Caught in the Undertow

Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.

-fieldagentellis

She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.

Compromised?

She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face

Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!

The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.

"Mm. I'm sure they've had more exciting guests in here before," He knew they had. Bancroft would have been in one of these cells before being transferred to the Raft.

Marco let out a sigh of relief, some of the tension relaxing from his posture as the lighting lowered. Sure, he couldn't see as great in it as he could with his powers, but it helped all the same. It had the added bonus of making any sudden lighting change more harsh if he lost control and they needed to stop Erebus.

Still, he couldn't help the brief look of concern that crossed his face as Kristi sat within easy reach.

She's right there.

Marco found himself reaching out and paused. Slowly, he drew his hand back and sat with both arms wrapped around his knees instead to keep them both still and visible.

"I don't-" he started, frowning. Not entirely true, he knew what happened to him, but not the why. So he started again, speaking slowly as he tried to concentrate.

"There was a call, for potentially dangerous new powers. We - myself, Hartell and a few others - were asked specifically because Training and Integration is my department..." it still felt weird saying that. "...and because it was time sensitive. The report was for fire powers, in Australian bush. Which Hartell was rather concerned about once he got the intel."

Marco didn't know a lot about the area, so he'd just taken his friend's word for it. "It seemed a little... coincidental that it was so close to where he'd grown up, but it's not something impossible," he shrugged. He hesitated then, closing his eyes as he tried to focus. "It took some time to locate the person. He didn't respond when I called out, so I went closer. What bothered me was that he was SHIELD. In uniform. The report mentioned no such thing. He was also an old friend of Hartell's..."

He grew tense again as he recalled the scene. "I went closer to check the ID the guy was wearing, but it wasn't his own. It was- It had-" He wasn't going to repeat the words on the back of the ID, too worried it would make fighting Erebus harder.

Marco shook his head, trying to clear his mind of unwanted scenes; memories Ray had helped start to uncover.

So she sat still, and she listened.

She frowned quite a lot, to be sure, as he described the mission and how things had started to connect in his mind and yeah, he should have been bothered by all of it. It made sense that his team was called to respond but she'd have a word with Fury (and with Marco when all this was well past) about her sense of offense that a fire power was the subject and they hadn't called her in.

But, again this wasn't about her even if that was a logical point. And from what he was saying, she wouldn't have been welcome, she would have gotten in the way of the goal: Re-awakening Erebus. Damn them.

She nodded as he straightened his hair. "I gotta say, I agree. That all…all of it…sounds a little too weird and coincidental, and I don't think any of you did anything wrong." She sighed, gesturing just a little with one hand. "It seems to me that you were intentionally put in the wrong place at the wrong time for a very wrong reason, and what could you possibly have done? You followed procedure, you went in good faith to help someone and try to prevent a situation. You were doing what you're supposed to do, and that makes it even more shitty."

The fairy started doing the old 'mime against a glass wall' routine inside the ball of light.

With another gesture, the light reformed as a thin barrier between himself and Kristi. Despite its appearance, she would find it quite solid if touched. "I can choose who -or what- passes through. Ray here has helped me work it out better. It can block certain people, as well as powers."

Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.

-fieldagentellis

She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.

Compromised?

She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face

Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!

The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.

"Listen. I'm going to go in there, and I don't want or need anyone in there with me. If you can please have Hazel send down something light for him. Pot of tea, some fruit, whatever she'd send to the medical ward." She took a breath and eyed the former Director.

He had no idea how well the two knew each other, but thought it was better to give some sort of warning so it wasn't a surprise, should they cross paths (which was likely to happen at some point).

He sighed. "I'm not going to stop you," we both know I can't anyway. "Perhaps you want to start by helping question the 'bait' agent later? He's a fire hazard and might need a little cooling down-" he called after Kristi.

Marco knew who was there. He knew the voice, the footsteps. He didn't immediately turn though, instead remaining facing the wall as he listened.

Part of him wanted to, wanting the familiar comfort. The other part was scared Erebus would push him to lash out and harm her. She was an agent after all.

No guards? He certainly didn't hear any follow her footsteps in, at least.

Marco shifted, being careful not to make any sudden movements as he turned and sat facing Kristi, back leaning against the wall. No need to spook whoever was likely outside watching.

"...bit risky, isn't that?" he asked. There was a hint of a smirk to show he was still Marco, friendly teasing and all. Although clearly exhausted, but that was hardly new when he was focused on work.

Technically, they were at work. At least in the building. However, Marco himself was not on the clock. There was a brief moment of guilt when he realised Kristi had probably just left her work to come down to see him, but he quickly put it aside.

Don't focus on that part.

Instead, Marco chose to put aside his usual, distant work personality. It was both to show Kristi he was currently still the Marco she knew and because it felt easier to focus on their personal relationship when Erebus was a running commentary in the back of his mind, trying to remind him of the old orders.

"It doesn't feel right," he admitted quietly, glancing down at the inhibitor bracelet on his wrist. "I've spent... so long with the shadows, it just feels... wrong. Too bright."

She waited for Ray to shut the door to the hallway before she spoke. Although, this place being what it was, someone or something was always listening. But Owen didn't need to know that. "Father...I know we've gently danced around it in the couple of talks we've had. ...Yes, I work here. I'm a researcher in the Biology and Science department. My research specialty...that I used to get my PhD...is genetics of differently-abled or 'superpowered' people." She shrugged slightly. "Being one myself, it fascinates me. And I personally want to help people like...me...to understand how their gifts work, how to test them, to use them and be in control. To not be afraid. And maybe someday answer the question of why we got them in the first place." She wiggled the fingers of her free hand in the air and a small misty form coalesced between them, of a tiny winged fairy. It hovered in the air, and waved cheekily at the priest. "Father Owen, I can tell you that my studies and my abilities are complicated, but I can control water. From this little bit of water vapor that I can animate, to...an insane amount of liquid like it's nothing. And for whatever reasons, I can feel where water is, I can swim as deep as I want, I can see in the dark like I have sonar, the cold doesn't bother me and I can breathe just fine down there. I'm pretty strong, and some of the SHIELD higher-ups had...have...serious concerns about me. But I only want to help people, whether they have gifts or not."

Genetic research? The priest went to speak, but then stopped, choosing to listen patiently instead. He was glad he did, when she explained. She was gifted too and wanted to help.

He shrugged his own shoulders. "God has his reasons for why," he simply said. He didn't feel the need to question that, but he understood some didn't think the same way and some even felt comfort in working to understand such things.

"Oh," was about all he managed as he watched the little fairy, both caught up watching it and processing the information she was giving him. He suddenly found himself wondering exactly what it was she had come to talk about the first time they'd met in the church, knowing SHIELD and abilities were involved in Kristi's life.

It didn't matter right now though.

"...it's beautiful," he said quietly, smiling softly at the fairy.

He was quiet for a moment before he refocused on Kristi, looking over at her. "After... passing out."

He took a slow breath, focusing on the water fairy. He extended a hand towards it, palm facing it. After a moment, a small, transparent bubble formed around the fairy, seeming to be made up of a white light.

The fairy started doing the old 'mime against a glass wall' routine inside the ball of light.

“Me?  I’m doing well enough.  I wanted to call and check in on you and Gruber.  I promised Clay I’d do a couple things for him and I’m trying to keep my promises.  I wanted to ask…do you think it’d be possible for me to come down and visit you both for a little while on Halloween?  I know it’s short notice but I won’t stay long, I just need to do this for him.”

“Ok, I will allow a séance but I draw the line at raising him from the dead as a zombie or a ritualistic sacrifice of any kind. I just had the carpets shampooed and I’m not dealing with goat blood again this year.”

"I promise," she chuckled, "no sacrifices. No raising, no voodoo. I just want to do this for him. It'd be nice to meet you, too. "

But she cleared the vitriol away and listened, her senses picking up on his pulse again (slight struggle of tiredness perhaps) and she didn't need to use anything special to detect Ray's energy.

"I was trying to understand..." the priest said quietly, wearing a solemn expression. "It was apartment building a ...former parishioner lived in. Apparently, he was struggling. I was trying to understand why..." he trailed off and shook his head, too tired to focus on such a heavy topic.

He sighed and ran a hand over his tired face.

Ray frowned as he listened, looking away as he focused on not accidentally picking up on Owen's emotions.

She waited for Ray to shut the door to the hallway before she spoke. Although, this place being what it was, someone or something was always listening. But Owen didn't need to know that. "Father...I know we've gently danced around it in the couple of talks we've had. ...Yes, I work here. I'm a researcher in the Biology and Science department. My research specialty...that I used to get my PhD...is genetics of differently-abled or 'superpowered' people." She shrugged slightly. "Being one myself, it fascinates me. And I personally want to help people like...me...to understand how their gifts work, how to test them, to use them and be in control. To not be afraid. And maybe someday answer the question of why we got them in the first place." She wiggled the fingers of her free hand in the air and a small misty form coalesced between them, of a tiny winged fairy. It hovered in the air, and waved cheekily at the priest. "Father Owen, I can tell you that my studies and my abilities are complicated, but I can control water. From this little bit of water vapor that I can animate, to...an insane amount of liquid like it's nothing. And for whatever reasons, I can feel where water is, I can swim as deep as I want, I can see in the dark like I have sonar, the cold doesn't bother me and I can breathe just fine down there. I'm pretty strong, and some of the SHIELD higher-ups had...have...serious concerns about me. But I only want to help people, whether they have gifts or not."

Nothing else beyond the signature and a detention cell number. It came along with an old ID, named 'Erebus', but very clearly a 20-something year old Marco. His old HYDRA ID, with trigger words written on the back.

-fieldagentellis

She got the message on her department chat that something had been dropped off while she was delivering a report to R&D, so she stopped at the main desk when she returned. The note made her stop physically and mentally for a long moment, perhaps her heart as well.

Compromised?

She turned the note over for more context. Nothing. Then she looked at the worn badge and the blood rushed again. She turned back and jogged out into the corridor, gaining speed as she headed to the detention level with a sick feeling in her gut. Most just got out of her way when they heard the footfalls coming up fast or saw the look on her face

Compromised. Fuck. Marco, sweetheart, what happened?!

The guard station attendant looked over the note she'd offered and told her to wait there. When he turned his back and opened the detention block door, she shifted form to a dissipated shimmer of water vapor and followed him silently, reforming behind him at arm's length when he called out the Director's name at the noted cell.

"First of all, that guard didn't know I followed, don't be too mean. I thought there were supposed to be two on the desk at all times," she said quietly. "And of course I'm not gonna wait, you knew that when you sent these."

She held up the note and ID card as she made note of Marco's pulse, feeling the rush of the blood through his system. "Compromised. By who? And is Hartell okay? What the hell happened, Nick? I thought his conditioning had been countered."

"Of course. After last time, I figured it was better to get you in sooner."

As in, before she stormed in telling him off for the 'abandoned' HYDRA base mission Fury had approved and gotten involved in. That and he wasn't entirely sure just how serious the situation was.

He sighed.

"That's what we need to find out. They only got back a few hours ago."

Fury paused and glanced over at Marco 'sleeping'. "Hartell was certain Ellis was still fighting it when he was hit. He escaped with bruising and a blood lip," Fury reassured her. "We thought we'd found all the triggers. Ellis volunteered arrest because he didn't want to risk us being wrong." Again.

"Listen. I'm going to go in there, and I don't want or need anyone in there with me. If you can please have Hazel send down something light for him. Pot of tea, some fruit, whatever she'd send to the medical ward." She took a breath and eyed the former Director.

At minimum about 4.5 thousand people liked this without reblogging it.

Decorator Crabs are multiple species of crabs who use corals, sponges, urchins, anemones, sea fans, and other marine organisms as self-decoration. This (glamorous) camouflage allows them to blend in with their environments and avoid predators.

And that’s not all! some of these dapper fucks have learned to use camouflage as weaponry, draping themselves in glamorous green boas toxic foul-tasting seaweeds, or arming themselves with stylish anemones, urchins and even jellyfish that give predators a nasty ZAP! Some species have even figured out how to hunt this way.

in conclusion, this delightful little dandy is wearing a sea sponge as a sombrero!

☕️☕️☕️🫖🍵🍵🍪

Pause all dread and catastrophe to have a cuppa and some cookies for the next 15-30 minutes