Urgency (Eight)

Chapter 645: Urgency (Eight)

Tap, tap, tap—

Nick Fury walked slowly to the makeshift desk beside the command console. Files and empty coffee cups lay scattered across it, along with an open bottle of top-shelf Scotch whisky.

He picked up a reasonably clean glass and poured in a small measure of amber liquor.

The whisky swirled in the glass, reflecting the cold, multicolored lights.

"See that, Hill?"

Nick Fury turned toward Maria Hill, who was still watching several screens at her computer. He raised his glass. "I told you there's always a way. Pressure? Doubts? Fuck them all!"

He strolled over to Maria Hill, glanced at the screen still showing Mala Island's tranquil outline, and went on with a victor's swagger. "Who says Ultron can't be beaten? Super Artificial Intelligence? Demon technology from Hell? Ha. Against humanity's ultimate destructive power, it's all fucking worthless!"

"So what if he can hack every network in the world and control our Helicarriers and Titan Jaegers?"

"Can he calculate and intercept an intercontinental missile traveling at Mach 24 in its terminal phase? Can he withstand a 100-kiloton H-bomb detonating right over his head?"

Before Maria Hill could answer, he shook his head arrogantly, the flesh of his face twisting into an expression both vicious and faintly ridiculous. "No! Absolutely not! That's why I'll always be S.H.I.E.L.D.'s king of agents—because I know when to use a dagger and when to use a sledgehammer!"

With that, he lifted his chin in satisfaction and drained most of the strong liquor in one gulp.

It burned down his throat, but for the moment it gave him a false sense of warmth and strength.

Nick Fury narrowed his one eye in pleasure and let out a long breath, as though he had exhaled all the frustration, anxiety, and humiliation