January 16th, 2014

“Please, sit,” Pepper said gently, gesturing to the chairs at the table.

“Oh, thank you,” Matt said politely, Foggy leading him to a chair.

The two sat down, followed by Pepper and me.

“So, um,” Foggy started. “You said you wanted to hire us for a case?”

“No,” I said simply. “I want both of you on retainer. Working for me.”

Matt raised an eyebrow at that. “And what exactly would that entail?”

“Well, let's see,” I let out a breath. “You both left Landman and Zack recently right? Can I ask why?”

“Um,” Foggy seemed nervous. “Well, it was more of a mutual agreement to leave, you understand.”

“We had philosophical differences,” Matt said, leaning forward in his seat.

“They were helping scumbag companies get away with killing people,” I said simply.

Foggy and Matt seemed surprised at that.

“Stark Industries made some inquiries,” Pepper said with a smile.

“Look, here's the thing,” I rubbed at my nose, leaning forward. “I got some money while taking down HYDRA. Enough to set me up for the rest of my life. And I want to use it to do some good. So I'd like to share it with you. All I ask is that you use the money I give you to help people pro bono. Any expenses paid by me, from real estate, assistants, whatever you need. In return, you guys help the helpless, make sure people stay safe.”

Matt seemed to raise an eyebrow at that. I wondered what the man who would one day become, or maybe already was, Daredevil was hearing in my heartbeat.

“What,” Foggy seemed focused on something else. “What sort of retainer are we talking about?”

Pepper smiled, opening a folder and passing it to Foggy. She opened another, this one in braille, and passed it to Matt.

“One hundred thousand a month,” I told them. “All I ask is that you guys do your work, keep Hell's Kitchen safe. Get me?”

Matt was surprised, his eyebrows high. Foggy looked like all his Christmas' had come at once.

“Why us?” Matt asked.

“Matt!” Foggy said, smiling nervously. “Should we really be asking this very nice man why he's willing to pay us so much?” Foggy chuckled, and I grinned.

“I simply wish to know,” Matt said with a smile. “Why you want us, specifically? For that kind of money, you can hire far more experienced lawyers.”

“Don't tell him that,” Foggy mumbled.

“...When I first started doing the hero thing, I started in Hell's Kitchen,” I said, leaning back in my seat. “Taking down drug dealers, pimps, thugs, thieves, anyone who had a reason to attack a person in the area, then I expanded to do the same for New York City. I did a lot of work there. And not just me, there's someone else, a vigilante who recently started doing the same thing.”

Matt didn't bat an eye at that.

“I want Hell's Kitchen to be safe. And you two want to go to work there. I think, that in many ways, our interests align, Mr. Murdock. I think we can help each other.”

Matt rubbed his chin for a moment. I think, for just a moment, he was considering saying no. Just for the hell of it, or cause it sounded suspicious as hell. I was leaning towards the later. In which case I would have simply put the money into something else.

Instead, he moved his hands across the contract, reading the braille for a moment, before nodding. “Very well, Mr. Schahed. I think we'd like some time to read this over?”

“Yes, we can, uh,” I rose up. “We can meet again whenever you're available. Who knows, you might see me in Hell's Kitchen one night?”

Matt laughed. “Yes, I'm sure I will.”

“Thank you again,” Foggy said, grinning as he shook my hand, then Pepper's. Once done with that, the pair left, with Foggy's voice slightly echoing after the door closed behind him.

“I'm still not sure what you see in them,” Pepper said. “I mean, they're both clearly smart, at least according to their grades and their work at Landman and Zack. But we do have more experienced lawyers.”

“Just trust me,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “Meantime, you should get ready.”

Pepper smiled, then raised a hand. A second later, a purple gauntlet flew through the window to wrap around her arm. More armor pieces flew to land on her form until she was in the full armor of the Rescue unit.

“You changed the color,” I noted.

“Red and black wasn't doing it for me,” she said, as her helmet landed in her hands. She placed it on her head, the now purple and silver headpiece moving around to enshroud her. “Tony,” she said, voice slightly altered. “You ready?”

“Since this morning!” Tony's voice said through our comms. A loud roaring sound came from the window, and Iron Man dropped into view to float in front of the window.

“Pepper, Dial,” Tony said. “Shall we?”

I grinned and ran towards the open window next to Pepper. I leaped out of the open window and into the skies over New York. I fell for a while, passing windows and rooftops, the chilly morning winds rushing past me as the city streets came closer and closer. Then I tapped the Omnitrix and changed in a flash of bright green light.

“Astrodactyl!”

I pulled up at the last minute, about a foot over a yellow cab as people watched, and flew upwards in a quick burst of green star power. Pepper joined me, and we flew through the streets.

“Cutting it close, aren't you?” Iron Man asked as he flew down to join me.

“I've always wanted to do a Wronski Feint, now I can do it whenever I want, squawk!” I said with a grin.

“That really does look scary,” Pepper noted as she twirled in the air, looking very graceful in her purple armor. The three of us went deeper into New York City, Tony and I on patrol, Pepper simply flying alongside her boyfriend.

A good way to start off the day.

------

Director Maria Hill of BRIDGE

Maria walked into the interrogation room with Fury on her right side, and her new Deputy Director, Victoria Hand on the left. Sitting at the table was one Brigadier General Hale, a member of the United States Air Force who had defected from HYDRA in return for several stipulations.

Maria sat down in front of her, and Hale blinked in surprise. “Huh. Things must have changed if you're Maria's lackey, Fury.”

Fury smirked. “Oh, quite a bit has changed. After all, you gave yourself up with barely a fight, didn't you?”

“With none at all, if I remember,” Victoria said, flipping her trademark pink stripped hair back.

Hale smiled a bit, looking chagrinned. “Point. I suppose a lot has changed.”

Maria held a hand out, and Victoria passed her a tablet. “We've been looking at the conditions you gave us in return for information on HYDRA. You understand some of it will have to be negotiated and the information will have to be confirmed. Some stuff you asked for just won't be possible.”

“Like what?” Hale's eye narrowed, her posture stiffened.

“Well, you won't be getting off scot-free. We will have to give you some jail time,” Maria said. “Even with the information you've given, those in the world's governments will want to come after you purely for your association with HYDRA.”

Hale clenched her hands together, but she only nodded tightly rather than contesting that. Not what she was worried about then. Maria had a guess as to Hale's true priorities.

“And then there is your daughter, Ruby Hale,” Maria watched the fire rise in Hale's eyes. Jackpot.

“Ruby is innocent,” Hale said harshly. “She's just a child.”

“A child raised to be a killer,” Fury replied, resting his hands flat on the table. “She's got skills, that can't be denied. Not many fourteen-year-old girls who can fight my best,” Fury winced, looking at Maria. “Sorry, force of habit. Our best.”

Maria nodded gracefully, acknowledging the slip. “She's been trained, no doubt about it, but she's still a young girl. Quite frankly, it's hard to tell what we should do with her.”

“Train her further,” Hale said, imploring. “Keep her safe. I'll give every bit of information I have, I'll do whatever it takes. Just please, don't hurt Ruby.”

Maria scoffed. “Hale, did you think for a second we were planning on hurting your daughter? Dissecting her the way Whitehall was planning?” Maria tutted, shaking her head from side to side. “No. But we can't exactly make a brainwashed-”

“She wasn't brainwashed!” Hale protested.

“Raised in a HYDRA facility while being told over and over to obey, kill, and worship the chain of command?” Victoria strode around to look down at Hale, her high heels clicking with each step. “Brainwashing doesn't just mean chemistry and technology. Ruby will need serious deprogramming to be seen as anywhere close to normal.”

“But she can be useful,” Hale glared at Victoria. “Ruby just wants to fulfill her purpose. To be a hero. Yes, she's been raised to be a warrior-”

“A killer,” Fury interrupted, shrugging at the glare Hale gave him.

“She's still a young girl,” Hale said softly. “She can be a good SHIELD agent. She won't be able to integrate into society, I know that. I just... I want my daughter to have a home. To be safe, and to live her life...”

Maria leaned back in her chair, resting her hand against her fingers. “So you want us to... what? Take Ruby and groom her to become an agent?”

“She's already got the training,” Hale said. “You take care of her, make her strong, and I promise she can be an asset. In return, I'll give you everything I have. Every base, everyone who is still active. This information is current. But not for long. HYDRA will move everything the second you give them a chance. You've already attacked Whitehall, haven't you?”

None of the three answered, and Hale nodded.

“Protect my daughter. Train her. And I'll give you anything you want,” Hale said.

“No attempt to make things easier on you?” Victoria asked curiously.

“Just Ruby, I went into this knowing I made my bed,” Hale said, clenching her hands together.

Maria smiled slightly and slid the tablet towards Hale. “I think we might be able to work something out.”

As Hale read the tablet, Maria looking at Fury, who nodded.

Maria was still getting used to being Director. In some ways, nothing had changed. The paperwork had increased, and she had to manage not only the organization, but also Tony, Dial, and the other Avengers, all of whom needed to be kept under watch, simply so she wouldn't be left surprised the next time they suggested something crazy.

But this was part of her old work. Convincing someone to do something she'd already planned on.

Ruby Hale could be an asset. Not now. But in four years, a former ticking time bomb could become something very, very useful. Natasha already had thoughts on that. They'd help her, and if Ruby wanted a normal life, they would let her. Until then, she'd be kept out of the fight, but continue being groomed for it.

------

Mahmoud Schahed/Dial

Later, we got bad news. Sharon and Trip had been kidnapped.

“Any news?” I asked as I walked into the Avengers Tower briefing room. Every Avenger, Coulson's team, Director Maria Hill, and Deputy Director Victoria Hand were all there. Tony and I had arrived as soon as we heard.

“Nothing yet,” Coulson said, his voice tight with anger. “We have video footage of it though. Tony-”

“On it,” Tony waved his hands, and the new hologram tech we'd made sprouted in the middle of the room. It was extremely clear, made to mimic physical objects as perfectly as possible. “Jarvi-”

“Actually sir,” X's southern tone interrupted. “I was involved, I believe I have the most pertinent information.”

Tony frowned, thrown at the sudden interruption.

“Go ahead, X,” I said. “Roll the footage, give us 3D.”

“Sure, go ahead,” Tony grumbled. “Not like it's my lab.”

“Sorry,” I said, chagrined.

Tony waved it off and soon X brought up a scale model of the streets of Washington.

“As you can see, we registered the presence of an unknown Quinjet flying towards Agent Carter and Agent Triplett shortly after they left the newly bought home of Margaret Elizabeth 'Peggy' Carter,” Steve and Bucky's jaws tightened in unison at that. “I attempted to warn them, and HYDRA made their move. The Quinjet dropped an unidentified Enhanced individual.”

The view zoomed in on the streets until Sharon and Trip were sitting in a car in front of us, as though they had appeared out of thin air. As we watched, a woman dropped out of the sky to land in front of them. X paused the footage, and Tony, Steve, Maria, and I walked over to look at her.

She was wearing a tank top and military pants, the boots she was wearing stretched out by clawed feet. Tall, even taller than Creel or Steve. Built with incredible muscles, from her eight-pack abs to her enormous biceps, all in a feminine form. Her skin was dark green and covered with what seemed like scales, spikes in her elbows, her fingers clawed, and her eyes glowing a pale yellow, her green hair pulled into a ponytail.

“I really hope that isn't what I think it is,” Bruce said grimly as he looked upon the individual in question.

“...Gamma enhanced,” I said after a moment. Silently I thought of her as a She-Abomination.

“Crime scene forensics did find some high levels of gamma radiation,” X confirmed.

“Sterns,” Bruce said, sounding disappointed.

“Not necessarily,” Simmons replied. “The Centipede serum has gamma radiation, maybe-”

“No,” Bruce removed his glasses. “No one has been able to make a true monster like me or Blonsky. This is Sterns.”

“Forget how she got her powers,” Maria said, crossing her arms. “X, show us the rest.”

“Of course, Director,” X continued the footage. We watched Sharon and Trip try to escape, only to get chased by the woman in question.

I tried to remember who she was in particular, but nothing came to mind. Maybe the Abominatrix? She didn't look as bulky as her though. Whoever she was, she had standard Hulk set of strength, including the ability to jump massive distances and the fact she could outrun cars on foot.

She had used it to catch up to Trip and Sharon, who tried to fight back as the HYDRA Quinjet flew overhead. She stopped them by pulling the engine out of the car, catching and injecting Trip with something, then doing the same to Sharon. She picked them both up, then leaped into the HYDRA Quinjet with the pair. X followed the Quinjet until it crashed into a barn, then the footage got grainy.

“This is bad,” I said, crossing my arms. “And not just because they have two of ours.”

“Trip and Sharon have information on a lot of what we've been doing,” Coulson said grimly. “We need to move on our current operations, and get them back.”

“You really think they took them for information?” Steve asked. He looked... apocalyptic. He wasn't angry, but there was a chill in his eyes.

“Maybe,” Maria sat down in a chair, rubbing her eyes. “HYDRA has been in hiding for all this time, why attack now?”

“Maybe they need something?” Skye asked. “Something Sharon and Trip have?”

“Well, they're clearly making super-soldiers,” Bobbi said. “She was powerful. If they have more like her, they might be able to take the fight to us.”

“I wouldn't want to fight her alone,” Sam noted, looking over the tall monstrous looking and buxom superhuman. “Let alone if they've got more like her.”

“They'd need the gene,” Bruce said. “People who have the gamma gene are rare.”

“Even then, we're not exactly playing catch up,” Tony said. “They're the ones hiding from us, we might as well start hunting.”

“Agreed,” Maria walked over to the center of the room. “HYDRA made an attack on us. We need to find Trip and Sharon and take down HYDRA in general. General Hale has given us another group of targets, in return for the protection of her daughter. I'm sending in Sam and his team to one, Steve's to another, and Coulson will go with Hand to the last.”

Victoria Hand, who had been simply watching, stepped forward. “Each team has one goal that supersedes all others. Find the main ones behind all of this. Whoever is making new super-soldiers, wherever they are, we need to get them. You have the approval of the Council. Now get to work.”

------

Tony, Fitz, and I stood watching as the Claytronics Object Creator did its work. The arms inside shifted back and forth, forming a chestplate. The plate was striped red, blue, and white, with a star in the center.

“I wish we had more time,” Fitz said, rubbing his chin. “To run tests, make sure they work, let alone for the specialized gear,” Fitz put his hands on his hips and moved around as the chest plate dissolved into dust. A pair of arm gauntlets were being created next.

“It'll work, Ross,” Tony said. “The tech is sound, and I made sure everything was made the way the gang wanted them.”

“Including mine,” I said as the COC... oh god, that is a terrible acronym. I need to come up with something else.

I focused on what popped out from a port in the machine, a small backpack, the kind people used on long hikes or rock climbing. Fitz took the backpack, only to yelp as it almost pulled him to the floor.

“Careful, Ross,” Tony said, taking the backpack from Fitz with a chuckle. “It's Cap's, remember? He wears the heavy gear because he likes emasculating lesser men like us.”

“How heavy? Because that felt like it was made from rocks!” Fitz said rubbing his arms. “Good lord!”

“It's Cap,” I said. “He thinks five hundred pounds is a light workout. Even that,” I pointed at the backpack. “Is going to be lightweight.”

“Yeah well, he still didn't let me put in the cool stuff,” Tony said, sighing. “No repulsors, no cool guns, no flight, just some small enhancements, and jumpjets. Surprised he actually wanted it bulletproof at this point.”

“It'll do the job,” I watched Tony put the backpack away. “Bucky asked for the same sort of set up, Creel and Bruce didn't want anything at all.”

“Well, at least Sam let me fix him up,” Tony said, still grumbling. “Anyways, we've got everyone's new designs all good to go.”

“Hell of a test run,” Fitz said, grumbling. “At least we know the guns work.”

I looked over at an armory rack that was filled with weapons. After some thought, I walked over to the rack and picked up three things. A black handle to a sword with a hole where the blade would usually be, and a handgun and rifle that both looked very scifi in style, big and boxy.

“Whoa,” Fitz said as I placed the weapons to the side, replacing my Glock 19 with the handgun. “You really need all those? I mean, with the Omnitrix-”

“If it times out, I might need the BCW's, even with the armor,” I said.

“I still like that name, by the way,” Tony said with a grin as I looked over my new weapons. “Becuzitswrong. Kinda funny.”

I smiled sadly. “Yeah well... I wanted something to, um, memorialize someone I respected greatly. So, the BCW's, weapons of the future. Model 1, Model 2, Model 3,” I patted the handgun, rifle, and handle in sequence.

“Well, let's get the gear to the others,” Tony said. “Time to party.”

------

The Reserve Avengers, the team I was on, got into my Quinjet, the Defiant, and headed out. Sam went through the run down as X flew us there.

There were seven of us. Sam, aka Falcon, stood in the center, Rhodey next to him with the War Machine armor hanging behind him. Bobbi and Hartley sat next to each other. Bucky was in the back, his arms crossed. I moved from the cockpit to the back, and Creel, who was leaning next to the door to the cockpit, flickered his eyes to me before looking back at Falcon. Once we were together, Sam began.

“Here's what we got,” Sam said, a holographic image of the complex we were attacking appearing in the center of the Defiant's cargo bay, all of us gathering around it. “In the desert of Texas, HYDRA has maintained a facility where they keep their rejects. The experiments that failed, were unstable, or just not as powerful as they hoped. This includes corpses, but they also hold prisoners,” Sam said, the Falcon crossing his arms. “They call it the Graveyard.”

“Why does HYDRA always go for the obviously evil names?” I asked, growling. Bucky nodded from the back.

“Okay, here's what we know,” Sam twisted the hologram for a moment, then furrowed his brow when it twisted into a ball.

“Here, let me,” I said, moving forward and putting the complex back to normal then zooming in on it.

“Thanks,” Sam said. “Okay, the complex is in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert, resting to the east. This place has a hanger and a bunch of tanks and heavy machine guns, so Dial, War Machine and I will work on taking out those. Creel, Barnes, Hartley, and Morse, you four will go in and take out the base personnel. Remember, the priority is taking the base commander. The Avengers and BRIDGE have the same mission for their targets. We'll also try to help the prisoners if we can, but that's a secondary objective,” Sam frowned at that, clearly displeased.

I couldn't say I was happy either. Any failed experiments HYDRA had would be down there, both people and animals. Whatever we found could be innocent. But they could also be insane killers.

I reached for my sidearm and took it out, looking it over for a moment. “Okay, everyone has the new gear?”

Creel looked at his arm. While he was wearing his usual combination of a tank-top and jeans, he now also wore a large device wrapped around his arm in the shape of an arm guard one would see in a Greek or Roman army, colored a deep black. He focused, and his skin changed to a dark steel color. Then into granite, marble, blue cloth, rubber, and then the familiar shine of vibranium, black with lines of glowing blue for the raw version and the more steel-like version for the color of the processed stuff like Cap's shield. There was barely a sliver of either in the gauntlet, but they'd been taken from the piece we'd gotten when we'd captured him, enough to let him change.

“I'm good,” Creel said.

The rest of the group picked up the small backpacks hanging along the wall. Bobbi seemed a bit nervous. “So, how does this work?” she asked while looking the pack over.

“You say, 'Moon Prism Power, Make Up!' And the armor will appear,” I said, straight-faced.

Bobbi stared at me, looking horrified. “Are you serious?”

I grinned. “Nah, just say your codename.”

“Oh thank god,” Bobbi said, punching me in the arm. “You know I hate that show.”

“You have no taste,” Hartley, Rhodey, and I said in unison, sharing a grin.

Bobbi snorted. “Whatever. Okay,” she took a deep breath, then slid her purple backpack on. “Mockingbird!”