Chapter 7

The alarm went off at 7 am. I don't remember setting it at that time or if it was even me who did it. I am in a bedroom, that I can tell, specially because of the soft and comfy mattress I was on. It took me forever to fully wake up and get to my senses. Tiredness leaked out of me like anything I ever felt. I remember being escorted by the guards to this room from the warehouse. After the plumbing incident, SHIELD decided to keep a closer eye on me and by what Nick Fury told me I wondered if that was even possible. Have they really been watching me all these time? Or are they just bluffing?

Shaking my still groggy head(which didn't help at all) I started to get up. The recent days took a toll on me and I felt it in every part of my body. Afraid to think about the past few days I decided not to think at all. And now with SHIELD on top of everything I might as well have a stroke. I was in an officer's quarter, didn't really understand where SHIELD was getting with this but I didn't complain. It had one bedroom, dining room with a kitchen and a bathroom, nothing too slick or fancy. The bedroom had two doors, one led to the bathroom and the other to the rest of the rooms.

The warm shower was enough to get me up and going. Clean clothes were neatly folded on a chair in the dining room, a jeans and a plain button up shirt. After I changed I took a long look at my old camp half blood T-shirt. It was dirty enough for my mom to fuss about if she saw me in it. To my surprise it didn't faze me when I simply took it and threw it in the trash. I didn't know what it meant, throwing my past away just like that, only that maybe this change was for the better or at least that's what I hoped. I was spared from the thought when I heard a knock on the door, a subtle knock that could rock my world once again forever.

(-)

Standing outside was a man in complete suit. Hair neatly combed and looking somewhere around forties. "Mister Jackson." The man said. "I am agent Coulson. I was sent here to pick you up. The director wants to talk with you."

"Right." I said, trying to get my words together. "Now?"

"Yes, now." His reply was stoic and straight. "If there is no problem."

"Lead the way. Just… there is no need to bash me on the head this time."

"Hopefully that would not be required." He smiled. "Follow me."

I followed him down the hallway with doors lining the wall. Our shoes hitting the floor the only sound there was. Soon we exited the building and there was a jeep waiting for us outside. Apparently, as much as I could remember from last night since there was not much too see, this place was large enough that you had to move around with cars. Far across I could see a tall glass building erected from the ground. Its cylindrical shaped surface almost looked flat from my point of view. Apparently construction work was going on as I could see cranes hanging from the side. "What is this place?" I asked the agent.

"You are in a SHIELD compound. Everyone you see and meet around here are part of the SHIELD agency." He said. "Security is something we do not take lightly around here either, so if you have something in mind I suggest you drop it."

The agent did not show any hint of warning, but I decided to keep what he said in mind. Not that I had much of any ideas. Truth was, I didn't really know what to do or where to go anymore. What I was trying to do, I realized, was to forget about my past. Just leave it lying around in the trash with that T-shirt.

Two guards opened the door of the vehicle. Agent Coulson ushered me inside and took the shotgun himself. "Where are you taking me again?" I asked as the driver started the engine. There was a guard sitting next to me with his hand in his coat. "Because I am not really a big fan of your dark rooms."

Agent Coulson looked through the rearview mirror. "Some protocols are necessary to be maintained. Specially when dealing with your kind."

"My kind?"

"The director will be seeing you in the HQ" He said, ignoring me. "For now you don't have anything to worry about."

"Wait, wait hold up. What do you mean by 'My Kind'?"

"Not my position to tell you." He simply replied.

Well that was helpful, I thought. As we rode on, I started to make some sense of this place. We passed fields with what looked like barracks, obstacle courses and two story buildings. Soldiers jogged around the field in groups, officers shouting orders rang across the field. "What is the place? A boot camp?"

"We keep our personals trained and fit. SHIELD has its own role in the US military. Special ops ,task force, this island provides a major part for their training." The agent said.

I have seen the SHIELD HQ from a distance before during my previous trips to Washington, never thought I would end up here though. Not like this anyway. We stopped in front of a deck of stairs right under the cylindrical building which according to them is their main headquarters. Phil Coulson got out of the car and I followed. The guard from the car followed us up the stairs until we reached the glass gates, in front of which stood two other guards. Instinctively, I started to pat my pocket and once again I couldn't stop myself from being surprised when I didn't feel my pen. It is hard to describe the feeling, but it felt like I just lost one of my limbs. The guard from the car stayed behind as me and agent Coulson passed through the doors and into the glass building. People bustled about everywhere, everyone walking to their own destination. Suits, briefcases, id cards, files and folders obsecured my vision. We walked across the white tiled floor and towards an elevator.

Disclaimer: Coolest elevator I ever have ever seen, which is why I might have cussed a little when the elevator started talking.

"Good day agent Coulson. The director is waiting for you in his office. Shall I take you there sir?" Came the computer generated female voice.

"Please do." Said Phil.

"What in the Hade- Hell. You have voice activated elevators?"

"Courtesy of Stark." He said. "Said this place needed a bit of… personality."

"I wouldn't argue with that." I remarked.

Phil Coulson looked at me sideways but didn't say anything. The glass behind us displayed the city of Washington as we rose. It was arguably a nice scenery, the only connection between the island and the city was a bridge which once again looked guarded.

"I take that you have already met with agent Nattasha." Phil Coulson spoke.

"I did." I said. "Would have almost considered her charming if she hadn't brought me here blind ."

The agent smirked. "That might actually be the most charming thing you will ever see her doing. Most cases she brings someone with a missing toe or removed nails. I suggest you feel lucky."

"I've seen worse." I replied.

Our conversation dropped like a stone. The elevator door opened and we started walking again. Fewer people roamed around here. We headed towards a corridor and went for the glass door at the end.

The director was sitting on his chair, talking to an earpiece. "-that to the board members. Every time they make these stupid decisions I have to clean up their mess and for the love of god if they talk about nukes again consider me pissed. Give me the case when you think it is ready."

He clicked his earpiece and regarded us as we came in. I was still getting used to his black patch on one eye.

"Please have a seat." He called. I took a seat opposite his desk. It was until I went near his desk that I noticed screens on the glass surface. One was displaying news on a news channel and others looked like reports. "I am sure you have questions."

I nodded, trying to decide what to ask first. "I had a pen with me. A gift from a very close friend, just wanted to make sure if you have it."

"We did not come across such pen. Interesting you had to ask that first. Must have been a very good friend of yours."

Darn it. I felt so stupid. I decided to laugh it off a little. "Yeah. You people seem to be going very easy on me, why? With my record, you should be worried. I had about a hundred chances to escape this morning."

"And yet you didn't."

Darn it again. What do I say to that? I was kicked out of my clan so I decided to chill here for a bit?

"Look Mister Jackson." He said. "I am in a bit of a tight situation over here and just happened to need you. Our board members have a bad habit of meddling their noses into things that we are probably better off without. But none the less that has kept us alive till now. Which brings us back to where we left off yesterday. Do you know why you are here?"

"You want to know more about me. Which is why you have been handling me so carelessly so that you can sweet talk me into helping you know more about where I come from."

"Glad you are catching up. Now that we have everything settled, are you willing to take my offer?"

I laughed. "Why do you make it sound as if I have a choice? With everything agent Coulson told me over here I'm betting you are worse than the federal agency of the government."

The director and Phil Coulson exchanged glances. "I will admit Mister Jackson. I gave you less credit than you deserve."

At that point I just had to let out a sigh. Then again, that statement was inevitable I suppose. "So what now? Am I locked up here?"

The director leaned forward and looked straight at me. "The real question, is do I need to lock you up?"

For a moment I felt this guy knew a lot more than any normal mortal should. I felt as if it was out of question for anyone to lie to this guy and get away with it. Whoever he was, experience brought him to this point and gave him a thick skin which seemed impossible to crack.

"Depends." I said. "I don't know anything about your organization. You cannot expect me to trust you. So no promises."

Nick Fury leaned back on his chair and clasped his hands. Agent Coulson stood behind us in silence. The office had a spectacular view over the city of Washington, we must have been at least fifty stories up.

"Fair enough." The director finally said. "It seems like we have to get on the same page first before we go any further. Now I don't usually do this, but to put it into a manner of speaking, I believe we need to go out for a date."

I furrowed my eyebrows. Couldn't really tell if he was being serious. "With all due respect sir, I have a girlfriend."

The director didn't acknowledge my reply and instead looked towards Agent Coulson. "Coulson, I want him assigned to the Special Forces division. Make sure it is sorted out by today."

"Yes sir." Coulson replied.

"Whoa whoa hey! I haven't agreed to anything yet!" I exclaimed.

"Make sure you sleep well today Mister Jackson." Nick Fury told me. "Your training starts tomorrow morning."

One day when I retire from all these(which is saying something) I am going to write a book about my life. Probably never going to be published though, because the crazy life I live is just way too much, even by fiction standards. My head started to throb with the same question I have been asking myself for a while. How in the Hades did I bring myself to this?