At Every Turn (Always Mine Alternate Universe Stories)

Tuesday

Soon, we arrived in the town of Puente Antiguo. Brett drove out into the desert, where a makeshift base was set up. SHIELD always had a buttload of resources and equipment! I switched seats with one of the guys, worried I would be easily recognized by the agents assigned there. If they were transferred to the current base, a part of me had high hopes of running into my four best friends, Peyton, Sean, Vince, and Nicole.

"Casey, no matter what you do. Even trying to hide among us, they're gonna recognize you either way," Brett glanced at me for a bit and showed his badge to one of the agents standing guard at the gate.

"I know," I nodded. "It's the ex I'm most worried about running into."

"Just stay at my side at all times," Gunner suggested, wanting to help make me feel better.

"Even in the bathroom?"

"That'd be kinda awkward, don't ya think?"

The others started laughing a bit at our little joke. That second, we all put on our best poker faces as we showed our badges and identification before proceeding to the base.

As we exited the van individually, my former boss, Nick Fury, emerged from the makeshift building.

"Agent Armstrong," he nodded.

"Sir," I replied with a respectful nod.

Even though I was no longer a SHIELD agent, I was still considered an agent, no matter what.

I let Brett take over and talk with Fury about Stark's murder. It shocked me to find out Natasha was accused of it. Fury knew she was innocent and tasked her with finding the result.

We were led inside the base. At the computers, I spotted Vince seated at one of them. He turned on, seeing our group.

"Hey, hey, long time no see, Case," my hacker friend smiled as I approached him.

"What up, Vince?" I gave him a brief hug.

"Wish we met up under better circumstances."

"Me too."

"The others are around here somewhere. They'll be thrilled to see you. And by the way, didja get a load of that huge mallet yet?"

"What mallet?"

"Locals say it came out of nowhere. It fell out of the sky. Many folks tried lifting it off the ground like the sword in the stone, but neither could lift it."

"You mean Excalibur," Gunner pointed out.

"Yeah, that too," Vince nodded.

"Can we take a look at it?" Noya wondered, still curious as usual.

"Please?" Tarlo asked.

"Right this way," Phil nodded, leading the Bravebird siblings into the base.

Anything that appeared to be foreign or unearthly often intrigued Noya and Tarlo. Brett was so impressed with Noya's high deduction skills that he called her in. Tarlo tagged along at the advice of their uncle and older half-siblings, who all lived on the Blackfoot reservation. At times, I overhear the Bravebird brother and sister conversing with each other in the Blackfoot language whenever they talk about something personal to them. Even though I could understand their words, I still gave them respectful space. At first, Noya and Tarlo found it strange that I could easily understand Blackfoot, but they soon became close friends, knowing they could trust me not to say much to the others.

I decided to take a look at the mallet Vince had mentioned. Gunner agreed with me.

"If you see Craig, sock 'im for me," Vince said before returning to work on his computer.