UNKNOWN GUEST

#38 Life In A Binary Code

There was something in her eyes—an emotion I couldn't quite place as she looked at me. "You're brave, kid. You're a risk-taker, which I find familiar. But your actions are impulsive. You don't have patience. If you'd informed us and we'd crafted a proper plan, we could've gotten those blades."

She was right, of course. But at the time, with Fury's assassination fresh in my mind, I couldn't see any other way but to act. "There wasn't time for that," I tried to explain, though I knew it sounded like an excuse. "Fury's assassination was so sudden that I had to take the situation head-on."

Mom glanced at me again, her expression a mix of resignation and something like affection. "Who the hell dares to take on an entire organization alone?"

I smiled at that. "Well, haven't you ever dared to do that?" I knew she had—she'd rebelled against the entire Red Room, after all.

Her expression hardened, and she shot back, "Only a fool would do this."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Or a genius?"

She shook her head, closing her eyes as if to block out the absurdity of it all. 

When Mom returned to the room, she didn't look too happy seeing me geared up in a S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform, ready for the mission. Her glare was sharp, cutting right through my feigned nonchalance. She let out a sigh and asked, "What are you doing?"

I shrugged, trying to appear casual. "I'm fine to go," I replied, hoping my tone would convince her. But before she could start lecturing me, I quickly added, "Ma'am, I'm okay. See?" I jumped a little on my left leg to prove it, even though my thigh still felt stiff and the wound stung. But at least it wasn't bleeding anymore. It was bearable.

She shook her head, clearly not convinced. But I wasn't about to give up. "You guys will need me to enter Project Insight," I insisted, pulling out the tie pin Sitwell had given me. "This is the bio sensor you need to enter there. And I'm not giving it to anyone. I want to help."

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine for any sign of weakness. I could tell she was reluctant, but I wasn't backing down. "Please," I added, trying to soften her up.

Finally, she sighed in resignation. "Whatever," she muttered, knowing there wasn't much she could do to stop me at this point.

Just then, Dad and Uncle Sam walked in. Dad was wearing a new uniform, the classic red, white, and blue. Mom raised an eyebrow, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement, "Where did you get it from?"

Dad shrugged as he attached his shield to his back. "From the museum."

Mom's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Museum? From the... Captain America memorial? You stole it?"

Dad rolled his eyes, a bit exasperated. "No. I'm just... borrowing?"

Mom smirked, clearly not buying his excuse. "Borrowing? Right."

Dad nodded, trying to keep a straight face but failing just a bit. "Hmm," he replied with a faint smile.

Maria Hill joined us then, her presence adding a sense of urgency to the room. Mom let out another sigh, shifting into mission mode. "Okay. You guys take care of the helicarriers. I'll handle the World Security Council meeting." She glanced around at all of us, her gaze firm but full of something that felt like hope. "Good luck."

We made our way to the headquarters, the imposing building looming larger with every step. The tension in the air was thick, each of us focused on the mission ahead. Hill stopped us just a few meters away and opened the case, revealing the targeting blades we needed to swap out with Hydra's before the helicarriers could interconnect in the sky.

Dad, Uncle Sam, and I each took one, our resolve solidifying as we gripped the blades. Hill turned to me, a weary sigh escaping her. "They found their blades at the exit of Project Insight."

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling up. Of course, they found the case where I dropped it. That one mistake could cost us everything. But there was no time to dwell on it now. Dad, ever the leader, simply sighed and said, "Let's get on it."

We all nodded, falling into step behind him as he led the way. We entered the launch panel area of Project Insight, the sensor I had allowing us access. Inside, Dad took a moment to address the room, his voice steady and filled with purpose.

He spoke about fighting for what's right, revealing Hydra's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. under the guise of security and how Alexander Pierce was their leader. He explained Hydra's twisted vision of absolute control, how they sought to dominate everything and everyone. "But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room before adding, "If I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

His words lit a fire in me, the same fire I saw reflected in the eyes of everyone else. Dad has always had this way of inspiring people, of leading them to be better, to push past their limits. A true leader through and through. The price of freedom is high, and in that moment, I knew we were all ready to pay it.

We geared up for our mission, every movement purposeful. But as we reached the deck of the headquarters, the ground suddenly shook beneath us. A wave of commotion rippled through the facility, the sounds of battle erupting from every corner. The fight had begun, and it was pure chaos.

Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, the ponds around the headquarters began to shift. The water drained away, revealing massive, gaping portals beneath. My heart sank as the helicarriers started to rise from these portals, their engines roaring to life.

Dad, Uncle Sam, and I exchanged a glance, the unspoken urgency clear between us. There was no more time to strategize, no more time to plan. We had to stop those helicarriers, no matter what it took.

With that, we broke into a sprint, heading straight for the helicarriers. The mission was now a race against time, and we had no choice but to give it everything we had. The fate of millions rested on our shoulders, and there was no room for failure.

My world, now, was just a binary code.