Coulson listened, nodding solemnly, as if ready for a heroic sacrifice, and picked up the gear from the box.
In the Ten Rings camp, inside the cave where Stark was held.
Tony, hammering on his iron armor, worriedly watched the shadows outside the door and asked, "Yinsen, what's happening? Why is it so noisy out there?"
Yinsen excitedly replied, "It seems someone has invaded the camp, supposedly to rescue you."
"Rescue me? Impossible! If they were here to rescue me, it wouldn't be this quiet," Tony said confidently.
Tony had faith in his importance to the U.S. military; if they had to choose between saving him or the president, they'd likely choose him (or maybe not).
If the military were here, the terrorists wouldn't have held out this long.
"Should we continue working on the armor? With so many people outside, we could be discovered," Yinsen asked worriedly.
Tony put down his hammer, "Let's stop for now. Too many people outside; we'll be discovered."
Just as they decided to stop, a series of screams echoed outside.
"Ah! What is that?"
"A monster! It's a monster!"
"Great freedom fighters, fear nothing!"
"Help!"
"Quick! Wake up..."
Hearing the chaos outside, Tony and Yinsen exchanged glances and then, in unison, grabbed nearby hammers to barricade the cave door.
Unsure if those outside were friends or foes, the best strategy was to keep them out.
"No time! Activate the iron armor," Tony said urgently, disregarding the unfinished helmet, hastily choosing to start the iron armor.
Outside, silence had fallen.
The bald leader had gathered everyone together, effectively packaging them for Containment Item-307 to devour, an eerily brilliant move.
Leading the S.H.I.E.L.D. rescue mission was Sharon Carter, head of the Middle East base and niece of S.H.I.E.L.D. founder Peggy Carter—a true second-generation S.H.I.E.L.D. operative.
When Sharon Carter arrived at the camp with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, all she saw was a pile of clothes, not even a trace of blood.
She knelt by the clothes, frowning.
No blood...
"These clothes don't look like they were taken off naturally. More like the people inside just vanished. Wait! These clothes are damp..."
Sensing something wrong, Sharon picked up a piece of clothing and sniffed it.
A pungent smell hit her nose.
Realizing what it was, Sharon dropped the clothes and started retching, using a tent for support.
"Dammit! This smell reminds me of those corpses in the sewers."
Sharon couldn't help but curse.
"Be on alert! There might be unknown dangers here!"
Sharon, holding her pistol, scanned the surroundings cautiously.
At that moment, her communicator beeped.
"Agent Carter! Report your status."
Fury's deep voice came through the communicator.
"It's strange here. All the terrorists have vanished. I think they were attacked. We haven't found Tony Stark."
Hearing Sharon's report, Fury's face darkened.
The worst-case scenario had happened. Containment Item-307 might have devoured the entire camp, including Tony.
"Alive or dead, find them! Even if you find only their clothes, retrieve them and then evacuate immediately. No hesitation!"
Fury ended the call without explaining Containment Item-307.
That's Fury—an agent who trusts no one.
Reclining in his chair, Fury recalled Coulson's warning.
"If it becomes uncontrollable, launch a nuke at the Middle East. If Item-307 reaches a populated area, it's the beginning of the end."
"Containment Foundation? How dangerous is Containment Item-307 in your evaluations? Can you really contain so many world-ending monsters?"
Fury's single eye gleamed with resolve.
If it became unmanageable, he wouldn't hesitate to use nuclear weapons, even if it meant sacrifices.
Coulson's intel showed the immense threat of Containment Item-307.
Neither S.H.I.E.L.D. nor humanity could withstand Item-307 if it fed enough.
Listening to the busy tone, Sharon ordered her agents coldly, "Search the camp. Find Stark or his clothes, then we'll retreat. Something's off here. Be careful!"