Janet sat at her desk it had been a week now since her fight in the stone tower and most of her wounds had recovered thanks to the help of her friends. She was going over the finishing touches on the last design for her new line before saving it and flipping the holo-screen over to a list of new equipment her various departments had requested. She looked over to an empty cage standing in the corner filled with bird toys and a dish of food. She then looked up and saw her pigeon Pete flying around the room, "Got out again did you?" The bird cooed and flew over to her desk landing on her shoulder. "You do know I have let you go five times now." The pigeon cooed again and took off landing in his cage and began to eat. "Guess I can't blame you when you get food this easily." She then tapped a red flashing button on her desk and a new screen emerged with Maria Hill on it.

"Hello Janet." Maria was standing crossed armed and looking as serious as ever.

"Hey Maria how are you?"

"I am doing good we have some new reports on the Royals like you asked I am going to keep you up to date."

"Thank you. So what can you tell me?"

Maria nodded, "Let's start with what happened to Ajaw." A video appeared on the screen it was a cross section of a human head. "First the inside of the mask became a thick liquid like a molasses and it was forced down Ajaw's throat." The video began to demonstrate what Maria said, "As he was choking and before he passed out the liquid began to harden in certain spots inside the throat. These hardened points were pushed out from the throat through the neck severing the spin between vertebrae and decapitating the man. At the same time the same liquid engulfed his head and encased it in plastic perfectly preserving the brain."

Janet coughed a bit, "Was it painful?"

"According to our doctors painful and cruel you get the feeling of drowning and choking only to feel your body being cut up from the inside to finish it off. The material used was amazing it took us 3 days to cut and remove it from Ajaw."

"Who was he?"

"He was a scientist by the name of Derrick Sanders an expert in chemical engineering and human physiology. He was for all intensive purposes a genius with a bright future except for a lack of funding from anybody."

"So that is why he joined them."

"Janet you still have not told me why you started your company?"

"To stop brilliant people from turning to crime for funding, I have seen too many skilled and smart people slip into crime when nobody gives them a chance. I want them to be able to come here and fulfill their potential I do not want more Dr. Octopus or wizards to be created. Now back to the subject at hand what else is going on with the investigation?"

Maria pulled up a map with 9 different points marked out on it, "From what we got from their computers and logs these are more instillations they have running. Some are like the stone tower others are just offices. We have linked three more companies to them as well as sales to various criminal organizations that have appeared in recent power vacuums. We have nine teams ready to move in at a moment's notice we are hoping they do not try and burn the servers and data storage terminals like they did at the stone tower."

"What about the Emperor?"

"Not much is known other than that he is the head of the organization that seems to keep growing the more we dig. We have also found out that Derrick Sanders was not the only Ajaw from what we have seen there are 4 more as well. Each Ajaw is head of a scientific instillation...wait I just got word in one of insulations is being attacked." Maria turned her head, "What do you mean was attacked we beat them back...what do you mean they took it out how come our alarms took this long to notify us...they were shut down before the attack how did we find out then there check in is not for another three hours...they sent a video for us and Janet!"

Janet's jaw had dropped shaking her head, "Maria play it!"

Maria turned back to the screen, "Just a minute Janet." She turned away again, "Which instillation was attacked? How did they find the pillbox it is supposed to be classified? Just play us the video."

The video came on screen at first it was pointed at a man standing there in a black two button suit and a mask. The mask was white with a thin gold crown around it and the man's head on the face was a red slash from the upper right of the forehead down to the cheek. The voice that spoke was deep, "Hello Commander Hill and Wasp I am King the one in charge of this attack on this lovely little place you call the pillbox. It is quite nice I loved all the agents here who fought like warriors your scientists however were like ours cried and whimpered begging to be spared. It was quite sad we both need to train them better do we not." The man laughed lightly before he spoke again, "Now just to be clear those 9 places you are ready to raid well they have been cleared out and set to explode once your teams enter which by the time you get this video will be in two hours so I would stop them now no need for warriors to die in a simple trap. Oh and in case you are already sending people to come here to late we have been gone for an hour already. Think of this as a bit of revenge for taking our tower from us." He turned away from the camera as if to walk away then turned back, "Oh yes I have one last gift for you and a warning." He reached out of the screen and pulled a human head onto the screen, "I believe this woman was in charge here she was quite the fighter but in the end I was better." He pulled a pointed metal pole onto the screen with his other hand and raised the head slamming it down onto the spike, "Do not cross again otherwise Janet you and Shield will both lose a tower." The man stepped out of the screen as he did the area behind him lit up to show a field of shield agent heads on pikes then the video stopped.

Janet turned her head to the side grabbing a bucket she vomited, "Maria I need a security team here now!"

Maria nodded, "I need a team to Wasp tower now!"

Janet wiped her mouth, "Do not call it that." Janet needed to take her mind of that image she did not care what it was or how insensitive she sounded she needed to get the image of 100 heads on a pike out of her head. That spray of brain matter as the point broke through the skull was even worse.

"Then give it a name already. Now how will we go about this in your building?"

"I have 18 departments each with a head so I want a shield agent assigned to each of them I want a shield agent on each of the twins and a team watching the entrance. I am going to call all the heads to my office and tell them what is going on. They are going to go and talk to the people in their departments and it will be their decision on what they do."

"Okay I will have 25 shield agents assigned to your company."

"I also want full access to every file shield has and gets on the Royals I want to be notified for any mission. They have threatened my people I will not let them get away with it."

"Very well I will have them rotated out every 8 hours."

"Thank you Maria. I am going to be calling my department heads up now I will talk to you later."

"We will get them Janet." Maria then logged off the call.

Janet took a deep breath before tapping a few keys on her holo-screen, "I need all department heads to my office in five minutes."

Her door opened and Brian and Brianna both entered the room they both had on bright green shirts and spoke in unison, "What is going on Janet we don't have a meeting like this on the schedule?"

Janet nodded, "I will explain it once all the heads are here just know this is an urgent matter." Janet began to pull up multiple files onto her screen and began to go through them at a rapid pace. As she did this her office began to slowly fill up with men and women until she could see 20 faces before her. She smiled a bit as she finished what she was doing, "I want to thank you all for coming here so quickly." She scanned the room making sure all the faces were there and correct. "As you all know working under a super hero comes with certain risks as I told you when you first decided to join this company." She had spoken to larger crowds then this but this was harder these were all people she respected and followed her helped her they were her friends. "Now is one of those times you have to make that decision if you want to stay on with this company and continue your work. We have been threatened by an organization that has the power to take out shield facilities head on. They also have the ability to kill hundreds with a simple device." She listens to a rise in whispers that rose from the group and she raised her hand to quite them. "Before you make a decision I will tell you what we are doing to keep you safe. I am going to tell you all that each division is going to get a personal shield agent to watch over them as well as a team of 5 will be on the floor as guards. I have also decided to step up our own security measures as well. I want you all to look at your tablets they will show you what I intend to do. First off from our medical division in the first responder category I am giving each employ one of these." A large watch like device appeared on the tablet screens the strap of the watches were silver tubes, "Jessica, please explain what it is."

A middle aged woman stepped forward she had long black hair that went down to her waist. She was in a white lab coat that hung loosely off her body over a set of purple scrubs, "These are what we call the response watch. The face of the watch is screen that alerts the wearer to a rise in harmful gases, alerts from the head of the operation, a gps locator and works as a flash light. The battery life for this device is 9 months but it will notify you when it gets low. Each of the tubes that make up the straps carries various helpful tools. It seems the ones Janet have selected is the gas mask which will take up three tubes it also has stun spray and a food supplement and an antitoxin. That watch is designed to tell you which tube to use so there is no worry of fumbling around with which is which. I will have instruction books sent to each person that will go into further detail." She looked to Janet, "Is that all from my division?"

Janet nodded, "thank you Jessica. Now then this is a worst case scenario device that you will be required to wear at all times. Just to make sure everything goes smoothly I will have my accessory department work with each of you to ensure a perfect fit. Next for security upgrades I ask John to come up I have sent you a list of what I want to be installed within the week. To do this he will be stealing technicians from various places to help."

A man walked out of the crowd in a pair of dark blue coveralls with slicked back brown hair and thick stubble on his face. "Alright well here is what I got coming. At the main entrance I will be installing full hand scanners and retina scanners. Full hand scanners will be placed on every door as well as a voice command module each person will need to enter a personal phrase. With the help of our computer technology division all computer systems will be upgraded to a new security system written just for us. Guests will all need to be screened before entering and sent through a fully body scanner we are going to get from the medical division. Apparently Jessica I get to use your rapid 3d body imager also we need two people to be there at all times think of it as them running field tests at least that is what Janet wrote for me to tell. I am also going to need each division to finally put the barcodes on their devices so we can track them!"

Janet looked at John, "That was not on the list."

John smiled, "It is now." There was a bit of laughter from the crowd. "Also all deliveries are to go through a screening process by some of our new technology so be aware that packages will arrive to you an hour after they arrive in the building." There was then a bit of grumbling.

Janet smiled, "Thank you John that is what I have so far for all of you. Now for the hard part, "She took a deep breath, "I do not expect any of you to stay on if you do not wish to. I know this is going to be hard and you are going to put your lives on the line just by showing up each day. If you choose to leave I will not hold you back I will also release any personal research to you however all materials and prototypes paid for by this companies money will stay with us but can be purchased by you at a later time for cost. For my other divisions not related to science I will allow you to keep your contacts and keep personally created designs. In the marketing side I will pay out what we will owe you for creative consulting. These offers are not just for you heads they are also for all the other employees under you as long as it is their name as head of the project." She closed her eyes and then spoke the next line, "I will ask now that whoever wishes to leave raise their hand but I expect you to take what I have told you to your people and be ready to leave by the end of the week." She would stay silent for a minute then opened her eyes to see no hands raised. It was then that she let the tears flow from her eyes not of fear or pain but of joy. For the first time in a long time she had found a group of people who believed in her so much they would stay with her no matter what.

An older man walked to the front of the group he was using a clear cane with a metal chain inside it to help him walk. He was bald except for a bad comb over and was a bit shaky he looked up at Janet with worn blue eyes, "I will speak for all of us my dear. I have been with the Van Dyne family since your father was alive. I worked with him in developing new materials and I was in the lab the day he was killed. I have lived through countless invasions fights and wars the whole time believing you are doing what is right. So I can say with ease that we will all stay with you and support you and this company." He turned to the others and then smiled, "Now then I say after we get this mess sorted out with those in our departments we go for a drink." He began to walk towards the door, "I am sure Janet will by the first round for all of us."

Janet smiled wiping her tears from her eyes, "Thank you Bill I am lucky to have you."

"You better know it and just so you know I drink scotch and not the cheap stuff." There was a roar of laughter before they all began to follow Bill out.

Janet looked to Brianna and Brian, "I need you two to stay for a bit I have more to tell you and show you." They all waited until the crowd had left and gone back to their departments before she showed them the video she was sent Brianna took it well while Brian well he fainted when the spike went through the skull. She told them all about the Royals and then spoke softly, "So now you know who we are up against and why I have decided to train all our employees to use our nonlethal weapons."

Brianna nodded, "We should wait two weeks see who stays and who goes it will be the next two weeks that tells us who stays."

Brian nodded still a bit dazed from the video, "I agree but what about the fashion shows I have scheduled across the world?"

Janet smiled at him, "Keep them we still need to appear strong I will have Maria assign a team of agents to go to them as added protection."

Brianna looked at Janet, "We are going to owe shield after this."

"I know that is why you are going to have to get some teams to come up with great gifts for them and Brian you will need to come up with a new suit design for them before the first show."

Brian laughed, "Okay I think I have a few of your designs we can modify to work for that I take it a place to store a badge and weapons are a must."

Janet put her hand on his shoulder, "Yep they are now. I also need an escape and defense plan for each department in the building get together with each head and figure it out I need these plans within the next two weeks. Brianna get the watches upgraded to show a map they can follow and get out. I want this place to run like it usually does by the end of next month we need to keep up a strong appearance. Now get to work I have a few things I need to go over with Maria." Brianna and Brian both left talking together and changing Janet's schedule once again. Janet walked back to her desk and fell into her chair as she let all her emotions out crying laughing yelling and finally crying in joy and love. As she did this Pete her new pet pigeon landed on her shoulder and nuzzled her cooing as if trying to comfort her