At the Triskellion headquarters in Washington, D.C., there was a level where dangerous terrorists and other people posing a threat to peace were held.
Given the numerous arrests over the past few days, there wasn't enough space for everyone, so most of Hydra's rank-and-file personnel were sent to other detention centers to await government action.
The most valuable prisoners were kept here, under the watchful eye of various intelligence agencies. In addition to monitoring the prisoners, they also kept an eye on each other for hidden traitors.
One of these cells held Hydra's ideological leader, Alexander Pierce.
He was dressed in a simple tunic and placed in the center of the cell. While seated in a chair, his arms and legs were restrained with iron cuffs. Not because he was considered dangerous, but to prevent him from committing suicide and to allow him to be interrogated and brought to trial.
Access to his cell was closed to almost everyone, but the guest who arrived surprised the prisoner.
The two people who were watching Pierce left him and his friend and former subordinate Nicholas Fury entered the cell.
"Do you know how hard it was to get to you? No one wanted to let me in. I even had to ask Stark to help me with that. The Avengers are held in high esteem now, unlike the people who spent years protecting the world."
Taking a chair, he sat down in front of the pier with a tired and sad face.
- You've really done something, Pierce. Starting a genocide of the earth, and for what? For power?
Pierce did not answer the questions his former friend asked him.
"I believed you, I thought we were on the same team. I thought we could bring at least the illusion of order to this crazy world. But it seems our views diverged at some point."
Fury shook his head with tired sadness.
"Although I must admit. You've thought a lot through. Sending your cell to Russia to destabilize the country's leadership so they don't resort to nuclear weapons was a good idea. Otherwise, they would have simply considered everything happening here a threat and blown everything up, talking about crazy Americans killing their own citizens."
A small smile lit up Pierce's face, as if he had come up with it all himself.
"And your plan even partially succeeded. The same chaos is happening there now. Only your cell failed to achieve its goal, and the country's entire top leadership remained alive."
A smile appeared on Fury's face now, looking at his friend's puzzled expression.
I can only congratulate you. The Hydra organization and all its members and accomplices have been declared terrorists worldwide. Anyone who does not surrender to the authorities immediately upon arrest is subject to execution on the spot.
Pierce's face became more and more furious, but he still remained silent and said nothing.
"Now they're looking at me as a potential accomplice of yours and are ready to open criminal cases at any moment. Because I'm very closely connected to you. But don't worry, I have enough dirt to avoid spending the rest of my days behind bars. Considering I had no ties to Hydra."
Fury didn't like everything that was happening in the world right now, but the current situation was what he enjoyed.
"You're probably wondering how I'm going to prove it," Fury saw a smirk on Pierce's face. "You must know who Doctor Zola is, right?"
For a second, Fury saw panic on his former friend's face.
"He had a lot of information about Hydra. And you want to know the funniest thing?" Fury approached the pier as if he wanted to whisper something. "A teenage girl defeated him and copied all the information he had."
- You're lying. - The pier couldn't take it anymore.
- Why do I need this? Believe me, you'll find out everything anyway. And it will be your complete failure.
- Yes. My plan failed. But the Hydra will live, and it will use this chaos to change the world.
A wicked smile appeared on Fury's face when he finally managed to get Pierce to talk.
- You're right, the mess you've created, where no one trusts anyone, is good soil for the emergence of something bigger.
Pierce smiled slyly as if this was his personal victory.
- To your bitter regret, in this chaos something much more dangerous than the hydra could ever be will be born.
Pierce didn't understand what Fury was talking about.
- Don't worry, old friend. If you stay alive and live long enough, you'll understand everything.
A small knock on the door caught the fury's attention.
- I think this is our last personal meeting. Don't die, Pierce. And you will see what gates you have opened.
And without listening to the answer, Fury left the cell of his uncomprehending friend.
*****
- Strategic Internal Intervention, Law Enforcement, and Logistics Unit, or simply "Shield." An organization created to protect against various threats nearly became a threat to the entire world .
click
- the World War II organization called Hydra was supervised by Hitler himself .
click
- The organization's leaders infiltrated the top management and it was at their instigation that a nuclear bomb was launched in New York several years ago.
Click
Thanks to the leaked data, arrests of those involved and accomplices are now taking place around the world, which will set a precedent for many court cases to be reviewed.
Click
The coup in Russia was a failure. The leader of the revolutionaries turned out to be a member of the Hydra.
Click and the TV turned off
- And not even a word about the Avengers saving the world again.
Alex turned off the TV and tossed the remote aside, finishing getting dressed for an important meeting.
- You say that like you're not paying attention. I'm sure there are mentions of us there, if only you'd watched it all the way through instead of switching channels.
Natasha was also in the room with him, putting on the business attire he'd ordered for her. Having finished hers, she looked at Alex and saw him in a suit that fit him well.
They just don't want people to know that the Avengers saved them from mass extinction. It would be such a blow to their reputation. That's why they're trying to push us aside.
She came up and straightened the tie, which was hanging well anyway.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine." Alex hugged his companion, causing her body to involuntarily relax.
- Hydra compiled files on me too, and they also ended up online, along with many of my dirty deeds.
- If you want, we can start quietly erasing all the information found on you.
Their gazes met, and at that moment Natasha became thoughtful.
- No – this was a decisive answer – if they want to use this against me, then let them try.
This decision was made while still in his arms, which gave her an unusual confidence.
- Well then, I can wish them luck. After all, to get to you, they'll have to get through all the Avengers.
Even though Alex didn't say it, Natasha didn't need to explain who would be the first to greet them.
- You know... during my mission against the Hydra... - she didn't finish the sentence, but instead gave him a short kiss - Thank you for everything you do for me.
"You know... during the mission," her voice quieted, almost a whisper, and her gaze drifted for a moment into memories, "when I found myself alone against everyone..."
She didn't finish. Instead, her fingers lightly touched his cheek, guiding his face toward hers, and she gave him a short but unmistakably warm kiss.
"Thank you," she breathed, already breaking away but not looking away. " For everything you do for me."
A small spark between them made them look at each other until the signal from the phone announced that it was time to move out.
On their way down, they had to fight their way through a crowd of journalists, but Stark's men did their job diligently, not letting anyone near on the street and guarding the entire floor of the hotel where Alex lived.
- Doctor Ledov, what is it like to be a partner of a black widow?
- Miss Romanoff, when did all this start for you?
After passing the shouting journalists, they calmly walked past and got into the car.
Even after their joint stream, many began to speculate that they were a couple. So it was no surprise that numerous headlines were circulating about a possible romance between Black Widow and the Water Lord.
Adding weight to the story was the fact that they were frequently seen together in the days following the shield operation. All the articles written about them were quite "readable," offering a lot of speculation without any criticism. After all, everyone still remembered the recent events when Ledov arrived for the "interview," so they didn't want him there.
*****
Arriving at the Capitol for the hearings, the heroes saw the familiar scene: crowds of journalists, a cordon of security guards, and ordinary people shouting something over the general hubbub.
Getting out of the car, Alex offered his hand to Natasha. She froze and looked at him with mild surprise, but realizing it was merely a polite gesture for herself and the watching public, she accepted his offer with mild pleasure.
Walking down the cordoned-off corridor, they, like everyone else, couldn't help but notice Stark's three suits—red, black, and blue. They stood against the wall, like parked bicycles, while people looked at them with interest and took photographs.
Approaching the door, Alex suddenly stopped and turned to face the crowd, who were watching the couple intently. Without saying a word, he made several precise gestures. A transparent ball of water solidified in the air before him, sparkling with light.
All the journalists instantly trained their cameras, waiting for a statement. But no words came. Alex simply took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, the water ball shattered into dozens of fragile, shimmering ice butterflies.
For a few seconds, silence reigned, broken only by the clicking of shutters. Everyone watched, mesmerized, as the weightless flock fluttered through the air, breaking up the sunlight, and slowly dispersed in different directions.
With a satisfied, slightly smug smile, Alex turned and met Natasha's questioning gaze.
"Tony's suits are at the entrance. I had to show off somehow, too," he shrugged.
Natasha merely shook her head, but a smile twitched at the corners of her lips. They were about to leave when she noticed the single surviving ice butterfly on Alex's sleeve. It took flight, circled gracefully, and landed on the lapel of her jacket, becoming an elegant, sparkling brooch.
"A little magic is never a bad thing for people," he said quietly, summing up his little demonstration.
After that, they continued on their way under the watchful eye of security. While they were being escorted, Alex briefly explained that Pepper had begun using the suit as a personal vehicle and, in part, as a bodyguard. This information surprised Natasha: when she worked with Stark, Pepper had been more than a little lukewarm about his "iron toys." Now it became clear why there were three suits standing against the wall.
When they were ushered into the preparation room, almost all the Avengers involved in the events at S.H.I.E.L.D. had already gathered inside... Tony, maintaining a calm that surprised everyone (especially Pepper), now gently urged her not to worry. Pepper, who had come with the firm intention of being his support, found herself needing support herself—and that only made her more nervous. Rhodey, Steve, Clint, and Sam—the latter recently added to the list and now closely following the captain—stood to the side, discussing the upcoming meeting.
"Well, here come our lovebirds," Tony broke away from Pepper and headed towards those who had entered.
After greeting everyone, Alex took the lead.
"Everything is under control. For everyone sitting and watching the show, remember your task today is to be as confident and united as possible. As if everything is just as it should be."
"Alex, if you're going to appear before the Senate, I want to help," Steve began, his face serious. "I'm ready to answer for my actions. To bear the brunt of it, if necessary."
"Steve, we appreciate your help," Natasha interjected softly but firmly. "But unfortunately, this isn't a battle where your core skills will bring victory. A different tactic is needed."
Captain America opened his mouth to object, but Clint silently placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head briefly. Steve froze, looked at his friend, and, nodding, stepped back, trusting his judgment.
*****
After waiting a bit for their call, the heroes confidently went into the hall.
The large hall for administrative hearings greeted the heroes with a multitude of questions and camera flashes.
A large round table symbolized the room, occupying most of the space. Around it were seats for guests expected to attend but not seated at the table. Everyone associated with the team sat at several prepared seats, surrounded by various people in suits and military uniforms.
Several people sat at one end of the round table. Their appearance suggested the committee had been hastily assembled, but they were all high-ranking government officials.
Only Natasha, Tony, and Alex went to the negotiating table to answer for the Avengers' actions.
Alex helped Natasha sit down and then sat down himself, which made Stark grin.
Photographers took photos and were already preparing articles on "avengers against the government," given that they were sitting on opposite sides of the table.
The committee scheduled to interrogate the avengers today looked at Ledov with disapproval. He was clearly an unnecessary presence for them. Not only could he openly represent the interests of another country with his actions, but his media reputation guaranteed that the entire world would know about today's results.
Of the seven-person committee, the man in the center, wearing a blue officer's uniform and glaring menacingly, was the one in charge and the only one making any decisions. His nameplate read "General Burns." The other men and women were there for the sake of appearances and to provide assistance if needed.
After all the greeting procedures had been followed, the questions began. Ten minutes passed, and people who hadn't done anything worthwhile began making claims against those who had saved millions of lives just days earlier. It was all so tedious and boring that Stark even yawned visibly.
- Are you bored here, Mr. Stark?
Tony jerked suddenly as if he had just woken up, which caused several chuckles in the room and one tired shake of the head.
- Yes. I just don't understand why we are here?
- We're here to look into your team's recent actions, Mr. Stark.
- So you blame us?
- No one is accusing you yet, Mr. Stark.
- Hahaha – Alex suddenly laughed, attracting everyone's attention. - Did you hear that, Tony? "So far" they haven't accused you.
- Mr. Ledov still has a conversation with you.
"What conversation?" Tony returned his attention to himself again. "Just recently I was sitting at a similar event and someone was asking me what his name was."
"Senator Stearns," prompted Natasha, sitting in the center between the men.
- It doesn't matter, - Natasha just rolled her eyes at Stark's answer, - He also told me about greatness, about helping the country, and where is he now?
A short silence forced the commission to exchange glances with each other.
- Will you answer the question?
Tony was relentless in his demand for an answer. Along with him, two other people sitting nearby began to stare at him, even though they already knew him.
The whole hall also froze in anticipation.
- Senator Stearns has been arrested on suspicion of treason.
The whispers of journalists could be heard throughout the hall.
- Exactly. He's now in places far from good food and young secretaries.
The only ones who didn't smile at Tony's joke were those who were supposed to ask questions.
"Now a question," Tony continued to press while the committee was still trying to regain its composure. "Tell me what would have happened if I'd handed over my technology to Stearns?"
And again silence was his answer. The hall began to whisper again.
"I'll tell you," Tony said, addressing the room so everyone could hear. "They would have made a few thousand of my armor and started a war with the entire world. They wouldn't even have to wait for Project Insight to enter a new phase to start killing millions."
- Mr. Stark, you're exaggerating.
"No, you idiots are exaggerating," Alex decided to back up his friend. "You've uncovered a massive conspiracy the world has never seen before, and instead of dealing with it and looking for where else you might have problems, you're sitting here blaming those who saved hundreds of millions of lives."
The whispering grew louder.
- As I said, we are not accusing anyone.
- So what do you want from us?
Natasha was the only one of the Avengers sitting at the table who outwardly took this gathering seriously.
"Miss Romanov, you'd better keep quiet right now. You have a very interesting past, and it would be interesting to get to know it better."
Boom
Alexander's loud slam on the table didn't attract as much attention as all the liquid in the room suddenly flew into the air with his impact. Water bottles seemed to have lost gravity and were slowly floating around the room.
- Do you really think that threatening us is the best option?
Many flinched at Alex's words; with one action, he reminded the committee and everyone present that these were no ordinary people. And while everyone else was distracted, only the woman with the icy bow tie on her lapel saw a fleeting glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.
- You still haven't answered Miss Romanoff's question.
No one dared to answer, because everyone watched as the water that had been flying around the room for half a minute returned to its place.
It seems that one of the women lost her nerve a little and she spoke almost in panic.
- We need to regain control of the helicarriers.
The statement caused a violent reaction from the crowd, but no one was going to intervene.
"Ahhhhh, yes. Three powerful flying aircraft carriers with tons of weapons. Forgive me, Mistress What's Your Name?" Tony didn't even bother reading the sign. "The American army has already tried to kill me recently. What guarantee do I have that this little ship won't start shelling my house tomorrow? You haven't given me any compensation for that time yet."
All these statements caused a wave of whispers among people who did not know about it.
- Mr. Stark, - feeling that control was being lost, Burns tried to return the conversation to a beneficial direction, while glancing warily at the only Russian in the room, - I understand your concerns, but those responsible are already behind bars.
"So, the people who were supposed to protect me tried to kill me, and that's it? Let's pretend nothing happened?"
Mr. Stark. It's not for me to decide.
- So you can guarantee that dangerous weapons will not be misused?
- Mr. Stark, we are here for a different reason.
Tony just smirked as he listened to the answers.
- So you are here to take dangerous weapons and you don't tell everyone that you don't know who will control them and don't know how and for what they will be used.
- Mr. Stark, everything is much more complicated.
But before the general could continue, Alex interrupted him.
"You explain this to people who haven't been able to sleep well for three days because powerful weapons are flying overhead, and all the news says they were made by Nazi followers. And now it turns out that this weapon of mass destruction is unknown who will operate it or what they'll do with it."
The advisers began exchanging glances, plotting how to avoid being fired without a golden parachute the next day. Meanwhile, journalists began taking photos of their faces.
- Are you ready to answer with your head if something goes wrong with them?
- Mister Ledov. Nothing like that is happening now.
Since you can't explain anything, we'll only release the cruisers if the person responsible for their operations signs off. And if anything goes wrong, they'll be held accountable for their actions. I hope you can find someone who can be trusted with dangerous weapons.
There was some whispering among government officials, but Alex wasn't worried, they would never be able to find the right person.
"It's not up to you to decide," Burns began, no longer hiding his anger. "Right now, these cruisers are state property."
"Then why are we even talking here?" Tony decided to pick up the conversation. "Take it and do whatever you want, we're just people who've saved the world a few times."
- You exaggerate your importance - some man, who had been sitting silently until now, decided to speak out for the first time.
- Are we exaggerating? Let me tell you something.
They tried to silence the water-wielding avenger again, but he wouldn't listen. He pulled a small disk from his pocket and tossed it into the center of the room. He then launched a hologram on his phone.
"So you understand the scale of this 'exaggeration,' let me show you what we're dealing with. It all started five thousand years ago…"
Considering that many media outlets were now filming live, Alex now began to tell the story of Malekith, Aether, and Odin to the whole world.
Walking around the room, he began telling stories of past battles, when humanity still dwelt in caves. As Ledov walked the room, telling his stories, everyone could see a rough picture of what was happening through the holograms: ancient warriors fighting each other, the cities of ancient civilizations. At one point, one of the women even screamed as two ancient soldiers passed through her in the heat of their battle.
"...and thanks to us and the brave soldiers who fought alongside us, our world still stands, and we can discuss ordinary matters. So if you're ready to deal with such collapses yourselves, then go ahead. Gather a team of those who are ready to save the world and risk their lives. After all, it's all very well to judge the actions of others while sitting and observing from the comfort of your own home. Just remember, there will be no second chances here. If you assemble a team and it fails, then none of us will get a second chance. We'll all die."
The dead silence in the room was a death sentence. All the committee's feigned importance and anger were swept away by this one story. And while they were trying to comprehend what they had heard, Tony Stark, pleased with the effect, seized the initiative.
"Are you prepared to provide the person responsible for this dangerous weapon?" Everyone sitting across from the avengers exchanged silent glances. "If you can't, then we have nothing more to discuss here. So we'll keep them for now."
And the three of them began to get ready to leave.
- You can't just leave. We're not finished with you yet.
- So arrest us - Natasha just smiled contemptuously at them - you know where to find us and you can arrange a meeting when you figure out what's going on around you and find the right person.
As they left, the journalists seemed to wake up and began asking a lot of questions while cameras were photographing their departing group.