No-One But You (The Star Child's Eclipse)
Chapter 3: Sofia (Part 3)
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Now, hmmm, let's see…
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We've checked in on TWO members of something called the Vishanti Trio, but what's going on with the third one?
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Rehashing the history of the Vishanti Trio isn't going to happen, because the odds dictate you already know that information if you've followed along all the way to this final storyline.
Things have been labeled "final" off an on throughout the storylines, but honestly speaking this is the final stretch before everything comes full circle.
Sofia Strange is ultimately the link, but the Vishanti Trio always have been the main event.
So, that's Stephen "Vincent" Strange, Anthony "Edward" Stark… and the forever genteel Steven "Grant" Rogers. The blonde was following up on something that was related to an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D.
Steve didn't "work" there any longer, but the facility was his home away from home in a sense… and, truthfully speaking, the man couldn't let it go.
He always found comfort in discussing something with Nick Fury, and he made it his business to keep tabs on everything relating to something called S.H.A.D.O.W…
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NOW, that division had a pretty short history connected to it, but Captain America kept it on a very short leash. He monitored absolutely everything, and we all know why.
Let's not forget, Ezekiel Stane pulled a fast one on everyone in his "Surveillant Council" by establishing that division.
It seemed like his Council Review happened a thousand years ago, but Steve maintained the same attitude about S.H.A.D.O.W. to this day.
There was another element about the division that troubled him, and it had something to do with a young woman named Rae-Ann.
We all should know by now that Rae-Ann carried the image of his mother, and the blonde still couldn't shake the jitters that it gave him.
I mean, Steve Rogers was looking at a modern embodiment of his mother, Sarah Rogers, right there in the training room. She was sparring with two field agents, while Natasha Romanoff gave her some guidance.
As the great Tony Stark would say, that shit was friggen trippy.
Steve still couldn't wrap his head around Ezekiel Stane somehow "creating" another human being from either his technology, the Mind Stone, or from his own flesh and blood?
Rae-Ann was clearly a human being, but rumors were spreading around that she might have been some sort of android.
That wouldn't surprise the blonde at all, but still, Steve was having a hard time interacting with the newest leader of S.H.A.D.O.W.
Rae-Ann took a moment to look over at Captain America. Her natural demeanor was somewhat withdrawn and distant, just like the person who "created" her.
Natasha Romanoff and Steve spoke about it all the time, but she might have bonded with someone at the facility.
Rae-Ann actually spoke to Natasha's adoptive sister, Yelena Belova, on a level that could be considered personal.
It was mainly Yelena doing all the talking, but Rae-Ann did seem engaged when they interacted with one another.
Other than that, the leader of S.H.A.D.O.W. was all business.
She had a clear plan all mapped out to infiltrate one section of something called the Ten Rings, and now all she had left to do was prepare her mind, body, and spirit for the mission.
That's what all the training was about, but that's stating the obvious.
Hmmm. Steve just gave what he was seeing a small smile, then he turned his focus toward the rest of the crew.
Clint Barton wasn't present, because he was busy nesting.
Word has it that he's moved Victor Strange into his bird nest out in the Tribeca District of New York, so everyone expected him to be away for quite some time.
That meant Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova, Rae-Ann, and the OG Bucky Barnes made up the rest of S.H.A.D.O.W.'s preliminary crew.
Seeing the "other" version of Bucky was always weird for Steve as well, but those jitters subsided a while ago.
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"When do you guys plan to head to Beijing?"
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That information wasn't clear on any of the reports, and that wasn't Ezekiel Stane's style at all. Obadiah's son was very thorough with the information he had to dish out for his division, so Steve had to ask.
Rae-Ann gave the question a small smile, then she thought over how to respond.
She understood the history of her image, her voice, and her name, so she was at odds sometimes about how to behave. Oh, and as for Ezekiel's directives toward their infiltration of the Ten Rings?
Rae-Ann had all the plans, but she hadn't been given a start date yet.
The personal relationships of Clint Barton, Wade Wilson, and Ezekiel were holding the crew back, and Rae-Ann was asked to stall things out until everyone could be in the same place.
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"We don't have a start date yet, Captain Rogers, but I'll be sure to inform you as soon as that changes."
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Rae-Ann gave Steve another unnerving smile… but this time, Steve responded to it with one of his own. The blonde also received a message from his "Little Red Corvette" just before he asked Rae-Ann about Beijing, so that added to the gesture.
Steve's smile was very sincere, mainly because he got an update from Tony about their "date." He asked Tony out on a date days ago, but you know how things get.
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Anyway. The blonde made his rounds at S.H.I.E.L.D., checked in with the S.H.A.D.O.W. crew, then he tried to compose a message back to Tony as he made his way out of the facility.
Call him old fashioned, but Steve was really looking forward to whatever Tony had in mind. It was his turn to plan the outing, so…
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Steve was all grins.
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Chapter: END
Thanks for reading.