51 Alexandra’s Debut -49

the sensation of returning to his adult form, the transition. Always, an odd mixture of relief and disorientation left him stretching in the familiar confines of his office. With the immediacy of a commander, he issued his next order, his voice carrying the weight of authority honed by years of leadership.

"Ahhhh, arrange for a video chat with our Black Widow," he instructed, his tone brisk.

"Which one, sir?" The assistant's question, though asked out of genuine confusion, momentarily paused the rhythm of commands.

"No, I didn't mean any of our actual Black Widows. I was referring to Natasha Romanoff," he clarified, slightly amused by the misunderstanding but focused on the urgency of the situation. His mind was already racing ahead to the implications of his next conversation.

"Prepare her for a meeting in…" Alex momentarily paused, his gaze falling to the watch on his wrist, calculating the time needed. "In 30 minutes. And I need that adjusted suit," he added, already moving towards his quarters.

Alex's strategic mind was already weaving through the complex tapestry of potential outcomes following his "death." The void left by his supposed demise was a chasm that could easily swallow the Ricci empire whole if not carefully managed.

Trust was a commodity in short supply in his world, and there was no one he could confidently place in his stead without risking the empire he had painstakingly built.

His existence, a closely guarded secret among the elite circles, was a balance of power and peril. The quest for immortality had many avid followers, and Alex's unnaturally extended lifespan made him a target for those obsessed with uncovering the secrets of eternal life.

 His criminal empire was not just a testament to his power but also a shield that protected him from becoming a subject of experimentation.

The dilemma of choosing a successor or a stand-in was fraught with complications. Opting to present himself as a child while leveraging SCP-113's properties posed its own set of risks.

Perception was everything, and a child, no matter how brilliant, would be seen as a weakness—a chink in the armor of the Ricci family that adversaries would not hesitate to exploit. Moreover, the limitations of being perceived as a child would hinder his ability to operate with the necessary authority and respect.

Thus, the decision to utilize SCP-113, the sex change stone, emerged as the most viable strategy. Transforming into his female counterpart would not only allow him to avoid unwanted scrutiny but also present an opportunity to introduce a "sister" as the new face of the Ricci empire. This move, shrouded in the guise of mourning and succession, would be less likely to draw connections to the fabled secrets of immortality that Alex closely guarded.

Embarking on this path required careful planning. Public appearances would need to be meticulously orchestrated, with his female persona taking the lead in all matters concerning the Ricci family. It was a role he would have to grow accustomed to, shifting between identities as the situation demanded.

The long-term strategy involved a gradual withdrawal from the limelight, allowing him to focus more on the Foundation's activities and less on maintaining his public image as the head of the Ricci family.

Perhaps one day, he might even find someone able to fully handle running the Ricci family side of his duties.

Walking into his room, he went back down into his bunker. He wasted no time in heading straight for the containment wing and didn't pause until he was right in front of the containment locker holding SCP-113.

'I really had always envisioned using you on others, yet here I am using you on myself instead… I will punish Hydra for forcing me down this path.' He swore as he punched in the password and opened up the locker. Instead sat a small box which opened as he pressed his thumb at it.

Opening the box, he looked at the little stone inside; looking at it, he couldn't help but once more be amazed at how something so ordinarily looking could have such extraordinary properties. The fact that the Foundation was able to find many such objects was a testament to their skill and dedication.

With a final sigh, he pressed his index finger onto the stone and felt his naked body shift and change until he became a she. Looking at his…her smaller, more delicate female hand.

Transforming from a man to a woman is a strange experience. Not to mention that this was a complete, in-depth change to his very DNA. This was the complete transition; every bodily facet had shifted.

While SCP-113 was considered a safe object, Alex still knew that it could have unforeseen consequences to have his brain chemistry changed. There were some fundamental differences in how the different hormones caused one to act and think.

Women will just be more naturally inclined to compassion. Which was no doubt one of the reasons the Ethics Committee had a large amount of women on it.

Alex, however, with no member of the Ethics Committee, he clearly belonged to the O5 council and they truly embody the motto of cold, not cruel. He would probably have to make some kind of protocol to ensure that he would be changed back by force if necessary.

For now, though, this was precisely what he needed, yet feeling the slight chill of a cold metal Bunker against her naked flesh, Alex quickly made her way back up the elevator.

"I need that suit ready at once, a full-out everything included, now." He quickly commands as soon as he steps out of the elevator, and his assistant quickly rushes to comply with his orders.

Alex didn't wish to stay female for long, which meant that little with Natasha Romanoff had to be concluded as swiftly as possible.

Determined not to let these changes hinder her objectives, Alex swiftly moved to action. The request for her suit was met with an immediate response; her team understood the urgency of the situation.

The suit, tailored to fit her new form, was a symbol of her continued authority, a message to those who might doubt her capability due to her temporary transformation.

As she donned the suit, Alex felt a renewed sense of purpose. This transformation, although temporary, was a strategic maneuver in the intricate game of power she was entangled in. Her appearance as a woman was not a vulnerability but a carefully chosen strategy, one that would allow her to navigate the complexities of her empire.

[With Natasha Romanoff]

Natasha was asked to sit down, and a laptop was placed on the table in front of her. A bit of extra external equipment was quickly set up to help secure a secure connection; I wouldn't want anyone else listening in after all.

As the signal was given and the connection established, she had to admit to herself that she was somewhat surprised at what greeted her. On the screen was a stunning young blonde woman in a pitch-black tight suit.

The blackness was a sharp contrast to her spotless white skin. Natasha had to admit that even she found that compared to this woman, she was somewhat lacking in the appearance department.

This was indeed the kind of beauty that could cause wars with a smile, yet the cunning look on her face made it clear that this was not some traditional stupid blonde beauty. This was someone like herself, a femme fatale.

"Hello, Miss Romanoff, I am Alexandra Ricci, the current head of the Ricci family after the sudden death of my brother. Hopefully, I will remain as head for as long as he did. Perhaps you will help me with that?"

The woman wasted no time in introducing herself and getting straight to business. As she introduced herself, Natasha also instantly saw the connection between this woman and Alexander.

They were, without a doubt, siblings, if not downright twins. The same eye and hair color. If it wasn't for all the clear signs of this indeed being a stunning woman, Natasha might have suspected that Alexander Ricci had a secret habit of cross-dressing.

But what she was looking at couldn't be faked. Natasha was an elite agent, a top-notch assassin. Her eye for detail was far sharper than, well, pretty much everyone. Those eyes were clearly telling her that this was a womanly woman.

Then, there was the business she wanted to discuss. Natasha immediately realized what the woman wanted from her. Clearly, while she might be the current head of the Ricci family, her position was by no means permanent.

Perhaps it had been bestowed upon her merely by the lucky coincidence that she was available to take over the negotiations with the Mandarin. This meant that her authority within the family was greatly strengthened by whatever deal made the Mandarin if said deal had been successful.

Still, she clearly needed to secure herself within the family and to do that, she would need to replace her brother's men with people of her own, people she could trust, and it would seem that Natasha was a potential candidate.

She wasn't entirely sure why this woman thought so, but it was a potential way in should she need to delve deeper into Ricci's family's affairs and operations.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ricci." She said but was immediately cut off.

"Oh, please call me Alexandra; then, if you end up taking the position, you might even be able to call me Alex."

Natasha didn't let the interruption faze her; she just smiled and nodded.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Alexandra; I just want to assure you that I had nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with the death of your brother. I fully intended to give it my all to protect him." Natasha said quickly to clarify her position and situation.

She really didn't want to end up dead in a ditch due to this regrettable circumstance.

"Oh please, I am well aware of that, Miss Romanoff. I assure you if I had been even the slightest doubt, well, you would already have been very, very dead. Well, unless, of course, we thought you had some information we might have wanted, at which case you would be very, very much interrogated."

The woman replied with a sweet smile that made the heart of every man who thought skipper feet unless they understood what she was talking about, in which case they would probably feel a shiver run down their spine.

Natasha herself was naturally utterly unfazed by her words. As a spy and assassin, she had naturally experienced such situations before.

"Alexandra, I am very honored that you are willing to offer me a position by your side, and I admit your brother spoke highly of the family's operational goals. Honestly, I am quite intrigued."

Natasha chose her words very carefully. She knew the lesson agent. She couldn't just accept this job offer, no matter how good the benefits might be. Yet she also understood that it was a very important offer.

Something that is accepted would afford her a level of access and influence that could be leveraged for Shield's objectives. So, it was entirely possible that if she reported the situation, she would be told to accept it and be sent undercover within the Ricci family.

The current situation, however, did not allow her to communicate with the director, so she wasn't able to get the go-ahead. This meant that the smartest option was to get some time to think, some time to communicate.

"However, before I can accept, I need some time to consider this opportunity fully," Natasha continued, her gaze steady on Alexandra's image on the screen. "The responsibilities and implications of such a role are significant, and I want to ensure that I can commit to them with the dedication they deserve."

Alexandra's expression remained unreadable for a moment, but she nodded in understanding. "I appreciate your honesty, Natasha, and I respect your need for careful consideration. I wouldn't offer this position to someone I thought would take it lightly. How much time do you think you'll need?"

Natasha thought for a moment, calculating the time she might need to establish a secure line of communication with SHIELD and receive their instructions. "A week should suffice. It will give me the time to evaluate my current commitments and how I can align them with the needs of the Ricci family."

"A week it is, then," Alexandra agreed, her tone firm yet accommodating. "I'll expect your decision by then. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further information about what the role entails. I want you to have a clear understanding of what you're stepping into."

Natasha offered a nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Alexandra. I'll be in touch once I've made my decision."

As the call ended, Natasha leaned back, her mind racing. The offer was more than just a job; it was a doorway into a world of high stakes and deep shadows. She needed to tread carefully, balancing her loyalty to SHIELD with the potential benefits of infiltrating the Ricci family.

First and foremost, she needed to establish secure communication with SHIELD. She expected that the news of Alexander Ricci's death had already reached SHIELD and that they might try to launch a rescue operation.

It was risky and dangerous and would completely foil any chance of her getting this job. This meant that she needed to somehow communicate that she was alright, and then once back in the United States, she would be able to get in touch and debrief about the situation.

[SITE-09]

As soon as the call cut off, Alex let out a string of curses as she was unhappy with how the call went. Sure, she introduced herself and gave Natasha some of the clues she wanted her to know. Yet, in the end, she also felt that she had missed many opportunities to provide more information.

To further lead Natasha and the entirety of Shield down the road, she was carefully constructing for them. Yet there are currently no SCP objects in the foundation containment that would allow her to mess with time. So there was nothing she could do.

'Well, at least it wasn't a total disaster; now, let's change back and move on to more work.'