You guys, seriously, I love you. I love that you guys are enjoying this story because I'm having so much fun writing it. This chapter has a bit of gore, so I'm just warning you ahead of time. Also, there is a bit of un-lady like language.
This chapter gets its name from the AC/DC song, "Shoot to Thrill".
Enjoy!
Shoot To Thrill
SHIELD Hellicarrier-London, England
In just five short minutes Natasha, Clint, Steve, Loki and Vanessa would all be boarding a small jet that would take them to the top of a nearby building. Stark and Banner would stay on the Hellicarrier to help the five navigate through MI6 and hopefully find out where exactly Loki's scepter was hidden.
The plan was simple. Loki was going to walk through the front doors of MI6 asking for a meeting with the director. Vanessa would be undercover as an agent for MI6 and she would safely walk Loki inside without raising any red flags. Meanwhile, Clint, Natasha and Steve would be sneaking in through the vents. They could only do that with Stark and Banner hacking into the security systems. As Loki was a key point in the break-in, Thor had to stay in the air as well. The two princes of Asgard working together would raise too many red flags.
So, Vanessa stood in front of a mirror, giving herself one last one over. She was wearing a green pencil dress with black heels, black square glasses framed her face and her brown hair had been straightened and pulled back into a bun. She looked stern and professional—perfect. Satisfied, Vanessa left the room and made her way to the main control room for a final debriefing.
The control room had a very tense atmosphere. Natasha and Clint stood together, talking quietly in their SHIELD uniforms. Steve stood alone with his arms crossed wearing tan trousers and a white shirt, as his Captain America uniform would be a dead giveaway. Loki stood next to Thor looking annoyed and uncomfortable. As he was going to be meeting with the MI6 director, Evan Jones, he had to look professional. And Tony Stark had taken it upon himself to dress the god of mischief in a well-tailored black suit, a neatly pressed white shirt and a deep green tie. Loki kept shifting his feet and shrugging his shoulders as if that would help him get used to the clothing.
"You cannot go walking into MI6 looking like you would rather be chopping off your penis, Loki. As much as you hate Stark's fashion taste, you need to look like you're having the time of your life in that thing."
Loki and Thor both looked at Vanessa, horrified.
"No man of Asgard would ever castrate himself!" Thor puffed up his chest and Loki rolled his eyes behind his brother's back.
"Ahm," Vanessa said, "I just call things as I see it, big boy. Where's Fury?"
"Right here," Fury strolled in, "and I have your comms units. Put them in, quickly." He started distributing the earpieces and every agent stuck them in securely. "Barton, you are to have eyeball on Loki until he's inside MI6."
Clint nodded, throwing a nasty look in Loki's direction, who in turn, gave Clint a wink and ran his tongue over his teeth. Vanessa suppressed a laugh at the Hawkeye's enraged look.
"Where are Stark and Banner?" Steve asked.
"In the lab, already working on breaking into the MI6 security system," Fury replied. "Now, get in the jet, it's time you all should be gone."
MI6-London, England
"Okay, Stark, I'm sending all files concerning Phase Two to your computer…now."
Getting into MI6 had been easy. With a swipe of a fake ID card and a confident strut, Vanessa had been able to get in and lock herself into an office and start hacking.
"I have them," Stark said into the comms unit.
Nodding to herself, Vanessa went to work deleting all traces of Phase Two while Banner kept hard at work keeping all alarms down and Stark began to manipulate the security cameras.
"Loki is on the move inside," came Natasha's voice.
"I have eyeball," Clint said.
Vanessa finished her work and shut down the computer. Slowly, she began to make her way to the entrance to meet Loki and escort him safely inside. He was already at the front desk working charms on the receptionist, carrying a briefcase.
"Do you have eyeball, Brown?" Clint was asking.
"Yes, Barton," Vanessa muttered, "Now shut the fuck up. I'm undercover and Loki's not a target. Go join Widow and Cap."
"Can we not have this langu—" Steve started.
"Funk fucking penis," Stark interrupted.
This was met with both Natasha and Bruce scolding everyone and telling them to focus on the task at hand.
"Loki, Vanessa," Bruce said in his soft and carful voice, "I've managed to trace the scepter to Evan Jones' office. And all other files pertaining to Phase two are in the west end, computer says room 778."
"Good work," Steve said.
"Yeah, we're on our way over there," Natasha muttered. "Brown and Loki have Jones until we can join them."
So they were now in the vents, good everything was going to plan.
"Mr. Laufyson," Vanessa said, interrupting his conversation with the receptionist. "Mr. Jones will see you now."
Loki rushed to Vanessa's side and they began walking through the winding hallways briskly, listening to everyone communicating through the comms units.
"Here," Loki held out the brief case.
"What is it?"
"Your uniform, incase we have to fight."
"Right," Vanessa took the briefcase and yanked Loki into the nearest empty office. She set the briefcase on the table and flipped it open. Then Vanessa began rolling up her dress and removing the holsters on her thighs. She took her fake glasses and dropped them in a garbage can where they were set on fire. Vanessa unzipped her dress and stepped out of it, throwing that too, into the trashcan. Loki, very subtly and calmly looked the other way and crossed his arms. Vanessa hurriedly pulled on the cat suit and clipped the belt, holsters, and bracelets with other weapons on then pulled her hair out of its harsh bun.
"Okay, pal," Vanessa lead the way out of the office, "let's do this."
"Pal?" Loki raised his eyebrows at Vanessa.
"Nevermind."
"I cannot believe you just referred to me as 'pal'"
Vanessa rolled her eyes and she and Loki trekked in silence toward the heart of MI6, towards Jones' office. Passersby didn't even give Vanessa any weird looks as she walked. She looked like a spy and MI6 contained a lot of very good ones. No, it was Loki that was drawing attention. Vanessa couldn't be sure if it was because he looked familiar or if it was just the regal way in which he carried himself. Several minutes later, the two found themselves in front of the office. Hesitant, Vanessa knocked.
"Enter," came an irritated voice.
Vanessa twisted the knob and she and Loki entered the rather large and expensive looking office. Evan Jones was sitting at his desk, a phone in hand. His rather small eyes looked at Loki and then focused on Vanessa. She felt suddenly uncomfortable.
"Code three," Jones said into the phone and snapped it shut. "Please, shut the door and have a seat."
Loki shut the door and he and Vanessa cautiously took their seats on the other side of the desk. Jones pressed his fingertips together and peered at the two very intently.
"Well, SHIELD must be getting less intelligent by the day, sending the man Thanos would most like back under his…care right into enemy territory with no cover."
"Do you honestly think SHIELD would send anyone into a compromised spy center without backup?" Vanessa cocked an eyebrow. A game of carful chess was in the works.
"No, I suppose not, you're here Agent Brown. It's been a very long time since I've seen you. It's been what, nine years?"
"Excuse me?" Jones took one of Vanessa's pawns and Loki was casting interested looks between the two.
"Oh, you never saw me, no I was the man in charge of the Charlie Richards mission in Italy."
Vanessa felt her stomach drop. "Charlie was a spy?"
"Oh, yes, a very good one for only twenty, He was sent to use any method possible to bring you back to Turkey."
"Ah, Turkey, so he must've worked for the same society as my parents did, then. What did you guys want with me?"
Jones leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Vanessa's face.
"You come from a long line of spies, Miss Brown. You were conceived not by accident. When your parents found out that SHEILD wanted to experiment with a child and raise them in the world of spies, your parents jumped at the opportunity to give them what they wanted. You were supposed to then do as your parents did, and become a double agent. You were going to help the family business bring SHIELD down."
"Yeah, that didn't work very well did it?" Vanessa feigned indifference. "I killed Charlie and my parents are dead. I don't think there is any reason for me to jump on board with this family business."
"What is your business with Thanos?" Loki cut in, "He does not enter into agreements without a clear benefit for him."
"Oh, I should think it was obvious but no," Jones pointed to the air, "No, Miss Brown doesn't know the plan any more, do you, darling?"
"What plan?" Vanessa snarled.
"Tudor let slip our dealings with Thanos and the Chitauri the night before he died. But then, you wouldn't remember would you, dear? Thanos paid you a visit that night, toyed with you mind. I'm sure he found the contents of your mind very, very interesting."
Vanessa gripped the armrests of her chair very hard. She was suddenly very afraid. Her heart was thumping madly and she was finding it very difficult to think. She was supposed to have been raised to become a double agent for some family spy business and information that could save the world was hidden inside her brain.
What. The. Hell.
"He will kill you," Loki said savagely. "Thanos will get exactly what he wants and kill you in return."
Kill, right yes, spies get information and they kill. There were so many voices talking in Vanessa's ear, but she didn't hesitate. She didn't have time to wait for an OK. She snatched a lighter off Jones' desk and set the desk ablaze.
"Damn it!" came Natasha's voice. "Stark, did you let the security breech slip? We've got company!"
"How dare you ask that, Agent Romanoff!"
"That was Jones," Vanessa cut in watching Jones' eye dart to his bookshelf. "He called code three the moment he saw us. Loki, the scepter is behind the bookshelf! Pull the world record book on the third shelf to open the safe!"
Jones was up, furious, he gave up trying to extinguish the fire and made a lunge for Vanessa, grabbing the back of her neck. "You'll die in here, I'll make sure of it."
The bookshelf slide to the side, revealing a black case, no doubt holding the scepter. Vanessa grabbed a magazine off the shelf and rolled it up: Trying not to let the smoke sting her eyes.
"Go, Loki, I'll be right behind you," Vanessa wrenched away from Jones, kneeing him in the crotch.
She threw open the office door and Loki, holding the case close, ran out. Vanessa spilled out gasping in the clean air but Jones was close behind. He threw an enraged punch and hit Vanessa on the side of her face. Someone walking by immediately sought a fight with Loki.
"Banner!" Vanessa shouted avoiding a blow from Jones, still clutching the magazine tightly, "Get the alarms up and running stat!"
"Why?"
"Because I set the bloody place on fire!" Vanessa turned on the spot and whipped the magazine around Jones' neck. "A-team, abort. Burn the reports you have and get out."
Loki casually smashed his opponent's face into the wall and he fell to the ground, clearly dead. He turned ready to aid Vanessa but she shot him a look and he stayed put as the alarms started sounding. Vanessa turned again, swiftly and very deliberately shoved the rolled up magazine into Jones' mouth and down his throat. He struggled, but Vanessa stayed firm. She looked him in the eyes, smirking dangerously.
"I'm not the one who'll be dying here, Mr. Jones".
The agent's body gave a violent shake and his eyes rolled up into his head and he fell limp. Vanessa let go of the magazine as people everywhere started flying out of doors and outside. Vanessa grabbed Loki's hand and started dragging him in the opposite direction.
"You said you could kill a man with your sketch book—"
"Yes, unfortunately, I don't have that on me so I had to improvise."
"You two need to hurry!" came the solder's voice, "The get away car is waiting."
"Where the hell are you guys?" Vanessa shouted ducking and knocking another MI6 agent off his feet. Loki swung the case up and knocked out his partner.
"We're in the vents!" Natasha panted, "avoid them if you can, it's hot!"
"No shit! I didn't just set the place on fire or anything! Get out of there!"
Loki flung an arm out, stopping Vanessa and a dagger came out of nowhere, from his hand and into the neck of an oncoming attacker. Vanessa rushed forward as blood gushed out of the man's neck and took his impressive looking gun.
"Put it down!" Loki hissed.
"Why would I do that?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow and started fiddling with buttons on the gun.
"That's a gun modeled after the Destroyer I sent—"
"I know I'm disabling it." Vanessa pressed one final button and a horrible smelling chemical started leaking from the gun. "Jesus, it's slow…Uh…back away."
Loki stared at Vanessa, but did as he was told. Vanessa yanked opened one of the garbage cans and threw the gun inside. She dropped to the floor and skidded across it as the rubbish bin lit up, destroying the gun and causing a small explosion. Vanessa scrambled to her feet and she and Loki took off running again.
"Could you guys please hurry it up?" Nick Fury's voice came over the comms. "I would like to get you all out alive, if possible."
"We're trying, sir," said Clint, "But we're in the vents."
"Were are you?" Banner said, "We've got the blueprints, we could guide you out."
"Uh…W-45," Natasha responded.
"All right, there's an exit about ten feet in front of you, you'll come through the ceiling."
"We're on our way to meet you—DAMN IT!"
Vanessa shrieked as someone from behind grabbed her hair, yanking her backwards. She felt strong arms wrap around her, one around her waist, the other around her neck, holding a knife. Loki turned around and paused, assessing the scene. He then took slow, cautious steps toward Vanessa and whoever was holding her.
"I'd let go if I were you," Loki said, his voice was dripping with venom.
"Why, when I have the advantage?" came a man's voice. It was vaguely familiar to Vanessa. She started racking her brains. Where had she met him before?
"You know, I think we should just slow down and talk like responsible adults, yeah?" said Vanessa.
The man who was holding Vanessa shook her roughly. "You'll not be getting away this time."
Vanessa felt a drop of blood run down her neck. "Ah, I remember you! Barcelona, right? I'm sorry about killing your partner and everything, but he was involved in a terrorist organization. So I had no choice, really."
Vanessa bit down on the man's arm and ducked. Loki acted quickly and threw another one of his magical daggers. This one nailed the man in his left eye.
"Sorry about your eye," Loki shrugged.
"You just saved my life!" Vanessa was dumbfounded as she and Loki ran down corridors.
"Yes, and?" he sounded annoyed.
"Why? Why didn't you just keep running?"
"Right now, we are partners. Last time I checked, partners help each other out. Am I not correct?"
"I—no you're right it's just—"
"We've found you!" Natasha was picking herself off the floor with Steve and Clint. A tile in the ceiling had fallen through.
"Yeah, yeah, can we get out now?" Clint started pushing Natasha along and the group of five started sprinting towards the nearest exit.
The alarms that were going off seemed to be doing their job: For they met no one else. MI6 had been evacuated. With an exit in site, Steve sprinted and shoved himself against the door, forcing it open. The team started taking in gasps of clean air, but they didn't stop running. They kept on at it making straight towards the getaway car where Agent Hill was at the wheel.
SHIELD Hellicarrier-In The Sky
The journey back to the SHIELD hellicarrier had gone without incident. Agent Hill wasted no time getting the team on the road and to a safer location where they could all get on a jet and fly back up to base.
The atmosphere was a strange one. Everyone, save Loki, had taken some time to assess what damage had been done to them. Steve, Natasha and Clint all seemed reasonably pleased with the outcome. Loki was incredibly apprehensive about having the scepter back and Vanessa, he could tell, was seething.
Now that the mission had been completed, she was allowed to be angry. And given all that Jones had let spill, she had every right to be furious. Loki knew how she was feeling, so he was not at all surprised by Vanessa's reaction when they were all back on base. She lead the way into the main control room where Fury, Stark and Banner already were with Thor lounging in a chair.
"Brother!" Thor boomed. Loki had to suppress an eye roll. "You have returned with the scepter!" Thor stood up and held his arms wide open. "You have been victorious!"
"Thor, I swear to gods if you hug me I will—" Too late, the god of thunder embraced Loki, who did not return it. He just stood awkwardly until Thor let go.
"When did you plan on telling me that I came from a family of spies, Director?" Vanessa stood tall, her arms folded, dried blood on her neck and the tips of her hair were singed.
"We didn't know your family history when you took you in, Agent Brown," said Fury stiffly.
"Obviously not, or you wouldn't have taken me to experiment with. When did you find out this piece of information?"
"After your parents were killed, that's when—" Clint started.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Vanessa looked around the room, furious. "Who all knew this? You didn't think it was important to mention that my family runs some sort of spy business?"
"It was our fear that if you knew, you would look for your family and turn double agent on SHIELD," Fury looked cool and collected.
"Are you kidding me?" Vanessa started rolling up the sleeve on her right arm and held her wrist up to Fury's good eye. "Do you not remember how wonderfully my parents treated me? Have you forgotten about Phil, risking his life to save me from my parents when they tried to take me? Or how about the night I was too hurt to move because my father took a fire poker and burned my wrists because I somehow was not measuring up? Because I can't ever forget that, Director. If you think I would ever want to go and join a family that condones child abuse, then you don't know me very well at all. You could've used me to take down this organization before they decided to make a pact with Thanos!"
Nick Fury seemed a little uncomfortable for a moment. But he recovered his composure quickly. "You need to rest up, Agent Brown."
"Excuse me?"
"We all heard it over the comms. You got some very important information out of Tudor the night before he died. Information that was so important, this guy, Thanos figured a stop on Earth to toy with your brain was worth something. Whatever information is hiding in your mind, could potentially save this planet and take down your family's organization." Fury gave Vanessa a long, hard look. "I intend to get that information and I will do whatever I can to succeed."
Author's Note
So that's another chapter down! More secrets have been reveled! Thank you for reading and pretty please leave your thoughts in the review box below!
Cheers, guys!
