Sport21: Perhaps…

Chapter 24: Board Meeting

(Central Park base, present, later that day)

Both groups had arrived at different times, but Fury had them wait to relay the information to him at the same time. The groups waited in the conference to start the meeting, some more patient than others.

"Where is he?" Iron Man hissed as his face mask lifted up.

"…Patience is a virtue." Iron Fist stated calmly.

"Well I don't have much patience." Iron Man grunted in reply.

"Enough!" White Tiger growled with annoyance as she slammed her right fist on the table.

Everyone turned to her in shock. She was growling with annoyance at all of them.

"You've gotten really catty girl; this is about Spidey isn't it? About how you weren't able to…" Power Man couldn't finish his sentence.

White Tiger wrapped her right hand around the back of his neck then slammed his face into the table. She then turned his face to look at hers. His eyes widened in fear & shock at her furious gaze.

"Don't…say…it." Tiger slowly hissed.

"Y-Yes m-ma'am!" Power Man gulped.

The others looked on with fear, though Siren also looked on at her with…a sense of understanding.

"Am I interrupting something?" A familiar voice asked.

Everyone turned to see Fury standing in the door way, his hands behind his back and a questioning look on his face.

"No sir! Just making sure the team is in line!" Tiger replied, then sat down.

Power Man groaned as he rubbed his neck and sat back into his chair. Fury sighed as he walked to the front of the table, then turned to face the groups.

"So what do we have?" Fury asked.

"We found Doom's plans for the time machine and tons of books on Camelot & related stuff!" Nova quickly called out.

"…Good…Banner, Stark, and the scientists we have here will study his designs." Fury ordered.

They nodded, well…at least Banner did.

"What exactly are you wanting us to…do?" Stark asked.

"Anything and everything, we can't afford to not be aware of a single piece of information…if not…we may never get Cap and the others back." Fury said.

'Others…' Siren hissed in her mind.

"Then let's get to work quickly." Stark said.

"Not yet. What books did you find?" Fury asked.

"There was one on the forging of Excalibur." Iron Fist said.

"Excellent find, that way we might understand the power that Doom now has. The sword Doom holds has that very blade's power. I fear what he could do with that." Fury stated.

"Please, no little thumb tack could penetrate my armor." Stark laughed.

Tiger's eyes twitched with annoyance.

"Your arrogance isn't going to stop Doom and save our friends!" Tiger snarled.

"Hey little lady, respect your…" Iron Man stopped his sentence.

The others were laughing loudly at what he was about to say.

"No…say it: elders. You are an old man." Tiger growled.

Tony's eyes twitched in annoyance. While the others laughed.

"Banner, what do you have to report from the eavesdropping?" Fury sighed.

"He is having Wolverine hunting us." Banner grunted.

"Oh no, this is not good." Fury gasped.

"What do you mean Fury? That berserker cannot be a match for all of us." Thor scoffed.

"Thor, you don't understand. Wolverine is a fierce combatant and seasoned hunter. If he's tracking us…we need to make sure he cannot find this base and any of you." Fury stated.

"Some kind of scent mask? Wolverine has an excellent sense of smell, and that's his main method of tracking." White Tiger stated.

"Yes…Banner, you and the others work on that first. Tiger will test it out for you, for she is the only one who can get anywhere near to match his senses." Fury said.

Tiger nodded.

"Get to work immediately on that, there can be no delay on that." Fury ordered.

Banner and Stark walked off to work on the scent masker. Fury sighed as he rubbed his temples.

"So…what else was learned Ms. Ayala?" Fury asked.

"Doom seems to have controlling his magic powers. I think it's beginning to slowly overwhelm him. Taskmaster is picking up on that, so it might stir up doubt in the chain of command. Doom however still seems strong. Also, Spider-Man seems to be fighting Doom's control…*sighs*…Spidey''s strong…but…I-I don't know if he can overcome Doom's thrall. Even if Doom is having difficulty with his mystic strength…it could cause…I-I don't even want to say…" Tiger sighed, worry thick in her voice.

"…It's alright Ava…we will stop him." Iron Fist said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Tiger shoved off his hand, but still looked downwards with worry & doubt.

"Oh, Peter is working in the Empire State Building as head of security. Also, Captain America is heading to some place Doom said to where these guys were…taught…with some of that maniac's robots." Siren said.

"*Growls* Great…Thor, you shall head to the Academy with Iron Fist to keep them from getting whatever they're after." Fury said

Thor nodded.

"Come Fist of Iron, let us go into the glory of battle!" Thor proclaimed.

"Indeed, but we must hurry." Iron Fist said.

"Of course!" Thor said.

Thor & Iron Fist hurried out of the room to get to their destination.

"Anything else?" Fury asked.

The others shook their heads.

"Very well. You may go…but Ms. Ayala, I wish to speak with you for a moment." Fury said.

The others, except Ava, left. Fury had his back to her, thinking about what to say.

"You have feelings for him." Fury said.

"S-Sir!" Tiger gasped, her cheeks burning under her mask.

"Ava, I know you. You're not acting like yourself. Since Spidey was sucked into that chronal vortex, you've been acting strangely." Fury sighed.

From around the corner, Scarlet Siren listened in on the conversation.

"Your feelings have laid dormant yet developing since right after the incident with Kraven. Now it's coming out." Fury continued.

Tiger tried to say something, but no words formed.

"It's perfectly natural…but this is dangerous for you…your emotions shall put you in danger…as will the others…you must keep these from effecting your missions. Stay focused on the task at hand, keep training to focus on our goals." Fury added.

"Yes sir." Tiger sighed.

'She doesn't deny it.' Siren gasped in her mind.

Tiger left the room, but she started sniffing the air. Her eyes narrowed. Siren was in one of the rooms that SHIELD had given to the heroes to temporarily use while they tried to defeat Doom. She turned to find White Tiger standing in her door way, hands on her hips and eyes glaring.

"We need to talk." White Tiger grunted.

Siren tried to glare back at her, but all she could do was gulp nervously.

To be continued…