Ep 16: Aftermath

Place: Research Technological Development Department, Tower 1, Seireitei

Time: 25 Nov 2013 7:48 am Eastern Seaboard time

"So that's all you found?" Genryusai Yamamoto asked.

"Hai, Yama-jii."

"Looks like a chip has been broken off from it." Mayuri commented.

"What about the Reishi signature?" Head Captain enquired.

"Bounts."

"Yep... Urahara also confirmed." Shinji chimed in. "But what were those crystals?"

"Those were used to amplify the radiation of Sessho-Seki, of course. They created a ripple effect of some kind of radiation nature of which I must say, I'm totally oblivious about. I'm having suspicions as to the objective of whoever did this. All of them being located in largely populated cities, it can not be a co-incidence." Mayuri shrugged. "I am asking for additional shinigami postings as well as authorization for monitoring certain parameters on those sectors."

"Granted." Head Captain nodded.

Place: Avengers Tower, New York

Time: 28 Nov 2013 9:45 am Local time

"As we see, America is still recovering from impact of the events of 3 days ago. 7 megacities suffered total communication blackout for hours, accompanied with different degrees of property damages. The incident is anticipated as some kind of attack on part of some unknown terrorist organization as none has taken credit for it. Pentagon has yet to give an official statement on the matter. Surprisingly the residents in all places have no recollection of the exact events. A lot of conflicting accounts are being reported. However there are some anomalous incidents which have confirmed, like snowfall in Florida in November, gigantic footprints found in San Francisco, pictures and videos of cherry blossoms in NY prior to the incident… "

"Mute." Stark said as he saw Rogers come in.

"How's Burton?"

"Well. He has no sustaining injury. Some severed veins and stuff. Banner's friend is working miracles."

"Dr. Cho is one of the foremost biotechnologists of the world."

"So, what about you?"

"What about me?" Stark asked in most nonchalant manner.

"I know you are trying your best to put up a tough front. You should avoid the news channels. I know it gives you trauma."

"How many died?"

Rogers hesitated.

"Tell me Steve, How many died?"

"Well.. a lot. The body-count at Hub exceeds that of the entire Chitauri invasion."

"And I bet this will end up as a top secret X-file thrust somewhere deep in SHIELD archives." A smirk appeared on Tony's face, "won't be surprised if they are already wiping off the data from all mediums. Containing the damage and keep the panic from spreading."

"Stark, calm down. They were good soldiers. They fought to their last breath."

Tony Stark faced Capt. America with a madman's glare. "Don't you say that. For the last time, humans are not expendables. We avenge them. We are avengers. Remember that."

Rogers decided to back away.

As he came out of the room, he could hear the news start again, "As of now no response has come from the Avengers.."

In the corridor Bruce Banner waited for him. "So, how's he doing?"

"Still traumatized."

"Hm.." The doctor was thoughtful. "I'm worried now. 3 days no sleep, constant watching news.. I'd say it's self-punishment."

Steve Rogers nodded with a grave face as he walked past him.

"So one employee from the AIM facility is missing?" Fury asked.

"No one has seen him since the day we infiltrated it." Maria Hill informed.

Fury looked at the youth's face in the screen. "A physicist assisting Dr. Asimov? Fishy. BTW, what about him?"

Hill handed a file. "This came this morning. He was found wandering in Columbus, Ohio this morning, with a placard hanging from his neck saying 'turn me in'. Unfortunately, CIA got hold of him first."

"May I come in?" Natascha stood at the door.

"Yes, Romanoff?" Fury asked.

"Director.." She was hesitant, "Would it be possible to grant me a leave?"

"Sure. But why?"

"I need to ventilate. All these years I thought I am a monster, but after seeing that guy at Hub... seems like my destiny just handed me an example of what it really means by 'monster'. I just.. need some air."

"You mustn't blame yourself.." Maria Hill was interrupted by Fury, "Granted."

"It's Tony, not me who's in need of pep-talk." The assassin said before leaving.

Place: HYDRA facility, Sokovia

Time: 28 Nov 2013 6:58 pm Local time

"Guten tag, Baron."

"Your plans didn't yield expected results."

"Yes. But it didn't go astray totally."

"I beg to differ. You said Avengers would be obliterated. And to me, they seem to be alive and kicking."

"Nonetheless. But it has broken them. And besides, I have a contingency plan."

"You mean that stunt of yours, with your so-called evil spirits attacking the US cities? Please."

"I didn't ask you for ISO-8 crystals for naught. The Talisman can do more than just healing. If properly used, it works as a spirit- particle based mutagen. I used the crystals to harness and spread the radiation. Now a large portion of population is augmented with extraordinary power and speed, along with ability to manipulate spirit particles. And with this many new players, chaos is bound to erupt. I will give them a target, and a mission."

"Extremely pretentious."

"Not as much as you think. I am a good manipulator. A really, good one."

"So this is your big plan? Thousands of wild cards?"

"Precisely, Baron. Users of Superhuman Enhancement Regime. In other words, Project USER."

"Interesting. Auf Wiedersehen, Aaron Carrier. Hail HYDRA."

"Hail HYDRA, Baron." The transmission terminated.

"You are very encouraging towards him." A voice commented.

"I have reasons, Dr. List." Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker replied. "His plans are otherwise beneficial for us. They create too much noise and smoke, masking our operations. And besides, with this amount of casualty, infiltration of SHIELD is made a lot easier. After the massacre in Hub, they are trying to replenish their loss in manpower, desperately."

"Baron, Doctor, it's arrived." A HYDRA operative saluted.

"Salvaged from Slingshot, after the attack." The operation team leader informed as the trio walked in.

Inside a wooden box, lay the scepter of Loki, emitting a bluish glow.

"Agent Coulson, I want a full background search on the stone as well as Dr. Asimov."

"Will be done."

"If you need clearance to access anything, you contact me."

"Understood. Coulson out."

The door was opened by Bruce Banner as soon as Fury got off the phone.

"May I come in?"

"Sure, Dr. Banner." Fury greeted.

The gamma-ray physicist scratched the back of his head. "Ah.. when we were searching for the… talisman.. I told that we picked a few anomalous readings all over the globe. Well.. ah.. these are those."

Fury ran his eye over the list on the tab. "New Mexico.. figures… Dresden?.. this.. this is probably somewhere in the middle of Mediterranean.. Machu Picchu, Peru.. what is this place? Karakura Town?"

"Somewhere near Tokyo" Banner smiled nervously, "The readings are shockingly higher, right? Now I used Stark's system to get my hands on this. This is recorded on November 1st, last year."

Fury's right eye was fixated on the picture. "A satellite pic? The town looks devastated."

"Look at the next one now."

Fury's right eye widened in astonishment. The upper right corner of the photo picturing a perfectly normal suburb was telling the date. 11/02/2012 it was.

"This requires attention." He murmured. "Thank you doctor."

Banner still stood hesitant. "You have anything else to report, Dr. Banner?" Fury asked.

"What? No no…no… ah, thanks for the time." Bruce hurried towards the door, leaving a slightly astonished SHIELD director behind.

Banner's steps came to a halt just as the door to the director's office closed. He took a sealed test-tube out of his coat pocket, containing a violet serum inside, labeled 'Pacifier'. After looking at it intently, the scientist thrust it in his pocket again, and started walking.

"Samuel Sterns…I have to find him." He muttered under his breath.

Place: Queens, New York

Time: 28 Nov 2013 11:51 pm Local time

"Whaddya mean bro you not coming?"

"Ah.. extremely sorry but I don't think I am in any condition to attend school tomorrow."

"But the competition…"

"Sorry guys."

"Well what more can I say? Get well soon."

"Bye."

Joe didn't feel very good about lying, but there was no choice. He really wasn't in any condition to be in a public place, let alone any sort of event; despite being totally hale and hearty.

As he concentrated, the room was filled with a bluish light.

Joe Kernighan's fist was engulfed in the blue flame now. Now he took up a piece of paper with his other hand. As the paper touched the flame, it caught fire.

"Huh..so it burns..., besides of strength enhancement."

He looked at the gaming console, charred and shattered. At the corner of the room, also lay a table with a broken leg and a slightly charred top.

"Boy.. that's gonna cost me a few bucks."

Place: Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York

Time: 29 Nov 2013 10:00 am Local time

"We are looking for a specific patient. The name is Äs Nödt."

"Ah.. Pastor, I'm afraid I can not give patient information to outsiders…" The intern was hesitant before two tall men clad in clerical outfit.

"Maybe you could make an exception." The older man with long black hair and a thin moustache said with a smile.

"A patient of stage 4 lung cancer. Tried to commit suicide by severing his own throat with a razor. Luckily his neighbour saw him and dialled 911 immediately." The words came out of the intern's mouth like a slot machine, while her eyes were fixed on the older man's face.

"How is he now?" The other person with a long blond hair asked.

"Conscious. Sometimes he mutters about whether he would be punished in hell with any more pain than he already has. A god-fearing man I suppose. Insisted on keeping a Bible in his grave in his suicide note. Also requested to have one beside him after regaining consciousness."

"An interesting notion, Haschwalth." The older man said to the other with a smile on his face. "God fearing.. I can't but wonder what that originated from. An act of self-destruction out of unbearable pain. Only thing it may arouse is pity, not wrath."

The blonde man nodded a little, but solemnly.

"What room he is in, again?"

"Room no. 103."

"Thank you child. May the heaven's blessings be with you."

The intern got back to her senses as the duo was heading inside.

"Father… you must register before…?"

Her words stopped inside her throat as the younger person turned back with a chilling stare.

After a pause, he opened his mouth. "We are leaving that to you. We won't be long."

"But I need your names then."

The person looked at the girl for a moment, as if letting her words sink in. "The name is J. Haschwalth, and this is Father.."

He was cut short by the other man.

"Bach." The older man said, before resuming his walk.

The End

A/n: Ok, that's it I suppose. I'd like to thank everyone for bearing with me. This my first work and is crappy as hell, I know. Please leave your precious comments and advices after you finish it.

I tried to narrate a series of events in order to lay a ground for my next work. I needed some new characters, and I have attempted to leave a few background trails for them. So, there will be more stories in this series, as in sequels. Stay tuned!

So.. anything else to mention? (** scratch my head**) Not any that I can think about right now. Well... that's all folks!

P.S.: Feel free to PM me. Enjoy!