Andromeda Banner: A Marvel Universe Story

The Superior and SHIELD

Later that afternoon, -having changed out of my uniform and into something a little more comfortable- I’m lounging on the couch, strumming on my guitar when three knocks hit the door, “Sam… I think the other Agent’s here.”

He nods as he answers the door, “We’ve been expecting you.’ He says as a tall, dark-haired woman walks in the door, ‘I’m Sam Wilson.”

She takes his offered hand, “Agent Maria Hill.’ She offers me a smile and I can’t help but notice the cuts on her face, ‘You must be Andromeda Banner.. Agent Gomez told me of your demands.’ She holds out her hand, with the other at her side, ‘I’m impressed. Not many teenagers could face an Agent of SHIELD and feel comfortable enough to make their own demands.”

I take her hand, deciding that I already like her better than Agent Gomez, and give it a firm shake, before dropping it, “Not many teenagers could handle the things I’ve been through –that I’m going through. Besides,’ I add as I clasp my hands behind my back, ‘he clearly barely scraped by on his training.’ I gesture toward the couch, ‘Please, sit.’ We all sit, her across from Sam and me, ‘He didn’t tell us he was a SHIELD Agent, until right before he left… He was fishtailing all over the place, couldn’t command the room… It was exhausting.”

A smile plays at the corner of her mouth, “And as a Cadet Captain in McKinley’s Army Junior ROTC, you’d know all about that.’ She adds, causing Sam to chuckle at the slightly embarrassed smile on my face, ‘I want you to know that I fully intend to tell and show you exactly why we feel we need your assistance.’ I offer an appreciative smile, ‘But please believe me when I say that it would be safer for Mister Wilson, –and in the long run, for you- if he remains here and acts as if everything is normal.”

I raise an eyebrow, “And what is he to do if the Veterans at the VA ask where I’ve disappeared to? They’ve met me, we’ve spoken many times. If they think I’m missing, or in danger in any way…”

I trail off as I share a look with Sam, “He’s to tell anyone who asks that you’ve decided to go to a private school out of state, in order to further understand and expand your abilities.”

I snort as I run my fingers through my wavy, black hair, “That’s rich! He’s supposed to tell them that I’ve decided to spend the rest of high school kissin’ ass in the Neverland Mansion of that creepy, old, bald, Heaven’s-Gate-lookin’-mother…’ Sam clears his throat and I give him a nervous smile, before giving a laugh, ‘Newsflash, Agent Hill: Anyone that knows about the accident at my dad’s lab knows I’m not a mutant and they sure-as-Hell won’t believe that I’ve decided to leave home, and JROTC… Especially not to go to Westchester.”

She sighs, “What will they believe?”

Sam sits up, “I’ll tell them –whoever asks- that she’s on a research trip while she’s on break from school… Will she be back before school starts up again?”

She nods, “We have two weeks until then, and with her help we may not even need that long…’ She looks at me, a pleading look on her face, ‘Please, one of our own is under the control of something… someone really awful and we need all the help we can get to save him, and everyone else.”

“Who’s under who’s control?”

She sighs, “I really wish I could tell you, but I can’t, not here.”

I share a look with Sam, “It’s your choice, sweetie.’ He says as he pulls me close, ‘This is your home.”

“Always.’ I whisper, ‘I’ll go. I’ll help.” I tell Agent Hill.

She smiles, “Thank you. Go and get your things. I’ll wait here.”

I run to my room and grab my duffel bag from my closet, throwing it on my bed; I take a deep, centering breath as I tap into my Air affinity -smirking in the mirror as I see my hair and eyes shift from black and brown to yellow- to make a few sets of clothes float from my dresser and closet into my duffel; while the clothes are basically packing themselves, I grab my backpack and stuff my laptop and chargers in it. I grab my phone from my nightstand, stuffing it in my pocket as I grab my bags and sling them both over my shoulders. I take another breath and watch my hair and eyes shift to normal, before walking back to Agent Hill and Sam, who pulls me in for another hug.

“Kick some ass, sweetie.”

“Promise. Lead the way, Agent Hill.”

I follow her out of the house and into a black Escalade with windows so tinted, they nearly match the vehicle; as we drive off she hands me a tablet, “This is the Tesseract… It’s an alien object and a being named Loki used it to take control of one of our main and most talented agents, and an Astrophysicist.”

“Na…?’ I choke on my question when I see someone I recognize, ‘Dr. Selvig?’ I ask as I meet her gaze, ‘Loki –God of Lies and Mischief- used this cube to put one of the brightest minds of the last few decades under his control?”

She nods, “Yes, along with Agent Clint Barton.. How do you know Dr. Selvig?”

I smile as I look out the window, “Dad asked him to tutor me when I was younger and when he was too busy working… Which was a lot… He kept tutoring me, even after the accident…’ I smile as a memory of Dr. Selvig reading me to sleep flashes through my head, ‘He became an uncle of sorts; on nights that he’d stay over, he’d read me to sleep.’ I meet her gaze, ‘I will do everything in my power to get him and Agent Barton back, you have my word.”

She smiles, “I’m glad… Andromeda?”

I smile, “Agent Hill?”

“What sort of books did Dr. Selvig read to you?”

I smirk, “Books about Thor and Loki…’ I bite my lip, ‘You’re sure it’s him?”

She nods, “Yeah, it’s Loki… We’re looking for him and the others, as we speak.”

I nod, “And Thor?”

She shakes her head, “Worlds away. We can’t depend on him to help us.”

I nod, “That’s why you need me.”

She shrugs, “You and a few others… You’ll meet them later.’ She looks out the window as the truck stops, ‘We’re here…’ She says as she gets out, ‘Listen, you know you can’t tell Mister Wilson about this, right?” She asks as I step up next to her and attempt to close my gaping mouth.

“Uhm… Uh…’ I gulp, ‘I don’t think he’d believe me anyway…” I tell her as I stare at the colossal jet carrier in front of me.

This is what it became? She’d be so proud.

She leads the way onto the carrier and opens a door; I walk through in front of her, taking in my surroundings, “Agent Hill.’ A man in all black and an eye patch greets, ‘You got her. Good work.” He compliments, casting a disappointed look at Agent Gomez.

Agent Hill nods, “Sir.”

“I am Director Nicolas Fury.’ He explains as gives me a nod, ‘Glad you’re here, Cadet Captain.”

I smile slightly, he must not realize I remember him, “Glad to be here, sir, I guess.’ I tell him as I shake his hand, before clasping it with the other that’s resting against my back, ‘Agent Hill said there would be others?” I ask as I raise an eyebrow.

He nods, “They’ll be arriving shortly. Have a seat.”

I nod, sitting at the round table; an Agent with red hair walks in, “Agent Romanoff, this is Cadet Captain Andromeda Banner. Cadet Captain,’ He begins as I stand to shake her hand, ‘this is Agent Natasha Romanoff.”

“Hi.’ She greets sweetly, clearly trying to erase the look of worry from her face, ‘Thank you for agreeing to come.”

I smile, “Agent Barton, he’s a friend of yours?’ She nods, ‘I’ll do all I can to help find him, and Doctor Selvig.”

She nods again, “It’s appreciated.”

I sit back down and a few minutes later she walks past me, “I’ll be back in a minute.” She tells me when I look up at her.

Another Agent I’ve met walks through the door, a few minutes after she leaves, “Hello, Andromeda.’ Agent Coulson greets, ‘It’s nice to see you again.” He says as he offers his hand.

I take his hand as I stand, allowing him to pull me in for a hug, memories of our first meeting when I was thirteen flashing through my brain, “Nice to see you again, Phil.’ I jump as I hear turbines kick on, ‘It’s an airship?”

“A hellicarrier,’ He corrects with a smile, ‘What do you think so far?”

I smile, “I think she’d be proud… She’d love it, Phil, really.”

The door opens and I spin around, gasping soon after, “Dad?!