Trident Building, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
Inside the sleek, glass-walled office of Head of Intelligence Jasper Sitwell, the bald agent stood with his back to the room, gazing out over the city as he held his smartphone to his ear. He was listening intently, as if receiving orders.
"Sitwell, any updates at S.H.I.E.L.D.? Has Fury made any unexpected moves?"
"No, sir," Sitwell replied in a low voice. "Everything remains routine. There hasn't been any significant change since Rumlow's return."
A pause. The voice on the other end continued, "And what about the Wizard Professor? Any developments there?"
"Nothing new since Sokovia, sir. There's been no activity." Sitwell hesitated briefly, then ventured, "Sir, where are you now? Is there anything further you'd like me to handle?"
Silence stretched for a moment, then the calm voice returned. "Actually, Sitwell, there is. I need you to head to a base in Houston. Take Rumlow with you to retrieve a 084 item. Contact me when you arrive."
"Understood, sir. Hail Hydra."
"Hail Hydra," the voice replied solemnly.
The line went dead. Sitwell slipped his phone into his pocket, his face impassive as he turned back toward his desk. After a moment, he closed his eyes in concentration, seeming to summon something. In seconds, a warm, red glow swirled in the center of the room, forming a portal. From it emerged Lockhart, stepping forward with quiet command.
"Master," Sitwell addressed him respectfully. "Pierce just gave me a mission. He's still in the U.S., but he instructed me to head to Houston and retrieve a 084 item. I believe this could serve as a trail to uncover more about Pierce's whereabouts."
Lockhart nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he pieced together the clues. After a moment, he shifted the conversation.
"And you're certain there's been no irregular activity from Nick Fury?"
"Yes," Sitwell confirmed. "The director has been focused on something called the Insight Project. Other than that, his behavior has been consistent."
Lockhart's gaze darkened as he heard this. "The Insight Project…" he murmured. "If I recall, it's heavily tied to Hydra's agenda. These rats will burrow wherever they find an opening. But all we need is the one who leads them."
Hydra Underground Base.
In a dimly lit room, Pierce lowered his phone, his face twisting into a mask of frustration. The brief exchange with Sitwell had confirmed his suspicions. Lockhart must have already brainwashed the agent. The agent's reports were too seamless, too normal—an obvious red flag.
A stern voice interrupted his thoughts. "Pierce," Madam Hydra addressed him icily, "Lockhart and his apprentice destroyed the Swedish underground base this morning. We need to retaliate."
Pierce stayed silent, his expression unreadable. Madam Hydra's face hardened as she continued.
"Just how much control do you still have in S.H.I.E.L.D.? We can't allow Lockhart to dismantle our network one base at a time."
"We can't afford to use S.H.I.E.L.D. resources against him just yet," Pierce replied calmly. "Lockhart likely has a foothold within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself, and any moves I make could expose our assets. It's clear that he's compromised my people."
Madam Hydra's eyes narrowed, her voice brimming with frustration. "If that's the case, then let's turn the tables. Direct Nick Fury and Lockhart toward each other. Let them tear each other apart."
Pierce shook his head decisively. "No. I've already set the Insight Project in motion under Fury's nose. It's our most potent weapon against Lockhart. We can't jeopardize that. And if Lockhart does manipulate Fury, then our entire operation within S.H.I.E.L.D. collapses."
Madam Hydra scoffed. "You're banking on too much, Pierce. If Lockhart can sway your agents, why wouldn't he target Fury himself?"
"I've considered that," Pierce responded with a knowing look, "but it's unlikely. Based on what I've observed, Lockhart seems restrained, cautious. He wouldn't interfere with Fury unless absolutely necessary. Fury holds a particular influence—a power connected to an alien incident from over a decade ago. That incident was how he earned his role as director. We need Fury to remain as he is. If we force his hand or attempt to control him, we risk losing everything we've built in S.H.I.E.L.D."
Madam Hydra's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "So you think Fury doesn't have his own contingency plans? Just as we keep doppelgängers to protect ourselves, he may very well have his own methods to elude control."
"Precisely," Pierce answered, his tone unwavering. "Using S.H.I.E.L.D. against Lockhart is premature. Any action on that front could ruin years of groundwork. For now, the wisest path is patience."
Madam Hydra sighed, her frustration simmering. "Pierce, Lockhart's attacks are chipping away at our base infrastructure. If we let him continue, it won't be long before he compromises our entire network."
With a dismissive gesture, Pierce answered, "We don't need to go after Lockhart directly. His students are vulnerable enough, and they're our best leverage."
A dark glint sparked in Madam Hydra's eyes, understanding his intent immediately.
"I leaked the location of a base in Houston," Pierce explained. "Lockhart will undoubtedly use it as another training ground for his students, just as he did with our previous sites. But this time, we'll be waiting."
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