Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Nick Fury sat in his office, the commander of the world's greatest secret service, S.H.I.E.L.D. The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division was formed in the wake of World War II to combat threats beyond the capabilities of conventional military forces. Initially, S.H.I.E.L.D. was created to counteract the rising threat of HYDRA, a rogue Nazi science division led by the enigmatic Red Skull. Over the years, S.H.I.E.L.D. had grown into an international peacekeeping and spy agency, successfully defeating HYDRA's various schemes and protecting the world from numerous global threats.
Yet here he was, once more at the helm of another emergence—a potential individual who had managed to pique his interest. It all started five weeks ago when a powerful energy surge was detected in New York during an attack by the Masters of Evil on the Avengers. Fury had immediately dispatched a convoy to intercept and perform damage control while the Avengers handled the threat posed by Baron Zemo, an old member of HYDRA known for his cunning and resourcefulness.
Fury's thoughts drifted. ' His schemes have caused us more headaches than I care to count.'
To his surprise, the fight ended quickly and was contained, with casualties kept to a surprisingly low number. When Fury arrived at the scene of the battle, he was met with a cityscape that was either destroyed or leveled. Buildings were reduced to rubble, streets were torn apart, and the air was thick with smoke and the scent of burnt concrete. Black Widow, expecting the casualties to be in the thousands, informed him that they were remarkably fewer—only fifty-three.
'Only fifty-three casualties in a battle of that scale… Unbelievable,' Fury thought. The cause was a seemingly ordinary teenage boy with white hair and extraordinary powers.
Flashback: Natasha's Briefing
Fury remembered the briefing with Natasha Romanoff vividly.
"This is Satoru Gojo," Natasha began, displaying a holographic image of a white-haired teenager. "He's not your average kid. Witnesses say he took down several members of the Masters of Evil single-handedly. His powers are… unique."
"Define 'unique,'" Fury demanded.
"Teleportation, Telepathy, immense physical strength, and some kind of energy manipulation as heat emission from his eyes with a temperature measuring up to 3000 degrees. He was able to repel attacks that would normally level entire blocks so telekinesis," Natasha explained.
Fury's mind raced. 'Extraordinary powers indeed. But why is he under the Avengers' protection?'
A group that he unsurprisingly was not on the greatest terms with at the moment and couldn't afford to offend. Tony Stark's investment in the boy was particularly concerning. Stark had gone as far as to erase most of the battle footage, leaving only a few blurred clips.
'Damned telepath would be able to uncover any of his operatives from a hundred miles away.'
Fury's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on his door. He pinched his nose in annoyance when he saw who it was. "Come in."
Maria Hill casually walked into the room; her grin indicated the absence of trouble. "Report," Fury commanded.
"We got him, Sir," Maria announced. She projected a holographic screen towards Fury. "Satellite feed shows that he is currently back and alone in New York. We won't get a better opportunity than this."
"Do we know where he's heading?" Fury asked.
"He's been seen making his way to Stark Tower, but he seems to have taken a detour to a burger shop and has been there for the last half-hour, probably looking for something to eat." They watched as Gojo stopped in front of a burger shop, entered the queue, and waited patiently while making faces at a baby in front of him.
Fury typed a few words on his terminal, and the CCTV of the burger shop appeared on the screen. Maria could see that he was evaluating his options. She wondered what he would choose—a hit squad, an agent, or a personal visit.
Fury muttered, "Get me Widow. I have a mission for her."
"Sir, I'm afraid Widow is currently on a mission in Spain," Maria reminded him. "Why not use Agent Carter? She is better equipped to handle such a mission."
Fury gazed at her for a moment, remembering Sharon Carter had just returned from a mission in Germany. Agent Morse was also free right now. "Very well, task Agent Carter with the mission."
Maria looked at her commander with wide eyes. Though he would not say it directly, he was giving her full control of the op. She bowed, "Right away, sir."
Fury watched as she walked towards the door. "And Maria," he called out. She stopped by the door. "Make sure to inform Carter of what he is capable of and give her the prototype band to keep her mind protected." She nodded and exited the room.
Gojo had returned to New York, planning to give his thanks to Tony for helping him keep his secret. Exploring New York City at night was a completely different experience from the day. It seemed like all the wrong kinds of people decided it was time to venture out. He found himself in a part of New York that seemed untouched by the battle over a month ago. The familiar scent of burgers cooking on a grill and the sweet aroma of smoothies caught his attention as he stopped in front of a burger shop.
'This smells amazing,' he thought, his mouth watering. He entered the queue, patiently waiting while making faces at a baby girl in front of him. The baby giggled, and Gojo felt a silly sense of pride.
'Victory is mine,' he thought, feeling a bit silly but content.
"How can I help you?" the guy at the counter asked gently.
"Can I have a double cheeseburger with extra bacon, a side of large fries, and a strawberry milkshake," Gojo ordered, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
The guy raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can eat all that?"
Gojo grinned. "Hehehehe, don't worry. I'm feeling victorious, so I'd win against the burgers."
The guy laughed. "Whatever you say, chief." He disappeared into the back to prepare the order.
Gojo looked around the shop and saw dozens of couples conversing and eating. He wondered how they could be so blissfully ignorant of the crimes and villains terrorizing the city. The brief screeching of the chair beside him caught his attention as a woman sat down.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
Gojo turned to see a beautiful woman with a sleek figure and a confident smile. She had a circular hairband around her forehead that caught his interest. 'Hmm, interesting,' he thought.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone