Spider-Man sat nervously in the briefing room among the members of his team, waiting White Tiger's return from her recruitment mission. To say he was nervous was an understatement. He had pleaded to Fury to allow him, or another member of their team, to go with her, but to no avail. He had seen firsthand what her target was capable of- scratch that, he had felt what he was capable of.

"Maybe I should call her." he said, reaching for his communicator. Everyone else in the room groaned in exhasperation.

"You know White Tiger can handle herself, Spidey," Power Man said with a small laugh. "You know first hand what she can do if she gets mad."

"Yea, but this guy is dangerous. He took me down in one move," Spider-Man argued. Nova snorted before being cut off by Iron Fist.

"Do not doubt your teammate. Your concern is understandable, but Fury wouldn't have sent her alone if he didn't have full confidence in her abilities."

"Sorry to say this, Pete," Nova said, "But it sounds like your only worried about this guy because he took you on so easily. Trust me—that isn't hard!" Nova laughed, but Spider-Man shot a glob of webbing into his mouth, cutting him off.

"Not in the mood, Nova." Spider-Man said disapprovingly, getting up from his seat and beginning to pace around the room.

"You barely told us anything else about this guy, Spidey, other than what he did to you. Mind telling us what else there is to know?" Power Man asked, trying to get Spider-Man's mind off White Tiger.

"Well the guy looks like he came straight off a movie set for starters," Spider-Man said, still pacing. "He has gray armor, which looks like it's stuffed to the ears with weaponry." Nova ripped the last bit of web off his face and addressed his friend.

"No offense Pete, but I really want to meet this guy. Did he have a name or anything?"

"I think it was..." Spider-Man began before a new voice entered the room.

"Predator."

Everyone turned towards the sound of the voice to see the man that Spider-Man had been describing just moments ago.

"This is the guy who beat you in one shot?" Nova asked before bursting out laughing and pointing at Predator. "Your right, he does look like he just came off a movie set!"

"Got a problem with that, bucket head?" Predator retaliated with a snarl. Nova subsided, trying to think of a good comeback. There was a moment of silence.

"Maybe he ain't all bad." Spider-Man said with a laugh. Power Man and Iron Fist joined in.

"Nice to meet you, Predator." Iron Fist said while getting up and holding out his right hand.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Predator asked, eyeing the outstretched hand.

"Forgive me for not introducing my self. I am Iron Fist." He said and smiled.

"I'm Predator, but you already know that." Predator replied, shaking Iron Fist's hand.

"I'm Power Man." Power Man greeted as he to got up for a handshake as well.

"Come on guys, give the rookie some space." a familiar voice rang out as White Tiger entered the room. Spider-Man was relieved to see her OK, and in one piece. But he couldn't figure out why she had her mask off.

"Good to see you in one piece, Tiger." Spider-Man said in relief.

"I told you I could handle it. Predator ain't so bad once you get to know him." she said while giving Predator a pat on the back.

"Are you seriously counting the ride from Miami to New York as getting to know me?" Predator said.

Before she could reply Director Fury walked into the room and cleared his throat. The room fell silent.

"Good work in recruiting Predator, Ava." Fury said with an approving tone. Spider-Man felt a little weird that he had just used her real name in front of a rookie who didn't even know her.

"Nick, don't you think we shouldn't use our actual names in front of somebody we just met?" he asked seriously.

"Normally that would be the case. However Ava decided that the best way to win over Predator would be to reveal her identity. And we will be having a talk about that, Ava," Fury said.

"Why?" Predator said. "She took a gamble and it paid off. That's a win in my book." The room was deadly silent for a solid minute. Rarely did anyone challenge Director Fury.

"Since you've never been a part of S.H.I.E.L.D. you have no idea of how things work around here," Fury said calmly, "We have rules and procedures, and she was not authorized to do what she did."

Predator settled. However much he wanted to defend Ava, he couldn't stand against her superior when she had disobeyed orders.

"Now then. Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D., Predator," Fury said. "Since you've agreed to join on your own terms, I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm issuing you a field handler."

"Define 'field handler,'" Predator said suspiciously.

"I'm issuing an agent to keep an eye on you, and to help you learn the basics." Fury replied.

"No offense, but I don't need somebody to show me the basics," Predator said. "I've defended Miami for months, I know what I'm doing."

"That was before you joined S.H.I.E.L.D.. Now you've got rules. You need to understand that my word is law around here. So you're going to have a field handler whether you like it or not." Fury said.

"Fine, I'll take your field handler," Predator growled. "Who's it going to be?"

"Ava will be your field handler," said Fury.


"We'll be sending you to the SHIELD Academy in a few days," said Ava. "Until then, say hello to home, sweet home."

Predator looked around the small, utilitarian room. A cot on the wall, a desk, a chair, a closet and a bathroom. Everything was square and gunmetal gray.

"Quaint," he said. "Reminds me of my old place."

"Oh?" said Ava. "What sort of place would that be?"

"Just an old apartment, back in Miami."

"Huh," Ava deflated. She'd been expecting a little something more from someone with such high-tech armor. "Well, alright, that's everything. I'll let you get settled in."

She turned to walk out the door.

"Miss Ayala," said Predator.

"Yes?" Ava turned back to face him. "By the way, you can just call me Ava."

Predator nodded in recognition. "Thank you, Ava."

Ava smiled. "You're welcome, Predator." She walked out the door, and it closed with a hiss.