Fischer stood by his car, shoulders slumped, looking like a man who'd been carrying an impossible weight for too long.
"Not here," he said quietly. "Too many cameras. Too many... I don't know. Eyes."
"We have a secure location," Alex said. "Five minutes from here. No surveillance."
"They'll know. They track everything. My phone, my car—"
"Leave your phone in your car. We'll take you there, bring you back. Thirty minutes, tops." Alex kept his voice calm, reassuring. "After that, if you want to walk away, we won't stop you."
Fischer looked at him, trying to gauge trustworthiness. After a long moment, he nodded.
"Thirty minutes."
Maria and Coulson emerged from the shadows. Fischer tensed immediately, hand going for his jacket again.
"Easy," Alex said. "Maria Hill, Phil Coulson. They're with me. We're all on the same side here."
"Deputy Director Hill?" Fischer's eyes widened. "This goes that high up?"
"Higher," Maria said. "Get in the car, Agent Fischer. We have a lot to discuss."
═══════════════════════════════════════
QUEST PROGRESS: Shadow Investigation
Status: CRITICAL SUCCESS
Action: David Fischer agrees to talk
Result: First insider testimony acquired
Reward: +3,500 EXP, +800 SP
LEVEL UP!Level 16 → Level 17
EXP: 3,340/32,000 to Level 18
STAT INCREASES: STR: 52 → 54/100
AGI: 61 → 63/100
END: 55 → 57/100
INT: 50 → 52/100
SKILL PROGRESSION: Pattern Recognition: Lv.1 → Lv.2
Interrogation: Lv.1 → Lv.2
NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED:Trust Building (Passive) People find you naturally trustworthy in tense situations +15% to recruitment and de-escalation attempts Works on non-hostile or conflicted targets
Current SP: 19,130
═══════════════════════════════════════
Alex felt the familiar warmth of leveling up—subtle but noticeable. His muscles felt slightly stronger, his mind clearer. The growth was gradual but consistent.
They drove Fischer to the safe house in Maria's unmarked car. Coulson swept Fischer for tracking devices—found two, both deactivated and left in the car—and they entered the secure apartment.
Fischer sat on the couch, looking around nervously. "How long have you known? About the network?"
"Three days since we confirmed it," Maria said, sitting across from him. "Longer since we suspected something was wrong."
"Three days." Fischer laughed bitterly. "I've been living with this for eighteen months."
"Tell us how it started," Alex said, settling into a chair. He activated his Interrogation skill passively, watching Fischer's micro-expressions, vocal patterns.
Fischer took a deep breath. "Emma got diagnosed two years ago. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The treatment... God, the treatment costs. Insurance covered some, but not enough. We were drowning. I took on extra shifts, Sandra—my wife—took a second job. It wasn't enough."
His hands clenched. "Then someone approached me. Called himself Mr. Stern. Said he represented a philanthropic organization that helped SHIELD families in need. They'd pay for Emma's treatment, all of it, no strings attached. Just a kindness."
"But there were strings," Coulson said quietly.
"Not at first. For six months, they just... paid. Emma got the best care. We could breathe again." Fischer's voice cracked slightly. "Then Mr. Stern came back. Said the organization needed a small favor. Some operational data, nothing classified, just coordination schedules. Make sure certain missions happened at certain times."
"You thought it was administrative," Alex said, reading Fischer's body language. "Bureaucratic shuffling, not sabotage."
"Yes! I swear, I didn't know. They made it sound routine." Fischer looked at them desperately. "But then they asked for more. Access codes, personnel files, mission parameters. I tried to refuse, and they showed me... they showed me proof. Bank transfers, emails I'd sent. They'd documented everything. If I stopped, they'd expose me. I'd lose my job, my clearance. We'd lose Emma's treatment."
═══════════════════════════════════════
INTERROGATION CHECK: Target: David Fischer Emotional
State: Genuine distress, guilt, fear
Truth Assessment: 95% truthful
Deception Detected: Minor omissions (fear-based)
Conclusion: Coerced asset, not ideological member
RECOMMENDATION: Continue building trust, ask about network structure
═══════════════════════════════════════
"Who did you report to?" Maria asked.
"Mr. Stern, mostly. But I never met him face-to-face after that first time. Everything was through encrypted channels." Fischer pulled out his phone—not his SHIELD-issued one, a personal device. "This phone. They gave it to me. Encrypted texts, weekly calls. I'd send reports, they'd send instructions."
"May I?" Alex extended his hand. Fischer hesitated, then handed over the phone.
Alex passed it to Maria, who immediately connected it to a portable scanner. "We'll extract everything on here. Communications, metadata, encryption signatures. It'll help us map the network."
"Who else do you know in the network?" Coulson asked.
Fischer named seven people—all on Alex's list of secondary contacts. "I know there are more. We're compartmentalized. I only know the people in my... cell, I guess? We coordinate certain operations, share intelligence. But we never talk about the larger organization."
"Sarah Morrison," Alex said. "You tried to warn her."
Fischer's face went pale. "Sarah was my friend. We worked together before... before this. She noticed something was wrong with an operation I coordinated. Started asking questions, digging into data. I tried to tell her to stop, to leave it alone. She wouldn't listen."
"What happened?"
"Her brakes failed. Driving home from work. Car went off the road." Fischer's voice was barely a whisper. "They said it was an accident. Worn brake lines. But I knew. I knew they killed her because she got too close."
"Too close to what?" Maria leaned forward.
"I don't know exactly. She mentioned something about a project. Something big, something that didn't make sense. She said SHIELD was building something that felt wrong." Fischer looked at them. "She said the word 'Insight' once. Asked if I'd heard of Project Insight. I told her I hadn't."
Alex and Maria exchanged glances. There it was—confirmation.
"What is Project Insight?" Alex asked.
"I don't know. I swear, I've never had clearance for it. But after Sarah died, I heard whispers. Something about Helicarriers. About algorithms. About..." Fischer struggled to remember. "About eliminating threats before they become threats."
═══════════════════════════════════════
CRITICAL INFORMATION ACQUIRED Subject: Project Insight
Details: SHIELD project involving Helicarriers and predictive algorithms
Purpose: "Eliminate threats before they become threats"
Connection: Sarah Morrison killed investigating this project
QUEST UPDATED: Shadow Investigation
New Objective: Investigate Project Insight
Priority: CRITICAL
Warning: This is likely HYDRA's primary objective
SYSTEM ALERT: Information suggests large-scale preemptive strike capability Recommend urgent investigation
Danger Level: EXTREME
═══════════════════════════════════════
"Preemptive threat elimination," Coulson said slowly. "That's... concerning."
"That's HYDRA's wet dream," Maria corrected. "Identify and kill threats before they can act. If they control that system..."
"They can eliminate anyone who opposes them," Alex finished. "Political opponents, potential whistleblowers, enhanced individuals who won't join them. Anyone."
Fischer looked sick. "Oh God. I've been helping them build that?"
"You've been coerced into helping them," Alex said firmly. "There's a difference."
"Is there? People are still going to die because of me."
"Not if we stop it." Maria stood up. "David, I need everything you know. Names, operations, communication protocols. Everything. In exchange, we'll protect you and your family. Full immunity, relocation, Emma gets her treatment. But you need to help us."
Fischer looked at his hands for a long moment. Then: "Okay. I'll tell you everything."
They spent the next two hours debriefing Fischer. He provided names—twelve confirmed members of the network he knew personally, plus suspicions about others. He gave them access to his encrypted phone, his communication logs, his operational reports.
Most importantly, he confirmed Alexander Pierce's connection.
"Pierce runs it," Fischer said. "I've never communicated with him directly, but everyone knows. He's at the top. Mr. Stern takes orders from him."
"You're certain?" Coulson asked.
"As certain as I can be without proof. But the operations Pierce is involved in, the intelligence that flows through his office... it all lines up."
By 0130 hours, they'd extracted everything Fischer could provide. Maria arranged for a protection detail—trusted agents, not part of the network—to watch his family. Fischer would continue his normal routine, maintain contact with his handlers, but now he'd be feeding information back to them.
A double agent.
"Don't do anything unusual," Maria instructed. "Continue exactly as you have been. If they suspect you've flipped, they'll kill you and your family without hesitation."
Fischer nodded, looking exhausted but also... lighter. Like confessing had removed some of the weight.
"Thank you," he said to Alex as they prepared to take him back to his car. "For giving me a chance."
"Thank you for taking it," Alex replied.
After dropping Fischer at the Triskelion garage and watching him drive away, the three of them returned to the safe house.
"That was good work," Coulson said to Alex. "The way you read him, built trust. You're a natural at this."
"I just told him the truth. That usually works."
"In our line of work? Not as often as you'd think."
Maria was already on her laptop, analyzing the data from Fischer's phone. "This is a goldmine. Communication patterns, encryption signatures, operational codes. We can trace this back, identify more members of the network."
"How long before we can move on Pierce?" Alex asked.
"Not yet. We need more proof. Pierce is too well-protected, too well-connected. If we move too early, he'll bury everything and we'll never get another chance." Maria looked up from her screen. "But we're getting closer."
═══════════════════════════════════════
QUEST PROGRESS: Shadow Investigation
Phase: Intelligence Gathering (65% Complete)
Assets Recruited: 1 (David Fischer)
Network Mapped: 60-80 suspected members
Key Target Identified: Alexander Pierce
Primary Objective Discovered: Project Insight
NEXT STEPS:
Map full network structure
Identify Project Insight specifications
Gather actionable proof against Pierce
Coordinate takedown operation
ESTIMATED TIMELINE: 2-4 weeks
RISK LEVEL: EXTREME
NEW SKILL AVAILABLE:Espionage (Lv.1) - 800 SP Covert operations, surveillance detection, intelligence tradecraft Essential for ongoing investigation
Current SP: 19,130 Purchase? Y/N
═══════════════════════════════════════
Alex selected Yes. If they were going deeper into this conspiracy, he needed every tool available.
Skill Purchased: Espionage (Lv.1)Current SP: 18,330
He felt the knowledge settle in—surveillance awareness, counter-surveillance techniques, dead drops, how to move in the shadows without being seen.
"We should brief Fury in person," Coulson was saying. "Tomorrow, somewhere secure."
"Agreed," Maria said. "Alex, get some rest. You've done good work tonight, but we have a long way to go."
Alex returned to Avengers Tower at 0400 hours. The building was silent, most of its occupants asleep.
He was exhausted—physically from the late hour, mentally from the intensity of the Fischer interrogation. But his mind wouldn't stop racing.
HYDRA inside SHIELD. Project Insight. Helicarriers that could eliminate threats preemptively.
How many people were they planning to kill?
He was pulling off his jacket when his System chimed with a notification.
═══════════════════════════════════════
WARNING: SURVEILLANCE DETECTED
Your recent activities have been flagged by unknown watchers Probability of HYDRA awareness: 35% and rising Recommend enhanced operational security
ACTIVE COUNTERMEASURES:
Vary daily routines
Check for surveillance regularly
Avoid predictable patterns
Prepare emergency protocols
DANGER ASSESSMENT: MODERATE → HIGH
═══════════════════════════════════════
Alex felt his danger sense spike. They'd been careful, but maybe not careful enough.
His phone buzzed. Text from unknown number—different from the previous mysterious messages.
Unknown:They're watching you now. Fischer talked to you. They know something happened. Be very careful.
Alex stared at the message. How did this person know about Fischer? How did they know about the approach?
He tried calling the number. Disconnected, like the others.
Someone was helping them—someone with inside knowledge of HYDRA. But who?
His phone buzzed again. This time, Natasha.
Nat:Can't sleep. Miss you. How was your day?
Alex looked at the message, then at the System warning, then at the encrypted phone from Fischer sitting on his desk.
Alex:Long. Miss you too. When are you coming home?
Nat:Not sure. Mission keeps getting more complicated. Might be another week at least. Are you okay? You sound off even in text.
Alex:Just tired. Long day of meetings.
Nat:You're still lying to me.
His heart sank.
Nat:Whatever you're involved in, please be careful. I can't help you if I don't know what's happening.
Alex:I know. I'm sorry. It's classified, and it's complicated, and I promise I'm being as careful as I can be.
Nat:That's not as reassuring as you think it is.
Alex:I know that too.
Nat:I love you. Don't die while I'm gone.
Alex:I love you too. I won't.
Nat:Promise?
Alex:Promise.
He put down his phone and stared at the ceiling, feeling the weight of too many secrets, too much danger, and not enough certainty about how this would end.
═══════════════════════════════════════
RELATIONSHIP STATUS:
Natasha Romanoff: 100/100
Status: TRUE LOVE - MAXIMUM BOND
Current State: Strained by secrets
Note: She knows you're hiding something major
Warning: Continued deception may impact trust
Recommendation: Consider disclosure when operationally safe
ACTIVE BUFFS FROM RELATIONSHIP:
Combat coordination (+15% effectiveness when fighting together)
Emotional stability (resistance to psychological attacks)
Tactical insight sharing (her experience augments your planning)
═══════════════════════════════════════
Alex dismissed the notification and finally let himself collapse into bed.
Tomorrow he'd meet with Fury, continue the investigation, try to unravel the conspiracy before it unraveled him.
Tonight, he'd sleep—if he could.
His danger sense was still active, warning him that something was coming.
HYDRA knew something was wrong.
The clock was ticking.