A/N Another update! Let me know what you think.
Important note: After this chapter 'Survival of the Fittest' will be moving into Civil War.
It'd taken me far too long to find this man.
After leaving Krupin's office, I read over the file only to find that it contained very little; just bits of scattered information. Known by the name of Nathan Mathis, he worked and trained with the organisation S.H.I.E.D. for a few years. Thirteen months ago Mathis disappeared completely and no one's been able to track him down until now.
It took me six days to find his whereabouts; a remote location in Thailand. Mathis only ever stayed in one area, and more than for a few days. He was smart enough to cover his tracks wherever he went. The first country I tried to locate him in was South Africa, Johannesburg. Before I arrived he's already disappeared; not a single thread other than a local's word that he'd traded at one of the markets. The second country I visited was Luxor, Egypt. It ended the same way, Mathis disappeared. It wasn't until I found a firm lead in Cambodia that I was finally able to get somewhere. I knew after that that I needed to move fast I'm going to catch him.
My window of opportunity is dwindling with every second.
Sheltered with weathered blue and green tarp to shield the people from the cold night air, the market place isn't far from the local village. Standing near the edge of the tents that made up several stalls, I stood inconspicuous to the crowd around me. Dressed in local clothing, it hid the black suit and weapons I wore underneath.
Scanning over the area, I can see several people bartering and selling their various goods. The noise all enveloping me. Walking to stand at one of the fruit and vegetables stalls, I kept a careful eye on my surroundings. If Mathis is as well trained as I've been led to believe so far, then he'll spot me within an instant if were to make the wrong move.
"Khun Ca Sux" (Are you buying?) asked an old woman as she stood behind the wooden boxes of produce.
I ignored the question in favour of my own ""C̄hạn kảlạng mxng h̄ā k̄ĥxmūl khuṇ ca dị̂ h̄ĕn chāy s̄ī k̄hāw p̄h̀ān thī̀ nī̀ rĕw «nī̂? K̄heā xāc ca mī pheīyng khæ̀ kār mā t̄hụng c̄hạn kảlạng mxng h̄ā k̄heā thī̀ s̄ảkhạỵ" (I'm looking for information. Have you seen a white male pass through here recently? He might've only just arrived. I'm looking for him. It's important)
The old woman looked up to think before nodding her head and pointing with her finger. I looked to see where she was gesturing "Chı̀. K̄heā mā thī̀ nī̀ meụ̄̀x wān nī̂ khn thī̀ xāṣ̄ạy xyū̀ thī̀ nạ̀n nı b̂ān h̄lạng nận" (Yes. He came here yesterday. The man lives over there in that house)
I nodded my head and plucked one of the red apples from her cart. I handed her the money for it "K̄hx k̄hxbkhuṇ" (Thank you).
Taking a bite of the sweet and juicy fruit, I walked away from the busy market place and headed up the hill; it led to a small square cement building with bamboo roofing. Secluded, it stood close to the edge of the shadowy woods which meant that it'd be an easy escape for if he needed to run. Shielded by the darkness, I made my way closer; careful to stick to the shadows. Standing behind the building, there's a thin wooden door that made the back entrance. From the small holes at the top of the walls, I can see a faint flicker of candle light shining through.
Shrugging off my outer civilian clothes, I was left in my tight black suit. Grabbing one of the knives from behind my back, I used it to dislodge the backdoor from its place. Opening it slowly, I placed the dagger back and quietly stepped into the building. There's two small rooms, both with beaded curtains as their doorways; which would leave noise if disturbed.
Peeking into the closest room on my left, there's nothing but maps and a few weapons. Walking down the middle of the small square building, I pressed my back against the wall as I neared the furthest room at the end of the house. The candle light is brighter as it beamed through the beaded curtain. I hope he's asleep. Grabbing my gun, I quickly flicked around the corner and aimed into the room.
He's not here.
Gasping, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my neck in a choke hold. Subduing my arms to be pinned by my side, the gun was leant away from his body so I couldn't get a shot. I scolded myself. Mathis knew I was here and that I was following him. But why didn't he run? Shaking in his strong grip, his chin rested in the crease of my neck so I couldn't throw my head back.
Squirming around as I tried to throw him off, I reached up my right leg and kicked him in the face from over my shoulder. Staggering back, I was freed from his hold. Turning, I aimed my gun in his direction when he grabbed the end and twisted it out of my hands. He fired and I dodged by a mere few millimetres.
Kicking the weapon from his hands, I jumped and rammed my two feet into his chest. Mathis dropped the fun and fell back onto the ground. He quickly recovered before bolting for the back door. Chasing after him as he entered into the dark woods, I gained on him quick enough. Tackling him to the ground the first chance I got, I straddled his body and punched him in the face. His nose dripped a stream of blood before he rolled us over and wrapped his fingers around my throat.
I gasped for air before grabbing my knife and holding it up to his throat. Mathis relieved the pressure "Get off me" I demanded.
"Look at you" he snarled while eyeing me up and down "They sent a girl to find me. Hydra's pathetic if they think you can take me down. They'll have to a lot better"
Mathis started squeezing again when I reached down and stabbed him in the thigh. He cried out in pain and the distraction was all I needed to wrap my legs around his head and rolled to the side. Squeezing until he stopped moving, it wasn't enough to kill him. Slumping still, I reached into my sleeve to grab a small syringe. Injecting the drug into his neck, it'll give me enough time to get him to the extraction zone without interference.
Pulling up into the tunnel entrance of the Facility, I was immediately greeted by the face of Krupin. He held a pleased look "Well done Katya. I knew you would succeed"
Watching as the guard's dragged Mathis' unconscious body from the van. It'd taken me a little under a week to complete this assignment, which meant graduation was only a few days away. Walking along side Krupin, we made our way to the lower level where I'm usually kept with the other girls
"I must say, there's been a few changes that've been made since you left" announced Krupin "The numbers in the program have depleted drastically. There's only five girls now, including you"
"That's still four too many" I replied.
"Like I've said, there's been changes in the program. The man I sent you to collect, he'd been put in charge of safe guarding a formula. It's why it's been so incredibly hard for us to find him up until now, but no matter. Now that Nathan Mathis is here, we can finally start the first steps of the next phase"
"What exactly is the next phase?" I asked curiously as we entered the ballet room. The remaining four girls stood waiting; Yelena, Mira, Tatia and Rachel.
Krupin spoke up "I have a very important announcement to make my girls. Let me be the first to congratulate you all on your graduation. Out of twenty-seven, you five have proved yourself to be the elite of the program. Phase one is now over" my eyes flickered to the doctor beside me. This is a rather big change "And a few days' time, phase two will begin"
Lab 92
"Good evening doctor Pavlov. How are things progressing so far?" asked doctor Krupin as he walked through the steel doors.
The lab is fairly large and full of technology; everything from computers to advanced instruments. The walls are painted a sterile white and the tiles on the floor are coloured just the same. Sitting down at one of the stainless steel tables, doctor Pavlov eyed through a microscope and onto a glass slide.
As soon as the formula had been distracted from Nathan Mathis, Pavlov was in charge of synthesising it into the Serum they needed in order for phase two to begin. Pavlov adjusted the nobs on the microscope. He jotted down a few things here and there, and switched in another glass slide for further observation.
"It's coming along quite smoothly. I must admit, this is the perfect opportunity for my career as a scientist. The formula can do so much for Hydra's cause, if we succeed. A perfect coincidence we already have the resources in hand. Trained and lethal, one can only imagine the service they'll provide" Pavlov stopped and turned to looked at Krupin "Though you do understand, don't you? Surely not all of them will be able to withstand the effects. Death is a serious probability"
"Of course doctor" Krupin nodded "I'm well aware of the risks, but I've waited sixteen years for an opportunity such as this. It would be a shame to waste it when it could very well turn the tide" he placed his hands behind his back "As for the Soldier, has he been secured?"
"Yes" replied Pavlov "He's been wiped and taken back to cryo. Just as well, he was starting to become rather agitated" after the stabbing incident, the Soldier had been immediately taken into custody and assessed. With his current aggressive condition, Krupin didn't think the Soldier was fit to continued training in such a state.
"Very good. We won't be needing him for a few weeks. But make sure he's prepared for when the trials are over. We'll be resuming training as soon as the girls are ready to continue" Krupin turned to leave the lab when he was stopped.
"What about Mathis?" asked doctor Pavlov.
"Make sure he has nothing valuable to offer us. If he doesn't, then he's fulfilled his usefulness. It's a tight enough place as it is. We don't need our guest taking up any more room"
"And when S.H.I.E.L.D comes looking?" asked Pavlov. There's no doubt that there already aware of the Nathan Mathis disappearance.
"Rest easy doctor Pavlov. The existence of the Facility has remained a secret for sixteen long years and it'll continued to be so, and when this is all over, no one will be alive to tell the tale" Krupin gestured to the lab "Continue your good work. I'll make sure no one else interrupts you. I want this completed as fast as possible"
Pavlov nodded his head "Hail Hydra"