Steve resolutely turned his mind toward the mission after Darcy joined the tech crew in their van. He sighed internally. At least Dr. Mallory wasn't a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. Not that it really mattered. Darcy had made her feelings about the last two days pretty clear. Steve was glad she started talking before he embarrassed himself. Normal time with normal friends, she'd said. Hints didn't get much clearer than that.
"So what do we know?" he asked, snapping back into the present moment.
Widow had a little smile on her face that he didn't like, but she didn't say anything.
War Machine stepped up. "The conference is going to be held in the Poli-Sci lecture building on Culver's campus. They have one of the biggest lecture halls in the University, so they just use the on-site facilities instead of renting out an event center or hotel ballroom. Conference opens the doors in…" he checked a timepiece on his suit, "five and a half hours."
"There's a Nobel recipient in attendance. Do we know what they are attempting? Kidnapping? Theft? Bombing?"
"Unfortunately, no idea," Widow answered. "I couldn't get it out of Martin if he knows, and Dr. Tennison definitely didn't know. I think Lobano is keeping everyone compartmentalized, to minimize the chances of compromising the mission."
"Lobano?"
"Yeah, Daniel Lobano. I can show you the dossier later. He's got a long history, first in ops and then many, many illegal activities. Apparently his old crew all got sick of how he runs things and cut out after the last mission. This is his new crew." Black Widow rolled her eyes.
"What do we have on the Poly-Sci building? How long has surveillance been set up?" Steve continued.
He looked at their circle with quiet satisfaction. War Machine stood tall and ready. Black Widow was geared up and prepared with the latest intelligence. Vision and Scarlet Witch listened attentively. Falcon's arms were crossed over his chest and he spoke with confidence.
"I did a flyover half an hour ago. Two men came out the east entrance and went back in shortly after. They're dressed as maintenance crew. We've had cameras monitoring for about forty-five minutes, but they haven't given us much information. There is a visible map to the building right next to the main entrance, so we know where the lecture hall is. The map only shows features relevant to students and faculty, though." Falcon shrugged, resettling his EXO-7 pack on his broad shoulders.
"Could've used that blueprint…" muttered Black Widow.
Steve ignored her.
"Have we confirmed Dr. Mallory's location? Darcy thought he'd be at home," Steve asked.
Falcon frowned. "Intel suggests he's been brought to the lecture building already. There's no movement at his house. Tech team is managing surveillance on it."
"So we're going to avoid the main entrance on the east side? Is there another way in?" cut in Scarlet Witch.
"We'll find out on the way," Steve replied. "We now have about four hours before civilians start using these public spaces. We need to discuss options and infiltrate as soon as possible. I'd prefer it if conference attendees and students never even knew we were here."
He turned and jogged toward the campus, the others falling into formation behind him.
"I hate this part. We're just going to hoof it all the way there?" complained Falcon, straining to keep up with Steve.
Steve grinned at him. "It's more subtle than a helicopter at three in the morning, don't you think?"
Falcon kept up the pace for a few more minutes, then groaned and took to the sky.
"Show off!" he called to Steve as he surged ahead.
War Machine turned to Black Widow. "Did we not already cancel the conference? There's a lot of potential for collateral damage."
"No, we woke the Dean from her beauty rest and she sent a campus-wide "gas leak" text to the students and faculty. But Steve's right - it only lasts until seven a.m." Widow replied, readjusting her right gauntlet as they jogged.
War Machine frowned. "Is that wise? Lobano will know something's up."
"Lobano's an asshole, but he's a smart asshole. He hasn't heard from Dreak or Tennison and both Darcy and Cap escaped. He knows we're coming. It's better to make sure no civilians get caught in the crossfire." Widow grimaced.
The main road onto campus was well lit, but the Avengers diverted over to the north side of the massive property. Culver University was nestled near the heart of Willowdale and its founders had wanted plenty of green space. Undeveloped land flanked the north and south sides, affording students the opportunity to run on dirt trails or take meandering nature hikes right on campus. The Political Science Department took up two buildings on the north side. Both pressed right up to groves of old trees. Close to the buildings, landscaped beds of flowers and picnic tables were scattered under the shade of yellow buckeyes, black walnuts, and old oak trees. The communal areas faded to an illusion of wilderness along various trails leading away from the buildings and into the woods.
The Avengers crossed the northern border of the property into the green space. Steve found a dirt trail and followed it inward, his crew tight together behind him. Their trail let out next to the Poli-Sci faculty building. It faced the lecture building, a paved walkway connecting the two. The area was dark save for security lamps that made wide circles on the ground at two corners of the building. Steve held up a hand to stop everyone before they came out of the brush.
The group observed from darkness as a perimeter guard walked the landscaped borders near them and continued west toward the lecture building.
"How long until the next perimeter check?" Steve muttered.
"Half an hour," replied Falcon. "And they are on the minute."
"What's behind the lecture building?"
"Unknown."
"Perhaps we should ask the young lady - Dr. Foster's assistant," suggested Vision.
Black Widow raised a wrist to her mouth. "Good idea."
She relayed the question into her earwig and gave a sharp nod as the answer came back.
"There's a single door on the west side, next to a picnic table. The hallway is blind - long and narrow, with no cover. Maybe we can use some of the basement level windows," she suggested, studying the half-panes coming up from ground level.
"Okay, here's the plan," Steve said.
The quiet conversation stilled.
"Scarlet Witch, you take out the security cameras there, there, and there. And over there," he said, pointing.
"Vision, we're going to try something new - using you as our eyes and ears. You can choose what angle you'd like, but I want you to use your density ability to get into the guts of this building without being seen. Scope out the main lecture hall and the basement teaching rooms first - those are the most likely locations for personnel and supplies. You only need to dip your face in for a moment; pick an obscure area on the ceiling or elsewhere. Get us confirmation of how many we're up against, where Dr. Mallory is located, and what weapons they have.
"Once we hear from Vision, I want War Machine to take the high ground. No one gets away this time. Keep your circle tight and call in Falcon for assistance with runners."
"Won't need it," interjected War Machine with a challenging grin at Falcon.
"How much you want to bet?" Falcon shot back, but they quieted as Steve continued.
"I'm taking the main entrance. Lobano needs a distraction. And I'm sure several of his men want a second chance at me after our last meeting." Steve grinned to himself.
"Falcon, use Vision's intel to find a place to enter - preferably a window on the first or second floor. Neutralize threats and work toward the main lecture hall.
"Widow, you get the hallway. Enter and neutralize any guard set there. Witch, you follow once she confirms it clear. Everyone, keep your eyes and ears open. Be careful and watch each other's backs." Steve caught the gaze of each person with him and nodded.
"Let's get into position. Scarlet Witch, we'll start when you're ready," he said, adjusting the shield on his arm.
No plan survives first contact with the enemy, Steve reminded himself as tiny cameras affixed to the buildings shorted out overhead. Vision slipped away. The Avengers waited in complete silence.
"Captain?" Vision reported, his mellow voice in Steve's ear.
"What do you have, Vision?" Steve pressed his earwig close.
"I can tell you what I don't have. Dr. Mallory is not in this building."
Steve swore under his breath.
"Check the faculty building?" Black Widow suggested.
"Yes. Do that, Vision. Can you report on what's happening in the lecture building?" Steve asked.
"I confirm the basement rooms have bomb supplies - as you suspected. There are eleven men here and five are in various stages of preparing and placing the bombs underneath tables in the main lecture hall. Two men are guarding the upstairs classrooms and one is on the basement level. Three are guarding the ground level. Daniel Lobano is not here," Vision reported.
"Alright. Let me know when you've checked the faculty offices," said Steve.
"It's done. The faculty building is completely empty. I suspect that anyone working a late night left when the gas leak warning was announced," replied Vision.
"Lobano and Mallory are both missing..." Black Widow began.
"...so do we stay here or go to Mallory's house?" finished Falcon.
"What's that saying, Falcon? A bird in the hand?" Widow shot back.
"I have a minor - minor - bird theme going, but I will politely ask you to refrain from making bird jokes at my expense," Falcon replied primly.
Steve spoke over Black Widow's chuckle. "Let's move ahead with what we have. Don't allow a single combatant to report out. If Lobano's off-site with Mallory, he believes this operation is going forward without interruption. His belief may be the only thing keeping Mallory alive. I'll still take the east entrance, but without the show. Vision, I could use your assistance there. War Machine, can you get clear to launch?"
He turned to look back at the hero, but all of Steve's team had already disappeared into the brush. Pride swelled in his heart, met with a small, nagging worry. They had to play this carefully.
Steve waited until Vision knocked out the first guard on the east side, then entered the building and took down the remaining guards without a word. He and Vision nodded as Black Widow and Falcon reported in. They converged in the open central area of the building along with Scarlet Witch, then split up. Widow and Falcon took the basement, Vision and Witch went with Steve to the main lecture hall. The entire takedown took absurdly little time.
"Is this how Avengers missions usually go?" asked Scarlet Witch as she pulled hidden bombs free with her power, disassembling them and piling them in the center of the room.
Steve looked up from the man he was handcuffing with a zip tie. Local Willowdale law enforcement had just arrived. They milled around the room, processing Lobano's captured men. Steve settled his unconscious capture against a wall and stepped back. A local detective nodded thanks and moved in.
"If only. I'd call this an anomaly, if a welcome one," he replied.
"Cap?" Black Widow poked her head in at the massive doors of the main lecture hall and peered around until she saw him.
"What's up?" Steve replied, handing off a clipboard with his signature on it.
"You need to come here."
Steve knew Widow well enough now. That was her 'don't freak out on me but this is serious' tone. He exited the lecture hall.
"Darcy left the ops van. She said she was going to the bathroom."
The hairs on the back of Steve's neck stood up. He dreaded asking, but he knew there was more. "And?"
"And five minutes ago, Jane Foster received an emergency text from Darcy's phone - the kind that gives GPS, video, and audio. Darcy's at Mallory's house. Jane said the video showed nothing, but the audio had a male voice saying 'turn around'. That's it." Widow's voice sounded like it was disappearing down a tunnel.
For a minute, Steve's mind blanked to white. Then he looked down and realized he was running. Something irritated his ear. He blinked. He was a block away from Dr. Mallory's house. How long had he been -
"Cap. Cap? Steve!"
The irritation turned into words. It was Black Widow on his earwig. "Steve, I've already dispatched Falcon and War Machine. They're at the house. They say it's clear. Darcy isn't there anymore, Steve."
Widow's voice stayed cool, but Steve could hear the underlying concern. He slowed to a stop outside of Brendan Mallory's house and took a deep breath. His heart raced and it had nothing to do with running. What was he doing? They were in the middle of a mission. "Okay, Widow, I read you. Thanks. I'm meeting War Machine and Falcon right now."
The pair came out from around the side of the building. Falcon shook his head when he saw Steve.
"It's not good, Cap," he said.
A rock settled in Steve's stomach.
"We recovered Darcy's purse and what's left of her phone. No signs of struggle inside, but there's a chair missing from the kitchen table and a pair of drag tracks on the carpet out to the garage. My forensics program indicates a decent amount of weight in the chair; Darcy could have been tied to it," War Machine continued.
"Why the hell did she come here?" Steve muttered to himself.
The house had been cleared and put under surveillance. And yet, Darcy had either come to an empty house and Lobano had tracked her to it, or Lobano and Mallory had been here and Darcy walked in on a hostage situation in progress. It didn't make any sense.
Steve raised his eyes to the men. "Do we have a legal right to interrogate Lobano's team? They're our only leads unless we have some other way to infer where he's gone. Let's get on it. If Lobano doesn't already know we've cleared Culver, he will soon." And that's not good for Darcy or Mallory, he thought.