31 Chapter 31 - Shield and Deals

"Did you find anything Melinda?" Sarah asked as she watched the busy road from a small coffee shop.

"I did but some of it is rather concerning." Melinda answered as she handed over a folder. Sarah opened the folder to look at the small stack of papers.

"Tobias Rieper, 47 years old. He's clean, too clean. No family, no criminal history, nothing. It's like he just appeared out of nowhere." She explained as Sarah looked through each of the papers.

"Jean Grey. She's a mutant or meta-human as they're called now. She's listed as one of Archon's possible allies and someone that may know who Archon is. However since she hasn't caused any harm to anyone, she's still protected by Fury's agreement with Xavier." Melinda continued as she pulled a list of names from the stack and placed it on top.

"Do you think he knows she's a meta-human?" Sarah asked as she looked over the names.

"Yes. Actually I believe he does. As a matter of fact I believe he may know who Archon is as well." Melinda answered showing a photo of Mikael inside the Xavier mansion with several individuals.

"Could you keep this between us?" Sarah asked as she handed the folder back while looking at the photo.

"I can but is there a reason you don't want to ask someone else for help?" Melinda asked as she took the folder back.

"Other than you, I don't know who else to trust right now." Sarah answered.

"Why do you say that?"

"My home was bugged Melinda. With Shield tech. I removed and disabled them, I even checked our systems to find out who they belong to." Sarah said as she held out a palm sized disc.

"What did you find?" Melinda picked up the disc and examined it.

"Nothing. According to the records, that never existed. The only reason I even found it was because it malfunctioned one night after Mikael came by for dinner."

"What are you thinking?"

"I think there's something wrong in Shield. Too many things aren't lining up recently. And I'm gonna find out what's going on." Sarah answered as she stood up and walked away.

Mikael walked into the large skyscraper and saw dozens of individuals could be seen going about their business. He could feel the attention shift onto him as he stepped in front of the desk. A young blonde-haired man lifted his head to meet his gaze.

"You're Mikael Argent, correct? Someone will be here to escort you shortly." The man said before he turned his head back to the computer. Mikael raised an eye brow as he heard the distinct sounds of Galaga coming from the ear phones on the desk.

"Mr Argent? I'm Agent Barbara Morse but everyone just calls me Bobbi. If you'll please follow me, I'll take you to the lab." Mikael turned to see a blonde woman in a suit approach from the side.

"Well thank you for the help." Mikael said as he gestured for her to move ahead before he followed after her. Scanning his surroundings he noticed a number of individuals hidden around the building watching him. He counted each observer as he stepped into an elevator with his guide before the doors closed. Mikael then looked down at his smartwatch as text appeared on its display.

[Access point located. Beginning infiltration protocols… Circumventing countermeasures… Access granted… Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. Files located… Copying files... Objectives completed.]

The text quickly disappeared from the display as it went back to showing the time. Mikael looked up from his watch as the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened into a large room. He followed Bobbi out of the elevator and across the room to a set of opaque sliding doors. She swiped her badge across the reader before stepping aside as she gestured for him to enter.

"Here we are. I have something else I need to do so I will have to leave you here. You can leave on your own but I recommend not trying to explore the building without an escort. If you need anything you can use the phone to call down to reception." Bobbi said as the doors opened to reveal a well equipped laboratory.

"Thank you agent Morse." Mikael responded before stepping into the lab. He watched as she turned and made her way back to the elevator before disappearing as the doors closed after her. Mikael turned back around examining his surroundings as he took a seat on the edge of one of the tables.

"So, how long were you planning on standing there?" Mikael asked as he turned to look at a dark corner of the room. He watched as a bald dark skinned man wearing an eyepatch over his left eye stepped into the open.

"Sharp senses. Seems you take after your mother." The man said as he walked into the center of the room.

"Guessing you didn't actually need my help with the debris then." Mikael said as he looked around the lab.

"Actually the debris is in that box over there. I'm here because I wanted to talk to you… without anyone knowing." The man said as he pointed towards a box on the table before he sat down in one of the chairs.

"I'm Nick Fury, Director of Shield."

"Well director, What did you want to talk to me about? I'm a rather busy person these days." Mikael responded as he looked at the familiar looking man in front of him.

"So I've seen. Straight A student graduates high school a year early and goes on to create the most revolutionary technologies since Howard Stark, AFTER being struck by lightning. You know most people that survive that come out worse than they were, not better right." Fury tilted his head slightly as he looked Mikael over.

"Maybe I'm just built different." Mikael said crossing his arms.

"Or maybe the lightning didn't hurt you at all. At first I thought that maybe you became a mutant after being struck but that doesn't seem to be the case. Your DNA showed no changes before and after your accident, no signs of a genetic change that normally presents itself in mutants." Fury responded.

"The correct term now is meta-human." Mikael interjected.

"Do I look like I care? Point is Shield was established to protect this world from all possible threats. I need to know you haven't become one of those." Fury said opening his jacket revealing his gun holstered around his torso.

"Okay. And what does that have to do with me?" Mikael asked calmly as he stared directly into Fury's eye.

"Do you know what a Skrull is?"

"I think you're gonna tell me any-."

"It's an alien species that can mimic the appearance of anyone they see. Right down to the DNA." Fury interrupted as he held out a palm sized disc that projected a holographic screen showing a number of reptilian humanoids.

"So you think I'm an alien. A shapeshifting alien."

"No but I plan to be sure."

"How?"

"Same way someone else did with me. I need you to tell me something so bizarre about yourself than no one could ever fabricate it."

"Really? Okay. I can't eat hard boiled eggs, the yolk upsets me."

"I don't think that's all that weird."

"Fine. I can't stand putting wooden things in my mouth. No wooden chopsticks, pencils or toothpicks. If I eat a popsicle I have to remove the stick and put it in a bowl first. Satisfied?" Mikael stated as he crossed his arms.

"For the moment. Are you familiar with the 'meta-humans' associated with Archon?"

"If you already know they're associated with Archon then you already know the answer to that question. Why don't you just ask the question you really want to know?"

"Alright. Do you know who Archon is?" Fury asked as he leaned forward.

"If I did?"

"I need to know who he is."

"No you don't. You WANT to know who he is. What you need to know is whether he's a threat or not. And the answer to that is, he's not. He has the exact same goal as your organization." Mikael responded as he stood up from the edge of the table and picked up the data pad on top of the box.

"How can you be sure?" Fury asked as he stood up.

"Because he's human and this world is his home. Also let's just say no one knows him better than me." Mikael answered as he opened the box revealing a scorched metallic plate before scanning it with the equipment on the table.

"He can destroy an alien spaceship in a matter of moments. That's a level of power I haven't seen in a human for a long time. You can't expect me to just take your word on it." Fury walked to the opposite side of the table Mikael was working on.

"And what exactly are you going to do if I told you who he is?"

"I want to work with him. If his goals are really what you say they are then I want to work with him to accomplish it." Fury answered as he placed his hands on the table. Mikael rolled his eyes as he looked up.

"I'm not going to tell you who he is. He will reveal his identity when he no longer needs to hide it." Mikael said as he closed the box and put the data pad back on top.

"But I can make you a deal on his behalf." Mikael looked into Fury's eye.

"Is that really something you can do?" Fury asked as he stopped leaning over the table.

"Yes it is. But you need to remember this. This deal? It's with you, not Shield." Mikael placed a hand on the box.

"I will act as a liaison between YOU and him. Should you require his assistance in a matter concerning the safety of the world, you can contact me. If you are ever indisposed you may send a trustworthy individual in your place. However we will reserve the right to reject the individual if we find them… unsuitable." Mikael continued as he stepped around the table to stand in front of Fury.

"And what do you get in return?"

"Your assistance in alleviating the negative image that meta-humans still currently have. There's a storm brewing and earth is going to be right in the center. We need every advantage possible if earth is to survive." Mikael answered as he held out his hand.

"Do we have a deal?" He asked as Fury looked down at his hand in silence before finally reaching out and shook the open hand.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do." Fury said tilting his head.

"By the way I'm done with the debris. It's a graphene titanium aluminide alloy. Good strength, low density. If you can replicate it, you could make more durable aircraft." Mikael said as he started walking towards the door.

"You're not interested in it?" Fury asked as he picked up the data pad.

"I already know how to make better." Mikael waved as he walked out of the room. Fury watched as Mikael disappeared down the hall and into the elevator. His brows furrowed as he looked back down at the pad in his hands where a single message flashed briefly before disappearing.

[You have a snake problem.]