Chapter 600 - Purple no More (2/2)
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After the recent capture of Goblin, Tony had helped the City inadvertently when a man using high-tech wings and going by the name of Vulture decided to target one of his shipments required for the completion of Project Extremis. The city was crawling with people wanting to ensue chaos using enhanced people and strange techs but Tony couldn't keep track of everything. With the help of extremis, however, he just might. Still within his mansion outside the city, Tony played with his holographic genetic code while having Jarvis spy on Shield. At least, try to. Word is that the organization had taken successful steps in the retraction of Osborn's gene enhancement but the people he sent his formula to aside from Tony were still a mystery. No genetically enhanced monsters had made any appearance, after all.
”Sir, the Star Ship launched illegally is making a return. It just sped through our Silver League's Satellite,” Jarvis' report came in quite suddenly, making Tony stop in his tracks. With a haggard look plastered on his face, his back slightly hunched and a black vest covering his torso, Tony looked up from the formula that had extended to the length of almost a meter and that's considering that Tony's handwriting wasn't enlarged. ”Star Ship? You mean Richards and his entourage? Hah! They launched to discover alien lifeforms. There's no way that they could return this quickly.” Though Tony said that, he also remained aware of the fact that Jarvis couldn't lie despite his current exhaustion.
”Alright, clear my schedule for the day. Contact Minister... no, put me through One-Eyed Master of International Ship, Nick Fury.” Tony stretched his arm and stood up from his seat, waving his hand and stowing away the equation he had been working on. Even if the current practice of bringing change to his genetics weren't Tony's greatest powers, he still had enough knowledge and support from Jarvis was more than enough... however, Reed is the one known publicly to have made greatest achievements in such aspect alongside the fact that any other bio-tech geniuses might be hidden away by organizations that could compete against Stark Industries.
”Director Fury?” Tony looked at Nick's large face through the holographic screen prompting in front of him, ”I just wanted to check if you actually called on the services I suggested. You do know that I get points if you call other gals, right?” He smiled, not even bothering to hide the side project he had been working on while providing some maintenance to his repulsor blaster. ”While I would like to enjoy your sick sense of humor, Mr. Stark, why don't you begin with the favor you wish to ask of me?” Nick inquired, unfazed by Tony's actions.
”Oh, come on,” Tony rolled his eyes, ”You don't think I am that materialistic, right?”
”What I do know is,” Nick sighed, ”That you called me to see if I can get you in contact with Reed Richards who just entered the atmosphere and take care of the Federal Government for you. Does that seem right?”
”Really, you would do that for me?” Tony held his hands together with a wide expression, ”How sweet, Director. I really took you for a wrong person the first time. You can ask anything from me, as long as it isn't illegal, of course.”
”As if that ever stopped you,” Nick scoffed before thinking and shaking his head. ”I have no need of your services, Mr. Stark. Consider me a helpful friend. Of course, the moment you engage in another fistfight with the man, I'll get you arrested and not in your regular prison.”
”Relax,” Tony smiled, ”We were both drunk that day, no, include Sue, too. I still plead that she was the one who made the first pass!”
Nick turned silent for a few moments before cutting off the call, deeply regretting providing Tony Stark with a direct communication channel but he felt the action necessary. As Tony returned to his task of finishing the maintenance of his suit and developing a new form of armor, Fury thought for a moment and decided to contact a slightly 'familiar' individual. Locking the doors of his office that he barely used and activating the anti-spyware he had received from his father designed by a genius named Howard Stark, Fury simply touched his head as the dark skin on this forehead receded, giving way to a mechanical jack port to which the man connected his phone.
”Yes, it's me. Reed Richards has returned so you need to check if he is clean. We don't want another symbiote incident.” Hearing the answer, Fury nodded softly, ”I understand that symbiotes by themselves haven't shown any threat. Yes. Don't worry, I am keeping the Shield Operatives under control and their bias against the enhanced individuals, too. When will you return? It is already hard enough to mask the scent of my fuel in front of Ava. Thank you,” Nick finally sighed and disconnected the wire from his body before dismantling his extra security mechanisms.
With one front taken care of, Nick blended into his tasks as usual. Moderating the political situation of the world by actively being subservient to it. While most 'heroes' might have reached the misinterpretation that their powers were the fists of law, Fury had seen better. Quite a few times, now, actually. Vigilantism always gives rise to chaos and to control both sides so as to keep society from self-destructing, Nick took part in both the sides. He would try and keep 'heroes' close to him whilst affecting the bias of his agents. Hydra had infiltrated many sections of society and it wouldn't be strange if the 'heroes' themselves were Hydra agents and that's why Fury held the entire control of the Shield Facility.