Chapter Seven: Energy crisis
Michelle sighed as she put a blond lock behind her ear and stared at the girl in the mirror. Had it really been a year? She was paler and skinnier than she was last year. But the more time she spent in the hospital, she was definitely improving little by little.
She insisted now to stop wearing hospital clothes and start wearing jeans and nice shirts. She finished her hair and blew out a sigh. She still had not been allowed to leave the hospital room and she hadn't been asked any questions yet. She sat down on the bed and turned on Doctor Who.
While she watched the show, the door opened. Michelle looked up to see Natasha, another man who Michelle was sure was Captain America, and the fellow who hung around with Natasha a lot.
"One good thing about being out for a year. No waiting for new seasons." Michelle said smiling. The three took a seat across from her.
"How do you do ma'am? My name is Steve Rogers. That over there is Clint Barton, and the lady there is-"
"She already knows who we are, Rogers." Natasha said coolly.
"We have to ask you some questions Michelle." Barton said seriously.
"Ask away." Michelle said confidently.
"It's about Orla. Did she have any unusual abilities or talents?" Michelle gave Barton a suspicious look.
"Why is this relevant?" She asked slowly.
"Ma'am, Ms. Karington disappeared about a week ago. It's important to find out why she has disappeared." Rogers said urgently.
"Yeah, but why is SHIELD involved in this case? Shouldn't the police handle this, or some other investigative service?" Michelle asked defensively. There was silence. Natasha stood up.
"Come on Michelle, let's go grab a coffee." The two men started to get up as well.
"Alone." Natasha added, shooting the two a look.
Twenty minutes later, the two women were sipping coffee in a café.
"I know this is all happening so fast." Natasha said as she looked out the window. Michelle gave a short shrug.
"What I want to know is why SHIELD is interested in Orla? What's going on?"
Natasha gave a heavy sigh.
"When the police looked at Orla's apartment, a lot of different energies was transmitting from your living room. Some of this energy, no one's ever seen before. The second…" Natasha trailed off. Michelle lowered her cup.
"Go on, what is it?" Michelle prompted.
"Same energy as someone we know gives it off."
"Wait, who is it you're talking about?"
"A man named Loki." Michelle looked at her blankly.
"Loki. As in Norse mythology?" Michelle asked.
"I guess you could call it that." Natasha said evasively.
"So this man is an enemy of SHIELD. That is understandable. But Orla, once you help her, will you leave her be?" Michelle implored.
"We will. Trust me, we will help her and then never lay eyes on her again." This sentence made Michelle relax.
"Ok. Orla has this energy crisis. She is able to do things with different kinds of energy. From charging batteries, to powering an electricity outlet, and once in high school, she touched a solar panel and it absorbed ten times the power." Michelle explained. Natasha nodded, hanging on to her every word.
They finished their coffee and went back to the base. While Michelle was taken back to her hospital room, Natasha reported to Banner and Fury. After hearing the story, Banner looked lost in thought.
"So she varies in different energy systems. Is it possible that the unknown energy…" Banner murmured.
"….Could it be she is able to create her own kind of energy?"
"That is very possible. So, Loki is running all over who-knows-where, with a super power energy source. That's just great." Fury said unenthusiastically.
"We're gonna need Stark in on this." Fury spoke into his communication device as he walked to a new room.
"Hey 'Tasha, Stark is coming. Aren't you excited?" Barton asked, smirking.
"Barton, shut up."
By the end of the day, Michelle was standing next to Natasha outside the SHIELD building.
"So, what's going on?" Michelle asked Natasha as she applied her lipstick.
"You'll be staying with Stark for a while." Michelle gaped at Natasha.
"Wait-you mean Stark? You couldn't mean Tony-"
"In the flesh, kid." She heard someone say behind her. She turned around and her eyes widened.