Chapter 48 – Strange Orders (1)

(Triskelion, Washington DC – United States, Earth – January 9th, 2014)

As Olsen walked briskly through the halls of SHIELD HQ, men and women on either side moved quickly out of his way. He did not cut an imposing figure, and he knew that, but the speed of his movements and the look on his face were doing what his stature could not. It was also helped by the cuts and bruises to his face from his fight with Agent May just a few days ago and that one of arms was in a sling. He was heading to the office of STRIKE coordinator Agent Jasper Sitwell, a man for whom Olsen initially had nothing but respect, respect which had given way to dark suspicion.

The past few years had been one of the best for Olsen; he had received not only a promotion but the chance to work with some incredible people. He had helped save the world more than once, met a wonderful woman whom he was now dating, and had made the acquaintance of one of the best men he had ever met. Kal would call it a bond forged on the field of battle, the stuff of divine ballads sung for aeons, but right now he was an ordinary guy looking out for his pal.

SHIELD's interest had gone from understandable concern to just plain odd. He was delivering briefings on Kal weekly to the STRIKE team and was expected to update estimates of the Asgardian's abilities daily. These reports had clearly gone through strange channels, and he was being contacted by people he had never heard of or should have been interacting with. There was a Professor called Von Strucker who worked in SHIELD R&D, an air force General called Hale, a Doctor Daniel Whitehall in SHIELD Medical, and Mitchell Carson, SHIELD's Head of Defence. All of these varied personnel seemed to take an unhealthy interest in the reports he made, and asked Olsen questions that seemed far outside of need-to-know.

Still, the clearance levels were above board and his trust in SHIELD had been such that he had not questioned anything at the time, at least not officially. Unofficially, like many in the organisation, Olsen had vented his frustrations to a few fellow agents in private, but even that seemed to be becoming dangerous. Even at the occasional conversation in the mess hall or department poker game, he couldn't shake the feeling that half the people he talked to were listening a little too closely, acting almost like they were in the middle of an assignment even in the heart of the agency.

What had shattered his trust in SHIELD was the ultra-secret facility that he had been dragged to by Lorelai a few days ago whilst under her spell. It was a place that he could only call, to borrow his girlfriend's phrasing, a supervillain murder lab, somewhere that seemed specifically designed to kill his friend. Whilst he couldn't remember everything from his enthrallment, he recalled the lab and Patriot talking about it, so he wanted to get answers.

"Um, sir I'm sorry. Agent Sitwell isn-" The voice called out as Olsen pushed into the department that held Sitwell's office along with those of his secretary and staff.

The young man went ignored as Olsen all but kicked the door in, only to find to his anger that the office was empty and the other agent was nowhere in sight. He spun around and strode back into the larger area.

"Where. Is. Sitwell?" Olsen demanded as he advanced on the hapless secretary.

"H-h-h-he isn't here," The young man stuttered, his eyes glancing from the man in front of him to his colleagues all of whom just shook their heads refusing to get involved. "He was assigned to oversee the Lemurian Star."

"Lemurian Star?" Olsen asked as his patience was clearly running thin as he all but snarled at the young man wanting answers faster and with more clarity.

"It's a ship, part of a SHIELD project, I don't know any more." He looked to be on the verge of tears as his fear of the random scarred tough- looking senior agent. "Please, I'm just a-"

"Olsen!" The shout caused Olsen to turn and see Brock Rumlow, one of the men he had been giving a weekly briefing to about Kal as well as being the Commander of the STRIKE taskforce.

"What?" Olsen was in no mood to be polite to someone he was starting to suspect of being involved in something sinister.

Both men stared at each other for a moment, which caused the already silent room to go even quieter, the only sound was the low breathing of everyone and shifting eyes between the two men. Olsen could almost swear that Rumlow had tensed up his right arm that seemed poised to draw his weapon, causing Olsen's own hand to drop to his firearm. The tension however immediately disappeared as Rumlow gave one of his infamous cocky smiles diffusing the tension.

"Secretary Pierce wants to talk to you." Rumlow responded casually as if the two were old friends messing with each other, half turning to lead Olsen out of the STRIKE department offices. "I'll walk you, give us a chance to catch up."

Olsen shifted slightly but nodded nonetheless and moved to follow Rumlow who just gave him a wide grin and gripped him in a tight half hug.

"So, rumour has it you're dating a civvy?" Rumlow always tried to act friendly, but now that Olsen was paying attention it was apparent that he was fishing for information. .

The two chatted idly with Rumlow starting off asking about Darcy and making a few crude jokes before he started to offhandedly mention his recent mission with Captain America, as they got into the elevator. It was then that he shifted the conversation back to Olsen and asked about how things were with the super-powered alien. Olsen just gave Rumlow a non-specific answer and avoided saying anything more, which caused Rumlow's affable demeanour to crack slightly and a suspicious look to appear on his face.

Olsen was saved however as the elevator doors opened revealing Secretary Pierce who was wrapping up a meeting with several agents including Mitchell Carson, SHIELD's Head of Defence. Before he could get too close, he felt Rumlow's arm stop him, preventing him from overhearing. However, he managed to pick up a snippet of the conversation as it wound down.

"He's in motion now sir, and clear of the safe zone. The primary asset is in place and standing by." Carson spoke softly, his words causing a grimace to form on Pierce's face who then let out a deep sigh. "If we are going to act, now may be our only possibility,"

"Okay let's do it. Tell the team and the asset they have a green light." Pierce responded and ran his hand through his hair. "Tell them to forget subtlety, the pooch has already been screwed. I don't care about the noise, I just want it done quick and certain, understood?"

"Yes sir." Mitchell raised a pad and quickly typed the orders to some unknown team.

"Now we need to get this wrapped up. I have a meeting with an agent then a call with the President." Pierce glanced over at Olsen and then looked at his watch. "What about the other situation, is everything in place?"

"Yes, sir. The information Garrett's protégé delivered about the substance has allowed us to modify the plan. We estimate a high chance of success." Another man in the meeting stepped forward, someone Olsen didn't know but he was clearly someone important from his tone. "The Cadmus assets are in place and their new gear should protect them. We can go when the target is on site."

"Good, Agent Corben. I'll leave the matter in your hands, but I want results. Is that clear?" Pierce's tone went almost dark as he lowered his eyes at the young broad-shouldered agent.

"Yes sir," Corben responded almost robotically, giving a stiff nod.

Pierce then dismissed the group with a wave, as they filled past Olsen couldn't help but take note of each man. He wasn't sure if it was just the aftermath of Lorelai's enchantment making him paranoid but not one of them seemed trustworthy to his eye. Like with the other SHIELD agents, they carried themselves like they were putting on a persona

"Agent Olsen, please come in." Pierce waved him over fully gesturing to a seat in the large room as he moved over to get a drink. "Thank you Rumlow, that will be all."

As Olsen moved over to take the offered seat Rumlow gave a stiff nod, and eyed Olsen for a moment before he left. Olsen's eyes followed the man until the second the door closed behind him, feeling that everything that was occurring was just confirming that something more was going on than just the official line.

"Sorry about Rumlow, he can be overbearing but he is loyal." Pierce spoke up, moving over to Olsen nursing a drink in his hand as he leaned on his desk to speak to the younger man. "However, we're not here to talk about him."

"What are we here to talk about sir?" Olsen asked, trying to sound professional and keep the suspicion from his voice.

"You've done a remarkable job with project Helios, and we are very pleased with the work you've done with our extraterrestrial ally." Pierce began offering the young agent a proud smile and appreciative nod, before his demeanour turned serious. "However, we are aware that you've come across something that you weren't supposed to."

"Are you talking about the secret SHIELD base filled with weapons and equipment designed solely to kill Kal?" Olsen didn't bother pretending to dance around the issue.

"I see you don't mince words. I appreciate that, so let me be equally blunt. The answer is yes, however that facility exists only as a contingency plan and wasn't supposed to become known." Pierce explained his tone was respectful and his demeanour seemed honest, yet there was just something that was causing Olsen to doubt the man. "You understand, SHIELD has to plan for the worst, but just because we have the equipment doesn't mean we intend to use it. And we know the existence of these weapons could cause the very incident we want to avoid."

"I understand. I'm guessing my presence here means you have a plan to avoid that situation?" Olsen asked, leaning forward, the action causing him to wince slightly.

"I do. On this device you'll find a complete inventory of everything from that facility." Pierce picked up a pad from next to him and handed it to Olsen who took it with his one good hand. "It's all been moved to a location just outside DC, and we want you to bring Kal there so the two of you can inspect it. See that SHIELD is hiding nothing and values this partnership."

"Thank you, sir." Olsen quickly looked through the pad and his eyes did widen as it seemed to be exactly what Pierce was promising. "I'll show this to Kal and will let you know."

"You misunderstand, Agent. We have a helicopter fuelled and waiting." Pierce stood up and gestured to his window showing the aircraft in question. "You're to leave immediately and summon Kal to the location once you arrive."

"Why the urgency sir?" Olsen looked from the helicopter to Pierce, his eyes narrowing in suspicion of the man's intent.

"To be frank, that is above your pay grade son, and your loyalty should be to SHIELD first and foremost," Pierce's words both deepened the worry Olsen was feeling but also made him feel ashamed. He was questioning orders which was not what a good agent did. "But in the spirit of cooperation, it's because we are launching another Project codenamed Insight, in two days. We are hoping to have Kal and the rest of the Avengers onboard. So we need this issue settled sooner rather than later. Do you understand?"

A part of Olsen wanted to speak up, to trust the burning sensation that was in his gut, but at the end of the day he was a SHIELD agent. Alexander Pierce was many things, but Olsen had never heard of the man being dishonest with his intent, the man was a SHIELD legend and a personal friend to Director Fury. If the Director trusted the Secretary, then Olsen had no reason not to either, also this might be the chance to put all of his growing fears to rest, getting the other side of the coin he had until now been missing.

"Certainly sir, I'll read over the file to get briefed and summon Kal once we're on site." Olsen finally replied, straightening up to show his professionalism and giving his boss a nod.

"Good man." Pierce responded as his demeanour became relaxed again and offered Olsen a hand which the agent took as he stood up. "Now, you better get going. I'll catch up with you personally after this is all over."

Olsen returned the smile he was offered, thanked Pierce, and then left heading to the waiting helicopter. As Olsen left Pierce dropped his friendly smile, his hand immediately going to his pocket and taking out his personal communicator. He pushed the call button as the number had already been dialled in, he waited for the phone to click on the other end before he spoke.

"Operation Sunset is a go. Once the alien is on site, engage with maximum force….. and ensure that the assets are in the blast radius as well. They were built for the old world, and with the pods we can always make more. No survivors." Pierce ordered hanging up the phone not bothering waiting for a response.

Although he appeared ice calm, there was a degree of panic on the inside. Fury's investigation and covert action on the Lemurian Star had accelerated the timetable and forced him to play his hand early. It was all a mess now, but it was still manageable as long as he could take out Fury and Kal in the opening move, then if he did that then the game was all but won…if he did it.

(Harvard Yard – Harvard Campus, Cambridge Massachusetts - January 10th, 2014)

Kal was walking through the campus as Amora walked next to him, although she appeared to him as her true self merely wearing thick human garb, to the rest of the world she was still elderly Professor Helen Eve. He had initially been worried about revealing her identity in case someone recognised him, but she had cast an illusionary field making anyone see him as just an ageing man whom she would claim was an old friend.

Kal couldn't help but smile at the slowly falling snow around him, admiring the thick sheet of pure white that laid across the ground. Although Midgard was in many ways very different to Asgard, he found that the mortal realm came close to resembling his home during the winter season.

"Thinking of the Realm Eternal?" Amora asked, smiling up at Kal and causing the taller Asgardian to look slightly surprised before chuckling and nodding.

"Indeed, this planet looks almost like Asgard when it snows," Kal revealed his inner thoughts earning a smile.

"Yes, when I first came here in 1845, this small piece of land reminded me a little of the orchards of Iðunn." Amora smiled at the memory of the home she had long ago left behind. "You know, just without the trees made of silver, the golden apples and the dozens of servants."

"I think perhaps you have been gone too long from home Lady A-" Kal chuckled in reply only to be cut off.

"You know you don't have to call me that anymore." Amora spoke a teasing tone and smile.

"I'm sorry?" Kal looked down at Amora confusion on his face.

"Lady, I'm not one anymore and I haven't been in a long time. Also, let's face it, my ladyship was over an Apple Orchard named after my mother. Hardly impressive." Amora chuckled at the memory, shaking her head recalling the small scrap of land her family had owned. "The mortals only believed it to be majestic because of those idiot tales Loki spun about them making us all immortal."

Kal looked inquisitively at Amora, he was more than a little shocked at her words. He had sensed a change earlier, but this was entirely new. The woman he knew would never have been so dismissive of her family's titles or their estate, as small as it was. She also seemed… happier? He didn't know exactly how to phrase it, and even then the word seemed insufficient. It was almost as if Amora was more comfortable in her own body.

"You've changed." His observation earned a deep friendly laugh from the former noblewoman of Asgard.

"Yep, and proud of it." Amora declared so brazenly and fast that Kal couldn't help but be shocked. "What? It's true. Being on Earth has been nothing but good for me. Truth be told I was miserable on Asgard, and I didn't realise it until I spent some time here."

"How so?" Kal's brow furrowed.

"On Asgard I was always trying to be something I was not, or else trying to get something I was never going to have. First I chased after magical prowess but failed because I was too stubborn. Then I longed for titles, and was disappointed for much the same reason. Then pursued a strong and powerful husband, which ended with marrying the court poet, what a great achievement that was. And to top it off I made a fool of myself chasing Thor, which endeared me to no one." Amora listed off her failures matter-of-factly and in a tone that showed she had long ago accepted these as part of her past.

"Do you truly not yearn for Asgard at all?" He had only been exiled for about a year and he would be lying if didn't say he longed terribly to return.

"Sometimes, but in truth, I think I miss certain people more than the place itself. Asgard is grand, no question, but if I had stayed there or returned after the whole psycho-sister event, I think I would still be that old Amora, or someone far worse." She sighed but glad to give voice to a thought that had plagued her for years and grateful that she was talking to someone that knew her from her youth.

"I don't think so, you always had the capacity for good, and my mother saw it." Kal's words in her defence came as a surprise because not only was he defending her from herself, he was supporting a person he once hated with a passion.

"That's sweet, but your mother saw the best in everyone." Amora smiled at Kal giving a gentle pat on his arm in thanks for his kind words. "No, I would have just stewed in my anger and resentment, playing the same game that's always played on Asgard. The Realm Eternal has many allures but change is not one Kal, things there just…well, that isn't it. They are just that, just themselves, never progressing, never altering. Whereas here I've seen what it is to truly live, and I've managed to shape my own destiny without traditions or history weighing me down.."

"Is that truly why you stayed, why you did not return? The love of change?" Kal asked, his voice going pensive, remembering how the disguised Asgardian Elliot Randolph had said much the same.

Was his homeland so dull, so predictable and rigid that people were desperate to flee it?

"It was a large part of why I stayed, yes, but as to why I didn't come back…that was because I was terrified of you Kal." Amora revealed looking up into the taller man's face a look of complete honesty in her eyes.

"Me?" Kal asked, shocked not expecting Amora's answer to be so personal.

"Yes, you." Amora reaffirmed with a steady unwavering tone, as she explained her reasoning. "Kal, if I may borrow a mortal phrase, you scared the shit out of us all back then,, some of us knew what you did to the mortals at Lakstad and my sister murdered your best friend. I thought if I showed up, you'd rip my bloody head off in her stead."

Kal was silent for a few moments as a grimace of regret formed on his face as he absorbed Amora's words before releasing a deep sigh. "I am sorry that I made you feel so afraid to come home."

"Don't be. I've long moved past it, and if I hadn't, I would've never gotten to experience Earth as I had and met some truly wonderful people." A bright smile graced her face, and it was so genuine that he couldn't help but return it. "Verily, my life here has been great, I can be anything I want, do anything I want. I can just…exist."

"Then I am happy for you Amora, for the peace you have found here. It is something that many people long for. I wish it lasts for the rest of your life"

"You know you could have it too?" Amora offered, her words causing Kal to freeze as she kept walking.

"What do you mean?" He rushed after Amora who was strolling through the fresh snow of the yard.

His actions caused the few people around to look at him in surprise. To their eyes he was an elderly man who had to be in his 90's bounding through the snow like an NFL linebacker to catch up with his friend.

"I just mean, you can have this life too." Amora's tone was casual, yet serious at the same time. "You're exiled now, you're no longer a Prince of Asgard, and Earth has its protectors. So, you could stop, you know?"

"I have a duty to prot-" Kal began to explain his solemn burden and responsibility before Amora cut him off.

"But you don't Kal, not anymore" Amora pointed out with the same emphasis as before. "Look, if you want to protect people and save them, that's your choice and it is a good way to live. Just…. just make sure it's what you want okay? Not what you think people want you to be"

Kal was silent at her words for quite some time and Amora didn't mind the quiet that let her enjoy the cold winter air. She also knew that Kal was taking her words seriously, and didn't want to intrude on his thoughts. Reconsidering your purpose in life was a big decision and she could relate. After all, it had taken just such a journey before she had gotten away from her toxic past and her obsession with power….a very long journey.

"I don't know what else I would do," Kal eventually sighed, feeling a weight on his shoulder. "Saving people and protecting the realms is all I've ever known." If he was not the shining sword of Asgardian justice, what greater calling could there possibly be?

"And if that is who you are, I encourage you to embrace it," Amora responded, placing a comforting hand on Kal's shoulder. "Just remember to live your own life a little as well, okay? There is so much you can do my friend and if anyone has earned the right to enjoy life it is you."

"I can promise you that I will consider it," Kal gave Amora's hand on his shoulder a quick squeeze of gratitude and then let it fall away.

Amora smiled and withdrew her hand, content that she had said what she needed to and was now happy just to enjoy each other's company. As they walked through the winter landscape of Harvard Yard, she couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of life. If someone had told her in her youth that she would one day be strolling through a park with Kal making idle chatter about fate and desires, she would have laughed in their face.

However, Kal was more pensive; his mind wandered for once onto topics he had only thought about in passing or else dismissed long ago. There was more truth to Amora's words than she knew. He did love his life, he did love vanquishing evil and protecting the innocent, but in truth, he had little to attend to outside of that. Sure, he had Carol, and their relationship was strong, but the physical gulf between them was half a galaxy wide more often than not, and they hadn't really talked about what their future together held.

That thought then drifted him to the other issue that was also plaguing his mind of late, the superheroine Binary. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her yet as he had been busy, first with dealing with the whole Lorelai situation and then sending Maxima packing back to Almerac. However, the woman was on his mind, having finally seen her without her helmet on, there was no denying she was a relation of Carol's, and more still she seemed to have his eyes. Both facts were raising serious questions and concerns for Kal along with opening up questions about his destiny that he had resolved.

There hadn't been a night since discovering the Codex existed within him that he hadn't spent debating what to do. Having given up a life as the sword of Asgard, he was torn between two paths, both of which pulled his heart and soul. In one, he was the final Kryptonian, doomed to be the last of his kind and never knowing the joys of children in order to keep the universe safe from a war of conquest waged by a race of new gods, the kind of conquest Zod had wanted. The other path was one of family, children and restoring a culture that called to Kal but would require a lifetime of constant diligence to ensure his people, his children, were raised right.

However, if Binary was indeed what he suspected then he might have already been forced to choose the second path, as the power of Krypton was returning to life whether he liked it or not. Which meant he had to find Binary as quickly as possible and discover how she had come about to prevent further abuse of his people's legacy. Then start the incredibly difficult task of teaching her Kryptonian culture and her responsibilities as his….daughter.

He was about to ask Amora's advice on the situation when he suddenly winced at a high-pitched whistling noise sounding off in the air. He knew the sound well; it was the signal watch that SHIELD had invented for Agent Olsen to be used to summon him quickly in an emergency.

"Kal, are you alright?" Amora asked, suddenly concerned for her friend.

"I am, but it seems I am needed. I do apologise but we must cut our meeting short." Kal offered with a regretful smile and bow of his head, as he turned to jet off.

"KAL!" Amora's cry of his name caused him to pause before he could launch himself into the air, turning to face the infamous Enchantress. "Could you kindly not reveal my identity by flying away in the middle of campus?"

Kal looked around and saw that several students and faculty members had stopped to look at what they saw as an elderly man poised to jump into the thick snow next to him. He had the decency to look a little sheepish and then returned to standing correctly causing the observers to look at him strangely before carrying on.

"Right, right. I'll walk and then fly." Kal replied, clearing his throat and pointing vaguely towards a narrow alley between two buildings that would provide cover.

"Thank you," Amora gave him a mischievous smile that for a moment reminded him of her younger years.

(SHIELD Storage Facility – 30 miles from the outskirts of DC - January 10th, 2014)

As Kal landed at the source of the signal he was greeted by an odd sight. The area was completely empty, not a sign nor sound of a living person for miles. Usually when he arrived at such a location he was greeted either by Olsen or a squad of soldiers and a SHIELD agent but there was no one here. However, the signal was clearly coming from this area. With a tilt of his head, Kal was able to pinpoint its origin as the large hanger directly in front of him, right in the middle of the facility. He narrowed his vision trying to pierce the metal building with his sight only for a grimace to form as he could not see through its walls. The Midgardians never cease to amaze with their ingenuity, but his admiration was superseded by his concern by the situation he was in.

He strode forward towards the building as his eyes scanned the area for any sign of movement or life. His patience was wearing thin, and he was preparing to punch a hole through the walls when suddenly the doors slid open as if anticipating his arrival. The action caused the grimace on his face to grow deeper and his muscles to go tense as he stepped back from the doors, sensing a trap. However, as the doors opened to allow him to see inside he suddenly shot forward as slumped on a chair was the figure of Olsen bleeding onto the floor.

"James!" Kal rushed forward, his eyes scanning his friend and gently placing his hand to stem the bleeding from the wound on Jimmy's stomach.

"K-k-kal,…." Jimmy managed to splutter out as he coughed up blood. "i-i-it's a trap…"

At Jimmy's words, the hanger doors slammed shut and the room was suddenly bathed in a deep red light. Kal stood up placing himself in front of Jimmy, he raised a hand and waved it through the air watching the particles present move around his hand. It was red solar radiation, a fact that made his eyes widen slightly, and although it would do little to weaken him he was surprised that the mortals had thought of it.

His thoughts were interrupted when he had a crack of sound off to his side causing him to spin and grab the fast-moving object that had been fired at him. His eyes narrowed as he saw that he had caught a long cylinder, which suddenly exploded in his hand. The explosion itself was negligible but Kal suddenly found the air around him filled with a fine green glowing powder.

Before he could react, he had already breathed in the substance that caused him to start coughing and stumble back slightly. It was Kryptonite, not as bad as when the substance was empowered by Loki's magic, but it was still unpleasant. His lungs burned and his eyes stung, so he reached down to Gram to help counteract the effect.

His hand never reached the blade, as a firm hand latched onto his arm. As he twisted he was greeted by the sight of Patriot gripping his arm tightly, wearing a pair of gloves with Kryptonite embedded in the knuckles causing Kal to wince in pain at their proximity and tug his arm to break free. With a burst of unexpected strength, Patriot's fist lashed forward to slam into Kal's cheek and knock him to the floor.

As he crashed to the ground with his eyes still stinging, he felt a small bruise form on his cheek. He touched it, wincing at the painful sensation and looked up to see Binary floating in the air, both her hands were covered with the same gloves Patriot wore. The dark green glow of the last pieces of his homeworld, pulsating ominously in the red light.

However, what drew his attention most was the fact that both Binary and Patriot's hands trembled slightly at the presence of the rocks. Despite the protection they wore, the rocks were causing both of them immense pain. The realisation caused Kal's eyes to widen as he realised what both of them were.

"I'm sorry," Binary whispered, regret in her voice as she watched Patriot's fist slam forward towards the stunned Kal.

Her eyes widened though as no sickening sound of her brother's fist slamming into Kal's face followed, instead Kal had raised his hand forward and caught the blow. The act caused him pain while the power of Patriots blow and the presence of Kryptonite made deep cuts into the hero's hand. Everyone exploded into action in a blur.

Kal pushed back Patriot's fist and lunged forward, while Patriot raised his other arm quickly to protect his face. Binary reacted as well, dodging to the side, avoiding Patriot being pushed backwards, and raised her hand in a knife edge. She infused the blow with as much power as she could and aimed for her target.

Kal saw the blow coming and could do nothing to stop it, but instead of feeling the cosmic blow land on his back he watched as it sliced off the chain link that kept Gram attached to his waist. Binary moved with the grace of an acrobat, and her foot landed on the sheathed blade and flung it backwards. Kal, despite the danger, couldn't help but be impressed by the attack.

The move nevertheless allowed Kal to twist and hammer his fist into Binary's chest which flung her backwards slamming into the metal structure of the hanger door. With a mighty crash, her body flew through the metal wall while her chest plate merely dented slightly. Surprisingly strong armour, it appears to be a reinforced polymer under an alloy of tungsten, titanium and vibranium, Kal thought to himself as he blocked a blow from Patriot.

He responded with his own and was impressed that Patriot managed to dodge it but found that his attacker was not fast enough to dodge his foot, launching forward and kicking him back. Kal however then had to turn to raise a hand to protect his face as Binary soared forward unleashing powerful blasts directly at his head. Before he could react she had closed the distance, using the distraction of her attack to throw a punch at Kal's exposed stomach. He took the blow as though it caused him pain it allowed him to grab her arm and spin her into a headlock.

He brought the thrashing woman upwards so that her head was level with his, ignoring the kicks and blows she was raining down on him. He winced with pain as the kryptonite on her knuckles started cutting into his flesh and her own sheer strength caused light bruising on his legs. He spotted Patriot regrouping and preparing to charge him, using Binary as a shield he unleashed a torrent of heat vision at the young man keeping him at bay.

"You don't have to do this," Kal whispered to Binary as he fired at Patriot trying to keep the boy at bay.

To his surprise the words caused Binary not to stop struggling exactly but her efforts became a lot less force full.

"It's….. our purpose," Binary whispered back her voice shaking as she spoke, her efforts to break free.

"It doesn't have to be," Kal replied, slacking his grip on the younger hero until he was no longer holding her, allowing her to turn and face him. "You have a choice; you always have a choice."

"I d-" Binary's word was cut off as Patriot appeared having taken the distraction of their conversation to strike.

He managed to knock Kal to the floor and started to slam his fists with all his might into his progenitor's face, thick red blood started to flow as the Kryptonite started to tear into Kal's face. Binary's horror spiked as she watched Kal's eyes go from his attacker to her, seemingly unwilling to defend himself at the moment. His mouth moved in between her brother's blows, she could just make them out….You….have….a….choice.

"STOP!" Binary found herself screaming and before she knew what she was doing she had grabbed Patriot's raised fist stopping him from attacking Kal.

"What are you doing!" Patriot's shock was palpable, his sister was defying the protocol and had left him open to Kal's attack. "This is what we were made for!"

However, Kal didn't attack him, he took no action against Patriot even though Binary's intervention left him wide open. Instead, Kal merely raised a hand and placed it delicately on his face, an action so loving that it still Patriots shock.

"I know what they told you, my son, but this isn't your purpose. You are a child of the House of El and the House of Odin. We inspire hope, not fear." Kal spoke softly, strength still in his body despite the savage attack he had just endured.

"But I….we are….i-i-i-i-it's my purp-AGH!" Patriot's hand slackened from its raised position falling from his sister's vice like grip, but the moment it had he screamed in pain, writhing on the floor.

"AHHHH!" Binary screamed too as she tore at her helmet, managing to rip the thing off, before falling to her knees.

She revealed the source of her pain: her suit was electrocuting her and had somehow introduced Kryptonite into her system. Her veins had gone sickly green as her skin paled, and blood flowed from her eyes and nostrils, she heaved forward attempting to empty her stomach from the pain. The added presence of more Kryptonite made it difficult for Kal to stand, but he managed to do so. On unsteady feet, he moved to help the two convulsing heroes.

"How unfortunate. Personally, I was always of the opinion that we could have used them, but they were ultimately expendable," An electronic voice caused Kal to whirl around facing a large screen on a wall that appeared as it activated.

Kal had to strain to see the image on the screen, as his eyes still stung, and blood dripped into them. The image was of a man wearing a SHIELD uniform that Kal did not recognise but had a detached almost inhuman look of indifference on his face.

"Release them at once!" Kal demanded his eyes flashing red with anger, which for once caused no reaction from the person being threatened. "Who are you?! Why have you attacked me?!"

"The name's Corben, Agent John Corben, though it hardly matters to you now. Nothing personal, just following orders." The now identified Agent Corben responded, his face still a mask of indifference.

"SHIELD's orders?" Kal asked his hand forming a fist as he heard Patriot and Binary scream again, readying his attack. Had SHIELD and Fury betrayed him, or was there something deeper afoot?

"Not exactly. Either way, you're out of time. Goodbye" The screen went black, and a light on the other side of the room flickered on.

The sudden spotlight revealed a glowing blue warhead that Kal recognised as a Phase 2 missile with what appeared to be every last ounce of Kryptonite available strapped to it. He quickly twisted, grabbing Olsen and diving for Binary and Patriot with such speed that all else slowed around him.

The world suddenly exploded; the hangar facility buckled for a moment as its reinforced frame tried to hold in the devastation before it erupted outwards. The ground shook and debris rained down on the surrounding area, creating a sight of devastation from which nothing could have survived.

(Several hours Later)

"So what is the story going to be?" A SHIELD captain loyal to Hydra surveyed the area as his men combed through the rubble and wreckage.

"Incorrect storage of munitions, for the moment" Agent Corben responded as his eyes kept sweeping over the area as well waiting for confirmation his target was dead. "We might pin it on an extremist group, help tamp down opposition to Insight, but truthfully it won't matter soon."

"That's true." The captain responded giving a nod in agreement, Project Insight was about to be launched and Hydra would finally step into the light once again. "Did you hear they took out Fury?"

Corben didn't respond beyond a quick glance, his cold mechanical features showing that he knew but didn't care about the information, causing the captain to gulp slightly. He had a reputation both in Hydra and SHIELD for being borderline-obsessed with mission objectives. The man did not care for gossip and for him the news of Fury's death was of no consequence, his job was Kal, and he would focus on that until told otherwise.

"Sir! Sir!" The shout of an approaching agent caused both Corben and the captain to turn around while his eyes narrowed at the man.

"What is it, agent?" Corben asked his voice smooth and unemotional.

The agent responded by lifting up a piece of a charred red cloth in one hand and a sheathed sword in the other. The items caused the captain to smile widely, taking them as proof that their goal had been achieved. However, Corben just glanced downward and turned back to his surveying of the area.

"Keep looking," Corben ordered .

"But sir…." The captain was about to argue that they had what they needed but stopped himself as Corben gave him a cold look. "Right agent, you heard him keep looking. THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE ELSE, NO REST UNTIL WE HAVE A DAMN BODY!"

The captain's shouted order had the desired effect as the SHIELD agents doubled their efforts and started to move faster. Corben then felt the device in his coat pocket vibrate causing him to remove it and glance at the secure message he had received.

STRIKE FAILED

CAPTAIN AMERICA IN THE WIND

RETURN TO TRISKELION IMMEDIATELY

Corben read the message and then pocketed the communicator. He glanced at the captain who stiffened at the unprovoked glance thinking that the message was about him, and that Corben was about to do something.

"Captain, no one stops until we have a body. Dismissed." Corben turned on his heels and started marching away, not waiting for response.

His fellow Hydra agent looked around at the still-smouldering crater. He didn't mind being as far away from that sociopathic freak as he could, but why bother searching through the rubble of something nobody could have survived?

(Meanwhile – Deep within the Arctic Circle)

Olsen jolted awake and regretted doing so as he felt pain explode across his body, causing him to groan and fall back on the bed he was on. He looked down and saw that his clothes had been replaced by a strange skintight suit and that appeared to be glowing slightly in the areas he felt pain. As he tried to move again he froze as his vision caught sight of two people suspended in hardened white glowing crystals positioned across the room. Within the one on the right was a woman with long flowing blonde hair that looked like it had been frozen in water, creating a crown around her head, whilst the one on the left held a muscular black-haired man.

His vision soon darted away quickly as both of them were stark naked.

"I see that you are awake my friend, please don't move." Kal's voice caused Jimmy to turn and see his superpowered ally walk into the room, his own face was bruised but he could see it was quickly healing. "I had to move you here quickly, and the human body was not meant to handle supersonic speeds. You are in a Kryptonian healing suit. It should fix your body as long as you remain still. Forgive me, but it wasn't exactly designed for your species"

Jimmy's head fell back again onto the pillow and he gave up trying to stay upright. "Where is here?"

"You remembered I mentioned my Fortress?" Kal asked, earning a small nod from Jimmy whose eyes widened in understanding. "Well, I had envisioned a more pleasant experience when I said I would bring you for a visit."

"Who are they?" Jimmy asked, lifting a shaking hand to point at the two crystalline chambers across the room.

"That is the question my friend. It appears SHIELD has been keeping more secrets than either of us knew or believed." Kal responded with a deep sigh, his features turning pensive as his gaze moved from Jimmy to the crystals. "….I believe they are my children, and someone made them in order to kill me….someone in SHIELD"