Episode 49: Double Agent Revealed!

"Why would Nick Fury be interested in us?" Peter asked Natasha. "Does it have to do with—"

"The Hornetech," Natasha answered bluntly. "For some time, Nick Fury has suspected the presence of a double agent in SHIELD that was secretly working for Team HYDRA. He feared the possibility of SHIELD's greatest assets being stolen, which included the Hornetech that was designed by Eddie McDonough. So Fury ordered Eddie to give the Hornetech to someone he trusted, but in secret in case any of SHIELD agents present could be the double agent.

"But when Fury realized Eddie had given the Hornetech to you, Peter, he ordered me to follow you in case a HYDRA agent tried to steal it. And seeing how Crossbones arrived, Fury was right in his assumption. Now let's see if Crossbones is our double agent or not."

After Natasha put Salidow back in her PDB, she walked over to Crossbones and dragged him out while the two engineers resumed their work of running the train engine. In the first car behind the engine room, Natasha laid Crossbones on the floor and removed his mask while the other passengers watched. Peter, Thor, and MJ looked surprised when they saw Rumlow's face under the mask.

"I thought I recognized Crossbones' eyes, and now I know why," Peter said sternly.

"Back in La Vie City, I did say Rumlow seemed unusually interested in Hornetech," MJ added. "Though I couldn't have guessed he wanted Hornetech to bring it to HYDRA."

"So if you have been following us since the SHIELD Station outside of La Vie City, where were you during our skirmish with the Rose and Black Tarantula?" Thor asked Natasha.

"While I was tempted to help you deal with those gangsters, it would have blown my cover," Natasha replied. "So I stayed in the suite next to yours at the Mercury Rising Hotel and then followed you to the train station."

"Even so, your Salidow would have helped a lot," MJ said, then she noticed Peter looked distraught. "What's wrong, Peter?"

"If Eddie designed Hornetech for SHIELD, did they intend to use him as a weapon?" Peter asked Natasha.

Natasha paused and said, "Eddie made Hornetech as a final project for college, suggesting it could be used for rescue missions and paramilitary excursions. Then after he graduated he was approached by SHIELD, who offered him an internship to test the full capabilities of Hornetech at the Vanaheim Forest Station with Jane Foster acting as his direct supervisor. I don't think Hornetech was intended to be a weapon, but I wouldn't be surprised if SHIELD considered doing it given how unpredictable the world has become following the Infinity War."

Peter looked downward.

"But I think Eddie made the right decision in giving Hornetech to you," Natasha added, smiling a little. "Marémon should be treated with love and respect, not turned into weapons of war."

Just then, the train cars rocked violently causing several passengers to loose their footing. While Natasha and Thor stood their ground, Peter and MJ fell on top of each other. The door to the car suddenly opened as White Wolf and Ar-I entered carrying the Marémon Crosbone with them.

"Scheisse!" Ar-I cursed. "We finally locate Crossbones, but he's incapacitated by the brats!"

"You must be the HYDRA agents that supposedly slipped through Rumlow's fingers," Natasha realized, reaching for her PDB. "He must have let you go on purpose."

Before Ar-I could answer, the door opened again. This time, Silvija appeared with Silsaber at her side with a derringer gun barrel sticking out of its wrist. Behind Silvija, three grown men in dark-gray military uniforms stood with their PDBs at the ready.

"I thought you were kidding, Fräulein," Ar-I said to Silvija with a surprised expression on his monitor-shaped face. "But you really did summon the Wild Pack."

"That's right," Silvija said calmly. "I had them follow this train in my jet plane high enough for it to not be seen, but within radio distance so I could call them when I needed to."

"How can you be affiliated with this group, Silvija?" Peter exclaimed, getting off MJ. "This is the same Wild Pack that took down the Sinister Six gang but did reconnaissance work for Latveria's tyrannical mayor Victor Von Doom."

"Because I am their leader," Silvija responded. "At least, until we find my father, who was kidnapped by HYDRA last year. So I'm taking Crossbones and his Marémon into our custody along with the two HYDRA agents that attacked me."

Silsaber then aimed its gun barrel at Ar-I and White Wolf, who flinched.

"While I would appreciate having you take the HYDRA agents off my hands, I can't let you," Natasha said as she summoned Salidow from her PDB. "They are wanted by SHIELD for the various crimes they've committed, including the theft of an Infinity Stone."

"An Infinity Stone got stolen?" Thor reacted. "When?"

"Shortly after you and your friends left New Asgard Town," Natasha answered.

It was then that Peter remembered what Ar-I said about Crossbones fulfilling the job he and White Wolf failed to do. So he crawled over to Rumlow and rummaged through his pockets. He then felt something taken from his belt, and looked up at Rumlow's face to see that he had regained consciousness. Next, Rumlow kicked Peter in the face and got up as he held a PDB in his hand.

"You stupid kid," Rumlow grinned. "Now I've got what I wanted. Hornetech, let's fly out of here with your Sonic Flight."

From Peter's PDB emerged the winged metallic bug Hornetech, who hovered as he looked down and saw Peter holding his face while MJ tended to him. Hornetech then turned to face Rumlow, and used Stinger Blast to hit Rumlow's face. While Rumlow cried out in pain, Ar-I's monitor started glowing.

"He's about to use Energy Blast," Peter realized, looking up at Ar-I. "Everyone, get down!"

To be continued…