Fury followed his gaze. "This is it. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s space carrier. Flying aircraft carrier. One of a kind. Even the U.S. military doesn't have tech like this."
James didn't answer immediately. Standing in front of it, he finally felt the scale that no file, no movie, no rumor had captured. This was power incarnate — a weapon disguised as infrastructure.
And now, Fury wanted him to help write its brain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nick Fury had reason to be proud. Or rather, S.H.I.E.L.D. did. Decades of dealing with alien artifacts had left them holding technology no other agency could touch.
James walked with him across the hangar, boots echoing against steel. "Impressive. I didn't expect S.H.I.E.L.D. to wield this much force. But the more you grow in power, the more restrictions you'll face. The U.S. military won't tolerate a rival force growing unchecked."
Fury's eye narrowed. "You noticed that, huh?"
James gave a short nod. He thought back to the movie, during the Battle of New York, the National Guard showed up an hour late. A militia unit. Not a single fighter jet overhead. The military held back, waiting. That wasn't incompetence, that was intent.
The memory still left a bitter taste. For the sake of politics and power, the armed forces had sat on their hands while civilians bled. Only America could manage that sort of paralysis and still call it strategy. And afterward? The public bickered over the Avengers instead of asking why their own defenses had stood down. Hydra exploited that vacuum and buried S.H.I.E.L.D. in the process.
Fury's voice cut through James's thoughts. "You're not wrong. But handing S.H.I.E.L.D. to the government would shatter the balance. Aliens are confirmed real. You've seen Thor yourself. We need to stand outside politics, or Earth collapses under its own weight. Even if the government disowns us one day, S.H.I.E.L.D. has to endure."
James smirked faintly. "Alright. I'll take the job. But I want full access to your technical files. Without them, I can't design a program that will keep this beast in the air."
"No issue," Fury said. "We'll set you up a studio on site. Nothing is to leave the building. Do you accept?"
"Fine by me," James said. "But where am I sleeping? Don't tell me you expect me to buy a property here?"
"Why not? Thought you'd want a base in Washington," Fury asked.
James shook his head. "All my money's tied up in League Games. I'm running on an agent's salary now. Besides, this city's nothing but politics. I don't plan on making it a home."
Fury gave Maria Hill a look. "Set him up with an apartment."
She gave the faintest smile, as if amused by the idea of James refusing to play house.
Fury turned back to business. "Before that, let's take a tour. Come see the carrier."
They boarded the helicarrier under construction. The core was still an aircraft carrier hull, but massive retrofits had transformed it. Four anti-gravity turbines mounted to the sides, stealth panels fitted across the underbelly, projectors simulating a reflective background. To the naked eye, it could vanish. On radar? Not a chance. Too big, too hot. Absorption paint wasn't an option at this scale. The cost alone was staggering.
James took it all in with a professional's eye. The gear was advanced, but it was still tech. What mattered to him wasn't spectacle, it was whether the systems could hold together in combat. Fury never offered his hand throughout the tour, and James noticed. The Director wasn't about to risk a casual touch that might give away something James shouldn't know.
When it ended, Maria Hill fell into step beside him. "We'll get you settled. Tomorrow you take the day off, stock up on essentials. The day after that, you start full time. The Hellicarrier's almost ready—just needs the control program."
"No problem," James said, a double meaning in his tone. She caught it but didn't comment, only offering a small smile before leading him on.
In the garage, James moved ahead and opened the car door for her. Hill slid inside with practiced grace. He circled to the driver's side, dropped into the seat, and started the engine.
"Where to?"
She pulled out her phone, scrolling quickly. "What kind of apartment do you want? Large or small?"
James thought briefly. "Smaller. A bachelor layout, but the environment has to be good. I don't like living in filth."
Hill showed him the screen. "Here. check this place out."
He glanced at the location, nodded, and drove. Washington traffic was smoother than New York—less chaos and more order. Within half an hour they pulled into the complex.
James parked and stepped out first. He circled again to open the passenger door and give out his hand. Hill rested her hand lightly in his as she stepped out. A subtle test of manners, but James handled it without pause.
[Cortana: Neural scan complete. Target's surface thought indicates preference for French cuisine. She intended to go but felt awkward dining alone.]
James kept his expression unreadable, falling back into stride beside her. The building used electronic combination locks for both front door and individual units.
"Security feels light," he observed.
Hill keyed in the code with a smile. "Ordinary residents. No one here can crack a decoder."
"But our bureau can," James said, tone flat.
She froze a fraction of a second before recovering. "You won't be keeping anything classified here, will you?"
"No. Just a bed to sleep in. And maybe a place to bring company." His voice carried a hint of amusement. "Speaking of which, I'd like to invite a beautiful lady to dinner tonight. Im thinking of having French food. Would you be Interested?"
Hill tilted her head. "Hmmm, Well I do feel like I want some. But why French?"
"France is supposed to be the capital of romance. And I've never tried it."
Her brow arched. "Never?"
"It's the truth. I only got rich a few days before joining S.H.I.E.L.D., and I've been busy ever since. Even on breaks, I was alone. Why waste a French restaurant on going alone? Now I'm hoping Miss Hill will give me the chance."
A corner of her mouth tugged upward. "Alright. I'll give you the chance. You pick the place and I'll go back and change."