Chapter 38: The Avengers' Headquarters

Here's a chapter even though I didn't get enough stones.

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Colin took a deep breath, tearing his gaze away from Howard's Time Fragment. He turned his head to observe the scenery outside the car, while Hawkeye and Howard sat on either side of him, wearing perplexed expressions.

It hadn't been long since they had left their residence, where they had just defeated Ultron, who had been pursuing them. Now, here they were, sitting in a taxi without the formidable and enigmatic aura they once possessed.

"May I ask a question?" Colin couldn't help but speak up, capturing the attention of everyone in the taxi.

"Don't you have more suitable means of transportation for this situation?" he inquired.

"Taking a taxi is actually the most convenient and inconspicuous option," replied Nick Fury, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., who sat in the driver's seat. He deftly maneuvered the vehicle, overtaking another car. "I am registered as a legal taxi driver in the 'New York Taxi Workers Union,' which helps us avoid unnecessary complications. Surprising, isn't it? A taxi driver."

Prior to seeing Nick with Howard and the others, Colin had assumed that the taxi driver identity was merely a cover. However, it turned out that not only was Nick a taxi driver, but he was also registered with a trade union.

On one side, there was Natasha, the Black Widow, a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who had registered as a superhero. On the other side was Nick Fury, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., now a registered taxi driver. Comparing the two, Colin found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

...

The taxi driven by Nick eventually stopped in front of a dilapidated ruin. Colin followed Howard and the others out of the taxi, greeted by the sight of an estate that appeared to have been abandoned for a considerable period.

Cracks adorned the entirety of the manor, with collapsed walls exposing the underlying cement and brick structure. Dead trees littered the premises, their branches entangled amidst tall grass, while moss and weeds claimed every corner of the estate. It was far from resembling a habitable place.

"Is this it?" Colin asked, guided by Howard as they treaded through the wild foliage within the manor, passing by a crumbling fountain.

"This is the base of the Dark Avengers," Howard stated in a somber tone, leading the way.

The Dark Avengers' base? Colin found it difficult to reconcile the ruins before him with the base Howard spoke of. Moreover, the term "Dark Avengers" resonated differently with what Colin had previously known.

He trailed behind Howard for a while, observing as Howard and the group entered a collapsed wall entrance, seemingly familiar with the route. Colin followed closely, traversing the dilapidated interior of the manor until they finally halted in front of an unremarkable wall.

With his left hand's mechanical palm extended, Howard aimed at a particular spot on the wall and pressed down. Accompanied by a series of intricate mechanical sounds, the ostensibly deteriorated wall opened, revealing the technological marvel of the underground base concealed within.

"Welcome home..." a slightly lighthearted voice echoed from within.

"It appears your operation went smoother than expected," Howard's stern expression seemed to soften at the sound of the voice emanating from the base.

"Tony, report on the situation in Hydera," Howard instructed, approaching the base's console. He inserted his modified mechanical arm into the console and leaned against it, while posing the question.

Tony? Colin's gaze shifted slightly upon hearing Howard refer to an artificial intelligence by that name. Tony Stark, Howard's reported son who had tragically perished in a car accident along with Howard, and also known as Iron Man.

"So far, there have been no abnormalities. It seems the doctor is unaware of Ultron I's activation," the artificial intelligence Tony responded from the console, prompting Howard to fall silent momentarily before issuing further orders.

"Continue monitoring," Howard directed.

"Understood."

...

[Contacted distorted time nodes, collected a small number of time fragments × 1]

Manhattan, 890 Fifth Avenue.

Within a temporary dwelling in the secret base.

Colin's face displayed a pensive expression as he read the contents of the text before him. This particular Time Fragment hadn't been obtained from anyone within the base but rather came into contact with Colin himself via Nick Fury.

From this realization, it became apparent that obtaining Time Fragments wasn't limited to initial contact alone; they could be acquired repeatedly.

This was undoubtedly good news for Colin, as it meant he now had a broader range of objects and methods to obtain Time Fragments. No longer confined to searching for potential Distorted Time Nodes one after another, he could gather more Time Fragments by establishing multiple connections with different individuals. To achieve the goal of amassing enough Time Fragments to solidify the Bronze Mark, Colin would need to establish contact with at least thirty or forty people, not to mention the existence of other marks above the Bronze Mark.

However, why Nick Fury?

Colin's attention fixated on the Time Fragment labeled [Nick Fury], prompting him to earnestly reflect on their journey thus far. There had been no notable interaction between him and Nick Fury, save for learning that the latter was a taxi driver registered with the 'New York Taxi Workers Union.'

If the only difference lay in the number of times they had crossed paths...

Colin gradually formulated a hypothesis, considering the disparities between their encounters. Perhaps the variation in their intersections was the key.

During their initial meeting, a mere intersection had occurred, resulting in the acquisition of the original Time Fragment. Now, to obtain more Time Fragments, Colin would need to establish further connections with the target.

Deep in thought, Colin mulled over the divergence between the two encounters, arriving at a tentative conclusion. It appeared that the distinct intersections held significance.

The first meeting had involved a casual encounter, leading to the acquisition of the initial Time Fragment. However, subsequent encounters required deeper connections to obtain additional Time Fragments. This elucidated why Howard and Clint's Time Fragments were obtained first, even though they were all seated together in the taxi with Nick Fury, and why Nick's Time Fragment only materialized when Colin accompanied him to the secret base's temporary residence.

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