NationStates Jolt Archive

Rome, Italy

The room is a small, cramped, white-walled room. The table is stainless steel with two chairs and overhead lights,soaking everything in a bright florescent bath. A two-way mirror takes up a portion of the one wall and a door opposite it. The hum of the light is annoying, droning on and on indefinetely. In the one chair, handcuffed, is a woman. Her hair is medium red, clothes are orange, not unlike that of a prisoner. Her personal clothes and possesions were confiscated and being held in another room. Her green eyes sweep around the room, calculating odds of escape versus risk factor. All the while, her hands which are cuffed behind her back thumb around, feeling up the handcuffs, trying to determine how best to release them.

As the door opens she sits up right and a bright, vibrant smile spread across her face. A man in a suit and a stoic expression walked into the room holding a manilla file. The door slams shut behind him and he took a seat opposite her, smoothing out the blue tie and placed the folder gently on the table.

"My name is Nathan Frost" Frost said, "Tell me...Ms.Felicia Hunter-what brings you to Italy?".

"It's one of the best tourist destinations in the world, why else would anyone come here?" Felicia replied.

"I didn't know art thieves took vacations" he looked up, unamused.

"The business can ebcome quite stressful at times"

"Tell me, why did you steal the Mona Lisa?" Frost flipped through the files

"I recently broke up with my boyfriend and I needed some girl time, that's all" Felicia smiled again, coyfully, "Men are pigs"

Frost sighed, "You stole the Mona Lisa but luckily, Italian authorities recovered it and will soon be returning it to France, much to the shagrin of Italian nationalists, it's a big controversy"

"They only recovered it because I let them. We went to a gellatoria, chocolate's my favorite. We had a nice chat, I felt better and decided that I didn't need him and could easily move on" Felicia replied.

Finally, Frost cracked a smile, "That certainly is an odd reason. Of course, with a woman of your talents, it shouldn't be su[rising that you accomplished this, despite the many layers of security."

"Please" Felicia laughed, "The French have no idea what they're doing. It was like taking candy from a baby"

"The French won't be pleased, neither will the Egyptians, Chinese, Mexican, Russian, Spanish, British, and about ten other countries from which he stole precious artifacts and paintings" Frost read off the huge list of nations demanding extradition for whomever stole their items.

"So, I'll probably have my hands chopped off in Egypt, that's for certain. What happens now?" Felicia put up a strong front, she knew the game was over, or was it?

"We're still deciding on what will be done with-" Frost paused, "How long ago did ou free yourself from those cuffs?"

"Two seconds after you walked into this room" Felicia winked

"Before you try and escape, Miss Hunter, hear me out" Frost set down the folder and pushed the seat back a few inches.

"I think I've heard enough"

Suddenly, almost like a flash-Felicia shot out from the seat, grappling the table and like hobby horse, swung her feet over the table and her feet collided with Frost's face, thrwing him out of the chair and crashing onto the ground. Felicia recovered and went around the table and reached into his coat pocket to retrieve the key card for the lock when his hand wrapped around her wrist.

Then, everything went cold...So bitterly cold that she felt her heart rate slow as an icy chill burned up her arm. The cold was so painful that she collapsed to her knees and cried out in pain. She looked in horror to see her right arm was covered in a frost, discolored blue.

"You should really hear me out, Miss Hunter" Frost stood up, a stream of blood flowing from his lip. He covered it up, patting away the blood.

"W-What did you do to me?!" Felicia cried, the cold was horrendous.

"I'm a metahuman, Miss Hunter" Frost admitted, "Now, we can't have you losing your arm." He produced an injector with a red liquid and shot it into her right arm. Within seconds, the frost retracted and dissipated, warmth showered over her arm and it turned red as she grasped her arm, hugging it to her chest.

"What do you want?!" Felicia demanded.

"I have a proposition for you, Miss Hunter" Frost adjusted his tie, "I'm actually an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D."

"SHIELD?! You mean the whole Avengers, flying carriers, and stuff? I thought you guys were disbanded?" Felicia felt confused.

"No, the days of the Avengers are long over and the flying carrier is in mothballs. We're like INTERPOL, only dealing with metahumans and other therats to humanity"

"But you're a metahuman, why would you help SHIELD? The whole Metahuman Registration Act and everything, your kind are feared and loathed" Felicia tried to rationalize what was all happening.

"Stability, those of us with great powers carry a heavy burden of choices" Frost said, "I chose to protect and use my abilities for something better than personal gain or glory"

"What's this proposition?" Felicia asked, taking aseat again, still in shock over what had just happened.

"We could turn you over to each of those nations and let them have at you, it's as easy as a phone call" Frost leaned in close, "Or...you could help us"

"Help you?!"

"Yes, you have many skills and abilities which would benefit our organization. Your agility, stealth, hacking, and other skills are invaluable" Frost eyed her.

"What's in it for me?" felicia folded her arms, now it was time to play hardball with the freak.

"You will be absolved of all crimes that you are accused and suspected of. as well as a salary and numerous other benefits" Frost leaned in closer, "Will you become an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

OOC Thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=561285&page=1

Reaper was running along the roof tops in Rome, Italy as he sighted his victim. His eyes darted around as he jumped across ten metres of road until he jumped onto the next rooftop.

"Hehehehe!" laughed a voice in front of him as it came beside Reaper.

"Die!" shouted Reaper as he slashed his sword at him.

The creature kicked Reaper onto another roof top as he teleported away from the area. Reaper picked himself up as he contiuned on across the roof tops as he put his sword in his side. He contiuned on until he lost sight of the suspect.

'Dam!' he thought to himself.

He jumped again as he lost his foot hold on the next roof top. He stumbled across the wall as he jumped from one window to the next while trying to break his fall. He finally lost his grip as he fell onto a pile of boxes which had paper in them.

'Talk about luck,' thought Reaper to himself as he passed through the alleyway.

He suddenly stopped as two men approach him.

'SHIELD again?' thought Reaper as he raised his hands to his head.

The two agents, dressed in black suits, sunglasses, and earpieces were guarding a back door to the complex, awaiting the arrival of several black Ford Explorers. The sudden commotion caught their attention as one called in suspicious activity.

"Alpha 1, Alpha 3" he said, "We have a situation out here-Get you hands int he air!" he shouted at the unknown individual.

The other agent also drew his weapon and they took up cover, "Drop the weapon! Do it now!"

Meanwhile...

Frost answered on his earpiece for them to hold their positions and await backup. He turned to Felicia, "Looks like our departure time has been accelerated. We have to leave now"

"Okay, where's my stuff?" Felicia asked, "What's going on?"

Frost opened the door with a swipe of the card and spoke into the mic, "All units this is a Level III Alert, this is not a drill. Evac the building in five minutes!" He turned to Felicia, "Follow me, your gear's in the next room."

"What's all the commotion about?"

"We can't take any risks, there's certain individuals out there who chose a different path I'm afarid" The two of them exited the room and down the hallway wheree other agents scurried about, securing the building which was being used on lease from the Carabinieri. In the next room were Felicia's clothes and gear from her last job.

"Give me a moment, no peeking" Felicia winked and pushed Frost out of the room and changed out of the inmate garbs and into her own clothes which were custom made to conform to her body, optimizing movement and decreasing restrictive movement.

'Sh**!' Reaper thought to himself.

He undid his belt as he dropped his two samuri swords, one pistol and the two daggers in his boots onto the ground. He was pleased with himself as he rose to his feet as he looked at the agents

"Ok! Well done, you caught a murderer trying to catch another murderer. Clap, clap!" finished Reaper as he placed his hands in the air. "Hmmm...odd people,"

"Put your hands behind your head and on your knees!" Demanded the one agent, pistol level with the suspect's heart. The other agent stood poised to move in and cuff the individual. The door burst open and two more agents, one wioth an odd looking weapon and the other with a submachine gun.

Felicia emerged from the room in her black outfit and belt clasped around her waist with all her gadgets and other items, "Ready" she smiled

Frost sighed, "Alright, follow me and stay with me. This complex has been compromised and we don't know what else we're dealing with yet"

"Status report!" Frost demanded.

The radio crackled, "We have a heavily armed individual alley-side. We have him disarmed and are preparing to make our approach" The agent replied.

'Nice place,' thought Kingston as his fur appeared and he quickly placed it under his skin again.

"There was no point in aiming the pistol at my heart. I'm told I don't have one," smiled Kingston as they came across a lady. "Miss...I like what you've done. Too bad the Australian one wasn't as secured as this one. I'm sure you heard I broke out of that one?"

Kingston sniffed the air as another lady appeared.

OOC: Felicia and Frost are still in the building and haven't seen you yet.

"Identify yourself!" demanded the one agent as another one rounded behind him, displaying a set of handcuffs, approaching slowly and cautiously.

The other agents remained at the reayd, wepaons pointed at the suspect, ready fro him to make a false move.

"Identify yourself!" repeated Kingston loudly. "I'm Jaxson Lee Kingston. I'm known as the Grim Reaper or as I like to call myself, Reaper. I've being hunting a bastard laterly and because of him, I've being forced to murder some people. But as you can see, I'm harmless, so the question is why are you holding me in here?"


OOC: Sorry.

"Jaxson Lee Kingston" The agent repeated, "Check that name out" he said to another agent who flipped open what looked like a PDA and began typing in the name.

The other agent came up behind Kingston and grasped his hands and slapped the one cuff on a hand and brought the arms back and readied to place on the second cuff...

OOC: Let's make it a little more interesting

IC:
"Hey! Easy going mate!" protested Kingston as he came to his knees. "I just..."

Jaxson looked around as he kicked the guy behind in the balls before lunaching himself at another before being able to throw himself over the group and around the corner. He slipped past the last of the guards as he raced across the complex while being completely lost.

'This isn't like the one from Australia,' thought Kingston.

"Fuck!" shouted the lead agent as Kingston made his escape. The other agents opened fire but missed for their were completely stunned. Kingston managed to flip over all of them and make a dramatic escape, "Suspect is moving south along the building! Agents down!"

The agents took after him, a group broke off and headed the other way. They rushed down the alley unsure of what was instore for them but they were highly trained agents that just happened to be caught off guard for a brief second.

Inside the building...

"Dammit!" Frost interjected, "We have a suspect on the loose"

Felicia turned to him, "Suppose I could earn my stripes?" she asked

Frost nodded, "I'll head out towards the southern end, you make you're way-" he turned back to Felicia to see she was already gone. He could only hope that she would keep to her promise and not disappear after this is all done.

Felicia's alias was The Fox, due to her agility and speed. Though she was certainly no Flash, she was quicker than the average human and twice as agile and cunning. She dashed down the hallway, past other agents and around corners. Finally, she halted and peaked around a corner to see a door wide open, this was the trail. She continued and slid across the smooth floor until she came face to face with the individual.

"Didn't anyone every teach you to knock?" she asked, folding her arms.

"Knock? That comes when I want to be seen. Though I guess... actually..." started Kingston as he suddenly noticed agents flanking all possible escape routes as he sniffed the air.

'No way...' he thought to himself as he turned to face the girl.

Directly behind the girl was the man he was chasing earlier and it had a sword in its hand.

"Hehehehehe!" it laughed as it raised it sword.

Jaxson pushed the girl aside as the blade went directly through his arm. Blood gushed from his wound as he turned into a werewolf. He howled in pain as he pulled out the sword and dropped it as his eyes faded.

"Jack the Ripper..." he muttered as he collasped onto the floor. "...I'll..get you one day..."

He laid on the floor with blood pouring out of his shoulder as the figure appeared again.

"I'll be back when you don't have these guys to save you," teased the creature as it vanished again.

Rome, Italy
Coyote was sitting in a apartment. He recently came to Rome on business, as he told the customs official at the airport. He was in a certain business that was frown upon in normal society. He was a assassin, but one of moral character, meaning he just shot the bad ones. He needed a tool, but it occur to him, that he was in Italy. Problem was Italy's laws prevented people from owning weapons that fire military caliber weapons. He bought himself a replica Long rifle aka the Kentucky Rifle. It was a .40 cal verison, a good rifle since it needed only one bullet. His target was a man who was a arms dealer who sold weapons to many unfriendly countries. The man had 4 guards watching every possible sniper point. The thing was Coyote was 3 miles from the place, he loaded a odd bullet and prepared to fire. The entire room began to slow down as his heart rise to over 200 beats per minute and adrenaline entered his blood stream, he pulled the trigger. The gun fired and the bullet flew out of the gun, it traveled through the air and the first part of the bullet fell off leaving the bullet itself in the air. Then it hit it's mark, the dealer fell to the ground and the guards were in shock.

Robert "Coyote" Werner had stuck again.

What the- His reflexes were faster than Felicia's as she was thrown against the wall as a mysterious figure appeared from behind. Impossible! Before she could react, it was all over. It's certainly been a strange day and to her horror as blood splattered against her face as she looked up to see what was a human turn into a monster. She looked up to see a shadowy figure disappear from around the corner. There were shouts, gunfire, and screaming.

"What the Hell?!" she scooted away, wiping blood from her face, "Are you alright?" she asked, cautiously placing a hand on the beast's arm, trying to stop the bleeding.

Frost and three agents rounded the opposite corner and drew their weapons on the beast.

"No! It-I mean he saved me" Felicia held up a hand, "There's someone else in the building!"

The two agents moved past the beats and round the corner to discover two agents with their throats slashed and no sign of another suspect. Other agents flooded the building and quickly secured it, sweeping each room one by one but came up empty. BWhoever it was, they were long gone.

"Okay, we need a medvac now!" Frost barked into the radio, "Someone get the medical kit, we have to stop the bleeing!"

"Is there a way to transport him?" asked an agent, "We have to get him to the roof"

Other agents took care of the two bodies and orders flew through the air and word came that several black hawk helicopters were inbound.

"Can you move?" Felicia asked the beats, "Can you change back or something?"

"Hmmm..." started Kingston. "Damn idoit! Listen there's a way to stop the blood contiune flowing. What you need..." Kingston grab the girl with his spare arm. "Listen to me... there's a simple way to stop the flow. In one of my samuri handles there's a green slimy thing. Take it and place it into the wound and whatever you do, step well back from me,"

Jaxson placed his arm on his wound as he throttle the gril away from him.

"Go get it!" whispered Kingston. "I need it before I fall asleep,"

Felicia stood up and dashed around Frost before he could utter a word. He stood there and holstered his sidearm, examining this creature. Blood pumped and pumped from its' arm.

"Do we have a description of this attacker?" Frost asked an agent

"Negative, Teen Wolf here and Fox are the only ones who saw him. We're starting a sweep of the surrounding area" The agent replied.

"This guy'll be long gone by now, but just sweep around in case. Remember, do it quietly. We don't want the Italians sticking their noses in our business and end up getting hacked to pieces by our other friends" Frost ordered.

Meanwhile...

Felicia gathered up the sword and examined it for a second before running back into the complex and past FRost again. She knelt down by the beast. Felicia looked at the handle and managed to open it and a green slime oozed out onto the open wound. Then, she shot back up and stood away, her arm sweeping Frost back as well.

Robert began to walk down the street. The area were the late criminal was staying was buzzing with Italian police vehicles. The gun was in a cello case he had, the police were busy at the scene except for one.

"Mister, Have you seen anything." the cop asked

"No, I haven't officer." Robert replied

"What is in the case."

"A cello"

"Sorry, We are looking for witnesses."

"I was at my apartment."

"Where, sir"

Robert gave him the address.

"Have a good night, sir"

He walked, the good thing about his powers were he could be in a place that no one would suspect the shooter to be.

Rome, Italy

Unknown to Robert Werner, he was being follwed by another shadowy figure. She clung close to the bussle of the crowd drawn by the assassination and watched him keenly as he strolled away, without a care in the world. He was already through the police corden and now so was she.

She was tall for a woman, although not tall enough to stand out in a crowd. Her black hair stretched down to her shoulders, glistening in the moonlight. Her blue eyes narrowed as they focused on their target. His every move was watched, every little sigh picked up, from the way he casually walked from the scene to the carelessness with which he held his weapon. She knew he was good.

She watched as he bypassed a Policeman with ease, snorting with derision as he just waved her target away,
"Rome's finest" She mocked in the unmistakable accent of the Irish Free State, with a quick glance around, she had seen what she wanted to see and moved off as well, taking care to keep casually to the shadows. She had a map in her hand and was looking from street to street in confusion.

"Target on the move" She muttered at the piece of flex in her ear, "tracking him"

"We have you Commander," An English voice replied, "Standby"

So the Irishwoman followed the Assassin, him without knowing, her without knowing where he was going to go. She knew what he had done over the years and she knew he was wanted by the British Government for murder commited on her Majesty's soil. So she would bid her time and wait.

An old man slowly walked towards one of the side entrences, intending to enter un-noticed. Reaching out with his mind he felt the other HYDRA members causing chaos througout the city, drawing all of SHEILD's attention, meaning there would be no one to stop him here. Inside the buildings ahead he could feel her mind calling out to him. People like her and himself had allways been drawn to the church, seeking sancutary and peace of mind. In the USSR there had been no church to go to for help - he had found his help from somewhere else entirely. Reaching out with his mind he unlocked the door, and steped inside.

Rome, Italy

Omari walked down a small alleyway, searching for the one person who had made him what he was. He was looking for Heat, his long since seen rival. Heat was a pyro, he was one day working on chemicals with the fire and an explosion occured. It made him obsessed with flames, and he could create them out of the blue and emit them from his arms. God, I wonder what he's been up to now... thought Omari, wanting to know so badly. He had heard that Heat was causing fires all over Rome, and was creating chaos. He was sent by SHIELD to hunt down the newly recruited HYDRA member.

Omari walked down another alley, which lead to a small warehouse. He stepped inside and heard disturbing laughter all around the building.
"Jamar, I know that your somewhere in here." yelled out Omari.
"I thought I told you not to call me that anymore." replied Heat, now sitting on a ledge right next to Omari.
Omari quickly took out his gun from his shoulder holster and aimed it at Heat. Heat just laughed, "Haha, you think that little flimsy thing will do anything against me?" asked Heat.
Omari instantly shot a round at Heat, a large flame emitted from Heat's arm and melted the bullet.
"Told yah." said Heat, with arrogance gleaming in his voice.
Heat blasted flames out of his arms and shot up from the ledge into the air. Omari shot four rounds at Heat, all missing. Heat bolted out of the warehouse, Omari quickly following.

"YOU, STOP NOW!!!!!!" The police yelled. Raskov turned around, his gas mask muffled his breathing into deep sighs. He was entirely black as the Hazmat suit was wrapped around his skin. The suit was extremely flexible and felt just like skin to the man.

The police began to back away as 3 of his arms came out of his back. His chemical arm fired a shot into the police, it was cyanide, a pure dose. The men quickly fell to the ground as their brain and respiratory tract cells died.

Raskov continued to walk. He was supposed to kill everyone in his way. In back of him, the streets were full of the dead or dying.

Alesandra Santini sat in the pew of the vast church. Hundreds of people crowded around her yet she still couldn't escape the cold isolation she'd felt most of her young life. An orphan with incredible gifts, a curse upon her. The high pillars shot upwards and images of her religion dotted everywhere. She tried so hard to blot out the thoughts of hundreds. Every waking moment they echo, reverberating throughout her mind. Controlling this takes lots of energy and concentration. It becomes very tiresome. Alesandra looked to God for answers. The only mind I can't read, is yours she mused. As she clasped her Rosery beads, a sudden horro came over her. SOmeone like her had entered the church, she could sense him, his intentions...

What do you want with me?

Robert walked to the local S.H.I.E.L.D building.

"Hello anyone here?"

He sees the blood on the floor and three people.

"What the hell?"

Finally, a row of black Ford Explorers and other vehicles snaked along the outside of the building. Several vans pulled out back and the SHIELD agents loaded their equipment. The permenant station in Rome was shut down years ago but these mobile command centers became very popular amoungst SHIELD higher-ups. It was proposed by Director Tony Stark, to stream-line the agency and cut down on clutter and burreacracy.

"Alright, it's time for us to move" Frost said.

"Where are we going?" Felicia asked

"SHIELD Headquarters, New York of course" Frost replied as they made their way to the entrance. Agents and technicians began scrubbing systems, wiping down surfaces and soon, iyt would appear as nothing was there. "We have a plane at the airport"

Frost then turned to Coyote, suprised by this visit, "Coyote, where have you been, why didn't you check-in with us?"

Raskov continued to head down the streets. Block after block the smell of death filled the air. It was not of human rot, but a bitter almond smell. It was the scent of death. Like a perfume it clung to the streets Raskov had just been through. The cyanide was like a constricting anaconda, everytime the victim breathed it squeezed them into death's strangling embrace. Raskov continued to walk, he was supposed to be a distraction to the S.H.I.E.L.D. but so far no S.H.I.E.L.D member could confront him and live more than a few seconds against his deadly attacks.

Raskov saw the long line of Fords and smiled. Finally something that could offer a challenge. Raskovs arms twitched as they began to manufacure his death blend. It was a mix of cyanide and a special chemical that blew up on impact. He took aim at the first ford and fired the round. It was impossible to dodge. The next round that came out of his arm was a violent chemical that when it smashed into the ground created a thick fog of pure poison.

Alesandra Santini sat in the pew of the vast church. Hundreds of people crowded around her yet she still couldn't escape the cold isolation she'd felt most of her young life. An orphan with incredible gifts, a curse upon her. The high pillars shot upwards and images of her religion dotted everywhere. She tried so hard to blot out the thoughts of hundreds. Every waking moment they echo, reverberating throughout her mind. Controlling this takes lots of energy and concentration. It becomes very tiresome. Alesandra looked to God for answers. The only mind I can't read, is yours she mused. As she clasped her Rosery beads, a sudden horro came over her. Someone like her had entered the church, she could sense him, his intentions...

What do you want with me?


The old man slowly walked past the rows of pews, looking for her. I can sense you he thought. You can not hide from me, and you cannot run. Finally spoting her towards the front he walked down the row and sat down next to her. Turning to her he smiled, and spoke.

"Good morning."

Omari continued chasing Heat, until Heat hit a dead end. Omari took five shots until his gun began to click. Shit he thought, he was out of ammo and needed something to defend himself with. He kicked up a led pipe from the ground and caught it in midair. "Hah, you think that little thing can stop me? Hell a gun didn't stop me, what makes you think this will?" right as Heat said that Omari charged him with the pipe and struck Heat across the head. Heat dropped to the ground, in pain. He then got up quickly and shot a large bolt of fire right at Omari. He didn't catch on fire, surprisingly. His face was just burn't a tad bit. Heat made a large 50 foot leap into the air, using his propelling fire. Omari ran in front of a moped, pulled the guy off of it, and sped away, chasing Heat.

Following the huge Black suited. . .thing wasn't exactly hard for Hawk. After all he just had to follow the corpses while at the same time staying as far as possible from them. This approach had left him hopping from building to building following the trail. Then he saw him. a black suited Man like thing walking down the middle of the street with a trail of destruction . . .Hmmmm Thought Hawk guess I'd better give him a chance to explain himself. he ran quickly forwards and soon found himelf within shouting range of the . . .creature. "hey you!" He yelled as his hands slipped to the knives at his sides.

Alesandra grasped her Rosery tightly as the older man sat down. There was no point in running nor calling for help. Who would help anyways? She knew that there was a purpose for her in this world, maybe this was her destiny, however dark it may turn out.

"Buon giorno, signore" Alesandra replied, then switched to English, "What do you want from me?"

Katie, the Operative stood outside the building through which Robert had just entered. At the front, it looked quiet and empty while she had just been informed of a mass evacuation out of the back. She knew it was SHIELD packing up and she knew she would have to stall her fellow MI6 operatives for now.

As she stood there, she decided she was actually annoyed. No one had told her that Robert Wayner was a member of SHIELD, actually a good-guy, although he did leave a trail of distruction wherever he went. She stepped forward into the doorway left open by Robert,

"Hello, Coyote" She greeted him in fluent Italian, as an Assassin it had been useful to know a few languages to get out of trouble. She knew French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese fluently and knew enough Russian, German and Serbian to get by,

"What have we here?" She glanced down at the bodies and drew the pistol from her shoulder holster. Holding it with two hands, she looked down the corridor and seen nothing.

"Shall we go?" She asked again in Italian then crept forward into the building. At the same time, she also rewired her device so it could communicate with SHIELD Agents as opposed to the MI6 Agents waiting outside,

"To any SHIELD Operatives, this is Wolfhound, any chance of an update on what's happening?"

"Nightshade, we are packing up and heading to the airstrip and returning to NY" Frost told her, "I'd like you to meet our newest agent, Miss Felicia Hunter, also known as Fox"

"Hi" Felicia gave a small wave, this was alot of info to take in and alot of action in such a short amount of time.

"Fox, this is Katie Hunter, also known as Nightshade" Frost turned to Felicia.

"Cool, we have the same last names" Felicia laughed.

The oldman simply smiled. "Surely you know? Why don't you simply look inside my mind and find out. I won't stop you."

"Cool, we have the same last names" Felicia laughed.

"Ah, always nice to see a new face," Katie holstered her weapon again and nodded at Felicia, "Good to have you aboar...hold on a second" Her eyes narrowed, as if trying to place the face in front of her.

It took a few seconds before her face lit up in realisation,
"I HAVE seen you before!" She announced with triumph, "You broke into the Tate Gallery a few years back" She sighed, "We looked for you for months"

"Anyways," She looked around, "What's caused all this? I thought we were going to be here for three weeks at least?"

"I already know, I'm simply trying to pretend to be normal, like all these people around us" Alesanra offered a weak smile, more to herself, then looked around, "I've always wondered what it was like to only hear your own thoughts. It's a luxury I don't enjoy but instead am bombarded by hundreds of voices, sometimes more."

She turned her head to him, "I knew what you wanted from the moment you stepped into this church. I-I'm not going to run, what's the point? There's someone else here with you."

Ivan Zemsky stood off in a crowd of American tourists, listening to a pain-stakingly detailed lecture about St.Peter's Basillica. He eyed them from a distance, everything was going according to plan. The other assets were throughout the city, making sure that the SHIELD presence in the city were kept busy. Though, he knew they suspected nothing and them being in the city were probably nothing more than happenstance.

Raskov saw the long line of Fords and smiled. Finally something that could offer a challenge. Raskovs arms twitched as they began to manufacure his death blend. It was a mix of cyanide and a special chemical that blew up on impact. He took aim at the first ford and fired the round. It was impossible to dodge. The next round that came out of his arm was a violent chemical that when it smashed into the ground created a thick fog of pure poison.

Felicia grin doubled in size, almost from ear to ear. That was a nice job indeed, though her taste in contemporary art isn't palatable "It's always a pleasure to meet my chasers. I've developed quite a fan club of police agencies and independent organizations who would like nothing more than to see me in cuffs"

Raskov saw the long line of Fords and smiled. Finally something that could offer a challenge. Raskovs arms twitched as they began to manufacure his death blend. It was a mix of cyanide and a special chemical that blew up on impact. He took aim at the first ford and fired the round. It was impossible to dodge. The next round that came out of his arm was a violent chemical that when it smashed into the ground created a thick fog of pure poison.

Look like he didn't hear me Though Hawk, Oh well maybe this will get his attention
Jumping down from the roof He landed about twenty feet back of the . . .thing and shouted "HEY YOU!"

ooc:Sorry I just saw Dawoads post

Raskov turned around and faced the man who just called him.

"True. I could stop you even without him though. I will give you the silence you crave Alesanra. Now if you would be so kind, we must leave. There is much to do." And with that he stood, indicating for her to do so as well.

Before standing up, Alesandra made the sign of the cross and gave a quick prayer before finally standing up, "May God help us" she said quietly.

As he saw them both stand, Zemsky decided it was time for him to depart as well. He made his way outside and spoke into the comm link "All agents pull back. We have what we came for. Let them go"

"Hello," Said Hawk to the five armed back HAZMAT suited creature. "Any reason your killing these folks? I mean I've got nothing against killing but . . .innocents?"
OOC: np

"We have to cut it short, something went wrong. Our friend Mr.Kingston here brought an unwelcomed guest while I was enlisting Fox into our ranks. Now, there's reports of other incidents across the city. There's a higher than normal concentration of metahumans in this area, something isn't right" Frost told Nightshade, "I recieved a call from Director Stark, he wants us back in New York for a briefing."

"Then to New York, we go." Robert said

Omari recieved word from the headpiece in his ear about everyone going back to NYC. He turned the other way towards the airport. "Hello, does anyone have a plane that I can get on today?" Omari said into the intercom. He was speeding at 50 miles per hour in the narrow, bumpy roads, narrowly dodging the cars.

OOC: I am SHIELD, where should I bump in?

OOC- I'd wait a bit. Ther all going to SHIELD headquarters in new york. i=Introduce yourself then.

Radio:Yes sir
Raskov shot down a fog grenade and quickly left the area.

OOC: You could just appear at the Rome base

"Ah," Nightshade nodded, "I have noticed that myself," She lookd grimly along the convoy of agents, "Then I guess the quicker we move, the quicker we get back to the US of A," She clapped her hands together then looked around again,

"You don't have anything big do you?" She asked, indicating to the pistol holster tucked under her shoulder, "All I have is this peashooter and I would rather not be caught out without a big gun of some kind" She shrugged.

"Did I hear a request for a non stop to New York?" Came an amused female voice over Omari's radio, over the encrypted S.H.E.I.L.D. frequencies.

Her code name Pheonix, and though she was only occassionally an agent for S.H.E.I.L.D., this was one such time. She'd been tasked with retrieving any agents tht couldn't make th official flight back to NYNY.

"This is an all call if you can make the regulkarly scheduled flight of S.H.E.I.L.D. Air, please redeem your ticket home at Via dell'Aeroporto di Fiumicino three twenty Fiumicino." She broadcast - it would be picked up by any S.H.I.E.L.D. communications, but none other.

Phoenix had a small, long range jet waiting to handle the stragglers. She didn't need a pilot, being an accomplished one herself.

Omari recieved word from the headpiece in his ear about everyone going back to NYC. He turned the other way towards the airport. "Hello, does anyone have a plane that I can get on today?" Omari said into the intercom. He was speeding at 50 miles per hour in the narrow, bumpy roads, narrowly dodging the cars.
And SHIELD called themselves a profession organization... said Kevin in his head in his Learjet, at Rome's Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino. He had taken a minute to hack into their radio feed and heard Omari's comment. Kevin had been chasing them down for months, trying to apply. He was finally accepted, and just slightly behind the rest of the SHIELD crew. And NY HQ hadn't given him the password to get into the feed. They needed his help.

Kevin chuckled. "Hey... SHIELD guy... I have a plane. Meet me at hanger 4. This is not a trap."

"Did I hear a request for a non stop to New York?" Came an amused female voice over Omari's radio, over the encrypted S.H.E.I.L.D. frequencies.

Her code name Pheonix, and though she was only occassionally an agent for S.H.E.I.L.D., this was one such time. She'd been tasked with retrieving any agents tht couldn't make th official flight back to NYNY.

"This is an all call if you can make the regulkarly scheduled flight of S.H.E.I.L.D. Air, please redeem your ticket home at Via dell'Aeroporto di Fiumicino three twenty Fiumicino." She broadcast - it would be picked up by any S.H.I.E.L.D. communications, but none other.

Phoenix had a small, long range jet waiting to handle the stragglers. She didn't need a pilot, being an accomplished one herself.

Kevin flipped through his mind... briefing on agents at NYHQ... oh yes! Phoenix. Some minor agent that helped out sometimes. She was useful though.

"Phoenix... hi. I'm a new recruit from NYHQ, and I kinda brought my Learjet when I was coming here in order to skip a bunch of red tape and get here fast. I heard there was action... Either way, my Learjet can hold twenty, if you're interested. Hanger four."

Omari heard a few radio frequencies and decided to check out the one on hanger 4 first.
"Over, I'll be headed to hanger 4 right away, if that one doesn't suit me I'll try the other one out." said Omari

He got to the hanger and noticed the jet."Hello is anyone here?" he yelled, as it echoed everywhere.

OOC:

A massive 9.6 Richter earthquake ripped through the hanger... JK.

IC:

Kevin knocked on the glass in the cockpit. He decided to try to yell, but the glass was thick. "Hey-up here!"

Omari saw the man inside the plane, he looked familiar. He waved at the man and stuck his hand inside his jacket, as if reaching for his gun. He took his hand back out of the coat and walked toward the plane.

Robert opened the cello case and grabbed the rifle and threw the case out. He didn't needed it. He put the flintlock weapon between his legs in the vehicle.

"So, whats going on"

"Shoot! Where was that hatch/walkway thingy! #$*#*$!" Kevin swore. Then he saw the button.

Whrrrr! Went the walkway on the left, lowering so Omari could get in. Kevin walked up to the walkway. "Hello. Can I ask for your name? I'm Kevin."

Robert opened the cello case and grabbed the rifle and threw the case out. He didn't needed it. He put the flintlock weapon between his legs in the vehicle.

"So, whats up?"

OOC: That was to...

Ooc: ?

OOC: Who were you talking to.

The rest of the people in the convoy.

"Well, Mister New Recruit, Have fun on your very long flying time back to New York" Phoenix replied to the unknown voice on the other end of the radio. The airport he was at was several miles from the one she was stationed at.

And besides Lear didn't make a twenty passenger craft and only their newest the 85 which wouldn't be out until late October could cover a Ny to London hop.

She was immediately suspicious, and didn't bother to hide it. "Ya know if someone sold you that claiming it was a Lear I'd ask for my money back. And Mister New Recruit I'd suggest that you go get yourself introduced to the Agent - In - Charge before you go inviting voices over the radio aboard your 'Lear'."

Phoenix was flying a Dssault Falcone 7X, capable of holding thirteen, and flying over sixty four hundred nautical miles at over five hundred and sixy miles an hour.

Having jumped out of the way of the fog rolling towards him Hawk watched as the Black suited man left the scene. not very friendlyhe thought to himself I wonder where he's going. Being a tracker Hawk had no problem following the Suited man from concealment within various buildings. This probably isn't a good Idea but what the hell

"Well, Mister New Recruit, Have fun on your very long flying time back to New York" Phoenix replied to the unknown voice on the other end of the radio. The airport he was at was several miles from the one she was stationed at.

And besides Lear didn't make a twenty passenger craft and only their newest the 85 which wouldn't be out until late October could cover a Ny to London hop.

She was immediately suspicious, and didn't bother to hide it. "Ya know if someone sold you that claiming it was a Lear I'd ask for my money back. And Mister New Recruit I'd suggest that you go get yourself introduced to the Agent - In - Charge before you go inviting voices over the radio aboard your 'Lear'."

Phoenix was flying a Dssault Falcone 7X, capable of holding thirteen, and flying over sixty four hundred nautical miles at over five hundred and sixy miles an hour.

OOC: I though Lear made a 20 person but I looked up the stats of the one I want to use, the 60, and they said eight to ten. Oh well, brings up some great RPing (mental note to self: look stuff up before you say stuff about the stuff. If that makes sense). I feel like such an idiot right now... I am definitely going to use a Dassault from now on in my RPs.

IC:

The first thing he thought when Phoenix addressed him was something along the lines of OH MY GOSH! SOMEONE ACTUALLY FROM SHIELD IS TALKING TO ME! The second was realized when Kevin looked around his cabin. Ten seats. Well... haven't I fit twenty people in here before... he racked his brains. Perhaps not. Note: Don't try to show off here. Not yet anyway He smiled.

"No... I just realized I was tremendously wrong with my figures. Oh, who is the Agent-In-Charge anyway?" Kevin thought for a bit. Bah, he could leave the Learjet here he supposed. It'd take forever to get to New York anyway, it was just his exuberance that made it seem short. And, of course, the fact that he was going to live forever...

"Do you need a co-pilot?"

"Let's go, back to NYC" said Omari to the suspicious looking man named Kevin.

"OK, one sec. It's just that I realized my plane will take longer than what Phoenix has to get to NY. Her jet is faster and it can get from Rome to NYC in one trip. I didn't really care al that much at the time, but we might as wel join the rest of SHIELD here in Rome. Do you want to fly over to Phoenix at the Leonardo da Vinci Airport? It's several miles off."

OOC: Actually someone has one out there that I liked the stats better on, but I can't find it right now (like an idiot I didn't book mark the page ) - and I am known as the queen of the flying finger google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No... I just realized I was tremendously wrong with my figures. Oh, who is the Agent-In-Charge anyway?" ..."Do you need a co-pilot?"

"What?" Phoenix replied to the half heard comment over the radio.

The person on the other end had obviously left his unit on voxx, and it was broadcasting everything it's incredibly sensitive mic picked up

like... "Let's go, back to NYC" that was someone else.

Phoenix made a guess that it was the one who had originally requested transport.

That brought her laughing- after she gave a flashing glance down at her own commo unit to make sure the voxx was off. 'Oh this is a new agent. She laughed in the quiet of the Falcone's plush cabin. The one thing she really didn't like about it - didn't like about all small passenger jets was the low ceiling height, barely six three.

Triggering her mic once her chuckles had died down she repeated her location.

"You're about twenty two miles outside of Rome's city center, but north. I'd suggest hold there for any coming out of the north side. I'm to the south east. How about this."

She thought quickly. He flat out was going to have to stop in England..."Stansted Airport, just north of London. I know the fuel depot manager and can get us prefered landing. How about we rendevous there and you and any passengers can transfer over to my craft there."

It was a smaller, less trafficked airport but with the needed facilities and it was one cleared by S.H.I.E.L.D.

Phoenix could top off her own tanks and lay in food for the flight across the Pond.

OOC: Well, please tell me when you find it. I'm endlessly doing VIP flying across the world flight to that one conference thingys.

IC:

Kevin listened to her message. "Stansted... OK. I'll rendezous there, once we pick up some other people." He switched to the regular SHIELD feed. "Hey SHIELD members, agent Phoenix and new agent Kevin, that's me, are leaving for NYC. Please report to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in the south for Phoenix's craft, or the general Rome Airport in the north. We'll be stopping in London temporarily for refueling. Repeat: Please head to da Vinci Airport or Rome Airport, south and north, for aircraft headed toward New York City with a stop in London."

He switched back to Phoenix. "I'm Kevin, by the way. Kevin da Vincho. No codename yet." Kevin looked up Stansted on his computer, and prepped the aircraft. All that was left was for some other SHIELD members to arrive.

"Hey... guy that I think is from SHIELD (OOC: East Laos), why don't you sit down. I'm Kevin."

Raskov continued to walk down the streets of Italy. Police sirens screamed all day long as damage was noted, the death toll counted, etc. Raskov headed into a house, smashing open the door. He turned on his mic. "Mastermind, where are we to meet?"

Raskov continued to walk down the streets of Italy. Police sirens screamed all day long as damage was noted, the death toll counted, etc. Raskov headed into a house, smashing open the door. He turned on his mic. "Mastermind, where are we to meet?"


"In the imeadiate future? Go to ground and leave Italy quietly. We are establishing a new base in Siberia. Co-ordinates will be distrubuted soon. I assume everything went well at your end?"

(OOC- an introduction and an open way for my character to come into contact with HYDRA)

The smell of gasoline permiated the still night air, mingling with the smoke of the clove cigarette. A cloaked figure walked from the still village and dropped the remnants of the cigarette, immolating everything behind him, hungrily consuming any trace of the crimes the smoker had just comitted in the isolated town. Within a few hours, the bodies of the men, women and children he had corrupted and eventually destroyed with his psionic whispers and threats would be dust. The smoker, after walking a few hundred yards from the town, looked back upon his handiwork with a smile, whisteling a cheery tune. He walked to the town's welcome sign and took out his shotgun, a weathered, ornate weapon augmented and altered to perfection by its user's steady hand. He aimed the weapon at the '12' in 'Population:1200' sign and pulled the trigger, laughing aloud at his little joke. He lit anoter cigarette and blew a smoke ring onto the 'Population 00' sign.

Ode to Joy began playing from his pocket, and Shotgun Hiroshima answered his phone.
"Hello?"
"Mister Hiroshima, your talents have attracted much attention."
"How did you get this number?"
"There is little HYDRA cannot get. We have a proposition for you, something a little more interesting than slaughtering helpless towns. Come to Moscow if you are interested."

The phone died, and Hiroshima was on his way.

"Yes sir, I assume I have stopped my job because you accomplished yours? I have also learned something on my end about what are plans call for. I am also heading to Atlanta, Georgia to raid the CDC"

OOC: New guy, part of Hydra.

IC: Istanbul Turkey,
Sept. 14th, 1996.
James Carver was walking down the main stretch of the nightlife of Istanbul. This was his second night in Turkey, and he was looking for some good clubs or anything he could find entertaining. He had several people eyeing him, many of which had concealed weapons. Ten or so men began to follow him, he sped up, they kept up, he eventually had to begin to run. A grey pickup truck pulled in front of him and three men from the back got off, holding AK's. A man, presumably the leader, came up from behind and spoke into his ear.
"Thought you could get away huh?" murmered the man into James' ear.
"Who the fuck are you? And how do you know me?" replied James, with a hint of fear in his voice.
All the men cocked their guns, and the leader said something in Turkish or Arabic. Oh shit, I'm gonna die right here. James thought, getting ready to make a mad dash for it. He grabbed one of the mens guns, hit him in the face with the but of the gun, and began to open fire on the others. James then dropped the gun and ran down and alleyway. The pickup truck followed, lights gleaming on James as several AK shots were emmitted from the guns. James dodged the truck and proceeded down another alley. Dead end, he was in front of gallons, upon gallons of gas was in front of him, in forty or so barrels. One of the men yelled something in Turkish and the leader relpied in Arabic. The man opened fire on the barrels behind him, they immediatley exploded. James caught fire and was flailing around, trying to put the flames out. He then fell into a river used to dump material from a power plant. He drifted to the bottom and swam back up. He then came out, his eyes were an odd blood type-purple color. His arms were sort of glowing. He ran at the men, who were opening fire on him, jumped up, and hit the ground with his fist, shaking the entire area. The car broke to little bits and he got up and made a fist with his hands, crushing all the guns.
"How about now? Think you can get away? I'll give you ten seconds, until I kill you. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2" All the men began running.
"That's what I thought." he murmered beneith his breath.

OOC: For the sake of getting things moving, let's assume everyone's already in the air and halfway back to NY.

Felicia gazed out over the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, it sprawled across endlessly over a canvas. It was beautiful yet daunting for anyone who traverses its' surface. The cabin was descent, nothing fancy for VIP's or anything.

"So, any explaination for what happened back there?" Felicia asked Frost who tapped away at a laptop.

He looked up, "We were in Rome because of reports of certain individuals who are disappearing around the globe. In Rome, there was a particular person of interest but we couldn't move ahead, we weren't equiped to deal with a major metahuman threat. This was just supposed to be an intelligence gathering mission, not a full-blown operation."

"What kind of individuals?" Felicia crossed her legs.

"Telepaths" Frost answered, "You see, there is a Department within SHIELD named Psi Ops. They are responsible for alot of the information we recieve which enables us to catch rogue metahumans as well as other threats such as terrorists. The Twins, as we call them, are the key element to Psi Ops. They are telepaths as well, extremely powerful ones at that. The strongest brain waves they can sense are from individuals such as themselves. The Twins have noticed several powerful telepaths have disappeared within the last few months. Another one was supposed to be in Rome but the signal disappeared, some telepaths can mask their own waves."

"Wow, telepathic secret agents. What else do you guys do?"

"I've already told you enough. You're nowhere near the security clearance needed to know other things about the organization." Frost smirked, "And don't even try to pull anything either"

"Me?! I'm insulted" Felicia feigned suprise.

Meanwhile...

Zemsky stood at the foot of a staircase leading to a plane. He still owned a private airport in Rome. Despite his company being liquidated several years ago, he still retained plenty of financial assets to stabalize himself and get back on his feet. Other HYDRA operaives loaded equipment onto the plane as he stood by, awaiting Mastermind's arrival. Everything was going well and SHIELD had no idea what was happening right under their noses. He scoffed at them and their pittiful attempts to maintain global stability. It was only a matter of time before those pathetic normals faced their doom.

"Sir, everything's ready for takeoff" reported Hypno, one of his subordinates.

"Excellent, we only need to wait for Mastermind. He has the asset with him" Zemsky replied.

Over the Atlantic Ocean

Katie looked out of the window for a few moments then sighed and settled back in her seat. 'Seen one ocean, seen them all' she thought lazily to herself as she dragged a dagger from it's sheath and began to glid it up and down an leather strop, making it a little sharper with each stroke. She was doing it out of habit, for the long dagger was already sharp enough to cut a man's wrist off with the mimimum of effort and yet she persisted. It was something she liked doing when she was bored.

To her right, she could hear Frost briefing Felicia on their mission to Rome as well as explaining the reasoning behind it. It was none of her business for she already knew of the telepaths. It was more her job to sweep through her contacts in both the underworld and the world of ultra-secret intelligence to see if they had picked anything up, even by accident. They hadn't and so, Katie was content to relax on the plane and sharpen her dagger even more. The noise it made was irritating but people knew better than to argue with the fiery Irishwoman.

The dagger itself was a sign of her past. With hundreds of murders chalked up to it. The blade was a mere 15 centimetres and was held with a beautifully crafted ivory handle. In the handle were an intricate designs of celtic origin as well as the irish words, Una na Poblacht

She shivered at the meaning of the words and how they symbolised what she used to fight for,
One Republic

She shook off the feeling of terrible guilt she always felt when her mind drifted back to those days and instead continued sharpening her weapon.

OOC: What I did with the James Carver just then was a flashback. On how he got the powers.

IC: New York City, NY
James Carver was walking down the street. He had on a buisness suit, and a tattered, beaten up black scarecrow-type mask. His eyes still glowed after all these years, and he had killed over 500 people in the past few years. No one who he passed seemed to notice the 6 inch switch blade he had in his hand. When James walked into a local store to rob it, three black men, presumibly part of the Crips due to the all blue they were wearing, walked up to him and surrounded him.
"Aye, what you doin' in Crip terrortory?" asked one of the Crips.
"I suggest you get out of my way, before i slice you, and your "Homies" to little bits." replied James.
OOC: I have to go, I'll finish this up when I get back on the computer.

Jaxson looked around int the airplane as he watched through the window. The night was clear with the odd bit of cloud coverage as his eyes darted about. He glanced at his wound from earlier and noticed it was healed.

'Where are you Jack?' he thought to himself.

Meanwhile...

Jack the Ripper teleported himself across the skies as he noticed Reaper in a plane from a far. He teleported again as he found himself in an airport in Rome.

"Hehehehe!" laughed Jack as he held his bayonets in his hand. "Who are you? You're not Reaper's pals are you?"

Zemsky took his time in replying. He turned aorund to face this newcomer and held out a hand to stop the HYDRA operatives from turning him into a pile of bloodied pulp. Hypno stepped back, he was poised.

"I'm afraid I don't know who Reaper is, who might you be?" Zemsky asked.

"Hahahahaha!" laughed Jack as he teleported next to the person. "I'm Jack the Ripper! As long as I find Reaper and test his skills before killing him! Hahahaha! You still haven't answered my question: Who are you?" finished Jack.

"I am Red Shadow" Zemsky replied. For the sake of identity, he wore a black suit, black shirt, with a red tie. A sort of red underarmor ski mask fit over his face, "Your attempts to intimidate are rather...unnecesary"

"Sir-" Hypno intervened but Zemsky shot him a stern glance.

"Who is this Reaper?" Zemsky asked, casually turning his head to Jack.

"Hahahaha! He's better known as the Grim Reaper! He kills all those that are seen by the courts as rouge but some of them were my friends... *sniffs*," started Jack as he teleported away from the group before appearing in front of them again. "I have only a sense of killing him and taking his place as the Grim Reaper! Ohh and I can teleport anywhere I desire!" finished Jack.

Raskov stood up from his seat. This teleporting guy was getting annoying and raskov hated planes. He looked out of the window wishing they would land already. Raskov was never a fan of planes. It wasn't that he was scared of heights or claustrophobic. He just hated them so much, in his childhood a luftwaffe plane fired at him.

It was indeed an incredible gift that this seemingly madman had. Zemsky studied him for a second. Then, he open his hands as a gesture.

"You may be able to teleport anywhere, but there are some things you can't escape..." With that, Zemsky suddenly began to fade to a deep black and appeared to melt to the ground. He reappeared in Jack's shadow and seemed to rise from it, "Like your shadow" he laughed.

"Wha...! Hahaha! That means I can take you where ever I go!" laughed Jack. "I can take you to their plane if you wish! The only problem is Reaper doesn't have a shadow,"

On the plane

"What's the matter Raskov? Seen a ghost or do you just hate flying?" asked Reaper as he watched Raskov for a moment.

OOC:Raskov is hydra

"No, we're not going to their plane" Zemsky said, fully forming from the shadow and stepping back, "We came here for somehting else and now that we have it, it's time for us to depart."

He adjusted his tie, "You have a grudge with Reaper, eh? He's with them, with SHIELD. We have our own little club. A man of your talents and mindframe would be quite welcome amoungst our ranks"

On the SHIELD Plane...

"You feeling better?" Felicia asked Kingston, "You got a nice little flesh wound from your friend back there"

"Ohh Jack...?" replied Reaper. "He has a major thing against me and its really what I do. Jack will be back for me and I can only hope I can convince him...no that isn't possible,"

Kingston turned to Felicia as he looked at his wound before looking back at her.

Hydra

"Hehehehe! Sounds like fun! I'm mainly interested in Reaper and taking his powers away from him! Hehehehe!" laughed Jack.

At that moment Mastermind walked in through the Hangar door, with Alsavera following just behind. Nodding to Zemsky he glanced around the hangar matching faces to minds. Dusting a speck of dirt from his dark grey suit, he turned to the new man, and smiled.

"If you would be so kind to keep the bickering to a minimum we can leave. I could hear your mind from miles away. It wasn't pleasant."

"Well, this Jack character sure has a shine for you" Felicia laughed, "A bit of a stalker I'd guess, really creepy" she wrapped her arms around her shoulders and shuttered.

"However he was, he's highly dangerous" Frost interjected.

HYDRA

"Excellent" Zemsky replied, "We'll be departing as soon as another member of our group arrives. We have a nice little idea bouncing around and a man of your skills will make it all the more easy"

Mastermind appeared, "It's nice to see you brought our new friend. I made a new friend too" Zemsky pointed to Jack. Then, his attention turned to the girl, aged at about 17 or so, "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm-"

"Ivan Zemsky" Alesandra interrupted, her head hung low.

"Truly impressive" Zemsky nodded

"Shine?" questioned Lee. "My job is to put my own brother out of his misery. Nothing creepy about that. He doesn't understand what has happened to him nor ever will so...I'm going to kill him first chance I get. Mother and father would've wanted it that way,"

Hydra

Jack bounced around as watched the men for a moment.

"As long as I I and I alone get to kill Reaper...then I'm with you all the way!" laughed Jack as he picked up his blades. "So you are the Mastermind eh? Tell me, do you promise me I and I alone will have the pleasure in killing Reaper?"

"Whoever he was, he's highly dangerous"

"Agreed," Katie finished sharpening her knife and slid it back into the small scabbard on her belt,
"Who else has been called to this briefing Frost? Everyone?" She asked innocently, keeping an eye on Felicia at the same time,
"I tried to get you at the Lourve as well" She sighed, "Even the DCRI couldn't get at you" She shook her head.

"There's been a general recall for numerous agents" Frost replied, "We'll be in SHIELD Headquarters in about three hours and will be meeting with Director Stark himself."

He paused

"There's something going on that has blipped on our radar, all too frequent and with the same pattern. Something is brewing and we'll combining several of our assets to tackle this mystery" Frost finished, "Stark has the full brief"

Felicia looked over at Katie, "The Lourve was my best feet. I mean-The Mona Lisa, the French authorities were pissed and the Italians were ecstatic to get their artwork back yet reluctant to give it up. They're still fighting over it. I just needed some girl time with Lisa Gherardini. Well, how does it feel to be face to face with me and not being able to arrest me?"

She felt horrible about the remarks made about Jack, she had no clue they were brothers, "I'm sorry" she admitted.

Hydra

Jack bounced around as watched the men for a moment.

"As long as I I and I alone get to kill Reaper...then I'm with you all the way!" laughed Jack as he picked up his blades. "So you are the Mastermind eh? Tell me, do you promise me I and I alone will have the pleasure in killing Reaper?"

Mastermind smiled. "Do you really think I care about this reaper? I have far more important things to worry about."

Turning to Zemsky he asked "Who are we still waiting for?"

"We have everyone" Zemsky replied, "Now, we can go". He stepped up into the plane and told the pilot to prepare for takeoff.

Alesandra walked up the stairs without another word, residing herself to her fate.

"Do you think SHIELD's presence here means that they're on our trail?" Zemsky asked Mastermind.

"I do not know everything my friend. It seems most likely to be a coincidence. If they knew our plans then surely they would have guarded the girl. Even if they do suspect anything it is far to late for them to stop us know. Where to - Siberia or New York?"

"Stark has the full brief"

"Hmm, Sounds like a big job" Katie chuckled as she turned back to Felicia and slid her knife from it's scabbard. She began to stroke it along the rough leather wrapped around her wrist as she spoke,
"Actually, it's actually quite refreshing. I'm surprised it took SHIELD this long to recruit you" She remarked calmly as the steel was sharpened, she was also humming an old Irish song to herself as she did this. There was a long pause before Katie looked up again
"What were you doing in Italy?" She asked, Felicia

"Siberia" Zemsky replied as he took a seat and removed his red mask and ran his fingers though his graying hair, "The complex is complete and all we need now are the components. All the right people are either paid off or missing so there won't be any sniffing around...New York will come later"

"Excellent. The machine is almost finished, and soon we will have everything and everyone we need."

"Like I said, I had some girl time with Lisa and I decided to put a nice grin on her face by returning her to Florence. There, we had some gellato and talked about how we don't need men. Then, I felt my time in the gellateria had ended due to the fact I had broken into it and heard sirens. That's when I got black bagged" Felicia replied, "And here I am, from humble art thief to a secret agent chick" she smiled.

"We just need the generator but that should be no problem" Zemsky added, "Russia has plenty of those particular generators lying around everywhere" he mused about how careless Russian authorities were when it came to nuclear matter and stockpiled weapons.

"Our Italian friend here makes number 9. We know where the main two are but aren't ready to get them yet. The other one should be easy, you just need to find this person"

"Do not worry. I have not failed to find a suitable candidate yet. I already have one in mind. I believe we can pick him up while we're in western Russia to get the generator."

"And here I am, from humble art thief to a secret agent chick"

"If only it were that glamourous" Katie gave Felicia a sad smile, "If only it wer that easy" She shook her head at something and relaxed back into her chair. She closed her eyes for a few minutes then looked back at the woman to her right,
"How did you get involved in all this?" She asked her in puzzlement, "The thieving, I mean, where did that all start?"

"Excitement" Felicia bluntly put it, "I did it for the thrill. The thrill of breaking into heavily secured areas, stealing away precious art and artifacts, and engaging in a game of cat and mouse with a plethera of agencies and task forces" she smiled once more, "It had nothing to do with money, that wa never an object for me"

"Good, we can have our new friend Jack here take care of that arrand" Zemsky turned to Jack, "This will be your chance to make yourself useful. We have plans for SHIELD later that will get you to within striking distance of Reaper, whom I'm sure will be glad to see you as well"

"I know what you're planning" Alesandra said, her head rising as she spoke, "Why?" he voice was sorrowful and pleading.

"Simple-It is our turn to ascend to dominance over the world. We were given these abilities for a reason. Perhaps the next stage in evolution, perhaps divinity, regardless, we have an obligation to uphold" Zemsky simple stated, nonchalantly.

"But-Billions will suffer?!" Alesandra cried, "What kind of a world will that be?"

"A better one"

"It had nothing to do with money, that was never an object for me"

"Ah," Katie smiled knowingly, "Excitment and the satisfaction of a job well done. The knowledge you have escaped some of the best security systems in the world with prized national treasures must have been something of a thill I imagine," She grinning too, "Kinda like what I di..." the smile suddenly dropped and Katie's happy expression, which had filled her face with a mature beauty, was no sad and dejected, "Never mind" She sighed and turned to look out the window again.

Her ears perked up, Felicia leaned forward, "Do tell!" a broad and curious smile sprawled across her face, "What did you do? It's too late, I'm too curious, you have to tell me" she sat up and took a seat directly next to Katie and in a hushed voice, "I won't tell, girl's secret"

"I..." Katie weakened under the persistant and enthusiastic requests from the ex-thief and now comrade. She shook her head and sighed. Her fellow Agents knew she was ex-MI5 but they had no idea of what had happened to her before that, she kept it pretty secret.
"You promise not to tell another soul?" She lowered her head, as if in shame, and upon confirmation from Felicia, gave another sigh,
"I was an Assassin" She revealed, "I killed people...sometimes innocent...for nothing"

Hiroshima walked towards the Mastermind and his companions.
"From the sound of your thoughts, I can safley assume it was one of you who contacted me. Well, here I am, and now I would very much like to know why you interrupted my 'work'."

What?! Damn, I thought she was going to say she was a thief too. It was certainly an unexpected suprise. It drained the smile from her face as it driveled to the floor of the cabin. It was a startling admission, one that does merit some shame which is undertsandalbe, it is dirty business, doing someone's wet work. Was it for the government? Her own enjoyment?

"For the government?" she inquired, "I-I wasn't expecting that"

"For the government? I-I wasn't expecting that"

"Not a lot of people do" Katie gave a sad smile. She wanted Felicia to think of her as a good person but there was a dirty past she needed to get rid of and this as god a time as any to tell someone. None of the other agents she worked with knew of this,
"I worked for an organisation known as the Provisional IRA," Katie then hesitated, but that was one admission too many, She wondered if she should explain what the PIRA was, but the girl was english, she must know what it is, "I killed those who opposed their ultimate aim. Anyone from Generals to Civil Servants"

"...The PIRA?!" Felicia felt a sudden drop in her heart, like a cold specter grasped her and clung tightly with cold, calous hands. It sent a chill up her spin and stalled her barin's reaction for a minute. She worked with the PIRA?! Suddenly, it broke through, a painful memory suppressed for years, thought long gone, reared its' shameful and sad head back into the light of her life. A sad sad day played like an old record in her mind. Though it was crystal clear, every sight, sound, and smell still crisp ad fresh.

His smile, the reassuring tone that what he was doing would help to end all the suffering. 'Bridging our differences towards a common goal, peace' is what he said, 'We're going to end this'

She remembered smiling and kissing him on the cheek and watched as her father stepped out of the government building. Her mom told her Daddy was doing something very important in the pursuit of peace, direct talks with people who many believed bad but her father said they just wanted freedom, though through different means. She was going off to college and didn't know when she'd be home again and decided to accompany her father and mother to Ireland.

Felicia remembered the call...the phone call that changed her life...something had happened, something horrible, she knew that. But she couldn't hear the words as everything turned silent. The phone slipped to the ground...

After a few moments, she snapped back to reality on the plane and her surroundings, "I'm sorry...but I don't feel well" Felicia grabbed at her stomach which felt like a dozen eels squirmed through it and stood up and paced down to the bathroom and closed the door.

Raskov headed back onto the Hydra plane. This would be a long trip to Siberia. Raskov remembered the first time he had been there. He had been a teen running away from the soviet forces sent to capture him. He had first learned how to use his chemical abilities and had killed the men sent to capture him.

Katie watched as Felicia's face dropped with some distress. Her hardened expression had softened, as if pleading for apology. She watched as the ex-thief got up and paced down to the bathroom. It was an unusual reaction but then maybe she had some bad experience with the organisation, there were a lot who did. Even her.

That brought her back to a memory of her own, a cold wet day in Dublin. She was sitting front of ten men, each a member of the PIRA High Council from all over Ireland and the United States. They stared at her, almost with a kind of loathing, Katie felt herself shrink from their view as they talked to her,

"You know this man wants to negoitate with the Traitors and the Prods," An old man with a cork accent glared at her, "He wants to keep the Republic divided!"

"I know!" Katie looked away, "I Know...but...but he's a family man, he has a daughter for christs sake! I can't kill him for that..."

"You will!" She recognised the voice of her own father, he was looking at her with a mixture of shame and anger, "It is what you were born to do, Katie, you were born to kill for the Republic!" He shouted.

Katie was weakening in resolve. She couldn't make a decision, she nodded,
"Very well" She said, matching her expression with the mood of the nodding council, "He'll be dead within 48 hours"

"Good Girl," She heard her father amongst all the talking, "Good Girl..."

Brought back to the present, Katie shook her head, blinking away the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. She looked out the window at the passing ocean. All those people, for what?
What monster was I? She thought miserably to herself.

Frost noted the commotion at the other end of the cabin and watched Felicia maneuver her way down the aisle and into the toilet. His gaze then made its' way to Katie, watching her face, studying the body language. He knew all too well both their histories. SHIELD leaves no stone unturned when it comes to backround checks for new operatives. He decided to not intervene and just let it play out. Though, this could severly damage the cohesion of the team.

Inside the bathroom Felicia made certain to lock the door. A splash of cool water cascaded over her face and dripped off of her chin, panging against the metallic sink. The image staring back at her was a scared 18 year old girl, eyes welled up with sorrowful tears. Her hands clenched around the sink and felt it begin to break away from the wall. She caught herself and let go, watching it sit loosely now. A old Hell engulfed her body once more. For years she suppressed these feelings. This was not the way she was brought up, this isn;t what her father would've wanted. After his passing, she wanted nothing more than to tear down the PIRA herself and kill the ones responsible. Eventually, her anger bottled itself up and disappeared, though still lingered somewhat. She had to fine other avenues to release this monster. Yoga, acrobatics, running, martial arts, tuning her mind and body into perfect sync with her soul. Risking her life, daring others to chase her, the adrenaline rushes were all outlest for anger. I-I can't do it! The impulse to return to Katie and strangle her reared upwards and momentarily seized control of her rationale. But, Felicia managed to fight it back.

Frost stood up and stood in the aisle next to Nightshade's seat. He thought for a moment before saying anything, "Life's about the choices we make and hoping that they're the right ones. If they end up not being good ones, then we have to adapt and make new choices" he said to her.

"Life's about the choices we make and hoping that they're the right ones. If they end up not being good ones, then we have to adapt and make new choices"

Katie looked up as Frost sat down beside her and glanced into her eyes. He was only one of the Operatives who knew the depth of her history. Everyone knew she was a commited anti-terrorist and former Commander in MI5's anti-terrorist team. No one really knew why,
"What about the people I killed for the Republic?" She asked with a great deal of bitterness and slf-loathing in her voice, "When do they get to make their new choices?" She shook her head then glanced out the window,
"The new girl," She began carefully, "Felicia...where does she figure into this? Did I try to do something to her when I was an Assassin?" She looked into Frost's eyes now, her own full of horror, "I have to know"

Robert was also thinking about how this all started. It was a cold, night. His father was nearing the end. He remember what his father told him. Son, I haven't being honest with you. I've done many things that people would outcast me for. I have killed people to defend this nation. You have that skill, and your mom and I made sure when the time was right, we tell you. That was the last words from his father. Robert joined the military and few years later, become part of a CIA black project until he was recruited by his current employers. He made sure his power was used for good. He couldn't wait to get to New York.

It was indeed a moral quagmire. Redemption is a jagged and painful road. He looked ast her for a moment, thinking deeply, recollecting her history. Everyone gathered had a tough life, full of mistakes.

"You have to make the choices that will protect other people from being victims" Frost began, "True, they can't make theirs anymore. So, you have to act in their stead. Redemption is not easy nor is their a guarranteed end to it. Ms.Felicia Hunter carries a beast within her, one that's tagged along for years, feeding off of her. She also feeds from it. It drives her, pushes her to the edge, makes her do things thought impossible."

He then paused for a moment, letting that soak in. Nightshade knew the gravity of this situation and its' threat to the mission and to the people, "You killed Sir Arthur Hunter...her father. Years ago when he tried to broker a peace agreement between the rival factions. You made the choice. It is your burden to bear. This is the reaction to your action. A woman who lives with a death wish. I know the many other things she's done, self-destructive behavior and all. Now, you must make the choice...redemption or continue your self-loathing until it eats away at you. All of us here have the choice to save the world, protect the innocent, and at the same time, redemn ourselves"

Phoenix ended up with a flight empty but for herself. Which didn't bother her in the least. She was more used to being alone than not, and this also let her indulge in something she couldn't have with passengers...putting the Falcone through its paces and a little bit beyond. Passengers tended to get upset over flying inverted.

But eventually she landed sedately at Green Acres, a private airport in Livingston, a small city about fifteen miles outside of New York. She hated trying to land at either of the New York airports - the stack could be for hours, until they grudgingly let you land cause you were on fume - and the landing fees were hellish - injury to insult.

Nope at Green Acres, no waiting to land, no one to notice you landing, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had a chopper waiting to pick her up. Though she was qualified on them as well. However it was nice to sit back with the Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, extra white chocolate, whole mile whipped cream - her favorite indulgence and what the smog slide past. She hated New York, only coming to the city when S.H.I.E.L.D. paid her to. And they were paying her very, very well. But then again they always did.

At Green Acres...

A chopper stood ready and the flight crew, upon seeing the plane land, readied it for takeoff. A lone figure stepped out from the hangar. He stood there and watched the plane taxi to a stop. He took off his sunglasses and gave them a good polish and placed them back onto his face.

"Director Stark?" asked a tall man in a suit, it was obvious, even under the suit that he was a muscular individual. His accent was German, no mistaking that.

Director Tony Stark turned to face the man, he was now in his early fifties, his hair now more gray than black. He still carried that infamous charisma and air about him, "Yes Gunther? Speak up"

"I just got off the phone with Frost a few minutes ago, they're still an hour or so out" Gunther replied.

"Then how the Hell is that?" Stark asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Phoenix"

"Phoenix?! Dammit, always having to run aropund solo!" Stark threw his arms up, "Well, she always knew how to make an entrance"

"All of us here have the choice to save the world, protect the innocent, and at the same time, redemn ourselves"

"Oh God..." Katie was dumbstruck, "...oh god no, not him" She looked away again, tears running down her face. Sir Arthur Hunter had been the last job she had taken for the PIRA, the last time she faced the High Council before walking over the border and handing herself in to astonished guards at Middletown Police station, County Armagh.

The man she knew had a family and was only trying to help other people. She had broken into his appartment and put a bullet into his head. Only then did she realise what she had done, what she had become. The veneer of Nationalism and Patriotism had worn off, she had sat and stared at his bodies for hours before finally coming to a decision. He had died for what he had believed in, so she had to do what he started. She gave herself up to the British and put herself at their mercy.

Of course, far from a jail sentence, she had been enlisted into MI5 to track down the High Council, something she was only too willing to do. Every arrest, she made and every terrorist act she stopped, she dedicated to the memory of the man she had killed in such cold blood. She visited his grave every year on the aniverary of his death, a figure in a black greatcoat and hood who laid flowers on his grave a small card with one word written on it,
'Sorry'

She knew what she had to do and yet now the guilt was almost overwhelming. She felt like she was going to be sick again. Her actions had ruined countless lives, dozens of attempts at peace and justice. Now she had to try and redeem herself in the face of those people whose lives she so cruelly took.

Something she didn't feel she could do.

"C'mon, try us. Try and sli..." was all the crip could say before his neck was pouring out blood.
"Anyone else want to try me?" asked James to the other two.
The other two Crips raised their glocks at James.
"Guess so, oh well you asked for it." said James.
He raised his arm and the two glocks went flying in the air where they broke to pieces. Then several knives from a counter raised in the air and began flying at the men. Well over twenty knives went into the two Crips. James walked out of the store, his phone then rang.
"Hello, James Carver." a mysterious voice said on the other side of the call.
"Who are you and how'd you get this number?" replied James.
"Not important, I am calling you from HYDRA, I'm sure your familiar of us, are you not?"
"Yes I am. Why?"
"We have an interest in you and would like to talk to you. Get into a plane and head off to Los Angeles. I will meet you there in twelve hours." the phone hung up.
James headed toward the airport to fly off to his destination.

A sigh leaked slowly from Frost's lips as he contemplated. The information she just absorbed was painstakingly heavy. A large and heavy weight shifted onto her right shoulder, unbalancing everything. He knew the risks of putting the two of them on the same team but both of them have indespenseable traits that are needed for a higher cause.

"Your past actions haunt you, undertsandably. You've ruined countless lives but you have the chance to save countless more" he uttered, "Felicia now has to make a choice"

"Mr.Frost, we're nearing Green Acres, ETA approximately fifteen minutes" said the pilot over the intercom.

Somewhere over the atlantic

Omari was sitting in a private jet, waiting to reach his destination when he got a call.
"Hello" Omari said into the phone
"Hello Soap, when you get back to New York, we'll have a chopper ready for you. Once you get back we will debrief you and then brief you on your next assignment. Good-bye for now." the phone hung up, and Omari just sat their thinking about his next job.

"Felicia now has to make a choice"

"I just hope she chooses a better option than I did" Katie sighed. She stewed for another few moments, listening as the plane began to descend. She was struggling with the information that had been lumped onto her shoulders on the first few moments. She had killed her father as a criminal and spent years looking for her as a law enforcer. How would things have been different if Felicia had had her father to guide her. It was that sort of question that could kill a person's mind.

Katie just sat and stared out the window as the plane touched down at Green Acres. She was more miserable than she had ever been before, even more so than sitting in a cell in London waiting for someone to come and tell her what future she had. Katie just wished Felicia was not here. Not to remind her of her past and it's actions.

The plane finally touched down at Green Acres. Frost could feel the thickness in the air, too much drama for his liking. The other agents began offloading themselves and the equipment. A steady train of boxes and various arrays of technical equipment.

Felicia stepped out from the bathroom. The aisle seemed to narrow and extend further beyond her sight. She closed her eyes and counted to ten and when they reopened, everything was normal and she graciously moved down the aisle, past Katie and Frost without a word and off the plane. The fresh air bathed over her, it was invigorating. A breexe swept up and her red hair tossled in the wind.

The team made their way to the hangar wher Director Stark stood impatiently waiting. Frost walked up in stride and shook hands with Stark.

"You're hands are fuckin' freezing!" Stark commented, "Just messing with you. Jees! no humor at all"

"We have two dead agents, sir" Frost reported

"I see, did you get the bastard?"

"No, but we picked up a few new recruits, the ones who talked about" Frost nodded towards the approaching group.

"A motley crew indeed, but they'll have to do" Stark said and suddenly began walking and Frost quick stepped to keep up. Stark still moved elatively fast for being older, "We'll need to brief them back at Headquarters, The Twins are on to something"

"What's that?"

"When we get to headquarters" Stark winked.

OOC: Is Stark happen to be Tony Stark? Cause it sounds like it.

IC: Omari's plane landed succesfullly and he was directed toward Director Stark and the others. He watched their conversation and awaited orders.

Green Acres Airport...

"Well, she always knew how to make an entrance"

D'Arcy had good hearing, and as she trotted over to greet Stark she grinned "With all the money you pay me I'd better make an entrance worthy of it. Looking good Tony!" She caught his look and the smile became a wicked grin "Oh all right Director Stark you are looking most excellent this lovely day."

She turned to Gunther. My Mocha in the chopper?" At his nod she hooked her arm though Starks, "Come on that means they have the vile concotion you prefer there as well"

Katie got off the plane easily and stood as far away as possible from Felicia without seeming disrespectful. She stood gloomily, ignoring greetings from other agents as well as offers to help. She just stood with her eyes closed, her breathing forcefully heavily and regulated.
'Sir Arthur's child' She thought as she stood, swaying slightly, 'Jesus, I think I'm going to be sick' It was not the woman herself who caused the pain but her, how she had killed him so easily, without a thought until it was done,
'What kind of monster was I?' She thought again.

OOC: Yes, Tony Stark took over as Director of SHIELD from Nick Fury. This is set some years in the future. Stark is older, having retired Iron Man and Nick Fury passed away. I'm taking after the comic here, with some adaptations.

"D'Arcy, it's always a pleaure" he smiled and the two of them began walking, "Now, don't think you can get frisky with me, I'm an older man now...kinda" he laughed again. Gunther rolled his eyes as they all made their way to the choppers.

The others followed suit and boarded the choppers. Felicia scoped outside of the chopper as it lifted off. The past 24hrs had taken their toll on her. She stole the Mona Lisa, was caught and offered a job by SHIELD, attacked, then ends up working with her father's killer all in the smae day. Her mind was drained and eyelids heavy. It took even more inner stength not to pull a weapon or tool from her handy utility belt and kill Nightshade. Revenge appealed greatly to her all of a sudden. But, those feelings subsided once more. All that negativity that ate away at her now had a human face.

Frost leaned in, "Choices" he simple said and sat back in his seat. Felicia heard the words and contemplated their meaning. Things were far from over. Now, she had to balance between her thirst for vengence and her promise to Frost. They obviously wanted her for her skills and she didn't want to have her hands cut off or anything if she were released to the Egyptians our Saudis.

OOC: WOOT I love Tony Stark, huge fan he's awsome, loved the movie, loved all of it.

IC:
Omari looked at Stark, amazed that he was in the presence of a living legend. He couldn't beleive that he was working for such a man. He still stood their, waiting for what he thought was more people, or for them to leave and go back to base.

Katie also sat in the chopper and just stared out at the sights around her. How did she come back from this one? She would have to work from now on with the daughter of her last victim. How could she work with that face looking at her, reminding her of everything that had happened in a past life. What could she do?

She could leave SHIELD and take up a role at one of the other Counter-intelligence agencies. She knew there were dozens who would take her on without so much as a pause and yet, Frost's words hung true,
'Choices'

With SHIELD, she could do so much more than with all the counter-intelligence agencies combined. She knew this, but still, that face...those faces...still haunted her every second she was with Felicia. She kept in a gloomy silence for the whole journey.

Omari walked into the chopper and sat down near Katie.
"Hey, haven't seen you in awhile. You were in Rome too right?" he asked.

OOC: This is what Omari looks like: http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/nore.gif

Katie glanced over as she felt someone sit next to her. She saw who it was and forced a smile of greeting,
"Hey," She said tiredly before turning and looking out the window, "Yeah, yeah I was," She was it absentmindedly, as if something else occupied her mind. Damn Rome! Why did she have to go in the first place!

"You were there too?" She asked, turning again, "I didn't see you about" 'What a stupid thing to say' She grimaced to herself, 'Of course I didn't see him! Rome's huge and I asked if I'd seen him'
She shook her head to clear it of thoughts before smiling again, this time more easily,
"What do you think this is about?" She asked, hoping the agonising pain that was this helicopter journey would be cut short by a friendly conversation not related in anyway to Assassins, Republicans or Politicians.

"Well yeah I was in Rome. I was assigned to hunt down a guy named Heat. He controls fire and you know that kinda stuff. We have a history, we used to be friends until he got his powers, then we just drifted apart. Well as for this, I don't know what it's about. Must be something big. Do you have any idea?" replied Omari.

"No idea," Katie felt sorry that Omari had lost someone close but then she could have just made herself a new enemy. It seemed like SHIELD's new generation of Operatives were not quite living up to the hype. She could not shake the images from her mind nor the one particular voice, her father's that kept ringing out in her head,
'A Killer for the Republic, A Killer for the Republic, A Killer for the Republic, A Killer for the Republic...'
She shook her head again at Omari's question, she smiled again, showing her beauty once again, a beauty that had gotten her through some tough times in her life,
"Whatever it is, it's important enough to shut down operations all over the place and bring it's Agents back here so..." She shrugged, "Who knows?"

"Heh, your right. Who knows? Mind if I ask how old you are? You look very young. Sorry if it's an odd question."
Omari looked out the window of the chopper and noticed more agents coming. He then looked back at Katie, waiting for her answer. He was capivated by her beauty. He wasn't sure if she could tell what he was thinking about.

Robert was sitting the chopper, he hated the title "assassin" that society gave him. He killed people for the Army, CIA, and now SHIELD. He wondered how that made him a so called "cold-blooded" killer, he killed them so that the people will be free. Now, he does the same thing except it's the entire world he has to defend.

OOC: Overview of the last five pages? My SHIELD guy was flying a plane to NYC.

OOc: u want an overview?

OOC: Yes please.

OOC: Well pretty much everyone was talking about hunting down different HYDRA members, and they were. And then all of a sudden everyone got back to NYC as if it was magic lol. And now a bunch of them are in a chopper with Tony Stark.

OK, thanks. I guess I'm in the chopper now too. *prepping post*

Kevin had hung around the whole time, watching everyone go everywhere and talking to everyone. Below his nonchalant attitude was something that SHIELD didn't know. This was one of the times that knowledge kicked in. Tomorrow, he'd be fine.

He laid back in the helicopter as everyone started to talk to that one Tony Stark guy. Wasn't he like Iron Man or something? But it didn't matter. Because tomorrow... next year... next century... everyone in this copter would be gone. Except someone named moi.

The guy who went into the plane with him in Rome and some other woman were talking about something that happened in Italia. Oh well, better say hi.

"Hi. I'm Kevin. New recruit. Can I ask your names?"

"Heh, your right. Who knows? Mind if I ask how old you are? You look very young. Sorry if it's an odd question."

"Me?" The question jerked Katie right out of her trance and she looked into his eyes to see if he was being serious or if it was a non-funny joke at her expense. She had had enough of them in her time. She thought for a moment, wondering if she should tell him. As both an Assassin and an Agent of MI5 she had gotten used to giving fake names, fake birthdays and fake lives. Now someone was asking her honestly what her age was,
"My age?" She seemed a little taken aback by the question,
"I was born in 1983...that would make me 25 by my reckoning" She blushed and looked away again.

She looked up again at a Stranger who appeared and asked her name,
"Welcome to the crew Kevin," She offered him a nod of the head, "I'm Katie Hunter, aka Nightshade"

[COLOR="Green"]
She looked up again at a Stranger who appeared and asked her name,
"Welcome to the crew Kevin," She offered him a nod of the head, "I'm Katie Hunter, aka Nightshade"

"Oh... thanks. Hi Katie. Or do you want me to call you Nightshade?"

OOC: Who's RPing Stark? Anyone?

"Nice to meet you, Kevin" Robert said "Im Robert Werner, people call me Coyote."

"Heh, well you know me Kevin already. Well I'm Omari if you didn't know, but they call me Soap, not sure why, just for fun I guess."

OOC: I'm not sure who's playing Stark.

"Oh... thanks. Hi Katie. Or do you want me to call you Nightshade?"

"On mission, I would prefer if you called me Nightshade" Katie explained calmly, glad to have something to take her mind of the reels of faces that were running through her mind right now, all victims of her, all victims of the Republican cause... so she was told,
"But when you're somewhere like here, you can call me Katie if you so wish" She shrugged, "Simple enough really"

She took in the details of the new arrival.
"What were you recruited for?" She asked him, still looking him over with the professional eye of someone used to scanning people for clues to weakness. Not that that was what she was thinking of course, it was just what she did.

OOC: I believe Kulikovia is RPing Stark so as to control the plot

"Hi... Robert, Bob, or Coyote? Which do you prefer? I have to get to know everyone's names."

"Wow man, your pretty damn nice for a SHIELD member." Omari laughed at his own joke, he then looked around to see what others were talking about.

"Oh... thanks. Hi Katie. Or do you want me to call you Nightshade?"

"On mission, I would prefer if you called me Nightshade" Katie explained calmly, glad to have something to take her mind of the reels of faces that were running through her mind right now, all victims of her, all victims of the Republican cause... so she was told,
"But when you're somewhere like here, you can call me Katie if you so wish" She shrugged, "Simple enough really"

She took in the details of the new arrival.
"What were you recruited for?" She asked him, still looking him over with the professional eye of someone used to scanning people for clues to weakness. Not that that was what she was thinking of course, it was just what she did.

OOC: I believe Kulikovia is RPing Stark so as to control the plot

OOC: THanks. And sorry, didn't see you there.

IC:

"Um.... It's a long story... but I'm very resourceful." Pause. "And I know a lot of people."

"Hi... Robert, Bob, or Coyote? Which do you prefer? I have to get to know everyone's names."

"I prefer Robert or Coyote"

OOC- Kulikovia, do you want to start the next HYDRA bit (In Siberia by my guess) or shall I do it?

"I prefer Robert or Coyote"

"Cool. Robert. Got it." Kevin's cellphone rang. He checked the call display. "It's my brother."

"Yo Andrew! What, got another problem? Forget it. Not right now. I'm in the same plane as Tony Stark. I know. I'll get you an autograph later. See you." He hung up.

"Little brothers. Always need help. My brother's governor of California, and he has some problem with tobacco companies. I'm his unofficial advisor. What about you guys?"

"Umm, I play football in my free time in this tournament with celebrities and people who are good but not in the NFL. Well besides that I do nothing in my free time, well I work with shield but that's it, oh and I hang out in my big ass house."

"Where's your big house? I personally live in Toronto/San Diego."

"I'm a gunsmith in my free time and used to do black ops stuff for the CIA before being recruited by SHIELD."

"I have two houses, one in Los Angeles, and one in Miami. And I have a large apartment in New York."

"I'm a gunsmith in my free time and used to do black ops stuff for the CIA before being recruited by SHIELD."

"I've always wanted to be a secret agent." Kevin smiled. "They always got to drive the cool cars and pull the James Bond stunts. So I thought."

"Hah, that's what I thought when I first joined SHIELD, but now I know it's about more than that."

Kevin thought back to when he chased SHIELD. He knew he had talents, that was for sure. And he wanted to use them. Preferably for good. Plus, girls would be great. And, James Bond stunts were awesome. But... he needed a break from himself. The stresses of his life. But now they were coming back... get a grip!

Kevin flipped through his backpack. Let's see... aha. He pulled out a jar of red liquid and took a sip. "That's better." He sighed. If only they knew...

"I really don't see SHIELD in that light. More like Superman, Batman, etcetera. Though secret agent stuff would be cool." What am I going to do while I'm here? "What have you done in SHIELD so far?"

"Hunt down HYDRA members for me. Killed a few, I hate them."

"Shot some arms dealer in Italy."

D'Arcy hid her unamused chuff with a sip of her Mocha, and her eye rolling behind her shades. Oy! What was Tony thinking bringing in the older brother of the Governeer of Fruit, Nuts and Flakes -afornicator? is he losing his touch, or is Mister Hi I'm a New Recruit flaking it again? First the con about a 20 passenger Lear, now this? She thought to herself as she gave Tony a look that was dangerously unamused.

"Bond was always in Fleming's over heated imagination" D'Arcy leaned over to break into the conversation between the three guys and their pissing contest. "And besides those million dollar babies stand out too damn much. Being obvious is ...unintelligent."

D'Arcy hid her unamused chuff with a sip of her Mocha, and her eye rolling behind her shades. Oy! What was Tony thinking bringing in the older brother of the Governeer of Fruit, Nuts and Flakes -afornicator? is he losing his touch, or is Mister Hi I'm a New Recruit flaking it again? First the con about a 20 passenger Lear, now this? She thought to herself as she gave Tony a look that was dangerously unamused.

"Bond was always in Fleming's over heated imagination" D'Arcy leaned over to break into the conversation between the three guys and their pissing contest. "And besides those million dollar babies stand out too damn much. Being obvious is ...unintelligent."

"So, is that what we do? Quietly murder people? OK then." Kevin took another sip of his drink, and put it back. "What's our next job anyway? Anyone know?"

So, SHIELD kills people. That's great to know. But no saving people out of the blue? Oh well-I've done enough damage, a couple more people won't affect my standing... I'm destined to hang out with Beelzebub anyway.

"Well, I heard something about this guy named James or something. He had telepathy I think, I'm not sure though. Ask Mr. Stark or someone who might know."

Raskov had boarded the plane and fell asleep. A small gaseous bubble surrounded him. It was cortizene By-hydrate.(fake chemical I made up) The chemical didn't hurt raskov in his hazmat suit but it would burn off the skin of anyone who tried to touch him. It was a defensive habit raskov had to portect himself. Raskov moaned as one of his childhood days passed in his nightmare.

Mengele had dissected raskovs arm. He had put no anesthenics on him and the pain of the knife cutting his arm was excrutiating. The blood was pooling on the operation table, yet mengele just kept cutting. The doctor took a drill out and burrowed it into raskovs arm. He then took out a machine that looked like a giant turkey baster attached to the roof. Inside it was a glowing yellow liquid. He heard the doctor of death say something about liquid titanium. The doctor put the baster into the hole in his arm, raskov remained in this hellish conscious only by the gift of a muscle relaxant the good doctor gave him. Raskov screamed in pain as the melted metal was emptied into his arm. Raskov screamed again this time waking from his slumber on the plane.

So, is that what we do? Quietly murder people? OK then."

D'Arcy snickered and quoted..

"Have you ever killed anyone?" Female voice close to Jamie Lee Curtis's

"Yeah, but they were all bad." Obviously Arnies - from True Lies...

But then again it was soo true. What a noob! D'Arcy sent him a withering glance and turned back to watching New York unfold below them. From this height it almost - but it was only almost - looked serene. That was both truth and lie. Appearances could - no absolutely were decieving.

Katie listened to the three men talking and rolled her eyes before looking back out the window. All of this talk about pastimes and hobbies, celebraties and governors...she couldn't remember what she had done in the last Leave she'd had. She always preferred to work, with the knowledge that she did not deserve rest after her early days and sins. As a result, she was feared by the Underworld and respected by Intelligence Services. There were few that would not open their doors for her if she so desired another job...just in case everything with Felicia did not work out...and it might not.

There was no other way of saying it but SHIELD's new recruits seemed to be a little more...'ecentric' than normal. Governor this and celebratey that.
'James Bond stunts?' She snorted to herself and completely agreed when D'Arcy cut in. At that moment, she felt a strange connection to the Mercenary, 'A good SHIELD mission is one where the Villian is caught without casualties and without fuss', even as an Assassin, she knew the satisfaction of the job was getting in and out before anyone had a clue about what had happened...

...and that brought her back to the murder of a key British Politician, Sir Robert Lordes. It had been one of her finest jobs if not the finest. It was reported all over the world and Police had searched for months with no reward. She had simply sat down, waited and picked off the Knight as he spoke to a crowd on peace. No one could have stopped her. Not the British Army sentries. Not the MI6 Snitches. Not the MI5 Agents that had infested the area, not the Police Snipers on the roofs of the nearby buildings. In and out, quick, clean and simple...or so she had thought at the time. It was that which had drawn Sir Arthur into politics. One event leading to the other...

She shook her head again and tried to get some sleep. It was pointless. Every moment of sleep was a nightmare, with the faces of her victims coming back to haunt her. She gave it up again and instead slipped her knife out of it's sheath. She began to sharpen it again, stroking it back and forth on the leather wrapped around her knuckles.

After a few moments, she got up and sat near to D'Arcy,
"Hey," She said in greeting, still sharpening the knife, "What've you been up to recently?" She asked, "I didn't see you in Rome"

"Sorry..." muttered Kevin under his breath. He didn't mean to get off to a bad start with that woman. Oh well... it just seemed like such a ruthless thing to do-killing people. Of course these people had to be stopped. "Can I ask where we're going?"

"Hell, we could be going anywhere. My guess is the SHIELD HQ. Not sure though. Ask Mr. Stark."

D'Arcy noted Katie's 'tell' popping out. She'd made note of it before. Something was bothering the Irish woman, and she had a good idea what it was. Though they'd never discussed it. She preferred to let people have their privacy. If they wanted her to officially know, they'd tell her. She just made it a habit to thoroughly study Everyone she worked with. She liked living too much to let there be blind spots.

"I didn't see you in Rome"

"They only brought me in as back up transport. Guess they didn't want me nuking the Holy See's homeland" D'Arcy joked - though it was probably more than half true. It was a well known fact around S.H.I.E.L.D. that she didn't like the Roman Catholic Church and they returned the favor. Besides if things really had gone south she was good back up.

Very pragmatic, even ruthless, she had her own strongly held personal ethics. There were three sides - Hers, the opposite side and the vast mass of nearly sheep like innocents. She knew that by nature she was a guard wolf - even if the sheep did more than occasionally make her want to scream, pull her hair and deck the lot of them.

"Guess they didn't want me nuking the Holy See's homeland"

"I can see why" Katie smiled wryly at the humour from the Mercenary. Although she found it amusing, she also found it slightly offensive. D'Arcy may have been firmly commited against the Roman Catholic Church but Katie was a Catholic, a gift from a strict childhood, and she did occasionally pray. Not enough to make it an issue though. It had been enough for her to kill though. More than enough, something she had embraced one moment then condemned the next.

"Do you have any idea what this is about?" She asked, deciding to steer the conversation away from the delicate matter of religion and onto something more important, "What's so important that Stark's pulled half the assignments early and recalled their Agents?" She let a cheeky grin slip out, "I know you're close to him, if anyone knows what he's planning, it would be you"

She continued to sharpen her knife, sliding it across the surface of the leather with a much-practised ease, both sides were lethally sharp and she was making it sharper.

D'Arcy let the conversation veer away.

I know you're close to him, if anyone knows what he's planning, it would be you"

That brought an uninhibited laugh from D'Arcy. "Oh, Tony doesn't tell me much. He just lets me get away with being cheeky with him" Though her eyes went wicked and her voice low "Though if he'd let me..." She heaved a loud mock sigh and winked at Tony.

'But her voice went serious a split second later. "Nothing good's in the wind, lots of Meta's disappearing and some old names cropping back up"

As an independent operative she heard most everything going around - she spent a huge chunk of her large earnings on acquiring such, and it was an expense she could not claim as one. But then again she'd never filed a tax return in her life. Under any of her identities.

"Hell, we could be going anywhere. My guess is the SHIELD HQ. Not sure though. Ask Mr. Stark."

"Don't want to bother him." Kevin took a drink and took a look at Tony. I'm really in the same helicopter with him, he reflected. Far fare from a bachelor with nothing to do. "Have you been there?"

"Nothing good's in the wind, lots of Meta's disappearing and some old names cropping back up"

"Ah," Katie stopped stroping the knife for a moment to think, "I thought it would be something like that" She shook her head, "All of this, all so...confusing" She paused for a moment to emit a large yawn that she was unable to cover as one hand had a lond knife in it while the other had a strip of leather,
"Sorry," She explained with a sigh, "I haven't slept in two days. I wonder what Stark wants us to do?...Something important to bring so many agents back from duty..."

"It must be important, if mr. Stark wants all of us to do it. Do you think he chose us out of every SHIELD member for this job?" asked Omari in a quiet voice.

"Probably, Tony wants to do something like put a final end to HYDRA or one of their arms or something..." Kevin thought aloud. "After all, half the agents of SHIELD working on one operation? What else could it be?" His mind soared as it imaged newspaper articles featuring: Kevin, A Not So Normal Guy-Until He Destroyed HYDRA!!!

"God, this new guy seems kinda cocky." Omari muttered under his breath. He turned to Stark.
"Mr. Stark, why choose us out of everyone else in SHIELD?"

The look D'Arcy gave Kevin, the Mister I am the older brother of the governer of the land of flakes, fruits, and nuts, Mister Noob New Recruit was nothing short of scathing. "Maybe you ought to go back to cleaning up after your little brother. Or single handedly keeping L.A. from falling into the ocean."

She had taken a decided dislike to him. And that was never a good thing

Omari burst into laughter.
"Hah, good one D'Arcy, Kevin, she does have a point. You should go back to being the official kiss ass of the govenor of Cali."

"How long until we land?" asked Reaper in his normal tone as he looked out the window.

SHIELD Central

The chopper sputtered through the air and hummed over the New York City skyline. The outline of the Empire State Building was iconic as ever. Though, much of the skyline's luster had faded when the Twin Towers were destroyed, a symbol of American economic strength. The proposed plans for a memorial were still stagnate, though making more headway than usual. Below, a steady stream of yellow cabs honked and cluttered the congested streets and avenues.

SHIELD Central occupied a spacious lot just down the street about six blocks from the UN Building. The whole area was deamed a government zone with numerous embassies and other agencies taking up residence. Businesses gripped but there was little they could do and were compensated for their loses. On the outside, it appears to be a normal building that one would see throughout the city. SHIELD, though an international organization, still enjoyed ambiguity when it came to a base of operations. The HeliPad at the top of the roof was spacious and could accomedate two landing pads. The helicopter finally reached their destination and the tired and weary agents stepped down as the rotars continued to spin furiously.

Stark moved quickly, followed by Frost and the other team members. Security in Central is state-of-the-art and proven effective. Back in its' hayday, SHIELD often fell prey to numerous infiltration attempts but were either foiled prior or during the attempts. The elevators took them to the bowels of the building, the nerve of SHIELD.

Finally, he pushed open a pair of double doors and stepped into a large conference room. A long black table, rowed with black chairs. There were no windos, just a large screen at the other end of the conference room.

Felicia took a seat, plumping down with an exhausted sigh. Her eyes felt heavy but this was certainly not the time for sleep. The other agents took their seats and Frost stood of at the side, quiet as ever.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I brought you here" Stark began, moving to the end of the table, beneath the telescreen, "PsiOps has picked up some interesting and frightening data" he turned to an Asian woman standing off to the side.

"My name is Jade, I am Section Chief for PsiOps" she stepped up, "The Twins, two powerful telepaths that we employ are responsible for a considerable amount of data we recieve which allows us to track down and capture wanted individuals and stop attacks and other illegal activities...Over the past two months, they've been tracking a disturbing trend."

She Paused for a brief moment

"Telepaths, as I'm sure you all know, can read minds and in some cases, influence them. Telepaths can sense other telepaths the best as opposed to normal humans. Several telepaths across the globe began disappearing and falling off the grid. Two were registered metahumans and this is what first alerted us. So far, 9 prominent telepaths of considerable power have disappeared and our attempts to tap into their minds have failed."

"That is why we had Frost go to Rome, because our dear Twins connected with another telepath but were unable to detect her exact position" Stark interjected, he turned to Jade and winked, offering a smile.

Jade rolled her eyes and stepped back

"On a more serious note..." Stark's demeanour changed drastically. Now, it was down to business, "Another trend has appeared" He turned on the screen and a man's profile appeared. The eyes from the photo were dull and emotionless, void of any reasoning.

"He was believed dead a few years back but has suddenly resurfaced here in Prague five months ago. Since then, he's disappeared. We had no clue how he came to resurface or why until this..."

Another image appeared, this time of a nuclear plant in Russia. It was a slideshow of disaster. Dead bodies, charred out cars, damaged buildings. The agents looked on. Then, the last slide was that of a card left on a desk, the image on the card was that of the mythological Hydra.

"We believe that HYDRA is operational again" Stark cleared his throat, clicking off the image, "HYDRA operations had ceased all together years ago when von Strucker was killed and the late Nick Furry was Director. But now we have credible evidence to support that they have resurfaced."

"It's unknown as to if there's a link between the missing telepaths and the theft of nuclear fuel rods from this plant. We're not even sure if there is a link, what these two incidents have to do with one another" Frost added, "But what we do know is that something isn't right and we must face the grave fact that HYDRA is oeprational again"

Felicia sat back in her chair, soaking in the information. She had honestly never heard of HYDRA before. But, from the sounds of things, they are a very serious organization. Her eyes swept down the rows of agents who sat, nodding and whispering to one another.

Over Russia...

The plane neared its' destination but still ahd a leg to go. The flight from Rome to Siberia was a long one indeed. During the flight, Zemsky placed calls, planned out more actions, coordinating resources and such. He was a task master which came in handy. Before he came along, HYDRA was nothing more than a few scattered independent cells operating on stolen money and equipment. von Strucker's death did indicate that HYDRA, once a feared terrorist organization was gone, never to be ehard from again. Of course, SHIELD hadn't totally eradicated them. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Once the head was cut off, another grew in its' stead. That is what made HYDRA so versatile and deadly.

He brought organization, resources, and a common vision. For the past five years, after faking his death, he used all his avaliable assets to rebuild and strengthen the organization. Now, they were on the brink of their greatest venture, one that will finally see his dream fullfilled.

"Sir" Hypno said, "We're nearing our destination"

"Alright, what about the last component for the machine?" Zemsky asked

"Taken care of. There were no witnesses left" Hypno smiled.

"And our calling card?"

Hypno smiled once more, "Already in SHIELD's posession"

Baikal Mountains, Siberia

The Baikal Mountains, outcropping from the shore of Lake Baikal, extend high into the air. An old settlement used to be in the area but the inhabitants 'disappeared' mysteriously. Within the mountain, carved deep into the rock, is HYDRA's new base of operations. It is a fairly large complex with just a small portion jutting out from the rocks. There is a tunnel that leads from the lake inside where there is a small dock for patrol craft. Due largely in part to Zemsky's aide, HYDRA recovered from the brink of extinction and has attracted numerous metahumans and other corrupt humans.

The bitter cold whips up as a man stands by a small airfield a few km's away. He looks down at his watch and impatiently taps his boot against the tarmac.

"Bolt, when will they arrive?" asked a woman. She stepped out from the building. Her hair was long and black and an eye patch stretched over her left eye.

"Soon, Scarlet" Bolt replied, "They have the package with them. Just concern yourself with the others"

Scarlet stepped beside him and surveyed the vastness and noted the bitter temperature, "This was a great place to build the compound"

"It serves us just fine. It's secluded, remote...it's perfect" Bolt said aloud, almost as if not to her put to the surroundings, "Besides, you'd still be doing free lance work somewhere in the desert if it weren't for Red Shadow. He's a visionary, the next von Strucker"

"I suppose" Scarlet mused, "I am interested to see this new telepath they brought"

Katie sat and listened to the briefing as it was given. She had actually slept on the flight, for once in her life. A dreamless sleep. The best kind for someone in her position. Nevertheless, she was still tired as they were brought into the briefing room and everything was explained. She nodded wearily at many of the facts which she already knew. Telepath's disappearing...so on and so forth. However, she perked up once she heard about HYDRA's return.

Katie had been with enough Agencies and SHIELD itself to know who HYRA were and more importantly, what they were capable off. She turned away from the slideshow, preferring not to see what they had done in Russia. No doubt that because they were back, she would see it more often now. When Stark hand finished talking, she raised her hand to draw attention to herself then asked her question,
"Do we have any idea what kind of individuals HYDRA has recruited?" She asked, knowing in her heart what the answer would probably be, "Is it more Metahumans?"

HYDRA was back, which meant much, much more danger for all of them.

Stark looked up at Nightsahde, "HYDRA in its' hayday was mostly compromised of Metahumans, maany of them quite gifted I'm afraid" Stark replied, "We have no accurate number pertaining to their current strength but since the passing of the Metahuman Registration Act, I'm sure plenty of sore and disillusioned metahumans have joined their ranks. This magnifies the risk, since the disbandment of the Avengers, very few actual metahumans remain in SHIELD."

He looked at Frost who remained quiet, arms folded.

"Our enemy is quite dangerous and resourceful" Stark started up again, "Though we are as well"

"What is our mission?" Felicia asked, feeling out of place amoungst all of these people. It was somehting she was used to but being around all this authority made her understandably nervous.

"You are all exhausted, I'm sure" Stark replied, "So you are all going to rest up, refit, and then we'll discuss the minor details.

"Sounds like fun," smiled Kingston as he sniffed the air. 'Come here you bugger!'

"Hehehehe!" laughed a voice as something came through the air. "Hahahahaha! Time has come Reaper for your death!"

Kingston turned around as Jack the Ripper appeared before him. Lee looked around as he was kicked across them room and drew out his twin swords.

"One on one," replied Kingston as he threw down his cloak. "No teleportation and no cheating,"

Reaper turned into a werewolf as his hands turned a deathyl bony white colour. He raised his sword as Ripper jumped towards him.

"What the Hell?!" Felicia shouted, shooting out of her chair. The commotion caused the other agents to react in suit but they quickly took their stances. Stark was dumbfounded, how did he get in here? Through the security?

Felicia grasped a small cylinder from her belt and depressed a button. This caused each end to shoot out in the form of a staff. She jumped up onto the table and stood poised to strike. Frost rushed to the end of the conference room as he arm turned into ice, hardened and deadly.

Over Russia...

The plane neared its' destination but still ahd a leg to go. The flight from Rome to Siberia was a long one indeed. During the flight, Zemsky placed calls, planned out more actions, coordinating resources and such. He was a task master which came in handy. Before he came along, HYDRA was nothing more than a few scattered independent cells operating on stolen money and equipment. von Strucker's death did indicate that HYDRA, once a feared terrorist organization was gone, never to be ehard from again. Of course, SHIELD hadn't totally eradicated them. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Once the head was cut off, another grew in its' stead. That is what made HYDRA so versatile and deadly.

He brought organization, resources, and a common vision. For the past five years, after faking his death, he used all his avaliable assets to rebuild and strengthen the organization. Now, they were on the brink of their greatest venture, one that will finally see his dream fullfilled.

"Sir" Hypno said, "We're nearing our destination"

"Alright, what about the last component for the machine?" Zemsky asked

"Taken care of. There were no witnesses left" Hypno smiled.

"And our calling card?"

Hypno smiled once more, "Already in SHIELD's posession"


Mastermind moved up the plane to talk to Zemsky. "I'm worried Ivan. The Twins have been more active recently. I can only hide the Telepaths while they do not know what they are looking for or where it is. If the here hear a single rumour about our Siberian operations then they will find them, and then SHIELD will come. We must accelerate the scedule."

OOC: Things moved a little fast so I'm going to alter this post to fit what Lynion just did. I wasn't expecting him to post that so quickly.

Zemsky nodded. These were true words. SHIELD had far more resources than they did. Though, they did enjoy the distinct advantage of having numerous metahumans at their disposal, "Alright then, the best thing for us to do seeing how we need more telepaths would be to take the Twins themselves. They are extremely powerful and withoutn them, SHIELD will nearly be blind. I just contacted Bolt and Scarlet, they will make their move as well. Take the girl back to the base and prepare the last components"

He turned to Jack, "care to take a trip to SHIELD Central?" Zemsky began to turn into a shadow and him and jack teleported out of the plane.

Alesandra sat there in awe and fear. She knew full well what was about to happen and it disturbed her greatly.

Katie barely saw the attacker and instinctively, her knife was out of it's sheath in no time. However, when she heard the conversation, she relazed again and slid it back into her belt. It it was to be a one-on-one fight then there would be no need for her to get stuck in, her hand hovered near her weapon but other than that she was not bothered by the battle on the table,
"Sir?" She asked Stark, "Where shall we be staying? I don't think I need to be here do I?"

"Wh-what do we do sir?" Omari asked, looking at Stark.

"Are you serious?!" Stark exclaimed, "There's a fucking enemy in the middle of SHIELD Central and you wanna know where you're staying?!"

Frost shot out a beam of ice that surrounded jack's legs in a thick layer of ice, "Don't make anymore moves!" he demanded. Stark hit a button on the table that alerted the security system.

"Hahahahaha!!" laughed Jack. "The Twins!! I'm gonna get the twins baby!" shouted Jack.

"Stark! Send a company of agents down to the Twins!" shouted Reaper as ice was wrapped around Jaclk's legs.

Reaper made one last strike as he swipped the bayonets from Jack's hands as Jack struggled to get out of the ice. He muttered and cursed as he looked at Reaper.

"No cheatting eh?" shouted Jack. "You promised me a fair fight and now..."

Reaper took a dash of Ripper's bllod and licked it as he teleported himself across them room. He looked up as he drank the last of the blood and teleported back in front of Ripper.

"Let us have our fair fight Frosty!" demanded Reaper.

"And there are more than enough people within SHIELD central to take care of it." She replied equally as coldly, "I am exhausted and no good to either man nor beast, so it is a simple choice. Stand and be killed or retreat and rest. But..." She shrugged and puller her pistol from it's holster, "You're the boss" She took aim at the intruder.
"And if you need someone to protect the twins" She put her pistol back, "Then I might as well do that" She turned to leave the room.

"Holy shit, what the hell just happened?" Omari said, with a bit of fear in his voice. He still had his hand on his gun while it was in the shoulder holster.

Felicia impacted the wall hard and she slumpede to the ground in a daze. Everything happened in slow motion. The fight, the movement, her reaction. Metahumans were far tougher than she originally thought. This makes things all the more dangerous and the consequences deadly.

Frost moved past them and placed a set of reenforced cuffs that had a special band that clamped aorund jack's wrists then stepped back, "Call for a medic!" he ordered.

"Who, me?" Omari asked, still flooded with surprise in his voice.

"Frost let Jack go!" shouted Reaper as Jack struggled to get out of the ice. "I promised him a fair fight..." his voice suddenlys deepens. "And we argeed on no cheatting, help or teleportation. Now, let him go!"

"No!" Frost cleared the air with a loud, commanding tone, "There's not going to be any fighting. We have this bastard in custody and we're taking him to the detention block. There, we'll make sure he tells us everything he knows"

Two other agents entered the room, one of them carrying a device. He turned it on and extended the prongs out, it appeared to be a clamp with a box on the back, "This will calm you down" as jack struggled they placed it on the back of his head, it instantly shut down his motor skills.

Kevin was obviously stunned. These people had come out of nowhere. He was in shock. That was fast. But, surprisingly, he understood a fair fight-in fact, one of the only things he DID understand. But his main thought was Jack the Ripper is here?!?!?!?

"I think you should too, Frost..." he murmured, taking a drink of his red liquid.

"I'll head down to the Twins shall I?" Katie asked mildly, putting her pistol away, "Seeing as these two are utterly determined to be chivalrous about this whole thing. On her way out though, she bent down to Felicia and gave her a little shake,
"She's fine," She announced, "Just a little dazed, come on" She offered her a hand, "I'll help you to the medical bay"

Felicia paused, as she sat up and looked at that hand. The same hand that she was sure killed her father. But, for the sake of the moment, she let her anger subside and grasped the hand and Katie helped her to her feet, they locked eyes, "Thanks" she said. Then, her face softened, "Guess I'm not up to par with a metahuman, huh?"

"What...?" shouted Reaper as his voice became every more deeper. "I gave him my word I'll give him a fair fight and that didn't included you...What the blazes...why isn't anyone with the Twins?" shouted Reaper.

Jack wasn't finished just yet. He prepared himself as he teleported himself to be bending downwards and his head below the box.

"Where's my fight?" demanded Jack.

"Should I head to locate the twins?" asked Omari in a pleasant voice.

"You better!" snapped Reaper as he drew out both of his longswords.

"Enough of this!" Frost shot more ice that began to slowly encase Jack, "I'm not going to endanger the lives of everyone in this building just because you want to fight with your brother! He is a killer and will keep killing. But now that we have him we can use him to discover HYDRA's plan"

He eyed up the long swords, "Are you going to kill me?"

Stark stood tall, "Reaper, stand down! We have him in custody. We're going to put him somewhere where he can't hurt anyone anymore and that's final!"

"Aye, Reaper, you talking to me?"

Alesandra stared out pf the plane as the plane began to land. There were large mountain ranges and a vast lake. It looked beautiful and majestic. Far removed from the cramped and cluttered streets of Rome. A city, despite its' alure, had none in her heart. It was just a place of desperation, lost hopes, and saddness.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked Mastermind, "Why is Zemsky doing this?"

"Who else do you I was talking to?" snapped Reaper as he turned to Jack as he watched him.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Laughed Jack. "Reaper is right all the way! You guys have no-one protecting the Twins and by now Mastermind would've gotten to them! Hahahahahaha!!"

"Stark...can you promise me that you'll allow me to...end his life?" asked Reaper. "Or do I become like him and end up in a cell?"

OOC: Lynion, check your tg's

"Nah, It's more about tactics than brute strength I'm afraid," She shook her head, "You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Come on," She indicated down a corridor, "This way to the Medical Bay, it's good for future references" She gave a small smile.
She was talking to the Daughter of the last man she killed as an Assassin. It was such a strange feeling, she was actually talking to her. In a friendly tone as well! That was a weird thing to feel, delight at this moment. She knew she should be helping to restrain the new Metahuman, but it didn't matter. She felt like a weight was lifting off her shoulders.

The route to the Medical Bay would take them past the Psi-Ops department, where the twins remained.

OOC: Just did and proceed.

"Don't worry, the Twins are in a safely guarded area of the building. The security layers are quite advanced" Frost interjected, "No one's getting to them, not even this Mastermind character"

Stark turned to Reaper, "We are going to question him" he simply put it, "We can't let a member of HYDRA like him just be killed out of spite when we have him"

Felicia felt a shock of pain run up her ribs, causing her knees to buckle and weight shifted against the wall. She winced in pain but quickly stood back up as they continued walking, "I'm fast and agile, he's just faster. Plus, brute strength seems to have its' advantages" she gave a weak laugh.

Manhattan, New York
Daunte stood their, playing pool with himself, in his large apartment in the richest part of New York. He had several bodyguards all around his place. The phone rang.
"Hello, who the hell is this? Yeah, uh huh, okay. I'll be there." he then hung up and signaled two of his bodyguards to come with him. A limo pulled up, Daunte went in, followed by his two bodyguards.
"Showfur, go to pier 11. ASAP." said Daunte
The car then sped away.

SHIELD HQ

Omari looked up at all the people, he didn't know what to do really.

"Careful" Katie caught Felicia as her knee's buckled, "Careful, you're more hurt than I thought" She threw one shoulder over her own so that she was taking the weight for both of them, "Come on, the Medical Bay's not that far away" She shuffled down the corridor, taking her weight.

"You'll learn how to beat them in time" Katie grunted as they crossed the Psi-Ops area for a short-cut, "Trust me, it just takes time" She smiled at her, "And yes, sometimes strength does have an advantage and sometimes, it doesn't" She was thinking quickly now, the Medical Bay was down the corridor, so she should be okay, they weren't far now.

"I can walk on my own" Felicia said, "Thanks anyways" she wrangled herself free and walked through the pain, the force of the blow combined with hitting the wall probably messed up her ribs. She'd been too independent most of her life to need to be carried by someone else. She always carried herself, though everything. It was also embarrassing to be that easily beat, even by a metahuman. If she wanted to be a real agent of SHIELD, she'd need to hone her skills to a new level, far more than she already had attained.

Reaper looked at Ripper in defeat.

"Hahahahaha!! Shadows...!" laughed Jack as he froze to stable condition.

"Shadow...?" muttered Reaper to himself.

He placed his swords back in his place as he picked up the green slime in his hands and looked at it. Reaper watched it moved before it turned into his skin and vanished.

The limo rolled up to the pier where there was a medium sized ship, and men carrying AK's and uzis were unloading large boxes, containing classified things in them. A man in a buisness suit and wearing a raggy, scarecrow mask. It was James. Daunte stepped out of his limo with his two bodyguards, they were also in buisness suits.
"Hello there, mister, Daunte is it?" asked James.
"Yeah, it's Daunte, why did you bring me here?"
"We at HYDRA wish for you to join our orginization. You in?"
"Heh, sure I'll give it a try." said Daunte
"Okay, meet me at this adress."
James walked away, then dissapeared. Daunte rode away in his limo, headed back to his apartment.

OOC: Time to play nice, Ripper. I'm sure you and Reaper can have a nice chat in the detention bloc.

"Take him away" Frost ordered. Several SHIELD agents grabbed Ripper and attempted again to place the inhibitor on his head. The commotion finally died down and Stark surveyed the room. The building had been placed on high alert and this threat at the twins meant added security measures, pre-planned, were put into place.

"That's enough excitement for one day" Stark smoothed out his tie, "Jade, you tend to the Twins and see what else you can come up with."

He looked at Frost, "Get this psycho down to the detention bloc, put him in restraints and under heavy guard. We'll have him questioned later. The rest of you, get some rest. You'll need it"

Reaper watched as he studied Stark for a second before watching Ripper being taken away. He didn't hear his insane laughter nor any attempts to escape. Lee picked up the bayonets Ripper had and placed them in his belt. It was hard seeing his brother go like that.

"I'm fine with that. Thank you Mr. Stark. I'll be headed back to my huge apartment, just call if you need me."
Omari walked to the elevator, and down to the garage. He drove out in his black Lambourghini Galardo and headed home.

It was not long before Katie managed to get Felicia to the MedBay and seen to by a doctor. While the doctor was doing the usual tests and scans, Katie slept in the small waiting area nearby. She had no duty to do it, nor any orders but she still felt like she had a duty to pay to the English woman and so she slept outside, eyes gently shut, chest heaving delicately with each breath. Again, it was a dreamless sleep, the best for someone in her business. She would wait until either the Doctor came out to give her some news or Felicia herself came out.

The MedBay wa state-of-the-art, staffed with quite skilled doctors and nurses. A benefit of being a member of SHIELD was the medical/dental plan. She sat on the examination table in a private room as the doctor examined her breathing, eye-sight, and other normal procedures.

"Well, it looks like you have a bruised rib, nothing too serious" The female doctor noted, "A cut on your arm but nothing a few stitches won't fix" her smile was warm and easing. Whenever Felicia got injured during her thefts or other numerous dangerous activities, she didn;t have the luxury of being able to go to a hospital. So, she either did it herself or saw a illegal doctors, ones who had their licenses taken away.

She wrapped bandages around her ribs, gave her some advice, and a perscription. She sticthed up the cut, "You just rest for a few days"

"I wish I could" Felicia said as she put the shirt back over her body, pain spirlaed up her body but worked through it well enough. Putting up a tough front is what she did best. The doctor saw her to the door and Felicia stepped out into the empty hallway, except for Katie asleep in a row of chairs.

"You need to get yourself a proper bed" Felicia said, nudging Katie

"Stark," called Reaper as he caught up to him. "Is it possible that when you influence someone, they copy your actions?"

Bolt and Scarlet sat opposite eachother in the cabin of a supersonic jet built by Zemsky Industries. It was never put into production due to the company going under. It was considered one of the fastest jets ever intended for the commercial market. Now, they headed for a particular destination.

"It's a bold plan, I have to admit" Bolt said out of the blue

Scarket looked up from her book and set it down, "He knows what he's doing. SHIELD has grown incompetent and complacent over the years. They won't know what hit them till it's too late"

"I'm going to enjoy it, every second of it. To not have to worry about being hunted just because you don't want to be labeled different. What kind of a world is this? A world where they talk and talk about equality and harmony when they turn around and hunt people like us?"

"A sad world that will soon be sad no more" Scarlet smiled, "After we get the last two, they will be crippled and unable to stop us"

Bolt looked out the window, "I will kill Stark myself! Without him they will be leaderless"

"Wha?" Katie opened her eyes drowsily but a delighted smile streaked across her face for a few seconds, then it vanished again in a state of tiredness,
"Nah," She yawned off, "I was planning on staying up for a while, check up on a few things, you know..." She smiled, "Normal things" She did not want to admit that she was afraid to sleep in case she saw the faces of her victims.

"You don't look too bad," She admitted after looking the ex-thief up and down, "You really should get some rest" She said, "I can get by for another while" She smiled, "I'll bring you to your quarters" She offered.

"Stark," called Reaper as he caught up to him. "Is it possible that when you influence someone, they copy your actions?"

Stark made his way back to his private office and took off his suit jacket and loosened the tie a bit, "It's very possible. Say you look up to someone or are jealous of their success, it's very liekly you will do what they do that makes them so much better, why?"

He took a seat behind the desk and pulled out a glass bottle of brandy and a glass, "You want a drink?" he asked, "I drastically curbed my drinking but after today, it merits a drink or two" he laughed.

Kingston sat down opposite of Stark and looked at him.

"Because... he's my younger brother and he looked up too me through family times," started Kingston. "I'll have a drink. It's just, I think he was copying me all the time. Eventually I was forced to...to hunt him down. It isn't like me to do that...sorry,"

Lee looked around as he placed his pistol on the desk and removed the clip from it.

"I can only hope there's enough good in him to turn around and see what I've become. It isn't fun killing people for justice..." finished Kingston as he watched Stark.

It was strange, to face your father's killer with a smile. Felicia nodded and the two of them began to make their way down the hallways and navigate through the complexities of SHIELD Central. They discovered where the in-house quarters were. They were expected and a place was set aside for them. It was open-bay, a descent sized room with bunk beds and closets. Luxury wasn't important to Felicia, she just wanted some sleep.

As she eased herself into the bed, it was soft enough for her needs, she looked up at Katie, "I made a choice today...It was a difficult one to make but a decision had to be made"

She looked over at the pillow, contemplating her next words, "I wanted for so long to look the killer of my father in the eyes as I ended their life...But then I thought to myself, what closure would it bring? If I killed you, then what next? The rest of my life would be spent wondering what to do next. I don't hate you...I simply pity you and the choices you made. You have to live with them, with the truth...Often, the truth can be the most torturous thing of all. I choose to forgive..."

A tear began to well up around her eye as her eyes turned red

"I can't ever be happy till I put this behind me. A life of joy had escaped me for so long because I was consumed by hate and anger. Now, I just want to move on. I don't need to kill you or get my revenge, you're already suffering enough and will probably continue to suffer. I can only hope you can forgive yourself..."

Damn Lost himThought Hawk as he watched the plane leave. but there is definitely something going on here. Probably something big. Better give my contacts a call and see what's going on exactly.

He poured a generous amount into two glasses and slid one across the polished chestnut top of the desk. Stark sat quietly, taking in Kingston's words.

"I like to think there's good in everyone. But in my lifetime-I've seen absolute evil. The kind of evil you can't reason with or talk down. The kind of force that will not relent until it is dead or it's consumed everything." Stark replied, "I am doubtfull your brother has any good left in him, but then I've been wrong before"

Katie had seen the area dozens of times and so it did not really strike a cord with her. What did strike a cord though, there the words that Felicia spoke next, how she was forgiven for what she had done, that brought a lump into her throat and she looked away rather than let Felicia see her cry.

She had been forgiven for her ultimate sin. Somehow, that made her feel worse. She did not forgive the mercy she was receiving from this woman and yet it was being offered to her. She killed her father in cold blood, without a thought to what he could be leaving behind. Yet she was being forgiven for it. For her crimes, the final crime, the last one before she had seen the light and defected to the side of good.

She tried to say something good, but nothing came out. She took a deep breath then tried again,
"You get some sleep," Her voice was full of self-loathing, "I'll see you in the morning"

With that she left the area and headed towards the Psi-Ops Department. Most of the other Operatives had gone home for the night but Katie was never happy unless her case was finished, and she wanted to see what SHIELD had on Jack the Ripper, if even for her own interest.

Felicia knew that Katie was in pain. Just a few hours prior, she would've enjoyed watching her squirm in self-hate. But, all she wanted now was for this business to be done. She offered a weak smile and felt oddly better. Throwing this huge crushing weight off her shoulders. Her father would be proud of her.

"You need to get some rest too" she said as she eased herself onto her back and gave a heavy, tired sigh, closing her eyes.

Frost and six heavily armed guards escorted Jack through the sub-levels beneath SHIELD Central. These levesl contained vast archives, storage units, equipment, weapons, several minor labs, and the detention center. They took him past the checkpoints and other guards on duty. Currently, there were no detainees being held in the cells.

"Here's your new home, Jackie Boy" Frost said as they led him into a room. It had a solide flat slab with a mattress on it and a toilet. The fourth wall faced the corridor and was composed of what appeared to be plastic but was a new kind of clear material, far stronger. The inhibator prevented him from teleporting and was secured around his neck.

Just before they put Jack in, the lights flickered for a brief moment and Frost could've sworn he felt something move beneath him but dismissed these thoughts and they locked up Jack.

"See you in the morning, sunshine" Frost said and ordered extra security down in the detention bloc for their new friend.

"Now let's see," Katie was now sitting at a computer terminal beneath the main SHIELD building. She was sitting amongst the archives, having exchanged a few friendly words with the people working in Psi-Ops. She was looking for information on either Jack or HYDRA, she was looking for clues. There could be something in a newspaper somewhere that mentioned where they were or who they had recruited. Not on purpose perhaps but still there, and she was determined that if it was there, she was going to find it.

She saw Frost leaving along with a small Guard. More were settling down to the nightshift. It was late now but she was determined that if something was here, she was going to find it. Besides, she didn't feel like sleeping anyway.

Jade made her way down to PsiOps, a highly secured area of SHIELD Central. Every day she had to submit to a retnal scan, bio-scan, voice identification, and show her ID card to the guards, regardless of the fact that she knows each of them by first name by now. It's all proccedure to keep their most guarded secret safe.

Technicians poured over data as a dozen monitors dotted the walls. It was a full operation they had going, pouring millions upon millions. Even though SHIELD was a UN agency, like the UN itself, America foots a dominate portion of the bill. The taxpayers continue to gripe, wondering where their money goes to. Well, this is one of the stops.

The Twins were two greatly powerful telepaths. They had the ability to even influence other people's thoughts to the point of near total control. It was a powerful gift, frightening at time but Jade looked after the two of them as if they were her own. They usually emerce themselves in water in special suits and are connected to the mainframe to produce images and thought patterns.

She opened another door which led to a large kids room. Two beds sat near one another, various toys and dressers. The Twins sat in the middle of the room, playing cards.

"John, Jane-how are we doing today?" Jade asked, cracking a large smile.

"Great Jade!" they replied in unison. The Twins were nothing more than children, around 7 or so. Even at this early age, their powers are incredible. It's uncertain what will ahppen once they grow older.

"See anything neat today?" Jade asked, bending down

"Nope, nothing today...Though the nice Italian lady doesn't talk to us anymore" Jane frowned.

"Really? Why's that?" Jade kept in mind the recent event in Rome.

"I dunno, she just stopped talking" John replied, flicking through his cards.

"Flight 834, you're clear for landing...Welcome to JFK" the air-traffic controller said into his mic. The other controllers buzzed around, keeping the organized chaso that are flight patterns in check. On his forearm was the tattoo of a Hydra...

"Excellent..." Bolt said as he patted the pilot on the shoulder and took his seat opposite Scarlet, "We have a car waiting to take us to our destination"

"We just need Red Shadow to give us the greenlight" Scarlet reminded him.

The plane taxied to a private hangar where a black BMW sat with the doors open and the driver standing by loyally. Night had crept up over New York, the sun now yielded completely to the moon but the city refused to go to bed, like an energetic child, it still moves.

"Welcome to New York" the driver smiled as the two others got into the car. They drove off and began navigating through the streets...

'Something, something!'

Katie's tired mind was struggling to function with the reems and reems of information that was in front of her. Newspaper reports, websites, news bulletins, magazine issues, Police reports, Flight logs, Charity blurbs, Intelligence Agency reports. Most of the news that could be gathered from all over the world was here. She was sitting reading one of the many Brazilian newspapers deep in the archives. There had to be something here, there, anywhere! An Agency like HYDRA did not just land on the ground without making a footprint. Even if it was a bill for a coffee, that would all she needed.

She threw the paper to the side and picked up another report, this time from the Russian Interior Ministry. Whiel Katie was not fluent in Russian, she knew enough to read a report such as this and so she began to scan over it, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Already, her notebook was filled with possible leads and there would be more.

"HYDRA was always very good at minimizing its' paper trail" a voice said from behind Katie. Stark walked up to see her hard at work, "Fury always told me how damn hard it was to track them down. Half of the time we could only react to them"

He looked over all the items she had out, "Burning the midnight oil? You look like Hell!" he laughed, "You need some sleep...Anyways, our only credible lead right now is Ivan Zemsky. Of course, we can't find him. Also, HYDRA never had a main base of operation sthat we ever knew about. They had cells all over the globe, that's how they liked to operate, bracnh out and cause as much trouble as possible. We thought that after von Strucker's death, that HYDRA died with him...I guess we were wrong"

"Sorry Sir," Katie mumbled as she finished with the report and put it to one side. At the same time, she scribbled something into her notebook and went on, picking up a report from the Bolivian Ambassador to Equador, something about 'Humanitarian issues' she settled down to read the more familiar Spanish language,
"I just don't like fighting someone, I know nothing about. I always made sure to know what was happening and when it was happening rather than sitting in the dark" She explained, "It makes more sense to try and I do have some promising leads that I could follow up on"

"Early tomorrow morning you can show us what you found" Stark said, offering a smile, "I'm getting too old for this shit myself. My days of heroism are over, now it's all about management, making sure the numbers are right and that our people get their jobs done"

He picked up a book and set it back down, "I undertsand your frustration. But we have leads too. It's just a matter of time before the pieces fall together and we have a clear sight on what we need to do"

"Yes Sir," Katie was exhausted but still she stubbornly stayed in her chair, determined that she would not go to bed until she was satisified that she had found everything she was going to. Maybe it was time to stop looking through the chaff and get straight to the wheat. She would put all this to the side and instead work on the leads she had aquired.

Two of the stronger ones were reports from the Ministry of the Interiors. One from Russia and one from Bolivia. One claimed that an area of telephone lines that connected a Ranger station in Siberia to it's Headquarters in Moscow had been cut by youths and, although could be nothing in it, she decided to take it. But first she could go on the stronger case, the Police in Bolivia were reporting several people going missing in an area high in the mountains and she decided that would be as good a place as any to look, athough Russia looked strong as well. Maybe not that part of Siberia but some part of it.

"Huh," Kevin grunted. How were you supposed to find the computer terminals in this place? He walked down some stairs, waved hi to some people he didn't quite yet know, and finally found a big room, mainly empty. He strolled up to one of the computer monitors.

A place where I won't be condemned for who I am... where I can be myself... not being critized... He scowled, then turned it on. Looking in the row in front of him, he found Mr. Stark and Katie talking about something.

"Hi," he mumbled and went up to the work of finding that forum he was always on. "I don't think that's a good idea," he typed. "Humans are getting pretty smart nowadays..."

Raskov got off the plane and beganb to walk into the base. He was upset and uncomfortable in this icy wasteland. It reminded him of his childhood to much. He was born in Poland as Ezekial Raskov Seiler. His father was a wealthy businessman, he was only 7 when the Nazi's and Soviets invaded. His family had connections to Stalin, they had even met with him before. When the Nazi's and Soviets invaded, his father thought that Stalin would shelter him and had made their way to the soviet lines.(I'll finish this later)

Mastermind followed him off the plane. He briefly went to check on the machine, built deep in the bottom of the mountain. Construction was almost finished, with the dome nearly completely assembled. The machine more or less consisted of a massive spherical chamber, with a a walkway running around the outside and a small circular platform in the middle, supported by a thin metal pole. Afterwards he went down to the command center, and logged on to the Internet, looking for a certain aquaitance.

"You never answered my question" Alesandra said as two HYDRA guards flanked her. The organization did employ normal humans. Many of them, however; are never truly aware of HYDRA's main objective. Money and the chance at excitement are quite enticing for many people.

"Why are you doing this?" Alesandra asked, "I'm not going to read your mind. I want you to tell me yourself!" she demanded, raising her voice. One of the guards readied a tazer but held back.

After a few hours, Katie had had enough. She had tried to put the pieces together and come up against blank wall after blank wall. There was always a dead end and so she had decided enough was enough. Despite this, she was still not tired and still not giving up. She would have to find Stark and tell him what she had found, i.e nothing.

She got up and shut off her computer, the rest of the stuff was put away and she headed up to Stark's office.

Bolt observed SHIELD Central from a pair of binoculars. They were on the tenth floor of a business building, that particular floor was closed for renovations. They had detailed plans of Central, thanks in part to LMD's (Life Model Decoys). Originally an invention of SHIELD, used as body doubles for targets of assasination or kidnapping. HYDRA stole the plans years ago and still use them. Due to layered security and bio-checks, it's impossible now to use them, despite their advanced models.

"Everything appears quiet" Bolt commented.

"There's always plenty of people burning the midnight oil, even Stark himself should still be there." Scarlet replied stepping to the window, placing an arm against a stantion.

Bolt looked up, "Kill two birds with one stone" he gave a crooked smile.

Meanwhile...

Felicia couldn't sleep to save her life. The seering pain in her ribs coupled with all the other bullshit clouding her mind, she just simply sat up and walked to the bathroom to splash cool water over her face. These rooms were for people who stayed too late and couldn't travel home. Not used very often and their space was empty. He equipment and clothes lay below her bunk.

"Damn, can't sleep" she laughed to herself.

"You neither eh?" Katie was on her way past the accomadation area on her way to talk with Stark. It seemed she was not the only one who was still up in the early hours of the morning after all.
"What's up?" She asked, stopping for a moment or two. There was no rush to tell Stark she'd hit a dead end and it seemed like Felicia was not having a great sleep either. The information she had discovered was tucked under her arm, one of which was the report from the Russian Interior Ministry.