Lucas is sweating under his hoodie as they stroll through the park. He was going to need a shower once they got to work, but he hated to say no to Maggie. The California girl needed to escape the concrete jungle sometimes. He tries to stick to the shade, but at least out of view of others, he pulls off his hood to get a feel of the breeze.
"Is everyone a kung fu master, you mean, Mags? Or at least can summon mystical energy." He glances to Akio. "Do you guys have superheroes too? Or mutants? I mean, the mythology that my grandmother told me talked of monkeys and pigs who fought with swords and staves and jumped from cloud to cloud. Ones who could turn into humans and then into a tiger. I mean, if Thor is real, could those stories have been about ancient mutants? Makes you wonder about Bigfoot and dragons too, huh?"
Actually I'm curious too Akio, nothing I've read about the various monastic orders here on earth referenced powers like you have exhibited...
Akio enjoys their walk showing off his more nimble moves jumping from rock to rock.
He feels like someone is watching him, but ignores it being out in the open and with friends.
"I understand what she meant." He smiles. "To answer all your questions, I'm unique in some of my skills. For all my years I called Dengfeng County my home there is a Shaolin Monastery it sits at the top of one of the seven peaks of Song mountains it has stood there for over 1500 years."
He stops his jumping from rocks now and stands next to the others. "I was born there, I grew up there and I trained there everyday. My birth was quite special I was the seventh son of a seventh son." He then loosens his shirt to show the top of his tattoo. "My powers are gained through absolute devotion and training and this mark, which might seem strange was given to me by Shenlong an ancient dragon. So you speak of talking monkeys and mystical creatures. I have seen a lot of wonders in my time, they could simply be mutants or something a lot older alot more intune with the mystical energy of the world, my order is quite secret in it's training we have a lot of enemies out there." He then smiles again, looking at their faces.
A dragon. Maggie says, somewhat quizzically. Like a real Dragon....?
At first she sounds skeptical, her tone of voice betraying how difficult it is for her to accept something so fantastical.
But then she just shakes her head;
Before the Incident I would have laughed, said you were being ridiculous. But man, when Thor came to Earth he changed.... everything. What we knew, or thought we knew about the universe, 1,000 years of science reasoning just wiped out in a flash.
And then within months it just became the norm, aliens and mutated humans just living among us, all of a sudden. No wonder the UN lost their sh!t over Sarkovia. she muses.
But I think they've realised they can't control guys like you, they just have to bring you into the fold and work with you. It's just a shame it took a hero like Cap going rogue to show that.
You think anyone will ever see him again? Or that Witch-girl?
"I'm sure we'll see him again. It'll be just when we need him. The Witch was a little bonkers though, so I don't know about her."
"Akio, are there more dragons that Shenlong? I mean, are there a whole race of them hidden from us?"
It is interesting being on the other side of this discussion I admit...
Muses Melania
To me it has also been a little bit of culture shock, however I would say there was already more diversity here among humanity before the metahumans emerged, compared to my home system. Now of course there's even more! It is like a... buffet? for me... new things wherever I look, it is a good thing my race is long-lived, at least I stand a small chance of seeing everything!
She turns to Akio
But 'dragons'.... are these rock--chewing that belch magma from their bellies? Those are the only kind I know, we found eggs on an asteroid once, the scientific facility they were hatched in did not survive...
"It was a real dragon It didn't bleach magma, I had grown up on story of Shenlong just assuming it was part of this world like a rock or a dog. It spoke to me with such ancient reverence. In our stories there are two dragons Shenlong means 'god dragon' or 'spirit dragon' it controls all things above ground a deeply holy creature to our order and the energy that flows through us all." He looks to Lucus. "Or our Ki. She has a brother... or lover Fucanglong the other half of the yin yang they represent, he is the keeper of all thing in the underworld." He smiles again, sharing a part of himself with new friends. "I was trained to be a living weapon, to fight our biggest enemy it's the reason I came to New York."
Turing to Meggie. "I only hope they come back, having Captain America on your team can only mean a win for the good guys. That witch girl, shes interesting I'd like to hear where she gets her powers from."
Over the course of an hour, the group reaches the SHIELD HQ and enter through the busy lobby.
By now they are familiar enough to be able to simply swipe their hands, where the subdermal implants are located, over the flat white panels beside the reception area. Thick panels of glass, probably bullet proof and stronger than they look, slide across with a quiet swoosh and permit the group access.
A pair of Agents armed with automatic weapons stroll casually about the lobby while half a dozen people dressed in suits form a line to check into reception.
The elevator descends quietly into the sublevels and you get off on -3 where the E-lab is based.
In a long, glass-fronted room, row upon row of neat wooden desks sit with desktop computer stations. the east wall is filled with metal cupboards and filing cabinets and around 20 agents currently occupy the space, some talking among themselves, others hunched over and working on something with a steaming coffee cup close by.
These are common computer labs. Maggie explains. Used for record searches and general information gathering, nothing encrypted or classified can be accessed from here. So no police reports, no SHIELD docs. But I figure you could check out this cab place and whatever public information there is on Daredevil too if you wanted. Lucas-hon, I figure this is your bag. she says with a smile.
Meta-training is down a floor if you all didn't want to do research in here. With any luck your implants should grant you access now. You'll probably have to check in with someone on the other side of it though. The regular gym and cafeteria are on that floor too if you wanted to grab a juice or a coffee.
I've gotta run, I should have results of a culture I was growing over night down in bio-chem. See you later babe, call me if you need anything. she stands on tiptoes and kisses Lucas quickly on the cheek.
Lucas unconsciously runs his fingers over the area she kissed and sighs inwardly.
Uh... don't take this the wrong way, but I don't know how computer savvy either of you are. You want me to see what I can find out about the cab company? he asks.
No sooner than Maggie has spoken, Melania breaks in to a ground-eating jog that closes the distance between here and the meta-training area as efficiently as possible.
They said something about flying in here being distracting...
she reminds the others as she disappears around the corner at speed.
I guess that's alien for 'yes.' Lucas chuckles as Midnight wooshes off around the corner.
Akio makes his way after Midnight, trying his best not to get lost in the labyrinthine corridors of SHIELD.
He sees dozens of Agents and Techs busying themselves rushing from one corridor to the next, from one meeting to another.
Eventually he finds his way down and comes across Midnight standing outside the heavy steel door marked Metahuman Training Facility
She looks at the monk, shrugs and swipes her hand across the white panel beside the door.
After a moment, the panel turns green and the doors slide open.
Stepping through Akio and Midnight enter a white corridor. The walls, ceiling, floor - everything is covered in the same white, glossy tile that reflect the harsh fluorescent light from the tubes above.
Another security station is about 50 feet ahead but between you and it is a set of clear glass doors that look a little like the airlock on Midnight's ship.
An electronic voice suddenly comes through from seemingly nowhere at all and says;
Step into the chamber please.
Peeking his head around to look into the rows of computers in the lab he quickly looks down towards the training facilities. "Yeah.. I think this is your strong point. I better go with her, make sure she doesn't break anything in there after all this time waiting to get in. Call us if you find anything or if you get bored and want to do a few laps." He dashes off then waving behind him trying to catch up with Melania.
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"This is some next level stuff.." He says as he steps into the chamber. "There has to be some crazy things behind here if they have all this security."
The glass doors shut behind them and a hundred red lights suddenly flare. Lasers run their way over your bodies, covering every inch but the electronic voice calls out again;
Don't worry this is standard. It's a DNA, virus and explosive scan. it says as if that were explanation enough.
After a few moments you obviously get the all clear because the next set of doors opens for you to pass through and Melania remarks that it is exactly like the airlock on her ship.
Beyond the second set of glass doors is a security station manned by two Agents. However, you cannot tell their gender because they are dressed head to toe in grey protective armour and talk to you through speakers in their helmets. At their hip are firearms the like of which you have never seen before.
You've got amber security clearance - that means a trial basis. But you both scan as clear. I assume you haven't been here before?
Don't worry they say... easy for them to say... they're not having every stray scrap of hair on their bodies scanned now are they!?
says Melania with a quirky smile. She stands boldly in the airlock, hands on hips and chin held high, until the door glides open and reveals... more agents.
Amber? Sure. First time? Yup. Want to give us a run down on the rules so our 'Amber' doesn't get replaced by 'Maroon' or whatever the color is for 'No more metahuman training facility for you oh breaker of things and or people'...?
She raises an eyebrow at the featureless faceplates of the guards.
Induction. There's a group due in half an hour if you can wait.
The next part sounds so ridiculous coming from such a heavily armed Agent that Melania has to stifle laughter;
There's a juice bar just through there. Or you can get a protein shake or whatever. They cater for everything... ONE! They cater for everyone. he corrects himself
The Agents wave the pair through into what they thought would be an enormous training area.
But it is anything but.
Beyond the doors is a small staging area. Three rows of comfortable seating are on one side and a bar is on the other. It is made from expensive looking wood and metal and two employees stand behind it. One is mixing some kind of drink that looks like it is made from a combination of grasses and some unknown pink liquid.
A row of stools stand at the bar and rows of refrigerators and a large coffee machine line the wall behind it.
The air in here is incredibly crisp, almost clinical - the like of which you might find in the clean room of a laboratory and soft music plays in the background. A few plants and pictures, both photographs and artwork - of heroes familiar and unknown line the walls, attempting to remove the stark nature of the staging area.
A set of enormous steel doors stand in the north wall, currently closed.
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In the waiting room is a small, slight young woman, slowly pacing like a caged panther. Her skin is incredibly fair and her hair is a shocking blue. Her eyes have no discernible pupils or irises. She is dressed simply, in a long, blue sleeveless robe, though she does have a blue cloth wrapped in a crisscross pattern around her right arm. She also has a thick silver bracelet on her left wrist. In her left hand, she is shuffling a deck of cards. At her feet is a vaguely human-shaped cloud of granite dust with a blue stone at its center. She is staring daggers at the wall of photos when you come in. The dust cloud turns towards you first, somehow "looking" at you. It "looks" up at the young woman, and she turns toward you. Her expression changes to a more neutral one and she raises an eyebrow as if to ask, Well?
Akio stands stiff as the lasers roll over his body, as Melania jokes about every stray scrap of hair he rubs his bald shaved head.
When stood next to the two large security he simply nods along as Melania takes charge. "Protein shake? like blended meat?" He says as Melania drags him on past the security guards.
Moving into the waiting room it almost reminds him of a waiting room in a hospital, he begins to make his way to the bar. But stops in his tracks as he spots a strikingly fair looking woman with long blue hair, and seemingly a dust cloud. He smiles goofily as she seems to stare down the pair. "You think shes one of the other trainees?" He whispers to Melania.
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As Akio whispers to Melania, the person working behind the bar puts the finishing touches on two drinks and then aggressively slides them down the empty bar.
Instead of crashing off the end of the bar, they're caught as one of the plants reaches out a pair of bright green vines and pulls them up close. Then, standing to its full height, the hulking creature turns around and shambles over to the blue-haired woman, handing her the beverage with a casual, toothless smile on its face.
"Cheers!" he rumbles to Trystt in a gruff, low voice.
Further examination of the creature reveals that while he's 'shaped' like a person, he's actually composed mostly of shifting vines, twigs, and leaves, with the occasional flower scattered through out his body. Many of the smaller vines and shoots wiggle and worm their way outward from his body, while a few of the bigger ones slither slowly around on the floor outward, testing the area for who-knows-what.
Akio nods and smiles back at the blue haired girl and is about to say something as a new person enters the room asking about Metas, turning he sees a well dressed man with an strange accent. Frowning at the blue haired girls comments not understanding her meaning he steps forward waving at the new man. "Hello we just got here, This is the Meta training facility so I suppose we all have our gifts."
He to the small woman and large plant man, clear that they are special in ways. "My name is Ebon my friend here is Midnight, we have another member of our group Napalm but he's in the computer lab. We were only just granted access to this wing of SHIELD. We're all getting put through induction together it seems. Its nice to meet newer less intimidating members of Shield." He motions back to the two fully armored guilds.
Used to being the most exotic thing in any given room, Midnight regards the newcomers suspiciously.
I am not fully 'up' on Earth culture, in case you take offence at my lack of jockularity in response to what I assume was a jest?
Melania carefully addresses the blue-haired girl before turning to each of the others, nodding and smiling. Her gaze then fixes on the tiny whirling rocks dancing around Trystt's feet.
Is that a cloud of nano-bots? What generation?
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"I'm Trystt, and this is my friend, Spore." She squeezes the plantman's 'arm' affectionately. "Not the Spore, just Spore," she adds fiercely and preemptively. She has clearly had this conversation before.
"Oh, that's Rocky," Trystt answers Midnight. The small creature is now shyly peeking out from behind Trystt's robe. "He might be, actually, but I wouldn't let the techs test him. I don't need to know, and neither do they."
Trystt holds up her drink. "You can order damn near anything here. I went with a watermelon and strawberry smoothie, but they have more exotic stuff. Like, a lot more exotic."
Spore smiles in agreement with Trystt, and holds up his glass to demonstrate her point. Unlike her pretty pink drink, Spore's beverage is a dark thick brown, and interspersed with slightly darker blotches.
"Try the mud. Best I've had-- on Earth anyway."
Shortly after speaking, Spore raises his glass to his face and tips it back. Slowly at first, the mud starts to slide into his mouth.
Ebon watches in slight shock as the large plant called spore downs a glass of dirt. "Umm I think I'll skip what he's having." He then steps a little closer to spore offering his hand. "So you're a plant? Like made up of all different parts?" Looking the big guy up and down he assumes it's a he.
"It's nice to meet you Shift, I must look very out of place here." He looks down at himself in simple robes. "I'm pretty good with my hands.
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Trystt hops up backwards so that she is sitting on the counter, her legs crossed at the ankle. She starts swinging her feet gently as she takes another sip. "Little ol' me? Oh, I just bend a man's will so he does whatever I want. And he won't even know it," she adds saucily, waggling her eyebrows at Shift.
Trystt, Rocky, Spore, Shift...
Melania nods at each in turn, then laughs at Akio's humility.
Yes, good at punching things with your hands, and feet, and elbows!
She thinks better of mentioning the other things she's seen him do, in case he wants to keep his abilities close for now, it was his story to tell after all.
She glances as Trysst
Twisting minds eh? Do we want to know what they'll have in the practice area for you to... practice on?
She shakes her head to signify she has no idea either, then adds
I fly, and command the air...
A very soft and light breeze picks up in the sealed room somehow, ruffling the hair of all present before disappearing as swiftly as it appeared.
Ebon stands there and just smiles as Trystt efferotly moves about, knocked out of it as Midnight speaks to him. "Humility in all things." Saying it like he has said it a million times. "I guess we'll all get a feel for each other in the training rooms." He looks around at the group. "Anyone up for some one on one sparing?" The look on his face turning to excitement at just wanting g to get in there and start.
As if on cue from Akio's statement, the giant steel doors clank loudly with the sound of massive locks disengaging and begin to slide open with a rumble.
Beyond the doors is a large elevator - surprising considering how deep underground you are already. A slim blonde woman stands in the doorway. She is dressed in a tight-fitting white and grey outfit and is attractive in a ‘no-nonsence’ kind of way as further testified to by the sidearm strapped to her hip.
Good morning. she says. My name is Agent Sharon Carter. Welcome to the Meta-human training facility. Agent Angstrom has passed me your details and informed me that you are all relatively new to the Agency and that you currently have amber clearance. That means your power status is undefined. That means we have not made a determination as to whether you are safe to train in this area.
Safety is our number 1 priority here. Over the past two years SHIELD has worked with Mr Anthony Stark to produce the most advanced training facility in the world. It will afford you incredible opportunities to hone your abilities and explore the limits of your power. But the nature of this facility, the live fire exercises and the free-use of powers within, mean that it is inherently dangerous.
Simply put we don’t want you taking a punch from The Thing if you can’t handle it. And that in part is what this induction will determine. Although don’t worry, The Thing isn’t in today. she adds with a smile, trying to break the nervous tension with a joke.
Now before we begin I should tell you that this elevator is going to take us out under the Bay. You will be 1000 below of the bedrock of Manhattan. If that is a prospect that you can’t handle then now is the time to say it rather than down there. Because if you freak out down there, a number of SHIELD Agents and Meta consultants will subdue you hard - for their safety and your own.
Any questions before we get going?
Sharon Carter is a known ally of Captain America and was instrumental in foiling the Hydra plot to overthrow SHIELD some time ago. However, after Cap went rogue during the Civil War episode, she was suspended and heavily interrogated. Rumours are that as no evidence of aiding the fugitive could be found, nor that she knew his current whereabouts, she was brought back into SHIELD not as an active Agent but as the Agency’s first Metahuman Liason.
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Trystt's smile changes when Agent Carter identifies herself. Previously, it had been cheeky and teasing, but now it's an expression of open and genuine admiration. She claps her hands together excitedly and is bursting with questions. She manages to rein it in until near the end of the speech when her expression changes yet again, but more drastically this time. "1000 feet?!," she squeaks out as a gust of wind suddenly swirls around her, her robe fluttering.
Trystt takes a step back, pulling out her deck of cards again. She nervously fiddles with it and starts muttering to herself. For anyone who pays attention, two words can be made out, 'Cap' and 'allies'. Finally, she takes a deep breath and asks, "It's not, like, super-confined, right? There must be room for those who can fly and stuff, right?" Trystt gestures at Midnight.
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Agent Carter smiles knowingly and says;
This place was joint-designed by Tony Stark. It's like his ego. Huge.
She turns to Spore and Midnight and says;
I'm sorry, I haven't been briefed on your physiologies, are there any conditions or requirements that I need to be made aware of to make sure you're comfortable? she is straight-talking and cuts right to the point.
Spore listens politely as Agent Carter details the training center.
"I'm not so different," Spore replies, "just a bit more flammable. And I'm fine underground, for a while anyway. I find the sunlight comforting, but I won't wilt any faster than the humans will."
"I'm good with my hands too, but also, well, the rest of me."
"Cool. I bet that took some engineering. Will I be allowed to look at the methodology used in the construction project? I'd love to know how you deal with the stress of 1000 feet of bedrock. I'm a student, you see. Of Engineering. So I have an interest." Shift grins hopefully.
One step at a time. she smiles. Besides, I am not qualified to answer that.
Retrieving a small hand held device from a pouch at her belt she consults it and says;
I have your codenames as Midnight, Spore, Shift, Ebon and Trystt. Napalm isnt joining you then? You can call me Sharon by the way. Please step into the elevator when youre ready.
Yes he is busy doing something else, so that seems to be us for now
She steps on to the elevator as directed.
Akio unsure of the importance of Agent carter just stands and listens as she explains everything, looking around at the each of the others present and notices the blue haired woman nervously fiddle with a deck of cards, whispering something.
When his name is mentioned he turns away from her and back to Agent Carter putting his hand up. "I'm Ebon and that all sounds straightforward to me I dont need anything special." Then cracking his knuckles . "This place has been built up so much I just want to get down there now."
The elevator shifts, not straight down as you might have expected, but at a shallow angle and you realise you are being taken far away from the SHIELD HQ itself.
The elevator gradually comes to a halt some ten minutes later and Agent Carter presses a button to open the door.
Welcome to the ‘Cage’
The door opens onto an enormous space, easily of some several thousand square feet.
A short corridor runs to the immediate right of the elevator where a sign indicates ‘Locker Rooms.’ The main space seems to be taken up by a colossal glass-walled area within which seems to be a full-scale mock-up of a Manhattan street, complete with the first four storeys of tower blocks on either side. Blue and red flashing lights as well as smoke and flame fill the area, contained within the glass. A long staircase leading to a massive gallery and control room overlooking the area winds its way around the glass.
Also on this floor are at least six cage areas, similar to those found in UFC events. The entire place has a striking red, gold and white motif with more images of heroes performing all manner of herculean feats decorating the walls. The ceiling is high above you, at least 100 feet, and connected to it are a thousand different pieces of machinery or equipment, presumably used to set up different scenarios in the glass area.
More signs indicate areas in side wings such as;
Lecture Halls
Interrogation Rooms
Plunge Pool
Wind Tunnel
Firing Range
Training Floor
Gym
Suddenly there is a thunderous crash from the far end of the room. It is a huge distance away and even then it sounded like a truck smash. You strain your eyes and can just about see a man dressed in red and silver among what must be the biggest weight training area anywhere in the world.
Two women, currently engaged in what appears to be a brutal fight in one of the cages, pause for a moment before one executes a perfect roundhouse kick that catches the other and sends her sprawling, only for the victim to tuck and roll like a cat and leap in one fluid motion, sweeping the legs of the other with a crunching should block to the shins.
Dotted around you see more of the heavily armoured SHIELD Agents while flashes continue to pop like paparazzi lenses within the glassed area and music, much of which Midnight is familiar with from the club, pumps from a hundred different speakers.
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Trystt's eyes widen and she gives out a low whimper as Shift asks about the special engineering necessary for the complex. Thanks for the reminder, buddy. Then Ebon expresses his own eagerness, in her head Trystt is screaming, Don't you know that's more than three football fields of dirt and rocks that wants to crush you?! But outwardly, she gives a forced smile as she puts her cards in a pocket and steps on to the elevator.
"So, Sharon, it's not much of a secret that you helped Captain Rogers bring down Hydra. He's amazing, isn't he? Like the way he's just so in charge and stays calm no matter what."
Sharon smiles at Trystt's question. And then looks a little sad.
I barely had anything to do with it. Truth is, by the time I'd had my eyes opened to what was happening it was almost too late.
Steve... Steve is great. she says with a shrug, as if that were all there were to say on the subject.
He's just pure, you know, uncomplicated. Stubborn as Hell too. But you can always count on him to do the right thing. Even when sometimes its the wrong thing. she adds wistfully.
What happened between him and Tony is a tragedy. Because the world owes those two a debt that cant be repaid
You dont see his picture up anywhere, they took down the exhibition at the Smithsonian... But whatever they say about him, I think people just miss seeing someone who represented the best of all of us, you know?
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"That's not what I heard. I heard Hydra had almost completely taken over when you and a few others risked everything to stand up to them. That's not a small thing and he wouldn't think so, either."
"People keep saying that, as if he did the wrong thing. But standing up for what is right can't be the wrong thing. 'Evil triumphs when good men do nothing' and all that. And he'll never do nothing!," she ends fiercely.
Her expression softens a bit. "No, we can't repay them. But we can try to live up to their ideals. They shouldn't have taken his pictures down. Acting like he doesn't exist is just dumb. He changed everything. And how many people wouldn't be here if it weren't for him?" Trystt is getting herself worked up again.
As the Elevator continues to descend, Ebon listening in on the conversation.
"Wait you know Captain America?" He jumps in as the two women, seem to be lost in conversation. "Sorry I'm kinda new around here, I know the Avengers It's one of the reasons I came to New York, I wanted to do the right thing I wanted to help people. Wanting to help people should be enough, there should be sides on the right way of doing that." He then pauses for a moment. "I hope these 'rogue' heroes can rejoin us again someday we can only be weaker without them."
Thank you. That's sweet of you to say. Sharon replies. We lost good people that day and SHIELD has taken this long to recover. But I couldn't agree more about Cap - there wasn't a bad situation he wouldn't put himself in front of if it meant saving other people.
Is that how you got started in all this? Because of the Avengers, or the X-men or Fantastic Four? You wouldn't be the first. So many people have been inspired by them - or have risen up to challenge them.
That's why we need this place. she gestures to the huge open hall around you.
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"I don't know him know him like Sharon. But I saw him in action once, during the Chitauri invasion. Aliens all around, buildings collapsing, it was chaos and nobody knew what to do. He comes in, throwing his shield and rescuing everyone. It was incredible..." Trystt's voice trails off as she becomes all starry-eyed.
Suddenly there is a thunderous crash from the far end of the room. It is a huge distance away and even then it sounded like a truck smash.
"Eep!" Trystt, distracted and her nerves a bit frayed, lets out a small adorable shriek. She closes her eyes and ducks her head, certain that the whole place just collapsed. After a moment, she looks up and sees nothing bad has happened. She looks around, glaring, and daring anyone to say anything about her outburst.
"I'm glad to hear it, Ebon. Maybe we can't be perfect like Cap, but if people just try, the world would be a lot better. Where did you come from?"