammer may have been able to use the chaos of the Blip to escape custody and use Vanko's technology to make back the money he lost.
And he used A.I.M. to do it. Figures it's someone we've already faced down with, but that works for me. Collecting the two Centipede vials, he spoke one last time in Mack's voice, "F.R.I.D.A.Y., archive session and deactivate isolation protocol," He instructed. The hologram around him faded, and he started toward the exit. "Prepare my quinjet, override and authorize takeoff protocols by my command. Mackinse, Alphonso."
"Takeoff authorized."
"Thank you," He replied, then stepped out of Mack's office, pretending to clear his throat as he did so. Despite the elaborate quarters that were designed for the Avengers and Avengers-esque types from S.H.I.E.L.D., he doubted he'd find anyone there. Getting in and out of his room, even with a full tactical bag over his shoulder would be virtually unnoticeable with tensions as high as they are. I guess infighting has its advantages, if you're trying to stay under the radar.
"Rhodes! Hey, wait up!" Mike called to the metal figure wading through the crowd before him. Rhodey stopped in his tracks, turning and looking in Mike's direction.
"You come to convince me that we don't have another choice?" The colonel asked. Mike slowed his pace, falling into line beside the armored man.
"No. I agree we should look into other options. That's not why I'm here," He explained.
"Then why?"
"The way Coulson walked out of that room, it was how he always looks when he's figured something out. But he can also read a room, and he knows just as well as we do that this joint team between Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't going to be doing much of anything in its current state," Mike explained as they walked. "If I know Coulson, he's going to do something about the problem whether he has backup or not."
"So what are you saying?" Rhodes asked, rounding a corner. "We just… magically get the others to come with?"
"I'm saying that whether the others are on board is out of the question. Coulson needs backup, and you're just about the only other levelheaded person that I think is up for an op," Mike stated firmly. Rhodey stopped in his tracks, looking at him over his metal shoulder.
"And that's because…?"
"You and I are the same. Now, I don't know you that well, but we're both soldiers, and we both came into this whole superhero gig in similar ways."
"Didn't you nearly blow up a train station?"
"I meant the cyborg thing. Anyway, team or no team, I'm going with Coulson, wherever he's going. I'm asking you to come with, even if it's for nothing more than an excuse to get off this flying boat," Mike explained.
Rhodey sighed. "Say I did want to help you. How exactly do we go up against a small army with a Super Soldier, an android, and a guy in a metal suit?"
"Easy. I'm a spy, Coulson is like, the spy, so it shouldn't be a problem for us to get in quietly," Mike said. "You're the firepower. I'm willing to bet you could take out more guys than either of us S.H.I.E.L.D. folks could."
"This doesn't sound like much of a plan, Mike," Rhodey responded flatly.
"I know. I don't have all the details. But Coulson does, and he's planning on going with or without us," He said. When Rhodey didn't respond, he tried one last time. "Rhodes, please! We're all the world has right now."
Rhodey looked out one of the portholes, catching the orange glow of the atmosphere as the sun set. He let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, I'll do it," He resigned. Mike smiled as the man turned back towards him.
"Thank you, colonel," Mike responded.
"Only because we don't have another good option, Mike," Rhodey said. "Now, let's find your man before he gets too far ahead of himself. Any idea where he'd be at?"
Mike allowed his smile to fade as he considered the question. "One of two places. He'd go to Mack's office to find his target, and if he's already figured that out he'd be in his quarters getting a bag ready."
"Or he's right behind you, and heard 90% of the conversation already," Coulson's voice said, appearing between the two of them. They both blinked in surprise. Coulson looked between the two of them casually. "What? I know how to eavesdrop, and I definitely know a conspiratory conversation when I see one." He paused for a moment, adjusting the large duffel he had on over his shoulder. "You guys were planning on joining me on a rogue mission that directly defies all the orders you've received from the Director? That's the gist I gathered."
"Absolutely," Mike immediately said.
"Only to make sure you guys don't get yourselves killed," Rhodey justified.
"Great. Welcome aboard," He replied. Then he made one final adjustment to the bag's strap, and began walking down the hall towards the lift. "Let's get to the jet before someone notices we've gone missing."
Mike followed quickly behind, casting intimidating looks at anyone who raised an eyebrow. All three of them turned to face the hall as the doors closed and the elevator began to rise. Coulson, Mike noticed, removed two I.C.E.R.s from the folds of his blazer, charging the magazine and handing them out. "In the case someone does try to stop us, these have low-strength I.C.E.R. magazines. It should knock them out for five minutes, give or take. More than enough time for us to take off."
Mike nodded, accepting the weapon and holstering it by his right side. "Which pad?"
"2A. Second one on the furthest port side. I've already bypassed the authorization sequence, so the hangar bay should open as soon as the jet turns on," Coulson relayed.
The doors to the lift parted, revealing a cavernous space dotted with Quinjets on landing pads and what Mike guessed could be a Zephyr near the bow. He and Coulson started forward at a jog, and the two of them heard Rhodey's flight jets roar to life behind them. "I'll go start the flight sequence!" He declared. Coulson gave a nod of approval as the colonel shot over to their jet's pad. Mike smiled.
"I'm glad he's on our side," He lamented to Coulson.
"The feeling is mutual," The old agent replied. Then his expression suddenly changed as his pupils glowed red. "Landing pad patrol! This way!" He ducked into the closest row down the hangar, but a second to late.
"This is the landing deck crew! There is an unauthorized takeoff in progress!" One of the guards spoke into his microphone. The sound of boots thudding at a run followed, and yellow alarm lights began flashing along the walls.
"Guys, you better get here quick!" Rhodey exclaimed over the comm. "I've got the pre-flight sequence complete, but the jets are going into lockdown!"
"Fire the engines! Go! Go!" Coulson exclaimed as they rounded the aisle and ran into the jet. Mike spun, drawing his I.C.E.R. and facing the platform as they began to rise up towards the runway deck. He squeezed his fist, and his advanced targeting system activated.
CLUNK.
"The hell was that?" Mike asked, confused. The two guards appeared at the door, and without missing a beat, they were met with two I.C.E.R. rounds to the chest.
"The doors just stopped halfway!" Rhodey explained quickly. "If we can't get them moving again, we're going nowhere, fast!"
Mike fired another round into a guard. That made three total. "Well figure something out, dammit! We're not about to stop now!"
A moment of silence as the engines whirred to life. "Give me the controls! And close the ramp!" Coulson said suddenly.
"Got it!" Mike responded, slamming the red button by his side. As he did so, the entire jet bgan to rear up, nose pointed skyward. Yo-Yo and Mack suddenly appeared below them.
"Coulson! What are you doing?!" Mack yelled.
"What I did last time!" Coulson shot back. The ramp closed, just as Mike began to tumble out. The engines began to roar. "Brace!" Coulson shouted, and the jet blasted out of the hangar.
"Breakers are set, all non-essential systems have been turned off, save navigation. There's a jump cell in the drive," Sousa recited as he bucked himself into the pilot's seat, along with the rest of the agents aboard the Zephyr Three. "You guys ready?"
Daisy nodded, bracing herself with handholds on railings and the center pole. "Let's hope this works," She muttered to herself, and then she began pulling all the ship's vibrations into her and her gauntlets, countering and neutralizing them. She looked to her sister, who stood at the center of the ship, eyes aglow with her powers of energy, and gave a faint nod.
Kora shot beams of brilliant radiation into the hull of the ship around them, and a loud humming noise filled the room. Daisy grunted as the vibrations she was countering intenstfied tenfold. The only reason the ship hadn't shattered from the energy blast was because she was holding it together, which forced the energy into the ship's systems that were still functional, supercharging them. A blue glow appeared off the bow of the ship. Daisy let out a determined cry as she put all of her strength into holding the ship together, yelling out. "Sousa! Go! Now!"
The newly invigorated engines shot the ship forward, and the hul groaned in protest and strain. Sparks began to fly from the walls. The metal, being denied the release of tension, began to glow red with heat, and the Zephyr Three was absorbed into the blue light.