8 Chapter 8: Before the War

It was initially a good news for them to know Dreykov location, until they learn of his location: The Red Room Academy.

Formerly in Russia or Byelorussia, after the famous super Agent Peggy Carter found it's location, the Red Room at that time lead and created by the Leviathan organization decide to relocate the Academy for safety reasons. Which is why the Red Room Academy was now near Budapest.

Honestly for Rick and his team, they would have preferred if he wasn't in Budapest and even less in the Red Room Academy. Because if he was anywhere else, they would be able to escape more easily. Because right now, the entire city is ready and looking for them.

It's no joke! Natasha, Ramsey and Yelena wanted picture were already circulating on the national TVs and talk about on radios. They were label as 'Dangerous terrorist' who stole a potential 'dangerous weapon' and blew up the building.

So for them, quitting the country to continue their missions would be the most ideal thing to do. Unfortunately for them, that wasn't the case.

The worst thing is that like the old Red Room Academy, this one was also isolated. Which means that they couldn't infiltrate the estate the way they did with Baintronics Incorporated or the prison in Cambodia. Their only option was...

"No! We won't use my Kingjet! Are you all crazy?! What if the enemy get it in the end? Or if it 'disappeared' under water like the car you borrowed from me?"

Yes, Natasha and Clint wanted to use the incredible stealth of the Kingjet to strike at the Red Room with a surprise ride. Unfortunately it owner wasn't really in tune with their idea.

Actually if it was another jet, that he built himself, Rick would've agreed, but in his opinion a jet upgraded by GC was invaluable for him.

And even though, he could indeed repair things, with his golden Hammer, it had limits.

For example, if the only thing left from the King jet was a door, the hammer will only be able to restore the door to it's original state, not the plane. He needs at least 30% percent of the original object to be able to repair it.

But Rick knew that in the world of super heroes, things like cars, jet, plane armors etc... will always have a problem at the end of the fight. They could be simply damage at best or explode at worst. And that's why Rick wasn't very willing to give up his toy to them, but:

"Agent, it's not that we don't understand the risks, but except if you have a better idea, this is our only option. Besides, as long as that jet doesn't land, the stealth state won't be remove right? Then you'll stay inside with Ramsey." Reasoned Natasha calmly, but another one wasn't calm at all after hearing her.

"What do you mean by 'with' Ramsey? Why should I come? I don't know how to fight at all!" Said Ramsey in panic.

"Which is why you'll stay in the plane under Agent's protection." Explain Clint. But that explanation wasn't enough for Ramsey.

"But WHY should I come? I don't want to come with you guys in your suicide mission. Black Widow and her murderer sister already said that this place wasn't like the company you raid. That's literally where assassins like them are born! It's not like in Baintronics Incorporated where only the twenty controlled Widows and old ones where! So while I really want to kill the bastard who kidnapped me, I don't want to commit suicide. So it will be without me." Said Ramsey resolutely.

"Unfortunately for you, you're the one with the least amount of rights here. Maybe you don't know, but if it wasn't for Agent, we wouldn't be talking with you right now because you would've already been dead in that building or imprisoned like mini Widow here." Sneer Hawkeye after hearing Ramsey refusal. Which come as a shock for the young woman.

"What?! Why?! I'm a victim here!"

"A victim who almost cause the world to be controlled by a man with evil intention!" Replied Hawkeye with anger.

"Do you know what would have happened if you perfect that chip? Dreykov would be able to control the leaders of the world! And while he is dangerous because of his plans and ambitions. You are more dangerous because you can make those ambitions come true. And with the surprise face you're making I can easily guess that you don't even realize that.

Your inventions hurt and kill peoples. So there is no way in the world, we will let you stay here while we go kill Dreykov just to find when we come back that you already left."

A big silence came after Hawkeye finished talking, as if agreeing with him. But while Natasha and Yelena agree with him for different reasons, Rick was hesitating.

On one hand, he agree with Hawkeye that with the thing she did and the lives she ruined, Ramsey deserve at least a supervisor. On the other hand, he could understand that not everyone was Tony Stark who could build an armor in a cave after his aggressor try to compel him into doing their bidding and kill them in return.

Rick could understand it, but it doesn't mean that he agree with that kind of behavior, which is why at the end he decide to keep quiet.

As for Natasha and Yelena, their thoughts on the subject were much simpler. Natasha thought was that Ramsey use her skills on the hands of evil guys like her, so she should like her atone for what she did.

As for Yelena, it was just pure grudge. She recent Ramsey to death for creating the chips. So she didn't trust her at all and wanted her to be under surveillance 24h/.

But even if their reasons were differents, Ramsey finally understood her real status in this team. Like Yelena previously she was their prisoner. Just without handcuffs.

That realization made her sad, because she also realize through some of their previous discussion that Hawkeye was apparently from a super spy organization dedicated to stop and eliminate anything too dangerous for the world. Which mean that there is very little chance for her to see the day again after their missions is over. Because after what she did with the Red Room she fall under that category.

So after lamenting on her fate and with great pain in her heart she nodded silently at Hawkeye.

"I understand. I'm coming."

Seeing Ramsey look devoid of any energy, made Rick sad and a little bit guilty. So after some internal struggle he finally came with a silent decision.

"Well then let's go. We don't know if Dreykov will cut off his phone or whatever if we wait to much." Said Rick to end the talking. Getting nods of approval from the the team.

Without having much preparation to do, it only took five minutes for them to regrouped inside the Kingjet. Once inside, it was Rick who took the role of the pilot while other were getting comfortable inside.

Knowing the jet by heart, getting it to fly was done very quickly, and before it could totally fly out, Rick immediately activate the invisible mode of the Kingjet.

Because the jet was too fast, getting to The Red Room Academy would only take 5 minutes, so Rick try to slow down as much as he could to give himself and the other the time to adjust. But apparently, some people didn't need it.

"Hey, why is there so much bombs and grenades inside this jet ?" Asked suddenly Yelena while digging through the bags in the jet. Causing the team to focus on her 'treasure'.

'Wait, there's bombs inside the Kingjet? Why don't I remember that?' Thought Rick puzzling.

"Oh these are what we took out from Agent well 'hidden' house in Cambodia. There are some guns too inside the other baggage." Replied Natasha as if remembering.

"And what were you going to do with so many c4? Blowing up the capital? No wonder Hungary labeled you as a terrorist." Said Yelena a bit speechless before taking some guns and grenade from both bags. Earning a blank stare from Natasha and Clint.

After being caught, Yelena didn't feel any shame, but still explained herself with assurance.

"What? I need to protect myself too. I'm not the Black Widow who can kill anyone with only a spoon. The streets are dangerous these days and girls need to protect themselves well."

Her statement earn a rolling eyes from both Natasha and Rick who couldn't help but complain.

"If someone need the most protection here, it's certainly not you. And I'm talking from experience." His comment caused Yelena to frown in annoyance.

"I already said sorry to you earlier."

"And I still don't forgive you."

"You already took revenge on me in Baintronics Incorporated. What else do you want?" Pouted Yelena.

"And it was very satisfying. But I still don't want to forgive you." Smirk Rick at her.

"Well in that case I don't forgive you too for hurting me like that."

"Have it your way. But in any case, you started it first."

"You're mean." Simply said Yelena, causing Rick to laugh at loud.

"By the way, why do they call you Agent? While you know how to fight, you don't fight very well. You're even very bad. Worse than the kid in the Academy. Even-"

"Okay! We get it. I don't know how to fight-

"And shoot. You don't know how to-"

Anyway I get it. And honestly I don't see why I should know how to do that kind of thing. I'm a smuggler not a super spy like you all." Replied Rick rolling his eyes at a happy Yelena.

"Then why they call you Agent if you're not an agent? Is it because it's your dream or something?"

Unknowingly, Rick frown at that question. Because it was actually not far from the truth. And while it was something he never said to anyone, it wasn't really a secret so he told them.

"I never wanted to be an agent, but my mother did."

That news unexpectedly gained everyone attention.

"Your mother wanted to be a spy? That... Not what I was expecting for." Could only say Yelena before digging further for information. "But why did she want to be an agent? Being a spy is not cool. You kill people, you steal people, you lie to people. It's not cool. Not cool at all."

Listening to Yelena, Rick unconsciously nodded. He himself agreed very much with Yelena's description of agent, unfortunately...

"You're right, but that's not how the family from my mother side see things. Because apparently my grandma that I never saw was a celebrity in the spy world. And because of that, almost all my family are spies to continue the tradition."

While explaining, and searching through his memories, Rick start to guess something about his mother family.

The previous Rick didn't care about them, because they never care about him. Never her second and only cousin ask him how he was doing when he came back during Christmas or New Year. Not just her, but everyone else. Not even trying to look like they where interested in him.

When they see each others they only say hello, good bye, happy new year and that's it. So it is understandable that Rick never got more curious about his cold family. Previously he always thought that he was given the cold shoulder because his mother couldn't become an agent and because of the fail mariage his mother had with his father.

But now Rick didn't so anymore. Or at least it wasn't the only reason. Because he suddenly figure it out when remembering his cousin name : Sharon Carter.

"So your mother was too bad and she fail to become an agent? That's a good thing. She doesn't have to do things not cool." Said Yelena happily, but her smile was quickly erase after hearing Rick explanation.

"She didn't failed the test, because she couldn't even do the test. My mother has a weak body from birth so she can't do strenuous activities. So being an agent was impossible from the start. Even because of her condition she had to stay at home most her time.

As for me, because I was taken away by my father after my previously rich mother was disowned for giving too much money to my bastard father, I was never asked to be part of the spy family. Which is why after I left my father, I took the name agent to honor the dream she could never accomplish."

For the team, their understanding of Rick was refresh again. Previously they always thought that Rick was a poor boy who could only turn to crime to survive and take care of her normal mother.

But now what did they heard? Actually Rick is a fallen rich young master of a prestigious spy family! The contrast was a bit too big for both of them. But after thinking that in any case Rick situation didn't change, it didn't matter. Furthermore, after this news, Clint had new ideas about Rick.

"Agent, if you want, I can recommend you to the Shield. With this mission and the past of your family it shouldn't be a problem. Well if your family isn't part of an evil organization like the Red Room, it shouldn't be a problem."

While being part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. was tempting after guessing his origins, it was too dangerous for him after thinking about it. And Rick also wanted to see what he could accomplish alone.

"Thanks Hawkeye, but being an agent was my mother's dream, not mine. But you can rest assured that my grandma was an ex agent of MI5 and SSR. Whatever that is. By the way folks, we're here."