The Eye and the Storm
Everyone looked toward the two people who had just entered. One of them was very well known to everyone present. The other… well, he looked somewhat familiar; the same person who had been fighting Owen not long ago, actually managing to make him genuinely angry after so much time.
But focusing on the one walking in front… he was someone every person in the room, more or less, had a history with. Not a good one, to be honest. Nick Fury. He stepped in with a completely serious expression, staring straight at Owen, who remained seated calmly. Though instead of truly returning Fury's gaze, Owen was watching the person standing behind him.
Captain Marvel. Or rather, Carol Danvers.
She stared back at Owen as well. The atmosphere tightened, turning genuinely dangerous as they held each other's gaze without blinking, as if a single word might set off something neither of them was willing to hold back.
But Fury interrupted before either of them could begin.
"Stop," Fury said firmly.
Now he had Owen's attention.
"Mm. And what exactly could you be talking about?" Owen replied dryly, not moving from his seat.
"You know what I mean. Stop this. Your plan is too obvious. You think it will work, but you're trying to accomplish something impossible. Even if…"
Before Fury could continue, Owen spoke.
"Ah. Yes. I understand. I heard your new job, the one you did not even get the chance to test or sit in as an advisor, is in serious danger now. Is that right, Mr. Advisor of the Superhuman Control Committee? Once again, your attempt to control the strongest people in the world failed. Well… more or less. Though the one standing behind you could hardly be considered a citizen of this world," Owen said, a faint mockery in his tone.
That made Carol frown.
"I was born on Earth. And I consider it my home," she said firmly.
"Right. And where were you when aliens tried to destroy your home? Because if someone walked into my house without warning and tried to murder my family, I would run back and break their necks," Owen replied coldly, without raising his voice.
"You do not even know what my job out there is. You cannot speak as if you understand it," Carol shot back.
"Mm. Carol Susan Jane Danvers. Former Air Force pilot who, after gaining her powers, ended up working with the Kree Empire's Starforce. The suit you're wearing is theirs, correct?" Owen said. He glanced at her for barely a second before fixing his gaze back on Fury, who watched him with his single eye without looking away.
"It's funny how you used her, and she still follows you around like a loyal dog," Owen added lightly.
"I did not use anyone, Mr. Colt," Fury replied seriously.
"Of course you didn't. But it seems it backfired on you, didn't it? All you did was reinforce, in the public's eyes, the idea that only heroes can restrain other heroes. And it did not create fear among the masses when they saw the overwhelming power a superhuman out of control can possess," Owen said, a faint smile touching his lips.
"You have no idea what exists beyond this world. And without oversight over heroes, do you think you will be able to face it?" Fury said, staring at him.
"Well, I could say the same about you. You are so obsessed with looking outward with that eye of yours that you fail to notice what is being born within your own world," Owen replied calmly.
Fury studied him for a moment longer before turning around.
"With your little show, all you did was demonstrate how dangerous people with uncontrolled power truly are when there is no one there to contain them."
"No. I am not their father. They will know how to act on their own. After all, they are heroes," Owen said. "And the job of heroes is to face villains. I am simply giving them recognition for their work."
Meanwhile, the other members of VITAE, who had remained silent observers, could not help but look at Owen and the confidence he placed in people he did not truly know. But the simple fact that he used the word hero revealed the faith he had in them.
"And when they lose control? The committee was created to make sure that does not happen. We already saw what happened with Hulk when it did. And you of all people know the kind of power you hold. What happens if you can no longer be the soldier who protects civilians?" Fury asked.
"So giving that power to someone whose organization once had Hydra infiltrated into its ranks is the better plan? Of course," Owen replied. "You need to understand something, Fury. I trust that if any of my comrades lose control, I will be able to stop them. And if I do, they will stop me. But can you say the same? Can you stop the woman behind you when she loses her memory again and is controlled by a galactic empire?" Owen asked without breaking eye contact.
Carol's face remained tense, irritated by the fact that Owen seemed to know far more than he should.
"It is precisely because I know that can happen that I can monitor them properly," Fury added, refusing to back down.
"Right. Just like the Skrulls you saved who are now slowly infiltrating everywhere. Trying to steal heroes' DNA. You are doing an excellent job," Owen said mockingly.
It was the first time Fury showed a trace of surprise, though it lasted only an instant. Then his expression hardened once more.
"Oh… so you still haven't figured it out. By the way, the old man realized it a long time ago. Why do you think he always sends people to destroy DNA samples on battlefields? To protect himself from you? Of course not. You don't have the technology to copy our powers. But the ones you left here… do you really think they don't?" Owen said, looking at him with clear amusement.
Fury stared at him, as if trying to decide whether he was telling the truth or simply provoking him.
"They wouldn't do that," Carol cut in firmly.
"Oh? Did they swear it on their lives? Pinky promise?" Owen replied mockingly. "Or is it that guilt you feel for hunting them that made you take them back to their home, protecting them all this time?" he added without breaking eye contact.
"I'm tired of your condescending comments. You don't understand even a fraction of the work I did, what I achieved," Carol said as her body began to glow, the light growing brighter by the second.
Owen did not move as the atmosphere tightened within milliseconds.
Peter and Kamala stopped chewing. The bag of chips made a faint crinkling sound when it tightened in Peter's hand.
And then the air grew heavier.
It was not imagination.
It was pressure.
Owen's body quickly began releasing his red aura, expanding outward like invisible weight that made the air vibrate.
The recently repaired lights in the room flickered under the strain.
But he was not the only one.
Tony moved next.
The metallic sound of nanotech deploying along his arm broke the silence.
It was not rushed.
It was deliberate.
The armor began covering him piece by piece.
Nicolás dropped something to the floor before pulling out his pistols.
Pietro tilted his head slightly.
Wanda did not raise her voice.
She simply opened her fingers.
And red energy appeared.
The others stood at the same time.
Not as spectators.
As backup.
Those with powers activated them.
Those without reached for the weapons hidden around the room.
Peter and Kamala looked from side to side, both with completely confused expressions. They had been sitting in the corner quietly eating chips. Now they turned their heads back and forth, following the tension as if they were watching a game that had suddenly become far too real.
No one spoke.
Just energy against energy.
Gold against red.
If anyone stepped forward, the room would vanish.
Fury raised his arm, stopping Carol with a firm, almost imperceptible gesture. Then he looked at everyone in the room, measuring the situation.
"I will not allow the Registration Act to be repealed. People with powers need to be controlled and monitored for the safety of the world. That is all I will say," Fury declared, preparing to leave.
"Oh, I never said no," Owen replied calmly. "Forced heroes? That has another name, Fury. Soldiers. And more than anyone, we know that soldiers follow whatever orders they are given. And many times those orders are not the right ones. Heroes answer to their hearts. Even without me, your law will not work. So you would do better to fix it before it causes more harm than good," he added evenly.
"Weren't you a soldier, Mr. Colt?" Fury asked with sarcasm.
"And that is exactly why I know what happens when someone with power controls young soldiers who do not even know how to hold a weapon," Owen said coldly. "They get sent to some stupid war. Do you think they won't be used the same way? When do they stop stopping robberies and end up on a battlefield aiming at a country labeled the enemy?" he continued.
"I chose to be a soldier. I trained for it. I accepted every consequence that came with it. Every bullet that left my weapon was my decision. Even if it was under orders. But do you think everyone can say the same? Are you going to send them to die before they even understand what they are defending?" he said, pointing toward Kamala and Peter, who were still standing where they were.
Fury studied him for a moment longer, evaluating him, before turning and walking out much faster than he had entered. For a second, he paused at the door. He said nothing else. And then he left. The haste made it clear he was in a hurry. Perhaps to verify the information Owen had just dropped so casually.
"He won't stop, will he?" Tony said with faint amusement on his face.
"It's painfully obvious he won't," Owen replied dryly. Then his expression shifted, growing more serious. "It's time to end all of this quickly. While Fury is busy checking on the Skrulls."
"All right, boys. You heard him. Back to work," Nicolás said, snapping his fingers.
The others just rolled their eyes at him.