Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Death of Nick Fury
Nick Fury's lips curled into a condescending sneer. "Your mind tricks are amateur hour, kid! But I'm genuinely curious - how'd you turn a seasoned agent with decades of experience into your personal puppet?"
Jason instantly understood. The old spymaster had detected Hydra's mole but misidentified the source, believing Jason personally controlled his subordinates through supernatural means. Sometimes people saw exactly what their prejudices wanted them to see.
Jason slowly counted the assembled enemies, assessing each threat. "Juggernaut, Pulse, Multiple-Man, and this one..."
"Moonstar," the final operative supplied.
"Never heard of her." Jason shrugged dismissively.
Fury's sneer deepened. "You will soon enough! Juggernaut - eliminate them!"
The massive red-clad behemoth, sporting mysterious headgear and matching the Hulk in sheer bulk, stepped forward with ground-shaking force. His fist clenched ominously. "Ready to become a smear on my knuckles?"
BOOM!
The reinforced floor cratered under his tremendous weight as he launched into a devastating charge. His rushing form created shockwaves that threatened to demolish the entire laboratory.
The X-Men scattered in terror while Professor X, immobilized, watched helplessly as death approached in crimson armor.
Suddenly - CRASH!
A silver-white armored figure dropped through the ceiling, extended arms blocking the juggernaut's assault. Metal screamed against unstoppable force as two titans locked in stalemate, neither yielding an inch.
Jason casually opened an Absolute Zero Dimension. "Come on, burdens. Inside where it's safe."
Fury's other assets attacked simultaneously. Jason unleashed crackling lightning, forcing Pulse to counter with precision energy blasts that neutralized the electrical assault.
"Moonstar, now!" Fury commanded urgently.
The woman's eyes rolled back, her body rigid as invisible powers probed the air. Jason felt intrusive tendrils attempting to penetrate his mental defenses.
He studied Moonstar and Fury calmly. "What exactly are you attempting?"
Fury explained with cold satisfaction: "She extracts your deepest fears and materializes them into reality. Your worst nightmares will literally kill you!"
"Regarding my psychic shields - you're aware they exist, correct?"
Nick Fury's eye narrowed dangerously. "Of course!"
Without warning, he produced a syringe and plunged it into Moonstar's neck. Crimson liquid vanished beneath her skin.
Instantly, Jason's consciousness felt encased in lead. His supernatural awareness dulled significantly as some psychic weight pressed against his soul. This enhanced power bypassed his usual mental defenses.
Reality blurred momentarily as impossible visions manifested.
Supernatural winds howled through the laboratory. Five cosmic vortexes materialized overhead - some radiating divine light, others containing absolute darkness. Each exuded unimaginable power that threatened to tear reality asunder.
Moonstar trembled violently, sweat drenching her features.
Fury demanded harshly, "What exactly terrifies him?"
The supernatural pressure lifted as Jason regained clarity. Moonstar's ability reached its materialization phase.
He smiled knowingly. "Fascinating discovery - I fear many things apparently. She managed to identify five minor terrors, the weakest in my psyche. Seems her power maxed out at the selection stage."
Fury registered the overwhelming presence emanating from the cosmic vortexes. Even the smallest power leakage sent chills down his spine. If these entities fully manifested...
Jason utilized his system interface to analyze the forming phenomena. The vortexes represented five Marvel universe Creation Gods, though manifested as antagonistic forces due to their creation by his enemy. Their threat tier displayed as platinum in the system.
But this clearly exceeded Moonstar's capabilities. The presence felt immense despite representing incomplete manifestations.
Meanwhile, Thunder God armor and Juggernaut destroyed half the facility through their clash. Multiple-Man replicated himself dozens of times while Pulse positioned themselves between Jason and Moonstar, protecting her materialization process.
Jason launched another devastating lightning storm. Every Multiple-Man copy evaporated instantly while Pulse barely maintained defenses against the assault's intensity.
"Abandon four!" Fury ordered desperately. "Complete just one!"
Jason moved like lightning, striking Clone and Pulse unconscious with precise blows. Their unique abilities warranted capture over elimination.
He tossed both into his Absolute Zero Dimension before sensing reality shift dramatically.
BOOM!
Hurricane winds howled as dimensional fabric tore. A massive armored foot stepped through the largest vortex, purple metal gleaming with cosmic power.
Jason's eyes widened in shocked recognition. That armor design...
Galactus!
The moment contact established, Moonstar collapsed unconscious. Jason's jaw dropped at the emerging figure.
A miniature Devourer of Worlds materialized - barely knee-high, proportionally rotund, and utterly adorable in its tiny cosmic armor.
He turned to Fury's equally stunned expression. "This? This represents your ultimate weapon? Are you attempting assassination or adopting me a divine godchild?"
Fury stared between unconscious Moonstar and the mini-Galactus, his face darkening with realization.
The pint-sized cosmic entity pointed dramatically at Jason, speaking in an incongruously deep, raspy voice: "Your aura disgusts me. Perish, mortal!"
He charged forward, tiny fists and feet battering Jason's shins with adorable ineffectiveness.
Jason scooped up the struggling toddler by his armor's neck. "Release me, wretch!"
Why does this infant possess a grizzled grandfather's voice?
Curiosity struck Jason. The system originally detected five platinum threats, yet combination produced this silver-ranked entity? He examined the mini-Galactus carefully, discovering the armor's remarkable durability. Despite his enhanced strength, the cosmic outfit resisted all deformation.
Moonstar channeled most power into creating invincible clothing for this guy?
Fury, your enhancement injection severely backfired!
Watching Jason manhandle the miniature cosmic destroyer, Fury's remaining hope shattered completely.
Before the Director could retreat, Jason materialized before him instantly. His fist struck like a sledgehammer, multiple ribs cracking audibly. Fury collapsed, agony overwhelming his senses.
Standing over the fallen spymaster, Jason deposited the thrashing mini-Galactus (still tucked under his arm) into the Absolute Zero Dimension.
He flashed toward Thunder God armor, manipulating electromagnetic fields to overwhelm Juggernaut's defenses. Thousands of volts knocked the giant unconscious.
Everything got stored in dimensional space before Jason seized Fury and vanished.
...
They materialized at a restricted industrial site surrounded by electrified fencing and hazard warnings. Toxic chemical storage pools bubbled with lethal compounds.
Jason materialized the broken Director. "Selected your final resting place personally."
Fury, displaying typical agent bravado, surveyed the roiling green chemicals without flinching. "Murder me if you must. My legacy survives!"
"Dear Fury, why assume I want you dead?" Jason's grin turned predatory. "I'm facilitating superhuman evolution! Many gained incredible powers through similarly... industrial accidents. I envision your transformation with great anticipation. Our games haven't concluded!"
"Release me coward! Next encounter, your head decorates my trophy wall!"
Jason shook his head sadly. "Such juvenile bluster from SHIELD's former Director. You're embarrassing yourself.
"However..." He paused meaningfully. "Survival remains possible. Disclose every SHIELD asset, operative identity, and secret base location. Perhaps I'll reconsider your... transition."
Fury responded with maniacal laughter. "Now you insult MY intelligence!"
Jason glanced skyward thoughtfully. "Did you call her yet? Or has she abandoned you? Come quickly, or miss bidding me farewell forever."
Fury visibly startled. "How... how do you know about her?"
Jason smirked. "Obviously... my devastating charm!"
The Director's composure cracked slightly. "Save your breath. She returned already."
"Returned? Without visiting?" Jason's smile widened. "So she doesn't believe your accusations? Views me as Earth's genuine protector?"
Sadness flickered across Fury's features. "She's too busy displaying universal compassion, rescuing dying aliens! Earth receives mere seconds of her attention!"
"Ah! Agent Fury harbors unrequited feelings!" Jason grew serious. "I've never understood your vendetta. I've legitimately saved millions of lives. Even accounting for personal moral... irregularities, how does that warrant your crusade? By my calculations, you've embezzled more SHIELD funds than anyone in the organization's history. What gives you authority to judge others?"
"You'll doom humanity!"
"Based on what evidence?"
Fury's response dripped with conviction: "...Instinct! The honed intuition of an exceptional veteran intelligence operative!"
"Oh, for fuck's sake!"
Jason's patience evaporated. He shoved Fury toward the chemical pool.
The former Director toppled into toxic sludge with a tremendous splash.
"You absolute maniac!"
Jason searched the area, finding a lengthy metal pipe. Fury struggled against the caustic fluid as Jason raised his improvised weapon.
CRACK!
The pipe connected solidly with Fury's skull.
"Intuition, you say? Intuition! Did your precious instinct predict today's outcome? Did it warn about drowning in industrial waste?"
Jason continued methodically beating the struggling spy. Each impact punctuated his growing irritation with Fury's ridiculous justification for attempted murder.
"Intuitive genius couldn't foresee your own demise! Some master strategist!"