High above the clouds, hidden within the vast blue sky, an enormous Helicarrier hovered like a silent god of war.
A S.H.I.E.L.D. helicopter descended steadily toward the massive aerial fortress, its rotors slicing through the thin air as it approached the landing deck. Inside, Liam Hayes and Polaris looked out through the window, taking in the surreal sight before them.
"Damn… this place is huge," Liam said with a low whistle, his eyes scanning the endless steel structure stretching across the sky. Even for him, the sheer scale of it was impressive.
If he'd had the chance earlier, he would've definitely tried signing in here. Who knew what kind of abilities something like this might yield?
Polaris stood beside him, her gaze drifting over the horizon as the clouds rolled beneath them. "The view's not bad either," she said with a faint smile, clearly enjoying the moment.
At over ten thousand meters in the air, the world below looked distant and unreal. The sky felt endless, and the clouds beneath their feet made it seem like they were standing above everything.
Phil Coulson, seated nearby, wasn't surprised by their reactions. Anyone seeing the Helicarrier for the first time had the same response.
"Welcome to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier," he said politely as the helicopter touched down. "Mr. Hayes, if you'll follow me."
"Lead the way," Liam replied casually, stepping out with Polaris right behind him.
They were escorted through the massive structure, passing rows of agents, advanced equipment, and humming systems that made it clear this wasn't just a flying base—it was a command center for global operations.
Eventually, they arrived at the director's office.
The moment the door opened, a familiar figure stood waiting.
"Welcome," Nick Fury said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of enthusiasm. "The man who just saved New York."
Liam stepped inside, a faint grin forming. "Hey there, Director."
Fury's expression twitched slightly as Liam's casual tone landed, though he quickly masked it. His hand instinctively brushed over his bald head for a moment before he glanced at Coulson, as if silently asking whether that greeting had been normal.
Coulson simply shrugged, offering no explanation.
"Have a seat, Mr. Hayes," Fury said, regaining his composure as he gestured toward the chairs. "In case you're not familiar with me, I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Liam dropped into the seat without hesitation, crossing one leg over the other. "Yeah, I figured. So let's skip the introductions—what do you want?"
Fury didn't waste time once he saw the directness. "Coulson, give us a moment."
"Yes, sir." Coulson nodded and exited the room without question.
Fury's gaze then shifted toward Polaris.
Liam understood immediately.
"Lorna, wait outside for a bit," he said calmly.
Polaris frowned slightly, clearly not thrilled about leaving him alone in a room with someone like Fury. Still, she nodded, leaning in just enough to murmur, "Be careful."
The words weren't loud, but in the quiet office, they were easy to hear.
Fury's expression stiffened for half a second, though he said nothing as she stepped out and the door closed behind her.
Now, it was just the two of them.
Fury leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the desk. "First, I want to thank you," he began. "Those two creatures caused massive destruction—multiple city blocks wiped out, billions in damages, and hundreds of casualties."
He paused briefly, watching Liam's reaction.
"If you hadn't stepped in, the situation would've escalated far beyond control. There's a real chance the entire city could've been lost."
Liam didn't react.
He simply sat there, arms crossed, his expression neutral as he waited.
"Oh, and then?" he said after a moment, clearly unimpressed by the setup.
Fury exhaled quietly, realizing flattery wasn't going to work here.
"You should've been recognized as a hero," he continued, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Awards, public acknowledgment—the whole thing. But… that's not happening."
Liam didn't speak, but his gaze sharpened slightly.
Fury tapped a control on his desk, and a holographic interface flickered to life. Streams of data appeared in the air between them.
"I'm guessing you've never heard of the World Security Council," Fury said. "They're not the United Nations, but in many ways, they hold more power. They oversee S.H.I.E.L.D., control our funding, and ultimately decide what threats matter."
Liam gave a small shrug. "And what does that have to do with me?"
Fury didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled up a detailed file—images, reports, combat data.
"This is everything we have on the Hulk and Abomination," he said. "General Ross ran countless experiments. They threw everything at them—heavy artillery, advanced weaponry, even missile strikes."
He paused, letting the weight of it sink in.
"And it barely mattered. Hulk was injured, sure, but he recovered almost instantly. As far as we know, there's nothing humanity has that can reliably kill him. Maybe nuclear weapons—but even that's not guaranteed."
Fury's eye locked onto Liam.
"And Abomination? He was created using Hulk's blood. From what we saw today, he wasn't any weaker."
He leaned back slightly, his voice lowering.
"And you ended him… effortlessly."
Liam's expression didn't change.
No surprise. No pride. Nothing.
That, more than anything, made Fury take a quiet breath. Very few people could hear something like that and remain completely unaffected.
It only confirmed what he was already thinking.
Fury continued, his tone measured. "Mr. Hayes, what you demonstrated today wasn't just strength. It was something far beyond what the world is used to dealing with."
A brief pause.
Then Liam spoke.
"So the World Security Council is scared," he said plainly. "And you are too."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes meeting Fury's without hesitation.
"Is that it?"
....
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