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Twelve hours ago, in the meeting:
"Ethan Park is dead. It is time for the resurgence of Hydra," Secretary Pierce declared proudly to a room containing five monitor screens, each displaying the shadowed silhouette of a respective Hydra Head.
The five other leaders in the connection included General Hale, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, Arnim Zola, Madame Hydra (Viper), and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
"Why should we believe you, Secretary? You have made promises before, that have proven to be untrue," von Strucker spoke through one of the monitors. "And if he is truly dead... where is the corpse? I would like to examine it myself."
Questioning me and requesting my assistance in the same breath. Classic Strucker, Pierce thought.
"Who do you think I am, Strucker? I wouldn't call this meeting unless I had proof," Pierce countered. In that moment, a digital folder containing various photographs appeared on each of their screens. "There is the evidence you requested."
After a few minutes of Silence examination, the silence was broken.
"You must forgive me, Secretary, for doubting you. After all, this is no longer a world of spies; it is not even a world of heroes. This is the age of miracles," von Strucker said, analyzing the files in front of him. "There is nothing more horrifying than a miracle, and Ethan Park is the most horrifying miracle of the modern age."
"Poisoning? You brought Park down with a poison?" General Hale asked, as she was intimately aware of Ethan's capabilities. "Is he not known to cure illnesses that are otherwise incurable?"
"Not just any poison, General Hale," Pierce said, producing a glass tube containing a glowing green liquid. "You have Viper to thank for this... miracle." He looked toward the Baron as he emphasized the final word.
"You flatter me, Secretary Pierce," Viper replied, her left hand covering her mouth. "Allow me to be the one to introduce this toxin."
"The stage is yours, Ophelia," Pierce replied in the same breath.
"Heh heh... That," Ophelia said, pointing toward the glass tube containing the green liquid, "is the deadliest poison known to mankind, and currently the most lethal weapon in Hydra's arsenal. Its name is the Bubonic Plague."
"You crazy woman! Bubonic Plague?" von Strucker immediately questioned, alarmed at the potential repercussions. "Why weren't we told about this sooner?"
"Let her continue, Baron," Pierce interjected.
"Ahem... The original bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and transmitted by fleas or rodents, is one of history's deadliest diseases. It was responsible for pandemics like the 14th-century catastrophe famously known as the Black Death," Viper continued. "I was able to extract that bacterium and re-engineer it. This version of the Bubonic Plague is far more lethal than the original—capable of wiping out the entirety of humanity if released to the public. What I have created is a nuclear deterrent for the coming age of Hydra." She finished, her eyes gleaming with the madness of a scientist. " One drop of this is enough to kill hordes of elephants and Park drank a glass."
"And Baron?" She looked toward Strucker's monitor. "Call me crazy one more time, and I will feed you your own intestines the next time we meet."
Baron gulped but did not answer. It was better to have a hundred smart enemies than one crazy one.
Seeing the tension rising, the green-screen figure of Arnim Zola flickered.
"No need for such bruteness, Miss Viper. After all, Hydra was founded on the belief that humanity could not be trusted with its own freedom. What we did not realize was that if you try to take that freedom, they resist. The war taught us much. Humanity needed to surrender its freedom willingly, and they have. Project Insight is within our grasp; your creation will go a long way toward protecting that rule," Zola explained.
"But when one is on the verge of victory, they must look back to their origins so as not to forget who they were, who they are, and who they can be," Zola finished.
"We are the last remaining Heads of HYDRA. Everyone else has been... brutally murdered. And except for Pierce, none of you would be in the positions you are right now if not for the process of elimination."
Silence followed that declaration. Everyone in the meeting knew exactly what Dr. Zola was referring to: the systematic purge of Hydra's forces that began in May of 2008.
"Every Hydra facility outside of the US has been decimated. Previous leaders of each cell were murdered mercilessly—some crushed to death, others falling from abandoned buildings; hell, Malick was drowned. It became so dire that Hydra was effectively on its last legs... that is the S.H.I.E.L.D. and the US government at work," Zola finished. "But that purge stopped after the Destroyer attack in New Mexico. And now, the very cause of that purge is dead. The very process of elimination, Ethan Park, is dead. The Age of Hydra is within our grasp. It is a time for celebration, but also for remembrance. So, let us remember our roots, for we are nothing without them."
"Hell no, we aren't still doing that 'Tradition' thing, are we?" von Strucker asked with a heavy sigh.
"Be more respectful, Baron. May I remind you that it was your grandfather who started this tradition?" Pierce interjected. " And it's the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to latest addition to our ranks." He looked towards Valentine as he finished.
"Let's start with you then, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, one of Hydra's current leaders and grandson of Reed Wolfgang von Strucker, a founding member of Hydra," Zola began, initiating the Baron's introduction.
"You trained alongside General Hale here at the HYDRA Preparatory Academy, passing all tests and becoming a personal student of the late Dr. Daniel Whitehall. Currently, you are overseeing the beginning of the 'Project Destroyer of Worlds.' Using Gravitonium, if I am not mistaken, Dr.List, one of your subordinate have found success in that regard—the 'Absorbing Man,' as you call him."
Zola finished, receiving only a grunt of agreement from the Baron.
"You were a sleeper agent within S.H.I.E.L.D., recruiting soldiers for Hydra's cause from those who became unsatisfied with the way the agency was led. For all of that, you have our thanks."
"Oh oh oh..Do me next," Viper spoke in a giddy, dark tone.
"Ah... Ophelia Sarkissian. A ruthless executioner and a master of toxicology. Your preferred aliases—Viper, Madame Hydra—are synonymous with world-class terrorism. Every endeavor you undertake results in casualties by the thousands. If you permit my assessment, your finest achievement remains the assassination of the President of Liechtenstein," Zola finished, and the room seemed to be in agreement.
"Born in a war-torn province of Europe during the Great War, you were scarred in both physique and spirit by violence from a tender age. Yet, you did not succumb; you forged your indignation into a weapon as a recruit of Hydra. A total embrace of nihilism as your core ideology—have I omitted any pertinent details, Fräulein Ophelia?" Zola asked, just in case.
"No, you got it all. I grew up to despise corporations and government institutions, making my life's goal to bring about their end. And it is here. My goal is reached with Project Insight," Viper added. "Death: welcome and well-deserved."
"For all your service, you have our gratitude," Zola spoke.
Zola looked beside Viper to where General Hale's monitor was. "Brigadier General R. Hale. You stand as the sole high-ranking officer of the United States Air Force within our glorious order; you are held in high esteem for it. A leader of Hydra who was tasked by the late Daniel Whitehall to provide the lineage for our future leadership. Not only have you endured the purges, but you hold the distinct honor of raising the next head of Hydra: Ruby Hale."
Hale looked visibly uncomfortable at the mention of her daughter, but she hid it well. "For all your service, you have our gratitude," Zola finished.
"And the latest addition to our ranks: Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, a noblewoman of Italian descent. Former chairwoman of O.X.E. and the current Deputy Director of the CIA. I must offer my apologies, Madame Fontaine, for my dossier on your person is uncharacteristically thin, noting only your profound interest in the privatization of global security and the acquisition of influence within the American government. You have sought to conscript or engineer formidable individuals to serve as your enforcers," Zola added.
"Well, it's not surprising. I like to keep my interests private, but my belief in the Hydra cause is simple: righteousness without power is just an opinion. I was brought up to believe that there's a good guy and a bad guy, but eventually, I came to realize that there's just a bad guy and a worse guy. And I'd rather be the worse guy who takes the win than the good guy who loses," Valentina added.
"Now that proper introductions are out of the way, it's time to assemble. I want you all, and all the forces under your command, here in Washington within twelve hours," Pierce finished.
That command seemed to silence the room until the Baron broke it. "What do you need all that firepower for? Won't the Hydra agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. be more than enough?" he asked.
"Not to mention the risk of exposure... something I really want to avoid," Valentina added.
"To answer your first point, Baron: yes, I have enough men to ensure those third-generation Helicarriers make it to the sky. But that's it. I have called all Hydra personnel within S.H.I.E.L.D. to Washington as well," Pierce answered.
"So, what do you need us for?" General Hale added.
"Because tomorrow, Hydra will not only rule the sky, but we will take over the capital. Washington will be our staging ground," Pierce declared. "Yes, it's ambitious; that's why your assistance will be paramount. And as for exposure, Miss Valentina: you cannot have only one foot through the door that is Hydra. You are either in, or you are dead," Pierce finished, looking around. "I expect all of you and all your men-at-arms to be present tomorrow in Washington for Hydra's resurgence. If not, you will be declared a traitor to the Hydra cause and hunted down."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. No need to go all bulldog on us. I will be there with a bottle of the finest quality wine," Baron interjected, both hands raised.
"Yeah, we will be there," General Hale added.
"Miss Valentina?" Pierce questioned.
"I will be there," Valentina answered. Though her voice was strained—her instinct told her this was a bad idea—she knew that if she didn't comply, she would be hunted down.
"See you all tomorrow. Hail Hydra," Pierce finished.
"HAIL HYDRA!" every other member of the group returned the greeting as the monitors shut off and the lights returned to the room.
Silence reclaimed the space until another presence made itself known. The entity was grotesque, with several human skulls adorning its chest and a face resembling the barrel of a massive gun. This being looked orfically similar to the War Curse that Ethan had exorcised when he stopped the 9/11 attacks.
"I did as you asked, God... all Hydra forces will be in Washington by tomorrow. But if I may—what happened to you? Where have you been all these years?" Pierce asked, his back still turned to the towering figure.
"AM I SUDDENLY REQUIRED TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF ALL MY ACTIONS, SECRETARY PIERCE? I AM A GOD; I DO AS I WISH," the entity replied, its voice booming and vibrating through the walls of the room.
"But God, sir... I don't..." Pierce tried to argue, his composure slipping.
"SILENCE, HUMAN. I EXPECT ALL HYDRA FORCES TO BE PRESENT UPON MY RETURN," the entity commanded.
Pierce gulped, his arrogance replaced by subservience. "It will be done... it will be done..." he mumbled, and the entity vanished.
That was twelve hours ago.
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A/N: So how was the chapter?