Chapter 84: The Hydra Attack
Time rewinds to five minutes earlier.
When George and Pepper left the office, they were once again stopped by Coulson in the lobby on the first floor.
"Ms. Potts, do you have a moment now?"
"Yes, follow us outside first."
Feeling nervous, Pepper didn't dare to stay in the company for a moment longer. She just wanted to get out quickly and find a safe place to call Tony and report the situation.
Coincidentally, Agent Coulson was also a law enforcement officer. If Tony agreed, she could bring him back and hand over the evidence to him.
George, standing nearby, remained silent. His role was to protect Pepper and ensure she obtained the evidence. What happened afterward was not his concern.
Whether Tony handed the evidence to S.H.I.E.L.D. or the CIA was entirely Tony's decision.
So, throughout the journey, he pretended to be Pepper's bodyguard and didn't engage in conversation with Coulson.
After driving the sports car a distance from the company and stopping on a quiet street, Pepper called Tony to report the situation.
"By the way, Tony, he also mentioned that your father was once a high-ranking official in their Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
Finally, Pepper added this piece of information.
Initially indifferent to Coulson, Tony's attitude changed immediately upon hearing this.
"Bring him back with you. I want to have a good talk with him."
After hanging up, Pepper restarted the sports car and accelerated toward Malibu.
However, just as the car passed through an intersection, a black SUV ran a red light and crashed directly toward their sports car.
"Watch out!"
George reacted quickly. He smashed the window on Pepper's left side with a punch and cast a Levitation Charm at the oncoming black SUV.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
A blue magical light shot at the black SUV, causing it to float and fly over their sports car.
Both Pepper, who was driving, and Coulson in the back seat widened their eyes in shock.
Pepper no longer believed George was just a magician. No magic trick could be this incredible.
As for Coulson, his first thought was that this bodyguard named George was indeed extraordinary, possessing superpowers.
"Screech!"
Just as they crossed the intersection, a large truck pulled sideways, blocking the road and forcing Pepper to slam on the brakes.
"Get out of the car!"
George immediately unbuckled his and Pepper's seatbelts, kicked open the car door, and pulled Pepper out while shouting to Coulson.
He saw several identical SUVs approaching from the intersection, and one of them had a rocket launcher protruding from its window.
"Whoosh!"
As soon as the three got out of the car, a rocket flew straight toward their sports car.
But that wasn't all. Other cars revealed submachine guns, aiming and preparing to fire.
"Go!"
At this point, George could no longer hide his abilities. He cast the "Wing" spell, sprouting a pair of large white wings. Grabbing Coulson with one hand and Pepper with the other, he flew up, avoiding the explosion below.
He hadn't expected to be attacked at this moment, as this scene wasn't in the movie.
"We need to figure out who's behind this."
He didn't fly away with the two but landed on a rooftop with a protective wall.
Faced with such a sudden attack, he couldn't just leave. He needed to determine who the attackers were targeting.
Was it Coulson, Pepper, or him?
If it was the first two, it wasn't a big deal. But if it was him, he needed to be cautious.
"Their firepower is too strong. I've called for backup. Stay hidden and don't expose yourself."
As soon as they landed on the rooftop, bullets rained down on them. Coulson pulled out his pistol, wanting to fight back, but the suppression fire made it impossible to even peek out.
"Don't forget they have rocket launchers. This wall won't hold against a rocket."
George smiled and pulled out his own pistol.
Coulson's face showed concern. George was right. By the time backup arrived, they might already be blown to pieces.
This wasn't a combat mission, so he only brought a pistol. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a dire situation.
Pepper, crouching on the ground, asked fearfully:
"What should we do?"
"I'll distract them. You take the chance to fly away with Ms. Potts."
Coulson gritted his teeth.
"It seems this universe's Coulson has a decent character."
George gave Coulson a surprised look. Going out to distract the attackers at this moment would likely mean certain death.
So, Coulson was willing to sacrifice himself to save them.
"No need. Have you guys seen *Wanted*?"
"The one with James McAvoy?"
Coulson kept his head low:
"But I prefer his movie *Atonement*."
"Guys, now is not the time to discuss movies!"
Pepper, seeing them talk about movies in such a dangerous situation, was utterly speechless.
"Don't worry, Ms. Potts. I'm a magician. Let me show you a trick where bullets curve."
George casually flicked his pistol upward, and the bullet he fired curved in an arc over the wall, hitting a black-clad man below who was preparing to launch a second rocket.
Then, with a few more flicks of his wrist, the bullets he fired curved in various arcs, quickly silencing the gunfire below.
Coulson and Pepper cautiously peeked over the wall and saw that the attackers below were either dead or writhing in pain, with none still capable of holding a gun.
"To be honest, I prefer that annoying guy Barry from the movie, because my favorite Jurassic World also stars him..."
Pepper continued the earlier conversation to ease her shock.
George chuckled:
"Jurassic World? I didn't expect Ms. Potts to have such unique tastes."
"Mr. George, I hope to have a good talk with you after discussing matters with Mr. Stark."
Equally shocked, Coulson took a deep breath and spoke to George.
According to S.H.I.E.L.D. regulations, individuals with superpowers like George had to be registered and monitored by S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Let's first figure out who sent them."
Knowing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s nature, George planned to use a Memory Charm on Coulson after determining the attackers' origins.
Spreading his wings again, he flew back to the street with the two, selecting one of the intentionally spared survivors. George began using his mental abilities while casting the Legilimency Charm.
"It's Hydra. Could it be that Obadiah in this universe is connected to Hydra, or is he even a member?"
After a moment, George's face showed confusion.
Through his mental abilities combined with Legilimency, he discovered that the attackers were actually Hydra agents.
Their mission was to kill all three of them and disguise the scene as a car accident explosion.
(End of Chapter)