MANHATTAN
SHIELD OPS CENTER
CONFERENCE ROOM
0600 HOURS
Fury was looking around the table at his…posse, like they would say in old westerns. He looked at his watch. He expected his reinforcements to show up at any time. He lit his cigar and puffed on it a couple of times.
"All right, people." Fury said pulling out a remote control. "Let's start the day off right and watch some news."
A wide screen TV was turned on, and there was a new broadcast on:
"In what can only be described as one of the bloodiest examples of gang warfare in recent history, several suspected members of different alleged criminal organizations were murdered last night, all over the city. The police refuse to comment, though our sources confirm that the night's carnage claimed around 200 lives in all. This could very well be connected to the slaughter that happened less than 30 hours ago in Staten Island. That incident also claimed the lives of dozens of people allegedly linked to organized crime. The mayor and the Chief of the New York Police Department will make a press conference later today."
"We gotta move fast." Fury said simply. "We have a headstart on the cops, but it's a matter o' time before they can get their shit together and catch up."
"Mayor's gotta be pissed." Shotgun said. "This gang war's gonna hurt the tourism industry. Huh. Wonder what Giulaini's thinkin' right now."
"He may have cleared out the hookers and the squeegee bums." Castle said. "He may have cleaned the graffiti off the walls-"
"Nevermind the new fuckin' smokin' laws. Can you believe that shit?" Fury said.
Castle finished: "-the real scum are still there. They simply became more careful. More underground."
"Uh huh." Shotgun said. " If I didn't know better, Frank, I'd say you a bit annoyed by that."
Castle shrugged. "I just have to look harder to find them."
"And the time wasted looking for them is time you could use to kill more of them, right?" Widow said, with a subtle hint of irony in her voice. "Cuts down on your time-efficiency, doesn't it?"
"Right." Castle said. "Nice to be with surrounded by people who understand me."
Shotgun let out a chuckle. "You somethin' else, Frank. You really are somethin' else."
Elektra listened quietly without comment. She looked detached. Distracted. If Fury didn't know better, he'd think that she was bored and couldn't give a fuck about all this. But he knew her senses were fully alert and sharp as a katana.
"Hey, what about that bad ass US Marshal dude?" Shotgun asked. "The one huntin' my man down? What's up with him?"
"Franklin?" Fury said. "No news from him. I did hear the cops had a prisoner like we did."
"You are spying on the police?" Widow asked.
"I'm a spy, Romanov. "Fury said. "That's what spies do. Sometimes, the ends justify the means. You know that better than anyone."
"Unfortunately, I do." Widow said. "You think their prisoner talked?"
"Unlikely." Fury said.
"Yeah. Most cops ain't got Frank's way with words." Shotgun said. "Or with power tools."
"Even if they had the info, even if the asshole did spill his guts." Fury said. " Once they knew what they were up against, they'd did need some serious time assembling the manpower and the firepower to take them out. And armoured vehicles, and the whole fuckin' shebang."
"Do we know where the enemy is?" Widow asked.
"Glad ya asked, Romanov. Thanks to Castle's interrogation techniques, we got some solid intel."
Fury once again clicked on a remote control. The picture on the screen changed.
"This is a satellite picture of where the fuckers are stashed away. This is based on the info…uh…volunteered by our prisoner." Fury said. "One of the storage warehouses near the waterfront. As you can see, there's a lot of them. A hell of a lot. Between 100 and 150. Heavily armed. Most of these assholes have special forces training."
"And they got enough guns to make Charlton Heston jealous." Shotgun said. "I suppose we got SHIELD to thank for them pictures?"
"You could say that." Fury said.
"I don't mean to nag and repeat myself. " Black Widow said. "But-"
"We need some back up. I agree. " Fury said.
An electronic alarm rang in the room. The image on the screen changed again. It showed helicopters landing on the rooftop. Fury grinned widely around his cigar.
"And here they are." Fury said. He turned the screen off.
After several minutes –of what Fury knew were security verifications – the door to the conference opened. Everybody in the room recognized the new arrival. It was hard not to. The skin-tight silver outfit, the long white-silver hair, the cold and determined blue eyes, the swagger and confidence of someone who's faced and defeated many of the most dangerous people in the world. And because of that, BECAME one of the most dangerous people in the world.
Shotgun smiled:" This gig just keeps getting' better and better."
Fury observed the group's reaction. Castle almost raised an eyebrow, which was his version of screaming "Holy shit!"
Black Widow was almost as unreadable, but Fury saw signs that she approved.
Elektra smiled. She looked detached and amused at the same time. Even if she weren't the world's top assassin, she'd still be a weird fuckin' broad.
Fury.:" I think all of you recognize Silver Sable. You know everybody here, Sable?"
The world famous mercenary scanned the room.
"Interesting group you have here, Fury." Sable said. "I could retire out of the bounty hunting business bringing in any ONE of these people to some interested clients."
"I'd love to see you try, babe." Shotgun said.
Sable seemed to brush off Shotgun's retort.
"But, even if I am a paid professional" Sable went on, "This man we're after is the sort of man my father hunted when he started this business, over 60 years ago. "
"War criminals." Widow said.
"Exactly." Sable said.
"Appreciate you answerin' the call as fast as you did, Sable. "Fury said.
"When I get a call from the head of SHIELD, I can manage to clear my agenda." Sable said. "I also managed to a few of my best soldiers. No rookies. All battle tested, experienced warriors."
Fury knew all about Sable's Wild Pack. They weren't all present.
There was a slender Asian woman. Her hair cut short. Amy Chen. Born during the war in Vietnam. Her parents were killed by American soldiers which sold her off to become a sex slave. She freed herself by killing her captors and since then became an assassin. Until Silver Sable International came along and recruited her. Expert martial artist and swordswoman.
A muscular Latino man was next to her. Short hair, goatee. Raul Quintano. Born in East L.A.. Where he was known as G-Wiz (Gangsta Wizard) for his skills at fixing up anything electronic and mechanical. Former street thug and prize fighter. Recruited by Silver Sable International when they decided to tap his potential. Street smart and tough.
Then there was the man known as Crippler. Subtle nickname. Big, muscular guy with a good heart and a sadistic edge. Good marksman ship, but likes to beat people up with his batons.
"You briefed them?" Fury said.
"When you send someone to what could be their death, they deserve to know why." Sable said. "I also made sure they were all single with no children and no families."
"So there wouldn't be shattered families because of this job? Or relatives wanting to find out what happened to their kin?" Widow asked.
"That." Sable said. "Plus it's cheaper for my company to arrange funerals that will have no attendees."
Shotgun chuckled.
"You're all heart, Sable." Fury said.
"Only if I can afford to be. " Sable said. Then the irony left her voice. "Do we know where they are? Do we have a plan?"
"We were workin' on that when ya got here" Fury said, "So have a seat and let me fill ya in."
"Do we get hurt people?" Crippler asked.
"Oh, yeah." Fury said.
"Sweeeeeeeeeeet. When do we start." Crippler asked.
Chen remained expressionless. Quintano shook his head. This seemed like a tired routine for them. It lightened up the atmosphere some. Even Widow cracked a small smile. Elektra kept her look of detached amusement.
Castle was cold and unreadable. The ultimate buzz kill.
"Fury." He said. " We have work to do. And maybe little time to do it."
That voice killed and chilled the atmosphere. It became at once sombre and business like.
"All right, troops." Fury said. "Let's look at that plan."