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Chapter 30

Gambit

SHIELD Helicarrier

Clay braced himself as the elevator doors opened, feeling the cold strike him like a slap. At this altitude breathing was a chore. He stepped onto the deserted flight deck, looking past the shuttle transports, and the F-22 Raptors, until he spotted Sitwell standing at the edge of the landing strip. He walked over, pushing against the wind. When he reached Sitwell, Clay had to grip the railing for balance against the forty mile-per-hour gusts. He looked over the edge, feeling a momentary wave of vertigo at the ten-thousand foot drop to the Atlantic Ocean. Staring off at the horizon, Sitwell spoke, his voice barely audible above the howling wind.

"I've shut off the security cameras. The roving patrol won't be by for another twenty minutes. We're safe to talk."

"Okay, let's talk."

Sitwell continued staring to the distance, a SHIELD data-pad in his left hand. What concerned Clay was Sitwell's right hand; it was resting on the holster of his sidearm, tension in his grip. Jasper turned to Clay.

"Do you know what SHIELD's mission is?"

"Is this really what we came here to talk about?" Clay said, eyeing Sitwell's left hand.

"Yes. It's important. Fury asked me this once, right on this flight deck. I was fresh from the academy, young, idealistic, eager to please. I quoted him chapter and verse from the SHIELD charter, which I had memorized. Fury said, 'No, our mission is to protect the idea.' Naturally, I asked him what idea. 'Civilization', he said. 'The Code of Hammurabi, the Magna Carter, the Constitution…all just beautiful, fragile ideas. Our job is to protect the idea of civilization, at all costs, against those who would drag us back to the dark ages.' As mission statements go, it's hard to top."

"Fury has a way with words."

"What about his words on Wakanda today? Did they sound right to you?"

"I don't know."

"They sounded wrong. You know it."

"You brought me up here to tell me you didn't like his call?"

"I brought you here to see if I can trust you." Sitwell pulled his gun. "There's a bag behind you, fastened to the vent panel. Open it. Don't even think of going for your gun."

Clay knelt, opening the bag. There was a blood analyzer in it.

"You know the drill," Sitwell said, training his weapon on Clay. Clay drew a sample of his blood, loaded it in the analyzer, and waited an excruciating sixty seconds for the device to perform the test. His eyes never left Sitwell's. The device flashed green. Clay glared as Sitwell holstered his gun.

"You've wigged out, Jasper. A little healthy paranoia is one thing, but—"

"I had to be sure. You'll see why after this."

Sitwell handed the data-pad to Clay, keying in his security code. Clay watched the video play. He recognized the footage of the Hydra prisoner, sitting in the detention cell.

"There," Sitwell said. "Did you see?"

Clay replayed the video, and this time he did see. There was a small glitch in the footage.

"Look at the time stamp," Sitwell prompted. "A thirty second gap, long enough for someone to supply Brunner with the suicide chip. The footage was scrubbed clean, not just the initial file, but from the computer mainframe. That requires a command-level security code. Only three people aboard this ship have that code. Me, Chief Johansen…and Colonel Fury."

Clay looked at Sitwell, incredulous. "You're accusing him being a sleeper? He's tested daily, same as everyone. Hell, I saw Dr. Kline test him this morning. Negative."

"Kline was arrest two hours ago. She just tested positive. The analyzer she used to test Fury was rigged."

"I…I don't believe it."

"I double checked the results. She's a clone." Sitwell took the data-pad from Clay, and closed the video file. "If word of this leaks out, it'll tear the organization apart. You're the only person I've confided in. There's someone sitting in the command chair, making decisions that affect the fate of the world. That someone looks like Nick Fury, acts like him, talks like him…but it's not him."

"Are you certain? I mean one-hundred-goddamned percent certain?"

"Look at the facts, damn it! Johansen and I were in a department meeting during those missing thirty seconds. Fury was supposed to be there. He wasn't. He's the only one who could have done it."

"And you can prove this?"

"It's all documented. I didn't want to believe it, until this morning, during the video conference. Why else would he leave Wakanda open to the Hydra offensive?"

Clay grew quiet for a minute. "Let's say I believe you. What do we do about it?"

"We go see Fury, alone, and test him. If it comes out positive, at least we'll know for sure. If it's negative…we kill him, and get the body off the ship as quietly as possible."

Clay laughed. "Oh, is that all?"

"What do you propose? That we let him stay in charge?"

"Christ, we go to Washington! We sound the alarm!"

Now it was Sitwell who laughed. "Who will they believe? How long would it take him to frame us? Hydra is mounting a global assault, and while we stand here freezing our asses off, that thing masquerading as Nick Fury is leading us to ruin! If I'm wrong, I'll tender my resignation on the spot. If I'm right, we may just have acted in time. Look, you don't like me Quartermain. Truth be told, I've never liked you all that much, either. But this is bigger than our petty animosities. The future of civilization is at stake. I'm asking you to help me save the world."

The sound of handclaps rang out from behind the two men, muffled by the wind. Quartermain and Sitwell spun around, seeing the slim figure of a woman walk out of the shadows. "I'm asking you to help me save the world," Sharon Carter said, walking forward. "Who could say no to that?"

Sitwell pointed his weapon at her, dialing it to the highest level. Lethal force.

"Jasper, ease off," Clay said. "She's on our side."

"Is she? I personally suspended Carter's security clearance, which bars her access to the carrier, yet here she is. How did you manage it, Carter?"

"I'll be happy to tell you…just as soon as you tell me how you framed Fury for Brunner's death."

Sitwell glared. "I don't answer to traitors. You're under arrest."

"The brig is filling up with your arrests. Is that your plan, cast suspicion on everyone, and lock up those who get in your way?" Sharon flashed an icy smile. "I've found you secret communications with Hydra. I was especially interested in your backup plan."

Sharon turned to Clay. "If he can't eliminate Fury, his next target is the carrier. Overload the magnetic-wave-converters, get the reactor to go critical. SHIELD's most potent weapon, along with fifteen-hundred agents, gone in a flash."

"That's a lie," Sitwell said. "Let's take a scan, and see which of us is the clone."

"Fine, but not on this," Sharon said, kicking the scanner at her feet. "We'll use one of the new units that came on the morning shuttle. You haven't had time to tamper with those, have you?"

Sitwell's face went pale, his features pinched. Despite the cold, perspiration beaded on his forehead. Clay reached for his sidearm, but Sitwell spun on him, pointing his weapon. "Don't try it," he said, backing away. Clay raised his hands. Sitwell smiled, shifting his gaze between the two SHIELD agents.

"Looks like I've uncovered two more sleepers. It's unfortunate I had to kill you both in the struggle, who knows what information we might have gotten in the interrogation?"

"You'll never get away with it," Sharon said.

"Get away with it? We've already won. You have no idea what the Skull has in store for this world. In a few days, all opposition will be swept aside, like chaff before the whirlwind. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with Fury."

He leveled the gun and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened..

"Looking for this?" Sharon said, holding up a clip. "I came aboard this morning, took it while you were sleeping. A real field agent might have noticed the gun felt light."

The clone of Jasper Sitwell dropped his gun and fell back. Clay pulled his weapon, and he and Sharon fanned out, flanking him as the clone backed into the railing. He looked over his shoulder, down to the ocean below.

"Don't do it," Sharon said. "You don't have to die."

"I…I already have."

The sleeper tumbled backwards. Clay dove after him, grabbing his ankle, the momentum dragging him to the railing, slamming his ribs. He grunted in pain, keeping hold as he slipped in slow increments over the rail. Sharon wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling with all her might, as the wind tore at them like a mad spirit seeking oblivion.

"Clay, I can't hold you! Let go!"

"No! I want the son-of-a bitch alive!"

Sharon gritted her teeth, redoubling her effort. "You're slipping!"

Clay wouldn't let go. He looked down, seeing a face of confusion, and terror, and finally, of resignation. The clone slammed his heel into Clay's fingers, which flared with brilliant pain. A second time. Then a third.

"Don't…" Clay said, his grip failing.

"Hail…Hydra…"

The words vanished on the shrieking wind. A final kick, and the clone fell, dropping down a hundred feet of steel bulkheads and armor plating in a heartbeat. He was pulled in through the slipstream of the starboard repulsor engine, making a small flare within the whirl of the arc reactor's energy matrix…and then there was nothing.

Clay cried out in pain and frustration as he and Sharon tumbled back onto the deck, exhausted and breathing hard in the thin atmosphere. After several seconds, he rolled to face Sharon.

"You…like to make…a dramatic entrance…don't you?"

"Sue…me."

The hanger doors went up, accompanied by the wailing of alarms. Security Chief Johansen led a squad of agents onto the flight deck.

"Oh, sure," Clay said, watching the agents fan out, securing the area. "Now they show."

. . .

Fury filled Sharon's cup with more coffee. Her teeth had finally stopped chattering. He went to refill Clay's cup, but Quartermain waved him off. Fury set the pot on the warmer and sat down, rubbing his face.

"Christ. They got us good on this one. Poor Jasper."

Clay felt a sudden regret at his long standing dislike of the man. "He sure as hell didn't deserve this. The question is how long was the sleeper in place?"

"Even if it was only a few days, it'd be enough," Fury replied.

A team of medics stepped into the room, each totting a blood-analyzer. Fury rolled up his sleeve. "Everyone gets scanned, twice a day, no exceptions.

The new units were more sophisticated than the older models, operating with greater speed and accuracy. The results quickly came up positive. Clay sighed in relief.

"I have to admit, the sleeper damned near had me convinced you were a clone."

"Had me wondering myself," Fury said, rolling his sleeve back down. "That's the insidious thing about this plot, it breeds paranoia and suspicion. We have to assume Hydra has the inside track on our strategic planning. I've implemented new security codes, but that's just closing the barn doors after the horses have gotten out. The damage is done."

"Maybe not," Sharon said. She opened her bag, taking out a memory stick. "I've been working with a talented hacker, he uncovered Sitwell for me. Until Hydra discovers their sleeper has been compromised, his codes are still active…meaning we have a backdoor into the Hydra mainframe. I didn't have the computing power to crunch the numbers, but the carrier has."

Fury flashed a wolfish smile. He called his head computer tech, who quickly had a team skillfully dissecting the complex web of information. "It will take us several hours to break this down," the man said over the intercom, "but we have a treasure trove of information here. We'll be able to break all of Hydra's codes."

"At least until they get wise, and switch over," Fury said. "But it may be enough for us to catch up to them. Good work, Simms."

Fury shut off the connection, and looked at Sharon. "Get with Simms's people, see what you can do to help."

"I'd be a fifth wheel—I'm no computer specialist. Besides, I need to get back to my team."

"We're your team," Fury said, emphatically. "You're officially off suspension. I need you back on post."

"He needs me more."

"Damn it, Carter…"

"Look, I'll resign my commission, if that's what you need to hear, but I'm going to stand by him. No matter what."

Fury's voice became frosty. "I can have you locked up."

"You can try."

Sharon and Fury stood, eyeing each other. Quartermain broke the impasse.

"Nick, if it wasn't for Sharon, you'd be lying dead on that floor right now. You owe her."

The silence held for a moment, and then Fury ended it. "Yeah. I suppose I do at that." He leaned back, sitting on the edge of his desk. "Alright, you're officially suspended again, for the duration. Give him all the backup you can. He was here the other day, told me something that…well, it spooked me."

Sharon's iron resolve from a moment before, faltered. "What…what did he say?"

"Told me he'd had a dream. Said he and Schmidt were going to have one last battle, that the Skull would want it that way…and he told me he would destroy him. Make sure he gets that chance."

"I will."

"One last thing. Johansen's people call you 'the Ghost' for how you bypass security. Boarding the Helicarrier today should have been impossible. I've never pushed it, because you get things done no one else can, but that won't cut it now. Hydra has us against the ropes, and I can't afford any more leaks. This is a deal breaker. How do you do it?"

Sharon sighed. "I suppose I knew it wouldn't last." She rummaged her satchel, and pulled out a small transparent cube, clear as crystal. In the center was an egg-shaped object, whitish in color. "This is the ace up my sleeve, Colonel, my own private skeleton key. Do you remember the surgery you had about nine years ago, at Bethesda?"

Fury nodded. Sharon held the cube up for him to see. Encased inside was an eyeball, somewhat damaged in the white portion, but mostly intact. The iris was a clear amber-brown, a perfect match to Fury's remaining good eye.

"You weren't using it anymore, so I hung onto it. It gets me past retina scans. As for pass codes, motion detectors, thermal radar, or any other snares…that's just good old-fashioned spy-craft. Do you want it back?"

Fury sat mute for several seconds. "No. You hang onto it, Sharon. If I ever need it…I'll know where to look."

Sharon put it back into her bag. "I need to borrow a shuttle. I'll return it once this affair is over."

Sharon quietly slipped out of the office. Clay and Fury sat in silence, each waiting for the other to speak first. Clay did, haltingly.

"Okay. That is one spooky-ass lady. I think I'd be in love with her…if she didn't scare me so damned much. Glad she's on our side."

"You got that right," Fury said, running his hand along the leather eye-patch again.

. . .

Sharon piloted the shuttle off the Helicarrier. She'd just lost one of her most prized secrets, but that was a small thing when stacked up against the bigger picture. They had averted one crisis…but an even bigger crisis was waiting to occur. She grabbed her cell phone, activating Melvin's encryption program. It would take SHIELD a month to break this program. She and Fury may have reached a truce of sorts today, but that didn't mean she was willing to let him in on all her secrets. She placed the call. On the third ring, the line answered, and Sharon spoke.

"Hawkeye…it's time to call in the team."