A/N: I asked for patience and in return I present an extra-long chapter. Hope it makes up for everything.
Retrokill, Canuckle, Cheshire, N1elkyfan...thanks for all the reviews. As always, its your feedback that makes gets me onto that next chapter. Thanks for the support.
"Hi there, my name is Agent Phil Coulson. Seems we're supposed to be doing some business today that...well that never actually happened."
Greer raised an eyebrow at the strange introduction but stayed silent as she followed Colton and Domino's lead, stepping off the jet and walking up to greet Agent Coulson. She noted a short but athletic looking Asian woman a few steps behind Coulson. Her posture...even the look on her face actually reminded her a little of Colton. Greer also noted the firearm strapped to her side and the way she was scowling at all three of them. Greer's hand subtly travelled to her thigh...she had an urge to check that the gun Domino had given her on the jet was still there...
"Phil...it's been too long. And May, I thought you were stuck behind a desk! When was the last time we all saw each other again?" Domino acted like her and these two were old friends, Coulson even returning the smile.
"You were attempting to intercept a prototype nuclear warhead I was getting out of a destabilized dictatorship." Agent May monotoned, clearly not fond of the memory. Greer could relate...
"Oh yea...that's right. And the time before that?"
"You helped get some of my men out of Bukaresh." Coulson played along, smile still on his face.
"Hmmm...so I guess we're on the same side today?" Domino was obviously enjoying her banter with Coulson. Maybe being stuck with two ferals was getting to the usually verbose assassin after all.
"We'll see about that...it's still early." Coulson finally turned his attention from Domino to the two ferals, just meeting Greer eye to eye while not quite reaching Apex's shoulder. Regardless, he kept the same smile and calm demeanor. Greer returned the smile and concluded she actually kinda liked this guy if she didn't quite trust May.
"Apex...welcome to SHIELD. You should know that you are on a very special list. The kind of list that tells me to shoot you before putting you in a box and making sure to put that box someplace that can't be found."
Greer curled back her lips, OK...Nope, that line alone was enough to make her no no longer enjoying Coulson, showing an impressive amount of fang while Apex just stared down at the little man. He saw no gifts...no exceptional talents or weapons...and yet his tone made it clear that he was confident in what he had said. Brave...not foolish.
"I don't do that anymore." Greer looked defiant as Apex let Coulson know that whatever he may have done in the past...was just that. The past.
"So I've heard," Coulson gave a small nod towards Greer, "I am aware of the work you and Fury are conducting. So that's why today...doesn't really exist. But let's be perfectly clear," Coulson's smile dropped as he took a step closer to the large feral, "you're in my house. And if you cause any trouble I won't have any problems putting you down."
Coulson and Apex shared a brief stare before the agent returned to his relaxed smile and gestured for the three to follow him, "So let's get moving."
"Phil...I think I'm half-way attracted to you right now." Domino sounded impressed but Phil just kept walking as May took up the rear, leading them to an elevator that took the group down further than Greer cared to think.
As they stepped off and started walking down the hall, Greer caught sight of a number of work stations visible through the glass cubes. This place was obviously meant for research but...appeared empty.
"I took the liberty of giving most of the staff the day off," Coulson explained with a smile as if he had read Greer's thoughts, "Best not to start spreading rumors that SHIELD is working with two wanted assassins." Apex however caught sight of the number of SHIELD agents at the end of the hallway, guarding an entrance to what he presumed the more secure section of the research facility. Greer noted that they were some of the largest men she had ever laid eyes on. One of them almost on par with Apex.
Both ferals noted the agents grip their rifles a little tighter at their approach and took a step closer to each other on instinct.
"You really are popular...huh?" Domino quipped over her shoulder which just resulted in Apex tightening his jaw.
Coulson opened the first set of doors with a handprint before that set of doors closed and locked them in. That left the group facing another set of doors, this one with its own guard detail along with turrets in each corner of the ceiling. Greer's tail twitched while Apex kept his eyes forward.
"Sir..." Coulson had been leaning over to do a retinal scan when one of the soldier's spoke, his eyes on the infamous dark feral, "are you certain about this?"
"At ease agent. For today...they're the good guys." Coulson turned to give them all a smile before finishing the scan and walking into what Greer was fairly certain was the most advanced lab she had ever laid eyes on...and she had been in the Avenger's tower once.
"Oh! Yes...hello there." Greer got yet another surprise as two very preppy looking twenty-somethings came over to stand next to Coulson, both doing a fine job of trying to not look in either her or Colton's direction. Greer wrung her hands...It was almost surreal to meet actual people without her image inducer...In fact, she forgot how it felt like to wonder what exactly it was everyoned thought when they looked at the two of them...
"Meet Fitz and Simons. I'm sure they'll be able to take care of whatever you need." Coulson introduced the two nervous scientists as Greer just cocked a hip and Domino gave a little wave and went to go lean in a corner. All this tech stuff bored her.
The lab was quite spacious, with some type of high-tech computer in the center with a console attached to it. There was more than enough room for the group to spread out a little.
"I need to update Fury. So if you'll excuse me, I'll leave you all to it." Coulson gave a little nod of his head and headed out, leaving May behind which seemed to give some relief to the two scientists.
"So...uhh...do you have it?" Fitz asked hopefully in the direction of Domino who smirked as Apex reached behind his back to pull out the device. Fitz gave Simmons a quick look for encouragement and pity before carefully approaching the panther without raising his eyes above chest level. Greer couldn't help but find the two of them kind of adorable...likeable even. She felt compelled to start a conversation with them...that was if they didn't so clearly reek of fear.
'Nerdy babies...' Greer gave an internal grumble.
"Th - thanks." Fitz looked up for a moment as he grabbed the device out of Apex's clawed hand before quickly heading back to Simmons slightly paler than before. The two huddled over the device and began talking in exciting tones.
"Oh this is very interesting...not SHIELD...AIM maybe?" Simmons whispered
"Perhaps...notice the ionic nadion nutation it's giving off?" Fitz was clearly engaged and Greer noted the fear beginning to change for excitement. Wow...these two were easy to please. There was something familiar about that...
"Where did you say you got it?" Fitz asked over his shoulder as he put it in the center of the table and started pushing buttons.
"I didn't." Apex rumbled. He didn't like how they had put them in a box. He liked it less that Agent May was between him and the door. But if this is what it took to find Stryker...so be it.
"OK...and what exactly would you like us to do with it?" Simmons asked helpfully. Greer couldn't help it, she liked these two. They were just so...bright. And then she figured it out...Gabriel...Fitz and Simmons behaved as if her brother had split himself into two...and was suddenly employed by a top secret, top notch government agency.
"We need to find where it gets its orders from and decrypt all the information on this thing." Greer took a few steps closer so that she was standing next to Fitz, Simmons sharing his look of surprise at how pleasant the fierce looking tiger-woman sounded. Actually...now that she was closer Simmons noted that aside from the fur, tail and claws...she actually looked fairly normal...Attractive even...Oh how much she'd wish for just a few days to study her...
"I said can you do that?" Greer tried for the third time as Fitz elbowed his partner.
"Oh! Oh I'm sure we can do that...Fitz?" Simmons tried to cover her space out, clearly embarrassed but felt a little relived when the tiger woman gave her an understanding grin.
"Right...let me get to work."
Fitz immediately started flying over the keyboard, with Simmons spouting out readings and ideas that he quickly sorted through. Greer lost them pretty quickly and taking a cue from Domino headed to a corner. Apex meanwhile stood so he could watch what the two SHIELD scientists were doing while keeping enough distance so as to not...distract them. He had to admit...they might have been young but they were very good.
"What have you found?" Apex had let enough time pass of the two of them enjoying themselves...Stryker could already be gone.
"Well...I mean it looks like an ordinary cell phone...but there is some pretty sophisticated software on here...and there are several layers of encryption to keep out the anyone from poking around."
Apex fought back a growl of frustration. The kid didn't sound challenged...he sounded like he was dealing with a rather interesting puzzle. Luckily Greer spoke up from her corner.
"I thought that's why we brought it to you. You can crack it right?"
Fitz leaned back in his chair, a smile splayed across his face as Simmons seemed to be holding back some conspiratory giggles.
"What?" Greer didn't get it...
"Well that depends...think I can do it under ten minutes May?"
Greer could only watch in awe as Fitz and Simmons got to work. Looking around carefully, she noted how May and Apex had gone off into a corner. Making casual small talk about God knows what while Domino started fiddling with one of the many daggers she had on her.
Greer lowered her ears… Despite how certain she was she had been putting on a rather stellar show out on the field...She had this gut feeling that she was still deemed a "kid" by all the "adults." Maybe even a sidekick to Colton.
Greer blew a stray lock of hair out of her eyes in irritation. She couldn't help it if she wasn't a complete and total stiff. Stealing a look at Fitz and Simmons she couldn't help but feel like she could actually have a normal conversation with these people. Deciding that it was now or never, she decided to approach Simmons. Remembering it was the brunette that had been staring at her. Simmons noticing this, nearly dropped the tablet she had been holding in surprise and maybe even fear. Quickly causing Greer to backpedal a little.
"Sorry… Sorry…" the tigress mumbled holding up her arms. "I didn't mean to make you uh uncomfortable. I'll just go back...over there…" Greer apologized again, her ears dropping a little in disappointment and quickly concluding that just because the Mansion had gotten use to her not wearing the image inducer it didn't mean the rest of the world did. Simmons noticed this and upon quickly stealing a confused look with Fitz tried to call Greer back.
"No! No it's not your fault… I was just um… Sorry I think I'm a little disoriented today… I'm Jemma Simmons… Tigra right?" she smiled before quickly swinging an arm out for Greer to shake. Which the tigress did cautiously.
"It's Greer actually… Tigra's just a crappy name that was assigned to me…"
"Oh I'm sorry…but oh wow…" Simmons let out an excited breath.
"Wow what?" Greer raised an eyebrow.
"Oh it's nothing… I was just uh…"
"What my partner's trying to say is that you seem much more normal than we were expecting." Fitz called from his work.
"FITZ!" Simmons scowled before smiling sheepishly at Greer. "Sorry..."
"No it's OK… I get that a lot… But yeah I'm a relatively normal twenty year old trying to figure life out..." Greer shrugged with her own sheepish close lipped smile.
"I'm sorry… Did you just say you were twenty? Wait how is that possible? You're so young...I want to be twenty again and kicking butt out in the field."
Greer laughed.
"Trust me, you don't want to… I mean working in a top secret lab has to have its perks right?"
"Oh of course… You know, if you enjoy being a social recluse and hanging out with Fitz all day."
"I take offense to that…" Fitz muttered distractedly, again causing Greer to laugh and Jemma to grin before awkwardly tapping Greer's shoulder.
"Alright this might sound totally bizarre… But can I take a few blood samples from you? I mean you're just so intriging…"
Greer blinked. Apex on the other side of the room stopped listening to May and turned an ear towards Greer.
"Come again?" she asked nervously. Giving her blood to someone… Especially someone from S.H.I.E.L.D didn't seem like a good idea. Even if this person was extremely likable.
"Simmon's a bio chemist, she wants to dissect everything." Fitz explained
Greer took a slow step back from the unassuming scientist.
"I do not want to dissect everything. Just certain things and don't worry you're not one of them…" Simmons reassured quickly. " It's just...well I've read your files and splicing has always intrigued me and that's why I want to...You know..."
Greer raised an eyebrow. She didn't think she could like anyone who referred to splicing so casually but here was Simmons...
"I'm sorry but I think I'm gonna have to say no. Apex over there would kill me if I did...Don't hate me for that." Greer saw Simmons give Colton a quick look and take a quick swallow.
"Of course not. But that's too bad...Hmm tell you what… Here is my mobile and when I'm not being a recluse with Fritz I think it'd be cool if we just you know, hang out." Simmons grinned before passing Greer a card.
"Once again I shall take offense to that but I shall put that aside because I believe...I cracked our little puzzle." Fritz announced proudly causing everyone in the room to turn and stare at him.
"What? Aren't I the genius engineer in this room?"
They grouped around Fitz as he mumbled along with his typing until the numerous windows he was working on suddenly went blank.
"Huh...that's weird..." Fitz looked up at the screens for a moment, clearly confused.
"What's wrong?" May barked but Fitz and Simmons were just staring at the screens...until both jumped as suddenly the phone started buzzing.
"Are...we expecting someone?" Simmons tried. Apex shared a look with Greer before reaching out a claw and tapping the phone.
"Weapon 13...Weapon 22...I have to say I am very disappointed."
"Who is that?" Agent May whispered. She knew the ferals would be able to hear her.
"Stryker." Apex growled for everyone to hear, Greer right along side him, while some shared confused looks and others grim ones. Greer fought the urge to gouge something.
"Weapon 22. I thought we were long past this. I thought you knew what you are." Stryker almost sounded remorseful that his weapon had seemingly veered so off course.
"They're trying to reverse the hack!" Fitz started typing furiously as all the screens began flashing red, a siren could be heard going off someplace within the compound as the doors to the lab opened and the second group of SHIELD agents rushed in.
"You don't control me Stryker. Not anymore."
"Fitz! Shut him out!" May whispered harshly over his shoulder but Fitz was clearly losing the battle.
"That's where you're wrong Weapon. In fact...I've never had more control."
"Stand down! Back away from the console and get on the floor!" The agents were yelling at the ferals and Domino, their guns trained on them.
"I - I can't!" Fitz pushed back as first the device and soon the screens all began to glow until a white light blinded the room.
Slowly the light receded and everyone uncovered their eyes, squinting and rubbing at them in an attempt to see and figure out what happened.
"Fitz...Simmons?" May gave them a questioning look but they appeared just as confused as her.
The screens were back to normal and no one appeared to be hurt...just very confused.
"I...I dunno..." Fitz was staring at the screen as a countdown clock suddenly appeared, counting down from three minutes.
"Fitz! What the hell did you do?" Now May was pissed, the SHIELD agents staring as all the screen showed the countdown.
"Ummm...I may have - accidentally...triggered something?" Fitz cowered under May's scowl.
"What's wrong with him?" Simmons was looking towards Apex, who unlike the rest of them had kept his eyes closed. Greer saw this and furrowed her brow.
"Apex?" Greer reached out a hand when he didn't respond, "Colton..."
"Weapon 22," Greer jerked back and hissed as Stryker's voice once again surrounded them, but slowly turned back to Apex as she saw the look of terror on Fitz and Simmons' face. His eyes were open...and they were white.
"Predator clearance engaged...Kill them all."
Greer didn't hesitate. The force of her kick should have knocked him unconscious...or at least back a few steps. But all it did was tilt Apex's head back...and turn his focus towards her. Everyone else was just staring, at a loss as why the tigress had just lashed out at her partner.
"Tigra...what the hell is -" May had her gun drawn and aimed at her along with the other SHIELD agents, trying to regain some control over the situation.
"Turn that thing off!" The phone...the light on the phone was still on, "NOW!" Greer's roar seemed to get through as May ran to cover Fitz and Greer tossed her hands up to block the incoming punch.
It was the force that shocked her the most, not the impact. One second she had been standing next to Colton and the next his hit had sent her hurtling into the console, her entire body caving against her side with a audible crack.
Time seemed to slow as Greer braced herself against the console and she watched Apex take out the SHIELD agents. She had been wrong...none of them had been that big. Bullets were flying everywhere as Apex maneuvered between them...until all five were dead by either claw, bullet or hand and blood was everywhere...It all happened so fast...so violently, that it was only at that point that Simmons screamed.
Greer saw Apex turn his head at the noise at the same time her hip finally popped back into place.
"NO!" and before claws tore through flesh Greer had somehow managed to catch Apex's arm.
"Well… MOVE!" Greer snarled at a quivering Simmons who quickly scrambled out of the way.
"Fitz! Stop that clock!" May was reloading. Somehow despite his size she had missed...but that clock was still counting down and that was never good.
"I -I think it's gonna explode!" Fitz was sweating and trying to stop...whatever this thing was...it was triggering a self-destruct. Greer meanwhile was fighting for her life.
"Apex! COLTON! COLTON STOP!" Greer begged as Apex just stared at her...inches away from her face. Greer looked straight into the white and felt her heart sink… There wasn't a hint of recognition in those eyes.
Apex reversed the hold Greer had on him, her arms quivering from all the force he was exerting and her attempts to stop it. She gave her own growl of frustration before her eyes widened in shock as she felt something in her arm snap. Apex took notice and took the opportunity to throw her aside. Greer did her best to land on her feet but Apex was too quick, he tackled her the minute she made contact with the ground. Greer hissed as she was pinned down beneath Apex's massive frame… One arms was already broken, the other soon on the way...Greer bared her teeth...He was CRUSHING her.
"Hey panthro!" and that's when Greer heard the hail of bullets being fired and Apex releasing his own growl of pain. Taking the opportunity, Greer quickly slipped out from under him.
"Don't hurt him!" she pleaded with Domino who was now rapidly shooting at Apex, assisted by a grim faced May as Fitz continued to work.
"Can you tell him that!?" the assassin snarked back as she narrowly avoided one of Apex's swipe, slyly stabbing a dagger into the panther's thigh and another to the back. The panther didn't seem to notice and whipped around to catch her with his claws, slicing her side.
"Son of a bitch!" Domino put a hand to her side to slow the blood and May came to cover her. Domino however just gave him one of her smirks.
"Cover your ears." she grinned at Greer before pressing something on her belt...And that's when Greer sunk to her knees in agony as her head felt like it was about to crack into two.
Looking through her swimming vision, she could see it having the same effect on Apex who now had his ears pressed flat against his head...but he wasn't going down. He was just standing there...a snarl the only evidence of the pain she knew he was feeling. Domino cursed as Apex started stalking towards her just barely avoiding May's bullets and shrugging off the ones that hit.
Domino cursed and pressed something on her belt again and Greer found herself on the ground gripping her skull as the agony intensified. She could feel something warm tricking down her face and upon a closer look, realized she was bleeding through the nose. Apex was in a similar state...but he wasn't or couldn't stop. Greer could barely make a coherent thought but roared as best she could.
"Phone!...Destroy...the Phone..." Greer screamed as shut her eyes to the pain.
May and Domino were fighting for their lives. May's attempt at blocking a kick had definitely broken her forearm and likely dislocated her shoulder as well. Domino had avoided most of the strkes thrown her way but was still losing a lot of blood from the slash on her side. This close guns were no good...all either could do now was avoid him and that wasn't going to last. May wasn't sure what Domino had done but the tiger one was down and gripping her head like it was going to explode while the panther was bleeding from his ears and nose...but didn't seem to be stopping. Eventually an upward slash destroyed the belt...and gave away her best weapon.
So when she heard the roar about the phone, May chanced a look to see it glowing...and made the connection.
"Fitz!"
"I'm trying...I'm trying!" The countdown was down to less than thirty seconds.
"Fitz! Destroy it!" May rolled but caught an elbow to the back, sending her crashing across the room. Simmons however caught what May had said and giving the panther a quick look ran for the phone. Apex moved to stop her but Greer had scrambled back to her feet and leaped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, forcing him to refocus on her as Simmons grabbed the phone off the desk and bolted for the incinerator.
Greer tried using her leverage to bring Colton down but he was too strong, sinking his claws into her and throwing her to the ground over his shoulder. The slam had Greer out of breath and she didn't get her hands up in time to stop the fist headed for her...until it stopped inches from her face.
Apex blinked a few times before slowly pulling back his fist and drawing himself back up. He looked around and took in his surroundings...the SHIELD agents were dead...Domino was bleeding...the two scientists looked alright...bullet casings were everywhere...and Greer...what had happened to Greer...
Greer stayed on the floor for a few moments as she saw Colton take in the room before stopping to stare at her, his face going from confusion to sudden understanding as he glanced down at his hands.
"Colton..." Greer slowly got back to her feet as Colton stayed silent, "Colton it's alright..."
Greer reached out for Colton before taking a defensive stance in front of him as the doors to the room reopened and the remaining SHIELD agents filed in, guns trained on Colton as they encircled the two ferals. May came to stand by Coulson who stood in the front.
"Apex I am ordering you to stand down and come with me." There was no more smile on Agent Coulson's face.
"You are not taking him!" Greer growled protectively as she stood her ground, wincing a little as she felt the bones in her arm beginning to move back into place.
"Tigra you have orders to stand down." May said grimly, her gun now aimed at the tigress.
"I don't care. It wasn't his fault... It was all Stryker. He was pulling the strings... Please... Apex wouldn't..."
"Tigra..."
"You heard it! It was Stryker not Apex... Please..." Greer's eyes were darting around...there was no way out.
"Tigra I'm giving you one last warning before we will have to hurt you." May warned while Domino simply reloaded her pistol with a grimace.
Greer growled before reluctantly letting her eyes to slip into their dangerous shade of crimson... She was not letting them take Colton anywhere... She was going to protect him...
"Did I do all this?" Greer took a step out of her stance as Colton finally spoke and shook her head.
"It wasn't your fault. Stryker -"
"Yes. You did." Coulson answered as the tension in the room was obvious even to those without enhanced senses.
"No he didn't! Listen...I'm sorry about what happened but this wasn't his fault. We are leaving. Now." Greer snarled.
"Greer...stop." Greer pulled back slightly at the hand on her shoulder.
"Colton...don't." She had never seen him like this before...his ears were flat, tail limp as his face looked grim.
"I'm sorry." Apex couldn't meet Greer's eyes as he said it. But he had done what he swore to never do again...he had killed for Stryker. He had lost control...and he wasn't going to hurt anyone else.
Coulson gave a nod and the agents tightened the circle, leading the panther out of the room. One of the agents moved towards Greer but she growled a warning, Coulson gesturing to leave her be.
Greer was not leaving Apex's side. Not now.