Chapter 55
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August 20th 2014. Melinda 47. Tony 44.
"Phil, is it?' Melinda asks as she and Skye run into the common area where everyone else is.
"Yes." Phil confirms, "Fitz stay with Hunter. Simmons stay with Bobbi. Mack stay with all of them. I've got to go destroy or collect everything we can't let Hydra get their hands on. May take everyone else to the armoury." Phil orders.
"I'll help you." Maria says and Phil nods.
"J, deploy Mark Pepper and War Machine." Tony says into his ear piece.
"My shield's in the car." Steve says.
"So is my bow and quiver." Clint adds.
"Go, get them." Phil says, "Let's move people." He says and everyone heads in different directions. Steve and Clint head towards the hanger, Phil and Maria head up to his office, and everyone else heads towards the armoury.
About two minutes later Melinda, Natasha, Bobbi, Skye, Fitz, Simmons, Mack, Rhodey, Bruce, Pepper, Sam, Hunter and Tony, with Melinda, Bobbi and Natasha in the front, arrive at the armoury. Once Melinda gains entrance with her biometrics everyone heads in.
"Grab everything we can." Melinda says as she, Bobbi and Natasha start handing out weapons, "Anthony Skye's my daughter will my suit give her access?" Melinda asks.
"No. The biometrics that the suit tests for won't be the same." Tony responds, not even surprised by that as that's what he expected the results to show.
"Need a gun or talking one?' Natasha asks Melinda curious.
"Need one" Melinda responds taking the gun of Natasha and putting it in her holster.
"Advance team?" Bobbi asks as she grabs her batons as well as several guns.
"Yeah." Melinda confirms and Natasha nods as they look to the others and make sure they all have weapons.
"Ready." Bobbi says and Melinda and Natasha nods.
"Fitz and Simmons aren't trained for combat, protect them." Melinda says looking at those in the group who can fight, "Skye I want you to stay with Anthony at all times." Melinda instructs.
"What are you three going to do?" Skye asks.
"Do our best to keep Hydra from getting passed us." Natasha answers.
"I may not be an expert but wouldn't you wearing the almost indestructible suit be a good idea." Hunter comments, looking at Melinda.
"I don't need it, not right now." Melinda responds.
"You have your ear piece right? So JARVIS can deploy your suit when you need it." Tony says.
"I never took it out." Melinda responds.
"We've got to move. Now." Natasha says and Melinda and Bobbi nod and the three of them, Bobbi giving one last look to Hunter and Melinda giving one last look to Tony and Skye, leave the armoury.
"Black Widow, Mockingbird and The Cavalry working together, I really wouldn't want to be Hydra." Hunter comments as everyone else walks out of the Armoury.
"Don't call her that." Skye, Tony, Rhodey and Pepper, all of whom know what affect that name has on Melinda, say together as Pepper and Rhodey's suits land.
Rhodey's armour is his Iron Patriot armour with a few improvements and, design wise, Pepper's looks identical to Tony and Melinda's except hers is red and Silver.
"J, deploy my suit." Tony says as Pepper and Rhodey get into theirs.
"How are we going to do this?" Sam asks.
"Rhodey you and me will lead, Skye stay with Pepper. Sam you and Hunter get the rear. Bruce, Mack, Simmons, Fitz stay together in the middle." Tony instructs as his suit arrives.
"I do know how to fight you know, May's been training me for months." Skye points out, "And I have my cool earthquake power." She adds as even though she doesn't have a lot of control, the control she does have would be enough for it to be useful right now.
"I know, but Melly told you to stay with me and Fitz and Simmons don't know how to fight, so can you work with Pepper to keep them safe?" Tony ask.
"Yeah, I can do that." Skye says.
"Pep, you got that?" Tony asks.
"Yeah, I got it." Pepper responds.
"Good." Tony responds, "Mack, what about you?" Tony asks.
"I know my way around a gun, I'm not great but I can handle myself." Mack responds.
"Okay, good. Stay behind Pepper and Skye and in front of Sam and Hunter." Tony instructs and he nods, "Bruce, how you doing?"
"I'm in control." Bruce responds.
"Good. Let me know if that changes." Tony says as he climbs into his suit.
After they left the others Natasha, Melinda and Bobbi headed to where tactically they think would be the place Hydra would enter through.
"I would love to know how they found us." Bobbi comments.
"You know how they found us." Melinda says, "They found us because I played right into his hands."
"You can't blame yourself for this." Natasha tells her.
"Yeah I can, and I do." Melinda responds, "This is on me, if anyone gets hurt or worse that's on me." Melinda admits as the door is busted open and at least a hundred Hydra agents, being led by Ward and Agent 33 walk in.
"You know I had some doubts when Zachary said that he was going to lead us straight to S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers, but look he pulled it off." Ward says as he walks in, "Did you miss me?" Ward asks when he is right in front of Melinda, Natasha and Bobbi, but as he does he realises just who he is standing in front of, "May, Morse, Romanoff." He says surprised to see all three of them together as he expected them to be more spread out, and Melinda, Natasha and Bobbi are pleased to notice that he looks afraid.
"No, we really didn't." Natasha says, knocking him out before he can do anything.
"You don't have to do this." Melinda says to Agent Thirty Three, "We can help you, we can give you back your life."
"I have no life now that Whitehall is gone." Agent Thirty Three says
"Yes you do. We were friends." Bobbi says, "You loved old movies and visiting the VA to see your brother, we can help you get that part of you back."
"That doesn't exist anymore." Agent Thirty Three informs Bobbi, "Attack." She orders the Hydra army and an all-out fight between, Melinda, Natasha and Bobbi and the Hydra army begins.
"Mel, I think now would be a good time to put the suit on." Natasha informs Melinda after ten minutes of intense fighting, not just by the three of them but by Steve, Clint, Tony, Rhodey, Pepper, Skye, Sam and Hunter too. Even Mack, Simmons and Fitz have been doing whatever they can. Bruce has been trying not to turn into the Hulk because he isn't sure if it would be a good idea in a confined space but he also has been doing everything he can.
"Natasha's right, you're good but I think right now our best chance would be if you were in a suit." Bobbi comments.
"JARVIS, deploy my suit." Melinda requests as she knocks out a Hydra member, "We've got to get to the plane, it's our only chance." Melinda admits as even though it is clear that the S.H.I.E.L.D Agents and Avengers are better there is more Hydra agents and they clearly don't care about what happens to them which makes them more dangerous and gives them the advantage.
"Yeah we do." Natasha confirms, not liking it but knowing that it is their best chance.
"Anthony, Rhodey, Pepper, can you hear me?" Melinda asks.
"Yeah?" All three of them respond.
"Get everyone to the plane." She instructs them.
"The big one?" Tony asks.
"Yeah." Melinda responds, "I'll go get Phil and Maria just make sure everyone else gets there." Melinda informs Natasha and Bobbi as while she doesn't want to do this it is what will give them their best chance.
"Yes Ma'am." Natasha and Bobbi respond as Melinda suit arrives next to her and she puts it on.
Once Melinda is in her suit she flies up and attempts to knock as many of the Hydra agents, who seem to be coming from all directions, out as she flies towards the common area.
Less than a minute later, using the repulsor in her suit to knock out as many Hydra agents as possible on the way, Melinda lands in front of the door to Phil's office. Unsurprisingly the door is locked so she just bursts it open. When she walks in room she gets fired on by Phil and Maria but thanks to the suit she is wearing the bullets do nothing.
"We're moving out." Melinda informs Phil and Maria lifting her face piece.
"Is it that bad?" Maria asks surprised.
"We're better but there is way more Hydra and they don't care about consequences, which makes them more dangerous." Melinda explains, "Anthony, Natasha, Bobbi, Pepper and Rhodey are going to get everyone to the bus." She tells them as she hears a noise behind her so she turns and fire her repulsor, knocking out another couple of Hydra agents.
"We haven't destroyed everything yet." Phil tells Melinda.
"Have you got everything that we need to save?" Melinda asks.
"Yes, we have Fury's cube. Everything we need is on that." Phil tells Melinda.
"Then move out the way." Melinda responds.
"Mel…." Maria starts to say.
"I don't like this either Maria, hell it's my fault, but if we don't leave now then we're going to be risking not all of us being able to." Melina admits.
"Okay, do it." Phil says as he and Maria move out of the way giving Melinda a clear shot of all the files and severs.
Once Phil and Maria are far enough away from the files and servers Melinda files at them several times, destroying them.
"Let's go." Melinda says grabbing hold of both Phil and Maria's hands and flying out of the office.
"CLOSE THE RAMP." Phil yells as Melinda, holding both him and Maria fly into the BUS.
"Is everyone here?' Maria asks looking around as Melinda gets out of her suit and leaves it in the middle of the cargo hold.
"Yeah. We've doubled and tripled checked." Skye informs them.
"Then strap in. This isn't going to be pleasant." Melinda says looking through the group herself to make sure everyone is there, "Rhodey I'm going to need your help." She says as she runs up the stairs.
"You've got it." Rhodey says following Melinda upstairs, leaving his suit next to Melinda's.
"How long do you think we've got until they start firing on the plane?" Clint asks.
"I would say about ten seconds." Steve says as everyone heads to seats. Everyone making sure that everyone else is strapped in.
"So any idea how we're going to make it that they don't follow us?" Rhodey asks Melinda curious as they arrive at the cockpit and Melinda gets into the pilots seat while Rhodey gets into the co-pilot.
"We can cloak but we're going to have to get them off our six first." Melinda tells Rhodey.
"They're firing."
"I've noticed." Melinda responds as she gets the plane into the air.
"They're taking the Quinjet." Rhodey informs Melinda as they fly out the Playground.
"Damn it." Melinda says angrily.
"Evasive action until there is enough distance to cloak?" Rhodey asks.
"Yep." Melinda says, "Hopefully before we have to deal with Air Force planes because we're in the no fly zone above DC." Melinda tells Rhodey.
"Yeah, that would be bad." Rhodey comments, "I'm ready to change directions when you are.'
"Now!" Melinda says and for the next ten minutes Melinda and Rhodey work together to try and ditch not just one but four Hydra Quinjets, but that is proving to be rather difficult.
"Air Force fighters two minutes out." Rhodey informs Melinda.
"That's the last thing we need. Hydra will turn this into a blood bath." Melinda says, "We need a new plan."
"Floor it and get away from Civilian's. It's the only chance we've got to avoid casualties." Rhodey says and Melinda nods, "Up's the only direction that's free. Fly up then loop back around."
"And potentially cloak if we get the chance." Melinda adds and Rhodey and Melinda work together to do just that.
"No ones on our six, I think they're more interested in each other than us." Rhodey comments.
"Cloak?"
"Cloak." Rhodey says and that's what they do, "We're safe."
"Yeah, we are." Melinda says, "We've got to go help the Air Force." Melinda says as even though it will put them in danger it is the right thing to do.
"Yeah, we do." Rhodey confirms and still cloaked they fly down, "I'd say they've got it under control." Rhodey comments as they fly down below the clouds and see the Hydra Quinjets surrounded by Air Force jets, "Let's get out of here."
"You read my mind." Melinda responds and they fly away from both Hydra and the Air Force.
"Melly, Rhodey, we clear?" Tony's voice asks about ten minutes later Rhodey and Melinda being able to hear as they still have their earpieces in.
"Yeah, we're good." Rhodey answers.
"Any idea where we're going?" Melinda asks.
"Some of us are on our way to the Command centre to discuss that now." Tony responds.
"I'll be right there." Melinda responds, "You got this?" Melinda asks Rhodey.
"Yeah Melinda, I've got this." Rhodey responds and Melinda nods and leaves the cockpit.
About a minute after she left the cockpit Melinda walks into the command centre where she finds Maria, Tony, Phil, Pepper and Steve.
"Was all that really necessary?" Tony asks Melinda curious.
"If we wanted to get away it was." Melinda responds.
"How much fuel do we have?" Phil asks.
"A few hours." Melinda answers, "We need to figure out somewhere to go."
"The Estate is probably the closes place that is big enough and secure enough to land a plane without raising questions." Tony comments.
"But he knows about it, we've got to assume it's not safe." Melinda informs Tony.
"What about another one of Fury's secret bases? There's more of them, right?" Steve asks looking at Maria and Phil as even though he isn't thrilled about that he has to admit that they probably would be safe.
"There are, but considering Zachary was close to Howard Stark and Peggy Carter and has been Hydra for decades we can't be sure that they are safe." Maria answers.
"We've got to assume, at least for now that they are compromised." Phil adds.
"What about the tower." Tony suggests, "It may be the obvious choice but it's secure. I mean you pointed out any security weakness in the planning stage." He says looking at Melinda, "And Natasha has pointed out everyone since. It may be the only safe place we've got."
"It's a good suggestion, but how are we going to land the plane there? There's nowhere big enough." Phil comments.
"There might be." Melinda realises, "Pepper, after New York the balcony, helipad and roof were all made larger, correct?" Melinda asks as she remembers Pepper talking about it.
"Yeah, we wanted to make sure that a Quinjet could land." Pepper answers.
"The bus is bigger than a Quinjet." Phil points out.
"I know." Melinda says rolling her eyes, "Any chance you remember the specs?" She asks Pepper hopefully.
"Yeah, I had to re do requests to the city so many times that the numbers are seared into my brain." Pepper explains walking over to the holicom and typing them.
"I can land us there, it won't be the easiest landing I've ever made but it also won't be the hardest." Melinda informs everyone after looking at the dimensions.
"I don't know if this is a good idea, it will be the first place Hydra will think too look for us." Phil comments.
"Which means they won't think to look for us there because they will think that we would be idiots to go to the most obvious place." Tony points out.
"Wouldn't we be?" Steve asks.
"That could be debatable, it does make sense to go there, but there are a lot of reasons not to." Maria comments, "But the advantage of a place we truly know is something we could use right now."
"Let's take a vote." Melinda suggests, "Majority rules."
"There are six of us." Pepper points out.
"I'll go get Nat, she's the best when it comes to this stuff." Phil says and the others nod, not a single one of them disagreeing with him.
"So we're voting on whether going to Avengers Tower would be a very bad idea or the best option in a whole lot of bad ones?" Natasha asks as she walks into the room with Phil a few minutes later.
"Basically." Melinda answers.
"Personally I think if we put the tower on lockdown and handle things right it could be the best place to go considering everything, but let's vote." Natasha says.
"Raise your hand if you think we should go to New York." Maria says and she counts the hands that are raised, "That's the majority." Maria says, "Does anyone have any major objections to this that we should talk about?" She asks and everyone shakes their heads.
"Rhodey and I will fly the long way to make sure that we aren't followed, so we'll land in a couple of hours." Melinda explains and the others nod.
August 21th 2014. Melinda 47. Tony 44.
It is after midnight when Melinda and Rhodey land the plane, still clocked, on the roof of Avengers Tower.
Everyone is currently in the main living area of the Tower Tony just finishing giving everyone who doesn't have it the access they need.
"Because it's two am I'm guessing everyone will want to get to sleep. Phil you already have personal rooms…." Tony reveals and Phil cuts him off.
"I do?" Phil asks surprised.
"Yeah, I organized it after I found out you were alive." Tony explains, "I believe there should be enough guest rooms for everyone else but if not we'll have to get creative." Tony tells everyone.
"Bobbi and I can share." Hunter offers and Bobbi shrugs and nods.
"Can I have a room nowhere near them please." Skye requests.
"You can stay in mine, I won't be sleeping." Melinda tells her daughter.
"Really?" Skye asks and Melinda nods.
"Okay Melly do you mind showing Phil and Skye were to go?" Tony asks and Melinda shakes her head.
"What do we do about stuff?" Simmons asks, "I mean none of us have anything."
"We'll share, until we can figure something more permanent out" Natasha says, "Me, Mel, Pepper and Maria have stuff here for you, Skye and Bobbi to borrow and between Tony, Clint, Bruce, Rhodey, Sam, and Steve the guys should have some stuff that fits." Natasha explains and everyone nods.
"Okay now that's figured out everyone who needs a room with me, Skye, Phil with Melly." Tony requests and everyone nods.
After showing Phil to his room Melinda takes Skye to hers.
"Wow, is all this stuff yours?" Skye says looking around as Melinda's 'room' is basically what could be described as a small apartment.
"Yeah when I left Admin to join the team Anthony brought all my stuff from the apartment I was renting to here." Melinda explains.
"Are you sure you don't mind me staying? I'll be fine in a guest room." Skye tells Melinda.
"I don't mind Skye. Like I said I won't be sleeping tonight and even if I was going to try and sleep I wouldn't mind." Melinda admits, "I can fall asleep anywhere if I'm tired enough."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Remind me to tell you about my table sometime."
"You're table?" Skye asks confused.
"That's an explanation for another time." Melinda responds, "Bathroom through there, feel free to wear anything from the wardrobe or draws." Melinda tells Skye who nods.
"Are you alright?" Skye asks concerned.
"I'm fine." Melinda responds.
"No you're not. You blame yourself, don't you?" Skye asks.
"It was his plan, he wanted to get caught so he could lead Hydra to us and I played right into that." Melinda admits.
"I know this may sound horrible, and I honestly I do hate what's happened in the last few hours but I'm glad that he let himself get caught, because if he hadn't then I wouldn't know you are my Mom, and I'm so thankful for that." Skye says and not sure what to say Melinda just gives her a hug.
"Get some sleep. I don't know where we're going from here but you're going to need it." Melinda tells Skye.
"I will. Night."
"Night." Melinda responds and she leaves the room
Once Melinda leaves Skye can't help but look at all the various things that Melinda has. She looks at the various framed photos that Melinda has, that she realises she will have to ask about, and all the other various things.
When Skye opens the draws to find something to sleep in she finds a photo album and she can't help but open it. When she sees the picture on the first page, the same picture she saw in Trip's photo album Skye can't help but walk over to the bed, sit down and looks through it.
