Return to Duty (Open)

[Brand]

Brand had finally returned to active duty from her forced vacation- with a few stipulations, of course- meetings with SHIELD's psychiatrist to make sure she didn’t have PTSD and to work on Anger Management. She got off light for "assaulting a superior officer". Apparently, as bored out of her mind that she had been while off, SHIELD had needed her more than she needed SHIELD- which explained her light punishment… or the fact that it was only a matter of time before someone hauled off and socked Maria Hill in the face. Either or.

Two days (and several pots of coffee, but that’s beside the point) later, her desk had finally been cleared off from the paperwork that had piled up on it. Xavier’s attacked and destroyed… no wonder they wanted her back to work. But they could have… no, she wasn’t going to go down that road. She had signed the papers and the divorce was finalized and she wasn’t going to think about him anymore.

And she had told the psychiatrist the same thing when he brought it up, too. Honestly, she failed to see how her personal life was of any interest to him.

She stood in the Operations Room, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched the screens that were displaying real time footage of Apocalypse’s base, and others that displayed footage from old attacks on his base. There was nothing they could do. Yes, there would be the occasional successful raid or attack- the X-Men had proved that. But look where that got them, though.

Abigail turned on her heel and left the room, no longer in the mood to watch footage from the attacks. She’d be out there fighting soon enough, anyway.

[Major Mapleleaf]

It was a bright and wonderful day to be in the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. The sun was out, the breeze was cool, the temperature not quite hot, and when they weren't moving planes or helicopters around you could hear the birds chirping. To Louis' thinking it was the perfect sort of day to enjoy the outside world. However he scolded himself for thinking it should take precedence over his duties as a duly appointed field agent.

Thumping with a genuine, of overly bright smile, his red and white form strolled the hallways with a casual ease. Every soul he got even within viewing distance of got a wink with a small waving salute. It was best if someone actually appreciated their efforts to help keep the world safe, after all. In these dark times it was still no excuse not to show respect to your coworkers for a fine job done. At least he thought so.

As he moved down the hallways he was almost eager to join in and help those he saw working. Sharing the load was, of course, the right thing to do. However he wanted to do a little research on how best to plan his next assignment. He promised himself he'd spend his time wisely and get his work down prudently so he could at least help his fellows. It was not beneath any man to help, mind you. It was his duty as both a representative of his family name and a super hero to try and keep spirits high.

Turning a corner his smile widened as he considered the perfect thing to do for his fellows. Introducing them to poutine. He'd make sure he brought some of the gravy and cheese goodness to them in short order. It would have to improve their day. Who didn't like fried with some cheese, gravy and a few diced onions, after all?

So absorbed in his nefarious plots of kindness and expanding the pallets of his fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. members he almost didn't see the wash of green turning from the doorway towards him. And in his haste he almost walked right into her. With a small yelp he hopped back with a panicked expression. He shouldn't be so careless as to not watch where he was going, after all.

Recognizing the superior office his face fell into shock for a heartbeat before going rigid as steel. His entire body snapped taut and he saluted, eyes unflinchingly forward as he awaited a response from the woman, "Sir, sorry, sir. Major Mapleleaf reporting for strategic study on targets, ma'am."

It would have been more than fair to say that with his dense frame and accelerated strength he was so bunched into a solid figure if he'd passed gas (perish the thought) only a dog would have heard the sound. As it was he stood at brisk attention, feeling he'd invaded his superior's space too much. He'd have to work on that later. Hopefully without the lashing words to accompany it.

[Brand]

It took every ounce of Brand's SHIELD training not to jump back and/or swear in shock as some guy nearly ran into her as soon as she walked out the door. Damn new recruits, not looking where they were going...

And that thought almost made her swear yet again. God, she sounded so old! When the hell had that happened?

But she was digressing.

Brand calmly crossed her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow at his introduction. Major Mapleleaf? What was he supposed to be- Canada's response to Steve? Obviously, if that red and white uniform was anything to go by.

"Don't call me sir." she responded simply, nodding once. "It's Agent Brand. And next time, watch where you are going, or else it may be someone who actually has the authority to fire you." Harsh, perhaps, but he'd learn his lesson.

She paused, uncrossing her arms. "Strategic study on targets?" she repeated for verification. "Follow me, then." She turned around to the door of the Operations Room, placing her hand against the scanner. The biometric lock opened with a slight click and she pulled to door open, gesturing for him to come in.

"First thing's first. How much do you know about Apocalypse?" she asked, gesturing her hand at the screen that was showing the footage of his base.

[Major Mapleleaf]

The expression the green-haired woman gave him was both cold and piercing. However like any good soldier he kept his salute firm and in place, eyes straight forward without so much as a flicker. "Don't call me sir." He wanted to squirm. In fact the very sound of the woman's voice made him want to cower away, but he had a name to live up to. His father wouldn't tolerate the newest Major Mapleleaf shirking to orders, even from scary green-haired woman, "It's Agent Brand. And next time, watch where you are going, or else it may be someone who actually has the authority to fire you."

The urge to gulp, loudly in fact, was nearly overpowering. To prevent such a reaction he kept his neck as tight as he could, hoping that it would keep the muscles from contracting to cause the sound. When she peered at him with interest, however, it caused even more tension for him. It was never a good idea for your superior to stare at you with that sort of piercing gaze, or so he'd supposed from his time with S.H.I.E.L.D. Of course the same look from his father usually meant violence, "Strategic study on targets?" she said a little too flatly for his taste. "Follow me, then."

As she uncrossed her arms and turned to go into the room he dropped the salute with a crisp click of his heels and followed, although not as closely as he would have before the biting greeting. Inside the room were monitors of various places. Battles and small skirmish wars, some peaceful scenes of people he could only guess were of interest.

After several seconds of silence the woman glanced at him with the same cool gaze he'd seen in the hallway, "First thing's first. How much do you know about Apocalypse?" Giving her a moment's glance he went back to the monitors and searched the images. After a minute or so of nothing he reached over and began changing the screens, flipping through satellite images.

Bringing up the western coast of African he enhanced the shoreline, pointing to the small inlet near the center of the screen, "I spent a few months there." Turning to the woman he took on a relaxed parade rest pose and spoke clearly, trying not to sound too chatty to a superior, "I helped attack and free slaves that worked for his warehouses and fields. I'd take them to the coast for covert transport off the continent. That's where I met the S.H.I.E.L.D. team that recruited me, ma'am."