Avengers: Wreckage

The Force Works meeting room hummed with life as Connie Leeds carried a urn of coffee in, her brown hair pulled back from her face. "How are you feeling?" she asked as she poured.

"Like a truck ran over me," Carol Danvers admitted as the blond added sweeteners to her cup than took a sip. "But other than being sore I'm fine," she added.

"I'm glad," Jackie Lucas smiled, her long black hair falling into her eyes. She was wearing casual clothes, a simple t-shirt and jeans that hugged her shapely body.

'Damn is she cute,' Connie found herself noting. She had been attracted to the other woman almost as soon as she met her, and the more she learned about her sweet personality the stronger the interest grew. 'Too bad she's so oblivious,' she thought.

"Take it easy," Olivia Stane ordered Carol from where she sat at the table, cradling her own cup in her hands. "You may feel recovered," the white haired young woman pointed out, "but your body's just been through a stressful experience."

"Yes mother," Carol rolled her eyes.

Jennifer Swensen snorted in amusement. "I don't think anyone's called her that before," she said with a laugh.

Olivia smirked, "Other than in a 'oh momma!' kind of way."

"Bad mental image," Jackie laughed.

"Meanie," Olivia grinned.

Carol fought back a grin of her own, surprised at how comfortable she felt here. There was a easy sense of comradery between the women, a trust that had gradually developed. 'I wonder when I stopped distrusting Olivia?' she wondered.

Connie was also hiding a smile as she sat down. "May Scott told me she caught two reporters trying to sneak onto the property," she reported, "we think they were headed here."

"Are we sure they're real reporters?" Olivia asked as she mused, "It would make a good cover for industrial espionage."

"The information on them checks out," Connie shrugged then tossed a look at Carol. "In fact, they work for the Herald."

"You're kidding," Carol blinked.

"Nope," Connie checked a file, "a Mr. Chad Smith and Mrs. Monica Stewart. They bluffed a gate guard but were caught on passive sensors as they went for this building. We've got them in a secure lockup until the police arrive."

"Calling the cops in might be a bit excessive," Olivia mused. She looked at Carol, "Is this going to bite us on the ass?"

"Chad is not a very nice man," Carol admitted, "but Monica is pretty nice. Or at least I thought she was." She looked thoughtful, "Maybe just let them go with a warning, this time?"

"How about we have May cut them loose," Olivia offered, "with a warning that if they trespass again the cops will be called."

"Thanks," Carol sighed. She got up with a groan, "I'd better check in with work, too. I emailed a story after I got beaten, but I should follow up."

"You want a ride or...?" Jennifer asked politely.

"No," Carol shook her head, "I can Warbird my way back. It'd be faster too."

"Just watch yourself," Jackie cautioned as Carol walked away.

Meanwhile, May Scott smiled to herself as she walked to the detention level of the main building, her long black hair tied back in a pony tail. She wore a woman's business suit, with her pistol concealed in a underarm holster and looked remarkably neat and crisp, even in the afternoon heat.

"Lady and gentleman," May nodded as she opened the door of the meeting room they were storing their captives, "we're cutting you loose."

"I'm going to call my lawyer about this," Chad Smith huffed, slouching his a wrinkled, sweat stained suit.

"And we'll happily file criminal trespass charges if you want to do that," May answered cheerfully. "Now, if you'll follow me I'll escort you out."

"What are you people hiding?" Monica demanded, the redhead following close behind May.

"Don't dawdle, Mr Smith," May ordered him, "you wouldn't want to trigger our security features." As he caught up she looked at Monica, "Miss, we're a technology developer in a incredibly competitive business. A new design Blackberry, for example, could cost us millions if the design was stolen. We have to have good security."

Chad Smith snorted, "We got hit with a taser crossing the fields to the building on the west side. That seems a bit excessive."

"Not really," May smirked, "we could have used the vomit inducing gas, but it's so messy."

Monica gave the woman a suspicious look as they took the elevator up to street level. "You're messing with us, right?" she asked as the doors opened.

"I'll never tell," May said as she walked them out to the building to the main gate. "Shall I call you a taxi or...?" she asked politely.

"We'll be fine," Chad snarled as he stalked off, Monica following him out.

"Great plan, genius," Monica said dryly as they went a short ways up the road where they had left their car.

"Oh, shut up," Chad grumbled. "The boss wanted us to do some digging on Stane, and I figured visiting the company would be a good start."

Monica unlocked the door, waving Chad over to the passenger seat. "We could have taken the tour," she noted as they climbed in. "What do you think Stane is hiding? Or are they hiding anything?"

"Good question," Chad admitted. "What May said did make sense...."

Flooring the gas pedal Monica raced down the road, tires squealing as they headed back to town. "Still," she said with a slight frown, "that's pretty high security. Do you think it's because Force Works is based there?"

"You think they're hiding something about the team?" Chad wondered.

"Or just trying to maintain their privacy," Monica shrugged.

"Point," Chad slouched in the seat with a scowl.

Meanwhile, back at the Herald Carol Danvers dropped a story off with her editor, smiling grimly. "So," Ron looked at her thoughtfully, "this the first loss for Force Works?"

"Pretty much," Carol conceded. The Wrecking Crew had been captured, but the assassin Delilah had gotten away clean after beating her up.

"Any word on who hired the Wrecking Crew?" Ron asked.

"They won't talk to the police," Carol said, "at least according to my source. They seem willing to take the fall for their boss."

Ron raised his eyebrows, "Even after whoever it was tried to kill 'em?" Ron blinked.

"Could be they're too scared to testify, too," Carol admitted as she leaned up against the doorway. She ached all over but was doing her best not to let it show.

"Hmm," Ron nodded. He looked her over as he added, "You look pretty rough around the edges. Coming down with something?"

"Something like that," Carol said wryly.

Not long afterwards, both Chad and Monica staggered in, both looking worse than she did. "What happened?" Ron had to asked.

"Don't ask," Monica sighed.

To be continued....