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***
-Who?" Christian asked sitting in the armoured jeep with Emma.
-The order was paid for online and they couldn't hear the face, or even the voice, of the person ordering. - Frost replied unhappily.
-But I see you and I are thinking the same thing. - Said Emma's brother with a wince.
-Roxon. - In a cold voice said the name of the competitors girl.
-And I told you it was too early for us to get into pharmaceuticals. Yes, you've found a couple of talented companies and it's all very profitable in the long run, but we've only taken out all the competitors in trucking and metalworking. And you've put us in a new competition. Especially since you've heard the rumours about this company. I told you there'd be trouble and I'll say it again, what happened is still just flowers. - Christian scolded his sister unhappily.
-Okay, okay I get it. But we still have to prepare for their attacks and come up with a response. The Frosts won't stand for that kind of spit in the face. - Emma replied.
The rest of the journey was spent in silence, each thinking about their thoughts, and only at the end did Emma's brother speak again.
-How was your date? - Christian asked with a faint note of amusement in his voice, looking at Frost.
-Better than I expected. I didn't say, but if it hadn't been for him I'd probably be dead right now. - The girl decided to tell about the sniper.
-So now you're gonna show me the whole story. -Yeah. - Immediately Emma's brother picked up and switched to the tone that always told off his sister as a child.
With a tired sigh, Emma leaned her hand on her brother's head and sent her memories of the shooting and the van back to him. Within minutes Christian was reviewing the events and his face went through several emotional states. From worry for his sister at the beginning to an acerbic smile at the end.
-Satisfied? - Disgruntled Emma asked, looking at her brother's satisfied face.
-Sure...Princess. - With a smile, Christian replied.
-Tz. - Turned back to the window the girl.
-Knowing I give my blessing. - The boy continued to be amused.
-Do you know where you can put your blessing? - The girl turned to her brother.
-"All right, all right, I'll stop. Seriously, you should have noticed your boyfriend's military bearing. He didn't panic, and he was quick enough to come up with the right plan of action in such an unconventional situation. After he took you out from under the bullet he clearly identified the direction of fire in a couple of seconds, and he dodged the bullets during your escape too well. Plus, you may not have noticed, but he jumped on cars several times during your escape while carrying you in his arms. Is your boyfriend anything like you? - Christian asked with interest.
-Maybe there's an explanation for his complete immunity to my powers. And I noticed his calmness at that moment... you know at the time I even thought that... but never mind. - The girl waved away the memory, she decided that it was the shock that had affected her. There was no way Pierce could have had a bloodthirsty smile on his face.
***
-Alpha Beta Epsilon
-Hello Agent Pierce, Level 7 threat protocols were initiated an hour ago. You are requested to report immediately to the nearest military base. During martial law, your agent level has been temporarily raised to level six. We are pleased to inform you that you have joined the Avengers Initiative. More detailed information will be waiting for you at the base. - One of the operators informed Ryan and then hung up immediately.
-So here we go. - Pierce said a little sullenly.
Remembering the plot of the film, I knew that we would have 1-2 days before Loki's next attack and I could afford to be a little late. My planned chores were abruptly pushed aside and I dressed and opened a portal to my workshop where the armour was waiting for me. No, I won't shine it before the attack on New York, but I'll be able to enhance my creation with magic in 5-6 hours, written off by the time I spent travelling to the base. During the short excommunication from Kamarthage, I spent time studying one rather valuable piece of metal arm from the homeland of my current enemy. Of course, without a teacher and at least some manuscripts, the study of Asgardian runes was inaccessible to me. But I was still able to copy the simplest of runes. And after a lot of not very pleasant for different pieces of metal experiments, I determined the purpose of three fairly simple runes. Although they were simple only in comparison with the rest of the drawing of the hand, but given what they teach in Kamartadzha it was quite a strong average, almost broke through to the level of the master. The first reinforced the protective properties of the metal and made it weakly susceptible to temperature fluctuations, which, given the reactor in the destroyer is quite logical. The second rune was responsible for the acceleration of the metal golem. And looking at the number of these runes on the hand and a lot of much more complex in the structure of their colleagues I have thoughts that Loki in the film used the golem in the most man-made way. After all, if even half of what is inscribed on it were activated, it would be as strong as 5-6 Thors, as fast as half of Mercury, and its lasers would most likely be able to melt Mjolnir in a couple of minutes of continuous contact. It was equal to the entire Asgardian army and acted as an impregnable bastion against invaders and protected the most valuable artefacts of the realm.
As I applied the runes to the armour and filled its reserve I thought back to what I knew of the coming trouble and what Fury and the council had already done. Though thinking of Loki's appearance I couldn't help but smile at the nonchalance of the head of the Shield. They were studying the strongest artefact, which, according to the scientists' preliminary conclusions, could also serve as a doorway to deep space, and he had only a dozen soldiers and Barton to guard it. To protect the base from the ephemeral possibility of invasion from the other side, a dozen machine-gunners and a guy with a bow... either he got too much used to the conditions of the game, where an ordinary soldier is a significant figure, and even the events connected with Tony and Quince didn't change the director's mind, or he is too high about his knowledge and thinks that he has everything under control. But in truth, the situation in recent years is such that soldiers are no longer even pawns in this game and only someone of Falcon Eye or Widow's level is capable of being a minimal piece on the board. And with each passing year this will become more and more apparent... the era of superhumans has arrived and Shield and Hydra will either realise this and adapt or perish.
The only sneaky but logical action on Fury's part I can think of is declaring Barton a traitor. After all, he was extremely quick to dismiss the truth as not conducive to productive agents and decided Barton's future with just one phrase, "traitor". Had Hill or the other agents learnt that their colleagues were being controlled and the shooting, and the actions themselves, would have been much more accurate. After all, you can't shoot at your own people in the head, but by writing the unwitting scientists and members of the personnel into the enemy he increased the chances of capturing the intruder and untied the hands of the agents.***
In the Stark Industries tower on the penultimate floor there was a rather entertaining dialogue between the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist and a simple level 8 agent, Phil Colson, who delivered the files on the activated Avengers initiative to Tony.
-And Ryan wasn't in the previous files. - Stark said in surprise.
-Agent Pierce's candidacy was added at the last meeting. - Replied Colson with a duty smile.
-Agent? That's the part-time job he was talking about. - Stark wondered.
After an hour of waiting, during which Stark looked through the files Colson couldn't help himself and asked a question that worried him.
-I noticed that you're singling out Mr Pierce among the other candidates and reviewing his data with special care. - Said Phil, placing his coffee cup on the glass table.
-Well, I've read about the others, plus Ryan is the most normal of the candidates here. - Without turning round Tony replied.
-And what are these conclusions based on? - The agent asked in surprise.
-What do we have in reality? An unstable scientist capable of turning green and tearing tanks with his bare hands, a captain who woke up in this era less than a year ago and knows nothing about current realities, a couple of super-killers with a mountain of bodies behind their backs and me a genius billionaire. Against the background of such "colourful" personalities, a simple guy who can grow wool and a pair of claws doesn't stand out. - Stark concluded.
Phil only snorted at the simple guy's statement, not enlightening Stark about the Pierce graveyard that was growing with regularity.
-You know, he reminds me of me when I was young. And don't be surprised, I can feel it in my back. He's like me in his potential. The kid is talented and he knows it, but instead of being content with what he has, he's like a sponge absorbing new knowledge and his thirst doesn't get any less with time. He has his own way in life and follows it despite all the obstacles. I, on the other hand, was distracted by money, parties and women... mostly women. - With a smile remembering his youth, Stark stopped from looking at the files for a moment. -Later I found my way, but I paid a commensurate price to do so. - Tony finished sadly, looking at the blue glow from under his shirt.
***
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