As hinted in the previous chapter, we will finally be having an adventure with the wonderful Genevieve binti Mikhail, our final SA rando who still hasn't been introduced in that story. And based on the arc's title, you know who's dealing with her.

Chapter 178: Gen & Pym's Vacation Hideaway Part One

James (and Angela's) Condominium, Upper East Side - 7:02 AM

"Called in?" James asks through a yawn. He pushes all his work on the countertop to the side and stretches as Angela walks through the kitchen. He only guessed she got summoned by SHIELD since she's in her uniform.

"Base in the South wants Xavier and me," Angela responds as she grabs a quick glass of water.

"Skip it. Let Xavier go on his own."

She smiles through her sip as she walks beside him, glancing at his work. "Why? Got any plans? You seem busy."

"SHIELD actually called me in for other reasons, and Apollo and Sigyn for something else, but I wanted to hang out with you."

"Aw," Angela kisses him "we'll hang out after. What were you working on?"

"My dissertation from our first year at the Academy."

Angela pauses. She stands beside him, looking at his work which was a mess of diagrams and equations. "We're definitely hanging out after."

-o-

Location Classified - 8:22 AM

James probably should've slept but he couldn't and now he regrets it. The stupid pins in his knee kept him up all night so that's why he was out working on his dissertation.

Now he's sitting in the debriefing room with a holographic council member projected in front of him. He can barely tell who it is since he's seeing many versions as if the projector glitched and his head keeps bobbing as if he's about to pass out. It's all giving him tunnel vision.

Councilman Rosario: Agent Pym, are you listening?

"Yes," James responds although they all know he was half-asleep. Now he swears he's awake.

Councilman Rosario: As I've been saying, we had to send an agent off the grid following their position being compromised. The details on their case are classified but they were decrypting vital information for us until they were forced to stop.

"Why?" James asks. Aside from being curious, it looks like he's paying attention to his mission.

Councilman Rosario: Death threats. Our agent might be in danger so you'll be sent there as protection. Coordinates have been inputted on your quinjet and we'll send you the hideaway location when you land.

"This is very vague," James points out.

Councilman Rosario: Classified and confidential in case anything happened to you on the way there.

James sucks in a breath. Wouldn't be the first time he's heard similar lines from SHIELD. "Comforting."

-o-

Somewhere in Lecanto, Florida - 10:14 AM

James was thrilled that he landed in Florida. After he got his car, a snazzy bright yellow convertible he pulled out of his pocket. He carried it in the size of a small toy car and grew it back to its regular size. He inputs the address on the GPS and he watches the computer system point out a house in a small country about an hour from the airport. He picks up an iced coffee along the way and was cruising through the interstate with his shades.

James glances at his duffel bag in the passenger's seat before focusing back on the road. SHIELD told him to pack light, just some casual wear for warm weather. He didn't need to pack weapons since he has his bioelectricity blasts but he brought his Pym particle discs just in case.

Besides, he's just patrolling a house and keeping an eye on a compromised agent. He's basically on vacation.

To pass the time, he brought his incomplete dissertation from the Academy to work on. Before Emily and Daniel got married, he and Angela spoke about his resigning from SHIELD and working for his parents, and he's always had a fear of completing his dissertation and disappointing his father since quantum entanglement is basically his field. But now? He's determined to finish it and shove it in SHIELD's face once he gets that doctorate and then put in a two weeks' notice. Or become a consultant like Stark since SHIELD has such a hold on him.

Before James got called for this mission, he stayed up all night piecing together his arguments and research, scribbling through graphs. He lost track of what he was arguing and could barely convince himself of whatever his thesis was. He isn't even sure he knows what quantum entanglement is anymore. Spooky physics, sure, but not whatever his dad spent his life working on.

Kept him distracted from the pain in his knee.

He didn't even know it was morning until SHIELD called him to come in and he saw the time followed by Angela dressed for work. He could even sleep in the quinjet since he was flying it and, even with the autopilot, he had to be somewhat attentive (which is why he continued his dissertation instead).

And now he's here in Florida … and going the wrong way so he quickly turns around.

-o-

James exits the interstate and enters the street of the hideaway house. He stops at the entrance of the gated community and enters the pin code SHIELD gave him once he landed. When the gates open, James drives through. He's slower as he looks at each side, checking the number of the houses so he knows where to go.

All the houses beyond the gates were small sprawling bungalows. Perfectly manicured lawns with bright tropical plants and an American flag waving from somewhere on the property. It's a small county far from the major cities like Tampa or Miami so James knew what to expect from the neighbours, who were regular citizens (at least on the surface). A demographic of mostly Caucasian retirees, most likely veterans. He drove past some of them who were either coming home from grocery shopping or tweaking their gardens out front.

James pulls over when a man waves at him. It was just welcoming but James figured he could ask for some help.

"I'm looking for 178," James says.

"178?" The man questions with a deep Southern accent, looking up the street. "You the renter?"

"Something like that," James responds with a cheeky smile. It was likely either one of SHIELD's secret properties to hide agents or they actually rented it out. "Double-booked. Happens all the time, doesn't it?"

"Tell me about it." The man laughs. "Just keep going up. It's a lovely property with a cactus at the end of the driveway, big tree in the front that covers the house. I saw the other person arrive about a week ago."

"Really?" James questions.

He couldn't help but wonder why he's sent here now if the agent he's sent to watch was already here for some time, especially if this agent was receiving death threats. He doesn't feel right about this mission.

"Do they seem friendly?" James questions with a bright smile. "Kinda wanna know what I'm walking into and supposedly spending my vacation with, you know? Especially since my girlfriend couldn't join me. She got called into work at the last minute and didn't want me to waste our reservation. Security deposits and all that."

Years of lying to his parents about his after-school plans regarding "study sessions" when he was really going to parties (they knew he was partying but just lied about where and with whom), combined with SHIELD training to build rapport with strangers made James a self-proclaimed expert in the subject. A little truth covering a lie? That and a flashy smile.

"I don't think your girlfriend will have to worry," the man whispers.

The phrase and tone of voice intrigue James. It sounds like the current tenant in the house he's supposed to visit already made first impressions in the county which can't be good. Maybe that's why SHIELD shipped him over.

"I haven't spoken to her," the man continues. Her, James notes. "Pretty woman, anyone would tell you that, but there's something unapproachable about her. Sharp, even, like unapproachable."

"Guess the cactus on the lawn is fitting," James jokes as he starts his engine again.

"I don't know what a woman like her would be doing in this part of town."

"I say the same thing about myself. Thanks for the help."

"Enjoy your stay!"

James waves as he continues driving up the street. Once he spots the giant cactus and tree, he sees the rental car in the driveway. He parks his car on the curb of the road. James hesitates on bringing his bag in but he figures he'll meet the agent first and see who he's working with. He walks up the driveway, not noticing the actual appearance of the house. It resembles the other ones in the community, but it's muted yellow brick. At least it matches his car.

James knocks on the door, standing back. He pats his pockets for his SHIELD ID badge and curses when he realizes he left it in the car. When he turns around, he stops when he hears the door open and a gun cocked at him.

James turns back and almost laughs at the scene in pure disbelief. At least he doesn't need his SHIELD badge since they know each other. Out of all the agents in all the places in the world, he isn't surprised that it's Agent Genevieve binti Mikhail pointing a gun at him. He knows she's been wanting to do that since the Academy.

Everything about the sharp exterior makes so much more sense now. And now he's stuck in Redneck Florida expected to watch her.

"You've got to be kidding me," Gen states in annoyance as she lowers her gun.

James laughs. "I hate this mission already."

I've been to Lecanto, Florida so I'm picking from my experience there for this arc.

What a great start to the New Year.