The Infinity Stones

New Enemy

"IF I EVER SEE YOUR SLIMEY FACE AROUND HERE AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE BAD FOR YOU! NOW. GET. OUT."

George Marchetti grabbed his sore jaw and was immediately whisked away by the guards in the room. The dragged him out of the room down the hallway. They brought him into a blank office and shut the door behind them.

"You need to return your things," The guards commanded. "Lay them out on the table."

He returned the uniform, throwing it on the table. He removed the equipment he was carrying for the mission and placed it down next to the lump of clothing. He stood there in a white shirt and shorts, waiting for what felt like hours.

The doorknob finally turned, revealing his Captain, Fred Martin behind the door. He stood there, stone faced as the guards motioned him in. Captain Martin tossed some civilian clothes at him, "Level with me, Marchetti."

He hurriedly put on the clothes as Captain Martin closed the door behind him, the guards remaining.

"In my twenty years of service, I have never seen someone as insubordinate as you."

George sighed, "Captain—"

"You are not to interrupt me," he cut off. "I have seen many with potential come through these halls. Never have I seen someone with so much potential, squander it as fast as you did."

George nodded, that was all he could do.

"I mean— are you stupid? You busted your butt for this opportunity and you just threw it out the window. And the window overlooked the ocean, and then a shark snatched up that opportunity and devoured it. Then it defecated the opportunity back out to be digested by ocean microbes that eat shit."

George grimaced at the extended analogy, "May I speak?"

"No, you may not," he stated. "You were going to be the best of us. Help us return the stones for this country's sake."

He grunted, stuck his hand out, "Goodbye, Marchetti. Maybe the future has us working together again."

As George took Captain Martin's hand, he felt something slide into the sleeve of his shirt. Captain Martin turned slowly, George catching a twinkle of something in his eye. He exited the room, and George spotted an ear piece and mission watch set tucked into his sleeve.

He subtly put in the ear piece, hearing a feminine voice from the inside, "Do you copy? I repeat for the 50th time, do you copy?"

He recognized the voice instantly, it was Hannah Moore, from communications. Professionally they were co-workers, but outside of work they could be considered friends.

"Let's go, Marchetti," the guard commanded.

"Yes," he responded to Moore while trying to play it off like he was talking to the guard.

"Good. Marchetti, I'm going to be throwing a lot of information at you fast, I'm assuming that you're listening, don't respond or cover will be blown."

He was led out of the room as Moore continued speaking.

"Captain Martin and I are entrusting you to this task. They're going to kick you out of the base and send you in a golf cart back to the train. Once you're at the train, you're going to have to knock out the guard standing there. There's a shift change, so you need to be fast. Program the train to station #4439 and get in. We need you to get to Talladega. Captain Martin and I will meet you at The Pine for karaoke night."