New Director

January 14th, 2014

In the medbay of the Insight Helicarrier, I moved Sergeant Don Chappele's arm with him. Granted, I technically was his arm, but semantics. He'd lost it just a day during the attack on the SHIELD academy, and I was finally fulfilling my promise to him from that day.

"How does it feel?" I asked, sprouting my head from his new bicep, the whole of his arm shining black with green circuits as usual. "I'm trying to adjust it to your nerves as you move it."

He shuddered, and I could see he was visibly holding back his disgust. I didn't take it personally.

"It uh, feels like an arm," the sergeant said, moving his fingers around.

"Well, it should," Bruce Banner, typing at a computer nearby. "Dial designed it to link up to your brain, to mimic things like pressure, heat, touch, everything you need," Bruce finished typing and looked at the soldier. "But it should also be capable of more than your normal arm."

"Like what?" the soldier asked, watching with a fascinated disgust as I flowed off his arm and turned into a human again. His arm was now shaped like one of the Iron Man suits arms.

"Superhuman strength, when you want it," I said, watching as he clenched his fist. "It's also tougher and can be installed with options if you want. I know it's not perfect, but I promise I'll keep working on the project."

I frowned when the soldier gave me a dissatisfied look. I couldn't exactly blame him though. If I'd lost my arm, I'd probably want it back. Not a robot version. Just my arm, whole again.

"Well um... Do you want us to-"

"Just," he clenched the new fist and sat down in his bed, staring at it. "Leave me alone? Please?"

Bruce and I shared a glance. Bruce adjusted his glasses and moved to the door, me following a moment later. "Have a pleasant day, Sergeant Chappele."

"Thanks," the soldier said dismissively.

I sighed sadly, looking at Bruce as we walked through the halls. "You get that reaction a lot?"

"Usually when people find out who I am," Bruce said. I noted that a lot of people were giving the two of us a wide berth. "But he just needs time. A therapist will be speaking to him soon, hopefully, that will help him."

"Okay... So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked Bruce.

"I..." He stared at the Omnitrix. "There are a few things, but they can wait until after this is over."

Together, we went to the locker rooms. We had around twenty minutes left. I took out the clothes I'd prepared and quickly changed. A black business suit, with a blue button-up shirt. Bruce went for grey. Once done, we walked outside.

"Any idea what my role is in all of this?" Bruce asked me awkwardly.

"Hell if I know," I admitted. "I just know that we're supposed to be there. At least you're actually an Avenger."

"Hulk is the Avenger," Bruce said bitterly. "Not me, I'm just the guy who hangs around until they call a code green."

I looked at him. This wasn't a Bruce who'd found peace with the Hulk. This wasn't a Bruce who had gone Planet Hulk, then World War Hulk, making a massive journey to some sort of agreement between the two. But how was I supposed to tell the two that they could find that equilibrium?

"You know...," I started to say as we walked.

"Hey fellas," Natasha interrupted. Bruce and I looked up to see her smiling down the hall, wearing a very professional looking suit that somehow still made her look stunning. "You're late."

"We are?" Bruce asked, worried.

Natasha smiled gently, moving forward to stand behind us and walking with us. "It's an Avengers meeting, people came early. And now they're wondering where we all are."

"Who else is there?" I asked.

"Clint showed up. Steve never left," Natasha scoffed. "Of all the uses for the super-soldier serum, being able to outlast everyone else in a meeting is not one I think they had in mind."

"Useful for us, though," I looked at her. "Anything we should worry about?"

"Some of the senators who stepped in tried to really hammer down on the idea of powered individuals," Natasha said. "Others wanted you two put in prison."

"What!?" I yelled, noticing Bruce didn't seem surprised.

"You both scare people. You seem to be able to do whatever you want, and Bruce hasn't been stopped by anything before."

"Goddamn it..." I mumbled.

"Cooler heads prevailed," Natasha explained. "But still, the guidelines are especially harsh on certain crimes. We still have some leeway, but... we may have to ignore some of them."

"Is that really safe?" Bruce asked, the three of us stopping in a doorway. "I mean, I don't know about Dial here, he can actually control his transformations."

"Except Rath," Natasha and I said in unison, sharing a surprised glance. Bruce looked between us before shrugging it off.

"I can only barely control the Hulk."

"And you saved the world with him," Natasha smiled. "Don't worry. We'll figure this out. For now," she nodded towards the room beyond the doorway we'd stopped in. "Go in."

Bruce sighed, still not convinced, but walked inside. With a bit of trepidation, I followed, then Natasha.

The room was much the same as the last time I saw it. Nick Fury and Steve sitting with Tony, though Tony and Steve were in suits like mine now, same with Clint, Sam, and Rhodey. The various members of SHIELD surrounded the table, Coulson, Hand, and Gonzales included.

But President Ellis was now actually in the room, having taken Councilperson Rockwell's seat. He gave Bruce and I a good look as we walked around the table, barely noting Natasha. Soon, we were all in position.

"Well, Nick," President Ellis said. "We're all here."

Fury nodded, steepling his fingers. "Very well. First off, I believe we have the discussion of the new name for the organization. This is the least important item on the agenda, so I want to get it out of the way. Some of the suggestions have been," Fury flickered his eyes over to Tony. "Colorful, to say the least."

"Actually, Nick," President Ellis said. "I believe I'd like us to appoint a new head first."

Fury cocked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yes," Ellis smiled. "And to start, I'd like to nominate General Thaddeus Ross."

Bruce almost choked.

"Absolutely not," Tony said firmly. "Are you kidding me?"

President Ellis frowned. "Thaddeus Ross has been a loyal soldier, and a good man that I-"

"I agree with Mr. Stark," Steve said firmly. "General Ross has been hunting one of our team members for years. More importantly, putting a leading member of the US Military in charge of an international organization is in bad taste, Mr. President."

Indeed, several of the people on the screens around us were frowning severely at the President. Ellis nodded after a moment, conceding the point.

"I nominate Maria Hill," Victoria Hand said. The older woman tapped at the tablet in front of her, and an image of Maria smiling hovered over the table. I made a note to do something about the way the hologram looked so grainy and out of focus when I had the chance, then listened to Victoria speak. "She is already Deputy Director, so this would simply be a promotion. She knows the Avengers, has experience with working the job and showed great leadership during the crisis we just went through. If there is anyone we can trust to do the job, it's her."

Coulson, Gonzales, and Fury gave Hand a pleased look that she returned.

"That may cause problems," the Russian President said. "As you said, she is SHIELD, and the organization not being trustworthy is what caused us these very issues. I would suggest someone outside the organization."

"*And who would we choose?*" the Japanese Prime Minister asked in his native language, X putting up subtitles in real-time. "*Hill-san at least has the benefit of already proving her willingness to put any nationalism aside when she worked with Fury-san and Romanov-san to guide agents around the world. Japan's SHIELD forces are intact thanks to her.*"

The Russian President shook his head. When he spoke, he chose to employ his own home language of Russian this time, apparently wishing for his words to be conveyed without his accent marring the message. "*We must at least consider someone else, as there are those who will consider Hill a choice made out of favoritism. Why not Captain Rogers?*" Steve was surprised by this. "*He has shown a willingness to fight against corruption, much like Hill, but he was not part of the organization. In addition, he is a known and trusted figure across the world,*" the Russian President frowned. "*Of course, his codename does have something to be desired...*"

"I disagree," Fury said. When Steve looked at him, Fury gave him a level look. "The organization being run by someone with abilities, even ones as simple as Captain Rogers, won't be seen as a good thing. If he becomes the leader, a lot of people will yell about a powered individual taking a position so high in the world's government."

"I nominate him nonetheless," the Russian President said. What a world, where a Russian leader nominated Captain America for a major leadership role.

"What about a member of the Council?" the Chinese President asked. "Councilman Yen has served the world faithfully."

As the politicians spoke, trading barbs a little bit, I kept my eyes on one screen in particular. It was almost forgotten in the flow of important nations speaking about the issue of leadership. The man on the screen was African, with grey hair and a very nice beard. His left eye was slightly misshapen, possibly due to an old injury, but he had a calm demeanor about him. He hadn't spoken much according to Natasha, who'd seemed surprised when I'd asked about him. But then, I knew more than most about his nation. After all, I'd been the one who'd requested they be included in the conversation.

"What about you, King T'Chaka?" I asked, suddenly. "Does the nation of Wakanda have anyone they wish to suggest?"

Everyone stopped confusion in the room. Fury gave me an odd look. King T'Chaka seemed surprised, but I noted that his focus seemed laser sharp on me.

"I agree with the nomination of Ms. Hill," T'Chaka said with a smile I didn't believe. "But I would like to hear the other candidates before making a vote."

"I'd love to hear your opinions," I said. "Wakanda's place on the world stage is important after all."

I heard some chuckles. People believed that I was throwing shade, but T'Chaka knew better. We met eyes across thousands of miles thanks to the wonder of modern technology. Soon, the other delegates began to throw other nominees. Natasha pulled at my arm, and I looked at her. She shook her head, a question in her eyes. I didn't reply.

The discussion lasted an hour. But T'Chaka kept panning his eyes to meet mine. I only nodded every time he did. Wakanda, aka the most secretly advanced nation on Earth, couldn't simply stand on the sidelines. Not anymore. I didn't know why I felt so strongly about this, but something seemed to scream it within me. A voice, as powerful as a siren. You were wrong to turn your backs on the rest of the world.

In the end, the leader was voted on and chosen. And so the only thing left was the name.

Author's Note: There we go. So, each topic covered in sequence.

First, Don Chappelle. Don't go hating the guy. He's not an asshole, he just lost an arm, so he's pushing people away. Robot arms are cool, sure, but I've often heard that no matter how advanced the prosthetic, you still...

Second, the new leader. Did you guys Thaddeus is still a General at this point in the timeline? It takes a heart attack to change it. That said, Ellis has a history of choosing bad people for leadership roles. But yeah, while a few people have been suggested, the new leader is fairly obvious. Oh, and Wakanda's King noticed Dial noticing him. In the words of JD from Scrubs, 'that may come up tomorrow'.

Third, Hulk. Come to your own conclusions. Dial might be right, he might be wrong, but he is willing to aid Bruce.