"S.W.O.R.D.?"
Charlie's eyes widened slightly. "So that's really a thing?"
"Looks like you already knew."
Carter shook her head. "I learned about S.W.O.R.D. through some special channels."
She stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the agents below, and continued, "Initially, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s role didn't include handling superhuman crime. These agents were tasked with global intelligence and international disputes.
But with the Avengers' formation, Nick Fury shifted focus to superhuman incidents."
"Wrong path," Charlie said.
Carter nodded. "Exactly. That made S.H.I.E.L.D.'s workload insane, so we needed more hands. That gave Hydra an opening."
"Uh, S.H.I.E.L.D. was infiltrated way earlier," Charlie pointed out.
Carter's expression didn't change. "Doesn't matter. What's key is that S.W.O.R.D.'s duties overlap with ours. They handle Earth's superhuman cases and have authority over extraterrestrial events."
"So?"
Charlie studied Carter's back. "Honestly, you're already a great S.H.I.E.L.D. commander. No need to meddle with S.W.O.R.D."
Carter was a power hound—he'd clocked that ages ago.
She turned, eyes blazing. "I'm not interested in S.W.O.R.D. It's Nick Fury's friend that intrigues me."
"What do you mean?" Charlie asked.
Carter's tone was cryptic. "After taking over S.H.I.E.L.D., I dug into Fury's old files. The old him and the current him? Night and day.
Put simply, something's off. It's similar to the vibe I got from Steve back then.
You said Fury's friend isn't a bad guy, but if Fury's off, even good people can do bad things."
Charlie got it. "You're right. But he hasn't shown any cracks yet, so we just stay vigilant.
With everything going on, you don't have time to babysit Fury."
"Exactly. I'm swamped," Carter sighed. "Just a heads-up to watch that guy."
She looked down at the party. "I checked these four newbies. They're not ready to be full Avengers. Their emotions are too unstable.
I've trained them for a bit, but the results aren't great."
Charlie stepped beside her, eyeing Johnny's dazzling grin. "What's the plan?" he asked.
"A rookie assessment. If they can't handle the job, they go to the reserve team," Carter said.
Charlie's lip twitched. "You held a welcome party already. Reserves would be humiliating."
Carter shrugged. "No pressure, no progress. With more cases piling up, they've got little time to grow. They need to stand on their own."
"Alright, busy lady. You're telling me this because the job's mine, right?" Charlie guessed.
"Yup."
Carter smiled. "Spider-Man as examiner? They'll respect that."
"No problem."
Charlie grabbed a juice from the mini-fridge by the desk. "You know I'm reliable, but this is extra work. Gotta up the pay."
Carter poured herself a coffee. "Of course. I'm not Fury—I've got cash, and plenty of it."
She sipped, then looked at Charlie curiously. "But I'm wondering, I've given you a decent chunk of money over time, plus Tony's hush money. You're loaded, but you still act broke. Why?"
Charlie shrugged. "Remember that big bald guy?"
"Yeah, Professor X. Scary mutant."
"He used a dragonbone fossil to boost his brain and spilled a ton of this world's secrets. So, I'm using the money to take out Spider-Man's enemies. Been at it for a while."
"Money to eliminate enemies?"
Carter blinked. "I don't follow."
Charlie grinned. "Approve some operational funds, and I'll show you a big surprise."
Carter rolled her eyes. "Using my money for your plans? Clever. I could learn from you."
"It's how the world works."
Charlie poured another juice. "When you see the results, you'll be hooked."
"I'm waiting."
"When's the rookie assessment?"
"It's ready. Can start tonight."
Carter added, "Get prepped. Stick to the script."
Charlie thought. "To spice things up, I want to invite that guy."
"Who?"
"You know."
Ten p.m., Brooklyn Bridge.
In the armored cash truck, Wade, in shorts, a tank top, and a stocking mask, was buzzing with excitement.
"My gosh! A frontline superhero playing a robber? This game's genius—you're a freakin' mastermind!"
He gave a thumbs-up.
"But, little Spidey, my vibe doesn't quite match yours. You sure this isn't on purpose?" he asked.
Across from him, Charlie, in a black suit, sunglasses, and holding an electromagnetic gun, looked icy. "Thugs wear suits. It's intimidating."
Wade glanced at his ultra-casual getup, unconvinced. "I want a suit too."
"Nope. You're my lackey. Doesn't fit your character."
"No way! I'm getting a suit."
"Then you're out. You didn't even pass the interview. Being an Avengers examiner's assistant is already a gift from above."
"Just assistant!"
"Two words more than examiner. Not happy?"
"I'm happy!"
Wade gritted his teeth, sulking in the corner, drawing circles.
Charlie ignored him, tapping his earpiece. "Agent Hill, we're ready. Let's roll."
"Copy."
In a van on the bridge, Hill turned to Coulson. "Your side ready?"
Coulson nodded. "Area around the truck's secured. All measures in place."
"Good. Let's do this."
Hill raised her communicator. "Dr. Reed, your mission is to subdue the robbers in the truck without harming civilians. Damaged property will affect your score. Understood?"
In a helicopter above the bridge, Reed replied seriously, "Understood."
"Begin!"
"Yes."
Reed hung up and turned to Susan and Johnny. "This is a live assessment. High difficulty. You don't want to be reserves, right?"
Johnny, eager, shrugged. "Even if Spider-Man himself shows up, he can't use webs or magic. Posing as a regular superhuman? No match for us. Relax."
Susan frowned. "But he's got a friend. Anyone working with Spider-Man's no pushover. We need to be careful."
Hulking Ben Grimm, crouched in the cabin, grumbled, "I saw Barton and Natasha's demo yesterday. They always start by staking out the target. We should too."
Johnny scoffed at the stone man. "You half-baked mutant with a head full of laxatives, why copy them? They're just old-timers. We're real superheroes—no need to waste time."
Ben's face twisted, fists clenched. "You cursed at me."
"Yeah, and it felt great."
"I'll rip you apart!"
"Wait."
Susan stepped between them, exasperated. "Fight after the assessment. Stick to the plan."
"No, it's a waste of time," Johnny griped.
Susan's eyes warned, "Disobey, and I'll send your diaper photos to the Daily Bugle. You know how they treat Spider-Man."
"I—"
Johnny fumed but caved. "Fine, you win, creepy voyeur sister."
"Let's move."
Susan spoke, and Johnny leapt from the helicopter.
BOOM~~
In the sky, flames erupted. Johnny, now a fire man, dove down.
BOOM!!
A fiery streak scorched the bridge, bursting the truck's tires under the heat.
Bang~
The truck swerved out of control. Reed dropped from above, landing on the bridge and stretching his arms to grab the truck's rear, stopping it from crashing into nearby cars.
Creak, creak~
His rubbery arms strained under the force, but the truck steadied.
"Ah! So scary! Help!"
The truck door was kicked off. Charlie, in a sharp suit and Spider-Man mask, grabbed the driver and stepped out.
"Avengers scum, let us go, or I waste him."
Charlie pressed the gun to actor Harry's head, using him as a shield against snipers.
Harry: "…"
"Buddy, you cursed," he whispered.
Charlie leaned in. "That's how villains roll."
"Really?"
"Yup."
The next second, the fire man landed. Johnny pointed at Charlie's nose, ranting, "You suit-wearing, sunglass-sporting wannabe thug, let that guy go. Sure, he's short-legged and looks shady, but saving him's my job. Don't cooperate, and I'll serve you some protein…"
Harry, stunned by Johnny's tirade, whispered, "Buddy, I think he's the villain."
Charlie shook his head. "Look closer. He's got the Captain's face."
"More like Hydra Captain's face. Total villain vibes."
"Want me to teach him a lesson?"
"Nah, if I mess up this assessment, I'm the one getting graded. I'll deal."
As Harry spoke, Johnny felt something squirming on his chest.
Looking down, a stocking-masked figure was eagerly rubbing against him.
"Captain, I'm your fan! Can I get an autograph?" Wade turned, slapping his rear.
"Oh shit, what's this ugly thing?"
Johnny, repulsed, erupted in flames, torching the ecstatic Wade.
"NO!!"
As Wade's charred body collapsed, Reed's face paled. "You're supposed to capture criminals, not burn them! You'll ruin us!" he yelled at Johnny.
Johnny doused his flames, guilty. "Uh… he's not actually dead, right?" he asked Charlie.
"I didn't mean to kill him. I thought he was a superhuman. Who knew he was that weak?" he stammered.
This was just a test. If an actor died, he'd take the fall.
Charlie shrugged. "Relax, he'll bounce back soon. But your impulsiveness cost you. Minus ten points."
"What?"
Johnny jolted. "What's passing?"
"Sixty."
"Cool, I've still got a shot."
He patted his chest, striking a righteous pose, voice low. "Release the hostage!"
Charlie: "…"
Harry's face stiffened. "He should be an actor," he muttered.
"Only if he loses his Avengers gig."
Charlie's spider-sense tingled.
Click
He stepped back, dodging an electromagnetic collar, then bumped his hip, sending an invisible Susan flying.
Bang!
A nearby car's glass shattered, revealing Susan's faint outline.
"Whoa, she's naked!!"
Revived Wade, wiping nosebleed, gawked. "Scary power—stripping to go invisible? Public service or what?"
"Examiner's perk."
As Charlie spoke, Reed morphed into a rubber coil, charging. Johnny, a fire man again, rushed in.
Behind them, Ben Grimm carefully dodged cars, slow but cautious.
It was about his score.
Watching the sloppy teamwork, Charlie shook his head.
He lifted Harry. Reed and the others screeched to a halt.
"Your mission's to save the hostage first," Charlie reminded.
"We know."
Susan went invisible again. A bullet grazed the scene, hitting Charlie's chest.
Bang!
He staggered slightly.
A sniper moved.
As the shell hit the ground, Reed's rubber form snaked around Charlie.
"Save the hostage!"
Reed shouted, but Ben barreled through, knocking them into a bus.
"NO!!"
BOOM!!
Amid flying debris, Reed wrapped Harry in his rubbery form, relieved. "Good, hostage is safe."
"But you're in trouble."
From the wreckage, Charlie shed his jacket, rolling up his sleeves. "Bunch of rookies. Congrats, you saved the hostage with my leniency.
But now, your real assessment begins."