The Direction of Survival

In the car, Barbara Morse, who was temporarily safe, asked in confusion, "Henry, aren't you afraid of them? Why don't you fight back? Even just subduing them would be better. Or are you only able to defend against pistol bullets, and assault rifles can hurt you?"

Henry explained, "I only know that the more the enemy wants us to do something, the less we should do it. You know my capabilities, don't you think they're here to die?"

"What If...? so, is it possible that this is their real goal? Or do you think those people all betrayed us? They deserved to die."

Barbara Morse felt the order itself was problematic. She believed she knew more information than others, which led her to disobey and ultimately be abandoned.

So where did things go wrong? Barbara asked, "Where do you think the problem lies?"

"I don't know either." Henry lied here. What If...? it wasn't a problem with S.H.I.E.L.D.. or Snake Shield, then it's highly likely that it was Skrulls who appeared alongside Captain Marvel.

These aliens can mimic human appearances at will, and their forte is plotting subversion from within. This perfectly matches the situation described by Barbara Morse.

The circumstances surrounding the Winter Soldier's assassination of the Old Man Stark demonstrate that the American criteria for determining a murderer can shift depending on the situation.

Killing unregistered aliens is pointless, no matter how many die. But if you mess with S.H.I.E.L.D.. Skrulls were behind it...

Will the deaths of these agents, whose comrades were wrongfully killed, ruin their normal lives?

An even more important question is, why are the Skrulls targeting us?

Henry asked, "Bobbie, you have people you can trust in your organization. Ask them what the situation is like now?"

Barbara, in the passenger seat, bit her fingernails. "Can we still trust anyone now?"

The trainee agent, who had been shot several times by his own men, was on the verge of a breakdown in his confidence, even though the number of bullets was small and not fatal.

This might be a good opportunity to win over Barbara Morse, but with his life on the run, Henry could only try to keep her from making any moves.

He advised:

"I don't know if you can still trust the people you used to trust. But remember, you don't always have to take what they say literally."

Is his attitude the same as usual? Is his behavior pattern different, or is he treating you differently than usual, as if you were an enemy or foe?

"Whether the other person's context or statements are unreasonable, these things can help us understand the current situation and determine whether the other person is telling the truth or trying to lure us into a trap."

"Not to mention those who feel they have the upper hand, most of them are willing to go on and on analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of both themselves and their opponents, hoping to make the opponent lose hope and surrender, thus saving them more trouble."

"What these people say will reveal enough information to help us determine the true nature of things. To obtain this information, you must first not be afraid to communicate with others."

Henry's advice didn't reassure Barbara; instead, she looked at the man with a strange expression. "Is this how you see me? You don't trust anyone?"

Henry, not at all embarrassed, simply smiled and said, "Trust is a false premise. What If...? your actions are in my interest or represent a worthwhile investment in the future, then it doesn't matter whether you tell the truth or not."

"What If...? your actions are only intended to harm me, or cause irreparable and enormous losses, then it doesn't matter whether you tell the truth or not. I'm simply making a rational judgment about a person's ego, and thus deciding my own actions accordingly."

"And isn't so-called trust simply about doing things on the premise that the other person won't harm me? Or does it mean that in order to show trust and loyalty, I have to willingly accept being stabbed in the back?"

Barbara pouted and muttered, "Fine, I can't argue with you, you jerk." She pulled a cell phone from her coat. "I'll call someone and see how things are. Hopefully, that guy won't let me down."

The call was answered quickly. Barbara had just said, "Nick Fury— "

An exasperated voice came through the phone. "Bobbie, Walter! I just ran into some trouble, and when I got back I heard you're in trouble too. You're just an intern, right? What, you ran into a nuclear crisis as soon as you stepped out the door?"

"Nick Fury, don't yell at me! I want to know why more than you do. I thought S.H.I.E.L.D.. was a righteous organization that upheld world peace, but I never imagined it was a gathering place for a bunch of idiots!"

"Hey, calm down, girl. You know that only the elite who pass the tests are selected for S.H.I.E.L.D..

Now calmly tell me what exactly happened.

Barbara quickly recounted the whole story, while also pointing out her suspicions.

The person on the other end of the phone listened quietly until the very end, then finally asked, "You mean, Agent Gordon's orders were to shoot Henry Brown? The Henry Brown we know?"

"Yes," Barbara replied simply, but she was completely focused on Nick Fury's response.

What If...? the other party is going to lie and deceive you, this is the best time to turn the tables.

"Okay, little girl, I have something really unbelievable to tell you. This matter hasn't been officially reported yet, and declassification permissions haven't been set, but it's definitely the kind of classified information that can't be widely circulated. You'd better watch your mouth."

"Go ahead and say it. You know I know my limits, otherwise I wouldn't have participated in the professor's research project."

In high school, Barbara Morse was part of a research team led by biology professor Wilma Carl. This team was government-funded and developing Super-Soldier Serum.

Because it's a government project, not just anyone can join. Besides meeting the required abilities, one must also pass a loyalty assessment.

Don't assume that the United States, which prides itself on freedom, doesn't have this kind of system. Their core elite class isn't a place where just anyone can join.

However, this experience serves as the best proof of Barbara. Nick Fury also said on the phone, "I met aliens today. They can change their appearance at will and become anyone you know."

"He impersonated Phil in front of me, and I didn't recognize him at all. It wasn't until the real Phil called me. What If...? what you're saying is true, then Gordon could also have been replaced."

"Then what do we do? Report to Commander Kohler?"

"Not for now."

"Why?" Barbara questioned.

Nick Fury said on the phone, "Let's put it this way, because I can't be sure you're genuine. I don't have that kind of luck with me, and there's another Barbara Morse. Kohler is in the same situation."

"Then what are you going to do?"

After a moment's thought, Nick Fury, as if making a decision, said seriously, "Listen to me, Bobbie. I'm going to track down a key figure. According to the report, he's suspected of being at an internet cafe. We'll meet there and talk more."

"Okay, but—..."

"Just what? Tell me quickly," Nick Fury said impatiently.

I have a companion here.

"Who?"

Henry Brown.

"Hmph! Are you kidding me?" Nick Fury asked incredulously.

"And his Tiger," Barbara added. But Henry corrected her, "It's Tabby Cat, not Tiger."

After a long silence on the phone, he finally said, "Fine, let him come along. What If...? Gordon is replaced by aliens, besides the fact that I'm curious about why he's being targeted, the enemy of my enemy can also become an ally."

Nick Fury then recited an address. Barbara relayed it to him and asked, "Henry, do you know where that is?"

Henry nodded. Barbara said into the phone, "I understand. We'll meet you there, Nick Fury."

"Okay, be careful." Nick Fury hung up the phone.

Barbara retrieved the telephone antenna and relayed what she could say to Henry. Although this Kryptonian with Super Hearing had already heard every single detail of their previous conversation.

After she finished speaking, Barbara asked, "Do you think this Nick Fury is trustworthy?"

"This is someone you know, but I don't. So whether this person can be trusted is up to you to decide."

Henry didn't blindly predict the film's plot; instead, he left the judgment to Barbara. He himself was thinking...

The "Nick Fury" on the other end of the phone must be Nick Fury, the future Director of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Could it be that one-eyed white guy I saw before?