On to Madripoor

[shield_topdog]

Nick sent out the orders. Meet on the flight deck at 0400.

The people who received the orders were Stack, Black, Discord and Logan.

He would be going with Black, Stack and Discord. Logan was his backup and his secret weapon.

He knew Viper was involved and there wasn't anyone better than Logan to bring along.

Comments

[shield_topdog]

Nick took a seat in the back of the transport next to Logan and as far away from the kids as possible. He wasn't in the mood for their crap.

He pulled two stogies out of a pocket, offered one to Logan and lit the other.

[canadianwildboy]

Logan was never one to pass up one of Fury's contraband cigars. "Interestin' bunch," he drawled as he struck a match on the bottom of his boot heel. Only wooden matches were good enough for these cigars. He could taste the difference. "Almost like I never left home."

[shield_topdog]

"Don't get me started," Nick warned. "I'd kill someone t' have Tasha back full time."

[canadianwildboy]

The mention of Natasha brought back her odd behavior and his assurance to Ben Grimm that he would mention it to Nick. If the Black Widow was having behavioral problems, they'd need help bringing her and SHIELD was good at that. Hell, they'd brought him in a number of times under suspicious circumstances. If he didn't quite trust Fury to do what was right, he did trust him to do what was best for the common good. Fury didn't throw away a weapon when it could be rehabilitated.

"About Tash," he said slowly, "she's been actin' weird. Blacked out an' tried to shoot me in that assassin game goin' on. Laughed it off, but she's not all right."

[shield_topdog]

"Sure ya didn't tick her off for some reason? You know she'd shoot someone for pissin' her off. The woman has one helluva temper on her."

Natasha did have a temper, but the thought of her losing some of her marbles concerned him. She was too dangerous to be running amok.

[canadianwildboy]

He shook his head. "She was gettin' ready t' tag me with a paint ball an' lost it. Grimm was there, he could tell ya. Had t' knock her out an' carry her out till she came to. If she was after me for real, she'd pick me off from a distance, all cold an' business-like. This woman had a hissy fit in my lap. Went for her gun in a bar."

[shield_topdog]

"I'll look into it when we get back."

An out of control Black Widow was a bad thing. Thankfully he had something to rein her in. He'd toss her ass in a suspension module if he had to.

[canadianwildboy]

"Don't tell her I told ya. She'll come after me for real." And try to make him sorry he said something, but he wouldn't be. She was too valuable, and too good a friend to just let go.

"Did ya invite me along t' babysit or what? Pretty small crew for what yer doin'."

[shield_topdog]

"The goal is t' get in an' out without much fuss. Viper's a head o' state an' this could cause me a lot o' grief if word gets out."

[canadianwildboy]

"She'll take it outta my hide if she gets the chance. The lovin' ex-wife act gets old fast." For a second, the skin between his knuckles on both hands tingled. "Yer sister, yer plan."

[shield_topdog]

"Yer gonna keep her off balance while we sneak in."

[canadianwildboy]

"I hit a bar, see a few people, an' she'll be gunnin' for me before I pay my tab. 'Specially if I start with the Princess Bar. Tyger'll broker the info before I take a seat at the bar." Sometimes everybody knowing his name cut into his quality drinking time.

[shield_topdog]

Nick nodded. "Exactly."

[canadianwildboy]

Now they just had to hope it worked. Given the collection of agents on the transport, Viper might ignore him all together in favor of the circus act coming to town.