SHIELD Apartments
A radiant Sharon was at home, busy arranging a candlelit dinner.
Over the past few days, she and Steve had fallen deeply in love. They were inseparable, joined at the hip, and their constant displays of affection were enough to make anyone nearby green with envy. It was almost sickeningly sweet. Nourished by this newfound romance, Sharon's aura had matured; her skin seemed fairer, and every smile was brimming with the glow of springtime.
After setting the table and placing roses in a vase, she slipped into her slippers and headed to the kitchen to sear some steaks. Steve preferred his steak tender, so she had to be precise with the timing—one minute per side was the goal.
"Sharon!"
The partially closed door was suddenly shoved open. Steve burst in, wearing his tactical suit and gripping his shield.
"What is it? A mission?" Sharon's hand tightened around the meat thermometer, the tenderness on her face vanishing instantly.
The romance of the last few days had made her lose herself a bit. She had almost forgotten that both she and Steve were SHIELD agents, and that duty called at the most inconvenient times.
"Yes. SHIELD picked up Alex's trail in Queens. I have to get down there," Steve said, his brow furrowed. He was clearly in a foul mood.
His time with Sharon had allowed him to forget his burdens and immerse himself in a sea of intoxicating love; he had grown fond of this life. Being ripped from the dream back into reality was, understandably, irritating.
"Alex!" Sharon's mood turned sharp and anxious. As Agent 13, she knew the intel. According to the latest SHIELD reports, Alex's power had grown exponentially. In a one-on-one, even Steve wasn't a match. Tonight's mission was bound to be perilous.
"Alex has been lying low in New York for days without showing his face. If he's choosing to strike today, he must be fully prepared," Sharon said, her voice laced with worry.
"I know, but don't worry. This time is different. Twenty Iron Soldiers from the New York branch are already in position. Once Alex shows himself, he won't get away." Steve knew the risks, but he had backup this time.
"Alright. Just be careful. I'll wait for you at home."
Vroom... vroom...
The roar of a Quinjet echoed outside the window, making the entire apartment rattle.
"I have to go!" Steve stepped forward, gave Sharon a quick, firm kiss, and turned to sprint out of the apartment.
"You have to be careful!" Sharon chased after him, shouting into the empty stairwell. Her tone and the lingering look on her face were exactly like that of a young bride parting with her husband.
Steve reached the roof and boarded the jet. In the darkness he couldn't see, multiple pairs of eyes watched the aircraft depart. Once the jet vanished into the distance, Alex stepped out from the shadows.
"Captain America has left the building. Initiate the plan."
*
New York Hospital
On the streets near the hospital, seven or eight family sedans were cruising slowly.
"Captain America has left. Initiate the plan," A voice crackled through a hidden earpiece.
One of the drivers gave the command: "Move out!"
Immediately, the idling cars swerved toward the hospital. Arriving in small groups, they entered the hospital's restricted elevator. They pulled out specialized keycards, swiped them, and passed through fingerprint and facial recognition scanners.
Seconds later, a voice came over the intercom: "Identity confirmed."
The elevator doors slid shut automatically, heading straight for the top floor—a floor with no button on the standard panel. Inside the car, the group laughed and chatted like old friends.
Ding.
The doors opened to find a group of plainclothes SHIELD agents waiting at the entrance. The agents gave them a cursory glance and said nothing, likely assuming the routine was too established to mention. The group walked to their lockers, stowed their keys and wallets, and went through the security checkpoint. Once cleared, they headed to the breakroom to change into scrubs and relieve the previous shift.
These were all organization members. They had kidnapped the actual medical staff in advance and assumed their identities to infiltrate the hospital. Everything was going perfectly.
"It's almost time. You go up to the roof to receive the 'goods.' I'll keep watch," One said.
"Copy that."
A female nurse headed up the stairs. To reach the hospital rooftop, one had to pass through a reinforced armored door. The nurse was prepared; she swiped an identity card and the door hissed open.
The wind on the roof was howling tonight. The nurse walked to the center of the helipad, eyes fixed on the New York skyline. Minutes later, a red light blinked in the sky. A small drone zipped over and, as it reached the roof, dropped a small crate.
A parachute deployed, and the crate drifted down. The nurse caught it, took it back to the breakroom, and met with the others. Inside the crate were handguns, explosives, and several communicators. They donned their earpieces and prepared for orders from headquarters.
*
Back at the SHIELD apartments, Alex entered the building. The organization had previously captured an agent who lived there; Alex had shifted into his form to walk right past the lobby and up to the top floor.
With a thought, Alex's eyes turned a predatory red, and the world shifted. This was a new ability: Thermal Vision. It functioned like a thermal imager but with a range that matched his natural sight.
There were four apartments on the top floor, but only one showed a heat signature. Judging by the shape, it was a human, sitting motionless in a chair. Alex smirked and walked to the door, knocking.
Knock, knock, knock!
Hearing the sound, the person in the chair immediately went on alert, ran into a side room to grab something, and approached the door cautiously. Probably a handgun, Alex thought.
"Hello? Is anyone home?" Alex knocked boldly. He was wearing a SHIELD face, after all—why be afraid?
Sharon looked through the peephole. It was a neighbor from downstairs, a SHIELD colleague. She tucked her gun into her waistband and opened the door with a smile. "Hi! Is something wrong?"
Alex's smile was twisted and strange. "Nothing. I just couldn't sleep. I thought I'd find a beautiful lady to chat with."
Sharon's face turned green with irritation. Just as she was about to snap, she caught the malice in that smile. No. He's not a SHIELD agent. She had no concrete proof, but her intuition screamed that he was a threat.
Zip!
In a flash of lightning-fast movement, Sharon stepped back and drew her gun. She was fast, but Alex was faster. In the blink of an eye, the gun was snatched from her hand. Sharon felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck. Her vision went black.
And then... she knew nothing more.
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