Marvel: Xenomorphs

S.H.I.E.L.D. had taken a keen interest in Duncan. Starting the next day, the number of agents surveilling him increased tenfold — ten masked operatives armed with dum-dum bullets took shifts monitoring him from a neighboring building.

Various factions also approached Duncan, all outwardly polite, extending olive branches. Yet none received a direct response.

This was expected. After the intense battle that resulted in the death of a general, the existence of the Xenomorphs and their potential as bioweapons became widely known. Duncan's status skyrocketed, giving him the leverage to reject their overtures outright.

The fact that Duncan hadn't eliminated their envoys was, in itself, a baffling gesture that left even the most ruthless individuals puzzled.

"During the Broadway incident, newly appointed Deputy Director George Stacy visited the scene to console injured civilians. He promised to request government funding to bolster the police force and prevent such incidents from recurring…"

Duncan read aloud from the newspaper before tossing it aside. The article was filled with platitudes, but one detail caught his attention: George Stacy's promotion. Clearly, this was a sugar-coated bribe to silence him.

"Compared to dull news reports, watching certain individuals perform is far more entertaining. Even Kingpin sent someone, openly offering money to build goodwill. After all, no one turns down money. But I never expected someone to sneak into my territory. Have I been a poor host?"

Duncan sighed, his expression unchanging. Yet, several Xenomorphs, previously lying still like large dogs, suddenly sprang into action, moving swiftly and silently through the building.

Hidden in the shadows, Elektra's heart raced, betraying her position. She wasn't dealing with ordinary humans but someone far beyond normal capabilities, backed by a pack of Xenomorphs.

The Xenomorphs moved with eerie coordination, their silence unnerving. Elektra abandoned any hope of stealth, realizing that a single misstep could mean her death. She cursed herself for venturing into such dangerous territory.

A Runner Xenomorph appeared behind her, its tail poised to strike. If it hit, Elektra would be skewered like a kebab.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Elektra spun around, firing precise shots at the Xenomorphs' limbs while carefully avoiding their acidic blood. She winced as the blood corroded the floor, leaving gaping holes.

"Wait! I was only tracking Kingpin's men and ended up here!" Elektra blurted out, realizing that stubbornness would only lead to a gruesome end.

Watching videos and analyzing combat scenarios was one thing; facing these creatures in person was another. And these were just the weakest Xenomorphs. If she encountered the Hulk-like one…

What kind of power did Duncan, the man controlling these monsters, possess?

"A clever excuse, far more believable than a poorly crafted lie. So, am I to assume you're here on behalf of the Hand to provoke me? Or will you deny that the Hand knows nothing about me?" Duncan clapped slowly.

Elektra's expression darkened. Standing before Duncan, she felt utterly exposed. "That's for the 'Five Fingers' to decide. I'm just a ninja carrying out assassination missions. But personally, I doubt they'd be foolish enough to make an enemy of you."

"No, your presence here is already a statement from those five old fossils."

"From what I know, they're still discussing you. No decision has been made yet," Elektra revealed, her resolve wavering as three more Xenomorphs emerged from the shadows, silently encircling her.

No matter how she adjusted her stance or prepared to fight her way out, a Xenomorph always blocked her path.

Elektra watched in dread as the Xenomorphs drooled, their inner jaws twitching. She gripped her weapons tightly, recalling the videos that showed their inner jaws — a terrifying weapon faster than bullets.

Facing multiple Xenomorphs, especially with more appearing out of nowhere, would be a death sentence.

"Elektra, you know so little about your five bosses. You don't even understand how they gained their power, mastering magic and ninjutsu," Duncan remarked, studying the woman before him.

Elektra, Daredevil's former lover and a top-tier assassin for the Hand, was skilled in countless killing techniques. But without supernatural abilities, even the most trained human assassin fell short.

In hand-to-hand combat, she might hold her own against a basic Xenomorph, but against specialized variants — like those born from vampires — she stood no chance.

Duncan couldn't fathom why the Hand would send someone like Elektra to confront him.

He didn't believe in coincidences. The "Five Fingers," who had stolen the power of the Dragon from K'un-Lun and extended their lifespans by centuries, were not the type to act without purpose.

One of the Hand's key abilities, granted by their demonic patron, The Beast, was resurrecting the dead to serve as assassins — somewhat akin to DC's Court of Owls, though far less impressive.

The Hand's obsession with assassination, backed by The Beast, made Elektra's presence here a clear message.

"Let her go. This rookie probably knows nothing. I can offer some intel, though: those five are secretly investigating the Deviants and the 'Flying Man,'" Coulson interjected, stepping forward with a serious expression.

He quickly added, "This one's free."

"Spare me, Coulson. I only needed money in the early stages. Once I had enough capital, extra dollars became irrelevant. But did I hear you correctly? 'Flying Man'?"

"Yes, the mysterious figure in blue and gold armor who fled after you defeated him. He killed General Ross. Some online are calling him a Tier-0 super-criminal, on par with Magneto," Coulson explained matter-of-factly.

"I doubt Magneto would consider Ikaris his equal. So, after displaying his power, Ikaris earns the title 'Flying Man'? He's a proud individual. Once he learns of this, he'll hunt down everyone who calls him that," Duncan said with a smirk.

"Ikaris?"

Coulson perked up, finally finding an opening. "Is that his name? You accused him of being a Deviant. What are the Deviants? How many like Ikaris exist?"

Elektra, relieved to be ignored, cautiously retreated while observing Coulson and Duncan.

If not for the Xenomorphs strategically blocking her escape routes, she would have fled already.

The two men's casual conversation, completely disregarding her, left the young Elektra both relieved and slightly disheartened.

...

Join patreon for additional chapters. patreon.com/GreekGreenGlass