12736/Somewhere in Newton, New York.

Somewhere in Newton, New York.
Date of Scene:	16 February 2021
Location:	Sub-Level 4, Newton AIM Facility and Research Lab
Synopsis:	Alexander does his job so awesomely, Skye and Nat are super impressed.
Cast of Characters:	Phobos, Black Widow (Romanoff), Quake

---

Phobos has posed:
    Above the ground the suburban village and renovated town of Newton had been an almost idyllic thing. With its lovely town center, and its eco-friendly design incorporating the facets of a green approach to architecture as well as an ergonomic tilt to the turn and twist of those small two lane roads that line the settlement. It had taken a few years, but the Artisanal Integration for Municipalities organization did a good job. Some would say they went above and beyond the efforts outlined in their contract.
    But they also went below.
    For beneath Newton, like a great webway spreading throughout the entire small town, there was a latticework of tunnels that allowed interconnection between a myriad of facilities that were used for research that was not /entirely/ unethical. Only mostly. Elaborate investigation into the depths of the mutant gene, as well as some curiousity exhibited about alien physiology. Yet as all roads led to Rome, here in Newton all the tunnels lead to Hive Epsilon 11. A twelve story underground bunker that took a crew of high-level operatives an hour to break through and render inert.
    A huge battle had been held, superhumans rushing hither and yon, robots and armed soldiers fighting them off as best they could. Until finally the power generator was destroyed, the assembly lines that were putting together battlebots went off line, and the heroes stood there. Victorious.
    Then left, of course, before cleaning up. A duty that was neither glamorous nor interesting. No, that duty was left for others. Agents of SHIELD at times. High level operatives who wanted a crack at the technology. And level 1 agents. Who had to catalog and clean. Which was not much fun.
    "Is this a hand or a foot?" Kelso asked as he held up the robot's twisted appendage, standing there in one of the large metal battle arenas, amidst the shattered computers and dead inorganics.
    Alexander Aaron, fresh out of training, looked up from where he was pulling a hard drive out of a case that was still somewhat smouldering looked up, peered. "I think that was a foot. One of those spider-bots. I think."
    "Hnh." Was Kelso's clever reply.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Sometimes people were around for both. The taking of the facility. Then the clean up. Or more precisely, follow-up to see if they can access information that might get them on the trail of the next target. It had taken months of work to find this one. The faster they started that investigation, the less days leading to the next target.

Natasha's SHIELD uniform was perfect. Clean. Actually, it was a fresh one. She had taken time to change. If she had not, then she there would've been a few cuts and scrapes visible. And she couldn't have that. Better to look as though nothing had hurt her. Which of course was intimidating for any of the AIM people who had been in the fight, to see the infamous Black Widow unscathed despite their best efforts. Psychological warfare at its basics.

She was standing with another agent, looking over a clipboard with information then giving a nod and moving on to continue her perusal of the scene.

Quake has posed:
Oh yes, Skye wanted a crack at it. Which was great because whether or not she was being sent there. She was probably one of the team's head honchos when it came to computers..

Of course, Skye hadn't had 'on the job' for a while, and even so, between getting used to her new body, and staying under the radar? She had been most often in break room, using her same old 'job', waiting for the green light to get ready.

In other words, she was bored, and this was perfect. Everyone expected her to be in it.

"You know, this is a treat." Said sarcastically.

Phobos has posed:
    There was still the occasional hiss, the softest of sizzles as some power supplies would finally slough off their excess heat loads and then the vulnerable metals would start to suffer. But a good amount of technological artifacts were recovered, some might even be useful.
    For the Level 1 Agents there in that particular arena, it was methodical work. Moving about the room, taking small readings with the data displays that they had on hand. Assuredly none of them knew exactly how the little doo-dad worked. It was held out, waved, and sometimes it would scan something that it would designate needing further investigation. Those objects were then bagged and tagged and already there was a neatly piled section of the room that had a stack of recovered hard drives, power supplies, undamaged weaponry, and other things that were remarkable for some reason... but unidentified. At least to the level 1s.
    Dressed in the black and grey kevlar armor of field agents, Agent Aaron and Agent Kelso were both moving through their allotted quadrant of the room while other pairs were still circulating. Kelso tilted his head to the side as he attached a small QR card to the side of the robot leg and checks its power-flow matrix to make sure it's inert before he lifts his voice. "Bet Nelson is already back at base slapping himself on the back and buying himself drinks."
    Which causes Alexander's smile to broaden slightly. "Probably. Guy earned his placement though. Top of the class." But, of course, that's when the Black Widow walks past. Just a small stroll by that causes the blond agent of that pair of level 1s to glance up and almost smile. Not quite. But almost.
    But then his attention was snared by a slight beep from the 'tri-corder' as the cadets had named it. He frowned and then nodded toward Kelso, "One sec, gotta take this one over."
    Straightening up from his half-kneeling posture, Alexander Aaron rose to his not so staggeringly considerable height and carried one of the items that the systems had flagged for highest level investigation by the senior agents on scene. Which right now... would be Johnson and Romanoff.
    After a few moments they might catch his approach, advancing with a lightly singed black box still flickering with small LEDs on one side of it. He advanced, then politely cleared his throat beside them.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Just be glad you're no longer a level one. Remember those days? Sifting through the rubble and having to bag-n-tag?" Natasha says to Skye, grinning over at the other woman. She nudged a robotic leg with her foot. It had already been checked over. They were making sure to walk in areas already cleared, so as not to compromise the searches.

"Although with your computer skills, you probably didn't end up with the grunt work quite as often," she muses. She noted the familiar face with Kelso as they passed but said nothing, did not acknowledge in the least. She and Skye made their way to their starting point, pausing to peruse the room again.

Which is when Agent Alexander Aaron approached.

Quake has posed:
"Actually, no. I was put on my own team, and reported to Fury.. wait, there was an occasional time I reported to May. I didn't do the cadet phase." Skye grinned. "He probably wanted to keep his eyes on me."

She walked along with Natasha.

Phobos has posed:
    "Excuse me, ma'am." As to who he was addressing it might be difficult to say as when he has their attention, Alexander's curious hazel eyes meet both of theirs in turn. A pale blond eyebrow lifts as he then says with a certain measure of calm. "This was one of the flagged objects?" That said he extends the black slightly octagonal box with its flickering LEDs forward.
    Once it's been established that that is why he's there, he then says. "Says we're to bring to the attention of team lead on site." Which, to be fair, could be either of them. Yet as he stands there he seems... calm. Entirely so.
    Which might be a rare thing considering the cache that Widow carries with her at all times. Not a flicker of stress can be seen in the agent's manner. Most usually betray some hint of anxiety. Whether it's through eye dilation. A swallow from a tight windpipe. Or even nostrils flaring. Yet Alexander? Naught.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Oh?" Natasha looks to see what is so important, brows lifting a bit in surprise. "Now that's a surprise." She reaches out a hand to take the black box, turning it a bit to examine each angle then giving it over to Skye.

"This is for you. Consider it a present from Level 1 Agent Aaron. If I was briefed correctly, this is one of the robot's black boxes. If handled properly, we should be able to access it's memory and hopefully it can give us some leads to the next AIM operation. Maybe even a lead to your friend who I have no doubt has her nasty little fingers in all this." Skye will know who that is.

She offers the box to the computer expert. "By the way, Agent Johnson, this is Agent Alexander Aaron. Agent Aaron, Level 5 Agent Johnson. Although we all know she has info that is well above her level even if we are supposed to pretend she doesn't." Said straight faced though it's obviously her teasing the other woman.

Quake has posed:
Skye makes a noise. "Ugh, how secret am I if you keep on telling the new ones." She wasn't pissed, in fact she kind of found it funny. It's true, some said she was into Level 9, and some said even higher. But she never said boo.

"Come to momma..Oh I can't wait to get my pretty little hands on you.." She looks up. "Agent Alexander Aaron? Nice to meet you. Was there anything else?"

Phobos has posed:
    At the introduction offered, Alexander's consideration settles on Skye and he gives a single nod to defer to the higher ranked agent. "Ma'am." He rests his hands behind his back and stands there not quite at attention, but more at rest ready to serve as needed until he's dismissed most likely.
    A look is given back to Natasha at the teasing and it causes him to quirk an eyebrow, but he does not elaborate or acknowledge it since humor is apparently beyond his pay grade. At least in such august company.
    Though at Skye's question his lips part for a brief moment as if about to add something. Then he takes a small breath, and curiously enough shoots a glance at Widow, then back behind him at Kelso. A brief internal argument is held and then he says quietly. "I... believe that the human operatives that AIM was using were surgically altered."
    Which is a curious conclusion to come to. He waits a beat before perhaps advancing further. As if still not sure if he should say something, but then he says. "The tricorder doesn't note elevated chemical levels. Yet also no increase in endorphins. They..." He clears his throat a little then adds, "Didn't feel any fear during the conflict. So the option left was surgically altered." A beat, then he looks at Widow again and adds, "Or I suppose they could have been mystically enhanced. But. That seems less likely." Considering AIM's hatred for magic.
    But then he realizes he talked for a bit more than he should and lowers his eyes slightly. "Ma'am." He says again.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Natasha knows both people in the conversation. She knows they both have special skills. Some of those are on paper or public knowledge. Others are more private. Sometimes even secret, such as the case of Agent Aaron.

Of course, they don't always know each others.

But that bit of information, though she knows where it came from, is highly interesting. "Altered? Be sure to send those readings directly to me. I'll pass them along." After making sure the cover of whre they came from was in place. After all, she was keeping his secret. Though of course Fury himself would be in the know about Alexander.

"Interesting theory. AIM has an issue with magic so surgically altered makes the most sense. But giving their troops that edge of having no fear, that's a game changer in conflicts."

Quake has posed:
Skye looked between the pair of them, but didn't say anything.

Phobos has posed:
    There's a nod that comes from the young agent and then he voices his response calmly, "Alright." Before he then adds, "Ma'am." That said he lowers his hand to the data display attached to the 'tricorder' and swipes a few fingertips over the surface of it, bringing that data streaming toward Widow and Skye's own devices. It just takes a few moments before the small green light flickers the acknowledgement of data transfer complete.
    After that the young man looks between them and takes a step back. "Unless there's anything else..." He glances back over toward Kelso who abruptly tries to look like he wasn't watching and gets back to work.
    "I'll return to the bagging and tagging." At that he finally gives a smile. Though a polite one.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"The C3 Master Unit should keep Agent Johnson busy for a while, once she gets a chance to poke at it," Natasha says to the pair, giving a slight grin to her fellow senior agent. Then she pauses as Alexander is about to return to his duties.

"You are just out of academy. This is probably your second or third assignment? What do you think of being an agent so far, Aaron?"

Quake has posed:
"If what you have said.." Skye began with a frown. She looks at Agent Aaron, then Natasha, giving a nod with her chin, as if to say, 'should I?'. "There is an enemy agent who would be very interested about these things - if she isn't already. I will have to look at this, and anything else pertaining to the memory. Either way it's not good."

She shushes and lets him respond.

Phobos has posed:
    Looking curiously at what Skye is saying, or rather perhaps what she might not be saying, Alexander does seem curious. But it's when Widow speaks that he finds himself drawn up short by the her asking him of his experience so far, the young agent returns to his at rest posture with hands behind his back and those hazel eyes focused upon her and her comrade. A brief glance between them and then he says steadily, "Seems like there's a lot of work to be done. But there's also a lot of people to lend a hand with it."
    A politick answer, though not an unfair one. He smiles a little though as if trying to show that the answer while perhaps seeming a bit safe might also be sincere as well.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Sometimes it helps throwing numbers at a problem. Other times, not so much. This is a perfect situation for lots of bodies to cover the ground more rapidly," Natasha says, nodding at the room in general. "Sometimes more covert is needed. Less is more. But you know that, of course. It was covered in your lessons." She arches a brow. Implying lesses that had nothing to do with SHIELD. Something he might pick up on but wouldn't be obvious to others.

"I don't know if that master unit will give us more than their movements. Maybe a location we can start from. If we are lucky, it saw something to do with this possibly surgical alteration of their agents. I think we'll end up with a lot more questions than answers."

Quake has posed:
"I think I was almost level three before I didn't want to escape." Skye makes a grimace. Anyone could ask around, and snoop, to find that out. The question is: why did she want to go, and why didn't she?

Skye asks him directly, "So.. do you like it?"

As for Natasha.. Quietly, "I don't need much, just a wedge into it. If she's looking, I'll be waiting."

Phobos has posed:
    For a moment the youth's eyes dance as he listens to what Natasha's saying, giving a single nod at the appropriate point when she's summing up at the end there. Then he turns and shifts his weight onto his back foot, shifting his stance enough to take in the view of that large metal arena where some of the world's mightiest heroes took on the forces of AIM and emerged victorious. He then looks back and answers her with a small nod.
    But it's when Skye addresses him that some hint of the icy controlled facade of the young blond man breaks. That smile appearing at the corner of his mouth seems to brighten his eyes as he replies. "Well yeah." He does like it. As if to say he wouldn't do it if he didn't. But then he adds, "I know my lot right now is fetching and carrying, but I've had a lot of practice." With a screaming Greek God of War yelling at him all the way as he carried buckets of water up and down the steps of a temple for days on end. So much fetching and carrying.
    Then back to Widow as he says, "I'm content with the honesty of it." Then he adds with a smaller smile, "Beats college."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I would think college would be better than this. Pretty sure it would have more drinking at least. More girls. Parties." Natasha focuses on what is known about university to most. Certainly there is learning but in truth, there is a lot of fun that is involved as well. "It's a time for bonding, getting to know others. I suppose that happens in the ranks of cadets to some extent but a very shortened time frame."

Quake has posed:
Sotto voce, "To those that can afford.." Skye may have a little bit of jealousy. But then again, she'd stayed here. Then again she'd never finished public school.

Phobos has posed:
    For a time the young agent's eyes narrow as he looks at Widow, then Daisy, then back again to Widow. It's a look that seems to say silently something along the lines of, 'Am I being punked?' but he wouldn't go so far as to say it. At least not on the job. Instead he answers Widow's observations with some of his own.
    "Financial aid these days is pretty good, but then there's the diploma mill aspect of it all." Likely he's done some small research into it.
    "It's definitely a different animal. But there things had a feeling of being... temporary. Here..." Hazel eyes shift away even as Kelso behind him shuffles a little closer trying to act all non-chalant as he examines a robot he had already examined, acting like he's not eavesdropping at all.
    "There is a feeling of import, and weightiness to one's actions?" The slight upward lilt to his words at the end offering insight that he's perhaps not entirely sure with his choice of words.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"That's the idea I've had from it. That it's more a mill to get a diploma than something most of these people will use in future careers. A few will have the degree to fall back on but most it will mean nothing years from now. It's confusing to me. I guess since I never did it. Maybe."

Natasha looks over to Skye. "I think you are far better off for not having gone. They would've tried to put you in a box. You don't do well in boxes."

Then her gaze shifts to Alexander but her voice lifts. "Would you like to join us, Agent Kelso?"

Quake has posed:
"Not exactly." Skye was very quiet, her usual way when she was working. "Fury picks out the best, from any walk of life." She should know it. "Always wear your pride, you deserve it."

Skye doesn't know precisely where Aaron comes from, or his background, but something tells her this much is true, and he needs to hear it.

Then Natasha speaks to her. "I guess? Maybe I would have two.. three weeks before one of us made it clear that I was not a candidate for university."

Phobos has posed:
    Agent Kelso abruptly drops the piece of robot torso he had been examining for the third time with a slight metallic crash on the ground, wincing at the sharp sound as he straightens up and looks over at Black Widow. "What? Pardon. Excuse me, ma'am. No ma'am. I'm good over here. Busy busy busy." He says as he clicks the tricorder to life again and starts a new scan all over. And, to his credit, he steps away starting to scan other objects he hadn't reached quite yet.
    As for Alexander he watches the small interplay between Skye and Natasha, listening curiously. When she mentions Director Fury, Natasha might notice how seemingly hard it is for Alexander to refer to the man by that title. "I agree. Director. Fury. Tries to do so." A nod is given as he stands there, looking between them and lifts his chin slightly, likely making sure there was naught else needed of him before he returns to his tasks at hand.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Three weeks?" That makes Natasha grin again. "I didn't give you that much. You'd have been skipping classes and hacking the dean's comuputer to fix everything."

As Kelso goes back to work, she says nothing else to him. Instead she looks back to Alexander, just in time to see the look on his face when he spaces out those words so carefully.

"You can get back to work, Agent Aaron. Unless there was something else you wanted to cover?"

Quake has posed:
"Oh.. you got me there!" Skye laughs.

Someone else notices Director Fury's name all spaced out. Skye.. who doesn't name him Director, just Fury. Sometimes boss.

Phobos has posed:
    A short shake of his head, "No, ma'am. I'll keep an eye out for anything similar to that hardware." The C3 command unit, of course.
    His head turns back toward Skye and he lowers his eyes slightly, "Good to meet you, ma'am." And with that he's backing away then turning to walk back towards his partner who looks up with curiousity clear on his features, though to his credit he doesn't ask any questions right now. Later is another thing, but now it's back to work.