After sending the Hulk away, Heisenberg took a bath.
The dust on Mars was too heavy, and even with his bio-stance, he couldn't avoid getting covered in grime.
After a good soak and a massage from the attendants, Heisenberg lay back on the rooftop, soaking up the sun and falling asleep.
Don't ask why he didn't sleep inside.
If you were a Kryptonian, you'd seize every moment to bask in the sun too!
…
At the Triskelion, nearly 1,200 young SHIELD trainees and over 300 surviving agents worked together to repair the building.
It wasn't that they didn't want to hire a construction team, but SHIELD's secrets were too numerous, and no one dared let outsiders into the dilapidated structure.
In the Triskelion's underground command center—SHIELD's temporary command post in New York—Steve Rogers sat bewildered as Coulson briefed him.
"Captain Rogers!"
The briefing began with these words.
"We're currently isolated. The Americas are in complete chaos, and the federal government can't assist us.
With the war barely over, they've already begun a new presidential campaign.
Director Fury… heroically sacrificed himself, and Commander Hill is missing. Many of our plans are now unexecutable.
Projects like TAHITI, PEGASUS, and the Helicarrier, which require the director and commander's authorization, are nearly impossible to operate. We must reconsider our investments.
But the key issue is that SHIELD agents in the Americas suffered heavy losses. Over 12,000 agents from the Washington headquarters and New York branch defected, over 7,000 died, and over 1,800 trainees perished.
We lack the manpower to recover multiple projects.
And the most troubling issue is that China, a UN permanent member, has filed a lawsuit against us. They've demanded SHIELD's dissolution due to HYDRA's infiltration!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Captain America immediately looked displeased. When he raised his head again, his expression was grim, as if recalling something painful.
He gripped the table's edge, his hands tightening, and said harshly,
"Seventy years ago, I nearly sacrificed my life to thwart HYDRA's plot!
I thought I was dead, but I slept for seventy years.
Less than six months after waking, I found the HYDRA I defeated had been around me all along, and I was their laughingstock!"
Captain America glared at Coulson.
"So, dissolving SHIELD, now in this state, might be a good thing!"
"Captain Rogers!!!"
Seeing Rogers consider dissolving SHIELD, Coulson urgently pulled out his best argument.
"You can't negate SHIELD's seventy years of contributions because of HYDRA's damage.
This is an organization you and Peggy personally founded. SHIELD is Peggy's final hope!
As a SHIELD agent, I'm ashamed of its current state, but please think of agents like me who've stood by SHIELD, and of Peggy, who's unwilling to let go, Captain Rogers!!!"
Coulson's words were piercing. Rogers hesitated.
Honestly, he really wanted to dissolve SHIELD.
After all, he couldn't handle the mess SHIELD had left behind.
He was just a soldier, at most a special ops squad commander.
He had no experience managing hundreds of thousands of agents, and probably lacked the ability.
Not to mention the chaotic affairs—he'd only been awake for less than six months. He didn't even understand SHIELD's basic operations, let alone manage its damn complexities.
Moreover, he wasn't sure how many HYDRA agents were still lurking within SHIELD.
Could he be certain HYDRA had mobilized all its forces in this battle? If HYDRA agents remained, all his efforts would serve the enemy.
But Coulson was right about one thing, a point that stabbed Rogers's heart:
This was Peggy's SHIELD!
Rogers turned his back to Coulson and the others, deep in thought.
He'd made his decision. No matter what, he'd preserve Peggy's most cherished legacy.
But did Steve Rogers have the ability?
He could fight all day, but he was just an executor. Did he have the talent to lead?
Rogers wished someone else could take the director's role, so he could focus on fighting—his strength.
But there was a problem.
In SHIELD's ruins, no one commanded more respect than Rogers.
With SHIELD in disarray and enemies everywhere, agents and trainees desperately needed a leader they could trust and be inspired by.
Perhaps if Nick were alive, he'd qualify.
Even with HYDRA hidden under his nose—an unforgivable oversight—his nearly twenty years as director would earn his former subordinates' trust.
Unfortunately, Nick was dead…
Even his body was gone. Coulson, part of the TAHITI program, could revive his director, but Nick's body was never found in the Hulk's wreckage!
Besides Nick…
Commander Hill was qualified.
As Nick Fury's deputy for years, Hill was involved in about 80% of SHIELD's secret projects. She knew every secret of the organization.
Moreover, the senior agents knew SHIELD's current strongest asset was the Helicarrier, and Hill was its commander.
But Hill had vanished after Nick's death.
Truly disappeared without a trace!
Besides Nick and Hill, what about other senior agents?
There was only one Level 9 agent: Hill.
Most Level 8 agents had close ties to John Garrett. Except those still fighting HYDRA in other branches, the rest were under investigation.
Even if cleared, Garrett's betrayal disqualified them from the director's role.
SHIELD's remaining Level 8 agents were branch directors.
Agents already had shadows over these positions.
As for Level 7 agents…
This level was more like a floating rank.
Natasha, as a Level 7 agent, could have Level 10 authority anytime, as she handled secrets lower-level agents couldn't.
But high authority meant nothing. No one would accept a Black Widow who betrayed the Red Room to lead SHIELD.
At least not now.
Especially after HYDRA's betrayal, no one would follow her orders. Who knew if she was a Red Room plant?
And Barton, Melinda, Coulson…
Their qualifications were enough, but their authority fell short.
Without Captain America, they might be the best choice, but clearly, there was a better option…
Rogers could only be thrown into the deep end and take the director's seat!
"Coulson!"
Having made up his mind, Rogers ordered without hesitation,
"Lead all SHIELD Academy trainees to continue collecting and organizing the Triskelion's materials.
Agent Barton, go to Texas, find Agent Natasha, and bring Thor's girlfriend back to New York for protection. In these critical times, HYDRA might use her to create conflict with Asgard.
Agent May, take two squads to search for and capture key HYDRA members like John Garrett and Alexander Pierce.
I'll meet with the UN Security Council members. As Captain America, I'll vouch for SHIELD and try to convince them to rescind the decision to dismantle it.
But SHIELD has been hollowed out by HYDRA. Even if we retain our current structure, we must be ready to rise from the ashes.
On the battlefield, I always told my comrades:
We must press forward, friends, because we have a reason to win!"
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison, then left to carry out their tasks.
Just as Rogers planned to start a video conference with the U.S. Department of Defense to discuss HYDRA's key perpetrators, Coulson returned, interrupting him.
Coulson strode back into the command room, excited yet nervous, and said to Rogers,
"Captain Rogers, that person brought Bruce Banner back. If possible, we'll have another absolute powerhouse against HYDRA!"
…
Three hours later.
After enduring political wrangling he never wanted to experience again, Rogers took time to visit Bruce Banner's hospital room.
But he found Banner still unconscious, surrounded by a crowd of helpless doctors.
"What's the situation? Is Banner's condition serious?"
Rogers asked softly, walking to Banner's side through the path the doctors made for him.
Looking at the naked Banner, covered only with a white cloth at the waist, Rogers examined him briefly.
After a moment, he asked in confusion,
"No visible injuries. Banner's thinner, but it shouldn't leave you all helpless, right?"
As soon as he spoke, the doctors exchanged glances.
After a long silence, a thick-skinned middle-aged man stepped forward, looking embarrassed as he said,
"Banner's just malnourished. The fight with that person probably drained him."
"Just malnourished? Why not give him an IV? Are things so bad you lack medicine and supplements?"
Rogers asked curiously. His words made the doctors lower their heads in shame.
After a moment, the middle-aged doctor continued,
"We… have never dealt with the Hulk. Most of us were just assistants. We're unsure if injecting him might trigger the monster inside him!"
"This…?!"
Rogers was speechless.