A New Beginning

Chapter 8- S.H.I.E.L.D

Noelle opened her eyes groggily. She was barely able to keep them open and was not fully conscious yet. All she knew was she felt like she had just fought another war. She was exhausted and her entire body was wracked with pain.

She did not know how much time had passed before she was fully conscious again. The drug they had injected her with had knocked her out good.

She wondered where she was.

Noelle was vaguely aware of bright lights and grey walls surrounding her, and that she was restrained– not that she was surprised at all by that. Whoever these people were... they were someone who wanted to be in control, that would take no chances, not even the slightest at anything. That was exactly how the Empire had operated.

Flashbacks to being tortured in a containment cell on the Star Destroyer sent her into a panic attack. Her muscles instinctively tightened as soon as she realized her arms and legs were bound to a long, flat metal board sitting in an upright position.

And it wasn't until now Noelle realized her hands were covered with metal caps and there was some sort of collar around her neck. Obviously, they seemed to be designed to keep her from using her powers, which made Noelle even more paranoid.

"The more you struggle, the more the restraints will tighten. I don't advise it."

It was the voice.

Noelle held her breath and waited to make sure this wasn't just a bad dream...

It couldn't be. He was dead.

No...

What was this!?

The man in the trench coat entered the room.

Noelle felt like her tongue was glued to her throat, but she was able to choke out two words. "M-Master Windu?"

"It's Fury," the man cut her off. "Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Noelle started coughing. "I'm sorry, what?!"

This all made no sense. This man, this "Nick Fury" or whatever he called himself, looked exactly like one of the lead members of the Jedi Order, to which Noelle had belonged when she was in her late teens. But he was dead. She saw him die. Murdered at the hands of Darth Sidious...

"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division," Fury was going on. "I know it's long–"

"You're supposed to be DEAD!!" Noelle screamed, yanking herself forward in her restraints, which only tightened. She groaned in pain and frustration.

Fury lowered his head and sighed. "I'll make a deal with you, Noelle Smith. How about, you cooperate with me, and tell me what I need to know, and then maybe I will give you some answers, depending on whether I think I can trust you or not." He looked her in the eye. With his one eye.

Since when had he only had one eye? And a beard?

"And what do you want to know about me?"

Fury gave her a hard look. He turned around and grabbed a metal chair in the corner, and scooted it up several feet in front of her. He sat down so he was at her eye level, leaned forward and folded his hands.

"For starters I want to know who you really are, and where you come from. And more importantly, what do you want?"

Noelle made a face. "You know who I am, Mas–"

"It's Fury," he interrupted again. "It's always Fury, do you understand?"

Noelle was taken aback by that one. Ok, fine. She would play his little game if he wanted.