"I want to get my father's things! - Anita slapped her palm on the table, putting an end to the conversation.
"Howard Stark was involved in the creation of our organisation and held the position of lead engineer in it...
"You don't have to go through all this nonsense a second time. I heard it the first time!
"Then Anita Stark, you must realise that the Shield owes you nothing. Our goal is to keep the peace.
Upon arrival at Shield's New York headquarters, August and Anita were escorted to a private room. The agents accompanying them stayed outside, asking them to wait for Fury's arrival. It didn't take too long, but it was long enough to ruin Stark's mood.
Anita was the first to start the conversation, immediately demanding the rest of her father's belongings. After his death, all of his personal journals and writings were gone. Stark hadn't paid much attention to it at the time. She had a terrible opinion of her father, so she let it go, and then forgot about it. But now, in light of the truth, she remembered the strange disappearance. Of course, suspicion fell on Shields. The organisation that had some of her father's videos.
Fury was tactfully silent and tried to steer the conversation in another direction, talking about Howard Stark's past, the purpose of his joining Shield and the general aims of the organisation. Anita sensed Niki's intentions to divert the conversation, so she pushed with double force.
The conversation had been going on for over an hour, the two girls kept pushing each other, wanting to achieve their goals. August just sat on the sidelines, looking at the interior decor of the room. Listening to the endless "arguments" of the two girls made him tired.
In the end, the two argued to no avail. Fury sent Stark to think about her decision to join the Shield, not forgetting to remind her that her father was a member of the organisation himself. A clear provocation, saying "we have your father's stuff, but we won't give it to you until you join us".
Anita only snorted contemptuously at the provocation and promised to get the rest of the information herself. Stark had enough power to hack into the Shield and it was a clear threat that Anita was sure to fulfil.
Fury knew of Stark's developed artificial intelligence and the strength of her computing power. In canon she had only needed a few minutes to get past the Shield's defences, presumably there would be little difference in this reality as well.
Stopping Anita from standing up from her seat, Fury pretended to ponder and then made a call to someone. Playing complex emotions on her face, she "decided" to trust Stark and provide her with the rest of Howard's belongings. Acting, not otherwise, which could show the Shield on the good side in front of Anita Stark.
A man entered the room carrying a large box. Placing it on the table in front of Fury, he withdrew. After lecturing about trust and the good of all mankind, the Shield Headmistress slid the box to Anita. She carefully placed her hands on the lid of the box, not really listening to Fury's words, and opened it. Inside were a couple of diaries, a dozen old cassettes and a huge drawing of some kind of device.
Stark immersed herself in studying the resulting diaries and blueprint. She had her head so far into the study that she had completely dropped out of the world. Fury realised that no one was listening to her noble speeches anymore and reminded her to leave the things from the box in this room and left.
Augustus made himself comfortable on the couch, putting a pillow under his back and covering his eyes. It looked as if he were asleep, but his ears heard everything clearly. They warned the mercenary about opening the door after Fury left.
"August, I'd like to talk to you. Can you spare a minute? - The woman smirked at him, resting her hands on the back of the couch and hovering over the mercenary's face.
August's eyes opened slowly, and he looked unhappily into the sly eyes of the girl who was bothering him. She was dressed in black tactical trousers and a tight thin t-shirt, clearly highlighting her two large mounds almost touching his face. A pleasant woody scent of shampoo mixed with a well-chosen deodorant emanated from her.
"Lydia Rumlow, nice to meet you," the woman's lips stretched predatorily and she held out her hand as she continued to hover over Augustus's face.
"Augustus, Anita Stark's bodyguard," the mercenary realised that Lydia was not going to let him go, so he decided to shake her hand. As soon as his hand came into contact with the woman's, she pulled her hand towards her, intending to kiss Augustus's outstretched hand. He pulled it away calmly, and Ramlowe was not strong enough to keep his hand in her grip. - Don't do that, I hate it.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha, tough guy. So I'm not wrong, let's go outside and talk! - Lydia laughed and patted August on the shoulder. Her large breasts, covered with a black T-shirt, involuntarily touched the top of the mercenary's head. - Don't worry about Anita, my girls outside keep everything under control. Not a fly's gonna get through them.
"I don't think you and I have anything to talk about," the mercenary closed his eyes. Hydra was the last thing he needed. Thanks to the last name, August was able to quickly identify the woman. The surname was too specific, and in the canon Brock Rumlow was quite a colourful character. Even charismatic, and with his charisma, he was able to take down most of the heroes. It's not surprising that a man with such well-developed social skills was put in charge of a rather serious combat unit of Shield.
"Why are you like this? I won't eat you, boy, let's go outside and talk," Lydia rubbed her breasts against the top of August's head, clearly amused.
"Stop annoying me.
"I'm so serious, I give up," Ramlowe moved away from the back of the couch and raised her arms slightly. - Let's just hear me out and I'll leave you alone, okay?
"Try it, but if I'm not interested, you owe me a twenty.
"Ha-ha, you're a businessman, let's go.
The door slammed shut and Anita didn't react. All her attention was concentrated on reading her diary. She was only consciously aware that August had left the room with a woman.
"I think we've moved on enough, so what did you want to talk to me about?
"First, watch this video," Ramlowe pulled her phone out of her pocket and switched on the video. It showed a female version of the Hulk throwing military armoured vehicles around in some kind of frenzy. At the end of the video, the two-metre tall woman grabbed some vehicle with both hands and ripped it in half, throwing one of the pieces right into the camera she was filming. - What do you think of that?
"Another lab freak, I don't think my opinion is any different than most people's.
"That's right. This giant was once an aspiring genetic scientist named Jennifer Banner. Accidental exposure to gamma rays somehow affected her body and she turned into this green monster.- Get to the point, I know you're showing me this for a reason.
"I like sassy people like you," Ramlowe smirked and picked up the phone. - I am the captain of the Shield's combat unit, code-named Strike. I'd like to have you in my squad. Wait, don't say no! - Lydia put her palm to August's lips. - I know that you are only employed. Your job will pay well. How about two hundred thousand dollars a month?
"Is that the final offer? - August asked disinterestedly.
"Hey, a steady salary of two hundred thousand a month! Even I don't get that much! I've already managed to get you such a salary with difficulty, be grateful.
"I'm not interested. Give me 20, - we've found a fool. Under Hulk, with the current forces, August would not even for ten million. Let them look for someone else. Plus, as the mercenary knew, the entire UDAR unit consisted of only HYDRA members. Attracting the attention of such a creepy organisation? It certainly wasn't worth it.
Ramlowe glared irritably and fumbled in her pockets. An awkward expression appeared on her face.
"Look, why don't I drop it off for you later?
"Useless," the mercenary scolded and walked back to Stark's room.
The awkwardness was gone from Lydia's face, and she squinted her eyes at the closing door. The earpiece on her right ear beeped a few times and Rumlow tapped the touchpad to accept the call.
"He didn't take me up on my offer.
"It was expected; he was currently fulfilling the role of Anita Stark's bodyguard. When Anita joins the Shield, he will be in our hands. Maintain good relations with him within Shield and assist him in any way you can.
"I will," Lydia whispered and dropped the call.
...
"Children, hurry up and get on the bus! Get on the bus, two by two, and fasten your seat belt! - Skyler shouted to the clusters of teenagers as she stood near the front of the bus. - Check your pockets before the journey to see if you've forgotten anything! We're not turning the bus around during the journey!
"Hera, I don't get it. Why are you so sad? - Gwen elbowed her friend. - Is it really that the guy you're still blown away? Ha-ha-ha, ouch! That hurt!
"He didn't blow me off! I just haven't seen him in a while, he's always busy at work.
"Should I write to him? - Gwen smiled and hid her smile with her hands, noticing Osbourne's fierce gaze. - I won't say a word.
"I've been looking forward to this trip for so long. The Stark Expo will feature a scaled-down model of the Hadron Collider," came a voice from the chair behind her.
"Petra, stop drooling over colliders, otherwise you'll scare away all the guys! - Gwen turned to her friend and poked her head between the chairs.
"You don't understand anything, Gwen. Do you have any idea what the hadro is used for....
"All right, all right, all right, all right, shut up, I hear you, - Gwen plugged her ears and turned back to Hera. - Listen, you've still got his number, haven't you? Maybe you can text him from my phone later. apologise and say something sweet and sweet?
The younger Osborne didn't say anything, but you could tell by the look on her face that she was thinking about it.
"Kids, the bus is moving! Check everything again to make sure you haven't forgotten anything! I'll give you two minutes! - After two minutes, Skyler turned to the bus driver and waved at him. The obese woman nodded and turned the ignition key.
It had been decided at the parent-teacher conference to take the graduating class this weekend to the Stark Expo, which had opened a few months ago, and give them a tour. The bus was packed to capacity, even some of the students' parents decided to take the day off and go with their children.
When the bus pulled into the car park and stopped, most of the students stuck their eyes out of the windows, gazing in wonder at the futuristic design of the building dedicated to the Stark Expo.
"Eww, Petra! You've got your drool all over the glass! - Gwen mocked her friend. At the same time, the blonde looked out the window.
Skyler was the first to get off the bus, and then she took the children out, lining them up in pairs.
"What's she doing with us? Most of us are of legal age.
"Hera, you're actually only eighteen, ha ha ha ha," Gwen pointed out.
"Shut up, you're not even eighteen yet," Osborn snapped at her.
"I'll be eighteen in a month! - Gwen replied on automatic, and then grinned evilly. - You know, I can understand that one-eyed pretty boy now.
"What do you mean?
"How old is he? Probably over twenty, and you're not even nineteen. He won't even look at a little girl like you! - Gwen said the last words quickly, and while Osborne was getting the message, she ran off to the exhibition.
"Stacey, where are you going?! - Skyler called out to her student as she saw her run out of their formation.
"I'll kill her! - The black-haired hurricane rushed past the woman.
"Osborne, where are you going?! Okay kids hurry up," Skyler hurriedly said, if anything happened to Hera and Gwen, all responsibility would fall on her as teacher.- Hera, Gwen, there's no need to fight anymore. Mrs Walter could get in trouble because of you," Petra stood in the middle of her friends, serving as a conciliatory shield.
"Hera just takes offence at the truth, it's not my fault," Gwen spread her hands apart.
"Gwen, I finally realised why you were so angry with me, you're just jealous. Not even a single guy will talk to you at will, that's why you're freaking out," Osbourne smirked provocatively.
"No way. I've had you know how many boyfriends," Gwen showed a big cloud with her hands. - I just didn't want to tell you.
"Well, let's see, if you're telling the truth, then you must have plenty of experience. Go over to that guy over there by the booth of your mum's company, strike up a conversation with him and make him laugh," Hera pointed at a random schoolboy.
"Pfft, easy! - Gwen waved her hand, hiding the excitement inside well.
Stacey took a closer look at the guy with the thick glasses. He had a plain, unremarkable face and a potbelly peeking out from under his t-shirt. Gwen swallowed the saliva that had become sharply viscous and started going through a bunch of options in her head to start a dialogue.
Seeing her friend's predicament, Petra leaned over to Gwen and quietly whispered something to her. The blonde bully's face brightened dramatically and she turned to Hera, made the most confident face possible and walked towards the guy.
"Hi, looking at spiders? - Gwen waved her hand at the guy, he didn't even pay attention to her. - You know, these spiders are called Caracourts. They belong to the genus of black widows and are considered the most poisonous spiders in the world. One bite from them kills horses, cows and camels.
(Caracourts)
"What happens if they bite a man? - The boy wondered and looked at Gwen, who was daring.
"Seventy per cent of the time the person will just be in a lot of pain for a while, and thirty per cent... - Stacy finished playfully and turned to her friends who were watching. - He's going to die! - Gwen jerked towards the guy and raised her hands, squeezing her fingers slightly.
"Aaaaah! - Screamed the guy and ran away from those spiders.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! - Hera laughed loudly, Gwen's cheek twitched and her face reddened with anger and embarrassment.
"Fmm! - Something bit Stacy sharply on the back of her neck. The pain from the bite site travelled through her entire body, paralysing her cheekbones and preventing her from unclenching her mouth in a cry of pain. Leaning over and helping with her hands, Gwen dropped the black spider to the floor. In appearance the spider was similar to the other spiders in the terrarium, the only difference being a richer black colour.
Gwen didn't let the spider crawl on the tiles for long, fearing for the other visitors to the exhibit. Overcoming the pain that stiffened her body, she stepped on the fleeing spider with one foot and smeared it on the floor.
"Gwen, what happened to you? - Hera noticed her friend's abnormal state.
Stacy, writhing in pain, tried to stop her approaching friend with a gesture as a massive explosion went off behind her. The shockwave travelled across the room and shattered people's legs, followed by the sound of glass breaking and shards flying everywhere.
...
"Hammer one is ready!
"Hammer two ready!
"All right, drive straight to the main entrance and block the emergency exits.
Four black minivans and a bus travelled in a convoy through the city. Turning at an intersection, the cars smashed through the barrier at full speed and drove through the park, hitting people on their way. A ninety-degree turn and the convoy stops right at the entrance to the Stark Expo. Dozens of people had not yet realised what was happening and they continued to stand quietly, gazing at the bus and minivans.
The doors of the minivans opened and armed men jumped out. Pointing automatic rifles at the crowd of people, they opened merciless fire. The people fell to the ground like grass, mowed down by the lead hail.
"Grenades, - said an emotionless female voice and dozens of grenades flew towards the glazed entrance. There was an explosion and people screamed. The militants didn't stop there, some went inside, others took out incendiary grenades.
Inside the Stark Expo, shots rang out and people screamed. Police car sirens sounded in the distance. The remaining gunmen outside scattered the incendiary grenades and took up comfortable positions.
***
patreon.com/posts/124888009