Interactions: Jocelyn - @Almalthia, James - @BladeSS4



"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to heal her."
"How?"

I hear the faint voices speak. I see nothing. Only darkness. It takes a few moments before I realize my eyes are just closed.

I will never let anyone know about that.

Before I open them, I try to recall what happened before I apparently blacked out.

It's all so fuzzy…

Then it hits me like a huge a wave. Flashes of the fight between myself and the Winter Soldier appear in my mind, like some oddly cinematic and well-edited yet poorly filmed montage. The memory keeps flooding back to me and I feel like my mind is about to explode. As I, once again, see the Winter Soldier roundhouse kick me in the face, I awake with a jolt and sit up. Before I'm able to take in my surroundings, I feel a surge of pain throughout my entire body but especially in my left thigh. Cringing, I groan as my upper body falls back to the ground. I catch myself with my elbow, taking deep breaths as I try to calm myself.

"Lenora." I hear a feminine voice say. I dismiss it at first.
"Lenora." The same voice says again. That's when it clicks in my head. Not only do I recognize the voice but I also remember that "Lenora" is the name I am currently going by as I pose as an American.

I look up to see Jocelyn's face. Standing behind her is James and another man that I've never seen before.

"Oof. You look terrible." James says.
"What?" I reply, taken aback by his remark.
"James." Jocelyn scolds
"Sorry. It's just… that's quite a bit of blood on her face." He explains. He goes to pick up a mirror that looks to have fallen during the fight and brings it over to me. Even though it's cracked, I can still see that my face has indeed been bloodied up.

Damn.

"Where… where is he?" I ask
"Don't worry. James and I took care of the Winter Soldier." Jocelyn answers.

I, at first, feel relief. I'm glad the Winter Soldier is gone. The further away he is, the better. But then I start to feel disappointment. Disappointment in myself. I should have been able to kill him. I'm a very capable fighter. Hell, I'm more than capable. I shouldn't have lost. Besides, he's not too different from me, save for the metal arm. But what I lack in cybernetics I make up for in inhuman powers. I'm just glad no one was around to see that little burst of power that occurred. It's always best to keep those things a secret.

I try to sit up but once again, pain shoots through my body.

"Don't worry, Lenora. The pain you're feeling isn't going to last long. I'm going to heal you." Jocelyn tells me
"What? How?" I ask, curiosity and suspicion laced in my voice.
"You'll see."

When the mercenary had arrived at the alley, the garage door of Slingshot's home was wide open, and Jord could see him sitting at metal table with his leg covered in blood. Must've been shot he thought, probably police, we cleared out the gunmen in the bar earlier and I didn't see him being injured then. Jord rarely got injured from gunfire because of his power armour, and if it happened it never did any realy damage due to thick skin, muscle and bone tissue around his vital organs. Jord then often proceeded to dig the bullets out personally using his sword, refusing any medical attention and waited until his wounds healed, mostly unaffected by the pain and injuries due to his superhuman biology.

Jord walked into the garage, taking off his helmet and attaching it near his hip, where there was a special magnetic point for just that action. Slingshot walked over to the van that was standing in the garage. The mercenary could see it had been modified extensively to serve as what must be a mobile communications center. The vigilante told Jord to put some stuff in the back while he was going to get some stuff that they'd need to go to the 'hotel'. What hotel he was referring to was something Jord did not know. He didn't really appreciate being reduced to Slingshot's personal lackey, but there wasn't really anything else to do either, so he set himself to the task with vigor. In several minutes, the bike and gun cases had been carefully placed in the back of the van, and Jord was standing around waiting for Slingshot to come back. After several minutes of waiting, he felt the strange feeling again that he noticed at the bar again. As if someone was telling him to, he quickly grabbed his helmet and put it on, and what he saw surprised him greatly. Normally, the clear screen inside this helmet showed his vitals as well as some other pieces of information that he couldn't quite understand because they were written in a strange language Jord could not understand, but now all he could see was a map of his body, and the language of the text was changed to his native language, German. He studied it carefully, trying to take in all the details. He could see several of his organs, as well as some strange ones that he never knew about, and maybe didn't even exist in a normal human body, but were in his for some strange reason. Jord was so focused on trying to solve the mystery that he did not see Slingshot angrily arriving at the garage and driving away in the van. He only saw the van when it was outside of the garage and it was too late to stop it. He didn't really care though, he never really liked Slingshot anyway. Only then he realized that he didn't really have anywhere to go, as he did not know the location of the other people.

---

It was dark outside, and the roads were quiet. Sling drove alone in his van, rock tunes fading in and out as he was on the border of competing radio waves. Annoyed with the inability for a stable sound, he turned the radio off. He hadn't slept well the night before, was up early in the morning for a meeting with Mayers... God Sling was tired. His eyes drooped slightly, the adrenaline rush of the night's actions fading. Joc hadn't responded, but luckily the SHIELD training had kicked in. Of course he placed a tracker in the phone. He had forwarded the coordinates of the tracker to Alistar and Draku. They needed to meet up, given Ava was most likely still being hunted...

Sling gave a small smile. He had been too tired to actually piece together that the same car was keeping the exact same distance behind him, around when he had gotten on the freeway. The night seemed like it would get interesting. Sling noticed a small stop up ahead where he could refill on gas, and made sure to pull into the nearly abandoned gas station. Sure enough, the car following him pulled in as well. The former SHIELD agent, like a machine, was already loading up his sidearm and had it drawn. With one hand on the door and one hand holding the firearm, Sling watched the Black SUV pull up to a pump behind him. Out came a man in a suit... anxiously speaking on the phone and angrily filling up his car. Sling watched in strange amusement, chuckling at himself. He was getting paranoid.

Sling got out and filled up the Van with gas, leaving the nozzle in as he went into the small store accompanying it. The gas station had plenty of snacks and drinks, and Sling got a coffee and a bag of Bugles. The weird corn-chips were a favorite of his, mostly for the memories they brought of his childhood... but that was a story for another night. Sling mechanically pulled out a credit card to pay for the items, practically in a daze until the card reader gave back a strange message. His card had been denied... and Sling gave a sigh. The card was tied to a SHIELD account Mayers had set up under one of the dozens of aliases Sling had used over the years. Mayers must have worked fast to cancel his ties to the "deserter." Sling pulled out a few bucks and paid for his items before returning to the van to continue his journey to reunite with the others.

---

Sling was disappointed when he arrived at the house and almost immediately recognized the signs of a fight. The tire tracks and voices from inside helped highten the vigilante's sense of danger, and he quickly flicked open a gun case he kept in the passenger seat. It was an HK MP7a1, sleek black with a small sight and retractable stock being the only noticeable additions. The former soldier got out of the van as quietly as possible, gingerly closing the door behind him as he then retracted the stock back and began to approach the house. When he reached the door, he recognized the familiar voices of his allies, and made his way inside with gun still in hand. He saw the others... Ava, Joc, and that guy from the bar. Ava was injured, the others looked relatively fine at the moment. But Jackson Hurley had now arrived in a leather jacket and jeans with a gun in hand. His van was deceptively fast, and he had delayed sending the location to Alistar and Draku until he knew he'd be the first to arrive, in case it was a trap. And the borderline narcissist liked to make an entrance.

"So... did y'all miss me?"

As Draku was about to respond to Alistar's recollection of their past lives, the one named Slingshot appeared from a set of hidden elevator doors, cutting their conversation short. He allowed the two to proceed with their interrogation, shaking his head rather disappointedly at the pained screams of their subject, walking around the unique underground base taking in the sights of all that Alistar had collected throughout his time on this plane. Aside from Draku's own massive blade on display, he also possessed a number of ancient artifacts from different eras of time; presumably from key moments in his life, his attention eventually falling on a massive set of battle-worn samurai armor.

The armor possessed a resemblance to that of a fearsome black dragon with green accent, riddled with numerous punctures throughout the whole of it. He would run a hand across the damaged dō, inspecting the many perforations, before a sudden sensation fell over him alongside a rush of memories flooding his consciousness, causing him to step back and look to the ceiling with a faraway look.

The sky seemed to turn to night as thousands of arrows dotted out the sun, raining down upon his position and penetrating his once unscathed armor. What his massive blade did not deflect dotted his massive frame almost in its entirety, though even this was not enough to even remotely deter him from his mission, as he rose from behind his weapon with a fearsome roar.

Draku snapped to as the sound of keys being thrown in his direction could be heard, catching them with ease as his attention was drawn back to his blade. He honestly did not know what was happening at this point, having seemingly been completely elsewhere as the other two scrambled to their respective vehicles. It took him a moment to locate the aforementioned hog the one named Alistar had intended for him to use before he was astride the jet black and green flamed Harley Davidson and on the road.

Perhaps it was the vivid memory or the fact that he didn't know where they were headed, but not long after they hit the road he altered his course. Away from their makeshift convoy and the strange man who had the answers to the many questions that formulated inside his mind. Whoever they were to each other was ancient history, Draku enjoyed his solitude and nomadic ways. After all this time alone, why would he go and change that?

Alistar would speed off in his black super charged Ferrari when sling finally sends him the location. Thinking to himself "damn that took longer than expected, figured I would of heard something sooner but oh well". Putting the location into the GPS unit he puts in one of his twiztid cds as the song In Hell blares through his speakers. Sometime before they get close to the meet he notices draku isn't behind him. Confused on why he left alistar stops and pulls up the security tape on his flat screen dashboard to start watching. When it shows draku looking at his old armor noticing a slight shift in his posture alistar thinks maybe some memories flooded back. "well thankfully I installed trackers on my vechiles" he says to himself as he finally pulls up and sees the destruction that happened while he wasn't around. Rushing to everyone else he says "y'all OK? Looks like there was a party tonight" as he looks at the new guys.

Interactions: Jocelyn - @Almalthia, Slingshot - @webboysurf, Alistar - @Alistar Sabbath, James - @BladeSS4, Finnlay - @sly13



"Don't worry, Lenora. The pain you're feeling isn't going to last long. I'm going to heal you." Jocelyn reassures me
"What? How?" I ask, curiosity and suspicion laced in my voice. I cringe, as I feel a pain in my head.

Oh, how lovely. A headache.

"You'll see."
"So… did y'all miss me?" A voice says in a playful tone, interrupting whatever Joc was about to do to me. Jocelyn, James and I look over across the room to see the man who calls himself "Slingshot".
"How nice of you to join us." James says in an equally playful tone.
"Well, I couldn't let you guys have all the fun. Although, from the looks of it, it seems I really did miss out on it." Sling says as he wanders around the room looking at all the damage that has been done.
"Yeah, it was all fun and games here." I respond with a dryness in my voice that could match the Sahara Desert. "I thoroughly enjoy my nose getting messed up."
"If you'll excuse me," Jocelyn interjects "But I must heal Lenora, here."

Jocelyn proceeds to place her hand on me. I look at her quizzically before I suddenly begin to feel an odd feeling surge throughout my entire body. In a few moments, any pain I was feeling went away. It was incredible! After the deed was done and Jocelyn took her hand off of me, she tried to stand up but stumbled back. James caught her before she could actually fall.

"Are you alright?" James asked her, looking concerned.
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine." She answered, now trying to stand up straight.
I was still sitting on the floor, looking over myself in awe over how I was completely healed by Jocelyn. I looked up at the woman who looked like she finally had the strength to stand.

I don't know what's up with that…

As uncharacteristic it is of me to do so, I proceed to thank Jocelyn for healing me.
"It was no problem." She replies
"Well… it certainly didn't look that way." I respond
"So, what exactly happened here anyway?" Sling pipes in, abruptly changing the subject
"Hydra happened." Jocelyn says to him
"Ah, the bastards… and what about you, Lenora?" Sling turns to me, the sound of his voice not matching the look I see in his eyes. He sounds like he's trying to, say… "casually" interrogate us but his eyes tell me he knows something more. "What happened to you?"
"The infamous Hydra assassin, the Winter Soldier, was sent here along with the other Hydra goons." I told him "I fought him and, long story short, that's how I ended up so injured."
"Speaking of other Hydra goons-"
"I took care of them." James interrupts
"So they're all dead?" Sling asks, stepping closer to the three of us
"Well… no." James replies, a bit sheepishly "I killed as many as I could though I fear a few may have gotten away."
"And the Winter Soldier?"
"Gone too." Jocelyn answers "Although, his robotic arm is greatly damaged."
"But he's still alive and out there in the world plus possibly a few more Hydra agents?" Sling questions
"Yes." Jocelyn, James, and I answer in unison
"Well, then. We'll need to be extra careful on our way back." Sling says, walking back to the big hole in the wall that he entered from.
"Our way back?" I repeat, confused as to what he meant by that.
"Yes, our way back. To Alistar's base."

Before I even get a chance to ask who that is, another man walks in. "Y'all okay? Looks like there was a party tonight!" The man says
"Alistar. So very nice to see you once again." Sling says walking towards him.
"What happened here?"
"Hydra." Sling answers simply
"Hydra? How did Hydra find them?"
"We don't know." Jocelyn speaks up
"We didn’t see any signs of being followed." I add "Yet, somehow Hydra knew James and I were coming here."

I decide to leave out the fact that since I have quite the history with Hydra they probably track my each and every step. It's not important that any of them know that yet.

"Any survivors?" Alistar asks
"All dead save for a few agents and the Winter Soldier." Sling answers
"Well, if I encounter them ever I'll make sure to give em hell." Alistar says with a small growl
"Yeah, I'm sure we all will." I say
"I mean it quite literally." Alistar replies
I'm taken aback by what he said "I beg your pardon?"
"Alright, you all. As much as I'd love to stay here and chat in this lovely destroyed domain, we really should head back to the base. It's safer there. Fewer unwanted ears from Hydra and whoever else might want all of our heads." Sling says
"You have a point." Jocelyn admits "Hydra knows about this place now. It's no longer a safe haven for us."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's head out." Alistar says.

As we all leave the wrecked living room, we are once again interrupted by another man.

Oh, for fucks sake. Who is it now?!

"Um… hello." The man says, seemingly a bit surprised by the clump of people before him.
"Finnlay." Jocelyn walks towards the man "Nice to see you again." She says to him with a small smile.
"What happened?" He asks, looking back at the home behind us.
"We-" Jocelyn begins before Sling cuts in
"Um, why don't you fill him in on all the shit that has happened after we get to you-know-where. I'd rather not stay here any longer. In case anyone has forgotten, Hydra was literally just here." Sling says, obviously exasperated
"Hydra?!" Finnlay exclaims "What was Hydra doing here?"
Jocelyn sighs "I guess I'll explain later."
"Thank you." Sling says, a slightly exasperated sigh escaping his lips. "Alright, once again everyone, let's go."
"I guess we'll just follow you?" James asks Sling
"You'll be following Alistar and I. I'm in that van over there." Sling answers
"And my ride is over there." Alistar says, gesturing over to-
"A Ferrari?!" James exclaims "You took a Ferrari?!"
"Yes." Alistar responds simply

A stunned silence falls over the group. With a dropped jaw, I look at the Ferrari and then back to Alistar a few times.

I'm… what the… I…

"Fucking hell…" Finnlay trails off
"My thoughts exactly." Sling says
"I don't see what the problem is." Alistar tells us, looking genuinely confused and… a bit offended.

It's not like you see some random, seemingly non-rich-man just casually driving around a Ferrari. Although this Alistar could possibly be some insanely wealthy man and none of us would even know. He does own a Ferrari after all. Who knows what else this guy has.

"It's no problem. We’re just…" Jocelyn appears to try to find the right words to say "We're just a little surprised. You don't seem like that kind of guy that… owns a Ferrari."

Took the words right outa my brain.

"Well then, let me be the one to assure you that this is the least surprising thing about me." Alistar says with a smirk.
"Oh… goodie." I sarcastically respond, my monotonous tone match the deadpan look on my face.
"So, who wants to ride with me?" Alistar asks us, catching the rest of us a bit off-guard. "Ums" and "wells" fill the forest air.

As much as I would love to ride in a Ferrari, I don't want to be alone with that man. There's something about him I don't trust. And it seems I'm not the only one who feels this way...

"I took my bike so-" Finnlay begins
"I took mine as well." Jocelyn adds "Finnlay and I will just follow you guys."
"I rode in Jocelyn's car." I say
"And I took a helicopter." James says after me
"Wait." Sling says, putting up his hands "You took a…. you know what… never mind. I shouldn't be surprised after all that's happened."

I just barely hear Sling mutter that he needs an Advil before James speaks once again.

"I guess since I don't have the helicopter anymore I'll just ride with Lenora."
I sharply look at him "What makes you think-"
"Or I can ride with you, Sling." James quickly adds

I'm glad he chose not to start any trouble with me tonight.

"That's fine." Sling says "Alright… now that everybody has their ride figured out… can we please leave this place?!"
We all take a moment to look at each other before answering Sling with various affirmative responses.
"Okay… then… let's go." He says with much less energy than before.

As we all walk toward our respective modes of transportation, I notice Alistar taking something out of his jacket and handing it to Sling. Sling opens it and pours something into his hand and then pops whatever it is into his mouth.

Hmmph. Looks like he's getting his Advil….

I probably should've asked for one. The headache I had earlier still hasn’t gone away. Damn.

---

He didn’t have the time for his usual pleasantries. Alistar produced the aspirin he needed. He’d been up for well over 24 hours at this point, and was exceptionally tired. He’d been up for 48, even 72 hours before on assignments… but there was just something about tonight and the monotony of it all. The pill helped with the headache. He felt a surge of energy as he got into his van, James getting into the passenger seat. It was a quiet drive back to New York. He didn’t speak much to his new passenger, not bothering to reveal anything about his former life nor his more recent escapades. He was instead preparing the briefing in his head. He had a lot of uncertain questions that still needed to be answered. He supposed he’d get most of them tonight.

He pulled into the same parking garage as before, getting out and bringing with him only a single case. He wanted to make sure he had enough comms for everyone, because they would certainly need them. His half-demon friend would be able to take care of most everyone else’s needs. Nonetheless, Sling got in the elevator with James and went down to the base. It’s sheer grandeur was impressive, but the vigilante didn’t really care. He went to set up his equipment.

Jackson Hurley let the others take in what the base had to offer while he made his way to the lounge, setting up the equipment he needed. He connected his laptop to the monitor. One thing he managed to learn in SHIELD: how to make a good powerpoint. Within minutes he had it finished up with the information he had. He didn’t know quite everyone, but he knew enough.

Once finished, he gathered everyone back into the lounge. It was important to get everything sorted as quickly as possible. He had a new identity to forge, plane tickets to purchase, and a homicidal maniac to catch. Just another day as an international man of mystery. Nonetheless, Jackson gave a small nod to everyone as he began.

“Keep all questions until the end. My name is Jackson Hurley, formerly United States Navy SEAL, former Agent of SHIELD. I’m not going to insult your intelligence and explain who they are. Most of you have heard about them, if not all of you. To be clear, I’m no longer tied to that organization, and do not have the current intention to report to them. Which means everything we have done and will be doing is off the books.

“I’m not looking to lead you lot into any sort of war, but I am giving you the option to do something right. It’s come to my attention HYDRA is operating in New York at the moment, and God knows where else. I have a location, which I will send all of you to begin doing some digging if you to get yourselves involved. But, as I keep specifying, you’re not a SHIELD strike force, you’re not special agents. For the most part, we’re all narcissistic assholes with special powers or abilities that like beating the shit out of people who deserve it. And oh boy, do these fuckers deserve it.”

Jackson sighed as he tapped a button on his laptop. The TV behind him showed gruesome images: the burnt corpses of children in cages, a drug manufacturing plant with chained women working the line, a warlord seemingly in Africa sitting upon a throne crafted entirely of skulls and bones. “I’m still trying to piece together what it is they’ve been up to, and where they have their connections. But they’ve begun to make things personal. And right now, I’m pretty confident all of you are in the crossfire. You could easily run away, or hide in your fancy underground bases… but with the literal firepower we have in this room we could bring them to their fucking knees…”

A moment passed by as Jackson hesitated continuing. He wasn’t entirely sure the impact this next segment would have on the group dynamic… but ultimately, it didn’t matter much to him. “I will not be able to aid you for some time. I have to catch a devil… not the literal devil, mind you.” He gave a glance over towards Alistar. “So, it’ll be up to you lot. But you should probably know who each other are…”

On screen, Alistar’s face appeared. Next to it, a scrolling list far too long and scrolling far too fast to properly read. Accompanying pictures helped show an individual roughly matching Alistar’s appearance throughout several historical events and periods. “Alistar, a half-demon with a checkered past. To some, a creation of pure evil. To those of us at SHIELD, someone willing to do what it takes to make sure the right thing gets accomplished.”

Next on screen was Draku. “Despite looking like he just walked out of an anime convention, Draku is a powerful individual, perhaps too powerful for his own good. Considered a serious threat by the higher-ups in SHIELD, but have been afraid messing with him would cause serious collateral damage.”

He gave a quick look to those who were remaining. He wasn’t entirely sure Joc’s friend was, but given the lot that he was in this room with, he had to be powerful. Next on the screen was Jocelyn. “Jocelyn Beatrix Victoria Harmon, though seems to have a fondness for the alias Tonic, to my understanding. One hand gives, the other takes. It’s a shame what they did to you at Weapon X, but glad you didn’t go feral like another one of the experiments.” Another flash on screen showed her face from earlier in the night, when attempting to escape the bar. “Though, currently wanted for questing in regards to the killing of multiple armed police officers and the robbing of a local bar in New York City. Considered armed and dangerous, believed to be working with a ring of criminals, and legal experts are speculating the DA will push for the death penalty when he gets to his office tomorrow morning. If she’s caught, that is.”

Jackson tapped his laptop, and James’ picture came up. “Not entirely sure about you, mate. Name’s James Walker, former police trainee in NYC. Not entirely sure why you’re wrapped up in all this, but you stole a helicopter and something tells me it wasn’t on the ground when you did it.”

Jackson then gave a small sigh, his finger drumming impatiently on the laptop as the final picture came on screen. Well… blurry pictures. Gruesome scenes. Assassinations of powerful politicians and individuals of immense wealth and weight. All showing a shadowy figure being present, but never a clear picture. “And lastly… our dear friend Ava. An assassin from Russia, nicknamed “The Black Frost” in your native tongue. Most of your files have been scrubbed clean, couldn’t even get a facial ID on you… oh, and of course. Hydra agent with a burn notice sent by the fucking Winter Soldier himself.

“So even though I said I was going to take questions, I’m pretty sure we all have a few for you.”

---

While James normally kept his joke making demeanor he was a bit torn inside from the fight with the hydra agents. He had lost control over his symbiote it took control and killed a few men. While they were hydra agents James wasnt thrilled about killing anyone. Even more so what he did when he wasnt in control. James considers himself accountable for everything he or his symbiote does. He considers himself lucky though that the sliver symbiote didn't hurt the girls or anyone else when it was in control. During the ride to New York with Sling James kept to himself as he was trying to come to terms what he done.

Once they arrived in the area James kept silent on his way down the elevator. It opened and he saw the grandeur of the place and his mood was put back to normal humorous self.

Once Sling got to James as he was looking each person up James quickly made a comment, "Why am I with wrapped up in all this? I don't know maybe I was bored? Maybe I saw people who needed help and decided to help? As for the helicopter, I will give you a straight answer sir." James first clears pauses hears his throat and then first his answer, "Alright, I borrowed the helicopter I didn't steal it and yes you are right it wasnt on the ground. I also must add, nobody onboard that helicopter was killed. So once they wake up they can take their chopper back assuming their arent stuck together anymore." James answer came with a bit of a smile from him taking a bit of pride in his work along with a bit of light-hearted humor.

As James listened a bit more he then asks "So is hydra going to show up here too? I showed up at that last house after the girls after you guys just basically invited everyone at the bar to show up. I don't think hydra knew I was going to be there, I don't even think they know who I am or what I can do. I mean even Slingy's boys data base doesn't know much about me so they weren't tracking me. They were either tracking Jocelyn or they were tracking Lenora. I might not be a genius but I don't think hydra takes kindly to people leaving their group. I guess they were tracking her. So either they stuck some sort of weird tracking devices in their members or they were following her. Then again I could be dumb and they are following Jocelyn so who knows."

(last one to leave the house)

As alistar gets into his car he says "Athena are you there? Alot of shit has gone down and I could use a friend right now. " he taps his head to see if that does anything. As he tapped his head a light humming noise sounded through his ears as the nano bots worked to connect and channel Athena. Faintly Alistar hears "Hello? Oh hey..." louder now "Yeah I'm here Alistar. I just helped out another friend. If my data collection is right then you two might be in the same predicament. Need a new ID and papers?" She said with her usual cheery voice. "Al I know you and I will be around forever and that you have seen the world die once over but if you continue to not form connections you will become hollow and the demon will be all that's left. My bots can't reverse a full change. They can only prevent a change." She said the last part in a business like tone but cracked a little. "I won't be losing you so I think you give whatever is going on a chance. Joining a group might be a good thing plus..." a small drone zoomed up beside his car and teleported inside in the passenger seat. It hovered there and then the form of Athena or rather a hologram if what she would have looked like came to life over the drone. She almost looked solid. "...you never know you might meet other immortals and finally meet me. I'm working on something that might allow me to be more than just a hologram." She winked at him and brought up a screen in front of her. Green holo cables flowed from it to the dash of the car. "I'm disabling GPS in the car just in case. I'll be able to track you but nothing else will." She smiled at him and then gave him a chance to talk.

Grinning from ear to ear he says "you always know what to say to me." then he stares ahead "Well beautiful you think you could get a satellite view of the place I met up with the group? I'm thinking something ain't right, I got a feeling someone isn't telling the whole truth. No way Hydra will send the winter soldier to assassinate low level ppl ya know. " looking back he says "you need anything to help with your project?" Typing as soon as he said something about a satellite view she pulled up something and swiped a screen over to him as she took control of the car. "I don't know what you might be looking for be here ya go." She took the curve as smooth as he would giving him time to look over anything. "As far as anything I need any alien tech would do. I'm just trying a little something to see if it will work. " She smiled and gunned it on some open road then slowed back to normal speed waiting for Alistar to look over anything. As he looks over the footage he sees a bright light appear then a lone figure running out, staring closer it appears to be the winter soldier leaving just like Ava said. Still something isn't right how did they know to be there, only three people were there. Then he gets a serious look on his face "Athena is there any chatter from Hydra about what happened today? I have a nagging feeling that I'm missing something and you know about my nagging feelings." She sighed and then came to a stop at a small pull off. "Sadly with everything that's going on I haven't been able to sift through everything. I even have Weaver doing recon and he has way more important things to be doing, if I do hear anything I will let you know though." Her image started to flicker. "Though good for thought..." Her image disappeared and the drone hovered there "...Hydra isn't as well organized as most think." The drone then dropped a disk with writing on it before flying out the window of the car heading to it's next destination. The disk says to throw it at car or insert and step out. It will change the color, registration, vin, and plates. Smiling he says to himself “always looking out for me”.

(back the base)
After sling tells everyones secrets alistar gets up and strolls over to Ava and says in Russian to go on his hunch while picking her up by the collar of her shirt slamming her into the wall "why is Hydra always a step right behind you huh? You watching us for them, you their little spy?" Ava grunt as her body makes contact with the wall Alistar threw her up against. The sound of Alistar's gravely voice suddenly speaking in Russian took her by surprise.
"I don't know what you're talking about." she answer simply in her natural accent, trying to sound as calm as possible. "I was never a Hydra agent. Jackson's little description of me was a bit misleading." she shoot the former Shield agent a look of contempt before Alistar slams her into the wall once again. Alistar would open up the most recent wound she suffered as he continued to say "so they just magically appeared when you were there huh? I know all about Hydra" alistar would start to let his horns grow as he awaits for her reply.
She cries out in agony as Alistar somehow reopens the wound on her thigh. She feel the pain coursing deep throughout her body.

“So, they just magically appeared when you were there, huh? I know all about Hydra.” Alistar growled, his dark, coal-colored horns growing in size.
“Well, good for you for doing your research.” she managed to reply while panting.
“Alistar, let’s not do this now...” Sling says and she proceed to ignore him.
“It's no problem, Hurley. I suppose since we’re in the business of revealing shit about ourselves I can… divulge a bit more about myself.” she say, grimacing as the throbbing feeling in her thigh seems to get worse. “I’ll keep things short and simple. Hydra paid me to do their dirty work whenever their precious Winter Soldier was unavailable. Assassinations, recon, espionage. I did anything for the right price and I regret nothing.” she says maintaining steady eye contact with “man” in front of her. As she says this he let's her go and says "was that so hard to say. " and as if he was talking to himself he says "Athena darling Ava here needs a full body scan to see if she has any bugs crawling on or inside her". From around the corner a drone would fly infront of Ava as if waiting for permission.
My body falls to the ground with a loud thud and I grunt. As she slowly begin to stand, the half-demon turns and calls for something or someone named "Athena". A drone flies toward her, stopping to hover a few feet away from her face. Before it tries to do anything to her, she kick the machine. As it hits the ground, she crush it with her knee, taking a pistol out from under her shirt and aiming it at Alistar's head.
“That’s enough!” Sling exclaims “Alistar, you know I enjoy a good interrogation but I feel like that was all a little unnecessary. We have more important things to discuss anyway. Now, go and sit, Ava put the pistol away and Jocelyn, would you please go and heal Ava’s wound again?”
Jocelyn nods as she stands and walks over to her.

---

---

---

I shake my head as I watch everyone leave. I grab my helmet and walk around shutting doors. Not in the greatest of moods I run upstairs and collect the plastic sheeting that will go over the windows and a staple gun and start fixing stuff. Well as much as can be fixed. I will call a freaking window place tomorrow and have them fix it. Thousands of dollars I did not want to spend but had to now. Bollocks.

Ten minutes later I have all of the windows covered and the glass cleaned up. Putting on my Bluetooth headset and helmet on the phone rings from an unlisted number. Great now what? “Hello?”

A chime sounded on the other end as Athena secured the line just in case. “Hello…” said an almost robotic female voice “...this is a service call from DS Technologies. We are calling about your purchases.” The line broke then the voice was gone but another chimed in. “Hey Jocelyn it's Ghost sorry about the recording but can't be to careful with everything that has happened. I see that you might be having some issues?” Athena, sitting in her digital Sanctuary typed on her keyboard while a call icon was lit next to her face. “I understand that you might have burned an identity so I'm working up a new one and waiting on your approval to make the old one disappear. Is there anything else you might need? You may be a client but you hold a special place in my circuits.” Athena stopped talking cause she then realized she hadn't given Jocelyn a chance to talk.

I laugh softly keeping to the speed limit. All I need now is to get nabbed by the cops. Ghost to the rescue. Apparently she knew what was needed to. Something to be said about convention. “That's my girl. Always on the ball. Knock yourself out with the identity. Oh and the Stark stuff I am not supposed to have needs to be moved. It is still at the prior location. I would move it but I am on the bike and am heading South.” Coasting I listened for Ghost’s reply.

“Stark tech? I'll do what I can. I can move any of my tech but anything else will be slightly harder.” She typed away bouncing a signal to the beacons in the tech. “Ok looks like I got everything I sold you but some of the stark stuff is still giving off a reading. Cops haven't picked up on your trail yet so I will keep tabs on the place and have a drone sent over.” Athena switches screens to her scrambler and an identity finally came up. “Alright your ID is updated and should already be on your driver's license. The name is Rosalina Kendra Young.” She let out a sigh and waited to see what Jocelyn might have to say.

I leaned with a turn and came up out of it and gunned it. “Roger that. I'll pick up a copy in NYC. Tonic out.” I started to drop my native accent and worked on my middle-of-nowhere-and-everywhere-American accent on the drive back.

I intended to get my equipment transported to this base they were talking about. My luck running high I pulled up to the address to see Finnlay getting off his bike. I walked up to him. I know there is something bothering him. I grab his hand and sit with him as Sling drones on. My head snaps up as he finishes and Alistair attacks Le- Ava.

As I watch the scene unfold her leg starts bleeding again. I let go of Finnlay and pull off my right glove. I make my way over to Alistair and Ava before Sling mentions that I am needed. I shoot him a glare and move in to heal Ava. “Okay I am done with the dick measuring contest. Officially that was probably the worst and best way to find out what this group is made up of. I knew I was being watched but you are missing some of my life but it is not important. So now we ask ourselves, do we trust each other?” I made eye contact with Finnlay to see if he was upset yet.

@Almalthia@Alistar Sabbath@TwilightShadow

As the drone is smashed a voice comes from it. "Well that wasn't very nice. Any of you know how much these drones cost?" Another flies in and hovers over the other. In seconds it's gone in a flash of green light. "No? Well alot. Also..." the drone flies over to Alistar a form of a girl appearing in place of the drone. "...dont you ever command me. We are friends and that's not something you do Mister." Turning on her heels she looks at the others. "Hello everyone I am Ghost or if you prefer Athena was my name." She walks over to Tonic and smiles at her." Let me know where to download your equipment. Took me a couple of minutes to configure the tech but I got it all and left no trace of you." Looking now at Ava she tisks. "Oh dear I am sorry about Alistar. I will have to teach him better manners when in the presence of a lady." She shoots a glare at Alistar. "Your gut feelings need to chill for the time being. She is no threat to you unless you want her to be." She then smiled at Ava don't worry hun. You didn't know who I was so I take no offense. A question though to everyone. Do you need a new identity? I can erase who you were and turn you into someone new digitally speaking?" Athena then stopped as she realized she was rambling again.

---

James watched the on goings of the others. The moment he saw Alister put his hands on Ava, James's fist clenched as he supressed his anger. Seeing Alister put his hands on a girl in the a threatening manner, was the reason for James's anger. Then seemingly others seemed to jump on Alister about his actions seemingly calmed James down.

James walked over to Alister and says in a light joking way, "Alister buddy, that's not how you hit on a girl dude. Going a bit step too far when you are actually hitting someone to the point you reopen a wound." As James got closer his normal civilian suit's arm turns silver and then morphs into a silvery spike like blade covering his arm closest to Alister then James's joking demeanor goes to a serious tone, "Now I wouldn't put your hands on any of the girls here again in my presence. I don't care if they are hydra agents or not, you will end up seriously regretting it." When he was finished his threatening jester his bladed arm turns back into a normal suit jacket sleeve. Then James walked away. Not waiting for a reply or a reaction just turning his back to the man and walking off to where if is going to go next.

James then walks to Athena he then replies to her question of needing a new identity, "I don't need a new identity per say, but I would very much appreciate that my real name isn't linked to stealing a helicopter. While it is pretty unbelievable someone to be able to steal a fly helicopter. I rather not have people knowing that I actually did that. There is a big difference from a Silvery web swinging unknown man stealing a chopper and not James Walker who the NYPD or anyone really can track the whereabouts pretty early. I wouldn't want to when I eventually go home to find I have unwanted visitors trying to arrest or kill me. And after running into hydra recently the latter is a possibility now."

James then looks at Jocelyn and answers her last question, "Do I trust any of you? Well I am not wearing a mask to hide my identity from any of you. None of you have tried to kill me, so everyone here has my trust so far. Even Alister over there who has a thing with hitting girls. I might not be forking out all the information on myself like Slingy is doing, but that is a different kind of trust. But yeah I trust you all enough not stab any of us in the back." James speaks once again in a light-hearted tone that he normally does.

Even at night, the streets of New York City were lively and vibrant. Cars sped by as Jord walked on the pavement next to the road. He had exchanged his power armour for his normal clothing when he was in Slingshot's garage at the alley hours earlier, and had been slowly making his way away from that place as soon as he had realized that the SHIELD agent was probably not too happy about the fact that Jord had killed two police officers earlier. In my defense, Jord thought as he reflected on his reasons to leave, I thought they where HYDRA agents, what else was I supposed to do? The mercenary continued walking. He had stored his weapons and armour in the suitcase that he was always carrying with him, concealing them from view. They might have seen him wearing his helmet, but the police hadn't seen his face just yet. Suddenly, he heard a voice saying: "Bio-interface online." Jord looked around to see who said it, but there was not a single person in sight. Then, the same kind of screen that he always saw on the inside of his helmet popped up, and this time it showed a map, with a pinpointed location. He chose to walk towards it.

Ten minutes later, he stood before a hotel. He had stopped in a small abandoned alley earlier, and was now dressed in his suit of power armour, with the Bulwark shield on his left arm. Maybe this is the hotel that that weird guy dressed in a cloak and black leather pants was talking about. Jord knocked on the door.

---

---

---

Finnlay was trying his absolute best to keep his anger in check and not go into fight mode at what he was hearing. He had felt his blood boil at hearing what had happened to Jocelyn and was worried by the fact that she was now a wanted felon. But what pissed him off the most was the idea that shield had been watching everyone in this room secretly. Not that it surprised him at all but then this “Former” agent tried to make it sound like they were any different from Hydra. As far as Finnlay was concerned they were the same thing with different names.

The next thing Finn knew the women known as Ave was slammed up against a wall by the demon and was being interrogated/ tortured. He wasn't sure what was going on but he could tell is was painful. Looking back up to the front trying to calm himself he saw Sling looking at him as if trying to figure out were he had seen him before. As he kept his eyes on Sling and the others in the room Finnlay felt Jocelyn's hand leave his and start to wards the demon and the Hydra agent. As she began looking back at him he began to instinctively reach for his pistols.

I glanced over at Finnlay as I finished healing Ava and giving Alistar the I-am-so-disappointed look. He was reaching for pistols. I know that look. Nope. I have had it with the blood around me. I have a headache and my spirit hurts. I absolutely need a recharge and Finn needs to calm down. I walk over to Finnlay and lean my head on his chest and whisper. “I need to rest and we need to talk about Boston and me moving in. Please tell me that offer is still on the table.”

Finnlay for a moment felt all the anger in him melt away as Jocelyn grabbed him. He let go of his grip on his pistols and decided to let it go for now. Looking down at her he could tell that she was extremely tired which he suspected must have been a side effect from her ability. “Of course go hálainn.” He said with a smile on his face. “Let's go sit you down for a bit.” after finishing he picked Jocelyn up bridal style and proceeded to walk out of the room as he gave one last glare back as if telling the people inside not to mess with him. He continued to walk until he found the lounge where he could lay Jocelyn down. After he had laid her down he placed a hand on her head. “Are you alright?”

I was not expecting him to scoop me up and carry me off but neither was I complaining. “Yes. Now. How about you? I know some of this is bothering you. Plus we need to get back to Boston soon. Work waits for no one.” I scoot over hoping he'll take the hint and sit or lay down with me.

Finnlay sat down next to Jocelyn and let out a heavy sigh. “I'm just trying to get my head around all this.” he placed both his hands on his forehead as he laid all his weight into them. “I mean in the other room there is a Hydra agent, a shield agent, and a fucking demon.” he just shook his head.

“Takes all kinds huh? We really don’t have room to talk though. I am exhausted and I need a bed. Tomorrow we need to talk about Boston...and us.” I can barely keep my eyes open and I roll toward Finnlay knowing he’ll take care of me.

“Aye we do.” He said in a low voice making sure not to disturb her as he knew she would be falling asleep. He continued to sit for a moment questioning whether or not to take her to a room but quickly realized he had no idea where that would be. Taking a last look at her he gave out a sigh and took off his jacket putting it over top of her to give her some kind of warmth.

I fell asleep quickly but woke up screaming and sweating. Nightmares again. I quickly take a deep breath. In through the nose out through the mouth. Damnit. Hydra. Weapon X. I shudder and roll my neck as I sit up fully still on the couch. I look around and decide to wander. Maybe I’ll find a kitchen or a bathroom. I don’t know the layout of this place at all. Guess I should have asked Alister about it before I walked off. Standing I realize my shoes are off and I’m running around barefoot. I shrug and stand up stretching.

Finnlay shot awake when he heard Jocelyn scream in her sleep. He had been sitting on the floor with his back pressed against the side of the couch that Jocelyne had been sleeping on. He had instinctively reached for his knife and listened for the sound of a intruder but was surprised to hear nothing. Looking around the corner of the arm he saw Jocelyn walking away in a sort of lost way. “The hell is wrong with her?” He thought to himself watching trying not to let her know he was awake.

After wandering for about five minutes I found a bathroom. Clean towels and soaps like it was a posh hotel. To be fully honest I found the bathroom in an empty room, like a hotel. I was already up so might as well look presentable or the bath would soothe me to sleep. Strange how nothing was locked but its not my house and I’m not questioning it. Running a nice bubble bath with hot water I kept the door cracked to hear in the other room. I’d gotten so used to it that it was second nature for me to think nothing of it by keeping the door open a little bit. I got ready as the bath got ready and slipped into the massive tub and sighed as I settled in.

Finnlay sat and listened to what Jocelyn was doing. To his surprise he could hear the running Water of what seemed to be a bathtub. Figuring she was fine he began to go to sleep again until he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. “Bloody hell this better good” he said to himself as he grabbed the phone answering it. He was surprised at who was on the other end.

“Aye Jimmy it’s me.”
“I know. I know.”
“Hey look the docks are taken care of. You won’t see them down there again, and if you do I will handle it again.”
“I need you to do me a favor. I’m gonna need a sit down with da kings as soon as I get back.”
“It’s a long story.”

With the door open I vaguely heard the one sided conversation. Finnlay must have followed me. Not that I minded. Well not fully...okay so I am not experienced at all. Which was understandable when you were afraid that you could kill someone by touching them. I looked at the massive amount of bubbles in the bath and I was pretty well covered up fully except for my head. “Finn? That is you isn’t it?”

“Yes it’s me. Sorry I was just making sure you ok.” He said as he covered his phone so the other side wouldn’t hear it. He then when very stiff at the realization that he had been having this conversation without realizing that he wasn’t in his own home. “Dammit it to hell!” He said under his breath holding she wouldn’t hear. “I’m sorry for disturbing you.” He finished by hanging up the phone as he began to walk back towards the couch.

I hear him shuffling around and I remember that I did not bring in my bag and of course now I want it. “Can you grab my bag? I really don’t want to have to walk around in dirty clothes or a towel. You might expire of a nose bleed if I do run around in a towel. You’d be doing yourself a favor...these towels are really small.” I grin since I am teasing him. The towels are no shorter than some of my shorts that I wear regularly.

I am really trying to get into the swing of not sounding as British as I normally so. Blunting the accent so to speak and using contractions at the very least. I tilt my head back getting my hair wet knowing that I will be washing it as soon as the bubbles go away.

Finnlay stopped at the sound of Jocelyn’s voice through the door. He laughed slightly “Don’t flatter yourself darling, but I will happily grab your bag.” he said heading over to where he had last seen her bag. Grabbing it swiftly he began to casually walk over to the bathroom. He knocked on the door once before entering. When he entered he did his best to keep his averted from where he thought Jocelyn would be standing. “I’ll just sit it on the counter for you.” After finally finding the counter after some work he said calmly “Is there anything else the lady would like?”

I laugh all humor set aside. “Yeah. I wanna stop running. I want to be normal. I don't want to think that I'd ever hurt people even by accident. I was so close-” I shake my head and clam up. I am not doing the whole mad scientist routine in front of Finn. “I'm going to wash my hair now so unless you're wanting to see more skin then you'd better wait in the other room.” I reach down for the mini shampoo bottle that I put on the floor next to the tub. There are still bubbles covering me but I can feel them slide off my back since I am leaning forward.

Finnlay stopped for a moment when he heard Jocelyn’s words. He could tell the sadness laced in the words. He wasn’t really sure what to say at the moment, he wasn’t usually the kind of person to talk about this sort of thing with people.

Being the gentleman he was, Finnlay made sure to walk out of the room and close the door making sure it was secure “As you wish my lady.” He said before leaving the closed door trying to leave a light hearted tone.

Everyone in the room ended up disbanding. I don’t know where half of them went, whether they decided to stay in Alistar’s hotel or just leave the building entirely. I was one of the last people to leave the room, but not before having one last short conversation with Hurley.

“Just so you know,” Jackson’s voice stopped me at the door “I won’t hesitate to kill you if I get the chance. I may be willing to work with you but I sure as hell ain’t suddenly some Hydra sympathizer.”
I turn around to face the ex-Shield agent with a smirk on my face “Did you not listen to a word I said? I don’t work for Hydra any longer. Surely someone like you would’ve realized that, especially after the Winter Soldier attack.”
“That doesn’t erase all the atrocities you committed while with Hydra.” He said
“Oh, it certainly does not. All of the blood I’ve spilled has left quite the permanent stain on my hands. I don’t expect to forget anything I’ve done anytime soon.”
“Good. Then we-“
“You do realize you and I aren’t so different, right?” I interrupted the man. “Hydra and Shield are just two sides of the same coin. We were just pawns in their little game, doing their dirty work-“
“I’m sure you enjoyed your dirty work, though.” Jackson interjected
“Perhaps.” I answered simply. “Truthfully, I was just focused on the money. Hydra paid well.”
“Is there a point to all of this?” Jackson asked, seeming to be getting frustrated with me.
I took a few seconds to think before answering. “I suppose not.” I told him, turning back around to leave. Pausing at the doorway, turning back to face the man one last time “Oh… just so you know… I won't hesitate to kill you either. "

As I exited the room, I realized I didn't know where I was actually going. I didn't know if I wanted to stay here or not. I would rather not spend any more time with these people… but going after Hydra alone is suicide. This might be the best and only way to bring them down.

As I continued to walk aimlessly through the pristine halls of this building, I began to realize how tired I was. I didn't know where the bedrooms were and Alistar was nowhere to be found. Not that I wanted to see him again anyway. I decided I would just sleep in the van I drove here in but then I remembered when we were all walking through the foyer, I caught a glimpse of what looked like a living room.

I suppose a couch would be far more comfortable than the seats in a car.

I felt reluctant to sleep here. Especially after what Alistar did to me. But sleeping in a car probably isn't much safer. I was beginning to feel like the lesser of the two evils was the living room. So, I headed in the room's direction. I was trying to convince myself along the way that I'd be okay. This is currently our safe house. No one should be able to find it. Hopefully. Suddenly, I began to notice a loud pounding sound. It kept getting louder and louder as I was walking. So loud, I began to feel the pounding in my head and ears. Sweat was beginning to roll down my forehead and my breathing was progressively getting faster. I was looking around to try and see if I could see the source of the pounding. I saw no one, which increased the uneasiness I was already feeling. The pounding continued and didn’t seem to go away. It didn't seem to ever go away. Since I failed to locate the source, I tried to simply distract myself so I wouldn't focus on the pounding. All I could think of was the safety of this base, which seemed to make it worse. That's when it dawned on me. The pounding wasn't coming from anyone else in the base… but rather my own heart. I was sliding down against a wall and to the ground as I realized this, trying to slow my breathing slowing down in an attempt to calm myself. When I made contact with the ground, however, I felt something cold. I looked at the floor and saw that the area around me was covered in a light frost. The walls were covered as well and there a white haze in the air. I sighed and looked at my hands, knowing that they caused this to happen as a result of my unexpected panic attack.

It's been too long since I've used you. I said to myself. My Inhuman powers were something I stopped using years ago. There was a certain prejudice against humans with these sort of strange and unnatural abilities. They were either locked up, experimented on… or killed. And that was just here in America. Back home, it was much worse. I obviously didn't want any of those things to happen to me. Who would? That was then, of course. Times have changed. The Avengers have surely shifted people's perspectives on powered beings, whether for the better or worse. And considering the situation I'm in with Hydra currently hunting my ass…
Perhaps it's time to get back into the swing of using you again.

---

---

---

Done with my hair I drain the bathtub wrapped in a towel on my head and around me. I dig in my bag and get an oversize t-shirt and clean underwear to sleep in. Throwing them on I walk out of the bathroom and stop at the doorway. I could swear I just heard the window open behind me. I keep towel drying my hair and glance to my left at the mirror and see someone in all black just as a gun is put to the back of my neck.

“Hands behind your head love. Nice and easy.” The man's voice was slightly accented English in a muddled sort of way. I raise my hands slowly keeping the towel over my left hand. “Drop the towel love.” I drop the towel hoping that he has no skin exposed since I know that the gun has to go.

Unfortunately my hair is in my line of sight and I hear the clank of cuffs. Times up. Immediately I turn and with my right hand twist the gun toward him. His brown eyes widen in shock as I release the clip out the bottom of the gun and as it hits the floor my foot slides it under the bed in the dark room now behind me. I hear it hit the wall with a dull thud. One in the chamber. I slip under his arm and struggling with the gun grunting as he tries to hip check me into the counter in the bathroom. My ass slides across the counter and I kick him in the ribs. He turns and fires clipping me in the shoulder.

The round goes through and through the pain instant and I hiss but that's lost to the shattering of the mirror. Now we have glass to worry about. I grunt as I get my feet under me on the counter. Glass in my feet that I know my body will push out as I heal, for now blood smears the counter.

Sometimes it's good to be small. I think as I crouch on the counter about to launch myself at him. I have enough room to do that since I'm so small. I see him watching in fascination as my body heals the damage and I dive at him knocking him prone and into the dark bedroom.

He clocks me good in the right ear my head ringing. Apparently he has some fight left in him I shake my head as he tosses me off him like a rag doll. Sometimes it backfires to be little. I roll away and spring up. “Right. Were you raised by wolves? Never hit a woman, much less shoot her. Bloody hell that hurt!” All my practice at trying to hide my accent fails as I square up and plant my feet.

He springs up and pulls out a syringe and un-caps it. “They said that there might be one of you running around here. Come quietly love and I won't have to knock you out.”

I see red as he says this. All my years experimented on leaves a bad taste in my mouth for drugs. Besides he'd need more than that to keep me under. My metabolism and regeneration would be too much for that pathetic excuse for a dose. I sneer at him as he advances. “As a friend of mine would so eloquently put. Wrong choice bub.” I deliver the last line just like another Weapon X project would. One that I'm well acquainted with. I advance to meet him and as he moves to plunge the syringe into my arm I wrist throw him on to the floor. Plucking the syringe from his fingers I jab it in his thigh through his clothes and as he hisses I plunge the stopper down and pull it out tossing the damned thing across the room. “No more killing. Ring your friends when you get up. I think I'll invite them to tea deary.”

He struggled a bit then passed out. Going through his person finding out that he was apparently Shield. Bloody brilliant. Some explanation is in order from an “Ex-Agent” I just met. I found a phone and called mine. Putting it back in his pocket I went over and grabbed mine. Dialing the number I got voicemail for a Hunter. “Ah yes Hunter not much of one are you? Do more research next time. This is Tonic. The blonde you tried to pick up last night after I had you on the floor. Free advice. Next time stay down. Have your phone on I'll be in touch. Be glad I did not turn you over to the demon. Cheerio darling. Kiss kiss.” I end the call and pad back to the bathroom to grab my bag as a large black man comes through the window.

He looks aghast at the blood then he sees me. His eyes narrow and, hand to god, looks like he gets bigger. “That is not his it's mine. Make this easy get him and get out. He is asleep on the floor. He tried to drug me I took offense and he wound up taking a nap.” I snatched my bag and ran for the door to the hallway tossing it on as I went. Pulling the door open I skidded out into the hallway and into four more Shield Agents. Me alone with these yahoos. Murphy's Fucking Law.

After everyone starts to leave alistar would wait till he's alone and slams his fist into the wall “stupid so fucking stupid, I try to help and yet I'm the bad guy. Always happens when people find out I'm a half demon. “ then to his side his fathers spiritual form appears saying “quit your whining boy you're a demonic being of great power” looking back Alistars says “Fuck you I never wanted this, I wanted to grow old and have a family but no that's never going to happen now leave. “ as his form leaves he starts chuckling. Going up to the hotel he hears a crash as he turns the corner he sees Jocelyn surrounded by a group armored men. Then his world goes blank as he sees the blood, “GET AWAY FROM CECILIA YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER AGAIN” after saying this his form starts to become a bit bulky as flames wrap and lick his body. A red and black mask forms on his face as flames shoot from the eye sockets.

---

I was backing away slowly as Alistar turned the corner and yelled about someone named Cecilia. I did not look away but worried about this Cecilia person that he was raving about. I had thought it was just us, and now the Shield agents that were in the hotel. Now I had to worry about a civilian on top of it.

My eyes widen as Alistar seems to put on some muscle mass then flames appear on him and a sinister black and red mask covers his face with flames in the eye sockets. I look at all four of the Shield Agents who look like they should have worn their brown pants today. One guy shakes off the fear and grabs my bag that is on my back, narrowly missing my still wet hair. He drags me to him and puts a gun in my ribs. “Back off demon.”

Why does this not surprise me. I am not a bad ass. I have a few things going for me but taking on four armored goons is a little much. But with Alistar here the odds are much more even. On the other hand he looks like he would start killing people, and I am not okay with that. Two wrongs do not make a right. “Let me go and walk away. If you do that no one has to get hurt.”

“We have custody of a female and will be taking her in for questioning.” One of the other men said into a mic on his shoulder.

“You really do not want to do that. Must I convince you that leaving is your best option?” I look around at all the men. Their faces impassive and sigh. Then I go limp and slip out of the bag and drop to the floor. I manage to trip the guy who was holding the gun on me. He goes down on his back and fires a round into my left leg as I clock him in the jaw with my elbow and he passes out. Great. Now I have to take the time to heal. Plus I can feel the bullet still in my thigh. “Ouch!!! That hurt!!!”

---

Hearing the gunshot and her getting hit sends him into a frenzy rushing to them with his supernatural speed they open fire hitting him in multiple places before he gets there. He would leap into the middle of them putting his back towards her acting like a shield as he lashes out for their heads only to knock them out with a quickness. Looking down at her he kneels and says in a primordial speech *me sorry Cecilia. You hate violence but they shoot you. Can't loose you again.* slowly picking her up he hears more heavy footsteps. Growling he turns his head and sees a whole team of men as the leader says *switch to traqs they want the demon alive for testing* as a series of clicks sounds thought the area he hears *fire*. Multiple rounds hit alistar as he covers Jocelyn protecting her he looks down as blood trickles down his eyes as if he's crying. In a desperate move he knocks down pillars as the roof above them starts to fall down. Rushing into a room farther down he places her on the bed as he shuts the door and slides down the door slick with blood his breathing becoming ruggish as he pulls out the traqs *you OK? Don't heal me save energy for you*

---

He puts me down and I immediately check my thigh. I can heal him and maybe calm him down. I get up and limp over to him then sit on the floor with him and reach out with my right hand. Placing it on his chest I heal him. It takes longer than I like but I get the tranquilizer out if his system as well. This makes me light headed but I can deal. “You alright big guy?” My accent coming out slurred as I spoke.

---

Looking at her he moves some hair out of her face then realizes “you not her”. Getting up he paces letting his body morph back into his original form. Going to her he says “are you OK?”

---

I look up at Alistar who is back in his normal form. “Nope not her...as if I know who that is. I assume you mean Cecilia. Yes. I will be fine. I am about to pass out do not let anything organic touch me. I am about to do my impression of a poison dart frog. I will burn the sheets later and explain later.” I stagger up and over to the bed. I crawl under the covers and I strip off my t shirt and toss it to the floor. I am asleep by the time my head hits the pillow.

It didn’t take a clock to tell Gwen that she was severely late. The sun did that all by itself by choosing to stay that high up. Noon had fallen upon New York city and public transportation was as reliable as a nun at a bachelor party.
Gwen let the sound of her jacket announce her arrival at the lab, as she threw it on a random table. “Sorry, I’m late, doc,” she said and was met with a pair of disapproving, lowered eyebrows. At first, she assessed his judgmental exterior as being a result of her black, lowcut top and matching skirt. Not exactly an outfit she used to wear in front of him, or really anyone.
But then her mentor, doctor Curt Conners, spoke: “Where were you? We had the 8 o’clock meeting, remember?” His tone felt more worried than angry.
“I slept in,” she answered, possibly a bit to casually.
“You never sleep in.”
“Things change.”
“For the better I hope… Well, I suppose it wouldn’t have mattered. Norman Osborn is shutting us down.”
It was as if a meteor had struck the lab and left a cloud of silence. Gwen blinked a few times rapidly, trying to comprehend the nature of what had just been said. All her expectations went right down the elevator shaft faster than she could catch them. “Wait what? … but why would he take the time to set up a meeting like that? Why make it seem like he had news in the Symbiote-experiment? W-Why would he get our hopes up?”
“It doesn’t matter, we’ll find a way. Possibly go back to focusing on the endless possibilities in reptilian mutation again.”
Gwen spoke through exposed teeth. “He’s a sadist. An angry, bitter sadist mad with power, who wants to strike back at us for losing the specimen. We can’t let him do that. We have to fricken do something!”
“No. No, we’re not going to do anything, you understand, kiddo? You are smart enough to realize the graveyards of bodies, cemented into the foundation of Oscorp.”
“I’m not scared of Norman Osborn. Not anymore. And there was a time where you weren’t either.”
For the first time ever Conners actually acted his age. It showed itself: The tiredness and surrender of an almost 50-year-old man, whom had pushed himself to the very brink for about a month. Suddenly the long tables, wide areas, the whole lab made him seem lonely. “Like you said: Things change. Kiddo, what you need to understand is the rivalry between Osborn and Stark. But Norman, he was always one step behind. For every innovation Stark Industries produced there was a not-so-cheap knockoff from Oscorp. Now, it’s been 4 years since the first time Tony Stark flew the skies as Iron Man, and you can bet Norman has put every single penny, he has, into creating a response. But in contrast to Stark, he doesn’t feel the need to share its capabilities with the rest of the world. No, he uses it for his ego alone, and when he does, he doesn’t leave many witnesses to tell the tale. Of course, all of this was just theory … right up until Hammer Tec challenged Norman. They somehow acquired a Symbiote for themselves, a less pure one, and Norman’s reply was delivered with the precision of a scalpel and the force of a Hellfire missile. So, in the end, your safety comes first.” Conners placed a reassuring hand on Gwen’s shoulder and then another. “Besides…” He added, “there are more pressing concerns. Like the story behind that tattoo on your back."
The joke pulled up the left corner of her mouth. Somehow her mentor always knew what to say. “It’s a rose. A black one.”
“Why is it melting?” he asked, while leaning to the side to get another glance and the decoration that peek out over the top of her clothing.
“It’s not. It’s transforming, reshaping into … well, I don’t know yet.”
“Let me know when you do.”
Dr. Conner hid it well, nonetheless Gwen realized that above all else she worried him. The tattoo, the revealing outfit, her sudden a-bit-too-casual relationship with appointments. And then there was the perfume and how she was covered in it. An obvious attempt to conceal a long night of partying, drinking and not so safe sex left and right. Yeah, Gwen did know, she had changed.
And so what? A voice said in her ear. One that was clearly not her own. When have you ever felt so good? The power, the ecstasy of true freedom. Things change. And I’ll let you change the very fabric of life itself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days later Gwen tinkers with her responder, one of the few things she managed to save from the claws of Oscorp.
Sure, they originally owned the equipment and wanted it back," she throught to herself, "but now that I’ve tweaked it, they can’t use it for its intended purpose anyway. Yep, better hold on to it. And this has nothing to do with me carrying a grudge. Nope, not at all. No. Nada. Zero. No chance.
It was then something came through. Not just another order of pizza, and not Ms. Jefferson reporting her cat missing. No, Gwen actually seemed to have hit Jackpot on this one.
“We’re outside. Moving in quietly,” someone reported.
That’s not the police. This is some X-Files kind of shit! Gwen's eyes widened. Had the voice not sounded so urgent, she might have stayed to celebrate. Her crime fighting just became a whole lot easier, now she could listen in on the shady government guys. While staying on the channel, she checked the source and address on the call, grabbed her earpiece and did a whole Swan Lake dance down the stairs before running into the streets and dived right into a secluded ally.
“Alright,” she said, “let’s go get these motherf… you know what? Let’s just call them mothers. You know, keeping it PG-13 and stuff.”
The Symbiote obeyed the calling of her body: The texture on her top changed into a shining rubber-like surface while spreading down her bare arms, encasing them completely. Her skirt liquefied and crawled down her legs, until she was completely covered. In actuality only her underwear had been from Hennes & Mauritz, the rest of her clothing came from … fricken space … and could transform. Now in her suit she launched upwards and shot out what she had coined Venom Web, and in her ear came another order: “Closing in on target, over.”

It felt like she had been swinging forever when a rusty voice suddenly said: “We have custody of a female and will be taking her in for questioning.”
Hopes of helping these guys out suddenly seemed a lot more irrelevant, however, there was always the chance that more criminals were hiding there. Besides the tiny beeping in her ear told her, she had arrived at her destination.
A few vans were parked rather subtly outside with armed personal standing next to them, but no one seemed to guard the place the team had entered. Gwen passed the threshold and then she was inside.
“PG language. R-rated violence.”