Widow's Shadow

VI: Thriller

January 16 2027

Istanbul, Turkey

Hours have gone by, hours of eyes glued to the indefinite information that runs on thin trails that are carved like the cracks of a tree. A tree that's roots intertwine with the foundation of the earth's database. A system of secrets that shares thick walls with truths, lies, justice and betrayal. Like a room, they connect, one touches the other. A lie could serve as justice but could also serve as betrayal, and a truth can become betrayal. One can never be one, like fingerprints on wet cement.

Laptop screens gave off a bright reflection of light onto the irises of the beholders and handwritten notes were scattered amongst their workspace. Scribbles, pictures, circles, arrows. All jumbled in a way that only the writer can decode. Cups of coffee empty and laid unbalanced on the carpet, its contents only a ring of dried liquid.

Sounds of fingers tapping on keyboards and pens stroking soft, lined paper suffocated the air around them. Its constant, ongoing noise becoming unbearable. Natasha sighed. "Got anything interesting?"

James sat up, his hair messy from laying too long. "Marlisa, like we already knew, is clean. Her fellow employees however aren't."

Natasha, slouched on the one-seater, sat up to the new-found information. "Go on."

"It took some time to look into her team but I found enough to know that for someone who went to Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, she didn't major in things like engineering or natural sciences."

"If Stark's system couldn't find out what her major was than how did you?" Curiosity on the tip of Natasha's tongue.

"Because her major doesn't exist in the university's listing. Look," He stood up and walked to her, she too got up and let him sit on the one-seater. Natasha now on his lap as James pointed at a small paragraph. "This is the list of majors in KIT, I took this list and by using our trustee database I searched up what students took what majors or classes." A familiar face suddenly popped up on the screen.

"Wait stop." The screen froze, a picture of a brunette-haired woman with light blue eyes and a small mole under her eye filled the screen." "Run an analysis through the database, scan to compare her to Marlisa." James tapped the screen a few times, the photo now being scanned with Marlisa's. 82% similar. "There she is." Natasha's finger on the picture.

"She's always been in the system, but under a different name. Marlise Jäger."

"Hunter. How boring, who'd choose such a plain last name?" Natasha sounded disappointed. "How did we get info that she did go to KIT if her actual name was never in?"

James typed in a few letters, coding to get through to her information. James furrowed his brows, obviously thinking about her question.

"Don't kill yourself." She said with a smirk growing on her face.

New information popped up on the screen, his eyes scanned the boxes. "Because she graduated as both Marlise and Marlisa. One was a cover up and the other was official. Marlise, not a shocker, graduated as a natural sciences major. It's a typical major to graduate with, nothing suspicious. But," Now Marlisa and Marlise's profile were beside each other. "Marlisa is listed as confidential."

"She was part of a secret program in KIT." Natasha thought out loud, her fingers resting under her nose and covering her mouth. "Now we have a better reason to go check it out."

James shut the laptop. "Let's go to college." He smiled as he kissed her lips softly, grabbing her waist.

Somewhere over the west of Austria

The hum of the quinjet over the rush of wind and the puff of clouds helped Natasha and James focus on their mission ahead. Outlines of cities and fields took over their view, God's beautifully constructed creations living above and below them. The sun was getting lower and the sky was changing its shade from light blue to light yellows and pinks. A painting came to life from outside the glass that separated them.

Buttons of every color blinked over the dashboard, as if communicating with each other as a form of team work. Natasha's hands gripped on the control wheel, keeping the aircraft on track.

"You know," James cleaning and loading his weapons, the sound of guns and snipers clicking into place made Natasha turn. "The quinjet is smart enough to fly itself."

"I like to have control." She said, returning her gaze to the pastel skies.

"If I had a dime for every time you said that." James sat in the seat that neighbored hers.

"Then don't ask."

"Ouch, do you need another nap?" James said as he nudged her.

"Do you need a bullet in your head?" Natasha smirked.

"Glad to see you're in a sarcastic mood." James adjusted himself in his seat. "We're all set up, hotel room reserved, weapons cleaned and loaded, fake IDs and clothes in duffle 2 and a 3D map of KIT that goes roughly around 30.625 meters below ground level, which is five stories."

Natasha tilted her head. "Five stories huh?" her eyes still on the setting sun. "Like a whole other university below their feet. Do you think KIT is involved?"

"I think there are some who know of its existence, some who have to keep it hidden."

"A program that needs five stories, what are they doing down there?" Natasha was silent for a few moments, her eyes widen at an idea. "James?"

James turned his attention to her, Natasha put the quinjet on autopilot and rotated her chair to face his. "Remember what The Merchant said about Marlisa?"

"The Winter Soldier initiative." His face emotionless.

"What if they've been experimenting on creating super soldier assassins right under KIT? Five stories would be more than enough for testing and bringing it to life." Natasha kept her eyes on James, his body language stiff and his jaw clenched. "It's the only thing that makes sense. "Yasha, what if..." Natasha shook her head. "I think I should go in alone."

James jolted in his seat. "I'm not letting you go in alone." Natasha got out of her seat and knelt down before James, her hands intertwined in his. "If they are attempting to create more soldiers then you are the key. A strand of hair or a drop of blood can be enough for them to be one step closer to achieving their goals but if...if they get you then...then we could be seeing a super soldier army burning down the world."

"I know you can handle this on your own but it'll take double the work rather than me helping." James lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I'll always be beside you, no matter the danger or the threat."

As much as Natasha wanted to win this conversation she knew James would never let her jump into anything without him. They work better together than apart, a well-oiled machine.