Initiative 2030
Chapter 29
"Can't they shut down the 'parody' twitter acconts?" Valeria Richards complained, the blonde haired woman walking to an event.
"Is that the Valeria Von Doom one? I think it's a riot," Olivia Dickson noted, the woman trailing her into the Washington event.
"Gee, thanks," Val sighed.
The black haired, slightly older woman gave her a amused look. "You knew this sort of thing came with the job," Olivia added.
"Yeah, yeah," Val sighed.
"Showtime," Olivia noted as they went into the hall filled with supporters.
Valeria slapped on her usual 'political smile' and went off to shake supporters hands. Olivia, aka the superheroine Thin, was filling in as security for her, as Daken was off on a mission. Interestingly, despite her somewhat caustic nature. Val actually liked her.
Dickson's family had been in politics for YEARS, on her mother's side of the family. She had even consulted with Valeria on her campaign, even though she didn't vote for her. Amusingly. She also was so connected that she could defy people like Gyrich and such...
"Zeke," Val nodded to the man as they each circulated.
Ezekiel Stane nodded back, "Ma'am. I heard the Russian Ambassador is suppost to attend?"
"He said. I think he'd dodging us, bluntly," Val admitted.
The recent Black Widow operation in Washington was something that the Ambassador did not want to get into. Not to mention the Russians expanding their superhuman program in general...
"Gyrich was looking for you too," Zeke added evilly.
Val rolled her eyes, "Ugh."
"Have fun," Zeke waved, moving off to talk to another guest.
Olivia reached her side after an hour, "Did you want to leave, ma'am?"
"GOD yes," Val sighed, having just escaped one of the most boring conversations ever with the Canadian Ambassador.
"James Hudson, formerly the hero Guardian, leader of Alpha Flight," Olivia noted. "Good man, shitty speaker."
"Ha," Val sighed.
"Shall I escort you home?" Olivia checked.
"Rushing me home? Got a date?" Val teased.
"Yes, actually. Ms America," Olivia admitted.
Valeria was faintly surprised that hadn't come up in a security briefing. Then again both women were used to covert ops too...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
James MacDonald Hudson hid a wince of pain as his cybernetics twinged. Once the super hero 'Guardian', his suit of battle armor had exploded while he was in it. Emergency surgery had saved his life, but left parts of the suit fused into his badly.
"Ambassador Hudson! Wait a moment!" a voice called.
James turned, seeing Zeke Stane hurrying up. "No, Mr Stane, I will not sell my Guardian Armor to you," he cut him off.
"I'll match anything the Canadian Government is paying," Zeke ignored the refusal.
"I'm not into it for the money, Mr Stane. No thanks." James shook his head.
Zeke ignored that, again."You drive a hard bargain. I'll toss in stock options too," he said, smiling slightly.
"NOT INTERESTED," James growled, then hurried to his waiting car.
"He looks unhappy," Bellona, his driver and bodyguard, noted.
"Tough," James noted. "No security issues?" he asked as he got in.
"Sasquatch called, he wants you to get back to him," Bellona said as she started the car, "Alpha Flight is on standby due to the Russian situation. Omega Flight as well."
"Got it. I'll call Walter," James said as he considered his driver.
Bellona was a engineered clone of Laura Kinney aks Wolverine, created by Alchemax as a assassin. She was arrested for murder in Canada, but was found not criminally liable due to psychological abuse and exposure to the bezerker rage causing 'trigger scent.' After a period of time in the rehabilitation program Omega Flight, she went to work as his aide/bodyguard.
"Hey, Jimmy," Walter Langkowski grinned from the viewscreen, looking as young and vbital as ever, annoyingly.
"Walt," James nodded, "what's going on?"
"The US is pushing us for info on the Kree settlement we allowed," Walt admitted.
"They were given Canadian citizenship. The US can pomd sand," James said wryly.
Walt laughed, "Fair enough. You'll likely have Gyrich coming after you over it, though."
James shrugged, "Goes with the job."
Walt hesitated, then asked, "Any news on Northstar and Aurora?"
James knew it was hard for the man to ask that, considering he disliked Northstar... and had loved Aurora at one point. "Both are staying in California with the X-Men." he sighed. "I'd like them back home, too," James added.
"... do you want me to try to talk to Heather for you?" Walt asked.
James sighed, "No, we're done. I know she's not interested in me any more, after everything that's happened." He then asked, "She's still running Omega Flight, right?"
"Hmm," Walt nodded. "After the whole 'being mind controlled' thing happened, she no longer totally trusts herself. Hernce, working with Omega Flight."
James winced. Heather had been mind controlled by the Master of the World, when he took over Canada. (Long story.) Under his control, she had murdered two of her relatives, who had attempted to get legal custody of Heather and his child. Everyone agreed Heather had not been in her right mind, but she blamed herself.
"Bellona menmtioned that there's another issue with the Russians?" James decided to change the subject.
"They're sending Crimson Dynamo suits on flybys over out territory up north," Walt told him, "SUPPOSEDLY there's been Wendigo sightings in the high arctic."
"I thought we exorcised those things, finally?" James frowned. He paused, "Maybe send Shaman, Talisman and Snowbird up there to check, just in case?"
"Will do," Walt agreed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Alaska was a beautiful place, called in ads 'The land of Intensity!' It was ALSO frigging cold and inhospitable to human life...
"WHO DID I PISS OFF TO GET ASSIGNED HERE?!"
Hellcat, the senior member of the Alaska Initiative team, NorthWatch, looked amused at his reaction. "Welcome to the bush leagues, Battlestar," she said mildly.
Lemar Hoskins nodded glumly, the man dressed in a stylized 'USA' design red and blue outfit and carrying an adamantium replica of Captain America's originakl triangular shield. "Thank you, ma'am," he said glumly.
Gladiatrix, his girlfriend Robin Braxton, shrugged as the taller redhead said, "At least we're together, huh?"
"There's that," Battlestar agreed.
"I understand you were unjustly blamed for the Dreamland mess," Hellcat noted.
Battlestar winced. He and Gladiatrix had been the highest ranking members of the security force there when Dreamland was raided. While everyone basically agreed there had been nothing he could do to fight off two full Avengers teams, someone had to take the blame. And sadly, he was it.
Hellcat patted him on the shoulder, "We won't hold it against you."
The Initiative base was similasr to many across the USA, with a meeting room, quarters, training facilities and so on. The bases were all built on the same plan, so it was easy to know where Hellcat was leading them.
"Welcome," Rescue II, the armored hero, waved hello. She removed her helm, revealing Dr Toni Ho, formerly of the US Avengers.
"Where's Thor Girl, Volcana and SMASH?" Hellcat asked.
"Out on patrol," Rescue II said briskly. "We ARE the first libne of defense if Russia makes a move, remember."
"Point," Hellcat admitted.
"I thought you were in Captain Americas faction? No offense," Gladiatrix asked Rescue II.
"None taken," Rescue II said. "While I politically disagree with President Richards, I don't feel I should take up arms against her."
"Plus you can send intelligence back to Cap by being in the system," Hellcat added mildly.
Rescue II just shrugged.
Battlestar blinked, "You know she's a double agent and you're okay with that?"
"I'm aware she MIGHT be," Hellcat noted. "And between you and me, I'd be more suspicious of Captain America's ex-sidekick."
"She's got you there, lover," Gladiatrix noted.
"Point," Battlestar admitted.
"Okay, on to business," Hellcat waved them to seats.
To be continued...
Notes: As of Nov 22, 2022, I'm assuming Twitter won't go down in flames. We'll see what happens.
Some fallout from the Black Widow stuff. Also, did some bits with Alpha Flight. ONE OF THESE DAYS I want to do a full Alpha Flight fanfic. I've always been weirdly fond of the team.
Did you know in the original Initiative comics, Alaska had ONE assigned hero? For a state larger than Texas? And it was just Hellcat?