"Do you want it?"
Of course she wanted it. She wanted it badly.
"Yes!" Sharon Carter gritted her teeth, her voice trembling as she forced the word out. The next moment, she felt utterly drained like something inside her had been hollowed out.
She had lost her last shred of dignity.
She was an elite S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, trained to resist every form of temptation. Yet here she was, willing to trade her pride for a suit of armor.
Across from her, Nolan Locke smiled. That was the power of wealth and science the ability to make even the proud bow their heads.
He hadn't shown S.H.I.E.L.D. the Black Armor on a whim. Ever since the incident with Thor's descent to Earth, Nolan had started analyzing the true nature of this world.
He had long suspected that things weren't as simple as they appeared in the movies. After all, could Thanos the galactic conqueror really be matched blow-for-blow by Captain America? What a joke.
After witnessing the might of the Asgardian Warriors Three and Lady Sif firsthand, Nolan was certain this was no movie world. This was reality. And in reality, these beings were far stronger.
If Thanos ever came to Earth, humanity would have no chance of resisting.
People called him the "Mad Titan" for a reason. He commanded legions of soldiers, fleets of starships, and the terrifying Black Order. Even if Thanos arrived alone, the devastation he could unleash would be beyond human comprehension.
Unless a miracle occurred and Nolan didn't plan on betting humanity's fate on miracles.
A true capitalist, he knew better. Instead of fighting on the frontlines, you build the weapons, fund the heroes, and pull the strings from the shadows. That was the path of survival and profit.
And if that strategy worked on Earth, it could work across the galaxy.
Meanwhile, in the glass-walled office of S.H.I.E.L.D., Director Nick Fury frowned as he approved Coulson's proposal to purchase the Black Armor for 130 million dollars.
If this weren't a monopoly deal, Fury would have made Nolan Locke regret every cent of that price tag.
But even Fury understood one truth S.H.I.E.L.D. needed power. Desperately.
"The plan must begin," Fury muttered, his one good eye glinting with resolve.
He had seen too many extraordinary minds rise in recent years Tony Stark, Nolan Locke, Bruce Banner. Their brilliance had pushed the world into a new technological age, one that ordinary humans could barely keep up with.
Iron suits, gamma mutations, combat drones all of these were rewriting the rules of warfare. Without its own super-scientist, S.H.I.E.L.D. was falling behind.
And so, the Avengers Initiative was born.
But the Avengers weren't truly his. Fury wanted something that belonged solely to S.H.I.E.L.D. a force that would answer only to him.
"Maria Hill," Fury called, as his deputy entered the room.
"I need you to carry out a classified operation."
At once, Hill's calm expression hardened. Fury slid a sealed file across the desk.
Inside, bold letters read: "Project Tesseract."
Hill's brows knitted as she skimmed the report.
"The Tesseract contains energy beyond anything we've ever measured," Fury said quietly. "I believe it's the key to humanity's next evolution but it's also our greatest danger. I hadn't planned to use it yet, but the threats we face leave me no choice."
Hill nodded solemnly. She hadn't even known such an artifact existed within S.H.I.E.L.D.
As she left, Fury's lone eye gleamed in the dim light.
S.H.I.E.L.D. must have power of its own, he thought. Even if it means opening Pandora's Box.
Back at Hive Industries, Nolan Locke was studying the mysterious wooden box the Ancient One had entrusted to him.
He had run every possible analysis. On the surface, it was just wood ordinary, harmless. But the readings said otherwise.
Whatever energy pulsed inside it could level New York City in an instant.
The first time he realized that, his heart nearly stopped. It was like holding a live nuke in his hands.
Thankfully, he trusted the Ancient One enough to believe she wasn't trying to kill him. Still, his curiosity burned brighter than ever.
"Sir, the firewall alert has been triggered," Red Queen's digital voice interrupted his thoughts.
Nolan's eyes sharpened. "Locate the source. Let's see which fool dares challenge my systems."
He smiled faintly. Anyone capable of breaching his primary firewall deserved a one-way trip to a federal prison.
Meanwhile, just downstairs in a small café near the Hive headquarters, a young woman was typing furiously on her laptop. Her coffee sat untouched, long gone cold.
Her brow furrowed, lips pressed tight in focus. She knew Hive Technologies had upgraded their defenses, but she didn't back down. She lived for challenges like this.
Then someone sat down across from her.
"Your coffee's cold," a warm voice said.
Startled, she glanced up and froze.
The man was strikingly handsome, with an easy smile and calm, confident eyes.
"I'll drink it later," she murmured, returning her focus to the screen.
Nolan Locke said nothing. He had expected a team of hackers, not a teenage girl with nerves of steel.
Still, he watched with quiet amusement as she continued her assault on his systems. If it were anyone else, they'd already be in handcuffs.
Moments later, the girl gasped in delight. "I did it!"
When she finally looked up, she found the same man still sitting there.
"You are…?"
"I'd like to think I'm somewhat famous," Nolan said with a grin. "But it's okay if you don't recognize me. I'm not exactly a celebrity."
He snapped his fingers, signaling the waiter. "Another cup of coffee for the lady on me."
Her wariness softened a little. "Just so you know, I'm not giving you my number."
"Oh?" Nolan chuckled. "So you already have a boyfriend?"
"No," she replied curtly.
"Then there's still hope for me," he said lightly. "Can I at least know your name?"
She hesitated, then said, "You can call me Skye."
Skye. The name clicked immediately.
Nolan smiled faintly. Of course it had to be her. The brilliant young hacker who, in another timeline, would become a hero known as Daisy Johnson.
He didn't tease her further. Instead, he scribbled something on a napkin and pushed it across the table.
"I work at Hive Technologies. Here's my number."
"Thanks for the coffee, mysterious stranger," Skye said, taking the cup with a faint blush.
Nolan only smiled. "If you ever get into trouble, call me. You look like the kind of person trouble follows."
And with that, he stood up and left.
As he disappeared through the café doors, Skye cupped her hands around the warm mug.
"What a strange guy… but kinda charming."
She finished her drink, packed up her laptop, and left for her apartment in the city.
There, a man named Miles was waiting for her.
"Did you get it?" he asked eagerly.
Skye nodded, though her brow furrowed. "Miles, are you sure this data's what we need? It doesn't seem relevant."
"Don't worry," Miles said with a grin. "You're still new to the Rising Tide. You'll understand soon."
As he spoke, his eyes lingered greedily on her as she removed her coat, revealing a slender yet athletic figure.
"Skye, do you have a boyfriend?" he asked suddenly.
She froze, and Nolan's face flashed unbidden in her mind. Shaking it away, she replied, "No. And I'm not looking for one."
Miles laughed awkwardly. "Fair enough. One day, maybe I'll change your mind especially once I'm rich."
Skye forced a smile, ignoring the comment.
"So what now?" she asked.
"I need to process the intel," Miles said, taking the USB drive. "You can rest for now."
When he left, Skye sat alone, curiosity tugging at her. She opened her laptop again and searched "Hive Technologies."
Nolan Locke the man called Hero Nolan.
As she stared at his photo, her eyes widened in shock.
The man she'd met at the café looked exactly like him.
Her pulse quickened. Could it really have been him?
No. Impossible. Nolan Locke wouldn't just sit there and let her hack his company. It had to be coincidence.
…Right?
Meanwhile, Miles drove across the city, heart pounding with greed. He had already arranged to sell the data. The buyers were offering a hundred thousand dollars too much to resist.
He was led into a dark room where two men awaited.
"You have it?"
He nodded and handed over the drive. "Where's my money?"
One of them opened a briefcase full of cash. Miles' eyes gleamed.
But the second man plugged in the drive, frowned, and turned coldly toward him.
"This is fake."
"What? That's impossible! Skye's the best hacker we have "
"Skye?" the man repeated, his expression darkening. "Then we'll pay her a visit."
Miles' blood ran cold.
He'd just brought danger straight to her door.
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