DC Heroes in Marvel

[I found you!]

Seeing these words on the computer screen, Pierce's face changed drastically.

A single phrase shouldn't have been enough to unnerve him, but it wasn't just the words that caused his shock.

It was the symbol on the screen.

The bat insignia.

"Batman," Pierce muttered, his expression darkening.

As the leader of this generation of Hydra, Pierce's identity was one of the organization's most closely guarded secrets. 

Only the most loyal Hydra members—those brainwashed to absolute obedience—knew the truth. And those people, Pierce was certain, would take their secrets to the grave.

Even with Hydra's growing exposure under the watchful eyes of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce had remained above suspicion. He was confident in his ability to stay hidden.

But now, somehow, Batman had found him.

How?

Was it real? A trick? A trap?

Pierce's mind raced, but outwardly, he forced himself to stay calm. His voice was sharp as he stared at the screen.

"Batman, I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Pierce slammed his hand on the table, rose to his feet, and glared at the computer with an expression of righteous fury.

"There are infiltrators in S.H.I.E.L.D.," he growled. "If you continue to make these baseless accusations, I'll ensure S.H.I.E.L.D. takes action against you immediately!"

"Humph."

On the other end of the line, Anton and cyborg exchanged a knowing smirk.

"Quite cautious," cyborg remarked.

Anton, however, didn't expect to unearth definitive proof of Pierce's identity so easily.

In truth, the battle between him and Pierce had only just begun.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters

The computer in front of Pierce returned to normal. His initial anger faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression.

He couldn't be certain if Batman's presence had truly vanished or if it was an elaborate ruse. 

Rising from his desk with practiced calm, Pierce exited his office and took the elevator to an underground base within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Deep within the base, he entered a secured, hidden chamber.

Inside the secret room was a circular table, with chairs neatly arranged around it. Pierce sat down in his designated seat and pressed an emergency call button.

One by one, holographic projections of Hydra's key leaders materialized around the table—Daniel Whitehall, Baron Strucker, and Dr. Zola.

"What's going on, Pierce?" Strucker asked, his tone sharp.

"I heard the New York operation failed," Whitehall added. "We'll need to move forward with another plan."

"The nano warhead is already in New York," Strucker said. "It can be launched at any time, but we must pinpoint Batman's location first. If we miss, we'll not only fail but also expose ourselves entirely."

Whitehall and Strucker began a heated debate, talking over each other as tensions rose.

Meanwhile, Dr. Zola remained silent. He had just learned that one of his mini-program clones had been wiped out in New York, and he was certain Batman was responsible.

Zola knew all too well the power of Batman and the Justice League. One of their members, Cyborg, possessed abilities that rivaled even his own advanced intelligence.

In a confrontation with Cyborg, Zola realized his influence would be limited. The thought soured his mood, but he kept quiet, observing the chaos unfolding around him.

Finally, Pierce's patience snapped. He slammed the table with his fist, silencing the room.

"Enough!" he barked. "Listen to me!"

The tension was palpable as the Hydra leaders fell silent, waiting for Pierce to speak.

The room fell into sudden silence.

Daniel Whitehall and Baron Strucker turned to look at Pierce, their eyes cold and scrutinizing, waiting for him to speak. The tension between them was palpable.

Though Pierce currently held the title of Hydra's leader, Daniel and Strucker, as Hydra veterans, were far from pleased with the arrangement. 

They resented being subordinate to what they considered a latecomer. For them, obeying Pierce's commands was nothing more than a reluctant performance.

Dr. Zola, however, had no such qualms. Now existing as a digital consciousness, Zola had transcended concerns of rank or generational conflict. 

His only priorities were Hydra's mission and achieving a form of immortality. Everything else was irrelevant.

"Batman found me."

Pierce's voice was heavy, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the projections before him. His tone was deliberate, each word carefully enunciated.

"He came knocking on my door. And he exposed me."

"What?"

Both Daniel Whitehall and Baron Strucker's faces shifted in alarm. Even Dr. Zola's normally impassive projection displayed a flicker of surprise.

Among the Hydra leadership, Pierce was the one least likely to be exposed. The idea that Batman had managed to uncover and confront him seemed unthinkable.

"This isn't something I would joke about," Pierce said coldly. His gaze swept over the group.

"Accelerate all our plans immediately. We need to eliminate Batman and dismantle the Justice League. Contact Cobra and have them transfer all four Nanoworm warheads to New York. If necessary, we'll sacrifice the entire city and use it to announce Hydra's return. Batman wants to play the hero? Let's see what he does when New York falls."

The room was silent for a moment.

"Seconded," Dr. Zola said in his mechanical, emotionless voice.

"Agreed," Daniel Whitehall added.

"I'm in," said Strucker.

The decision was unanimous.

"Good," Pierce said with a grim satisfaction. He activated the map display, highlighting New York City in red. His voice was icy as he declared:

"The operation will be named New York Has Fallen."

The secret meeting room was well-sealed, and Hydra's internal communication systems ensured the discussion wasn't intercepted by outside forces.

Anton, meanwhile, had tasked Cyborg with scanning the entire network, but it was impossible to fully uncover Pierce's plans or intercept the meeting itself. 

Still, Anton was certain Hydra wouldn't sit idly by, and he refused to lower his guard.

"Nanoworm warheads…" Anton murmured to himself.

From what he knew, most of Hydra's Nanoworm warheads were being moved to New York. The potential devastation of these weapons wasn't lost on him.

He thought back to the G.I. Joe plotline, where Cobra's primary objective was often mass destruction, thwarted only by the heroic efforts of the Joes. 

But this time, the situation was completely different. Cobra had been absorbed into Hydra, and Batman was their target. The original storyline was now a chaotic mess.

One thing was certain: at this moment, Cobra operatives and their warheads were likely hidden somewhere in New York.

"New York…" Anton muttered, his expression darkening.

If Cobra deployed the Nanoworm warheads in the city, the destruction would be catastrophic. 

These warheads didn't detonate in the traditional sense—they released nanobots that would consume and dismantle everything: buildings, infrastructure, streetlights, billboards—every man-made object in their path.

The results would be devastating.

New York wasn't just any city. It was Batman's territory and a major international hub. Hydra's plan to lure Batman into the open by threatening the city's destruction was bold—and utterly ruthless.

Anton clenched his jaw. The Hydra leaders had made their move, and now, the battle for New York was about to begin.

If New York fell, it would be a direct slap in the face for Batman.

Fortunately, the task had been handed over to members of the Cobra organization.

Anton had an excellent memory. While he didn't know all the members of Cobra, he was familiar with a few key figures—individuals who would undoubtedly play central roles in the operation. 

Conveniently, these figures were relatively easy to locate.

Quickly, Anton sent another email, this time to the New York Police Department and the Continental Hotel. The message contained two names:

"Anna DeCobray, the Baroness."

"Destro."

At the Continental Hotel, Winston stared at the screen, reading the names. He immediately cross-referenced them with the High Table's intelligence system and found results.

"Anna DeCobray, the Baroness," he read aloud. "Wife of Daniel DeCobray."

"Destro," he continued, "born into a Scottish noble family and CEO of M.A.R.S Industries. He's an arms dealer with a penchant for war, and his family has been in the weapons business for generations."

Winston didn't hesitate. He sent the information to Anton and issued orders.

"Send someone to tail the DeCobray couple. Be discreet—don't tip them off. Report back if there's any movement."

"Understood," replied one of his men.

Anton reviewed the information Winston had provided.

"Daniel DeCobray, the Baron. His wife, Anna DeCobray, is a leading French scientist."

"Destro, heir to a Scottish noble family. His ancestors supplied arms to both sides during the British Civil War in the 17th century. When this betrayal was discovered, the family was disgraced and sentenced to wear iron masks as a symbol of shame. Now, he is an international arms dealer, a direct competitor of Stark Industries and Oscorp."

Publicly, Destro was a well-known figure in the arms trade, but Anton knew there was more to him than what was on the surface.

Fortunately, the Continental Hotel's intelligence network was unparalleled in New York. Alongside the basic profiles, they had also uncovered critical details.

"Columbia University, Cutting-Edge Technology Exchange Conference."

"Sponsor: Destro."

"Attendees: Mr. and Mrs. DeCobray."

"The conference ends today, with a dinner starting at 8 PM. Both the sponsors and attendees will be present."

Anton smirked as he read the information.

"A banquet, huh?" he muttered. "It's been a while since I've crashed a party. I doubt Columbia University would turn away an entrepreneur, even if I'm uninvited."

He glanced at the time. 8:10 PM.

"Damn," Anton said with a playful grin. "Looks like I'm late. But, hey, important people are always late—it's how we show our status."

Anton changed into formal attire, adjusted his cufflinks, and hopped into his sports car. He revved the engine and sped toward Columbia University.

Columbia University, located in Manhattan, New York, is one of the world's top private research institutions. 

As a founding member of the American Association of Universities and an Ivy League school, it's a symbol of prestige and excellence.

The route was easy to follow. Starting from Anton's residence, it took him about ten minutes to reach the campus.

Arriving at the dinner hall, Anton parked his car near the entrance. As he stepped out, a security guard approached him, blocking his path.

"Excuse me, sir, do you have an invitation?"

Anton smirked and tossed the car keys to the guard.

"Don't you recognize me? Park the car for me. This banquet doesn't start without me."

…

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