She soon enters a room with 3 others surrounded by papers, and some computers. She sees... Captain America and her eyes go wide.
"Strong team! They got that Captain America dude," Karlen says unheard. The others she cannot recognize. One is a Black man, looks military. Then there is Natasha.
Cap says, "So you said Fury sent us another recruit for the mission."
Natasha nods, "Her abilities... are... weird. But strong." The Black man and Cap are frowning... noticing her slouched, animalistic posture, and lack of shoes. She rubs her head... embarrassed.
Cap sighs, "So what can you do?"
She is unsure what to say? She says, "Uh... kind of got a weird dimensional channel to another realm. Can... transfer objects, and people through it... disturb electronics... and... um... well..." She is unsure what else to explain.
Natasha sighs, "It's hard to explain, but it's level 8 access lock. She is basically a representative of some other realm Fury is working with, ran by a weird entity named Mr. Fox." They look at Natasha, and her weird.
The Black man says, "Weird as fuck."
Steve leans forward slightly, hands folded. "You've had combat experience?" It's cautious, not condescending.
She nods, slowly. "A few missions. Was investigative, mostly. But... I fought. Lately, it's been less fighting, more... performance."
Steve frowns... confused, "Uh... explain?"
She frowns, and sighs, as she removes her sunglasses. Revealing her eyes, that are slitted, and glow with static. Steve watches unnerved. Wilson, the Black man, watches unsure. She then begins to hum quietly, as the lights flicker. Then go out. As shadows shift behind her, as ears form on her head, tail flicking, even some figure of a snout, and shadows grow on the walls. As Karlen, nearby, on a wall becomes visible. A shadowy fox animated on the wall, with no shadow source. It utterly unsettles them, as Karlen moves, eyes watching them. Before she stops, and it all returns to normal. Beyond her static eyes.
Steve sighs, hand on his beard. "Ally was it? Natasha, can I see her file? Sorry Ally, you got told you would be coming very suddenly." She nods, as Steve reads some things on the computer. As Natasha plugs in a black, advanced-looking USB.
He says, "Yeah... I can see why Fury has you here. Sorry you got attacked." He says after reading for 30 minutes.
Sam, sitting nearby, reviewing the same files on a laptop, sighs. "Whatever... if Cap, Fury trusts you, you are fine. We could use the help. Though... including you in our plans may be complex."
She nods. Cap nods, "Well, you're in. I got some positions for you. First things first... here is the file on Project Insight. I need you to read it, understand our objectives, and then... tomorrow we will consider your role more in depth. The operation goes off in 3 days here, so you are in time luckily." She nods, as she is handed the tablet.
Time passes. She spends her night in the realm, discussing with Mr. Fox, and Karlen about how to fight, and how she can help. How much to reveal. Eventually, as the next day comes, they discuss.
Cap asks, "I need to know what you can do. How much."
She nods... and says, "My powers take time to build up... but do protect me during that time. Control environments. Makes it hard for enemies to take actions, creeps them out, and such. But... if I get it built up, I can teleport large groups out of... the way? I guess. I mean... I can return them back to reality as well... if they survive the realm." The other 3 are slightly unsettled, but say nothing, as Cap considers with less concern on his face. Just... strategy.
He nods, "The fear is useful. What are the limits of it?"
She shrugs. "I... never really had a proper test. But... in my file it should mention the 2 teams of 8 I beat. Of high-skill SWAT." They nod. Then she mentions... quietly, almost embarrassed, "But... that was kind of... under fight or flight... panic..."
Sam finally says what's on everyone's mind. "So... what happens to people when they go in there?"
She sighs, and says, "Depends. The shadow foxes... in there may hunt them if Mr. Fox says so. If they stay there too long, they are stuck there. Transformed into shadow... foxes." There is an uncomfortable silence.
Natasha doesn't blink. "Weaponized exile. New."
Ally nods slowly. "Mr. Fox... he calls it mercy." The way she says it doesn't hide her doubt. "He thinks people can be rebuilt better in the realm."
Steve is quiet, then says, "That sounds like judgment." She shakes her head. "It's more like... rehabilitation. But... yeah. Sometimes it doesn't work."There is a quiet.
Steve asks, "What about friendly fire?"
She... is quiet. "I don't know, but if I don't consider someone a threat, nothing will happen to them. If someone is not that bad, they will often survive the realm. Mr. Fox has mercy on the ones that are not that bad, and just teaches them a lesson, then kicks them out."
Sam is quiet, and says, "Seriously, how much control do you got. Like... range limits? Size limits? Stamina?"
She sighs, "I don't know! Never been pushed to my limits. Usually a 3-minute song is enough to disappear any threat. Though I've only been shot at by a sniper, and had 16 men with big guns enter to try to kill me once."
Then she frowns, and sighs, "In truth... though... uh... I may get too caught up in the power the song grants, and enter a trance. Uh... it... makes me... kind of... enjoy... playing around with... enemies... I guess." That's what Mr. Fox says it does at least.
Steve considered deeply. "Can you filter HYDRA spies from regular people?"
She pauses... unsure... "Mr. Fox could... he is good at soul stuff." She says out of pocket. She then remembered something, and said, "Oh... I can also create a lot of technological interference. As well as create portals to the realm through TV screens... where Mr. Fox could help... but... I'm not sure if he would be willing. Would need to convince him. Beyond that, Mr. Fox did allow me to use shadow foxes, and Karlen... the shadow fox in my shadow... uh... well he can ask an army of shadow foxes to help out."
She turns to the wall, and Karlen nods, and says, "Yeah. I could get you 100 or 200 in a few moments."
She says, "100 or 200." They gulp... unsure.
Cap asks, "Combat strength of a shadow fox?"
She nods, and says, "A bite can send you to the realm. Beyond that... they just look creepy, and can pull objects into the realm, or trip people, but it takes a lot of stamina. They are basically ghosts." She then shook her head, and sighed deeply. "But that is if I get serious... trump card. If I'm casual, I can run fast, smell people... uh... hear very well... always. Even... get claws, or move people with shadows."
Steve considers, and then sighs deeply. "We are planning on taking out those helicarriers. They need large crews to operate... but... I'm concerned for their safety if we send you in to pull them. Unsure... if this realm of yours has the right idea of right, and wrong." She is quiet... guilty, but nods. Cap considers, and says, "You are fine, we can use you. Our previous plan was to take over the communications. Tell all SHIELD the truth about HYDRA, get some allies on the inside. Then get to the 3 helicarriers, and plug in 3 chips that will cause them to attack each other. Now..." He thinks deeply of where she could go in this plan.
Natasha says, "With HYDRA all around, I think her best place to act is on the ground, within SHIELD ranks. Someone to remove the HYDRA around that are working to get the helicarrier launched."
Steve interrupts, "The issue is we need them launched, so we can destroy the helicarriers. Because if they are not launched, they cannot destroy themselves, and thus remove any potential for anyone else to do similar. The helicarriers need to be destroyed to remove all signs of Insight." There is quiet uncertainty.
Natasha says, "I see no reason to not have her freely on the 3 helicarriers, taking them down. Those within are either captives forced to act, or HYDRA forcing them to act. Even if she makes some mistakes... we all can. It's hard to tell friend from foe, so simply care if someone is shooting at you. This is war." Sam sighs and nods. Cap nods as well.
Sam says, "So... not an assassin. Not a tank. More like... a chaos grenade in a trench coat."
Ally chuckled dryly. "Pretty much."
Sam nods, "Though... all on those helicarriers will die if we do this right. So... having you aboard pulling them out... is better than death I guess."
It's late at night. As she sleeps in her bunk. As within the fox realm she awakens. She sits on a hill next to Mr. Fox, looking at the view. Very pretty. She says, "Can you help?"
Mr. Fox is quiet, as he turns at her. "Perhaps... yes if you are in danger you can't handle."
She is quiet. "Because you need your second tether?"
He chuckles, "Yep, because I need my second tether. But also... because I don't want you to die out there." She whimpers and nods.
He says, "However, I may help out here and there. I will order the shadow foxes on cleanup duty to be careful, and make sure to treat the innocents with care."
She sighs, "That's okay I guess. How will we get them out? I have not pulled someone out before?"
Mr. Fox says, "I can do that. Let's focus on the battle at hand here." She nods.
She sighs, and says, "Any ideas how to get Steve to trust this?"
Mr. Fox shrugs, "I don't know. I respect the man. That's it. A talk on a television would be funny... but. I don't know."
She says, "What about Fury, he asked for a meeting with you, a real one." Mr. Fox... is quiet.
He sighs and says, "Yeah, fine. For the sake of the world, and all that."
Karlen finally arrives, "I talked to the combat teams ready for your command, Madam! Heh..."
She frowns at the word. "Seriously, you too?"
He shrugs, as he sits, tail flicking coyishly. "Hey, you are a very pretty Madam, and all the foxes call you the word. They respect you a lot, as you brought color, and made this place more real."
She sighs, and nods. "Yeah, yeah. I can't wait to get some peace and quiet for a bit."
Karlen nods, "Yeah, so we can get some alone time, and snuggle, Ally." He walks over, and licks her ear, as she flinches.
"Come on! Seriously." She yells blushing.
Karlen chuckles loudly, "Hey, you are pretty, and I am determined. You will be my mate!" She frowns, and sighs deeply. Before chuckling softly.
"Whatever..." As Mr. Fox smiles looking at them. Before he walks off. As they lay down, and just talk on that hill. Eventually... Karlen, and Ally begin grooming each other. Relaxing. Yet... she can't help but notice how... new, or... not-human her form here is. Fur, paws, and not a trace of human in her, beyond her eyes.