On the other side.
After the Skrull launched its sneak attack, Carol immediately realized they had begun their operation. Without hesitation, she took off after the fleeing Skrull.
With his shoulder pierced by Fury's shot, green blood continued to spill from the Skrull's wound. No matter how he changed his disguise, he couldn't escape Carol's sight.
Behind them, Fury watched Carol's absurd running speed and knew there was no way he could keep up on foot.
"LexCorp really needs to upgrade this serum," he muttered to himself. "If it can fire energy blasts, why the hell can't it enhance physical abilities?"
With a frustrated grumble, he turned and rushed toward his car. Coulson on the side hesitated for a moment, then followed.
But just as Fury reached for the car door, he suddenly froze. In the next instant, he spun around and aimed his gun straight at Coulson's head.
"Sir! Calm down! It's me, Coulson!"
"I know. You do look like Coulson."
Fury's voice remained calm but his mind was working fast. At first, he hadn't thought much about the Skrull's attack, but now, something felt off.
"That Starforce lady said the Skrulls can disguise themselves as anyone. Now answer me this," he continued, his tone sharp as his suspicion grew.
Thinking back on the attack, Fury realized there was something wrong with Coulson's reaction.
"First, why didn't you inject the Scarlet Serum immediately? We've trained for emergency injections."
LexCorp's Scarlet Serum was now widely used in special agencies. Organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D., the FBI, and the CIA all required their agents to carry a vial whenever they were on a mission, with a mandatory report afterward for its use.
"I... I was just shocked! That was an alien! I've never seen one before, so I froze for a second." Coulson stammered.
Fury gave a slight nod. It was a reasonable excuse. Although it didn't quite add up for someone like Coulson—young but full of potential—it wasn't impossible. Even Fury himself had only fully processed the reality of aliens when the attack happened.
"Then show me your Scarlet Serum."
Coulson had barely passed the first question, but at this one, he visibly stiffened. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
Fury narrowed his eyes. Hesitating under pressure was one thing, but losing the serum? He wasn't buying that.
If the man standing in front of him couldn't produce the serum, there could only be one explanation.
Seeing the hesitation deepen in 'Coulson's' expression, Fury's grip on his gun tightened. His finger curled slowly around the trigger. If this thing was a Skrull, one laser shot would end it.
But just as he was about to shoot, 'Coulson' moved.
He was indeed a Skrull. Fury had seen through the disguise, but there was one thing he hadn't accounted for—Skrulls were physically far superior to normal humans.
The Scarlet Serum didn't enhance physical abilities, so Fury had no way of reacting in time.
The moment he tried to fire, a sharp pain shot through his hand. His gun was knocked away by a powerful punch.
"Damn it!" He cursed.
Acting on instincts, he tried to swing a punch in retaliation, but the Skrull's fist was faster. With a single blow, it struck Fury's face, sending him crashing to the ground
"What?!" Fury gasped, realizing he was in serious trouble. He hadn't fully grasped how massive the difference in physical strength was between aliens and humans.
Before he could react further, the Skrull pinned him down, locking its hand around his throat and pressing him firmly to the ground. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free.
If this continued, he'd be choked to death.
"Sir!" A voice suddenly rang out.
The real Coulson—who had been investigating the area—had just returned, only to find Fury being strangled by a Skrull wearing his own face.
'If that is me over there, then who am I?' Coulson was confused.
He hadn't been present when Carol explained the Skrulls' abilities, so he was caught off guard. But there was no time to hesitate. He immediately injected the Scarlet Serum, charging his gun with energy before firing a laser shot straight into the fake version of himself.
Splat!
The bullet tore through the Skrull's body, splattering green blood everywhere.
A sickening, thick spray of green blood splattered onto Fury's face, making him nearly vomit.
"This is so fucking disgusting!" he growled, wiping his face in disgust.
With the Skrull's lifeless body collapsing to the ground, Fury quickly pushed himself up and grabbed his fallen weapon. In one swift motion, he had his gun back in hand, aimed straight at the newly arrived Coulson.
"Coulson, stop! Don't come any closer!"
Even though Coulson had just injected the Scarlet Serum and killed an alien, Fury wasn't willing to let his guard down. Just moments ago, he had nearly died—almost suffocated by an alien disguised as Coulson. How could he trust anyone fully after that?
"Sir! I was just gathering evidence! What happened here? And what exactly is this creature?" Coulson asked, his voice steady but clearly concerned.
Coulson didn't act rashly. He understood Fury's suspicion. After all, an alien had nearly killed Fury, wearing his face. It was enough to make anyone cautious. Raising his hands in a peaceful gesture, Coulson hoped to ease Fury's doubts.
But Nick Fury, ever the suspicious type, couldn't be easily reassured. He was seriously considering knocking Coulson out and sending him to the lab for blood tests to confirm his identity.
But then again, he wasn't comfortable with letting such a creature into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lab.
Just as Fury was contemplating his options, a familiar voice came from nearby.
"Agent Fury, this Coulson is the real one."
Both men quickly turned their weapons toward the source of the voice.
It was 'Martian Manhunter', now back in his Reid form, walking toward them slowly.
"You're... Reid? What are you doing here?" Fury asked, still pointing his weapon.
"I had some business with LexCorp and happened to be in the area. Coincidentally, I saw everything that happened here," 'Martian Manhunter' replied, his tone calm. "Don't worry, this Coulson is the real one. He got out of the car at the same time as you, went around gathering evidence just like you ordered, and I've been watching him the whole time. He couldn't possibly be the alien impersonating him."
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