After nearly an hour's drive, Marcus arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion headquarters — a towering, cylindrical structure overlooking the sea. Beside it floated an enormous vessel that dominated the horizon: a massive airborne helicarrier, easily weighing over one hundred thousand tons. Suspended in the air like an alien warship, its shadow alone could strike fear into anyone below. Compared to it, even the mighty Triskelion looked like a child's toy.
It was no wonder that in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Fury claimed that just three of these airborne carriers could control the entire world. Armed with nuclear weapons and cloaked in cutting-edge stealth technology, they were practically invincible — the difference between S.H.I.E.L.D.'s power and that of a conventional military was like that between humanity and an alien invasion force.
More importantly, this was the birthplace of the Avengers Initiative — and now, its operational headquarters.
The one sent to receive Marcus was none other than the Black Widow herself, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s master spy and the Avengers' most dangerous seductress. Every step she took carried a deliberate, sensual grace — perhaps meant to test him. Unfortunately for her, Marcus had no interest in a woman who would sell her soul, body, and loyalty for the sake of a mission.
"You're alone?" she asked smoothly. "Where's Tony?"
Marcus noticed she wasn't surprised by his arrival without Stark. That alone told him everything — she already knew about the tension surrounding Tony's parents' deaths. She was merely keeping up appearances.
"He didn't want to come," Marcus replied evenly. "Didn't tell me why."
Her lips curved faintly, though her eyes remained cold. "Let's hope he doesn't make any bad choices. Alright, follow me."
Every word out of her mouth felt deliberate — as if each syllable carried two meanings. Marcus couldn't read whether it was genuine concern or just another part of her act. She led him into a small jet transport, a sleek hovercraft that lifted them from the Triskelion's runway into the clouds, toward the colossal helicarrier.
As they approached, Marcus could finally appreciate its true magnitude. Its structure mirrored that of a conventional aircraft carrier — twin decks lined with fighter jets, a towering superstructure filled with control towers and radar dishes, and four enormous turbine engines the size of city blocks. These colossal rotors kept the entire warship suspended in midair, hurling cyclones of compressed air beneath it.
"Welcome to our flying fortress."
That was the first thing Nick Fury said when Marcus stepped off the transport. Even the perpetually grim Director couldn't conceal the pride in his voice. The helicarrier truly was a marvel — a fortress in the sky, armed to the teeth and shielded from detection.
Of course, Marcus knew its history all too well. In the first Avengers incident, one mind-controlled Hawkeye and a handful of commandos had nearly brought the entire ship down. And this time, it was about to face a threat far worse — one standing right before him.
"Let's head inside," Marcus said calmly, following Fury into the command deck. None of them realized they were letting a wolf walk right through the front door.
The command center was built like a grand amphitheater, filled with rows of computer stations manned by dozens of officers. Their tense expressions and rapid reports made it clear this wasn't a training drill — this was an active combat deployment.
"Propulsion systems check complete! Hovering stable!"
"Power output rising to eight percent — preparing for full acceleration!"
"All stations ready for launch sequence!"
"Engaging full-speed mode!"
Once everything was in order, Fury took his position at the central control platform and raised his hand. "Activate S.H.I.E.L.D. Emergency Protocol 19.6. Engage Reflective Panels! Operation codename: Decapitation. Begin the mission!"
A pulse of blue energy swept through the ship. One by one, glowing hexagonal plates spread across the helicarrier's hull until the entire structure shimmered and vanished from sight. Within seconds, the massive warship had disappeared completely — leaving not even a shadow on the ocean below.
"Reflective panel system engaged. Vessel is now fully cloaked," reported Deputy Director Maria Hill crisply.
"Good," Fury said, turning to face Marcus and the others — Captain America, Thor, Bruce Banner, and Black Widow. "Operation Decapitation has officially begun. Until it concludes, I'll need your full cooperation. No external communication. No departures. You'll remain on board until further notice."
Though his words were directed at the whole group, Marcus knew the message was meant for him alone.
After eliminating Hydra's infiltrators within S.H.I.E.L.D. the day before, Fury finally felt confident enough to contain Marcus — the so-called "Hydra Slayer" whose background still reeked of suspicion. That was the real reason for this meeting. Fury wasn't inviting Marcus to join the Avengers; he was putting him under observation and house arrest aboard the most secure facility in the world.
Marcus smiled faintly. "I'm happy to cooperate."
Everything was unfolding exactly as he'd predicted. Let Fury think he was being cautious — it only helped Marcus's cover. With another body still active outside, he could continue his plans without interruption. And now, by playing along, he could both erase suspicion and embed himself deeper within the Avengers' ranks.
Two birds with one stone.
He scanned the heroes around him. Present were Captain America, Thor, Bruce Banner, and Natasha Romanoff — but not Hawkeye, War Machine, or Falcon. It seemed the more conventional heroes had been deployed elsewhere.
Captain America was the first to approach him, offering a handshake and a warm smile. "Good to see you, Marcus. I'm glad you agreed to join us. Whatever happened before — that's behind us now. You're one of us, and we're grateful for your help during the Hydra raid."
Marcus noted the choice of words carefully. "One of the heroes," not "one of the Avengers."
Steve Rogers wasn't the manipulative type — which meant the phrasing came straight from Fury's playbook. Another subtle probe. Another test.
Marcus's smile didn't falter.
'So, another round of games, is it? Fine by me.'
After all, he already had a trump card: the Winter Soldier, his hidden piece still deep within Hydra's ranks. Whatever questions Fury had, Marcus would make sure every answer fit perfectly into place.
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