Chapter 27- Encounter part 1 of the 2 part finale

Cassa Wilks formerly known as Cassandra Brandt settled back in her seat and waited calmly for the limousine carrying her sons to stop. Beside her sat Cory Fine who kept giving her these little glances that indicated his shock at finally meeting the leader of the foremost criminal organization in the world and finding she was a tiny, frail looking woman. She knew she did not look frightening. At barely 5 foot with a thin frame there was a look of vulnerability about her that had served her well.

She had risen in the ranks of HYDRA over the years from a position as the organizations messenger, when she was a young teen to their leader. Every day it had been a fight, against those who thought their ideas were the ones to lead HYDRA into the future.

It had been her idea that had resonated the loudest, her use of the man that loved her to advance her position. She had been with HYDRA just a few years when she'd met him. At first she had thought about leaving the organization to be with him, a new life and new beginning. He was another prize in a life where she had to come out the winner.

That was the feeling that had led her to HYDRA. She had excelled at everything she tried her hand at whereas her sister struggled. Yet the praise always seemed to fall upon her sister .That she could not understand as she was the one who had succeeded whereas her sister had just come in second. Maybe her parents saw the fact that she had no particular attachment for any of the things she did, she just wanted to be better than everyone else. When she held a man in her arms she had one chance to walk away from HYDRA and live a life where he would be proud of her and there would be no need to compete again. But when she thought about it there seemed no challenge, he was a clever man and could hold the key to her rising even higher and looking down upon yet more people. So she had made a choice and given him some subtle guidance that was supposedly in the name of love. He had set up a laboratory where a group of brilliant people designed the most intriguing thing for the supposed benefit of others. Of course it was all for the benefit of HYDRA.

It had all been working well until she, proud of her prize had introduced him to her family. Her sister who had always hidden in her shadow and never tried to be better than her had done the unthinkable , gotten to know her husband then decided he should be hers. Even the fact that she was married and pregnant had not stopped her. Damn them both. They took her babies when they were barely months old and went off together.

She though did not just give up. As her babies grew up she took many opportunities to pass herself off as her sister. She made her sons and her former husband totally confused. It was also the time when he saw her for what she was, someone who craved power and would do anything to attain it.

When Clint picked up a bow and fired arrows for the first time she was pleased by her sisters reaction. She could see it going through her mind that Clint would end up on the wrong side, just like she was. It was then that the seeds of an idea hit her, to reclaim her sons in a spectacular way. Clint could have a glorious future within HYDRA, whereas Will, well he was like her sister, not that good at anything. But she'd take him anyway and perhaps teach him a few new skills.

Her plan was appropriately nasty, to get a surgeon to remove their memories of their life, so they'd become a blank slate for her to mold and shape. When Joseph found out her plan she and Alyce had tried to stop her. It was then she poisoned her own sister using the virus her former husband had created . She had hoped that Joseph would be too busy trying to save his lover to find out her new plans. But he had intervened, storming into the theatre and once again taking his sons. It was too late for Alyce, as she died that very night. "You better let the surgeon continue his work and wipe Will's mind, otherwise he will never be safe", she had stormed at Joseph. "I do not want you to have a life with either of them Joe and I will do anything, kill anyone to achieve that aim."You never should have chosen my weak minded sister as she could not offer you protection against what is coming. I will take what you have done ,warp it then unleash upon the world in your name. You cannot stop me." She remembered Joseph gentling cradling the ashen skinned Clint in his arms. He was with several of the other designers from the laboratory, and they held a gun upon her. She had no fear, just staring them down boldly. "What have you done Cass", Joseph pleaded as he tried to free Clint from all the machinery. "I have ensured that he", she pointed at Clint," will not remember your sentiment and weakness. He has the makings of an assassin within him and it is better he does not have a history to succeed at that career. I wanted to introduce him and Will to a new family". "My type of family, where strength is power". She stated the last bit with a heated passion.

Joseph just stared in disbelief his eyes sad. "I loved you Cass, but always felt like it was never enough. 'Still, how you can do something like this is beyond my comprehension."You may have succeeded in removing Clint's memories and but you failed to get Will". Cass took a step closer to Will only to be shouted out to freeze. "Do not touch him", Joseph bellowed at her. "As I said honey " that bit was spouted with deep sarcasm," he is better off not knowing the truth. If you do not allow the surgery to continue he will spend the rest of his life running from me. As will you". It was a powerful threat and she'd been sure he would comply.

But Joseph had more fire than she'd anticipated yelling back, "no Cass, I will hide both of them from you and you will never find them, this I vow. As for all your precious research well, I have already made sure you will never have control over any of that information. Somewhere there will be people who can use it for the right reasons". No matter how much you search you will not get anything of consequence, this too I vow".

He had taken Clint and Will and left after that not having the guts to end her life himself. That had of course been his mistake. She had gotten away from the others and embarked on a campaign to find both Will and Joseph.

He though, had been true to his word. She had found out Clint's location years later, but it was already too late, he was with SHIELD and HYDRA was at that stage not prepared to show their hand to get him out. She located Joseph soon after that and sent Byron Ink, her lover and formerly Joseph's friend to kill him. When he came back telling her of his success she felt nothing , one obstacle to her great plan had been eliminated .He had though not given up Will's location or told Ink where he'd hidden any of the research She was sure it would not take that much longer to find Will and Ink would have no trouble getting information out of him.

She was mistaken about that ,after years of searching Will seemed to be invisible to the world. Thinking about that, she theorsied Joseph had finally developed the shielding technology he had talked of with Alyce and used it to hide Will . She set HYDRAs systems in motion searching for all known codes that may reveal his location. She also used resources within HYDRA to work on perfecting the virus she'd used to kill Alyce. It would become her ultimate weapon . After more years had passed fruitlessly in her search for Will and she had almost given up hope HYDRA's systems finally proclaimed "match found".

So she had embarked upon what was supposed to be the fairly easy last stage of her plan. Except it had all gone spectacularly wrong, first Will was no longer the soft target, an easy kill. It turned out he was an agent with the IMF. Then of course somehow Clint Barton remembered he had a brother and interfered with her plans, bringing the Avengers along with him. She had been assured that recovery of Clint's memory was impossible and had smirked at the thought of Will living in the knowledge his brother knew nothing about him. At least she had perfected the virus weapon she'd use to take down the Avengers. Will still did not have the guts or knowledge to defy her.

Cass felt her fists clench as she thought about how wrong that theory had been. She had made just one mistake and that had been underestimating Will Brandt. In one explosive arrow powered moment he had shown that he was more alike Clint than she had ever believed.

Now he had reduced the odds and forced her out of hiding. Of course she had to consider that was his plan, and that the hidden laboratory was, like the bunker a trap to ensnare her and her remaining forces .Though may he have already played out all of his hand, he'd used the masquerade, and revealed both his ability with the bow and his cure for the virus. So what did he have left . Either the laboratory did not exist and he'd lead them into an area where the Avengers would take them out or, ..she paused sucking her breath into a little gasp, yes he would try that, it was the only choice left. As for her next moves well what happened next rested upon the actions of her son. She would make some preparations though and had included Cory in that part of the plan. Brandt would not win this time.

"He's now gone through 200 different changes of direction", Cory reported."They must know they are being watched and followed yet the Avengers are not taking any type of action, Cory remarked. That fact made him nervous, these were people with powers he could barely comprehend and they should not be letting them get this close to Brandt. Cassa smiled, "the fact the information was hidden in New York had worked against them. The people here remember what happened last time the Avengers unleashed their abilities. They saved the city but the personal price was high. There are many here who fear the type of power they weild and want them controlled more effectively". She had made sure those peoples voices resonated loudly. It was her own personal battle on two fronts, erosion from within and outside. This was not a fast process, but she had been slowly winning, until now.

"They have changed direction again, hmm this time it's a totally different location". Cory looked around him, 'this can't be right, do you see where he is leading us". Cassa had been watching as the city changed ,and could feel her plans teetering closer to oblivion.

xxxxxx

"This can't be right", Will open your eyes, Clint reached out and gently shook his brother. It had been almost eeiry watching him sit on the floor of the limousine with his eyes closed calling out direction changes . Nobody in the car had said anything about Will's latest revelation. They all had secrets of their own and knew the price for holding onto those secrets was high. If IMF knew the truth of Wills parentage, he would most likely be treated as an enemy, even though he had been serving loyally for years. Clint too was well aware that the knowledge would make the people who wanted him either dead or locked up for his actions under Loki's controls have a more persuasive voice. They could say his actions were deliberate and conducted on his mothers behalf. Fear would give rubbish like that a lot of power.

He had to restrain the shivers that came upon him as he thought of facing a woman that had given birth to him yet wanted him dead. Somewhere deep down there was a place within him that still believed this could turn out alright. It all rested upon Will.

He knew his brother did not want the laboratory in anyones hands as he did not trust what even a persons with the strongest morals might do when faced with powerful knowledge.

In the face of all that they knew Clint decided that Will's plan to end this was very predictable. The others had certainly guessed it easily enough. He had then expected them to veto those plans. But they had shocked him. Now all of them were prepared to defy IMF and SHIELD in the hope that it would also lead to the downfall of HYDRA.

"You know she's not just going to walk into this location", Steve reminded Will, "its too much like the situation at the bunker, it has trap written all over it".

"Of course, but she no longer has a choice, things have not gone well for her and it will reflect badly with others within HYDRA, now she'll have to prove herself", Will responded.

He had then opened his eyes and told them, "we are here'. One look outside the windows had once again changed everything.

Around them the city was in ruins. Will gasped that the scene of devastation. He noted that Clint was pale as he stared at the broken concrete, twisted metal and shards of glass that lay in tangled piles all around them. 'What happened", Will asked softly. "It was Loki and his army", Clints voice was barely audible and had a chill that spoke of nightmares beyond his comprehension. "One of his giant fish things landed right there", he pointed to the rubble. "Even after time has passed, the damage in some areas has yet to be dealt with." If the laboratory is here, then it could have suffered some type of trauma", he remarked. That might not be such a bad thing .

"It's under ground ,in a well protected location", Will told them. "We can access entry through the sewers. But once we leave the car we are going to be followed". "Do not try to delay them or stop them, the laboratory has defenses of ts own we can use."Steve swallowed he did not like this at all, being trapped like rats in a maze came into his mind. Yet he had agreed to this slightly mad plan and had to see it through. "Tony anything", he asked their lookout. "JARVIS reported that their were multiple vehicles tracking your location, all of them may look at first glance like random cars yet they form a defensive pattern around you ,covering all road based exit points." Steve told him about the sewers so that JARVIS could scan that area as well. 'Its like a labyrinth down, there, multiple entry and exit points. JARVIS also states that there is no sign of any type of hidden room", Tony reported.

Will could hear every word and ventured a half smile, he was once again going to get the better of Tony Stark. "It would not be that easy to find Stark, HYDRA would have similar equipment and has in likelihood scanned this area many times over the years."

Tony was silent for a moment while he mulled that over. Why did he had this secret dislike for Will Brandt deep inside somewhere. It felt like they were being played. Yet when he thought over everything an explanation came into mind. 'That shielding device could have been used to hide the labaroty. Obviously the code to track its location is different that the one used in your arm."

"Yes, I'd say dad did use another device to do that", Will confirmed, "and I am the only one who can turn it off". He looked over at Ethan, who sat beside him. "Its time to get out of the car and enter the sewers".

"It would be a sewer",Bruce grumbled . "Alright Tony, Tasha keep your eyes upon us and get ready to intervene if you see any hostiles", Steve requested.

He got out of the car holding the door open so that Clint and Will could exit. He had removed the shackle that secured Will's hand to his own, though the bracelet remained. It had a tiny GPS tracker imbedded within just in case Will chose to try and run off.

Clint stood close to his brother defying anyone to try and take a shot at them. He could though, see no one. "Theres a sewer entry point, just in there",Will pointed between two buildings to an alley that was shadowed by the large pieces of rubble that lay like an arch over its entry point.

Pushing Will forward they moved under that arch where Steve located the sewer cover and pulled it open. Then down they went, into the darkness, a stomach wrenching smell drifting up to meet them.

"Its this way", Will declared as soon as everyone was standing around him. How he knew where to go , Ethan did not know, he'd just follow along and keep watching for bad guys.

Above them Tony kept scanning the area noting that several people entered the sewers from multiple points. It was going to be crowded down there. He knew what Steves plan was and shuddered, this could all go spectacularly wrong.

"Multiple hostiles around you", he warned.

Will trudged through the putrid smelling mess in the sewers feeling memories swirl around him. The others followed in his wake looking at the solid walls around them and wondering how anyone could hide a laboratory down here.

After another 5 minutes of walking and Will stopped, "we are here", he announced standing by a very normal looking piece of tunnel wall.

"Yep ,I can really see that", Bruce muttered . Will smiled to himself again and raised his hand to run it through his hair. Clint ,recognizing the signal, came to stand by his side. "So big brother what next", he hinted.

Will took a breath, "open up please", he requested to the wall. It seemed for a moment that he was playing some elaborate game as nothing appeared to happen. Above them though, Tony noted that JARVIS's screening had just detected a new area. "There's a massive cavern just been revealed, it appears to be beyond the walls at your location", he told the others.

He suspected he may not be the only one to notice this fact and bumped up his alert status even higher. He could feel the potential for violence fall around them like a shroud.

Cory showed Cass the latest information and she nodded, it changed nothing as both her theories still held, it could be a large empty space or it could be more. "Our people are in side tunnels all around the location of the Avengers force".They will not be able to get out without going through us", Cory reported.

He too could feel another battle coming. It would not be pleasant down here but it would be easier than the forest as there were less places to hide.

As soon as he had finished thinking that, the Avengers team suddenly vanished from his scanners.

Will had the others form a chain all holding hands then he had simply stepped forward right through the very solid looking wall in front of them. "Wow", its was the indrawn breath of the stunned Dr Banner beside them as he stared at the enormous cavern that was filled with intriguing shapes covered with dusty white material.

He reached out toward one, "don't touch doc", Will warned. Bruce pulled his hand back. "Welcome to the laboratory everyone, we are now off radar", Will told them

Steve was touching the walls, "alright we now have to carry out our plan, remember everyone this was my idea". He looked over at Clint and Will, "they had nothing to do with it".

He saw Will stare at him again, he could not believe anyone would offer to make the sacrifice play for someone they barely knew.

Will let the memories swirl as he paced one last time around the cavern. "We are going to have to wait until the HYDRA team are close to the entry point. They will be able to scan that there is an entry, but will not be able to follow our movements. The doorway was DNA activated" , he explained.

Indeed there was quite a crowd in the tunnel outside. Cory had been the first to discover that while they could detect an area beyond they could not enter.

"So what now", he asked their not so glorious leader. He was feeling the same way he had with Byron Ink, that this was going to go horribly wrong. "Brandt has only one plan left, to destroy this place and hope we get caught in the fall out", she announced. That made Cory believe he was right , he could feel himself go a shade paler, "then what are we doing down here", he requested. "We need to stop them of course", Cassa told them, like it should be obvious.

She heard Cory suck in a breath of disbelief, and the others shuffle nervously, they were all losing faith in her and that could lead to disaster. She had to think of something reassuring to say . Feeling her foot teeter on something below her she put one hand out to the tunnel to steady herself. Seconds later she found herself falling through the tunnel wall.

Cory gasped and retested the walls. They would still not yield to his entry. "So it seems I was right again, it's a trap", he remarked.

Cassa found herself standing in the cavern with alot of hostile eyes staring at her. "As I said the entrance is coded to DNA, specifically Brandt DNA, so any of us, could have gotten in", Will stated calmly as he looked at her.

Cassa decided that pointing her weapon was useless as she was well outnumbered. All her power now rested with her words and actions. "So have you brought me here for a family reunion Will", she remarked ,her eyes firmly focused upon one of her sons.

She seemed sure of identity Ethan noted. Will said nothing just staring at her. Beside him Clint was icy pale, this was just as bad as any nightmare. He wished he could awaken and find everything was back to normal. "I just want to end it, that's why you are here, and are alone. You can stay here trapped forever or we can take you into custody. The choice is yours", Will spat out

"And I thought you had finally developed a back bone. But you still are weak Will, not having the strength to kill me", Cassa spat back. "Yes it was a risk coming here, but I too have made plans. You have played all your cards now Will and there's really only one way out."

She looked over at Bruce Banner, "when you brought him, you revealed what you had in mind, he transforms down here and brings down half the sewers, Nobody gets their hands on anything. Not a bad plan. It is though quite predicable", she mocked. Now it was time for the threat." If you don't surrender ,then I will activate a plan of my own. In buildings around this city people will enter dressed in SHEILD uniforms and they will take violent action against anyone they find." It will be the end of SHIELD and the Avengers", she grinned at them rather manically.

Steve Rogers felt ice descend upon his limbs. He had been the one to offer to take the blame for destroying the laboratory. His reputation was solid, unlike Will's or Clint's and could handle the consequences. Of course he did not tell Fury or Gideon Killian of his plan as they would not agree. Luckily they were not part of any conversations as they had feared that the infiltrators in their agencies had not been eliminated and therefore any plans could be leaked.

He should have been prepared for the fact the enemy might anticipate their actions, but he was not. This was a nightmare scenario and it gave HYDRA back the winning hand.

"You would do it anyway Cassandra, as your hatred for SHIELD burns as passionately as that for us' Will gestured to Clint who still stood frozen beside him just staring at their mother. "Not going to say Hi Clint", Cassandra scorned," how you managed to remember anything defies me. Still it does make revenge all that much sweeter."

Clint blanched, "you are doing this because our father left you for another woman. Perhaps he had cause to do that", he challenged. 'Yeah he did, because I am a nasty shit of a person and always was. Alyce was the nice one and probably deserved him. Yet I was not going to let her win. Nor am I going to let you win. All I have to do is tell Mr Fine to initiate our plan and a lot of people are going to suffer", Cassandra stated.

"So you now have 10 seconds in which to surrender yourself, and the Avengers forces",she crossed her arms and smirked knowing they did not have a way out of this one.