Hello, Future

Alvin watched as Coulson was carried onto a Quinjet on a stretcher. It soon took off and flew away.

Facing Nick Fury's gloomy expression, Alvin thought for a moment, then walked over and said, "I'm sorry Coulson died, but he did his duty!"

He glanced at the injured members of Coulson's team and said, "At least Coulson proved to me that they wouldn't back down when it mattered..."

Nick Fury stared at Alvin with his one good eye. "Coulson was the best agent I had...

"I hope that after this, you'll change your opinion of him, at least a little..."

Alvin smiled and shook his head. "I'd be happy to take my hat off in respect at his funeral, but what good would that do?"

Nick Fury's expression turned strange. "It would mean something. At least, it would mean something to Coulson. You're the reason he started doubting his work."

Alvin froze for a few seconds, then shook his head with a rueful laugh. "There's an old saying in China: 'The dead deserve the greatest respect.' We're usually more forgiving toward someone who's passed away.

"Coulson was a good man. What you should do is seek honors for him, not my approval..."

Nick Fury gave him an odd smile with his one good eye but said nothing more. He nodded to Alvin, then went to meet the British officials in uniform.

Before leaving, Nick Fury asked Alvin, "What do you want to do with these Dark Elves?"

Alvin shrugged. "I don't mind either way, but you'd better ask Kamar-Taj. They have plenty of experience dealing with aliens.

"Of course, if you just want to kill them all, I'll applaud you..."

Nick Fury nodded solemnly. This was the first time Earth had faced the question of how to deal with the