Mr Stark (Howard, as he kept insisting), Dr Wilkes, and Dr Samberly had taken more scans than Moira could count, more blood than she would have thought possible to live without, and asked more questions than she could recollect. When they were done, she was shepherded into one of the standard bunks for on-site personnel members, after being told it was too late – or more accurately too early – to travel home. It was also wise not to drive back to the city given the last test had involved Samberly shining lights into her eyes for several minutes. Bright spots still flashed behind her eyelids when she blinked.
Thankful to have a room to herself, Moira dropped onto the bottom bunk and leaned her head back against the smooth stone wall. There was a short thrill when the situation stirred a feeling of familiarity but it quickly disappeared, offering no flashes of forgotten memories.
Moira took a deep breath as she contemplated the day ahead. She was going to be an agent again. Going through another induction and more training. Hopefully, unlike last time, the new S.H.I.E.L.D recruits wouldn't spend the whole course at the academy tormenting her for having her reproductive organs on the inside. In response to their jibes that the closest she would ever get to agent status was to sleep with one of them, she went and got one of the highest scores on record. Much to her team's displeasure.
She stood up to take off her suit before settling under the covers. Dr Wilkes had offered to find her some clothes for tomorrow but, in case he forgot, it wouldn't do for it to get wrinkled. As her mother always said, first impressions are the most lasting. Agent Carter had told her on the journey down to the labs that if she was willing she would need to go through an induction tomorrow, originally scheduled for some entry-level scientists, which she would need to complete before she could be assigned to a superior officer.
"It's nothing too complicated." Carter had explained. "Just some routine history on the organisation, an explanation of the various divisions and what to expect during your training."
"How long will my training last?"
"Given your experience with the CIA there should be some areas you are already adept at – but you should be prepared for it to last a while. We'll make sure it's worked around whatever the doctors come up with. I'm sure if we gave them their way you'd be down there all the time. They do love their tests." She sighed, well familiar with their antics. "I've worked with Howard since the war and when he's confronted by something of a conundrum he really does devote himself to it. He'll have you in the lab fairly regularly until he's found a solution."
Lucky me, Moira had thought idly. She'd had her fair run of physical examinations, both at the academy and during her time as an agent; despite the regularity, she had never grown to like them.
"What does S.H.I.E.L.D training entail?" Moira asked as they turned into a maintenance stairwell and proceeded downstairs.
"For a field agent you'll receive relative strength training, language tuition – although Fury informed me you already speak proficient Russian, so that may not be necessary – then there's instruction in weapons handling, martial arts or boxing are also common options. Although that really all depends on your superior officer and what they advise. Your test scores from the CIA prove you're already efficiently trained in the basics so, personally, I'd move you straight into more specialised fighting styles."
"Being a field agent involves a lot of action then?" She inferred.
Carter stopped at the entrance to the laboratories. "If that's something you're opposed to, we could move you into reconnaissance or into a team, something less physically demanding?"
"No, no I'm not opposed to that. And I'm glad of the opportunity to learn more, I just..." Moira breathed, "I'm just wondering how peaceful an organisation you are if your standard training programme involves martial arts or boxing?"
"The CIA offers boxing electives." Carter defended.
"Yes, but they are elective." And something she wasn't given access to as a female agent.
"S.H.I.E.L.D will never force you to do something you don't want to. But we do want to ensure that you are prepared and capable of keeping yourself, and those around you, safe."
Carter held the door open for her and ushered her into a lab that must have spanned half the length of the first floor.
"I suppose boxing could be interesting," Moira admitted.
Tossing onto her side, Moira took a deep breath before flipping the light switch by her head off. It didn't make much of a difference to the brightness of the room; the yellow streetlights outside the barracks streamed through the uncovered window. She turned over to face the wall. Her eyes were closed for half a minute before they opened again.
As ridiculous as it sounded, she felt like it was the first day before school. Except, instead of school, she had signed up to work for yet another intelligence agency. An agency where she would be working on more cases like the Hellfire Club. Encountering, what? More mutants, more people with powers – natural or manmade?
She was effectively forced out of the Mutants Division. For what, her humanity? At least S.H.I.E.L.D was run by and populated by her own species who didn't expect her to have powers and fight psychopaths determined to start a new world order by killing all humans. Well, she might still be expected to fight psychopaths.
Carter made it sound like she would have the opportunity to learn some incredible things. Moira had always been jealous at the academy by the men who went into the boxing club. Her superiors had argued she couldn't partake as there were no other women for her to fight, and it would be unfair to pit her against a man. Now she could learn it. Maybe another language too, something she had long wanted to do.
Yet there was still something that didn't sit right with her. A feeling that worried away at her, twisting in her gut. A feeling, much like she had experienced when she'd entered the bunks and had experienced a moment of familiarity with the situation. Was it possible a ghost of memory was enough to make her feel this way? That, despite missing the memory, something about her time in the Mutants Division was enough to leave her apprehensive about joining S.H.I.E.L.D?
Another question she would have to leave unanswered until – if – she got her memories back.
She tried to think rationally. What was it about S.H.I.E.L.D that worried her? There was the fact that she still didn't really understand much about the organisation or what her part in it would be. Was it also possible that even without her memories she still felt a loyalty to Xavier and the other mutants? And was that loyalty even her own or something that had been implanted in there when he'd rooted through her mind? To stop her from doing what she potentially would. To inform an intelligence agency about the mutants. To give away their secrets.
Shuffling until she was on her back, Moira's eyes clenched shut as the yellow light crossed her face again.
She could still walk away.
"Moira?"
Eyes snapping open, the yellow light had been replaced by soft sunlight, slightly shadowed by Agent Carter who was hovering next to her bed.
"I did try to wake you by knocking. You're due in the conference hall in half an hour." She apologised.
"I don't even remember falling asleep." Moira murmured, sitting up.
"I guess we should put alarm clocks in here. I'll just leave you to get dressed. There are some toiletries in the drawers if you need it. Meet me in the hall when you're ready." Carter said before taking her leave.
Wilkes hadn't lived up to his promise to get her some fresh clothes. Evidently, Carter was right. Give scientists a puzzle to crack and everything else falls by the wayside. Thankfully after brushing her hair through and putting her suit back on she still looked presentable, if a little ruffled.
Carter passed her a bagel when she opened the door. "Howard had them flown in from New York."
"Thank you," Moira said. Agent Carter didn't seem to find that strange, so such luxury must be fairly commonplace which she found quite amusing.
"Are you giving the induction?" She asked. Moira found it rather strange that the co-founder of the entire organisation was not only escorting her to a routine induction for new recruits but was also waking her up and giving her breakfast.
"No, someone else will."
"Oh. Well, I'm sure I can find the room if you have something else to..." she trailed off under Carter's scrutinising gaze. "Is something the matter?"
"Once the session is over Howard wants you in the lab again. Apparently, he had some equipment brought in from Stark Industries to run more tests with." She replied, looking forward again.
"All right," Moira said unsurely, making quick work of her bagel to fill the rest of their silent walk. Despite her offer, she doubted she could get to the conference room alone after the number of corridors they turned down to get to there. Without Carter, Moira was positive she would have lost her way. The S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters were impressively large. It really was incredible their organisation managed to remain secret.
"Pay close attention," Carter said as means of goodbye, leaving her at the door. "I'll be testing you later."
Eventually, eleven other recruits joined her. As promised they were all scientists but the induction was generalised and covered the scope of the organisation. Specialists – which, after hearing the outline of training Carter had provided, appeared to be Moira's career trajectory – were entry-level three. According to this structure, there were six levels in total, although, given the command structure Moira had seen so far, she was positive there had to be higher clearance levels. Evidently so high no one could know that they existed.
The lecture involved a loose history about the S.S.R, Super Soldier's Initiative and Hydra before progressing onto the establishment of S.H.I.E.L.D and the roles played by Stark, Carter and Phillips in its foundation and current operations. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Rick Stoner, was touched on but there was no mention of Agent Fury. If he were a simple liaison as claimed, it would make sense no references were made to him, but Moira felt that his responsibilities in the organisation were more complicated than that, given his role among the other powerful players during her interview yesterday.
Carter's role in the establishment of S.H.I.E.L.D surprised her immensely as the speaker went into depth about her role with the S.S.R, Howling Commandos and working alongside Captain America – who was real, with a picture to prove it – to defeat Hydra. By all accounts, she was a highly skilled field operative who did the majority of the groundwork in building the organisation after Stark and Phillips came up with the novel concept. The three of them quickly promoted S.H.I.E.L.D from a U.S. to an international agency, coming under the authority of the United Nations, giving it near global authority. Frankly, it was a complete wonder how she, an ex-CIA agent, had never heard of it. To function on that scale, the operation must be enormous.
By the time the lecturer had finished, Moira was feeling that her reaction when entering the meeting yesterday was decidedly inadequate.
Letting the scientists, who were already discussing their upcoming work, pass before her she found herself sharing half smiles with the other female recruits who walked past her. Maybe S.H.I.E.L.D was the place for her after all.
Agent Carter was sitting primly in one of the armchairs outside in the waiting area. Moira almost felt star-struck and, judging by the double-takes from the other recruits, she wasn't the only one.
"Now then," Carter began, a wry grin crossing her face, "what does S.H.I.E.L.D stand for?"
"Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division." Moira replied slowly, doubting her answer the entire time she gave it. It really was a ridiculously long name.
"Who created the Super-Soldier Serum?"
"Dr Erskine."
"Who was the first person to take the serum?"
"Johann Schmidt… also known as Red Skull." She added, trying to score extra points.
Carter pursed her lips, satisfied with Moira's answers. "Be warned, I'll keep testing you." She said, rising from her seat.
"Are you here to take me to the lab?"
"No, I will let you find your own way today. I dare say you need to get familiar with this building, you'll be spending a lot of time here. What I am here to tell you is that I expect you to meet me at the training facilities, that's just beside the eastern gate, at 0800 hours tomorrow. I would make it earlier but you need time to commute from home. Just be sure to set an alarm, I won't tolerate tardiness."
Moira frowned and hastened to follow her as she started marching ahead. "I don't understand. You're training me?"
"Yes. As of right now, I'm your superior officer. Do not let me down." She said, her warm tone undermining the strictness of her words. "I don't undertake personal training of new recruits often so I expect the best you can give me, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Not ma'am. Agent." Carter corrected.
"Of course, Agent Carter." Moira said, her lips twitching into a slight smile before she hastily corrected it.
I wrote the original before Agent Carter was released so this version builds more on the role Carter played in the foundation of the organisation - which was over twenty years before this story and the events of First Class is set. I hope you enjoyed this chapter- which characters are you hoping to see in the upcoming chapters? More Marvel fan-favourites, or some X-Men?
