Chapter 20:
[Grant Ward POV]
[Days later, SHIELD HQ, New York City]
I stand out the SHIELD HQ building for a solid five minutes. Drake is right next to me, "Remember the plan and don't fuck up." The merc walks away, disappearing in the crowd. I walk right to the lobby. To my surprise, no alert has gone off. A part of me is a little insulted, but either way, I push to the receptionist. The woman is young. Likely in her early 20s. "May I help you," she asks. "I hear you, folks, been looking for me. Grant Ward," I say with a cocky smirk. The woman's eyes gape and quickly punches an alarm under her desk. A tach-team storm in and surrounds me. I throw my hands over my head and drop to my knees, "I will only talk to Agent Skye."
[Raijin POV]
[1 week later, Alexandria Virginia]
[Warehouse.] Skye and I fast-rope down to upper-level. Skye taps her comlink, "We got ears on them. The package is in the open." May's voice comes through the other end, "Don't engage until the deal is done." "Copy that," we both say. Setting up the sniper, I hand it over to Skye, "You ready for this." "Yeah, I don't want all the training I did with you and the team be for nothing." I smile under my mask, "You'll do just fine." The surveillance devices we set up switches on, showing us what's taking place via HUD. The man throws down a file with a photo on top of the table. "That what I'm selling. I'm sure you'd like to see some credentials." He draws out his wallet, flashing his SHIELD badge. 'Agent Browning.' Ex-SHIELD agent turn crook. A favorite pastime is selling classify intelligent or weapons to the highest bidder. "Agent Browning, for an ex-SHIELD agent, you seem awfully indifferent to who we are," Agent Hartley says. Browning shrugs his shoulders, "What you are is the highest bidder. Whether you're in for-profit or HYDRA, it doesn't concern me. Not anymore." Hartley smiles, "That what we want to hear." "What is he selling?" Skye asks. "Intel on a 0-8-4," I tell her. Another undercover agent places a briefcase full of money on the table. Hunter shut the case close before Browning could reach for it, "The mystery I'd like to solve is, why should we be paying you so much? This looks like a box. Sorry, a photo of a box. A box you don't have." Browning eyes the two, "I worked in a SHIELD containment facility that has thousands of boxes like this. But this is the only one that has a level-10 classified file dedicated to it."
"You're selling us a needle in a haystack," Hartley says, annoyed. "Finding the haystack is on you. I know your reputation. I'm sure you'll be fine. What I don't appreciate is you changing the terms on me now," Browning complains. "We're asking for clarification, Browning. You're the one who changed the terms, bringing in more than the two guards we agreed upon," Hartley snaps. Browning looks at her, confused, "I only brought two." From out of nowhere, a large man charges forward, takes out the two guards, and snaps Browning's neck killing him. Hartley and Hunter pull their pistol and start to open fire on the man, but he doesn't go down. Grabbing Hunter, the man tosses him toward Hartley, takes the file, then he jumps out the window. One of the down guards recovers and aims his pistol. I drop him with a single shot. Dash to the window, "The other guy is gone. If he can survive a 25-foot drop, he's likely a SUPER." "This was supposed to be an undercover op. Why were you shadowing us?" Harley asks. "Coulson called us in to be your backup," Skye tells her, "Which you needed." I stare down at the dead man, "More like he needed it. Sucks for him." Skye calls Coulson, "Sir, the mark is down. Third-party, possibly HYDRA, and we're out in the open. What do you want us to do?" Coulson's voice comes through everyone's comlinks, "Go dark."
[SHIELD HQ, New York City]
[Living Area.] Unloading our gear, Hunter is still complaining about being shadowed. He has been at it the whole ride back. "Dude, if you're that salty about it, tell Coulson," I tell him off, getting annoyed. "Plus, we weren't sure you guys wouldn't run off with the money," Skye tells them. "Hunter, enough," Hartley says, "Browning said we were the highest bidder. Means he sent the word out wide." "And he paid for that mistake," May comments. Agent Billy Koenig walks in, "The Director wants you for debrief. He's in his office." We all turn to him. "Really? When did he get back?" Skye asks. "An hour ago," Billy tells us. "Did you inform him the enemy gone bulletproof?" I ask. "No, but May will," he turns to the senior agent, "He wants you to debrief him." May nods, "On my way." She walks up the stairs to Coulson's office.
[Locker Room.] As I'm unpacking the gear, Skye walks in. She turns me around, lifts my mask just over my nose, and places a kiss on my lips, a firm yet passionate kiss. She pulls away, "I've wanted to do that all day." I smirk, "Was it worth the wait?" "Definitely," Skye smiles. That moment Coulson walks in, a folder in hand. Skye turns and smiles at her mentor, "Sir." "Raijin. Skye," Coulson greets. He hands Skye the folder, "The man you encountered, all we know is his name. Carl Creel." Skye's face goes grim, "You want me to go down there to talk to him, do you? Get info." Coulson looks at Skye apologetically, "You're the only one who can." She a little heated but remain calm, "Is this really what it takes for you and I to get a one-on-one these days? Why now?" "Because the technology in play warrants it," Coulson says. Skye node, "On it." She storms out of the room with me right behind her.
Walking with Billy, he's explaining the holding cell security system. "There's an inertial confinement laser barrier down there, which is cool," he points to the controls, "Now, this button turns it soundproof, this button makes it opaque." Billy hands Skye the control tablet. She sighs, "Just tell me there's isn't an off button I could accidentally hit." "You'll be safe," Billy tells her. Skye turns to the door. "I could go down there with you." She smiles and shakes her head, "But then he won't talk. It has to be just him and me." I nod, despite not liking it, "I got your six." "I know you do," Skye walks through the doors.
[Skye POV]
I slowly make my way down the stairs to the dark bottom. The light switches on, illuminating the whole room. Standing in the solitary cell is Grant Ward. The one I never wanted to see or hear for the rest of my life. 'God, just looking at him, makes me sick.' This fuck who suppose to be our friend and teammate turned out to be nothing than a backstabbing murderer and HYDRA scum. "Hello, Skye. You're looking good," he says with a smirk. Without a word, I pull up a seat. "I told SHIELD I was willing to talk to you a week ago. To give you intel," he says, "Why now? Something bad happened?" "Like you care. Well, I didn't want to talk to you, but count yourself lucky today, I need intel. Carl Creel. What do you know?" "How have you been?" Ward answers my question with a question. I roll my eyes and start to head out, but Ward stops me. "Yes, I know about Carl Creel. A former boxer and hired muscle. Nicknamed The Crusher. Turns out any opponent has a glass jaw when you have a steel fist under your gloves. Creel can absorb the substance of anything he touches, and somehow consciously transform the molecules of his body into that substance." "How do we find him?" I ask. "You're a smart girl, Skye. Figure it out. I can't hold your hand for everything." The thought of him touching me again make my skin crawl.
[Raijin POV]
[Mission-room] "Sorry, Coulson, that was all I could get out of Ward," Skye says, feeling like she let SHIELD director down. "It's alright, Skye. In his own twisted way, he told us what we needed to know," Coulson states. Skye looks at her CO in confusion. Coulson starts to explain, "Creel's a hired muscle. He sells his talent to the highest bidder." Epyon tags a priority alert via my HUD. "I know where Creel's going," I say. Everyone turns to me. "Where?" Coulson asks. "The Vault," I tell him and the team. Coulson's face turns to a small panic, "Raijin, go and hold Creel off. The rest of us will meet up with you. He can not get his hands on any of those items." With a nod, I storm out of the office.
[The Vault, New York City]
[Rooftop.] An armored car speed down the street, pull into a warehouse. The HUD picks up multiple goons, all armed. Switching on the stealth-camo, I Infiltrate the building. [Inside.] The hired guns are spread out the warehouse, likely searching for this mysterious 0-8-4. In the security room, one of the goons has a security guard at gunpoint. "Where is it?! Where are you keeping the 0-8-4?!" the thug demands. "I don't know what that is. This is my first day," the security guard tells the man. The goon jams his gun to the man's head, "Don't you fucking lie to me, pig." Acting fast, I bolt into the office, throw my arms around the man's neck, putting him in a back-choke-hold. I turn to face the security guard, "Get out of here and get to safety. I'll deal with these assholes." The man nods and makes a break for the exit. Moving on, stalk to the two sentries by the armored vehicle. The guy on the life, I takedown with a stun-bolt to the head. Before the other one has the time to react, I jump-punch him in the face, knocking him out cold. Sense someone trying to attack me from behind. Duck low, take the man's back, swing two hard blows to the body, then finish him off with an elbow to the back of the head. Hearing the commotion, the other goons rush over. I jump over a crate, hip-throw a goon to the ground, draw my pistol, drop four more. "It's one of those freak heroes!" a man yells, charging forward, "Kill him!" Grabbing hold of the closest man, I toss him over to the thugs coming at me, knocking all three of them down. Suddenly a dead body is thrown at me. I jump out of the way as it hit the floor. To my shock, the dead man is the security guard I saved earlier. 'No. Damn it.'
Creel appears in view. I aim my weapon and unload a full mag into Creel's chest. The man barely flinches. 'Well, shit.' "Is that all you got, little man?" he mocks. Powering up the shock-knuckles, I sprint forward, hitting Creel in the face, forcing him to stagger back a bit. Back on his feet, Creel moves to chain guard and yanks it off the ground. He swings it at me like a fucking wrecking ball. The blow sends me flying to a nearby parked car. "Ow," I groan. Stand. Now I notice Creel's arm transform to the same substance the chain is made out of. He swings the chain ball again. I dodge the attack.
From my pack, I grab a few charges and pitch it at Creel. They attach to Creel's body, blasting him back toward the armored car. Touching the car, Creel absorbs the substance, transforming his body into reinforced steel. He grins, "Let's try that again." I charge him, hitting him with a jump-knee. Creel just takes the blow, and I fall on my ass. Grabbing me by the leg, Creel swings me around, throwing me to a pack of crates. I force myself to stand. Creel rushes forward. I drop under his attacking fist, jam a thumb to the only weak point of his body. His eye. The man shrieks in pain. Quickly, I grasp hold of Creel's head and electrify him with the full power of the shock-knuckles. Creel powers through the pain and takes hold of me in a tight bear hug, squeezing the life out of me, "You little fuck, I'm going to kill you slowly!" Freeing my arms, I start to punch Creel repeatedly. I manage to break free from his hold, slam his face down to my knee. Enraged, Creel grabs me by the throat and lifts me for his head, "I'm done playing around." Creel throw me through a wall. Just as I'm about to lose consciousness, I hear one of Creel's men yells out he found the 0-8-4. 'Damn it.' The darkness takes me.
[Skye POV]
I race the street in a car toward Raijin's GPS location. Parking in front of the warehouse, I quickly jump out of the car and run into the building, a tach-team following behind me. Gun at the aim, we walk through the empty hall until we reach the main section of the warehouse. "Raijin!" I call out. No answer. Laying sprawled across the ground are a few Unconscious hired goons along with one dead security guard. My eyes follow the trail of carnage until it reaches a wall with a gaping hole. I stop dead in my tracks as my gaze falls on Raijin's fallen form. "Oh, god," I say in a weak voice, kneeling next to him. Raijin wakes up, tries to force himself to stand but ends up losing his footing. I break his fall with my body, helping to support him, "I got you. I got you." "Creel. He got the 0-8-4," he says. "We'll deal with that later. We need to get you to a medic," I tell Raijin. He winces in pain, "Give me a sec." After a few seconds, Raijin's injuries start to heal.
[Later, SHIELD HQ, New York City]
[Mission-room.] "Good to see you're okay," Coulson says. "Yeah, but I couldn't stop Creel from getting his hands on the 0-8-4 or save that security guard. It's on me," Raijin states. "No, you did everything you could. We weren't prepared, and it cost us. A mistake that won't happen again," Coulson tells him. Karai walks in. She stops in her stride when she catches a look at Raijin, "What the hell happened to you?" "I want a few rounds with a freight train," he growls. "What are you doing here, Karai?" I query. She motions to Coulson, "Boss called me in. He filled me in on what's going down. Good thing too because I found something. Creel's employer is using an encrypted white noise frequency to communicate with him." "Can we track it?" Coulson asks. "Yes, but the catch is we need to wait until either Creel or the Employer to make contact to zero in on them," Karai informs us. Everyone sighs. "Well, it's better than nothing," I say.
[Raijin POV]
[Armory.] I sit at my locker, cleaning the sniper rifle we're going to use to take down Creel, even if it is only as a last resort. May not be a murderer, but killing a guy like that wouldn't bother me one bit. Hell, Creel wouldn't even be the first, nor will it be the last. Two sets of arms wrap around my shoulders from behind. I was so focused on the task I didn't even notice Skye walked in. Both of us stay like that for a long moment. I stand to face her, wasn't sure what drove me, but I needed her more than I ever needed anyone. We lock eyes. Without saying a word, she takes my hand and guides me out of the armory toward her room.
[Skye's room.] I close the gap between us. Her back brushes against the wall. Both our hearts are racing. Despite my excitement, I let Skye take the lead. We kiss passionately. My hands slide through the curvature of her waist down to her perfect shaped butt. A soft moan escapes her lips. She steps back and pulls up her shirt, exposing her black bra. I shed my shirts. Skye gazes at me, studying me, there a lustful smirk on her face. She runs her hands over my chest, then she takes me by the head and assists me to her chest, pulling the bra to the flesh underneath. I open my mouth and wrap my lips around her breast, sucking and nibbling it slightly. Skye let out a pleasurable cry. Taking me by my waistband, Skye pulls me toward the bed. We both discard the remaining of our clothes. The woman in charge drops herself back, pulling me down on top of her.
We both lay in bed, our bodies glistening. Skye has her head on my chest, an arm wrapped around me. "That was a nice stress release," she says. "Yeah, it was," I smirk. I feel Skye tracing a finger over a few of my scars, "I thought the BIO-ENHANCER don't leave scars." "It doesn't. It doesn't heal pre-existing scars." She looks up at me, surprised by the new information, "Oh." There's a quick moment of silence between the both of us. Skye mounts herself on top of me and places a soft kiss onto my lips. "I'm starting to think you're too good for me," she says, changing the topic. I smirk, "Funny, and here I thought you're the one who's too good for me." There's a knock at the door. Karai's voice cuts through from the other side, "Sorry to break up your fun time, but Creel made contact. Wheels up in five." Skye groans but still smiles, "Come on. Duty calls." She and I leave the bed and get ourselves ready.
[Battery Park, New York City]
[Care.] From inside a parked van in an alleyway, Skye and I watch Creel sits at a bench in a public park, facing away from a dark-haired man The HUD zooms in on the two men. By their lip movement, they're subtly talking to each other. "I got the package you hired me to get." "Well done, Mr. Creel, you will be well rewarded for your services. Now, slowly hand the packages over to me," the other man says. "Do we have an ID on the other guy?" Skye asks, aiming down a sniper rifle scope. "No ID as of yet," Triplett answers via comlink. Suddenly a gun is fired. Just as the bullet is about to strike Creel, he morphs his body into solid steel. The bullet bounces off his now steal skin. Panic and chaos quickly erupt. "Shot fired! Shot fired!" I shout, jumping out of the car. [Park.] Scanning the area, the 0-8-4 is nowhere to be found. Hell, even the dark-haired man, now running, is empty-handed. Creel and I locked eyes on each other. "You?" he growls. "Yeah, me. Let's try this again," I say, using Creel's words from our first fight." He charges forward, tackling me through a nearby hotel window. Using Creel's momentum against him, I manage to flip him onto his back with a roll-back-throw. Getting back onto his feet, Creel rain punishes. I block the strike and go on the offensive, I shoot blows at Creel's body. Enraged, he tags me with back-hand-fist across the face, dropping me. The brute moves on me. Creel shouts out in pain as he's shot from behind. Looking past Creel, I saw Skye unload three more armor-piercing rounds onto Creel's back. From out of nowhere, Karai jams a device onto the man. Creel's body starts to transform into different substances violently. Glass, metal, rock, diamond. Back in his human form, Creel drops unconscious to the ground. "Fitz and Simmons really know how to come through in a pinch," Karai comments. I nod in agreement. Skye throws herself on me, "Are you okay?" I smile at her, "Yeah, thanks to you and Karai."
[Zemo POV]
[HYDRA HQ, New York City]
Skeith kneels before me, holding out the obelisk that was stored in the 0-8-4 case. "What is it?" Zola question. I grin madly, "A component to my master design."