From The Ashes - 017

Chapter 017 – Seed

[2012]

" … Despite the devastation of what has been confirmed an extraterrestrial attack, the extraordinary heroics of the group known as the Avengers has been to many not only a cause for comfort, but for celebration … "

“It's just really great knowing that they're out there. That someone is watching over us.“

"I love you, Thor!"

“And then these guys were like *phew* *phew*. And then it goes *BAM*. And this green guy walks up and *RAWR* … “

"I am grateful. Of course, I am grateful for their efforts to protect us. But when it was all over, wasn't 'The Phoenix' the only one to stay behind and help out? My wife was buried under tons of concrete and I thought that I had lost her, but he saved her. I- … I just want to thank him."

“I don't know. I don't exactly feel safer with those things out there.”

"It just seems that there is a lot that they're not telling us."

"These so-called "heroes" have to be held responsible for the destruction done to the city. This was their fight. Where are they now?"

"Tough questions are being asked about the Avengers themselves. Their sudden appearance and equally sudden disappearance a cause for concern and worry for many. But even among this group of extraordinary individuals, the Phoenix's actions and efforts to save countless victims of this fight in the aftermath of the battle have aroused the goodwill and admiration of most of the city. Blue silhouettes of avians are painted on walls, bridges, and sidewalks all over town while speculations about his identity and origin are running wild amongst the citizens … "

“Superheroes in New York? Ha, give me a break.”

“What, this is all somehow their fault? Captain America saved my life. Wherever he is, and wherever any of them are, I would just …  I would want to say thank you.”

"'The Phoenix' saved mine and my daughter's life. He came down from the sky to protect us, heal us! How can he be at fault for what has happened here?"

…

Looking over the dozens of open files that were playing different news segments about the situation in New York and the aftermath of the attack, Fury couldn't help but be rather satisfied with the public reaction to the appearance of the Avengers.

Though he hid his emotions well as he looked at the live recordings before muting them and turning around to face the video projections of the World Security Council overseeing SHIELD.

"Where are the Avengers?", Gideon Malick, the most outspoken member of the council, questioned directly, his identity as a man of incredible wealth and political influence affording him his seat on the council.

“I am not currently tracking their whereabouts. I'd say they've earned a leave of absence.”, Fury replied impassively, suppressing his distaste for these 'meetings', which normally felt more like interrogations.

“So you let the man that destroyed the Tesseract and took its power leave?”, a female voice belonging to Pamela Hawley interjected, her tone of voice giving away her frowning expression even if the all videos were overlaid with a filter that hid the specific appearances of the council members.

Her rather outrageous question though made Fury curse in the privacy of his mind as he answered in a measured tone, the faintest trace of ridicule in his voice: “Let him leave? I am sorry, Councilwoman, but I think you are under the wrong impression that I could have done otherwise.”

“We are lucky that 'he' accepted our request to pass the Chitauri remains and weapons to us, as 'he' is not a being that we can afford to offend, much less attempt to restrain in any way.”, the spymaster added, vividly remembering the intensity of Noah Hatahle's gaze and presence.

What followed was a slight pause before Malick spoke up once again, his tone filled with the authority fit for a man of his position: “The war criminal Loki, who should answer for his crimes, you let him get away too?”

"I am sure he will be answering for his crimes, at least the god that took him away assured me of that.", Fury replied with a light shake of his head, more than a bit annoyed that none of the council members seemed to understand common sense, expecting him to blindly confront gods and devils alike.

"I don't think you understand what you have started, letting the Avengers loose on this world. They're dangerous, especially 'The Phoenix'.", the only female council member spoke up again, her tone grave as she seemed to be worried about the rather uncontrollable nature of some of the Avengers.

Fury though didn't share her concerns, or at least he understood that those were risks that they had to take as SHIELD simply could not protect Earth from alien threats, their technology and individual strength too far apart from those that might threaten them.

He had seen this in the conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls more than twenty years ago, as Vers a.k.a. Carol Danvers had single-handedly dealt with threats that had endangered their whole planet.

Even the incredibly advanced technology hadn't been able to stop her from destroying a whole fleet of alien ships equipped for war.

It was only such individuals that made him see hope in the chaotic and dangerous times that were coming.

Not to mention that the emergence of extraordinary individuals was increasing almost exponentially, and Fury feared that if they didn't adapt fast, they would be left behind as a relic of simpler times.

As such, his answer came without hesitation, a glint in the depths of his single eye: “They surely are, and the whole world knows it. Every world knows it.”

“Was that the point of all this? A statement?”, Malick questioned, his tone a bit darker.

"A promise.", Fury voiced out, knowing that with the first appearance of the Avengers, Pandora's Box had been opened and no one would be able to close it anymore.

If the council liked it or not, if they approved it or not, the Avengers Initiative was no longer just a theory or an idea. It was already the seed of hope for Earth that he firmly believed it would be.

Now, Fury only wished that this seed would soon sprout and continue to grow into a large tree, capable of withstanding the storms and calamities that would undeniably sweep over this little blue planet.

And even though he hadn't known of his existence before and he wasn't even an Avenger officially, the Director of SHIELD had the faint premonition that Noah Hatahle a.k.a. 'The Phoenix' might very well be the tallest and most important branch of this tree.