Evolution Shinji 29

Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or X-Men Evolution. Wish I did, though.

Author's Notes; I'm gonna put in Black Panther and his sojourn party's departure from Wakanda before fast forwarding to 'Cajun Spice'. There'll also be two guest stars and one very special guest appearance. I'm sure you'll recognize them. Enjoy!

(Wakanda; first light)

"Okay. Do we have everything required? Let us check. Field Communications Unit should it be needed?" Seeing two men heft up a black case with a silver SHIELD logo on it, T'Challa nods. "Excellent. But handle the FCU with care, brothers, as it may well become our lifeline should we need assistance from SHIELD." At the snickers from the others except T'Waro, T'Challa scowls.

"I fail to see the humor. We are strong, yes, but we should not be so arrogant to dismiss the possibility that we may need assistance." That ends their snickering before T'Challa looks toward T'Waro.

"I trust you have your good luck charm this time, old friend." T'Waro nods before bringing out a blue rabbit's foot. Only…

"I don't see how that can be good luck. I mean… the rabbit had four of them and it didn't do it any good." Nodding, another one chimes in.

"Agreed. It sure wasn't lucky for the rabbit. And I've never heard of blue rabbits at all."

"I got him that charm that you're ridiculing." The sound of Shuri's voice cuts them to the quick before T'Challa clears his throat.

"Let's resume the checklist, shall we?" Thirty minutes later, they set out.

(One month later; 4th Level)

While Arcade and Amanda pore over their study materials in an attempt to catch up to Shinji and Laura, the latter two are watching the news. However, as usual, the news is full of hostility toward mutants. One speaker in particular causes Shinji to growl in irritation while speaking.

"God did not create mutants, it was Satan! I, the Reverend William Stryker, urge my fellow humans to pray for a miracle that'll remove these horrendous abominations from our very midst!"

"When we get an opportunity, Laura, we should pull out his tongue." Shinji's words get a nod from Laura before she chimes in herself.

"With a tow truck." Arcade and Amanda both look up from their materials and look toward the both of them before shrugging.

"I'd actually pay good money to see that. How about you, Arcade?"

"I think I'd prefer dropping an anvil on that phony preacher's head. From 10,000 feet up." Amanda can only smirk at that before Arcade asks, "What would you prefer be done to him?" Amanda can only tap her chin before shrugging.

"Have him walk onto a mine field, see how long he lasts before being blown to smithereens."

"What kind of mine field?" At Arcade's query, Amanda arches an eyebrow before Arcade goes on. "A mine field with unexploded WW2 ordnance or a mine field with state of the art command-detonated mines?" Amanda scrunches her face in thought before smiling sheepishly.

"Ooh, tough choice. Can I get back to you on that?"

"Sure." After Arcade gives his reply, another man appears on the screen.

"My organization 'FOH' is, at this very moment, making appeals to Guy Spears and his company. You have my word that in good time, the mutant menace will be eradicated."

"We should pay Graydon Creed a visit sometime, Shinji." Shinji gives a smirk at that.

"I'll bring the chainsaw." Laura grins before giving her reply.

"I'll bring the chips and dip."

"And I'll bring the root beer." Fury's voice from behind gets the teens to start rising before Fury says, "As you were." As they sit back down, Fury nods at the television. "I see you're entertaining yourselves with ideas on how to deal with bigots like Stryker and Creed." Arcade gives an amused snort at that.

"Not really hard to do, sir… but we may not be able to get the opportunity. You know, 'Constitutional Rights' and all."

"Yeah. But that's not why I'm here right now. Have any of you ever gone to Mardi Gras?" Shinji and Laura both blink at that while Arcade and Amanda both give their reply.

"No, sir."

"Sir, what's Mardi Gras?" The sight of Laura nodding at Shinji's query gets two blinks from Fury's good eye and wide eyes from Arcade and Amanda.

"The biggest party to hit 'The Big Easy' every year." Laura and Shinji both blink blankly at that before Fury adds, "New Orleans, Louisiana."

"I've heard of New Orleans, sir, but never gone there." Fury nods his understanding at Laura's reply before he looks over at Shinji.

"How could you not have heard about Mardi Gras, Shinji? I'm sure it's being done in your world. Even with 2nd Impact and the war."

Silently, Shinji crosses to a nearby global map before putting the edge of his left hand against the upper point of Texas. Putting his right index finger against his middle finger, he then draws the index in a straight line while talking.

"If I remember my world's map correctly, the lower segment of the United States was wiped out in the flooding." Fury's good eye bulges in shock as Shinji's finger moves above New Orleans before Shinji goes on. "So that could be why I'd never heard of Mardi Gras, sir."

"No dessert materials and no Mardi Gras?" Fury's good eye twitches before he grits out, "I'm guessing Disneyland was wiped out too." Shinji can only blink blankly before Fury says, "With me, JO Ikari. And get your sidearm as well."

"Yes, sir." Fury looks toward Laura, Amanda and Arcade before clearing his throat.

"JOs Torque and Sefton, let's see about getting you qual'd. Howlett, you're with Sefton while Ikari works with Torque."

"Understood, sir. Let's go, Amanda."

"Right."

(LA County Courthouse; inside corridor; same time)

"I'll get you for this, McCormick! You just wait!" The tall well-dressed greying-brown haired Caucasian man rolls his eyes and smirks at the portly Caucasian man as the latter is hauled away by CDOC Officers.

"You should've done your duty without prejudice and corruption, ex-Chief Grady!"

"Up yours!"

"You should worry more about yours, Grady!" As the disgraced former Police Chief recedes with his escort, McCormick checks his watch and nods in approval.

"Case closed ahead of schedule. I think I can spare some time to look into his alleged 'backers' before my appointment at the track." With that, he goes to his office and greets his assistant. "Good afternoon, Lori." The grey-haired African-American woman smiles back and nods.

"Good afternoon, ADA McCormick. How'd it go?"

"Slam dunk. Of course, Grady made some… interesting allegations that he was told to do so and was paid quite well in the process."

"You're going to go after them, aren't you, sir?"

"You know it. Any messages for me?"

"Yes, one." Handing it to him, she frowns in concern for him. "Do you want me to call for a protection detail for you?" McCormick smirks before balling up the message and dropping it into the trash can. "I'm guessing your answer's 'no', sir."

"I'd been without protection details most of my life, Lori. I see no need to waste taxpayers' money. However, there is something you can do for me."

"Yes, sir. What is it?" McCormick leans over, brings out a pen and writes on her notepad. When he stops, he turns it around.

"I'd like you to see if you can get the contact info for the name on the paper. Those are the criteria."

"I understand, sir. How soon do you need it done?"

"As soon as it can be found. I'm guessing that this bunch is one that hides in the shadows for our own good. It'd probably take a Presidential Order before you can get the info."

"I'll get right on it, sir." Before McCormick can move, however, the phone rings. "ADA McCormick's office." Lori listens before replying, "Yes, sir, he's right in front of me. I'll ask." Putting the phone on 'mute', she says, "The same guy that left the last message for you. He wants to talk to you." Silently, McCormick mouths 'speaker' and Lori hits the 'speaker' button.

"McCormick." A distorted male voice wafts over the phone's speaker.

"You were told, fifteen times within the month, to let the Lee case go, Mr. McCormick." The ADA gives a smirk at that.

"I wasn't made that way. Never will be. Much like I won't be intimidated into not going after you and your bunch of cowardly psychopaths."

"You're being a foolish man, Mr. McCormick."

"Better foolish than a cowardly sociopathic loser." A dial tone greets McCormick's ear, getting him to smirk. When he checks his watch, however, he grimaces. "I'd better get going now if I want to make my appointment. Talking to that… idiot cost me five minutes."

"Do you want me to check on you at the track, Mr. McCormick?"

"Yeah. Give me an hour to get there. If you can't reach me, something's wrong."

"I'll get on your request right now, sir. If I don't hear your voice in an hour, I'll use what information I can get to make contact."

"Alright. Thanks, Lori." With that, McCormick walks away while Lori gets to work.

'Okay, Colonel Fury, let's see if we can make contact.' As her fingers fly over the keyboard, McCormick is walking out into the open. Feeling the hot CA sunlight on his face, the man can only sigh.

'If only you can be here now, Milt.'

As he walks into the parking lot to his red 2000 Ford F-250 pickup, he feels the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Looking around, he sees no one observing him and shrugs before opening the driver's side door and getting behind the wheel. As he starts the engine, he feels his neck hairs standing again and struggles to maintain composure. While wheeling the pickup out of the lot, he thinks about the investigation and the implications stemming from it.

'If this "HYDRA" group is behind Grady's "extra" income, then there's no telling who else they have in their pocket. At last Mr. Lee's sister was nice.' Frowning, he mentally adds, 'Too nice. Her eyes looked like she wanted to go hunting as they lowered the caskets into the ground.'

Fifteen minutes later, he smiles at seeing the 'Gulls Way' arch of the main gate. Slowing to a crawl, he then presses the visor-mounted gate opener remote's button and begins the wait. Two minutes later, the gate's fully open.

"Home sweet home."

Driving the pickup through the open gate, he presses the button again. Not seeing a green suited male figure aim a remote-like device at the gate, stopping it cold, before waving fifteen men through the halted gate. As he follows them, he withdraws his aim, allowing the gate to finish closing.

While McCormick wheels the pickup toward the garage, he looks in his rearview mirror. Only to blink at a flash of moving green, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand straight again.

When he gets to a large spot in the driveway, he expertly wheels the pickup to where the pickup's bed is facing one of the five garages before backing to just one foot from the closed door. Putting the pickup in 'park', he exits the pickup and goes to the garage door before lifting up on the handle. Revealing a red sports car on a black car-hauler trailer. Only to hear his pickup's engine shut off.

"Nice car, Mr. McCormick." Wheeling around at the gravelly male voice, McCormick sees a green-suited man wearing a green mask that covers the upper half of his face. A smirk appears on the man's face as he adds, "I don't think I've seen any other car like this before."

"The 'Coyote-X' is one of a kind." Giving the man a scowl, he adds, "But I seriously doubt you came to compliment my car."

"Originally, no. The compliment is a bonus. Someone wants to meet with you."

"Have the 'someone' make an appointment with my office." The man gives McCormick a smirk before snapping his fingers. At the sight of fifteen men appearing from the brush, McCormick arches an eyebrow. "I take it the 'appointment' is on their terms?"

"You got it. So, you can either come quietly or we rough you up. What'll it be?" McCormick smirks as one goon comes close before doing a roundhouse kick, catching the goon across the face. Knocking the goon's mask off as the goon falls, out cold, to the ground.

"That's my answer, jerk. You want some, come get some." The lead goon gives a grin at that.

"I told the one that wants to meet you that you'd rather fight. Which is why…" Casually bringing a tranquilizer gun out from behind his back, the lead goon adds, "I gotta do this."

Pulling the trigger, the goon sends a tranquilizer dart into McCormick's chest. As the drug takes effect, McCormick feels his eyelids go heavy until he loses consciousness. As he falls to the ground, four goons catch him while another four retrieve their fallen cohort. As one other goes for the mask, however…

"Leave it for the PD. As a symbol of HYDRA's might and will."

"What about the car? Do we torch it?"

"No. Leave it be. After all, it'd be a shame to destroy a rarity like the 'Coyote-X' seeing as it's the only one in existence." Smirking, the lead goon adds, "Besides, we can always come back to get it if it strikes Lady Hydra's fancy."

(Heli-carrier; 18th Level; EXTSUR; ten minutes ago)

Brown eyes pore over the data flowing across the screen before a slender female hand presses the intercom.

"Colonel Fury to EXTSUR. Repeat, Colonel Fury to EXTSUR."

(10th Level; five minutes ago)

"Okay, JOs Howlett and Ikari, Gabe came up with a new target type. Semi-solid holograms that can be calibrated to look like anyone." Laura's face takes on a grin, prompting Fury to smirk. "Yes, JO Howlett, Viper too. In fact…" Inputting the parameters, Fury and the four teens watch as a sneering Caucasian woman with green hair appears. Amanda suddenly blinks before speaking up.

"That's 'Viper', Laura?" A gunshot into the target's head is Amanda's answer, prompting her to say, "I'd hate to be in her shoes, then. Both her and the old guy Kitty and I saw that day." Fury, Shinji and Laura all look at Amanda before Fury chimes in.

"Old guy?" As Amanda nods silently, he asks, "How old did he look?"

"80s to 90s. Something like that." Fury types on the keyboard some more.

"Did he look like this?" At Fury's query, an elderly Caucasian man appears. Amanda nods again before Fury brings out his weapon and shoots the old man. "I should have sent your dead ass into the sun, Baron. Even if it was expensive, it would have been so worth it." Before anyone can ask, the loudspeaker squawks.

"Colonel Fury to EXTSUR. Repeat, Colonel Fury to EXTSUR." Fury blinks at that before looking toward the four teens.

"Alright, JOs, we'll break for lunch and then resume."

"Yes sir." At the four's reply, Fury strides away. Once Fury's out of earshot, Arcade chimes in.

"I wonder what that's about." Laura's voice is steady as she gives her reply.

"Whatever it is must be big enough to get them to page him directly." Holstering her FN after putting it on 'safe', she watches Shinji 'safe' his as well before holstering it. "Next stop, the Galley."

(18th Level; EXTSUR; five minutes later)

"What's going on, Morrissey?"

"There's an internet search going on at the LA County Courthouse, sir. Your name, rank and SHIELD as the criteria."

"You manage to track it?"

"Yes, sir. Lori Andrews, 65 years old. Assistant to ADA Mark 'Skid' McCormick." Fury nods before keying his headset.

"Barnes, I need you to patch me through to the LA County Courthouse. Office of ADA Mark McCormick."

"Right away, sir." Thirty seconds later, Barnes says, "Connected, sir." Five seconds later, a female voice wafts into Fury's ear.

"ADA McCormick's office."

"Lori Andrews?"

"This is she."

"This is Colonel Fury of SHIELD. I understand you're looking for me."

"Yes sir. At Mr. McCormick's behest."

"Is he about?"

"No sir as he went to his appointment at the Los Angeles County Race Track. However, he did say for me to try contacting him in an hour at the track. If contact is not made, something is wrong."

"Why would he say that, Ms. Andrews?"

"Over the past month, he'd received 15 messages to drop the Lee investigation. Every message was ignored. And today, he had me see about contacting you after receiving one more message on the phone."

"How often does he have an appointment at the track?"

"It's a weekly appointment and he's never missed one. Not even when under the weather… sir I'm worried."

"In what way, Ms. Andrews?"

"The last call that came in, he spoke with the man leaving messages. I fear he may be in danger, sir."

"Alright. If you don't get hold of him in an hour, let us know and we'll send someone to his place of residence. The number should appear on your caller ID."

"It is, sir. Sir?"

"Yes, Ms. Andrews?"

"How'd you know I was trying to find you?"

"We have the world wired, Ms. Andrews. We'll be in touch. Fury out." With that, he ends the call and looks to Morrissey. "Do a search on ADA Mark McCormick. Residence, history, hobbies… everything." Sally Morrissey nods as her fingers fly over the keyboard, only for them to stop.

"Sir, there's been a report of unusual air traffic over a mansion named 'Gulls Way'. It's listed as Mr. McCormick's place of residence. It's also listed as a no-fly zone."

"Alright, something's gone sideways. Contact our LA Office and have them go out there."

"Right away, sir." Activating her com-link, she says, "Barnes, this is Morrissey, patch me in to the LA Division."

"Copy." Thirty seconds later, Barnes says, "LA Office receiving."

"This is Agent Morrissey on Big Plate. We have a possible 'Code Hotel'. Repeat, possible 'Code Hotel'. Location is 'Gulls Way' on the outskirts of the city."

"Copy, Morrissey." As contact ends, Morrissey looks back at Fury and sees that he's gritting his teeth.

"Sir?" He reaches up to his earpiece and keys it.

"Barnes, get hold of Ms. Andrews again, quick."

"Got it, sir." A minute later, Barnes says, "Connected, sir."

"ADA McCormick's office."

"Ms. Andrews, this is Colonel Fury. Evacuate from your present location and go somewhere only you know about. You may be in danger."

"Sir?"

"ADA McCormick may have been grabbed. I've had Agents sent to his residence. But the abductors may try for you as well if given the chance."

"I'll get right on it, sir." With that, Lori ends the conversation.

(Thirty minutes later)

Fury's earpiece chimes before he keys it.

"Fury."

"This is Agent Martin. We're at 'Gulls Way' sir and we found a sign of a struggle, sir."

"What kind of sign?"

"A HYDRA goon mask. Has a bit of a tear in it, almost as if it'd been kicked off of a goon's face. No sign of ADA McCormick at all, though."

"Anything else of note?"

"One of the garage doors is open, sir. Within the open garage is a black car hauler trailer with a red sports car on it. Designation of 'Coyote-X'. Looks to be a prototype. I'm closing the door for security purposes."

"Understood. Keep me posted, Martin."

"I will, sir." With that, contact ends and Fury lets out a sigh.

'Typical HYDRA. But why grab him instead of just killing him?'

(HYDRA manor; three hours later)

"Supreme and Lady Hydra, I present to you LA County ADA Mark 'Skid' McCormick." Looking to her Father and getting a nod, 'Viper' nods her approval before speaking.

"Excellent. Take off the hood." Wordlessly, the lead goon does so, revealing McCormick's face. "So, your nickname is 'Skid'. How did that come about, Mr. McCormick?"

"As a chronic speed demon, I can't resist laying down rubber whether I'm speeding or screeching to a halt." Narrowing his eyes at her, and her bedroom-style attire, he asks, "And you?"

"You can simply call me 'Lady Hydra'. Nothing more." McCormick can only snort at that.

"Funny. You and your bunch look more like a collection of garbage that escaped the incinerator. Not even my ex-wife had atrocious taste in wardrobe like you do, 'Lady Hydra'." At the rough feeling of his jaw being grabbed from behind, McCormick smirks. "You're really bucking for the death penalty, aren't you?" He then sees Viper wave her right hand and feels the grab recede before Viper speaks again.

"Explain."

"I'm an Assistant District Attorney for LA County in California. If I die, your life is as good as over as you'd be facing Capital Murder charges."

"I'm not all that concerned about your meaningless laws as HYDRA is above the law." Smirking, McCormick has a witty retort.

"Funny. The crooks Milton 'Hardcase' Hardcastle and I took down felt the same way themselves. Until they wound up in prison or the cemetery."

"I have no doubt about that." Viper adds, "Besides, we already have a guest that said we're facing the death penalty for what we did to secure their presence here."

"I can hardly wait to get them onto the witness stand so they can testify against you."

"That day won't come as you'll die at the hands of our guest." Snapping her fingers, she adds, "Bring him along. We'll put him with our other guest. I think he'd appreciate the irony." McCormick can only blink at that before Viper smirks.

"Besides, we have a significant grudge against you and your late associate. A grudge that has been partially satisfied at our hands." McCormick can only frown at that.

"What are you talking about? 'Hardcase' died in his sleep ten years ago." Viper gives him a smirk of amusement before leaning close to him.

"That's what you and the rest of the world think." Moving away from him, she nods and McCormick feels his body being forcibly hefted upright before Viper strides away. Talking all the while as McCormick's forced along.

"You wouldn't believe how hard it was to create a toxin that doesn't appear on tox-screens during autopsies. But we did it. We slipped onto the compound the night he died and introduced the compound in gaseous form. We'd have gone after you as well, but we only had enough for one."

"You… fucking… psychopathic… whore." At the sound of a slide being racked, McCormick smirks. "Is that your goon's idea of being annoyed?"

"More like an advisory for you to not be too mouthy lest I decide you're not worth keeping alive for another two months."

"Oh, so I'm not dying at the hands of your guest today?" At her nod, he asks, "Why two months?"

"Are you familiar with the concept of brainwashing, Mr. McCormick?"

"I read a little here and there. But enough to be of the opinion that it has no business being used at all. By anyone at any time." Next thing he knows, they reach a thick-appearing wood door. As he watches Viper open it, he can swear that she's giddy.

"Step inside and see the face of your executioner to be."

Before McCormick can even move, however, he's roughly pushed into the room. Upon seeing a solitary bed in the far left corner, he moves toward it. Only to gasp in shock at the sight of a familiar face, framed by long dark hair.

"Jubilee!" Going to her side, he sees that she's deep asleep before angrily turning back to Viper. "What've you done to her, whore-bitch?!"

"Just keeping her unconscious before we start her brainwashing next month. Combine that with subliminal conditioning… I'm sure you get the idea." She then smirks and adds, "I'm sure you'll also find it hard to remove the IV tubes as they're secured by the latest in HYDRA medical technology."

"What I find 'hard' is to believe is that your 'Doctors' went to Medical School. Or does HYDRA have a school of its own on how to be crazy quacks?" Viper doesn't say anything. She just closes the door, hard, leaving McCormick alone with Jubilee. "No sense of humor at all. She's out of the running. Besides, I like sane women."

Seating himself at Jubilee's side, he notes her tortured expression before gently brushing her left cheek. At the sight of her face relaxing, he smiles softly.

'Don't worry. We'll get out of here.' Sighing, he adds, 'Somehow.'

(Train cargo car; same time)

Rogue can't help but roll her eyes in annoyance at how relaxed Gambit is at the cargo car's door. She then sighs softly while thinking about Shinji and how driven he's been in the last two weeks. When she tried asking him, he quickly reassured her that he found the material interesting.

'Too bad his reply came too quickly for my liking.'

"Penny for your thoughts, chere." Gambit's voice gets her attention, prompting her to smirk.

"My thoughts are worth a lot more than a penny, Swamp Rat, but alright. How long have ya been watching the Institute before grabbing me for this little trip?"

"What makes you think Gambit was watching the Institute?"

"Ya had to have had been to pull this off without a hitch, so there." Gambit blinks before snickering.

"Alright, chere, you got Gambit. Gambit was watching the Institute for the right moment to grab you. Why do you ask?"

"Did ya happen to see a young Japanese male walking around the Institute like he was a sentry of sorts?" Gambit mulls it over before smiling widely.

"Yeah, Gambit saw him. New student?"

"Nope. More like someone with yer same circumstances of sorts. Only he's a regular human. Or, as regular as he can be…" Rogue's voice starts breaking, concerning Gambit.

"How do you mean, Rogue?" At the sight of the Southern girl's eyes dripping tears, he adds, "Rogue, you're worrying Gambit. Why're his circumstances like Gambit's?"

"I'm sorry, Gambit, but it's not my story to tell. It's Shinji's. Only he can tell it even if he doesn't want to or not many people believe it." Upon feeling Gambit's arms around her, she latches on while going into a crying fit.

(Heli-carrier; 10th Level; same time)

"Excellent shooting, JOs Sefton and Torque. Now that you're qual'd, I suppose I should tell all four of you why I asked if any of you had gone to Mardi Gras." The others look to Shinji, prompting him to chuckle slightly.

"We are curious, sir. What's going on?"

"Mardi Gras is a cultural event, but not our main reason for going. Every year, I meet with the heads of the Guilds. This year's meeting takes place during Mardi Gras." Arcade, Amanda and Shinji all blink blankly while Laura gasps audibly.

"The Guilds, sir? As in… the Thieves and Assassins Guilds?"

"The very same, JO Howlett. I take it you came across them in your travels?"

"One or two, sir. Assassins. Roughly a month after my first visit at the Institute. Of course, they knew of me and decided that we should interact as peacefully as possible. I was all too happy to agree since they don't like HYDRA as well."

"Yeah, well, all the same, be armed this trip as the Guilds have enemies of their own. And their enemies do not much care that you're teenagers. One bunch in particular. The Rivers, longtime rivals/enemies of the Thieves Guild."

"Understood, sir. How many magazines should each of us carry?" Shinji's query gets a blink from Arcade and Amanda both before Fury gives his reply.

"All that each of you can possibly carry as there may be an extended firefight involved should an attack by The Rivers happen."

"How violent are they, sir?"

"Exceedingly violent, JO Howlett. Of course, there are petty criminals there as well. They can be violent themselves, but you, JO Ikari and I should be able to handle them without a sweat." Checking his watch, he adds, "Wheels up at 0930 tomorrow. Civilian attire and weapons only."

"Roger."

(HYDRA Manor; same time)

As he watches Jubilee sleep, McCormick racks his brain over why HYDRA would have a grudge against himself and Hardcastle. As far as he knew, none of the criminals the two had brought down together had any kind of connection with them. Nor did they speak or allege of any.

'Maybe a silent backer of sorts… that'd fit. It'd also explain why none of them knew about HYDRA. Soon as we get out of here, I'm going to look through our old cases.' Next thing he knows, the heavy wooden door opens, revealing Viper and the lead goon. In the goon's arms is a dinner tray. McCormick can only scowl at them.

"I'm sorry, but I lost my appetite. The conscious company's far too psychotic for my liking." The sight of the lead goon gritting his teeth gets a grin from McCormick before Viper speaks.

"You would be wise to eat to maintain your strength, 'Skid'. After all, the girl can't kill you if you're already dead from starvation."

"You don't know her like I do. If she's going to kill anyone, it's going to be you. Even more, I won't even prosecute her because your thugs murdered her parents in cold blood so you can use her in whatever inanely insane criminal scheme you've cooked up." Viper can only frown at that.

"I expected more from a man that's sworn to uphold the Court System. Not undermine it like that."

"It's not undermining if it's justified. Milton taught me that early on."

"He's had a bigger impact on your life than expected. Your end at her hands will serve as a lasting reminder of HYDRA's might."

"Her ending you and your bunch would be justified and possibly a public service." Viper snorts at that before McCormick asks, "Why do you have a grudge against Milton and I, anyway? Far as I know, we never crossed paths with you." Viper gives McCormick a wide smirk at that.

"Indirectly, you did. You and Hardcastle disrupted 20 of our operations within 3 years time. You, however, disrupted 5 operations within five months of you becoming ADA. So that is why I'm sentencing you to death, Mr. McCormick. Death at the hands of a mutant child you yourself are in the process of developing a soft spot for. Much like Weapon-X did with a clone of him we made and is currently in the hands of SHIELD."

"Can't wait to meet the clone." Viper laughs at that before sighing.

"The only way you'll meet X-23 is if she comes back into the fold." McCormick can only give a befuddled blink before Viper adds, "It's a long story, involving a mistake that shouldn't have happened." Curious, she then asks, "Should you survive to prosecute me, what charges would I be facing? Just out of curiosity."

"Two counts of Capital murder in commission of a federal offense, kidnapping, arson, destruction of property, trespassing, harassment by telephone for the purpose of threatening a State Employee. Those are just for starters. I'll have to refer to my books on additional applicable charges to file against you and your organization." Viper can only blink blankly at that.

"Even though HYDRA doesn't officially exist?" McCormick gives Viper a cold smirk at that.

"Official existence or not, you will be prosecuted one way or another. It'll happen. Besides, SHIELD exists." Viper rolls her eyes while grimacing.

"I think you and Colonel Fury would somehow get along should you meet." With that, she nods for the lead goon to put the tray down onto a nearby table. "In one hour, five men will come into the room to replenish the drugs flowing into the girl's system. Do not interfere as to do so will be detrimental to your good health. They will also get your tray. I expect it to be fully clear of food. And I do not mean pieces put here and there in the room out of sight as the room will be thoroughly inspected."

"Still not hungry."

"Eat anyway. If you're worried about poison, don't. Like I said, you'll die at the girl's hands in two months. She won't even recognize you as the brainwashing will be so intense, she won't remember ever meeting you."

"I guess time will tell, then." Viper gives him no reaction. She just exits the room, the lead goon covering her exit. Once the door's closed, McCormick grits out, "Like Hell I won't interfere, stupid psycho bitch." He then returns his attention to Jubilee and gently takes her right hand into his left.

"Don't worry, Jubilee. I won't let them get near you." Gently squeezing it, he rises from his seat and starts moving around the room.

'Let me see if I can find a way to bust us out of here.' Eying a box with an 'explosives' symbol on it, he gently brings it down and grins at the type. 'This might work.' Only to frown in concern. 'But the blast wave might kill us both. Best wait until I can plan even more before chancing it.' Meanwhile…

(Outside the room)

Viper and Garrett lock lips with each other furiously before Viper brings him in closer to her.

"I'd been wanting to do this for hours." Garrett smirks as he adds, "Andrea."

"Mmm. If only my Father liked you."

"I think that's going to be hard for him to do."

"True. After all, he does have a significant grudge against Fury and SHIELD as a whole." Garrett's frame rumbles with laughter before Andrea goes on. "So, tell me about the young man that seems to have caught X-23's eyes even though she wasn't supposed to feel such emotion."

"He seems to be a nice enough kid. A bit too nice, perhaps, but… something about him attracted her to him."

"Oh?" Looking up at her 'lover', she sees he has a pensive expression on his face. "John?"

"I heard something about JO Ikari from Jacobs before I 'fired' him. I put it out of my mind as absurd until last week when I remembered seeing Ikari's eyes."

"What about his eyes?"

"He has the eyes of a veteran, Andrea. But I don't recall seeing any briefings about teenage combatants in any recent conflicts." Upon seeing her nod, he goes on. "The night I 'fired' him, Jacobs told me that he heard from AD Pincer that JO Ikari's from another dimension. Where he piloted a gigantic cyborg for the purpose of fighting massive space aliens." Viper can only blink at that before snickering in amusement.

"Now I've heard it all. How many on the heli-carrier know about that tidbit?"

"From what Jacobs told me before his 'firing', not very many. Fury at the very least." Viper mulls it over before Garrett goes on. "That may explain a few things, though. For instance, Jacobs said that JO Ikari came close to killing him." Viper loses it at that point, with Garrett not far behind with his guffaws.

"A little boy, barely out of diapers, nearly killing a grown man?! It just isn't done! He was probably trying to quit wanting to serve HYDRA and cooked up that tall tale!" Viper laughs so hard, she has to press herself up against the wall so she can remain upright.

"I gotta admit, I may have been a tad bit hasty in 'firing' Jacobs like that! If anything, we could've used him as a jester!" Garrett's words get a laughing Viper to nod in agreement.

(One hour later)

Hearing the door unlock, McCormick moves to stand. Ready as possible to keep the goons away from Jubilee. Sure enough, there are five goons. One of them catches sight of the plate and growls in irritation that he hadn't eaten a bite.

"Lady Hydra will be quite displeased you ignored her order to eat."

"I don't take orders from the likes of psychopathic whores like her. She likes that so much, she can eat it." Upon seeing the other four move toward Jubilee's bed, he grits out, "I'm not letting any of you near the girl." The goons blink before snickering.

"Can you believe this guy? Move him, but don't kill him. Lady Hydra wants the girl to do so, after all." As one goon moves to move McCormick, the latter throws a right hook that sends the goon's face to the right. Only for the goon to look back at McCormick in annoyance, causing the ADA to gulp nervously.

"I must be losing my touch."

"It seems so." With that, the goon smashes a fist into McCormick's belly, sending air rushing out of his lungs. While the other three move to replenish the IV drugs, the one that'd hit McCormick forcibly turns the man's head to where he can see the goons working. "Consider this your only warning, McCormick. Do not interfere ever again. Understood?" When he doesn't hear McCormick reply, he roughly shakes him before asking, "Understood?"

"You… and… your… group… can… go… fuck… your…selves." The goon sneers at McCormick before casually tossing him aside.

"Stupid American. So unwilling to learn your place in life and accept it." As the goons exit, the one that had hit McCormick sneers once more before slamming the door shut. As he gets his wind back into his lungs, McCormick smirks.

"We'll see who is stupid, douchebag."

(Heli-carrier; 2nd Level; 0930)

"Okay, ready to go to 'The Big Easy', JOs?"

"Ready as we can be, sir." At their united reply, Fury can only grin while Val giggles before they board the transport helo. However…

"FURY! WHAT'S THE MEANING OF YOU TAKING JUNIOR OPERATIVES TO A MEETING INVOLING THE HEADS OF THE THIEVES AND ASSASSINS GUILDS?!" Amused at Pincer, Fury can only watch the flustered man storm up to the helo. "THEY'RE NOWHERE NEAR READY ENOUGH FOR THAT KIND OF INTERACTION!"

"They're ready enough, Pincer. Besides, I'm also taking them to Mardi Gras." Pincer's left eye twitches at that before he recomposes himself.

"Aren't they a little young for that kind of thing?"

"They'll find out sooner or later, maybe under bad circumstances or being pressured. It's better this way so they know what they're in for."

"You're not telling me something, Fury."

"You're right. I'm not. And I'm not going to tell you. Clear the line." With that, Fury closes the main door before looking to Val. "Okay, Val, let's get this bird going."

"Got it, Nick." As Val starts the turbine engines, she adds, "I hate to say it, but Pincer does have a point."

"About the meeting or Mardi Gras?"

"The meeting." Fury smirks before Val goes on. "Jean Luc is liable to want to adopt three of them as he tends to adopt those without families or technical homes and Bella Donna is more likely to take Shinji and Laura to be Assassins."

"Not to worry as I have an idea as to ward off Jean Luc from 'adoption'. Bella Donna, however, I guess I'll have to limit their presence at the meeting. At most, they at least need to know who's who on our contact list." Smirking, he adds, "Besides, I wanna look up someone that couple friends of ours told me about."

"Oh, which couple friends?"

"Jeff and Jane." Val grins while rolling her eyes as Nick goes on. "In any case, they said the guy was a hoot. A real party animal. Though he tends to be a little… odd."

"Ah. He got a name?" As the helo reaches the flight line, Val starts cackling. "I can hardly wait."

(New Orleans, LA; three hours later)

"My name… is Muerte."

The tall, thin Caucasian man aims the tip of his switchblade knife in an extravagant manner before running away from his latest heist. Or they would have been if he took anything from them as they were mannequins. Darting around the corner, Muerte takes deep breaths to refocus himself and gets ready to charge around the corner again. Only to hear a large-sounding helicopter flying overhead. Looking upward, he sees a large helicopter flying low toward a nearby building.

"Let Muerte see how well the practice paid off." Licking his lips eagerly, Muerte follows the helicopter as best he can. Only to lose sight of it. "Alright. It had to have had landed atop one of these buildings." Before he can go searching, however, a door fifteen feet away from him opens and six people walk out. Two adults, four teenagers. "Ooh, a big day for Muerte. Okay… okay. Go!"

Striding out to them, he brings his switchblade out and smiles menacingly.

"Give me your money and jewels. Now!" The four teens blink at him while the two adults look to each other. As if saying, 'We're dealing with a bozo!'. Feeling irritated, he then says, "My name is Muerte! My name is death!" One of the adults, a tall Caucasian man with an eye-patch over his left eye, smiles widely.

"Ah, Morty. I was hoping to come across you." Muerte's left eye twitches at the appellation before the man goes on. "Jeff and Jane Blue told me all about you." Muerte feels his confidence fleeing slightly, yet he rallies himself as best he can.

"They did? You know… the Blues?" Keeping his wide smile, the man nods.

"Uh-huh. Though, Morty, I wasn't expecting to meet you so soon. But I can make time for you after a meeting my companions and I have to get to." Muerte feels his left eye twitching even more before the man asks, "Are you okay, Morty?"

"I'm fine." Screaming, he then charges the man. Only to feel his body go end over end until his back makes contact with a wall. "Ooowww."

"Sefton, check him over. Ikari, cover."

"Sir." Muerte sees two of the teens moving toward him and starts moving upward. Only for one of them, a Japanese male, to pull out a pistol from behind his back.

"Stay still, Morty-san. You may have internal injuries." Muerte meekly nods, not wanting to be injured further. Once the other one, an African-American female, reaches him, the Japanese male says, "I have him covered, Amanda-san."

"Thank you, Shinji." While the girl tends to him, Muerte can only sigh. Only to hear the man with the eye-patch speak again.

"Hey, Morty." As Muerte blearily looks toward the man, the man adds, "Stick around. We're gonna have some fun." Muerte has only one response for that.

Laughter. Utterly insane sounding laughter.