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Intersession: Drugs Lure the Devil: Part One
Angela's First Assignment, Quinjet en route
Angela's mind went elsewhere on the quinjet ride over to her first assignment.
The moment she and the girls returned to the Academy, Agent Moore called her to report to her office immediately. She walked in alone, closing the door behind her when Agent Moore said — "Time for your first assignment, Agent Rogers" — and those words have been echoing in her mind ever since she heard them. They rang so loud it was as if Bonnie was telling them to her right in front of her face.
She got to choose her Bonnie-approved team, which was an obvious pick of field-approved agents: Agent Merida Barton, Agent Victoria Kovanova, and Agent Orchid Vermillion. Her girls were excited and Bonnie allowed the camaraderie and combination of useful skills. Emily had to head back to school nor did she want to join, although Angela never offered her a spot, but she did say she was a phone call away if ever (hopefully never). Lastly, since Iqadi came back to The Academy with them, Angela asked if she could join the assignment.
"She's a good asset to bring on board, especially since she's had more training than all of you combined," Bonnie told her. "Make sure she comes back alive or else we're dealing with Wakanda."
The mission rundown seemed simple enough, as they always looked in class when they did exercises. The difference is that, since it's still an "assignment" and their first field mission, Bonnie would be supervising overhead and through comms while Angela was still in charge.
"Mensra Pharmaceuticals created and manufactured a drug they call 'Dysphoria,'" Bonnie told them. "They supply it to The Dollhouse who then use it on the girls they transport across borders. It's a fancy roofie with longer side effects so the girls unwillingly cooperate during shipment while keeping them alive. If you could at least get your hands on it, destroy whatever supply they have on them, and send over whatever information you can find, we could delay The Dollhouse's plans which would give me more time to find those sons of bitches."
Her first assignment is their first field mission. No pressure.
"Rogers."
Angela looks up from her thoughts and flashbacks, returning to reality. She's on a mission with her friends, her fellow agents and Princess Iqadi, while Agent Moore sits in front flying their quinjet. They're all in matching standardized SHIELD field jumpsuits, even Iqadi, armed with their weapons of choice, and their hair pulled back for convenience which shows their earpieces better. It was one thing to see all this happen in real-time as if they didn't review it repeatedly with the blueprints of the building in the coming days to this very moment.
From Bonnie's knowledge, the laboratory isn't a warehouse site for the trafficked girls, but getting information and destroying the drug being used helps pause their plans. The extra time means Bonnie could locate her white whale.
"You can't seriously be sending us out like this," Merida tells Bonnie.
"Speak for yourself," Victoria mutters, applying a fresh coat of maroon lipstick.
"I'm well prepared," Iqadi states.
"You know what I mean," Merida grumbles.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for you to be joining us, Agent Moore?" Orchid questions. "It's a part of your magnum opus, isn't it?"
Bonnie turns around from the pilot's seat. "If The Dollhouse themselves were physically in there, I wouldn't be sending you girls in alone. I've dealt with them for years and it never ends."
"We'll be in and out in an hour, max," Victoria says. A part of their revision was trying their best to time how long they'll need in there.
"That's the spirit. Now, you girls know the mission. Rogers, I'll have my eyes on you all and give direction, but at the end of the day, it's up to you to lead."
Angela nods without looking at her supervisor. "I know."
"If you have to abort the mission, do it. I know The Academy and your father have taught you about the importance of sacrifice and all that bullshit for the mission, but this isn't worth any of that. Copy?"
The girls copy in sync.
"Good." Bonnie smiles at them as she stands. "Head to the smaller bird and fly out. Now, I know you've all graduated but as a final lesson, never say goodbye before a mission. You have to act as if you're coming back, even if it's a suicide mission."
-o-
Mensra Pharmaceuticals
On their smaller bird, Orchid and Victoria put their mission costumes on top. They both wear pantsuits with sturdy heels with fake name badges secured to chest lapels. Victoria has a short black bob wig to hide her silver locks but Orchid's short blonde hair remains untouched.
Together, they enter Mensra Pharmaceuticals and approach the front desk where a security guard sits. He eyes them up and down.
"Agents Bouvier and Tassima from the European Science Reserve here for an inspection," Orchid says, hiding her Southern accent with a less distinguishable one. She and Victoria unclip their fake badges and put them on the desk.
The guard looks at them, their badges, and checks the computer. Once he nods, Orchid and Victoria keep their neutral expressions. They put their bags and clipboards down to get inspected as they take turns walking through the security metal detectors silently. Once cleared, a pneumatic door behind the front desk disengages, slides open, and they walk through after retrieving their belongings. On the other side is a scientist wearing a Mensra Pharmaceuticals lab coat.
"Agents Bouvier, Tassima, it's a pleasure to meet with you today," the scientist greets. "I'm Dr. Colza, representing Mensra Pharmaceuticals on behalf of Dr. Mensra."
"The pleasure is ours," Victoria says, also masking her accent.
-o-
Nearing the other side of Mensra Pharmaceutical's compound, Angela, Merida, and Iqadi hide in a delivery truck heading towards their mission. They stowed away while the truck was in commute, eventually sneaking into the vehicle and hiding with the cargo. They crouch behind containers, staying still against the bumpy roads, checking if anything related to Dysphoria is on board. They figured not since the truck wasn't heavily guarded, but it was worth a confirmation.
Agent Moore: ETA for you three is five minutes. I'll handle the cameras. Vermillion and Kovanova are already in the building. Once you arrive and those cargo doors open, you'll have the two drivers in front and at least five men in the cargo hold.
"Copy that," Angela responds.
"So, at least seven people," Merida says. "Are we going direct or indirect?"
"What's the difference?" Iqadi asks.
"Direct is going right in there and fight. Indirect is hiding and waiting for them to come for us."
"You know what I would prefer."
"We're going direct," Angela says. "We don't have time and it's all our favourites. Besides, both approaches come with the element of surprise."
Iqadi smiles a little. "Whatever happens, Agent Rogers, let's have some fun."
"Dangerous words coming from you, but I like it," Merida adds.
Angela nods. "Yeah. We're five agents in control of this mission and its outcome … and Iqadi if things go south."
"How far south?" Iqadi asks.
Before Angela could respond, the truck stops. The girls immediately silence, hands hovering over weapons as they listen to the sounds around them. They hear many male voices, but they all blur together to be countable. They face the door, ready for the warning Bonnie gave them ahead of time.
"Never mind," Iqadi whispers so softly that she basically mouths the words, "we shall see."
Merida grabs a spare arrowhead from her bow. She puts it on the ground the middle of the door as Iqadi and Angela stand to the side. When the truck slides open, the smoke bomb arrowhead explodes and the men start arming up, barking orders. Merida fires an arrow through the mist, electrocuting one of them to the ground. Quickly, Iqadi pounces out. She grabs a man by the shoulders and flips over him but not without slamming him to the ground. Once she lands on her feet like the panther she is, she scans the room and counts.
"Two down, eight remaining!" Iqadi yells.
Iqadi ducks at bullets shot in her direction. Merida fires a net arrow over her friend's head, ensnaring him.
"Thanks for the ride over, boys," Angela says as she steps out of the truck.
Angela spins and roundhouse kicks a man straight into another one. When a henchman grabs her from behind, she grunts before forcing them backwards to slam him against the open truck doors. Crouched on the ground, Iqadi holds up an arm to block an attack above her. She quickly somersaults forwards and kicks behind her. When she turns around, she smiles a little when an empty cargo container is kicked right at him by Angela. Each time a man is sent down, Merida makes sure they stay down with any of her arrows fired from the truck, whether it's with a little shock of electricity or a spritz of knockout gas.
Once they're clear, Merida leaps out of the truck. She snags the passkey of one of the men on the ground and spins it around her finger.
"Let's go," Merida says.
Agent Moore: Good job, ladies.
When the three of them enter the building, they follow Bonnie's directions through their ears that guide them through the basement corridor of hallways. With every corner they turn, Angela expects to see a battalion of assassin-like scientists and henchmen waiting for them, but there never is. The halls are empty, just like Bonnie reassured. Yet, the fighting here makes Angela nervous.
"Why would Mensra Pharmaceuticals leave their labs completely unoccupied and unguarded?" Angela asks,
"We're in the cargo hold, so maybe most of their manpower is in the labs," Iqadi guesses.
"There is an inspection happening after all," Merida adds. "Let's see if we can join them."
-o-
Inside the building, Victoria and Orchid follow Dr. Colza through the bright florescent hallways of Mensra Pharmaceuticals. Their heels click in sync through the linoleum floors as they listen to the scientist ramble on and try to persuade them that everything is going great in the building. Victoria and Orchid nod, throw in the occasion question and make some interested noises to sound like they agree. The girls scribble on their clipboards as a part of the ruse, but also to communicate with each other.
Orchid: I've been on worse first dates.
Victoria: You're nicer than me. I don't even let them talk.
Orchid: As if you're doing any talking yourself, Agent Bouvier ;)
Victoria clears her throat to hide any laughter and to stay in character. "Dr. Colza, it's vital to know your clientele before the ESR makes a deal."
Orchid nods. "If we find out about any shady or criminal activity after giving you money, that's a penalty against Mensra himself."
Dr. Colza laughs nervously, stopping in his tracks and turning around to face them. "I can assure you that Dr. Mensra doesn't participate in such activities."
"They all say that and then you realize they have secret lives," Victoria retorts, leaving him speechless.
"Bosses keep secrets from their employees," Orchid adds. "Ours certainly do."
Dr. Colza nods, turning around again. " … so our lab is just up ahead."
"Whispers in the pharmaceutical world say that some of your clientele ask that you manufacture some drugs similar if not more potent than rophenol," Victoria continues, walking faster so that she's now at pace with him. Orchid does the same to his other side. "You know roofies or date rape. And I'm not saying any street stuff you'd find in a club, but the big stuff they use in the black markets for human trafficking."
"You do understand why we wouldn't want to invest or partner with someone involved in a major crime ring of sorts, right?" Orchid adds again. "Even gossip of such nature leaves a bad taste."
"I can assure you that Dr. Mensra is not involved in any of that," Dr. Colza reassures like a persistent salesman. "We would never stoop to actions so low."
"We'll be the judge of that."
Orchid and Victoria share a quick look before turning the corner and seeing Angela and Merida pointing weapons at them while Iqadi stands behind them. Dr. Colza jumps on the spot, stifling a scream. Before he could actually yell or push an alarm, Victoria clicks her pen shut and jams the end into a pressure point on his neck, causing him to slump to the ground immediately.
"Funny running into you two here," Angela says sarcastically. Victoria grins as she puts her pen in her blazer's pocket.
"We gotta act fast," Orchid says, returning to her normal voice. "God, I hated that stupid city accent. The nerd over here either doesn't know about the drug or wouldn't tell us."
"Surely, other personnel here will want an update on the investment or to meet with you," Iqadi says. "Maybe Dr. Mensra himself."
"The lab is right here," Victoria says in her natural accent, pointing at the door nearby. They're in front of a locked and sealed door with a numberless screen as the entry pad. "It's a bio scan. We'll need to press someone's hand against the scanners."
Merida and Orchid pick up Dr. Colza and press his hand against the scanner. The door opens and they bring his unconscious body inside with them so anyone walking by won't notice. The two girls bind him to a canister before joining their friends deeper in the laboratory. It's a big room of stainless steel floors so white and clean that it's like they're walking on air. There are rows upon rows of cabinets with endless trays of beakers and vials full of liquid.
At first, nothing happens which unsettles Angela. Her heart starts beating so fast that she's surprised the others can't hear it.