Mission Time (Sammy and Joe)

[ngm_shield]

The information on Nick Fury's desk read like the sum of all fears. In the midst of everything happening around the world, both mutant and non-mutant related, someone had been working under the radar to obtain equipment for a weapon of mass destruction. They were smart enough to not hit the major production hubs, like Stark or Fujikawa, and had settled for going to second or third-rate sources for what they were looking for. But when certain items popped up on watch lists throughout the world, SHIELD got wind of the information long before anyone else did.

This wasn't big enough to warrant a heavy-hitter response but it was too big to send rookie agents on. Big team would tip the bad guys off from ten miles away and make them adjust their plans but he couldn't spare Sharon, Maria or any of his top agents. So Fury thought of the next best thing and pressed the alert beacon on his desk for two agents he was sure could get the job done.

Sammy's and Joe's phones would receive simulatneous texts indicating that the proverbial ballon had gone up and that they were to report to the Helicarrier within one hour for debriefing and deployment.

Mission time.

Comments

[agent_timeout]

"You know how there are things you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy? That's one of your dad's lectures. I love the guy to death, but I'd run out a timestop getting away if he's lecturing, even if I passed out at the other end."

"I haven't heard of any, but we can check again when we're done here. No info may mean he's gone to ground and we just have to be patient."

[ngm_shield]

Joe was about to reply when Colonel Fury blew into the office with a folder in his hand. Wisely, Joe said nothing else about the current situation.

"Good, you're both here. I need a couple of agents that didn't graduate yesterday to handle this." he said, passing the folder to Sammy first. Inside were pictures of several high-end technological components.

"Seems that someone's into corporate technology theft. Normally, this wouldn't be on our radar, except that the parts stolen came up on a watch list as being the components for a machine that can hijack a satellite." Fury told the pair.

"I'm sure I don't have to explain to you what kind of problem that poses for the world if someone can hijack satellites anytime they please."

[the_next_avenger]

"That's a bad day at Black Rock, sir." Joe said in regards to Nick's outlining of the situation. He waited for Sammy to look over the information in question.

"Do they still need components for this machine? Maybe we can catch them before they steal the next piece." he said, looking to Sammy.

[agent_timeout]

Sammy paged through the photographs slowly enough to get a good look. Technology wasn't her area of expertise, but she knew enough to understand the gravity of the situation.

She handed the folder to Joe and directed her question to the colonel. "Do we have a suspect group to concentrate on?"

[ngm_shield]

Fury shook his head at Sammy's question. "They're hittin' these places fast and fadin' away before the locals get good looks. The only guy who's seen 'em and lived to tell the tale talks about guys in skull masks, if you can believe that." the Colonel said.

He looked to Joe. "Looks like they got everything they need but the machine isn't just flip-a-switch-and-go. It takes a certain kind of mind to operate it, one like a guy by the name of Dr. Joel Lamblin. If the name sounds familiar, it should. He was the last guy to work with Dr. Abraham Erskin, also known as the guy responsible for makin' your old man Captain America." Nick said.

[the_next_avenger]

That got Joe's attention. He'd heard the stories about Dr. Erskine from his dad but this all seemed like a major link to the past. Joe's desire to help was solidified.

"So...if the guys responsible can't operate it, they'll have to snatch Dr. Lamblin."

[agent_timeout]

"Then we have to get to Dr. Lamblin, or somebody like him. How many of those can there be? Two, three?" So far it wasn't sounding too difficult. If the bad guys wanted something special, like a doctor, you had to have the doctor and they'd come to you.

[ngm_shield]

"As of now, Lamblin is the only one. The other person who might have known died two years ago." Nick said.

"Your mission is to take Dr. Lamblin into custody. We'll put him under SHIELD protection until we can figure out who these yahoos are and bring 'em down." Nick said.

"Any questions?" he asked.

[agent_timeout]

"Are we sure the other one is really dead?"

[ngm_shield]

"Yeah. Found in his apartment with a .45 caliber injection to the temple. Self-inflicted. He was getting messages from the people looking for him and knew what they wanted. Guess he decided they weren't takin' him alive." Nick groused.

[the_next_avenger]

Joe sucked in a breath at that. He couldn't imagine that kind of fear, the kind where dying is preferable to being someone's personal chew toy.

"How soon can we get to Lamblin? Have we made contact with him?" Joe asked.

[ngm_shield]

"Your transport leaves here in half-an-hour, enough time for your both to get any weapons you need from tech-support. Lamblin's aware we're comin', says he'll be ready to go." Nick said.

[agent_timeout]

Sammy hoped the other guy hadn't killed himself because of SHIELD. The good guys shouldn't be afraid of SHIELD.

"We'll be ready, colonel."

[ngm_shield]

"Good. Rogers, get down to tech support and get outfitted. Sammy, I need to go over your last mission brief with you regardin' your report." Nick said.

Joe nodded and gave same a "good luck" glance, then left the room.

Nick waited until he was gone to look back at Sammy.

"Has Clint Barton spoken to you recently?" he asked.

[agent_timeout]

This...was completely out of left field.

"Not recently, but I haven't had a reason to talk to him. Is there something I missed?"

[ngm_shield]

"Yeah, there is. I've been keepin' this under wraps, Sammy, because I was trying to solve this without gettin' the rest of the department involved but if Barton comes to you, refer him to me." Nick said.

"Quinn Barton went off the grid last year, Sammy. Either he's gone off after his mother or he's flipped. Both are possible and are extremely likely." Nick said, referring to Clint's and Bobbi's son who'd joined SHIELD shortly after she did. Bobbi vanished on a mission two years ago and Quinn had been all about finding his mother.

"Normally, I don't lose agents but you remember Quinn's file. That kid was good at disappearing when he wanted to. We got a hit on him in Tuscany a few months ago but I don't have anyone to spare to go after him right now.

When this business with Lamblin is over, you'll be the agent in charge on that. This does not leave this room, Sammy. And Rogers is not to know about it, either. Got it?"

Nick didn't like telling anyone this but he knew Sammy could keep info under wraps if needed. Moreover, he hadn't told her everything about the situation.

[agent_timeout]

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I thought he was on a long mission. I could've gone after him then." She scowled back, both expressions identical to an observer.

[ngm_shield]

"Because if Barton's flipped, you and I both know what has to happen. I don't want to believe the kid's gone over to the other side but with no other contact in this long, there ain't much I can do for him if we catch up to him." Nick said.

"You know his mother used to be part of SHIELD, right? She went on a mission for us two years ago and was captured. I think that was the big drive behind Quinn joining up. But Hydra flipped her. We think they used some kind of brainwashing on her. If she's with them, she could have reached out to Quinn.

If he's with Hydra, we've got a huge problem on our hands." Nick said.

[agent_timeout]

"I didn't know she was captured. I thought she just...didn't come back," Sammy finished lamely. "He shouldn't have been allowed out there, colonel. Either of them. They know too much about SHIELD and the cape community."

She blew out a sigh. "When I get back, I'll track Quinn down." What she'd do with him when that happened, well, that was a decision for another day. So far the colonel hadn't made termination a factor in her missions, but there was always the chance she'd have to face it.

[ngm_shield]

Nick grumbled. "Yeah, I've been workin' on trackin' her down but Barton is a loose cannon. I give him any info and he'll pull in Steve, Stark and everyone he can to find her. And the bad guys will slip away and go deep underground until we get another bead on them, which could take a long time." Nick said.

"When you get back, we'll discuss Barton again. For now, good luck on your mission and keep an eye on Rogers. I want to know how he does." Nick said.

[agent_timeout]

"Don't need luck when you got a Fury on your side," Sammy quipped with a smirk. She sincerely hoped that Joe had been away long enough to not know when she was hiding something from him. This was kind of big. Quinn had been a friend to both of them growing up.

"Joe will be fine. If Cap or Aunt Sharon ask, tell them I'll make sure he comes back."