Chapter Text
Location: classified
There was a lot of buzz after getting new intel that Cassandra was to become an agent of Shield. It was still kept mostly secret, but the word spread out between higher level agents. Agent Gombert mentioned it during the classified meeting of the French basement. Agent Furlow was surprised to hear this news, but others knew it was just a matter of time. They just didn’t know it’d come so soon. They really made a good call by giving the mission to Gombert.
Basement leader Furlow supposed it was rushed, but agent Gombert assured him they’d officially make her an agent only after she goes through the whole training and psychological evaluation by professionals. They didn’t want to send someone unstable on missions. She was getting stable.
Agent Laval was listening carefully to the entire meeting too. He supposed Shield would want to achieve their goals with her as soon as possible, but that would make it a bit more complicated for him. They still didn’t have counter-measures ready on her if she turned against them. He knew she was way too powerful and could mess up the entire basement if she went rogue.
He was in contact with the team developing the weapon against her, updating them about the whole progress. They couldn’t do any testing so far, since she was very careful when it came to leaving any rocks behind. She said it herself during one meeting - she wouldn’t let anyone do tests on those rocks and she meant it. The only ones available were in her hall, where her tent was and that was off the menu. Shield didn’t allow anyone to have scientific access to them. The other one was her sword she kept hidden in her room. All the others were removed.
It seemed she knew what could happen if she let them have free access to them. Maybe she was already defeated once with the similar settings. Theories were there, but they couldn’t really do any progress without testing.
They had some parts of the amber she was found in still available. It was hard to measure how it was formed, because they found out it consisted of some unknown elements. They knew the amber was the only tangible weakness she had, but only during the time she was in direct contact with it. Trying to recreate the amber, their attempts seemed to be unsuccessful every time. It never had the same composition.
The whole mission took way too long and without any results. Agent Laval had to push the scientific team developing the weapon, since he had to answer for that mission and would need to explain again why they still didn’t have any results. Those to whom he had to answer were growing impatient.
Today, agent Sitwell contacted him again, asking about the progress. “Tell me you've moved forward with it.”
Agent Laval didn’t want to disappoint him, since they already had some big plans moving but this part was still stagnating. “We haven’t been able to successfully recreate the composition yet, but we’re getting closer.”
He couldn’t just leave this in the negative tone and had to give him another intel just to make sure they weren’t getting furious with the entire research yet. These guys weren’t so forgiving and didn’t tolerate the failure. “On another note, we have new information about her. I was present at a classified meeting with representatives and they’re already moving onto the next phase. Shield is getting fast and I’m afraid we’re losing the upper hand on the involvement on this mission. They want to make her an agent. It may be a big problem in the long run. She seems to trust Shield enough for her to join.”
It wasn't positive news either, but Sitwell could see this coming. Shield got to this one first and they lost the upper hand way before she was a big deal. He sighed, replying: “We were worried that this would happen in the next few years. If it develops too quickly, we need to be prepared. Project R.E.S.I.N. has to be fully operational once the big day comes. Hydra must not be caught napping at this issue. She isn’t under our control. Once Shield weaponizes her, she will be too much trouble.”
Agent Laval knew these risks too well: “I assume once they recruit her, there is no way of replicating Hydra’s index protocol…”
“We have no means of separating her from Shield, and the director already has his eye on her. This won’t be any agent Starr treatment, deep in the shadows. You need to figure out how to stop her. She’s a high priority asset. Removing her would be a waste, considering how powerful intel she hides about that stone. I have another high-ranking source saying she still hasn't told them anything. You do your part, I’ll do mine.”
Agent Laval sighed, knowing this way too well. He wanted to end this call on a positive note though, since this mission has been a disappointment so far. Shield was winning her. “Don’t worry, we have an operative following her closely and reporting everything important, slowly gaining her trust. After all, the strongest intel comes from the ones she trusts. We have a backup. We’ll make sure the R.E.S.I.N. is ready when the time comes, and if not, we’ll figure out other measures.”
“Good,” Sitwell nodded, ending the call, being glad Hydra had an agent in her close proximity.
Agent Laval exhaled, being glad they didn’t have to argue about this and that Sitwell stayed calm. He had other resources that were of much higher rank. They weren’t panicking yet, but she was making them worried. They still trusted his team could make this work.
✨ARTS OF CASSMCU✨
#Prologue (Chapter 1), 2021
#Pain and regrets (Chapter 5), 2020
#First meeting (Chapter 7), 2021
#Haunted by the past (Chapter 10), 2021
#Snapshots of time (Chapter 16), 2021
#Exhaustion (Chapter 23), 2021
#Present understanding - comic (Chapter 25), 2021
#First therapy meeting (Chapter 42), 2024
#First outside experience (Chapter 49), 2023
#Room for powers (Chapter 56), 2024
#Hike (Chapter 59), 2024
#The trip (Chapter 67), 2021
2025, sketch
#Summer hikes with Megan (Chapter 70), 2023
✨ARTS & SKETCHES✨ (NOT BY CHAPTERS):
#2020
First CassMcu concept, 2020
Cass outfit sketches, 2020
First Gabe sketch, 2020
First Megan sketch, 2020
Cass colored sketch, 2020
Gabe colored sketch, 2020
#2021
Concept Cass & Nat comic cover, 2021
Random Cass sketches, 2021
Cont.
Cass with rocks, 2021
Bored Cass, 2021
Annoyed Cass, 2021
#2022
CassMcu character sketches, 2022
Summer Cass, 2022
Christmas Cass, 2022
#2024
Winter Cass, 2024
Cass & Gabe sketches, 2024
Cassandra sketches, 2024
#2025
Cass & Megan sketches, 2025
Character portraits (all), uncolored, 2025
Character portraits (all), colored, 2025
