Chapter 2
Chap 2:
AJ held the gauntlet in his hand, as he walked down the bridge of the hover jet. The main AEGIS base was a need to know location, fortified on an unclaimed island in the Bahamas, mostly because Sam liked the tropics. If he hadn’t been raised in Louisiana, AJ would’ve felt a layer of sweat developing under his navy suit, the way Karina certainly did.
“Jesus it’s hot!” She exclaimed, pulling at her collar. A few passing agents, men and women alike turned their heads as she unzipped her red leather suit. It revealed a tight black tank top underneath, as the widow tied the arms of her suit around her waist to let her upper body breath. AJ chuckled, and Grant chimed in as he and Layla walked down the ramp behind Red and the Captain, bringing up the rear.
“C’mon! It’s not even warm Widow!” The curly headed super soilder jested, patting his childhood friend on the shoulder. She gave him a withering look while tying up her sweaty hair with a band handed to her by Layla.
“Some of us weren’t born in the ballsack of Louisiana.” She shot back. Her sharp tone caused Grant to remove his hands and put them up in false surrender, and her words made AJ look mildly offended, but he was distracted by an AEGIS scientist meeting them at the bottom of the off ramp. The scientist nodded to the captain, while transferring the gauntlet into a secure container.
“Make sure this gets to Banner safely?” AJ told an agent standing to their left, who saluted before following the gauntlet. Widow was still annoyed, though her face was as nuteral as ever, as she pulled up next to one of AJ’s broad shoulders.
“...Besides, I've had enough heat for today.” She tossed over her shoulder, finishing a teasing conversation with Grant. The green leather agent came down next to her as they waited to follow after AJ. The shorter girl in the dark yellow and black suit, with raven hair and round features, piped up while pushing between them to stand next to the taller Captain Wilson.
“Yah know if you both had less of a flare for the dramatic, maybe your suit wouldn’t have scorch marks on it!” Layla mused, while shrugging her shoulders rhetorically. Grant gawked from behind her and shook his head, while Karina furrowed her brow and picked at the marks on her suit before shooting a glare at the back of Layla’s head. AJ gave her a side eye, then rolled his eyes when he made eye contact with the smug younger sister of the group.
“What!? It’s just a suggestion!” She directed to their leader, with a shit eating grin. AJ suppressed a smile and shook his head, while the four rounded a corner down a darker hallway towards the main control center of the building. A few agents nodded to them along the way. AJ responded with a smile and a nod, Karina stayed aloof with her arms crossed, Grant got pulled along when he tried to start a hazing conversation with an intern, and Layla gave an excited wave to the analysts that bid hello. As they reached an elevator and shuffled in, AJ pressed the up button right when his phone rang. The group gave him curious looks, due to the beyonce song established as his ringtone. AJ pulled out his phone, before noticing the raised eyebrows.
“Okay.” He exclaimed full of confidence and sarcasm “You’re gonna tell me she’s not the greatest musician to walk this earth!?” Captain America asked his team in disbelief. Layla chuckled in acceptance, while Karina shrugged and made a face of approval. Grant on the other hand made a noise of uncertainty.
“Ehhh… I don’t know Katy Perry’s pretty special” He said, lacing relaxed fingers behind his neck and leaning his head back. The two girls in the elevator turned to him in complete disgust, before they began an inaudible argument. AJ only made a face, as he answered the phone.
“Hi- Oh… Hi mom?” He spoke in slight confusion, as he turned to look at his younger step brother, who stopped his arguing.
“AJ... put your brother on the phone.”
“It’s for you.” AJ said with a small smug smile, as he handed the phone back towards Grant.
“Please...no.” The light-skinned super soldier said, holding his hands away like the phone would burn him.
“Grant Darlene Barnes, pick up the damn phone!”
“Oooo full name?” Karina teased.
“Darlene?” Layla whisper-asked with mirth in her eyes.
“It was my grandmothers name!” Grant whisper-shouted back, before begrudgingly accepting the phone.
“Hi mom.” He said with a complete lack of enthusiasm, and an eye roll. The others tried their best to be discreet with their smiles, as the call continued.
“Why did you not answer my call!?”
“I was on a mission! You know just my job!?”
“And are you on a mission now?”
“No…”
“Then why didn’t I receive a call yet?? You know the deal, you’re father and I were worried!”
“Actually I was- *oof*...yeah I was also very worried.”
“Mom I know, but you can’t expect me to call before and after every mission!”
“Your brother sure finds time.”
“I do!” AJ chimed in helpfully. Grant punched him in the shoulder.
“Did he tell you when he picked us up today!?” Grant asked accusingly. AJ turned around to start speaking, but Sarah Wilson spoke first, as she always should.
“He picked you up?” Her tone and AJ’s face betrayed that she hadn’t known. “AJ we’ll talk about this later.” AJ gave his brother a withering look, and was no longer smiling as the green soldiers' conversation continued.
“Mom… look I know you worry about us. I worry about you too. But, I save people ma.”
“God… you're just like your uncle, and your father!” Sarah sighed heavily. “Just be careful! I love you.”
“I love you too mom.” Grant finished softly, before ending the call and handing the phone back to his brother, who snatched it over his shoulder, clearly still a little annoyed about being thrown under the bus. The elevator was quiet for a moment, until right as the elevator dinged, and signaled they’d reached the top floor.
“Mama's boy.” Karina snided subtly, before stepping out the elevator doors in front of the others, leaving Grant sputtering behind her. The foursome was dying down in laughter, and it was completely killed off when they entered the secure round table room, above the control center, and saw what was awaiting them.
“What the hell is she doing here?!” Karina questioned, voice dripping in malice. Half sitting across from the AEGIS agents, in a clean pressed black pantsuit and cream colored shirt and heels, was Morgan Stark: owner of the biggest tech conglomerate in the world and Iron-woman.
“Ask her yourself.” The brunette snarked, making a show of sliding off the table and adjusting her fitted jacket to face an icy Karina.
“Here to hack our database again?” The Widow inquired with not so hidden malice. Morgan seemed to be enjoying the anger, as she rolled her eyes with equal venom.
“Please, no need for that.” She smooth talked, while leaning forward with her hands on the table. “I already know everything I need to know about you.”
“Did Sam ask for you?” AJ asked, ignoring the brewing fight.
“No, I reached out to him.” Morgan responded, crossing her arms, and taking her eys off Karina, but they came right back when the super spy spoke again.
“And what could we possibly have to offer the great Morgan Stark!?” She seethed.
“I think you should be more concerned with what I can offer you.” Morgan snapped, eyes narrowing. Karina, scoffed and began stalking around the table. Morgan straightened up, almost an inch below the strawberry-blonde’s head. Layla tried to get their attention and mediate but was ignored.
“We most definitely do not need your help-” Karina spit, talking lower as she got closer to Starks face. “-why don’t you go back to playing daddy in your fancy lab with your fancy toys.” Morgan’s fist clenched where it was resting on the table.
“You’d know a lot about things made in labs, wouldn’t you Rogers?” Morgan retaliated. The use of her fathers name clearly set a fire in Karina’s eyes, and made her grit her teeth. Once again the others tried to step in.
“Karina…” Layla said slowly, in a warning tone.
“Stark! Why did you call Sam?” AJ tried to distract sharply.
“Maybe! We should all just take a breath to calm down-” Grant tried to lighten the mood with a forced laugh. Karina and Morgan paid them no mind anymore.
“Not my name.” Karina warned dangerously.
“Oh really!” Morgan exclaimed mockingly, not heeding the warning. “Well it sure is on your birth certificate!-” Things began to escalate from there. “-Which! I obtained with all my fancy toys-”
“You know that’s a crime right genius?-”
“I’m actually here about my tech, so-”
“I thought you were just here to make my life miserable!-”
“You do that just fine on your own!”
“Oooh Stark you are lucky that there are witnesses right now.”
“Yeah? Or what?” Morgan taunted. Karina was interrupted by the private door to the head of AEGIS’ office opening.
“Agents!” Director Sam Wilson greeted with a pointed smile, as he entered the room with a man by his side. The group assessed the new arrival, as Sam sauntered in the room continuing to talk. “I see you’ve met our guest..” he said pointedly at Karina, who crossed her arms and backed off of Morgan. “Maybe!...” Sam mused accusingly at the widow. “...if you had waited for your commanding officer, he may have been able to answer some of your questions.” Karina side-eyed Morgan once again, before relenting to Sam and walking back to stand behind AJ again. Morgan smiled smugly after her, and Karina ignored it.
“Great! I hope you can give a warmer welcome to our second asset.” Sam said, taking his place at the head of the round table, and gesturing to the man who followed him out of the office. Five scrutinizing pairs of eyes turned to the man, who adjusted his black framed glasses over sky blue eyes sheepishly. Karina raised an eye-brow at his discomfort, and he fidgeted uncomfortably under her gaze. It was sort of amusing to see a man of his size, with muscles nearly bursting out of his blue button down and gray slacks, look so insecure. The man cleared his throat, and fluffed voluminous brown hair while stepping forward and nodding to everyone.
“Hello..” he started, in what sounded like a mellow British accent with other hints, as if he’d traveled. “I am…” he never got to finish his sentence, because a short girl next to him gasped out like she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Dr. Viktor Thorson, genius neuro-scientist, AND a demi-god! Son of Thor.” Layla exclaimed, then pursing her lips together quickly after like she didn’t mean to speak. Everyone stared at her and then Viktor, with a mixture of confusion and intrigue.
“Yes?...” Viktor replied suspiciously, looking down at the short asian woman beside him. “But how did you-”
“Layla Lang, nice to meet you! I work in biochemistry and time physics. May I just say, your research on Neurochemical interphasing was revolutionary! And, you’re much- I mean like… much MUCH bigger in person!” Layla finished with a beaming smile, and blinking at the son of Thor who was completely at a loss for words.
“Thank you?... I think.” Viktor responded, seeming mildly afraid of the smaller scientist. When he turned to his otherside, he found Grant with his arms crossed and sizing him up, checking height and even standing on his tippy toes. The brunette girl across the table offered solace.
“Pleasure to meet you, I’m Morgan Stark, also Iron-woman.” She said with a smile and a nod. Viktor looked grateful, and nodded in return.
“I’ve heard of your father many times. He was a great man.” The half-asgardian spoke. Karina chimed in as well, to one up Stark and keep the focus off of the two idiots sandwiching the poor demi-god.
“Karina Romanoff.” Her guarded voice sounded, but with a bit more welcoming smile. “I’m also called Red-Widow.” she finished with a small wave, showing her black cuff stingers.
“AJ Wilson...” The dark skinned man in the star-spangled suit said, as he nudged his envious looking halfbrother out of the way with an eye-roll, and extended a hand. Viktor shook it with a smile, as the man finished his introduction. “...Captain America.”
“Oh!” Layla piped up, as she suddenly seemed to remember her name. “And I’m also Hornet! Well- theeee Hornet... I’m not an actual Hornet, obviously!” She finished babbling with a laugh to herself, then looked away from Viktor once more.
“Now that you’ve all been introduced…” Director Sam Wilson began, as he pressed a button on the wooden table that turned all the floor to ceiling windows dark. “...Viktor, care to share with the class.” The finishing touch on his statement, as he walked around the band of Agents and future heroes, was blue holographic screens appearing across the once clear windows. The son of Thor, straightened up and cleared his throat again. Whatever shy man his body previously housed, was gone as he began speaking, and pictures appeared to guide his story.
“A few days ago my lab was supposed to send out a package of Asgardian tech we developed to a planet a few galaxies away; we believe it would help identify the source of a leak…” He trailed off, and Sam picked up seamlessly.
“And! they requested an AEGIS escort, due to the increase in intergalactic arms dealing activity, but the shipment never made it!” Sam paused for a moment, looking at Karina, Grant, and the rest of the team. “Monica Rambeau, and Laura Barton were on that team. We have lost contact for a little over 12 hours.”
“What?” Karina asked, suddenly very interested. Sam nodded seriously at her, and the others straightened up as well.
“Recently... “ Sam continued. “Morgan Stark also had her tech jacked.”
“From a high security lab.” Morgan added. “I found it today in one of Tritagons moving stations.”
“And, you think it’s connected to the warehouse these two destroyers blew up today?” Layla asked skeptically. Grant leaned forward on the table, backing up her uncertainty.
“Yeah, not to be a bummer Uncle Sam, but how do we know these aren’t separate issues?” The green soldier inquired.
“Well…” Viktor began instead of the director. “I was just going over the schematics of the stolen tech, and it’s all eerily similar…” He began to walk around, pointing at screens as he spoke. “...My lab has perfected sonic wave technology that gives a perfected view of imperfections in the brain, using traditional Asgardian weapon tech.”
“Sonar and radio-wave impactors were mainly what was stolen from my lab as well.” Morgan agreed.
“And the gauntlets are sound tech made by AEGIS.” AJ solidified.
“Exactly, Tritigon seems to be collecting a particular kind of tech, and I want to know why. But, first… I want to get our agents back home safe” Sam said. The others nodded in affirmation.
“Great.” The director finalized, before beginning the assignment. “Karina! That’s your cover.” he handed the girl a tablet, who began to dutifully read. “Grant will accompany you as a bodyguard, and be on discrete backup… Remember I said discrete!” Sam added, while ruffling his nephew's hair. “Layla you’re on infiltration duty, find our people and find those packages. The rest of you are on standby, awaiting extraction.” Sam turned the windows back to normal, while opening the clear glass door that led to the catwalk and stairs above the control center, where he could command everything. The rest followed, except Morgan who raised a confused hand from the table.
“Ah… excuse me?” She said, and Sam turned around to look at her expectantly. “It’s my tech in there, and I’m on standby?” She questioned. Karina gave her an overly sweet smile.
“Well maybe you should’ve thought of that before pasting your face on every billboard you have access to!” She exclaimed with mocking enthusiasm, before sauntering out ahead of Sam and focusing on the tablet. The others followed, and Sam Wilson looked sternly at a disgruntled Morgan.
“You want on the op?” He said rhetorically. “You run with the team.” he directed pointedly, emphasizing the team. He raised an eyebrow at Morgan when she was silent, and the girl uncrossed her arms and rolled her eyes, before walking towards the open door.
“Where is this op anyway?”