Wanda frowned.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked cautiously.
"Nothing, it's just faith," she replied.
"Faith?"
"Yes, I feel it," Wanda said, "Everyone inside shares a faith."
Although the information did not seem crucial, Steve did not dismiss it: he kept it in mind in case it became useful later.
In front of them stood the Midland Circle Financial, a corporate skyscraper in Manhattan. It was not just the main base of The Hand: it was directly above the location where, according to intelligence, they planned to plant the bombs. Anyone would have assumed that the organization had already fled.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surprise, and then that of the Avengers who received the report, was immense: they had not only stayed; the only one remaining was Alexandra Reid, the leader of The Hand and the visible head of the Five Fingers.
Alexandra, unlike the other Fingers, had no martial or mystical skills beyond her immortality. Her role was to direct and strategize for the organization. That is why most of the members present in the country answered to her, and their loyalty was only comparable to the devotion they had for the legend of Black Sky. Alexandra believed in Black Sky, and she, who had shaped all these ninjas, had passed her faith on to them.
Sam, Gwen, Steve, and Wanda entered the building. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Gwen sensed danger: she did not have to search long to locate the source. Around them were dispensers releasing a colorless, odorless gas, perfectly distributed. Gwen covered them one by one until her spider sense stopped vibrating and they were able to move further inside.
As expected, ninjas appeared. But with this group ,Wanda, Steve, Sam, and Gwen, making their way through was relatively easy. Still, when they finally reached the top, they were surprised: suddenly everything began to shake, and Gwen's spider sense went off sharply.
Wanda extended her magic throughout the building and within seconds realized what had happened: four bombs had detonated beneath the building, fracturing the foundations. Jumping out of a window, Wanda carried the group to the site of the disaster. There stood Alexandra. According to the original plan, the area had not completely collapsed; but the whole building leaned dangerously: in Leonardo's painting the explosion was even more dramatic, though what they saw was already enough to create enormous chaos.
Wanda held up the structure, preventing it from collapsing, meticulously repairing it piece by piece. While she focused on this titanic task, a bolt of electricity was fired at her: Steve intercepted it with his shield and stopped it before it hit.
Taking advantage of Wanda's immobility, the nearby ninjas attacked fiercely. Gwen immobilized most of them with precise web shots; those who came too close, she took out with accurate blows. Sam used his aerial advantage to knock several enemies down without taking damage. Steve faced Elektra in hand-to-hand combat: her attacks were agile and evasive thanks to her electricity, but the shield blocked many of her attempts; when the fight turned to close combat, Steve dominated clearly. After an exchange, he knocked her out and turned to help his teammates against the waves of ninjas.
The battle lasted more than half an hour until most of the attackers had fallen. Exhausted, Steve questioned Wanda, and she nodded in response.
"I can hold it," she said, "but I can't move. If I do, everything will destabilize."
"Protect her," Steve ordered, looking at Sam, "Gwen and I will go after Alexandra."
"Okay," Sam replied.
Beneath the sinkhole in the ground, Gwen and Steve found Alexandra digging with her hands, desperate. Steve raised his voice.
"Give up."
Alexandra did not respond. Instead, she pulled out a weapon and fired. Gwen dodged the bullets easily; Steve took cover behind his shield. Alexandra muttered, desperately:
"No… so close."
"Is that it?" Gwen asked, confused, "Wasn't she supposed to be the 'smart one'?"
"She's desperate," Steve replied, "In this state she stops being a problem… and becomes something more dangerous."
But Alexandra, ignoring his words, continued digging. Gwen's spider sense vibrated violently, and pulling Steve back, she leapt: an explosion had just gone off where they had been seconds before. Gwen released Steve, spun in the air, and shot a web behind her; half a second later, the area where she had been exploded, but the detonation was contained within the web.
"Aghhhh," Gwen looked away toward the source of the noise.
Steve was trapped in an electric trap: a network of energy immobilized him. Gwen tried to free him, but the electricity ran along her threads and struck her. She released the web she had shot and dodged the next strike coming from behind.
"Weren't you supposed to not fight?" Gwen shouted at Alexandra.
"Not fighting doesn't mean I don't know how," Alexandra replied, attacking without pause.
Gwen stepped back, realizing she was approaching the electric trap; she tried to go around it, but Alexandra was waiting there with a prepared strike. Gwen, with no other option, responded with an attack: a single strike, almost without holding back. Alexandra retreated several meters and spat blood. Despite being at death's door, she showed no desperation; a fierce smile appeared on her face.
"If I die, I will take you with me," she said.
She pulled a controller from her pocket.
"Are you crazy?" Gwen shouted, "That will kill everyone on your side too."
"No," Alexandra replied, "As long as Black Sky lives, The Hand will rise and rule the world."
Gwen shot trying to grab the device, but Alexandra was faster: she pressed the button.
Nothing happened. Silence filled the void left by the contained detonation; Alexandra looked at her hand fearfully and exclaimed:
"Why isn't it working?"
A voice came from behind them.
"Because I already deactivated the bombs."
Turning around, Alexandra was surprised: Elektra was there.
"Black Sky? How? You shouldn't be here," Alexandra said, confused.
"I didn't like your plan, so I changed it," Elektra replied.
"How long have you been out of my control?" Alexandra asked.
"Longer than you imagine," Elektra answered.
Elektra placed her palm on Alexandra's head and sent an electric bolt that killed her instantly. Gwen and Steve stared, stunned. Elektra approached the electric trap holding Steve and deactivated it effortlessly using her powers.
Steve, finally free, breathed heavily before speaking.
"Thank you, miss…"
"Elektra Natchios" she introduced herself.
"Elektra Natchios. Should I assume there's a reason you helped us?" Steve asked.
Elektra gave a cold smile.
"I like brilliant minds, Steve Rogers. I want to propose a deal: between The Avengers… and The Hand."
---
Somewhere hidden in the world, Elektra sat around a round table. Around her were three figures: a young red-haired woman, a black-haired woman, and a white-haired man. An audio projection floated in the air; the voices were clear:
["You say you want to control global crime?"
"That's right. It is impossible to eradicate crime worldwide. You can chase supervillains and major criminals, but petty thefts, serial killers, rapes… cannot be completely eliminated."
"And what do you propose?"
"If you cannot eradicate them, then control them. All crime under rules."
"Controlled chaos."
"Exactly."
"And how do I know you can handle The Hand?"
"Most members follow Alexandra and believe in Black Sky. I am Black Sky. Without the Fingers, most will follow me. And when they see all crime under my command, they will be absolutely loyal to me."
…
...One year…
…
...they will be under control..."]
After a long exchange, the deal was sealed. Steve silently agreed.
"Does this mean I'm in?" Elektra asked.
Leonardo, seated across from her, nodded.
"Yes. Congratulations: welcome to the Illuminati."
______________________________________
+15 chapters in advance on Patreon.
p-atreon.com/IAMME26
(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)