Introduction
It was, without a doubt, the most unlikely team I've ever been on. The Avengers wouldn't be together long in peacetime, I was sure. We barely fought together during war, and that was what we'd been gathered for. Part of the problem, of course, was our conflicting personalities and backgrounds.
First there was millionaire playboy Tony Stark, whose main priority in life was himself. He disliked any form of authority other than his own. Then there was Thor, a supposed demi-god who used to be as self possessed as Stark, but thanks to a pretty girl and some smart scientists was as on board with the whole "save the humans" idea as environmentalists were with "save the wales." On the intermediary level was Ian Cruder. While his morals were sometimes questionable, he usually followed orders, and used his archery for the world's benefit. Then there was Bruce Banner. Bruce was an honestly good person, who didn't know enough to make sure that no one else touched his scientific equipment. Because of an experiment gone wrong, whenever he got angry he turned into a creature known as the Hulk. As a person though, he was brilliant and caring. Finally there was Captain America, also known as Steve Rogers. Steve believed in walking the line, and following all of the rules. He had a firm belief in good people, and an willingness to sacrifice himself for others that couldn't be healthy.
I was beginning to understand Steve better by using Starks newest invention, the time machine. I'd been assigned the detail of making sure everything went as it had last time, except, if possible I was supposed to save lives that Cap couldn't know about.
My assignment started on the streets of Brooklyn. I was to tail Steve, without him ever seeing or noticing me. I was to get to know his character. The Captain America I knew started as a puny man who didn't know when to leave well enough alone. With the war going on in Europe, he refused to accept that he was unable to join any form of military. When someone was disrespectful of soldiers in a movie theater, it resulted in a fight in a back alley. Steve, being tiny, got the worst of it. I doubt he even noticed, but even then he had an affinity for shields.
When he finally made it into the military, I chose to skip to his next step. I moved to London and joined the scientific reserve as a secretary. Let me just say now, it was difficult to have my skills and try to blend in to a pre-feminist century. I became Angela Barnett, who, if I'd ever met her, I would have walked away quickly, and tried to ignore her. I only saw Steve as the actor "Captain America" once, and that was near the end of his career as a stage performer. I was a secretary when he enquired about his friend who was missing. I watched him leave to go rescue the soldiers of the 107th. Later, I was one of the secretaries who recorded his successes over the organization known as Hydra. In order to blend in, I had to pretend to be halfway in love with him.
When I heard they were close to Hydra's scientist, I got myself moved to a discreet area much closer to the alps. I was on the train he attacked that day. I was close enough that while his best friend, Bucky, clung to the side of the train, I managed to hook a carabineer to his harness, turning his fatal fall into a bungee experience, which left him with only a few minor injuries in comparison. He was however injured enough that I was able to use it as an excuse to keep him from the action until after Captain America's fateful dive into the Arctic. I think he thought I was crazy, when as he left my base I told him he'd probably see Steve within the week, but I knew enough about Steve to knew he'd bee here soon enough.
My original job was technically done, but some of the things I'd seen during this original job pointed to extraterrestrial interference in this war, which was unacceptable as far as I was concerned. Two months later, I returned to the main army camp before Steve did. I'd found a way to locate extraterrestrial ships, and found that they corresponded with the remains of Hydra's resistance. I assumed another name so that I could communicate with the military and be taken seriously. I never approached the actual general, because I knew what he thought women were capable of, and whatever else I might be, I'm still a woman.
By the time Steve Rogers actually did show up, I was once again very integrated into society. I knew I had Director Fury and Tony Stark to thank for the delay in time, and once again I appreciated the thoroughness of the people I worked for. I managed to find a way to relay information to Steve and Bucky, through one of the people on their team, without them ever actually seeing me, which would have been awkward, because the both new my face, but under a different name.
