When I returned to my apartment, I did a little research of my own in the computer lab at the apartment complex (a place with complimentary computers and internet). I knew I needed to locate Agent Ward, the one who stormed my lab and an old field companion, because he would obviously know something about my daughter’s location. I uncovered a few old false identities he frequented whenever we went incognito during a mission. Two of them came up dead, but a final one led me to a current address that I resolved to check out. Gearing up in my Kestrel Exo-7.5 flight suit and taking off for my destination, I landed at the place fifteen minutes later just as the sun began to disappear into the city’s horizon.

    It was a small house in a tiny neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. I stealthily approached the side of the house and peered into the window only to come face to face with a drape. After bounding over the brick wall separating his back yard from his front yard, I sneaked around to the back door, keeping an eye out for security cameras. I pulled on his back door and found it locked. Glancing behind me, I knelt down and began trying to pick the lock with a few tools built into my forearm gauntlets. The door yielded, and I entered with my pistol at the ready. The interior of the house was dark with a few lights on here and there. I then heard a car’s engine shiver to a stop out in the garage. I froze for a second and then casually took a seat on his couch for theatric effect.

    The garage door’s dead-bolt lock slid out of its hole in the other wall, allowing Ward to push the door open. He stumbled in with a few grocery bags and sprawled them on his kitchen counter. With a short glance in my direction, he walked back into the garage and returned once again with a rifle case and S.H.I.E.L.D. folders. I was apparently too concealed in the darkness of the living room for him to have spotted me. He sighed and washed his hands at his sink. Suddenly, his back stiffened and he frantically scanned his surroundings until his eyes settled on me.

    “Hi,” I grunted.

    Ward smiled and dried his hands on a nearby rag, “I didn’t think you would come here,” dropping the rag back on the counter, he ambled into the living room and sat on a chair.

    “Probably a grave mistake.”

    He nodded, “Probably. Cool helmet, by the way.”

    My head shook slowly, “Hydra?”

    “Look, I made a choice a long time ago, most likely one I will regret to my dying day, but—”

    “Well, then, you won’t be regretting it for long.” I stood and gripped his throat with my right hand, effortlessly raising him off his chair. Ward kicked and attempted to loosen my fingers as air seeped out of him, but I stayed firm without moving.

    “Oh my, that serum actually worked. Nathaniel—I didn’t want to hurt you, or your family.”

    “I don’t care about what you didn’t want to do. I’m only concerned with what you did do. Your precious world-dominating team kidnapped my daughter. Where is she?”

    Ward grinned, “Have you seen Joel yet?”

    My head turned sideways.

    “Well, you won’t be seeing him again.”

    With a downward thrust, I smashed Ward into his flooring, “JUST TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!”

    “Sir, your blood pressure is destroying medical records. You should probably calm yourself.” Carson warned.

    Ward coughed and tried to unwrap my fingers, “Look, I don’t know,”

    “Yes, you do!!” A throwing-blade ejected from my left gauntlet and a little gizmo put it into my hand. Ignoring Carson, I pressed the blade on Ward’s belly, threatening to stab him.

    An indomitable glare reflected from Ward’s eyes, “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? You realize you’ll have to kill me to keep you and her safe, right?”

    “The brick I am. And I think there’s more to you than you’d like to admit. You aren’t some emotionless drone. You met my daughter. You know how precious she is to me and what they’ll do to her in Hydra. Help me, Ward.”

    Ward found strength to project a weak smile, “Yes, I do know. Soon, she’ll be helping me hunt you down.”

    Pain stabbed my heart as I swallowed a lump of despair. With a vicious yell, I thrust the blade into Ward’s side and inadvertently loosened my hold on his throat. Ward seized the moment and kicked me in the back which flung me into his cupboards. I recovered quickly and stood up to find him racing for his front door. I hurled a throwing-blade which soared into his left shoulder, slowing him down. Somehow, Ward found a hidden pistol and fired at me. I dodged his shots and rushed toward him, but he was out the door by the time I reached his former location. When I exited his house through the front door, I found two SUVs pulling up. The windows rolled down and agents began shooting at me. I hopped into the air and shot off into the darkness.

    “Blast it!” I shouted in my helmet as I leveled off above the clouds.

    “Sir, I really do think you should calm yourself. Getting emotionally charged will only cause rash decisions.”

    “Carson, just shut up. I don’t need medical advice right now.”

    “Well, then, where are you going? I can’t get any actual definite destinations from my brain scan.”

    “I’m just going, Carson. I’ve gotta simmer down and flying is a very calming activity.”

    “Well, sir, we are about to go over Gotham. If you would like to blow off some steam, Gotham is the best place to do that. The place is infested with criminals.”

    I nodded, “Thank you, Carson. You really can read my brain.” I leaned to the right and dove toward the city.