Unforeseen Consequences
Chapter 4 Information, origins and flashbacks
Author's notes I don't own Marvel just the idea for this fic which is set in an AU Along with my OC's Jack and Graham Williams and others who might show up in this fic in future chapters. Also, some characters will be OOC in this story.
And the character introduced in this chapter, the Serpent belongs to a friend of mine, who's letting me use the OC.
I want to offer my sincere apologies to my loyal readers for the long delay with this chapter. I've severe writer's block, plus family emergencies and helping out friends, as well as the stress from the pandemic affecting my ability to write for a good while.
I hope all of you stay safe out there with Covid-19 still out there.
Lastly this chapter is dedicated to the late Chadwick Boseman, rest in peace. Wakanda forever.
Well, that's enough of an author's notes, on with chapter 4.
Avengers HQ
SHIELD teams were at Avengers HQ, getting the DNA samples that the Guardians of the Galaxy would need to help them track the Rogue Avengers down whenever they were on Earth, with James Rhodes talking to the agent in charge of the SHIELD team, to pass the time, both of them discussing the upcoming Superbowl next week.
Soon all the samples needed were acquired as the agents left the compound. Rhodes just hoped when they were found, Cap and others gave up peacefully, if not they'd be a bloody fight and innocent people might die cause Captain America was so arrogant enough to think he could defy the will of the 117 countries who had the Sokovia Accords be law of the land and become an international fugitive from justice.
San Francisco Police Department
Scott Lang sat in an interrogation room, handcuffed to a desk with Jim Paxton sitting across from him, as they waited for SHIELD agents to arrive. After an uncomfortable silence in the room, Jim broke it by asking "Why'd you do it Scott? Why did you join up with the Rogue Avengers in defying the Sokovia Accords?"
Scott looked down before he answered "I was reached out to for help by Falcon. Captain America and his team needed help against a threat of more winter soldiers at a base in Siberia."
Jim said "They could've told Stark and the others about this, not run off half cocked. Scott you didn't need to get involved in all this."
Before Scott could say anything, the door to the interrogation room opened as SHIELD Agent Jack Williams entered the room and said to Jim "Why don't you get some lunch detective. I'll have a chat with Mr Lang here and tell him what his options are."
Jim understanding what Jack was saying, wasn't a request but an order he quickly left the room. Once he was done, Jack turned the camera in the room off and sat down across from Scott Lang before he introduced himself "My name is Jack Williams, I'm with SHIELD."
Jack opened up a folder he had brought in with him and began reading it aloud, Scott's Criminal Record once he got through it, he remarked "This will have to be updated with your latest crimes. Violating your parole after your early release from prison, breaking and entering Hank Pym's home twice, escaping from prison, industrial espionage of Stark Industries on behalf of Hank Pym. Breaking and entering Pym Technologies, though considering on that occasion you took down members of HYDRA we can overlook that. Siding with international criminals, violating the Sokovia Accords, causing millions of dollars in property damage during that airport fight. Escaping from The Raft."
With that Jack closed the file before he continued by saying "Long story short Mr Lang, you are looking at being imprisoned in a SHIELD black site for the rest of your natural life. However, that doesn't have to be your fate, you've turned yourself in, ready to face your punishment like a man, now if you tell me where the Rogue Avengers are, maybe a deal can be made. So I'll ask you this one time, where are the Rogue Avengers right now?"
Scott not even hesitating truthfully answered "As far as I know. They're still in Wakanda. Bucky Barnes is being kept there till that brainwashing HYDRA put on him is removed in cryo-storage. I don't know if the other Rogue Avengers are still there, they might be elsewhere by now. So what kind of deal is SHIELD offering me?"
Jack answered "Sign the Sokovia Accords, join SHIELD and agree to train agents to be good at getting in and out of places like you've done over the years as a master thief. Do that and my father, will speak to President Ellis about getting you one of those special pardon's, Presidents give out when they are coming to the end of the second term in office. He can get it done; my father is one of the Presidents main advisers after all. You'll be a free man once again. So what do you say?"
Scott accepted the offer and Jack Williams smiled, he soon left the room and talked to Maria, who was talking to the captain in charge of the precinct. "Scott Lang has accepted the offer." Turning to the police captain he said "Mr Lang is being taken elsewhere while a pardon is made for him in exchange for his cooperation in the man hunt against the Rogue Avengers."
With that, SHIELD agents took Scott Lang to a SHIELD base nearby, once they got there, Jack got in contact with his father, there was some information about the Rogue Avengers that President Ellis needed to know about as soon as possible.
Unknown location
The Serpent sat in his new office and looked at Dr Kanai, the top researcher and head of Project Resurgence with anger before saying "What do you mean your behind schedule!"
Dr Kanai had a look of fear in his eyes before saying "We're trying our best sir I assure you. It's just that, we've hit a problem, none of us know enough about what we're working with to be able to modify it like Madame Hydra wanted. One of the researchers tried something but it didn't work and has set us back weeks."
The Serpent stood up from his desk and headed to the research lab where Project Resurgence was being done, with Dr Kanai in tow.
As he entered the room, the scientists saluted the new head of Hydra. The Serpent asked "Which of you scientists is least important to the project?"
One scientist dared to ask "What does that mean sir?"
Serpent yelled out, getting agitated "Which of you is least important. The one, which without the project can go on and hopefully get back on schedule?"
One scientist stepped forward, Serpent motioned to the armed men standing guard in the room, who took the scientist outside of the room, before shooting him dead.
The Serpent turned to Dr Kanai who was standing next to him and said "Get this project back on schedule by next week, or you'll be the next member of the project to be taken out and shot."
With that The Serpent went back to his office and looked over the notes on the original project, that inspired Project Resurgence and saw a name of a Doctor from that project. Having a look through HYDRA file, he saw this doctor was still alive and in a Russian prison, on charges of being a US spy during the Cold War.
The Serpent, called in one of his top agents, the Hydra infiltrator codenamed Cobra and said "I have a mission for you. How good is your Russian?"
Cobra replied in Russian "It's fluent sir. What's the mission?"
The White House
Graham William's entered the Oval Office, where President Ellis was talking with the US rep on the United Nations Security Council Mitch Connell, about offers from other countries to give land to the Asgardian refugee's if they wanted it, including the Republic of Ireland and Norway. Graham said "Sir, I have an update for you, concerning the Rogue Avengers. May we speak in private."
Mitch Connell quickly left the room, as Graham sat across from President Ellis before saying "Scott Lang has turned himself in. SHIELD agents have taken him into custody. In return for a pardon, he told us everything he knew about where The Rogue Avengers were. According to him, they are or were in Wakanda. Bucky Barnes is still there, King T'Challa's best scientists are working on removing the Hydra brainwashing from him, while he's in cyro-status."
President Ellis was stunned at this revelation, as had been Graham himself when he first learned on it. Wakanda one of the countries behind getting the Sokovia Accords into force, defying it by having the Rogue Avengers there.
President Ellis asked "Who else knows this?"
Graham answered "My son, Jack who told me about this the minute he learned about it, his ex-wife Maria, they won't say a word. They're loyal. What do we do about this?"
President Ellis was silent for a moment, the truth about the Rogue Avengers being in Wakanda couldn't get out it would cause a lot of problems internationally, this had to be kept quiet.
President Ellis then remarked "Our embassy in Wakanda is still being established, we have an asset over there?"
Graham nodded replying "Former CIA Agent Everett Ross. He developed a friendship with King T'Challa after helping him deal with a threat to his rule from an outsider. I was going to suggest he be made the head of security for the embassy. Let's get in touch with T'Challa and a private conversation is held between you and T'Challa, leader to leader and an arrangement is made so this never sees the light of day."
President Ellis was in agreement and soon a phone call was made to the US Embassy in Wakanda to Everett Ross, who was given his orders.
Before long King T'Challa was talking to President Ellis by holographic communication, Wakanda gave holographic tech to other world leaders to help with communication between them in times of crisis once Wakanda revealed their advanced technology to the world as a sign of good will to the international community.
When King T'Challa's hologram appeared in the Oval Office, the King of Wakanda asked "Everett Ross told me that you wanted to talk President Ellis. What about?"
Graham Williams sat nearby as President Ellis answered "The rogue Avenger Scott Lang surrendered himself to US authorities a little while ago. He told SHIELD agents something very interesting. According to him, Bucky Barnes is in Wakanda as were the Rogue Avengers at one point. Can you confirm this for us?"
T'Challa was silent before Graham spoke up "Your highness, the fact that Wakanda harboured international fugitives will be kept quiet. It would look badly internationally if it was brought to light. So please, tell us the truth."
T'Challa finally said "The Rogue Avengers were in Wakanda, but they are no longer here. Bucky Barnes is being kept here so my top scientists can remove the brainwashing from HYDRA from him, after that he'll be asked to leave the country as well. We could instead hand him over to US authorities once the brainwashing is gone."
President Ellis looked over to Graham who nodded once before Ellis said "Good idea. Once the brainwashing is removed from Barnes, a SHIELD team will take him into custody. In return the criminal Zemo will be handed over to Wakanda to face justice for the death of your father, the late king T'Chaka. I'd imagine a lot of people in Wakanda would love to see him brought to justice."
T'Challa nodded at this and with that the communication ended. T'Challa turned to face Everett Ross in the throne room and asked him "That man who was in the Oval Office with President Ellis who is he?"
Everett Ross answered "Graham Williams, all I know about him from my days in the CIA is that he was a member of SHIELD for many years, one of the higher up's, till he became an adviser to President Ronald Reagan. He's been an adviser to US Presidents ever since then. No one's had the courage to get rid of him."
As the two men left the throne room T'Challa said "Because he knows where the bodies are buried."
Nodding in agreement Everett said "Probably cause he's the one who buried them!"
Unknown location
Once Cobra left the base, Serpent went back to his wife's bedside, waiting for her to wake up, the new leader of HYDRA ordered for music to played in the room, his wife's favourite song.
As the song played, Serpent thought back to when he and Madame Hydra assumed control of HYDRA over a year ago.
Flashback England a year ago
In the remote castle in the countryside of England armed men patrolled outside as in a meeting, several men and 1 woman were seated around a table of the HYDRA symbol, these people were the highest-ranking members of HYDRA left, while the others were dead thanks to the traitor Gideon Malick and that Inhuman known as Hive.
The man who called this meeting, Lord Karl Rathbone of the House of Lords, the leader of HYDRA in England began the meeting by saying "Our comrades who died at the hand of SHIELD and the US military, thanks to the traitor Gideon Malick, join Red Skull in the afterlife. With the leadership dead, HYDRA needs to grow a new head, we have to decide who that will be."
Most of the leaders argued with one another for the next hour on why he should lead HYDRA and Opheilia Sarkissian finally spoke up saying "None of you are fit to rule Hydra!" Everyone turned to face her and Lord Rathbone asked "Care to explain why that is? Why should you lead HYDRA, why do you deserve it and not another like maybe Cho perhaps or Atoea?"
As he said that the leaders of HYDRA in Asia and Africa smiled at the great praise from Lord Rathbone.
The leader of HYDRA from Germany Rob Granar said to Lord Rathbone "Maybe the leadership of HYDRA now should go to someone from Europe."
Lord Rathbone then asked Opheilia, curious for her answer "Well what do you say to that my dear?"
Opheilia remarked "I disagree."
Lord Rathbone asked slightly shocked at that answer "That's all?"
Opheilia quickly stood up and replied "Men like Granar and Cho are of the old way of thinking, in this modern day we require a modern approach to leadership, the only way to ensure HYDRA evolves with the times if we hope to achieve our goals. Only a woman can rule HYDRA into the modern day."
Granar scoffed saying loudly "You're a whore Opheilia, not a leader."
Opheilia took a deep breath before saying "Old style thinking like Granar's won't get us any closer to our goals. With him in charge we'll all end up dead. Karl, may we talk in private maybe then I can give you my reasons why I should rule HYDRA."
Lord Rathbone smiled at this idea and within 10 minutes the two of them were alone in his office and Opheilia watched as her mentor in HYDRA drank a glass of whiskey. Before putting on the radio, as Rathbone had his back turned, the Serpent slipped into the room and wore the armour and helmet that made him very intimidating to HYDRA's enemies, all black armour, with a black skull mask with red eyes.
As Rathbone turned back around and saw Serpent was in the room, he couldn't anything before the HYDRA assassin struck stabbing Rathbone in the heart, killing him instantly.
With Rathbone dead, Serpent and Ophelia left his office where men loyal to them had killed Rathbone's guards with silenced automatic weapons and headed to the meeting room, where men loyal to Atoea had killed the other leaders in a hail of gunfire.
Atoea stood on the other side of the massive table and slowly walked to them, as the leader of HYDRA in Africa said to Madame Hydra "Only a woman can rule HYDRA in the modern day, I found your speech quite moving, the others didn't. I left Granar alive for you Opheilia."
Opheilia smiled as Granar was brought before her by Atoea's men as Granar said "I am not going to beg for my life!"
Ophelia was disappointed at this, she wanted to see the man begging for his life on his knees like a dog and said "Doesn't matter, I wouldn't listen anyway." She suddenly stabbed the man in the gut and twisted the blade several times, before removing the knife as Granar fell to the ground dead.
With that dealt with Serpent asked their co-conspirator Atoea "Our deal stands?"
Atoea nodded and Madame Hydra said "All the HYDRA bases in Africa are yours."
Atoea confirming the honouring of the deal said to the couple "While the rest of HYDRA is yours."
Serpent then said "You've got full autonomy from us."
With that Atoea gave the HYDRA salute to Ophelia and yelled out "Hail Madame Hydra!"
Once he was done, Ophelia did the same yelling "Hail Atoea!"
End of flashback
The Raft
The underwater prison was damaged when Steve Rogers broke in, but still mostly intact, in his cell Zemo was reading a book as a guard walked past barked "On your feet Zemo! You've got a visitor!"
Zemo was confused at this, no one locked up here got any visitors in this place and did as ordered, curious to see who was here to visit him.
A man in a black Armani suit flanked by security guards walked up to the cell and Zemo knew who this man was, having seen him on television a lot over the last few months, it was South Korean Politician, National Assembly member and Presidential candidate Kim Mao-Chae. The man who spearheaded what would become the Sokovia Accords.
Kim Mao-Chae said in perfect English "I assume you know who I am don't you Zemo."
Zemo nodded before asking "Why is a man tipped to be the next President of the Republic of Korea doing all the way here so far from home?"
The politician answered "I'm here to apologize to you. What happened to your family, that might not have happened if something like the Accords was in place after what happened in Washington DC all those years ago. The day my wife to be died."
Kim nearly had tears in his eyes as he thought back to that day.
Flashback 2 years ago Washington DC
Kim Mao-Chae and his girlfriend of the last few years Ko Woo-Jin had been having a good time on this romantic getaway to the US, Ko had told Kim he needed to take some time off for himself, with the upcoming elections weeks away and knowing she was right, he agreed to this trip.
They had seen a lot of major landmarks in the site and were now near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool, they looked out at the view and there Kim to the surprise of his girlfriend got down on one knee before taking a small box to reveal a diamond ring and asked "Will you marry me?"
Ko unable to speak nodded her head and took the ring, putting it on her finger before kissing her husband to be.
As they headed down the reflecting pool, passing by other tourists, they like everyone else saw what was in the sky, 3 massive Hellicarriers from the organization known as SHIELD. Once the hellicarriers got high enough, in a moment they started to fire on one another, the falling debris started to hit where Kim and his wife to be were. People starting fleeing in every direction.
In the confusion and panic Kim became separated from Ko and tried desperately to find her, to his horror, he did find her, a large piece of debris was on top of her as Ko cried out for help.
Kim yelled for other passer's by to help him, get the debris off her, as one man called for an ambulance, Kim prayed that the love of his life would survive, she had to.
Sadly, that didn't happen. Ko died days later in a Washington DC hospital.
Two weeks later Seoul, South Korea
Kim left a restaurant he had been having lunch at, talking to members from his campaign team, the first time he'd been in public since Ko's funeral and Kim saw near his car, reporters and his supporters were there waiting for him. Kim tried to walk past the reporters and ignore their questions but stopped when one reporter said "Oh don't be like this. Tell us how your feeling."
Kim stopped in his tracks, looked down at the ground before he turned to face the reporter who said that and asked "Did you ask how I'm feeling?" Kim took a deep breath before answered with complete honesty "To a man who watched the woman he loved died right in front of him in hospital days ago. You ask how I'm feeling? Seeing her in that condition as doctors battled to save her life for several days. To her husband to be, who could do nothing but watch… You ask how I'm feeling?"
The reporter who asked the question bowed in an apology as Kim said "Ko was a truly great woman. She was the heir to a massive company, but unlike others, used the money to help those in need. When we first got together and she was worried that her family wouldn't accept me, she was ready to give all of that up to be with me. That was how much she loved me. Thankfully her fears were unfounded. They accepted me and wished us nothing but happiness, sadly that wouldn't be."
People started to cry as Kim with tears in his eyes continued talking "She was a woman who truly loved me for the man I am. I was unable to protect the woman I loved with all my heart. It's been hard for me to live with myself, even if she had lived. It wouldn't be fair to her, to ask her to walk down this path with me."
Everyone looked at each other in confusion at this statement before Kim declared "As of now. All my campaigning as a candidate for the National Assembly will cease."
The first reporter to get over the shock of this statement asked "Are you saying, you'll withdraw as a candidate and leave politics altogether?"
Before Kim could give an answer, one of his supporters yelled out "No! You must not withdraw!" Other supporters started to shout out that begging him to remain in the election.
Kim knew in his heart what do and said "Instead I will start a new fight now. To demand that heroes like Captain America are held to account for their actions that affect the innocent people, not just in this land, but all throughout the entire world. Be that as a politician or as a civilian, to ensure that those who think they can act above the laws that govern us all and trample on the weak and powerless members of society are held to account… I will face and fight that terror. If someone is a politician then they must use all their strength to fight for the people. I will demand the world do something to prevent what happened to my wife to be and to others in Washington DC from happening to anyone else!"
His supporters started to chant his name as Kim said "This can be done without being a politician, this can be done by all us, proclaiming with one voice that we want heroes like the Avengers held to account. I will stand by your side, everyone as we make this demand known in this fight alongside you. I shall win without fail!"
The crowd cheered as did his campaign team who heard him speak, as his supporters put the man up on their shoulders as they chanted "Assemblyman Kim Mao-Chae! Assemblyman Kim Mao-Chae! Assemblyman Kim Mao-Chae!"
End of Flashback
Kim hadn't been shocked when that speech when viral on social media and won him the local election once he was officially a member of the National Assembly, he'd begun demanding that the National Assembly pass legislation that super powered individuals like Inhumans answer to the authorities which led to a police task force of Inhumans being formed to help police deal with criminal elements to great effect and other countries began to follow South Korea's example and it lead to the Sokovia Accords being possible following what happened there and in Johannesburg before that.
Kim then said to Zemo if something like the Accords had been in place before what happened in Sokovia, no doubt your family would still be alive. I blame myself for this so I must apologize to you."
With that Kim bowed his head to Zemo in a bow of apology for a minute before Zemo said "You are not to blame for what happened to my family. Do not blame yourself."
Kim talked with Zemo for a bit, talking about any possible help he could the man legally to help in a court fight to try and get his punishment brought down to something lighter, but Zemo rejected the offer of help. Zemo would gladly accept responsibility for the innocent lives that were lost in what he done.
With that Kim and his entourage left the Raft, Kim knew if things had been different, he could've ended up in Zemo's place and thanked God that hadn't happened as the young politician vowed to do all he could to ensure what happened to him, never happened to anyone else because of arrogant people like Steve Rogers who think he knew what was best for the world, ignoring the will of over 100 nations and the people.
SHIELD HQ
Secretary Ross looked over the information he'd been given, double checking it to make sure he was right, what he and others had learned from the Guardians confirmed it.
With that he took out his phone and made a call, when who he was calling picked up Ross said "It's me. I have good news for you. I found him. I'll have a car sent to get you. It's well past time you were reunited. Good I look forward to seeing you again old friend."
With that Ross hung the phone and smiled, happy to repay an old debt.
Author's notes well that's the end of chapter 4. I hope it was well worth the wait, please let me know what you think of it in a review, no flames though OK.
