----
Several days after the incident.
Stark Tower, New York.
"Oscorp files lawsuit against superheroes for trespassing what's our response? —The New York Times."
Tony Stark rubbed his temples, scowling at the headline on his phone before slamming it down on the desk.
"You tell me what the hell were you doing there?"
He looked up at the team, frustration boiling over.
"Public trust in us is already hanging by a thread. I told you to tone it down, be subtle, stay under the radar and this is what I get?"
He muttered under his breath, "For crying out loud…"
On the couch, Clint Barton and Steve Rogers sat with heads lowered. They both knew they'd walked right into a trap set by that guy, Nolan.
The public backlash against superheroes had reached a new peak. There were now open debates about whether every action by a hero should be logged, cataloged, and published.
Steve finally spoke up. "We intercepted intel that Hydra was mobilizing in force. Fury sent us to investigate."
He glanced down at his empty hands. No shield. Without it… was he still Captain America?
"Did you find anything useful?" Tony's tone cooled a little at the mention of Fury.
"We did. Hydra's looking for someone. A man named Nolan," Steve replied, referencing the files Fury had passed on.
Tony's eyes narrowed at the name. "Nolan? I've run into him recently."
"You know this guy?"
"I do. Dug into him not long ago, but didn't follow up just archived the file."
"Check the new intel Fury sent."
Tony pulled up the dossier on his desk display. The deeper he scrolled, the more tangled it became Nolan's escape from a Hydra facility, links to Ulysses Klaue, and a suspicious pattern of financial activity involving the acquisition of bankrupt manufacturing plants.
And then there was the Clinton incident Phoenix-1.
"Phoenix-1? What is that, some kind of drug? Designer stimulant?"
Tony raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"We just got the latest field report," Steve said. "There's been a surge in so-called 'immortals' in the Clinton District. These guys are strapping bombs to themselves blowing up and surviving it."
"They're not terrorists. They're assets expendables belonging to someone."
"This guy developed that?"
Tony scanned Nolan's profile again. Just an average student with an unimpressive thesis. Graduated. Joined Hydra. Then vanished… and reemerged a completely different man now dabbling in the world of enhanced abilities and black-market science.
"Ding! Mr. Stark, you've received a letter sent from Oscorp. Would you like me to open it?"
Tony glanced toward the A.I. interface. "Let me guess… Norman sent me another cease and desist?"
"No, sir. The sender is Nolan."
Tony's eyes narrowed. He barely knew the guy at most, they crossed paths once while he was out looking for Peter.
"Let's see it."
He expected an angry rant. But as he read, his expression shifted serious, focused.
Steve and Clint exchanged glances, curious but knew better than to pry. It was addressed to Tony.
BAM!
Tony slammed his fist onto the table. "Friday, pull up everything we have on Bucky Barnes. Now."
Steve jumped to his feet, alarmed. "Tony, what the hell's going on?"
"Read it yourself."
Steve leaned in to read the message. His face twisted with disbelief. "That's a lie! Bucky didn't kill your parents Nolan's trying to manipulate you!"
"I'll find out the truth myself," Tony snapped. "Until I do he stays under surveillance."
"No way! Bucky's a free man this whole thing stinks."
"If he did kill my parents, he's a murderer. Plain and simple."
The argument escalated quickly.
Clint sighed as the shouting match flared again. Just like last time when the Sokovia Accords nearly tore the Avengers apart.
If this kept up… the team might not survive much longer.
But the real question remained:
Who the hell was Nolan and how did he know all this?
---
"How do I know all this?"
In an upscale Manhattan office, not the lab for once, Nolan sat calmly, reviewing files on Wilson Fisk as Norman Osborn looked on, clearly intrigued.
"I'm just one of those people with... insight," Nolan said with a casual smirk.
"Keep stirring the pot. How are the stock numbers looking?"
"There's media speculation that the explosion was caused by illegal experiments. Shares are dipping again."
"That's fine. Once the new product drops, the stock will rebound. Keep buying as much as you can."
"Yes, sir. I've already talked with Harry. He understands the stakes now—he knows where he needs to stand."
Nolan nodded. "Good. He's your son, Norman. He's worth grooming."
"What about Parker?"
The Spider-Gene project held the key to true regenerative power. Dr. Connors was handling the decoding. Meanwhile, Nolan focused on analyzing Jessica's genetic sequence.
Peripheral R&D tasks like the upcoming rapid-heal bandage and the fast-acting regeneration spray were assigned to the former Oscorp scientists.
"He's thinking it over. Said he's also considering Stark's offer."
"Stark, huh…"
Nolan exhaled sharply through his nose. "Send Connors to talk to him. Stark's into mechanicals and energy. Parker's talents are better suited for our field."
"Understood."
Just then, the door burst open.
Klaw walked in, visibly relieved to see Nolan alive. He dropped onto the sofa.
"You okay after what happened?"
Nolan nodded. No need for small talk.
"How did it go?"
He'd sent Klaw to negotiate preliminary terms with Fisk.
Klaw's return meant the ball was rolling. Now it came down to details and final agreements.
"He's open to a deal but wants to meet you personally."
"Did he mention what he wants in return?"
Klaw hesitated, then spoke.
"He wants Daredevil."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
Matt Murdock was basically spent. The Phase One trials of the Nightshade Serum had concluded. Though the test subjects were still under observation, the serum's long-term effects were unknown.
Still, Nolan had kept Murdock around just in case.
"He said he wants to kill him. Personally."
Nolan nodded. "Fine. Bring him. Seems that's Daredevil's last role in this game."
----
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