Federal Bureau of Investigation's Top-Secret Warehouse — "The Fridge."
A confidential facility tucked away in a classified location. Only agents with Level 7 clearance and up even know how to get there.
The Fridge is where most 084 items are stored awaiting research—along with a surprising number of "problematic guests" in indefinite detention.
If the Legends hadn't shown up when they did, Dante would've shipped Captain Cold, Heat Wave, and Constantine here personally.
Due to The Fridge's overkill-level external defenses and the less-people-know-the-better policy—it was always staffed with the bare minimum.
Just enough boots to keep the lights on.
So when HYDRA made a surprise move on FBI HQ, Coulson followed Dante's prior orders (and Fury's general paranoia) and evacuated everyone except Steve Rogers to The Fridge for backup.
Which, shocker, turned out to be exactly the right call.
Because right at the start of the war between the U.S. Federal Bureau and HYDRA, John Garrett took a portion of HYDRA's forces that should've attacked the main HQ…
…and rerouted them to The Fridge instead.
Five hundred HYDRA soldiers.
Four Winter Soldiers.
His plan?
Smoke and mirrors.
"Damn it! Open the door, quick! Coulson, you want us to die out here?!"
John Garrett and his HYDRA agents—still cosplaying as FBI field agents—hunkered behind cover, shouting over the roar of gunfire from a heavily armed HYDRA chopper above.
And yes, the chopper had an obnoxiously huge HYDRA logo on it. Subtlety was dead.
Inside the vault, an agent posted behind Coulson was watching this chaotic scene unfold on the external monitor, looking increasingly tense.
Because per Fury's orders, Coulson had full command of The Fridge until further notice.
That said, the veteran agent guarding the door wasn't fooled.
He watched Garrett's overacted "save us!" scene play out like it was a badly staged highway accident.
Still, the moment Garrett's cover was nearly wiped out and bullets started flying closer to the lens, the guard cracked.
He stepped forward, bypassing Coulson.
"Sorry, sir, but we can't just stand here and let our own die—AH!"
Before he could hit the "open" button, he was smacked into the wall like a button.
"Nope. Buddy. Are you insane?" Dante's voice cut through the tension as he strolled up behind him. "If you're the guy who opens the door to a top-secret vault without orders, especially in a situation like this—congrats. You just bought yourself a lifetime of suspicion. Best-case scenario? You get flagged as a HYDRA sleeper and end up in here yourself."
"Dante?! When did you get here?! What about the main battlefield?"
"Handled. Mostly. We're just sweeping up now." Dante narrowed his eyes at the screen showing Garrett's "performance." A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face. "See? I was right to have you guard The Fridge. John Garrett went full theater kid to give you something to watch. Man's dedicated."
Also missing from this performance?
Grant Ward.
Ward was a classic opportunist. When Garrett held all the cards, he played loyal. But the second Dante entered the scene?
He was gone.
Because he knew that against Dante, Garrett's plans were as good as dead on arrival.
And Ward? Ward never did meaningless things.
Because dying for a failed plan?
That wasn't profitable.
So Garrett, nearing the end of his own tragic arc, was left with five hundred soldiers, four Winter Soldiers, and no allies.
Still, this last-ditch push for The Fridge should've worked.
Coulson was in charge, after all.
And Captain America? Still out fighting on the main front.
So all that stood in Garrett's way were Melinda May, Green Arrow, and Deadpool.
Sure, each had their own rep.
But still in the realm of "normal humans."
Garrett had the numbers. He had the firepower.
It should've been enough.
"Coulson! Damn it, don't hesitate! Don't you trust me anymore?!"
Garrett was now screaming with authentic panic, crouched behind what little cover remained as the HYDRA chopper continued laying down actual firepower.
The hail of bullets? Real.
The explosions? Real.
Garrett was actually pinned.
"Coulson," Skye called out, running over with her laptop in hand. "I tapped into remote surveillance. Garrett's bringing in HYDRA, and—wait, Dante?!"
She stopped, blinking in surprise and visible relief as she saw him standing beside Coulson.
Dante and Coulson exchanged a look.
Time to end this little show.
Dante nodded to Skye. "Open the door."
She didn't know what Dante was planning.
But she didn't hesitate.
Click.
The door hissed open.
Garrett and his squad ran in like desperate survivors.
"Phew—my God, Coulson! I thought you were really pulling a Fury move and gonna leave me to die out there!"
Garrett exhaled dramatically, straightening up.
He turned, ready to drop the charade and make his move…
…and froze.
Because standing behind Coulson…
Were Skye.
And Dante.
"Agent John Garrett," Dante said pleasantly, "nice to see you."
"Agent Dante… weren't you at HQ?"
"Oh? Garrett, weren't you being hunted down by HYDRA on your way here? Kinda weird you're keeping up with my location mid-escape. What's the matter? Concerned about me? Or just afraid I'd show up?"
"I think there's been some misunderstanding—"
"Yeah, let's not get sidetracked. I actually have something I need your help with."
"…What would that be?"
"I got intel that HYDRA agents have infiltrated The Fridge."
"HYDRA?! Here? No way!" Garrett's performance shifted into shocked denial. "Even this place has been compromised?!"
"Well, yeah. HYDRA being 'everywhere' is kinda their brand. They're trash, but they're sneaky."
Dante stepped closer, smile unchanging.
"So obviously we can't waste time. We need to eliminate these HYDRA moles before they grab any 084s."
"Yes, I agree—"
FLASH.
Lightning flared.
And just like that, in two blinks—
Every HYDRA agent who entered with Garrett hit the ground.
Dead.
Single-strike kills.
Not even time to scream.
Skye and Coulson barely processed what had happened. All they saw was a silver blur and the bodies dropping.
When the flash cleared…
Only two people were still standing:
Dante.
And John Garrett.
"You… you just attacked and killed FBI agents! Are you HYDRA?!"
Garrett raised his pistol in a shaky hand.
Dante didn't flinch.
He just gave him that same easygoing smile.
"Oh, please. You really missed your calling. You could've been a Broadway actor. But let's cut the crap, 'Clairvoyant.' You're the HYDRA rat here."
He reached out and tapped Garrett's chest with a single finger.
Calm.
Bright-eyed.
Like they were chatting over coffee, not standing in a vault full of corpses.
"I—"
"Shhh." Dante held a finger to his lips. "Don't argue. Bad lies are embarrassing."
He stared straight into Garrett's eyes.
"I actually get you, though. I do. Who doesn't want to stay alive longer? You're the Death Soldier prototype. Just one Extremis injection away from dying, right?"
"…How do you know that?!"
"Oh? The all-knowing 'Clairvoyant' is suddenly surprised?"
Dante looked mock-shocked.
Then he grabbed Garrett by the back of the neck and dragged him to the door, pressing his face to the transparent glass.
Outside, the full HYDRA force had assembled—Winter Soldiers and foot soldiers alike—waiting for Garrett's go signal to storm in.
Dante smirked.
And calmly pressed his palm to the main door—
Opening a portal.
It was massive.
The Winter Soldiers tensed immediately.
None of them knew what the hell that glowing vortex was—but it was big, weird, and loud. That was enough to raise every red flag.
They entered battle-ready mode instantly.
Too bad…
It wouldn't help.
"ROOOAAARRRR!"
A deafening howl erupted from the portal.
A beam of molten, blood-red flame shot out, thick as a tree trunk.
The four Winter Soldiers dodged just in time, but the HYDRA grunts behind them?
Not so lucky.
And then—
Hulk stepped through.
Wearing a red-and-black battlesuit, eyes blazing.
His mouth still oozing molten rage-flame.
Every breath he took sent out steam and heatwaves.
Dante, casually watching the panic outside, leaned close to Garrett's ear—
"My favorite thing in the world…"
He smiled.
"…is watching arrogant pricks die with their eyes wide open."
"Happy Death Day, John Garrett."
(To be continued.)
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