Taskmaster
Daisy was lying in her and Ward’s bed when she heard the door creak open. She pulled the blankets over her head as Ward entered the room.
“Mornin’ Skye.” Ward grinned.
“No.” Daisy grumbled. “It’s too early.”
“It’s like eight am.” Ward chuckled.
“Like I said, too early.” Daisy retorted.
“I guess you don’t want the pancakes and bacon I made you then.” Ward shrugged. This got Daisy’s attention. She sprang up and saw Ward holding a tray of food. A smile spread across her face.
“Have I told you that you’re the best boyfriend ever?” Daisy said as she shoved a piece of bacon into her mouth.” Ward simply chuckled and planted a kiss on her lips.
“Good news.” he said. “You and I are off the clock for today.”
“Really?” Daisy raised an eyebrow.
“Yep.” Ward nodded. “Mace wanted to put on a spectacle of the Director of SHIELD in action. I imagine he wanted to be the only inhuman on this rescue mission so it’s just him, May, and Coulson.”
“This have anything to do with those rumors Nadeer’s been throwing around?” Daisy asked, taking a bite of pancakes.
“If I had to guess yeah.” Ward answered. “With these accusations that he’s not a real hero he needs to do something to make him look good before people start saying he’s hiding behind powered agents like us.”
“What’s your take?” Daisy asked. “Think he’s lying about saving that girl?”
“Could be.” Ward nodded. “He’s a decent guy don’t get me wrong but he’s also a politician and doesn’t seem the type to risk his life for others. Which isn’t a bad thing. I don’t know for certain but if people are throwing out the accusation I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true.” Daisy nodded in acknowledgement. Ward was pretty good at reading people so she trusted his ability to see through the bullshit. As she took another bite of her food, her phone rang. She picked it up to see it was Mack who was calling her.
“Hey Mack what’s up?” Daisy asked, deciding to answer in case this was important.
“I need your help.” Mack stated. “Yo-Yo’s in trouble.”
“What happened?” Daisy frowned.
“I don’t know.” Mack answered. “I got a distress call from her yesterday so I caught a flight to Miami to see what was goin’ on. I found her phone broken in the hotel room.”
“When should you be here?” Daisy asked.
“I’m on a flight back now.” Mack said. “Should be back in about an hour.”
“Okay.” Daisy nodded. “See you then.” She hung up.
“What’s up?” Ward frowned.
“Yo-Yo’s been kidnapped.” Daisy sighed.
---
Mace, Coulson, and May dropped down in the containment module a little ways away from where Deathlok’s signal was located. Piper, O’Brien, and the rest of May’s strike team filed out of the module behind them.
“Alright Coulson.” Mace said. “What’s the play do you think?”
“May and I’ll do some recon, get an idea what their numbers are and what the best approach is.” Coulson answered. “Once we give the signal, you lead the strike team in.”
“Alright.” Mace nodded before turning to the strike team. “These are good agents in there. Let’s do our best to bring ‘em home.”
“Yes sir.” Piper nodded.
“You can count on us.” O’Brien assured. Coulson and May raced off to the base. It was an old warehouse so they were able to use Fitzsimmons’ magic mirror to look through the wall.
---
Kara, Mike, Lincoln, and Donnie were locked in specialized traps meant to keep their powers disabled. They’d forced Kara to copy Lincoln’s powers and then dumped them both into a pool of water. Donnie they’d locked in a hot box, ensuring any ice he created melted quickly. And Mike was locked in an energy cage with his tech deactivated.
“Wow.” Mike looked up as he heard Agent Blake’s voice. “I never thought I’d see the day.” Blake was coming towards him seated in a wheelchair.
“Blake.” Mike sighed.
“Mike.” Blake greeted. “It’s been a while. Since the day you broke my spine, relegated me to this.”
“I know.” Mike nodded. “I’m sorry. They had my son. Look I know you hate me but don’t take it out on them.”
“I’m not.” Blake stated. “Powered people, freaks like the inhumans, they cause and invite destruction and chaos. Just look at everything that’s happened since the Avengers showed up. Look at what can happen when powers or people with them end up in the wrong hands. Course I won’t pretend killing you isn’t the slightest bit personal.”
---
Mack, Daisy, Ward, Fitz, and Simmons gathered in the common area to discuss what to do about Elena’s kidnapping.
“It must’ve happened right after we left.” Simmons sighed. “May said she didn’t encounter anything in the area.”
“Yep.” Daisy confirmed. “I pulled up the security footage from the hotel. These are the people who kidnapped Yo-Yo.” The team gathered to examine the security footage, watching Elena be dragged out why three women and the man in a skull mask.
“Oh shit.” Ward groaned.
“What?” Mack asked. “Do you know who that is?”
“I do yeah.” Ward sighed. “That is Taskmaster. Hydra would hire him from time to time for some rather dangerous jobs. He took over a Soviet Program called the Red Room, though it’s more commonly known as the Black Widow Program.”
“Wait like Natasha Romanoff?” Mack frowned.
“The very same.” Ward nodded. “Romanoff used to work for them until Barton brought her in and she became a SHIELD Agent. I remember Hydra being so concerned she was gonna out them that the coming out party almost ended up being seven years early.”
“So that means we’re going up against people as skilled as Black Widow?” Daisy sighed.
“That’s not even the worst part.” Ward muttered.
“How is that not the worst part?” Daisy groaned.
“The think that makes Taskmaster so dangerous isn’t his control of these expert assassins raised from youth to kill.” Ward explained. “It’s that he has the ability to copy any move you do just by watching you do it once.”
“Okay that’s worse.” Simmons squeaked.
“How do you fight someone that can copy every move you make?” Mack asked.
“Luckily he can’t copy powers so that gives us an advantage.” Ward sighed.
“In that case Ward and Daisy tag teaming him while Aida helps us take care of the assassins and rescue Yo-Yo is our best bet.” Fitz said. “And since most of the team is either captured or on the mission to rescue them, we may want backup.”
“You wanna call the Avengers in for this?” Daisy raised an eyebrow. “Half of them are fugitives right now. Black Widow included.”
“I wanna call an Avenger in for this.” Fitz corrected. “Iron Man might be willing to help.”
“Alright.” Ward shrugged. “Let’s give Tony Stark a call.”
---
Coulson and May regrouped with Mace and the strike team and pointed out the best place to enter. Mace smashed through the wall and led the charge inside where about forty Watchdogs. While Coulson, May, and the strike team dealt with the Watchdogs, Mace used his strength to free Lincoln, Kara, Donnie, and Mike.
“Guess you guys got my signal.” Mike said.
“Yep.” Mace grinned. Kara and Lincoln went back to back, firing off lightning in all directions while Donnie fired ice balls from his hands to freeze the Watchdogs. It didn’t take long for all of them to be dispatched and Blake to be apprehended.
“Thanks for coming to get us.” Kara said as she shook Mace’s hand.
“It was a team effort.” Mace smiled. “Fitzsimmons’ shutting down the EMPs the way they did allowed Mike’s hardware to be reactivated so he could lead us to Blake.
“So is Blake the only one in charge of these guys?” Mike asked.
“We don’t know.” Coulson answered. “So far he seems to be the guy uniting them.”
“Hey guys!” Lincoln called. “Donnie found something you might wanna see.” The team came over to the computers which Donnie had been searching through.
“Apparently Agent Blake has been in business with our good friend and least favorite Presidential candidate Senator Nadeer.” Donnie stated, showing Mace the evidence they found. “Seems she’s been embezzling money from her supporters and using it to fund the Watchdogs.”
---
Mack, Daisy, Ward, and Aida stood on the roof across from the warehouse in they’d tracked Taskmaster to. They’d pinged Elena’s SHIELD watch to get a fix on her location which ended up being in Washington DC. Fitz and Simmons were using the Dwarfs to scout as Iron Man landed on the roof and had his helmet collapse backwards.
“Thanks for coming.” Mack greeted.
“Yeah no problem.” Tony nodded. “I mean you said there was multiple Nats here. I’d be a little afraid to fight one.”
“Not to mention Taskmaster.” Daisy muttered. “Dickhead who can apparently copy and counter every move we make.”
“Okay Yo-Yo’s on the second floor.” Fitz stated. “There’s four women guarding her. Most likely the Widows.”
“There’s also about twenty gunmen on the first floor.” Simmons added. “No sign of Taskmaster though.”
“We’ll worry about that later.” Mack said. “For now let’s go get Elena.” The made their way down and kicked down the door to the warehouse. Mack, Aida, and Iron Man dealt with the gunmen while Ward and Daisy rushed upstairs to handle the Widows. They saw Elena with her entire body strapped to a chair and her feet off the ground, likely to ensure she couldn’t bolt, as well as her two friends with their hands tied to chairs. The Widows attacked, two going for Ward and two for Daisy. They managed to keep up with them in skill and with the help of their powers managed to dispatch them. Ward freed Elena while Daisy freed Maria and Letica.
“Thank you.” Maria whimpered. Daisy and Elena helped Maria and Letica to their feet while Ward turned to deal with the Widows. But when he looked, they were gone. They went downstairs to see the gunmen had been dealt with. Then they made their way back to the Quinjet where Simmons looked over Elena, Maria, and Letica’s injuries.
“I can’t believe you never told us you work for SHIELD.” Maria admonished.
“I don’t work for SHIELD I just help out from time to time.” Elena replied.
“Is that why that lady came to get you at the party?” Letica asked.
“Yo-Yo was quite helpful in stopping the blackout.” Simmons chimed in.
“What about the fact that you have superpowers?” Maria said. “You’d think you’d tell your best friends that.”
“I didn’t know how you’d react.” Elena sighed as Simmons wrapped her arm. “There are a lot of people who don’t like people like me.”
“We’re your friends Elena.” Maria assured. “I promise this doesn’t change how we see you.”
“Well aside from you being even cooler with even cooler friends.” Letica clarified. “I’d like to get to know tall dark and handsome over there.” She looked over at Ward who was talking with Fitz and Tony. Daisy who was helping Mack pack up the gear heard this and promptly marched over to Ward and kissed him intensely.
“I’d suggest you reconsider that one.” Simmons chuckled.
“You three alright?” Mack asked as he walked over to them.
“We’re alright.” Elena assured. “Maria, Letica this is Mack. Mack this is Maria the bride and Letica.”
“Good to meet you both.” Mack smiled.
“He is sexy.” Maria said in Spanish, which Mack having improved in picked up on.
“I’m looking forward to the wedding.” Mack said, pretending not to have understood.
“We’ll be glad to have you.” Maria smiled. Meanwhile Tony, Fitz, Daisy, and Ward were discussing the mission.
“I think this was a setup.” Ward sighed. “Something felt off about this whole thing from the start. Taskmaster isn’t stupid and he isn’t careless. Leaving the cell phone, not breaking Elena’s watch, letting himself get caught on a security camera? I don’t know what his endgame is but we just played right into his hands.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Tony shrugged. “And remember I’m happy to help whenever you need it. In the meantime there’s something I could use your help with.”
“What’s up?” Daisy asked.
“I found out about this thing where criminals are getting their hands on extremely high tech weaponry, stuff you wouldn’t find at your local Ammunation.” Tony explained. “I did some digging and there’s a buy happening on the Staten Island Ferry in a couple days at eleven. Think you could take care of that for me?”
“Yeah no problem.” Ward nodded.
“Thanks.” Tony said. “Oh by the way, hats off to whoever built Aida. Incredible piece of technology.”
“Actually that was Fitz here.” Daisy smirked, lightly punching Fitz’s shoulder.
“Well me and two other people.” Fitz chuckled sheepishly.
“Well it’s very impressive.” Tony said. “I hope you’re making sure to learn from my mistakes?”
“Yes she’s not AI just human mimicry.” Fitz assured. “She’s proved helpful since we started utilizing her.”
“That’s great.” Tony smiled. “Anyway let me know how the weapons buy goes.”
“Will do.” Ward nodded. And with that, Tony flew off.
---
The team all gathered in the common room to watch Mace give his televised speech informing the people that they’d apprehended the leader of the Watchdogs.
“Cheers to that.” Daisy grinned.
“Amen.” Kara agreed.
“I’d say today was a pretty good day.” Coulson said. “Dealt with Blake, rescued Yo-Yo.”
“We are now in Taskmaster’s crosshairs though.” Ward reminded them.
“We’ll figure it out.” Coulson shrugged.
“I’m just glad this Watchdogs thing didn’t turn into a protracted operation.” May said. “It’s nice to have a clean op that goes smoothly for once.”
“That’s true.” Lincoln nodded. “I mean think how long we were on the hunt for Lash last year. And how long we were dealing with Malick and Hive. It’s good to have a bad guy that we can bring down quickly.”
“I still can’t get over the fact that Iron Man was impressed by our work.” Donnie grinned.
“Yeah it was pretty great.” Fitz smiled.
“It’s always nice to have your work appreciated by other people in your field.” Radcliffe agreed.
“Well that’s not really news.” Simmons said. “We all know you three are incredibly brilliant so of course Tony Stark would be impressed. The real news is that Yo-Yo invited Mack to be her date to a wedding next week.” Everyone’s gaze shifted to Mack.
“Oh? Do tell.” Kara smirked.
“It’s really not a big deal.” Mack said sheepishly.
“It’s totally a big deal!” Simmons insisted.
“Yeah Alfie we’re not letting you off the hook until you spill.” Daisy said.
“Guys there’s really nothing to- wait what did you just call me?” Mack’s eyebrows raised.
“Oh yeah I spoke to Mini-Mack and apparently he calls Mack Alfie.” Daisy grinned wickedly.
“Jemma make a note.” Fitz said. “Send Ruben Mackenzie a very nice, very expensive present for Christmas.”
“I saw the bikes in their shed.” Ward chimed in. “Buy him a vintage motorcycle that’s still in excellent condition.”
“That’s a fantastic idea Agent Ward.” Fitz nodded.
“Speaking of Christmas, that’s only like three months away.” Daisy said. “We should start thinking about gifts we can get each other. As the conversation continued, Coulson took a step back to watch these people he considered family having fun together. These small moments were what made it all worth it.
---
Taskmaster sat down at his desk as he received a call on his communicator from his employer.
“What is it?” Taskmaster asked.
“You allowed them to catch wind of you.” the employer stated.
“Relax it was all part of my plan.” Taskmaster assured. “I needed to see how well my Widows could stand against powered individuals. You’ll be happy to know I found powered soldiers to be a worthwhile investment so our agreement stands.”
“Good.” the employer said. “Did you get everything you needed?”
“I did.” Taskmaster nodded. “I observed how they all fight. You were right. Agent Ward will be a problem just like Agent May. The sooner we deal with him the better. Thanks for the icer by the way. Made dealing with the inhuman a lot easier.”
“Remember, it’s imperative SHIELD doesn’t find out what’s going on.” the employer stated. “No more audibles.” And with that, they hung up and Taskmaster growled in frustration.