Lady Sif had just revealed everything to Coulson and may. Upon returning to the Triskelion, Lady Sif, Melinda May, and Agent Phil Coulson were watching from outside a glass room where Security Officer Charles Hayes Buchanan had been saying the same words over and over again while S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most talented doctors were doing whatever they can to help him.
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul," Officer Buchanan continued to say ancient language again.
"What's he saying?" Agent May asked, having never heard the language.
"One Ring to rule them all, One ring to find them; One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them," Sif translated the words.
"One Ring?" Agent May picked out the main theme.
"Its the name of a very ancient object that was never destroyed," Agent Coulson answered.
"A ring?" Agent May wondered if that was the meaning to the words Sif had said.
"A powerful and evil relic," Agent Coulson confirmed. "Supposedly lost thousands of years ago."
"Isildur would've destroyed it if it hadn't corrupted him," Sif sighed. "Odin was right, stories were told that the Dark Lord would return and he has."
"Sif has been telling me a lot about Sauron," Coulson explained everything to Agent May. "He's not a part of this world."
"But another," Agent May suspected.
"Arda is the name of the world," Sif answered and told them more of the Dark Lord's plan. "If the Dark Lord gets his hands on the ring he lost long ago, he could unleash the fumes of darkness that will descend across the universe. No one would oppose him. He would be... invincible. Impossible to stop."
Agent May was alarmed by this. She thought it was crazy, but she faced a lot of things in the past; learning the existence of Inhumans, learning a lot of secrets on what HYDRA planned to unleash, defeating Hive, entering a Framework without any memory from the real world, trapped on a broken alien world for days, saving the Earth from Graviton, and even killing Izel. Agent May truly believed Sif and Coulson.
"So I guess we're dealing with another global threat in our hands?" Agent May asked, confirming if this was the case.
"100%," Agent Coulson answered.
"So who do we call about this?" Agent May asked.
"Well who in the Avengers is available?" Sif asked.
"Well, Natasha, Steve, and Tony are dead, Thor is off world, and both Dr. Banner and Clint are retired," Agent Coulson replied grimly. "So not many."
"How about the New Avengers then?" Agent May asked.
"Okay, the New Avengers it is," Agent Coulson said.
"There is one problem, the goddess Artemis has gone missing and we need to find her," Sif said with urgency.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Agent Coulson said before turning and walking out the door.
Coulson returns to his private office after discussing his plans with Lady Sif and Agent May. While Director Johnson had been out on an importan mission in space, Coulson was among the agents to be entrusted to run S.H.I.E.L.D. while she had been gone. Just when he entered, he saw that he wasn't alone. It was Detective Dakota North, who had been waiting inside to speak with him.
"I didn't expect for you to come," Agent Coulson said, not pleased to see Dakota North inside the office.
"And I didn't expect for you to take over my investigation," Dakota said, giving him a fake smile
"Just tell us what you want?" Agent Coulson asked.
"I just want you all to start from the beginning and tell me exactly what the hell is going on or I will march back with a warrant and sue your asses for good," Dakota warned, giving them a very serious look on her face.
"That sounds like a threat to me," Agent Coulson glared at her.
"Oh it is, I don't want to make this difficult, cause I know that she's from Asgard, and I overheard that she knows everything about this inscription," Dakota explained, showing a picture that she took. "I don't care if its bullcrap, I just want to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out why Mr. Buchanan keeps saying these same words over and over again."
"Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen," Agent Coulson snarled at her.
"Yeah? You wanna test me?" Dakota glared at him.
"I don't want to test you, but what your trying to get at, its classified," Agent Coulson explained. "In fact your lucky Tony Stark isn't here, he'd be a lit less merciful then I am being."
"What in Durin's name is going on in here?" Sif asked as she entered the room.
"Oh, don't forget her," Agent Coulson grinned and focused in talking to Sif and jerking his thumb at her. "She wants to know everything about the evil ring you've been talking about."
"Not happening," Sif refused to answer to Detective North since she was getting to suspicious in wanting to learn the truth. "Doom will fall on us if I tell anything."
"You see?" Agent Coulson said to Dakota. "I told you, you can threaten us."
"I'm not threatening," Dakota pleaded. "I don't care whatever it is you do in this agency which I thought I was terrorist organization. I didn't have to travel my ass from New York to Washington to get to the point of all this. I might be able to help you if you tell me everything on what the hell is going on."
"Fine," Agent Coulson sighed and insisted for Sif to explain. "You tell her."
For almost half an hour, Sif had explained everything to Dakota North about Sauron, Celebrimbor, the One Ring, its meaning, and the War of the Last Alliance. Dakota, at first, thought it was a made up story, but since she saw that it wasn't crazy enough for a warrior from Asgard to stay all this, she had to. By the end, Dakota was completely shocked on what she heard.
"So that's why," Dakota said, nodding her head in understanding, and sighed. "Okay, I will help, but as long as this isn't crazy in a way, let's try not to share this with the NYPD, CIA, or the FBI, whatever."
"Fine by me," Agent Coulson agreed. "As long as you try something that involves sueing, trust me, you don't want to do that."
"I'll take my chances for whatever sh** your going up against, so where do we start?" Dakota began to ask.
"We need to locate Doctor Strange," Agent Coulson told her of his first plan. "He is an expert sorcerer and he will be able to find Artemis."
"Artemis?" Dakota asked, confused.
"Yeah. The Greek Gods are real," Agent Coulson answered.
Dakota's jaw had hit the floor now and asked in shock. "Are you serious?"
"Yep, unless I can tell you a story about how I end up on an alien planet," Agent Coulson wanted to offer something.
"Ah, no thanks," Dakota scoffed.
"She is quite the warrior," Sif remarked of her appearance, hoping that her friend Coulson would agree to it.
"We may need all the help we can get," Agent Coulson sighed.
"Okay, so where do we start?" Dakota asked on what they plan to do next.
"We need to locate Doctor Strange," Agent Coulson told her of the plan. "He is an expert sorcerer and he will be able to find Artemis."
"And where do we find this Doctor Strange?" Sif asked.
"I was told by an old friend where he usually is," Agent Coulson answered. "The New York Sanctum."
"So its in New York," Dakota scoffed in fake laughter. "Ha, ha, ha, I can't believe I had to waste so much time going from this place to another."
"Which is why you should've stayed where you were," Agent Coulson reminded.
"Alright, then you pay gas for my car," Dakota insisted. "I'm driving."
"We're not driving," Agent Coulson smirked.
"Excuse me?" Dakota asked suddenly in confusion.
"We're flying," Sif said.
"All right then, lets go," Dakota insisted.
"After you," Agent Coulson grinned a bit.
Dakota muttered to herself as she walked while Coulson and Sif followed her. "Well... I hate my life now."
Outside the Triskelion, Dakota North walked outside with Sif, Coulson, and May onboard the Cavalry, a specialized Boeing C-17 Globemaster III modified to serve as an 'Airborne Mobile Command Station for S.H.I.E.L.D. teams. Like the Bus, which was Agent May's previous one, the Cavalry has an additional pair of engines and half-length wings located at the tail section of the fuselage, below the conventional, elevated tail section. Additionally, the six engines are able to pivot upon each wing, allowing them to be angled at the ground, giving the Bus Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capabilities. This, along with an advanced set of "air brake" panels on each wing, gives the Cavalry greater aerodynamic and flight capabilities, such as allowing it to perform a full, mid-air stop before changing direction to pursue a new flight plan. On top of the Cavalry are mounts and an access way to allow a single, smaller S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft to dock with, and later separate from, the Bus in mid-flight.
The Cavalry possesses some provisional offensive/defensive capabilities in the form of two retractable cannon turrets, located at the junction of between each main wing and the fuselage, which are capable of shooting down enemy aircraft. The Cavalry also has a form of large, long barreled cannon mounted to the front underside of the fuselage that allows it to attack targets on the ground while in VTOL flight. It also possesses advanced satellite, radio, and other wireless connections as well as a strong computer system that could connect to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operational databases, as well as any other secure databases or other resources across the internet. This allows it to receive any mission briefings sent down from the Triskelion or the Hub. More prominently, the Cavalry's flight plan can be remotely altered by anyone with a high enough clearance level from any major S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, even forcing it to return to base. Likewise, several of the Cavalry's functions can be remotely controlled by certain S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles, such as the SUV that many agents use in the field, primarily allowing its cargo doors to be opened in the case of a quick retreat. The Cavalry also has encrypted lines to communicate with an agent based at a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, as well as any agents or other allies in the field.
The Cavalry's computer systems independently stores all of the specs and information on the many operations that Coulson's Team have been involved with, including the various items and individuals that the team has come in contact with, in a separate data line individual from that of the main S.H.I.E.L.D. database. Dakota was quite amazed to see that the passenger space includes living quarters, a commons area with a mini-bar, a briefing room, a number of various storage rooms, and a private forensics and research lab.
"This is one hell of a plane," Dakota remarked.
"Don't get to comfortable yet," Agent Coulson replied on her comment and sits down to fasten his seatbelt. "Cause we're about to take off."
"Thought as much," Dakota sighed and sat herself down wuickly just when Agent May.
Agent May buckles herself up in the cockpit and contacts the passengers. "Wheel's up in five!"
Throughout the flight, Dakota North had just unbuckled herself and was quite amazed to see that the Cavalry had a small bar with drinks. Coulson watched her take a bottle of alcohol as he smiled.
"You know that bottle was given to me twelve years ago," Agent Coulson continued to smile at her.
"Still fresh?" Dakota asked.
"If you want to take a sip, you're welcome too," Agent Coulson insisted.
Dakota sighed and immediately took a sip from the small bottle. She made a bit of a face as a sign that she doesn't quite like it at all.
"You know," Dakota coughed. "I never had a thing for this stuff. Many faces I see are really into these drinks. Accept I recall a time when I use to have alcohol a few years before turning twenty-one."
"Sounds to me you were into it?" Agent Coulson assumed.
"Yeah," Dakota scoffed in laughter and decided to ask him a question. "So, you never told me a lot about yourself."
"Well, I was a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent until I got stabbed by a Chitauri scepter," Agent Coulson explained his story. "Wasn't quite fun at first, but when I woke up, I didn't remember much on what happened, but Fury would pass the title of director to me."
"A lot of people like me thought S.H.I.E.L.D. was a some terrorist organization that was bent in ruling the world," Dakota recalled a time of when the agency was torn to pieces. "Am I right?"
"Technically that was HYDRA," Agent Coulson corrected the truth. "It hid amongst our agency for decades until we were able to tare them apart, or should I say, cut off every head."
"Well I thought this HYDRA was destroyed during World War II by Captain America," Dakota recalled another time that happened decades ago.
"That's true, but HYDRA will always have a tendency to come back, even if no one has cut off every head, then two more will take its place," Agent Coulson explained about HYDRA's goals.
"So I assume that HYDRA will probably hide amongst us again and go back in their master plan to conquer the world?" Dakota guessed. "Or do I have my facts wrong."
"Well, your facts are never wrong," Agent Coulson said.
"Come to think of it, I'm starting to like you in a way, but still you at first became a pain in my ass for keeping your so-called classified information to yourself," Dakota slightly scoffed.
"We all have our things," Agent Coulson told her.
"So when we land, we just drive over to meet this Doctor Strange?" Dakota asked that as well. "How do we know if he's on our side?"
"That's something you should keep to yourself," Agent Coulson answered.
After finding a place to land within the city, May, Coulson, Sif, and Dakota quickly hop onto Lola and begin to drive across the city for minutes.
"So what's the address?" Dakota asked, looking at her phone.
"177A Bleecker Street, New York City," Agent Coulson answered. "Its what Thor told me when he first came to that place."
"You sure you know what your doing?" Sif asked.
"100%," Agent Coulson reassured her.
"Whoever this Doctor Strange is, he better be what he says to be," Agent May sighed, feeling uncomfortable in brining a non-operative within the agency.
"So he's like a sorcerer?" Dakota asked, describing on what he was like.
"Its what Thor said to me," Agent Coulson nervously replied.
"Hmm," Dakota mumbled in acknowledgement.
"I never imagine how a Master of the Mystic Arts could be so important to this assignment," Sif said.
"Whatever it takes," Agent Coulson sighed.
Eventully, the four individuals were able to find the New York Sanctum. The New York Sanctum is one of the three bases of the Masters of the Mystic Arts alongside the London Sanctum and the Hong Kong Sanctum. Located in New York City, it is used to store and secure mystic items such as the Dark Scepter and the Cloak of Levitation. Coulson took an exact moment to park Lola and paid the meter. Just when they were about to walk up the steps to the front door of the sanctum, they all got whisked inside.
"WOW!" Dakota gasped.
"What sorcery?!" Sif exclaimed, holding her weapon in defense.
"What the hell was that?" Agent May asked, looking around from inside the sanctum. "Is this the sanctum?"
"You are in the right place," A mysterious voice echoed across from the inside of the sanctum.
"We're only here to talk," Agent Coulson spoke first, hoping that the person would come to address them.
"And in that case we will," The voice responded.
Coulson, Dakota, May, and Sif turn around to face an individual, who was drinking tea from his tea cup and sitting on a very nice comfortable couch next to the fireplace. It was Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange, or better known as Doctor Strange.
"How did you..." Dakota scoffed in shock and confusion. "How did you even get here so quick and how the hell did you even do all this?"
"What you think its magic?" Doctor Strange asked.
"For doing all kinds of weird sh**, then yes," Dakota scoffed.
"So I could assume that you knew we were coming?" Agent May asked.
"A master of the mystic arts always sets its eyes all around this sanctum," Doctor Strange pleasantly answered and took another sip.
"So what do you do here in this sanctum?" Agent Coulson asked. "Its awfully lonely for someone like you to be here."
"The Masters of the Mystic Art and I guard this sanctum with our lives," Doctor Strange explained. "We do it to keep certain troublemakers from getting their hands on important items that are not for sale and..." He stopped quickly for a moment when he noticed Dakota was about to touch the Cauldron of the Cosmos. "... especially the Cauldron of the Cosmos which you shouldn't be touching."
Dakota almost touched it when she heard what he said and spins around to face him. "Oh... sorry."
"So what can I do for you?" Doctor Strange asked.
"We need your help," Sif answered.
"Well, I'm always open to hear what anyone has to say, so let it out," Doctor Strange insisted.
"We need you to locate Artemis," Agent Coulson said.
"When I came back to Midgard, just before I met with Agent Coulson, I was looking for an old friend, Artemis," Sif explained. "The Huntress of Olympia. What I remember that she was last seen in the land you call Nebraska. I've heard rumors that her powers and immortality were suddenly stripped away from something just before she vanished. I wanted to find her and ask for her help, but seems I was too late. She might have been taken by the Four Horsemen or the Nine Ringwraiths."
"Okay, so all you need to do is find her here," Dakota pretended to sound intrigued. "Great, I'm the only one in here and I don't believe it."
"Do you have something that might be of some use?" Doctor Strange asked.
"I do," Sif hastily answered and reached into her pocket before pulling out a container filled with liquid the colour of moonlight. "This can help you locate her."
"What is it?" Agent Coulson asked.
"These are the tears of Artemis," Sif explained, handing it to Doctor Strange to look at. "She cried once and her tears were collected into this glass. It can help you find her."
"This won't take long so in the meantime, make yourselves at home," Doctor Strange said as he stands up to go upstairs. "Oh and another thing, try not to dirty up the floors, up and down, cause we just had them washed and waxed three hours and forty-five minutes ago."
"No problem," Dakota complied, giving him a fake salute.
"Until then, we got a lot of other things to take care of right now," Agent Coulson decided that it was time for the next plan and turned to May. "Agent May, its time to contact our heroes. Tell them the world needs saving again."
"How do you plan to reach them anyway?" Dakota asked.
"That won't be necessary," Doctor Strange replied, walking from behind her.
"AHHHH!" Dakota gasped in fright.
"What?" Doctor Strange asked, confused.
"Whatever you do, please don't do that again!" Dakota snapped, annoyed by this strange magic he was wielding. "Jeez."
"About the plan?" Agent May asked, wanting to get back on what Doctor Strange was talking about and stared at Strange with a very menacing look on her face. "You had a plan."
"I can see why they call you the Cavalry," Doctor Strange remarked on her attitude.
"Which pisses me off," Agent May responded, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Right, so you want to contact Mr. Wilson, Mr. Barnes, and Ms. Maximoff, is that right?" Doctor Strange asked.
"Yeah, that's what we were trying to talk about," Dakota sighed, annoyed too. "Did you already know that?"
Doctor Strange did not answer her question. "Perhaps I shouldn't say."
"How can we get to them?" Agent Coulson asked.
"Leave it to me," Doctor Strange answered with a slight grin.
"What about Artemis?" Sif decided to ask that well. "Did you find her?"
"I did," Doctor Strange responded to her. "She's on Arda."
"Captured?" Sif gasped.
"Running," Doctor Strange answered.
RAFT
Inside the Raft, a super maximum underwater security prison for super-powered criminals, Secretary Thaddeus Elliot Ross and Major Katherine Elizabeth Spar were having a walk across the prison, passing a number of cells filled with the worst criminals, including those that were about to be given a full pardon during their training in the Thunderbolts program. Some of these criminals, who were killed in the past, were mysteriously brought back when the Hulk used the Infinity Gauntlet to undo the actions Thanos had caused. These post-Snap criminals were apprehended and sent to the Raft as punishment for their crimes. Among the criminals were Adrian Toomes, Willis Styrker, Karl Morgenthau, John Allen Adams, Henry Akai, Daniel Brito, Gregori Anatolovich, Zebediah Killgrave, Jalome Beacher, Samuel David Barone, Kateri Deseronto, Grant Douglas Ward, Jackson Whitmore Brice, Willard Harrison, Jonathan Brace, Patricia Walker, Brock Rumlow, Deborah Bertrand, Chan Ho Yin, Randy Vale, Ezekiel Stane, Randall Darby, Phil Simmons, Dominikos Ioannis Petrakis, Walther Theodoric, Edward Forsyth,
As for Thaddeus Ross, he was described as a very decisive and ruthless individual. Always ready to object to certain things, his main one is to defend the United States of America by advancing the military, often by unconventional means such as a super-soldier project modified from a similar experiment from World War II. However, Ross is largely motivated by his own personal feelings and his vendetta against Robert Bruce Banner, who was known to the world as the Hulk. He can be single-minded and shows an inability to learn from his mistakes as his main priority is to defend the United States, and although having witnessed the destructive capabilities of Hulk as well as injuring him, his daughter and murdering several doctors while being unleashed the first time, he still planned to replicate Banner's gamma radiation to continue the Super Soldier Program he was working on. Despite being a hypocrite, Ross truly loved his daughter dearly, but destroyed his relationship with her due to hunting down the man she loves as a fugitive and the fact that he was the one who made him a fugitive in the first place. He blames Bruce Banner for injuring Betty, even though he wasn't in control of his actions at the time when he was Hulk and instead of helping him cure his gamma radiation, which Ross was partly responsible for in the first place, he planned to imprison him forever instead. Ross' methods of defense, and if the needed offense, are amounted to a very "fight fire with fire" sense. His plans to combat with Hulk was injecting his top soldier, Emil Blonsky with a Super Soldier Serum. Similarly, when Blonsky mutated himself into Abomination and began causing havoc across Harlem, he ordered his men to assist Hulk, believing he was the only one who could match him in a battle.
Despite having a personal incentive to kill Banner, Ross is not without reason to be concerned regarding individuals with near-unlimited power, but having to witness the casualties and destruction of several incidents regarding powerful super-humans, such as the Battle of Sokovia, events that happened without supervision or jurisdiction from the government which caused the Avengers to run freely, he began viewing the Avengers as loose cannons, and that the Sokovia Accords which would keep them on constant government watch was best for the world, although this would later spark a civil war between the Mighty Avengers and the Secret Avengers. Even after Helmut Zemo was revealed to be the true culprit behind the Bombing of the Vienna International Centre, he still called Captain America and the other rogue Avengers fugitives and ordered their arrest, thus earning him the anger of James Rhodes, who had once respected him, that the latter chose to cut Ross off and disobey the Accords during the Infinity War. However, Ross wasn't entirely without reason; he had enough empathy for Scott Lang and Clint Barton and their families to agree to not put the two back in the Raft and instead place them in house-arrest, likely not wishing them to have a similar situation to him and his daughter. When Tony Stark, his most trusted ally during the Avengers Civil War, had to give up his life to kill Thanos and his forces, thus saving millions of lives and the entire universe, Ross was shown to grieve Stark enough to attend his funeral along with the Avengers to pay his condolences, demonstrating that his hatred towards the Earth's Mightiest Heroes is gone or at least somewhat diminished.
"So, about this new prisoner that was sent to us about a couple of weeks ago?" Secretary Ross asked. "What's his story?"
"His name is Fredric Woolrich, a former agent of MI6, but he gave up his career and became a mercenary," Major Spar explained about the prisoner. "Years ago, he joined the Batroc's Brigade to request a ransom, but that didn't go well as planned. At some point before the Snap, he released from prison, but there has been rumors that he was broken out of jail and had been working with the National Force. He was even responsible for the kidnapping of Captain David Rickford of the United States Army. We also have evidence that he was seen helping the Flag Smashers of the U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. led by this girl Karli Morgenthau, the daughter and staunch supporter of Governor Karl Morgenthau, to attack the G.R.C. in New York. That was when the authroities found him shot in the chest and placed in a coma for a few months," Major Spar explained. "He just woke up three days ago and he wanted to speak with you."
"Why would a non-enhanced or should I go by the better term a 'dangerous criminal', be wanting to speak with me?" Secretary Ross asked, scoffing as if it was some joke to him.
"He says he has some information about criminal acitivities in Madripoor," Major Spar answered.
"Madripoor is far beyond our reach," Secretary Ross sighed. "Criminals take that place as their own haven. Its been like that for decades."
"Well, he woke up, he told me that he has valuable information about... the Power Broker," Major Spar said.
Secretary Ross took a sudden stop, looking very surprised when he heard that name. "Are you serious?"
"Its possible he may not be lying," Major Spar stated.
"I'll be the judge of that," Secretary Ross said. "Take me to him."
Inside a quiet room, Fredric Woolrich had been sitting quietly, waiting patiently for Secretary Ross to come speak with him. He still remembered how his former boss chose to betray him for an attempt in blackmailing her.
"Est-ce que tu parles français?" (Do you speak French) Woolrich asked in French.
"He says do you speak french?" Major Spar translated his words.
"Je fais," (I do.) Secretary Ross responded as he sits down on the other side of the interrogation table.
"Oh good," Woolrich chuckled in english. "For a second, I thought you wanted a translator with you. I can speak English, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, or Algerian."
"Major Spar here told me you know about the Power Broker," Secretary Ross said.
"I do," Woolrich answered with a smirk. "And that's why I would like cooperate with you."
"I see," Secretary Ross said. "But why would I want to listen to a criminal, who has been wanted in several countries?"
"I make money and I always consider ransom to be a very tough sport," Woolrich explained. "If anyone would like to hire me, I'm open for the job."
"Well I have your full cooperation, so let's get to the point Monsieur Fredric Woolrich," Secretary Ross suggested in changing the subject. "Tell me about the Power Broker."
"I don't know much, but the Power Broker had been building her power and wealth in Madripoor for eight years since the Sokovia Accords went up and down," Woolrich began his story. "Before I learned of the identity of the Power Broker, I learned that a scientist named Doctor Silas Cragg, who had been impersonating Doctor Wilfred Nagel and copying his work in recreating the super-soldier serum. The Power Broker sought out to bring an end to Morgenthau, promising to kill her, so she sent some of her best men to do so, but always she continued to slip away."
"Your saying that the Power Broker is a woman?" Secretary Ross asked. "Who is she?"
"Sharon Carter," Woolrich answered. "And I help bring her to you."
"And why should I even consider it Mr. Woolrich?" Secretary Ross asked again, thinking it was a joke. "You're a wanted vigilante and I think the Raft is better for you than running around free, doing whatever the hell it is you and your men want."
"What if I can prove you wrong?" Woolrich suggested with a smirk. "You give me 72 hours for me to bring her in to you and maybe I could work for you. You tell me what to do, and I listen. Tell me, Monsieur Secretary, is the Power Broker worth much to you other than me?"
WAREHOUSE PEER #66, MADRIPOOR
Madripoor, officially the Principality of Madripoor, was an island in Southeast Asia, located in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore. Its capital and single large city was Madripoor, which was divided between wealthy Hightown and impoverished, crime-ridden Lowtown. This served to represent the extreme social inequality in Madripoor, described as "A place for the very rich and the very poor." Madripoor was once a haven for pirates, a tradition that had somewhat continued to present day with its lawless quality; the Principality did not allow other nations to extradite criminals; however, it was still considered one of the business capitals of the Pacific Rim. The major languages in Madripoor range from English, French, and Filipino, and the monetary unit used in Madripoor is the Madripoor Dollar.
The capital city, which shares the island's name, lays claim to the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the world. At the same time, it possesses one of the most severe pockets of poverty on the planet. This economic polarization has effectively divided the capital city into two parts: Hightown, the high-tech haven of the very rich and powerful, and Lowtown, the medieval domain of the hopelessly poor. It was conquered by freebooters centuries ago, and its heritage of piracy evolved into the present system of government whose laissez-faire policy allows for virtually any business transaction provided that the status quo is not threatened. Madripoor does not allow criminal extradition from within its borders, making it an exotic diplomatic haven for many international criminals and organizations who help maintain the stability of the government through a sophisticated system of corruption that includes payoffs to the Chancellor, who runs the day-to-day government operations.
Inside Warehouse Peer#66, filled with many crates filled with ammunition, a woman, who had a bag covering her head, was been slapped very hard by one of Doctor Karlin Malus' bodyguards. Doctor Karlin Malus was fascinated by the subject of superhuman powers since the first time he read a newspaper account of the superhero team the Avengers. Upon graduating with a degree in biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, he applied to various institutions for a grant to study supernormal capacities in depth. Unable to get any funding through legal means, Malus contacted certain wealthy investors active in the Los Angeles underworld. They set him up with a laboratory facility he immodestly called the Institute for Supranormality Research, despite the fact that he comprised its entire staff. The underworld provided him with human test subjects to experiment upon, usually individuals the mob sought to liquidate. Malus hoped eventually to find an individual who already had superhuman powers he could study. In the course of research, Malus came up with a number of special toxins and other chemical-based weaponry which he sold to such Los Angeles criminals as the Enforcer.
"That's enough," Doctor Malus said, ordering his bodyguard to stop and then removes the bag, revealing to be Sharon Carter, also known to the world as Agent 13 as her own personal alias.
Known to be the great-niece of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s co-founder and Director Peggy Carter, Sharon Carter was guided by a strong moral compass and is not afraid to speak out when her ethics are challenged. She holds a high opinion of and belief in Steve Rogers. Being an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Carter spent time undercover as a nurse. She even demonstrated excellent accuracy with firearms during her shooting range test for the CIA, hitting the bullseye on all her shots, but was known to have received training in martial arts, in which her fighting style consists of Krav Maga, Taekwondo, Eskrima and Brazilian Jiujitsu. Before her career was shattered, Sharon Carter would come to admire her great-aunt Peggy Carter, from a young age and form a close relationship with her. This would cause Carter to grow an interest in the agency, and follow Peggy's advice to join despite her mother's protests to the contrary. Peggy even bought Carter her first thigh holster. To ensure she would not be in her famed ancestor's shadow, Carter refused to disclose her surname while working as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., using her alias "Agent 13".
Under direct orders from Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, who kept her real name secret, was given the task with going undercover as a nurse, living next to Steve Rogers and keeping a close eye on him since she really wanted to learn more about how her great-aunt spent her time with him during World War II. When Director Fury was attacked and HYDRA hiding in the agency for decades, Sharon had no other choice but to blow her cover since it was her job to keep a close eye on Rogers and chose to stay loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D. since she would never bow down to terrorists that were on the verge in killing millions of people that HYDRA deemed as a threat. In the aftermath of the HYDRA Uprising, Sharon left the disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D. and joined the CIA, before being stationed at the Power Elite. When the Vienna International Centre was bombed, Carter returned to the JCTC after giving Rogers information on Bucky Barnes. When Barnes was arrested and brought into the JCTC, Helmut Zemo reactivated his mental programming, causing Carter to try and stop him, to no success. She later assisted Rogers in handing over his team's equipment, which would indirectly spark the devastating Avengers Civil War. Her involvement in helping Captain America would cause Sharon to go on the run after being branded an enemy of the state by the government.
To ensure that she would not be found and arrested by the government, Sharon decided to move to Madripoor where she was given hospitality by the Power Broker. While she was relatively safe, she was unable to ever make contact with her family or leave. Her new life entailed her hustling to survive, which led to her embracing the lifestyle of a black market art dealer, acquiring various valuable items, building a gallery, and making connections with the Power Broker. However, she never trusted the Power Broker and had always wanted to uncover his connections with the Corporation. In hopes to draw the Power Broker into the open, Sharon stole his name and became the new leader of the National Force, an organization that was a rival to the Power Broker, Inc.. As the Power Broker, Sharon gained experience and skill in manipulating and influencing people and the situation around her, allowing her to remain anonymous and do business separately as a trader and hustler while still holding power in Madripoor. Achieving a powerful status, she even became hardened and nihilistic from her previous experiences.
Following the Blip, Sharon would reunite Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes and Helmut Zemo, assisting them in uncovering the truth about the. She would later hire the mercenary Fredric Woolrich as a means to spy on their leader Karli Morgenthau before joining Wilson and Barnes in New York City as the U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. attacks the GRC. After she shot Morgenthau in order to save Sam's life, she was eventually able to get a full pardon by the government. Having acquired what she had been wanting for so long, the only thing on Carter's mind was continuing future operations to build her empire as the Power Broker to control the world, as she was still hurt by how she was treated all the way back in 2016 during the Avengers Civil War, despite now regaining her freedom. Outside the Capitol, Sharon kept in close contact by one of her contacts in the National Force and told them to prepare all of their buyers, as she was going to take advantage of her newly returned government position to steal high-level agency secrets, weapons in the prototype stage, and a magnitude of more things to sell to them.
"Now I'm going to ask you again, Miss Carter, why did you steal his name?" Doctor Malus asked.
"You know pretty dam well why I took his name for a reason," Agent 13 scoffed and started to chuckle.
"Well it seems I don't have to ask you the same question over and over again, Miss Carter, but I truly understand you wanted to seek an audience with him," Doctor Malus nodded, pretending like he already understood Carter's words. "But let me tell you this, nobody seeks an audience with the Power Broker or even one trying to steal his name." He takes a moment to take his glasses off and slips it in his pocket. "Now, he may have a lot of... unclassified things to take care of, which is why his company he founded, was something for us to do business with the one of the most important organizations in the world. He's been fascinated with so many things, like resurrection on his account."
"I know about that," Agent 13 smirked.
"You know when you were on the run years ago, we offered you hospitality in Madripoor and everything in return that you would work for us," Doctor Malus recalled. "But everytime you wanted to find out more about the Power Broker, you decided to take his name and do what exactly. Try to lure him into the open? No, that's not how it works, Miss Carter. What he does is, he makes sure that any person who tries to challenge him, he silences them for good, which is why you are about to be the next person to be silenced. You took his name and he wants it back."
"If he wants his name back, why don't you just call him so I can meet him face-to-face before I die," Agent 13 requested.
Doctor Malus clears his throat and sighs as he takes a moment to put his glasses back on. "I'm sad to say that the Power Broker will probably have you eliminated, along with you and your National Force that has been causing a bit of trouble. When they see your body hanged, that'll probably be the best message for them. So, shall we get started right now?"
"Do your worst," Agent 13 spat, showing how deeply brave she was.
"As you wish," Doctor Malus sighed and motioned one of his bodyguards to eliminate her.
However, before the order could be carried out, a winged man came bursting inside the warehouse, glass shattering everywhere and throws a shield at the bodyguard that was about to strangle Sharon. The winged man lands down, revealing himself as Samuel Thomas Wilson, also known as Captain Falcon of the Avengers.
Samuel Thomas Wilson, nicknamed Sam, but also called the Falcon that he likes being called, is one of Steve Rogers' most stalwart friends and allies. Both men found a kindred spirit in each other when they discovered they both shared common life experiences and had similar values. Sam Wilson and Rogers both fought in the military, had to cope with the deaths of friends during war, and had to adjust to life outside of war. For Wilson, he found purpose in helping military veterans adjust to civilian life. This earned Rogers' respect, and in turn Wilson admires Captain America and the ideals he represents. Their commonality helped the two to forge a bond that led Wilson to aid Steve Rogers in many of his heroic exploits. During these exploits, Sam Wilson becomes a hero in his own right, whether it be when the two are fighting shoulder to shoulder together during a mission to save the world or aiding Rogers with a personal matter, such as helping him find the Winter Soldier. In contrast to Rogers' pensive no-nonsense attitude, Wilson often displays a more brazen attitude and a strong sense of humor, often makes cheeky comments.
In the aftermath of several battles that had killed civilians, the Avengers were then forced into following the Sokovia Accords, putting them all under the government's full control. However, as the Winter Soldier was blamed for terrorist attacks by Helmut Zemo, Falcon stood by Captain America with protecting the Winter Soldier, which had then caused the Avengers Civil War. In the wake of this clash, Falcon, and several other Avengers who were loyal to Captain America, were defeated by Iron Man, and locked into the Raft, until Captain America freed them as they became fugitives. While the Avengers were still disbanded, the Earth had come under attack by Thanos and his Black Order, bringing Falcon and his allies out of hiding. Learning that Thanos intended to steal the Mind Stone from Vision, Falcon helped his teammates in taking Vision to Wakanda for his protection, while they had then tried to keep Thanos' forces back. However, they were eventually defeated as Thanos claimed the Infinity Stones and used them to cause the Snap, killing trillions including Falcon. Eventually, that Snap was undone by the surviving Avengers, as Falcon rejoined their battles against Thanos, as they finally defeated him, at the cost of Tony Stark's life. In the aftermath of the battle, Falcon learned that Captain America returned to the past and had lived a full life with Peggy Carter, seeing him return as an old man, and passed his shield down to Falcon.
"How's it going?" Captain Falcon asked.
"Shoot him!" Doctor Malus cried out, running to take cover.
Immediately, he used one of his metallic wings to shield him from the bullets and then began to toss Captain America's shield all over, kncoking a number of gunmen to the ground. This distraction gave Sharon Carter to slide out her pocket knife and used it to cut herself free. She immediately grabs her chair she sat on for hours and used it to smash a bodyguard very hard. Then she uses her martial arts skills to fight off a few men.
"You shouldn't have come Sam!" Agent 13 shouted, taking cover when two of Malus' hitman try to shoot her.
"I received a distress call from Senator Callahan that you were dealing with something back here in Madripoor," Captain Falcon explained while flying around the warehouse to avoid the bullets.
"Nice of you to say," Agent 13 said, pretending to sound thrilled, but began to worry that Wilson may already know the truth while behind crates . "If you have something else to say, just spill it out or you could help me stop Doctor Malus from getting away."
"Oh I got a lot of questions to ask of you," Captain Falcon nodded and let Redwing out of from behind to help him finish off the remaining bodyguards.
Outside the warehouse, Doctor Karlin Malus was running desparately for his life through the containers near the warehouse, bolting and racing between them. That was when he heard something. He turns around and saw that no one was there. That was when he caught sight of someone running in every corner of the containers. Doctor Malus tries to shoot with his gun, but everytime he keeps on missing. He starts to panic and tries desperately to reach towards his car. He quickly tries to reload his gun, but that was when Sharon Carter leaps down from one of the containers and manages to pin him down to the ground. Unable to free himself, Karlin tries to resist, only for Sharon to give him a very serious punch on the face.
"Now, I'm going to ask you one more time, where is the Power Broker?" Agent 13 angrily demanded. "Who is he?"
"You really think I'm going to tell you his name?" Doctor Malus chuckled. "Besides, killing me won't lure him out. He has eyes everywhere and the only thing you will find is nothing."
"If this is what you want, then I'll give it to you," Agent 13 scoffed.
In a sight of fury, Sharon began to punch Doctor Malus a number of times, but that was when Sam Wilson came and pulled her away from Malus, who was now lying unconscious.
"You really think killing a man is going to lead you to the Power Broker?" Captain Falcon asked.
"No, but as long as I do this, the Power Broker will have no other option to stay hidden and then maybe he'll show his true face to me," Agent 13 explained. "That's the plan."
"Really because I learned from Buck that you were the Power Broker," Captain Falcon responded in a very angry tone. "Care to explain that."
"I took his name to draw him out," Agent 13 said. "Its the reason that I want him dead so that way I can have access to all his secret classified files from his company and even continue my future operations to build my empire as the new Power Broker to control the world, make the government suffer for what they did to me."
"I can't believe what I'm really hearing right now," Captain Falcon said, shaking his head in disappointment. "Steve would be disappointed in you right now. Not just him, but your family included. What the hell do you think they will see of what you become? Huh? I mean, I kept my promise to you that I would have the government pardon you for helping Steve uncover the truth about Zemo and give your old life back. Is that not enough?"
"Oh its enough and right now, I would like for you to stay out of my way," Agent 13 warned. "If you want to stop me and take me in, go ahead. I helped you and Barnes take down the U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. and their leader Grimaldi. You even thanked me for it."
"You played both sides of the conflict!" Captain Falcon exclaimed.
"I did what was necessary to take them out!" Agent 13 shouted back. "I hunted them down because they betrayed me and the National Force! Karli Morgenthau refused to follow my orders because she and her friends were suppose to help me in my plan to lure the Power Broker into the open and that was real screw-up."
"Oh and I think maybe I know why decided to do all that because your still hurt for what had happened for the last eight years, and I can't believe that your still pissed that the Avengers didn't back you up?" Captain Falcon wondered if that was the case. "Sharon, I don't think you understand what I do. I counsel soldiers dealing with a lot of trauma? This was my only wheelhouse. As for Karli, I would'nt have given up in trying to reason with her. For five years, when people have been welcomed into countries that have kept them out using barbwire. There were houses and jobs. Folks were happy to have people around to help them rebuild. It wasn't just one community coming together, it was the entire world coming together. And then, boom. Just like that, it goes right back to the way it used to be. To them, at least Karli was trying to do something. But then, she went down a very dark path and I know why you saved me when you didn't have that choice. But let me tell you this. I helped you get your ass off the grid in Madripoor and you continue to blow smoke on me, on Steve, and the rest of us. I mean, c'mon! I thought you would be better off living a new life rather this previous life you've been doing for the last eight years. What's happened to you? Huh?! Are you trying to be a villain? Because right now, I feel as if you're becoming just like Karli Morgenthau."
"Come to think of it Sam, maybe I am becoming something that I've hated so much in my life," Agent 13 solemnly answered. "My life was ruined, not just because of you, but because of what Zemo had done. The Sokovia Accords was to blame because out there, the United Nations would be ready to arrest those for going outside the law. Zemo slipped that one up when he was trying to rip the Avengers apart. Seems to me he won that race." Then she started to feel a sign of sadness growing in her and sniffed a bit. "This is exactly what hurts me even more Sam. But you know what, maybe your right. Maybe I am becoming a villain and I'm going to admit that I really hate it."
"Then see reason, Sharon," Captain Falcon suggested. "Don't be like what you say you are. Otherwise, an act like that is going to get you killed or arrested by the law. And speaking of the law, I gave you my word that I would help pardon you for what you did in helping Steve. Instead, all I see in you is a judge, jury and executioner. You were given your old job back while you've been increasing your influence and authority in the criminal underworld. This isn't you Sharon. Its never been you. And right know, I feel as if you went across the line by breaking good man's heart. I wonder what Steve would say if hee ever saw this. You survived and you never even called him while you were hiding Madripoor. All you did was following the steps in controlling the world as a criminal and I'm sorry to see you like this."
"Yeah," Agent 13 breathed and nodded her head. "So are you going to arrest me?"
"I don't have a choice," Captain Falcon answered unhappily, knowing what he had to do. "Give me your hands and no tricks."
"I know what needs to be done Sam, but whatever happens, do what you gotta do," Agent 13 sighed, holding both her hands up.
Before Sam was about to handcuff her and prepare to have her delivered to the Raft, a small rocket was about to land directly at their possession, forcing Sam to launch his wings and dives forward, even taking hold of Sharon in order to move out of the way just as the rocket lands on the ground, missing the two. Karlin Malus was still unconscious, but remained unharmed from the blast. Immediately, Sam flies Sharon somewhere to a safe spot away from the chaos.
"Let me guess your backup?" Captain Falcon asked, thinking that the National Force arrived to rescue her.
"No," Agent 13 shook her head in confusion. "I didn't even call for backup."
"Then who the hell fired that rocket?" Captain Falcon demanded.
"Probably someone working for the Power Broker," Agent 13 answered. "The real Power Broker."
"Well, I'll deal with this," Captain Falcon suggested. "And you... stay here and don't even think about running cause I'm still arresting your sorry ass."
"You have wings Sam," Agent 13 reminded him. "No way I can run from you."
"Whatever," Captain Falcon sighed and flew up to fly back to the spot.
Returning to Warehouse Peer#66, where an active flow of cargo and commerce had been coming into its container terminals for years, Sam looks around, using his technology to scan the perimeter. He began to suspect that something wasn't right. Suddenly, Sam was kicked very hard from behind and fell to the ground, but not before getting up quick. He turns around to face Fredric Woolrich, who was now wearing armor all around his body.
"I thought Sharon took you out," Captain Falcon said.
"Takes more than a bullet to kill me," Woolrich smirked.
"Yeah, I take that your still pissed at me for having to beat you twice," Captain Falcon stated the obvious.
"Oh I am," Woolrich chuckled. "But I'm not here for you. I'm here for your precious blond damsel in distress."
"You mean the Power Broker?" Captain Falcon asked.
"Yes," Woolrich answered. "She broke me out of prison and paid me a fair amount of money to me and my men for a couple of assignments, such as the capture of Captain David Rickford. But then in the end, she shoots me when I tried to blackmail her."
"Well I suppose you should've kept your ass quiet," Captain Falcon intimidated his foe.
"Hmm, I wish I did, but money is all important to me," Woolrich said, taking a step forward. "So why don't you tell me where she is now and we can walk out rather than fight each other again?"
"Well I hate to disappoint you, but someone else already got to her first and he's about to take her in to custody," Captain Falcon said.
"Ah, so its you," Woolrich laughed. "Well, perhaps maybe you and I can both bring her in together. Let's split the profit once we deliver her."
"I don't think you understand the law to well, but I'm nothing like you, and whatever it is you have in plan with Sharon, I won't let you kill her or letting you hand her corpse over to the Power Broker," Captain Falcon warned. "I'm pretty sure that he wants her dead."
"You mean the Power Broker that we're going to take in," Woolrich corrected. "I was sent by Secretary Ross. I told him everything about your blond woman. What she has been doing. And so I made a deal."
"Well, I don't think Ross is planning in letting you go," Captain Falcon glared at him.
"Just hand her over to me and will call it even," Woolrich suggested. "If I don't hand her over to Ross in the next 17 hours, I will be good as dead."
"Well maybe you should be," Captain Falcon continued to glare at his foe.
"Ross never likes to let an animal out of his cage, and so he put a little chip in my back," Woolrich explained. "One kill, I die when the chip activates. Ross said that he would remove it once the job is done. So let me do mine.
Suddenly, the sound of a gun cock was heard, in which Sharon Carter emerged from the shadow and tried to shoot Woolrich down. The bullets fly towards him, but the armor he was wearing allowed all the bullets to bounce away backwards.
"And what's to stop me from killing you?" Agent 13 asked with a warning look on her face.
"I do wish to kill you, but I won't," Woolrich growled as he then charges towards her while she tried to load her gun again to shoot him.
That was when Sam Wilson flew in front and whacked Woolrich with a shield, but the armor kept him from feeling pain and immediately fights his foe once again. Instead of standing around, Sharon joins in the fight against Woolrich, thus helping Sam by using her marshal art skills against him. Woolrich angrily grabbed Sharon by the neck and tossed her aside and continued to fight his foe alone and had been hitting him very hard with the armor that was given to him, but since Captain Falcon had armor made out of vibranium, it was impossible for him to get hurt.
Eventually, Wilson managed to best Woolrich by finding an absolute weak spot and used his shield to tare down parts of Woolrich's armor. This gave Sam the chance to throw his shield at Woolrich, sending his foe backwards and onto the ground.
Sam walks over to Woolrich, who was lying paralyzed on the ground, and says. "Instead of one, I'll take two."
"No need to worry Sam, but I'm done running and doing all this sh**," Agent 13 sighed.
"Well I guess that explains everything," Captain Falcon said. "Your former pal decided to sell you out by telling Secretary Ross everything."
"Yeah, well, this is why I can't leave Madripoor," Agent 13 said. "Sam, your right. I lost myself and there's nothing I can do to let it go or move on, but may I ask you something."
"Go on," Captain Falcon insisted.
"When you last saw Steve, did he really give you the shield?" Agent 13 asked.
Sam was hesitant to answer her question. He was starting to feel worried since he knew that Steve was still alive, but as an elderly man. Only he and Bucky know the truth. Knowing that he couldn't keep this secret for long, which was something that Bucky and Steve asked him to do, he decided to not follow Roger's final order. He knew he had to tell her the truth.
"Look, I know this is not what it really seems, but before I do arrest you and Woolrich... I need to tell you something," Captain Falcon said, ready to explain the truth to her.
"What is it?" Agent 13 asked, looking on with concern.
Just before Sam was about to come up with the truth that Steve was still alive, a small sparkly portal appeared throughout the hallway. Sharon and Sam were both startled when they saw two individuals coming out of the portal. Sharon pointed her gun at them, but was quite shocked to see that it was Agent Phillip Jamie Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange of the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
"I didn't know you could do that," Agent Coulson sounded quite thrilled by this.
"Agent Coulson!" Agent 13 responded in complete shock to see him alive. "How is this possible? S.H.I.E.L.D. declared that you were dead."
"I was," Agent Coulson answered with a grin like he always does.
"Sharon Carter... Samuel Thomas Wilson, am I right?" Doctor Strange asked, believing he's got their names."
"Yes," Agent 13 and Captain Falcon responded.
"We apologize for interrupting your moment of time," Doctor Strange apologized.
"Wait, who are you?" Agent 13 asked, tossing the gun away.
"Uh that's Doctor Strange," Captain Falcon told her, remembering that he met him back on the battle of Earth. "He's like some sorcerer or something."
"Define sorcerer," Agent 13 scoffed, thinking it was a joke.
"Mr. Wilson, we need you to come with us right now," Doctor Strange insisted. "I know its strange for us to say but the fate of the universe, or should I say the entire multiverse, is at stake."
"Yeah, well, I wish I could help in a way, but right now, I'm busy," Captain Falcon told him. "I need to Woolrich and Sharon into custody."
"I did a lot of things that weren't up my sleeve while I was hiding in Madripoor," Agent 13 admitted. "But, if this is an issue, maybe I can help."
Sam didn't think it was the right decision right now. "Sharon, you know I have to do what it right."
"Sam mentioned that you impersonated the Power Broker, who hides from everyone's radar," Agent Coulson said. "He's a ghost."
"That's why he never hid here in Madripoor," Agent 13 told him. "I spent eight years sending people to find him, but he always slips away into the shadow like HYDRA."
"Can we focus on what the hell this is about?" Captain Falcon asked.
"We need your help, Mr. Wilson, or Captain America, ah Falcon, right?" Agent Coulson responded by trying to guess correctly on Sam's title.
"Its Captain Falcon actually, but who are you?" Captain Falcon asked.
"Phil Coulson, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Agent Coulson introduced himself.
"I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. was gone for good," Captain Falcon recalled at the time when his friend and partner Captain Rogers ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. to collapse.
"That's true, but now we restored it," Agent Coulson grinned. "Sorry to see that your pissed in all, but we got a lot things in our sleeves."
"Oh I'm pissed alright," Captain Falcon told him how he was feeling now.
"Don't get too pushed up, Mr. Wilson, cause right now, we need you," Agent Coulson insisted for him to come. "I know you don't trust me since we first met, but I know Agent 13 does."
"Its true, I vouch for him," Agent 13 stood up.
"Fine, I'll go," Falcon immediately chose to go with Doctor Strange and Agent Coulson. Even though, he trusted Doctor Strange, but he didn't trust Coulson. "Only if you do me a favor. Put Mr. Woolrich back into his cell within the Raft. I doubt Secretary Ross won't kill him when he's back there."
Immediately, Sharon Carter decided to help as well, despite for the crimes she committed while pretending to be the Power Broker and building her criminal empire. She and Captain Falcon follow Doctor Strange and Phil Coulson which would take directly into the New York Sanctum. Wilson kept Steve Roger's shield tight in his hands as he walked through. Stepping out of the portal, Sharon and Sam looked around from the inside of the New York Sanctum, but they realized that they weren't the only ones in the New York Sanctum. Out of surprise, they saw that James Buchanan Barnes ("Winter Soldier"), Virginia Potts ("Rescue"), and Doctor Robert Bruce Banner ("Hulk"), who were also present within the sanctum.
"Wow," Agent 13 gasped in amazement.
"You too," Captain Falcon scoffed in surprise upon seeing Bucky.
"I would've called you, but this wizard guy just tossed me right in here along with Iron Woman and the Big Green Guy," Sergeant Barnes told him on what Doctor Strange did.
"That's Professor Big Green Guy to you," Professor Hulk corrected. "No offense, these are dire times."
"And yet you wear clothes," Rescue added.
"Is everyone acquainted?" Agent May cleared her throat. "Cause right now we have a lot of things to talk about."
"Can't believe I was dragged into this," Captain Falcon murmured in disgust.
"Well you did agree to ask for my help and I will," Agent 13 whispered to him.
"So Doctor, can you tell us why are we're here?" Sergeant Barnes asked, curiously.
"Look, I never wanted to drag you all into this, but this is something far worse than Thanos," Doctor Strange answered.
"So your telling us that there's someone else that is about to do the same thing to all of us in this room?" Captain Falcon asked.
"Care to tell us why?" Rescue asked too.
"You have been summoned to save the universe from a powerful, or should I say the Dark Lord," Doctor Strange answered.
"Who's this dark lord your talking about?" Sergeant Barnes asked in confusion.
"A dark lord of terrible power who seeks to end everything," Sif replied.
"Well that doesn't good," Professor Hulk said.
"No sh**," Sergeant Barnes sighed.
"So you want us to find him so we could kill him?" Sergeant Barnes asked.
"That's exactly the plan," Sif answered.
"When I first heard of this, I thought it was bulls***, but from a scale from 1 to 10, I had to believe in all this," Dakota said.
"Which is why you insisted to find out," Agent May recalled, giving her a very unsatisfying look on her face.
"And how is S.H.I.E.L.D. involved in all this?" Captain Falcon asked.
"I know you don't trust S.H.I.E.L.D. that well, but we really need your help," Agent Coulson said. "If none of us come with a conclusion on how to beat him then that its, we're finished."
"Or screwed," Dakota added.
"Whatever the hell we're facing, we gotta do this together," Professor Hulk said.
"Once the Dark Lord regains much of his strength, it will be too late," Doctor Strange added more.
"Is he serious?" Agent 13 asked, thinking this was a joke.
"For a magical sorcerer, it doesn't seem he is," Agent Coulson explained. "Agent 13, um Sharon, our list of allies is growing thin, but with your help, there could be a chance."
"A chance to do what exactly?" Captain Falcon scoffed. "You tell us an evil Dark Lord plans to invade the planet and you believe that we are the ones that could stop this?"
"Sam, at least give them the chance to explain how we could defeat him," Agent 13 said.
"So you believe all this?" Captain Falcon asked.
"I don't know what to say Sam, but I think we should," Agent 13 suggested.
"So this threat is something far worse than a mad man that was bent in balancing the universe by killing 50% of life," Professor Hulk began to speak.
"Well I believe him, but I thought it was a joke," Agent 13 said, believing it was nonsense.
"Jokes and fake storytelling maybe nonsense in a way, but this is something that the Masters of the Mystic Arts have long since faced more than three thousand years ago," Wong explained.
"And this one is something everyone has to do... assemble or fail," Doctor Strange said.
"We need your help," Sif said. "We need the Avengers to...
"Wow, wow, the Avengers," Captain Falcon interrupted. "I don't mean to interrupt you at all, but I don't even know who the hell you are, but there's something you need to know about the Avengers. Its been disbanded... again. They no longer exist."
"You maybe right about one thing Mr. Wilson, this is why you are here," Agent Coulson grimly smiled. "This is the night where the Avengers assemble once again. So, are you in or out?"
"He's right Sam, the Avengers need to take action once again," Professor Hulk agreed. "Coulson and I agreed to the proposal to restore the team. The world has heroes divided. We need to unite. If we don't, then will be screwed."
"We may have failed to defeat Thanos, but maybe this time, when we're together as a team, that is exactly what we gotta do," Rescue decided.
"We try and fail, that's what a lot of people say to others when they make mistakes," Agent May said.
"So what do you suggest we do?" Sergeant Barnes asked.
"Okay, then fail again," Agent May said.
"Doctor Banner and I will help assemble the Avengers," Rescue nodded in agreement. "Though it won't the Avengers we were a part of."
"So will I," Sergeant Barnes volunteered and gave Sam a look. "Hey, you need help, so here I am."
"Well don't look at me like that, count me in," Captain Falcon agreed too.
"If your planning to do something so reckless, then fine," Agent 13 agreed to join the team as well and turns to Wilson. "Look, I'll help you fight your war, and when that's done, you can take me to the Raft where I can confess my crimes. Deal?"
"Deal," Captain Falcon nodded. "But if you try to run, I won't be happy."
"Done," Agent 13 nodded.
"I never had a chance to join the Avengers, but I know Steve would be proud that I do it," Bucky agreed to join the team for the very first time. He felt a bit proud that he was an Avenger now, so then he turns to Coulson and asks. "What do we have to do?"
"Why don't you count me in?" A woman's voice asked.
Everyone turns around to face a woman standing by the corner of the sanctum. She was wearing a white shirt, a black-suited leather jacket, black pants, and a pair of sunglasses. The woman's name was Athena Parthenos, daughter of Metis and Zeus, and a member of the Olympians that hail from the world of Olympia, a world that allies with Asgard and New Asgard.
"And you are?" Dakota asked.
"The name is Athena Parthenos, daughter of Metis and Zeus of Olympia," Athena introduced her name to everyone, who were surprised.
"Here we go," Agent May muttered.
"Guess myths turn out to be less than true," Professor Hulk remarked.
"I'm sorry, your Athena, daughter of Zeus?" Dakota responded as if she was in shock.
"What is this exactly?" Athena scoffed. "You gonna keep asking me that many times, detective?"
"No," Dakota shook her head in response.
"That's what I thought," Athena smiled and took her sunglasses off. "Its good to see you Agent Coulson. Been a while."
"Its great to see you too," Agent Coulson smiled back. "Have you been?"
"Had a little run in with some things, but here I am sir, reporting for duty," Athena sighed and turns to see Sif, giving her a slight smile at her. "And its nice to see you too, Lady Sif."
"The honor is mine," Sif bowed to her in respect. "How did you come?"
"Ah well, traffic was a bit of a pain in my ass, but at least you have the Mystic Wizard to thank since he was the one who found me while I just finished an important assignment with the Agents of Atlas," Athena explained.
Samuel Wilson was very surprised that Athena was a real person. The first person, who he thought was myth, was Thor. He approaches her. "I don't mean to cause any offense to you, but I thought Olympus was a..."
"Myth?" Athena finished him quickly. "Yeah, everyone says that all the time, but there are some things that are real and some that are not."
"I'm starting to like her already," Sergeant Barnes whispered to Pepper.
"So that means Olympus is real then, right?" Agent 13 asked.
"You betcha, though it exists somewhere else rather than this planet," Athena added. "The only way to get there is to take a portal, which can only be activated by me and the rest of kin, on Mount Olympus."
"How long have you been on Earth?" Rescue asked.
"I don't usually count, but I know its been thousands of years," Athena answered her question. "That was when I met Coulson, who recruited me into S.H.I.E.L.D. years ago."
"Agent Parthenos and I were in contact with each other for years," Agent Coulson explained a little about her. "She use to work for the agency and gave a lot of great wisdom to recruits joining the agency."
"I wouldn't say the word 'agent' anymore Coulson," Athena sighed with a grin. "I now work for the Atlas Foundation. Now if you and Agent May were very clear that HYDRA had been hiding in S.H.I.E.L.D. before it fell, I would've stayed."
"Maybe I'll try to let you know the next time if HYDRA tries to do it again," Agent Coulson promised with a honest grin.
"Will do," Athena shrugged and gave Coulson a wink. "So you have news about my sister then?"
"We do," Doctor Strange nodded his answer.
"Good, which is why I'm to help the Avengers assemble once again," Athena announced. "With my help and wisdom, will be prepared to face against the Dark Lord Sauron."
"Which is why we need to figure out our next move," Agent Coulson answered very seriously.
"Good, but first, I need to go back to the Foundation to warn the others of what is coming, so I will gladly ask Mr. Strange to teleport be back," Athena insisted. "Oh, and I'm sorry to hear about Captain America. He was a great fighter."
"I know we're small in a way, even though I'm not the best person to lead a team," Captain Falcon sighed and decided it was the moment to reveal the truth. "But there's something I need to tell you all."
Sorry it took so long for this chapter to be posted, but I hope you all like it. I didn't do it alone, I had some help with a few authors. One of them is Arrowverse Fan 217. I really thanked him for providing the best ideas to add in this chapter and he will be writing a crossover story of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Silmarillion. In the meantime, I will continue posting more chapters. If anyone has anything to say, feel free to provide reviews and thank Arrowverse Fan 217 as well. So yes, Sam Wilson will tell everyone the truth.