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Chapter 8

It had been several hours and the cleanup of the facility by SHIELD was still underway but Fury and Shepard decided to talk in private on board the heli-carrier as he wanted to try and convince SHIELD about Harbinger.

"Those things down there…were human?" Fury asked as he sat down in a chair.

"They were but Harbinger used his own technology to turn them into Husks to be servants for The Reapers." Shepard said as he too sat down on a chair.

"Is there any way to turn them back?" Fury asked as Shepard nodded his head as the Colonel got up from his seat and looked out the massive window of the aircraft.

"How bad was the scale of the damage caused by them?" Fury asked as Shepard got up from his seat and stood.

"First assault we had a number of casualties and took three years to rebuild everything on The Citadel, thousands of humans were liquefied by The Collectors and turned into fuel for the Human-Reaper hybrid, but the worst was our final battle with The Reapers themselves, they attacked Earth and hit it hard but we arrived just in time to drive them back and we settled it in another galaxy, but the price we paid was too high…my entire team got wiped out along with several battle ships, cruisers and dreadnaughts by Harbinger's last desperate attack and I set off the bomb and here we are." Shepard explained the entire story to him.

Fury looked back to Shepard and walked up to him.

"Commander…If this is all true then I want physical evidence to back up your story, besides those…things." Fury asked the N7 marine.

"I have that info stored with EDI back at the Avengers mansion." Shepard said.

Fury decided to go back to New York and to the mansion to retrieve the information.

0-0-0-0-0

Janet and Carol had just finished helping the others with the clean up of the Husks and taking the remaining staff of the facility for needed medical examinations, as they were now walking the halls of the facility.

"I can't believe you went there knowing what you faced." Jan said.

"Yeah I was just as surprised when Shepard told me what was ahead but I'm glad I went with him to stop those things." Carol said.

"I wanted to ask how is the…" Jan asked her friend about her recent "change".

"At first I was scared but now I'm starting to get used to having these powers." Carol said as Jan looked to her feelinmg for her friend.

"I know it's hard at first but believe me it gets a bit better and sometimes fun." Jan said trying to make her feel better about her powers.

"I'm still trying to learn how to fly, don't know how I did it the first time but I really wanna do that, save a fortune on gas." Carol said as they both laughed at that.

"You really should consider joining The Avengers, it would be great having you on the team and I'd finally won't be the only female on the team and plus we can hang out more." Jan said trying to convince her to join her team.

"Yeah it would be a nice thought but at the moment I'm not even sure if I should but till then I'll consider it." Carol said as she was unsure of the offer.

"It still stands if you change your mind, by the way isn't that John's?" Jan asked as she saw the piston on Carol's holster.

"Oh yeah he let me have it as my weapon was pretty useless so he let me use this and I'd take this over any standard military gun, this thing pack a punch, shame I can't keep it, should go and give this back." Carol said.

"I think everyone's on the helicarrier we should round them up and head back, you wanna come?" Jan asked.

"Sorry I got head back to base and report but do me a favour and give Shepard this back and tell him thanks for his help and I'm sorry for not believing him before." Carol said handing her the gun.

"I'll call you when you get back?" Jan asked.

"Sure we'll grab a coffee or something, I'll see you soon Jan." Carol said as they hugged and she left.

0-0-0-0-0

The cleanup was almost done as Hawkeye was talking with Mockingbird.

"See you've been a busy boy sport, how exactly did you all get mixed up in this?" Bobbi asked.

"The Spaceman, I actually thought at one point the things he talked about that he was just some loon who made it all up but now…" Clint looked the Husks being taken away by SHIELD agents.

"How is this even possible? I mean I heard they used to be human but…it's just…sick turning people into mindless zombies, what did this?" Bobbi asked as she was sickened by the sight of the Husks and hearing how they were created.

"I can tell you right now it's not human." Clint said as he too was disgusted by the sight of the Husks.

"This Shepard guy, is it true what they say about him?" Bobbi asked.

"What is?" Clint said.

"He's from some kind of future reality and he just fought in some war?" Bobbi said.

"That's the truth he has the proof and even showed some vids of the battles he was in." Clint explained to her as then her comms went off in her earpiece.

"Fury wants us all to head back to your clubhouse for a debrief, meet ya there sport." Bobbi said as she walked off while Clint watched her do so with a smile on his face.

0-0-0-0-0

They all made it back to Avengers mansion and were all in the meeting room as Shepard debriefed Fury on the entire situation.

"EDI bring up all data regarding The Reapers and Harbinger." Shepard asked.

"At once Shepard." EDI said.

"Jarvis bring up the data that was transferred from the centre and run the diagnostics against any known villain." Tony asked.

"At once sir." Jarvis said.

EDI was nice enough to put Jarvis back online even though Tony didn't appreciate anyone turning his AI off or even interfacing with his systems he still was fascinated by the capabilities of EDI but at the same time felt a bit threatened that this AI was more advanced than his.

Fury and Bobbi both saw what the data showed and every vid logs of every battle fought with them were also reviewed and now they knew.

"As you can see this is what we're up against." Shepard said.

"Everyone this has now become a SHIELD operation, I want all the data you have Shepard we will deal with Harbinger." Fury ordered as Shepard's facial expression changed to an irate one.

"You will deal with Harbinger? You need my help on this, I need you to co-operate with me and stop him before he causes worldwide destruction!" Shepard demanded as Fury looked to him directly.

"I'm sorry Commander but I cannot sanction non military personnel, you are only a civlian you have no authority and right now we cannot authorise your so called SPECTRE status…Stark I wanna talk with you for a moment." Fury asked as Tony went to one side with Fury and talked.

Shepard went to stand next to the other Avengers and was a bit frustrated he could not have his SPECTRE status enabled or even go after Harbinger as Cap noticed his sighs of frustration and put a hand on his shoulder as John nodded to the soldier.

Then both Fury and Tony came back to talk with them all and both seemed to have something important to say.

"Me and Fury just talked and since you can't be a SPECTRE anymore we can do the next best thing so John…will you officially join The Avengers?" Tony asked.

Shepard was a bit surprised but he thougth about it and made his decision.

"I'm honoured…I accept." Shepard said as they shook hands.

"Commander John Shepard welcome to The Avengers." Tony said announcing their newest member.

As then Fury stepped forward. "However in addition that another be inducted into The Avengers…so Moorse as of now you're part of The Avengers." Fury announced.

Mockingbird was a bit shocked she was now about to be part of the team and guessed why but she had no choice but to accept the proposal.

"Well I guess it's all or nothing…I'm in." Bobbi said accepting the offer.

Both John and Bobbi were inducted as they were greeted by their new team mates and even Steve was delighted to be working with them especially Shepard.

"Looks we're all in this together now?" Steve said.

"Seems that way soldier, what kind of authority will I have?" Shepard asked.

"Not much but it's better than nothing, when you're with The Avengers your never alone, we stand together and now Harbinger and all villains have met their match." Cap said as Shepard knew he had a strong team backing him once more.

0-0-0-0-0

Harbinger had escaped into cyberspace using the military satellites to escape in the matter of seconds evading his enemies and was now searching.

Locating new server host…

Must locate new physical host…

Must bring new genesis of Reapers…

Harbinger had escaped but barely he knew somehow Shepard survived the Quantum bomb and now after seeing he'd accired new allies he needed allies of his own.

Who are you? Not an AI nor CPU…

Harbinger received the message and was curious to who'd detected him.

You are non organic…we seek alliance with machines…

As then something came into his view and saw who he was speaking with.

An alliance of machines…

Let us colaborate…

0-0-0-0-0

Shepard was with his new team-mates as he and Mockingbird were to be officially inducted into The Avengers.

"John Shepard…Mockingbird, we The Avengers officially recignise you both as members of The Avengers…welcome to the team." Tony said presenting them with their ID cards as it was official.

Bobbi was greeted by Clint and the others as Tony went up to Shepard holding a folder of stuff and gave it to Shepard.

"John…I know since you're here permanently, I took the liberty of asking Fury to pull some strings and get you these." Tony said as he pulled out from the folder papers and forms of identification.

"It'a all there your new identity, passport, social security, bank and credit cards and I also got you a phone card which you can use anywhere on the planet, it's all linked to the Stark satellite network so you can contact us anywhere you are on Earth." Tony explained as Shepard read through his "new" identity.

"Born into the military, raised on a farm in Oklahoma, graduated high school to join the marines at seventeen, became Private within months, fought in the Afghan war, held off an entire platoon of Iraqi soldiers, awarded gold stars, became black ops agent but disappeared for several years." Shepard read aloud. "Not bad Tony, sould thank Fury for this but…you know we can't trust him or SHIELD." he said in a dark tone.

"I know I've come to known that SHIELD has other agendas but they mean good, but yeah you're right we need to be careful but it's not just them you know." Tony said.

Shepard knew he meant the other super villains and the organisations known as AIM and HYDRA.

"We'll take them down and we'll stop Harbinger before he can begin his plans." Shepard said.

"Good to hear but if your going to be an Avenger I need you to start following orders, this isn't your 22nd century Council or Alliance military anymore your under our rules now." Tony told him as he knew what he meant.

"And again I'm sorry about turning Jarvis off as is EDI when she made that digital apology, but it was necessary and as I heard EDI proved herself in your battle earlier on?" Shepard asked the tycoon inventor as he knew he was right about that.

"Yes she did, I never knew an AI that advanced even though I still prefer Jarvis in battle but EDI managed to expose weak points on Crimson Dynamo, not even I could figure out where they were it takes Jarvis minutes as EDI took seconds she's a real piece of hardware." Tony said as he praised EDI for her part in defeating the red villian.

"Indeed she is and she will be at The Avengers disposal." Shepard offered.

"Good to hear but Jarvis is not going to be thrilled, he's still a bit pissed that she overided his systems and knocked him out, I tell you it's going to be a battle between the two." Tony said as they chuckled at that tought.

As then Jan in her micro form flew over to them and resized herself next to Shepard.

"Hey John, Carol wanted me to give this back to you." Jan said as she handed him his hand cannon. "She also wanted to apologise for trying to shoot you before, she didn't know but she is sorry." she said relaying the message from her friend.

"It's alright I know she was only doing what she thought was right but jumped to the wrong conclusion, I understand this breakout thing has you all on edge so it's no problem she doesn't have to apologise." Shepard said.

Jan looked a bit shocked at that. "Seriously? I mean if I had a gun pointed at my head I'd be a little pissed off about it, but looks like to me you've had someone do that to you more than once?" she asked as Shepard grinned.

"A lot and I get used to it but hey it's just another day at the office." Shepard said as Jan found that funny.

Tony then turned to him. "John…even though you're now a member, you still need to recover from your minor injuries and have a phsycological evaluation." he informed him as John raised an eybrow to that.

"Evaluation of my mental status? Wasn't the last battle proof I'm fit for duty?" Shepard asked.

"It showed you're still able to but after our first meeting with you…you had a breakdown of sorts and it's only for your own safety so we'll schedule it tomorrow if that's ok?" Tony said as Shepard nodded his head in agreement.

"Ok I'll arrange it, Jan can you take him to the med bay and get him checked out?" Tony asked her as Shepard did a mock salute and Jan giggled a little as she shrunk to her micro size and led the way.

0-0-0-0-0

"How's it feel being part of The Avengers?" Hawkeye asked.

"Never thought I would be a part of the team but…I'm actually starting to look forward to this." Mockingbird said.

Both were now unmasked and were reminiscing about their days in SHIELD together as the subject of a certain Russian came up.

"So you think she's really working for them?" Bobbi asked.

"At the moment…no clue but she did save my life from Strucker even said she was sorry I…I…I still don't get it though unless…." Clint was having a thought but he needed to be sure.

"If she had a good reason then I'd understand but at the moment she's still a traitor and if have forgotten she's the reason you got framed for her crap sport." Bobbi reminded the archer of his former partner's treachery for HYDRA.

"If she has then we'll take her down and HYDRA." Clint said as they both agreed on that.

0-0-0-0-0

Jan led the Commander down to the med bay as he was going for a quick check up on his injuries.

As he was examined by the doctor, Jan had decided to stay and keep his mind off of it with idle conversation.

"So John quick question, what does the U in your name stand for?" she asked.

It was the one question everyone asked him, even Al-Jilahni did and got a "no comment" from him.

"I'd rather not say." Shepard said.

However he hasn't met Janet Van Dyne. "C'mon tell me I won't laugh…I promise." she asked again.

"You can keep on prying and I won't tell…it's just that…" Shepard said as he was being hesitant.

"What? It can't be that bad right?" she asked as he went to answer her.

"John could you remove your shirt please?" the doctor asked as he did so.

But that had taken the conversation subject away and now all that Jan could look at was the exposed upper torso of John Shepard staring at her.

He was built alright, she'd seen some bodies but Shepard however he could give Steve, Clint, Tony and Hank a run for their money, but she also noticed the few scars he had across his body which she guessed are gunshot wounds or possibly knife wounds.

"John I need you to remove the dogs tags as well." the doctor asked him.

He took them from his neck and held them out. "Jan could you hold these for me?" Shepard asked.

She then snapped out of her trance. "Wha-Oh yeah sure!" Jan said and too them off his hands.

She inspected the tags closely and saw they had been charred a bit and saw his name engraved on them and looked for his middle name on it but that part was burned off so she sighed at that and would have to find out another way.

But something else caught her eye and seeing that there wasn't only his tags were on the beaded chain.

"Hey John, is this what I think it is?" Jan asked as she held out the tags and what was attached to them.

He knew she would ask about that and it wasn't something he wanted to share.

"It's a ring nothing else." he bluntly said.

"I'm pretty sure it's an engagement ring, so what happened to the lucky person?" Jan asked.

"She died." Shepard bluntly said again not wanting to say anymore.

Jan realised she may have asked a very awkward question and felt like kicking herself for asking that question.

"I'm so sorry John I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright Jan, I just don't like talking about it." he said as it was now really awkward.

As then the doctor was done examining him and he put his shirt back on and had his tags returned to him.

"So John you're dong fine and the healing is going faster than usual but I recommend you stay off any sot of physical activity for a week or so." the doctor advised him.

"Can't guarentee it doc but I'll try." Shepard said as the doctor just sighed and he was free to go.

He left as Jan shrunk into her micro form and followed him out and just landed on his shoulder.

"Where ya headed now?" Jan asked him.

"I need to lie down, I'm tired." Shepard said.

"I'll take you to your room, Jarvis?" Jan called out.

"Yes Miss Van Dyne?" he answered.

"Where is John's room at?" she asked.

"It's the second from Thor Odin-Son's room." he answered.

"Oh I know where that is!" Jan said as she reformed back to her normal size as they arrived at the elevator and she pushed the button and the both stepped in as she pushed the floor to go there.

Shepard knew what being in an elevator with someone he had to break the silence.

"So Jan, tell me about yourself." Shepard asked.

She looked to him." Ok, I was born into a rich family, I went to University around here and that is where I met Hank and we became business partners." Jan said.

"Why'd you both become business partners?" he asked.

"I offered to fund his research prijects into studing insects and his Ultron project." she explained.

"Ultron? Sounds like he's working on something big." Shepard said.

"Sort of but it's a project that was designed to help with keeping the world safe." Jan said.

"So what is exactly is the story between you and Hank?" Shepard asked as she looked down and he guessed what. "Does he feel the same way?" he asked.

"I don't know, I mean ever since day one it been nothing but business between us, I've tried to get him alone but he keeps on either forgetting or he's too busy, maybe I should just give up and acept the fact there is no "us" in the future." Jan said as Shepard could relate.

"You can't give up, you just need to keep pushing and hopfully he'll come round, all it takes is persistence believe me Jan it'll get you what you want." Shepard said as she got what he was saying.

"You know what you're right, if I don't try then it's all just pointless for me to even want him…thanks John I needed the pep talk." Jan said as they arrived to the destination.

They walked past some doors and stopped at the one which would be Shepard's room.

"Here we are your room, if you need anything just ask Jarvis or any of us." Jan said.

"I will Jan, if it comes to that." Shepard said.

She smiled at that

"John thanks again for that, I'll try but if it's not meant to be then so be it." she said as Shepard smiled.

"Talk to you later Jan." he said as she left and he entered his new room.

It was like any normal room only to him it was retro, minus any decorations, ostrs or models of any ships he used to collect.

Wish my models were decorating this place, that's another thing Harbinger took.

He saw the bed and put down his gear on the table in front of it as he lied down on the bed and the soft matress was nice as he just drifted off to sleep hoping the next day would bring something good.

0-0-0-0-0

Meanwhile in an uncharted area of the world planning was taking place.

"Report."

"Mein Baron, we've located the AIM headquarters and the Cosmic Cube."

"Where is the headquarters?" Strucker said.

"New York City, also we've reports of several account of hacking in our systems."

"Find this intruder and deal with him." Strucker said.

"At once mein Baron."

"Gather the troops we take down MODOC and AIM and take back what belongs to us!" Strucker said.

"HAIL HYDRA! HAIL HYDRA! HAIL HYDRA!"

As then in the shadows a figure watched it all unfold.

I have to warn them…and Clint.

Shepard is now a member of The Avengers! But it seems HYDRA is also on their way! Who is the mysterious insider? Who has Harbinger met?

What you think? Reviews please!