Chapter 38
Dr. Queen stood up from behind his desk to welcome Fury with a polite smile.
“Hello, Director. Did you find what you were looking for?” he asked politely while shaking Fury’s hand.
“Not yet.” he answered shortly before turning back towards the still opened door and gestured to someone from outside the room.
Robert followed his gaze curiously before tensing up. “What is going on?”
Three people entered the room carrying an advanced looking device and set out to check his furniture and the walls with the device.
“Sorry, Dr. Queen. But what we are about to talk about is classified and we must make sure that there is no one listening to us.” Fury said firmly.
“But my lab is filled with dozens of sensitive devices! Your device could ruin them.” He objected angrily.
“Relax. My men knows what they’re doing.”
He watched in frustration the agents while they work before they eventually turned to Fury. “Everything is clean, Director.”
“Perfect. Now, stand outside the door and don’t let anyone in.” he ordered looking relieved.
“Roger that.” the agents said before leaving the room.
“What is the meaning of this, director?” Robert asked nervously.
Fury stayed silent until the three agents closed the door behind them before answering. “I already told you. What we’re going to discuss is classified.” Robert didn’t comment as he watched Fury move around his lab before he faced him again. “We figured out something about the time spy.”
“What did you figure out?” Robert asked with wide eyes.
Fury ignored his question. “Actually it was surprising. Terrifying to be accurate.”
“Director Fury, what are you referring to exactly?” Robert demanded in frustration.
“You, doctor.” Fury pointed at him.
“Me?!” Robert stepped back in shock.
“Yes, you, Dr. Queen.” Robert paled and felt panic rise inside him but Fury continued. “You’re our only hope to catch that spy.”
Robert stared at him for a second before sagging in relief. He almost gave him a heart attack. He sat back behind his desk. “How can I help?”
Fury grabbed a chair and sat in front of him. “We managed to find the spy’s location. We only need to find his identity.”
“And what is their location?”
“Here.”
“What?!”
“What you heard exactly, doctor. The time spy is also working for SHIELD just like his partner. Which proves how smart and skilled they are. They perfected a file for themselves that painted them as geniuses and decent people that were qualified enough to work for SHIELD.”
“And how did you figure that out?”
He explained to him what Charlie and Bruce found shortly and Robert listened intently.
“The Avengers has pretty bright minds.” Robert murmured in admiration. “But that doesn’t answer my question: how can I help?”
“Bradbury and Dr. Banner are checking the files of everyone in SHIELD to try to find the spy, but we believe that that won’t lead us to anything since the chances of finding another coincidence like the one that exposed Agent Hunter is really dim, which means we need another way to expose the spy.”
“And I am linked to that other way somehow?”
“Yes. It depends entirely on your expertise.” He leaned towards him adding: “We want you to check all the biological reactions of everyone working here and compare it with the spy’s.”
Robert raised his eyebrow. “And you think that will lead to something?”
“Yes, we think so.”
Robert was silent for a few seconds before nodding. “Sure, director. I can give it a try.”
“Perfect.” Fury relaxed in relief. He was one step closer to catching the spy.
***
Tony never saw a smug smile as huge as the one currently on Holdstein’s face.
He was back with Sydney and Dean in the same dungeon, chained to the wall yet again.
“Did you actually think you will get away that easily without me letting you?” Holdstein let out a mocking laugh. “Everything happens here by only my command. I knew that the resistance will call for Captain America. I just made his job much easier. I also made all the necessary arrangements to make sure you go back to your ship.”
“Too bad you didn’t get what you want.” Dean smirked over at him.
“You know? Even though history books painted you as an amazing hero, you’re pretty dense.” Holdstein scoffed at him.
“Wait, me?” Dean exclaimed in surprise.
“That is in the old history, of course.”
“History didn’t change yet.” Tony announced sternly.
“That what you think.” Holdstein moved to stand directly in front of him. “But thanks to you, Captain America is in my hands. Do you have any idea what could happen if I executed him? History will go to shit! Johann Schmitt’s crazy plan of destroying all the important cities of the world will succeed. Which will leave the world shattered and disoriented.”
“And what will you gain from this?” Tony muttered nervously, heart banging hard in his chest.
“It will be easier to take over a shattered world and rebuilt it the way I want. I can lead Hitler into knowing the atomic bomb which will shatter the world even more.” he leaned closer to Tony’s face. “And on top of that shattered world, I will rise. I will rule. And all of history will be mine. Past, present and future.”
“Steve is not that easy to kill.” Tony snapped, but he felt himself shaking at the mere idea.
Holdstein just smirked. “I forgot to tell you that I managed to replicate the Super soldier serum in my time. I even injected myself with it. I also made a drug that react with the serum. It stops it from doing its job. Paralyze the serum for some time. Unfortunately, it is not permanent but it will do.” He gripped Tony’s jaw firmly then. “That drug is in your precious Captain’s veins right now. A generous amount of it. So, currently, Captain America is weak as a little kitten. Even with all his glorious body, he can’t hurt a fly.” Then he let out a crazy laugh. “There is also an added bonus if the Captain was gone way before his time. She will be erased from existence.” He gestured towards Sydney. “Which will mean that that fucking union will never happen. All your descendants will be erased and there will be no pain in my ass in my time!”
Tony felt a cold shiver ran through his body. Steve. His Steve was in danger because of him. His future with his husband is being brutally taken away from him right in front of his eyes. And he was just staring helplessly, unable to do anything.
“Now, back to our problem.” He turned towards Sydney then. “Where’s the time ship?” she just stared back at him coldly. “Don’t think for a second that I can’t get that secret forcefully out of you.”
“Just admit already that your plan failed when we came back here instead of leading you to the ship.” Dean stated firmly. “You know you can’t get anything out of us even if you ripped us apart.”
“And what about the others?” Holdstein smirked at him.
“What others?” Sydney demanded angrily.
“Well, the resistance, of course! They’re in my hands! The best victory in the past months. Imagine Hitler’s reaction if he knew that I crushed the French resistance.” His smirked widened viciously. “I can drag the Captain here. Rip him apart slowly right in front the three of you. I can bring that hot woman from the resistance and let my men have their fun with her right here. I am sure you will enjoy watching that.”
“You crazy son of a bitch.” Sydney shouted in anger while Tony and Dean felt shivers running through them along with rage.
“Yeah, yeah. Call me what you want.” He looked down at his watch. “Listen well, your execution is still going. It wasn’t canceled yet. You still have half an hour before dawn. I will let you make your decision. Either you tell me where the time ship is or I will gather you all with the French resistance, the patriotic Captain and his pals, and will tell my men to shoot you all with no exception.” Then he turned and walked towards the door before he turned to them one last time. “I will see you at dawn.”
He slammed the door behind him, leaving the three of them to make the toughest choice of their lives.