At the same time Peter was leading Daisy toward the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. hub, a secret meeting was unfolding in D.C. deep beneath the Triskelion—one that even the newly appointed Deputy Director Phil Coulson knew nothing about.
Around a long conference table sat a group of men in sharp suits. Each held a pivotal role within S.H.I.E.L.D., but their leader was the most distinguished: Alexander Pierce, Secretary of the World Security Council and a long-time "friend" of Nick Fury.
In reality, everyone in this room shared a darker allegiance: they were the high-ranking leadership of Hydra in America.
Amidst a heavy silence, Pierce spoke first. His voice was calm, but it carried an underlying chill.
"Gentlemen, we have a catastrophic problem."
"The 'Arbiter,' Peter Parker... that lunatic has leapfrogged into the position of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director by threatening the President." He scanned the room, noting the grim faces.
"I don't need to tell you what this means. Project Insight, which we've spent decades advancing, could fall apart because of this little monster's interference."
Brock Rumlow, also known as "Crossbones," spoke up from down the table. "Is it really that dire? We're well hidden.
Besides, the kid even pulled Tony Stark into the fold. That actually helps us; once Stark contributes his Arc Reactor tech, we can use the Insight satellites to wipe out these threats in the blink of an eye."
Crossbones seemed almost dismissive, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Idiot!" Pierce snapped, dousing Rumlow's confidence. He projected footage of the battle in Brooklyn onto the screen, freezing on a shot of Peter.
"Do you honestly believe a monster that can take down the Hulk and the Abomination with his bare hands is something a satellite weapon can handle?"
Rumlow went quiet. Jasper Sitwell, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, hesitated before offering a suggestion.
"Mr. Pierce, perhaps we can change our approach? He threatened the President. That shows he isn't on the side of the government. Could we... recruit him?"
"Recruit him?" Pierce let out a dry, mocking laugh. "The man threatens the leader of the free world. Do you think he'll listen to us for some petty profit? Also, have you forgotten whose hands his parents—and Howard Stark—died by?"
The air in the room turned to ice. One Hydra official asked tentatively, "What about his family? His uncle and aunt are just ordinary people."
"And then what?" Pierce retorted. "Enrage him? Make him go truly insane until he tears New York—and the rest of the country—to pieces? Are you trying to solve a problem or hand him a weapon? Our goal is Project Insight: to rule the world from the shadows, not to play a game of mutual destruction with a madman!"
Dead silence followed. They couldn't fight him, couldn't threaten him, and couldn't cooperate. The puzzle seemed unsolvable.
Suddenly, a screen flickered to life. A massive, pixelated face composed of green code appeared: Arnim Zola.
"Gentlemen... through my algorithms, I have deduced a... possibility," Zola's synthesized voice echoed. "Public data shows Peter Parker is not invincible.
He values friendship and family to an extreme degree. This is his only weakness—and our only chance to eliminate the greatest variable."
Zola split the screen to analyze Peter's network. "Spider-Gwen: powerful, strong-willed, unusable. Harry Osborn: close friend, but lacks the means to kill him. However, there is one more candidate worth noting."
The screen displayed the file for Felicia Hardy.
"'Nightingale,' Felicia Hardy. Hydrokinetic abilities. Multiple ambiguous encounters with Peter Parker. She is the perfect entry point."
Pierce narrowed his eyes. "You mean... treat her like we do the 'Asset'?"
"Exactly," Zola replied with a sinister electronic tone. "Use our latest mental conditioning to plant a control chip in her brain.
Have her seduce and then assassinate him. At his most vulnerable moment—when he is unarmed and off-guard—she will deliver a lethal blow that even his healing cannot repair."
"If it succeeds, the problem is gone forever," Zola's avatar flickered. "Even if it fails, Parker will assume it was retaliation from Nick Fury or the military. He will never suspect we are pulling the strings."
The room let out a collective breath. It was a vicious plan—simple, efficient, and most importantly, it kept Hydra hidden. Even if it failed, they remained in the shadows to plan again.
"I approve," Pierce said, raising his hand.
"Agreed." "Agreed."
Voices of support rippled through the room. Pierce looked at Rumlow and Sitwell.
"Jasper, arrange a distraction to draw Peter Parker away. Ensure the capture operation is undisturbed."
"Brock, go wake up our 'Asset.' He's been asleep long enough. Take him to New York. Together, you will bring back the Nightingale."
Pierce's lips curled into a cold smirk. "Bring her back and prepare her to sing."
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