章節 110: The World Keeps On Spinning
POV Nick Fury
I was sitting in my office reading over some reports. I had a meeting scheduled to meet with Coulson. But something was off from these reports.
'Something isn't right but I can't tell what it is. These reports seem off for some reason. I can't risk sending any new agents to investigate these reports. I need more trustworthy and capable agents.'
I try to think of agents I can truly trust.
'Hmm, I have 3 people I can trust and they can't be everywhere at once. I can't help but feel the world has got so complicated recently. Maybe I should suggest the Avengers Initiative again. No, they will say no as they are giving us a lot of funding for Project Insight. That and I have only 3 possible candidates and 2 of them are unlikely to join.'
I hear a knocking at the door and I check the camera and see it is Coulson. I tell him to come in. He comes in and hands me several files.
Coulson: "The Team Galatic investigation has hit a wall. They have gone quiet and most agents we send to infiltrate either go missing or find nothing. We have exhausted all our leads but have found nothing."
Fury: "You think we have a mole?"
Coulson: "It's tough to say, sir. The massive data breach could be responsible but I won't deny that the repeated failures are unfortunate and a bit suspicious. All the things they stole have vanished and nothing has appeared n the black market. Which leads me to the next file."
Fury: "Team Rocket."
Coulson: "Yes sir. Our attempts to infiltrate them have failed. Our estimates suggest they control 60% of the entire world's underworld. Most likely more. The only places they haven't spread to are China, Russia, and parts of the Middle East. Kingpin has been confirmed to be working under Team Rocket in a tributary capacity. If a black market exists anywhere Team Rocket has majority control of it."
Fury: "Have we managed to get in contact with them?"
Coulson: "To some extent. We have managed to make contact with intermediaries. We have also bought info from them. So far the only way to not lose agents is if we don't attempt hostile actions against them. Every movement we make is known before we even act on it. I don't even think a single mole could be responsible for their intelligence capabilities."
Fury: "Then call off any additional hostile actions against them. We will have to wait. Now have we learned anything about who was responsible for the data breach or who took all our resources?"
Coulson: "We have no idea who is responsible. No one has claimed responsibility and we have found none of our items on any markets. Further, no evidence was left behind. It was as if everything was never there. Numerous assets we had have gone dark when we tried to reestablish contact with them. If I may speak freely sir."
Fury: "Go ahead."
Coulson: "We are barely managing to pay the agents. Our finances are under severe strain. The loss of all our files and data has just about broken the agency. Most of our funding is being redirected to Project Insight and many agents are looking to leave Shield. I think a more passive approach is necessary for our situation. If we don't the agency may not last another year."
I think about what he said and I sigh when I realize he is right.
Fury: "You are right we can't continue like this. My position as director is only remaining because Pierce has advocated for me. Shield is barely afloat. But we cannot stop what we are doing. But we can reduce some of our expenses. Let those who want to leave go. I will start balancing the books. Don't worry."
Coulson: "Thank you, sir. Now the next file is on the death of Peggy Carter. Our investigation has led us to a dead end. She was cremated as was in her will. As far as official records go she died of natural causes. We have looked for any foul play and found none."
Fury: "Sigh. If there were any foul play they wouldn't learn anything. Her Alzheimer's was already too advanced. I can only hope she died peacefully. Next report."
Coulson: "Our agents have tried to apprehend the one called Senor Cleanfist. They failed and our most recent reports say he has disappeared like the Red Menace. We have found no records of who he was or where he came from. Included is the calculated property damage he is responsible for."
Fury: "812 Million? He was only around for maybe a month how could he have done so much damage?"
Coulson: "We have estimated his powers. Teleportation, Cleaning Damage, Flight, Super Strength, Super Durability, and Bubble Manipulation. His cleaning abilities can be used even if he doesn't make contact directly. His top speed has been calculated at just under Mach 1. We were unable to get a maximum strength calculation as nothing we did made him go all out."
Fury: "Sigh. Are we able to at least confirm he is gone?"
Coulson: "We are 98% certain. If he is still around then someone must have the capability to keep him contained."
Fury: "Good enough. Have we found out who is the leader of the ICA?"
Coulson: "No sir. All we have found out is they have a strong relationship with Team Rocket as they are allowed to continue existing in their territory. We have also heard rumors that the Red Room is trying to negotiate with the ICA."
Fury: "And what about this Agent 47 I have been hearing about."
Coulson: "We don't know much sir. Just that his is extremely lethal and leaves no evidence behind. We have compiled a list of possible targets he has eliminated. The most prominent possible target was the former leader of the KGB. The man died in what could be called an accident. He accidentally drowned in his bathtub. 2 Widows supposedly protected him."
Fury: "Accidentally drowned in his bathtub?"
Coulson: "That is the official story. Getting more info is proving difficult due to the Civil War."
Fury: "Next report."
Coulson: "Bruce Banner has disappeared. No traces have been found as to where he has gone. The agents watching him have reported nothing unusual. They also show no signs of being tampered with. The apartment Banner was staying in is untouched and there are no signs of struggle or leaving in a rush."
Fury: "He can't just disappear. He is smart but not in that way. He has no resources. No one can force him to leave or else the big guy would cause a scene. He has to show up again. We just have to be patient. Keep an ear out and send a request to Team Rocket and the ICA if you have to. Just make sure when he reappears we find him."
Coulson: "Yes sir. The next report is on an individual with great prospects to become an agent."
I look at the file.
Coulson: "The man is called Nick Valentine. He has a perfect record for all the cases he takes. He also assists the Boston Police in several cases. His deductive capabilities are extraordinary. The reports also show he is an expert marksman. The last piece of info I thought you might find interesting is the possibility he has powers."
Fury: "This file only has speculation as to the possibility he has powers nothing we can say for certain. Why include it if we don't have concrete info?"
Coulson: "Normally I would dismiss the rumors but I think that the intelligence of Mr. Valentine shows he may be hiding them by making them seem like nothing but rumors. The man is brilliant. I think it is feasible he could be hiding such capabilities."
Fury: "Keep tabs on him but no surveillance. Next?"
Coulson: "We have recieved an estimate from LexCorp for the cost of equipping our vehicles to run on Water. It is the 7th file."
I look at the price and I try to calculate if we could afford it.
'If I pull some strings I might be able to convince some Senators to support the legalization of the water-fueled engines. No, those lobbyists will never allow that. Maybe I can convince them to legalize government vehicles.'
Fury: "Tell LexCorp we will consider the price. For now, we will continue using our current vehicles. That being said give this to Mr. Luthor. No one else can see what is inside understood."
Coulson: "Yes sir."
Fury: "Has Ms. Legalis answered our inquiry?"
Coulson: "Yes, she said she can build a vault for us. She has asked to get specifics for what you want. She also said that the vault will be constructed using Techno Union droids."
Nick: "Good I will discuss it with her in person. Have we learned how Jinn Enterprises is cleaning up all that trash?"
Coulson: "No, their security is done by the Techno Union, and as such all our attempts have failed. We have also failed to learn what they do with all the material they collect. We can say that some are sold to numerous companies. However, little is known of how much exactly is being exchanged as most of those companies are private."
Nick: "Hmm, offer Mr. Jinn a price for his tech. Otherwise, just watch for now and we will wait for an opportunity to obtain the tech. Now have we learned anything about the disappearance?"
Coulson: "Intelligence agencies and police around the world have compiled a list of disappearances. The current estimates put the missing people at 4 Million low estimation and 8 Million at most. Most people reported missing have been confirmed to be awful people. I didn't know there were that many bad people on Earth."
Fury: "How bad?"
Coulson: "An alarming amount of the disappearances had lots of pedophilic content on their computers or in physical form. Almost 800k cold cases have been solved thanks to collecting the DNA of the missing people from their homes. Almost everyone that has been investigated was found to be responsible for the most heinous of crimes."
Fury: "But not everyone?"
Coulson: "No, not everyone. That is also why the estimates are so vast we can't determine who is a normal disappearance and who is connected with this mass vanishing."
I think back to the recent visitor to my safehouse.
Fury: "I want you to investigate myths and legends around Krampus."
Coulson: "The evil Santa that takes away naughty children?"
Fury: "Yes, with the clear existence of Santa Claus then it opens the doors to other possibilities. I know in some cultures Krampus is not evil and instead punishes evil. Also, reinvestigate those who are innocent. I think we will find something if we dig hard enough."
Coulson: "If this is the work of Krampus what will we do?"
Fury: "I am not sure. We don't know what kind of abilities he has nor do we know if he is evil. So far the vast majority of missing people were scum the worst of the worst. Is he a threat to Earth or is he a natural part of our planet? Of course, this is only my speculation but I doubt it could have been the work of Team Rocket."
Coulson: "Yes, it is unlikely Team Rocket was behind it. We have hundreds of reports of people going to be with their spouses only for them to vanish before the morning comes. No signs of forced entry, a struggle, and no noise complaints. Team Rocket can make bodies disappear but they are never this quiet. Nor have they shown the capability to infiltrate and kidnap so many people without anyone noticing. Even we couldn't do it."
Fury: "My thoughts exactly. Was that the last report?"
Coulson: "Yes sir."
Nick: "You have your tasks."
As Coulson leaves I reread the file on Nick Valentine and contemplate if he could be a candidate.
'I will need more info. The psyche profile seems to suggest he is a good person who takes on any job regardless of the price that can be offered. Maybe, just maybe.'
-------------------
Authors Note:
Another chapter of what Shield is doing. The agents wishing to leave are not the Hydra agents. Also, Senor Cleanfist was glossed over as I already did a whole Kool-Aid thing and Senor Cleanfist is not nearly as unstoppable as Kool-Aid. Shield is still surviving but mostly thanks to Hydra needing them to exist. Fury might reach out to Valentine but it is unlikely that it would amount to anything. Until Next Time Ciao.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票