I know, it took me AGES to upload a new chapter, my apologies!

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Finally we reach the Playground!

Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel

Chapter 8: Let's get it started

Witnessing a jet being swallowed up by the earth was very impressive, at least that was was Xandra thought. Of course she had seen impressive machinery and "architecture" before, but that was a first for her as well. She was so engrossed in the landing process that she totally forgot to get out until suddenly somebody tapped on her shoulder.

"Hey love, you gotta come", she heard Hunter behind her.

"Oh, sorry!"

She nearly jumped up from her seat, blushing, then she quickly grabbed her luggage and followed the others outside.

"The director will want to speak to you first", May stated, "come with me please. You can unpack later."

Knowing better than to argue, Xandra followed the three agents over the landing strip and through a lot of corridors and doors. The girl was sure she would get lost here all the time, her sense of orientation was simply crappy. After a short while, they came to a stop in front of an open door. Skye knocked anyway, though she did not wait for an answer but simply entered. Even though her inner voice kept telling her that she was being rude, Xandra went along into what must be an office. The man behind the desk looked up and smiled, putting her at ease. Without much ado he got up and walked towards her to shake her hand.

"Miss Edvardson, we are so lucky to have you here, thank you for coming. I hope the flight was alright. What kind of workspace do you need?"

The young woman did not have to think for long.

"Well I need a table, big if possible. Plugs for my computer at some point. As I am working with headphones on most of the time it does not have to be totally silent but maybe no pneumatic hammer nearby would be helpful. Or a shooting range for the matter."

Coulson tilted his head, then he smiled.

"I think that might be arranged. Skye, please show Miss Edvardson to conference room 3 and set her up with everything else she requires. But please give her the tour of Level 1 and 2 first, it will make things easier later on."

When his agent nodded eagerly, Xandra felt a rush of gratefulness flood over her - someone actually was excited about her being at the facilities. And the woman was roughly around her age, somewhere between early and mid twenties.

"Ok, follow me!", the dark-haired announced and turned to go.

Alexandra swiftly followed, she did not want to be left behind by her guide.

"We are at Level 1 at the moment", Skye told her, "you have already seen the boss' office. Here are the toilets and the lounge. If you want to live on, don't touch Mack's playstation. Kitchen is over to the right. Insider information: Simmons' pancakes are a gift from heaven whereas I am pretty sure May can't cook. At least I have never seen her try. Are you a good cook?"

The other girl gave her a dirty look.

"Definitely not! I only went to boarding schools that provided everything so I never really had to. At home we had a cook. However I am a genius in heating up instant meals in microwaves - after I blew up one at first."

When Skye's eyes widened, Alexandra grinned.

"Well, I was ten and hungry because I did not like what our cook had made. My father refused to let me eat anything else. So later, I sneaked out and went to the next supermarket. I bought something and went to the kitchen to silently heat it up. But nobody had ever told me that metal in a microwave is a crappy idea. So yeah... it was not that much of a secret anymore. My father was furious."

Another shadow flickered over her face, then she regained her happy demeanour.

"Anyway, now I know better."

Skye had to laugh.

"Just saying, better don't blow anything up in here. Then anyone will think you are a HYDRA agent and you will be either locked up or shot dead before you can utter your last words. Speaking of it, i have to make sure, are you a HYDRA agent, Edvardson?"

"I don't know yet. I work for you guys now, right? Maybe you ARE HYDRA after all. Then I'd be one. If you are not, then I won't be HYDRA either."

"So if I follow your line of thought, what you are going to be depends on what we are?", Skye reasoned, stopping suddenly. The next moment she had the other young woman pinned against the wall. "This sounds like very loose morale to me."

Edvardson looked surprised but by no means intimidated. She seemed to think about what to answer. Then, quicker than Skye would have thought, she hooked her leg behind the dark haired woman's knee and pulled, sending her flying to the ground. Now their positions were reversed, with Skye below, pressed down by one knee on her chest.

And that's it for today! Yes I know, quite short, but I wanted to stop with a little cliffhanger...