Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 83: Fortress in the Sky

Chapter Eighty-Three

Fortress in the sky

Milky Way Galaxy

Sol System

Nine Realms / Planet Earth

Apparently, even in a non-emergency situation the corridors of the Helicarrier were filled with busy agents. None of them even spared them a second glance. It was strange to be invisible without actually being invisible.

The same scent was everywhere; metal, plastic, gunpowder and sweat. It felt like it was seeping into her clothes and skin. The air felt cleaner even on the inside because of the high altitude, but it was also more... lifeless in a way.

'Stark, all Avengers are off the perimeter,' she could hear through the comm-link.

'Thank you, Captain,' Tony replied. 'Your part is done then.'

'I trust you with this,' Steve continued. 'Don't do anything stupid.'

'When have I ever?' Tony asked. Steve snorted.

'You want the list in alphabetical or chronological order?' he asked in return.

From his tone it sounded like Tony was smiling. 'We got it from here, Cap. Just get everyone to stay put.'

'Tower's locked down,' Steve said. 'Good luck.'

'Let's get this show on the road,' Tony said after a moment. 'Everything's ready, radio silence until we're in.'

None of them answered, but there was no need for it. They all knew what to do next.

The main bridge was just as full with life as the corridors and of course right in the middle stood Nick Fury, tall and dark, a commanding presence. He turned around without his long coat making a sound. Truly, only spies must have had this skill. She did not understand the function of the coat though... it seemed to... redundant.

'Agent Romanoff,' Fury greeted. 'You're back sooner than expected.'

His eye immediately moved behind her though, narrowing a little.

'You, I did not expect to see here again, Agent Barton,' he said.

'It's not a social call,' came the easy reply. Fury didn't react to the borderline disrespectful tone.

'What is it then?' Fury asked. 'I can already guess why Rogers might have called you.'

Because he swore Tony that he would help if he could, and he did not go back on his word.

'It's better if I show you,' she told Fury and reached into her jacket pocket for the tiny flash drive. She casually strolled up next to the director and pushed it into the closest slot.

It only took a few moments for the screens and monitors to react all around the room, new lines of text the place of the previous data. The whole bridge roused like an ant hill poked with a large stick... or a sledgehammer. This was easier than expected.

Nick Fury immediately swirled around, his coat flapping this time, like the wings of a big angry bird. So the coat was probably for... dramatic effect.

'Sir, we lost all control over the Helicarrier, whatever this is, it's going through our firewalls like it's tissue paper,' one of the agents yelled. 'We've never seen anything like this!'

'What the hell is this?' Fury asked, angry already. 'Romanoff!'

She gave him a blank look and walked back to her previous spot by the door, her back to the wall. All the agents were running around desperately trying to get control back, it was an amusing sight.