The Secret Avengers

Allies Found, Allies Revealed

If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom.

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The purple arrow flew straight, erupting into a net, and wrapping itself around the moving target and grinding its gears to a quick halt. The archer turned and released two more arrows, one striking the base of one target and exploding into a hard congealed mess of purple foam. The final target struck and sent out a large electrical shock, deactivating every machine in the training facility.

"That's enough Kate!" Sam Wilson's voice bellowed over the microphone. "Before you waste the whole training room."

"That's just three little arrows." Kate smiled from behind her sunglasses. "Clint says I can have the bigger ones later."

"He's in the armory right now. He brought you something." Sam's voice said.

"Thank you, Sir." Kate grinned and bolted out of the training facility.

>>>

Three Weeks Earlier

Yelena looked through her night vision goggles, following John Walker as he entered the rundown warehouse on the docks of New Orleans. "What are you up to, John Walker?" Yelena whispered to herself, as a short man with a ruined face stepped into the light under the door.

"Rumlow, you got my package?" Walker asked. His voice was deep and full of malice.

"Yeah, she was easy to get, really easy." Brock Rumlow laughed. Then he reached back and pulled Valentina Allegra de Fontaine into the ugly yellow light. Yelena gasped softly at the condition of the woman. She was gagged and her normally immaculate hair was loose and falling in weak strands around her face. She had two black eyes, and even from three hundred yards away, Kate could see the fear in the woman's eyes.

"We also have the money, and the weapons we need to get away with this, Walker." The voice belonged to a beautiful blonde wearing a long black trench coat and combat boots.

"Sharon Carter?" Yelena's voice was loud in her own ears, and she watched through the goggles as John Walker's eyes turned to look at her.

>>>

"This came to the farm, Kate." Clint handed her a small USB drive and pulled her into a hug. "How's training going? What is that thing?"

"I'm not sure, maybe it's from my mom?" Kate answered, pulling out of the hug, and twirling the small device around in her fingers. She looked over at the wall and saw a lone computer monitor. Her eyes looked down at the device again and she walked forward.

"Go ahead Hawkeye, plug her in." Clint encouraged, then, walked towards the exit. "I'll give you some privacy."

>>>

Kate stood in front of the monitor, her fingers trembling as she inserted the drive into the port and waited as the information loaded. She stood there, eyes transfixed on the screen. A large grin broke out on her face as Yelena's features filled the screen, then it slowly faded as she noticed a faded bruise on the left side of the woman's face.

"Kate Bishop!" Yelena said with a smile. "I need your help. Just you, none of your other Avenger friends." Yelena's voice took on a serious tone. "If you don't come alone, I will disappear before you even arrive." Kate's eyes traveled to the door, then back to the screen. "Please Kate Bishop. I really need someone I can trust."

>>>

"Sam." Kate started, taking a deep breath, and trying to relax. "I need--I need a temporary leave of absence."