Issue #1 by Jake Hawkins
Oct 2023 Maria Hill
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Maria Hill sat in full SHIELD military dress, as patiently as she could just outside the Oval Office. The door to the president’s workspace finally swung open, and his chief of staff immediately greeted her. Maria stood up and shook her hand firmly.
“Director Hill, we appreciate you getting to DC so quickly,” Alexandra told the head of SHIELD with every bit of sincerity. Maria gave her a curt smile, eager to get the pleasantries over with. “I take it the president and secretary of defense are here?” Maria said, moving right along to the reason for her impromptu visit. Alexandra wasn’t keen on Maria’s curtness but nevertheless led her into the Oval Office behind her. President Cherryh and General Thunderbolt Ross stood each with a stiff drink in one hand. “Director Hill. I pray you’re here to deliver us some good news.” The general boomed as they exchanged a handshake, with her and the president then doing the same. “That will be all, Mrs. Veer, thank you.” The president bid Alexandra a prompt goodbye, shutting her out of the meeting that was about to begin. The chief of staff looked none too pleasant about the decision but masked it behind the phoniest of smiles as she closed the door behind her. “Good can be a bit subjective, but I do have news.” Maria helped herself to the president’s liquor cabinet. The two gentlemen in their mid-sixties each took seats as they waited for her to join them. “What our intel has discovered is that the kidnapped UN officials are all currently still alive.” The president exhaled a heavy sigh of relief at the information from Maria and took another stiff swig of his drink. “And when can we move in on the location we believe they are being held at?” General Ross demanded to know. His own uneasiness for the current situation they were discussing was evident by the way he sat on the very edge of his chair. Maria wasn’t enthused about disappointing him but did nonetheless with her answer. “I would advise that you don’t general. With absolute all due respect, any major attack on this current stronghold in Subterrania could have catastrophic results, including the death of the officials. And that could honestly be the least of our troubles.” “God damn it Hill, we don’t have the time for any of the horseshit you and your people like to specialize in. All that cloak-and-dagger garbage is too little at this point. SHIELD should have seen this attack coming!” The general pressed Maria, but she wasn’t moved at all by his angry outburst. “As you know general, we have turned over every piece of information we have managed to gather on Subterrania and its self-proclaimed leader to your people, General Ross. Perhaps you should have done something with it to prevent this situation before it escalated this far. General Ross began to turn a fiery shade of red as he was about to reply to Maria’s snide shot back, but the president cut him off before he could get started. “General, that’s enough, and counter-productive at that!” The president took another drink before addressing Maria directly. “Director Hill, what do you suggest we do to get these people back safely?” “There are only two other people in the world with any sort of knowledge on Elder and his forces beneath us.” The general looked as if his outrage was about to make him blow the top of his own head off when he realized what Maria was suggesting. “And you want us to go grovel to that goddamn crackpot for help?” Ross belted out his feelings, unable to control himself any longer. “I’m suggesting we inform Dr. Richards it would be in the best interest of mankind if he were to assist us in this matter.” Hill corrected. The president was intrigued by her idea and motioned for her to continue talking. “I know that the rumors of Subterrania’s natural resources are something you want to validate, Mr. President. I assure you that Richards's involvement would help us not only save the men and women taken by Elder but also help us answer quite a few questions we have about this threat. General Ross looked at the president with contained fury as he was absolutely incensed he was mulling over Hill’s strategy. “Sir you can’t be seriously considering this course of action, especially after this administration's last contact with officials from the Baxter Foundation!” The president gave the general a silencing, sharp glare that shut down his rant again. He composed himself quickly before once again giving Director Hill his undivided attention. “Director if you have this kind of confidence in Richards being able to help us, I would appreciate it if SHIELD would personally handle getting him involved.” Maria nodded in agreement before assuring the president that she would undertake the task. “I’ll have the helicarrier over New York before your evening meal, Mr. President.” Maria finished her drink and stood back up. Ten minutes later she was in the back of a government car, en route to a private airfield. Maria mulled over her meeting with the president and general as she watched news coverage on the kidnappings that had gripped the entire world. She watched as Washington beat reporter Karen Page spoke with the Daily Bugle’s Ben Urich live on his nightly program about the ongoing situation. “From what we have been able to gleam as far as what the temp in the white house is on this matter, we believe the president is as of right now extremely unwilling to submit to the king of Subterrania’s demands.” Page explained to a pensive Urich as he listened before offering his rebuttal. “Do we know if the president has been in contact with officials from the countries whose UN reps are at this madman’s mercy?” Urichwondered, hopeful to get an answer of some substance from the reporter in the field. Her frown before answering gave him a precursor to what she was about to say. “Unfortunately it looks like the white house has currently broken off conversations with Lebanon, Bolivia, France, and Poland from what we have been able to gather. We are hoping we may get some sort of idea of when CJ Layman will be addressing the press.” Maria rolled her eyes as Ben wrapped up the report and sent it to commercial. The car pulled into a private airfield hangar where a troop of SHIELD soldiers were waiting alongside the director’s second in command. One of the soldiers opened the door for her and she stepped out. She motioned for the bleach blonde-haired woman in a SHIELD commander’s uniform to follow her towards the jet waiting for her to board. “Agent Storm, have you managed to track him down?” Maria asked as they both boarded the small jet with the SHIELD logo emblazoned on its side. She took a seat across from the director as the jet immediately began to take off. “If you’re asking me if he’s on the planet, and in the country, yes.” Susan replied, clearly unhappy with the topic they were about to get into. “Have you tried to get in contact yet?” Maria continued her line of questioning. Her attention was out the window, watching as the jet rushed through the clouds towards their next stop. “I’ve reached out to administrators at the Baxter Foundation about an immediate meeting with him the moment we hit NY airspace,” Sue informed the director. Maria turned towards Agent Storm clearly not comfortable with the answer she was given. “Agent Storm you know I am not opposed to being indelicate and I am afraid I am going to have to be now. I need you to be a tad more direct than that.” Maria more than suggested to Susan, who sighed as she accepted what was being asked of her. The jet landed on the tarmac of the humongous helicarrier as its cloaking device deactivated momentarily. Susan followed Maria inside the vessel and toward the bridge. She stopped in the hallway before fully entering the command area of the ship and watched as Director Hill began issuing orders. She reached into one of the many utility pockets on her uniform and pulled out her SHIELD-issued iPhone. After a deep breath to overcome her annoyance at the spot her rank had placed her in, she dialed a number that she wished she still didn’t remember so easily. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # On the 35th floor of the Baxter Building, a cell phone vibrated against the metal table it was lying on. It went ignored by the young woman with short blonde hair that matched her stature of about 5’4, the nearest person of the two people inside the lab to the table. A cornflower blue dress on underneath her labcoat, her focus was on the notes she was taking as she studied the readings on the fifty-inch monitor in front of her. She finally put down her notebook and pressed a series of keys on the touchscreen monitor that allowed her to communicate with her boss. “I think we’ve got everything we need.” She spoke into the mic housed in the monitor. Just a few feet in front of her, an arch made out of a magnificent combination of steel alloys generated a tie-dyed-hued mass of swirling energy. The young woman, now wearing goggles over her eyes, hurried over to the control panel that sat next to the arch and pressed the sequence of keys needed to begin powering down the gateway. A leg, followed by an arm, and then the remaining parts of the body belonging to Oswin’s boss emerged from the gateway created and sustained by the arch. Wearing a navy blue and royal blue utility suit made of the unstable molecules discovered by himself with of course his own lab coat over it was Dr. Reed Richards. He shook his brown hair, hoping it would be enough to dry it off after stepping out of the cosmic storm raging beyond the gateway arch. A floating drone robot with two clawed arms sticking out of its square base cut through the lab towards its creator. It desperately sought to get Reed’s attention, who was far more concerned with the readings he had picked up during his test trip. “Doesn’t look like you picked up any signals near the primary entrance. Not within a couple of thousand miles at the very least.” Oswin assessed as she studied the collected data. Is that enough to ease your worries?” Reed didn’t take his eyes off the readings as he replied. “Not in the slightest. I’m going to finish working on those beacons this evening and start dropping them at the various points I charted today.” Oswin shot him a peculiar look, one it took him far too long to finally notice. “What? I don’t have any transdimensional residue on me, do I?” “When was the last time you slept, Dr. Richards?” Oswin prodded and the question drew a noncommittal shrug from Reed as he tried to keep his focus on his research. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. What you’re going to do is get some much-needed rest and I’ll get to work on the beacons. Right after you see what that H.E.R.B droid is waiting so patiently to inform you of.” Reed turned around and almost face-first into the plasma 4K HD monitor embedded in the droid's body. “Master, terribly sorry to interrupt your work. But it seems we have guests on their way up to visit.” “That’s impossible, the building should be locked down under security protocol I.” Reed almost dismissed the news the droid gave him, figuring there must be some sort of error. He ran a diagnostics scan on the droid, then used the touchscreen to check the security system designed by himself. Much to his surprise, heat signatures were in the elevator currently rising up the Baxter building. What caused him to raise a vexed eyebrow was that he was locked out of the elevator cameras. “H.E.R.B 6, what is the chain access code that was entered to override the security protocol?” “Searching…Found.” The droid replied while displaying the code. Reed sighed, recognizing the combination of numbers and letters instantly. Oswin watched the chain of emotions he was cycling through, wondering what all of this could be about. “Umm, I take it from your reaction that we aren’t in any imminent danger, so who exactly does that code belong to?” Oswin prodded, hoping her boss would share what was troubling him. Reed sighed and took off his lab coat. “Come on, we may as well meet them in the foyer.” Reed walked towards the exit after handing his coat to another H.E.R.B. droid as he left. They exited the main lab and into the decontamination chamber, triple reinforced steel polymer doors slammed shut with purpose behind them. Sixty seconds later Oswin was still waiting for an explanation from Reed as they entered his living room from behind the bookshelf that hid the door to his lab. She resisted the temptation to prod him further, sensing the sharp shift in his demeanor ever since he’d seen the chain code. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and waited almost impatiently in the foyer as the elevator finally reached their floor. The pair of larger, base model H.E.R.B. droids who were to the left of Reed at their own receptionist counter greeted the troop of SHIELD agents that followed Maria Hill out of the elevator. “Welcome to the personal living space of Dr. Richards. Unfortunately, you do not currently have an appointment. We suggest-” “Thank you H.E.R.B. 3, I can take it from here.” Oswin interrupted, annoyed that government lap dogs were invading her boss's private space. “Like they said, no appointment and I’m quite sure there’s not any sort of seizure in place here. What the hell do you want and why are you here?” Maria gave Reed’s lab assistant the most condescending sneer. “Well, Dr. Richards had ignored several calls from the white house so the president asked that we make a personal visit. Emphasis on personal, of course.” Maria answered. Susan stepped around the director so that they were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, her eyes meeting Reed’s. He straightened up and tried not to let the surprising sight of the only person who knew him better than his best friend. “Susan. I wasn’t expecting to see you. I’m sorry it has to be under these sorts of terms.” Reed spoke up after clearing his throat, doing his best to keep the conversation cordial despite what tensions could be prevalent. “I was hoping not to see you under any terms. But the president has insisted you take the time to speak with him about an urgent matter.” Susan shot back as briskly as she could. She planned to do everything within her power to keep the point of this visit on task and leave her past with this building and the man they were there to see out of it. Oswin snapped her fingers as she recognized the blonde-haired woman from a photograph she knew Reed kept in his office. “Susan Storm. That’s whose chain code has higher access than me? Why is she even still in the system?” Reed tried to hide his embarrassment and redirect his assistant’s attention at the same time. “Oswin, let’s not be rude and delve into building security in front of our hostile guests.” Oswin gave her boss a rather annoyed glare before folding her arms and turning that same glare in Maria and Susan’s direction. “Dr. Richards, do you really think I would force my best agent to utilize her access to your personal quarters if this wasn’t of the utmost importance? You’re supposed to be a man of great reason, aren’t you?” “Director Hill, out of respect for the leader of our nation, I’ll listen to whatever he’s gone through all this trouble to have me hear,” Maria smirked, pleased with herself that her initiative had paid off. “Is there somewhere more comfortable we can talk?” Susan suggested. “I don’t see why right here isn’t fine. We’ve been talking this long and I already wish you would leave.” Oswin interjected. Reed placed a hand on her shoulder with the intent to ease back her bark. He appreciated how deeply she wanted to protect him and her work, but now was the time for them to cooperate instead of making waves. “H.E.R.B. 8, please lead our visitors to the conference room,” Reed ordered as another of his protocol robots floated out of a nearby wall. The robot ushered the pack of SHIELD members down the hall to their right with Reed and Oswin taking up the rear and following. Susan watched them for a moment, wondering why they decided not to lead themselves, before continuing on with the rest of the agents. “Dr. Richards I thought you had decided you weren’t taking orders from these bureaucrats and their guns on leashes. At least that’s the summary of the rant I recall from a few weeks ago after the governor ordered the building raided.” Oswin chided under her breath as best she could while they walked. Reed frowned, perfectly understanding of why she was so wary, and feeling the same way in all aspects. “We’ll have to let them dictate things for now. They’ve pressed me into a corner, and aren’t done yet clearly. Our work here now more than ever is too vital to be slowed up or shut down. Both things the president will give Maria the clearance to do.” Oswin’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest even though she knew full well that Reed’s reasoning was sound and unwavering. Reed patted her on the shoulder before they entered the room, trying to give her the comfort that he felt very much the same way she did. “You see what they are doing to Tony, and too many other friends of ours. We play ball until I can figure a way from under their grip.” They entered the conference room last and took a couple of seats. “Susan, you and your people have the floor. By all means, please tell us what we can do for you.” Susan turned towards Maria once Reed finished speaking and the director got to her feet. She was handed a thick brown file from one of the seated agents. She opened the file and browsed through its contents while walking towards Reed and Oswin were sitting. Once she was standing in front of Dr. Richards she dropped the heavy file on the table in front of him, where it landed open with a nice-sounding thud, her arms folded. Reed looked down at the documents splayed in front of him. He peered back up at Director Hill, still waiting for her to speak. “Dr. Richards, as far as our intel is aware, you are the only human being besides the self-proclaimed king of this realm, to have survived a visit to Subterrania.” “That is correct.” Reed didn’t break his gaze away from the piercing, angry eyes of Maria Hill. “Did you have any inkling or prior knowledge he would make an attack on the United Nations based on your experience with the denizens of Subterrania?” Behind Maria, Sue lowered her eyes to her own copy of the very same documents in front of her. She already knew what Reed’s answers would be and tried to hide her disdain for the entire proceedings. “No I did not. The last time I saw the Mole King, I hoped I would never cross his path again.” Reed glanced ever so slightly out of the corner of his eye at Susan, with the hope he would see some sort of sympathy in her expression. Truly he was hoping to see any emotion other than the contempt he knew she held for him, but he was well aware that his hope bordered on foolish. “What information can you give us that may help us find the United Nations representatives that he kidnapped? Surely a man of your reputation has something he can provide before this international incident gets any worse.” “I might. But I believe here is where we deviate from this charade further.” Maria is taken aback clearly by the bite Reed responded with. Susan raised her head and stared down the table at the both of them. “I don’t need to reiterate how I feel about sharing any of my research with the president, yourself, or any organization outside these walls. That also includes any logs I’ve filed on my travels.” Oswin looked over at Dr. Richards, surprised he decided to put his foot down so firmly all of a sudden. “Dr. Richards, If I may make a suggestion that will please all parties involved and get this situation rectified.” Reed smirked, sure of what Oswin was about to suggest. “I’m already ahead of you, Oswin.” Maria looked between the pair of somewhat smug scientists rather annoyed, waiting to see what they were beating around the bush about. “And what exactly are you two referring to?” “I’ll venture to Subterrania myself and see if I can find out where the UN reps are. If I find them, I will bring them back to the surface, safely.” Reed assured Maria, who looked none too convinced by their idea. Susan felt the same way and stood up to voice her displeasure. “We didn’t come here so you can make a certified crisis all about yourself Reed! This is bigger than you, and we have trained agents who are prepared to make that trip and the decisions that come with it!” Susan spat across the room, finally acknowledging Reed of her own volition and not because she was under orders. Reed sighed, hurt Susan would assume so much. He took a deep breath and considered his words carefully before delivering the most measured response he could muster. “I understand why you wouldn’t want me to handle this, but I cannot give the government information on an entire civilization. It is not my place, and the danger it could put the innocent denizens of Subterrania-” “Danger?” Maria interrupted, her temper beginning to spike. “What exactly are you trying to accuse us of, Richards?” “I think he was being quite plain, do keep up.” Oswin shot back. She wasn’t about to let them gang up on Dr. Richards, not while she was seated there. Susan turned her attention however to Reed’s assistant. “I’m sorry, who the hell are you exactly and why do you continue to interject yourself into this?” Susan tersely asked. “Oswin Oswald, I’ve worked for Dr. Richards for the last eight months. This is why I will tell each and every one of you that he’s right, you need to let us handle this. The sooner you get the hell out and allow us to prepare, the sooner we can hopefully find those poor folks alive before that crazy bastard does anything else.” Maria raised an eyebrow, hanging on to the end of Oswin’s last sentence. “You could have ended this had you disposed of him the first time you met this monster. What assurances do the president and secretary of defense have that this will be dealt with sufficiently?” “You know full well Director Hill, that my word is oak and I’ve never failed your superiors when they have requested my assistance in certain matters before. Those are your assurances.” Susan folded her arms and shook her head, still not ready to accept Reed’s proposition fully. “You have an issue with working alongside us now, but it's never stopped you from making an enemy out of Latveria. Something that comes back on this entire country, might I add. Or are you always so wrapped up in your giant chemistry sets that you can’t see the consequences of your actions?” Reed stood up, with Oswin following suit. “I’m well aware of the consequences of my actions. They are why you no longer call this place home.” The pain behind Reed’s eyes as he uttered that last sentence caused Susan to be taken aback, leaving her stunned momentarily. “If you’ll excuse us, time is surely of the essence. If we are going to save the lives of those men and women, Oswin and I have preparations to make.” The pair of scientists walked back out of the conference room, with the group of SHIELD agents staring daggers at their backs until they were out of sight. Maria snatched up the file she had placed in front of Richards just as Susan approached her. “I want you to monitor this situation closely, and keep me constantly updated.” Susan nodded. “Understood completely.” # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # In a hanger area near the roof access area of the Baxter Building, Oswin studied the specs for one of Reed’s greatest inventions. A long fighter jet-shaped vehicle with aerodynamic fins sat in the middle of the glistening, silver hanger full of steel. She powered the vessel on, listening to its engines quietly rumble to life. Doors slide open leading into the hanger behind her as she does a standard diagnostics check, and Reed enters alongside a couple of H.E.R.B. models. “How is she looking?” Reed asked Oswin, referring to the experimental aerial craft she had helped him put the finishing touches on. Oswin looked over her shoulder from where she was leaning over into the cockpit and gave Dr. Richards a comforting smile. “She’s ready to move. I think we’ll have to implement the heating shields for this trip, the gauges you left behind are showing temperatures that I’m at least moderately concerned about.” Reed nodded as she gave him a rundown in response to his question. “I’ve managed to find the best entry point. There’s a system of caves off the Jersey coast we can use to make our way to Subterrania.” Reed pointed out as a charted map appeared on one of the H.E.R.B droids screens. “I decided using any of the previously charted points that lead towards the center of the kingdom could prove far too risky.” “Do you really think that hunched-over maniac is crazy enough to risk starting a planet-wide war? The conflict created by his actions isn’t exactly something that does him any favors. At least that’s how I see it from this angle.” Oswin theorized. “I’m not sure why he’s decided to get some of the most powerful nations on this planet outraged. But one thing we both know about Harvey is that he’ll do anything for the creatures that follow him.” Reed’s assessed, hoping that his prediction of the man who ruled Subterrania’s temperament would help them save his hostages. Oswin climbed fully into the front cockpit of the vehicle, drawing a raised eyebrow from her boss. He didn’t make a fuss however before he climbed into the back of the jet plane. He fastened himself into his seat. As the domes of the jet closed above them, they both placed their headsets on while the roof of the Baxter Building split open. “Pogo Plane Mark twenty-three set for take-off from Four Freedoms Plaza. Copy.” Oswin spoke into the radio as the ramp slowly went vertical, aiming them directly upwards. “Coordinates are locked Oswin. You’re all set.” Reed assured her, which drew a smirk from his assistant. She pulled back on the thrusters and the engines blasted the plane off the launch pad at breakneck speed. The rooftop of the Baxter Building closed once the jet was clear. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # JUST OUTSIDE DOOMSTADT, IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LATVERIA Rebecca Von Doom sat inside her husband's lab, watching a live feed just outside the Baxter Building. Her fingers intertwined, she tsked with disgust as the other screens around her kept track of the plane's flight path. The clanking metal of her husband’s armor could be heard against the cobblestone floor of the lab as he approached where she sat. The Prince of Latveria held out his hand and waited for his wife to place the mask that only she was allowed to see him without. She rose from the chair once she placed it in his hand, and stood behind him to pull the hood of his green cloak over his head as he placed it on. “Richards has decided to be his corrupt country’s savior, has he?” Victor Von Doom croaked once his mask was in place. His eyes locked on to one of the screens tracking the plane, the animosity for Reed dripping in every word he spoke. “Foolish. Predictable and foolish.” “I assume we’ll begin running preliminary tests now, for a suitable power source that is.” Rebecca let your question linger while she turned to the main computer. She replaced the central screen’s view of the Baxter Building with blueprint specs for an unknown device. “Yes, my queen. Let us begin.” Doom confirmed as he took her hand. Behind them both, a legion of doom bots were in the process of constructing the very device that was on the computer screen. THE END….FOR NOW |