Chapter 87.
Nick Fury's bad hunch intensified. He wasn't naive enough to believe these powerful individuals were gathering just for a casual get-together.
"Has anything special happened today? Or in the recent past?" Nick Fury asked Agent Hill in a deep voice. He felt certain their convergence was triggered by some significant event, otherwise, their timing was simply inexplicable.
"Director, aside from the appearance of those two new superheroes recently, nothing major has occurred," Hill replied with some uncertainty.
"And while we've invested heavily in rooting out spies within the bureau—an operation that eliminated a large number of low-level agents—we haven't had the manpower to fully replenish our ranks. This has significantly reduced our information and intelligence gathering capabilities. It's possible some critical information slipped through our net, and perhaps this secret gathering is a result of that oversight."
"Indeed, this eradication operation severely impacted our personnel, but it yielded tremendous results," Nick Fury acknowledged. "At least the lower ranks of the bureau are predominantly loyal now. However, intelligence must –always be our top priority. It's the core of everything. Without intelligence support, we're like a blind falcon, unable to survive."
"Fill the missing personnel vacancies as quickly as possible, but we must be meticulous in our selection. We need to avoid undue shortages while ensuring our previous efforts aren't wasted. I don't want to clean out one group of spies only to recruit another!" Nick Fury's mind drifted back to the operation a month prior. It had taken nearly a year of meticulous planning to finally seize the opportunity to eliminate all known Hydra operatives within SHIELD.
Upon receiving intel from Felix, Nick Fury had launched a thorough investigation into every SHIELD employee. The results were both enraging and shocking—Felix's information had been accurate. But as a master strategist, Fury knew he couldn't act rashly. Hydra had far more spies than he had loyal agents. So, after a year of careful strategizing, he had finally found his chance a month ago. Using a special operation as a cover, he'd gathered most of the Hydra agents and executed a decisive sweep, leaving no one behind. To avoid widespread chaos, they had focused on agents below Level Five, ensuring that top-tier Hydra operatives lost their crucial intelligence network from the lower ranks. This also averted the threat of a desperate, cornered Hydra higher-up breaking cover. The remaining Hydra members could be dealt with slowly, once SHIELD stabilized, waiting for the opportune moment to eliminate them.
"You're dismissed for now. Remember to have people keep a close eye on them. Try to find out their purpose, but be careful not to tip them off. It's crucial they don't realize we're monitoring them," Nick Fury instructed Hill after a moment of contemplation.
"Understood, Director. I'll see to it," Hill affirmed, turning to leave and execute Fury's orders.
"Wait!" Nick –Fury suddenly called out, just as Hill was about to exit. "I'm afraid ordinary agents might struggle to find valuable information. You'll need to inform Natasha. She should go personally."
"But, Director, Stark already knows Natasha works for us!" Hill stopped, turning back with a questioning look. "How can she approach them?"
"Cough, you can have Natasha approach the two new superheroes," Nick Fury coughed, then added a command that startled Hill.
"Or, have her get closer to the Captain. Get us accurate information!"
"Director, approaching the two new superheroes is fine. But... is it truly right to approach the Captain like that?" Hill's expression showed her discomfort. "He's the hero who saved America, after all! We shouldn't treat him this way."
"There's nothing wrong with it. Natasha understands what needs to be done, and everything we do is for the security of this country and the entire world," Nick Fury said to Hill, his tone serious.
"If something catastrophic were to happen due to SHIELD's negligence in obtaining accurate information, it would be our dereliction of duty."
"Okay, I understand. I'll go notify Natasha and tell her to prepare for the mission. Director, are there any other instructions?" Hill conceded, her voice reflecting her obedience to Fury's increasingly serious tone, even if she still felt uneasy.
"That's all. You may go," Nick Fury waved at Agent Hill, dismissing her.
After Hill left the office, Nick Fury picked up the now-cold coffee on his desk and took a sip. A sense of unease still gnawed at him, a persistent feeling that something bad was about to happen, or perhaps had already begun. He set the cup down and, after a few precise movements, opened a desk drawer to gaze at the "Avengers" plan, which had lain there, quietly, for a long time.
"I blame the fools on the Council for failing to approve this plan," Nick Fury muttered to himself. "It seems the current situation has far exceeded my expectations! I just don't know if this plan can even be implemented now." He silently cursed the Council's shortsightedness. He had proposed the Avengers Initiative to them long ago, only for it to be rejected repeatedly, denied support. As a result, the plan had never had a chance to materialize.
Originally, Nick Fury hadn't been overly anxious. He had been patiently waiting for the right moment, an opportunity for these extraordinary individuals to showcase their indispensable power. He believed that once the Council witnessed their crucial role, they would unanimously adopt the plan, and the Avengers' establishment would be a foregone conclusion. However, the sudden, unannounced gathering of these special individuals today had ignited a persistent, unsettling premonition within Nick Fury, a feeling that simply wouldn't fade.
Nick Fury's unease deepened. While he could tolerate others, Stark was the true wild card, an incredibly unstable element. This was why Fury was so worried. To uncover their true intentions, he was even willing to order Natasha to approach the American hero, Steve, to extract information.
"Stark, I hope you're not stirring up trouble for me!"
Tony, at this moment, was blissfully unaware that his spontaneous gathering had just given Nick Fury a new migraine. But even if Tony knew, he'd probably be even happier. After all, Natasha had tricked him in the past, and he still held a slight grudge.
Tony had now led everyone down to the underground laboratory beneath his villa. The lab tables were covered with a bewildering array of experimental equipment. Felix and the others, knowing little about such things, could only watch, impressed by the sheer complexity without understanding its specific purpose.
"Hey, Mr. Stark, what's wrong with this little mouse? Why is it just lying there motionless, looking so weak? Is it dead?" Annie, lagging behind, suddenly spotted a cage on a table. The cage door was open, but the tiny mouse inside lay perfectly still, showing no sign of movement or escape. Her curiosity piqued, she couldn't help but ask.
"Cough, it's fine. This little mouse just ate and is still asleep! Don't disturb it! We're about to inject the superpower potions and see their specific effects!" Tony, hearing Annie's question, quickly moved to the table, gently pushing the cage aside as if to shield its contents from view.
"How strange," others mumbled, finding Tony's actions a bit baffling. Felix, however, noticed the mouse's extreme weakness, which likely stemmed from the experiment, but he didn't give it much thought. Tony then exchanged a glance with Dr. Banner, both sharing –an inexplicable, knowing look, seemingly recalling a shared memory.
"Alright, which of you three wants to go first and test the waters?" Tony led everyone out of the main lab into a specialized room. Thick glass walls allowed for a clear view inside, where a single bed occupied the center. Various complex instruments surrounded the room's exterior, incomprehensible to Felix.
"I'll go first, I'll go first! The people of Asgard are fearless!" Thor immediately volunteered after Tony's question.
"Wait, Thor, let me go first," Felix interjected. "My abilities are special. Even if I'm unlucky and the first injection fails, it won't matter much." Felix had anticipated Thor's eagerness, much like how Thor, even when he had gained weight, bravely wanted to wield the Gauntlet and snap his fingers. But this situation was different. While there wasn't necessarily the same level of danger as snapping fingers, it was full of unknowns. This was, after all, the first human injection. Although Tony had confidently guaranteed no fatal danger, Felix felt it was best to go first himself. He wanted to experience the immediate effects and reactions. Besides, he wasn't afraid of any accidents.
Ultimately, Thor agreed to let Felix go first. There really wasn't much to argue about.
"Felix, the injection process might involve severe pain! Do you need to be restrained?" Tony asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Everyone else watched from outside the glass-walled room. Felix was now lying on the bed, awaiting the injection.
"Forget it. If I start going crazy, your villa would probably be razed to the ground in minutes. Your defenses wouldn't help much then! Just go ahead. I promise I can control myself!" Felix said with a certain indifference, though his words were the truth. If he were to become a rampaging, humanoid nuclear bomb, no one on Earth could stop him at this point. Of course, Felix had absolute confidence in himself, he didn't believe a mere potion could cause him to lose control.
"Okay, then as you wish! Lily, begin the injection!" Tony decided. He quickly agreed, realizing Felix had a point. He then called out to his robotic arm assistant, Lily, who was positioned next to Felix. Upon hearing Tony's command, the mechanical arm moved to administer the injection into Felix's arm.
"Wait!" Felix suddenly exclaimed. "I almost forgot! My physical toughness might prevent the injection! I'll just drink it directly!"
Felix suddenly remembered. With his incredibly strong physical qualities, no needle—not even one made of Vibranium—would be able to pierce his skin. He'd have to drink it.
"Okay, we'll do it your way! Lily, hand the potion to Felix!" Tony sighed, a little exasperated. Such extreme physical fitness truly came with its own set of problems.
After watching Felix pour the potion directly into his mouth, Tony asked with –a mix of anticipation and nervousness, "How do you feel?"
"Mmm, this potion tastes good. A little sweet, actually." Felix smacked his lips, a hint of interest in his voice.
"I swear, who asked you about the taste?" Tony was speechless. He's drinking it like juice, but this is a superpower-mutating potion!
"I meant, are you feeling any special reactions in your body right now?"
"Oh! Don't say it, now that you mention it, a special sensation is starting to come over me!" A few seconds after drinking the potion, Felix felt an unusual warmth in his stomach spreading throughout his body. "Alright, you guys should step out now! I really want to focus on what this feels like."
"Okay, Felix, you have to hold on! Don't go crazy. I can't have this villa destroyed by you!" Tony's voice was sincere, as if his life depended on it, though his words almost made Felix jump. But after speaking, Tony quickly slipped out, joining everyone else to watch Felix's situation from outside.
Alone in the room, Felix calmed himself, closed his eyes, and began to carefully observe the changes within his body.
He felt a sudden feverish heat spreading through his body, as if his temperature was rapidly escalating. Yet, it wasn't uncomfortable like a typical fever. Instead, it was an incredibly pleasant sensation, akin to basking on the surface of the sun—a profound warmth that enveloped his entire being. Felix felt every cell in his body, as the temperature rose, becoming incredibly active and vibrant. They seemed to constantly split, then merge into new cells, repeating the process endlessly.
Throughout this, Felix experienced a tingling, itchy sensation, but it was far within his tolerance. Under these conditions, he could distinctly feel his body growing stronger, undergoing drastic changes with every passing second.
Felix was a little puzzled. Tony had mentioned severe pain, but he felt none. On the contrary, it was so comfortable he felt himself drifting off to sleep.
"Is this what it feels like to get stronger just by lying down? It's certainly captivating!" Thinking this, Felix found himself on the verge of falling asleep.
"His body temperature has actually exceeded a few hundred degrees Celsius? Is that really sustainable?"
As Felix was about to comfortably drift off inside, he remained unaware of the growing concern among those watching him from outside.
........
E/N : Please support me and read atleast 10 chapters ahead at my patreon for $5.
patreon.com/PrimorDious
I'll be really grateful and it would mean a lot to me. Thanks.