Test Scene

[agent_of_venom]

Derrick "Trip" Triplett, arrived at the helicarrier in his full shield uniform, watching the others in the room. A few people refused to meet his eyes. A few others gave him solemn nods of respect but didn't move to speak to him. He returned the nods and made his way to the lab, knowing that their hesitation was partially of discomfort with what they knew of him. His father was a SHIELD agent killed in the line of duty and his great-grandfather was one of the Howling Commandos. They respected his pedigree.

But they can't abide a predator in their midst.

The Other's voice was a whisper in his head but it was a whisper that slipped between the spaces in his thoughts with liquid ease.

He arrived at the lab and knocked, taking a deep breath as he tried to settle his nerves. He did not need a freak out on the lab guy. It would just make everything tougher for everyone.

Comments

[simon_didnt_say]

Simon looked up when the doors to his lab slid open. He was in the midst of rewiring one of his drones, but it wasn't anything that couldn't wait.

"Hullo, Agent Triplett," he said.

[agent_of_venom]

What do you think his brain tastes like?

Trip shook his head.

"Hey, Agent Fitz. I'm here to, uh, get a couple of things fixed." he said, taking out his SHIELD-issue communicator and the portable listening device he was issued last week. Both were pretty smashed up.

"Sorry about this. Last mission got a little crazy."

[simon_didnt_say]

Fitz looked visibly upset by the condition the items were in.

"What... what happened to them?"

[agent_of_venom]

"Hydra punks hit us with a hydraulic-powered battering ram. Hurt like a bitch." Trip said, wincing a little as he noted Simon's reaction.

"Don't worry, though. We--I took care of those guys. Got the schematics for the battering ram in here, if you want them." Trip said, taking out a small, scraped up flash-drive. It wasn't broken but it was battered.

[simon_didnt_say]

Simon practically snatched the flash-drive from his hands. New technology made him giddy!

He gave the battered equipment a second look. "Hmmm. Doesn't look like they took too much damage... Though I might have to replace a few components."

[agent_of_venom]

"All right." Trip said, smiling. He was glad that Simon wasn't upset about the damaged gear. One less thing for him to worry about.

"Heard there was a group that just went up against Hydra down south. Weren't you in on that?" he asked.

[simon_didnt_say]

Simon nodded and smiled awkwardly. "I was. First time in a live fire situation. It w... was... very different."

[agent_of_venom]

Trip nodded. Field work was always tough on guys who didn't do it much. He didn't know Simon but, just from the casual glances around the room, Trip was sure Simon preferred machines to people.

"We know how that is. But you made it back and you took out a whole nest of the bastards. Be proud of that." he said.

[simon_didnt_say]

Machines were nice, safe, and predictable. They were much easier to navigate than people.

He nodded. "We did good," he admitted. "Not that I'm looking to repeat the experience any time soon, mind you."

[agent_of_venom]

"Hydra deserves every hit it takes and then some. Wish we could have been there to help out." Trip said.

"How long do you think it'll take to get them fixed?"

[simon_didnt_say]

"A day or two at the most," he said. "I've got a couple other repair jobs in the works and I'll have to fabricate a couple parts, but nothing too serious."

[agent_of_venom]

"All right, sounds good. I've got to meet with the Director and a few others. Apparently I'm being assigned to a team. Hopefully, they'll get to do cool stuff like you guys." he laughed.

[simon_didnt_say]

Simon nodded. "Oh, I'm sure you will. Wouldn't be SHIELD without crazy adventures in exotic locales full of people who want to kill you."

[agent_of_venom]

"Well, in this business, the only sane response to people who want to kill you is to kill them first. And make sure they stay that way." Trip said.

"Luckily, we specialize in that sort of thing."