Welcome to the Jungle...

[agentx13]

Who: Sharon Carter and the other freedom fighters.
Where: THE WOODS. The big bad scary woods!
When: Day 31
What: Escape attempt numero uno.



Sharon stands facing the forest, standing perfectly still and breathing calmly. One hand rests on her hip with her gun, the other is held in front of her face so she can see the comm. What no one on the comm can see is that she's also holding her knife. You can never be too careful when planning to take on unknown legions of men that had managed to capture the Hulk. And Natasha. And Tony Stark. And her aunt.

And a bunch of kids. And Barton. And a Steve.

Really, it's hard to tell where these people screwed up first. Messing with Sharon? Messing with the people around her? It doesn't matter. Either way, she's tired of sitting around and trying to learn information about them. They may know now as much as they ever will. And that means that they have to fight. As much as Sharon doubts they'll succeed, she also knows that they have to try. They can't just sit around like lemmings waiting for the food to run out.

She studies the gaps between the trees, then the trees themselves. The captives don't control the environment here. Dangers could be hidden anywhere here.

She may have waited too long to try this. People might be too weak from hunger, not at their best.

But they have to try.

No matter what happens, that's what it boils down to. They have to try.

Comments

[agentx13]

Sharon doesn't turn from the woods as he approaches, though she glances at him when he finally reaches her, taking in the gun, knives, and rifle. Her lips twitch into a smile. Something about men and rifles. Almost as much a weakness as a man with a shield. Disturbingly, the thought isn't heralded by any mysterious gifts. But if she hadn't acted on anything then, she certainly won't now. She and Coulson aren't remotely like that.

"Coulson. I like your taste in little friends."

[theshield_agent]

"I like to be prepared." He returns the smile. Not only is he pretty big on busting his friends out of here, he's also pretty big on keeping them safe. He's going to be as ready as he can be to keep them all in one piece.

[agentx13]

"Why I couldn't have gotten an assault rifle for Christmas... Of course, with this place, I wouldn't be surprised if it only shot water." She turns toward him, but not enough that she can't keep an eye on the woods.

"There's a good chance that they'll try to split us up, depending on how many people actually show. If that happens, I want you to go with the other group. Or one of the other groups. If things get too dicey, head back to the town. No use getting anyone else killed here if we can help it."

As for Sharon... She'll send everyone else back if she has to, but she won't give up. She can't.

[theshield_agent]

"Right." He nods. It's a good idea. At least they both know how to handle high-pressure combat.

"If we have to fall back, I can cover everyone." He's already dead and he has a better chance than most of them of actually surviving that, anyway.

"Sharon..." He's not really sure what to say. This could be it. If they succeed, they might not be going to the same place after the fight.

"I've got your back."

[agentx13]

Her lips twitch. "If I'd known sooner that probable-death situations meant we were on a first-name basis, I'd have held off on this until I could get some stuff to braid our hair." She's only teasing, but it doesn't stop her from looking at his balding head. "My hair, at least."

Her mirth, as slight as it is, disappears as she looks back over the group. They give a new meaning to the word "ragtag."

Her voice is quiet. "If something happens to me, Coulson... Phil. You're the one who has to take care of them. Don't let me down."

She doesn't give him time to argue, stepping toward Gabriel and leading him over. "Coulson. Gabriel. I hope you two know each other, because for as long as this mission lasts, I want you two to be best friends.

[ooc: Gabriel next so he can squeeze in?]

I think this is where I'm supposed to be tagging, kick me if not!

[hung_garian]

"Hey there, bestie. Kinda feel like I shoulda brought friendship bracelets along - or at least a bottle of margarita mix."

He'd shake hands or hug or something, but who are we kidding, this is Gabriel. All Coulson's getting from him is a 'friendly' punch in the shoulder.

"Or is our BFFhood supposed to entail something a little more destructive? As long as it's not responsibility, it's good by me."

[theshield_agent]

Phil doesn't do well with sentimentality. It's not that he trusts Sharon completely, but he does like her enough to care. He doesn't intend to let her die today.

Gabriel? That gets a raised eyebrow, of course. His real name or another fake one? Does it matter?

"We get out of here, we'll drink margaritas until we pass out, Gabriel."

[hung_garian]

This is the problem with fake names. He's given out so many that he can't really keep track of them all.

"Oh, bite me. I have this hobby, I don't know if you've heard of it, it's called not being stabbed. Loki's reputation was starting to get in the way of that and 'Gabriel' seemed relatively unlikely to get me a knife in the chest. For all I care, you can call me Mary. Now-- a little more importantly for the moment, what's our plan of action here? Run into the wall till it crumbles?"

[agentx13]

"You are a smart boy." She smirks and ruffles his hair. "Get there, get to the wall, get out. If you think it's too dangerous, get everyone you can out. But we need to know if this is even possible."

Not that Sharon has great hope, but she also knows they have to try. An iota of hope is better than no hope at all.

[theshield_agent]

If he keeps that up, Phil's going to give him a name he doesn't like.

"Do we even know if there is a wall or if it's... something else? I haven't gone that far into the woods after Logan came back." He's eyeing the woods with concern. If Logan couldn't get out, what hope do a couple of regular people have? Even with their training, they're made of flesh and bone, just like everyone else. He's just going to hope that Gabriel can cover them enough to make the difference.

[hung_garian]

"There isn't a brick wall, if that's what you're asking."

He's distracted enough that it barely even comes out as sarcastic.

"Shouldn't be dangerous - not of its own accord, anyway. But if it does all go to shit, I oughtta be able to drag most people back over here."

[agentx13]

"The Hulk and the box both came from above. So unless there's a Helicarrier up there, we're going to run into something. If there isn't anything and we can just walk out, though? Or run, as the case may be? All the better."

She looks faintly gratified by Gabriel's words, though. This might not work. Probably won't work. But at least they'll be able to keep some people safe.

[theshield_agent]

He nods and there's almost a grateful smile. "We appreciate the help, Gabriel. It's good to have an escape plan in case things get--" He's not really sure what.

"If it comes down to it, though, help civilians first. And..." A pause. "Me last. I'm dead already, anyway."

[hung_garian]

He rolls his eyes, hard enough that if he were human he might have strained some muscle or another.

"Oh, can it with the 'already dead' crap. You've got a pulse, you're walking and talking, you're perfectly fine. Consider it a lucky escape and leave it at that."

In other news, Gabriel doesn't take orders particularly well. And as a fellow member of the already dead club, he's a little touchy about the subject.

"Squishy humans first. No ifs or buts. And by the way, honey, if it was that easy to leave, you think I'd still be here? Please."

[agentx13]

"He's right. Civilians first. Coulson and I have experience with things like this. We're the last out." Her gaze on Gabriel is steady. She isn't actually sure Coulson has experience with things like this - her own experience is limited. But they've been trained by SHIELD. They might still be able to notice something that can help them.

"If you take us out before we're ready, I don't know about Coulson, but I know I'll just come back later, when I don't have you guys to help. So get the civilians out first."

[theshield_agent]

Phil frowns at her. Honestly, if it's him or Sharon, he's taking the bullet and that's all there is to it. Much as he appreciates Gabriel's nut up spiel, he hadn't put himself before others before and he wouldn't start now.

"Let's do this. They already know we're coming." He motions to a camera. "So let's not give them extra time to prepare."

[hung_garian]

Sometimes he just wants to punch altruism in the face. It's such a pain to deal with, and he can't be bothered, so instead of continuing to argue he just doesn't reply. He might do as Sharon says - or at least to some extent, since human civilians would have been his priority anyway - but it's by no means a given.

"Guy's got a point. Lovely though this chat is, miiiight wanna get going before they do something like drop another box of Norse gods on us."

[agentx13]

Sharon gives the nod to Anna. Time to go.

[ooc: *cues up the Rocky Theme way too late*]