"The intruder who calls himself Blood Stalk and Subject One have vanished."
The personnel Zola had dispatched to investigate quickly returned with video images. At the scene, aside from piles of SHOCKER modified combatant corpses and battle damage on the walls and ground, nothing else remained.
"How did he leave? Carefully inspect the surrounding area for any newly formed underground passages."
Dr. Zola ordered.
SHOCKER's base surveillance systems were extremely advanced. The cameras at the location where Evolto battled Subject One had been destroyed, but none of the cameras in the surrounding corridors captured any footage of Ebert leaving.
The personnel sent to scout approached from multiple directions, but encountered no trace of Blood Stalk.
Did he simply vanish into thin air?
"The structural integrity of the base is intact, and no damaged tunnel or entrance has been found."
SHOCKER personnel carefully inspected the surrounding region but found no possible escape route.
"Come to think of it, when that Blood Stalk from the Foundation infiltrated the SHOCKER base, he also appeared out of nowhere. The perimeter defense systems didn't detect anything. Could they really just phase through walls?"
Pierce asked in confusion.
"The external defensive facilities are intact and undamaged.
Under this premise, to infiltrate the base, there are only two possibilities:one—enter through the main base entrance, or two—use the ventilation ducts."Dr. Zola's eyes flickered as he analyzed.
"The main entrance is out of the question—surveillance and armored guards everywhere. There's no possibility of silently breaking through head-on.
If he entered via the ventilation system, then he must have the ability to alter his physical form and transform into some kind of liquid-like state.
SHOCKER's ventilation design fully considers the prevention of miniature probes infiltrating. The ducts are constructed so tight that even ordinary insects can't get through—only in liquid or gaseous form would it be possible."
Dr. Zola pulled up the schematics of SHOCKER's ventilation systems for the HYDRA council to view.
"Transform into liquid or gas—how can that be possible?"One person on the screen spoke with disbelief.
"A normal human certainly can't. Blood Stalk may look humanoid, but nobody said there has to be a real human inside. It could very well be remotely controlled."Dr. Zola explained.
A purely mechanical suit could indeed theoretically convert into fluid or vapor using Foundation's level of technology.
"But even if their Blood Stalk armor can shapeshift, Subject One absolutely cannot."Zola shook his head. As Subject One's creator, he knew its capabilities better than anyone.
"And the ventilation outlets are all monitored."
"Then could the SHOCKER network system have been hacked? Perhaps they manipulated the surveillance and defense systems from within, allowing Blood Stalk to infiltrate without you noticing?"
Baron Strucker suggested, stroking his chin.
"Perhaps. The Foundation's technology far surpasses SHOCKER's. It's not impossible they hacked our systems without triggering alarms." Zola said hesitantly.
"But even if they controlled the monitoring and defense systems—how did they leave? Only a few minutes passed between the destruction of surveillance and the arrival of my personnel.
Blood Stalk vanished with Subject One. The SHOCKER base is deep underground. Although the walls and floor were heavily damaged during their battle, no breach was opened to the outside world.
It's like they appeared out of thin air—and disappeared the same way…"
"So how did they enter and leave? Did they just teleport?"Someone joked.
"You don't really think they have spatial teleportation technology, right?"The man asked again when he saw everyone fall silent.
"If they truly mastered spatial transfer, couldn't they deliver their people anywhere in the world?"
Baron Strucker inhaled sharply, eyes filled with shock—and a hint of uncontrollable desire.
"It's not impossible."
Zola's gaze flickered.
"From the tiny portion of technology the Foundation has revealed, they clearly possess science far beyond ours. Spatial travel is considered purely theoretical in modern science—but their level is far above today's world. It is entirely possible they really have mastered it.
As far as I know, the Tesseract formerly in HYDRA's possession and now contained within S.H.I.E.L.D.—possesses power related to space manipulation."
"Dr. Zola, are you suggesting the Foundation has researched the Tesseract?"Pierce narrowed his eyes.
"Are you saying this Foundation may be connected to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"Someone else speculated.
"Impossible!" Pierce snapped.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is our mortal enemy. If they knew HYDRA still existed, they would stop at nothing to destroy us.
And besides—S.H.I.E.L.D. is already filled with our operatives. The entire organization is under our control. I can say with 100% certainty—they do NOT know HYDRA still survives."
It sounded absurd, but it was true: S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA were mortal enemies, yet S.H.I.E.L.D. was crawling with HYDRA agents—and Pierce himself had been Director.
"In that case, perhaps the Consortium also planted their own members in S.H.I.E.L.D., interfering with the Tesseract experiments."
Baron Strucker said.
"Pierce, this will be your responsibility—if the Foundation gained spatial transfer tech from Tesseract research, we might uncover clues through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s past projects."
"I'll investigate. If they placed agents inside S.H.I.E.L.D., I'll find them.
But this all depends on whether the Foundation truly has spatial transfer technology derived from the Tesseract.
For now, let us move to post-incident operations.
Dr. Zola, now that this base's location has been exposed and damaged by the attack—should we relocate personnel and equipment to a new facility?"Pierce asked.
Zola paused, then his eyes lit up.
"No. This base's construction and relocation protocols are highest confidentiality. If the Foundation can track us here, relocating won't help. Whatever method they used to locate us, they can do it again.
Repairing the base and continuing operations is more efficient than abandoning it."
"Agreed. Building a hidden base costs massive resources. Abandoning it would be wasteful. But we must upgrade security."
Pierce nodded.
"From what Blood Stalk said, the Consortium still intends to cooperate and provide technology. This attack was merely a demonstration of power. Blood Stalk—what is that armor's principle? How do we create it?"
Zola thought silently.
"Dr. Zola, when can we begin enhancing the Winter Soldier?"
Zola returned to focus.
"With the combat data collected from Subject One, I have fully optimized the technology. We can begin the next upgrade phase at any time.
However, Subject One was only an early experimental model. For the next stage, I intend to surpass that baseline.
To do so, I require a special material."
"Doctor, anything you need—just say it."
Pierce thumped his chest confidently.
"With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s reach, we can obtain nearly any resource on Earth."
Zola nodded.
"I need a substantial quantity of vibranium for the Winter Soldier enhancement."
"Vibranium—the same material used in Captain America's shield?"
"Yes. Its exceptional properties allow it to withstand nearly all impact and absorb energy.
If used in Winter Soldier's modifications, his combat power will increase tremendously."
Vibranium— not only incredibly strong, but with a unique molecular structure that made it almost indestructible, non-conductive to heat or kinetic energy, capable of absorbing and redirecting energy. On Earth it was all but impossible to break.
Pierce fell silent for a moment, then said:
"Vibranium is extremely rare. During WWII, Howard Stark acquired only a single piece by chance, which he used to craft the shield.
Even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret vaults contain none.
But rumor says tiny amounts circulate on the black market—supposedly originating from Africa, though the exact source is unknown."
"If it exists in circulation, no matter how rare, it can be obtained.
And for the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., acquiring it shouldn't be difficult."
Zola said confidently.
Pierce forced a bitter smile."Fine. I'll mobilize our agents and attempt to secure enough vibranium."
Since he controlled the Winter Soldier, he had the greatest incentive to agree.
"This meeting is concluded. I must handle the aftermath and oversee the progress of new experiments."
Zola said once satisfied.
"With SHOCKER's enhancement technology, HYDRA will soon forge an invincible superhuman army. When that day comes, HYDRA will rise unstoppable. The world will rest in our hands."
Baron Strucker spoke fanatically:
"Hail Hydra!"
He cut the connection, his screen fading to black.
"Hail Hydra!"
"Hail Hydra!"
"Hail Hydra!"
One by one, the figures on the screens repeated the chant before disappearing.
Alone in the dark meeting room, only Zola's mechanical eyes gleamed.
"Only those who transcend fragile human form—gods—are worthy to rule the world."
"HYDRA… is already an outdated organization. The future belongs to SHOCKER."
"But Foundation X…"
Zola's eerie voice echoed through the dark room.
Author's Note:
"Still undecided whether to integrate X-Men and mutants into the main world setting, so Adamantium won't be mentioned here yet."
(End of chapter)