Disclaimer: I do not own S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers or any of the other cannon characters that may appear. I don't own any OC's except for background pilot OC Harken.
A/N: I need your help to make this story thrive send in an OC or two through PM Only Send in as many OC's as you wish. More info on my profile. Still looking for OC's. I need 1 male casualty assistance officer (to continue the story), a Public Relations Agent (male or female), and the other six Agents are up to you guys. Like I said the more creative the more likely you'll be accepted.
I'm having trouble coming up with chapter titles anyone have any ideas PM me.
Sorry for the long wait between updates, but life got in the way. I hope to make more regularly scheduled updates. Updates will be every Saturday from now on.
'' - denote character thoughts.
Read, Review, Enjoy. Onward to chapter 1.
Chapter 1 - Helping Those In Need
0930 hrs. 14 May 12 CAO Dulal's Office, S.H.I.E.L.D. Central, Manhattan, New York
Agent Kali Dulal loved to help people. Most people that she met whether it be at the hospice or just out in the city said she had a calming presence about her. She was always good at calming people down when they were at their worst. When people were receiving possibly the worst news of their lives Kali maintained a comfortable yet professional demeanor. She was there to help in any and all ways possible.
Kali was sat at her wooden desk in her shared office going through two very different lists. One was the casualty list. Those Agents marked, M.I.A., injured, or seriously ill, those who were in Medical at the time of the attack on the helicarrier last week.
Kali swung her right leg over her left leg in her black leather swivel chair leaned back and sighed heavily. She'd been looking over the list for hours, and she couldn't figure it out. Agent Phillip J. Coulson had been declared dead by the S.H.I.E.L.D. medics on scene that day. So, he should be on the fatality list with the other 82 Agents, but he wasn't.
She even doubled and triple checked the casualty list. That list had the likes of Deputy Director Hill on there and a few other high profile Agents like Agent Barton. They'd both been injured and or brainwashed in Barton's cause. Barton had also been smacked down to the catwalk ground really hard by Romanoff. Cognitive recalibration she'd called it.
To quote the former KGB Agent. "I hit you really hard over the head." Is what she'd told Barton when he'd asked how he'd been brought back to his senses.
Kali couldn't understand or fathom why Agent Coulson wasn't on either the fatality list which he totally should have been. Or the casualty list it didn't make sense to her. The man was on neither list even though he'd been declared dead, everyone had heard it over comms. It's like he'd just vanished into thin air. Nowhere to be seen or heard from again. The poor man got a weird looking glow stick jammed through his chest. 'What the heck went on in the Detention cell block that day' Kali thought to herself. 'Maybe I can pull the footage from the security cameras.'
That would require lots of paperwork though. Was it really paperwork she wanted fill out. She swore she'd never filled out so much paperwork in her life. In the six years, she'd been with S.H.I.E.L.D. she'd filled out about a couple hundred or even double that number of forms. S.H.I.E.L.D. had forms for just about everything and they were usually filled out in triplicate or quadruplicate depending on what you were requesting and who from and who for.
"It's 2012 people shouldn't everything be electronic by now." She wondered aloud to her empty office. Her partner that she worked with was currently out of the office talking to some HR personnel, about deactivating Agents' I.D.s and confirming some other important information.
1200 hrs. 14 May 12 CAO Dulal's Office, S.H.I.E.L.D. Central, Manhattan, New York
Kali's stomach rumbled loudly in her still empty, yet shared office space. "Lunch time already?" Kali asked. "I better head down to the cafeteria and see what's cooking."
Kali stretched and got up from her desk chair. She heard some bones pop and crack as she did so. "Maybe I can hit the gym on base after lunch. All this sitting isn't good for me."
Kali walked briskly out of her office on the Admin floor and into the elevator down a few floors to the cafeteria.
1216 hrs. 14 May 12 S.H.I.E.L.D. Cafeteria, Staffed 24/7 365 days of a year
The cafeteria of S.H.I.E.L.D. was almost just like every other work place cafeteria except for the food so I guess you could say it wasn't. Four and five star chefs were brought in trained by S.H.I.E.L.D. themselves and then set upon the kitchens of S.H.I.E.L.D. Whether it be in a land based office building, an aircraft carrier like Prometheus, or on the helicarrier.
The staff here worked in shifts sort of like a hospital. It had to be to be manned all the time every single day of the year. So, the chef you saw in the morning for breakfast at 0500 wasn't always the same one you saw again 1200 for lunch. It was manned like this all the time because of Agents coming and going all the time and needing food. Whether they were Agents coming off of missions. Or whether they were Medical or R&D, and they forgot to eat and they come down at odd hours. The cafeteria was always open.
The cafeteria was one of the three areas of S.H.I.E.L.D. that was manned at all times no matter what. Medical and Food Services (Cafeteria) were manned on 12 hour rotating shifts. Infantry (both Personnel security and Weapons) were manned on the panama shift schedule which also allowed for 24/7 coverage. It worked a little something like this. 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off.
Some say those were the worst three divisions to work in in S.H.I.E.L.D., because of the crazy long hours. Being in Infantry providing security was a rewarding job. The security guards held the job title of Praetorian. It was a great honor, because their title came from the Praetorian Guard an Imperial Roman Army back in the day.
Most Agents just thought Infantry wanted to be cooler and different, what with Praetorians, Hoplite Commandos and Troopers for job titles. They provided a service like no other. It was in their job description Infantry protected S.H.I.E.L.D., while S.H.I.E.L.D. protected the rest of the world from the even weirder world.
Kali was glad Infantry was around they had hard physical jobs, most days, but it didn't diminish the work that she did at all. Her job may not be physically taxing, but it was more on the emotional level than anything else. In fact, after she'd eaten lunch she'd have to find her wayward partner in the depths of Personnel division.
Some say you go into Personnel and you won't be seen for days. Be buried in paperwork for sure. 'At least it wasn't Admin' Kali thought to herself that's literally where the red tape for the organization was made. Melinda May was in Admin now as an administrator she'd demoted herself to level 3 back in 2008 after a mission went bad. At least that's what Kali had heard. Those with desk jobs were such gossips sometimes. Nothing better to do she guessed.
Kali could smell the exotic spices and herbs from where she stood at the entrance of the large cafeteria. She breathed in deeply and many aromas wafted up her nose. The smell was intoxicating. Kali decided as she walked around and over to the hot plate station what she wanted to eat for lunch.
Dry rubbed chicken, and a nice mixed plate of vegetables and rice. 'That ought to fill me up for the next few hours.' She thought to herself. Kali easily and quickly inserted herself into the surprisingly short line, behind a few of the Medical staff in navy blue scrubs. 'Must have beat the rush.'
"What'll it be Agent Dulal?" The Agent behind the counter asked.
"Hmm I'll have the glazed chicken, brown rice and steamed vegetables please." Kali smiled warmly as she gave her order. The Agent behind the counter smiled back.
"Will that be cash or card?" the male Agent asked.
"Cash."
"Alright that'll be $9.69." Kali handed over $11 out of her wallet. "Will that be all Agent Dulal?"
"Yes, that'll be all." Kali told the Agent and then moved on down the line to the pickup area. Kali loved to people watch.
Once Kali had gotten her food and her drink an ice tea she headed to an empty table in the center the room surrounded by Tactical Field Agents, Medical Staff and even some R&D scientists. There weren't the usual upbeat or uproarious conversations today. No, there was a decided lack of conversation today.
Kali ate her deliciously seasoned chicken and rice plate in relative peace, and watched the other Agents and employees around the cafeteria. There were about as thrice as many personnel as there were normally because of the mandatory relocation of all non-essential helicarrier personnel to the land base.
The helicarrier was still in dry dock not too far from here, and would be for at least another two weeks. All non-essential carrier personnel like tactical field agents, the bridge crew, air craft maintainers and the like were mostly relegated to the S.H.I.E.L.D. air field in uptown New York, and in Los Angeles to continue working.
Pilots though who were on the carrier that day were effectively grounded until further notice undergoing psyche evaluations and the like. Two squadrons The Screaming Eagles and the Diamond Backs had lost four pilots between the two of them. Pilots and their respective squadrons were a very tight knit group of people. Treated each other like family had each-others backs. Just like Agents were supposed to. Death was hard on everyone and everyone reacted or didn't react in the same way.
All Agents were black bands around their silver S.H.I.E.L.D. badges in acknowledgement of the deceased. Some wore a black armband around their right bicep if they didn't have the means to wear their badges. Like the pilots in their navy-blue flight suits Kali saw coming into the cafeteria. Each person out of the six-person group had a simple black cloth band around their right bicep.
In solidarity for their fallen brethren. Kali couldn't stop thinking about the youngest Agent killed that day. Jeremey George Henkel. Jeremy had graduated high school early at seventeen, and been approached by a S.H.I.E.L.D. recruiter a year later at eighteen. He'd excelled at his training his scores were excellent. Jeremy was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Henkel and Kali along with her partner would have to tell the couple that their son had passed on. It was a hard job, emotionally taxing, but somebody had to do it. Kali Dulal was hard to say one of the best at her job.
Kali watched as a group of six male pilots all walked into the cafeteria talking, heck even laughing. Laughter was good at times like this keep the morale up. One thing Kali noticed as she turned her head to look at the pilots was one of them was wearing a jester's hat. He looked younger than the rest of the men, than herself even. Twenty-two years old if that, if she had to guess.
The whole cafeteria or those paying attention which was now everyone at the groups laughter, erupted into an uproarious laughter themselves at seeing the 'kid' in the jester hat. Only two patches were adorned on the 'kids' suit his name patch and the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo patch on his left bicep.
Why everyone was laughing even the scientists was simple the kid was a FNG, Kali realized. A Fucking New Guy. It was a thing pilots did with new guys or gals came to the squadron. It was a pilot thing. Kali actually found herself chuckling a little bit at the young man's misfortune.
"Hey noob go grab us seats will yah." One of the older squad mates told Wilson.
"Yeah yeah yuck it up all of you. Laugh while you still can." Wilson said good naturedly. "Right away El' Captain." Wilson sloppily saluted the older pilot and walked off to grab the group a table.
"You're a real riot Royle you know that." The Senior Agent and pilot commented at the youngsters retreating back.
"Harken, you should go easy on the kid." Kali spoke up from her table.
"Ah Dulal I thought I saw you in here." Harken spoke as he walked toward Kali's table a swagger in his step. "We've all been through Hell Dulal lost a few good men, great pilots even better friends. The kid brings laughter, he's like a walking joke box, when he's not being Mr. Serious pilot."
"Harken's right Agent Dulal you should see Royle in the simulator, he thinks he's hot shit, and he is, if I do say so myself." Another squad mate told Kali.
"Oh, get over yourself man. He's too young for you anyway and you know the frat rules it's against regs, plus I don't think he's your type." Harken told his squad mate. The other man just grumbled something unintelligible. Harken turned back to Kali, a smile on his face. "Care to join us Agent?"
"Thank you for the offer Agent Harken, but I'll have to decline I've got more pressing matters to attend to."
"I don't know how you do it Dulal. You're one tough woman to do what you do." Kali didn't need the recognition of this man to feel validated, but it was nice to hear. There were many according to other divisions thankless and unrecognized divisions, such as the job that Kali did. Or working as an Undercover Technician. Who do the Agents think make up their aliases and undercover identities and such. Who back stops them. S.H.I.E.L.D. had a whole section in Operations subdivision devote to Undercover work.
"I'm not going out with you Mark, now if you'll excuse me I've got to go find my partner, and inform a couple that their son has died." Kali said stoically and got up from her seat collected her tray and walked off toward the waste receptacles. Harken winced slightly he had to admit it wasn't very tasteful what he did. Did everyone around here have to be Mr. and Mrs. Sad face. Death happen it was an almost every day occurrence. Harken guessed it was just on the scale that it happened that nobody was expecting. Harken swore if he ever saw Barton he'd rip him a new one.
"Oww ouch harsh let down by Dulal man." Another squad mate who was hitting on Wilson earlier said.
"Shut up and let's go grab some grub simulators got me starving for some burger." Harken replied.
"Right behind you Captain." The two pilots walked to the hot plate line and everything went back to business as usual. Though in S.H.I.E.L.D. nothing normal or what was usual ever lasted long.
Well that was the end of chapter 1. I know it to was short, but I promise as I get more OC's chapters will be longer and action packed indefinitely. Especially with the likes of Clint Barton around. Hit that review box down below and tell me what you thought, comments, questions, suggestions, constructive criticism.
Questions:
Do you like the structure of S.H.I.E.L.D. so far? Since we get very little of it in the movie?
So we've got a Casualty Assistance Officer and a young hotshot Pilot who'll will show up next do you think?
Words of Interest
Fatality: A fatality is a classification of a death resulting from a Work Injury, or Occupational Illness, regardless of the time intervening between injury/illness and death.
Casualty: Any person who is lost to the organization by reasons of having been declared dead, missing, captured, interned, wounded, injured, or seriously ill.
Base: In my universe in S.H.I.E.L.D. means well actually just what a military base, post, or installation means, but for S.H.I.E.L.D.
FNG: Fucking New Guy, a new guy to the unit or squadron. Usually younger than all other members, not always.
OC's in this chapter
Kali Dulal created by POMForever
Wilson Royle created by Deniable0172
Until next time Peeps.
