The ride back had been tense. Not because of the near-death experience, nor because of the insane revelations Tony had dropped on him. No, what unsettled Howard the most was the feeling that something much bigger was happening behind the scenes.
By the time he landed at SHIELD headquarters, he had already reviewed every detail of the attack a dozen times in his head.
Too coordinated.
Too clean.
Whoever was behind it wasn't some third-rate mercenary group. Not to mention that unknown cyborg girl who saved him.
And that scared him more than he cared to admit.
As he exited the helicopter, his old friend was already waiting for him.
Nick Fury stood near the edge of the landing pad, arms crossed, his long coat shifting slightly in the wind. His one good eye was locked onto Howard, and for once, the usual sharp humor in his expression was absent.
Howard sighed, straightening his tie as he approached. "You look like hell, Fury."
Fury didn't even blink. "Funny. I was about to say the same to you."
Howard smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Well, you're not wrong. It's been a long damn night."
Fury exhaled, his voice dropping slightly. "Walk with me."
They made their way down the corridors of SHIELD HQ, passing by rows of agents, analysts, and security personnel. Howard noticed the way some of them looked at him, like they already knew about the attack.
Fury didn't speak until they reached his private office.
The moment the doors shut, the security locks engaged with a soft hiss.
Howard turned, folding his arms. "Alright, Fury. Tell me you have some good news."
Fury didn't sit. Instead, he moved toward the reinforced window, looking down at the SHIELD operations floor below.
"You're not gonna like what I have to say."
Howard's jaw tightened. "That bad?"
Fury finally turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "Last night, just as you were attacked… I lost contact with two members of the World Security Council."
Howard's fingers twitched. "Who?"
"Yen and Rockwell," Fury said, his voice grim. "No distress signals. No warnings. Just radio silence."
Howard frowned. "And you're just now telling me this?"
Fury gave him a look. "I didn't have confirmation until this morning."
He tapped a few keys on his desk, and a holographic screen appeared, displaying two files—one for Councilman Yen, the other for Councilman Rockwell.
Fury gestured toward the files. "Both of them were key figures in global security oversight. Yen was pushing for tighter international regulations on enhanced individuals. Rockwell was overseeing defense technology contracts. Neither of them the type to just disappear without a trace."
Howard narrowed his eyes. "And let me guess… this morning, they were suddenly replaced?"
Fury nodded, his voice sharp. "Yeah. Two new council members. No official statements, no explanations. Just swapped out like spare parts."
Howard exhaled through his nose. "So worst case?"
Fury's expression darkened. "Worst case, they're dead, and whoever replaced them is working for someone we don't see yet."
Howard muttered a curse under his breath. "Jesus…"
Fury walked over to his desk, leaning on it slightly. "It's not just them, Howard. Something is happening at a level we don't have eyes on yet. Your attack? Their disappearance? Too much of a coincidence."
Howard's mind raced. "So, what do we do?"
Fury studied him for a long moment. "We move carefully. If there's a hidden enemy inside SHIELD or higher up in the Council, we can't just go barging in."
Howard exhaled, running a hand through his graying hair. "Alright. You do your digging, I'll do mine."
Fury nodded. "Already on it."
Howard turned to leave but hesitated for a second. "And Peggy?"
Fury raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"
Howard kept his face neutral. "I need to see her."
Fury's expression didn't change, but Howard caught the way his shoulders stiffened ever so slightly. "She's under heavy security. You know that."
Howard scoffed. "Come on, Fury. You think I'm gonna do something reckless?"
Fury's face remained unreadable. "That's exactly what I think."
Howard smirked. "Just let me talk to her."
Fury was silent for a moment. Then, he sighed. "Fine. But if this is about the serum trial, I can't promise she'll listen."
Howard gave him a half-smile. "Oh, she'll listen."
Fury's eye narrowed slightly, but he didn't press further. "She's in the lower wing. You've got ten minutes."
Howard nodded and headed out.
He didn't have ten minutes.
He had one.
Because if he was right about what was happening inside SHIELD?
Then Peggy Carter was in more danger than she knew.
And he wasn't about to let her go down without a fight.
...
[SHIELD Medical Wing – Secure Quarters]
The security was tight.
Too tight.
Howard had been inside SHIELD facilities enough times to know how their protocols worked. But this? This was overkill.
Armed guards at every entrance. Biometric locks. Surveillance drones.
They weren't just protecting Peggy.
They were keeping her trapped.
Howard walked up to the main security checkpoint, giving the stationed officer his best businessman smile. "Howard Stark. Here to see Agent Carter."
The guard hesitated, scanning his ID. "One moment, sir."
As the system processed his credentials, Howard felt the faintest itch at the back of his neck.
Something was wrong.
Then, the doors unlocked.
The guard nodded. "You're clear."
Howard stepped inside, keeping his posture relaxed, his hands in his pockets.
Peggy's room wasn't a hospital room.
It was a containment unit.
Reinforced walls. No windows. No unsecured access points.
Howard's stomach twisted.
The moment he stepped inside, Peggy turned toward him from where she sat on the edge of the bed. Even at her age, she was still sharp—her eyes locked onto him immediately, reading him like an open book.
"Howard," she said, her voice calm but firm. "What the hell is going on?"
Howard shut the door behind him, keeping his tone casual. "That's what I was about to ask you."
Peggy's eyes flicked toward the security camera in the corner.
Howard followed her gaze.
And then he smiled.
He put his hand in the pocket and pressed a little button. It'll override the current footage into a little loop. Well, he has the highest level of clearance like Fury, so over the years, he replaced most of the technology related to security and weapons with Stark Industries tech. A little loop like that was a child's play to him.
Peggy raised an eyebrow. "Impressive as usual." She noticed the camera's green light turn blue. He did this same thing back when Shield was getting rid of the Hydra agents.
Howard smirked. "You gotta have some cards in case of emergency."
She tilted her head slightly. "You're not just here for a visit, are you?"
Howard took a step closer, lowering his voice. "No. I'm here to save your life."
"Save me? I'm 72, Howard... And I know exactly what's going on in here. But still..." Peggy's expression didn't change, "Go on."
Howard reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial and the record player.
Peggy's gaze sharpened instantly. "Is that what I think it is?"
Howard nodded. "It's the real thing. No Hydra tampering. No side effects. This is the perfected version." He placed it on the bed beside her.
Peggy was silent for a long moment.
Then, she exhaled, rubbing her temples. "And I guess, you won't be telling me how you got this?"
Howard's voice softened. "They're setting you up, Peg. Someone inside SHIELD wants you dead. If you take their version of the serum, it'll kill you. Or worse. They are planning to use this situation to take down Fury and replace him for some reason. And I won't let an old friend die, just like that. You wanted to fight..." He pointed at the vial. "This is your chance."
Howard expected resistance. He expected questions, skepticism, and maybe even a flat-out refusal.
What he didn't expect?
Peggy Carter taking one long look at the vial… and nodding.
"Alright," she said simply. "How do we do this?"
Howard blinked. "Wait, just like that?"
Peggy tilted her head, amused. "Oh, come now, Howard. You wouldn't risk your neck to smuggle this in unless you were absolutely sure. And if you're absolutely sure, then I trust you."
Howard exhaled, shaking his head with a half-smile. "You always were a pain in the ass, Carter."
She smirked. "Yeah, what can I say? It's one of my charms."
Howard chuckled before getting serious. He tapped the vial lightly. "Alright, listen. Normally, the process involves Vita-Rays, controlled exposure, monitoring..."
"Howard," Peggy interrupted. "I don't have time for a science lecture. How does this work?"
Howard sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine, fine. This version? No machines, no external activation. You inject it, it circulates through your system, and in about twenty-four hours, you'll be good as new. Strength, endurance, healing, all of it."
Peggy raised an eyebrow. "And the aging?"
Howard smirked. "You'll feel like you're in your early 20s or 30s again. The full de-aging process takes a day, but your body will be back to peak condition within an hour of injection. After that, everything settles in naturally."
Peggy studied the vial for a moment before nodding. "Alright, then. Let's get on with it."
Howard's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean right now?"
Peggy gave him a look. "Howard, do you honestly think I have the luxury of waiting? If what you're saying is true, and I believe it is, then I'm already on borrowed time. If the serum works, then I'll have a fighting chance."
Howard hesitated. "You do realize the transformation isn't exactly… comfortable, right?"
Peggy gave him that look. "Oh, Howard. I was a woman in the military when they barely let women serve. You think I don't know discomfort?"
Howard sighed, but he couldn't help the smirk that tugged at his lips. "Alright, alright. You win."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sterilized injection kit. Carefully, he loaded the vial into the syringe and tapped it twice to remove any air bubbles.
Peggy rolled up her sleeve without hesitation.
Howard hesitated, his fingers hovering over the plunger. "You sure?"
Peggy's eyes met his, steady and unwavering. "Do it."
Howard exhaled. "Alright. Here goes nothing."
He pressed the needle into her arm and injected the serum.
Peggy didn't flinch.
The vial emptied. Howard pulled the needle out and pressed a small bandage over the injection site. "And now, we wait."
---
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[Read 15 advance chapters] [No double billing]
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Next Ch: 62 [Peggy vs SHIELD]
Ch: 63 [Tony's gift]
Ch: 64 [Symbiote]