Phil Coulson had been with S.H.I.E.L.D.
for years.
As an organization that officially didn’t exist, it inspired remarkably predictable reactions.
Most people looked at his badge and asked, “S.H.I.E.L.D.?
What’s that?” Then came his rehearsed explanation about classified operations, national security, and threats the public wasn’t cleared to know about.
Richard Carter, however, had chosen a very different opening.
“Please recite your agency’s full name.” Coulson had not been prepared for that.
The badge simply read S.H.I.E.L.D.
Everyone inside the agency knew it was an acronym.
Very few could actually remember what all the letters stood for.
Not because they lacked discipline.
Because the name was absurdly long.
Fortunately, Coulson was nothing if not thorough.
Without missing a beat, he answered.
“Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
Commonly known as S.H.I.E.L.D.” Richard stared at him with genuine admiration.
“That’s impressive.” Coulson blinked.
“I mean it.” Richard leaned back in his chair.
“Someone should give you a medal just for memorizing that.” For a split second, even Grant Ward’s expression almost changed.
Thank God he asked Coulson.
Ward wasn’t entirely certain he could have recited it without stumbling.
Richard pointed toward Coulson’s receding hairline.
“You strike me as the sort of man carrying an unhealthy workload.” Coulson frowned.
“I’m sorry?” “That hairstyle says decades of paperwork.” “…” “I imagine you’re very busy.” Coulson resisted the urge to sigh.
Is he making fun of my hair?
Richard finally set his coffee aside.
“So.” “Now that we’ve established your impressive memory…” “What can I do for S.H.I.E.L.D.?” Coulson smoothly returned to business.
“It’s about last night’s incident.” He folded his hands in front of him.
“Your newspaper’s headquarters was extremely close to the Abomination attack.” He paused.
“And to Ultraman’s appearance.” Richard subtly appreciated hearing the name used without argument.
“We’re investigating the event.” “We’d like to know whether anyone at the Daily Planet noticed anything unusual before Ultraman arrived.” Richard casually tapped that morning’s newspaper.
“Good.” “At least you’re calling him Ultraman.” Coulson smiled politely.
“We read today’s edition.” “I’m hoping you have information that didn’t make it into print.” “Photographs would also be extremely helpful.” Richard answered without hesitation.
“I’m afraid we don’t.” “No additional evidence?” “No.” “No unpublished material?” “No.” “Nothing at all?” “Nothing that would help your investigation.” Silence settled over the office.
Coulson glanced sideways.
Ward understood immediately.
He walked to the office door…
…and quietly closed it.
Richard raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
Going for the dramatic approach?
“Please don’t misunderstand,” Coulson said.
“We’re not here to pressure you.” He spoke calmly.
“In fact, I’d like to be candid.” Richard gestured for him to continue.
“We know you have a secret.” Richard paused.
Seriously?
They figured out I was Ultraman already?
That’s…
faster than expected.
He maintained a perfectly neutral expression.
“Oh?” Coulson continued.
“Several years ago.” “Before the Daily Planet was founded.” “You were involved in a robbery in Hell’s Kitchen.” Richard relaxed internally.
That secret.
Not that secret.
He almost laughed.
“There were three armed suspects,” Coulson continued.
“You subdued all of them bare-handed.” He studied Richard carefully.
“One of the attackers was thrown more than forty feet by a single push.” “That’s well beyond normal human capability.” Richard remembered immediately.
His first day in the Marvel Universe.
Three street thugs had cornered him in Hell’s Kitchen.
At the time, he hadn’t even realized he possessed Ultraman’s power.
He’d still been trying to process the impossible fact that he’d awakened in another universe.
One of the criminals had shoved him.
Richard had instinctively pushed back.
Not hard.
Just enough to create some space.
The man had flown across the street.
The remaining two had stared at their unconscious friend for exactly one second before deciding robbery no longer seemed like an attractive career choice.
They’d run.
Richard had been left standing there wondering what had just happened.
Only afterward had he discovered the Evoltruster.
At the time, he’d assumed government agencies would eventually come looking for him.
No one ever had.
Eventually, he’d forgotten about the incident.
Apparently…
S.H.I.E.L.D.
hadn’t.
“We’re not bringing this up as a threat,” Coulson said.
“I’m trying to demonstrate something.” “S.H.I.E.L.D.
has known for years that you’re…
unusual.” “We never interfered with your life.” “We’re asking for the same trust in return.” Richard understood the strategy immediately.
Witnesses with secrets often avoided law enforcement.
Former criminals.
Drug users.
Undocumented immigrants.
People convinced that cooperating would expose problems unrelated to the investigation.
Coulson had placed him neatly into that category.
A man with something to hide.
“If that doesn’t help your memory,” Coulson continued, “perhaps this will.” He reached into his briefcase and removed a tablet.
“Last night, moments before Ultraman appeared…” “…our sensors detected an unprecedented energy surge.” He slid the screen across the desk.
“The source originated…” “…very close to the Daily Planet.” Richard glanced at the map.
“Huh.” He nodded thoughtfully.
“That is quite a coincidence.” Coulson waited.
Richard looked back up.
“So let me make sure I understand.” Coulson smiled.
“Please.” “You’re asking whether I’ve been hiding a fifty-meter-tall silver giant in the newspaper’s storage room.” “…” Richard spread his hands.
“I can answer that with complete confidence.” “I have not.” Coulson closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Yes…
I was already fairly certain of that.