C52 - Reactions to the "Messengers".

'Inner dialogue/thoughts'

"Normal dialogue"

[System]

[Diary entries]

(Word count: 1,291)

~ The next day with Fury, in his office within SHIELD HQ ~

Fury was not having a good day. Ever since he knew that SHIELD was compromised, Fury had been reluctant to send SHIELD agents for matters concerning the events that occurs in the diary. However, the list of agents that he could use was astonishingly small, with their numbers countable with the fingers on his hands.

So, when Fury had ordered for SHIELD-owned satellites to monitor jewellery stores in the US, it had turned the heads of some of the higher ranked SHIELD executives. Fury had just gotten off a phone call with Alexander Pierce, explaining to Pierce on how Fury knew that a Jewellery store in a remote area would be attacked and why Fury had sent a STRIKE team to respond to it.

'As much as Pierce had helped me in my career and getting me to where I am today, his name was not mentioned in the list of trustworthy people by Luke. Until I can confirm who is and who is not compromised, Pierce will be kept in the dark about Luke's existence. I can only hope that for all his experience, Pierce would still believe in the lie I had made up regarding the attack that happened earlier.' Fury pondered.

Fury's thoughts were interrupted by a codded knock on his door. "Come in."

Maria Hill opened the door but did not take a step into the office. Instead, with confusion and shock apparent, Hill stated clearly to Fury, "Sir, you're going to want to see this. The corpse from the attack earlier, it's not human as you said it wouldn't be. And it has similarities from the corpse Natasha had brought in a few days back."

Hearing this, Fury stood to follow Hill to the lab where the corpses were being analysed. Fury had placed Hill in charge of this as he needed someone that he could trust to oversee the corpses. As the matter is related to Luke, aside from Natasha, the only other person he could entrust this to was Hill.

~ An hour later ~

Fury was back in his office with Hill seated opposite his desk. Fury had earlier gone over to the lab to hear the analysis on the corpses, however, did not choose to comment on anything whilst he was there as he had not yet confirmed the security of the people working in the lab.

"Agent Hill, whatever that is about to be discussed in this room is to remain between you, me and Agent Romanoff. Is that clear?" Fury asked after pressing the hidden button. Receiving an affirmative nod in response, Fury then took out a folder and handed it over to Hill.

After a few minutes of reading through the contents of the folder, Hill could only ask in bewilderment, "What the hell is this?" Setting down the folder, Hill looked towards Fury as she waited for Fury's answer.

"I don't know." Fury admitted, an uncharacteristic uncertainty tinged in his voice.

Hill's eyes widened in disbelief, "You don't know? Sir, with all due respect, you seem to be answering most questions with that answer quite a lot recently."

At this, Fury leaned forward as he started, "Agent Hill, do you recall the file I had given you regarding a person of special interest? All I know for certain is that whatever that is going on, is related to that person."

Hill furrowed her brow, "You mean Luke Sullivan, sir? Then why haven't we brought him in? Sir, the content of this folder is worrying, to say the least. A cult organization known as the 'Abyssal Covenant', with followers who turn into creatures called 'Messengers', led by a being known only as 'Marak Azathraal', where the only thing we know is that his powers may be related to specific gemstones."

Hill's voice then dropped, concern evident in her tone, "But that's not the main issue. The real problem is this entity, the 'True Demon God'. Aside from being worshiped by the covenant, we have nothing on it."

"No official data past or present, nor any mentions in folklore or fairytale. Even historical records from the Vatican tell us nothing. It's like this entity doesn't exist or is from another world entirely."

Fury's eyes narrowed at her deduction, at which Hill suddenly realized what he was implying. "Which one is it, sir?" Hill asked cautiously.

Shaking his head, Fury replied, "It doesn't matter which. What matters is that for now, we don't have to worry too much about these new enemies since they are still largely unknown. Moreover, Agent Romanoff is currently working with Luke to gather more information."

Hill nodded her head in understanding, "So that's why Romanoff knows. She's assigned to Luke. And you mentioned that the Maximoff siblings have something to do with Luke as well. Is that the reason why you've sent them to Los Angeles where Romanoff is stationed? You're hoping for something to happen?"

"I'm hoping to bring Luke in. He may be an unknown too, but at this current moment, he is the only unknown we can turn to if we need any form of assistance with the Abyssal Covenant. Already we've lost more than half of a STRIKE team to bring down just one of these 'messengers'." Fury answered.

Fury then turned serious as he stared at Hill, "Agent Hill, you are one of only three people in the entirety of SHIELD who knows about this matter. If you require any assistance or anyone to discuss this with, you can either contact me or Agent Romanoff. In the meantime, see what else you can figure out from the corpses."

Hill straightened, "Understood, sir."

"Good." Fury replied, "You are dismissed."

Watching Hill exit his office, Fury sat in contemplation. 'This creature, it was not as easy taking it down as Luke had implied in his diary. Bullets didn't have any effect. From the STRIKE team's report, the man was initially compliant, getting down on his belly and lying flat on the ground on their command.'

'But then everything changed. Even shooting the head and heart of the creature was of no use. It was not until Agent Brian having unknowingly shot its only fatal weak spot, the back of its neck, that the creature was finally brought down. However, it took had already taken down most of the STRIKE unit with it.'

Fury had gone to meet the STRIKE unit personally upon their return with the dead target. He personally debriefed each of the surviving members regarding the events that had occurred, as well as viewed the body cam footages.

What he saw only further cemented Fury's beliefs that SHIELD, and in extension their own world, would need Luke's knowledge and assistance in facing this new enemy.

Fury was especially surprised to see that the creature was able to revert back to its human appearance after it was killed. However, upon checking the corpses earlier, he noticed that the major organs were missing.

In its place were the eyeballs that he had seen in the body cam footage. Fury had noted and acknowledge this weakness of the creature and would provide it to future units if another similar situation were to occur once again. This time, Fury could only hope that with better preparations, they would suffer lesser casualties.

Thinking of his options, Fury decided to inform Natasha of what had transpired throughout the night, as well as to provide her with new instructions to be carried out.

- End of Chapter 52 -

Next time in C53 - Captain America.

"The answer to your question, is a need to know. And right now- " Before Fury could complete his sentence, Coulson had finished it for him.

"I don't need to know." Coulson said.