You don't understand yet but I really want to get to Camp SHIELD.

Year Three: The Second Dissertation Ordered

Group Chat - SA Babes
Members: Daniel, Merida, James, Angela, Xavier

Xavier: Have your SOs assigned anything yet?

Daniel: No.

Angela: Not yet.

Merida: Haven't asked and don't plan to.

Angela: Has yours?

Daniel: It's something bad, isn't it? Why else are you asking?

Xavier: I'm Operations' head counsellor for Camp SHIELD.

Merida: YO! NOW IM NEVER ASKING!

Angela: Oh god… I almost forgot Camp was happening.

Merida: Ha, those stupid freshies.

Daniel: It was nice knowing you, Xavier.

Xavier: I have to read a whole damn book on my "responsibilities and duties"

Xavier: God, this sucks.

James: Hey, I'm Camp's head of Sci-Tech! Read that book for me too.

Xavier: … someone kill me.

-o-

Wakanda's Royal Training Room - 14:12 PM

Iqadi woke up this morning feeling ready to get back into her training. She wasn't sure what she did the night before but she has this energy in her veins she wants to burn.

She went slow because her father wouldn't let her overexert herself and she cooperated. It felt good to spar and train again. It reminded her of the good days when she enjoyed breaking a sweat and growing stronger and better at her life's work.

Iqadi knew she wouldn't be back to where she was before her miscarriage. Mid-spar, she knew something was different about her form and caught onto it early on. She would be more hunched over like she's about to pounce but then she realized she's protecting her abdomen. Maternal instinct, she guessed, despite knowing nothing's in there and hasn't been in there for months.

That's the moment she stopped herself. She lasted longer than she thought but she couldn't take it anymore. Her eyes flicker to her father who she can tell by his soft face that he knows why she's frozen on the spot.

"Father, this is so hard," Iqadi says, wrapping her arms around her torso, bending forwards.

Her body convulses, unsure whether she's crying or catching her breath. She's calm again when she feels her father's hands on her shoulders. He rubs them for a few seconds before holding her and kissing the top of her head.

"I can only say I know but I can't understand your pain the way you do," T'Challa whispers to her, "but you're the strongest woman I know so you will make it out of this."

-o-

Communications Rec Room - 11:58 AM

Since Merida had another class in Communications in about thirty minutes, she had no choice but to hang out with Victoria for now. When Agent Iyu changed her schedule around and gave her more Communications classes, she made them all with Victoria. Merida had a hunch that Agent Iyu made her first assignment as befriend goddamn Victoria without telling her. It makes sense since Victoria was so adamant about becoming friends.

She has to find out.

"So what do you think Agent Iyu's first assignment for us will be?" Merida asks as they wait in line at the concessions stand. "You know, assuming she'll want us to work together."

Victoria shrugs as she picks a bottle of some health juice Merida couldn't be bothered to be interested in. It doesn't help that Victoria buys her the red version while she got the green one.

"My roommate's SO has three cadets under his watch," Victoria says as she puts their bottles on the counter to pay. "None of them are working together. I don't even think she knows them. Anyways, from what she told me, one had to sit at their SO's dropbox and collect the essays as people handed them in, needing to mark off 10% if someone was even a second late."

"Geez." Merida is glad she doesn't have that job. She'd love to deduct marks and watch people bargain with her but not sit there and wait. "What about your roommate?"

"She's going to Camp."

"Communications head-counsellor?"

"Nope. She's either a regular counsellor for Sci-Tech or helping her SO with administrative stuff there. Oh, I should've mentioned, my roommate is doubling in Communications and Sci-Tech and her SO is in Sci-Tech."

Merida nods, not getting any information about Victoria's possible knowledge on their first assignment being to build a friendship. Maybe Victoria was onto her since one of her dream agent jobs was to be an interrogator.

"Did you want to go to Camp?" Victoria asks. "I'm sure Iyu could pull some strings."

Merida shakes her head as she takes her juice once Victoria pays. "Two of my friends already got conscripted so I was just asking."

-o-

Sci-Tech Faculty Building - 12:17 PM

Daniel's so tempted to ask his SO if she's after Emily's scholarship money (which consisted of hers, Apollo's, and Britney's). It's over a million dollars which any and every department wanted, even just a bit. Given that his SO seems exuberant and pointed out that she knows he's the mysterious fiancé, maybe she's expecting it. What if his first assignment is to get a cut of the money?

He got an email from Dr. BV scheduling a meeting and he's now standing in her office as she walks in from a coffee break.

"So, what do you want to know?" Violet asks, folding her arms across her chest with a smile.

Daniel isn't sure what to say since he came since she scheduled this meeting.

"Are you sending me to Camp SHIELD?" He asks instead of about Emily. It's the second question on his mind since Xavier and James are being sent there.

Violet raises a brow that peeks just above her bright red glasses. "No … do you want to go?"

"Oh god no." He laughs a little out of relief and his SO joins. "I was scared since two of my friends' SOs are making them go."

"I would never make you do that." She circles her desk. Violet glances over her papers on top before looking at Daniel again. "I was planning for next year and asked Director Fury for suggestions on what I can do with you."

Daniel nods. He's happy that Fury didn't suggest to go to Camp but what if he's getting something worse?

"What did he say?" Daniel asks.

"Director Fury almost ordered that I make you my TA for next year which is what I was thinking but then he added a reason," Violet starts, a maniacal smile starting to form. "He says you're in his debt."

"Yup." He couldn't forget that.

"Now I'm curious about what you asked him for. What did you, Avenger baby, want from the Director of SHIELD?"

"I negotiated with him so I could get an engagement ring."

Daniel and Fury made a deal that he'll get the money and have a portion of his future TA salary be cut as repayments. No interest, which was the best part. Now that his SO knows his plan, he expected her to look down at him despite being shorter but her maniacal smile becomes sickeningly sweet.

"Fury's such a sap," she states. "Look, Banner, I would love to make you my TA even without Fury's input but you have to do something for me first because I can't just give you the position."

His first assignment. "What's that?"

Daniel expected this part of the conversation since it sounds like Xavier's retelling of his before he started packing his bags.

"It'll be your only assignment for the year, even extending into the summer if you need it," she adds.

Daniel doesn't like the sound of that at all. "What is it?"

"Have you started your second express Ph.D.?"

Daniel stands frozen. Camp SHIELD doesn't look so bad now. It's the fact that his SO said that so sudden and casually that unnerves him as if he should've already had one or at least started. He's been meaning to get another one but couldn't pick a focus. But this assignment is good. Dr. BV will give him a research question and direction.

"Your research subject and choice is up to you," she says.

Never mind.

-o-

Edison Residence - 14:25 PM

"Babe, this is great for you," Angela says as she watches James pack for Camp SHIELD.

She sits on Daniel's bed since it's the bottom bunk beside his carry-on suitcase, folding clothes and properly packing the things he throws over his shoulder from his closet or his drawers.

"I told you I'd get my shit together for third year," James boasts. "I paid attention in my combat classes since everyone is out to kill me so I have to defend myself. Now I'm the head counsellor for Sci-Tech."

"If only I could see you in charge," Angela adds.

James looks up from his dresser and sees Angela grinning at him. Then he realizes that he won't see her for a month or even contact her since Camp SHIELD is in Ohio wilderness.

"Dammit, I have to handle things on my own," James says as he walks over to her on his bed.

"What a shame," Angela teases as he leans down and kisses her.

He's about to climb onto her but Daniel bursts in unexpectedly. James jumps and curses when he hits his head on the bottom of his bunk. Angela falls back and James shrinks and flies to the floor to avoid falling on her. He grows back to his normal size, glaring at Daniel as he rubs the back of his neck. He's even more peeved that Daniel didn't notice what he interrupted.

"My SO's only assignment for me is to get another Ph.D.," Daniel whines.

Angela and James stare at him.

"At least that wasn't James's assignment," Angela says with a small laugh.

James nudges her leg. "Forget Daniel, that comment killed the mood."

-o-

Hudson Residence - 16:03 PM

Xavier had to call his parents before he left for Camp SHIELD so they would know why he wouldn't answer their calls or texts for the next month. Angela would tell them if that happened but then he'd get in trouble for not telling them. His mother would fly to Camp to make him explain himself.

Steve: It's a month away from campus. It's basically summer camp. You've been there before.

Peggy: It's a vacation.

Steve: Exactly. You'll get to relax this time.

Peggy: Pull some pranks on Sci-Tech, watch your cadets suffer - it's fun.

"Doesn't sound fun," Xavier grumbles as he throws his bag by the door. His parents heard that through speakerphone. "It's Camp and James is the head counsellor for Sci-Tech."

It's silent and Xavier thought he lost the call but when he checks, his parents are still there but processing.

Peggy: Xavier, listen to me carefully. You're the head counsellor of Operations.

Steve: Destroy Pym.

Xavier didn't realize he could do that because he was too busy moping. He can't wait to leave for Camp.

-o-

Outside Darwin Library - 16:37 PM

Daniel gave his parents the spiel about his SO's first assignment being to get his second dissertation. He called Emily first and asked for suggestions but she offered math since she likes it and it'll be simple. Daniel didn't want to do math but didn't tell Emily that, especially since she found that out by the change in his tone. Then he called his parents since they have a plethora of combined expertise.

Betty: Why not do math?

Daniel narrows his eyes. "I don't want to do it in math. Emily suggested it."

Bruce: Because it's a good idea.

Betty: And she's right. If you want something simpler, do math.

"Yeah," Daniel says, "I know she's right."

Bruce: So what's the problem?

Daniel sighs. "I don't know. I think I'm stressed because I didn't plan to do one until later."

Betty: I like your SO. She's making you do one.

"Not helpful, Mom."

Bruce: You just got it assigned today and you have a year to complete it.

After saying he'll call them back when he thinks of something, Daniel sees Keith leaving the library and walks over to him.

"What happened to you?" Keith asks. "Did you get shipped to Camp?"

Daniel shakes his head. "My SO is making me do a second dissertation." He narrows his eyes when Keith whistles downhill. "I'm open to ideas."

"Mine is in computer science." He narrows his eyes when Daniel shrugs uninterested. "Why not do something your SO specializes in?"

"I thought of that and so did my parents and fiancée but I'm not so sure. They also suggested math."

Keith nods. "That'll be quick."

"They said that too. My fiancée was very persuasive for math but because she loves it."

Keith stares at him without blinking. "Your fiancée loves math? You're engaged to a goddess."

Daniel scoffs. Sci-Tech's goddess. "You have no idea. What is your SO having you do?"

"Lame stuff. I have to transcribe charts and data for his research journals and I'm not even getting credit. Not even as a footnote."

Daniel winces. "That sucks."

Keith shrugs, still petty about it. "Ah well, what can I do?"

"Transcribe charts and data."

"I was thinking reporting him to the board or publishing everything with the wrong results."

"...or that."

"I'll lose my mind. No, wait, I've been fixated on those stupid numbers and graphs for a week so my mind's already gone."