January 16th, 2014

Sharon Carter/Agent 13

In a small house in Washington D.C. that had been recently bought for one of the most important women in the world, a meeting was in progress.

“Sweetie, when you became an agent, what did I tell you?” an elderly, but still healthy woman asked.

Sharon smiled at the elderly woman in the bed in front of her, holding her hand at her bedside. “You wanted me to take care of SHIELD.”

“Did I?” The elderly woman looked over at the tall black man standing at the foot of her bed. “Trip, is that what I said?”

“Yes ma'am,” Agent Triplett said with a wide grin.

“Hmph,” the elderly woman said. She shook her head. “All that work and you young fools tear it apart in one fell swoop.”

“In our defense, most of that was...” Trip stopped talking, but it was too late. He winced at the pain that flashed in the older woman's eyes.

“...I'm sorry Aunt Peggy,” Sharon apologized, feeling guilty about being unable to protect her aunt's life's work.

“What for?” Peggy gave Sharon a very sharp smile. “You weren't the one who allowed parasites into your legacy.”

“Not your fault,” Trip said. “And in the end, the only reason SHIELD could survive was because of the good work you did.”

“SHIELD survived because of you, not in spite of you, Aunt Peggy,” Sharon said, squeezing the older woman's hand.

Peggy sighed. “Small comfort... You know, when I was young, I thought I'd faced all the horror the world could produce. Everything from the Darkforce to Howard Stark. And now, poor Steve will have to face all of that,” she looked between Sharon and Trip. “You'll both help him.”

It wasn't a plea. It was an order.

Trip and Sharon nodded. Peggy relaxed, smiling at the two. “Good. Now, tell me. I've heard of the formation of BRIDGE, but I wish to know about the reactions of certain individuals during the discussion. The Russian President's aide, a woman with brown hair, how did she act?”

As the legacies of the Howling Commando's and Peggy Carter informed the elderly woman, a small box full of pills sat innocently on the nightstand next to Peggy's bed.

------

When Sharon and Trip left Peggy's home, they entered Trip's car together. Trip started the car and stared out of the windshield without moving. After a moment, he turned it off.

“...That woman was so strong, all of my life. The best damn spy in the world. I was always comparing every spy I knew to her.” Trip said. Sharon smiled at that. “I think, today... I think I got a glimpse of that again.”

“Just a bit,” Sharon sighed happily. “But she seemed happy, even with all the bad news.”

“The new Director will be happy to hear about that,” Trip said. “I mean, Peggy's approval, you know?”

Sharon nodded. “Yeah.”

“And Simmons and Dial will be happy to know the pills work.”

Sharon gave Trip a grin. He put a hand on her shoulder, with Sharon grabbed. After a silent moment of happiness, they pulled away from each other.

Trip started the car, and they started driving. They stopped at a light a few miles away. Suddenly, both of their comm units switched on, brief static filling their ears before a voice came on.

“This is X, you both need to run!” the AI yelled urgently.

“X?” Trip asked, uncomprehending.

“HYDRA has sent Quinjets to your area, I'm sending a team to intercept but-”

X's frantic voice was cut off when something landed in the intersection ahead of them with a 'Boom!' of shattered concrete. Trip and Sharon stared as a tall being rose from the concrete.

She was over seven feet tall, with green scaled skin, glowing yellow eyes, and taloned feet. She was wearing a workout top and military pants, and her eyes were firmly set on Trip and Sharon.

“Shit!” Trip slammed on the accelerator, turning right and booking it down the street. The strange woman started chasing them with incredible speed. “Who the hell is this!?”

“She isn't on any records,” X said. “She must be a new creation. Help is six minutes out!”

“Then we last that long!” Sharon said, opening the glove box and grabbing the submachine gun inside. She opened the window and leaned out, the wind rushing past her with the smell of french fries from a nearby fast food place drifting in the air. She sighted on the woman currently catching up with them on foot and started shooting in controlled bursts, pulling the trigger before giving up and cursing harshly in annoyance, pulling back into the car.

“She's bulletproof!” Sharon yelled.

“I miss killable bad guys!” Trip yelled back, swerving around an SUV that the woman chasing them pushed aside, sending it spinning like a top into a tree.

“HYDRA Quinjet is sighting on you, but they haven't fired,” X informed them. “I'm attempting to hack them, but they've modified the Quinjet to be as low-tech as possible somehow.”

“They want us alive,” Trip realized, a chill going down his spine.

“Wait, where did she go-” Sharon began to say.

The woman landed on the hood of the car, crumbling the steel beneath her and sending the vehicle spinning out of control. She quickly planted her feet into the pavement so her boots left long groves as she slowed the car to a halt.

“Come on!” Trip slammed down on the accelerator, trying to run her over.

The woman, in response, tore off the hood, then reached in and pulled the car's engine out with one hand, tossing it carelessly aside.

Trip and Sharon instantly leaped out of the car, running in different directions. The woman leaped towards Trip, slamming him into the pavement. He tried to fight, but the woman simply took out a syringe and stabbed it into his neck. As he passed out, she lifted him up and threw him at the Quinjet as it floated above with the back hatch open, where he landed in the arms of a waiting soldier.

Sharon, in the meantime, was sprinting with all her speed towards a back alley nearby. Once there, she could get into a building, maybe slip past them in a maze of halls.

The scaled green woman landed in front of Sharon with a crunch of breaking asphalt. Sharon spun to avoid her, but the woman grabbed Sharon and lifted her into the air. As Sharon choked on a scaled fist strong enough to bend steel, the woman pulled her close.

“Don't worry,” the woman said gently, stabbing her in the neck with another syringe. “Soon you'll no longer feel powerless ever again.”

Sharon was out moments later.

The HYDRA Quinjet flew into the air and headed into the countryside. X tried to track it, Jarvis helping, and soon found it's destroyed remains in the side of a barn.

Sharon Carter and Antoine Triplett were MIA.

------

Jennifer Walters/Attorney-At-Law

Across the country, in Los Angeles California, a woman was speaking to a jury as the rest of the courtroom watching. She was a short woman, with brown hair, a cute button nose, and a voice with a high pitch. Yet, when she spoke, it was with a confidence that drew the room in. She strode on sensible heels, wearing a white blouse with a black business skirt and jacket, her hair pulled into a high ponytail and a pair of glasses that were thick enough to give her a slightly bug-eyed appearance.

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury,” she said, looking into the eyes of each member of the jury in question. “We've discussed the events of September 13th for a full week. I know you're all tired. You probably want to go home. But we can't leave,” she shook her head, and several of the jurors actually did so as well. “Not until we know, for certain, that justice has had it's day. My client, Beatrice Trask,” the woman at the plaintiff's table, a pretty blonde with sad eyes and a cast on her left arm, stood a little straighter. “Was beaten in her home, by the one person who was supposed to protect her.”

She eyed the defendant, a large overweight man with black hair perfectly groomed, and eyes that were hard as they glared at the woman currently speaking. “Nicholas Trask. A man who has been accused of domestic abuse before. A man who, according to witness testimony, often used violence to intimidate and control others. When Beatrice spoke, when she told us of how the person she loved became a monster, we all knew what had to be done.”

Nicolas Trask's fists clenched under the desk.

“Please,” she entreated. “Show Beatrice, and the other women who faced the same horrors inflicted by Nicholas Trask, that justice does exist. Thank you.”

With that, Jennifer Walters took her seat with a quiet dignity. Later that day, as a screaming Nicolas Trask was placed in cuffs and dragged away, she allowed herself a smile.

------

“Jennifer, I really wish you hadn't taken that case,” an older man said later as he entered Jennifer Walters' office.

Jennifer Walters looked up from her paperwork, noting the man who was walking forward. “Hi dad, how are you?”

“Dreaming of a daughter who doesn't get herself into crap,” Morris Walters was tall, well built if with a bit of beer belly under the sheriff's uniform he was wearing. His hair was the same color as his daughters, cut short and brushed back. He sat down in the chair in front of his daughter's desk with a groan. “Sweetie, you know Trask. His guys are going to retaliate somehow.”

“His 'guys',” Jennifer said. “Know full well that Trask isn't worth protecting anymore. He's burned too many bridges, dad. Besides, did you see how much evidence was piled up? I get killed, he's the first on the suspect list.”

“But you'll still be dead,” Morris said firmly. “Look, just let me set up some deputies to protect you. At least until things cool off a bit.”

Jennifer sighed, pretending to be annoyed, rather than grateful. Damnit, she was supposed to be the hardboiled lawyer, but at heart, she was always happy to see that her father loved her. The product of being a single child of a single parent. “Fine... dinner tomorrow?”

Morris smiled. He got up and walked around the deck, kissing his daughter on her head as she gave him a mock-glare, though she was clearly pleased. “I never miss it, do I?”

“Not so far,” Jennifer sighed. “Anyways, I have some more paperwork to do right now. I'm guessing you already have the deputies outside?”

Morris barked a laugh. “Of course! I wasn't going to wait for you to say yes!”

Jennifer smiled at her father and looked at the photo on her desk. As she looked at it, her smile faded. Morris noticed, and looked at the photo as well. On the picture were four people. Two older women, desperately holding onto laughing children as all of them smiled at the camera. A young girl, Jennifer wearing a pink dress with a dinosaur toy in her hand. And a young boy, laughing as he held Jennifer's hand.

“...I miss him,” Jennifer admitted. “I miss them.”

Her father said nothing. He simply put a hand on his daughter's shoulder.

------

Late that night, Jennifer Walters entered her house carrying a box filled with files. She locked the door behind her and removed her shoes, sighing in relief as she clenched her toes against the carpet for a moment, feeling her sore feet slowly relax from a long day of standing in trial. She put the box of files on her kitchen table and walked over to the sink to grab some water, drinking it with relish. She contemplated going to sleep, but decided to make some coffee instead, and quickly set up her machine.

“I hope I'm not interrupting?” A voice she'd never heard before spoke up behind her.

“Jesus!” Jennifer spun around in shock and gaped at the man sitting at her counter.

He was odd, to say the least. His skin was green, and his head was massive. He eyed her with fascination, as though she had some secret she had to give him.

“Not him, I'm afraid, though I'm sure my contributions to society will be seen in the same light in the not so distant future,” he said with a smug smile. “I am Samuel Sterns. A friend of your cousin.”

Jennifer stared at him, her thoughts feeling cloudy. “You're... an Avenger?”

“Ha!” Sterns shook his head. “No. Only a friend, as I said. I simply wished to greet you, Miss Walters.”

Still feeling off-kilter, she took a step forward, almost losing her balance. “What... What do you want?”

“To bring you to your full potential,” Sterns said with a smile. “I have some... concentrations of Bruce's blood, from an earlier experiment. I believe you'll be most helpful in making them of use to me and advancing my studies more than anyone else.”

Jennifer stumbled, landing on the floor as her eyes drifted aimlessly. “What-”

“I put a narcotic in your water,” Sterns idly informed her. “It won't last long and there are no harmful side effects, but it will serve its purpose. Don't worry my dear. Soon, I'll give you a gift beyond imagining. Though I admit, it's mostly a gift for Bruce,” Sterns chuckled. “He'll be so happy when he sees what you've become.”

That was the last thing Jennifer heard before her world became darkness.

------

January 18th, 2014

Ava Starr/Ghost

At the same time, in a warehouse next to a harbor, an attack had gone very, very, wrong. A group of HYDRA soldiers wearing black tactical gear were roaming around the dark confines of the warehouse, spinning around as they kept their guns aimed and ready. Centipede soldiers stood among them, their eyes glowing red as they strode through the room.

“Where the hell is she now!?” one of the soldiers yelled.

“I don't know, damnit!” another replied, his eyes wide with fear. “She just-hkk!”

The men and women in the group spun to see a hand inside his chest, right where his heart lay.

The woman who had her hand in his chest was wearing an all-white outfit, armored over her chest, and with a hood that went over her head. The helmet beneath her hood was all white, with five eerie red lights that stared at them. She stood for a moment, watching the HYDRA soldiers around her. Then she squeezed her hand, and an oddly vicious, wet sounding snap came from the man.

“Open fire!” One of the soldiers yelled and they started shooting. The woman seemed to fade briefly from existence, allowing the man she had killed to fall to the ground riddled with bullets. Any shots that actually hit her, flew through her phantom-like form before she disappeared. When she appeared again, she kicked a HYDRA agent with polka-dot skin in the neck, collapsing his trachea. She disappeared again as assault rifle fire aimed at her and reappeared next to a Centipede soldier, who she punched in the face. The soldier took the blow without flinching, then grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her up. He began to throw her at the ground, but she suddenly became intangible, moving through his form and flipping backward before pressing a hand in his head, squeezing his brain moments later, then going invisible again.

She flipped behind cover, using the enemies confusion to take a moment to breathe. “Any chance on that back up? Those Centipede guys are hard to kill.”

“On its way, Miss Starr,” Jarvis said. “They were in the midst of saving people from an apartment fire, so they were a bit held up.”

Ava Starr, codename Ghost, nodded, then got up and stepped away from her cover. With a running start, she fazed through her cover, moved at high speed in between the quantum and real world, then kicked a Centipede soldier in the chest. Her kick, augmented by her phasing, sent the Centipede soldier flying. Ghost flipped in the air and went intangible to let bullets fly past her, spinning to kick a HYDRA agent in the face, then phasing through a Centipede soldier attempting to grab her before grabbing the back of his clothes and twisting so that a HYDRA agent shooting at her hit the Centipede soldier instead. Going invisible again, she dived into cover.

One of the HYDRA soldiers cursed. “Damn it, we're supposed to capture her!?”

“Just kill her already!” another one yelled. “Strucker can study her body!”

“We've been trying-hkk!” Ava blinked at the sound of the HYDRA soldier getting interrupted.

Last time she'd heard that it was because of her. But if she wasn't the reason... Leaning out of cover, she checked out the situation.

An arrow had slammed into HYDRA soldier's heart. An arrow that was blinking.

BOOM!

Ava dropped back into cover as the arrow exploded. More arrows fell into the din, forcing the soldiers to scatter. Over forty men had been sent, of which Ava had killed ten since they'd started chasing her. Now, thanks to the mysterious archer, only twenty or so remained.

“Aid has arrived,” Jarvis said over Ava's comm unit. “Prepare for transportation.”

“Wait, who-”

A blue blur came to a stop next to Ava. She looked up at the being that had come into existence. “Hi, I'm Dial,” the being said, in the form Ava would later learn was called Fasttrack. “Wanna get out of here-”

“Look out!” Ava yelled when a Centipede soldier came from the smoke to grab at Fasttrack.

There was a blur. Then the Centipede soldier was flying back from Fasttrack, who had taken a boxing stance. He smirked, waving his fists, which were dripping odd colored blood. “Yeah, got to hit these guys a lot to cause any damage.”

He turned back to Ava. “Come on!”

Ava nodded, rising to her feet, only to blink when the alien swept her bridal style into his arms. There was a blur of motion as the room moved around them, arrows falling from the sky to kill HYDRA and Centipede soldiers. Then they were outside in front of a waiting Quinjet. Ava, panicking, went intangible and dropped to the floor.

“What just happened!?” she asked, rolling to stare at Fasttrack. He blinked. “Did you just-”

“Ava!” she turned to see the Quinjet open in the back. Inside was Bill Foster, her adoptive father, an older black man who was a bit overweight. He waved towards her, yelling as the Quinjet started up. “Come on! Let's go!”

Ava, still confused, ran into the Quinjet, Bill hugging her tightly before guiding her into a seat. Fasttrack looked at Bill Foster for a moment. “Huh. Morpheus. That's cool.”

With that, Dial ran into the warehouse as the Quinjet took off into the sky.

------

Wolfgang Von Strucker

January 19th, 2014

“An entire goddamn platoon!” Strucker slammed his fist onto his desk, rage in his eyes. “Fifteen Centipede soldiers, 25 of our best, all dead or captured! And we didn't even get our objective!”

“Calm down, Wolfie,” Garrett said casually, pouring a glass of scotch. Malick and List were in the room as well, watching as Strucker cursed in anger. “We still got the others.”

“The others are just future experiments,” Strucker said, spinning the scepter in his clawed hand. “Ava Starr was a fully fledged Enhanced! Her abilities make her one of the best assassins and thieves in the world. With more like her, there could have been nothing we could not accomplish!” Strucker's scepter glowed with his agitation.

“Hey, we can still make more super-soldiers and gamma-enhanced,” Garrett said, sipping his drink.

“It is not enough to simply have brute strength,” Malick said. “Ava was among the best assassins in SHIELD for a reason. Only Romanov has a better record. And well, she is...”

All the men in the room thought about Black Widow for a moment, then looked around the room, focusing on the shadows. After knowing for certain they were alone, Strucker spoke.

“The fact our men were also captured is worse. They were all equipped with cyanide tablets in their cheekbones, but we can't take any risks. We need to leave,” he said in a voice that tolerated no argument.

“Damn, really?” Garrett asked, sounding honestly disappointed. “I was getting used to the place.”

“It's our only move right now. SHIELD will track us down. If their captives don't tell them where we are, then whatever damned AI that's helping them will. Sterns is failing to keep it at bay. We head to the secondary location, now,” Strucker glared at him.

“Ah well, I guess I'll go get my stuff then,” Garrett turned and left, uncaring of any other issues that might be brought up.

Malick, on the other hand, sat still in his chair. List looked at the older man, then at Strucker. Strucker nodded for List to leave, and the scientist rose from his seat, leaving Strucker and Malick alone. Malick spoke as soon as List had left.

“Sterns tells me you refused to go forward with my proposed project.”

“Yes, I did. You are asking me to believe in a fairy tale, a religious leader for us to follow. It's not practical.”

“Can you say that, in a world where Thor and Loki battled in New York City?” Malick asked.

“Thor and Loki are real, tangible people,” Strucker answered. “I have never seen or heard of your god before this.”

“And I've worked hard to make sure of that,” Malick said. “But he is a power who could make the Avengers and SHIELD fear us.”

“...I'm not going to stop the project, if you wish to go ahead with it but it will be on your own time and resources, with Sterns helping you when he isn't working for me. The pieces of the monolith passed down by my family are in the vault in Germany. They are at your disposal, Malick, but know this. You won't be bringing some destined leader to rule over us all. HYDRA has outgrown the idea. Whatever you bring from that portal of yours, it can only be an asset or an enemy,” Strucker stated.

Malick rose from his chair, his eyes hard. “You dare to attack him, and I swear. The pain that I will bring upon you will-”

“You are not,” Strucker's voice, still and hard as stone, brought Malick to a stop. The scepter in Strucker's clawed hand glowed ominously. “The leader of HYDRA. And no one fears you anymore. I show you respect because you are due it. I allow you this project because I know what it means to you and I will not spend resources stopping you. But I will not allow us to follow a false god due to your obsessions. It. Isn't. Practical.” Strucker growled out the last word.

“...Strucker. What do you know about the Inhumans?” Stucker eyed Malick, who took that as his cue to continue. “It's the name that they gave themselves, thousands of years ago. You know as well as I do that when the Confederacy starts to ask questions, they'll want more than cookie-cutter soldiers. You want your superhuman army, but you'll need something special as well. I can give it to you. But you need to understand, Strucker. Bringing our leader back could save us.”

Several moments passed before Strucker visibly calmed and spoke once more.

“...Tell me about these Inhumans.”