"How is the energy extraction from the Cosmic Cube progressing?" Nick Fury asked the technician standing beside him. His voice was calm and steady, but his sharp gaze remained fixed on the bustling laboratory below.
"It's going very smoothly," the staff member replied with professional seriousness. "Using the Cube, we've already produced thirty secondary energy blocks. Each block contains roughly three-thousandths of the Cube's original energy output. If a single block were converted entirely into electrical power, it could supply the entire Earth with energy for about thirty years."
Nick Fury raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly weighing the implications of that statement. The idea of such concentrated power was both extraordinary and dangerous, and he understood better than most that the line between those two outcomes was often thin.
"Are there any usage limitations?" Fury asked after a brief pause.
"Yes," the technician answered without hesitation. "The energy level of this pure energy form is extremely high. Given Earth's current technological capabilities, we can't fully utilize it yet. Even the secondary energy blocks are unstable. At most, they can only be stored for about three months."
The technician shook his head with a frustrated expression. "Our current technology can't completely prevent energy leakage from the blocks. Even with strong magnetic field containment, it's impossible to stop the slow loss of energy. It's a limitation we simply haven't solved yet."
Nick Fury lowered his head slightly, his dark face unreadable in the glow of the lab's lighting. From the observation platform above, he watched the busy technicians moving below, each one working with intense concentration around the equipment containing the Cosmic Cube.
After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke again.
"Then move quickly," Fury said in a low voice. "See if those secondary energy blocks can be used to develop more powerful weapons."
"Yes, Director," the technician replied immediately. "Right now there are three proposed weapon systems based on the Cube's energy. They are the High-Energy Ray Gun, the Energy Matrix Battery, and the Energy Matrix Shield. The engineers leading the project have suggested prioritizing the Energy Matrix Shield."
Nick Fury nodded slightly but didn't pursue the topic further. His visit today was nothing more than a routine inspection. This facility was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most secret research base, and within all its divisions, this was the most critical one.
After all, it housed a unique artifact from the universe itself—the Cosmic Cube. The importance of that object could hardly be overstated.
"Continue the development," Fury said simply.
With that, he turned as if preparing to leave the facility.
However, at that exact moment, the entire laboratory suddenly flashed red.
Warning lights erupted across the ceiling in rapid succession, and a sharp alarm began blaring through the corridors. The sudden shift from quiet efficiency to emergency chaos was immediate and overwhelming.
"What's happening?" Nick Fury demanded, grabbing a communicator and bringing it to his mouth.
A frantic voice responded almost instantly.
"Director, we've got a situation! Unknown attackers have already broken through security levels A1, A2, and A3. Fighting is currently ongoing on the A4 floor. Reinforcements have been sent, but the attackers are—"
Gunfire exploded through the communicator before the voice finished speaking. The sound of automatic weapons crackled like bursting firecrackers in the background.
"The attackers are mutants," the voice continued breathlessly. "They have extremely powerful abilities. Our personnel are having a hard time holding them back!"
Nick Fury's expression immediately hardened.
"Activate the base defense system immediately," he ordered sharply. "Seal off the bottom three floors. All research personnel evacuate immediately. Armed security teams move in and intercept."
He turned to the man beside him and spoke quickly.
"You—go down and secure the Cosmic Cube. Bring it directly to me."
The man froze for a moment, clearly startled by the sudden escalation. Then his face changed and he rushed off without another word.
Around them, the researchers had already begun evacuating under the alarm's relentless warning. Scientists abandoned their stations and moved toward emergency exits while security teams poured into the corridors with weapons ready.
Nick Fury quickly picked up two sealed metal boxes placed on a nearby table.
Without hesitation, he moved toward the evacuation route.
Following his orders, a large group of heavily armed agents rushed into position. Over a dozen immediately surrounded Fury, forming a protective perimeter around him while the rest moved toward the lower levels to reinforce the defenders.
Escorted by the agents, Fury entered a special elevator designed for emergency evacuation. The lift rose rapidly through the underground levels until it finally emerged onto the surface.
When the elevator doors opened, Fury stepped into the base's parking area.
He paused for a moment, then handed one of the boxes he carried to an armed agent beside him. Leaning closer, he whispered several instructions into the man's ear.
The agent nodded quickly and hurried away without hesitation.
Nick Fury then scanned the area cautiously.
This was the facility's parking lot, and his vehicle was parked not far away. The wide space was dimly lit, surrounded by concrete walls and security lights that flickered faintly in the distance.
Just as he began walking forward, a voice suddenly echoed across the parking area.
"Director Nick Fury, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"
The voice came from nearby, calm and casual.
In an instant, every agent around Fury reacted. Guns were raised immediately, all aimed toward the direction the voice had come from. Their expressions became tense as they searched the shadows.
A man slowly stepped out from behind a nearby corner.
When Nick Fury saw his face, his expression changed instantly.
"It's you."
Standing there with a faint smile was Ethan Cole.
Ethan walked toward them calmly, completely ignoring the dozens of guns aimed at him. His posture was relaxed, as if the situation posed absolutely no threat to him.
"Director Nick," Ethan said casually, "mind if I borrow the item inside that box you're holding?"
"You came for the Cosmic Cube?" Fury asked, his voice low and cold. Under the lighting, his dark face appeared even more severe.
"Of course," Ethan replied lightly. "I solved the problem in the northwest desert for you, remember? I'm simply here to collect my payment."
"The Cosmic Cube cannot be given to you," Fury said immediately. His tone carried absolute certainty. "That thing cannot fall into your hands."
Ethan let out a soft chuckle.
"Oh?" he said, tilting his head slightly. "Are you worried I'll use it to develop weapons?"
"Of course," Fury replied.
Ethan looked amused.
"And why would you think I'd want to build weapons?" he asked.
Nick Fury frowned slightly before answering in a firm voice.
"Because we're not the same as you. We represent the nation. We represent the security of the United States. Only stronger weapons can ensure we aren't threatened by anyone."
Ethan's smile widened slightly.
"That includes me too, right?" he asked.
"Of course it does," Fury answered without hesitation.
At that moment, Ethan suddenly laughed softly.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully while looking at Fury.
"Let me think for a second," he said slowly. "You're being awfully confident right now. That means you were already expecting someone to come here."
His eyes moved to the metal box in Fury's hand.
"If that's the case," Ethan continued, his tone turning playful, "then you're probably just stalling for time."
He paused for a moment before finishing his thought.
"Which means the thing in your hand… is probably just a fake, right?"
.....
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