Dawn of Heroes

Chapter 02: Hunting a Ghost

Strategic Homeland Intervention and Enforcement Logistics Division Helicarrier – Somewhere over the Atlantic

"This is out of line Director." World Security Council Member Rockwell said.

"Are you saying there are assassin's out there, roaming unchecked and responsible for over a hundred murders?" Council Woman Hawley said.

"We just caught wind of these assassin's. We don't know how many there are or who they work for." Fury said. He hated dealing with the World Security Council.

"What do you know?" Alexander Pierce asks.

"They are highly trained and effective. They also have information on S.H.I.E.L.D. and possible our agents. The fact that one individual was able to infiltrate one of our safe houses and kill our agents before they could respond means that this individual has been well train. The murder of Victor Kozlov in a train station means they know how to kill others without being seen in public. Obliviously we are going to keep an on any murders that pop up. See if there is any connections between the victims." Fury said.

"You better get results."

"Unfortunately, that may not be possible. It was only by luck we were able to get some imagines of the individuals. It was thanks to the entrance at Waterloo station we were able to determine that this organization puts both men and woman on the field for killings. We are also checking the files of the KPG and other fallen Intelligence Agencies to see if they had any agents of these calibers." Nick Fury said.

"So you have nothing." Councilman Rockwell said.

"We are chasing a ghost Councilman. A ghost that has been possible active for more than twenty years. Our goal is to hopefully capture one and find out who they are working for."

"A dangerous motion Director. What do you require of the Council?" Alexander Pierce asks.

"I want to check all custom around Europe and the East Coast of the United States to do a FRS scan through those that come from the United Kingdom."

"You don't believe this is just a England incident?" Councilwoman Hawley said.

"There have been cases like this popping up all over the world. I believe these individuals will move quickly and through customs. If we can find out who they are then we can capture them quickly."

"Alright, you have seventy-two hours to get some results Nick. I just hope you're on the right track." Alexander Pierce said.

Nick Fury nods his head and the screens goes dark, leaving Nick Fury alone for a moment. Nick Fury then walks out and goes to the Bridge. Agent Coulson was in Germany after another killing took place. Somehow, the 0-8-4's were successfully avoiding being spotted by satellites and even slipping all national defenses. Agent Coulson had taken Agent Romanoff and Agent Barton with him. Normally Nick Fury would protest against sending in two of his best agents after an unknown. But something inside of him was telling him they were needed to deal with this unknown threat. If they were a threat.

Nick Fury read the reports as Agent Romanoff was following a possible suspect. All agents in the area had been notified and were on the lookout for the 0-8-4's to show up.

However, his people may have been amateurs. After nearly twelve hours of searching the area of the killings, they had somehow disappeared from view again. Worse, the C.I.A. was upset because the person that was killed was being shadow by the C.I.A. they even had an agent working undercover and was killed by the unknown assassin. Or assassin's.

The only thing they got was they disappeared heading east. However, Fury knew it could be a ploy to lure them away. They could easily head west again or even south. They only knew they were heading east because of a laptop webcam caught them walking east. They were lucky to have caught the break they did.

However, the trail was very cold, and they only had guesses. The World Security Council did not like this, and Fury knew they would do anything to see his head was on a platter if he did not bring in results.

Fury sighs and knew if he had hair, he would be going gray from all the stress the Ghosts were causing him.


Harry sighs as he thought about Astoria Bennette, who was place under his wing as a shadow to gain more experience. Not that she needed it, but the Mentor believed it to be wise for her to learn under his wing before her final trails. This was odd for Harry as he knew she was already a full fledge Shadow Assassin and member of The Order.

Harry paused as his senses and his training told him he was being tailed. He knew he was being followed, however he couldn't see the individual as they were highly skilled themselves. Harry notices a group of individuals entering passing by him.

Passing by a group of people who were clearing shopping Harry pulls down his hood and steps into the shop and stands by the door way. He didn't have to wait long, as a young woman with red hair appeared and looked far more alert than she should have been. She looked around before walking down the street. Harry kept his eyes on her, knowing that she was clearly looking for him. Astoria was hiding at the hotel, waiting for the Handler to send the Package. However, there appeared to be some heat on them.

Harry turns around and immediately leaves the area, in hopes of the heat disappearing.

Harry opens the hotel room and Astoria was doing pushups in the middle of the room.

"What's the assignment?" She asks.

"There is none. We have to lay low." Harry said as he appeared near the window and looks outside.

"What's wrong?"

"Agents, of some sort of Intelligence Organization is tracking us. I fear they've been onto us for quite some time." Harry said.

"If there is heat on us, then we need to disappear."

"We're going back to the Hold." Harry said.


Harry and Astoria were rushing through the forest as they heard dogs barking and men shouting behind them. As they attempt to cross the borders, the border patrol spotted them and tried to capture them but they started running. Now however, they had a lot of people on their tail. Harry was cursing himself for making such a rookie mistake.

They stop running the moment they came to a cliff.

"We need to split up. You head south, I'll try to lure them away. We cannot head to the Hold, once you are clear, head to the Island. It's our only hope of being hidden. Whoever is chasing us, has strong international pull."

Astoria nods her head and jumps down the cliff climbing down while Harry looks behind him, he could see the men and dogs coming closer thanks to his Eagle Vision. Harry runs the other way letting the dogs see him as they gave chase.


Senior Agent Victoria Hand, got a very strange call from Agent Phil Coulson. She was to deploy UAV's to the Ukraine border, to track two individuals. She tried to ignore the request telling Agent Coulson it wasn't her responsibility nor her concern. It was barely a minute after the call with Agent Coulson ended, she got a call from Director Nick Fury. He then told her she was to listen to Agent Coulson and do as he requested.

She knew better than to disobey a direct order from the Director and Head of S.H.I.E.L.D. She did as she was instructed and watch on the monitors the UAV's heading to the coordinates.

"Agent Coulson, are you getting this."

"I am, I see suspect two is making a break heading south. Luckily, my team is near we can intercept this individual."

"What of suspect one?" Victoria Hand asks.

"The Ukraine military is chasing him. According to the reports, he's heading towards the Russian Border. Notify the Russians to apprehend the individual on sight." Agent Coulson said on the speaker.

"Understood."


Astoria Bennette knew she was being chase, she could hear the jeeps in the streets below as she jump across the buildings. Even the sounds of some gunshots could be heard.

She jumps down onto the street ignoring the stares from people and immediately gets on a pedestrian bridge.

She took off running across it as the jeeps came to a stop and people came out chasing her.

She stops short when she realized military men were coming at her in the direction she was heading. She looks backwards and could see military men as well as people wearing black and blue suits with an eagle patch. She looks forward and could see they were packing AK-47's.

She then steps on the rail and looks down below at the rushing river that was moving downwards at high speed.

She turns to see one of the men rushing towards her before she leaps off and dives into the freezing river.


"Sir, we have one." Agent Coulson reported as the men dragged the unconscious girl from the beach of Romania into an S.H.I.E.L.D. transport. She was unconscious and her body temperature was dangerously low, but the medics reported she wasn't in any danger. She just needed to stay warm and she should be fine. That was odd, as Agent Coulson knew after being exposed in sub-freezing temperatures she should be dead or near death.

"Bring her to the Helicarrier. Make sure she is secure and not a flight wrist. Bring her weapons so our techs can analyze them."

"We're on our way sir."


Harry stood in the crowd as he watch Astoria being place in restraints and lead away in a S.H.I.E.L.D. transport.

He abandon his originally plan when The Order told him Astoria never came back and never reported in. It was when he saw on the news that an unknown girl was discovered on the beach in Romania, he came rushing hoping to get her out of sight before anyone drag her off for questioning. He arrived too late.

Harry could only watch as Astoria was being taken away.


Nick Fury stood before the council trying hard not to smile.

"You have capture one of them?" Alexander Pierce said trying hard not to sound impress.

"Yes, we are going through her weapons and looking at her outfit. As far as we can tell, all of it is custom made, making it very hard to find the source of the maker."

"Do you have anything on the girl?"

"Nothing, no name, no identification not even a d.o.b." Nick Fury said.

"Who is she?"

"A young teenager. No doubt trained at an early age like Agent Romanoff to be an Assassin. I'm hoping to appease to her better sense of judgment to get her to work for us and have her reveal to us who she works for." Nick Fury said.

"Where is she now?"

"On board the Helicarrier, I have her currently sedated as we are monitoring her health."

"Anything you want to report?" Alexander Pierce asks.

"She has some healing factor. It's clearly keeping her alive as we have to keep injecting sedation into her every hour."

"Any idea where she comes from?"

"None. We have taken blood samples, salvia, hair, even fingerprints. We're running through every known database we have but have yet to find any information on her."

"See what you get out of her." Alexander Pierce said as Nick Fury nods his head. "And Nick, if she proves to be a threat or danger to S.H.I.E.L.D. then I want you to eliminate her."

Fury stood taller than usual as he looks at Alexander Pierce.

"Understood."

Nick Fury stood behind the invisibly glass. It was almost impossible to see, but regardless it was there. The air vent above her was also filled with knock out gas should she try anything to threaten him. Agent Barton stood there at his side with his right hand resting on his Glock 17. The glass was strong, but it wasn't bullet proof.

"She's awakening sir." Agent Hill said in his ear as the girl began to stir.

Nick Fury said nothing knowing it was better to let her get use to her surroundings. She gets up and looks directly at Nick Fury as if she wasn't surprise to see him standing there.

"Hello, I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., who are you?" Fury said.

The girl looks at him. Not in fear, or a questionable look. More like, she was telling him she was in control of the situation.

"Can you speak English?" Fury asks a little annoyed at the girls attention.

She said nothing but stares at him with unblinkable eyes.

Fury asks her again, speaking in different languages but she remain silent. She just stared at him, her eyes did not hold the slightest ounce of fear.

Fury left the room as did Agent Barton was backed away looking at her before he reached the door. She turns and sits on her bed and looks at the right wall.

Fury walks up to Agent Hill.

"How was her pulse and heart rate?" Fury asks.

"Unusual calm. She clearly has been trained in counter integration. I'm willing to bet she can lie in a polygraph." Agent Hill reported.

"Send in Agent Romanoff." Fury said.

An hour later Fury watch the monitor as Agent Romanoff enters the room and just stares at the girl. The girl made no motion to acknowledge Agent Romanoff's presence. Agent Romanoff was use to patience but it was clear she was getting frustrated at the lack of response from the girl. No words were said, but the 0-8-4 didn't say a word and just stared at the wall.

After nearly five hours of complete silence Nick Fury called Agent Romanoff off for her assessment.

"She's been train, and trained well. Whoever trained her, understood her mind as well as how to discipline her."

"Can you get anything else out of her?" Fury asks.

"Something about her, something tells me she isn't a prisoner as we like to think. She appears to be mocking us, telling us she can break out anytime."

"We'll move her to the Cage." Fury said.

The Next Day

The girl said nothing as a dozen men escorted her to a new cell. She gave no objections as she walked in the middle of them, their guns all pointed at her.

"I want you to understand, that you are an unknown. That means we don't know if you're an asset or a threat." Nick Fury said as the door slam shut behind her the moment she entered a cage. "It's because of this, I'm force to put you into this."

She looks at him as if she was telling him the cage was pointless.

"This cage, was built for something a lot stronger than you and more powerful." Fury said as if to answer the silence question. "You don't believe me, then press your luck. You see if you so much as scratch that glass, you will drop forty thousand feet. Straight down in a steel trap." Fury said looking at her.

She said nothing but smiled as if she found the whole thing amusing.

Fury narrowed his one good eye. This was unusual. It was like she wasn't intimidating or threaten at her situation.

"Now I'm going to ask you again, who are you?" Nick Fury said in a cold tone of voice.

She sits down and smiles, the smile was getting to Fury. He half wanted to push the button and send her to her death. But he restrain himself, knowing she would break.

"Director Fury, you need to come see this." Agent Hill said in his earpiece.

Nick Fury turns and leaves and heads up to the bridge.

"What is it Agent Hill?"

"The Poseidon's Crew was capture. A message was left stating the individual wishes to meet you in Central Park in two days' time at noon." Agent Hill said as she shows him the pictures.

Nick Fury frown as he read the message. It was clear the 0-8-4 allies were attempting to rescue her and force a trade. But they were asking for a meeting. It was indeed strange.

'You have someone that doesn't belong with you. I too have your people. I propose a trade, I will return your people and Intelligence if you return her to us. If you accept you can meet me in the middle of Central Park of New York City. There I wish to talk to you. You will not doubt know how I am.'


Author Notes: I know this chapter may be a bit rush, but I'm trying to establish a loose alliance with The Order and SHIELD.

Hope you guys enjoy, please Read and Review.

Any suggestions please leave them in the review.

Name: Astoria Bennette

Alias:

Code Name: Shadow

Birth-date: May 25th 1993 ( 5 - 25 - 1993)

Current Age: 18

Species: Terran

Identity: Secret (American/Asian)

Height: Five Foot and Two Inches (5'2")

Hair: Black

Eyes: Blue

Skin: Light

Marital Status: Currently Single

Profession: Shadow Assassin and member of The Order

Power and Unique Abilities: Electromagnetism - Eagle Vision (Enhance-Binoculars Vision)

Weapon/s: Shadow Bracers (Lower Wrist: Hidden Blade, Phantom Blade. Upper Forearm: Wrist Launcher: Grappling Hook, Dart Launcher - Poison, Sleep, Berserk, Hallucination) Two Tomahawks, Blow Dart, Dual Combat Knives, Two SIG P226, Varies Throwing Knives.

Armor: Shadow Armor (Similar to Harry's outfit.) Shadow Face Guard (Voice Changer, Breathe Mask with Underwater filter. Google with network and internet capabilities. Internal Heat sensor's, night vision, x-ray capabilities{up to 20 feet} voice and facial recognition, video recorder.)

Armor Color/s: White

Special Features: Shadow Armor comes with a holographic mimicker that allows the user to take the appearance of another person as well as cloaking abilities to turn invisible to the naked eye.