can't get my way so i'm so pissed off
Don't think I'll ever be over the fact that Cap 3: Civil War doesn't have Maria at all, let alone as a major player.
*grumps*
Anyway, here, have a ficbit:Alan had nothing much on the supersoldiers’ new base of operations. “Somewhere between Lithuania and their destination, they split up and changed transport. We found the trucks in Seville, in use by a transport company that doesn’t have any apparent ties. We’re digging deeper. Also, you cut me off last night just as I was asking how everything was going.”
“I was busy.” Maria skimmed the summary of the report from the Zentrum labs. “And I’m still alive.”
“The Abomination is still alive,” Alan pointed out. “Technically, anyway. So that’s a non-answer unparalleled. Are you going to make me read the report from Fine?”
“Are you even authorised?”
“I could apply.”
“We’re not seeing each other anymore, Alan.”
“Did you remember the part where I said you’re hard on the people who care about you?”
“The rest of them aren’t obvious about it.” Maria sighed.
“So we’re okay so long as nobody knows?”
The question had an edge - not surprising, given how their relationship had ended. Alan, however, was valuable among her exes, in that he’d remained friends, even in his disappointment. It had, she reflected, become something of a joke between them - although, given his comment, maybe not as much of a joke as she’d thought. “Alan.”
“I’ll do you a deal,” he said. “Give me the short version of Fine’s report and I’ll leave the topic alone.”
Maria sighed. If Rogers was a mother hen steamroller, then Alan was a ferret - he could get into just about anything with a little effort and the careful application of charm. It was one of the things that she’d found so attractive back in the beginning. “Short version: I’m fine. Slightly longer version: I’m not turning into a supersolder - no appreciable difference in strength or skill, no improved information processing or insight. In short, I have a molotov cocktail of bichemicals in my body, and they’re doing nothing.”
“Except causing blackouts and fainting spells.”
“Actually, none of those lately either.” Just the dreams, although more fragmented, less lucid.
“So the net result is, ‘I got shot up with supersoldier serum, and I all I got were a lousy bunch of medical tests’.”
“Pretty much. I’m back on duty - no heavy machinery, no missions. Desk only. And if I’m a good girl for the next three weeks then I get a pat on the head and the chance to drive myself home.”
“Just what every Deputy Director wants.” Alan murmured. “So, this is the sound of me dropping the topic of your health - at least until I have cause to be concerned again.”
“And I repeat, ‘We’re not seeing each other anymore.’”
“For an intelligent woman, you’re can be increadibly obtuse, Maria. Caring about someone isn’t just about sex. At least, not for most of us mere mortals.”
“You said you’d drop the topic.”
“I did,” he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders on the screen. “Okay, try this on for size. We need to talk about the personnel pull for Insight. With all the sociopolitical crises bubbling in Middle East, and spilling over the Eastern borders, we need at least a couple of competent techs in Europe. Salesh can’t handle everything in his region, even with India to hand, and Asia’s still recovering from losing Jyuuk. He kept the national hotheads from going at each other instead of the enemy.”
Maria knew - she’d been in more than a few meetings when Jyuuk managed to haul back on the reins.
“I thought it didn’t matter where they were as long as they had access to the net.”
“Nice propaganda if you can get it. Tell that to the tech who’s been woken up at 4am Eastern Time to do work at 9am in Central European time. Tell that to the boss who’s managing the tech in US time who’s been woken up at 4am Eastern to do work in Europe.”
Maria scrolled through the list, noting the shorthand of who could do what, as well as the languages and experience they had in S.H.I.E.L.D and the various installations around the world. “I can put a word in, Alan, but if Xima’s been calling them in because they have Circle One skills, then my hands are tied. Fury, Pierce, and the World Security Council are fully behind Insight and what it can do, and nothing I can say against it is going to make a difference.”
Alan snorted. “Anything you can do to stem the flow of techs would be appreciated. As would the occasional update, which you’re never going to give me, so I’ll just apply to Fine.”
I was planning to have this Part and Part Two done by the end of NaNo. I'll be lucky if I have Part One done.
*grumps*
Anyway, here, have a ficbit:Alan had nothing much on the supersoldiers’ new base of operations. “Somewhere between Lithuania and their destination, they split up and changed transport. We found the trucks in Seville, in use by a transport company that doesn’t have any apparent ties. We’re digging deeper. Also, you cut me off last night just as I was asking how everything was going.”
“I was busy.” Maria skimmed the summary of the report from the Zentrum labs. “And I’m still alive.”
“The Abomination is still alive,” Alan pointed out. “Technically, anyway. So that’s a non-answer unparalleled. Are you going to make me read the report from Fine?”
“Are you even authorised?”
“I could apply.”
“We’re not seeing each other anymore, Alan.”
“Did you remember the part where I said you’re hard on the people who care about you?”
“The rest of them aren’t obvious about it.” Maria sighed.
“So we’re okay so long as nobody knows?”
The question had an edge - not surprising, given how their relationship had ended. Alan, however, was valuable among her exes, in that he’d remained friends, even in his disappointment. It had, she reflected, become something of a joke between them - although, given his comment, maybe not as much of a joke as she’d thought. “Alan.”
“I’ll do you a deal,” he said. “Give me the short version of Fine’s report and I’ll leave the topic alone.”
Maria sighed. If Rogers was a mother hen steamroller, then Alan was a ferret - he could get into just about anything with a little effort and the careful application of charm. It was one of the things that she’d found so attractive back in the beginning. “Short version: I’m fine. Slightly longer version: I’m not turning into a supersolder - no appreciable difference in strength or skill, no improved information processing or insight. In short, I have a molotov cocktail of bichemicals in my body, and they’re doing nothing.”
“Except causing blackouts and fainting spells.”
“Actually, none of those lately either.” Just the dreams, although more fragmented, less lucid.
“So the net result is, ‘I got shot up with supersoldier serum, and I all I got were a lousy bunch of medical tests’.”
“Pretty much. I’m back on duty - no heavy machinery, no missions. Desk only. And if I’m a good girl for the next three weeks then I get a pat on the head and the chance to drive myself home.”
“Just what every Deputy Director wants.” Alan murmured. “So, this is the sound of me dropping the topic of your health - at least until I have cause to be concerned again.”
“And I repeat, ‘We’re not seeing each other anymore.’”
“For an intelligent woman, you’re can be increadibly obtuse, Maria. Caring about someone isn’t just about sex. At least, not for most of us mere mortals.”
“You said you’d drop the topic.”
“I did,” he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders on the screen. “Okay, try this on for size. We need to talk about the personnel pull for Insight. With all the sociopolitical crises bubbling in Middle East, and spilling over the Eastern borders, we need at least a couple of competent techs in Europe. Salesh can’t handle everything in his region, even with India to hand, and Asia’s still recovering from losing Jyuuk. He kept the national hotheads from going at each other instead of the enemy.”
Maria knew - she’d been in more than a few meetings when Jyuuk managed to haul back on the reins.
“I thought it didn’t matter where they were as long as they had access to the net.”
“Nice propaganda if you can get it. Tell that to the tech who’s been woken up at 4am Eastern Time to do work at 9am in Central European time. Tell that to the boss who’s managing the tech in US time who’s been woken up at 4am Eastern to do work in Europe.”
Maria scrolled through the list, noting the shorthand of who could do what, as well as the languages and experience they had in S.H.I.E.L.D and the various installations around the world. “I can put a word in, Alan, but if Xima’s been calling them in because they have Circle One skills, then my hands are tied. Fury, Pierce, and the World Security Council are fully behind Insight and what it can do, and nothing I can say against it is going to make a difference.”
Alan snorted. “Anything you can do to stem the flow of techs would be appreciated. As would the occasional update, which you’re never going to give me, so I’ll just apply to Fine.”
I was planning to have this Part and Part Two done by the end of NaNo. I'll be lucky if I have Part One done.