NOTE: For Brilcrist's Kaijubuster AU Contest. Avengers characters in a Pacific Rim universe. Title from Mogwai's "Take Me Somewhere Nice".
FEAT: Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Nick Fury, Bruce Banners
xxx
Chapter ONE
Natasha Romanoff curled up in a chair by the workstation, her feet propped up, hands cradling a warm cup of coffee. She stared emptily at the workstation, not seeing data, tables, words in blue, green and red.
"You did not fail, Natasha," she heard the scientist say as he shuffled about the lab. "It's a prototype. It needs testers and unfortunately, the testers -like you- suffer the consequences of inaccurate programming."
She let out a sigh. She knew all these of course. Knew that it was SHIELD's first jaeger, knew that she was its first pilot, knew that there was nothing technically that she could've done. But it still gnawed at her that she couldn't even withstand ten seconds in the pilot rig. She had a long-running success streak, sometimes solo, sometimes with partners; but she never failed a mission, did not allow herself to. This was the break in her streak.
The psshhh of the door opening made Natasha turn.
"Agent Romanoff. Dr Banners," Director Fury greeted.
"Are you here about the test results?" Natasha asked cautiously.
"Yes I am," he replied, looking her straight in the eye, noticing the way her jaw clenched. "But first know this, you did not fail the mission, agent. The jaeger is a prototype. A test subject. It is not perfect. And we're trying to fix that."
"Cut the crap," Natasha said.
Fury continued unfazed, "The analysis concludes that a single pilot is not capable of controlling the jaeger-"
"I can control it!" Natasha snapped, jumping to her feet.
"Let me finish!" Fury countered. "The neural lode to the jaeger's interface is too great for a single pilot. We're implementing a two-pilot trial system; see if that balances out the stress."
"I can do this, Fury," Natasha repeated, steel in her voice.
"Can you?" Fury grilled. "You, of all the agents, Romanoff. You could barely stay connected for ten seconds before we pulled you out. No. We're not risking it. Get some rest, agent, and I suggest you start thinking of a co-pilot before the next trial run."
Fury walked out, the door psshhh-ing behind him.
"Natasha..." Dr. Banners said.
"Can you believe him?" Natasha snapped. "The neural lode to the jaeger's interface is too great. Bullshit!"
"Natasha-"
"I don't buy it, Bruce. I don't," she said, fist clenching and unclenching, the coffee in her hand trembling.
"Natasha, listen," Dr. Banners said calmly. "You're a brilliant agent and more than capable in handling difficult situations. But we're talking monsters, kaijus. These guys...their biological makeup alone is enough to-" He caught himself before his mouth wandered off. "I'm sorry. I mean to say, they're not humans. But you are. And you're not going to be able to kill them all by yourself. Just...think about it."
Natasha didn't look at him. She counted to ten silently, thanked him for the coffee, and walked out of the lab.
