Prologue I:

2 Years Prior

Johanna Kassner is young woman, in her early twenties. And the picture of perfection with platinum blond hair wound tightly in a low bun. Pinned with an accuracy and efficiency that only a woman in her line of work can accomplish. After finishing a report of the director of the CIA about suspicious activity occurring in the South Pacific by a terrorist group with harmful intention, she was making her way back to her office when she stumbled into the middle of a conversation.

Just as she rounded the corner leading to the hall in which her office was located, she caught the sound of low murmurs. It was far from intentional, Johanna was not the sort to eavesdrop. But at the sound of her name, she froze.

General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and Mr. Trenton Sander—the head of the Directorate of Analysis (the department on the CIA Johanna was second-in-change to) stood by the water dispenser beside the door to the mail room. Trenton's back faced Johanna, but Thaddeus faced in her direction, though he didn't notice her right away. Being preoccupied by his discussion with the man before him.

From what Johanna could hear, they seemed to be discussing her qualifications as a CIA agent. Thaddeus seemed pleased about whatever information Trenton had provided. Motioning in Johanna's direction, with the hand with a thin white paper cup, General Ross cleared his throat.

Startled, Trenton glances over his shoulder. At the sight of Johanna, his face breaks out into an elated grin. "Ah, Agent Kassner, we were just talking about you. Come here would you please?"

"Only good things I hope" Johanna says, coolly, sliding across the tiled floor with grace.

Standing beside Trenton, she can't help but notice just how short and withering Trenton Sanders really is. It's always these up close moments that really show is age. Trenton's youthful nature and outlook makes him seem younger. The fact that he stood at a measly 5'1" with a spindly figure didn't help either.

Eyeing his frail, sickly arms for a moment, Johanna wonders how he ever manages to carry the boxes of paperwork required of their profession. His arms might just snap if he ever has to lift a box weighing more than twenty pounds. There were lines around his mouth and creases on his forehead. Stress related.

His graying-black hair showed the ragged demand of his job. Trenton Sanders was always one for professionalism though, so he kept his hair slicked back, wore a nicely pressed black suit and blue ties, fancy dress shoes, and a collared button up beneath his suits jacket. Though his eyes could be as shuttered as blinds and black as coals, when Trenton knew you, he was the friendliest person to ever meet.

"Of course," Trenton waves her off. "Agent Kassner, I'd like to introduce you to General Thaddeus Ross of US military. And General, meet Miss Johanna Kassner, the second-in-command of the CIA's Directorate of Analysis. She's been with the CIA for a handful of years now and takes her job very seriously. Though she's a stifled for the rules, I must admit."

The tone of the latter of Trenton's statement all teasing aimed at the woman in question.

"Well if I wasn't, nothing would get done around here," Johanna replied curtly, her voice clipped. She sends Trenton a dirty look before extending a hand out to General Ross. "It's an honor to meet you Sir."

Thaddeus tales her hand in his, giving a firm shake. "Well you are impressive indeed Ms. Kassner. Certainly my sort of colleague. Respectful and orderly. Is there any chance of your early retirement from the CIA?"

Johanna smirks. "That depends, what would I be doing after my departure?"

"That's classified. However, what I will say is this: the position I'm offering is much more hands on than your paperwork and analytical research and with your CIA entry records, you'd be perfect for the position."

Baby blue eyes shift to Trenton. Johanna speaks. "But what about my position here? It can't just be left open, I have a responsibility to my fellow associates."

A thoughtful look crosses over the harden general. "I'll make you a deal then. If you accept the position, I'll fill in the position here with a qualified individual. A trade of sorts. Would that be possible Mr. Sanders?"

Trenton nearly jumps at the sound of his name on Thaddeus's tongue. "Yes, of course. Not to mention your transfer letters from the House, the Senate, and the President himself. All I need is to print up the paperwork to be signed."

"Are you sure this is alright?" Johanna asks, not wanting to get him into any sort of trouble.

"Oh absolutely Agent Kassner. This is a wonderful opportunity that could really open doors for you. Honestly, and I'll deny this if you repeat it, you're not nearly used to your maximum potential here. You physical exam was nearly on par with Natasha Romanoff herself."

"Is that so?" Thaddeus asks, sounding generally interested now.

Johanna seems to shrink bashfully in on herself. "Well, I mean, it was a few years ago when I had my original physical. Those were the results then."

"Interesting."

Trenton Sander twisted, pressing a hand against the comm device in his ear. After a moment, he straightens back up and smiles sheepishly. Like a child caught with a hand in the cookie jar. "Sorry about that. General Ross, your helicopters arrived."

General Ross nods. "Ms. Kessner, I'd like you to accompany me. After this I shall be heading to the location where you'll primarily be stationed and the five hour flight will give me the time to brief you. There's much to tell you and not nearly enough time for all of it. And Mr. Sanders, could you go draft that paperwork you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes, yes, absolutely! I'll print the paperwork and have it transferred over to your office by mid-morning tomorrow."

General Ross shakes hands with Trenton. With a smile flashed in Johanna's direction, Agent Sanders disappears around a sharp corner.

"Come on, lets go," is all that is said.

General Ross didn't say a single word until after liftoff. This wasn't a surprised to Johanna as she was aware that the roaring of the helicopter would have drowned out anything he said. Needed to be well informed was crucial and she needed every piece of information he provided. Even as she thought this, she was fighting back the urge to yawn.

By the time he spoke, Johanna was practically falling out of her seat with sleepiness. The swoosh of the rotatory blade could still heard in the cabin of the plane, but it was minuscule in comparison to the all-consuming, deafening sound of take off.

"There's been a vacant position at Raft Prison. That's where I'd like to place you."

Johanna, who's tiredness had now become slight irritation, kept her face passive. "You want me to play prison guard? I don't understand why my skills as a field op would be needed in some state run facility. Anyone could do that."

Thaddeus smirks, seemingly sensing her frustration. "Don't be mistaken, Agent Kassner. This is a federal run prison in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean for particularly special criminals. Such as enhanced individuals."

That caught Johanna's attention. The entire reason she agreed to reassignment was because she was tried of the droll paperwork and board meetings. She spent a year as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. before she retired from their service and joined the CIA. Her problem with S.H.I.E.L.D. was the secrets and the unknowing. She didn't like the unknown and the open possibilities for failure.

After joining the CIA, and passing with flying colors, Johanna found the she missed the hands-on approach that come along with her former career. The physicality and ability to use her training to help others was a thrill. Now she has the chance again.

"The Raft is where the US government is currently housing Emil Blonsky in a cyrocell."

She quirks an eyebrow at the name. "You mean The Abomination, that guy who turned Harlem into the Great Plains?"

"Yes, him."

"I though he was in a base in Alaska."

"He was, but with the construction of the Raft, the officials felt that this would be a much more secure location to house him. I happen to agree as well and since I can't always be here, I need eyes inside to keep the Raft running smoothly, that's why I sought you out."

"Why me? There has to be others who you have more trust in than a stranger."

"There are, but you have a streak about you. When you signed up for S.H.I.E.L.D. I was visiting on official business and happened to catch a glimpse of your entry exam. You have the sort of stamina to contend with any opponent you may face, you are intelligent, and your work with the CIA shows you have the skills to navigate through large amounts of internet data to find what you're looking for. I may need you eye for things in the future."

"And that would be?"

"Look, I'll be up front with you. As you already know, The Avengers are public knowledge and that's something we should keep an eye on. They operate with unlimited authority, for now, but I have a feeling that their vigilantism will fall back on them eventually. However, until then it's our job to watch for potential threats. Individuals with the sort of abilities at The Avengers are a threat. If I need someone to trace databases and hack into systems, you'd be perfect for the job. That's why I chose you. Your skills make you invaluable to the stability of the world at large."

Johanna nods, more to herself. "I understand now, thank you for clarifying. If I can help the world by working at the Raft, then I will do so with my held held high. Thank you for the opportunity General Ross."

"You'll be a guard at the prison, but also a sort of associate warden. You'll keep an eye over all operations of the Raft and you'll report to me and only to me, is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir. I'm wondering, if there's currently only one prisoner at the Raft at the moment, what will I be doing during my time there?"

"I'm glad you asked. For the time being, you'll be keeping your attention focused on looking out for super powered individuals."

She pursed her lips. "Has something happened? Last I checked, Tony Stark is still in the spotlight, Steve Rogers is working with S.H.I.E.L.D. along with Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton. Thor's off world and Bruce Banner is currently staying at Stark Towers right?"

"They are. It's not them that I'm concerned with. Yes I would like you to keep an eye on what they're up too, but it's the unrevealed enhanced that I'm more concerned with. They are unknown factors, dangerous to us. S.H.I.E.L.D may be more delved into that area, but with there attachment to dangerous criminals, we'd best keep out eyes pealed."

"So, I'll be compiling a list of any strange reports of individuals with super powers and you want me to check the possibility of it? Making sure it's not a hoax and backing up my research with multiple reports or even police records. Basically what I did with the CIA."

"Partially yes, but you'll be sent into confirm these allegations and find out if they're stable enough to be out in the world. I need someone who can defend themselves and your can. Keep a journal of all the people who do have those abilities and write down as much as you can. It could be useful someday in the future, it's best to be prepared."

Silence eclipsed over the cabin of the helicopter. Now that Joanna had all the information about her new position, she was thrumming with excitement. Sure she still had to dig into bits and pieces of information scattered across the web, but it was for a whole new purpose.

Finding dangerous individuals.

Not to mention that General Ross had basically confirmed that she would be allowed to do field work and meet with the people she was looking into. For the first time in a while, she was excited. This was sure to change everything.

It took another two hours before the helicopter neared the area where the Raft prison was stationed. Thaddeus Ross stood up from the black leather seat in the cabin and Johanna did the same. He led her towards one of the rounded windows to see the deep blue ocean below. Water crashing against itself and white foamy rings stretching out across the blue.

Then the water seemed to rise up as if the Lost City of Atlanta's was finally found and was pushing its way up against the pressure that came with the oceans depth. Instead of a wonderful underwater city, a black sheet broke the surface. The rounded lid of the prison opened it mouth to reveal a landing pad situated in the center. A prison in the ocean.

"Welcome to the Raft, Agent Kassner."

A/N:

This is a story I've been wanting to write for a long time, I've just never gotten around to doing it. I've rewritten this from the original to make it flow better and have less telling of what Johanna and Thaddeus are doing, so I hope it sounds much better. Also, the entire series isn't going to be third person, as it's far too time consuming, unless you all actually prefer this type of format. I just felt like third person would be best for this chapter. It's more of a prologue/flashback as it takes place two years before the next chapter. It was an opening to explain what's happening in chapter one and why Johanna is where she is and how she got there. Speaking of Johanna, don't believe everything you read from this chapter, I have an interesting backstory for her with some secrets to be revealed. That'll come with time, but I have a detailed background already written for her with the dates of everything. Also, this story will have longer chapters than any of my other one's, this chapter is shorter because it was basically filler/into. While I have posted this chapter, I haven't finished the first chapter, this is a preview for the series and it make be a bit before I post the next one. I'm currently putting more work into this by doing research into the Marvel Comic verse, so yeah, hope you all enjoy and get ready for the ride!

Also SPOILERS FOR CA:CW will be in later chapters. I'm not sure how detailed I'll get but there will be spoilers for sure so if you haven't see in, then watch it first before reading this. If you don't care about spoilers or have seen the film ready, then enjoy. I'll post as soon as the first chapter is to my liking.