Agent K had been hiding in an unnoticed corner.
Her exceptional physical abilities allowed her to skillfully avoid Hydra members' searches.
While resting with her eyes closed, her wrist device suddenly vibrated.
She tapped it lightly, projecting a holographic screen.
[S: Received the footage. Nice job. Get out of there with Fury and any others nearby.]
A retreat signal came from Lyon in the airborne fortress.
S was his code name within the Men in Black.
For now, Lyon decided not to release the Skrull footage.
Hydra's exposure was shocking enough for the world.
As for the alien situation, it would be best to hold off and drop it all at once next time.
When emotions were running high, they could conveniently use that to expel the Skrulls from Earth as well.
As for the exposed Skrull, Lyon was sure Fury could bluff his way through.
Sometimes Lyon thought he like some protagonists should have a shock-value system.
If that were the case just the emotional waves stirred up worldwide by recent actions would have been enough to earn him a Supreme-level superhuman upgrade.
But well, he has Kryptonian geans and has a world hoping system so he isn't feeling any bitter.
...
On the Helicarrier.
After reading the message, Agent K lightly flicked her wrist, closing the holographic screen.
"Message received, Superman in charge," she murmured, lifting a metal briefcase as she swayed gracefully out of the shadows.
Agent K was of Asian descent and had once been placed by the Red Room in a Hydra-affiliated research organization.
Later, Hydra recognized her talent and sent her to the SHIELD Academy.
During that time, Hydra had also attempted some mild brainwashing on her.
However, it clearly didn't compare to the chemical conditioning of the Red Room.
If Natasha hadn't injected her with a suppressant a month ago she would likely still be at SHIELD's research facility, working alongside Fitz, Simmons, and the others.
As soon as Agent K stepped out of the shadows, she was immediately noticed.
"Stop!" A Hydra agent threatened, aiming his gun.
Rumlow held up a hand to stop his subordinate; he recognized Agent K.
"You're… Caitlyn? I remember you should be at the research facility now," he said, eyeing K with suspicion.
"I'm carrying out a special mission for him," Agent K explained. "I'm to take Nick Fury and the SHIELD agents away at a critical moment."
She didn't specify who "he" was. Instead, as she passed by Rumlow, she whispered, "Hail Hydra!"
Hearing this, Rumlow's hesitation instantly cleared. This person was originally from Hydra and knew the code—she was one of them.
He gestured to show there was no threat, signaling the team to resume their posts.
Rumlow didn't even question why they were taking Fury and the others away instead of killing them on the spot. He simply watched as Agent K carried Fury over her shoulder, gripped Hawkeye by the hand, and tucked Hill and Sharon Carter under her arms as she left the command room.
"Such power, she's enhanced—maybe another Winter Soldier?" Rumlow shook his head, thinking no more of it.
Agent K, carrying the others, looked like a slender stalk weighed down by heavy grains of rice.
She made her way without hindrance to a Quinjet, tossing them onto the floor inside. A few seconds later, the jet ignited, took off, and left the helicarrier.
"Great, we're about to be taken to some remote corner and vaporized," Hawkeye muttered, eyeing the Quinjet's interior. Familiar with its structure, he figured there might be a way to escape.
"We might still have a chance," Coulson said, looking at Agent K in the cockpit. "She doesn't seem like a Hydra operative."
"Doesn't seem like one? She brought us here, and no one stopped her—that doesn't look suspicious?" Sharon Carter's gaze fell on the parachute rack. "She's incredibly strong, probably enhanced and hard to fight… any way we can damage the cabin? Our only chance is to risk everything."
But Coulson didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Agent K directly. "Miss, may I ask where you're taking us?"
Agent K glanced at her dashboard. "Poland, Warsaw, arriving shortly."
Huh?
Everyone in the cabin looked dumbfounded. "Shortly?" What did that even mean?
The next second, the jet abruptly decelerated, hovered, and then landed gently on the ground.
Agent K stepped out of the cockpit, tossed a few tactical knives at their feet, and opened the hatch before heading out.
"Take Nick Fury and leave. From now on, Hydra matters will be handled by us, the Men in Black."
Men in Black?
The group exchanged bewildered looks; none of them had ever heard of this organization.
Then again, it made sense.
They hadn't even known about Hydra's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D.
So, not knowing about a group that could place someone deep within Hydra's ranks? Perhaps that was normal.
...Normal? Yeah, right!
Two years ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been the largest, most secretive organization in the world. Now, somehow, it looked like they were the amateurs here!
Hawkeye and the others exchanged irritated glances.
"Ma'am, is there any way we can assist?" Coulson asked, maintaining his polite demeanor.
"No need." Agent K didn't look back.
She lifted a metal briefcase, pulled and twisted it, and a jet-black suit of armor unfolded from within, encasing her.
The armor's contours fit her body perfectly, as tight as a second skin and smooth as water.
The once-gentle, alluring woman was now transformed into a warrior with the mysterious allure of a goddess of the night.
Once suited up, flames blasted from both her hands and feet, and Agent K soared into the sky in an instant.
"Holy… Could these Men in Black be something Tony Stark set up?" Hawkeye gaped.
The whole world knew that the Iron Man suits were Tony's exclusive technology.
"Is she headed back to the Helicarrier? We only landed minutes ago—so it should still be in the vicinity!"
"Quick! We need to find a way to escape, get in touch with others, and stop Hydra!"
Hill made a quick assessment and turned, using her bound hands to grab one of the knives.
The others quickly freed themselves, even giving Fury a slap to wake him up.
But as they rushed out of the Quinjet and looked up to see the Helicarrier hovering close enough that its base was visible, they could only manage one reaction.
"Motherfucker!"
…
The Helicarrier was floating a kilometer above the city.
Given its massive scale...
At this altitude, people across the city could even vaguely see the menacing gun barrels.
Whether in Warsaw or the other two cities, they were all plunged into chaotic attempts to flee.
In the city, every road—right lane, left lane—was filled with vehicles trying to escape.
Even Warsaw, known for Poland's best urban planning, had its highway entrances clogged by traffic.
The best way to escape was by air, but by the time the general public realized it, all emergency tickets were sold out.
It seemed that air routes were a life-saving corridor reserved exclusively for the wealthy and elite.
Yet, Hydra had a fair approach to the situation.
They didn't care about the flow of cars leaving on the ground.
But if any plane dared to take off beneath the carrier?
The ship's anti-aircraft guns would first give a warning, then shoot it down.
In the end, all the planes that had taken off reluctantly lined up to land back at the airport.
The elites, dragging suitcases full of confidential documents and luxury treasures, joined the throngs of airport staff, all sprinting towards the exits in a panic.
But the roads outside the airport were already jammed.
Among those who couldn't get tickets were people with a glimmer of hope or even those planning to seize a plane; they all headed toward the airport, only to find themselves stuck outside, clogging every route completely.
_____________
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