Chapter 67 - The Architect 3/3

Natasha quickly pulled out her phone and shot off a quick text message as she started helping the sex slaves and the other people who were being held against their will get out. She immediately noticed she was not the only one.

A guard she recognized as well. He was the undercover CIA agent that was planted to keep an eye on the CIA's former asset turned criminal mercenary. He was helping get people out of the building. But he seemed more confused than she was. He had yet to realize that this building was rigged to be blown to smithereens. That eliminates one possibility for the culprit.

Once they got everyone outside they made their way to the central group where Barry Raines, also known as The Architect was yelling at the guards. But before they got a chance to catch up there was an explosion that tossed them forward.

BOOM!

The explosion shook the area and threw them forward. Knocking them down, everyone was on the ground. Natasha was looking around as the mansion collapsed. Before she pushed herself up the owner of the mansion was already standing in his bathrobe and yelling obscenities.

Natasha sighed as she prepared to get up. But she stopped a moment later.

BANG!

A loud gunshot ripped through the air as Barry Raines' head disappeared. Cloaking his white bath robe in red. His body dropped to the ground and Natasha blinked in surprise. Then the head of security was up and screaming at the guards.

He did not even bat an eye for a second before he decided to take control. Probably plans to take over Barry Raines' business ventures. He had all the proper contacts and connections he could easily-

BANG!

Another gunshot rang out. Another head disappeared. But now she was confused. If they wanted to kill indiscriminately they could have just blown up the building. They were clearly targeting certain people. But what was the endgame?

She looked over where she figured out the shots were coming from. It was still dark as it was early in the morning. But she could make out the figure of a vehicle and a person on it. Then she remembered the sex slaves' words, 'the living dead man.'

She looked around as the guards were taking cover. Then she called out, "What do you think you're doing? Go after him!" After her words the guards moved into action. Climbing into vehicles and racing out of the compound. Searching for the sniper who killed their boss.

But Natasha already knew they were likely long gone by now. They planned this out and acted quickly. There was not even a whisper of activity before this happened.

After the guards had all left, all that was left was herself, some civilian workers, and the sex slaves who were shivering as the sun began shining on the horizon. She pulled out her phone and made a call.

"Agent Romanov-" Hill started on the other end.

"The Architect is dead and so is his head of security. I need backup to secure the intel. The mansion was destroyed but the intel should be secure in an underground bunker. The guards have left the area chasing after the assassin. There are plenty of people held against their will that we can save as well." Natasha answered as she looked at the burning wreck of a building.

"Understood, we have four units on route to secure the scene and extract all assets and civilian's as necessary. Is there anything else?" Hill asked over the call as Natasha could hear yelling and noise in the background.

"Yes, task a satellite to find and follow the assassin. Then find any chatter you can about assassinating The Architect. Someone had to know something." Natasha began moving around the area picking up a small sidearm. She would have to kill some guards when they eventually came back.

—------------------

Ethan arrived at the docks. It was early in the morning so fishermen were all going out but he was not here for their boats. The Architect had a small smuggling speedboat. He could easily use it to get to South America.

It had been heavily modified for quicker travel. An experimental energy based engine that made it almost fly across the water. Apparently it was a gift from a Hydra branch, he was originally going to fly out of Puerto Rico to escape.

But after seeing Agent Natasha Romanov of SHIELD he figured this would be safer. She would likely have backup inbound immediately after whatever job she was pulling was disrupted. Then they would likely scour for evidence. Which means he would have to make a clean getaway.

He climbed out of the stolen truck with a duffel bag in one hand then pulled the Barrett Sniper out of the truck bed with his other. He walked to the speedboat that was dark colors to hide it from aerial surveillance.

The fishermen took one look at him and ignored him. More than likely they had seen something similar before and learned it was safer to ignore it than it was to get involved at all. Good thing too, he did not have time to deal with curious people.

He climbed into the boat and set down both the duffel bag and the sniper. Then he opened the bag and pulled out an incendiary grenade. Climbing out of the boat he walked to the truck, pulled the pin and tossed it in the cabin of the truck.

He then turned and walked back to the boat.

BOOM!

Fire engulfed the truck as the grenade exploded. But Ethan ignored it, climbing into the boat and throwing off the ropes. He started it up and sped away. Leaving the dockyard quickly as the engine roared loudly.

He would be able to easily escape.

—----------------

Natasha walked onto the bridge of the Helicarrier. She moved with purpose and determination. She had something to do. Maria was standing at attention giving orders to dispersion officers.

"Where are we on my assassin?" Natasha asked as she walked up next to Maria Hill.

"We are tracking the boat. But it is making quite a bit of progress, it is almost to South America. The footage from the mansion compound shows a person in a skull mask, it matches the footage from the Hydra facility that was raided by the X-Men." Maria handed over a file with all of the information.

"I was deep undercover can I get-" Natasha stopped mid sentence as she was handed another file. "Thank you. So the hacker has gone into business as a hitman?"

"More than likely a mercenary. We think he is changing his operating style as well. Fury is pissed because he recently handed us information on a silver platter. While we do not have even a suspect for the person's identity." Agent Hill explained with a chuckle.

"But will we be able to catch him this time?" Natasha asked. "He kind of interrupted my long term operation."

"We will try but he is already on the edge of our sensor range. Then once he makes it to South America we will lose him completely." Agent Hill declared as she was handed a note and read it, "scratch that. We already lost him. You want me to contact the Director? Or are you-"

"Contact him, tell him The Reaper stole all data from The Architect. I will need to get dropped off, but I am going undercover again. But first I am going to memorize this file. Tell Fury that I will be under for a few more months but when I come up for air he can give me a new list. How is training for the Iliad Crew going?" Natasha moved away from the central terminal since they were about to talk about something more confidential.

"Umm… okay. We have Spider-Woman and we are training a few other talents. But we need to bring in heavy weights from outside our circle of influence. Going around policing the world has to be unbiased in its grouping after all. We plan on recruiting Colonel Rhodes, he is going to be given an Iron Man suit." Agent Hill explained, hiding her embarrassment at her own failings to acquire more manpower for the Iliad's Secret Avengers Program.

"And Mister Stark?" Natasha asked with an eyebrow raised.

"He has canceled his plans. He is instead suing SHIELD and the U.S. Government for stealing property and proprietary technology. Actually Fury is at a hearing now, getting chewed out for failing to locate a large Hydra base on U.S. soil. We might be looking at defunding over the next few years if we do not show drastic results." Hill quietly whispered while glancing suspiciously around. "I will pass on your message. Go grab some rest."

Natasha nodded before walking away. She would rest, but she would be far more focused on her research. Getting her objective usurped was bothering her, she would have to make sure it would not happen again.

—--------------

Ethan walked into the apartment exhausted. He just spent several hours making sure he left no trail while he came back home. In order to do that he destroyed the boat when he arrived and then used the kit in his black duffel bag to disguise himself. Then he flew into New Jersey and hoofed it to New York then went through the sewer system.

Felicia looked at him in surprise from the kitchen counter. Ethan frowned as he heard noise in the kitchen. As he walked past he saw the Hairu prototype was working in the kitchen with a pink apron on.

He raised an eyebrow and then just shook his head before he walked into his room. He would shower before he dealt with whatever that was.