Chapter 14: The Devil's Bargain (and the Ethical Debate)

Chapter 14: The Devil's Bargain (and the Ethical Debate)

The old, abandoned subway station, now Adam's primary hidden base, felt like a world away from the gleaming, sterile corridors of S.H.I.E.L.D. The air was cool, the silence profound, broken only by the distant rumble of the city above. Fitz and Simmons sat across from Adam, their faces etched with a mixture of apprehension and intense curiosity. They knew this was the moment. The full reveal.

"Alright," Adam began, his voice serious, all traces of his usual sarcasm gone. "No more lucky guesses, no more 'reading it in a book.' What I'm about to tell you… it's going to sound insane. But I promise you, every word is true. And I have the proof."

[SYSTEM MESSAGE: 'DEVIL FRUIT REVELATION PROTOCOL' INITIATED. META-KNOWLEDGE GUIDANCE ACTIVE FOR 'FITZSIMMONS REACTION PREDICTION'. RECOMMENDATION: EMPHASIZE STAKES. PROVIDE CONCRETE PROOF.]

"So, here's the deal. I'm not from here. Not from this dimension. I died in my own world – don't ask, it's embarrassing – and woke up here, in the middle of the Battle of New York. And when I did, I got this." He tapped his temple. "The 'Adapt System.' It's why I can do all those impossible things you've seen. It lets my body instantly adapt to master any power, any skill, any strength I encounter. And in combat, it doubles whatever my opponent has. It's why I can fight the Hulk, why I can take a plasma blast, why I can fix alien tech with a touch. It's a cheat code for reality."

Fitz's eyes were wide, his mouth slightly agape. "A… a cheat code? For reality? That's… that's a violation of every known law of physics, biology, and… and common sense!"

"Tell me about it. But wait, there's more," Adam continued, a wry smile touching his lips. "Along with the System, I also got this." He pulled out the two remaining Devil Fruits, the Room-Room Fruit and the Heal-Heal Fruit. They pulsed with an otherworldly glow, their intricate patterns mesmerizing in the dim light. "These are called Devil Fruits. They grant incredible, supernatural powers. And I can't use them. They're meant for others. For people I choose. People I trust."

He held up the Room-Room Fruit. "This one, Fitz, is for you. The Ope Ope no Mi. It grants the power to create a spherical 'Room' where you can manipulate anything inside – space, objects, people. You could be a living, breathing spatial engineer. Imagine the possibilities for containment, for infiltration, for… organizing your lab."

Then, he held up the Heal-Heal Fruit. "And this one, Simmons, is for you. The Chiyu Chiyu no Mi. It grants the power to heal any injury, any disease, instantly. Even transfer wounds. You could save lives on a scale previously unimaginable. You could be a walking, talking miracle."

Fitz stared at the Room-Room Fruit, his scientific curiosity warring with his rational disbelief. "Spatial manipulation… the ability to rewrite localized reality… the applications are… staggering. But the implications! It's too much power for one person! It's… it's dangerous!"

Simmons, however, looked at the Heal-Heal Fruit with a profound sense of ethical dread. "To heal any wound… to transfer pain… Adam, this is not a gift; it's a burden. The moral weight of such a power… who decides who lives, who dies? Who decides whose pain is transferred? It's a god-like ability, and we are not gods."

"Exactly," Adam said, his voice firm. "Which is why I'm offering them to you. Because I know you two. I know your ethics, your compassion, your brilliance. You're not going to abuse this power. You're going to use it to help. To save. To make a difference. And believe me, we're going to need it. Because I also know the future. The real future. The one where a giant purple alien named Thanos comes to Earth and tries to wipe out half of all life in the universe."

He projected a holographic image onto the wall: Thanos, the Infinity Gauntlet, the Mad Titan's cold, determined face. The images of destruction, of planets ravaged, of half the universe turning to dust. It was a stark, terrifying glimpse of the future he knew.

Fitz gasped, his face paling. Simmons stared, her scientific mind struggling to comprehend the sheer scale of the cosmic horror. "Thanos… the Mad Titan? Universal genocide? This is… this is impossible!"

"It's not impossible, it's inevitable, unless we do something," Adam countered, his voice unwavering. "I've already found Yelena. I've given her the Light-Light Fruit. She's with me. We're the Adapt-Alliance. And I need you two. Your minds, your skills, and with these fruits, your powers. Our mission is to prepare. To gather intelligence. To find allies. To subtly influence events. To ensure that when Thanos arrives, we're ready. That we can win. That we can save everyone."

*He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "This isn't a request, not really. It's a bargain. A devil's bargain, as you put it, Simmons. You help me save the universe, and you get powers beyond your wildest dreams. You refuse… and well, you still have to live in a universe where Thanos eventually wins. The choice is yours. But know this: I'm not asking you to blindly follow. I'm asking you to join me in a fight for everything. For everyone."

Fitz and Simmons exchanged a long, intense look. The ethical debate raged in their eyes, the scientific curiosity, the fear, the dawning realization of the impossible stakes. Adam had laid out his cards. Now, it was up to them to decide if they were willing to play.

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