7 An Agent’s Last Stand

July 14th 1988 - Earth

Secret Location - Tibet

Agent Tom Cruise was known as a formidable force within Shield, known for his exceptional skills and unwavering determination in the face of danger. However, there was a secret aspect to his abilities that only a select few within the organisation were aware of.

In 1978, at the age of twenty, Cruise was among a group of ten specialists chosen for Project Genesis. This project marked the inception of Shield's enhanced division, aimed at creating super soldiers through experimental procedures. Sadly through the duration of the experiment the subjects each began to develop a tumour in a random area throughout their body and by the end of the experiment, Cruise was the sole survivor of the experiment. 

While like the others, Cruise developed a tumour in his body, but unlike his fallen comrades, his tumour manifested in a unique way. It affected the part of his brain responsible for processing emotions, particularly in response to danger.

When Cruise's body sensed imminent danger and released adrenaline, his emotions shut down entirely, leaving behind only a sense of unbridled rage. This rage fueled him with unparalleled ferocity, driving him to fight relentlessly until his body could no longer sustain the exertion.

In this state, Cruise retained his combat skills and rational thinking, but he lost the ability to distinguish friend from foe. This ruthless efficiency made him a fearsome opponent in battle, but it also made him a potential threat to those around him.

Despite being seen as a monster by those who witnessed his berserk state, Cruise was hailed as a hero by those who knew of his exploits. His unparalleled ferocity and unwavering dedication to Shield's cause made him a legend among his peers, even as his inner demons threatened to consume him…

Agent Cruise, perched on the ledge above the battlefield and meticulously planned his next move with the precision of a seasoned strategist. His eyes narrowed as he observed Diana, the woman controlling the deadly tornado, her movements dictating the ebb and flow of the chaotic winds.

"Any moment now," Cruise muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the howling winds. "Just a little closer..."

With a steady hand and unwavering focus, Cruise adjusted his grip on the sniper rifle, ensuring its alignment for a precise shot. Beside him, an Agent watched with bated breath, his heart pounding with anticipation.

"Got a clear shot, Cruise?" He inquired, his voice tense with urgency.

Cruise nodded, his gaze never leaving his target. "Just waiting for the right moment, make sure to evacuate with everyone after I take the shot, I won't be in control after that," he warned, his tone calm despite the intensity of the situation.

The tension in the air was palpable as Cruise waited for the perfect moment to strike. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he prepared to unleash a lethal shot. With a deep breath, he steadied his aim, his finger hovering over the trigger, poised to unleash devastation upon his target.

In an instant, he seized the opportunity, squeezing the trigger with calculated precision. The bullet soared through the air, a streak of deadly intent aimed directly at Diana's head.

But she was lucky. At the last possible moment, a sudden gust of wind generated by her tornado swept across the battlefield, disrupting the bullet's trajectory forcing it into her shoulder, only incapacitating her.

"Damn it!" Cruise cursed under his breath, frustration evident in his voice as he watched his shot go astray.

Despite the setback, Cruise remained undeterred. With a swift motion, he set down his sniper rifle and drew his combat knife, forged from the last remnants of vibranium used to create Captain America's shield.

"Plan B, at least the tornado is gone," he declared, his voice steely with determination. "Time to take the fight to them."

Agent Cruise Jumped from his ledge and sprinted forward in order to lock himself in a deadly duel with Jake, the towering behemoth of a man whose strength seemed unmatched.

"Come on, Let's make this good!" Jake roared, his voice a thunderous rumble as he swung a massive fist toward his adversary.

Cruise danced nimbly out of the way, his movements fluid and precise. "You'll have to do better than that!" he taunted, his voice laced with confidence as he countered with a swift strike of his own.

As the clash intensified, Cruise's movements became a blur of speed and agility, his every strike calculated to exploit weaknesses in his opponent's defences.

"You're fast, I'll give you that," Jake grunted, his voice tinged with grudging respect. "But you can't keep this up forever!"

With each lightning-fast manoeuvre, Cruise danced around Jake's brute force, delivering precise strikes aimed at incapacitating his formidable foe.

"Guess we'll see about that," Cruise retorted, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he continued to press the attack.

Agent Cruise's heart pounded in his chest as he lunged forward, his combat knife poised for the killing blow. With lightning speed, he closed the distance between himself and the towering behemoth, his movements a blur of precision and speed.

Just as his blade found its mark, piercing the behemoth's defences and drawing blood, a sudden gust of wind erupted from behind. The force of the blast caught Cruise off guard, sending him tumbling backward through the air.

Regaining his footing with a grunt of effort, Cruise faced not only Jake but also Diana, the wind-wielding adversary who had thwarted his attack fully healed along with Jiaying and Alister further behind.

"Persistent, aren't you?" Cruise growled, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through the air.

Cruise clenched his jaw, his gaze flicking between the two enhanced individuals he knew would fight. He knew he faced a formidable challenge, but his determination remained unshaken.

"Let's finish this," Cruise replied, his voice a fierce whisper as he squared off against his opponents.

With a primal roar, Jake charged forward, his massive fists swinging with bone-crushing force. At the same time, Diana conjured swirling gusts of wind, adding an unpredictable element to the battlefield.

Cruise met their combined assault head-on, his movements fluid and precise as he danced around Jake's attacks while evading Diana's gusts of wind. Blow after blow rained down upon him, each strike a testament to the behemoth's formidable strength.

But Cruise refused to yield, his resolve unbroken even in the face of overwhelming odds. With lightning-fast reflexes, he countered Jake's attacks, his combat knife a deadly extension of his will.

Meanwhile, Diana continued to manipulate the wind, her powers creating a chaotic maelstrom that threatened to engulf them all. Cruise knew he had to neutralise her if he hoped to emerge victorious.

With a burst of speed, Cruise closed the distance between himself and Diana, his knife glinting in the sunlight as he launched a series of swift strikes. Diana fought back with ferocious determination, her control over the wind growing stronger with each passing moment.

In the midst of their battle, Agent Cruise's senses were on high alert, his mind racing as he sought out weaknesses in his enemies' defences. Every thrust and parry brought him one step closer to victory, one step closer to ending the threat once and for all.

As the battle raged on, the clash of steel and the howl of the wind echoed through the air, a symphony of violence and defiance. Amidst the chaos, Agent Cruise stood firm, he looked around the devastated battlefield and saw no one around, 'they got away…' he thought as a smile appeared on his face and all of his strength left his body. Agent Cruise abruptly succumbed to the relentless onslaught of battle, as he lay there, weakened and vulnerable, Jiaying approached with a fierce determination in her eyes.

"Where are my children?" she demanded, her voice laced with urgency and desperation.

Cruise's mind raced, his thoughts a jumble of fear and determination. He knew the truth could spell doom for the innocent child he had helped escape, and he couldn't allow them to follow Agent Smith.

"Looks like you followed the wrong group," he lied through gritted teeth, his words a desperate attempt to protect the child's whereabouts.

Jiaying's expression hardened, a mixture of frustration and rage flickering across her features. But she didn't press further, instead placing her hand on the agent's shoulder as she proceeded to drain his life force. Where before she had a pained expression when village elders would sacrifice themselves her eyes held no emotion taking this human life.

As Agent Cruise lay there, his energy draining and his body battered, he couldn't shake the feeling of relief that gnawed at his conscience thinking she believed him. He didn't know the consequences of his actions, he didn't know about the other child that went to the other base with Agent Hart and although this would allow smith and the child he was carrying to escape it meant that Daisy would be suspected of being pursued by these people for most of her childhood forcing shield to have her moved around foster homes throughout her childhood, longing for family and forever blaming herself for her misfortune.

And as that moment came, with death looming ever closer, he could only hope that his sacrifice would not be in vain, that somehow, someway, the child he had helped escape would find safety and solace in a world torn apart by conflict and chaos.

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A/N: First time trying a fight scene let me know your thoughts and how I could improve. Thanks for reading