The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (Part one)

"Is that so?"

The smile gradually faded from Alexander Pierce's face. He returned to the leather swivel chair behind his desk and sat down gracefully, crossing his legs and tapping a jaunty rhythm on the armrest. "All right, then. Let me ask you a question," he said mockingly.

His gaze fixed on Nick Fury like a scalpel, as though he intended to personally peel away the last layer of pretense on Fury's face.

"Suppose a gang of utterly inhuman terrorists attacked [S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters] tomorrow—you know how deranged they are. They'd most likely slaughter every subordinate you trusted, without leaving a single survivor."

"And right in front of you was a switch. All you had to do was press it, and before those terrorists could launch their attack, you could wipe them and the entire city block they might be hiding in off the face of the earth, preventing the tragedy to come. What would you do?"

Nick Fury scarcely hesitated. His one eye met Alexander Pierce's gaze as he answered with cold resolve, "I'd press that switch without a second thought."

A smug gleam flashed in Alexander Pierce's eyes, as if to say, See? What did I tell you? A smile was just beginning to curl his lips when Nick Fury added, "But only if that switch belonged to me alone! I, Nick Fury, would decide when to press it and why! I wouldn't leave it to some cold algorithm, or Hydra scum like you!"

∑(∇"a???

Wait, he could actually say that?

Fine, fine. Well played, Nick Fury. You really are a fucking hypocrite!

"Hahahaha—"

As though he had just heard the funniest joke in the world, Alexander Pierce burst into delighted, scornful laughter. He slapped his thigh, laughing so hard he nearly cried. "That's our Fury."

He pointed a