A/N: Hello everyone! Me again! I'd like to thank all of you who are reading, I know I do this a lot, but honestly it means the world to me that so many of you read and seem to enjoy my work. A special thanks to candycrum and Catsandorchids for the reviews, and to all who have favourited or followed.
I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter, there's bits I like, and some I'm not so happy with- at the time it was refusing to cooperate, but it's one in which there is quite a lot of explaining done. Also I'd like to credit the name of my villain (yes it's finally going to be revealed) to orangeandvanilla who was wonderful and suggested it!
Just so that you guys are aware, we are about three chapters from the end. I'm currently working through chapter 15, which as I'm planning on having as the final chapter is taking some time. People who favourite, follow and review really inspire me to write, which as I'm currently snowed under with work is really appreciated, so if you could think of me and drop a quick review it would really help my whole process! I really want Ren to go out with a bang!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Avengers, only my OCs and their plotline.

As always, read and enjoy my wonderful readers!
Lucksby x

CHAPTER 12

Back in the lab several days later Ren pushed on with her work, her desire to finish and be out of there greater than ever. She had managed to get a solid three hours work in since the last time she was interrupted, which she figured to be some sort of record; the people in SHIELD were not at all patient.

"Ms Ashmore, what have you got for me?" It was Director Fury.
She answered without even glancing up from the screen that she was scanning the contents of. "I've finally managed to trace the signal JARVIS received to its source, but he's using an asymmetrical security algorithm so I can't even give you an IP address at the moment." She looked up at him, "Sorry."
"How long will it take to get one?"
"How long is a piece of string Director?" She huffed and standing up walked over to where he and Coulson were both standing. "Look the fact is it could take anywhere from a matter of days to a matter of months to break through his security system. Even when I do, I strongly suspect that he'll have planted files that will wipe the server if I try to access them."

Fury seemed to consider this for a moment. "Is there anything we can do to speed up the process?"
Ren who was already returning to her work let out a dry laugh, "Give me access to Homeland Security's supercomputer and we'd be in business within a couple of hours, but beyond that, I'm afraid that there really isn't."
"I'll get on the phone to them shall I boss?" Coulson spoke for the first time and Ren turned around, slack-jawed in amazment.
"Seriously?" She looked to Fury who was simply nodding, a smug grin on his face, "You could actually do that?"
"They owe us a favour."

Ren shook her head laughing derisively as Coulson began to dial a number into his phone, "You might have told me that before I spent four days slaving away in here!"
Fury gave her a look that bordered on faux-innocent, "Well you didn't ask."

Agent Coulson worked his magic and Ren spent the next day at a top secret Homeland Security facility working with some of the most awe-inspiring tech that she had ever seen, let alone been able to lay her hands on. It even compensated for the looks she was getting from the agents training there; though she knew she must be quite a sight. A seventeen year old girl with two imposing bodyguards (thank you Coulson and Barton), being treated with the upmost courtesy as she was given unrestricted access to one of the most powerful computers in the world.

She was glad they didn't know that she'd had a discrete nose through their secure database whilst she was at it. That would be rather embarrassing for them…

However she was right in her estimation of only needing a few hours once she had the full power of the mighty computer behind her, and in what seemed like no time she was shouting, "Got him!"

Coulson and Barton both rushed through from the observation room that Ren had exiled them to so they wouldn't disturb her work to find her excitedly leafing through print-outs even as she simultaneously skim read files on one of many screens.

"Right let's put a name to your mysterious hacking skills…" Clint could see her almost twitching in excitement. "Cross referencing the IP address… triangulating position of computer… Ok so he's in Alaska, not where I would have chosen, but each to his own-" One of the screens started flashing and she broke off the commentary that she had started for the benefit of the two SHIELD agents, "Finally, and our winner is…" She clicked the screen and then dropped the sheaf of paper she had been clutching, her eyes wide in disbelief, and, Barton thought, a trace of fear.
"It can't be…"

Flashback…

Three years previously, London…

"Cel, is that you?"
"No, it's not your little friend sweetheart." Ren's expression morphed to one of fear, "Oh so you do remember me sweetheart." The man's grin was one of mal-intent "We're rather overdue for a little chat, don't you think?"
"Why are you here?" Her voice shook, betraying the terror she felt in seeing this man of nightmares once more.
"I'm here because I need to make sure you don't get any cute ideas about returning to your dear Daddy. We wouldn't want that now would we?"
She plucked up all the courage she could muster, "Why, because your boss is dead? And it was my father who killed him?"

The show of bravery backfired for Ren as she was sent flying across the room with a punch that made her see stars.
"It changes nothing. In fact it gives me an even greater reason to kill you, after all revenge would be sweet." He was breathing heavily, irate. "Just imagine it, me killing you then delivering your body to your father where he's sat so high and mighty in that ridiculous house in California. But no. I follow orders and orders were to let you live so long as you keep your filthy trap shut."

He began making his way to the door, "That's a warning little miss- in fact it's a threat."

"Seren, Seren can you hear me?" Cue disorientated grunt.
"Gah, what- what happened?" She was on the floor surrounded by piles of paper and more than a few worried looking security agents.
"You fainted Seren." She looked up to see that Barton was the figure standing closest. "No, don't try to sit up, you need to take it slow." He looked around at the room which had filled very suddenly at Coulson's cry as the girl had fallen to the floor, "Can we get rid of some of these people, she needs air. Thank you."

As the room cleared Coulson knelt down next to her, "Do you feel alright?"
"Yeah mostly, look what happened? It's kinda groggy."
"You saw the screen, froze, dropped all the papers, said 'It can't be…' whatever that meant and then fainted." He half-smiled, "Quite dramatic I must say."
She paled slightly again giving Coulson an unconvincing smile, "Oh yeah, that's right… I guess you guys are probably a bit confused…"

Clint came over, joining Coulson and Ren on the floor. "I think I can work out some of it. The man on that screen, Hermann Bedford, what does he mean to you? Because I can only describe your reaction to seeing his name as one of fear."

Yikes, how to explain my way out of this one… If it was only Coulson I'd be honest but Barton doesn't know about the whole being Carenza Stark thing… Think, think!

"I…" Her gaze fell on Coulson and he picked up the message it conveyed.
"Barton could you go and grab something for Seren to eat and drink from the canteen? She needs the extra sugar so that we can finish up and get out of here." Barton looked a little confused at the order but did as his boss asked, leaving the room.

Taking her chance Ren blurted it all out. Coulson having listened looked pensive.
"So Bedford was working with Staine?"
"Basically. And to come back for me even after his death says that he had either a genuine love for him or that there was another motive involved, and trust me, having known Obadiah I'm definitely veering towards the latter."
"Then what would Bedford want with Tony's suit?"

There was a silence as both emerged themselves deep in contemplation then-
"It wasn't the suit!"
"What?"
"The suit was only a convenient means; he just used it because he knew he could get at Tony that way and he'd be powerless! He Isn't interested in any of Tony's tech he wants Tony dead!"
Realisation dawned over Coulson's face at her words, and then concern as his brain made the logical leap that Ren's did a second before, "Coulson he's going to want to finish the job…"