The only good thing that had happened since the mission last night was the new recruits. There were four of them. This guy who looked like would be a great at partying named Landon and another quieter kid African American guy who seemed chill what few words had said were dry and witty named ty. There was a cute younger girl with long black hair cute in the way of a ruffle the hair 'get going champ' way. She said her name Luna. Next was I think the best new recruit her name was Barbara More but she told us her name was Bobbi, just Bobbi. She was the definition of a blonde bombshell and hawt. She and Nat were equal attractive wise, Bobbi was hot in a southern belle way, Nat was attractive in the mysterious way.
I was starting to think of Nat that way now and if she wasn't dating my homie Flint I probably would have made a move. It was weird I had always noticed how hot she was but then she hadn't been hanging out with me in the weapons lab almost every other day she liked to test out the weapons and I had never realised how unbelievably smart Nat and Flint were. Amanda would be pissed if she knew that I had even thought about cheating on her Amanda was attractive in the girl next door way. She was sweet and very sexy as I could testify, I just wasn't good at the whole monogamy concept.
"Hey, Mckinley," Nat had turned back from a conversation from Bobbi, Luna, Flint, and Landon. She was trying to brush off the attention of the new Landon who was giving her a lot more attention and not noticing Flint staring him down.
"Yeah!" I called back to her
"Bobbi is going to be working with you in the lab, isn't that great we can all be lab buddies," She joked and I silently screamed in joy two hot girls around me all day. Nat was off limits of course but Bobbi was free reign.
"Cool!" I laughed
"Can you show me the lab, Playboy?" Bobbi's sweet southern voice sang as she sauntered over. I smirked while Nat and Flint looked very concerned for me. They were such a perfect couple and they were so invested in Amanda's and I's relationship. The thing was it was so dysfunctional we needed another couple whose relationship was so strong they could also support our's. Amanda tried to keep us together actively but my efforts canceled it out and only she really was invested at this point.
"Of course, let me show you where you will be working," Bobbi followed me up to the lab. She pulled a lab coat over her pink skirt and floral shirt.
"Wow, this place beats my garage lab," She smiled widely gently touching all of the tech.
"My garage lab was a penthouse lab," I laughed flipping my hair out of my face in the swave way I had mastered
"I forgot you were a spoiled rich kid," She rolled her eyes and logged onto the computer. Her fingers flew across the keyboard in record speed.
"This research on your suit is wrong, if you had booted up the oxygen tank your suit would have combusted," She clicked some stuff and soon the design was altered.
"You were right! That is true," She was almost as smart as me. Almost.
"Hey!" Nat entered. "Flint offered to show around the two guys so I am lonely." I sighed
"Nice to see ya' Nat" Bobbi smiled.
"Sam, I came here to talk about these files," I looked at her tablet, diagrams were on the screen, diagrams of a human made more of metal then flesh. It was serious shit I kept swiping and saw names of serums, and chemicals, I had seen them before when reading Sterling's blood samples.
"What is this?" I asked carefully. Knowing Nat she would respond with 'classified'
"In 2011 a boy fell off a cliff in January they found him two days later and was pronounced dead later at a hospital. This is his autopsy report and this is his surgery report that was started right after he was pronounced deceased. The metal is an alloy I have never seen and the chemical formulas are insane, I figured this stuff was more your department than mine," She forwarded me the file
"That is true, but I think Bobbi likes bio more than me, I can handle the malware but not the connections,"
"Actually bio is my specialty," Landon strode in. He looked right at Nat "Hey," He smirked
"I thought Flint was showing you around," She frowned
"Tour was over and he told me where to find you," He now had a lab coat and was at yet another computer in the room.
"Alright Scott, you can talk to me about this stuff." Nat rolled her eyes.
"Of course," He opened the files. "These diagrams are unlike any surgery I have ever researched and I have seen the plans for all the mutated kids." He shook his head.
"Great now tell me what that means or write a fucking report don't just make exclamations." She rolled her eyes in anguish.
"It means these Surgeons were extremely reckless and crazy or absolute resourceful geniuses, the shear amount of work done is incredible the patient had to amputate half his fingers on one hand and a whole arm but the prosthetics built resemble your suits especially the Iron Man and The Darwin more than any other regular prosthetic." Landon looked at me
"He is right the design is incredible!" Bobbi said in shock.
"The metal too" I looked at me screen it was unlike anything I had ever seen come across my screen. The serums are the same as Sterling's too."
"Well that would make sense being the surgeries were performed on Sterling's old campus," Flint entered the room
"Flint," Nat whipped around "Did you read my files?" She retorted anger and fear in her voice.
"You tell me everything including your passwords and I got into your laptop," He said and Nat looked pissed maybe not so perfect.
"You...Got...in...my Laptop!" Nat shouted
"Like you haven't done that ever…" Flint sighed
"Nat didn't mention who that poor 16 year old boy was...his name was Jack Bartholomew Farmer. He was with his best friend name Jones, Sterling James also age 16 when he fell. Jones was supposed to go to military school but he didn't want to go and sometimes those schools will take the kids by force. He and Jack who was known as Barns, decided to trek through the mountains and get to California. They made it up a ridge when the school caught up there was a struggle and Barns fell off the Cliff, because of where he fell it took two days to find and collect him. They got him stable but he died at a hospital on campus, Sterling was there." Flint tossed the paper file on the table.
"This is for Sterling you little lying," I turned at Nat. She was good at keeping secrets and that was one thing that made me mad.
"I am doing this for my threat assessment something Corey needs help with and something I have to deal with as do all of you. This isn't for you, I saw that insanely strong 21 year old almost take out us and I mean it was three of us but he nearly shot me, knocked out Sterling, and nearly broke your new toys." Nat snapped "I reserve every right to lie to you and I will to help the good of the team, maybe not Flint because he is a really good person but I am a spy lies are fifty percent of the things I say." She growled
"Nat…" Flint tried
"Send me the reports, I am going to go help Luna unpack turns out she speaks Russian as well as Scarlet, Dimitri, Flint and me." She said flatly and turned around.
"So pissed," Landon laughed "Does she always get like that?" He asked
"Natalia Anastasia (Victor) Volkov, is cold and follows orders well in contrast to her partner. She is very comfortable with anything. . She speaks twelve languages fluently. Her temper is non-existent and she can be near unreadable. While in all aspects a perfect spy Volkov is often distracted by personal loyalties especially to her partner Francis John Rider. She tends to be distrusting which can lead to leadership struggles. Ms. Volkov is a master liar and has beaten all lie detector tests given to her except the one designed to defeat Romanov. Ms. Volkov how ever is the best recruit we will find in the format of espionage. She should be near the top of list of recruitment for the NAI." Bobbi read flatly
"Did you just read her file?" I asked in shock.
"We all have access to them Nat can read her own file if she wants and she does, mostly she is the one who updates everyone else's and they are not files they are field reports." Flint laughed
"Francis John Rider is protective and more loyal to his teammates and his partner Natalia Volkov than any agency or leadership outside the team. He is very easy going and much more moral than Ms. Volkov. While Ms. Volkov will kill, steal, seduce, download, hack, lie and investigate on order with no question while he will question some shots. His marksmanship is the best we've seen since Barton but he still serves an effective spy. He has a hot head it can prove dangerous in the Field. Volkov is usually the most effective at calming him down. She is his main weakness he is very protective of her and will die for her survival without any thought. His skills are admirable and is a very loyal soldier as well as an effective espionage agent a definite candidate for NAI." I read off next. "Dang it man you have killed so many people… the team member with the highest death count is… Natalia Anastasia (Victor) Volkov. By one kill," I laughed in shock
"Don't talk about that," Flint growled "Nat and I don't talk about that…"
"What the 189 death count?" I pulled up the number.
"I said don't talk about it," He growled
"Flint, I need help finding my room…" The African American boy entered the lab "Well I'll be damned, this place is incredible" He looked all around
"No problem Ty," He smiled and walked out of the lab and the tension was gone.
"I am doing more research into the alloy and the manifest brought in through the school." Bobbi said quickly
"I am doing research into the procedures and exactly what was done." Landon said. I pulled up more files Nat had quite the rep. Her mission files were incredible, she and Flint had alone had done twice as many missions then we had ever done as a team. She had seduced more people than I even knew was possible shot so many people that I was surprised her gun hadn't worn out. Flint had done similar stunts they belonged in a spy movie and I didn't.
"That sounds good, SAM can you pull up files on one Sterling Jones"
"I am sorry but that file is blocked," SAM responded
"What about the field report?" I asked
"Searching, found, showing field report for Jones, Sterling." SAM said flashing the reports in front of me.
"Thank you SAM," I looked at the field report it had been updated by Cap with the blemish our little squabble had left. Nothing I didn't know though. I went through the entire team's field reports the lowest body count warranted was Amanda. Corey and Bobbi had blown up things like me Landon was a former thief, Ty had fought off a gang, Luna was a former vigilante, Maggie had to defend her home against hostiles because of her mother's high governmental status, and Nat and Flint were themselves. Amanda had never taken a life. That filled my heart with a good feeling my Manda was a pure soul with clean hands.
"I am sorry sir but you have been restricted and these file are now closed to your access,"
"SAM under whose authority"
"Volkov, Natalia Anastasia" SAM responded.
"Thank you, I want three strawberry lemonades and some doritos" I called
"Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese sir?" SAM asked
"Nacho Cheese!" I rolled my eyes who liked cool ranch doritos more than nacho cheese. Cool ranch was what you bought when you want doritos and the all MLG robbed the corner store and that is all is left.
"Yes sir," SAM responded
"This place is incredible," Bobbi laughed. She was wearing little square black wire frame glasses at this point I was very attracted to her and right before I could start flirting Manda walked in.
"Hey Sammy Wammy," She joked pinching my cheek.
"Hi Amanda, I am Bobbi, I am going to be working with Landon and Mr. Mckinley over here in the lab," Amanda looked at her hiding her true feelings for Bobbi or at least she thought she was. The distaste in Manda's eyes was more than when she first met me.
"Hi Bobbi, I'm mission control head." Amanda smiled a forced grin
"Nice to me ya'! I am pleased to meet such nice folks," Bobbi smiled happily bouncing to the lab table and sitting up on it.
"I second that Bobbi!" Landon smiled "Hi, Manda, I am Landon I run bio operations," he smiled again Manda seemed impressed with him. It was probably because he wasn't blonde with a d-cup and a body that could be incased successfully in a pageant gown complete with a sing songy southern accent.
"Nice to meet you Landon," She smirked.
"So what brings you to the Lab Mandy," I smirked
"Is it a crime to come down and visit you?" She put her hand on her chest defensively
"No, you never do though." I laughed
"Well, I wanted to stop by to ask why you have been trying to get access to classified files Maggie asked me to come up," Manda played with my collar staring at Bobbi through her peripherals.
"Nat classified them…" I pouted
"She outranks you, she outranks me, and it is part of her job she and Corey control intel," Amanda said flatly
"But Flint gets to see…" I tried to out Nat.
"He also outranks you and I but 75% of the info that goes through Nat, Flint will never see." Amanda sighed
"How come they outrank me?" I pouted
"They are official spies and agents in the NAI program, we both outrank all of the mutated people and Sterling outranks everyone, he was appointed official leader" Manda said flatly
"Great." I groaned.
"Well sorry" Manda shrugged.
"Sorry, he went cuckoo when his little friend showed up and nearly got Nat and I killed. I just don't think he should be leader where he friend is concerned." I huffed in anguish stacking some random files on my desk.
"Why don't you file a report then? If his leadership appointment is that disturbing to you, just take it up with the Avengers, or the NAI sponsors." Amanda said a bit annoyed at the subject she was still eyeing the bustling Bobbi.
"How?" I asked carefully
"Well, you request a report form from MC or the team info manger, Nat, or team leader which I am guessing is not the official you want to see, I can get you a report form but first came to tell you that if you want dinner that you should tell me what everyone wants and stop having SAM make you lemonade and doritos" She yelled as she left once she was gone
"More Lemonade and Doritos Ms. Ramirez?" SAM sprung to life.
"No thank you, I have to go do stuff instead of eat doritos in my lab!" Manda snickered and left.
"Well, she seems interesting " Bobbi giggled
"Yep, That's Manda for you." I smiled weakly.
"Anyway, I found the alloy," She pulled it up onto the main screen.
"It is unlike anything I have ever seen." Landon huffed in shock.
"I compared it to metals used in superhero equipment nothing compares not even vibranium. It has the same strength and response to shock but it isn't vibranium, I have no clue what it is," I twirled the alloy
"It has titanium bands intertwined with vibranium it is a successful bond of the four strongest metals in the world…" Nat stood in the doorway her hair swept back in a pony. "Flint figured it out some guy out of Budapest sold him bullets made of the same stuff. He still hasn't used them." She sighed.
"That makes sense all the other metal we checked against were naturally occurring and the similarities were too small to be definitive." Bobbi looked up from her keyboard
"The guy that sold us the bullets said that there is a huge black market for these things, Corey messaged me that network. They are sold in almost all major cities the middle east and especially Russia and former Soviet controlled areas. They are made in Russia according to the man, judging by his accent, I'd say that they are made in Moscow, , and Rostov-on Don. Just based on what I have heard. From what Corey showed me I bet they have more warehouses around the world" Nat sighed
"So what you are saying is that not only is there a super strong metal out there stronger than anything we have, but that the Russians are using it."
"All hail the great Vladimir Putin," Nat laughed mock saluting "But we do not know how strong it actually is, like I said Flint never used those bullets...It could be unstable and cut like butter but if it is the strongest, the fact that is Russian means I can get more…" She smiled sure of herself.
"Why just because you can speak Russian doesn't help us," I snapped back
"Oh yes it does, Russia is a place I can blend in perfectly and I have lot's friends but many of them are in Russia." She was very happy with this fact. "Flint is good in the US on Foreign soil I reign supreme,"
"So your plan is a. We use these bullets to figure out how strong they are b. If it is strong we head to Russia where you will figure out where and how it is made c. then we will make a fuck ton?" Landon said quickly
"That is exactly what it is Scott," Her tone was flat and full of certainty
"But then what about Barns, Jones's bff with this shit in his body?" Bobbi questioned
"Once we figure out more we will be able to take him down," Flint had joined everyone
"Here, I brought you the bullets," He set the clip down on the table.
"Thanks man," I smiled and carefully started to dissect the bullet.
"No problem," There he was chill as usual. Nat right by his side.
"SAM can you get me two bowls of Veggie Ramen and two cokes, start on a pot of coffee too will ya?" Nat called into her phone
"Yes, ," Nat rushed to the computer and began clicking away. "The good thing about the metal is that because it is so rare it is easy to track, anything larger than bullets are going to show up. She clicked more buttons and the screen showed a map that lip up certain spots.
"We got activity in Budapest, Moscow, , Rostov-on Don, Berlin, Venice," I snapped "In the Us we got activity in LA, New York, and DC, but one anomaly is a small facility in Maine lit up like a Christmas tree," Bobbi fired
"Any random small blips?" Scott asked next "narrow the search to blips about six feet tall with a mass of 197-200" He looked at the screen and a single orange dot appeared.
"San Francisco!" Flint said in shock "Son of a bitch is in San Francisco." he locked eyes with Nat. Soon, Scarlet, Dimitri, Ashlyn and Thomas had joined us in the room
"SAM what is the location of Sterling Jones?" I asked quickly
"Jones is located in his room by current activity I infer sleeping." SAM spoke in it's monotone voice.
"Make sure he stays on premises I am enacting power protection plan B overriding rankings classify the lab and all of our rooms decrease Jones, Sterling's security clearance to one, also make him some dinner, one double cheeseburger, fries, a Neapolitan shake extra whip and a tall Mexican coke, our location is also classified beyond his level." She ordered
"Yes, Ms. Victor, anything else"
"Prepare the Avenjet, Avengers...Assemble" SAM had brought the plane when we came in.
"Flint I will get copilot." Nat called pulling a headset on our weapons were all in the plane and the new recruits were eager to earn their stripes.
"Of course you two can fly a plane…" I shook my head and sat down before Flint put the bird in the air.
"We will arrive at san francisco shortly." Flint said over the intercom after almost four hours of silence from the cockpit and complete helplessness. Shortly meant ten minutes because after ten minutes we had touched down and were hiding our suits under rain garb. After everyone had everything they needed we put in our com links and took to the street.
"Okay, Flint I want you at the best vantage point to the bridges, I want Scott with you he is the best when it comes to tracking Barns." I started firing orders
"Okay Scarlet, I want you to fly over head and spot check Flint. Dmitri, Thomas, Ashlyn, Ty, Luna and Bobbi I want you divided up I want two of you in the Tenderloin district, two of you in Union square, two in Chinatown and the rest on call. If we are short one of you can head to union square. " Nat joined in for someone with her skill at taking orders she sure seemed to be able to lead.
"Nat and I will take Fisherman's wharf and the entire pier area trying to leave by boat not going to be an option," I turned to see Nat and Flint kissing lovingly before parting.
"Scott, I want tracking updates every time he jumps," Nat said quickly through the coms. "Bobbi your codename is now Bomber, Scott name is now Ant, Ty jaguar, Luna dragonfly. I am Spider, Mckinley is Playboy, Flint is Hawk, Thomas Zombie, Ash Clock, Dimitri Disaster, Scarlet Siren, Mission control MC, Amanda Cinnamon, Maggie Star Spangled, Sterling Eagle, and Corey Cyan any questions?" Nat loaded her wrist guns
"No," They all responded together
"Alright move out!" Nat exclaimed and we all hit the streets.
"I hate it here," I whined as we walked along the harbor
"Why not it is stormy and pretty, the fishermen are bringing in their catch, the sea lions are yelping." Nat was in an uncharacteristically good mood .
"I don't like this smell, I don't like San Francisco." I pouted
"Okay, Spider, Playboy, SAM is picking up movements toward Pier 32, are you guys on it?" Scott radioed in
"Ant this is Spider, I am going to survey threat, report when I reach location," Nat handled everything like a pro and it started to make me feel like a small toddler and not the eighteen year old superhero I was.
"Alright Spider get on it," I laughed soon Nat was gone.
"Playboy this is Hawk. I need air coverage of the pier we have threat on the pier and Spider hasn't reported in yet…"
"This is Siren, I have eyes on Spider,"
"This is Spider, I am going to go dark quickly to get close I have him in my sights Harkson is nearby with any luck he will have been too drunk to remember me." Her com fritzed out
"Okay target is moving quickly, he is moving toward the east…" It took about twenty minutes before that update came across.
"Spider, this is Playboy do you need back up?" I said quickly. "This is Playboy I am taking to the sky to try and find Spider, I might need back up get as many units to Fisherman's wharf as you can." My panic had started to set in.
"Spider is fine," Siren came over the coms "She is tailing Barns, but…Playboy you need to get down there she went dark and it looks like she could be in some danger I count twelve or so armed soldiers around area,"
"Playboy get down there now, Spider should have some back up she can handle twelve men but the untested element.." Flint's voice broke the silence .
"I am on it Hawk you guys are needed too." I retorted flying to the sight.
"Hi, I am sorry sir but I am not from here and …" I watched as she approached the targets and that was when the firefight started. I wasn't sure who pulled the weapons first all I know was they were pulled and that it was up to the big guns to defend while others helped civilians.
The shots whizzed past my head as I blasted the seemingly endless bout of soldiers. Soon all that was left was Barns and us. It seemed an unfair fight but when you had already survived a firefight and it was a superhuman you were fighting it wasn't so unfair. Nat and Flint reloaded their weapons and lifted them at attention. Time for the show.
"Jack B. Farmer stand down," Flint started
"Mr. Farmer we are with NAI and we are here to bring you in," Nat started softly
"What?" He muttered a bit disoriented
"Okay pal, hands in the air," I snapped, Guns flew again and this time Flint took a bullet to the stomach.
That set Nat off and when Nat was set off the whole team ended up set off. We started to shoot at and fight him. It wasn't working very well seeing his body was made of mostly metal. Nat struggled with Bobbi, Landon, and Ty to hold him but it wasn't working. Then Nat had the golden shot. It was a perfect headshot but then that perfect headshot had to be ruined. Nat had the shot her 9mm glock was loaded and ready but when she went to take the shot Sterling appeared blocking her way.
"No!" He cried running in front of the target.
"Jones clear the shot!" I yelled
"Sterling please, just let me take this shot," Nat huffed her eyes flashing between Flint who was being treated by Landon and the target "Sterling let me…" Her finger twitched on the trigger
"Nat I said stand down that is an order," He barked at her.
"Sterling stand down…" Nat replied calmly
"No Nat don't take the…" Then a loud gunshot but not from Nat's gun.
"Ow," Nat grunted and fell to the ground her hand on her shoulder.
"Barns," Sterling turned to face nothing as he expected to face his best friend who had shot Nat, Flint, Scarlet, Luna, and Ty
"Barns can't get away. Next time Jones you won't have Nat taking the shot." I tailed him the tracking screen up in my mask.
"Stand down, Mckinley," Jones called
"No, you let me go now!" I jeered back and then tailed him. After four minutes of running, the tracker fritzed lost him in a van after the tracker had fritzed out.
When my feet touched the ground Nat and Flint looked the worst. The bullet had skimmed Luna's shoulder, Ty had been shot in the shin, Scarlet's wings had been clipped by a bullet, Nat had taken a direct hit to the shoulder and was bleeding profusely, but Flint was the worst. He had taken a bullet to the midriff area and had gone through two rags already.
"We need to get him to the hospital!" Nat wailed the rag on her shoulder was now red .
"They emergency services are on their way." Sterling muttered "Hold strong Nat, you and Flint are going to be fine." He called and tried to help move Nat away toward the road. He was holding her as she struggled to keep consciousness. Flint was fading in and out as well. The EMTs slid up and loaded the two critically injured New Avengers into the Ambulance.