Pierce's apology was calm.
But it rang with finality.
On the other end of the line, Gwen blinked at the abruptly ended call, stunned for only a second before it hit her.
"Shit!"
She leapt off the couch barefoot, clutching Hawk's phone, and sprinted for the basement panic room.
Once again—she wasn't some naïve, helpless girl. She was a cop's daughter. Raised under George Stacy's stern eye, she grew up reading gun magazines and police reports for fun.
But this time, Gwen wasn't going to fight head-on.
First—because Hawk had told her not to. And she listened.
Second—because Hydra's move meant one thing: Hawk had chosen a side. He was stepping into the light. Becoming a hero. And she wasn't about to ruin his moment.
So…
Go be a hero, Hawk. Save the world.
She keyed in the code, locked down thirty-five mechanical locks, and finally exhaled in the safety of the underground shelter.
And she was right.
Pierce hung up and ordered his Hydra squad leader coldly: "Activate the teams. Take Gwen Stacy. This is our only chance. Succeed—or don't come back."
He knew Hawk was already moving east, burning through bases one by one, every five minutes another crimson flash.
Anna's betrayal exposed. Ophelia hanging up on him. And now his final gamble.
If the Helicarriers launched, Hydra would be untouchable. Not even gods could stop them.
Not even Hawk.
So yes—if Gwen could be taken, maybe he still had leverage.
But Pierce forgot one truth:
Gamblers always lose it all.
The Hydra squad leader reached for his phone to activate the strike teams stationed outside Gwen's home—
Bang!
Natasha moved.
Disguised as the Paris councilor, she sprang up, snapping an agent into an armbar and slamming him down. She tore his gun free and in the same motion put a round through the squad leader's head before he could fire.
The room exploded into violence.
She twisted, thighs crushing another man's windpipe as she fired on the rest. In seconds, four Hydra agents were down.
The Eastern councilor snatched up a weapon, leveling it at Pierce. "Don't move."
Pierce scowled, ignoring him, staring at Natasha as she tore away her mask and bared her true face.
"You disgust me, Pierce," she spat coldly.
And in her mind, she thought: he's desperate enough to try and kidnap the girl Hawk loves. Which means only one thing—Hawk has stopped watching. He's stepped in. And he's fighting for S.H.I.E.L.D.
Pierce only smiled faintly. "Natasha."
"Sorry," she said, gun steady, "your plan to use Gwen Stacy against Hawk just failed."
"It doesn't matter," Pierce murmured, turning to the vast windows.
The roar of engines filled the sky.
Three massive Helicarriers rose through the bay doors, climbing toward their positions.
On one, Steve Rogers fought desperately against the Winter Soldier.
And it was clear—Steve was holding back.
Natasha saw it too. Steve had learned the truth. The Winter Soldier was Bucky Barnes. His best friend. He couldn't bring himself to finish the fight.
Pierce's lips curled. "Vibranium shields. That's why we delayed the Insight program until now. Nothing short of Hawk can break them. Not even a god."
Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Then you should be worried. Hawk is on his way."
Pierce's expression faltered, silence hanging over him.
Then—
A crack of thunder split the sky.
Thor descended in a storm of lightning, Mjolnir crashing against a Helicarrier's command deck. The golden glow of its shield rippled, but held firm.
"Vibranium shields!" Natasha hissed.
"Yes," Pierce confirmed. "That's why Hawk is the only true threat."
And just then, Victoria Hand's voice came through Natasha's earpiece.
"Tony's arrived."
With a burst of red light, Iron Man streaked across the sky and landed hard on another Helicarrier.
"Jarvis, get me access," Tony said grimly.
"Already working on it, sir," came the reply.
Sharon's voice broke in, stunned. "Director, did you bring them here?"
"No," Hand answered. "Coulson reached Tony through Pepper. And Thor sensed Hawk's power in New Mexico—he followed him here."
Sharon's heart leapt. "Then Hawk's here too. Hawk's fighting."
"Yes," Hand said softly, watching the screens as base after base lit up, reclaimed by S.H.I.E.L.D. survivors. "Hawk is fighting for us now."
And in West Virginia, another S.H.I.E.L.D. base flickered online.
"This is Agent Jack Moss reporting—Phoenix just freed us!"
"Phoenix…"
Hand's eyes lit with hope. "Hold on. He's almost there."
"Not almost."
Natasha raised her gaze to the streak of rainbow light tearing through the horizon, her voice cold with certainty.
"He's already here."
She turned back to Pierce, her eyes like steel.
"Hawk's here. And you've lost."
…
(End of Chapter)
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