Kicked Out

The faint light of dawn awakened the clamorous city. Sean climbed out from between the sprawled, jade-like bodies after a night of battle. He glanced at the deeply sleeping beauties, their fair skin exposed, pleasant smiles lingering at the corners of their lips. They must have had a wonderfully satisfying experience, in both body and mind, last night.

The facts proved that for an "everlasting motion machine" like him, victory in bed had never depended on numbers. Even twice as many would only result in a one-sided crushing defeat.

In this regard, the young man could not help missing Jean, who was in Asgard. That Phoenix was the only true opponent worthy of a fight.

The hazy daylight pierced through the thick clouds. After leaving the bathroom, Sean evaporated the moisture from his body, put on a white robe, and sat in the living room. Judging from yesterday’s fierce battle, the two lovely women sleeping on the large bed in the bedroom would need at least another two hours before waking up. He had plenty of time to warm the milk, toast the bread, and make two simple sandwiches.

He had become quite adept at playing the perfect lover.

He opened his laptop and browsed through the information compiled by Skynet. Asgard’s existence being exposed had indeed caused no small impact on this world. Humanity had officially learned that it was not the only life in the universe, that the vast galaxy contained other civilizations. They might bear goodwill, or they might be carrying hunting rifles.

At present, countries around the world were calling upon experts to establish a field of cosmic sociology, primarily for analyzing extraterrestrial civilizations and lifeforms. Jane Foster, who worked at Umbrella, had already been invited by the White House to join them. Her Foster Theory had a chance of contending for a Nobel Prize.

Sean was not surprised by this development. In fact, he was preparing to add more fuel to the fire and make this unprecedented transformation, one unseen for thousands of years, arrive even faster.

During the Age of Exploration in the fifteenth century, adventurers had rushed one after another into dangerous, unknown oceans because of rumors of gold and treasure on distant continents. Now, humanity’s desire for resources and land could all be satisfied by the boundless sea of stars.

The age of interstellar colonization would sooner or later sweep across this planet like rolling thunder. Breaking free of gravity and heading into space was merely the first step.

"Looks like Nick Fury can’t sit still anymore."

A faint smile appeared on Sean’s lips. The chance to kick S.H.I.E.L.D., this stumbling block, out of the way had arrived. Asgard’s appearance and the Chitauri army had both made that Black director uneasy.

He had to prepare himself mentally for a high-level war. The Avengers alone were far from enough. S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to control this planet and snuff out any potential danger before it could grow.

Only then could Nick Fury consolidate his strength, turn fully outward, and resist the invasion and plunder of extraterrestrial civilizations. If he could not even control Earth, there was no point in talking about facing a war against an advanced civilization.

"Project Insight."

Sean curled his lip. This was probably the true origin of Project Insight, hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D.’s highest-level classified files.

By gathering and analyzing big data, it could predict from each person’s history and records whether they might threaten the stable order in the future. The Sky Carriers patrolling the skies would hang like powerful Swords of Damocles, carrying out a certain degree of cleansing or intervention against these "threats" who might become dangerous elements.

Put more specifically, the plan involved using a person’s past actions for extensive document and data analysis: family background, personality factors, criminal records, online messages, every phone call, every text message… Vast quantities of information would be compiled, reasonable computational models established, and predictions made about the target’s future.

Clearly, such an aggressive approach trampled upon individual free will and the spirit of modern law. Once exposed, it would trigger enormous unrest. It was essentially a global version of the PRISM program.

That was why Nick Fury had kept it hidden. He had not even told Coulson, his trusted assistant who had died. If Captain America had not repeatedly pressed him, perhaps no one among the Avengers would have known about the plan.

It was also because Asgard’s existence had stirred the World Security Council’s vigilance and unease that they agreed to Nick Fury’s bold move, attempting to use quantum-level precise analysis to prevent future crises.

From a macro perspective, this might actually have been a good idea. Unfortunately, Hydra exploited it as a powerful means of eliminating dissidents. If Captain America had not turned the tide, this planet would have fallen into the hands of Nazi remnants.

A sword of Damocles hanging above humanity’s head was itself the greatest danger. Nick Fury wanted to become the one wielding that power, but he did not seem qualified enough.

"Would it be too crude to kick both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra out at once?"

Sean rubbed his chin. He believed this was the right time. There was no need to use his own strength. While the two colossal organizations fought and schemed against each other, he could simply fan the flames from the sidelines and reap the results.

"Who should I start with? Nick Fury, then."

The young man muttered to himself as he stared at the Black director’s file. Once S.H.I.E.L.D. lost its leader, Hydra would naturally exploit the opening and cause even greater chaos.

He pulled up Steve Rogers’s file as well. This war hero who had slept for seventy years maintained a regular daily routine. He rose before five in the morning, ran beside the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial beneath New York’s rising sun, and performed his daily exercise at a steady pace of thirteen miles per half hour.

For the rest of his time, if S.H.I.E.L.D. had no missions for him, Steve would return to his old house in Brooklyn and live like an ordinary person. He browsed the internet and tried to keep up with the changes of the new era. Though people often teased him for being an antique, he genuinely wanted to erase the barrier in his heart and integrate into this world.

He also occasionally visited the hospital to see Peggy, now frail with age and lying in a hospital bed. This woman, no less capable than any man, had once personally led S.H.I.E.L.D.’s predecessor and laid its foundations alongside Howard Stark.

Sean continued tracking the Avengers’ recent movements. Perhaps because Asgard was still recovering its strength, Earth had instead entered a rare period of peace. Although undercurrents surged through the unknown darkness, at least there was no major activity in the open.

Tony was still expanding his Iron Legion and continuing development of the Ultron Program. Bruce Banner obediently remained at S.H.I.E.L.D.; he had nowhere else to go. Thor was busy rebuilding Asgard, while Hawkeye Barton, after the Mind Stone’s effects had been removed, was forcibly subjected to a lengthy course of psychotherapy.

Thinking of that, Sean remembered that there was still a gorgeous neighbor next door. The last time he had met Tony, Tony had deliberately or otherwise reminded him to beware of that ill-intentioned "Miss Scarlett."

"The game should be over too."

Sean closed the laptop, leaned back in his chair, and half-closed his eyes as though contemplating something.

That infamous Cosmic Overlord would not let the matter rest. One day, Thanos would return with the Black Order. It was time for Sean to pick up the pace.

Asgard, the Dark Elves, Aether… The path of the future became clearer in his mind.

A deep-blue force field spread open. Two gems were embedded in a metal gauntlet. Unfortunately, when he had transformed into nothingness, he had failed to seize the genuine Infinity Gauntlet. The imitation could withstand the output energy of at most three gems. It was neither a great nor a trivial regret.

"The road ahead is long," Sean said with feeling.

He sighed softly, then turned and walked toward the bedroom. One had to know how to cherish life and seize pleasure while it lasted.

Before long, a startled cry rang out. The sleeping beauties awoke, followed by an unending stream of languid moans, like springlight rippling in the air.