December 2006

"So you're the infamous Cipher who managed to hack into Shield's database," the man with the eye patch and long black coat said - Avery immediately recognized who was standing on the doorstep.

"That's an interesting code name but then again if the shoe fits…" she replied. "I know who you both are of course, Director, Professor," Avery continued, nodding to them respectively, hiding her surprise with a self satisfied smirk.

Now, Avery was normally good at reading people but she got nothing from the Director other than mistrust and maybe a hint of respect if she was reading him right. But she wasn't surprised with him being a super spy and all.

"Yes, well you have been quite a thorn in the side for Shield, trying to figure who you are, and normally you would be on your way to prison right now. But, after the things our best hacker said and what Professor Xavier has told me, we think you could be an asset as well. So I'm willing to make a deal for your freedom," Fury said before forcing his way past her and into her dingy apartment. The Professor at least bothered to give her an apologetic look as he wheeled in behind the Director.

"And what would that be?" Avery asked, making the suspicion she felt clear in her voice as she closed the door behind them.

Although no matter what he offered, Avery wasn't likely to turn it down and Fury probably knew that too. Avery was only nineteen and she really hadn't planned on spending most of her adult life in jail, a fact that the Director was no doubt aware of. Including the fact that she had hacked into the Pentagon, the FBI, as well as the MI6 – just to see if she could – and could be charged as a legal adult now, things weren't looking to good for her. Avery was likely to get sentenced to twenty years in prison along with a $500,000 fine at the least.

"Well seeing as you're a mutant with the powers to…" the Director began before looking to the Professor, who had been completely silent this whole time, to explain what exactly Avery could do.

At this time Avery couldn't stop her jaw from dropping even if she wanted to. There was no way Fury could know about her mutant powers when she had never breathed a word about them to anyone. But somehow and some way, he did.

"She is Cybernetic – a phrase we invented because of her, for I have honestly never seen anything quite like this before. Avery here has the ability to… extract information from any electronic device in her line of sight with her mind. And since her brain is physically different than any normal human's, super powered humans included, any attempt to penetrate her mind and affect it in anyway is futile. It just simply won't work," Professor Xavier said.

'That must have been why Professor Xavier couldn't find me but that doesn't explain how he knows my name', Avery thought to herself. Any evidence of herself and her existence she made sure to delete years ago, when Avery ran away from the orphanage where she grew up. Although Avery had never tried to hack into electronic devices mentally before, she would have to test that later. She also wondered how the Professor figured out she could do that when Avery hadn't even known herself.

"Her mind also interprets computer code the same way it does English, so she can hack into virtually anything that requires coding as long as she's physically using a computer or something of the like. The gist of it is that Avery's mind works more like a computer than a human brain," he concluded.

While the Fury gave her a considering look at the Professor's explanation Avery froze. "If you can't read my mind then how do you know all that?" she asked, her expression automatically closing off. Avery refused to let them see the fear on her face.

"You two can chat all you want later but right now it's time for you to choose. Either you can go to jail for twenty years or you can work for Shield five years to make up for your crimes. Oh and don't even think about trying to find our hacker or illegally hack into anything again. You'll be gone faster than you can say Hack Completed," the Director said, cutting the Professor off before he had time to answer Avery's question.

Avery didn't even bother telling him that even if she hacked into Shield again he would never know because while that was still true Shield's mysterious hacker was an unknown and Avery hated things she did know.

"But Director Fury and I agreed that you would need time to learn more about developing your powers and how to control them so you will also be spending a year or two attending the institute beforehand. I'm assuming you know what that is," the Professor added.

"We also agreed that I would be making weekly visits to ensure you get at least the basic training that all of our agents receive and to make sure you aren't getting into any trouble so I would recommend being on your best behavior."

"I'm nineteen not five. I have an IQ higher than most geniuses, so why don't you stop treating me like a child," Avery snapped. The Director's condescending tone was starting to get on Avery's last nerve. "But, yes, I agree to your terms," she added. Avery didn't even try to hide her grin at the Director's shocked expression at her response. She was sure that very few people dared to speak out against him let alone a nineteen year old girl.

"Good, then pack your bags, you'll be leaving with Professor Xavier," the Director said gruffly before stalking out of her apartment with a dramatic swish of his long black coat.