Chapter 52: Confrontation at the Heart of the World and Fragile Alliances
The news that S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers had secured the entrance to the underground cavern had been a cold shower for Kael and Aslan. Just when they thought they had secured a vital piece of the Great Seal at the heart of the Earth, they were faced with another inevitable confrontation. But this time, Kael was no longer the exhausted and helpless man at the top of Fisk Tower. The connection he had established with the echo point of Earth had revived the Chitauri core, giving it new strength and, more importantly, an unwavering purpose: to destroy the parasitic energy source in Fisk Tower and protect this echo point.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. team that had entered the cavern entrance was fully equipped and highly professional. Their commander—a woman with a cold, determined gaze and stern features—advanced toward Kael and Aslan. "Kael, also known as Echo," the commander said, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. "And Aslan… also known as Shadow. Your escape was short-lived. What were you doing with this subterranean energy source?"
Kael stepped forward. Aslan instinctively moved to protect him, but Kael held him back with his hand. This time, instead of running away, he tried to speak. "This is not an energy source, Commander," Kael said, his voice calm but strong. "It is part of your planet's life force. And we were trying to protect it."
The commander smiled wryly. "Were you protecting? Or were you looking for a new weapon after that disaster at Fisk Tower? With that Chitauri technology in your possession, you cut a very dangerous profile."
"That 'disaster' at Fisk Tower," Kael replied, "was the work of an ancient enemy called the Lords of the Void. That energy source is a parasite that has drained the power of this echo point. If not stopped, it will destroy the entire city and perhaps beyond." Kael tried to convey the clear image in his mind—the interference source's link to the echo point—to the Commander. It was a risky move; psychic contact could be interpreted by S.H.I.E.L.D. as an attack.
But the Commander did not falter at Kael's mental whisper; instead, his face showed a moment of surprise and then deep thought. One of the science officers at his side looked at the data coming from the scanner in his hand and whispered something to the Commander.
"Our sensors," the Commander said after a moment, his voice still cautious but not as sharp as before. "They are detecting an unusual energy reading in this cave, and some kind of resonance with that anomaly in Fisk Tower. What you've described… as incredible as it is, does seem to fit with some of the data." The Commander looked at Kael and the glowing Chitauri core in his hand. "Who are you, Kael? And what are these Lords of the Void?"
This was Kael's chance. Perhaps he could not completely convince S.H.I.E.L.D., but he could at least broker a temporary truce against a common enemy. Kael spoke briefly about his role as Echo Carrier, the Great Seal, and the universal threat of the Lords of the Void. It was like something out of a science fiction novel, but the unwavering sincerity in Kael's voice and the raw energy emanating from the Chitauri core gave his words weight.
The Commander listened to Kael's account in silence. He spoke briefly in a whisper to his advisors. Finally, he seemed to have made up his mind. "Well, Echo," he said. "I cannot say that we fully accept what you have to say. But that energy source in Fisk Tower is also our number one priority right now. If it is indeed a parasite as you say, and it threatens this planet, we have to stop it." The Commander paused for a moment. "I have a proposition for you: Work with us. Help us neutralize that energy source under our supervision. If we are successful, and even a fraction of what you have told us is true, we may reconsider your position."
It was an unexpected but acceptable proposition to Kael. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources and manpower could be invaluable in infiltrating Fisk Tower and eliminating that source of interference. "I accept, Commander," Kael said. "But on one condition: Aslan and I will have the freedom to use our own methods during the operation. And I will keep the Chitauri core."
The Commander hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "We have an agreement. But one false move and this ceasefire ends immediately."
Thus, an unlikely and fragile alliance was forged for the fate of New York. An Echo Carrier, his loyal companion, and one of Earth's most powerful covert organizations were now preparing to fight a common enemy. But how long would this alliance last? And what dangers would the dark secret at the top of Fisk Tower lead them to?
At that moment, Kael's Chitauri core and the scanner in the Commander's hand simultaneously began to alarm. The giant crystal cluster at the center of the cavern began to tremble and crack due to the increasing energy absorption from the parasitic source in Fisk Tower.
"Damn!" the Commander shouted. "The Parasite is growing in strength! We must act now, or this echo point may collapse completely!"
The time for talk was over, the time for action had come. Kael, Aslan, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. team were now in a race against time. To save the heart of the Earth, they must first cleanse the dark stain on top of their own city.