𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 || 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘌𝘯𝘥

   THE BEEPING OF AN INCOMING MEETING HAD GRABBED CATHERINE'S ATTENTION. Lifting her gaze from the tablet in her hand that she had been scrolling through for the past few minutes. The thought of avoiding the meeting was the first thing that appeared in her mind. Ignore it and continue with her department that currently was under distress after recent events. It would be the perfect excuse the Council would understand, but in the end, demand she attends the meeting. Which had her sighing in annoyance as she stood to her feet.

Opening her side drawer, her hands found the small box that sat beside the Baretta before she slid the drawer shut. Opening the box and carefully grabbed the contacts and placed them over her eyes. Blinking a few times, adjusted to the tiny change before letting out a soft sigh and answered the call.

Beyond her desk, five figures appeared behind the thin sheets of glass. Each council member is in a bright transparent blue. Catherine had to hold back the eye roll upon their presence, moving around her desk and leaning against the front of it. Mentally preparing for the hassle this entire thing would be when she needed her mind focused on other subjects.

"Miss Kelly," Gideon greeted with a forced smile. "We thought you wouldn't attend."

His tone swam in the overwhelming waters of sarcasm and false interest. The relationship had always been like this since Catherine gained control of the program. Most didn't agree with her methods, Gideon being one of those people, whilst others stood with her and supported her actions.

Catherine put on a plastic smile, one that every council member could see clear as day. "Oh, and miss talking to you? How could I resist, Malick."

A quiet chortle could be heard from Alexander Pierce who shook his head softly. "It's always to have you here with us, Catherine." He smiled, which was far more genuine than Gideon's, a much more personal and deeper relationship between them.

"And you too, Alexander." Catherine smiled curtly.

"I think we all agree on needing to get straight to the chase, correct?" Hawley mused as a quiet chorus of agreement could be heard.

"We called you Catherine in regards to the recent incident in London." The older woman spoke up.

Just the mention of the said incident had raised a sizeable tension in the air. For good reason as it had been nothing but a catastrophe that occurred on Catherine's watch. She did feel guilt, but it wasn't like she had full control over the man she had sent into the field to deal with the problem.

"And what is it you would like to bring to the table, Councilwoman?" Catherin snarked as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Because you all pulling me into this meeting has halted me trying to fix our problem and find the source."

"We all know the source, Kelly," Yen spoke up, a knowing look directed towards Catherine who exhaled through her nose with her arms tightening across her chest. "It's Balshier and you know it best because you've been pursuing this man and his terrorist cell for weeks now. Yet, we have had no results with your so-called, agents."

The bitterness on the man's tongue had his face slightly scrunching with disgust at the simple mention. It didn't surprise Catherine as she had faced all types of scrutinization of her soldiers. Not because of them being who they are, but because of how they operated. They were merely legal assassins under her command that worked across the world. Waiting for their call for another opp and another target.

It just turns out that Balshier had been the latest of problems to emerge on the surface. A problem that had cost her millions of dollars and far too many agents for her liking. Which had raised questions of Catherine's control over her agents and her handle over the terrorist.

At certain times, they were mindless soldiers, which was something Rockwell had brought up a multitude of times. Letting her move them around the chessboard to up further her agenda. And in some ways, that was the truth, but as well as a lie. In some sort of emotion, she did show care to each of her agents. Giving them the time off when they deserved it or if the injury had them in critical condition. And even in the early months of training, she speaks to each of them in person, getting to know and understand them on a deeper level.

Before a snide remark could be made from Catherine, Singh spoke up. "If I may intervene. We can't ignore the fact that these agents have solved near-global catastrophes that could've sparked wars." He defended, motioning with his hand towards the woman. "The Woman in Black has always followed through on her promises to solve problems when presented. Rivalling Nick Fury's effectiveness."

The mere mention of her ex-husband had her scoffing, still holding a smirk across her lips. "And I think we all know that my department has had far better control over the situation than Nick has in the past."

"But have you created the next Captain America?" Rockwell cut in, earning the attention of everyone. "Nick has brought us, Captain Rogers, back from the dead, awaiting for a battle. That man's presence alone could shape the battle." He boasted with his eyes sharp as knives, specifically focused on Catherine. "Your agents are nothing but the dirt under my boot, Kelly. So, you to insinuate that your agents could change the tide of any war that could occur baffles me."

A small smirk formed on Catherine's lips as she tilted her head. "Have you not noticed that my agents have stopped any whispers of war with a single bullet?" She questioned. "How they put their lives on the line so all of you can sit in your fancy seats and continue to run things?"

"A bomb went off on foreign soil, Catherine!" He yelled. "Under your watch and that cannot be pushed to the side!"

When it came to Council meetings, there was a clear and stable ground for all of them. An equal place for all to speak their minds, but never step too far over that line that had been drawn in the sand for years. "Balshier acted a terror attack and you put your trust in a man who not only didn't successfully neutralize our problem but vanished without a trace! Killing 2 of your other agents with him!"

Silence filled the meeting and the entirety of Catherine's office as she stared at the man under harsh scrutiny. A tension wrapped around her throat and tightened every second. Inhaling deeply as her tongue poked out barely to wet her lips. "You act as if you all hadn't given me clearance for my department to move on foreign soil and kill government officials."

"That does not change the fact that we had entrusted your department with this problem," Hawley spoke up with a slight shake of her head. "That can't just be brushed off with a simple few words, Catherine. You either need to make a sizable change to your department or you will be terminated."

Catherine couldn't refrain from her eyes widening at the statement. Suddenly shifting in her position against the front of her desk as she swallowed the lump in her throat. The threat was subtle, but still left an eerie amount of anxiety brewing in her stomach.

Rarely did the Woman in Black show an inkling of fear. It had been her ruthlessness that had gotten her to the point where she was at. It even had been how she met Nick Fury half a decade ago. But this had been the one situation where masking that fear was troubling. That mask she always seemed to hold cracking under the possibilities.

But by some gracefulness, Alexander sat up from his chair, adjusting his suit. "For years now, we have relied on S.H.I.E.L.D. and Quantum to save our problems. And we have not forgotten the courageous agents on either side and the tough decisions Catherine has had to make specifically." He praised, eyes flickering to Catherine with a small smile. "But for us to threaten the termination and restructuring of the Quantum department completely is unreasonable. Because, in the end, we would only be doing it so we feel just a tad bit better for what happened in London."

There was another layer of silence that swept over the Council that soaked in Alexander's words. Internally mulling over his statements and the clear side he had taken way before the entire meeting had started.

Of course, no one would ever understand that clearly, they weren't looking that far deep in the ground that had been paved by Alexander with Catherine's assistance. This was why when everyone seemed to agree with his words, a small uneasy smile formed on Catherine's lips.

Pushing herself up from her chest, she clasped her hands in front of her chest. "Countless times already in this meeting, I have heard how untrustworthy my department has become with the Quantum agent set." She announced as everyone's gazes quickly flickered to her. "And what I suppose is that you all don't see the world I see, and the truth is that the world I see frightens me."

"Terrorist cells walk this earth causing hell in our country and many others. A dictator issuing warnings to us, wars on the brink of eruption, riots in the streets with people believing in someone's voice that protests against us. Notice how this all happened after the attack on New York," she pointed out. "All of these being silenced by agents of a high calibre that risk theirs lives to keep you all where you are." She explained. "You don't have to believe in my department, but I'll let you see what the results are for not doing so."

And like that, the meeting ended with Catherine ending the call and sliding back against the front of her desk. With a deep sigh, Catherine relaxed with her head falling forward. Hands relaxed around the edge of her desk as the smallest smiles formed on her lips. Relief. That would be the best word to describe the emotion she felt at the moment. Utter and fulfilling relief.

It didn't last too long as a knock at her office door got her attention. "Come in!" The large oak doors opened with her Chief instructor, Hurly Hathaway stepped in. A tablet in hand with his other in his slacks as he approached the woman.

His eyes scanned over her face, seeing the rather dullness in her eyes and the ounce of tenseness in her face. "I dare to question if the meeting was a success." He spoke up as she sighed, standing up straight and smoothing over her suit.

"Alexander got us out of the deep end. We now just have to not swim too far ahead again." She replied with a slight nod, eyes flickering to the tablet in her friend's hand. "What do you have?"

A wide and eager smile tugged at Hurly's lips as he waved the tablet. "You're going to want to see this."

Handing the device over to the woman, she was faced with a photo and a brief file of a man. "What am I looking at here?" Catherine mused, eyes flickering up to Hurly as he shifted to stand beside her and look over the file.

"Jaxon Carter, subject 017. Navy Seal, team 6. He's directly from the Carter family, Sharon being his sister. Top of his class and has spent around 6 tours overseas." Hurly explained. "Presumably, from what I've been told, he has a knack for getting the mission done, even when he has injured. Which has landed him on a suspension without anything to do."

Hearing that caused Catherine's interest to perk up and squint slightly. "Anything else?" She inquired.

"Get this, his teammates have said that everything he touches dies."

Hurly smirked upon seeing Catherine's slightly interested face turn into one of eagerness

It was suppressed as she read over Jaxon's military file with a slight hum. "Explains the kill count." She murmured whilst handing the device back to the Chief who tucked it under his arm.

As exceptional as this Jaxon Carter is, Catherine had to tread very lightly. Alexander had pulled her out of the shit, but it had to be now that she acted but with caution. And that meant she had to take a full change of pace with this.

"Contact him, offer him the chance to join." Hurly nodded, quickly making his way to the door. "But Hurly,"

The man in question stopped when his hand grasped the handle, turning to look at her. "Put him through the training. Even the parts I had shut down." Hearing that had earned a grin from the man who nodded before leaving the office.

This was her second chance to keep her power. Losing that wasn't going to be an option. It didn't matter what she had to do.