Chapter 228: If I Were Nick Fury
The Adirondack Mountains contained a SHIELD "Project Pegasus" facility. Primary research subject: the Tesseract.
The Tesseract emitted gamma radiation. SHIELD had once used this justification attempting to retrieve Dr. Banner, only for Hydra—hidden within the World Security Council—to intercept during transport, diverting him directly to the Cube prison.
Batman strongly suspected the Cube prison was a Hydra base. During his Adirondack facility infiltration, he'd encountered Hydra secretly stealing Tesseract data, using human courier methods to transport it to the Cube.
Now Batman had discovered a self-contradictory problem:
According to Batman's previous analysis, the Adirondack Mountains represented SHIELD territory. The Cube prison was Hydra ground.
Whether considering Tesseract data or Banner's transport from the Cube to Oscorp Tower, this theory appeared extremely solid. Nearly unshakeable.
But simultaneously, Batman's investigation of Samuel Sterns's background revealed his final employment before becoming The Leader involved the Adirondack Mountains.
Samuel had been transformed into The Leader through gamma radiation exposure at the Adirondack facility, then taken by General Ross.
Analyzing this intelligence suggested the Adirondack facility more likely represented Hydra territory.
"If the Adirondack facility is actually Hydra ground... the Tesseract data theft becomes completely redundant."
Batman sank into contemplation:
"Either Hydra's internal structure contains multiple factions, or another possibility... SHIELD?"
Batman slowly closed his eyes. When they reopened, he'd mentally adopted SHIELD Director Nick Fury's identity.
"If I were Nick Fury..."
"If I were Batman..."
---
Unknown waters. Inside the Helicarrier's operations command center.
SHIELD Director Nick Fury rested his elbow on the table, fingers continuously stroking his beard, single eye narrowed slightly. Obviously contemplating questions without easy answers.
According to intelligence SHIELD agents had transmitted, the New Mexico gamma facility had been destroyed.
The entire facility—from underground gamma equipment to surface structures—remained completely intact nowhere. Beyond salvageable heavy metals, the location retained zero technical value.
"Norman Osborn missing. General Ross missing. Obviously Batman captured both, imprisoning them somewhere."
"If I were Batman, what motivated traveling from New York to New Mexico? Was I targeting Ross or Norman?"
"What benefit comes from destroying General Ross's gamma experiments?"
Nick Fury's brow remained deeply furrowed.
He'd contemplated this question extensively. But from a pure interest perspective, Batman visiting New Mexico made zero sense.
"If approaching from non-interest angles... Agent Hill!"
Fury called toward the command center exterior.
Hill—stationed outside—entered rapidly, noting Fury's intensely furrowed brow:
"What is it?"
"Contact the President for me." Fury said.
He recalled conversations during his New York safe house meeting with Batman.
Despite "Batman" appearing in New York barely over one month, the figure had consistently tracked Hydra's movements.
Since World War II, Hydra had maintained extended silence. Most ordinary people worldwide believed the evil organization had collapsed with war's conclusion.
Current Hydra activities remained extremely covert. This explained why Fury—despite discovering Level 8 Agent Garrett was Hydra long ago—deliberately hadn't removed him, instead employing him as a chess piece.
Under these circumstances, beyond Batman harboring prior grudges against Hydra but only recently reactivating, Fury couldn't identify alternative explanations.
At one moment, Fury even suspected the missing Captain America Steve Rogers had returned, simply changing costumes while continuing unfinished missions.
But that obviously wasn't realistic.
"Mr. President."
One minute later, Fury spoke through the secured line.
The other end connected directly to the current United States President:
"Director Fury."
"Mr. President. As Director of SHIELD—subordinate to the World Security Council, specifically addressing global-range strategic threats—I need confirmation about something." Fury spoke bluntly. "What's your relationship with Batman?"
The President clearly froze, completely confused by Fury's statement:
"What?"
Fury didn't maintain excessive courtesy, tone extremely rigid:
"Batman. A figure possessing network technology exceeding ninety-nine percent of SHIELD agents. Possessing capability comparable to criminals imprisoned in designation D-4 [Cube prison]. Possessing unknown resource limits, funding, technological capabilities..."
"I suspect he's a secretly trained American super-agent. If accurate, you've violated World Security Council conventions."
The President's tone rose noticeably:
"What?! Are you joking?"
Fury couldn't help scratching his graying temples. Frustration surged from deep within:
"My apologies, Mr. President."
He disconnected the secured line with an audible click, too irritated for further presidential nonsense.
Agent Coulson had searched New York an entire month without locating Batman. Black Widow Natasha had just joined Stark Industries without progress. The New Mexico gamma facility had been completely eliminated.
Earlier still—the Adirondack facility infiltration, Batman tampering with Tesseract data.
Until investigating Batman's genuine information, understanding his activities' true purposes, Fury's mental state couldn't relax.
"Natasha... If only Hawkeye were available. He and Natasha working together would definitely expose Batman's true identity. Unfortunately."
Fury sighed, leaning back against his chair, closing his eyes in contemplation.
---
"What if reversed—the Adirondack facility is Hydra territory, while the Cube prison represents SHIELD's uncompromised location?"
Batman was simultaneously contemplating identical problems:
"Temporarily disregarding why the Adirondack facility—possessing the Tesseract, the world's unique extraordinary object—fell to Hydra control. Consider only possibilities under this hypothesis."
"I'm Nick Fury. I'd arrange undercover agents infiltrating Hydra, earning trust, stealing Tesseract data from Hydra at opportune moments."
"Regarding selecting another Hydra agent for human data transport..."
"Because SHIELD's internal trustworthy personnel are too limited. Actively selecting genuine Hydra agents, telling them 'the Cube prison is our territory,' deceiving them into transport represents the safest method?"
"Once the transport-responsible Hydra agent reaches the Cube prison, personnel there immediately arrest and imprison him, extracting Tesseract data from his possession."
"This explains why Samuel mutated at the Adirondack facility and why General Ross took him."
Batman's gaze flickered. Simply confirming the Cube prison genuinely imprisoned the Hydra agent used for data transport would prove this theory sufficiently.