Somewhere in the shadows of power, the death of Morrison Clyde sent ripples through the room.
A group of men sat in a dimly lit chamber, their faces grim.
"That bastard actually killed Morrison Clyde!" one of them growled, slamming a fist on the table.
Another man sneered. "Don't be so quick to decide. Even if Nolan Locke holds ill intent toward us, there's no way he could have acted that swiftly."
"If it wasn't him, then who else could it have been?" a third voice argued.
The voices overlapped, sharp and restless, like venomous serpents tangled in the same pit.
Because Hydra was never about one man. It was a hydra in truth many heads, many voices, always snapping at one another, yet tied to the same body.
The argument dragged on until a calm, authoritative voice rose from the seat of honor at the far end of the table.
"Morrison Clyde's death isn't important."
The bickering ceased instantly.
"What matters now," the voice continued, "is how we will deal with Nolan Locke."
Killing him was not an option.
What they valued in Nolan was not his life, but his mind, his potential. A corpse was useless to them. If Nolan Locke were dead, then everything they had planned would collapse into dust.
The man in the high seat finally shook his head, voice low but steady. "Keep sending people to approach him. Be subtle, keep the moves hidden. We need time to bend him, to reshape him. Sooner or later, Nolan Locke will embrace Hydra's vision and join us willingly."
A chorus of voices answered in unison.
"Hail Hydra!"
…
On the other side of the city.
When Nolan returned home, he wasn't surprised to find Jessica Jones waiting for him, eyes red from suppressed tears.
"You look like you've been worried about me," Nolan said lightly, though his gaze softened.
Jessica turned her head and scoffed, trying to mask her concern. "Worried? Hardly. I was worried you'd do something reckless like killing someone because of me. Too many people saw you tonight. If anyone believed you pulled the trigger, you'd be in serious trouble."
For a fleeting moment, a shadow of disappointment flickered across Nolan's face. His shoulders sank, his eyes carrying the weight of something unspoken.
Jessica caught the look and immediately felt her heart twist with guilt. She sighed, softer this time. "Alright, fine. I admit it. I was worried. After all, you're my knight, aren't you?"
Her words brought a grin to Nolan's face, his earlier sadness vanishing like smoke. "Then prepare yourself… because your knight is here to stay."
The night passed quietly after that.
Morrison Clyde's death barely registered in the grand scheme of things. He had been nothing more than a disposable pawn. Hydra didn't mourn pawns; it simply replaced them.
What drew Nolan's attention instead was the update from Tony Stark.
As expected, Tony's investigation eventually led to traces of S.H.I.E.L.D. But the trail stopped there, impenetrable. Even with Tony Stark's influence, there were limits when it came to prying into an organization like that.
The truth was, Stark himself was under enormous pressure. Unlike Nolan, who was still viewed as an ambitious arms dealer, Stark had already publicly declared that he would never hand over his suits to the military. He even boasted that his armor was at least a decade ahead of the world's technology.
That kind of arrogance elevated his fame but it also painted a massive target on his back.
The U.S. government dragged him into hearings, demanding answers, trying to pressure him into submission. But Tony Stark was Tony Stark. His technology, his name, and his iron will made him untouchable.
Still, to avoid escalating tensions, Stark made one concession: he built a suit for his friend James Rhodes, which would later become the War Machine armor.
Even then, when it came to S.H.I.E.L.D., Stark had no leverage. Their reach was far deeper than even he could unravel.
But Nolan wasn't surprised.
Hydra's roots had spread for decades. He had long suspected that their influence inside S.H.I.E.L.D. ran through Alexander Pierce, the former director. Pierce was powerful, respected, and subtle the perfect head to shield the hydra's body.
If Hydra was behind Nolan's troubles, Pierce's faction was the most likely culprit.
"Second-generation snakes," Nolan muttered with a wry smile. The nickname amused him.
Later that night, Nolan descended into the lowest chamber of the Hive.
The Hive was his true kingdom, his fortress beneath the world. While most people believed it to be little more than a corporate facility, the truth was that its third and deepest level held secrets no one else could imagine.
Here lay the technology he couldn't simply "exchange" or acquire on the market. These were physical creations, locked behind layers of security, accessible only through painstaking safeguards.
"Red Queen," he commanded, "open the door."
"Please input iris scan…"
"Please confirm fingerprint data…"
"Secondary password required…"
"Primary password confirmed… Access granted."
With each step, the air grew colder, more mechanical, until the massive vault door rumbled open. It was thick enough to withstand a nuclear blast.
Nolan stepped inside.
The world beyond was a cathedral of machines.
Construction robots scurried like ants, sparks flying as they welded and assembled. Conveyor belts clattered, gears whirred, and steel arms swung with perfect precision. The Red Queen, his AI, orchestrated everything in seamless harmony.
The Hive had three layers: the surface level for offices, the second layer as the main hub, and this the innermost chamber. The beating heart. The Inner Hive.
Every dollar Nolan earned from his weapons trade, he invested here. Only half of his profits ever touched Lock Technologies' official accounts. The rest funneled into this secret world.
"Red Queen," Nolan asked, standing at the center of the chamber, "how is our T-1000 project progressing?"
A holographic projection of the Red Queen flickered into existence before him.
"Technology fully parsed. Final testing is underway. Additionally, plasma-based weaponry has been completed. Multiple systems such as three-dimensional parachute deployment and AI rapid-response integration are currently being consolidated."
"Excellent work." Nolan smiled, satisfaction glinting in his eyes.
"But tell me… what about our bigger project? The real beast?"
The AI's voice resonated. "Primary structure complete. Secondary modules remain in progress. Due to reliance on substitute components, projected performance will be reduced by thirty percent."
"Thirty percent is acceptable." Nolan's voice was calm as he walked forward.
Before him loomed a colossus twenty, perhaps thirty meters tall. Its frame was raw and brutal, bristling with weapon mounts. It wasn't finished, not yet, but even incomplete, its presence radiated menace.
Once modified with Nolan's existing technologies, this machine would become a weapon of unstoppable destruction.
This was his trump card. His ultimate safeguard.
He allowed himself one last look before turning away. "Activate the domestic robotics division. It's time Lock Technologies made its next move."
"Yes, sir," the Red Queen replied. "Currently, thirty-two intelligent lifestyle prototypes are in storage. Please specify which product to release."
Nolan glanced over the list, then smirked. "Start with Baymax. Pair it with several secondary support models."
Baymax a rotund, inflatable-looking robot, programmed with extensive medical knowledge and designed for caregiving.
It wasn't a warrior. But not everything in life was about combat.
Sometimes, what the world needed most wasn't another weapon. It was hope, comfort, and healing.
Nolan believed Baymax would find its place in the future and when it did, it would become one of Lock Technologies' greatest successes.
And with that, the Hive stirred again, machinery roaring to life as the next phase of Nolan's plan began.
The star-making project had officially entered its mechanical age.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Caught in the currents of this adventure? Tell us what hooked you—your thoughts and reviews keep the story blazing! Every 300 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter, propelling the journey even further!
Nolan's path is just getting started, and the story of justice is only unfolding. Keep riding the waves with Unbound Evolution and sail beyond the horizon!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.