Nick Fury hadn’t "finally snapped."
That was the kind of fantasy people invented when they didn’t understand the man.
Fury was well past the age of acting on righteous impulse.
He despised many of the American government’s more questionable dealings, but that didn’t mean he was willing to expose every dirty secret at any cost.
For one thing, dragging decades of classified scandals into the public eye would throw the country into political chaos.
For another...
The world wasn’t as simple as good and evil.
Yes, American weapons often found their way into regional conflicts, fueling wars in developing nations.
But America wasn’t the only player moving pieces across the board.
The Second World War had taught every major power what total war truly meant.
Then came nuclear weapons.
Everyone understood that another global conflict might very well be humanity’s last.
Unfortunately, understanding that fact didn’t erase humanity’s appetite for conflict.
Ethnic hatred.
Religious divisions.
Competition for resources.
None of those simply disappeared.
Every nation needed oil, minerals, energy, and countless other finite resources to develop. Yet no country willingly surrendered access to them.
Direct war between superpowers was too dangerous.
So they found another way.
Instead of fighting each other...
They fought through proxies.
One power armed one side.
Its rival armed the other.
Some offered weapons.
Others provided military advisors.
Others manipulated local politics from behind the scenes.
The battlefield belonged to smaller nations.
The competition belonged to the great powers.
It wasn’t a humane system.
But it kept conflicts localized and prevented nuclear powers from meeting each other head-on.
Compared to another world war...
Many considered it the lesser evil.
As for the countries caught in the middle...
History rarely showed mercy to the weak.
Nick Fury had directed SHIELD since the Cold War.
He understood this reality better than almost anyone.
He disliked how aggressively certain officials exploited the system, but maintaining global stability often required accepting compromises that left a bitter taste.
That was precisely why his search of Hammer Industries had focused solely on Umbrella.
He had found evidence pointing toward government-backed black-market arms deals.
He deliberately ignored it.
Unfortunately...
The officials involved had no way of knowing that.
People with guilty consciences rarely believed in coincidence.
Especially after months of clashing with SHIELD over Iron Man.
As far as they were concerned, Fury had come for them.
"You’re investigating a terrorist organization?"
Sure you are.
Then tell us which one.
No? Classified?
Right. Because you totally aren’t targeting us.
Calls flooded the NYPD.
Military leaders.
Cabinet officials.
Political appointees.
Their message barely varied.
Do not release Justin Hammer to SHIELD.
No matter what.
"So long as Justin Hammer never falls into SHIELD’s hands," Whitehall said calmly, "we remain safe."
The police only cared about Hammer’s responsibility for the Stark Expo disaster.
They knew nothing about Umbrella.
Hammer certainly wasn’t brave enough to volunteer that information.
Turn state’s evidence?
Not a chance.
If he’d possessed that kind of backbone, he never would have agreed to work with Whitehall in the first place.
Bakshi frowned.
"But this only buys time."
"Eventually SHIELD can invoke its special authority and take custody."
He wasn’t wrong.
Under normal circumstances, SHIELD could obtain jurisdiction through the proper channels.
It would simply require paperwork.
A few days at most.
Those few days were exactly what certain government officials needed.
Enough time to destroy records.
Forge new ones.
Erase every trace connecting themselves to Justin Hammer.
As long as SHIELD didn’t openly declare war on the United States government, they would probably escape intact.
But HYDRA wouldn’t.
Umbrella could perhaps be explained away.
Being HYDRA...
That was rather harder to deny.
Whitehall studied Bakshi for a moment.
"I told you."
"As long as Justin doesn’t end up in SHIELD custody..."
"...we’re safe."
His tone carried a subtle emphasis.
Bakshi froze.
Then understanding dawned.
There were many ways to ensure someone never reached SHIELD alive.
"I understand."
Whitehall gave a faint nod.
"Handle the aftermath carefully."
"I don’t want loose ends."
He picked up a watering can and casually watered the potted plant behind his desk, as though discussing routine office maintenance instead of arranging a murder.
Bakshi considered the problem.
"Quite a few people want Justin Hammer kept away from SHIELD."
He chose his words carefully.
"But... they’re all poor candidates."
The "people" he referred to were, of course, the government officials desperately trying to protect themselves.
If Hammer died under suspicious circumstances and SHIELD proved they were responsible, the investigation would only intensify.
That defeated the entire purpose.
Someone else needed to take the blame.
Bakshi’s eyes lit up.
"I’ve got it."
He smiled.
"Justin Hammer is being transported."
"Umbrella launches a rescue attempt."
"A firefight breaks out."
"Hammer is accidentally killed by stray gunfire."
Whitehall remained silent.
Then...
He smiled.
That was all the approval Bakshi needed.
"I’ll begin preparations immediately, Doctor."
After the door closed, Whitehall quietly looked toward the window.
"You’ve caused me quite a bit of trouble."
His expression turned thoughtful.
"The next time we negotiate..."
"...I’ll be charging a higher price, Mr. Wesker."
Near midnight.
A modest bar in New York.
"Another cider."
The bartender slid over a fresh glass.
Only one customer occupied the counter.
A middle-aged man in military dress uniform.
Judging by the stars on his shoulders, he was a general.
Several empty glasses already sat nearby.
He drained half the cider in one swallow before taking another pull from his cigar.
General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross was in an exceptionally foul mood.
His congressional hearing had concluded only hours earlier.
Considering the devastation caused by the battle between the Hulk and the Abomination...
Ross arguably deserved prison.
Perhaps worse.
Instead...
Almost nothing had happened.
The entire affair had been buried behind layers of classified documentation and political bargaining.
Officially, Ross emerged virtually untouched.
That outcome should have pleased him.
Instead, it left him feeling hollow.
He had devoted his career to creating the perfect super soldier.
But he wasn’t blind.
He had witnessed firsthand the catastrophe born from his own arrogance.
Lives had been lost.
Cities damaged.
His mistakes had consequences.
He lacked the courage to publicly confess everything and face judgment.
So he did the only thing he could.
He drank.
"General Ross."
A woman’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up.
Sometime during his brooding, two women had quietly taken the seats on either side of him.
They were twins.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Their features hinted at Asian ancestry, while their bearing radiated confidence rather than seduction.
One wore a crimson blouse with black slacks.
The other a blue trench coat accented by a scarlet scarf.
Neither looked remotely like someone trolling bars for company.
More importantly...
They knew exactly who he was.
"And you are?" Ross asked.
The woman in red smiled.
"Ada Wong."
The woman in blue followed.
"Carla Wong."
Ross grunted.
The names meant nothing to him.
"In that case, ladies..."
He pushed back his stool.
"...if you’ll excuse me."
He wasn’t interested in mysterious strangers tonight.
"We’re directors of Umbrella Corporation."
Ada spoke before he could leave.
Ross paused.
"Umbrella?"
He searched his memory.
"I’ve never heard of it."
Carla smiled faintly.
"Perhaps not."
"But you’ve seen our products."
Ross frowned.
"I don’t believe so."
Ada leaned slightly closer.
"Allow me to refresh your memory."
"Two months ago."
"Special Military Base."
Ross’s eyes widened instantly.
He remembered that night all too well.
Carla took out a slim cigarette, lit it with practiced elegance, and inhaled.
"Our company’s twenty products..."
"...made quite an impression on you."
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