Author's Notes: I want to thank sciencegal and spize666 for their continued support. These peeps are seriously awesome! :D
Disclaimer: Ultimate Spider-Man is not mine. Nor are any of its characters. That's Marvel's job. Any Original Characters and art you note, however, are all me. No. I'm not making money. Don't rub it in.
Chapter 08 - Focus
SHIELD prisons didn't look comfortable. This one was no exception.
While such had never been a concern of Danny's before, it was now. He frowned at the specialized glass wall spread before him—from reinforced titanium wall to reinforced titanium wall. Its ceiling, floor, and back consisted of the same gray material. And no furniture had been set up, save for a recessed toilet and a single line of florescent lights. A honeycomb-like pattern engraved all throughout it must have been uncomfortable to sit on. The hero knew it was actually an electrical grid to keep dangerous criminals in check. A feature reserved only for the few cells in isolation, he was just thankful it hadn't been used. Yet.
"Are you really going to keep her in here?" Spider-Man asked indignantly. Like the others, he had changed into uniform after the scene at La Château a few hours prior, and his eyes narrowed at the collected Director.
"Of course," answered Fury. He stood straight before the glass with his arms folded behind his back. "You see how dangerous she can be."
"Uh, I wouldn't call that dangerous!" The leader gestured towards the glass wall just as several loud thumps sounded.
Danny followed the hero's hand towards the white-haired teen spinning wildly within the barren cell. She jerked about, screaming through hindering walls like a trapped animal. He could sense it clearly; her Chi was fluctuating in fear. It was especially evident with her mutation. Purple bubbles—force-fields of Psionic energy—swelled and popped all around the enclosed area. They were useless, though, in the environment Fury apparently had prepared for who knows how long ago.
"You don't?" Fury tested. "What would you call it then, Parker?"
"I'll take 'reasons for desperation' for twenty-five-thousand, Mister Trebeck," Spider-Man countered sardonically. Danny faced the duo at his left. Fists clenched, the team leader neared the tall man who didn't bother gracing him with a look. "Hell, even I would act like that if you forced me into a cage. Well, I'd have a few more witty remarks. Even so, my point stands."
"You did outright kidnap her from dinner," Power Man noted with a short, deep growl. He stood behind Danny; the blonde felt it.
"Yes, we did," Fury responded callously. "And I would like to thank you for cornering her; it made the arrest easier."
"How'd you know we'd even be there?" Power Man's question sunk guilt into Danny's chest, especially when Zeelan released another startling sob.
"And why was her arrest necessary to begin with?" asked White Tiger. Her bare eyes were narrowed as she raised a clawed hand in frustration. "You haven't given out any answers, even after immobilizing us."
"Yeah, totally uncalled for, by the way," Nova added from beside Power Man. "I can still feel my lips tingling."
The SHIELD Director twisted towards them. "I've told you kids only what you needed to know."
"Except that you wanted to arrest the group, not help them," Spider-Man snapped. His lithe form was beginning to shake with an anger that Danny sympathized with fully. "You lied to us, Fury!"
Fury stood strong with a deep frown on his face. "This mission was mine; I had a right to keep whatever I wanted from you."
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious."
"What could she have possibly done to deserve this?"
"That's on a—"
"'Need to know basis'?" inquired White Tiger bitterly. She huffed, letting everyone know of the patience she currently lacked. "We'll find the truth, Fury. If not by you then through some other means. You owe us an explanation."
The man didn't want to concede: that much was certain. Still, he drew in a deep breath and once his gaze returned to the glass that thumped again with a popped force-field, he spoke begrudgingly. "After Enderlin, a fraction of SHIELD agents started tracking Kevin Weir and his group."
"You mean you knew who this group was from the beginning?" Spider-Man injected. He took a step back when the man sent him a sidelong glance.
"My agents were perusing so they could offer refuge from The Trackers like many other fractions. They finally met last month in Topeka, Illinois. That's when things turned sour.
"Mister Weir took weapons from them. The kind you need special clearance for. When the mutants wouldn't return them, my agents were forced to retaliate. And Miss Weir? This girl you're so keen on standing up for? She's wanted for the death of one of those agents."
"Wait, wh—what…?"
Danny's eyes narrowed as Spider-Man gawked, yet he kept composed when Fury nodded.
"As you can gather, agent killers aren't taken lightly," the Director continued, low. "I wanted to spare you kids the ugly truth. But now you have it anyway. Happy?"
"I don't believe it." The words from Danny were solid yet respectful, and filled with an emotion that drew everyone's attention to his even gaze. "Forgive the bluntness, Sir. But if you were to expand your mind then you would be able to sense it too. Zeelan doesn't have the heart of a killer."
"I've met mutants, aliens, robots, and gods, Rand. My mind is quite expanded."
"You see, yet you don't perceive. She had saved that couple Wednesday and since then has displayed a great passion for helping."
"Don't lecture me!" Fury twisted to narrow his eye at the blonde. "She killed Agent Reyes. Trust me."
"Trust is a sacred thing that's earned," Danny countered. "It is easily broken by lies and corroded by partial truths like yours, Director. How can anyone ask trust from someone that they have manipulated?"
"Let me guess"—Nova interjected as he rose from the ground—"your agents were having trouble capturing the mutants, so you thought we could do a better job. I'm flattered, really. I mean, I am awesome. But trying to trick us into bringing them in? Not cool."
"And what about fair trails?" Spider-Man added after he front-flipped to land beside Fury. "Innocent until proven guilty? This is America! Land of the free and brave."
Fury scoffed. "And also home to some of the most dangerous of threats. This is why I didn't want you kids to take part. You should just forget she's here. In time, her brother will come, and we'll bring him to justice as well. So do not"—slowly, the fierce man gave each team member a pointed look—"and I repeat, do not interfere with his arrest."
None of them answered. Fury didn't seem to care for a reply, though. He told them all not to stay long, mentioning something of another mission and Coulson, then left the enclosed visiting area by means of a hydraulic, sidling door that locked behind him. When the door's final hiss dissipated, Danny glanced over his team.
"Are anyone else's ears ringing?" Spider-Man questioned, hitting one side of his head. "Because I'm quite sure mine have just been filled with crap."
"Unbelievable," said White Tiger in a heated tone. "He played us."
"Now he thinks we can just focus on something else?" hissed Power Man.
"I get the feeling we won't have much choice," Nova noted nonchalantly.
Spider-Man glared at him. "We do have a choice."
"You plan to do something stupid, don't you, Peter?" White Tiger asked this quietly, gaze seeking an answer. She received it in the form of a single look. "Thought so."
"Hey, you guys don't have to—"
"Don't start that, Pete," Power Man injected coolly as he crossed his beefy arms. "You know we gotta stand by you."
White Tiger also crossed her arms, saying, "You'll just make a mess of it by yourself."
"And considering where she is, you'll need all the help you can get," added Danny as softly as possible.
"Nova?" Spider-Man questioned to the floating Hispanic.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm in and stuff," Nova answered with a flick of his wrist. "Fury and Coulson did tase my ass, so."
"And?" pressed White Tiger.
The helmet hero sent her a look. "And it's right to help. Even if she about gave me a concussion."
"Thank you," said the leader under his breath. He mirrored their nods then suddenly forced a laugh while smacking his leg. "Man, you guys bring up the funniest jokes! We'll have to tell that to Fury, for sure."
Tell? Oh, right. Surveillance. The leader was attempting to look inconspicuous, only it remained unclear if the room's audio was being recorded or not. Danny (and the others) quickly picked up on his cue, laughing alongside him. They continued their ruse as they headed for the exit, except Danny slowed behind them.
"Before you form a plan," the blonde muttered over Spider-Man's shoulder, "I would like to talk with Zeelan…alone."
"What?" the leader whispered back. "But Danny—"
"It's my fault she's here. I need to convince her we'll make it right."
"What about Fury's evil eye?"
"Don't worry, Webs"—Nova interjected, haughty—"I'll find a way to put the feeds on pause."
Spider-Man snorted at the Hispanic's smirk. "Like you were reliable enough to shut down SHIELD security at my house? Or fry the tracker in the communicator you gave Zeelan?"
"Hey, I know I fried it!"
"Fried chicken is the best, isn't it, Nova?" White Tiger said over Nova's scream.
As she jabbed a pointy elbow into his shin by her waist, Spider-Man raced to the front of the group, walking backwards. "Don't be ashamed, Sam," he said rather loudly, "there's nothing wrong with making a mistake. Sometimes, you just got to start over with fried chicken. It can become a loop, as I'm sure you know."
"Yes, I do," Nova countered. "It just takes a few minutes with the right utensils."
"I don't know about you guys, but now I'm hungry," Power Man added as the door hissed open. White Tiger and Spider-Man passed through the doorway first, then Nova. Danny paused with his best friend at the threshold to prevent the door from closing while Spider-Man and Nova did…supposedly, something helpful.
"They shouldn't stress about it," the blonde commented in a hushed tone. "It won't matter if Fury hears what I want to say to her."
"Odds are high they won't be able to loop the feed anyway," the tall teen contributed, laughing for normalcy and sport. "Regardless, you probably shouldn't take too long."
"All I want is to apologize. It's because she trusted me that she…"
"Hey"—Power Man spoke hastily while placing a strong hand on Danny's shoulder—"It wasn't your fault Fury found a way around your plan. I'm sure you can get her to understand that."
"Yes; thank you, friend," Danny said with a small smile.
The taller teen returned the gesture just before meeting White Tiger beyond the doorway. Beside them, huddled in a corner riddled with control panels, Spider-Man and Nova gave two thumbs up. Really, though, Danny doubted their goal had been achieved. They didn't look very confident. And one panel sparked in the background.
No matter. He sent them a thankful nod anyway then walked to a display screen embedded before the glass wall. A menu appeared. The hero made quick work of adjusting the settings—one of which un-tinted the glass on Zeelan's side so she could see beyond it. One large force-field swelled in the process, large and imposing. The moment the mutant's dark eyes found his, it popped so fiercely it threw its creator into the back wall.
"Zeelan!" Danny cried—a hand against the glass as she fell to her knees. "Are you alright?"
She didn't raise her limp head. Or move. But the force-fields around her expedited in both their growth and power, and her Chi continued to climb in a supernova effect.
"Zeelan," the blonde added calmly. "Please, listen. I'm—"
"You promised he wouldn't be involved," the mutant interrupted. Her scratchy accent could barely be heard, even though the sound had been turned up.
Danny frowned. "I know. I…I'm sorry."
"You promised!" Another force-field popped near the glass like an over-inflated balloon. "You promised, and he was still there! You tricked me!"
"No, that was never my intent!" the blonde added reverently. "Believe me. Didn't you say so yourself over the communicator? That you felt our intents, our auras? Chi does not lie."
The female gave a weak, almost delirious, laugh as her breathing sped up. "I've been known to misread my Radiesthesia, though. That's why I'm here."
"I had taken all the precautions possible. I assure you, I didn't lie."
"I wasn't referring to your team…"
Danny's foot slipped backwards at such dreariness. The toes of Zeelan's bare feet started to curl and the hands at her sides tensed into tight fists.
"I shouldn't have done it," she added in a tart, thick accent. Two force-fields popped and four more took their place, growing. "I should have just listened to my brother; I should have stayed away. Fury's going to find the others and it's going to be my fault. We made a promise to protect each other, and now…" Her head of wild curls shook. "They're going to hate me! What have I done?"
"They won't hate you," Danny retorted automatically.
"Oh, how can you say that? You don't even know them."
"You're right; I don't. But if they're people worthy of your concern, then they will understand."
The mutant huffed. "No clue. You all have no clue."
"About what, Zeelan?"
"I feel the burning. I feel his look. The black."
"Zeelan?"
"Or does it matter? Maybe its better."
"Zeelan."
"Will he forgive me?"
"Zeelan, please!" Danny barely kept his voice collected in his panic. "You must focus yourself!"
The increasing number of Psionic force-fields that swelled within the cell was beginning to look like a container filled with gumballs. A pressure like that would no doubt be contained with Fury's precautions, but Zeelan's body under such build up when it popped? Danny didn't dare think about it.
"Don't let the emotions swallow you," he added, calmer. "Channel them. Bite down the negative Chi like a pill and let the positive Chi inside you surround it like a cocoon. Feel it ease your muscles, your power."
Slowly, very slowly, the bubbles faded from an opaque purple to a near-transparent lavender. One by one, they diminished until only a few around the mutant remained. Zeelan's labored breathes grew into light sobs, yet she still didn't look up from her slump.
"I know you feel that you've betrayed your friends," Danny continued carefully. "Like I feel I've betrayed you. But, in reality, neither of us has. We're merely faced with an obstacle and obstacles can be overcome."
"You think there's a way out of this?" Zeelan grumbled. She sounded tired, and her accent ran her vowels together.
"I believe that no matter what, trails bring about growth."
"Are you always so optimistic?"
"I do try to be." Danny gave a light smile as Zeelan's glossy eyes lifted. "I'm sorry this happened. I truly am. However"—his voice dropped so it couldn't easily be heard, just in case—"my friends and I will still try to help you. What Fury has told us makes little sense."
"What's new?" the white-haired teen retorted with a flinch. "What…what did he tell you then?"
"We can discuss that another time." The blonde kept his tone low. "I have to leave; my friends…aren't exactly trust-worthy with electronics. It's best I don't draw attention being gone too long."
"I see…"
"I'll visit again as soon as I can. Before I go, though, can you give me an idea about where your brother may be?"
Zeelan's dark gaze hardened. "Why?"
"Because we don't want him taking Fury's bait, do you? I would like to warn him."
"Oh…I wouldn't worry about that."
Danny blinked. "Why not?"
"Because I left a note."
Author's Notes: And so the start of Z and Danny's journey together starts. Please, don't forget to review! :D