Just like before, Tony took out a syringe and injected Marcus with another dose of his specially formulated suppressant. But this time, there was something a little different about it.
[You have been injected with Tony Stark's custom anesthetic. Current effects: Total power seal, physical weakness, and emotional suppression.]
[Duplicate compound detected — analyzing structure...]
[Deconstruction complete. Generating antibodies… 50% complete. Immunity achievable with two additional doses.]
The corners of Marcus's lips curved slightly.
He knew it—no drug could restrain him forever.
'Two more injections,' he thought. 'Then this little trick of Stark's won't work anymore.'
And when that day came... Tony Stark's brilliance wouldn't save him.
---
Tony's luxury car—worth more than most people would earn in a lifetime—pulled smoothly out of his underground garage. With Marcus sitting quietly in the passenger seat, the billionaire drove toward the meeting location he'd arranged with Nick Fury and Captain America.
After an hour and a half on the road, around 9:30 a.m., the car arrived at a secluded country villa on the outskirts of New York. For someone as flamboyant as Tony Stark, this hideout was remarkably low-key.
The moment they opened the door, raised voices came from inside.
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a blue uniform emblazoned with the American flag was arguing heatedly with a dark-skinned man in a sharp suit and an eyepatch.
There was no mistaking them—Captain America and Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The two men were often seen as pillars of human defense, leading the Avengers against countless otherworldly threats. But at that moment, their partnership was clearly strained.
"You forbade me from joining the operation in Queens, Nick!" Captain America's voice thundered through the room. "People are dying, and you're keeping me grounded?!"
Fury's tone was flat, but his one good eye burned with authority. "You need to understand what we're dealing with, Rogers. The pathogen uses human DNA as a host—it mutates with every infection. You, Captain, are a genetically enhanced soldier. If you were infected and the virus adapted to the serum in your veins… we wouldn't just lose New York. You'd doom seven billion people."
"You should've told me that!" Rogers shot back, his voice shaking with anger. "Instead, you wait until Hawkeye's taken out of commission to explain yourself?!"
"If you didn't charge into every situation like a damn crusader, I wouldn't have to!" Fury retorted.
Before the argument could escalate further, Tony stepped in with a sigh. "Hey, hey, gentlemen—easy. It's too early for testosterone contests. Cap, Fury's just doing his job, and Fury, maybe don't yell at the living embodiment of American idealism in front of company, huh?"
Both men turned, finally noticing Marcus standing quietly by the door.
Fury immediately stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "So—you're the ex-Hydra assassin who escaped the facility?"
"That's right," Marcus replied calmly.
Fury nodded once. "Originally, I only planned to question you about the outbreak in Queens. But according to Stark, there's something bigger at play here. You claim Hydra has infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.—I want to know exactly what you mean."
He was right to be cautious. If S.H.I.E.L.D. was compromised from within, they couldn't hope to manage the virus crisis at all. Internal corruption had to be purged before they could face external threats.
"There are more Hydra agents inside S.H.I.E.L.D. than you'd like to admit," Marcus said evenly. "I don't know most of their names—but one of them, the deepest infiltrator of all, is someone you'd recognize."
He paused, letting the silence build before he spoke the name.
"Alexander Pierce. Member of the World Security Council."
Fury stiffened. For a man who rarely showed emotion, his reaction was immediate and visceral. "Pierce? You're serious?"
"Quite," Marcus said. "Though you should be relieved—he's not the director anymore."
Fury's jaw tightened. He took a long breath before exhaling heavily. "Fine. I'll look into it. But tell me—what about the virus? Is it connected to Hydra?"
Marcus nodded. "Yes. I've heard rumors of a research division in Eastern Europe—specifically, in Sokovia. If you investigate there, you'll find what you're looking for."
Everything Marcus said was drawn directly from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own history—truths buried in the Marvel timeline. Sokovia did house a Hydra base at one point. And whether or not they could breach it was no concern of his.
The more chaos that erupted between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, the more time his undead army would have to grow.
"Captain," Fury said after a moment's thought, "why don't you take our guest outside for some fresh air? I need a word with Stark."
Rogers didn't look thrilled, but he complied, leading Marcus out to the porch while Fury and Tony remained behind.
As soon as they were alone, Fury slumped into a chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Rough week?" Tony quipped, sitting opposite him. "You look like hell, Nick."
Fury shot him a glare. "You'd look the same if you were running a global defense network infested with Nazi leftovers."
Tony shrugged. "Fair. But you really trust that kid? For all we know, he's playing both sides."
"If what he said about Pierce is true," Fury replied grimly, "then he's not lying. Hydra wouldn't sacrifice a name that important just to earn our trust."
Tony's smirk faded. The gravity in Fury's tone was unmistakable.
"So, what now?" he asked. "The military's launching a full-scale assault on Queens in three days. You can't exactly pull S.H.I.E.L.D. out of it."
"I know," Fury muttered, staring out the window at Marcus talking with Rogers in the yard. "But sending compromised agents into battle will only get more people killed. If Hydra's behind this outbreak, then we might end up fighting for them without even realizing it."
Tony frowned. "You're saying we need to clean house first. In three days? That's insane."
Fury looked back at him, his single eye hard as steel. "Insane or not, it's the only option we have."
He rose from his seat, his voice low but resolute.
"If we can't find the traitors in time… then we'll purge everyone."
Tony blinked. "You can't be serious."
Fury's expression didn't change. "I'm dead serious. If Hydra's buried inside S.H.I.E.L.D., then I'd rather burn the whole damn building down than let them win."
His final words hung heavy in the air.
"Better to kill a thousand by mistake… than let one slip through."
____
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