SHADOW [BOOK 2]

CHAPTER 1

STEVE ROGERS
INDIAN OCEAN

I stood on the plane in a stealth suit next to Natasha and Connor. Connor was wearing a new and update version of his Vibranium suit that was now a dark gray rather than a black. He lost the hood of the suit and opted for a more practical and tactical outfit, similar to mine, but full-body. "Target is a mobile satellite launch platform, the Lemurian Star. They were sending up their last payload when pirates took them, 93 minutes ago." Rumlow explained as I looked at the computer screen.

"Any demands?" I asked him. "Billion and a half." He answered. "Why so steep?" I questioned. "Because it's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s." Rumlow stated. "So it's not off-course. It's trespassing." I said looking at Connor and down at Romanoff. "I'm sure they have a good reason." Reeds voiced. "You know, I'm getting a little tired of being Fury's janitor." I told Romanoff. "Relax. It's not that complicated." Reeds sounded. "How many pirates?" He added.

"25. Top mercs led by this guy. Georges Batroc. Ex-DGSE, Action Division. He's at the top of Interpol's Red Notice. Before the French demobilized him, he had 36 kill missions. This guy's got a rep for maximum causalities." Rumlow explained. "He won't be a problem anymore after I'm through with him." Reeds voiced.

"Hostages?" I asked ignoring Reeds comment. "Oh, mostly techs. One officer. Jasper Sitwell. They're in the galley." He explained. "What's Sitwell doing on a launch ship?" I asked. "All right, Reeds and I are gonna sweep the deck and find Batroc. Nat, you kill the engines and wait for instructions. Rumlow, you sweep aft, find the hostages, get them to the life-pods, get them out. Let's move." I ordered.

"S.T.R.I.K.E., you heard the Cap. Gear up." Rumlow stated. "Secure channel seven." I said into the mic. "Seven secure." Natasha responded. "What Red-head said." Reeds stated standing next to the door. "Did you do anything fun Saturday night?" Nat asked me. "Well, all the guys from my barbershop quartet are dead, so, no, not really." I answered. "You know, if you ask Kristen out, from Statistics, she'd probably say yes." Reeds told me walking to the open door. "That's why I don't ask." I answered. "Too shy, or too scared?" Romanoff asked. "Too busy!" I said walking off the ramp.

CONNOR

"Was he wearing a parachute?" A soldier asked. "No. No, he wasn't." I said with a smirk. "And neither am I." I added. "Hey, Romanoff." I called out walking backwards down the ramp. She looked at me. "Maybe later, you and I can get a drink." I said. "Depends." She stated. "On what?" I asked. "If you survive." She said with a smirk. I returned the smirk with a scoff before nodding. "Oh, I'll survive, Red-head." I said before dropping off the ramp and soaring towards the ship below.

I flipped through the air before landing on the ship, rolling to my feet. I grabbed the guard in front of me and slammed a knife into his neck. I dropped him to the floor before throwing the knife to my right and hitting a man square in the face without looking. I walked down the side of the ship before snapping the neck of a man turning the corner. He fell to the floor as I pulled out a silenced-Colt and shot the man to my right in the shadows. The sound of a body falling sounded behind me as I heard gunshots.

"Well, I guess the element of surprise is gone." I said. "Sorry." Nat said. "Eh. Don't worry, sweetheart. I've been itching to make some noise." I said before rounding a corner to see a group of armed mercenaries. "Boys." I announced pulling out the two Desert Eagles. They raised their guns at me and fired.

"IT'S REAPER!!!" One of them yelled. I brought up the two hand cannons and fired the guns into each and every one of their skulls. I felt pain in the back of my head when someone tried to hit me with the butt of their rifle. I looked over my shoulder and looked at the lone man. "Really? You're holding a fucking gun and you decided to hit me with it?" I asked him. "You deserve to die." I added before jamming the barrel of the gun under his chin and pulling the trigger. "Connor?" Nat sounded. I sighed. "Sorry. Force of habit. My bad. You didn't deserve to die...completely." I said to the dead corpse before walking away. "That makes me feel slightly better." Cap voiced. "Red-head where are you?" I asked. "Engine room." She answered. "On my way." I stated.