11530/SHIELD Seeing Red

SHIELD Seeing Red
Date of Scene:	09 June 2022
Location:	Security: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Peggy Carter has a talk with Betty Ross in the Triskelion. And offers her a place in the ranks of S.H.I.E.L.D. Betty accepts.
Cast of Characters:	Peggy Carter, Mary Jane Watson, Melinda May, Betty Ross

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Peggy Carter has posed:
The room is a bit more comfortable than an interrogation room. This isn't meant to be a good-cop, bad-cop interrogation with the tease of coffee and bright lights. In fact, while she has still been imprisoned, it's been quite comfortable accommodations. The food has been great and she's been allowed to order different things off the food court menu every day. Comfortable clothes, sheets, everything she might need has been brought. It's like a reinforced hotel stay more than anything. However, she's been on ice long enough.

Peggy checked with Mary Jane, being double certain that the young agent trusts Red She-Hulk isn't a threat at this moment. She then told the woman to bring her to the interview room. No shackles or cuffs. If Betty decides to Hulk out, there are enough agents to disable her before she goes. Peggy is working on showing her respect and trust -- that SHIELD isn't like most government organizations.

Peggy and Melinda May are already in the room. Peggy's settled down in a chair on the opposite side of the big, glossy oak table. There's six leather board room chairs that recline and height adjust, as well as coffee, tea, a small tray of danishes, and sun darkened windows. This does not look like a prison. Peggy is remaining off her feet, resting the edge of her tablet on her incredibly pregnant belly. It's the softest thing about her, in a summer navy tailored suit otherwise. She looks over to May, "She... could be an asset. I'll trust your gut on if she's worth recruiting or not. In the main, I want to be certain she's not a threat to us or society. Understood?" And then she waits until the prisoner is escorted in.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson is with the group, feeling decidedly out of place. Now, she's relaxed, wtih her arms crossed and trying to not obviously fidget. It's a sign that Mary Jane is the 'persona' in charge rather than Red Sonja by her body language. "She.. Wanted to make sure there were no more of her ever made. She just went about it with only one route in mind and targeted it obsessively. I don't think she was trying to purposefully hurt anyone. When she realized she couldn't achieve it she immedaitely surrendered."

If by 'surrendered' one meant 'collapsing into a sobbing heap'.. "She's been through a lot and.. I can't even begin to fathom." That had been what Mary Jane had talked with the group about ahea dof time. Her perspective. That Betty's intent had been in a good place. But expressing it in the worst way.

So now she's going along with Red She-Hulk. If just as a familiar face and someone that hopefully to Betty is a presence that's protective for her. And having forgiven her. Dwarfed by Big Red, the smaller redhead comes along. "Chief, Commander."

Melinda May has posed:
May gives Peggy a brief nod. "We'll see what happens." She's been called into these sort of things with increasing frequency, in recent months, thanks to her Inhuman empathic abilities. She's also something of an unofficial expert in anger management, which definitely helps when you're dealing with a Hulk -- whatever their colour.

More than that, she's learned to push emotions on others, when necessary. Even calming ones, which is definitely a surprise given the fact she, like some of their gamma-irradiated friends, is almost always angry.

Certainly, these days, thanks to Vostokoff, she's absolutely furious. And she's become expert at sitting on it.

Thus, when the pair enter, there's nothing to indicate the senior agent isn't relatively relaxed, though obviously attentive. But it's Peggy's show. May is here to act as a second set of eyes and a 6th sense. "Agent Watson. Ms Ross."

Betty Ross has posed:
    For days after the arrest, the Red She Hulk remained as she was. Not really communicating much. Showing pretty much classic signs of depression. A change of clothes didn't change a lot there, though still a lot of sleeping involved and mindless TV watching. She hasn't hulked out since then, though at least her version appears more like Jennifer Walters version of hulking out...with perhaps more of an impulse control problem than mindless rage.

    The interesting thing of course is that the face on the visitor's ID and cameras she was wearing listed her as Dr. Elizabeth Ross. Investigation would quickly find that Dr. Ross was assigned to a US Air Force project at Hulkbuster Base in New Mexico.

    IT also will show she died a bit over a month ago of a radiation-poisoned blood tranfusion as was pronounced dead. While it takes some digging and threats of SHIELD authority going above their head, Hulkbuster Base's commander eventually grudgingly informs that Samuel Sterns, the leader who apparently created the Red Hulk process and betrayed her father before stealing a ton of research and equipment, also stole Dr. Ross's body.

    Which brings us back to the room, with a dead woman walking in, looking much different as she towers over Mary Jane, but saunters over to pull out a chair and sit down across from those inside without promptly. After turning the chair around so she's straddling it, her arms resting along the top as she rests her chin on top of them, watching the others with pupilless yellow eyes.

Peggy Carter has posed:
As the pair walk into the room, Peggy's brows both arch. She gives Mary Jane a brief, respectful nod before looking Betty up and down. A little hint of a smile quirks at the side of her lips, "You're looking awful good for a dead woman. Your whole autopsy report is right here..." Peggy slides the paper across the desk, "Care to explain? Because either you took someone else's identity, or you faked your own death. Plenty of good reasons for both but... While we figure out if you are safe for society, I'd like to start at the beginning of the supposed criminal activity."

Peggy then motions to her belly with a softer smile, "Forgive me if I don't stand. I'm Chief Margaret Carter, this is Commander Melinda May. We'll be handling the investigation today into your actions in breaching SHIELD territory. Sit. Relax. If you want some coffee or tea, or Danish, please, help yourself. That goes for you as well, Agent Wilson."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod at Peggy, "Thank you Chief." She would move to take a few steps back and out of the way. "I'm not hungry but I'll nab something if I want a snack." She's curious here. And hoping that they can find some middle ground to help Betty achieve peace in this matter and a way to move forwards. So she's thoughtful.. But also not sure where things will go. The files they have on events being rather past her ability to parse.. At least thsoe ones she had the clearance to review after all.
    She would give Red She-Hulk a look intended to be reassuring with a smile, going to turn her head over to watch the discussion between Peggy and Betty.

Melinda May has posed:
May rises, as the pair settle down, moving to put on a kettle for some green tea -- her drink of choice when whiskey might be frowned upon. Hey, if they want coffee, that's fine. But neither she nor Peggy can stand the stuff. As she goes, she lets the emotions in the room settle into her body -- pushing the depression aside to sift through what may lie underneath.

She understands the red-skinned woman's motivation as it's outlined in the report. It's a pretty simple impulse, and not a bad one, either. But for the moment, she really just wants to listen -- on several different levels.

Betty Ross has posed:
    There's a humorless chuckle from Rulkie as her head turns slightly to put her attention fully on Peggy. "No. I died." she says, straightening up and raising her head. "Or more precisely, that asshole Sterns murdered me. Exposed me to a radiation leak, then when that didn't do the job fast enough, he irradiated a blood bag being used at the hospital for a transfusion for me." She tilts her head. "You strike me as someone who would have an idea of how painful a death that was. My body burning itself up from the inside out almost. The only good part was that it was relatively quick for radiation poisoning.."

    She snorts again. "He really didn't like me much. I didn't agree with his belief he was the smartest and most special man in the room when doing science, and I disagreed with what he was turning my research into. Research intended to HELP gamma irradiated people and mutates." Her eyes narrow. "Instead, my dumbass father let his greed for getting a new super soldier project cleared get the better of him and brought him fully into a top secret project he should have been nowhere near, before he predictably betrayed him out of pure ego." There's more than a little anger in her voice at that, both at Sterns and her father.

    Her chin comes down to rest on the back of her arms again. "So yes. I'm dead. That's me. And no. I don't know how the Leader brought me back. My guess is, the process he uses to create red Hulks was something he could start without finishing it immediately, enough that the regenerative properties of a gamma mutate were enough to keep my body from degrading long enough for him to steal it out of the morgue and complete the process. A gamma mutate like the Hulk, or me, apparently, have incredibly high regenerative abilities." There's a borderline rebellious, sullen tone to her voice as she explains it, even if she does so with the precise description of an scientist.

    For May, there's that mix of low grade anger and hurt and betrayal and dark humor that wafts off Red pretty steadily. But there's a definite instability to her emotions. And a notable impulsive aspect to her reactions, like some of her filters just aren't working at the moment. If a Hulk form is partially the subconscious of the subject taking control, it seems this version of Betty is the rebel sort, very at odds with the responsible and respected scientist she was.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
As Peggy goes to start the conversation off with asking about Betty's body, Mary Jane Watson goes quiet and gives her full attention over to the way Betty would respond. The way that May has gone fully quiet isn't noticed by her. Coming off her there are vibes of curiousity and an interest in asking questions, but aware now is not the time. There's a look of surprise, loathing, rapidly shifting into the emotional rhythm of sympathy over as to Betty goes to flatly state that 'she died' and then came back. How..?
    Betty going on about proceedings so calmly is met with a sense of disorientation and confusion in her eyes. Mary Jane tries to crawl back in her head through Sonja's memories, hazy as they could be. On htat part, Sonja is completely quiet. A subject Sonja may not care to share with Mary Jane by the expression on her face.. Or that the fragments of the soul inside of her can't recall it. The girl's face isn't particularly calm, but mostly restrained.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Your father, and the company he keeps, sound like real assholes. I've met him once or twice. Generally the kind of man I loathe working with and certainly not the kind of man I'd ever trust with a super soldier serum. And... I might know a thing or two about super soldiers." A crack of a grin pulls across Peggy's lips as she says that. It's possible only Melinda will get the joke, but she has to maintain some levity in these times.

She then sits up enough to lean forward, setting down the tablet she was studying and now fully focusing on the woman across from her. "So...why don't you tell me what your ultimate goal was in breaking into SHIELD and, if you had it to do over again... What you might do differently? Watson, you can chime in on this one. What made you think to help her instead of just taking out a highly dangerous target who had stolent top secret, classified files?"

Melinda May has posed:
May snirks softly at Peggy's 'joke'. Yeah. Peggy might know a thing or two about that... The century old woman in the midst of the 21st century.

The Asian woman turns to lean against the sideboard while the kettle works on getting up a head of steam. Her arms cross lightly over her chest -- but that's a fairly typical stance for her. Her head is canted slightly. She read Ross' psych profile, and how it differs from what observers saw during the woman's holding. She has unique insight, though, seeing layers the observers never could.

There's a suble shift in her expression that Peggy will recognize as a thoughtful look, one that suggests she's not ready to pull a trigger on anything just yet.

Betty Ross has posed:
    "WRECKED top secret, classified files. Two of the hard drives, at least. And I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for you damned kids and your integrated backup computer storage." Red corrects, drawing herself up again as a surge of irritation runs through her. She glances at MJ, then reaches up, rubbing her face, before lolling her head to look at the ceiling. "Why? Mmm."

    She inhales, then exhales....and seems to shrink as she does, her skin returning to a pale if normal shade. A pretty thirty something woman with long brown hair now, a bit wasted looking, her now oversized t-shirt sliding off a shoulder as she returns her gaze to Peggy. Now, her mind is more disciplined. More controlled. There's still a strong feeling of a bipolar mind, currently in a depressive cycle, but less impulsive now.

    Betty says, in a neutral voice. "Because I was tired, Chief Carter. For decades, I've worked to try and help people afflicted with gamma mutations. Radiation treatments in general, but..." She quirks her lips. "You see....I knew Bruce Banner. When he first transformed. I tried to help him. We were...together. For a while. But even when he moved on, I kept trying to help him. Cure him."

    Her eyes narrow as her emotions surge, frustration and anger and helplessness boiling to the top. "And every fucking time, chief, someone takes information intended to help people, and tries to turn it into another super soldier project. Every. Fucking. Time." She calms again, closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead. "Sterns, at least, was an understandable, narcissistic asshole out to make himself a Hulk army. But what gets me? Is when the government....or organizations like yours....does it. In the name of freedom and national security. Even though the times it's gone well are vanishingly small, and more often than not it's just ruined someone's life. Or the lives of hundreds."

    Her eyes are hard as she looks between the group. "It's especially rage-inducing..." she bites out. "When your father spends most of his career hunting down people who are victims of such mutations, like Dr. Banner, or, in this case, tries to replicate the process. And when he does, makes himself the first test subject."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A little groan escapes Peggy's lips as she hears the information about Ross. "You're telling me General Ross has managed to turn himself into a person able to Hulk out? Does the US military know about this? I know he is your father, but I'm not afraid to feed him to his own if we must." Peggy smirks coldly. she absolutely means it and is not thrilled at the possible news. "But, we aren't not here for him... we're here for you."

Peg turns her head a moment, looking up to May and exchanging a silent glance for a few moments. She gives a slight nod to something and then looks back, her hand leaving the table to gently stretch across her stomach as she settles back in her chair. "I could lie to you and say SHIELD will destroy that last file, but I am not in the business of lies. We are not keeping the information to make more super soliders. I agree that... the attempts across the world have gone badly since the very first try. We can't make another Captain America and we shouldn't try. But... the fact that people ARE attempting it means we need to keep that information as a key. Not to make more, but to help reverse engineer if things go badly. I can sit here and promise you we are NOT using your data to produce more hulks or super soldiers. I can also promise to assist you in destroying any other copies that might be out there. Do you think there are more copies?" Peggy asks with arched brows.

Melinda May has posed:
May arches a brow as Ross' emotional state changes with her transformation. It's not a surprise, per se. It's just not something she's actually *felt* before. Since becoming an empath, she's never been around any of the Hulks to feel it happen. She chuffs a soft breath and then turns around to pour the boiling water over the tea leaves. "Tea, Chief?" she asks Peggy -- though she's already anticipated the answer.

Regardless, she waits for Ross' response, and perhaps Watson's too, before she decides whether she wants to chime in. Peggy is making grand promises. But Peggy is not Fury. And while May does believe that Peggy is being honest and does believe that SHIELD has no on-the-books intention of doing any super-solider making anytime soon, she knows how easy it is for that to change.

But she also knows that Peggy is right: They need all the information they can get to counter other attempts whenever they crop up. So, it's a double-edged sword.

And if she had her choice? She'd sooner Ross be on their side than independent. It's safer for everyone.

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty shakes her head slightly. ?Former general Ross, after they found out. He?s lucky they gave him a graceful out by retiring early. Probably because it would look pretty bad to the public.? She shrugs her shoulders slightly. ?For however long that lasts. Someone in the military will invite him back. They can?t turn down a trained soldier who?s also a Hulk.? A bit bitter there. ?So, reputation consequences, but he?ll be back.?

    She at least listens to Peggy?s explanation, her eyes steady on her, though there?s a definite tinge of paranoia to her thoughts, along with continuing frustration and betrayal, though not aimed at Peggy. ?They always say that.? Betty says, in an emotionally drained voice. ?Then someone quietly starts up a covert project, or the data gets stolen, or some rogue scientist or spy or whatever decides they?re going to try and recreate the process. Test it. New Hulks. New monsters. Mutated animals. Gamma weaponry.? She shakes her head. ?You can promise that, but I?ve had long hard experience behind believing it will never work out, Chief Carter.?

    She sighs. ?But, for what it?s worth, you probably have all of the project data from my father?s super soldier project and all of the Leader?s additional files on it. The meat of the project; if there?s other material stored elsewhere, it won?t be more than bits and pieces, not enough to recreate the process. I don?t think Sterns had the chance to back up any of it...why should he, when he couldn?t imagine being defeated by us lesser mortals?? She smiles humorlessly. ?Though they got their proof of concept, didn?t they? One Hulk minion, willing to do as ordered, with military training that Sterns could use to steal what he needed.? She taps her head. ?He has some psychic powers, on top of everything else. Enough to mentally dominate someone over time.? She adds, dryly. ?And I?m sure the US Air Force will be just peachy about forgetting all the damage I did to their base or me stealing their equipment for Sterns. I?m surprised they haven?t already shown up and demanded custody.?

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would give a low nod to Betty. They're being up front with her in things rather than indirectly, giving her the runaround.. Mary Jane is hoping that something coming from Chief Carter will carry more weight than just something from her. As Betty is going on about her father there's a trembling look of rage on her face that's barely suppressed as well as she goes to ensure that it's kept flat. If she's being paid attention to by anyone however she is trembling. But it's not boiling off her as it's mostly coming out wiht her hands squeezing together.

There's a frown on Mary Jane's face as Betty goes on about the other abilities of Sterns. Her hand goes out to try and rest on Betty's shoulder to give it a squeeze to try and reassure her. "Together we can make sure that he's stopped." By 'he' she might mean Sterns.. Or Ross.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A slightly surprised look crosses Peggy's features as Mary Jane says together they can make certain he's stopped. She looks vaguely amused for a moment and then nods towards May for tea. The woman knew already, but it's best to make certain people don't think you're reading each other's minds. It makes people uncomfortable. Then she's looking back to Betty, letting out a long, slow breath.

"Look. I get the paranoia. I spent my entire life fighting HYDRA, trying to stop them doing the same thing with the serum from Project Rebirth. And I still failed in that. You are right... there will always be someone else trying. Having as much data as we can to fight it? It... it's vital, somedays. And I trust my people. I know you don't. But I do. Now." After a year of cleaning house. She waits until her tea is brought, giving May a quiet smile of thanks before looking back to the other women.

"We can let you go. I'm not a fan of keeping someone locked up forever for doing the right thing. And someone else is going to pick you up. Or... you can sign on with us. Recruit. Level 1. Get training to help control yourself, help protect your mind... keep an eye on things from the inside and get SHIELD protection from those other assholes. It's a possibility on the table..."

Melinda May has posed:
May crosses to Peggy with the second cup of tea, the first already in her hand as she returns to to her seat. "Take the offer," she prompts gently as she sits. "The fact is, you've got the science credentials to write your ticket anywhere in the world -- if it weren't for your alterego. SHIELD is one of the few organizations anywhere that won't see that as a bad thing."

She takes a sip of her tea. "I've been around this game longer than anyone here, except the Chief." Because *no one's* been in the game longer than Peggy. "Often, the best way to monitor -- or change -- the system is from the inside. That way, when things go south, you'll have a better idea of who to trust and who to... deal with in an alternate fashion."

Hey. They don't *always* kill their enemies. That's why they're the good guys.

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty flinches slightly at the hand on her shoulder, but relaxes after a moment, not objecting to it. She does feel bad about lying to MJ. And breaking her sword. When she's not Hulked out, she can realize how she let her emotions dominate and take her in places she wouldn't normally go. Frustration and anger mixed with a steady determination to do what she thinks is right is a heady mixture.

    Those hard, tired eyes widen at Peggy as she makes the offer. "Me?! You want to. Recruit. Me." she says after a moment of silence. "Do you know what kind of hell the US will raise with you over sheltering me, much less hiring me?" There's a slightly disbelieving tone to go with the swirl of emotions over that. A lot of pessimism. Liiiiiitle bit of hope. A good chunk of stubbornness. "...I have never, ever, taken orders well. You can ask ex-General Ross about that, considering how many times he ordered me to stay out of things with Bruce..." She pauses. "...with Dr. Banner, among other things." Especially not with her new alter ego losing a lot of the filters she's built up over the years to be the woman who tries to play by the rules. Though recent events have shattered that pretty well. "I don't...I don't even know how much control I have now. I know more than most that rage is characteristic of Hulks, and them going out of control. I keep telling myself that it's not going to happen to me, but..." Betty frowns. "I can feel the...the control isn't there as much. Not anymore."

    She taps the back of the chair, frowning. "....not like I have a lot of options. Join you, or leave and be under a federal warrant until some hero gets lucky and nabs me."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to shrug her shoulders over as she would listen to Peggy speak. To May.. And then roll over to Betty as she would finally break her silence. "I think the Chief has been given hell a lot of times for a lot of things and it's just one more on the list. It can go to the end of the queue." She would take a breath over.
    "And control is something you can.. Learn. With focus and experience. It.. Helps to have teachers. If you do decide to stay here and avail yourselves of some of them.. I think that they can help with it." Her words are quiet even as she remembers the issues she had when she had Sonja be a part of her.
    Memries of the two fighting for dominance in the body, of her trying to restrain Sonja's impulses and bloodlust.. And how the two slowly learned to coexist.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A slight shrug comes to Peggy's shoulders. She isn't in the habit of begging people to join SHIELD. She wants people to enthusiastically be a part of the team, or maybe she's just gotten that old and tired. She takes a sip of her tea, dark eyes fluttering over to May as Betty mentions about controlling her own rage. "It just so happens we have a few experts in rage control among us. As a part of your training routine, you'd have to work with them... As Mary Jane's said, control is something you can learn. You'll have help. And yes, I've been yelled at by men louder and more annoying than Ross before. I'm frankly no longer arsed to give any of them the time of day and they can shove it where it does not shine if they bother me more about it. I'm government neutral. SHIELD has it's jurisdiction and you will now be mine, none others. If you are willing, that is."

And then she leans back a bit deeper, pulling her tea into her non-existent lap as she lets out a long breath. "Or, well get you a ticket to somewhere very remote and very hidden. Give you the best chances you can at running. As I said, I'm not in the habit of keeping prisoners. But, if you actually want to help the world and continue your studies, the offer is on the table."

Melinda May has posed:
"I know a thing or two about controlling wild emotions," May says evenly, echoing Peggy's sentiment. "I *could* show you the crap I sit on every day, but... well, I'd really like to *not* trigger your alter ego to come out to play. No offense." Still, her eyes glitter and her mouth twitches faintly in something that might be a hint of a sardonic smile. "You wanna talk anger management, or impulse control? I'm your woman."

And she happens to be one of the best physical combat trainers SHIELD can offer. She's also the toughest. "It's only fair to warn you, though. If you sign up, this isn't a free ride. You'll work harder than you've ever worked in your life. But it'll be well worth your while, I can promise you that."

Betty Ross has posed:
    An indelicate snort escapes Betty. "I'm not Dr. Banner. I have more control over when I change and why. My alter ego is just....me. With a lot more impulsiveness and a lot less filters. And a lot of resentment bottled up." The woman sighs slightly, feeling a little frustrated and trapped, but able to a bit more rationally review her options as she is. "I've never been afraid of hard work. Like I said...I don't have a lot of options. Even if I wasn't entirely myself when I attacked Hulkbuster and elsewhere, the chances someone is going to believe it, as opposed to disappearing me into a research lab somewhere, is pretty small outside of here." She glances up at Peggy again. "Apparently." she adds dryly.

    A deep breath, then she releases it slowly. "...alright." she says finally, quietly. "I'll try. I can't promise I'll be good at it, but I will try."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
This is Mary Jane's moment to go quiet. It's the decision of Betty here and she's given her thoughts on it. she lets out a sigh over of quiet as Betty seems to have come to an agreement on the matter. Her lips would slowly twitch up in reassurance and let out a sigh as she would mouth 'thank you' over in the direction of Peggy.

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is some heaviness in the air around all of them as Peggy stares at the woman across from her. It's like weighing a soul after death, that gaze from Peggy. But, whatever she sees seems to pass. She gives a single, sharp nod and then looks over to the other two agents in the room. "Excellent. Welcome aboard. Watson, you started this mess so you're assigned to be direct handler and trainer. May, considering your unique skill set, I'd like you and Ross to have at least one training session a week together. Regular reports on my desk. Promotion when you damn well earn it. Understood, everyone?" Peggy asks with a warmer smile.