A Hero's Multiverse 37 Chapter 36: S.H.I.E.L.D. And Hydra

While Sharon, Steve, and Sam are preparing to take down Hydra and stop the helicarrier launch, Ethen gets contacted by Tonya.

(Tonya) ''Ethen we were able to find Fury and Hill. Things are worse than they look like on the surface.''

''I know. s.h.i.+eld has an open warrant on Steve and a Sharon Carter.'' Ethen tells her via the telepathic link their symbiotic armors share.

(Tonya) ''Good. Where ate here!''

As the conversation comes to an end, Ethen instinctively knows where to Find Tonya and Fury.

Remembering Carol, he asks. ''Did you hear anything from Carol?''

As the link is already severed, Ethen remains without an answer.

''Where do we go now?'' Ethen suddenly hears Natasha next to him ask.

Having the location of Tonya and Fury, he tells her. '' Let's go and meet up with Fury. This director has to give me some answers...''

That said, Ethen gets her off her feet an carries her like a princess before shooting into the sky, much slower than even Mach 1 as to not endanger his precious.

Arriving at Fury's hiding place inside an old rusting dam, Ethen slowly descends before placing Natasha on her feet. On the ground again, the spy slowly separates from Ethen, as they watch deeply into each other's eyes.

''Oh, come on the two of you already banged, why the drawn-out smoldering looks!...'' They suddenly hear Pikapool comment, destroying their romantic moment. ''... This isn't one of this modern teen-dramas, where you band first and fall in love later.''

Following the voice, Ethen spots a fat yellow mouse wearing his iconic red and black spandex suit, standing next to Maria Hill.

Seeing Natasha Maria smiles, greeting them. ''Welcome back!''

Taking everybody into Fury's secret facility, a man runs towards them. ''The situation has changed!''

Looking a bit shaken Maria asks. ''Fury?''

Led through the corridors of the facility that are more like a maze than an actual building, Hill takes them all to Fury who's alive and lying in bed.

''About d.a.m.n time...'' Fury says, before being surprised by Natashas reaction. ''... The lacerated spinal column, cracked sternum, shattered collarbone, perforated liver, one h.e.l.l of a headache...''

''Don't forget your collapsed lung...'' Interrupts the doctor Fury.

''Shut up Joseph Russo...'' Comments Pikapool, now interrupting The doctor. ''... You better stick to just being a director, because you suck at being an actor.''

Ignoring the fat mouse, Fury smile telling everybody. ''Oh, let's not forget that. Otherwise, I'm good.''

Having read a relatively detailed report about Fury's death, Natasha asks. ''How? I mean they supposedly cut you open...''

''Tetrodotoxin B. Slows the pulse to one beat a minute. Banner developed it for stress...'' Starts Fury to explain the overall situation. ''... Didn't work so great for him, but we found a use for it.''

Seeing the man laying on his back, Ethen half states, half asks. ''Rought couple of days?''

''Rought few days, indeed. Someone was ordered to hunt me down. s.h.i.+ELD is not what we... I thought it was, it's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce an old friend of mine is their leader. From what we know so far, the STRIKE team and the Insight crew are HYDRA. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the Triskelion. Their aim absolute control...''

Interrupting Fury's explanation Hill asks the Doctor. ''Doc you said that the situation had changed?''

The man Pikapool called Joseph Russo tells her. ''Yes, the launch of Project Insight has been changed to today.''

''... If they launch those Helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way!''

''How can I help?'' Asks Natasha.

Having currently a better grasp on the situation Maria tells her. ''Help Captain America from what we know he is already moving against Pirce and Hydra as we speak.''

Frowning Ethen asks Fury. ''Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell the world?''

Defending Fury Hill explains to Ethen. ''Any attempt on the director's life had to look successful.''

Smirking Fury states. ''Can't kill you if you're already dead. Besides, I wasn't sure who to trust... Didn't think that you would keep your promise.''

''Promises are meant to be kept...''

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While Ethen and his companions are formulating a plan, Alexander Pierce watches from the window the commotion down below caused by Steve and Sam trying to stop the Helicarriers launching. Ever since Captain America highjacking the facilities loudspeaker, their plan had been uncovered.

Turning to Councilman Singh, Pierce asks. ''Let me ask you a question. What if Pakistan marched into Mumbai tomorrow, and you knew that they were gonna drag your daughters into a soccer stadium for execution?...'' Handing a gla.s.s of champagne to Singh, he continues. ''... And you could just stop it with a flick of the switch. Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you all?''

''Not if it was your switch.'' States Singh tossing the gla.s.s aside.

Being handed a gun, Pierce points it at Singh, but before he can pull the trigger, Councilwoman Hawley kicks Singh away. The next moment she has already taken down the other HYDRA agents in the room before taking the gun and pointing at Pierce. Removing her disguise, Sharon Carter tells him. ''I'm sorry. Did I step on your moment?''

(s.h.i.+eld AI) ''Satellites in range at three thousand feet.''

While Sharon was able to arrest Pierce, Sam manages to fly down to the h.e.l.licarrier bay taking down the HYDRA jets chasing him before landing on one of the three carriers telling Steve via headset. ''Alright, Cap, I'm in.''

That said, another HYDRA jets heads his way and starts shooting at him. ''s.h.i.+t!'' Sam shouts as he manages to fly off and avoid getting hit.

Meanwhile, Steve is fighting off the HYDRA agents as he tries to get inside the Helicarrie when he suddenly hears Sharon tell him. ''Eight minutes, Steve... Come on I know you can do it!''

''Working on it...'' States Cap, while fighting his way into the Control center of Helicarrier Alpha. Placing some explosives in the control center, he tells Sharon. ''... Alpha locked. I have place explosives on the mainframe computers... Falcon, where are you now?''

''I had to take a detour!'' States Sam is flying towards one of the Helicarriers when heat-seeking missiles are shot at him by HYDRA. Flying back towards the Helicarrier and manages to get the missiles that were aimed at him to hit the Helicarrier giving him entrance into it. ''Oh, yeah!''

Just like that, Sam flies into the Helicarrier and places some explosives in it. ''I'm in. Bravo locked.'' Sam reports to his teammates, as he flies out of the carrier.

Hearing the good news, Steve tells himself. ''Two down, one to go...''

(s.h.i.+eld AI) ''Sixty-five seconds to the satellite link. Targeting grid engaged. Lowering weapons array now.''

Hearing the AI update the countdown, Sharon watches Steve from the monitor telling him. ''One minute.''

Hearing that, Steve desperately tries to look for a way down from his Helicarrier, when the Winter Soldier suddenly appears shooting him in the left thigh and then the right shoulder.

(Sharon Carter) ''Thirty seconds, Cap!''

''Stand by...'' States Steve taking out the detonator for the placed explosives. Before he can push the b.u.t.ton sacrificing himself but taking out two of the three carriers, Bucky shoots Steve in the stomach and he falls.

Seeing Steve fall through a hole created by Falcon when fighting the Hydra jets, Sharon hears the s.h.i.+eld AI. ''Carriers have reached three thousand feet. Sat link coming online now... Deploying an algorithm... Algorithm deployed.''

Smirking, Alexander Pierce tells Sharon and the Councilmembers. ''You have lost, we have won. Now, we are going to take out our enemies. Hail Hydra!''

Having enough of Pierce talking rubbish, Sharon uses a tranquilizer dart to knock him out cold, as she watches as the weapons are targeting at Was.h.i.+ngton, the White House, the Pentagon, Stark Tower, and the kill counter climb over 700,00 people.

''Have we really lost?'' Asks Sharon, as she sinks to her knees as the realization hits her. Steve Rodgers, aka Captain America, the man she had developed feelings for, was most likely dead and Hydra had won.