Chapter 3
Don't you just love coming in for work, traffic actually being decent, getting a close choice parking in the bike section, and getting slammed with the feeling that something is just wrong? The problem was, being an intern meant you don't fuckin know anything. But I was observant, something was very wrong and everyone but me seemed to know what it was. Doesn't really matter to me all that much for now, the moment it involves me though that's when I am going to have a problem.
The first incident, other than everyone seeming to be in a state of flurried panic, was how Mister Pierce was standing outside of his office just waiting for me. That alone is super weird because it was just so out of the program compared to what happens day in, day out.
“I have a meeting with the world council, you are going to be sitting in it with me.” I couldn't control my face in time, incredulousness just at the top of the list of emotions no doubt lit on my face. With his raised brow I proceeded to continue with my initial reaction. “I am?”
“Yes.” His tone was so firm and almost cold that I flinched internally. As he turned towards the conference room I stuttered after him.
“But sir! I don't have clearance!” Because, as I've said enough times to slam into your head but just once more, I am a lowly intern who doesn't have any access to a majority of floors.
He turned back with a raised brow and a calm facade, “You do now.” Swallowing down the anxiety I settled into my own calm facade. It washed over like a second skin and I was no longer afraid, this was my element and I was a boss ass bitch.
“Alright Sir, where do you want me?” His thoughtful expression was much safer than before, and keeping him happy definitively made sure I was okee dokee.
“I want you to show me what you've got, on the floor, next to me.”
“But not...actually speaking with the world council right?”
“Saoirse,” oh shit, “are you doubting my judgement calls?” Time to play peacekeeper.
“No no Sir! I'm just trying to make sure I have all the details before I have to go into a new situation! Only fools jump into a pool unprepared.” Cheesy? Yes. Making myself sound like I'm kissing his ass? Yup! But the stated and finally not freaking insane feeling he was giving off had calmed down considerably.
***
This was a mistake, this was a huge massive mistake. I think in order to calm myself down I forgot what exactly this would entail. This was the World Council! Full capital letters kind of talk!
After having schooled my face into one made of stone I proceeded to have my inner meltdown because honestly this was the most ridiculous shit I've ever been dragged into.
Frantically I scanned through the packet Mister Pierce handed to me, while appearing stoic and calm on the outside, just to have a sense of what the hell was going on. A hijacking? That's what the World Council is getting their panties in a twist about? Panties? Huh, I've gone native...how American. Jasper Sitwell? Why was he on that boat?
I felt my brows pinch together the further I read, he was the only one who had level 7 clearance with everyone else being frighteningly low level. Most of these agents were just above being able to push papers.
That was when I noticed the repetition of two bolded out words, “Sir, what's ‘Project Insight’?”
“Noticed that, did you?” Yes, it is after all why I asked...you complete wanker. However I just nodded, voicing your opinion gets you killed when you have in your hands what appears to be quite sensitive information. I should not be reading this, seriously for real this is the kind of knowledge only the Alpha 10s would have. The fact he is practically forcing me to read it is more than unnerving.
Once on the floor of THE World Council, I tried one last time to dawdle off at the side of the room. That didn't last very long, as he just circled back to pull me directly onto the floor beside him. There were four empty chairs, and he was just staring at them...like a lunatic.
“What exactly are we waiting for?” I leaned over to whisper since the floor was deathly silent.
“Them to come online.” My brow raised still utterly confused, that is until a hiss had glass semi-tube looking things rise from the floor in front of each chair.
“Secretary Pierce, you seem to have obtained a shadow.” The curt voice of the single woman of the Council rang out.
“She is my PA,” he said with the assertive grace one who is well practiced at getting his way can only achieve. Wait PA?! I am far from being his personal assistant, what in the name of??
“Secretary Pierce you are taking a considerable liberty-”
“Saoirse has proven herself more than capable, and I trust her impeccably.” Oh DO you now? I have given you no good reason to other than attempting to fly under the radar as much as I possibly could with the position I've been brought into.
***
“If Nick Fury thinks he can send in his costumed freaks and the Strike unit in to clean up his messes, he is highly mistaken!”
“This failure is unacceptable.”
“Considering this attack took place one mile from my country's sovereign waters I'd call it a bit more than that.” These people seriously over react, and the ship still doesn't make any sense! The only person who it looked like wasn't put there by this “Fury” guy was Sitwell.
“I move for immediate hearing.” Oh boy, control thine face Saoirse!
“Like how the hell did a French pirate manage to hijack a covert shield vessel in the middle of broad daylight?”
That's when Mister Pierce spoke up, “For the record, Councilman, he's Algerian. I can draw you a map if that helps.” As weird as this guy is that was actually kind of funny.
“I appreciate your wit, Secretary Pierce, but this Council takes things like international Piracy fairly seriously.
“Really? I don't, do you Saoirse?”
I shook my head, “While pirates the like of Batroc and his men are a pain, they will always be making themselves better at what they do as long as we do as well. It's the natural balance of things, but if one were to read the report they are still no match for our strike units especially paired with Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff. Calling them ‘costumed freaks’ when they proved more than capable compared to the agents on that vessel isn't going to get us anywhere.”
I jumped when Mister Pierce clapped a hand on my shoulder, “Well said Saoirse-”
“You said compared to the agents on the vessel, would you elaborate?”
“Yes Councilwoman, the agents on that boat were very few for one, and low level at that where they wouldn't have had access to any of the information on that ship in the first place. Agent Sitwell was the only one with high enough clearance to access the intel and he is more in the position of power over being able to fight back against pirates.”
“Intel? Miss Saoirse?”
“What else could have been on that vessel that required a level 7 agent?”
They were silent, and I'm not sure if that was a bad thing or not. That's when the agent by the door came to whisper in Mister Pierce’s ear.
“More trouble Secretary Pierce?”
“Depends on your definition! Come along Saoirse.” The man he exited the floor to see was a tall black man, wearing a long coat and an eyepatch. And he was intimidating unlike anything I've ever seen. “I work forty floors away and it takes a hijacking for you to visit me?”
The big man scoffed, “A nuclear war would do it too, who's this?”
“My PA,” he said it again! What the hell?!
“I'm here to ask you a favor,” he gave Mister Pierce a significant look, whatever he wanted to ask of him he didn't want me to hear.
“Whatever needs to be said Saoirse is well at liberty to hear.” I don't know about that, the more information you feed me the bigger the target that is now on my back. This is literally the thing I didn't want, stay low stay hidden is the way and now the bloody World Council knows my name and my face.
“I need you to call for a vote, Project Insight needs to be delayed.” My eyebrows rose, every time it's mentioned it is said with a heavy tone.
“Nick that's not a favor that's a sub committee hearing, a long one.” This was Nick Fury? I mean it makes sense the guy looked to be in a permanent state of fury.
“It's probably nothing, it might be nothing, I just need time to make sure it is nothing.” That is not good…
“And if it is something?”
“Then we'll be damn glad those helicarriers aren't in the air.” I desperately wanted to ask questions, being the only one without all the details leaves you just trying to connect the dots on the fly.
“Fine, but you have to get Iron Man to show up to my niece’s birthday party. And not just a fly by either! He's got to mingle.” He started off towards his office with a skip to his step.
“He actually would subject children to being around Tony Stark and think it's a good idea?” I was beside myself, that just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
“Apparently so,” I forgot he was still here, and really I have no idea why he was. “I see you have surpassed Alexander’s expectations if he has made you his PA.”
I turned back with a frown, “I thought you didn't know who I was sir?”
“I did say that didn't I? Excellent catch.”
“I appreciate the compliment, but I would rather have an explanation.” He was collecting his thoughts for a best answer, “The full uncensored version if you please.”
“Agent Romanoff noticed how Captain Rogers would willingly converse with you, and pulled a uh...screening.” Raising my brows I waved my hand in a ‘continue’ sort of motion, there is no way that was it. “That and Secretary Pierce has been singing your praises since he plucked you from that paper pushing job down in Statistics.”
“What? I was told that Statistics was overrun by interns and that the Matron had to pull in some extreme favors for me to even have an internship placement.” To hear that the story was anything but, and that me being pulled was something deliberate and by Pierce was the rug being pulled from under my feet. My face must have projected all my inner turmoil, for his single eye was emoting which is just the weirdest shit I've ever seen and I can't handle that!
“Well whoever told you that was lying or was told differently.”
Blinking I kissed my teeth, “Really, I never would have guessed. So glad I have Nick Fury, who I have never met before and still have no real idea as to who you are, to tell me that things aren't adding up and are getting to a head right when I'm supposed to be leaving.”
“Leaving?”
“Yes! My internship ends in like twelve days, I've never been asked if I wanted to become a PA, but no apparently everything is fine and dandy because everyone says things are fine and that I should be fine with it!” Panting I turned from him a hand pinching the bridge of my nose. “I-I need to go home.” Saying this my hands were running wildly through my hair.
“Miss O’Brien,” I turned back, “you ever need a job change just come my way. You know in case the engineering doesn't pan out, I'm sure your extra curricular talents could come in handy.”
My stomach just plummeted through the floor, “And you know, how?”
He grinned, “I'm the director, who do you think gets reports about Agent Ward's work?”
“I just cussed out the director...what the fuck...am I hallucinating?” He chuckled, well at least I won't be fired right before I drop off the grid.
“I'll be seeing you Miss O’Brien.”
“I wouldn't count on it Director Fury,” Wonderful I've got that ice pick feeling starting to stab like I'm being given a lobotomy.
“We'll find out who’s right then.”
Why does that sound so foreboding? My thoughts were running in circles unable to figure out what I was supposed to focus on. If I snuck out before my work day was supposed to end, thankfully no one even noticed my leaving in order to question it.
A/N
Comments? Questions? Concerns? Either way things are a trundaling along and action sequences are on their diddly darn way