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xp_logsSharon discusses a possibly risky situation with Scott and Garrison.
"Do you guys remember that 'potential situation' I told you about at the bbq early in the summer?" Sharon asked once they were comfortably seated. "With the guy who can self-detonate?"
"Did he? You know. Detonate?" Kane was looking worse for wear. His healing factor kept away fatigue and drunkenness to a certain extent, but he wasn't invulnerable. The Canadian had lost his partner weeks ago and his attendance here was based more on the proximity to alcohol than anything. "What are we talking about here?"
Sharon let out a long sigh. "That potential situation... it has become a real possibility. It's a long story and pretty much all of it is very classified, but in this case... Most important point is that I might've someone with those powers after me and I don't know if he'll threaten the mansion or the Claremont."
It was the last comment that got Scott's attention, his brown eyes locking onto Shannon's face as he leant forward in his chair, the hubub surrounding them almost falling away as he examined the woman's face. "Why don't you start at the beginning and tell us what you need to?"
"I've to warn you that what I am about to tell you is highly classified." Sharon paused for a moment and when no protest came, she continued: "You probably know I joined the military after 9/11 and served there as a medic. I did a tour in Iraq as a MP medic. With a changed battle field in Iraq, female soldiers being on the front lines more and even being 'attached' to units where they were not allowed, the brass came up with an idea. Could women pass training like the Special Forces was given? I was one of 20 women selected and given a training close to a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. I also was one of six who got through."
"Women in combat. Oh my. What will the Americans think of next." Kane replied sarcastically. He finished his drink and waved for another. "Despite being five years behind the times, what does women in Special Forces mean in this specific scenario?"
"I'm getting there. This is just background." Sharon paused a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Like many other countries, Iraq also had a Super Soldier program. They called it 'Atasa'al jundi', working to create the perfect soldier."
"That doesn't seem so unusual," Scott allowed, "I'd think after seeing the success of the US program most countries will be trying their hand at it. But let me guess, your bosses decided they were gonna send you into shut down the Iraqi program but the mission didn't go well?"
"Pretty close..." Sharon allowed. "I was part of an special force sent to 'take care' of all the pieces of the program. We succeeded, though at a high price. Some scientists and three of their 'test subjects' made a last stand. We fought, heavy casualties on both sides. One of the 'test subjects' with blasting powers blew everything to rubble. I was one of three survivors out of a group of fifteen, but we took down the program..."
"Blasting powers. So, I think I see where this is going. Did said blasting powers mean 'blows up his whole body;?"
"'Fraid so." Sharon confirmed, wincing. "After that final stand the brass believed everyone was dead or or in 'custody'. Turns out that was not the case."
"And now this guy is back in circulation? That's... the opposite of good. Any idea where they might be?"
"Last thing I know is that he blew up my former commanding officer's car... but Salina and I haven't found a trace." Sharon explained. "You can see why I'm worried. I think it might be best if I found a place outside the mansion to stay..."
Scott arched an eyebrow at Sharon, an almost disbelieving look appearing on his face as he shifted around to stare at her, "Because you think that's going to be safer than the mansion? We've stood off magical invasion and bigger threats that one man," Scott pointed out, "right now this is probably the safest place you can be."
"Yeah, the mansion is a hard target. I'd be more concerned about your commitments outside of the mansion." Kane agreed. "What kind of resources do they have? I mean, trained operatives... we've got more than a few of those who I'm willing to throw up against a human grenade. Is this just some solo psycho out for revenge, or is there someone backing their play?"
"I wish I knew. We took out his infrastructure back in Iraq, but I don't know with who he has hooked up since then. Salina has been trying to look into this, but she isn't having much luck." In response to Scott's questioning look, she added. "Salina Asfour. One of my mates from training and the other survivor of the task force. She works for a private military contractor nowadays."
"We probably have more contacts than your friend does," Scott pointed out. "Between XFI and their contacts, our own spies and even our contacts with SHIELD, I'm sure we can turn up more information than her." The X-man fell silent for a moment before he spoke up again, his voice quiet and level. "So the long and the short of it is the military sent you in to take down another country's super soldier program and now one of them might be after you and could have killed your old C.O.?" She shook his head, "And of course they're not going to protect you, I thought this was the kind of thing SHIELD was designed to take care off, well we're getting experienced at cleaning up their messes."
"They might be looking into him, they might not be. Haven't heard anything from either side. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if the info got buried so deep they don't even know to start looking." Sharon let out a sigh. "And till now, I wasn't really wanting to get into contact with people myself, since I didn't know anything for sure."
"If this is a solo actor, it's doubtful he's got much intel and if he's good enough to get in the country unnoticed, he's going to be just random guy in the city." Of ten million, Kane didn't bother to add. "Might be better to draw him out, give him a target away from the school or hospital and then slam the trap shut on him."
"If you think that he's taking down members of your old unit, then you and your friend might be the best bait to lure him out into a trap," he allowed. "Especially if there is no indication that you're planning on springing a surprise on him."
"Got a point." Sharon could see the tactical advantages. "Salina and I are the only ones left though now that our commanding officer is gone... but I know he's been in the states for a couple of months and he only just killed him, so either he does not know where we are or he's taking his sweet time." She mused out loud, trying to follow her opponents thoughts.
"It's probably a little of both, even for a trained operative finding someone isn't as easy as clicking your fingers. Well," Scott shook his head as he corrected himself, "finding someone is easy but with his powerset he can't just hit you from a distance. He has to get up close and personal, which means he needs to either tail you for an opportunity or know your route." Scott's smile was cold, "and if he's a professional he'll want the most information on you...which means we can predict what he's going to do."
"What are you thinking?"
"We set a trap," a shark's grin slowly spread across Scott's face, "offer you guys up as bait and when he takes it we're waiting for him."
"Do you guys remember that 'potential situation' I told you about at the bbq early in the summer?" Sharon asked once they were comfortably seated. "With the guy who can self-detonate?"
"Did he? You know. Detonate?" Kane was looking worse for wear. His healing factor kept away fatigue and drunkenness to a certain extent, but he wasn't invulnerable. The Canadian had lost his partner weeks ago and his attendance here was based more on the proximity to alcohol than anything. "What are we talking about here?"
Sharon let out a long sigh. "That potential situation... it has become a real possibility. It's a long story and pretty much all of it is very classified, but in this case... Most important point is that I might've someone with those powers after me and I don't know if he'll threaten the mansion or the Claremont."
It was the last comment that got Scott's attention, his brown eyes locking onto Shannon's face as he leant forward in his chair, the hubub surrounding them almost falling away as he examined the woman's face. "Why don't you start at the beginning and tell us what you need to?"
"I've to warn you that what I am about to tell you is highly classified." Sharon paused for a moment and when no protest came, she continued: "You probably know I joined the military after 9/11 and served there as a medic. I did a tour in Iraq as a MP medic. With a changed battle field in Iraq, female soldiers being on the front lines more and even being 'attached' to units where they were not allowed, the brass came up with an idea. Could women pass training like the Special Forces was given? I was one of 20 women selected and given a training close to a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. I also was one of six who got through."
"Women in combat. Oh my. What will the Americans think of next." Kane replied sarcastically. He finished his drink and waved for another. "Despite being five years behind the times, what does women in Special Forces mean in this specific scenario?"
"I'm getting there. This is just background." Sharon paused a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Like many other countries, Iraq also had a Super Soldier program. They called it 'Atasa'al jundi', working to create the perfect soldier."
"That doesn't seem so unusual," Scott allowed, "I'd think after seeing the success of the US program most countries will be trying their hand at it. But let me guess, your bosses decided they were gonna send you into shut down the Iraqi program but the mission didn't go well?"
"Pretty close..." Sharon allowed. "I was part of an special force sent to 'take care' of all the pieces of the program. We succeeded, though at a high price. Some scientists and three of their 'test subjects' made a last stand. We fought, heavy casualties on both sides. One of the 'test subjects' with blasting powers blew everything to rubble. I was one of three survivors out of a group of fifteen, but we took down the program..."
"Blasting powers. So, I think I see where this is going. Did said blasting powers mean 'blows up his whole body;?"
"'Fraid so." Sharon confirmed, wincing. "After that final stand the brass believed everyone was dead or or in 'custody'. Turns out that was not the case."
"And now this guy is back in circulation? That's... the opposite of good. Any idea where they might be?"
"Last thing I know is that he blew up my former commanding officer's car... but Salina and I haven't found a trace." Sharon explained. "You can see why I'm worried. I think it might be best if I found a place outside the mansion to stay..."
Scott arched an eyebrow at Sharon, an almost disbelieving look appearing on his face as he shifted around to stare at her, "Because you think that's going to be safer than the mansion? We've stood off magical invasion and bigger threats that one man," Scott pointed out, "right now this is probably the safest place you can be."
"Yeah, the mansion is a hard target. I'd be more concerned about your commitments outside of the mansion." Kane agreed. "What kind of resources do they have? I mean, trained operatives... we've got more than a few of those who I'm willing to throw up against a human grenade. Is this just some solo psycho out for revenge, or is there someone backing their play?"
"I wish I knew. We took out his infrastructure back in Iraq, but I don't know with who he has hooked up since then. Salina has been trying to look into this, but she isn't having much luck." In response to Scott's questioning look, she added. "Salina Asfour. One of my mates from training and the other survivor of the task force. She works for a private military contractor nowadays."
"We probably have more contacts than your friend does," Scott pointed out. "Between XFI and their contacts, our own spies and even our contacts with SHIELD, I'm sure we can turn up more information than her." The X-man fell silent for a moment before he spoke up again, his voice quiet and level. "So the long and the short of it is the military sent you in to take down another country's super soldier program and now one of them might be after you and could have killed your old C.O.?" She shook his head, "And of course they're not going to protect you, I thought this was the kind of thing SHIELD was designed to take care off, well we're getting experienced at cleaning up their messes."
"They might be looking into him, they might not be. Haven't heard anything from either side. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if the info got buried so deep they don't even know to start looking." Sharon let out a sigh. "And till now, I wasn't really wanting to get into contact with people myself, since I didn't know anything for sure."
"If this is a solo actor, it's doubtful he's got much intel and if he's good enough to get in the country unnoticed, he's going to be just random guy in the city." Of ten million, Kane didn't bother to add. "Might be better to draw him out, give him a target away from the school or hospital and then slam the trap shut on him."
"If you think that he's taking down members of your old unit, then you and your friend might be the best bait to lure him out into a trap," he allowed. "Especially if there is no indication that you're planning on springing a surprise on him."
"Got a point." Sharon could see the tactical advantages. "Salina and I are the only ones left though now that our commanding officer is gone... but I know he's been in the states for a couple of months and he only just killed him, so either he does not know where we are or he's taking his sweet time." She mused out loud, trying to follow her opponents thoughts.
"It's probably a little of both, even for a trained operative finding someone isn't as easy as clicking your fingers. Well," Scott shook his head as he corrected himself, "finding someone is easy but with his powerset he can't just hit you from a distance. He has to get up close and personal, which means he needs to either tail you for an opportunity or know your route." Scott's smile was cold, "and if he's a professional he'll want the most information on you...which means we can predict what he's going to do."
"What are you thinking?"
"We set a trap," a shark's grin slowly spread across Scott's face, "offer you guys up as bait and when he takes it we're waiting for him."
