I Have No Hate, and I Must Feel

The air was thick with tension.

Director Nick Fury sat at the head of the long, steel conference table, his one good eye scanning the documents spread before him. The dim light above cast deep shadows across his face, accentuating the grim set of his jaw. His gloved fingers tapped rhythmically against the metal surface, a slow, deliberate cadence that betrayed his irritation.

Across from him, Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, sat with his arms crossed, his jaw tight. The revelation of Hydra's deep infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. had shaken him to his core. Months had passed since they had uprooted the cancerous remains of Hydra, but the bitterness still lingered. He had fought a war to end them. And yet—

They had endured.

Beside Steve, **Clint Barton (Hawkeye)** leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable, though the tension in his posture was evident. Phil Coulson, however, looked uneasy, his fingers flipping through a stack of files as if reconsidering whether or not to present them.

Fury's eye flicked to him.

"Spit it out, Coulson."

Coulson swallowed, adjusting his tie.

"Right, well... let's start with the lighter topics."*

A small click of a remote, and the holo-screen flickered to life, displaying a government file labeled 'Bruce Banner - Hulk.'

"As you all know, we've been keeping tabs on Dr. Banner. It appears he's integrating back into society. Keeping his head down, staying out of trouble. Stark's been giving him lab space, keeping him in a controlled environment."

Fury gave a slow nod.

"That's good news. For now."

Another click. The image shifted to an aerial view of a massive mountain base under construction. The logo carved into the rockface made it unmistakable.

The Justice League.

"The League's been busy." Coulson continued. "They're setting up shop in a mountain—probably as a response to recent global threats. We still don't have a full roster list, but Superman and Batman are leading the charge, as usual."

Steve frowned, arms still crossed.

"Are we considering them allies or threats?"

"Undetermined," Fury answered. "For now, they're just another player on the board. But if they start playing God? We'll be ready, and hopefully Batman will too."

Steve didn't look convinced, but he said nothing.

Then, the screen flickered again. This time, Coulson hesitated before clicking to the next file.

The tone of the room shifted.

The file now displayed was labeled: General Thaddeus Ross – Unauthorized Operations & Detainment.

"Alright," Coulson sighed, straightening his posture. "Now we get to the less pleasant news."

Fury's brow furrowed.

"Go on."

"Ross has been making moves," Coulson explained. "He detained and fired several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Accused them of being Hydra remnants and threw them out on the street."

Clint tensed.

"Wait, Ross fired them? Since when does he have jurisdiction over our people?"

"Since he declared that if he found any more, he'd press actual charges," Coulson muttered. "Or, as he put it—pull some strings."

Fury's fingers tapped the table again, this time slower. His mind was already running through the implications.

Steve exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

"How the hell does Ross even know who's Hydra and who isn't? I thought we wiped them all out."

"That's what we thought," Coulson admitted. "But… that's not even the worst part."

Fury's eye locked onto him.

"There's worse?"

Coulson inhaled sharply, then clicked the screen again.

The words on the screen sent a chill down their spines.

PROJECT: SUPER SOLDIER SERUM – ENHANCED VARIANT

Silence.

Then, Fury spoke, his voice low and dangerous.

"Explain."

"Ross has the Super Soldier Serum," Coulson said, voice firm. "Not just a replication of the one used on Captain Rogers—but an enhanced one.

Steve closed his eyes.

The weight of that revelation crushed into him like a lead brick. He knew exactly what that serum did. It had made him what he was. It had given him the strength to fight, to endure, to win a war that had consumed the world.

But an enhanced version?

What did that even mean?

Was it stronger than his? Was it more refined? Did it remove the drawbacks?

Was there someone out there more powerful than him now?

Natasha and Clint exchanged looks, both widening their eyes slightly.

"How the hell did Ross get that kind of tech?" Clint asked. "Last I checked, no one's been able to recreate Erskine's formula—especially not an improved version."

Coulson hesitated.

Then, he clicked to the final file.

A name appeared.

"Allen Michael."

A.K.A. AM Industries head of creation, creator, and sole 'ruler.'

"Ross didn't make it,"* Coulson said. "This man did."

Fury's eye narrowed.

"Who the hell is Allen Michael?"

"That's what we're still figuring out," Coulson admitted. "A few months ago, he was a nobody. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he launched an entire tech empire—Allies of Mankind. This guy isn't just some lucky businessman; he's a ghost. No real background, no traceable past before the last year. And now, suddenly, he's making miracles."

"He calls himself AM," Clint muttered, reading over the file. "Weird name."

Steve frowned.

"Why would someone like this give Ross that kind of power?"

Coulson shook his head.

"We don't know yet. But one thing's for certain—this guy isn't normal."

Fury leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable.

"I want eyes on him," he said finally.

Coulson nodded.

"Already working on it."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

A few months ago, they had rooted out Hydra.

Now, a new player had entered the game.

A player with technology beyond their understanding.

A player with no past, no weaknesses, and no allegiances.

A player who had just given General Ross one of the most dangerous weapons in history.

And that player?

AM.

Fury exhaled slowly, his mind already calculating the next steps.

"Find out who he is," he ordered. "Before it's too late."