It wasn’t that Richard Carter didn’t want to stay at the office.
If anything, he wanted to supervise every line of the paper himself.
This edition was different.
For the first time in his career, the biggest story in the world was…
him.
Unfortunately, his body had other plans.
Using Nexus’s giant form had exhausted him far more than he’d expected.
The fatigue hadn’t fully hit while he was still running on adrenaline.
He’d managed to finish the editorial meeting with little more than a few yawns.
The moment he got home, though, he collapsed onto his bed and lost consciousness almost instantly.
When he finally opened his eyes again, sunlight was pouring through the curtains.
Nine o’clock.
Richard blinked at the clock.
That alone told him how drained he’d been.
Even before arriving in this world, he’d kept a rigid schedule.
Bed before eleven.
Awake around seven-thirty.
Sleeping past eight simply wasn’t something he did.
Yet despite the extra hours, he didn’t feel sluggish.
Quite the opposite.
Every trace of exhaustion had vanished.
He felt lighter.
Sharper.
There was a subtle sensation beneath his skin, as though the Light had settled more deeply into his body overnight.
The synchronization was improving.
The next transformation should last longer.
That was encouraging.
After getting ready, Richard headed to the Daily Planet.
Stacks of freshly printed newspapers greeted him in the lobby.
He picked one up on the way to his office.
The front page looked excellent.
He settled into his chair and read through the lead article.
“Not bad.” Considering everyone had worked through the night against impossible deadlines, he’d give it a solid seventy out of a hundred.
Respectable.
The photographs, however…
Those deserved far more praise.
Especially the image of Ultraman standing silently among the burning buildings.
The composition was spectacular.
The towering figure, the shattered skyline, the wall of fire behind him…
It looked less like a newspaper photograph and more like the poster for a major blockbuster.
The photography department deserves bonuses, Richard decided.
Definitely bonuses.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
His secretary stepped inside.
Stephanie Lance carried a mug of coffee prepared exactly the way he liked it.
Warm.
Black.
No sugar.
She never needed reminding.
Stephanie was everything Richard wanted in an assistant.
Professional.
Efficient.
Calm under pressure.
Her tailored business attire, dark hair, and striking blue eyes certainly made the office brighter, but Richard would insist that had absolutely nothing to do with why she’d survived longer than her four predecessors.
Absolutely nothing.
She placed the coffee on his desk.
“There are two gentlemen here to see you, Mr.
Carter.” Richard looked up.
“Who are they?” “They identified themselves as government agents.” She checked the business card in her hand.
“From…
S.H.I.E.L.D.” Richard paused.
Already?
He hadn’t expected that.
He had transformed exactly once.
Surely they couldn’t have connected Ultraman to the owner of a newspaper overnight…
Could they?
Then again…
This was S.H.I.E.L.D.
If anyone could uncover impossible connections, it would be them.
Still, Richard wasn’t particularly worried.
Even if they somehow knew his identity, what exactly were they going to do about it?
Arrest him?
Threaten him?
Neither option seemed especially practical.
He possessed Ultraman’s power.
Trying to force him into cooperation would require a level of confidence bordering on insanity.
Besides, Richard had arrived in this universe alone.
No family.
No spouse.
No children.
No close friends anyone could use against him.
The greatest weakness most heroes possessed simply didn’t exist in his case.
Even so…
He preferred to avoid S.H.I.E.L.D.
whenever possible.
The organization’s obsession with secrecy clashed with everything he believed journalism should be.
“Tell them I’m out.” Stephanie nodded.
“What should I say you’re doing?” Richard smiled.
“Covering a story.” Before she could answer, the office door swung open.
Two men in immaculate suits stood in the doorway.
Apparently, they’d decided waiting for permission was optional.
Given the paper-thin walls in the executive offices, Richard had little doubt they’d heard every word.
He’d complained about the soundproofing before.
Whenever Stuart yelled at reporters from his own office, half the newsroom could hear him.
Richard simply accepted reality.
Years of running a newspaper had taught him an invaluable skill.
Being caught in a lie without looking embarrassed.
He waved Stephanie away.
“Please, come in.” The older of the two agents stepped forward with an easy smile.
“Mr.
Carter.” He offered a badge.
“My name is Phil Coulson.” He gestured toward his partner.
“This is Agent Grant Ward.” “We’re with S.H.I.E.L.D.” Richard examined the identification briefly.
The silver eagle emblem.
The familiar acronym.
Exactly what he expected.
Phil Coulson.
One of the few genuinely decent people inside S.H.I.E.L.D., if Richard’s memories of the MCU were accurate.
Tireless, unfailingly polite, and perhaps Captain America’s biggest fan.
The sort of man who always seemed to be cleaning up everyone else’s messes.
Then there was Grant Ward.
Equally skilled.
Equally professional.
Expressionless enough to pass for a machine.
On paper, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s finest field agents.
In reality…
A Hydra operative.
That knowledge made the meeting considerably more interesting.
Richard looked from one badge to the other before handing it back.
“I have a question.” Coulson smiled pleasantly.
“Of course.” Richard folded his hands on the desk.
“Would you mind saying the full name of your organization?” Coulson blinked.
“…I’m sorry?” The smile remained on Richard’s face.
“The complete name.” “I’ve always found the acronym much more memorable than what it actually stands for.” For the first time since entering the office, Phil Coulson looked genuinely caught off guard.