POV John Henry Eden
I was invited to a meeting at the White House. The meeting was likely another request for the Enclave to join the Armed Forces Command Structure. But I had clear orders from Rio that I should not allow the Enclave to join; instead, we should continue operating independently. I hear the Vertibird land, and I open the doors to see several members of the Secret Service. They lead me to a command bunker; inside, I find President Ellis and his cabinet.
Ellis: "General Eden, thank you for coming."
Eden: "Of course, Mr. President."
SECDEF: "Mr. Eden, we brought you here to discuss the war. We had hoped that your Enclave would end the war by now."
Eden: "I am sorry to say, but we have only so many members. Hydra is dead set on conquering this great nation. And as much as it pains me to say this, we are only holding the line. But we have the advantage. We won't run out of weapons and ammo anytime soon, while they are struggling to provide enough weapons."
Treasury: "The war is crippling the US. Even if you can survive longer, the US is nearing the end of its rope."
Ellis: "Exactly, and further, the meta-human threat is a problem."
He didn't say it, but I could tell that he was subtly asking if I would assist.
Eden: "It is a truly tragic situation we are in, but I believe that our great nation will not fall to the invasion of the Communists and Fascists. I have heard about the meta-human threat, but unfortunately, we don't have the spare resources or manpower to assist. And further, it was agreed that your government would deal with the meta-humans and crime. My only job was to win the war."
SECDEF: "You would be more efficient if you joined the United Command structure. The Navy and Air Force have already joined you for the most part. If you want to help the US, then surely you wouldn't mind following the commands of the president."
Eden: "I am afraid I can't do that, Dave. If the Enclave joined your command, our capabilities would take a drastic downturn. Not to mention, you still can't even defend the only state you are tasked with protecting. North Carolina lets an untold number of spies and assassins through daily. It shows that you still haven't solved the leaks. I will not endanger our great nation by letting all of our plans be leaked to the enemy."
SECDEF: "You have nothing to stand on! You have been letting that Railroad smuggle people and materials to and from the South! They are a security threat! If you are so certain that we can't keep Hydra out, then you should deal with your leaks."
I don't react visually to his statement, but I find it interesting.
Eden: "I have no issues with the Railroad. And as far as I know, the US doesn't either. In fact, they are helping us defeat our enemy. They smuggle out deserters from Hydra and steal materials from Hydra, and sell them in the North. So I guess the real question is, why are you so interested in wiping them out?"
My question causes the SECDEF to start to sweat, and I can see that he is very nervous. Several guards in the room start to approach me from behind, and I see that the President is confused. Other cabinet members are either confused, suspicious, or seem to be preparing to attack. As the guards raise their guns and I see several members of the cabinet pull out guns, I tackle the president to the ground and activate a shield. Several bullets go flying, but nothing breaks the bubble shield I placed, and those who aren't traitors are gunned down. President Ellis looks pale, and I can see the terror on his face as he realizes what is happening.
Ellis: "Y-y-you have to save me!"
Eden: "Don't worry, Mr. President. My men should be heading here now."
As I finished saying that, several members of the Secret Service broke into the room, but they were swiftly dispatched.
Homeland Security: "Damn it Dave! You blew our cover! I told them you weren't ready for this assignment. Now we have to clean this up before Eden's men arrive."
A small canister rolls into the room.
Homeland Security: "Oh, FU....!
BOOOM
A Plasma Grenade goes off, and everyone but the president and I is vaporized. I wait for a few moments, but I turn off the shield when I see my men in Hellfire Power Armor.
Eden: "Mr. President, I suggest you come with us for now. America needs you to live, or else the morale of the people might collapse."
Ellis: "Yes, well, just get me out of here. It is clearly not safe here anymore. I can't even be certain who is loyal or not anymore."
We get in the Vertibird and take off, heading to Adams Air Force Base, where I think we will be the safest.
'Well, that was an eventful day.'
POV Nick Fury
I read over the reports from some of my agents. It was not good news. I look over to my unconventional ally.
Fisk: "How bad is it?"
Fury: "Hydra is likely on their way here. We will have to hope that we can hold out long enough that we get help."
Fisk: "Sigh. Well, if they want to take me, they will pay dearly. I will get Tombstone ready. I am sure he will be excited to play with his Power Armor."
Fury: "It seems like this might be our last day. At least I caused issues for them before they finished the job."
After Barton and May left, I did a lot of thinking and eventually decided to found a new agency. One that would cause as much damage to Hydra as possible. It started out with minor things. We would smuggle out Hydra deserters and those fleeing their regime. Then, I made an unlikely ally. I knew of Fisk, as we would bump into each other during operations occasionally. I didn't trust him as I knew he was the biggest crime organization in the Americas. But then, Hydra made a mistake. They tried to threaten Fisk into submission and accidentally killed his wife. Once they realized their mistake, they tried to kill Fisk as well, but that failed.
'I still find it suspicious that Hydra made such a mistake, but the evidence is clear. And Fisk said he reached out to Team Rocket to confirm it.'
No matter what happened, we ended up working together to form the Railroad. He wanted revenge, and so did I. While we may not have trusted each other at the start, we had grown to trust each other over the months we had been working together. It was thanks to his connections that our group swelled in numbers and improved in efficiency. But the increase in numbers meant that eventually, Hydra would track us down. Luckily, I had contacts in the US Government and the Enclave that warned me before they arrived.
'It is unfortunate that it came too late.'
The ground shook, and some dirt fell from the ceiling. We could hear the distant sounds of gunfire and explosions. We looked at each other and nodded. I used every favor I had to get my hands on some sets of Power Armor and even some Iron Man suits. They were meant as an emergency backup, but it seemed we were going to use them now.
Sam: "Boss! They have breached the main vault door! They sent one of the freaks! We need help!"
Fury: "We are on our way!"
Fisk: "Let's go give Hydra a warm welcome."
Fury: "Did you send out a request for help?"
Fisk: "Yes, Giovanni said he is sending the remaining members of his group to help. I spent a lot of money to ensure they came before we died. Time will tell if I wasted my money."
I nod and look at the camera feed to see who they sent to eliminate us. What I saw was both good and bad.
Fury: "It's the Rhino. I will leave him to you and Tombstone."
Fisk: "Got it. Just keep all the others off us."
The Rhino was a nearly brainless creature that used brute strength to solve all of Hydra's issues.
'At least it's not Venom, Electro, or that insane clown.'
I had one encounter with the Joker, and I barely managed to escape. Despite his insanity, he was incredibly crafty. I shake off those thoughts and command the Iron Man armors to target the Hydra troops. Fisk and Tombstone charge at Rhino in their Power Armors. I see them push him through a wall, and I can hear the loud banging from the punches. I use my customized 10mm Pistol to kill all the enemies I can spot. Suddenly, the lights go out, and everyone freezes.
'Crap is it Electro?'
A spotlight appears out of nowhere, and I hear music start to play.
(AN: You know what this is. Play Best Team Rocket Motto Ever! on YouTube to get the full experience. )
Female Voice: "Prepare For Trouble!"
Male Voice: "Make It Double!"
Female Voice: "To Protect The World From Devastation!"
Male Voice: "To Unite All Peoples Within Our Nation!"
Female Voice: "To Denounce The Evils Of Truth And Love!"
Male Voice: "To Extend Our Reach To The Stars Above!"
Female Voice: "Jessie!"
Male Voice: "James!"
Jessie: "Team Rocket Takes Off At The Speed Of Light!"
James: "Surrender Now, Or Prepare To Fight!"
Meowth: "Meowth That's Right!"
We all just stand there, baffled. Even Rhino stopped fighting and looked over at these people.
James: "It looks like they are frozen in terror from our motto."
Jessie: "Well, we are Team Rocket. The greatest criminal organization on Earth."
Meowth: "Can it, you two, we got a job to do!"
So anyway, they started blasting. Hydra troops started to drop like flies. But it was still not enough. After nearly 2 hours of fighting, Hydra had not stopped sending troops. Besides Jessie, James, and Meowth, the rest of Team Rocket was wiped out. Meanwhile, the Railroad's troops were reduced to only 12 members. But on the bright side, Fisk managed to kill Rhino.
'We will need to buy a prosthetic for Tombstone if we get out of here alive.'
We retreated to the overseer's office. The Vault we were in wasn't meant to be used as a battlefield, but all overseer offices are built to be the most defended places in every vault.
Tom: "Shoot, we just lost our last turret. They will be here in a minute or two."
James: "We can create a diversion. While you try and escape via the emergency escape tunnel."
Fury: "What tunnel?"
Meowth: "The one built under the overseer's office."
Jessie: "I thought you knew about it. Since you led us here."
Fisk: "If it exists, then you will need to buy us enough time so Hydra doesn't follow us. Take Tombstone and I's Power Armor. It should allow you to buy us time. And don't worry, I will pay extra to Giovanni for the trouble."
James: "Then let's get to it!"
They hit a button on the computer, and the desk moves. Underneath it is a tunnel, just like they said. I lead the remaining members into the tunnel and close it behind us.
'Let's hope this works.'
Not long after we entered the tunnel, we heard a massive explosion. The tunnel behind us collapses.
Fury: "Looks like there is no going back."
We follow the tunnel to the end, and it leads us to an abandoned mineshaft. Once we exit, we look around for any signs that someone else was here. Unfortunately, we find that Hydra has several patrols going through the area.
Fury: "We won't be able to sneak past all of those patrols together. Our only chance is to try our luck in pairs or alone."
Fisk: "Most of us are injured and slow. Besides you and Tom, the rest are not going to be quick enough to escape."
I stop and realize that he is right. But I knew that Hydra would likely break them eventually. Which would compromise numerous parts of our operations. I was stuck. I couldn't abandon them, but we couldn't go together. As I was not sure what to do, I heard the sound of choking. I peered outside the mine and saw the bodies of many Hydra agents. I wasn't sure what happened, but then I froze when I saw someone walk towards the mine. The issue was that they looked exactly like me. I returned to the group and warned them of our company.
???: "You don't need to be afraid. I mean you no harm. I came here to save a family member."
I point my gun at him, but everyone else puts down their weapons. Then they all collapse. I don't dare look back, but I firmly grab a grenade. But I find myself unable to move.
???: "When I was told you were a paranoid control freak, I never thought you were this bad."
Fury: "Who are you?"
???: "Ah, my apologies. I am Mace Fury Windu. Je'daii Master and your brother."
I am so surprised that I dropped my gun.
Fury: "That's impossible! My mother said you died."
Mace: "No, she gave me up to the Je'daii Order. She couldn't afford to raise two kids. And I had talent that very few have. So, she made the hard decision to give me up and raise you instead. Of course, I am sure you are now connecting all the dots in your mind."
I stop and go over all the things I remember from my mother, and his story fills in a lot of gaps.
Fury: "Why are you here?"
Mace: "As I said, I came here to ensure you escaped. The Je'daii Order is usually not to get involved in the affairs of Earth, but an exception was made when I learned your life was going to end here."
I narrow my eyes.
Fury: "And what makes you think I was going to die?"
Mace: "This entire area is surrounded. Hydra has committed to a full offensive here, and the Enclave is tied up trying to stop their offensive. The Railroad has been attacked in numerous areas, and they are unable to come to your aid. Hydra has mobilized the Vulture, Hobgoblin, Venom, and Taskmaster. You stood no chance of escaping."
I freeze and slump as I realize that there is no way out if they called in the Legion of Doom. But then I remembered his words.
Mace: "Yes, it is as you surmise. I am here to ensure that you and your allies escape this situation. I will make you sleep, and when you awake, you will be in a new area that you can use as a base. It is an old catacomb that has been forgotten. If you are careful, Hydra won't discover this new base."
Fury: "Sigh. And can I trust you?"
Mace: "That is up to you. I have no hostile feelings towards you or your group. Now, we should get started. This will be the first and last time I help you. Use this second chance wisely."
I don't get time to respond as I see black, and when I wake up, I find myself in a musty underground area. I looked around and saw that the others were here as well, but they hadn't woken up yet. I look around the area and see that, despite it being an old catacomb, it has been set up with some technology.
'This is not perfect, but it will do.'
I take a moment to think about what just happened.
'A brother, so I have a twin brother.'
I take a seat and process the events of today.
'I need a drink.'
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Authors Note:
So Fury meets Mace Windu. Honestly, I don't think Fury would respond that crazily as, at this point in time, Fury had been betrayed by his mentor, lost his entire life's work, his agents had all left, and now he was running a remade version of the Underground Railroad. At this point, nothing would surprise him that much. Oh, and it wasn't mentioned, but Fury did contact Captain Marvel, but she said she couldn't help him as she is busy fighting the Synthetic Queen. The members of the Legion of Doom are as follows: Venom, Joker, Killmonger, Mysterio, Vulture, Scorpion, Electro, Hobgoblin, Shocker, Taskmaster, Crossbones, and Dorma. Rhino was a member, but he was just killed. Dorma, in case anyone is curious, has been changed slightly to fit this story. She is from Atlantis and is a royal family member, but she has no relation to Namor. And she can use magic. Until next time, Ciao.