The late night S.H.I.E.L.D. base was no longer bustling with activity. During the quietude of the night, only the flickering lights from the office remained. Most staff members had already returned home to rest, and those who hadn't were tidying up their things.
Through the silent corridor and beyond the translucent office partition glass, numerous office staff in the clerical division of the S.H.I.E.L.D. base were sorting out documents, filing them away, intending to handle the remaining tasks the following day.
"Hey, Rhodes, we didn't have to work overtime today. How about going out?" A black man in a shirt leaned against the door, speaking to another man dressed for field operations. The blonde woman beside him rolled her eyes, "Do you have to say these things when I'm around? It makes me seem like a third wheel! ...You guys chat, I have to go upstairs."
"What's the matter? Monica, aren't you getting off work?" The black man adjusted his tie and asked. Monica shrugged and replied, "The logistics team is always busy unlike you. Did you know Director Fury is going for a meeting today? I have to arrange a car and send the security officer with him later, so I have coordinate with security…"
The white man referred to as Rhodes, lightly pinched the corner of a document, nonchalantly saying, "Director Fury is going for another meeting? Lately, he's been going to the United Nations quite often. It's hard to know where he finds all these tasks…"
"If he was going to the United Nations, would I need to specifically run to Security? Madelyne, that little fox, is in charge of matters concerning United Nations."
"Then where is he going? What urgent matter has cropped up recently?" Rhodes inquired again.
Monica shrugged, answering, "Who knows? I'm not from security, I just provide the vehicles. The safety of the vehicle and security personnel are managed by the Security Department…"
After speaking, she picked up the documents in her hand and quickly left.
Rhodes gave a glance towards towards the black man by the door. After the black man left, Rhodes hurriedly shoved the documents into the folder and briskly exited the office.
Watching the pair leave the office opposite, a remaining staff member gave a signal in the direction of another. Both then also left, one following the other.
As the lights incrementally illuminated the recreation hall for field operators, Grant Ward opened the door and said to the resting field operators, "We need three people. We're running short of security officers. The Security Department is pressing…"
"No, not the interns. This meeting is very important. I need two seasoned agents, Pike and Nimitz. Anto, you come too. I have something to talk to you about…"
After the three men left, they came back again after a while. As they were collecting their gear and changing, the others exchanged glances. Someone asked, "Hey, what's the rush? Why specifically you three? You guys are the most experienced agents in our team…"
"Director Fury is attending a meeting. I hear it's important and it's with the military. You know how those military folks like to bluff. Inexperienced people could get spooked," Anto, the eldest in age, replied.
"We haven't had dealings with the military in a long while. What's up this time? They better not be expecting our help again. God! I just can't deal with those generals. Wasn't last time enough?!"
As they chatted leisurely, Ward stepped in again and said, "We need two more clerical staff members for accompaniment and note-taking. Natasha already went to find them. Once she's back, go downstairs and receive them. Let's not repeat the mix-up we had last time."
Pike, standing at the door, gave an "OK" sign. After the departure of the three agents, the remaining agents in the hall trickled out one by one.
After Ward and Natasha had notified several departments, the remaining agents in the S.H.I.E.L.D. base departed their offices at breakneck speed, as if a movie had been abruptly fast-forwarded.
At the elevator, an unusual queue had formed. Seeing this anomaly, Coulson wondered if it was an illusion.
Coulson wove in and out of the crowd. Like a hot knife cutting through butter, all eyes were on him. Everyone was silent, yet their gaze conveyed a barrage of unsaid words.
Once he squeezed into the elevator, Coulson finally noticed the unusual stares. He glanced left and right, sensing an eerie air in the elevator.
Coulson felt a little breathless. He'd never wished, as he did now, for the elevator to reach his floor as quickly as possible.
Finally squeezing out of the elevator, Coulson let out a sigh of relief. He glanced back just before the elevator doors closed. Through the narrowing gap, he saw a stream of air, or perhaps those gazes, flowing within that confined space.
This wasn't the first time he'd felt that there were many secrets within the lofty organization he worked in, secrets he didn't know about. And lately, these secrets seemed to be multiplying.
Coulson sighed, heading towards Director Nick Fury's office. Nick was adjusting his tie in front of a mirror. At the sight of Coulson, he smiled and asked, "Haven't you knocked off yet?"
"Boss, I heard you're meeting with the military. Those guys can be tough. Want me to join you?"
Nick shook his head, replying, "No need, Natasha is going with me."
"Um… I know it's not very professional, but… I was wondering if… I mean…" Coulson stuttered for a while before saying, "There shouldn't be any big issues, right? Even if they want to deal with the mutants and S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't participate, they probably wouldn't be able to do much, right?"
Nick walked over, put an arm around Coulson's shoulder, and looked at him, saying, "You're right. As long as S.H.I.E.L.D. stands firm and resolutely refuses to participate in this extermination plan against mutants, neither the military nor Congress can coerce us!"
Coulson always thought that Nick's tone was odd, scratching his head as he watched Nick leave.
Unbeknownst to him, he currently in the S.H.I.E.L.D Director's office, was like a sun that sank into the river of information. Countless light chains danced out from his body, signals turning into beams of light, bytes turned into links, gradually covering all of New York.
Countless light spots lit up, all those who received the eavesdropping signal exclaimed in suppressed shock: "Against mutants?!"
"Mutant extermination plan?"
"…S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't plan to get involved???"
"Nick Fury's meeting later could be discussing how to deal with mutants..."
"This one-eyed dragon seems resolute in keeping S.H.I.E.L.D. out, planning to face the pressure from the military and congress alone, has he gone mad? Or is there some other hidden situation?!"
"Nick Fury isn't stupid, he knows that the United Nations is pointing at him, and the people of The Avengers are very important too. He's got plenty of good cards to play, but he just wants to look out for his own interests…"
"Dealing with mutants is indeed a good pretext, it's easy to provoke conflicts between several departments, as long as we can create a contradiction, many things will be easier…"
"Prepare for it, notify our partners, it's time to enter the scene!"
"Quickly formulate a plan, this is surely a fine opportunity!"
"Notify all groups to prepare, the target is Nick Fury and the specific contents of his meeting! It needs to be detailed down to every word…"
"I will not allow our people to miss a single word, everyone gather, the war against mutants is about to begin!"
"At any cost, get the meeting's content!"
The waves of the river of information never change with the sunrise and sunset, when the wave hit the shore, the whole world heard a name——"Red Door Orchid Plan".
"...Listen, today's meeting concerns the formulation of a top-secret plan, everyone absolutely cannot disclose that you are attending today..." Natasha, stood in a dimly lit room, her arms crossed as she spoke to all of the employees in the room: "Top-secret plans can't be leaked out, once the information is disclosed, you know what will happen…"
"The things related to confidentiality should not need repeating..." In the next office over, Ward spoke to the field staff: "Everyone's an old-hand here, after working here this long, there shouldn't be a lack of basic consciousness about confidentiality. No one is allowed to leak even half a word out about today's meeting about a top-secret plan, understand?"
"Red Door Orchid Plan? Aim is to exterminate mutants?" In the office of Arkham Sanatorium, Shiller held a special phone, asking on the other end: "…Do you know the specifics of the plan?"
"Their first step plan is to use the convenience of space transport facilities to launch a special device named 'Mother Module' into space, form a floating base near the sun and Mercury, then equip it with powerful artificial intelligence, let it iterate and upgrade, develop stronger Sentinel Robots, ready to exterminate mutants whenever needed?"
Shiller propped himself against the table with his arm, then leaned onto his own forehead, saying: "Not to mention the difficulty of implementing this plan, who will execute it?"
"...The S.H.I.E.L.D. Director expressed strong objection? Used forceful words? Really? Is Nick Fury so furious? Woah, so righteous! You even saw his expression? He must be really angry?"
"Really? Did he really say that? Of course, I'm not questioning your technical ability, I know your eavesdropping device went through several generations of iterations, you said he's in the car, still cursing the military? Looks like he's really furious."
"Alright, I got it…Hail Hydra!"
After hanging up the phone, Shiller furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, then picked up the phone again. He got Gray Mist to alter his voice, then spoke to the other end: "Charles Xavier, this is the leader of Hydra, 'Doctor', I have something to remind you about…"
"Shiller, what are you up to, what's this about Hydra and its leader? What's wrong with your voice? And why did you switch phone numbers, don't you use the previous one anymore?" Charles's puzzled voice came from the phone.
"Shut up, listen to me." Shiller's voice was very cold, he said: "I don't know who this Shiller you're talking about is, the one speaking with you now is the Chosen Leader of Hydra, the Holy Pope of Mundane Python Yemengade, the most influential Hydra's Head in the world, Doctor…"
"What I need to tell you is, the military of many countries are preparing a top-secret plan. Remember, this plan is top-secret, and Hydra is the first organisation that's willing to disclose it to you…"
"The so-called Red Door Orchid Plan is actually…"
After about ten minutes, Charles hung up the phone. His face showed a serious expression, instantly all of the X-Men heard Charles's voice in their minds:
"Everyone, come to school immediately! A major event is about to happen…"