Work Text:
The sun set over the skies of Los Angeles, California, its beautiful iconic appearance ignored by the head of the mansion perched in a secluded spot from the rest of the landscape. The current High Leader of HYDRA, Gideon Malick, was in the midst of going over reports, charts and data in his dormitory desk, a fancy room left nigh untouched by him. He was never the same since the event simply known as the Snap, the event where an alien warmonger wiped off half the world's population with a simple snap of his fingers.
The event was no secret to the world, it was impossible to cover up. One cannot hide an event of this scale, the world knew of the failure of their so called heroes. Their precious protectors, the self righteousness blinding them from the fact they were merely human, even the ones not of this world. But even so their failure had not come to HYDRA’s benefit, not in the least.
HYDRA was in shambles.
Their many different and hidden posts, factions and sub organizations, most of them all gone within a moment. All of their former resources were either destroyed or taken, leaving a mere handful left. A handful that barely acknowledged Malick and his position. The only one left he could depend on was Jonah, his only trusted colleague, who was in the midst of a cover operation in the arctic. Who had also yet to report back to him in weeks. Needless to say his faith in his old friend was slipping, just as his faith in HYDRA.
And as much as he refused to admit it, his faith in their god was slipping as well.
Ah yes, god. The word most normal HYDRA members scoff at these days. Their ignorance of their history and purpose was insulting. All thanks to a Nazi who attempted to play god himself…
The door knocked and without waiting for and without a moment to let him answer Gideon’s only other trusted member of HYDRA walked in with a tray in her hands. Stephanie, his daughter and only child, the light in the darkness he was wallowing in during these times. Despite what happened to the world, to society and reality that befell upon them her spirit never faltered, her smile never dropped. It was almost pathetic, he was meant to be an example, as any father should be with their child, yet here he was depending on her for simple needs.
“Father, Jonah reported in.”
Finally, hopefully some good news. Stephanie handed him the paper, most of it was needless busywork, nothing remarkable. Sighing at what looked as another example of the fall of HYDRA the last sentence spoke to Malick.
“Come to the outpost, immediately. There is something you need to see for yourself.”
That last sentence changed everything, Jonah wasn’t reporting to him, he was calling, almost ordering him to come to the far north. Gideon would’ve been insulted and called for a usual HYDRA discharge if it wasn’t from his most trusted colleague. If he had the gall to order the head of HYDRA for something, it was for a good reason.
“Stephanie, call my driver and pilot, we’re going to visit Jonah.”
His daughter looked elated, probably from seeing her old man finally up and about again since the tragic event. Gideon admitted he needed to leave this godforsaken place at least for a while, about the time the leader of HYDRA started to set an example.
The trip was uneventful, aside from it being the first time the Malicks visited the arctic. Warm clothing and of course some extra Hot Cocoa thanks to his daughter’s suggestion, just in case. The outpost wasn’t far from the landing site, Gideon could see the face of his colleague at last after a long while. One thing did stick out, Jonah was smiling, he was smiling like a little child discovering something they never knew about before. That alone made Gideon oddly excited for what surprise was in store.
“Hail HYDRA, Leader Malick! How good of you to visit us this fine evening!”
Gideon scoffed
“Hail HYDRA, Jonah, I thought I told you to refer to me as you normally would. I don’t need more of this leader nonsense.”
Jonah laughed as he greeted Stephanie.
“Why are we here, Jonah? I hope it's for a very good reason?”
Jonah looked like he was about to explode from withholding information.
“Come with me!”
The trio entered the facility that delved into the deep thick ice of the arctic, the elevator descending into dark and narrow tunnels. Hardly a welcoming sight.
“What is it, Jonah?” Gideon asked again.
“Please, hold until we get there, you will not believe it until you have seen him for yourself!”
Gideon heard ‘Him’ in that sentence. Him? Him who?
The elevator stopped at last and the trio entered the tunnels to the chamber of the operation. The noise wasn’t as loud as Gideon expected but it was no less welcoming still. He remained silent as they walked, not saying a word. Not even as they entered an illuminated room, no doubt where the operation was stationed.
Jonah was right, nothing could’ve prepared Gideon for what was inside.
It was hard to make out at first from a distance but when they walked in it was unmistakable.
The large bat-like wings, the twin tails, the two powerful legs.
And the three long necked heads bearing the skulls of a dragon.
Malick was frozen stiff, disbelief and questioning of sanity consuming him. This couldn’t be real. After all the ones who denied his existence and who mocked them for believing in him. It simply couldn’t be real.
But it was, HE was.
Jonah simply smiled as he stared at him while Stephanie looked in childlike wonder, her smile all too real. She turned to her father, eager to ask the question.
“Is it him, father?”
For the first time since the start of his reign, Gideon smiled uncontrollably, happiness replacing his disbelief. He thought his heart would stop after the first few moments but it held. He was in tears, his voice cracking.
“Yes, it's him…”
He sank to his knees and gave a prayer to the being in front of him, the superior being.
“Our lord, I apologize it took us so long, we’re here.”
He looked at him, wanting to know that it couldn’t be a dream.
“We’re here at last Lord Ghidorah…”
After countless years of searching, HYDRA had found their god. Soon, the world would be theirs…