Location: Rome Safehouse – Ezio's accommodation
The room lit only by the bluish glow of several holographic interfaces. Ezio sat in front of a sleek terminal, his eyes locked on one of the screens as lines of code and geospatial data flickered rapidly. A digital schematic pulsed in front of him—a blinking red dot marked Nick Fury's tracker.
Ezio (muttering to himself): "Altitude rising… What the hell?"
He flicked his fingers through the interface, expanding the feed. The dot had started climbing fast—way above civilian aircraft levels. Altimeter data crossed into the stratospheric range.
With a sharp inhale, Ezio's fingers danced across the control panel.
Ezio: "He's airborne... no regular jet does that."
A secondary scan confirmed it—Fury's signal was now inside a high-security, cloaked aircraft. Ezio narrowed his eyes as he overlaid SHIELD's rumored schematics onto the feed.
Ezio: "Helicarrier… So, it exists after all."
His eyes flashed with a mix of awe and focus. He pulled up the interface for the micro-tracker. It had been preprogrammed with multiple contingency commands.
Ezio with a half-smirk, "Let's test this thing."
He tapped a glowing icon on the terminal: [COMMAND: SYNC & LATCH]
A soft beep confirmed the order.
On the HUD, a new progress bar appeared:
Status: Establishing link with onboard systems...
Access Level Breach Attempt in Progress...
Firewall bypassed. Decoding active protocols.
Uploading to AEGIS servers...
Ezio leaned back slightly, watching as the data streamed from the SHIELD Helicarrier into their secured systems, relayed through satellite spoofing and quantum encryption.
He picked up his encrypted phone and opened a secure line. A single message was typed:
To: Hunter
Phase 1 complete. We're in. – Ezio
He slid the phone away, eyes still watching the progress bar crawl forward.
Ezio (smirking): "Welcome to the future, Director Fury. You're not the only one watching anymore."
Location: Grant Enterprises HQ – Hunter's Office, Night
Hunter entered his office, taking a seat, he expanded the holographic interface
Secure Notification – From: Ezio
Phase 1 complete. We're in. – Ezio
Hunter tapped once and the message expanded into a secure terminal overlay, revealing live feed from AEGIS's server relay. A visual popped up—encrypted SHIELD files pouring into an isolated, blacked-out system node tagged "Atlas Subnet – Shield Cage".
Hunter under his breath, "Good work, Ezio…"
With a few gestures, he unlocked layers of security of "Atlas Subnet – Shield Cage"—firewalls, biometric keys, retina scans.
The files began appearing.
– Heli Carrier Power Grid Layout
– Onboard Agent Logs (Redacted)
– Phase 2 Weapon System Blueprint
– Project Avenger: Prelim Draft
– Meta Human Classification
– Uploading…..
Hunter's eyes moved quickly, he opened a file labeled "Meta Human Classification", and folders marked with names like Banner, and Project Tesseract appeared.
Hunter calmly, "Fury, you've been busy…"
A final click rerouted the live copy to Azmuth's lab node for deeper analysis and storage.
Then, Hunter typed a single response back to Ezio:
Message to: Ezio
Perfect timing. Maintain passive observation. No risks. I'll loop you in for Phase 2 prep tomorrow.
He leaned back in his chair, interlacing his fingers, staring at the now-opened folder labeled:
"Project Insight: Draft Planning Protocols – SHIELD Council Eyes Only"
Hunter to himself, 'If Fury's got plans to play god... then it's better we read the script first.'
The screen faded to black.
Hunter remembered Hiroshi mentioning that his living quarters would be completed by today. It would be just besides his office, across the wall. With a slow exhale, Hunter walked to the far wall, his fingertips brushing across a smooth panel. Instantly, the wall responded—segments folding and shifting soundlessly as if welcoming him. Behind it, a softly lit hallway revealed itself.
As Hunter stepped inside, the environment transformed. The lighting adjusted automatically—subtle, warm, designed to ease tension. The entrance sealed quietly behind him, leaving the outside world behind. Silence greeted him. The air inside smelled like a newly bought car.
He remembered Hiroshi and Jiraiya telling him, 'You are the person leading Grant Enterprises' you should live like one'
He took a slow breath, eyes scanning the spacious interior. The room was expansive and sleek, blending modern minimalism with luxurious detailing. The floor was a polished obsidian stone, layered with soft, matte-black rugs at carefully chosen areas to give a warm touch. Dominating one half of the room was a low-set king-sized platform bed, dressed in Egyptian cotton sheets with a dark charcoal palette, layered with thick, feather-soft duvets. The bed faced the east—framed by a vast, floor-to-ceiling glass window spanning the entire wall. This wasn't built overnight. Hiroshi and Jiraiya had outdone themselves.
Come dawn, sunlight would stream through and illuminate the room in gold, bouncing off the reflective metallic accents embedded subtly in the wall panels—designed to energize rather than blind. Smart-glass technology allowed Hunter to tint the view, turn it opaque, or display data overlays with a flick of the wrist.
Hunter walked in slowly, eyes tracing the contours of the bed that faced the floor-to-ceiling window. The eastern skyline of New York stretched before him.
Sleek bookshelves were integrated into the walls—holding physical classics and rare first editions, while digital screens remained invisible until summoned. A biometric-lock nightstand beside the bed held a firearm holster, a silver-plated lighter, and a classic leather-bound journal.
"They really went all in.", muttered Hunter.
To the left side of the room, encased in transparent armored glass, was the bathroom—spacious and seamless. The floor was heated basalt stone, warm beneath the foot. A freestanding soaking tub, carved from solid white onyx, stood under an array of star-like recessed lights. Adjacent, a walk-in rainfall shower with holographic controls which lets him customize water temperature, pressure, and even scent. Embedded speakers played low ambient sounds—ocean tides or cityscapes—based on his mood.
The double-sink vanity was a single slab of black marble. Above it, a smart mirror offered tactical updates, biometric analysis, or simply turned into a transparent display screen. A concealed weapon panel was tucked behind one of the mirror cabinets.
He ran his hand across the edge of the marble vanity near the bathroom, then reached the mini-bar cabinet. With a touch, it revealed shelves lined with bottles so rare they were practically legend that would make any collector pause:
The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare – A single malt scotch worth over $2 million.
Dalmore 62 – A rare bottle aged and numbered, one of only twelve ever made.
Hennessy Beaute du Siecle – Encased in a mirrored aluminum chest, worth $200,000+.
Yamazaki 55-Year-Old – One of the oldest and rarest Japanese whiskies.
Louis XIII Black Pearl Cognac – Stored in a Baccarat crystal decanter. , etc.
He traced his hand below the bottles, a separate drawer opened with a soft click—neatly organized, rare cigars, sealed in perfect condition:
Gurkha Royal Courtesan – At $1.36 million per cigar, hand-rolled and infused with Remy Martin's Black Pearl Louis XIII.
Cohiba Behike 56 – Considered the most exclusive Cuban cigar.
Arturo Fuente Opus X "A" – Long-aged and extremely limited.
Padron 1964 Anniversary Series – Dark, box-pressed, aged in natural cedar. , etc.
Each cigar pack had its own tag, temperature-maintained, with cutting tools and lighters arranged beside them like surgical instruments.
Next to the bathroom, flush with the wall, another panel slid open to reveal Hunter's private wardrobe—sharp suits, covert armors, and tactical wear arranged with almost military precision.
Hunter approached a smooth black dresser where laid a watch collection, housed in an automatic rotating display vault, each timepiece held in individual magnetic locks:
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300A – Only one of its kind, valued over $30 million.
Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman" – Classic, elegant, tactical.
Richard Mille RM 50-03 – Lightweight and shock-resistant, used for field missions.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept – Tech-integrated model with stealth biometric sensors.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch – Nods to heritage and resilience. , etc.
One last wall bore no mark—but with a flick of Hunter's wrist, a digital interface shimmered into view. A palm-scan activated the hidden elevator, seamlessly revealing itself from the wall. This linked directly to the underground AEGIS command center and could shoot up to the helipad above in seconds.
Every panel, window, and surface in the room was backed with digital architecture—Hunter could summon blueprints, comm links, satellite feeds, personal health scans, or AI interfaces without moving a muscle.
At this moment Hunter wanted to relax, Hunter stepped into the bathtub slowly, lowering himself into the heat with a low exhale. He leaned back, his head resting against the edge of the tub, eyes half-lidded as the walls around him slowly adjusted, giving illusion of dark sky.
Some time later. He moved toward the bar, poured himself a glass of the Macallan 1926, and stepped toward the massive glass window. After admiring the view, he flicked his wrist and opened a holographic panel
[AEGIS Command Hub - Clearance: Alpha Black]
Safehouse Network Overview
Total Active Sites: 30 (Standby Sites: 4) | Decommissioned: 3| Under Construction: 3
Hunter flicks through the list, scanning the screen lazily with one eye, the glass of Macallan 1926 still resting between his fingers.
[STATUS:
GREEN – Secure & Operational
Meaning: Fully functional, safe from threats, ideal for long-term staging or ongoing missions.
BLUE – Dormant / Standby
Meaning: Not in current use; may be brought online quickly. No known threats, but light surveillance or passive ops ongoing.
YELLOW – Under Review / Surveillance Risk
Meaning: Low to moderate surveillance or suspicion in area. Use with discretion. Limited safehouse privileges.
ORANGE – Compromised / Contested
Meaning: Active surveillance or partial breach likely. Extreme caution required. Limited engagement windows.
RED – Breached / Lost
Meaning: Hostile surveillance confirmed. Facility is likely compromised. Do not use unless recovering intel. ]
North America
United States
#01 – New York (Grant HQ Adjacent)
Cover: Modern luxury apartment building
Function: Primary urban field station
Occupants: Rotational AEGIS teams
Status: GREEN
Notes: Connected via tram to Grant HQ. Azmuth-grade shielding.
#02 – Manhattan, NY
Cover: Modern apartment complex
Function: Personnel housing & auxiliary hub
Occupants: 12 AEGIS personnel (black widow and members recruited by Jiraiya)
Status: GREEN
Notes: AI-monitored defense systems. Ghost team rotates here.
#03 – Chicago
Cover: Abandoned steel mill
Function: Combat training & weapons testing
Occupants: None (Rotational)
Status: BLUE
Notes: Reinforced for heavy impact testing.
#04 – Los Angeles, CA
Cover: Media production studio
Function: Celebrity infiltration, media surveillance
Occupants: Rotational agents
Status: GREEN
Notes: Used for intel meets and asset meetings.
Canada
#05 – Toronto
Cover: Small ski lodge
Function: Arctic recon & winter staging
Occupants: Standby for Ghost team
Status: GREEN
Notes: Hidden gear vaults and snow-camouflaged bunkers.
#06 – Toronto
Cover: Tech startup shell company
Function: Surveillance node, cold gear R&D
Occupants: Technical agents
Status: GREEN
Notes: Blends with real industry landscape.
#07 – Montreal
Cover: Music recording studio
Function: Debrief cells, drone hub
Occupants: 2 recon agents
Status: GREEN
Notes: Mixing booths hide drone docks and encrypted terminals.
Mexico
#08 – Mexico City
Cover: Mezcal bar
Function: Cartel watchpoint
Occupants: Local operatives gained by Jiraiya
Status: GREEN
Notes: Surveillance in storage tanks, hidden tunnel to club district.
Argentina
#09 – Buenos Aires
Cover: Art gallery
Function: South Hemisphere cover
Occupants: 1 operative, 1 contact
Status: BLUE
Notes: Local tech acquisition intercepts.
Europe
United Kingdom
#10 – London
Cover: Vintage bookstore
Function: Recruitment and surveillance
Occupants: Rotational MI6-linked field operatives (Obtained by Jiraiya)
Status: GREEN
Notes: Hidden archive vault. Close MI6 proximity.
France
#11 – Paris
Cover: Vintage bookstore
Function: Micro-drone surveillance
Occupants: 2 agents, 1 informant
Status: GREEN
Notes: Tunnel access to Metro Line 6. SHIELD presence nearby.
Germany
#12 – Berlin
Cover: Tattoo & piercing shop
Function: Data dead-drop, intel relay
Occupants: None (standby)
Status: BLUE
Notes: Vault under ink station. Cell modulator in sterilizer.
#13 – Berlin
Cover: Underground jazz club
Function: Extraction point
Occupants: Rotational
Status: GREEN
Notes: Elevator beneath stage piano reveals escape vault.
Italy
#14 – Venice
Cover: Clocktower/antique shop
Function: Monitoring & intel relay
Occupants: Haytham + 6 Assassins
Status: GREEN
Notes: Blend of ancient tunnels and modern surveillance tech.
#15 – Rome
Cover: Private fencing school
Function: Tactical HQ & local command
Occupants: Ezio Auditore
Status: GREEN
Notes: Gravity dampeners. Arsenal hidden in wine cellar.
Iceland
#16 – Reykjavik
Cover: Geothermal research site
Function: Arctic comms node
Occupants: 1 scientist, 1 engineer (trained by Q)
Status: GREEN
Notes: Heated hangar, passive seismic network intercepts.
Poland
#17 – Warsaw
Cover: Rooftop greenhouse
Function: Monitoring & intel relay
Occupants: None (standby)
Status: GREEN
Notes: Heated hangar, escape tunnel to hanger.
Turkey
#18 – Istanbul
Cover: Antique restoration shop
Function: Cipher lab
Occupants: None (standby)
Status: GREEN
Notes: Access to ancient SHIELD archives under mosaic.
Asia-Pacific
Japan
#19 – Kyoto
Cover: Tea estate
Function: East Asia data hub
Occupants: 1 sleeper operative
Status: YELLOW
Notes: Traditional walls conceal Azmuth-grade plating.
#20 – Osaka
Cover: Sake brewery
Function: East Asia data hub
Occupants: None (Standby)
Status: BLUE
Notes: Traditional walls conceal Azmuth-grade plating.
South Korea
#21 – Seoul
Cover: E-sports HQ (Shell Co.)
Function: StarkTech leak surveillance
Occupants: Embedded surveillance team
Status: GREEN
Notes: Monitoring gaming networks for SHIELD breaches.
Thailand
#22 – Bangkok
Cover: Tattoo parlor
Function: Underworld monitoring
Occupants: Former Ghost contact
Status: GREEN
Notes: Close to triad and mercenary traffic hubs.
India
#23 – New Delhi
Cover: Spice export company
Function: Political & tech intel
Occupants: Embedded analyst
Status: YELLOW
Notes: Watchlist for SHIELD-aligned firms.
Hong Kong
#24 – Hong Kong
Cover: High-end tea house
Function: Infiltration
Occupants: None.
Status: YELLOW
Notes: Heavy surveillance. Do not engage without backup.
Australia
#25 – Sydney
Cover: Rooftop garden co-op
Function: Pacific comms node
Occupants: Rotational
Status: GREEN
Notes: Drone pad hidden under hydroponics.
Africa
South Africa
#26 – Cape Town
Cover: Seaside shipping warehouse
Function: Maritime op surveillance
Occupants: 2 Black Widow operatives
Status: GREEN
Notes: Anti-submarine buoy grid in place.
#27 – Johannesburg
Cover: Auto repair garage
Function: Tactical staging & med evac
Occupants: None (standby)
Status: GREEN
Notes: VTOL bay, old oil pit cache.
Egypt
#28 – Cairo
Cover: Archaeological dig site
Function: Ancient tech & black-market monitoring
Occupants: Artifact intel team
Status: GREEN
Notes: Multiple SHIELD black market recovery links.
South America
Chile
#23 – Santiago
Cover: Rooftop greenhouse/farm
Function: Passive satellite interception
Occupants: 3 tech analysts
Status: GREEN
Notes: Solar cloaking via moss. Fully energy independent.
Brazil
#30 – São Paulo
Cover: Coffee export company
Function: Smuggling surveillance
Occupants: Local cartel informants
Status: GREEN
Notes: Intel ops intercepts and logistics tracking.
DECOMMISSIONED SAFEHOUSES (Compromised or obsolete)
Lagos, Nigeria – Former shell bank-Decommissioned after Hydra-aligned raid
Reykjavik, Iceland – Climate tech lab-Natural disaster damaged infrastructure
Delhi, India – Abandoned hotel-Burned after data breach incident
UNDER CONSTRUCTION (In progress or pending activation)
Madripoor (Black Sector)
Project: Covert fortress; awaiting political window
Greenland Ice Field
Deep Vault Project "Silent Ice"
Vancouver, Canada
Urban shell facility embedded in art district.
Hunter raised an eyebrow looking a all the assets AEGIS has now. He glanced again Ezio's current location at safehouse #15. He smirked slightly at the note about the wine cellar arsenal.
"Of course he'd pick Rome," he muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Hunter put a note on the message, "Phase One complete, Ezio's in place, SHIELD's unaware…Let's stay ahead"
He leaned back further into the bed, exhaling deeply.
"I don't know why but I am having a bad feeling."
Rome, Italy – Safehouse #15
Cover: Private Fencing School
Status: GREEN
Occupant: Ezio Auditore
Inside the fencing academy, down the cellar — past a false wine rack — Ezio stood shirtless, sword in one hand, towel slung over a shoulder. He had just finished a training session with the facility's automated defense holograms.
He tossed the sword onto a table and made his way toward the kitchen, where a bottle of Barolo and a tray of olives and pecorino cheese waited. With a practiced hand, he poured a glass, then tapped a hidden panel under the counter.
A holographic screen flared to life.
INCOMING MESSAGE – HUNTER
"Phase One complete, Ezio's in place, SHIELD's unaware… Let's stay ahead."
Ezio smirked, sipping his wine.
"Always one step, my friend."
He turned to the side panel and scrolled through a decrypted stream from the SHIELD heli-carrier — the tracker had successfully begun syncing data.
Just then, a soft chime echoed through the room.
"Reminder: Tomorrow's meet with Agent Ghost at the rooftop café. You have precisely 14 hours and 32 minutes."
Ezio raised an eyebrow.
"Plenty of time for a walk through Trastevere. Or a conversation with Isabella at the flower stall," he muttered, smiling slyly.
As the feed continued syncing, Ezio moved to the living quarters. On a polished stone bench sat his armor, cleaned and repaired, and a compact case of throwing blades.
He looked at the wine bottle, the open data screen, and the night beyond the small balcony.
"In the old days, I watched out for Templars. Now it is satellites and men in suits."
He chuckled, finishing his drink.
"At least some things haven't changed."
Rome – Rooftop Café, Trastevere District
The café was quiet, refined. Waiters in white aprons moved between wrought-iron tables. Birds chirped above, and church bells rang from nearby.
Ezio sat under a wide cream umbrella, sipping an espresso and absently reading a newspaper printed in Latin, more for nostalgia than necessity. He wore a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled, aviator glasses reflecting the world around him.
Across from him, Simon "Ghost" Riley approached the table, blending into the urban flow with a ballcap, mirrored shades, and a white mask covering his lower face or so he thought. He slid into the chair opposite Ezio without a word.
Ezio glanced up, smirking behind his espresso cup.
"You look like a walking cliché of American espionage."
"Didn't exactly come for fashion tips, Auditore.", retorted Ghost.
Ezio gestured at the empty seat with mock civility.
"Still. Rome welcomes all."
Ghost leaned back, eyes scanning.
"We could've just had this meeting over secure comms. Why drag me halfway across Europe?" said Ghost.
Ezio smirking, "Because coffee tastes better in person. Because I'm a traditionalist. And because I need back-up."
Ghost muttered something under his breath, then casually glanced around.
His tone shifted.
Ghost: "We've got company."
Ezio didn't flinch.
Ezio, "How many do you count?"
Ghost, "Four rooftops — two snipers each. Adjacent tables? Agents, or very twitchy tourists with earpieces."
Ezio finally lowered the paper.
Ezio, "From my angle, add two more roof tops and the table behind you."
And then—
A shadow fell over their table.
A lady in her late 20's with sexy figure and shoulder length red hair said, "Ezio Auditore da Firenze. You're a very hard man to find."
The young lady, dressed sharply in a black leather jacket over a gray blouse, slid into a chair beside them as if joining old friends for brunch. She set her handbag down slowly, her red hair falling around her face in elegant waves.
Ezio offered a cool smile.
Ezio, "You're not exactly easy to forget either, Miss Romanoff."
Ghost didn't speak — instead, he subtly tapped his wristband, sending a coded message to AEGIS HQ:
[CODE 914 – LOCATION EXPOSED]
EYES ON – IDENTITY INTACT
AWAITING EXTRACTION WINDOW]
Natasha's gaze flicked to Ghost.
"Nice mask. Shame it doesn't come with manners."
Ezio chuckled softly, raising his cup.
Ezio, "Looks like breakfast just got complicated."
Cut to the rooftops — scopes locking, comms flaring, agents watching.
Cut to HQ — signals flashing red.
Cut to Ghost's fingers brushing his concealed sidearm beneath the table.
Ghost flatly, "So… what's this about?"
Natasha coolly, "Let's talk about what you know. And what you shouldn't."