The next few days were a blur. HYDRA had gone quiet after the initial encounter the team had with their operatives. Thus making it harder to target where they might be recruiting next. Local police in several states were notified to immediately report any old or new missing cases of young people specifically those aged 16 - 30. If any should occur at least they could make a move. In the meantime it was training.
"Stark you're up." Liam's voice comes through the speaker. The group sighs in relief as the simulation reboots itself. Gypsy waits for the beep to signal go. The sound goes off and Gypsy quickly grabs her gun. Going through the makeshift maze looking for hostages and assailants. The sound of her gun going off as she expertly takes down three bad guys in quick succession. She moves quickly checking all corners to ensure no one surprises her.
A clanking sound from her right side makes her head instinctively turn. A blinding light illuminates the room. Gypsy has never seen something so bright. She instinctively places her back to the wall trying to listen for her enemy. She closes her eyes waiting for them to go back to normal. She hears footsteps near her location. She opens her eyes pleased that most of her sight has come back. A hand appears holding a pistol. She reacts quickly - kicking the hand with her leg causing the holder to release it. She grabs the hand and drags the person connected to it. She maneuvers her body so she is now above the man. She drops her weight and performs a perfect arm-bar. The man struggles underneath Gypsy but she doesn't let up. The man doesn't tap so she unhooks one leg and brings her heel down on the man's head to stop his struggling. He goes limp as she effectively knocks him unconscious.
Gypsy comes to a final corridor where she can hear people banging on the doors that litter the hallway. As she goes to the nearest door on her right it opens abruptly and a knife comes inches from her face. A woman screams in defiance as she begins her attack. Swiping and slashing at Gypsy. Gypsy backs up trying to gauge the woman's next move. She sees an opening as the woman lunges forward. She counters the woman bringing her armed hand into Gypsy's waiting grasp. She wrestles the blade away before punching the woman square in the jaw. Causing her to fall to the ground. Gypsy doesn't wait for her to get back up though - she kicks her in the stomach knocking the wind out of her and leaving her incapacitated. With that handled Gypsy finds a console that seems to open up the rest of the door. She touches a button that she assumes is the off switch. And sure enough the doors swing open allowing the hostages to leave. Gypsy safely guides the survivors to the exit - ending the simulation.
"Not bad Stark. You got the fastest time out of anyone today." Gypsy is busy catching her breath as she sees her name pop up as Today's Best 04m:32s. However, the All Time Best Time belongs to none other than Steve Rogers. 00m:58s. Gypsy rolls her eyes in slight frustration. She could totally bet that score if she had super serum like him.
"Hey kid, don't beat yourself up. No one has beaten his score." Liam rejoins the group patting Gypsy on the back. At that moment Liam's S.H.I.E.L.D. issued smart watch begins to buzz. He brings it to his mouth.
"Kelly here." He looks around at the group who are all watching intensely.
"S.I.N. We have reports of Enhanced activity in the Colorado region. You're up."
"You heard her. Grab your parkas. We're going to Colorado." The group quickly goes to their respective rooms to get the supplies they need.
The group all come together as Liam briefs them. "Okay so, if these are the same individuals we encountered before, I don't need to tell you to proceed with caution. Cassandra, you will stay with Alisha. Her intuition will be useful in keeping you safe. Remember you are only here as a liaison. You try to be a hero you're done. Is that understood?" Liam's sharp eye is trained on Cassandra's face.
"Yes sir." Cassandra face is completely serious. Gypsy can feel the determination coming off from Cassandra. While this was a job for them it was different for Cassandra. This- this was personal. Louisa, Alisha, Gypsy, Marty, Cassandra and Liam all made their way into the cube. It dropped abruptly before landing softly on the ground. They are in a mountainous area. Which prompts Louisa and Marty to quickly take out their tools in the hopes of finding something that could give them a precise location. When nothing abnormal shows Liam gives their first order.
"Everyone spread out. Two person teams. Meadows. Cassandra. You head West. Rivera you're with me. Stark. Willis. You head East." Liam moves forward with Louisa following close behind him. Gypsy would've preferred someone else but alas she wasn't that lucky. As the duo moves further away from the rest of the group, the only sound that can be heard is the crunching of snow, leaves and branches.
"So uh- how's the engagement going?" Marty's voice spoke softly.
"How do you know about it?" Gypsy counters through gritted teeth.
"I notice things. Your shirts don't really cover up the shape of it. So I just assumed you were engaged. Guessing by your response I was right." Gypsy was about this close - to smacking him upside his head until he said...
"He's lucky. Whomever he is. People like you, people that know who they are and don't compromise their ideals for anyone. Those who always do the right thing. Those are the best type of people to have in your life." Marty's voice somberly said as Gypsy could almost feel the regret rolling off of him. She huffs quietly.
"Look- listen Martin. Whatever you did in the past, can't be undone. You'll just have to live with that. But it is never too late to make good on those past mistakes. You're here now- and as far I can tell you are what you say you are. So maybe, just maybe I'll try to be a little less of a hard ass to you. Sound good Marty." Gypsy smiles brightly at him for the first time since they met. He shakes his head in agreement. Happiness showing clearly in his face.
"Come on, we have major ground to cover." Gypsy giggles at his playful smile.
"Sir, yes sir." Gypsy rolls her eyes as she continues their hike.
"Did you hear that?" Cass whispers to Alisha.
"No, but I do have a bad feeling." As the words left her mouth Alisha was knocked unconscious. An invisible heat force attempted to hit Cass but her body instinctively turned into liquid. Then she made eye contact with the source of the heat.
"Justin?!" The man stopped only for a second before raising his hands to presumably hurt Cass.
"Justin- I need you to listen to me now. Whatever is going on- we- we can fix this. I just need you to come with us." The look Cass received was one of complete indifference. As if she was stranger.
"Justin- Justin- please its Cass. Your Cass. I know you remember me." He gives her a blank expression before advancing slowly towards her. Cass was instructed not to use her powers, but she sees no options. She turns her whole form into liquid and surrounds his body. He starts to lose consciousness, her hold on him loosens somewhat until she feels herself burning.
He's heating himself up!, Cassandra panics as her body steams up and shift back, losing her grip in the process.
He takes the chance to grab her by the neck and throw her. The impact sends a surge of pain through her body. Tears spring into her eyes as she sees him advance to her - an outstretched hand in front of him. The heat comes back even stronger than before as Cass lets out a scream. She tries to think of a way out of this situation. If she changes into water his powers will work even faster. Her solid form is protecting her, but not for much longer. She stares at Justin realizing she's failed in saving her family. Then he goes stiff for a moment before falling. Behind him Alisha is holding her gun.
"Don't worry- he's not dead. Just incapacitated." Cass looks at Alisha thankful.
"S.I.N. Come in. I have one of the assailants. Need immediate extraction." She winces at the pain in her head.
"Understood. We are moving to your position now. Kelly out." Alisha wills herself off the tree and retrieves an intricate set of handcuffs. She grabs his hands and places the new age cuffs on him. It locks his hands firmly into place. Alisha sees Cass frown.
"Its for all of our safety Cass." Alisha explains gently.
"I know. Its just- I know what that's like. To be restrained and caged. Like your some type of animal." Cass holds her arms close across her chest as she tries to give herself some comfort.
"We'll save him. Don't lose faith." Alisha puts a warm hand on Cass's shoulder. Cass places her hand on top of hers in solidarity. Multiple footsteps sound off as S.I.N. converges on their location.
"Nice work Meadows. Any sign of anyone else?" Kelly questions the group. Everyone responds with a No.
"What the hell was he doing out here in the first place?" Gypsy shakes her head in agreement with Marty.
"I don't know, but we can add that to the laundry list of questions we'll have for him on the ship." Liam presses a button on his watch as a cube comes down.
"Meadows, Cassandra I want you to go to the Med Bay. More S.H.I.E.L.D. agents will be coming to search the area further." Both women nod as they are transported back to the ship. Cass sees Justin get put into another cube. Her heart is heavy but she knows this is for the best.
Back at the ship, tensions are escalated with the arrival of Hartigan. Liam tries his best but he is failing to get his intentions through.
"Agent Kelly, did I not allow you to use one asset as a way of finding out what HYDRA is planning?" Her intense eyes bore directly into his.
"That's correct Ma'am." His eyes remain neutral under her hard gaze.
"And, didn't I say that all HYDRA agents are to be considered threats?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"So why is that you feel the assailant should stay here instead of being moved to a more secure location?" She moves closer to the point that she is standing face to face with him. Her heels giving her extra height.
"The assailant who goes by the name of Justin has ties to the asset. We believe that the connection the pair have could be quite useful. Ms. Higgins escaped captivity, the assailant might be committing these acts under the notion that she is still there." Liam keeps his voice calm under her scrutiny.
"Then we'll remove the asset and the assailant to one of our locations." She shrugs her shoulders.
"Ma'am, both of them have been through physical and emotional trauma. Ms. Higgins won't like that. She feels comfortable with my team. Just please, please give the Riveras some time to at least see what made this guy." Liam hates that he is already arguing with the boss but it can't be helped.
"You have 48 hours and not a minute more. I'll be staying here just to ensure that no other incidents occur." She walks away-heels clicking as she goes.
In the med bay the sisters are already taking diagnostics on Justin.
"He is sedated but lucid. You can speak to him but I'm afraid he isn't speaking to anyone." Eleanor explains. Liam motions to Cassandra to come forward. She does with a grimace on her face.
"What are you doing with HYDRA?" Liam is met with silence as the monitor attached to Justin beeps at a normal pattern.
"What is HYDRA planning? Justin continues to stare off in the distance.
"Do you know this woman?" He points at Cassandra who has a hopeful look in her eyes. He merely turns his head and looks at the wall. His heart rate remaining steady as he says nothing.
"Riveras, continue your tests and let me know when you have something. I'll be in my quarters." Liam storms off but not before saying one last thing "If I were you, I would start talking. My boss is a lot less lenient than me and she will not care about your comfort." Justin turns his head to meet Liam's stare, the heart rate monitor increasing in his beeping. Eleanor swiftly injects another sedative in his neck. Instantly, the beeping slows.
"Yeah, best to not antagonize the guy with the microwave abilities." Louisa chides. Liam huffs out a breath as he exits the room. Alisha just finished getting patched up. She watches Cassandra move slowly towards Justin.
Cassandra notices the twins have their back turned to the two of them. She takes the opportunity to touch his face- the sense of longing and lost overwhelms her. Tears immediately spring to her eyes as she rubs his cheek with her thumb. His eyes move over from the wall to her.
"Justin? Its me Cassandra. I've missed you so much." She whispers.
"Cassandra?" His eyes search hers- confusion clouding them.
"Okay. I'm sorry Cass but you're gonna' have to leave. We'll take good care of him." She quickly backs away from him so they don't see the interaction.
"Uh, yeah- okay. Just ya' know don't hurt him." Concern is etched all over her face.
"We will do our best." Eleanor responds. Cassandra nods her head as leaves the room.
I'm not giving up on you Justin. Cassandra thinks to herself.
Alisha can't help but channel the emotions that Cassandra exudes. Up until she touched him Justin was a blank space. But once she did say his name there was one feeling that came out clear as day.
Fear. The only question is, fear for whom?
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Happy summer everyone. I hope everyone gets to have fun in the sun and enjoy having no exams. Some sad news first. My two best friends lost their dad's. So that is one reason I didn't get this out as soon as I wanted. But I've also got some good news. I'm going back to school for my Masters*Internal scream*. I'm also becoming more active on Youtube. Its my hope that it will become a full entertainment channel. So books, movies, games, music etc will all be highlighted. So far I have videos up from concerts I've gone too. But like I said more content will be coming down the pipeline. As always thank you for the continued support and love.
I LOVE YOU 3000.
XOXO Favorited/Followed
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