Dial (Ben10/Marvel Cinematic Universe SI)
- Thread starter DesertChocolate
- Start date
Well, there's options. Hell, they can even make a good host if they won't just throw people in. Though the question of if Malick will even tell them about it comes up, you know?
- Location
- los angeles
It was meant as a compliment,also it's a nice way to properly include pietro and Wanda being villains before joining the avengers while also sticking to the MCU's no X-men policy
- Location
- Home
I vote Malick's daughter. She looked highly intelligent and completely amoral but the show wasted her on some weird sorta romance that went nowhere
Well, that and death by parasitic infection. Which... ick. She didn't even seem to deserve it that much, damn.
25
Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
"Pietro, what are we doing here?" Wanda asked her brother later. She was sitting on a bed with her back to a stone wall, eyes on her brother as he looked out the window with his arms crossed.
He looked at her, then back out of the window. "...Getting revenge."
"I'm not so sure of that anymore."
The pair had been given a room in the castle to themselves. It was more expensive than any home they'd ever lived in, with beautiful art on the walls, silk sheets, and a beautiful view of the countryside.
Wanda watched as her brother continued to stare out the window. After a moment, he spoke.
"He's going to help us kill Tony Stark. To kill the Avengers," he said with conviction.
"And then?" Wanda asked curiously.
He said nothing, any righteousness fading.
"He has brought monsters here. We've... we've been responsible for killing people. I'm not so sure of what we're doing here, Pietro."
Her brother frowned in thought. He shook his head after a while. "We will stay until the Avengers are dead. Then... then we leave. Go back home."
"And if he decides not to let us?"
He had nothing to say to that.
"We can't do this, Pietro. Whatever we are doing here, it isn't what we wanted for ourselves... I think we need to plan our escape."
------
Downstairs, other people were dealing with certain issues at the same time the twins were dealing with their consciences.
"Fascinating," Sterns said, watching the objects gathered from the HYDRA academy and the raid on the Fridge get brought into the large room that had been turned from a spare kitchen into a laboratory. The items were placed at the side of the room, which was full of tables, computers, and counters. "These items will sky-rocket my research and make it so I don't have to do everything from scratch."
"Yeah, there's some cool stuff here," Garrett said flippantly, biting into a piece of beef jerky.
"Yes... 'cool stuff'," Sterns responded, annoyed. He turned to look at Garrett. "Must you be here?"
"Hey, I'm the one who brought the stuff you're so gaga over," Garrett said, putting a hand on his chest. "You could stand to be a little nicer."
"Hmph," scoffing, Sterns looked over at a cage in the background. "I'm nice to those who are worthy of it, and you have yet to prove yourself worthy of anything more than being a delivery boy. In the meantime, I have to work on the girl."
"Girl?" Garrett looked towards the cage and blinked.
The girl in the cage was glaring out at them. She was in her late teens, thin from lack of proper nutrition, wearing a white prison jumpsuit. Her black hair was matted, and her eyes were wild. She was yelling in Spanish, shaking her cage as best as she could.
"Damn, spitfire ain't she?" Garrett asked, eyeing her as one would a caged animal.
"More than that," Sterns said. "She killed three of our men when we tried to transport her."
"That little thing?" Garrett grinned. "She got laser eyes or something?"
"No. She was, according to records at the HYDRA academy, taken from Mexico when she was a toddler. She was found surrounded by the bodies of dead gang members who had killed her mother," Sterns idly said.
"Shit..." Garrett responded seriously, suddenly much more wary of the prisoner.
"Indeed. HYDRA got their hands on her but soon found that another group was trying to take her as well. She was brought to the academy, taken to the depths of the school, and found to have increased ability to absorb combat skills, as well as naturally enhanced speed, strength, and senses. Even her healing is enhanced," Sterns said, sounding absolutely fascinated.
Garrett froze, and Sterns pretended not to notice. "Lucky we found this, 'Black Sky'. She would have died in months under the care of those ingrate scientists at the Academy."
"What do you mean?" Garrett asked.
"They were planning to dissect her, after finding she was resistant to being trained," Sterns turned away and watched as a large object was wheeled into the room. A tube big enough to contain a human. "I have other plans for her. Using these," Sterns turned and lifted something for Garrett to look at. He blinked.
"Now that is one big ass diamond."
"It isn't diamond you troglodyte," Sterns hefted the cracked piece of blue-green crystal. "No, it is far more durable than any known substance on the planet besides vibranium and, despite all appearances to the contrary, organic. This, Mr. Garrett, may be step one in my research. But first," Sterns looked around at the soldiers surrounding him. "I have something I wish to confirm."
------
"She wasn't there," Helen hissed at Strucker as they walked through the hallways together. "Davida is still with SHIELD."
"Yes, and I am trying to discover where she is, as per our deal," Strucker said, moving quickly. "But even Sterns hasn't been able to get through the AI SHIELD is using to defend their files, at least without him starting anything that would bring their eyes upon us. I suspect she is being held on the Insight Helicarriers."
"Then my girls and I can get her," Helen said without a second thought.
"You will fight the Avengers then."
"We can take them."
"No one can take them!" Strucker stopped spinning to look at her. "I have an army, I have super-human soldiers, miracles and monsters! But the Chitauri armor cannot defeat Iron Man! My monster cannot fight the Hulk or Dial on his own! My super-soldiers are worthless against Captain America! We are outmatched, and we need more!" Strucker yelled into the stubborn woman's face.
The two stared at each other in the stone hallway.
"You're afraid," Helen accused.
"I'm pragmatic. SHIELD has the quality to defeat our quantity. But I am building those numbers... And Stern has an idea. Three targets he wants to kidnap. People who can help us take the Helicarriers and perhaps even the Avengers head on."
"Who-"
"Sir!" The two turned to see List walking towards them hurriedly. "Sterns is making something he wishes us to look at. Gamma radiators."
"What?" Strucker said, shocked.
"He... he thinks we can make more like the Hulk."
Strucker thought about that. Fast. Too fast. Sterns was trying to accelerate everything... perhaps Strucker could use that to his advantage. "He is certain?"
"Yes."
"Then tell him he's authorized. Oversee the project, and make sure to have Deathlok, Abomination, and Wanda on standby. Ask our soldiers to volunteer."
"You think anyone will?" Helen asked.
Strucker looked at her, then continued his walking. "Many in this world would sacrifice for the slightest bit of power. And the Hulk and Abomination represent more than a little bit of power."
"I have also," List continued, following with Helen. "Begun the construction of the cybernetics, as per the Cybertek designs. I'm also having our scientists look at the Centipede serum with the girl, Raina."
"Then we will have an army enough to fight against the Avengers," Strucker said firmly, a small smile coming to his face. "Tell me about the other projects."
------
January 15th, 2014
"Your project needs work, Sterns," Strucker said as he stood in the laboratory of Sterns.
The gamma-irradiated scientist smiled. "Yes, but I have simply found what doesn't work and that is progress."
They were looking at the results of Sterns experiments, men and women in cages within a large tent set up on the grounds. Eleven in all, four woman and seven men, all of them in too much pain to move. Two of the women and four of the men had green skin after the experimentation, their bodies misshapen and twisted, muscles on their bodies growing and shrinking at random as they screamed in pain and horror. Strucker could hear their bones snapping over and over as they shattered under the immense pressure of their own muscles strength before healing back, only to break again. Some of them had even grown strange appendages, tentacles from their arms and legs, while one of the women had a leg turned to a long stump of flesh.
"The gamma radiators proved what I've always suspected. Bruce and I are not accidents, we are genetically built to accept gamma radiation, to be empowered by it. Emil Blonsky does not have the gene naturally, but the super soldier serum he was given, as crude as it was, allowed him to become what he is now," Sterns said with a grin.
"And you believe you have isolated the gene?" Strucker asked.
Sterns, in answer, turned to leave the tent and walked out. Strucker followed after an annoyed scowl at Sterns arrogance.
Sterns led him to another tent, where they found several people waiting inside as they worked around two patients on tables.
"Two is now stable." Sterns said firmly. "One already injected with the Centipede serum while having the gene, the other using Abomination's blood as a catalyst."
"I suppose that would be her," Stucker said, nodding towards the massive being on one table.
"Yes, Rana Philips," Sterns confirmed.
The woman in question looked like a more slender and female version of Blonsky. She had the same enormous muscles, the same hard exterior and dark green coloration, slightly glowing eyes, and seemed to maintain her hair though it had become green in color. She was awake and lucid, looking around at the scientists experimenting on her. As they watched, she shrank until she had become a normal human woman, with brown hair, green eyes, and a fit form, if not as impressive as she had been before.
"Such control," Strucker noted with a raised eyebrow.
"But she is not as powerful as a result," Sterns noted. "Still, a stable result is good. The other is odd, however," Sterns nodded towards a man who was asleep on the other side of the tent. The man was green, but he seemed to grow and shrink at random, much like the victims in the other tent. Unlike them, he was at peace.
"Drugged?" Strucker asked.
"Hardly. No, this is apparently how his powers manifest. As it is, I'm not sure if he can control it, especially with his... feeble, personality."
"What do you mean?" Strucker asked.
"Benjamin Tibbets is not a... strong person, unlike Rana," Sterns explained. "He volunteered to become powerful. Did you know he is not even HYDRA? He begged to defect from SHIELD rather than die."
Strucker blinked. "But... SHIELD was winning."
"As I said, Strucker. He is not a strong person, physically or mentally, and I fear that will interfere somewhat in his usefulness. Rana, however, proves that the process is useful, and I can at least suggest using the others as canon fodder. As for candidates, I believe I have a perfect one in mind."
"...Very well," Strucker decided. "And the other experiment?"
"I did not begin it yet," Sterns admitted. "I wished to make sure that one worked perfectly. Despite the positive results garnered here, I do not wish to waste any more soldiers. Especially since the Black Sky is so valuable."
"Black Sky," Strucker mused quietly. "I thought that creature was dead."
"Almost," Sterns smiled. "But don't worry. She is undergoing the Faustus Method now. Soon, she shall be ours, and then I will enhance her to be a perfect warrior."
"...Very well. In the mean time, have Rana test with Davida's team. I wish to see how powerful she really is."
"Understood," Sterns said. Somehow, he sounded almost mocking.
Strucker noted that, and looked over at the young woman watching Rana Philips transform back into her monstrous form with a fascinated glimmer in her eyes.
She'd come with Garrett, who insisted on calling her 'Flowers' despite her preference for her actual name, Raina. She had short black hair that fell in artful curls around her pretty face and carried herself with the sort of vulnerability that screamed for people to care for her. Which only made Strucker distrust her more.
"Has she been helpful?" Strucker asked as Sterns watched her as well.
"Yes... but worryingly so," Sterns said. "She has the air of a fanatic. She can't seem to stop staring at the Maximoffs, and even Blonsky has drawn an admiring glance where many would shy their gaze away."
"A fan of Enhanced?" Strucker asked.
"More that she covets powers similar to them," Sterns replied.
"Hm," Strucker frowned. After a moment, he turned around. "I'll speak to her later. Keep me apprised."
------
Hours after Sterns' projects had started in earnest, Strucker received horrible news.
"Whitehall is being attacked," List said to Strucker later.
von Strucker, Gideon Malick, and Garrett had been perusing files together, planning their next attack strategy when List came into the room. Strucker looked up at List, shocked. "Are you sure, List?"
"We've been cut off from communications with his people, and reports have come in from social media that vehicles with an odd version of SHIELD's symbol have shown up at the building," List confirmed.
"Damn!" Garrett cursed. "We could use that old man and his people."
"Has anyone been able to get through?" Malick asked, his jowls tightening when List shook his head. "Then it is them. We haven't been able to communicate during dedicated SHIELD raids. The second they start actually trying to keep us out..."
"We must find a way," Strucker decreed.
"There is one," Garrett said. When the room looked at him, he smiled. "Well you've been working on it, haven't you? List told me about that little 'claw' of yours."
When Strucker glared at List, the man sighed in annoyance. "He overheard me designing it."
"Astral projection, right?" Garrett asked. "Sounds like a neat trick."
"An unproven trick," Strucker said firmly. "Theorized by Sterns after his brief work enhancing Davida's team."
"But you think it can bypass the communications blackout?" Malick asked.
Strucker froze, thinking. After a while, he nodded slowly. "Yes... Sterns theorized it to be possible..."
"Well?" Garrett asked.
"It's too dangerous," Strucker said. "Even for all the things we are dealing with, even as desperate as we are-"
"That's right," Garrett interrupted, his voice smooth and calm. "Desperate. We're dealing with SHIELD, and they're attacking one of our oldest leaders. We need to fight back, Strucker. We need to know what we're dealing with. We can't do it the normal way. You've to reach out for whatever you can take... You know, I'm kinda glad we've been getting our asses handed to us."
When those in the room stared at him, Garrett smiled his insincere smile. "Come on. Look at what we've got around us. Blonsky, Sterns, those crazy twins, Deathlok, those wrestling girls, all of the kinds of super soldiers we've got running around. In a few days, we've made an army more powerful than any in HYDRA's history. I think we've been making a mistake, holding back as long we have. SHIELD pushing us the way we have has only let us unleash our full potential," Garrett's voice seemed to draw them all in. "Why stop now, Strucker? When you're so close to really making our dreams come true..."
Strucker thought about that. After a moment, he removed his coat, revealing the blue polo shirt he wore beneath it. "Bring the claw and the scepter to the meditation room... it's time I tested it."
------
Later, Strucker explained what had happened to Whitehall, Garrett, Malick, and List listening closely. When he was done, Malick shook his head. "Damn shame. The old man had style."
"Wait, you thought he was old too? How long has Whitehall been alive?" Garrett asked, everyone else ignoring him.
"SHIELD has clearly gotten over whatever has paralyzed them, even to the point of using the Winter Soldier and Carl Creel in their forces," Strucker said. "For now, I suggest we continue our efforts on increasing our forces. Stern has four targets he wishes to... recruit, to our cause."
"Enhanced?" Garrett asked.
"Only one of them, an assassin SHIELD used," List said. "Two of the others are SHIELD agents. The last is related to an Avenger."
"That could be disastrous," Malick said, walking to a nearby table to pour himself a glass of scotch. "SHIELD is already on guard. Attacking three of their own, and one related to an Avenger..."
"They're exactly what we need," List said. "One has the gamma gene. The other two are prime candidates for the super-soldier serum, especially with the vials Garrett has given us."
"You've done something with that alien juice?" Garrett asked. Despite trying to sound casual, Strucker noticed the eagerness he hid.
"That girl, Raina, has some ideas," List smiled slowly. "I believe, combined with the alien crystals, we may be on to something... remarkable."
"...then we can breath, for now, I believe," Strucker said. "We'll take the targets. But after that, we focus on our army, on strengthening them."
"You want to hide?" Garrett asked, visibly disappointed.
"For a short time," Strucker said. "We need to breathe, I'm afraid. The soldiers have been pushed, hard, for three days. None of us has slept, and I can see it affecting our forces... We rest, rebuild our resources and operations, find a way to combat the incessant AI SHIELD is using, enhance our troops, and figure out our next step. Tomorrow, we take our targets. After that, we work from the shadows."
"...Fine by me," Garrett walked over to where Malick had poured a drink to take a cup as well. "Let's party, shall we?"
Malick sighed, shaking his head at Garrett. "Very well. Then I suggest, in the meantime, you keep an eye on Sterns. We're depending on that man for far too much. I believe getting rid of him once his usefulness is up would be-"
------
"-in our best interest."
Sterns raised an eyebrow as he continued to work, listening in on the conversation through a comm unit in his ear. "Hmm... Smart man."
------
"I agree," Strucker admitted. "But for now, he is helping us build an impressive force."
"Which he started building by turning eleven soldiers into mutated freaks who can't even function," Garrett noted.
"...I'll watch him as much as I can, but in the end, we may not be able to stop him," Strucker admitted. As he did, he made sure his eyes narrowed on every single person in the room. He conveyed, as best as he could, that none would comment otherwise. They seemed to understand in a moment.
Sterns was intelligent. Very, very intelligent. That intelligence, however, came with an ego and a lack of true experience, an inability to recognize another's skills at times. Such as realizing a spy would know when a room had been bugged.
The gamma-irradiated scientist was useful. But Strucker would not let that stop him from doing what needed to be done.
"Now, I must go speak with one of my new soldiers," Strucker turned and left, several guards joining him. Strucker was thinking deeply on his new allies. Allies he couldn't trust. Sterns, Garrett, Blonsky, the Twins, Davida's team, even Malick... they would tear apart the alliance, whether due to their egos, greed, obsessions, or simply being too kind or moral for the work.
Strucker couldn't trust any of them. So he would make himself allies of his own.
Several minutes of walking brought him to his destination. He strode into the lower labs and walked into a room where a glowing series of rings held the scepter of Loki floating, suspended. Strucker stared at it for a moment. Then he looked at the glove on the table. A mechanical device created by List, it had been dubbed the 'claw'. An orange metal glove with a single port on the back, designed like the armor of a demonic knight, a glove made for Satan.
Strucker put it on. The glove was designed to fight off any dangers the scepter could pose, but he still felt trepidation as he took the scepter in hand. With the weapon in hand, he turned and walked out of the lab. More walking brought him to the tent where Rana Philips and Benjamin Tibbets were being held. He walked in and glared around the room. "Out. All of you."
The scientists began to walk out. Raina moved to follow, only for Strucker to shake his head. "No, Raina. Stay," he looked at the soldiers behind him. "You, out now."
"Sir-" one of the soldier began to say. He shut his mouth when he looked into Strucker's eyes.
Rana and Raina shared a look. Strucker walked over to Rana's bedside and looked into her currently human eyes. "How are you feeling?"
Rana, the woman who could become an aberration at a moments notice, blinked at the uncharacteristic softness in her leader's voice. "I'm... I'm fine. I feel amazing, actually."
"No problems?" Strucker asked.
"Not at all, sir," Rana smiled, putting a hand to her heart, on the HYDRA symbol on her white patients uniform. "I can fight. And I'm willing to do it."
Strucker smiled back. Then he sighed. "Rana... I will speak to you frankly. Any other day, I would not. I would consider such a thing beneath me. But I've found myself realizing things. Important things. First, please. Transform into your other form."
Rana looked at Raina, who looked bewildered. After a moment, Rana nodded.
In a shifting move, Rana gained height and weight. Smooth skin became scaled. Muscles and spike sprouted across her. Raina watched Rana's transformation with a vested interest. Strucker didn't look away from Rana.
"Beautiful..." Strucker lifted the scepter in his hand. "You know what this is, Rana?"
Rana stared at the glowing weapon with fear, swallowing. "L-Loki's scepter."
"Yes. It is powerful, capable of launching directed energy blasts, gifting others with powers," Raina leaned in at that. "It can even control minds... But that last power is not reliable. Useful... but I'd rather depend on someone's personal loyalty."
He looked at Rana. "You've been controlling it well, but I can see your anger. It's in all gamma-irradiated individuals. That unending well of rage."
Rana's eyes flashed. Whatever fear she had been portraying faded away. She had been faking. Intriguing.
"Good. Because I can use that anger," Strucker leaned forward. "Rana. Thank you, for volunteering. In return, allow me to offer you a deal."
Strucker continued to speak and Rana listened. Raina's eyes widened, further and further as the conversation went on. When it was over, Strucker held out a hand. Rana took it without hesitation.
"I hear, that it is traditional, in some factions of HYDRA," Stucker flickered his eyes over to Raina. "To give enhanced individuals a name. Something powerful, to give an enhanced an inflated sense of ego, to make them more susceptible to control and manipulation. I do not subscribe to that. I want you to choose your codename, Rana. From now on, you are my right hand. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," Rana said, her voice strong and steady. Her eyes flashed. "And you promise-"
"Win or lose, Rana," Strucker said softly. "Win or lose."
Strucker turned, walking towards Benjamin Tibbets, who was still asleep on his bed. The green skinned young man kept growing and shrinking uncontrollably. Rana only had to wear oversized clothing. Benjamin, who grew portions of his body to become as large as the Hulk or Abominations, had been left with only a blanket to wear. Strucker watched him for a moment before he pressed the scepters' tip to Benjamin's chest. The specters blue orb glowed for a moment as Strucker focused. Looking deep within the orb, one might have seen a yellow flash.
Benjamin sighed, relaxing. His growing and shrinking flesh stopped until he was a skinny young man again.
Strucker shook his head. "He'll sleep... but this peace is temporary. He is a truly sick young man," With that, he turned. "Raina, come. I think you and I have things to discuss."
------
Author's Note: Ok, so, Aberration and Flux are now in. Both are lower Marvel characters, so I felt safe using them in the story. And Sterns has suggested making a run on certain individuals before HYDRA officially retreats into the shadows for a bit. Dangerous, very dangerous idea. Or ambitious, whatever you need. From that point, the war between BRIDGE and HYDRA will begin anew. Especially if they attack the wrong people.
And yes, things will slow down after this. I'm no longer constrained by my own calendar for this story, so now I can take more time with events than I could before, and that can only help the story.
"Pietro, what are we doing here?" Wanda asked her brother later. She was sitting on a bed with her back to a stone wall, eyes on her brother as he looked out the window with his arms crossed.
He looked at her, then back out of the window. "...Getting revenge."
"I'm not so sure of that anymore."
The pair had been given a room in the castle to themselves. It was more expensive than any home they'd ever lived in, with beautiful art on the walls, silk sheets, and a beautiful view of the countryside.
Wanda watched as her brother continued to stare out the window. After a moment, he spoke.
"He's going to help us kill Tony Stark. To kill the Avengers," he said with conviction.
"And then?" Wanda asked curiously.
He said nothing, any righteousness fading.
"He has brought monsters here. We've... we've been responsible for killing people. I'm not so sure of what we're doing here, Pietro."
Her brother frowned in thought. He shook his head after a while. "We will stay until the Avengers are dead. Then... then we leave. Go back home."
"And if he decides not to let us?"
He had nothing to say to that.
"We can't do this, Pietro. Whatever we are doing here, it isn't what we wanted for ourselves... I think we need to plan our escape."
------
Downstairs, other people were dealing with certain issues at the same time the twins were dealing with their consciences.
"Fascinating," Sterns said, watching the objects gathered from the HYDRA academy and the raid on the Fridge get brought into the large room that had been turned from a spare kitchen into a laboratory. The items were placed at the side of the room, which was full of tables, computers, and counters. "These items will sky-rocket my research and make it so I don't have to do everything from scratch."
"Yeah, there's some cool stuff here," Garrett said flippantly, biting into a piece of beef jerky.
"Yes... 'cool stuff'," Sterns responded, annoyed. He turned to look at Garrett. "Must you be here?"
"Hey, I'm the one who brought the stuff you're so gaga over," Garrett said, putting a hand on his chest. "You could stand to be a little nicer."
"Hmph," scoffing, Sterns looked over at a cage in the background. "I'm nice to those who are worthy of it, and you have yet to prove yourself worthy of anything more than being a delivery boy. In the meantime, I have to work on the girl."
"Girl?" Garrett looked towards the cage and blinked.
The girl in the cage was glaring out at them. She was in her late teens, thin from lack of proper nutrition, wearing a white prison jumpsuit. Her black hair was matted, and her eyes were wild. She was yelling in Spanish, shaking her cage as best as she could.
"Damn, spitfire ain't she?" Garrett asked, eyeing her as one would a caged animal.
"More than that," Sterns said. "She killed three of our men when we tried to transport her."
"That little thing?" Garrett grinned. "She got laser eyes or something?"
"No. She was, according to records at the HYDRA academy, taken from Mexico when she was a toddler. She was found surrounded by the bodies of dead gang members who had killed her mother," Sterns idly said.
"Shit..." Garrett responded seriously, suddenly much more wary of the prisoner.
"Indeed. HYDRA got their hands on her but soon found that another group was trying to take her as well. She was brought to the academy, taken to the depths of the school, and found to have increased ability to absorb combat skills, as well as naturally enhanced speed, strength, and senses. Even her healing is enhanced," Sterns said, sounding absolutely fascinated.
Garrett froze, and Sterns pretended not to notice. "Lucky we found this, 'Black Sky'. She would have died in months under the care of those ingrate scientists at the Academy."
"What do you mean?" Garrett asked.
"They were planning to dissect her, after finding she was resistant to being trained," Sterns turned away and watched as a large object was wheeled into the room. A tube big enough to contain a human. "I have other plans for her. Using these," Sterns turned and lifted something for Garrett to look at. He blinked.
"Now that is one big ass diamond."
"It isn't diamond you troglodyte," Sterns hefted the cracked piece of blue-green crystal. "No, it is far more durable than any known substance on the planet besides vibranium and, despite all appearances to the contrary, organic. This, Mr. Garrett, may be step one in my research. But first," Sterns looked around at the soldiers surrounding him. "I have something I wish to confirm."
------
"She wasn't there," Helen hissed at Strucker as they walked through the hallways together. "Davida is still with SHIELD."
"Yes, and I am trying to discover where she is, as per our deal," Strucker said, moving quickly. "But even Sterns hasn't been able to get through the AI SHIELD is using to defend their files, at least without him starting anything that would bring their eyes upon us. I suspect she is being held on the Insight Helicarriers."
"Then my girls and I can get her," Helen said without a second thought.
"You will fight the Avengers then."
"We can take them."
"No one can take them!" Strucker stopped spinning to look at her. "I have an army, I have super-human soldiers, miracles and monsters! But the Chitauri armor cannot defeat Iron Man! My monster cannot fight the Hulk or Dial on his own! My super-soldiers are worthless against Captain America! We are outmatched, and we need more!" Strucker yelled into the stubborn woman's face.
The two stared at each other in the stone hallway.
"You're afraid," Helen accused.
"I'm pragmatic. SHIELD has the quality to defeat our quantity. But I am building those numbers... And Stern has an idea. Three targets he wants to kidnap. People who can help us take the Helicarriers and perhaps even the Avengers head on."
"Who-"
"Sir!" The two turned to see List walking towards them hurriedly. "Sterns is making something he wishes us to look at. Gamma radiators."
"What?" Strucker said, shocked.
"He... he thinks we can make more like the Hulk."
Strucker thought about that. Fast. Too fast. Sterns was trying to accelerate everything... perhaps Strucker could use that to his advantage. "He is certain?"
"Yes."
"Then tell him he's authorized. Oversee the project, and make sure to have Deathlok, Abomination, and Wanda on standby. Ask our soldiers to volunteer."
"You think anyone will?" Helen asked.
Strucker looked at her, then continued his walking. "Many in this world would sacrifice for the slightest bit of power. And the Hulk and Abomination represent more than a little bit of power."
"I have also," List continued, following with Helen. "Begun the construction of the cybernetics, as per the Cybertek designs. I'm also having our scientists look at the Centipede serum with the girl, Raina."
"Then we will have an army enough to fight against the Avengers," Strucker said firmly, a small smile coming to his face. "Tell me about the other projects."
------
January 15th, 2014
"Your project needs work, Sterns," Strucker said as he stood in the laboratory of Sterns.
The gamma-irradiated scientist smiled. "Yes, but I have simply found what doesn't work and that is progress."
They were looking at the results of Sterns experiments, men and women in cages within a large tent set up on the grounds. Eleven in all, four woman and seven men, all of them in too much pain to move. Two of the women and four of the men had green skin after the experimentation, their bodies misshapen and twisted, muscles on their bodies growing and shrinking at random as they screamed in pain and horror. Strucker could hear their bones snapping over and over as they shattered under the immense pressure of their own muscles strength before healing back, only to break again. Some of them had even grown strange appendages, tentacles from their arms and legs, while one of the women had a leg turned to a long stump of flesh.
"The gamma radiators proved what I've always suspected. Bruce and I are not accidents, we are genetically built to accept gamma radiation, to be empowered by it. Emil Blonsky does not have the gene naturally, but the super soldier serum he was given, as crude as it was, allowed him to become what he is now," Sterns said with a grin.
"And you believe you have isolated the gene?" Strucker asked.
Sterns, in answer, turned to leave the tent and walked out. Strucker followed after an annoyed scowl at Sterns arrogance.
Sterns led him to another tent, where they found several people waiting inside as they worked around two patients on tables.
"Two is now stable." Sterns said firmly. "One already injected with the Centipede serum while having the gene, the other using Abomination's blood as a catalyst."
"I suppose that would be her," Stucker said, nodding towards the massive being on one table.
"Yes, Rana Philips," Sterns confirmed.
The woman in question looked like a more slender and female version of Blonsky. She had the same enormous muscles, the same hard exterior and dark green coloration, slightly glowing eyes, and seemed to maintain her hair though it had become green in color. She was awake and lucid, looking around at the scientists experimenting on her. As they watched, she shrank until she had become a normal human woman, with brown hair, green eyes, and a fit form, if not as impressive as she had been before.
"Such control," Strucker noted with a raised eyebrow.
"But she is not as powerful as a result," Sterns noted. "Still, a stable result is good. The other is odd, however," Sterns nodded towards a man who was asleep on the other side of the tent. The man was green, but he seemed to grow and shrink at random, much like the victims in the other tent. Unlike them, he was at peace.
"Drugged?" Strucker asked.
"Hardly. No, this is apparently how his powers manifest. As it is, I'm not sure if he can control it, especially with his... feeble, personality."
"What do you mean?" Strucker asked.
"Benjamin Tibbets is not a... strong person, unlike Rana," Sterns explained. "He volunteered to become powerful. Did you know he is not even HYDRA? He begged to defect from SHIELD rather than die."
Strucker blinked. "But... SHIELD was winning."
"As I said, Strucker. He is not a strong person, physically or mentally, and I fear that will interfere somewhat in his usefulness. Rana, however, proves that the process is useful, and I can at least suggest using the others as canon fodder. As for candidates, I believe I have a perfect one in mind."
"...Very well," Strucker decided. "And the other experiment?"
"I did not begin it yet," Sterns admitted. "I wished to make sure that one worked perfectly. Despite the positive results garnered here, I do not wish to waste any more soldiers. Especially since the Black Sky is so valuable."
"Black Sky," Strucker mused quietly. "I thought that creature was dead."
"Almost," Sterns smiled. "But don't worry. She is undergoing the Faustus Method now. Soon, she shall be ours, and then I will enhance her to be a perfect warrior."
"...Very well. In the mean time, have Rana test with Davida's team. I wish to see how powerful she really is."
"Understood," Sterns said. Somehow, he sounded almost mocking.
Strucker noted that, and looked over at the young woman watching Rana Philips transform back into her monstrous form with a fascinated glimmer in her eyes.
She'd come with Garrett, who insisted on calling her 'Flowers' despite her preference for her actual name, Raina. She had short black hair that fell in artful curls around her pretty face and carried herself with the sort of vulnerability that screamed for people to care for her. Which only made Strucker distrust her more.
"Has she been helpful?" Strucker asked as Sterns watched her as well.
"Yes... but worryingly so," Sterns said. "She has the air of a fanatic. She can't seem to stop staring at the Maximoffs, and even Blonsky has drawn an admiring glance where many would shy their gaze away."
"A fan of Enhanced?" Strucker asked.
"More that she covets powers similar to them," Sterns replied.
"Hm," Strucker frowned. After a moment, he turned around. "I'll speak to her later. Keep me apprised."
------
Hours after Sterns' projects had started in earnest, Strucker received horrible news.
"Whitehall is being attacked," List said to Strucker later.
von Strucker, Gideon Malick, and Garrett had been perusing files together, planning their next attack strategy when List came into the room. Strucker looked up at List, shocked. "Are you sure, List?"
"We've been cut off from communications with his people, and reports have come in from social media that vehicles with an odd version of SHIELD's symbol have shown up at the building," List confirmed.
"Damn!" Garrett cursed. "We could use that old man and his people."
"Has anyone been able to get through?" Malick asked, his jowls tightening when List shook his head. "Then it is them. We haven't been able to communicate during dedicated SHIELD raids. The second they start actually trying to keep us out..."
"We must find a way," Strucker decreed.
"There is one," Garrett said. When the room looked at him, he smiled. "Well you've been working on it, haven't you? List told me about that little 'claw' of yours."
When Strucker glared at List, the man sighed in annoyance. "He overheard me designing it."
"Astral projection, right?" Garrett asked. "Sounds like a neat trick."
"An unproven trick," Strucker said firmly. "Theorized by Sterns after his brief work enhancing Davida's team."
"But you think it can bypass the communications blackout?" Malick asked.
Strucker froze, thinking. After a while, he nodded slowly. "Yes... Sterns theorized it to be possible..."
"Well?" Garrett asked.
"It's too dangerous," Strucker said. "Even for all the things we are dealing with, even as desperate as we are-"
"That's right," Garrett interrupted, his voice smooth and calm. "Desperate. We're dealing with SHIELD, and they're attacking one of our oldest leaders. We need to fight back, Strucker. We need to know what we're dealing with. We can't do it the normal way. You've to reach out for whatever you can take... You know, I'm kinda glad we've been getting our asses handed to us."
When those in the room stared at him, Garrett smiled his insincere smile. "Come on. Look at what we've got around us. Blonsky, Sterns, those crazy twins, Deathlok, those wrestling girls, all of the kinds of super soldiers we've got running around. In a few days, we've made an army more powerful than any in HYDRA's history. I think we've been making a mistake, holding back as long we have. SHIELD pushing us the way we have has only let us unleash our full potential," Garrett's voice seemed to draw them all in. "Why stop now, Strucker? When you're so close to really making our dreams come true..."
Strucker thought about that. After a moment, he removed his coat, revealing the blue polo shirt he wore beneath it. "Bring the claw and the scepter to the meditation room... it's time I tested it."
------
Later, Strucker explained what had happened to Whitehall, Garrett, Malick, and List listening closely. When he was done, Malick shook his head. "Damn shame. The old man had style."
"Wait, you thought he was old too? How long has Whitehall been alive?" Garrett asked, everyone else ignoring him.
"SHIELD has clearly gotten over whatever has paralyzed them, even to the point of using the Winter Soldier and Carl Creel in their forces," Strucker said. "For now, I suggest we continue our efforts on increasing our forces. Stern has four targets he wishes to... recruit, to our cause."
"Enhanced?" Garrett asked.
"Only one of them, an assassin SHIELD used," List said. "Two of the others are SHIELD agents. The last is related to an Avenger."
"That could be disastrous," Malick said, walking to a nearby table to pour himself a glass of scotch. "SHIELD is already on guard. Attacking three of their own, and one related to an Avenger..."
"They're exactly what we need," List said. "One has the gamma gene. The other two are prime candidates for the super-soldier serum, especially with the vials Garrett has given us."
"You've done something with that alien juice?" Garrett asked. Despite trying to sound casual, Strucker noticed the eagerness he hid.
"That girl, Raina, has some ideas," List smiled slowly. "I believe, combined with the alien crystals, we may be on to something... remarkable."
"...then we can breath, for now, I believe," Strucker said. "We'll take the targets. But after that, we focus on our army, on strengthening them."
"You want to hide?" Garrett asked, visibly disappointed.
"For a short time," Strucker said. "We need to breathe, I'm afraid. The soldiers have been pushed, hard, for three days. None of us has slept, and I can see it affecting our forces... We rest, rebuild our resources and operations, find a way to combat the incessant AI SHIELD is using, enhance our troops, and figure out our next step. Tomorrow, we take our targets. After that, we work from the shadows."
"...Fine by me," Garrett walked over to where Malick had poured a drink to take a cup as well. "Let's party, shall we?"
Malick sighed, shaking his head at Garrett. "Very well. Then I suggest, in the meantime, you keep an eye on Sterns. We're depending on that man for far too much. I believe getting rid of him once his usefulness is up would be-"
------
"-in our best interest."
Sterns raised an eyebrow as he continued to work, listening in on the conversation through a comm unit in his ear. "Hmm... Smart man."
------
"I agree," Strucker admitted. "But for now, he is helping us build an impressive force."
"Which he started building by turning eleven soldiers into mutated freaks who can't even function," Garrett noted.
"...I'll watch him as much as I can, but in the end, we may not be able to stop him," Strucker admitted. As he did, he made sure his eyes narrowed on every single person in the room. He conveyed, as best as he could, that none would comment otherwise. They seemed to understand in a moment.
Sterns was intelligent. Very, very intelligent. That intelligence, however, came with an ego and a lack of true experience, an inability to recognize another's skills at times. Such as realizing a spy would know when a room had been bugged.
The gamma-irradiated scientist was useful. But Strucker would not let that stop him from doing what needed to be done.
"Now, I must go speak with one of my new soldiers," Strucker turned and left, several guards joining him. Strucker was thinking deeply on his new allies. Allies he couldn't trust. Sterns, Garrett, Blonsky, the Twins, Davida's team, even Malick... they would tear apart the alliance, whether due to their egos, greed, obsessions, or simply being too kind or moral for the work.
Strucker couldn't trust any of them. So he would make himself allies of his own.
Several minutes of walking brought him to his destination. He strode into the lower labs and walked into a room where a glowing series of rings held the scepter of Loki floating, suspended. Strucker stared at it for a moment. Then he looked at the glove on the table. A mechanical device created by List, it had been dubbed the 'claw'. An orange metal glove with a single port on the back, designed like the armor of a demonic knight, a glove made for Satan.
Strucker put it on. The glove was designed to fight off any dangers the scepter could pose, but he still felt trepidation as he took the scepter in hand. With the weapon in hand, he turned and walked out of the lab. More walking brought him to the tent where Rana Philips and Benjamin Tibbets were being held. He walked in and glared around the room. "Out. All of you."
The scientists began to walk out. Raina moved to follow, only for Strucker to shake his head. "No, Raina. Stay," he looked at the soldiers behind him. "You, out now."
"Sir-" one of the soldier began to say. He shut his mouth when he looked into Strucker's eyes.
Rana and Raina shared a look. Strucker walked over to Rana's bedside and looked into her currently human eyes. "How are you feeling?"
Rana, the woman who could become an aberration at a moments notice, blinked at the uncharacteristic softness in her leader's voice. "I'm... I'm fine. I feel amazing, actually."
"No problems?" Strucker asked.
"Not at all, sir," Rana smiled, putting a hand to her heart, on the HYDRA symbol on her white patients uniform. "I can fight. And I'm willing to do it."
Strucker smiled back. Then he sighed. "Rana... I will speak to you frankly. Any other day, I would not. I would consider such a thing beneath me. But I've found myself realizing things. Important things. First, please. Transform into your other form."
Rana looked at Raina, who looked bewildered. After a moment, Rana nodded.
In a shifting move, Rana gained height and weight. Smooth skin became scaled. Muscles and spike sprouted across her. Raina watched Rana's transformation with a vested interest. Strucker didn't look away from Rana.
"Beautiful..." Strucker lifted the scepter in his hand. "You know what this is, Rana?"
Rana stared at the glowing weapon with fear, swallowing. "L-Loki's scepter."
"Yes. It is powerful, capable of launching directed energy blasts, gifting others with powers," Raina leaned in at that. "It can even control minds... But that last power is not reliable. Useful... but I'd rather depend on someone's personal loyalty."
He looked at Rana. "You've been controlling it well, but I can see your anger. It's in all gamma-irradiated individuals. That unending well of rage."
Rana's eyes flashed. Whatever fear she had been portraying faded away. She had been faking. Intriguing.
"Good. Because I can use that anger," Strucker leaned forward. "Rana. Thank you, for volunteering. In return, allow me to offer you a deal."
Strucker continued to speak and Rana listened. Raina's eyes widened, further and further as the conversation went on. When it was over, Strucker held out a hand. Rana took it without hesitation.
"I hear, that it is traditional, in some factions of HYDRA," Stucker flickered his eyes over to Raina. "To give enhanced individuals a name. Something powerful, to give an enhanced an inflated sense of ego, to make them more susceptible to control and manipulation. I do not subscribe to that. I want you to choose your codename, Rana. From now on, you are my right hand. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," Rana said, her voice strong and steady. Her eyes flashed. "And you promise-"
"Win or lose, Rana," Strucker said softly. "Win or lose."
Strucker turned, walking towards Benjamin Tibbets, who was still asleep on his bed. The green skinned young man kept growing and shrinking uncontrollably. Rana only had to wear oversized clothing. Benjamin, who grew portions of his body to become as large as the Hulk or Abominations, had been left with only a blanket to wear. Strucker watched him for a moment before he pressed the scepters' tip to Benjamin's chest. The specters blue orb glowed for a moment as Strucker focused. Looking deep within the orb, one might have seen a yellow flash.
Benjamin sighed, relaxing. His growing and shrinking flesh stopped until he was a skinny young man again.
Strucker shook his head. "He'll sleep... but this peace is temporary. He is a truly sick young man," With that, he turned. "Raina, come. I think you and I have things to discuss."
------
Author's Note: Ok, so, Aberration and Flux are now in. Both are lower Marvel characters, so I felt safe using them in the story. And Sterns has suggested making a run on certain individuals before HYDRA officially retreats into the shadows for a bit. Dangerous, very dangerous idea. Or ambitious, whatever you need. From that point, the war between BRIDGE and HYDRA will begin anew. Especially if they attack the wrong people.
And yes, things will slow down after this. I'm no longer constrained by my own calendar for this story, so now I can take more time with events than I could before, and that can only help the story.
Sorry man. I'm dipping into some deep Marvel things. Should I make profiles for them?
- Location
- Brazil
I wonder, is Hydra not in a better position than in cannon, here?
I got lost, too.
That or at least a link to a wiki or something.
I got lost, too.
- Location
- Brazil
Not writing in grey font would also help tremendously, especially for those reading on mobile.
- Location
- Just passing through.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hmmm, so, of the ones they want to kidnap I know Jennifer Walters a.k.a She-Hulk and Skye a.k.a Quake, but the other 2, I'm not sure.
- Location
- Chile
I feel proud of my guess.
26
January 16th, 2014
Sharon Carter/Agent 13
In a small house in Washington D.C. that had been recently bought for one of the most important women in the world, a meeting was in progress.
"Sweetie, when you became an agent, what did I tell you?" an elderly, but still healthy woman asked.
Sharon smiled at the elderly woman in the bed in front of her, holding her hand at her bedside. "You wanted me to take care of SHIELD."
"Did I?" The elderly woman looked over at the tall black man standing at the foot of her bed. "Trip, is that what I said?"
"Yes ma'am," Agent Triplett said with a wide grin.
"Hmph," the elderly woman said. She shook her head. "All that work and you young fools tear it apart in one fell swoop."
"In our defense, most of that was..." Trip stopped talking, but it was too late. He winced at the pain that flashed in the older woman's eyes.
"...I'm sorry Aunt Peggy," Sharon apologized, feeling guilty about being unable to protect her aunt's life's work.
"What for?" Peggy gave Sharon a very sharp smile. "You weren't the one who allowed parasites into your legacy."
"Not your fault," Trip said. "And in the end, the only reason SHIELD could survive was because of the good work you did."
"SHIELD survived because of you, not in spite of you, Aunt Peggy," Sharon said, squeezing the older woman's hand.
Peggy sighed. "Small comfort... You know, when I was young, I thought I'd faced all the horror the world could produce. Everything from the Darkforce to Howard Stark. And now, poor Steve will have to face all of that," she looked between Sharon and Trip. "You'll both help him."
It wasn't a plea. It was an order.
Trip and Sharon nodded. Peggy relaxed, smiling at the two. "Good. Now, tell me. I've heard of the formation of BRIDGE, but I wish to know about the reactions of certain individuals during the discussion. The Russian President's aide, a woman with brown hair, how did she act?"
As the legacies of the Howling Commando's and Peggy Carter informed the elderly woman, a small box full of pills sat innocently on the nightstand next to Peggy's bed.
------
When Sharon and Trip left Peggy's home, they entered Trip's car together. Trip started the car and stared out of the windshield without moving. After a moment, he turned it off.
"...That woman was so strong, all of my life. The best damn spy in the world. I was always comparing every spy I knew to her." Trip said. Sharon smiled at that. "I think, today... I think I got a glimpse of that again."
"Just a bit," Sharon sighed happily. "But she seemed happy, even with all the bad news."
"The new Director will be happy to hear about that," Trip said. "I mean, Peggy's approval, you know?"
Sharon nodded. "Yeah."
"And Simmons and Dial will be happy to know the pills work."
Sharon gave Trip a grin. He put a hand on her shoulder, with Sharon grabbed. After a silent moment of happiness, they pulled away from each other.
Trip started the car, and they started driving. They stopped at a light a few miles away. Suddenly, both of their comm units switched on, brief static filling their ears before a voice came on.
"This is X, you both need to run!" the AI yelled urgently.
"X?" Trip asked, uncomprehending.
"HYDRA has sent Quinjets to your area, I'm sending a team to intercept but-"
X's frantic voice was cut off when something landed in the intersection ahead of them with a 'Boom!' of shattered concrete. Trip and Sharon stared as a tall being rose from the concrete.
She was over seven feet tall, with green scaled skin, glowing yellow eyes, and taloned feet. She was wearing a workout top and military pants, and her eyes were firmly set on Trip and Sharon.
"Shit!" Trip slammed on the accelerator, turning right and booking it down the street. The strange woman started chasing them with incredible speed. "Who the hell is this!?"
"She isn't on any records," X said. "She must be a new creation. Help is six minutes out!"
"Then we last that long!" Sharon said, opening the glove box and grabbing the submachine gun inside. She opened the window and leaned out, the wind rushing past her with the smell of french fries from a nearby fast food place drifting in the air. She sighted on the woman currently catching up with them on foot and started shooting in controlled bursts, pulling the trigger before giving up and cursing harshly in annoyance, pulling back into the car.
"She's bulletproof!" Sharon yelled.
"I miss killable bad guys!" Trip yelled back, swerving around an SUV that the woman chasing them pushed aside, sending it spinning like a top into a tree.
"HYDRA Quinjet is sighting on you, but they haven't fired," X informed them. "I'm attempting to hack them, but they've modified the Quinjet to be as low-tech as possible somehow."
"They want us alive," Trip realized, a chill going down his spine.
"Wait, where did she go-" Sharon began to say.
The woman landed on the hood of the car, crumbling the steel beneath her and sending the vehicle spinning out of control. She quickly planted her feet into the pavement so her boots left long groves as she slowed the car to a halt.
"Come on!" Trip slammed down on the accelerator, trying to run her over.
The woman, in response, tore off the hood, then reached in and pulled the car's engine out with one hand, tossing it carelessly aside.
Trip and Sharon instantly leaped out of the car, running in different directions. The woman leaped towards Trip, slamming him into the pavement. He tried to fight, but the woman simply took out a syringe and stabbed it into his neck. As he passed out, she lifted him up and threw him at the Quinjet as it floated above with the back hatch open, where he landed in the arms of a waiting soldier.
Sharon, in the meantime, was sprinting with all her speed towards a back alley nearby. Once there, she could get into a building, maybe slip past them in a maze of halls.
The scaled green woman landed in front of Sharon with a crunch of breaking asphalt. Sharon spun to avoid her, but the woman grabbed Sharon and lifted her into the air. As Sharon choked on a scaled fist strong enough to bend steel, the woman pulled her close.
"Don't worry," the woman said gently, stabbing her in the neck with another syringe. "Soon you'll no longer feel powerless ever again."
Sharon was out moments later.
The HYDRA Quinjet flew into the air and headed into the countryside. X tried to track it, Jarvis helping, and soon found it's destroyed remains in the side of a barn.
Sharon Carter and Antoine Triplett were MIA.
------
Jennifer Walters/Attorney-At-Law
Across the country, in Los Angeles California, a woman was speaking to a jury as the rest of the courtroom watching. She was a short woman, with brown hair, a cute button nose, and a voice with a high pitch. Yet, when she spoke, it was with a confidence that drew the room in. She strode on sensible heels, wearing a white blouse with a black business skirt and jacket, her hair pulled into a high ponytail and a pair of glasses that were thick enough to give her a slightly bug-eyed appearance.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury," she said, looking into the eyes of each member of the jury in question. "We've discussed the events of September 13th for a full week. I know you're all tired. You probably want to go home. But we can't leave," she shook her head, and several of the jurors actually did so as well. "Not until we know, for certain, that justice has had it's day. My client, Beatrice Trask," the woman at the prosecutor's table, a pretty blonde with sad eyes and a cast on her left arm, stood a little straighter. "Was beaten in her home, by the one person who was supposed to protect her."
She eyed the defendant, a large overweight man with black hair perfectly groomed, and eyes that were hard as they glared at the woman currently speaking. "Nicholas Trask. A man who has been accused of domestic abuse before. A man who, according to witness testimony, often used violence to intimidate and control others. When Beatrice spoke, when she told us of how the person she loved became a monster, we all knew what had to be done."
Nicolas Trask's fists clenched under the desk.
"Please," she entreated. "Show Beatrice, and the other women who faced the same horrors inflicted by Nicholas Trask, that justice does exist. Thank you."
With that, Jennifer Walters took her seat with a quiet dignity. Later that day, as a screaming Nicolas Trask was placed in cuffs and dragged away, she allowed herself a smile.
------
"Jennifer, I really wish you hadn't taken that case," an older man said later as he entered Jennifer Walters' office.
Jennifer Walters looked up from her paperwork, noting the man who was walking forward. "Hi dad, how are you?"
"Dreaming of a daughter who doesn't get herself into crap," Morris Walters was tall, well built if with a bit of beer belly under the sheriff's uniform he was wearing. His hair was the same color as his daughters, cut short and brushed back. He sat down in the chair in front of his daughter's desk with a groan. "Sweetie, you know Trask. His guys are going to retaliate somehow."
"His 'guys'," Jennifer said. "Know full well that Trask isn't worth protecting anymore. He's burned too many bridges, dad. Besides, did you see how much evidence was piled up? I get killed, he's the first on the suspect list."
"But you'll still be dead," Morris said firmly. "Look, just let me set up some deputies to protect you. At least until things cool off a bit."
Jennifer sighed, pretending to be annoyed, rather than grateful. Damnit, she was supposed to be the hardboiled lawyer, but at heart, she was always happy to see that her father loved her. The product of being a single child of a single parent. "Fine... dinner tomorrow?"
Morris smiled. He got up and walked around the deck, kissing his daughter on her head as she gave him a mock-glare, though she was clearly pleased. "I never miss it, do I?"
"Not so far," Jennifer sighed. "Anyways, I have some more paperwork to do right now. I'm guessing you already have the deputies outside?"
Morris barked a laugh. "Of course! I wasn't going to wait for you to say yes!"
Jennifer smiled at her father and looked at the photo on her desk. As she looked at it, her smile faded. Morris noticed, and looked at the photo as well. On the picture were four people. Two older women, desperately holding onto laughing children as all of them smiled at the camera. A young girl, Jennifer wearing a pink dress with a dinosaur toy in her hand. And a young boy, laughing as he held Jennifer's hand.
"...I miss him," Jennifer admitted. "I miss them."
Her father said nothing. He simply put a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
------
Late that night, Jennifer Walters entered her house carrying a box filled with files. She locked the door behind her and removed her shoes, sighing in relief as she clenched her toes against the carpet for a moment, feeling her sore feet slowly relax from a long day of standing in trial. She put the box of files on her kitchen table and walked over to the sink to grab some water, drinking it with relish. She contemplated going to sleep, but decided to make some coffee instead, and quickly set up her machine.
"I hope I'm not interrupting?" A voice she'd never heard before spoke up behind her.
"Jesus!" Jennifer spun around in shock and gaped at the man sitting at her counter.
He was odd, to say the least. His skin was green, and his head was massive. He eyed her with fascination, as though she had some secret she had to give him.
"Not him, I'm afraid, though I'm sure my contributions to society will be seen in the same light in the not so distant future," he said with a smug smile. "I am Samuel Sterns. A friend of your cousin."
Jennifer stared at him, her thoughts feeling cloudy. "You're... an Avenger?"
"Ha!" Sterns shook his head. "No. Only a friend, as I said. I simply wished to greet you, Miss Walters."
Still feeling off-kilter, she took a step forward, almost losing her balance. "What... What do you want?"
"To bring you to your full potential," Sterns said with a smile. "I have some... concentrations of Bruce's blood, from an earlier experiment. I believe you'll be most helpful in making them of use to me and advancing my studies more than anyone else."
Jennifer stumbled, landing on the floor as her eyes drifted aimlessly. "What-"
"I put a narcotic in your water," Sterns idly informed her. "It won't last long and there are no harmful side effects, but it will serve its purpose. Don't worry my dear. Soon, I'll give you a gift beyond imagining. Though I admit, it's mostly a gift for Bruce," Sterns chuckled. "He'll be so happy when he sees what you've become."
That was the last thing Jennifer heard before her world became darkness.
------
January 18th, 2014
Ava Starr/Ghost
At the same time, in a warehouse next to a harbor, an attack had gone very, very, wrong. A group of HYDRA soldiers wearing black tactical gear were roaming around the dark confines of the warehouse, spinning around as they kept their guns aimed and ready. Centipede soldiers stood among them, their eyes glowing red as they strode through the room.
"Where the hell is she now!?" one of the soldiers yelled.
"I don't know, damnit!" another replied, his eyes wide with fear. "She just-hkk!"
The men and women in the group spun to see a hand inside his chest, right where his heart lay.
The woman who had her hand in his chest was wearing an all-white outfit, armored over her chest, and with a hood that went over her head. The helmet beneath her hood was all white, with five eerie red lights that stared at them. She stood for a moment, watching the HYDRA soldiers around her. Then she squeezed her hand, and an oddly vicious, wet sounding snap came from the man.
"Open fire!" One of the soldiers yelled and they started shooting. The woman seemed to fade briefly from existence, allowing the man she had killed to fall to the ground riddled with bullets. Any shots that actually hit her, flew through her phantom-like form before she disappeared. When she appeared again, she kicked a HYDRA agent with polka-dot skin in the neck, collapsing his trachea. She disappeared again as assault rifle fire aimed at her and reappeared next to a Centipede soldier, who she punched in the face. The soldier took the blow without flinching, then grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her up. He began to throw her at the ground, but she suddenly became intangible, moving through his form and flipping backward before pressing a hand in his head, squeezing his brain moments later, then going invisible again.
She flipped behind cover, using the enemies confusion to take a moment to breathe. "Any chance on that back up? Those Centipede guys are hard to kill."
"On its way, Miss Starr," Jarvis said. "They were in the midst of saving people from an apartment fire, so they were a bit held up."
Ava Starr, codename Ghost, nodded, then got up and stepped away from her cover. With a running start, she fazed through her cover, moved at high speed in between the quantum and real world, then kicked a Centipede soldier in the chest. Her kick, augmented by her phasing, sent the Centipede soldier flying. Ghost flipped in the air and went intangible to let bullets fly past her, spinning to kick a HYDRA agent in the face, then phasing through a Centipede soldier attempting to grab her before grabbing the back of his clothes and twisting so that a HYDRA agent shooting at her hit the Centipede soldier instead. Going invisible again, she dived into cover.
One of the HYDRA soldiers cursed. "Damn it, we're supposed to capture her!?"
"Just kill her already!" another one yelled. "Strucker can study her body!"
"We've been trying-hkk!" Ava blinked at the sound of the HYDRA soldier getting interrupted.
Last time she'd heard that it was because of her. But if she wasn't the reason... Leaning out of cover, she checked out the situation.
An arrow had slammed into HYDRA soldier's heart. An arrow that was blinking.
BOOM!
Ava dropped back into cover as the arrow exploded. More arrows fell into the din, forcing the soldiers to scatter. Over forty men had been sent, of which Ava had killed ten since they'd started chasing her. Now, thanks to the mysterious archer, only twenty or so remained.
"Aid has arrived," Jarvis said over Ava's comm unit. "Prepare for transportation."
"Wait, who-"
A blue blur came to a stop next to Ava. She looked up at the being that had come into existence. "Hi, I'm Dial," the being said, in the form Ava would later learn was called Fasttrack. "Wanna get out of here-"
"Look out!" Ava yelled when a Centipede soldier came from the smoke to grab at Fasttrack.
There was a blur. Then the Centipede soldier was flying back from Fasttrack, who had taken a boxing stance. He smirked, waving his fists, which were dripping odd colored blood. "Yeah, got to hit these guys a lot to cause any damage."
He turned back to Ava. "Come on!"
Ava nodded, rising to her feet, only to blink when the alien swept her bridal style into his arms. There was a blur of motion as the room moved around them, arrows falling from the sky to kill HYDRA and Centipede soldiers. Then they were outside in front of a waiting Quinjet. Ava, panicking, went intangible and dropped to the floor.
"What just happened!?" she asked, rolling to stare at Fasttrack. He blinked. "Did you just-"
"Ava!" she turned to see the Quinjet open in the back. Inside was Bill Foster, her adoptive father, an older black man who was a bit overweight. He waved towards her, yelling as the Quinjet started up. "Come on! Let's go!"
Ava, still confused, ran into the Quinjet, Bill hugging her tightly before guiding her into a seat. Fasttrack looked at Bill Foster for a moment. "Huh. Morpheus. That's cool."
With that, Dial ran into the warehouse as the Quinjet took off into the sky.
------
Wolfgang Von Strucker
January 19th, 2014
"An entire goddamn platoon!" Strucker slammed his fist onto his desk, rage in his eyes. "Fifteen Centipede soldiers, 25 of our best, all dead or captured! And we didn't even get our objective!"
"Calm down, Wolfie," Garrett said casually, pouring a glass of scotch. Malick and List were in the room as well, watching as Strucker cursed in anger. "We still got the others."
"The others are just future experiments," Strucker said, spinning the scepter in his clawed hand. "Ava Starr was a fully fledged Enhanced! Her abilities make her one of the best assassins and thieves in the world. With more like her, there could have been nothing we could not accomplish!" Strucker's scepter glowed with his agitation.
"Hey, we can still make more super-soldiers and gamma-enhanced," Garrett said, sipping his drink.
"It is not enough to simply have brute strength," Malick said. "Ava was among the best assassins in SHIELD for a reason. Only Romanov has a better record. And well, she is..."
All the men in the room thought about Black Widow for a moment, then looked around the room, focusing on the shadows. After knowing for certain they were alone, Strucker spoke.
"The fact our men were also captured is worse. They were all equipped with cyanide tablets in their cheekbones, but we can't take any risks. We need to leave," he said in a voice that tolerated no argument.
"Damn, really?" Garrett asked, sounding honestly disappointed. "I was getting used to the place."
"It's our only move right now. SHIELD will track us down. If their captives don't tell them where we are, then whatever damned AI that's helping them will. Sterns is failing to keep it at bay. We head to the secondary location, now," Strucker glared at him.
"Ah well, I guess I'll go get my stuff then," Garrett turned and left, uncaring of any other issues that might be brought up.
Malick, on the other hand, sat still in his chair. List looked at the older man, then at Strucker. Strucker nodded for List to leave, and the scientist rose from his seat, leaving Strucker and Malick alone. Malick spoke as soon as List had left.
"Sterns tells me you refused to go forward with my proposed project."
"Yes, I did. You are asking me to believe in a fairy tale, a religious leader for us to follow. It's not practical."
"Can you say that, in a world where Thor and Loki battled in New York City?" Malick asked.
"Thor and Loki are real, tangible people," Strucker answered. "I have never seen or heard of your god before this."
"And I've worked hard to make sure of that," Malick said. "But he is a power who could make the Avengers and SHIELD fear us."
"...I'm not going to stop the project, if you wish to go ahead with it but it will be on your own time and resources, with Sterns helping you when he isn't working for me. The pieces of the monolith passed down by my family are in the vault in Germany. They are at your disposal, Malick, but know this. You won't be bringing some destined leader to rule over us all. HYDRA has outgrown the idea. Whatever you bring from that portal of yours, it can only be an asset or an enemy," Strucker stated.
Malick rose from his chair, his eyes hard. "You dare to attack him, and I swear. The pain that I will bring upon you will-"
"You are not," Strucker's voice, still and hard as stone, brought Malick to a stop. The scepter in Strucker's clawed hand glowed ominously. "The leader of HYDRA. And no one fears you anymore. I show you respect because you are due it. I allow you this project because I know what it means to you and I will not spend resources stopping you. But I will not allow us to follow a false god due to your obsessions. It. Isn't. Practical." Strucker growled out the last word.
"...Strucker. What do you know about the Inhumans?" Stucker eyed Malick, who took that as his cue to continue. "It's the name that they gave themselves, thousands of years ago. You know as well as I do that when the Confederacy starts to ask questions, they'll want more than cookie-cutter soldiers. You want your superhuman army, but you'll need something special as well. I can give it to you. But you need to understand, Strucker. Bringing our leader back could save us."
Several moments passed before Strucker visibly calmed and spoke once more.
"...Tell me about these Inhumans."
------
Author's Note: HYDRA is now officially assembled, WOA. I know people were worried about how many people were showing up, but that's the last named character for a while. We'll go one more chapter to dig into some of the other characters, namely Helen, Rana, Wanda, and Raina, and how they're each dealing with the current situation of needing to run. After that, we go into what Dial and Tony have been making. Ask my beta reader, I think it's pretty cool.
But yeah. Trip, who is important to Team Coulson. Sharon, important to Peggy, and therefore all of SHIELD. Jennifer, important to the Avengers. All kidnapped. Almost like someone wants to piss someone off at this point.
Ava got away though, and got away hard, killing ten men and leaving Hawkeye and Dial to capture or kill others. Can't wait to show the consequences of that.
Overall, I'm proud of this chapter, but I can't wait to get to the action I've been setting up all this time. SO MUCH TALKING!
Sharon Carter/Agent 13
In a small house in Washington D.C. that had been recently bought for one of the most important women in the world, a meeting was in progress.
"Sweetie, when you became an agent, what did I tell you?" an elderly, but still healthy woman asked.
Sharon smiled at the elderly woman in the bed in front of her, holding her hand at her bedside. "You wanted me to take care of SHIELD."
"Did I?" The elderly woman looked over at the tall black man standing at the foot of her bed. "Trip, is that what I said?"
"Yes ma'am," Agent Triplett said with a wide grin.
"Hmph," the elderly woman said. She shook her head. "All that work and you young fools tear it apart in one fell swoop."
"In our defense, most of that was..." Trip stopped talking, but it was too late. He winced at the pain that flashed in the older woman's eyes.
"...I'm sorry Aunt Peggy," Sharon apologized, feeling guilty about being unable to protect her aunt's life's work.
"What for?" Peggy gave Sharon a very sharp smile. "You weren't the one who allowed parasites into your legacy."
"Not your fault," Trip said. "And in the end, the only reason SHIELD could survive was because of the good work you did."
"SHIELD survived because of you, not in spite of you, Aunt Peggy," Sharon said, squeezing the older woman's hand.
Peggy sighed. "Small comfort... You know, when I was young, I thought I'd faced all the horror the world could produce. Everything from the Darkforce to Howard Stark. And now, poor Steve will have to face all of that," she looked between Sharon and Trip. "You'll both help him."
It wasn't a plea. It was an order.
Trip and Sharon nodded. Peggy relaxed, smiling at the two. "Good. Now, tell me. I've heard of the formation of BRIDGE, but I wish to know about the reactions of certain individuals during the discussion. The Russian President's aide, a woman with brown hair, how did she act?"
As the legacies of the Howling Commando's and Peggy Carter informed the elderly woman, a small box full of pills sat innocently on the nightstand next to Peggy's bed.
------
When Sharon and Trip left Peggy's home, they entered Trip's car together. Trip started the car and stared out of the windshield without moving. After a moment, he turned it off.
"...That woman was so strong, all of my life. The best damn spy in the world. I was always comparing every spy I knew to her." Trip said. Sharon smiled at that. "I think, today... I think I got a glimpse of that again."
"Just a bit," Sharon sighed happily. "But she seemed happy, even with all the bad news."
"The new Director will be happy to hear about that," Trip said. "I mean, Peggy's approval, you know?"
Sharon nodded. "Yeah."
"And Simmons and Dial will be happy to know the pills work."
Sharon gave Trip a grin. He put a hand on her shoulder, with Sharon grabbed. After a silent moment of happiness, they pulled away from each other.
Trip started the car, and they started driving. They stopped at a light a few miles away. Suddenly, both of their comm units switched on, brief static filling their ears before a voice came on.
"This is X, you both need to run!" the AI yelled urgently.
"X?" Trip asked, uncomprehending.
"HYDRA has sent Quinjets to your area, I'm sending a team to intercept but-"
X's frantic voice was cut off when something landed in the intersection ahead of them with a 'Boom!' of shattered concrete. Trip and Sharon stared as a tall being rose from the concrete.
She was over seven feet tall, with green scaled skin, glowing yellow eyes, and taloned feet. She was wearing a workout top and military pants, and her eyes were firmly set on Trip and Sharon.
"Shit!" Trip slammed on the accelerator, turning right and booking it down the street. The strange woman started chasing them with incredible speed. "Who the hell is this!?"
"She isn't on any records," X said. "She must be a new creation. Help is six minutes out!"
"Then we last that long!" Sharon said, opening the glove box and grabbing the submachine gun inside. She opened the window and leaned out, the wind rushing past her with the smell of french fries from a nearby fast food place drifting in the air. She sighted on the woman currently catching up with them on foot and started shooting in controlled bursts, pulling the trigger before giving up and cursing harshly in annoyance, pulling back into the car.
"She's bulletproof!" Sharon yelled.
"I miss killable bad guys!" Trip yelled back, swerving around an SUV that the woman chasing them pushed aside, sending it spinning like a top into a tree.
"HYDRA Quinjet is sighting on you, but they haven't fired," X informed them. "I'm attempting to hack them, but they've modified the Quinjet to be as low-tech as possible somehow."
"They want us alive," Trip realized, a chill going down his spine.
"Wait, where did she go-" Sharon began to say.
The woman landed on the hood of the car, crumbling the steel beneath her and sending the vehicle spinning out of control. She quickly planted her feet into the pavement so her boots left long groves as she slowed the car to a halt.
"Come on!" Trip slammed down on the accelerator, trying to run her over.
The woman, in response, tore off the hood, then reached in and pulled the car's engine out with one hand, tossing it carelessly aside.
Trip and Sharon instantly leaped out of the car, running in different directions. The woman leaped towards Trip, slamming him into the pavement. He tried to fight, but the woman simply took out a syringe and stabbed it into his neck. As he passed out, she lifted him up and threw him at the Quinjet as it floated above with the back hatch open, where he landed in the arms of a waiting soldier.
Sharon, in the meantime, was sprinting with all her speed towards a back alley nearby. Once there, she could get into a building, maybe slip past them in a maze of halls.
The scaled green woman landed in front of Sharon with a crunch of breaking asphalt. Sharon spun to avoid her, but the woman grabbed Sharon and lifted her into the air. As Sharon choked on a scaled fist strong enough to bend steel, the woman pulled her close.
"Don't worry," the woman said gently, stabbing her in the neck with another syringe. "Soon you'll no longer feel powerless ever again."
Sharon was out moments later.
The HYDRA Quinjet flew into the air and headed into the countryside. X tried to track it, Jarvis helping, and soon found it's destroyed remains in the side of a barn.
Sharon Carter and Antoine Triplett were MIA.
------
Jennifer Walters/Attorney-At-Law
Across the country, in Los Angeles California, a woman was speaking to a jury as the rest of the courtroom watching. She was a short woman, with brown hair, a cute button nose, and a voice with a high pitch. Yet, when she spoke, it was with a confidence that drew the room in. She strode on sensible heels, wearing a white blouse with a black business skirt and jacket, her hair pulled into a high ponytail and a pair of glasses that were thick enough to give her a slightly bug-eyed appearance.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury," she said, looking into the eyes of each member of the jury in question. "We've discussed the events of September 13th for a full week. I know you're all tired. You probably want to go home. But we can't leave," she shook her head, and several of the jurors actually did so as well. "Not until we know, for certain, that justice has had it's day. My client, Beatrice Trask," the woman at the prosecutor's table, a pretty blonde with sad eyes and a cast on her left arm, stood a little straighter. "Was beaten in her home, by the one person who was supposed to protect her."
She eyed the defendant, a large overweight man with black hair perfectly groomed, and eyes that were hard as they glared at the woman currently speaking. "Nicholas Trask. A man who has been accused of domestic abuse before. A man who, according to witness testimony, often used violence to intimidate and control others. When Beatrice spoke, when she told us of how the person she loved became a monster, we all knew what had to be done."
Nicolas Trask's fists clenched under the desk.
"Please," she entreated. "Show Beatrice, and the other women who faced the same horrors inflicted by Nicholas Trask, that justice does exist. Thank you."
With that, Jennifer Walters took her seat with a quiet dignity. Later that day, as a screaming Nicolas Trask was placed in cuffs and dragged away, she allowed herself a smile.
------
"Jennifer, I really wish you hadn't taken that case," an older man said later as he entered Jennifer Walters' office.
Jennifer Walters looked up from her paperwork, noting the man who was walking forward. "Hi dad, how are you?"
"Dreaming of a daughter who doesn't get herself into crap," Morris Walters was tall, well built if with a bit of beer belly under the sheriff's uniform he was wearing. His hair was the same color as his daughters, cut short and brushed back. He sat down in the chair in front of his daughter's desk with a groan. "Sweetie, you know Trask. His guys are going to retaliate somehow."
"His 'guys'," Jennifer said. "Know full well that Trask isn't worth protecting anymore. He's burned too many bridges, dad. Besides, did you see how much evidence was piled up? I get killed, he's the first on the suspect list."
"But you'll still be dead," Morris said firmly. "Look, just let me set up some deputies to protect you. At least until things cool off a bit."
Jennifer sighed, pretending to be annoyed, rather than grateful. Damnit, she was supposed to be the hardboiled lawyer, but at heart, she was always happy to see that her father loved her. The product of being a single child of a single parent. "Fine... dinner tomorrow?"
Morris smiled. He got up and walked around the deck, kissing his daughter on her head as she gave him a mock-glare, though she was clearly pleased. "I never miss it, do I?"
"Not so far," Jennifer sighed. "Anyways, I have some more paperwork to do right now. I'm guessing you already have the deputies outside?"
Morris barked a laugh. "Of course! I wasn't going to wait for you to say yes!"
Jennifer smiled at her father and looked at the photo on her desk. As she looked at it, her smile faded. Morris noticed, and looked at the photo as well. On the picture were four people. Two older women, desperately holding onto laughing children as all of them smiled at the camera. A young girl, Jennifer wearing a pink dress with a dinosaur toy in her hand. And a young boy, laughing as he held Jennifer's hand.
"...I miss him," Jennifer admitted. "I miss them."
Her father said nothing. He simply put a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
------
Late that night, Jennifer Walters entered her house carrying a box filled with files. She locked the door behind her and removed her shoes, sighing in relief as she clenched her toes against the carpet for a moment, feeling her sore feet slowly relax from a long day of standing in trial. She put the box of files on her kitchen table and walked over to the sink to grab some water, drinking it with relish. She contemplated going to sleep, but decided to make some coffee instead, and quickly set up her machine.
"I hope I'm not interrupting?" A voice she'd never heard before spoke up behind her.
"Jesus!" Jennifer spun around in shock and gaped at the man sitting at her counter.
He was odd, to say the least. His skin was green, and his head was massive. He eyed her with fascination, as though she had some secret she had to give him.
"Not him, I'm afraid, though I'm sure my contributions to society will be seen in the same light in the not so distant future," he said with a smug smile. "I am Samuel Sterns. A friend of your cousin."
Jennifer stared at him, her thoughts feeling cloudy. "You're... an Avenger?"
"Ha!" Sterns shook his head. "No. Only a friend, as I said. I simply wished to greet you, Miss Walters."
Still feeling off-kilter, she took a step forward, almost losing her balance. "What... What do you want?"
"To bring you to your full potential," Sterns said with a smile. "I have some... concentrations of Bruce's blood, from an earlier experiment. I believe you'll be most helpful in making them of use to me and advancing my studies more than anyone else."
Jennifer stumbled, landing on the floor as her eyes drifted aimlessly. "What-"
"I put a narcotic in your water," Sterns idly informed her. "It won't last long and there are no harmful side effects, but it will serve its purpose. Don't worry my dear. Soon, I'll give you a gift beyond imagining. Though I admit, it's mostly a gift for Bruce," Sterns chuckled. "He'll be so happy when he sees what you've become."
That was the last thing Jennifer heard before her world became darkness.
------
January 18th, 2014
Ava Starr/Ghost
At the same time, in a warehouse next to a harbor, an attack had gone very, very, wrong. A group of HYDRA soldiers wearing black tactical gear were roaming around the dark confines of the warehouse, spinning around as they kept their guns aimed and ready. Centipede soldiers stood among them, their eyes glowing red as they strode through the room.
"Where the hell is she now!?" one of the soldiers yelled.
"I don't know, damnit!" another replied, his eyes wide with fear. "She just-hkk!"
The men and women in the group spun to see a hand inside his chest, right where his heart lay.
The woman who had her hand in his chest was wearing an all-white outfit, armored over her chest, and with a hood that went over her head. The helmet beneath her hood was all white, with five eerie red lights that stared at them. She stood for a moment, watching the HYDRA soldiers around her. Then she squeezed her hand, and an oddly vicious, wet sounding snap came from the man.
"Open fire!" One of the soldiers yelled and they started shooting. The woman seemed to fade briefly from existence, allowing the man she had killed to fall to the ground riddled with bullets. Any shots that actually hit her, flew through her phantom-like form before she disappeared. When she appeared again, she kicked a HYDRA agent with polka-dot skin in the neck, collapsing his trachea. She disappeared again as assault rifle fire aimed at her and reappeared next to a Centipede soldier, who she punched in the face. The soldier took the blow without flinching, then grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her up. He began to throw her at the ground, but she suddenly became intangible, moving through his form and flipping backward before pressing a hand in his head, squeezing his brain moments later, then going invisible again.
She flipped behind cover, using the enemies confusion to take a moment to breathe. "Any chance on that back up? Those Centipede guys are hard to kill."
"On its way, Miss Starr," Jarvis said. "They were in the midst of saving people from an apartment fire, so they were a bit held up."
Ava Starr, codename Ghost, nodded, then got up and stepped away from her cover. With a running start, she fazed through her cover, moved at high speed in between the quantum and real world, then kicked a Centipede soldier in the chest. Her kick, augmented by her phasing, sent the Centipede soldier flying. Ghost flipped in the air and went intangible to let bullets fly past her, spinning to kick a HYDRA agent in the face, then phasing through a Centipede soldier attempting to grab her before grabbing the back of his clothes and twisting so that a HYDRA agent shooting at her hit the Centipede soldier instead. Going invisible again, she dived into cover.
One of the HYDRA soldiers cursed. "Damn it, we're supposed to capture her!?"
"Just kill her already!" another one yelled. "Strucker can study her body!"
"We've been trying-hkk!" Ava blinked at the sound of the HYDRA soldier getting interrupted.
Last time she'd heard that it was because of her. But if she wasn't the reason... Leaning out of cover, she checked out the situation.
An arrow had slammed into HYDRA soldier's heart. An arrow that was blinking.
BOOM!
Ava dropped back into cover as the arrow exploded. More arrows fell into the din, forcing the soldiers to scatter. Over forty men had been sent, of which Ava had killed ten since they'd started chasing her. Now, thanks to the mysterious archer, only twenty or so remained.
"Aid has arrived," Jarvis said over Ava's comm unit. "Prepare for transportation."
"Wait, who-"
A blue blur came to a stop next to Ava. She looked up at the being that had come into existence. "Hi, I'm Dial," the being said, in the form Ava would later learn was called Fasttrack. "Wanna get out of here-"
"Look out!" Ava yelled when a Centipede soldier came from the smoke to grab at Fasttrack.
There was a blur. Then the Centipede soldier was flying back from Fasttrack, who had taken a boxing stance. He smirked, waving his fists, which were dripping odd colored blood. "Yeah, got to hit these guys a lot to cause any damage."
He turned back to Ava. "Come on!"
Ava nodded, rising to her feet, only to blink when the alien swept her bridal style into his arms. There was a blur of motion as the room moved around them, arrows falling from the sky to kill HYDRA and Centipede soldiers. Then they were outside in front of a waiting Quinjet. Ava, panicking, went intangible and dropped to the floor.
"What just happened!?" she asked, rolling to stare at Fasttrack. He blinked. "Did you just-"
"Ava!" she turned to see the Quinjet open in the back. Inside was Bill Foster, her adoptive father, an older black man who was a bit overweight. He waved towards her, yelling as the Quinjet started up. "Come on! Let's go!"
Ava, still confused, ran into the Quinjet, Bill hugging her tightly before guiding her into a seat. Fasttrack looked at Bill Foster for a moment. "Huh. Morpheus. That's cool."
With that, Dial ran into the warehouse as the Quinjet took off into the sky.
------
Wolfgang Von Strucker
January 19th, 2014
"An entire goddamn platoon!" Strucker slammed his fist onto his desk, rage in his eyes. "Fifteen Centipede soldiers, 25 of our best, all dead or captured! And we didn't even get our objective!"
"Calm down, Wolfie," Garrett said casually, pouring a glass of scotch. Malick and List were in the room as well, watching as Strucker cursed in anger. "We still got the others."
"The others are just future experiments," Strucker said, spinning the scepter in his clawed hand. "Ava Starr was a fully fledged Enhanced! Her abilities make her one of the best assassins and thieves in the world. With more like her, there could have been nothing we could not accomplish!" Strucker's scepter glowed with his agitation.
"Hey, we can still make more super-soldiers and gamma-enhanced," Garrett said, sipping his drink.
"It is not enough to simply have brute strength," Malick said. "Ava was among the best assassins in SHIELD for a reason. Only Romanov has a better record. And well, she is..."
All the men in the room thought about Black Widow for a moment, then looked around the room, focusing on the shadows. After knowing for certain they were alone, Strucker spoke.
"The fact our men were also captured is worse. They were all equipped with cyanide tablets in their cheekbones, but we can't take any risks. We need to leave," he said in a voice that tolerated no argument.
"Damn, really?" Garrett asked, sounding honestly disappointed. "I was getting used to the place."
"It's our only move right now. SHIELD will track us down. If their captives don't tell them where we are, then whatever damned AI that's helping them will. Sterns is failing to keep it at bay. We head to the secondary location, now," Strucker glared at him.
"Ah well, I guess I'll go get my stuff then," Garrett turned and left, uncaring of any other issues that might be brought up.
Malick, on the other hand, sat still in his chair. List looked at the older man, then at Strucker. Strucker nodded for List to leave, and the scientist rose from his seat, leaving Strucker and Malick alone. Malick spoke as soon as List had left.
"Sterns tells me you refused to go forward with my proposed project."
"Yes, I did. You are asking me to believe in a fairy tale, a religious leader for us to follow. It's not practical."
"Can you say that, in a world where Thor and Loki battled in New York City?" Malick asked.
"Thor and Loki are real, tangible people," Strucker answered. "I have never seen or heard of your god before this."
"And I've worked hard to make sure of that," Malick said. "But he is a power who could make the Avengers and SHIELD fear us."
"...I'm not going to stop the project, if you wish to go ahead with it but it will be on your own time and resources, with Sterns helping you when he isn't working for me. The pieces of the monolith passed down by my family are in the vault in Germany. They are at your disposal, Malick, but know this. You won't be bringing some destined leader to rule over us all. HYDRA has outgrown the idea. Whatever you bring from that portal of yours, it can only be an asset or an enemy," Strucker stated.
Malick rose from his chair, his eyes hard. "You dare to attack him, and I swear. The pain that I will bring upon you will-"
"You are not," Strucker's voice, still and hard as stone, brought Malick to a stop. The scepter in Strucker's clawed hand glowed ominously. "The leader of HYDRA. And no one fears you anymore. I show you respect because you are due it. I allow you this project because I know what it means to you and I will not spend resources stopping you. But I will not allow us to follow a false god due to your obsessions. It. Isn't. Practical." Strucker growled out the last word.
"...Strucker. What do you know about the Inhumans?" Stucker eyed Malick, who took that as his cue to continue. "It's the name that they gave themselves, thousands of years ago. You know as well as I do that when the Confederacy starts to ask questions, they'll want more than cookie-cutter soldiers. You want your superhuman army, but you'll need something special as well. I can give it to you. But you need to understand, Strucker. Bringing our leader back could save us."
Several moments passed before Strucker visibly calmed and spoke once more.
"...Tell me about these Inhumans."
------
Author's Note: HYDRA is now officially assembled, WOA. I know people were worried about how many people were showing up, but that's the last named character for a while. We'll go one more chapter to dig into some of the other characters, namely Helen, Rana, Wanda, and Raina, and how they're each dealing with the current situation of needing to run. After that, we go into what Dial and Tony have been making. Ask my beta reader, I think it's pretty cool.
But yeah. Trip, who is important to Team Coulson. Sharon, important to Peggy, and therefore all of SHIELD. Jennifer, important to the Avengers. All kidnapped. Almost like someone wants to piss someone off at this point.
Ava got away though, and got away hard, killing ten men and leaving Hawkeye and Dial to capture or kill others. Can't wait to show the consequences of that.
Overall, I'm proud of this chapter, but I can't wait to get to the action I've been setting up all this time. SO MUCH TALKING!
Last edited:
RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
And now I know that HIVE exists in the MCUniverse. I've really gotta go rewatch Agents of Shield now.
Akatsunami
The Bonetatoist
- Location
- Brazil
Hydra wouldn't be good pokemon trainers, they tried to catch a ghost type with normal types, thats silly, you can't catch them all like that.
- Location
- Brazil
HIVE?
Inhumans? Is that the one lead by that whispering guy with SUPAH good sonic powers?
What's the Confederacy?
Malick?
Inhumans? Is that the one lead by that whispering guy with SUPAH good sonic powers?
What's the Confederacy?
Malick?
RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
Malick is the son of the Red Skull. HIVE is an ancient hydra god. Don't know about the confederacy. Yeah, the Inhumans are lead by Black Bolt.
- Location
- Home
Evil Inhuman that wants to unite the world, under his singular will and is worshipped by HYDRA as a god
A race of superpowered humans that were created by the Kree as super soldiers/weapons. But they rebelled and the Kree thought they wiped them out. A few live on Earth with the secret mountain community Afterlife and the rest living in Attilan, hidden on the moon
Entitled alien assholes that want Inhumans as a slave soldiers and to mine Earth of it's resources
Gideon Malick a HYDRA agent that was on the World Security Council, the bosses of SHIELD. He's the head of the religious fanatics in HYDRA that want to bring back Hive
- Location
- Brazil
Wow, Inhumans has 10% on Rotten Tomatoes.
In any case, gamma radiation shenanigans are very worrying, as are these centipede (??) dudes.
This super soldier army is coming for too easily.
Then again, "army" might be thirty or fourty guys.
But seriously, default white-ish font would be appreciated. And links.
In any case, gamma radiation shenanigans are very worrying, as are these centipede (??) dudes.
This super soldier army is coming for too easily.
Then again, "army" might be thirty or fourty guys.
But seriously, default white-ish font would be appreciated. And links.
Season 3 is when that all becomes a thing.
Ok, this almost broke me man. THat was hilarious
Although, I think the Centipede soldiers count as steel types as well.Yeah, getting deeeeeeeeep into MCU lore. BRIDGE will have a lot of the same questions of course, so I'll have them answer more clearly, but Cambion answered rather effectively.
Actually, Hive leads the Inhumans on Earth, or did thousands of years ago, and he can infect them with a parasite that makes them loyal. Malick is his own thing in the MCU. And the Confederacy are alien dorks. Cambion says it better.
Yep, exactly right.
I'll fix it right now.