𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 || 𝘈 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘛𝘰 𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘥

SOMETHING IN THE DUNES STIRRED TO LIFE. It was a relatively unfamiliar feeling to Jaxon, which is why he enjoyed it. The shifting of the sand as winds cut through the air like blades. Almost like the desert was a living breathing creature. These small details grounded him the best they could. Much wasn't able to keep the young man in the present as of late.

Work had been consuming him into the early mornings and late nights with Harry riding his ass and Abbad still hiding from him. In a way, he liked the cat-and-mouse game. It reminded him of the very memories he had back in the day. Chasing a target who hopelessly ran with the hopes of survival. But it always ended one way and it was a 9mm hole left in the centre of their forehead.

It had been months since he had been home to see Sharon. Wanting to make up for the lost time he had created with him running from Catherine. But since he's been hunting Abbad, he hasn't exactly planned anything outside this mission. Sharon of course fixed that with the few satellite calls she made with him whilst he was in Arabia. Checking in when she felt like something could be wrong.

Tonight, the moon bounced off the sand, giving a crystal glint to the land. In the distance, there was the faint glimmer of lights, a small village able to be seen. Jaxon watched with his arms crossed from the nest he and his men had forged an hour ago. Something small and inhabitable for the brief time of their stay. With the sand knocking up, it masked them well enough that no sniper rifle or pair of goggles could spot them. That and the lack of lighting, he and his men had made them incognito. A fucking UAV would have trouble spotting them at first.

They'd been tracking and watching Abbad for the past few weeks. Capturing a few of his close men and learning. Because while he was running and hiding, Jaxon was planning an attack. And tonight was the night he would finally commence the only assault needed. Finally putting an end to this cat and mouse game he had been performing with Abbad.

Looking over his shoulder, a sandstorm wall approached rapidly. Only benefiting him further as he turned and entered the camp where the sound of chatter could be heard. Walking past the few tents where most of the soldiers were laughing and playing cards. Their youthful smiles reminded him of his days back in the SEALs. Remembering how they could be happy but with a flip of a switch, it was game time.

Jaxon had spent time with these men prior to ever deploying in Arabia. Training them how he wanted all his soldiers to be like in Talon. Used his old skills from Quantum and applied them to his own Task Force that took his advice with an open mind. His superiors even appreciated doing so and reminding him that his addition to their overall umbrella was an addition they wouldn't ever take for granted.

Approaching the gun depot, he spotted Mitchell. "Cormack, you're with me." The grizzled man nodded, placing down his Glock and following his Commander.

Cormack had been the first person to join Talon when this whole mission started. Not only was he a gun for hire, but he was an ex-marine. Serving 5 tours before going into PMC work. He is a worthy person for Jaxon to have under his wing. Not only that but there is quite a bit more to his resume that most preferred to be covered in black ink.

"We moving in soon, sir?" Cormack asked, following his leader towards the back hut they had built their small base around.

"Once that sand wall hits us, we're up," Jaxon confirmed. "But I want everything to be made sure of before we do so."

Entering the hut, the humidity of the room hit Jaxon like a brick wall. The clear difference from the cold Arabian winds to the room only took Jaxon a moment to readjust before he flipped the switch by the door.

The lights flickered, fighting to project light as a man stood in the centre of the room. His arms were tied and forced up above his head from the anchored cement loop. A puddle of water could be seen around his dirty socks and judging by the smell, it was piss. Asad's face was cut and bruised from the torture Jaxon had performed on him. Sure, he wasn't cleared to do so, but sometimes there wasn't any time to just sit around and play the nice guy. So, Jaxon had taken it upon himself to break the chain of command. No one else seemed to have a problem with it considering most of the men knew about Abbad's father and how he bombed London. And with most of them being from there, they shared a hatred that wasn't comparable to most.

"Asad, up and at 'em, bud!" Jaxon clapped his hands, causing the man to snap up from his sleep and gasp. Legs wobbling from how long he had been forced to stand, a total of 2 days now. "Cormack, check the door." The soldier nodded, closing the door behind him after peeking outside.

Breathing heavily, Asad bowed his head in defeat. "I told you everything I know," he stressed. "What else do you want from me?"

"I want to make sure I have actionable intel," Jaxon stated, standing a few feet from Asad; arms crossed tightly over his chest. "Abbad is in Basna. How many fighters are with him?"

"8. He has personal bodyguards. He isn't planning on leaving until early tomorrow," Asad cried. "That's all I know, please, let me go. I just want to get home to my family."

Sniffling, Jaxon nodded before glancing over his shoulder at Cormack. The man understood, grabbing his knife from his pocket and handing it to his Commander. Taking it, Jax grabbed Asad by the hair and yanked his head back. Almost relishing in the man's pained cries. "Should've known better than to work with a terrorist."

Dragging the knife across Asad's neck, Jaxon stepped back and watched as the man choked on his blood that splurted out and across the floor. His body thrashed, making him sway as blood ran down his front, staining the white shirt he wore. Regarding Abbad, Jaxon had already lost two of his men because of the man. They'd surprised them and killed Donny and Howard when they had been moving through a small town. That had been where Jaxon captured Asad. This was merely payback for taking two of his own.

Soon enough, the sounds of Asad seized and his body hung lifelessly. Jaxon cut the ropes binding the corpse's wrists and listened to the sound of his body thudding with the impact of the floor. Using his shirt to clean off the blade, Jaxon handed it back to Cormack.

"Get the boys ready. We'll be moving out in 5-"

Jaxon was cut off by the sound of his sat phone ringing in his pocket. Pulling it out, he scanned the number and frowned. Waving a hand of dismissal as he said, "Get the guys ready. I'll be on coms for the op."

Once Cormack was gone, Jaxon answered the phone and pressed it to his ear with a deep sigh. "Jaxon?" Hill's voice filled his ear.

"Hill," he replied plainly. "I wasn't expecting a call from you, ma'am."

"Where are you?" She inquired as the man glanced around the hut, eyes focusing on Asad for a moment.

He hummed deeply, stepping close to the window of the hut. Watching his men hop into the buggies with the lights off and soon driving in the direction of the village. The sand wall hit them perfectly and masked their approach. "Business trip."

"That's a first," the woman chuckled. "I've got a problem."

"You mean the Avengers have a problem," he corrected with a hum, arms crossing over his chest. "Strucker."

Hill let out a small laugh. "Word travels fast."

"Well, when it comes to the Avengers, nothing's a secret," Jaxon replied. "Tell Tony that he needs to improve his security. Had one of my rookies hack into it no problem."

"We finally figured out where the Sceptre is. He could be possibly using it to experiment on weapons."

"Or people," Jaxon added, having the faintest bit of knowledge from how he got his powers.

It'd come to him while on the flight to Arabia that he got the vision. How he had been forced into a cell with them using the stone to give him the powers he didn't want or ever needed. It wouldn't be surprising if some of Catherine's research fell into Strucker's hands at the end of S.H.I.E.L.D. falling.

"When can you brief?"

Jaxon inhaled deeply and cracked his neck. "We just did."