Marvel: A.T.L.A.S. - Ghost Protocol

A.T.L.A.S. Mobile Command Center, Helsinki - 36 Hours Later

The tactical display showed only a crater where the facility had been. Thermal scans indicated temperatures returning to normal, the unnatural cold finally dissipating. Caspian sat motionless in the command center's medical bay, watching the screens while a doctor treated his severe frostbite.

"The charges worked exactly as designed," Howard spoke from a secure video feed, looking older than ever. "Complete molecular disruption. Nothing could have survived."

"You sound uncertain." Carrie stood by the main display, her posture rigid. 

"Because that's what we thought in '48." Howard's laugh turned into a cough. "When Arthur triggered the first containment protocols. When we thought we'd divided it enough to keep it dormant."

Caspian's Emperor Eye tracked the data streams from other monitoring stations. Similar facilities across the globe showed diminished power signatures, but they hadn't gone completely dark. As if something still stirred in their depths.

"The FSB agent in Moscow," Caspian said quietly. "He knew this would happen. That's why they were watching Novak's grave."

"Gregory was always the weak link." Howard's voice carried decades of regret. "He thought we could control it. Use it. That's why Arthur..."

"Had him eliminated?" Carrie's tone was flat.

"No." Howard met Caspian's eyes through the video feed. "Arthur tried to save him. When Novak started experimenting with the fragments. Trying to wake them up. Your grandfather attempted to intervene. But by then..."

"Novak had already been changed," Caspian finished. The Emperor Eye recalled the ice-rimed corpses in the facility, moving with horrible purpose.

"The official story was a field operation gone wrong. Easier than admitting one of A.T.L.A.S.'s founding members had been compromised. Transformed." Howard's hands shook as he lifted a glass of scotch. "But Novak's work continued. Through others. People he'd recruited. Influenced."

Dr. Sterns entered, carrying preliminary analysis reports. "The biological samples we recovered... they're like nothing I've ever seen. The cellular structure is constantly shifting. Adapting. Even in death, it's trying to change."

"Destroy them," Carrie ordered. "All of them. No research. No samples. Nothing that could be used to—"

An alarm cut through the command center. Multiple screens shifted to show new data.

"Power spike at the Norwegian facility," Walter reported tersely. "Similar signatures to what we saw before the Finland site activated."

"Impossible." Howard's face went grey. "The containment protocols—"

"Are failing." Caspian stood, ignoring the doctor's protests. "Whatever Novak's people did, they've found a way to wake the other fragments."

The tactical display updated with new information. More facilities showing signs of activation. A pattern spreading across the globe like frost across glass.

"Director." Walter's voice was very quiet. "We're detecting temperature drops at all identified sites. The same pattern as Finland."

Carrie's decision was immediate. "Activate all field teams. Full containment protocols. Nothing gets out of those facilities."

"It won't be enough." Howard's words hung in the cold air. "Arthur knew... he knew they'd try again. That's why he left contingencies. Failsafes."

"Where?" Caspian's Emperor Eye caught the subtle shift in Howard's expression.

"In the one place Novak's people could never reach. The heart of A.T.L.A.S. itself." Howard looked directly at Carrie. "Director, it's time to open the Omega Vault."

Through the command center's windows, snow began to fall on Helsinki. Unnatural snow, forming patterns as it descended. Patterns that looked almost like eyes.