Chapter Nine

Author's Note: I have plans to write at least three more chapters of this story. I also have a couple of unrelated AOS songfics in the works as well. In this chapter we will see Skye's adventures in the Helicarrier and some crazy things will happen. Try to catch the very subtle Avengers cast reference in this story. Please review!

Throughout the night, I tried to imagine different scenarios relating to case 0963. I knew that Agent Romanoff spoke Russian. She swore a few times when I landed her a hard punch or two in the gut during training. That was oddly satisfying. Clint didn't look like he spoke much Russian, but him being her partner for so long; he probably picked up a few bit and pieces here and there. So, they were both familiar with the language and the mannerisms, and most likely the country itself. More than a few S.H.I.E.L.D. missions had involved travelling to Russia in the past. The file was dated September 15th, 2004. Soon after that, Agent Romanoff's name appeared in the agent roster. There was only one way to find out what really happened.

Before my afternoon training session with her the following day, I pondered how to approach the subject. Since the file was heavily redacted, it must have been a seriously damaging mission. Something they didn't want anybody to know. One wrong move and I could end up as fish bait.

Wrapping my hands with cloth padding in the main sparring arena, I waited for her to arrive. When she finally did, I stopped, letting the roll of cotton drop to the ground.

"Agent Romanoff," I started, trying to channel my best 'serious and professional' face. "How did you end up at S.H.I.E.L.D.? You haven't told me the story."

Her face hardened for a moment. "It's confidential. The file is redacted," she replied briskly, pushing the large red mat to the middle of the arena.

"Don't think I haven't noticed." That was definitely case 0963.

That set her on fire. She immediately stopped in her tracks, and looked up at me slowly. Her face was terrifying; a mixture of immense rage and crippling emotion. She walked over and stood directly in front of me, her steel-grey eyes piercing.

"You may be used to getting all the answers, but believe me, some things you are better off not knowing.

"Then I'll just go ask Agent Barton," I said, smirking. I was venturing into dangerous territory.

"He won't say anything either. It's redacted for a reason. He's sworn on his life."

"Guess we'll have a dead man on our hands, Agent Romanoff." I turned on my heel and ran out of the training centre as fast as I could before she had the chance to catch me. There were no words describing how badly I shattered everything I had created in the past four days. Forget Barton being dead. I was dead.

I ran all over the Helicarrier, checking each room that I could access without a key for Agent Barton, hoping he would not be in a restricted area. Finally, I found him in the cafeteria having lunch. He sat with a few fellow agents. I tapped him on the shoulder and he jumped.

"Can I help you, Skye?"

"Yes, Clint. You can. 0963."

Abruptly he stood up and marched into the hallway. I followed behind him.

"How the hell do you know about that?" he asked angrily, his face uncomfortably close to mine. All the barriers had broken. I was in hot water now.

"Did a little digging, Agent Barton. I was curious."

"You're lucky I trust you. I know that you're a former hacker, and I know that you'll get access to the file sooner rather than later, so I'm going to help you out a little bit. What I did during that mission broke S.H.I.E.L.D. protocol, and I am not proud of that. The rest you'll have to find out on your own. That's all you're going to get out of me." He stomped away.

So, not only had Coulson told Hill about my origins, but she had leaked it to my instructors. I might as well paint myself red and tape a sign to my back saying 'kick me!'

There was only one thing for me to do. Get the rest of the file. And how exactly was I supposed to do that? Then I figured it out. I needed somebody's pass codes. Somebody high up in the rankings that had access to the file. Agent Romanoff. My plan: crawl through the ventilation shaft that lead to her room and watch as she typed her password. She was going to alter the file tonight probably, so I had to do it fast. It sounded a little creepy, to spy on her, and dangerous, but I had to do it. I had to.

Within half an hour I was making my way down the shaft. I had to be careful not to make any noise, and only had a rough sketch of a map to guide me. The pipe was slippery and it was barely wide enough for me to fit. Finally, I found myself looking through a vent at what appeared to be Agent Romanoff's room. Clean, organized and there was a laptop sitting open on the table. Score.

A noise came from the kitchen. She was here. And now the wait began. Still in her workout clothes, she walked in with a glass of water and sat down on the couch. She flicked on the T.V. and popped a movie into the DVD machine. Agent Romanoff didn't strike me as the movie-loving type. It was an old movie that I didn't recognize. Shakespeare-ish. The reason why I dropped out of school. I hated Shakespeare.

It was two hours long, and I stifled a yawn in order not to be heard. She moved over and sat at the table, starting up her laptop. I inched my way forward, straining to see each key she typed into the S.H.I.E.L.D. database system.

5211NRCB20704

Taking a random pen out of my pocket, I scrawled the digits on the back of my hand and made my way back along the pipe as quietly as possible. She didn't look up as I moved away, so I guessed she never heard or saw me. The line of pipe that was using ended and was covered by a grate that came out over top of the hallway that led to my room. Making sure that nobody else saw me, I jumped out and landed softly on my feet, just like Grant taught me. Then it was my turn to crack open my computer.

###################################################################################

Carefully, I punched in the access code, and crossed my fingers, praying that it would work. The screen flashed green, Access granted. Case number 0963.

Date: September 15th 2004

Location: Moscow, Russia

Status: Completed

S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent: Clint Barton

Purpose: To eliminate a highly dangerous product of the Red Room, the Black Widow

Suspect: Natalia Romanova

- wanted for the deaths of at least 56 American civilians

- skilled in hand-to-hand combat

- possesses a dangerous electrical-based weapon (origins unknown, possibly from the Red Room)

Schedule:

- the suspect will leave an event on September 15th after 22:00 at the Moscow Orchestra Hall, possibly accompanied by a male

- said agent will engage the suspect in combat with the intent to kill. If there are any other civilians, they will be disposed of

- both parties will wait to be contacted by S.H.I.E.L.D. to confirm extraction

Extraction Plan:

Headed By: Senior Agent Phillip Coulson

Location: Moscow Orchestra Hall, Moscow, Russia

Responsible For: Agent Clint Barton

Date: September 15th 2004

Time of Expected Contact: 22:18

Results:

- suspect not disposed of by said agent

- both parties sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries. Both were treated by S.H.I.E.L.D. medical personnel

- Natalia Romanova now known as Natasha Romanoff

- with the express permission of Senior Agent Phillip Coulson and Director Nick Fury, the suspect was granted temporary access to S.H.I.E.L.D. access

- suspect to undergo extensive mental rehabilitation to reduce the risk of violent outbursts

- said agent temporarily suspended for breach of protocol

Updates:

- Natalia Romanova has joined S.H.I.E.L.D. to fill the capacity of field agent (October 2nd 2004)

- Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff have been partnered to work together in the field (October 21st 2004)

Signed:

Natasha Romanoff

Clint Barton

Phillip Coulson

Director Nick Fury

Paul Agutter (Council Member)

Holy crap. I was probably breaking all the rules that existed in this place. I hacked it. I wasn't a hacker. Not anymore. If S.H.I.E.L.D. ever found out that I had hacked the file, they'd kill me. Not just Director Fury and the entire Council, but Coulson and the rest of my team. I cracked open one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most secure files like a fifth-grade science project.

Agent Romanoff had a criminal past. That wasn't surprising. But Agent Barton was sent to kill her. He didn't. He saved her. She owed everything to him. No wonder they were so close. Partners for nine years. In the field you had to trust your partner with your life.

My field exam was less than two weeks from now. I had to pass. I wanted to get out of this tornado of lies as soon as possible. But I had to make sure that S.H.I.E.L.D., or any of the Avengers for that matter, would catch me with restricted files. That was a job for an experienced hacker. You're looking right at one.

###################################################################################

The schedule was always the same for the next two weeks. Psychology, explosives, session with Barton, session with Romanoff. On a calendar I snagged from the common room for my rookie class, I began to cross off the days until my exam. I noticed that I was becoming more muscular and my academic classes became less tedious. I was actually enjoying myself for once, albeit wearing my stretchy S.H.I.E.L.D. training suit.

Eight days. Seven days. Six days. Five days. Four days. Three days. Two days. One day. Tomorrow was the day. One more day until I got to go home. But then I remembered that Agent Romanoff and Agent Barton wanted me to go on the mission with them if I passed. Make that two days.

After my last training session with Agent Romanoff, she stopped me. "Skye, I want you to remember that the test doesn't matter. It's your skill that does. Don't stress about it. Do what you have been practicing and you'll be just fine."

"Yes ma'am," I chirped, in a mock salute. "I will do my very best."

"I certainly hope so," she said, dismissing me.

Trying not to stress about the exam that would take place the next morning, I spent the rest of the day in my room attempting to pack my suitcase. It didn't really help with my nerves, but it gave me a sense of accomplishment. The last thing I packed was the still-empty picture frame. Something had to fill it, and I only had one day to find something. Once I got back on the Bus, having access to any sort of camera was next to impossible. After the exam, somebody would take a photograph. I was sure of it. Especially if I passed. It would go in a scrapbook or a wall of fame somewhere.

If Grant had been here, he would have given me a bit of a pep-talk, trying not to look like he cared, but he really did. He was a real softie. I wish he was here now. Two more days. I fell asleep dreaming about seeing him and Fitzsimmons back on the Bus. Where I could be free.

End Note: Yep, that was a short one. I wanted to give the actual exam its own chapter. If any of the case facts are wrong, please let me know. I filled it out off the top of my head. Thanks for being awesome!