I woke up in that moldy motel room feeling like I'd been run over by a steamroller. The bed at "Motel Star" was so bad, I probably slept better on concrete in that abandoned factory. But hey, I had a roof over my head, some cash from my street show, and 95 system points waiting to be spent. The system mentioned upgrades, but I had no clue what to pick. Laser eye? Super strength? Maybe something wild like teleportation?
— System, give me a hint. What do I blow these points on? — I muttered, stretching.
SYSTEM RESPONSE: SUGGESTION: UPGRADE FENG SHUI ENGINE (COST: 50 POINTS) OR NEW SKILL: QUICK REFLEXES (COST: 40 POINTS). CHOICE DEPENDS ON PREFERRED FIGHTING STYLE.
— Quick reflexes sound cool, but I'll think about it — I said, yawning. — Give me something to do, 'cause I'm about to start talking to the walls.
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Seriously? In this motel? I got up, ready to kick the ass of anyone trying to rob me. I opened the door and saw a guy in a black suit with an earpiece. Looked like an extra from The Matrix.
— Juri Han? — he asked, sizing me up.
— Yeah, that's me. You selling vacuums or what? — I snorted, leaning against the doorframe.
— Nick Fury wants to talk. Now — he said flatly, pointing to a black SUV parked outside. Damn, that pirate really had a tracker on me.
— Captain Hook's calling? — I laughed. — Fine, but if he arrests me, you're cleaning out my stuff.
I hopped in the SUV, and after a short drive, we pulled up to a warehouse on the city's edge. Fury was inside, in his black coat, looking like someone stole his breakfast. A few SHIELD agents stood nearby, and a table held files and a holographic screen showing a map.
— Well, if it ain't the pirate himself! —
I called, strutting in with a big grin. — What's up? Found your ship yet, or you still lost at sea?
Fury gave me a look, but this time there was something different in his eyes. Less pissed, more... sizing me up.
— Han, you've got guts and skills, but you're not SHIELD material yet — he said, ignoring my jab. — I'm giving you a shot to prove yourself. One-time mission. Screw it up, and I forget you exist. Pull it off, and we might talk about recruitment.
— Ooo, a date with the pirate? — I laughed, winking. — Alright, what's the job? Smash Hydra? Catch Loki? Or maybe clean your desk?
— Shut up and listen — he growled, but the corner of his mouth twitched. — We've got a lead on smugglers dealing leftover Chitauri tech. Small stash at the docks. Your job: go in, neutralize them, secure the tech. No witnesses, no mess.
— Sounds like a typical Juri Han day —
I said, shrugging. — I'm in, pirate. But if
I save your ass, I want a bonus.
Fury rolled his eyes and handed me a small comm device. — Report progress. And don't screw this up, Han.
I hit the docks that evening. The place looked like a cheap crime flick – containers, streetlights casting long shadows, the stink of fish. My upgraded Spider Sense started tingling as I neared the stash. Inside were six guys, all armed, plus a few crates of glowing green devices. Chitauri, no doubt.
— Party time — I muttered, cranking the Feng Shui Engine. My eye flared purple, and my body moved like a rocket. I crashed through a window, flipping mid-air and landing on one guy. A kick sent him into a wall. The rest grabbed their guns, but I was too fast. Precision kicks smashed their weapons before they could fire. One tried a Chitauri blaster, but my Spider Sense tipped me off to his aim. I dodged, spun, and clocked him in the jaw.
In a minute, they were all down, and I stood over them, dusting off my hands. — Weak sauce, your alien toys — I quipped, securing the crates. I reported to Fury through the comm: — Stash clear, pirate. Sending in the cleaners, or should I do it for you?
— Not bad, Han — his voice came back, dry but less grumpy. — Get back here. We'll talk.
I returned to the warehouse, where Fury was waiting. He glanced at me, then at his agents' report. — No witnesses, no mess. I'm impressed.
— So, am I SHIELD material now? —
I asked, hands on hips. — Tell me where to sign, Captain Hook.
— Not yet — he said, but he smirked slightly. — You've gotta work harder. But you're on the right track.
The system chimed. Ding!
TASK COMPLETED: PROVE YOUR WORTH TO SHIELD!
REWARD: +30 SYSTEM POINTS, PRECISION KICK UPGRADE (INCREASED POWER)
— Nice, 125 points — I muttered, doing the math. — System, that's something. How about that laser eye now?
SYSTEM RESPONSE: LASER EYE STILL UNAVAILABLE. SUGGESTION: CONSIDER UPGRADING FENG SHUI ENGINE.
— Tsk, buzzkill — I laughed. Fury waved me off, so I headed back to that stinky motel. I flopped onto the bed, feeling one step closer to SHIELD. The Marvel world was throwing challenges my way, but Juri Han wasn't backing down. I closed my eyes, ready for another day of ass-kicking.