SECRET AVENGERS #1
GHOST
By:Jeremy Las Dulce
The Winter Soldier enters the command center of a top secret S.H. .D base. The doors open to reveal former director of S.H.I.E.L.D Nick Fury, and Captain America waiting for him.
Winter Soldier: Good to see ya Steve, Nick
Captain America: Hey Buck good to see you too
Nick Fury: Enough with the pleasantries Rodgers, Barnes we need you. Director Coulson asked specifically for Bucky Barnes to lead a new Black Ops Avengers team.
Winter Soldier: Director huh? So Coulson got the big promotion. Well in case he hasn't heard the news Bucky Barnes is dead. I'm a ghost now remember?
Nick Fury: A ghost is just what we need to lead this team, especially a ghost with your skills.
Winter Soldier: While I'm flattered Nick I don't think this is for me. Why don't you ask Bobbi or someone to lead your little squad?
As if on cue Mockingbird walked into the command center.
Mockingbird: I told Coulson that the only way I'd agree to the team is if you were running it.
Winter Soldier: Alright Fury tell Coulson I'm in.
Nick Fury: Just what I wanted to hear Barnes. Now let's go meet your team and brief you on your first mission.
Captain America: Bucky Barnes back in action, it's about damn time.
Captain America and Bucky shake hands before Bucky Mockingbird, and Nick Fury head to the elevator.
Winter Soldier: See you around Steve. So Fury why chose me for this black ops squad?
Nick Fury: It was an obvious choice Barnes. S.H.I.E.L.D needs a team to handle big problems well enough and quick enough so that no one will ever know we were there. You have all the skills in leadership and espionage to lead the team. Besides, how surprised are the baddies going to be when they see that they're fighting a team led by the ghost of the Winter Soldier.
Winter Soldier: So when are you going to tell me what this mission is about Nick?
Nick Fury: Be patient Barnes you'll be briefed as soon as you meet the rest of your team.
The three of them took the elevator down to the base's war room where several heroes including Bucky's on again off again girlfriend the Black Widow were waiting, and director Phil Coulson appeared on a large monitor.
Director Coulson: Bucky Barnes say hello to your new team, the Secret Avengers.
Mockingbird: Each member was handpicked by me. No alarm is fast enough to pick up Quicksilver, The Guardsman's arsenal will definitely come in handy, with Manifold's teleportation we can be in and out of places and not be detected, very few people can get past Stonewall, and Thundra…well she's Thundra enough said. Anyone who challenges her will learn the hard way why she's the best warrior on her planet.
Winter Soldier: Impressive lineup Bobbi seems like a great team.
Mockingbird: Thanks I try, but don't forget about the best part, the team's leader The Winter Soldier. Not to mention the fact that I'll have your back.
Bucky: Thanks Bobbi.
Mockingbird: No problem Bucky.
Quicksilver: Well I'll be damned the Winter Soldier lives. You look pretty good for a dead man Bucky.
Bucky: You know people like me don't stay dead for long. What about you Petro, back on another avengers team huh?
Quicksilver: Yeah well you know what they say, once an avenger always an avenger. Bobbi called me in and offered me a spot on this new black ops squad, I had no idea you'd be leading the team. This is going to be interesting.
Thundra: It will be an honor to follow the Winter Soldier into battle.
Bucky: Thanks Thundra, and right back at ya.
The Guardsman: Looking forward to working with you Barnes.
Winter Soldier: Thanks you too, I've heard good things from Stark about you.
Stonewall: Looks like everybody else used up all of the good introductions so, hey they call me Stonewall.
Winter Soldier: Glad to have you on board Stonewall.
Manifold: Looking forward to working with you Bucky.
Winter Soldier: Thanks Manifold glad to have you around your powers will definitely help out the team.
Director Coulson: Now that the reunions and introductions are out of the way, agent Romanoff go ahead and brief the team on their first mission.
Black Widow stepped forward and pointed to a holographic display.
Black Widow: We have strong Intel that says A.I.M has gotten their hands on black market versions of the super soldier serum and the infinity formula. We need you to go in destroy the lab and get out without attracting attention.
Stonewall: So we bust up some lab geeks and some juiced up soldiers not a big deal.
Mockingbird: Don't get too cocky Stonewall you've all seen what I can do, imagine if A.I.M had that kind of firepower in their corner.
Black Widow: Unfortunately, that's not all. We also believe they have a prisoner.
Winter Soldier: Who is it Natasha?
Black Widow: I'm sorry James, but it seems that A.I.M has captured your old comrade Jim Hammond.
Winter Soldier looks at Black Widow stunned.
Winter Soldier: Jim? What do the hell does A.I.M want with the torch?
Black Widow: Unfortunately we don't know James. All we know is that he volunteered to investigate the A.I.M research lab in Tokyo six months ago, and his com link went dark. Your mission isn't just to destroy the A.I.M lab and keep the infinity formula and super soldier serum out of A.I.M's hands. It's also a rescue mission to save the Human Torch.
Winter Soldier clenched his fists.
Winter Soldier: Well what are we waiting for. Secret Avengers Assemble. We've got a friend to save. Manifold get us to the A.I.M lab in Tokyo pronto.
Manifold: On it Bucky.
Manifold opened a portal to Tokyo, and so the secret avengers were off to take down A.I.M and rescue the Winter Soldier's old friend the Human Torch, little did they know that they'd be in for more than they barged for once arrived at the lab in Tokyo.
The secret avengers exit the portal and are 300 yards away from the A.I.M lab.
Winter Soldier: Alright let's pair off. Quicksilver you and Manifold take out the security system and look for the torch. If you find him report back to me.
Quicksilver: Got it let's go Manifold, I'll race you there.
Manifold: Roger
Guardsman your our air support you scout out from above and take on any backup that shows up once we get started.
Guardsman: On it.
Guardsman took off into the skies.
Thundra and Stonewall you take the perimeter. Once that's taken care of you can head inside and meet up with me and Mockingbird.
Stonewall: Finally some action.
Thundra: Agreed, this should be fun.
Mockingbird: And they're off, so shall we get started Bucky?
Winter Soldier: Let's do this.
Stonewall and Thundra take on two A.I.M guards.
Stonewall: Go on you two we'll keep them busy and meet you inside.
Stonewall and Thundra stand back to back.
Thundra: You're an excellent warrior Stonewall.
Stonewall: You're not too bad with that chain yourself Thundra.
Winter Soldier and Mockingbird enter the lab and are confronted by six guards.
Winter Soldier: You take the three on the left I'll take the three to the right.
Mockingbird: Sounds like a plan of fearless leader.
Winter Soldier and Mockingbird takes on the guards and take them down with ease.
Winter Soldier: I've gone a few rounds with Cap compared to that this is easy.
Mockingbird: Yeah looks like these punks are forgetting that they're not the only ones with a little super soldier serum in them.
Moments later, Thundra and Stonewall enter the lab.
Thundra: Looks like we missed all the fun.
Stonewall: My fault guess I shouldn't have played around with the last guy.
Winter Soldier: What matters is that you two made it.
Quicksilver: This is Quicksilver to Winter Soldier do you read me?
Winter Soldier: I read you loud and clear Quicksilver. What did you guys find?
Quicksilver: Well we found where A.I.M is keeping all their superroid and we've set the charges. This place will blow in about fifteen minutes.
Winter Soldier: Good work you two. Mockingbird signal Guardsman to enter the building and regroup
Mockingbird: Roger that
Winter Soldier: Quicksilver, any sign of the Human Torch.
Quicksilver: Negative, I search the place top to bottom still no sign of him.
Guardsman: It's all clear doesn't seem like reinforcements are coming. It's quiet.
Winter Soldier: That's never a good thing in our line of work. That usually means it's a trap.
Quicksilver and Manifold returned to front of the lab to meet up with the others when suddenly a mysterious voice came over the lab's intercom system.
Mysterious voice: If you wish to find the Human Torch go to the third floor of the lab. When they got to the third floor they could see a shadowy figure awaiting them.
The Winter Soldier and the rest of the team rushed to the third floor.
Winter Soldier: Alright we're here now show yourself and give us the Human Torch.
Shadowy Figure: As you wish. You know if I didn't know better I could swear that I'm seeing a ghost.
The Shadowy figure steps out of the shadows and reveals himself to the team. All the secret avengers especially Winter Soldier, are shocked when they discover the true identity of the shadow figure.
Winter Soldier: This can't be real. NO!
Epilogue: Who is this new foe that has even The Winter Soldier stunned? Will the Secret Avengers be able to stop A.I.M from mass producing the super soldier serum and the infinity formula? What will be the fate of the original Human Torch? Will the team be able to defeat this new foe, and escape the lab in time before it explodes? Find out in Secret Avengers #2 Meet the Invaders?