So I had a crazy vivid dream last night and woke up to write it all down, and pretty much outline the rest of this story.
And now…for something completely different…
"Director, this is unacceptable"
"I'm sorry, what exactly about this is so damn unacceptable?"
"Do you really think it is appropriate to assign the Black Widow, an enemy agent to the protecti-"
"Agent Romanov has more than proven her competence and her loyalty to SHIELD. I can confidently say that we have nothing to fear from her."
Dealing with the council could be tedious on the best day. Agents have two seconds to make a decision and the council get months to pull it apart and exam it from every angle. They question everything, are suspicious of everything. It's their job to be…but sill. The younger members were a lot more concerned with good PR and keeping their position and political prestige.
Fury didn't join SHIELD to play politics; but unfortunately it came with the territory. Sometimes he regretted accepting the position of Director.
"Yes. She has proven herself to be incredibly useful when it comes to interrogation, investigation, and assassination…but a protection detail? If she fails at any of the former assignments or turns on us, we could easily send someone else to do the job for her…but when it comes to protecting a valuable asset? If she fails or betrays us it is already too late!"
"Madame Hawley," a gravelly voice colored with a gentle French accent cut in, "since when have I been considered an asset?"
The councilwoman looked like she regretted her choice of words. "Bellamy, I only meant-"
"I know what you meant." He smiled knowingly as he peered over the top of his spectacles at the screen, "But as far as I am aware, I am still a member of this council, and I am perfectly capable of approving of my own protection detail"
Bellamy de Falco was old school SHIELD, all which remained of the days of Howard Stark and Peggy Carter. The council members were mostly good people, but often times they let politics get in the way of doing their job. Fury was always grateful for de Falco's presence on the council, too often it seemed as though he was the only voice of reason. He was old enough to remember the when SHIELD was a small organization with limited resources and a desire to do some good in the world, and too old now to care about politics or what others thought of him.
Hawley heaved a sigh, "Bellamy…yes Romanov has shown herself to be an agent of incredible skill and integrity as far as we have been able to observe. But personally I think it was reckless for Director Fury to commission her as an agent." Fury resisted the urge to clench his jaw. He had not come to that decision lightly. "Her past," Hawley continued, " will never disappear completely, and it is enough for us to carefully consider what her intentions might be at every turn lest we be caught unawares by a possible sleeper agent!"
"I understand your concern, but I prefer to give Romanov the benefit of the doubt because of her past. This so called red room took a young girl and abused her and stripped her of her humanity in order to create a weapon." De Falco passed as he began to hack and cough. A result of too many years a cigarette. "Now I see a woman who is reclaiming her humanity, who wants to destroy those who wronged her and prevent it from happening to another little girl. Hmm?"
"Yes," Hawley smiled a bit "it certainly makes for a compelling narrative." Her face turned serious once more. "But what concerns me is this report coming from the Ukraine about the facility we uncovered there." She touched the screen in front of her to bring up a file on the screens of each WSC member. "behavioral conditioning, subliminal messages, trigger words…even if she is sincere, who is to say she can't be controlled and made to do things against her will?"
Damn. Not that Fury was necessarily trying to hide information from the council, but he had kind of hope this matter would stay under their radar as he investigated the matter further. Hawley was incredibly through. Fury watched as the council member's faces grew increasingly concerned as they read through the report.
De Falco was the first to speak "Director?"
Great. Now he had to convince the council not to cross off one of the best agents SHIELD had ever seen.
"We have investigated the matter thoroughly and I am confident that there is no cause for concern. The research we uncovered from the Red Room indicated that subliminal messages and trigger words were only effective when the subject was under the influence of a very specific drug cocktail. Romanov has not been on those drugs since we took her in and the withdrawal almost killed her." They didn't look convinced. "The behavioral conditioning didn't stick very well either, aside from making a subject unable to attack their handlers. Even so, this had to be reinforced on a regular basis and Romanov has been in our care for over two years."
"Good enough for me."
"Bellamy-"
"Madame Hawley, I appreciate your concern, I do. But I trust the director's judgment." He stopped to cough harshly into the back of his hand. His coughing turned into a gruff laugh. "Besides, I am already old and dying. If she does kill me at least I will have done something useful." He cackled at his own joke but Hawley did not look amused.
"I still do not think it is a good idea."
De Falco waved his hand dismissively "duly noted, but the point is moot. Romanov and the rest of the protection detail will be landing within the hour. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to finish getting ready for a diplomatic convention that is bound to be all kinds of fun." He gave a charming smile and logged off.
Seeing the discussion was at an end, other members' screens went blank until Fury was left with only Hawley and Pierce.
Hawley looked thoroughly unhappy. "Director, if this goes wrong I will hold you personally responsible."
"Understood"
"Relax Jenny," Pierce cut in, "You have nothing to worry about. Nick's judgment is impeccable; it's why we made him director."
Hawley pursed her lips, examining Fury's face as though trying to discern if he could indeed be trusted. She signed off without another word.